LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1870, 2 October 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho Minister of Lands was asked in the House of Representatives yesterday by Sir Waltor Buchanan whether he would' instruct tho Land Purchase Department to inspect and report upon tho advisability of purchasing for settlement a block of Native land in tho Gladstone district called Kupo No. 4,. containing 2112 acres, and owned by a Europeaniscd Native called Iveretioma, also ono or two other blocks in the same district and owned by tho samo Native. These blocks, lie stated, wero reported to be already under negotiation or sold to several Europeans. Mr. Massey replied: "Tho Department lias been informed that Kupo No. 4 has been disposed of. 1 Inquiries are being made regarding tho other blocks."

Preparations have been made at the Garrison Defence Stores, Buckle Street, for tho housing of the "Britannia, tho two-seater Bleriot monoplano which has been presented to the Dominion Government by tho Imperial Air Fleet Committee, and which is expected to bo landed from the Athenic shortly.' A shed has been orected by tho stores carpenter at tho rear of the Defence Stores, and tliis is to serve for tho present as tho home of New Zoaland's first aeropiano.

"It is not practicable," the Minister of Customs stated in the ■ House of Representatives yesterday, in answer to a question, "to discriminate between tho furniture made by Chinese in Australia and that made by British labour. As a rule, furniture made by Chinese would not be exported by such Chinese, but through a Melbourne merchant. The rates of duty on wicker and rattanwaro will be considered by the Houso when the tariff' schedules aro brought down."

Two promising immigrants, each with about £500 capital, called at tho Labour Department's office d-uring tho present week, and have been directed to employment.in the Waverley district. They came to New Zealand after having given Western Australia a trial. At the present timo the Department has vacancies for over thirty farm hands, the positions all being with employers that they .can recommend.

Town Belt planning will bo advocated this evening by a deputation which is to wait on. the City Council. Tho speakers will give reasons why a motion by Councillor Atkinson should appeal to the majority. The motion is to rescind a resolution granting a lease of port-ion.'of the Pirie Street Reserve to the Tennis Association, and to call for a full report on the Town Belt and what portions are suitable for recreation grounds, beforo any further lease is granted. The deputation will be introduced by Dr. Newman, M.P., and will include: Messrs. James Hislop. A. Marryatt, C. D. Morpetli, A. Forrest, K. Pavitt, J. F. Atkins, 0. G. Wilson, A. Leigh Hunt, J. H. Pollock, L. Watkins, P. W. Woodruff, H. Levy, A. Mackenzie, W. Brown; A. A. Paapo, G. S. Fell, H. Saunders, W. J. Pollock, W. Larkin, R. Fulton, and others.

Tho Government, the Prime Minister informed Mr. Hunter, member for Waipawa, yesterday, is considering an amendment- of the Valuation of Land Act to provide for the election of a member of the Assessment Court by the ratepayers of the district whero the roll is to be revised, instead of his being appointed by the Government as at present.

Fifty applications from married couples have , been recoivcd by the Telegraph Department for the positions of housekeeper and caretaker of the' Awanui Wireless Station. The combined salary for tho position is £140 per aniium. •

It is intended, according to a reply given to a question in tho House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. H. Herries, to revise the railway tariff at an early date. - Among other reductions which he would consider would bo that 1 of the rate on the carriage of cast-iron pipes for waterworks.

The Minister of Public Works (the Hon. W. Frasor) stated, in answer ,to a question in the House of Representatives yesterday, "that provision would be made in the Tramway Regulations to ensure that a lifting-jack would be carried on each car.

• Tho City, Electrio Light Department's new showrooms in Harris Street were opened on Tuesday afternoon. On that occasion opportunity was taken to demonstrate; beforo tho Mayor and a number of'city councillors, tlio uses of electricity in the homo. Various modern appliances for heating, lighting;. and general comfort were on exhibition, and the eleotrioal cooking apparatus was put to a practical test and proved satisfactory. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), in declaring tho showroom open, stated that ho was not one of thoso who held that til© council should enter into all industries in competition with private employers, _ but private enterprise • could be_ associated with municipal undertakings with mutual benefit. The council would welcome firms wishing*to place their equipment in ' the showrooms, and there would then bo a benefit extending to the firms and tho community. He congratulated the Light and Power Department on having realised how tiiey could serve tho public in' a proper (Way. The proceedings during the afternoon were supervised by. Mr. G. Laucblan (Lighting Superintendent) and Mr. W. Millar, who has chargo of the showroom. Mr. S. Richardson, City Electrical Engineer, was also present.

The yearly social gathering in connection with St. Paul's branch of the C.E.M.S. was held last evening. There was a large attendance, including members from the St. Peter's and Wadestown branches. The Rev. A. M. Johnson (vicar) presided, and was supported by the Rev. J. G. S. Bartlett (Wadestown), the Rev. Barnett, Mr. Warren (secretary) j and others. Tho programme was contributed to by Mr. Tunley, Mr. Farmer (violin), Mr,. Oswin (recitation), Mr. Bowman, Mr. Warren,Mr.'Tucker (piano), and tho quartet party.

A married labourer, named Arthur Potter (29), of 9 Cambridge Avenue, was admitted to the Hospital last night suffering from the effects of poisoning. He was unconscious for some time, but treatment had its oifcct, and later in the evening ho regained consciousness. At a meeting of the Old Boys of tho Ota-go Bova' High School, presided over by Mr. J. J. Mallard, it was decided, on the motion oC Mr. i . is. J*.. Macassev, seconded by Mr. 0 Shea, that an' Old Boys' Association be formed in. Wellington. The following committee was appointed to draft a constitution and report to a future meeting: Messrs. P. S. K. Macassey, J. Moodie, T. O'Sliea, A. Simnson, G. C. Facho, and Dr. F. W. M'Kenzie.

Electric lighting by water-powor from tile Hunua Falls is being discussed by the residents of Papatoetoo, near Auckland. Th<j matter was gone into at a public meeting 011 Monday, and a committee was set up consisting of representatives of various local bodies to get expert information and report to a later'meeting. . . SomA. sailors from the R.M.S. Atnenic various musical instruments and two ship-made drums mingled with tho crowd which fnrewelled the ferry steamer Wahino for Lytteltou from tho (Queen's Wharf last evening. Eight o clock had just chimed and the gangway had gone down, when tlio band struck up "Old Lang Syne"—a tuno which was 110 doubt appropriate, and which_ tho crowd ovidently appreciated by joining in. When tlio vessel had gone tho merry sailors marched up the wharf to the well-known pantomime air "Waiting for tho Robert E. Lee."