LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 25 October 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. T. B. Jones, who for the past twenty years has boon stationed in the mail-room of tho General Post Ofßco, has introduced there a labour-saving device, which, though email and inconspicuous, is calculated, if put in use, to result in the annual 'saving to tha Department of tho tons of cord used in seouring miiil matter. In the past, it has been the genoral practice to tie up the mail matter with strands of thick twine, which in the rush of postal business is generally severed with a knife, and is of little service afterwards. This waste is done away with by Mr. Jones's invention.

Monday next being Labour Day, tho out-pationta' department at tho Hospital will be closed. Urgent cases will., however, be treated at the main Hospital.

Instruction in the manipulation of textilo manufacturing machines is one of the _ subjects _ that the Wellington Industrial Association considers might bo included iu tho Technical School syllabus. Tlie annual report of tho Industrial Corporation, whioh is to meet in Wellington next week, says: "It was considered that it would bo well to have such instruction added to the syllabus of technical schools. Tho director and secretary of the Wellington Technical College was seen, and he reported that there was absolutely no room for adding additional elapses in the prosont building. Ho thought tlio idea a good one, but pointed out that as thorn would in any case be certain expense, for instance in obtaining'tho necessary machines, that porhajps tho woollen companies might bo looked to to supply machines. Ho further reported that he and his board were hoping that it might not be long ore tho classes would bo transferred to ft suitable building. When that happy timo arrived, he would bo pleased to further consider the matter." \

The tender of Mr. W. L. Thompson line been accepted by the architect, Mr. J. M. Dawson, for the erection of a three*story brick, steel, and concrete building (shop and offices) in Willis Street for tlio T. Q. Macarthy trustees, The building is to bo erected on the section next Mr. F. Grady's premises, which lias for so long been occupiod by shooting galleries, eidoshows, and cheap-jacks. The ground floor will bo divided into two big shops, and the upper floors, to be reached by a separate entrance, will bo subdivided to suit tenants. The Tramways Conference called by the Minister of Publio Works was continued yesterday. _ Tlio employees' section sat in committee throughout the day, and their deliberations were not completed when they adiournod at 6 p.m. Thoy will meet again at 8 a.m. to-day. 5 11.M.5. Psyche has left Sydney for Auckland. At that port she will probably junction with 11.M.5. Challenger, due 'at tho northern port from tha New Hebrides during tho next few. davs, Theso two vessels aro tho only British warships at present in Australasian waters. According to a return presented l to Parliament yesterday thero were on August 31. 1013, temporary clerks in tho Public Service who lmd then twelve months' continuous Government clerical employment to their credit, to the number of 120. The total includes Go draughtsman.

Tho Minister of Railways is to bo aßked by tlio member for Waipawa (Mr.' Hunter) whether ]io will arrango that the now timo-tnblo giving an improved railway service between 'Wellington : and Napier elinll come into force vn timo for the Christmas holidays P Will tlio Postmaster-General have the automatic stamp-vending mftcliiiic3 at the po-st--offloeß kept in working-order, so that people using tlicm may not bo defrauded of tlioir money P—was a question of which Mr. 0. J. Anderoon gave nr t tjco in tho House of Representatives yesterday. A petition from W. J. Poison and 50 other ratepayers in tlio harbour rating area proposed to bo constituted by the Wanganui Harbour Bill was pre■sented to the Iloiiso of Representatives yesterday. Tho petitioners set out that they aro most injuriously affected by the reduction of the rating area, wliieh they state will result in the whole burden'of the cost of harbour construction at Wangamii being borne by a rating area of less than one-third of that which, was defined by the commission appointed by tho Harbour Board and the Government last' year. Tho petitioners ask', that tho finding of the commission be > adhered to or -that tile Bill be not passed. until another commission is appointed by the Government to define a rating area which shall bo fair and reasonable. "More haste, less speed," is a time-' worn saying, which a young man cyclist who "hooked" himself on to a Brook- 1 lyn-bound ear tlio other night with, nearly disastrous results will have cause ; to remember. Qn wupling himself to tlio car ho was carried 1 gaily along Nairn Street, and all 1 went well till the, ' car arrived at the beginning of the: new track. Here his maohine wobbled on the rough Burfaoe, and .he was thrown off, while the oar continued oil its way dragging cyclist and: maohine ■ after it. fortunately the ories of passers-by who had witnessed the aeci- : dent attracted tho attention of tho motorman, who pulled up after the man had been dragged some fifty yards, The machine oame off worst, tile oyclist escaping with a severe shaking and some bruises. A useful little volume was issued to ' members of Parliament yesterday— "The Now Zealand Parliamentary Re- ' oord, 1840-1813." It lias bean compiled' under the instructions of the Hon. H.; D. 801 l (Minister of Internal Affairs), by Mr. M. Fraeer (Government Statifi-' ticiiin), and supplies information as to tho Government of New Zealand and members of its Parliament past and preseot. He present vtolume, which is the first-issue, contains particulars up to September, 1918, including particulars or tho various Provincial Oonn-,' • oils. Future issues will probably bo', made triennialiy, or immediately after 1 ' geineral election, when, the record will be revised and brought Up to date. - The little book is illustrated "iyitili pictures of the various buildings in wlifok the Parliament of New Zealand lias been housed from timo to time, and the frontispiece is a sketch of the new: Parliamentary Buildings as fhey will appear when completed.