LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1920, 1 December 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Maheno, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland on November '28, has on board an Australian mail. The Wel--1 nu-ton portion will arrive by tho Main Trunk express (G.flO a.m.) on Wednesday next. 11.M.5. Psyche will fire a ltoyal Salute o!' twenty-one gnus at noon ioilav, in honour of tho birthday of the Dowager-Queen Alexandra. A regrettable incident occurred our* in»; tile organ recital in the Town thill on Saturday evening. A few moments nrior to the opening huiulki- the attention of the audience was drawn to a mail in the centre of the hall who commenced an audible communion with himself. Tho liisfc few bars of music, however, awed him into silence and not until the organist was preparing his second piece did the man again become conspicuous. Tin's time lie bccame more than audible, and upon no steps being taken to have him removed, Mr, B. Pago left his scat at the organ. At this several of the audience took the matter into their own hands, and quietly; but firmly, escorted tho disturber from the building. Mr. Page was recalled by the acclamation of those, present, and in a few minutes the charm of the organ had banished the unpleasantness from the hall.

■Wellington's street-signs, or the absence of them, -are a source of much perplexity to the stranger within our gates. And not altogether to the stranger, as a year ago the names of many of tho streets were altered, and it is quito a common occurrence for a person to refer to ono of the newn:wned streets, and for his companion to be unaware of its locality, although it is really a well-known thoroughfare. This rather puzzling and inconvenient state of affairs is to be rectiiied next year. Tho City Engineer (Mr. \V. 11. Morton) lias already a number of samples of enamelled iron street-signs, with white lettering on a rich royal blue ground. This makes a vory effective sign, and ono calculated to hold out against tho weather for ten times as long as tho old-time painted tinplates. Tenders are to ba called shortly for a supply of tho now street- signs. The perennial question: "When is a man'drunk?" cropped up once more at tho Supreme Court, on Saturday morning. To the evident enjoyment of the Chief Justice, Mr. P. J. O'Kogan said that the definition given by some* people was that a man could not be said to be drunk when he coulcl hold up his head and ask for more! 'flic Wellington Licensing Committee will meet at the Magistrate's Court today at. noon. A meeting in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of St. .lolm's Church is to he held in tho church at 8 o'clock-to-night. Brief interesting addresses will bo delivered and special music will bo provided by a full -choir. A conversazione will be held in tho Town Hall to-morrow evening, commencing at- 8. X pyrotechnic display by some children in a bedroom was nearly responsible for the destruction of Mr. James Trainors residence at 13 Green Street shortly after seven o'clock on Saturday evening. Tho youngsi?rs were playing with fireworks, and before they knew what had happened had tho bedclothes alight. Fortunately their parents, with the assistance of some neighbours, were able to put the (lames out before the building caught, but not. before somo five pounds' worth of bedding had 'been destroyed. Tho (Ire brigade received a call to tho_ spot, and gave tho debris a final sousing.

A claim that reduced mileage 011 tho railway lino between Wellington and Lower Hutfc (due to the straightening .-of the lino) should be_ followed by a corresponding reduction in fares was advanced by a deputation representing the Unit Valley Hailway League, which waited upon the Hon. W. 11. Hcrfies on Saturday. The Railways Department, has slated officially that' the length of the line has not born' materially reduced, but tho deputation contended that this row absurd. Careful cheek of the road distance,' it was stated, had disclosed a considerable reduction in the distance between the Thnrndon Esplanade corner and the Knro-Koro crossins «t Pctono as com pared with the old irregular road lino which ran out in semi-circles. The spokesman of the deputation argued that inasmuch as the old railway line ran alongside tho old road throughout, it followed that the new railway track must be shorter than tho old one. The Jlinister promised to givs "the matter consideration. The tide of immigration from the United State?; to Canada has turned, according to Governor Alva Adams, of Colorado, who h United ' States Com-missioner-General to Australia and New Zealand in connection with the PanamaPacific Exposition of 191,1. Mr, Adam:-, said that during the past JO years the United -States bad lost 300.000 good fanners, who have crossed the border in search of new land, but, a good many have returned durino; tho past 18 months, repelled by the Canadian winter.

According to a deputation representinc tlw Unit Vnllpy Kailway League, which interviewed tho Minister of Bailways on Saturday, school children are ill the habit of parading from ear to car when travelling by train between Silverstrcain «nd Lower Butt, thus inAiding a nuisance upon other passengers and themselves incurring damier. Tlio deputation asked that the practice should ho stopped, and extracted from the Minister a promise that- the matter would be looked into,

Better lighting of the flap stations between Lower Hutt and Upper Mutt was asked for by n deputation which interviewed the Minister ol' Kailwnvs on Saturday moruine. fn support of the request, it was stated that the Department appeared unwilling i-n discriminate between well-used suburban platform stations and seltlom-used conut'rv flag stations. Numerous instances, it- was added, could he.quoted of injuries sustained by male and female wsrcngm jailing at unlit suburban stations'—Yva!hiccviiie, Herctaiiii<*a, and rreiuhnm, in particular. Howard's ami fiiivrstrrnm stations, heiiif in ' •T?°/ )f "^ Wo V " orlp|s ' i>™vulod for. Pho leajztio is cii' opinion lli.it suitable kiitiDs for lirrhiinc' ibo platforms in question could lie trimmed r.l: Lower Wutt or Upper Unit and nl,iced ill position by the guard on 4j,„ irnjl , l-assing in either direction about dusk. Tho lamps could ho collected by the ward" on tho last passenger train at mailt. The expense," staled the deputation. 11l 'conclusion, "would be trivial, and tho safety of Passovers assured." Previous representations on this subject have been met with the excuse tlmt to accede to the remiest would menu light in;; all flair-stations in the Dominion, but tho Minister. on Saturday, promised to again inquire into tho matte!-.

By-laws were framed bv the Auckland City Council recently making provision for. seats in theatres to be numbered in order that all persons who boiHit tickets would be certain of seating accommodation. Tne numbers on the seats would correspond with numbers on the tickets, and nobody would bo permitted to occupy a scat possessing a number different to that on tho ticket. This bylaw was not to bo opora.tivo.in so i'ar lis continuous picture theatres were- concerned. On Fridnv night .Mr. W. Havward waited on tho City Council and asked that-all picture theatres sli-ouid be placed on tho same footing as continuous picture houses. The picture theatres, ho said, had never made any charges for early door*, and their prices had always remained the same. The kiici'ge&tcd regulations would bo very niter-<-iis. The matter was referred to tho Works Committee

Tho Post Office has decided, in consequence of the present industrial crisis, and as a temporary measure, to increase from to-day the weight limit of inland parcels to twenty-one pounds, and sine limit to seven feet in. length and girih combined. This concession will only apply to parcels addressed io places served by rail or steamer. A charge of one penny half-penny is to be made tor each additional pound beyond the present limit. In urging the claims of the Boys' Institute new baths to the water required for them, some 11:0,000 gallons twice week, it was pointed out that this water need never ba wasted altogether. The Kite of the new baths is in close proximity to the Basin Reserve, on tho southern side, and it lias been suggested tiuii good water from-tho city mains could be spared to some- extent in the watering of that area of playing ground, by utilising that from tile baths, which would not suffer much from being bathed m for half tho week. ±lie idea is one that will no doubt lw acted upon. As the new tepid baths arc- to bo available for the general public during certain hours, the proposal of tho institute authorities prafctically relieves the city Irom any further deliberation and expense in connection with the prosecution of the original tepid baths. It, is further pointed out that, residential!}', the Basin Reserve is about the centre of the city, so that tho site, presented ic tho institute by Mrs. S. A. Rhodes for bu utilising that from the baths, which is now assured) is an ideal one. Jlr. Gray Young, architect, is at present engaged on the plnns.

The sitting of the District Land Registrars' Conference, which commenced on Wednesday last, was brought to a close on Saturday afternoon. The most, important subject dca.it with was tho. consideration of a complete sot of regulations wilder the Land Transfer Act, which has long been a great waitt of the Department, and the'discussion of many points of practice, with the view of securing uniformity among tho various districts, the lack of which has often been a source of much inconvenience to legal practitioners. Tho amending Land jTransfer Act, which lias just been passed, came under the review of tho conference, • and various points were discussed. It was decided that it would be desirable, at an early date, to issue a fresh "Handbook of the Land Transfer Act- and Regulations." Tho general fooling was that tho conference had fully justilied its sitting, and it is probable that a similar conference will bo lielu in the course of a few years.

A severe thuiidci'stoini, accompanied h,v heavy rain, passed over Itotorua on Tuesday afternoon, and caused damago to the flectricjl power line. Tho town was in darkness all night. Candles and lamps were brought into requisition, but failed to supply sufficient light to carry on tho ordinary evening business. Tho nieii wont out to try to locate tho fault, but on account of tho darkness were unsuccessful, and had to abandon tho effort for tho evening. The fault was located on Wednesday, but it was not until about 10 a.m. that the power earao on. The storm was very severe throughout the night, but beyond the breaking oi' the telegraph wires little further damage waa reported. '.Hie Cromwell correspondent of tlio "Otago Daily Times" status that tho vote on the Estimates for the Otago Central railway, although only a small amount, is accepted locally with some degree of satisfaction, ami as an indication that an extension is to bp undertaken. The local league will likely move in tho direction of having the survey carried on without delay, and any possible construction work started, with n view to having work vigorously prosecuted by meaiis of a more "substantial voto next year. On the other hand, tho vote of £JJSO for improvements to the Cromwell Post Office is generally resented.

The distinction of being the largest 1 ] vessel to bo berthed at tho inner wharf 1 at Gisbornc is now held by tho Union Company's steamer Kittawa. of 1247 tons. Although the Kittawa was not deeply laden when she entered tho river entrance from Napier, there was a depth of over 20ft. of water in tho river, and Captain Baldwin had no difficulty whatever in turning his vessel and berthing iier at the wharf. Such great improvements aro now being made to the harbour works at Gishorne that much larger vessels than the Kittawa will bo accommodated at tlio . wharf before long. Tho Craig steamer lhtiiuatn, of 1156 tons, was the largest Btcaincr i to be berthed there prior to tile Kittawa's visit. Auckland hotels and boardinghouscs have received a good many inquiries from intending visitors to tlm Exhibition. states the "Herald." T/io firstclass hotels had booked a considerable number of visitors for the- official opening, and all hotels and boardinghouscs have let a considerable proportion of their nccoromodntion for Christmas and New Yea:', and also for February, when the band contest and Medical Congress will bring n great many visitors to the city, the official accommodation agents have not received many inquiries for periods ontsiclo those stated, but a cel. tain amount of booking is going to the hotels and boardinghouscs direct.