LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1923, 4 December 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On account of the delay which has been occasioned in getting transhipments ex Home steamers away from Wellington, a consignment of valuable uicturcs brought out by Mr. John Baillie (of the Baillic Gallery, London) for the Art Gallery of tho Auckland Exhibition, has not yet been delivered. On that account tho gallery at the Exhibition is Hot as complete as it will bo a little later on, as the pictures now in' Wellington include some of the best in tho Basilic collection.

A correspondent writes to a country exchange that when tho strike in Auckland was at its height just on three weeks ago, the headmistress of the Girls' Grammar School gave, orders that no pupils l'rom-Dcvonpni't were to come to school till tho excitement on the waterfront died down a little. All obeyed the instruction but one young lady, who, in charge of a man Oft. Sin. ill height, presented herself at school ;>.e usual each day, much to tho delight of her teachers, who admiral her courage, and the consternation of a score, or two nervous mothers who had kept their slaughters away. ■'

It happened a few days ago, says tho Dunedin "Star." The second express for Ohristelmrch Jirtd got well under way, when tho guard caino through to inspect tickets. A middle-aged man, in tho second-class smoker said he hadn't got a ticket; he'd given it up. "Whereare you going tor" asked tho guard.' "Dunedin," was the reply. "Why, we have just stopped twenty minutes at Dunedin. Why didn't you got out?" "1 didn't know that," said tlie countryman; "nobody called out the namo of tho station." After argument, ho bought n second-class return ticket to Scacliff, and was left compiuining of the bad management of our railways.

Tho renewal of mining activity whirls lias taken place at (ireoiistoito this moiilli is (says tl'.o "Kumarn Times") causing tin.' old mining town to look up. Trustees and committeemen have to bo elected at the half-yearly meeting of tho Wellington Hotel Workers' Union next Monday, hut the other officers have been returned unopposed. Another handsome building is to bo crested in "tho Wall Street of Wellington" early in tho New Year. This will take the form of a substantial fourstory brick and steel block, to be erected by Messrs. J. 11. Betlnme and Co., at tho corner of Featherskm ami Brandon Streets, on the site of tho building which tho linn has occupied for the past thirty-six years. The old building, now about to bo demolished, has already been vacated by tho firm, which lately took up quarters in the adjoining premises, in the occupation of Hunt, Williams and Co, ' The now building, tho plans for which are being prepared, will have . a frontage of -10ft. to Keatherston Street, and one of 02ft. to Brandon Street, Messrs. J. H. Bothnno and Co. will occupy the ground floor and a mezzanine floor, niid'tlio throe other Hats will bo subdivided into ol'lica suites to bo let. to tenants. The. erection of this building is another step towards the transformation of Feathorston Street, which has been so largely influenced by the erection in that thoroughfare of the new General Post Office. The furniture workers have decided to simnort Mr. A. 11. Cooler, secretary of tluTftutohers' Union, for the position of density representative on the Arbitration Court. Members of the Auckland Timber Workers'-Union on Monday night carried a resolution of protest against tho proposal formation of a new Ilotolworkvv/ Union in Auckland. The- resolution further carried an undertaking on the part of the members to throw Ih«ir weight on the side of the No-I License party at the next election should the new union become an nccomplislmd fact. Other unions of workers have adopted resolution;, (o Hie same effect during the past four or five j dftrs. ]

The Prime Minister stated yesterday in reply to a question hy Mr. W. A. Veitcii that inquiries would he made during the recess with, n view of purchasing suitable areas for settlement in the Wanganui district.

Yesterday Detectives Andrews and Lewis arrested a man, who will appear at the Magistrate's Court this morning charged with a serious offence against a female. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luko) relumed last evening from a visit io Auckland in connection with the opening of the Industrial Exhibition. He slates that he was the recipient of as much hospitality as could be conveniently crowded into the time at his disposal and met with the greatest courtesy throughout his visit. Mr. Luke states that the Exhibition itself is hardly ready yet owing io circumstances that could not bo foreseen, but within n week or so should be well worth a visit. Some of the exhibitors had not yet furnished their spaces., a.nd the grounds, which promised to be very beautiful, nil! not be completed for another fortnight or three weeks. Mrs. Luke remained in Auckland on a holiday, and the Town Clerk (Mr. Jno. ii. Palmer) is making some inquiries into matters municipal, and will not return until the end of the week. \, Protests h.avo recently been made by several English companies with Jiiler-c-sts in the Commonwealth regarding what they describe as tho excessive taxation on land in that country. In a reference on November 15 to tho latent, of these protests, the Federal Treasurer (Sir .John Forrest) said that many people did not consider that tlio absentee tax was unreasonable. The amount received from it, however, was small, and it created an immense amount of annoyance and friction. The fact that land was taxed by three ditfcient authorities—the Federal Govorment, the State Government, and tho municipalities—on three different valuations, was very unsatisfactory, and gave rise to a great deal of vexation, besides which it imposed upon the community considerable expense. He hoped that it would l)o possible to amend the Federal Act by repealing tho company and leasehold aggregations clauses, which, though not increasing the revenue, were difficult anil troublesome to administer, as well as unnecessary. lie intended to negotiate with the States, with a view to arriving at a uniform basis of valuation. It was reported on Monday morning that 6'i degrees of frost were, registered in Ghristclmrch. One nurseryman, who has a large garden on Pupamii Road stater] that his marrows, broad beans, and runner beans had been nipped, while the potatoes had aiso been slightly cut down.