LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1954, 10 January 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tliie ' postal ' authorities " advise that tho's.s. Maherio, which sailed from Sydney 011 January 7 for Auckland, lias on board Australian; and English mails. Tho Wellington portion is duo per Main Trunk express on-Monday-afternoon.

"Is a tramcar plying for liiro a public place?" .That.-was a question which came before, the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. when a tnan was charged with -using, obscene language 011 a tramcar, as above described. Mr. J. S. Evans, tho magistrate, held- that tlio language used in such a place as sot down in tlio charge was not used in a public place... A public place in this connection,' said ths magistrate, was defined as a licensed public vehicle plying for hire. 7 - ' •

. "Tho. bestconcert 'ML I have ever teen for a city this size," is_ Mr. Jolm M'Cormack's opinion ■■ of Wellington's Town Hall. ' ■

A Paraparaiifflu correspondent states that it is currently reported that Mr. B. B. Boekett Gorge-Mount, Waihoanga, intends ' contesting the Otalci seat-' at tho nest election in tho Reform interest.

A too liberal diet is supplied by the shipping companies to immigrants, according to Mr, T. E. Sedgwick. Meat three, times a day, a<J lib, is t ho said, too much for young fellows from the towns, who are unaccustomed to it. This is especially the case wftte they we doing nothing on the vessels. They tvould themselves prefer a cliango of bread and cheese, according to Mr. Sedgwick.

It is remarkable'that most of tho outbreaks of firo that have occurred at Petone sinco the removal of tho fire, station from Sydney Street, to Quick Street have been near the western end of the town. Tho fire cart had rather raorb than a mile to travel to a fire atTe Pwri Street- yesterday afternoon. This seemed rather far fo.' the willing little, horse to draw his load at full gallop, ancl it. has been suggested that a heavier animal should be procured.

■"I havo heard a good many tales," said Dr, W. H. Simpson, president of tho Canterbury Automobile Association, cn Wednesday, ' 'but this caps them all. The tale which caused this and other remarks of a like nature was told by Mr. J. S. Hawkos, who said that in coining up one grass slope on the. Peninsula tho gradient had been so steep that- tiio back tires bad repeatedly fired tiio grass. Ho persisted in liis_ story, and eventually it was accepted with, due apologies.

A \veH-kna<ni Albur.y farmer, Says the Timaru "Herald." has grown an extraordinary crop of oats this year. In a 120-acre' paddock the crop has grown to a height of- six feet practically all over, :and it is proportionately-well headed. - A similar T crisp is 'tO 'bo'se ; en in the Pareora- district. To good soil and the abundant rains of tho oariy part of tho season is attributed the abnormal growth.

The unemployed question lias again cropped up in Dunedin. It is said that (says the "Press's" correspondent) tlio number of people on the borderland, or in the region, of want, nv.tst be about 300. Representations are to bo made ta tho nublic bodies to put some works in hand at once.

A special meeting of the Petono F'iro Board was held yesterday afternoon for l.ho purpose of selecting a permanent fireman for the borough. 'The proceedings woro in committee. Nino applications wero considered, and it is understood that tlio final selection will take place to-day. ,

A proposal that Petono should inaugurate a municipal motor-bus servico ,-wij.l be made at Monday night's meeting of tho Borough Council by Councillor Findlay.

Councillor Findlay will move at Monday's meeting of tho Petono Borough Council assistance be given to the Wellington Early Settlers' Association regarding their proposed manorial on the Pet-one foreshore.

A correspondent, "One Vote Ono Value,"- whose letter appeared yesterday, points out that in the table of figures he presented the figures 2199 were inadvertently written instead of 2200.

Fresh fish is plentiful in Wellington at present.. Tho wnrehou season has commenced, and it is reported that tlio Municipal Fish Market could got almost any quantity desired. Trout (fresh and smoked) is coming down from Lake Tanpo. It is sent by coach to Waiouro then railed to the city. .

I "You must remember, sir, that it is costing us £500 a year to keep the traffic in order in this city," said Mr. J, O'Shea, city solicitor, in making application for costs in a by-law ease at the Magistrate's .Court yesterday morning.

At a meeting of tlio Makara County Council yesterday morning a request was received from the council's five roadmen for an increase of sixpence per day in wages. It was stated that the request was made on account of tho high cost of living. The increase was granted on condition that tho men conformed strictly to their hours of employment, vis;., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They woro also to give an undertaking that they would traverse the whole of their respective sections of roads on wet days.

Tho annual eonfereneo of the New Zealand United Master Baker*' Industrial Association of Employers opens in Auckland oil Tuesday, January 13. Today several master bakers from various parts of tho Dominion passed through Wellington, en route to Auckland. Mr. \V. A. Kelknv, president of the association, left to-day with Mrs. and Miss Kellow. They are motoring through. Owing to the advent of automatic bakeries, tho conference is likely to prove of exceptional interest.

Certain sections of the tramway tracks of the city aro in rather a unpleasant condition just now. Tho periodical tarring and saiidms is in progress, and several miles of line are to be dealt with, Tho caw run very noisily over the newly-sanded portions, and tho sand every now and then whirls up in gritty geysers to entertain (and smother) the passers-by.

A new agreement between tho Wellington City Corporation and the Wellington Tramway Union ,of Employees is in covii'se of preparation. The old agreement expired while (he rocent strike was in progress. Tho union has drawn up proposals, and communicated tlmm to tho City Council. Tho council referred tho proposals to tho Tramway Board, which went- into the mutter as far as'-It coisld, and then reported'to tho,Tramway Committed of the council.."Tho Tramway Committee met, yesterday.' and considered the board's ■. report;- and dealt with some matters nutounhed by the. boird. . Xothinfi definite is' yet available,as J<r,the.;civic,.authorities'/ 1 attitude towards .the 1 ' union's proposals. r .,