LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2319, 28 November 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Intending passengers for the South Island should not overlook the fact that on and after Tuesday, Decombor 1, the ferry steamer will leave Wellington for Lyttelton at 7.45 p.m. instead of, 8 p.m. as at present., On Saturdays, however, the ,forry steamer will leave this port at 11 p.m., as usual.

Consequent upon the changes in the control of the Tramways Department of tho City Corporation, by which the City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) becomes general manager, on January 1, some re-arrangement of tho duties of officers of the City Engineer's Department will have to be made. Speaking on the question yesterday, tho Mayor stated that with his increased responsibilities as far as the tramways and clectrical enterprises wero concerned, Mr. Morton would not have the time to attend so closely to details in the engineering department, and new responsibilities would probably be placed on the Assistant City Engineer, especially as regards water and drainage, and on Mr. Paterson as far as street and general works were concerned. Mr. Luke is_ confident that the new arrangement will prove a satisfactory one, and that tho officors concerned will work conscientiously and enthusiastically for the services under their control.

The following resolution was passed at a meeting of tho Political Labour Representation Committee on Thursday evening, says a Press Association telegram from Duncdin: "That this committee, in view of the alarming Press reports that only some few days' supply of flour is in hand in the Dominion, enters an emphatic protest against tho apathetic attitude adopted by the Government and at once calls on it to' assume tho responsibility of protecting the people from the rapacity of the holders of foodstuffs; and further calls tho attention of tho public to the full powers conferred 011 tho Government by tho Regulation of Trade' and Commerce Act to seize flour or other foodstuffs for any purpose, including 'sale to tho public. 1 "

Cartloads of boxes and cases labelled in large blaok letters "Samoa", wcro shipped away to Sydney yesterday under a fire of lively comment from those who watched the operation on the wharf. These cases are the temporary receptacles of much Christmas joy from the relatives and friends of the advance section of the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force in Samoa, and it is understood that, thanks to the willing baiid of lady helpers who havo been attending to this matter at the Town Hall during the past week, no trooper at Apia has been forgotten. For convenience sike, the good tilings for the troops are being forwarded to Sydnoy for transhipment. ' Those who have expressed tho fear that the Christmas luxuries will arrive too early art Samoa to last over Christmastido need havo no fear of anything so distressing. The goods will nrrivo in convenient time for consumption during Christinas week. Two boys, aged 10 and 11 years respectively, left their homes for the Marist Brothers' School in Tasman Street last Tuesday, and since then they have not been seen or heard of. Tho police have reason to believe that the bo.V6 havo niade tlieir way to Trent-ham with the idea of joining tho Expeditionary Eorce, and consequently aro pursuing inquiries out there. The 'younger of the two boys lives with his relatives in Cambridgo Terrace, and is wearing a green jersoy, dark knickere, and sandals, while tho .other, whoso parents reside in Tory Street, is dressed in a navy blue jersey, grey knickers, and boots. Both wero bare-headed.

Mr. Borfc. Koylo lias been definitely informed that tho opera company that is being sent to New Zealand at Christmas will bo that playing the GilbertSullivan repertoire. The company will commence its tour of the Dominion at Auckland on Boxing Night—precisely a .year since it commenced business at Johannesburg.

Messrs. S. S. Williams and Co., cabinetmakers, of Taianaki Street, liavo made to the order of the Labour Department, two models of workers' homes in Now Zealand. The models aro to form part of the Department's exhibit at tho Panama-l'acific Exposition at San Francisco next year. Tho models will be exhibited in town nest week.

The Rev. Graham Balfour, 8.D., of First Church, Dunedin, will conduct the services at St. John's Church to-mor-row. The occasion is the Gist anniversary of tho congregation.

A curious position has arisen in regard to tho cargo brought to Auckland by tho steamer Purley, which arrived from'-. Nqw York last week. Tho vessel camo' by way of tho Panama Canal, and made a record voyage of thirty-soveu steaming days. As a result of this fast jour-.' ney, the cargo for Auckland arrived l somo tiino ahead of the mails, by wliicb* the consignors have posted tho papers, which it is necessary that the Auckland' consignees should have before they can J obtain delivery of their merchandise. As a result, a very considerable quantity of', cargo is now lyinj; undelivered on the) wharf, and is likely to remain thero until next week, when the first mail, arrives at Wellington by tho 11.M.5.-' Marama.

A meeting of the Wellington District Institute, N.Z.E.I. will lie held on Jiriday, December 4, at 8 p.m., in tho JSducation Board Buildings. The business will include the following resolu* • *>3 he moved by Miss Coad:~ . that the institute obtain a legal ' ion as to position of certain assistant teachers in Grade I, who have been'' some time in the profession, but who • are to be considered as newly-appointed i teachers under the new Education Act,' on the following matters: —(a) Salary, 1 (b) promotion ( 0 ) 6 u_ peranmiation. Further, if injustice can be proved, _ effective steps be taken to havo such injustice removed."-

The City Corporation has accepted the | tender of Messrs. Brcwn and Johnson ■' for the erection of a new bathing shed at Island Bay. The new structure, which is to be completed at the New Year, will be located about halfway between the existing bathing sheds, in the centre of the bay, well above Jiighwater mark. The new structure will be a wooden building 65ft. in length by 16ft. in depth, and will contain three apartments—a dressing room for men (30ft. by 15ft.), a resuscitation room (,15ft. by Bft.), in the centre, and a ladies dressing-room (15ft. square). Two structures for bathers of opposite sexes are also to be erected on the beach at Day's Bay. That for the men will bo practically an open shed! or dressing shelter, whilst the ladies' shed will bo divided into cubicles to ensure some measure of privacy. The council !has ap-' proved of the residents of the bay erecting a third structure, which will he fitted with a shower bath.-

A correspondent writes:— Politeness has its drawbacks. A traveller in . a cit.y tramcar, in response to a demand for "Fares I" requested "Two, please."Tho conductor heard "Two threes!"' detached, and clipped two three-section tickets, and indignantly declared when the passenger tried to explain that., he asked for a two-section ticket, that the irder was "Two threes," and that unless the tickets punched were accepted and paid for, he (the conductor) would have to bear the loss. The moral ia that patrons of our city cars should always use the word "section" or omit the polite addenda when addressing a conduotor. Perhaps the tramway manaeement will see the advisability of posting a small notice bearing on this matter in each car.