LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2394, 25 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

No settlement lias yet been readied in regard to the manning of the stokehold of the Union Company's steamer Kbmata, and she is still detained at Auckland. Only two of five men required have bean secured, the company teftinitia the demand that six men jtdtouM lift AsaoclAtiMv

•' i The adjourned conference between the Prime Minister and representatives of the freezing and shipping companies in regard to the request by the Imperial Government that all meat for export should be retained for the Allies will be held this morning. The Prime Minister stated' yesterday that the arrangement made at the previous meeting was that he should draft a scheme and submit it to them as: exports for their opinion. , That would be done, and he had no doubt that , a workable scheme would he evolved.

When the tramway return mains were laid in the ground beneath the City footpaths eleven years ago, they were laid down' by the English firm of contractors, who evidently knew little of the qualities.of New Zealand woods. The mains were laid in a white-pine box, which was subsequently filled with' bitumen. On examination some months ago it was found that the boxing had rotted completely away in places, and m order to check any possiDle leakage or current it would' be necessary , to re-box the cables. This is how being done, the wood used being totara.

A rather dramatic and not altogether pleasant incident occurred on a local I bowling green on Tuesday afternoon, in which the status of a German resident who has undergone internment on Somes Island was called into question. The German in question is an old member of the club, and one who was formerly held m great.respect. For some offence against the law he was interned on the island, and was liberated again a few days ago, since when he has visited the green two or threo times'. When about to commence play on Tuesday afternoon, another member objected strongly to a member of an enemy country being allowed to play, and he personally objected to playing tie member in question. lie person most interested was dumbfounded at the speech, and after asking the speaker if he were in earnest and receiving an answer in the affirmative, picked up his howls and walked off the green.

An exhibit sept to the Panama Exhibition by the Wellington. Farmers' Meat Company consisted of lamb and beef. A mutton exhibit was also going forward, but it has been delayed owing to the uncertainty of the position in- regard to_ exports since the Government is acquiring the output for Imperial purposes. Nominations closed yesterday for the extraordinary vacancy on the Johnsonv'ille Town Board. There was only one nomination received, that of Mr. V. A. Mills, so that an election, becomes unnecessary. For some years past the people of Paraparaumu have been dissatisfied with their postal, telegraph, and telephone accommodation, though they. recognise that the storekeeper, who has for some years past been fulfilling itlio duties of postmaster, has done his work efficiently. Recently Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., wrote requesting the Government to erect a post office at Paraparaumu. He has now received the reply of the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, Postmaster-General, who writes under date February 23: —"In reference to your letter of February i, urging the erection of a post office building at Paraparaumu, I nave the honour to inform you that .the matter will have consideration in connection ' with the preparation of the Estimates for the ensuing year."

The members of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent celebrated the anniversary of the battle of Bothasberg last evening by gathering together et- the Empire Hotel to talk over old times. Colonel Porter, C.8., was in the chair, and_ there was a good muster of the old regiment. It was reported that.between 40 and 50 of the members had again offered their services to the Empire, and were at the present time serving with' the colours. -The toast of those at present on active service was drunk witli great enthusiasm.. The gathering concluded with the cnthusiastio singing of the National Anthem.

No fewer than 39 members of the Gieborne Rowing Chib have been accepted for active service. This quota represents practically half of the active membership of the club (80). Apparently (says the "Poverty Bay Herald") this does not represent the total of the club's response to the country's call, as 20 or 30 of the remaining members have also sent in their names to the recruiting officer. •

During the month' of January tha following stock was slaughtered at the Municipal Abattoirs2so cows, 430 bullocks, 73 bulls. 4664 sheep, 1072 lambs, and 23 calves. Of these,. 28 cows, 9 bullocks, 6 lambs, and 25 eheep were condemned. The number slaughtered represented an inereaßß of 117, cows, and a decrease of 81 bullocks, 848 sheep, and 117 lambs on the number slaughtered during January of the previous year. The total fees collected amounted to £458 95., being a decrease of £23 13s. 9d. . on the amount received in December. The quality of th'a stock slaughtered was prime.

' A very ancient rind for years an ex- ' tremely wobbly brick structure in Old i Customhouse Quay is at present being demolished. It is understood that the i building, which has been sadly out of plumb for a decade past, was originally, , built by Mr. Josepli Davidson as a sash and door factory, between 30 and . 40 years ago. <. As it had only a light t floating foundation, and was built on laud reclaimed from ,the old 1 Te _ • Aro foreshore, the weight, of the building and its contents caused the old structure to depart from, the strictly symmetrical, and latterly it has had quite a crazy aspect from the Old Customhouse Quay_ side, whilst preserving ita features. fairly well on the Wakefield Street front. After Mr. Davidson's time, it had many tenants—Bizzi, the plumber; North, the mattress ; maker; Smith and Alexander, plumbers; and Geo. -Remington,' plumber; but even the presence of so many handy men could not keep the building intact, and eventually it had to come down, in case someone accidentally leaned against _ it. The fine section on which the-old building stood is the property of Archibald Clark aud Sou, _ who at one. time contemplated building a warehouse thereon.A cottage in. fetono destroyed by fire at an early hour yesterday morning was owned by the Wellington Harbour Board, and was insured in the Standard Office for £60. The contents of the house were not insured.

■ The City' Corporation staff picnio will jbo held at Day's Bay to-morrow. If the weather is unsuitable, a, flag will ibe flown from the Town Hall tower, v The Chief Secretary of the Salvation 'Army (Lieut.-Colonel Powley) will oonJduot meetings at. Nelson on Sunday and. Monday, and on Tuesday at Blenheim! Tenders have been accepted by the Wellington Education' Board as follow: Horoeka School Reinstating outbuildings iand repairs), W. Whittaker; -Otara School (painting and repairs), L. iVaughan; Hinemoa School, S. S. Bailey; iMangarama School, S. B. Bailey ; Belivedere School, A. R. Wallis; Putura iSchool, 0. N. Goyton; Bidefoixl School, (Rose and Mason; Rangitunmu School, jßose and Mason jJPukehinau and Piikejtoi Schools, W. Whittaker. • lie board (reports -tot the tenders lodged' are tauoh. abbve the estimatee. At Tuesday's meeting of the Karori Borough Council, Councillor 'drew the attention of-the Mayor to 6omo letters written to the Press by an Anonymous correspondent, who, through jnkreading the rate notice, had based to grievance about increased rates upon ithe : assumption that unimproved: yalues lof Northland properties remain the same 515 in 1908. Councillor Heridereon point-s-'f out that a phrase "as it existed in 1908" had been taken by the correspondent to refer to unimproved value, (iwhereas in' the rate notice the phrase correctly referred to the borough of Karori. . A« the correspondent baa. sot feigned his name to his letters appearing fea the Press, it. was pleasing to note fthafr no oouncillor had" bean drawn m:to writing a reply. ' lie Mayor said 'that had the correspondent: taken- tie proper course and written to the Town Clerk the information he desired would Jbavo been forthcoming. ' Quite a large number of the New Zealandexs in Egypt lay stress in their letiters on the. exhilarating effects of the life in the field. Men who used ito complain about colds an^rheumatie touches' and- other minor bodilyjirfs Hrrite that they feel fit to jump over the . -E ■ ' Apart from the . fine + sense^ of satisfaction that glows the patnot who tfoes something, we shall find before this War- is over that stay-at-homes of the ladylike and timid type will think themB elves accursed they were not in , Egypt and hold their- manhoods cheap whUes any speak that went out with the volunteer forces. _ , ■' Daring the week ended. February lrf kpplioations - for employment were recsiv6d by tho L&bour Dopflrtmcivt froin 8 carpenters, 7 farm bands, 3 hotel, workers, and 40 labourers. _ Of these '4 farm hands were placed m employment, also 2 hotel workers, and 30 general labourers. This left 22 applicants if or whom work was still _i.he •Department has authority to send 30 'men to public works, out many of the applicants to take up this class if employment away from tbe city... The -reports received by the Department from the ohief centres "as to unemployment show that the position for the • week ended February 20, as compared :With previous weeks in the month, is improving. On. the who!© tn© ppsition as very satisfactory indeed, and not . inore acute than, during normal tymes. About 43 membors of the Brooklyn section of the National Reserve attended a parade held in the local schoolgrounds :on : Tuesday. Thirteen nominations were .received for the offices of sergeant and four corporals. The section is now about 60 strong.