LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2422, 30 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The price of butter in Dunedin was increased 0110 penny per pound yesterday, making the retail price Is. 4d.

A week's celebrations in connection with the jubilee of the Blenheim Methodist Church terminated on Sunday, the final service being conducted by the Rev, Mr. Dawson, President of 'the Methodist Conference. The celebrations were of a most successful character. the financial result being over £400, —Press Association.

Tho total amount realised by the two patriotic concerts held in Mastertou last week was £1902 6s. Id 'Die flag presented by the AY.F.C.A. realised £1278 6s. at auction.

Tho petition for a poll on the Saturday half-holiday question was signed by about 11,400 people. The Saturday Half-Holiday Association considers that 7.588 of these signatures are valid. About 4000 signatures are required to secure the poll.

For betting in a small way as a sideline a wharf labourer was yesterday lined £20 with costs, tho minimum penalty for the oß'cncc, says a Press Association telegram from Auckland.

Those who have not yet made certain that their name is on tho municipal district electors' roll should make certniu bel'ovfl >5 o'clock . I hit ivfteruoon, the time- of the elotsius oJ' tho roll.

Having received information to the effect that the Commonwealth Government had reserved all refrigerated space available in steamers trading to South African ports, and that oil this account. New ZoaJand butter for that market was being shut out, the Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce sent a cablegram to the New Zealand Go yermneiit Agent at Sydney 011 March 25, asking linn to ascertain the position, and to make special inquiries as to how it would affect the April, Slay, and June shipments. A reply has now been received from the Agent, in which lie states that all the available space on the steamers duo to leave via South African ports has been booked either ir the transport of troops or for the carriage of meat. He also states i that there is more meat offering than can be accommodated, and that it is probable that these conditions will obr tain for the next few mouths.

After rather a dull spell—one which has been accentuated uy the war — aro stated to be signs of reviving life iu the suburban land market.Five and six-roomed houses within easy reach of the city are still at a premium, and it is urged that the inevitable result of such a demand must moan a. quickening in tho building trade where land is available. The owners of the "Brightlands" Estate, some twentythree acres of hillside ou the eastern slopes of Island Bay, waited on tie Finance Committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon, with, the request that the council should complete the mating of Melrose Street (already planned) as far as the block mentioned, so as to give access to the estate. At present the plan shows a road called Solwyn Street, traversing the lower boundary of the block (on city land), but the line is not a good one for a well-graded road, and the City En-, gineer lias suggested in lieu thereof that a road should traverse the block itself from the head of Melrose Street in a southerly direction, ultimately connecting up with Liffey Crescent. Tho. deputation, which included the Hon. C. H. Mijls and Mr. John Gallia, were asked to submit an offer to defray half the cost of such a which was the best offer tho council could make. Whether such an offer will bo mado remains with the land-owners.

The old prder changeth. An archi-. tectural change of some note is about to bo effected 011 Lambton Quay by the demolition of the old Club, Hotel, and its replacement .by a, modern hotel on the best of lines. The existing wooden building, which has been in existence for nearly forty years, is now being razed to the ground by Messrs. M'Lean and Gray. Nothing'very decadent has been fouud in the timbers, which would have served just as well for the next, ten years as for the, past decade. Here and there tho worm has got into a bit of sap, but the weqther-bqarding and flooring, all of good quality kauri: appear as sound as the day the. building was erected. The plans for tlje new Club Hotel are bein" prepared for Mr. 0; Dwycr (lessee) by Mr. Henry E. White, of Wellington and Sydney. Tenders will bo called shortly after Easter.

The revolutionary "halfiwatt" electric lamp, which gives equal lighting power whilst consuming 50 per cent, less current is interesting tfie wholo world, according to electrical experts. At first it was thought impossible to apply tho idea to lamps of less than 500 candlerpower, and, indeed, for a long time no progress was mado. Then it dropped to -100 oandle-power aiid 250 caiidlerpower. Yesterday Mr. George Lauchlau, city electrio light manager, informed a Dominion reporter that 100 ca,ndl'e-power lamps had already- reached Wellington, and that the City Council had some on order "for street lighting purposes. Those lie had seen in Wellington were made in Holland, but others were being made, lie believed, in England and America. Those "half-watts" he had ordered were actually cheaper than the ordinary lamps, which indicated that apart from the enormous; saving in current, tho lamps were not going to. cost any more than the ordinary metallic filament lamp.

A Press Association telegram from Duuedin states that of the twelve nurses required by the Commonwealth from New Zealand, five were ready to go from Duuedin within four hours of the request.

Despite frequent, calls, the Public Hospital Saturday collection at Napier realised over £300. When the boxes from the country districts are received it is expected that the total will reach £500, says a Press Association telegram.

Many Wellington artists and picturelovers will have some recollection of Mr. G. P. Nerli, the Italian painter who spent soma considerable time in New Zealand, but whose genius perhaps was not so well appreciated as it deserved. He vanished from colonial ken some years ago, returning to his native Italy, and few New Zealand patrons of art had taste or prescience enough to obtain examples of his art. Now, after a long interval, he is heard from again. He has written to an artist acquaintance in the north, from London, prophesying that "Italy is sure to CO rue }n" to help the Allies crush the Kaiser, "I think I am too old to be called when Italy starts," he says, "but still you never know what may happen."

Yesterday afternoon a deputation from the Onslow Borough Council, consisting of Mr. C. C. Crump (Mayor), Councillor Lynneberg, and Mr. Abrahams (borough clerk), \\-aited on the Finance Committee of the Wellington City Council in connectou with certain clauses in the draft agreement submitted by the City Solicitor iu connection with the septic tank arrangements There the city has acquired certain lands for .-tlio treatment of drainage from Wadestown, ' and a portion of Karori, and thero also the Onslow Council lias a tank for the treatment of Kaiwarra drainage. Tho differences concern what tho city offers and the borough desires by way' of septic tank provision for the treatment m the future drainage of the whole of tho borough. No satisfactory compromise was arrived at yesterday afternoon The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) promised due consideration of tho borough's proposals.

Yestorday, circulars were sent out to the Labour unions of "Wellington and suburbs, urging them to affiliate with the "Workers' Education Association, which was formed hero on March 8. Four unions had joined the Association before the circulars were issued.

The position regarding employment and unemployment in Wellington is still very satisfactory, according to the Labour _ The Departmental report on conditions in the city during the weak ended March 29 shows that outside the ranks of the general labourers there appears to bo very little unemployment. During the ■ \\eek forty-nine general labourers applied' for work, and seventeen of them were placed. The total number of workseekers on the books of the bureau yesterday afternoon was forty-six.

At a meeting _ of the Poneke Lodge, U.A.0.D., held in Petone last evening, an election was held to fill the position of secretary, vice Mr. H. "Wynyard, resigned. The election was contested bv Bros. P. Townsend, A. Skinner, A. W. Smith, and J. "W. Greenwood, and resulted in Bro. Townsend 1 being returned'' by 33 votes to 13. The election was carried out on a proportional representation basis.

At a meeting of the Public Safety (Patriotic) Committee at Timaru yesterday,- on tho motion of Mr. G. >S. Gray, it was resolved to write to the Christeluirch Committee requesting it to convene a conference of such committees in New Zealand with a view to arranging a uniform scheme of relief for soldiers' dependents and consider the advisability of a federation for responsibility.— JL'resi Association.

A committee meeting of the Welling ton Amateur Operatic Society was lui3 hist evening, wlien a balancp-sheet tor the year was presented, showing society to be in a sound'financial position. The annual meeting of the society will bo held oil a date subsequent to the Easter holidays, when future activities will be discussed. It was mentioned that the Palnierston North So-" cicty intended to produce "Paul Jones" at au early date, and it was decided to loan that society the scenery and dresses used in the Wellington pro: d notion oil certain terms should suitable dates be available the society will probably stage another opera during the approaching winter.

There is said to be every probability of a team from Trentham Camp taking part in the Wellington llugby Union's senior championship this season. A great many Rugby players are ill camp at the present time, and a team equal to representative strength could be gathered.

Good progress is being made with the new building for the Wellington Institute. The structure which was commenced in July, is expected to be ready for occupation by September The contract price is £10,980.