LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2695, 15 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

On account of the war, the annual visit of the members of the City Council to Wainui has been abandoned for this year. Last week, during the very hot weather, the waters of Lyall Bay wero infested with a species of huge jolly fish, varying in size from a saucer to a large dinner plate, and weighing from three-quarters of a pound to a pound and a half. They are a peculiar, nearly transparent mass of jelly, fringed arouud_ with a black hairy-like fringe, and said to be capable of producing a stinging rash if trodden on or collided with. Naturally, they caused somo perturbation among the many bathers, preventing quite a number from enjoying a dip. Ou Sunday, as a result of tlie southerly which came up 011 Saturday, the beach for the whole length was strewn with the jelly fish, but yesterday morning the water was again quite clear of them. Wharehou are very plentiful in tho harbour at the present time. On Sunday last a largo haul was made in Karaka Bay by Dr. Parker and Sir. W. K Bock, by means of a net set off the shore. Over fifty lish were caught, including a fey moki, tho average weight being over 2ilb. The firm of Townsend' and Paul are having the half of their cellar accommodation in Allen _ Street insulated. With cool storage it is Imped that in the case of fish and certain kinds of fruit they will ho able to control tho market better than at present, when a glut means so much loss to the fisherman or tho fruit-farmer as the case may he. The contract for fitting the Waihora with refrigerating machinery has been secured by Jlr. R. B. Grange, of Wellington, agent for the "Viltcr" machinery. Up to. the present over ninety cases have received the attention of the War Relief Association of Wellington.

The reclaimed lands of tho 'Wellington Harbour Board at Te Aro have not been utilised as rapidly as was contemplated would be the case. The rush for business lands in the City has | never been an acute one, thanks to the reclamation policy of the board. Some years ago it offered those made lands between tho southern section of Jervois Quay and tho waterside, and though soveral were taken up, only tho Odlm Company built there. Most of the other leasos fell in. One of these sections is now being built on by John Chambers and Company. The first indication of what is to come on tho other side of Lower Taranaki Street is a building that is being erected for the Westport Coal Company on the corner of Cable and Lower Taranaki Streets, where the Harbour Board has an extensive block for lease. The new building, which has been designed by Messrs. Penty and Lawrence, and is being built by Mr. W. H. Bennett, will be a substantial twostorv ' brick building, with a frontage of 53ft. to Lower Taranaki Street by one of 40ft. to Cable Street. The lower floor will bo fitted as offices, and tho upper floor will be left without partitions for the present. The building will bo faced with red pressed bricks, aJid will have o. roof of Marseilles tiles. In the presenoo of the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and an officer of the law, an art union for an art bedspread, made and presented by Mrs. E. S. Gillespie, of Brooklyn, was drawn yesterday afternoon. The -winning number was No. 183, held by Miss Rigg, of Golder's Hill. A start was made yesterday to fit the Town Hall up for the purposes of the Patriotic Industrial Exhibition, -which is to open there on Saturday next. The fitting work is being supervised by Mr. E. T. Doddrell.

A popular innovation was introduced at Everybody's and tho Empress Theatres yesterday, wlien a cup of tea and bisciuts were served to each person in the audience, daring each session up till 6 p.m. The china used for tho purpose was of an unusual and dainty design. It was oblong in shape, of a dainty Japanese design, with the plate and saucer in one piece. The cup stood in a deep rim to prevent it sliding when being passed, round or held in the patron's band. Judging by tho way the idea caught on yesterday it should soon become as popular in Wellington as it has in other centres overseas where the picture show and light refreshment have become synonymous.

An effort is to 'bo made in AYellington to celebrate the tercentenary of Shakespeare, an event to be marked by many gatherings and performances in England and America. Mr. J. Culford Bell has convened a meeting for Friday evening next, when a proposal will bo made to arrange for some performances in keeping with the event.

At the Petdne Court yesterday, before Messrs. A. Coles and E. Jones, J.IVs, James O'Brien, who had two previous convictions against him, but who had already been 48 hours in gaol, was convicted' and discharged for drunkenness. A first-ofi'eiidiug inebriate was also convicted and discharged.

Inquiry is being made into the conditions under which tJio engine-cleaners in ' the Government railway yards in Wellington work. They have complained of a shortage of wasto for cleaning work; that too tr.ucli work is given to each cleaner, and that the system of iining the men is oppressive.

The first annual Te'uuiou of members of the National Ikaei vo will bt held on February 29.

A special'meeting of the City Council will be held on Friday next to consider requests by sections of the Corporation's employee*! for increased wages.

Military ardour at tho present time is doubtless a thing to be fostered and encouraged. Nevertheless it has its limits, as was demonstrated at the Juvenile Court, Christchurch, when two smali boys wore haled before Mr. 'I'. A. 13. Bailey, S.M., charged with discharging firearms near a public thoroughfare. It transpired that the lads, seized with patriotic fervour, had endeavoured to increase their of&ciciency as of \ their country, and, improvisiug a target in their back garden, in blissful ignorauco or disdain of more civil law, had strenuously endeavoured to improve their shooting capabilities with the aid of a pea riile. The Magistrate endeavoured Tso convince the lads of the true proporwon of things, that the civil law mnsfc be obeyed, and pointed out the seriousness of using firearms in the city, especially as in this case one of tho bullets had missed the target, and, penefcratiSß the window of an adjoining house, had lodged in the opposite wall. After being admonished the lads were discharged.

The progress of the training in Egypt of the lirst and second battalions of the jS'ew Zealand Riile Brigade is described iii an interesting letter received by Mr. ,lohtt llonayue, a King's Empire vet cran residing at' Whangarci, from his grandson, Rifleman B. O'Connor, a member of the first battalion of the brigade. "We are having' very solid training indeed now," he says in a letter written just before Christmas, "go-ing-pretty well night and day; and though wo are all much thinner we aro as fit and strong as horses. ■We aro cut down to war rations and often find ourselves Hungry, but we do not mind that, for we know it is all in the gauio of war, and wc aro now thoroughly disciplined. ■We see butter only every other day, and then a limited supply. We are getting plenty of route marches and night attacks, and also bivouacking out at night. We aro expecting a big stir up herS any day, for the country is composed of all sorts and all kinds, including a very large percentage of Turks.' The place is full of spies, who aro stirring up discontent and ill-feeling among the Arabs and aliens. We carry t all ammunition, every time va go on a march in case of accidonts, and even on leave after dark every man carries I an. army revolver and. ammunition with him." '