LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3023, 9 March 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Wellington resident who bad been drawn in ono of the military ballots, and had not condosconded to take any hoed of the faot, was arrested by a picket of soldiers yesterday, and sent to one of tho military camps.

A man who enlisted in the city yesterday had an unusual experience. Ho is a seafaring man, and his boat was not long in port when he answered tho call. When the captain learned of tho fact ho approached the military authorities for the exemption of the man, as tho vessel was about to sail for the other end of the globe, and would be held up if tho man wero not allowed to rejoin the crew. _ This was arranged, and the position is now said to be that the young recruit receives leave until the arrival of the vessel at its destination, and that he may then join an English regiment at tho Now Zealand rate of pay.

A. strange kind of "worker" has boon making himself a nuisance in Wellington. He is the man who ar>plios to the Labour Bureau for work, has a job found for him, but never turns up at the place of labour. Sovoral men have played this curious triok of late, and they have not only inconvenienced their would-be employer, but have kept some real worker temporarily out of employment. Tho Labour office states that strict attention is being paid to these so-called workers, • and that their position will be considered if they again apply for work.

In view of the circular letter forwarded by tho Post Office authorities to householders, intimating that letters may not bo delivered in tho city unless the correct house numbers aro indicated on bucli houses, the_ By-laws Committee of tho City Council desires to draw the attention of householders to the fact that the duty of placing numbers on houses rests upon tho owners. Numbers for houses already in existence have been supplied by authority of the City Engineer's office, and anyone who is in doubt about tha number of his house can always obtain correct information from that Department.

In a letter received by Mrs. H. J. Darroch from her son (Jack), ho states that ho cannot speak too highly of tho treatment received from tho Austtalian doctors and nurses whilo in the 2nd Australian. General Hospital. The writer left New Zealand with the Ninth Roiiiforconients, and this is the first time ho has had to leave his regiment. However, at the timo of writing, ho expected to be soon able to return to tho firing-line.

From time to time reports are made to tho effect that there is £ shortage i.f labour in the country districts. Nevertheless, the Labour Department states that there aro nearly always men offering for farm work, and that they practically never have an application from a farmer to know if they can provide assistance. At present there is a small number of men on tho books ot tho Wellington office who are desirous of taking up farm work, but there is no request from farmers for men to tio sent along to them. During tho recent harvesb season tho city bureau registered a number of men for harvest work, but only one application from a farmer was received. Telegrams were sent to Masterton, Canterbury,, and Marlborough, asking if harvesters wero required, and the replies wero that the requirements could bo filled from labour offering locally* ,

Matters iii dispute between the biograph operators and their employers have been under consideration by the Conciliation Council, but yesterday it was reported that tbo conforonco bad terminated without an ..agreement haying been Tcathori. The dispute will now go before the Court df Arbitration. It is said that in by far the greater number of tho clauses tinder consideration agreement was reached.

Tho improvements that aro being mado to the fencing of tbo Basin Reserve have now taken definito shape, and an idea can now bo formed as lo what the ground will look like in its now setting; Tho ground from a line with Adelaide Hoad on the southern side, round to Cambridge Terrace on the northern side has been provided with a high close-boarcled) fence, _ supported every twelve feet or so with ft square reinforced concrete post, which gives the structure an air of solidity and strength. This new fence is built about 20ft. insido the old fence, which is still standing, ami the intervening •space, which will be about on a, level with tho- footpath, or perhaps graded slightly up from the footpath to tho base of the new fence, is to be turned into a garden, with shrubs and flowers in proper relation. Within tho new fence will he a graded grassed bank that will terminate in a walk to be raised a few feot above the level of the reserve. The fence terminates in handsome reinforced concrete lodgo gates that will be an architectural feature of tho scheme. If a now pavilion in keeping with tho scheme wero erected in place of tho osistinu; ancient structure an incongruous note- would bo silenced. Tho sum of £20 is appealed for by portion of the Twenty-third Reinforcements to provide a circulating library, which will he used by this reinforcement. When tho Twenty-third have finished with the books thoy will be used by returning wounded men and by subsequent reinforcements. Subsanptions will be gladly received for the above object at the office'of tins mpor, and donations should bo forwarded by Saturday morning.

Mr. 'Andrew Collins, on behalf of tlio "Wellington Operative Bakers and Pastrycooks and tbeir Labourers' Industrial Union of "Workers, has handed to the Mayor (Mr-J. P. Luke) the- sum of £62,. boing the net profit on the union's annual picnic beta on February 28. The amount is to ho donated to tho local lied Cross Fund.

The Otago and Southland drafts of the Twenty-seventh Reinforcements left for Trentham yesterday. They had a particularly hearty send-off. Tho total numbor is 3-11, the Dunedin group contributing 180, or 30 in excess of. the quota. Tho voluntary element bulked very largely.—Press Association. _ _ Notice that he proposes to criticise the systems of tarring Wellington streets, tarring the Hutfc Road, watering of the street channels, etc., was given by Councillor \V. H. Bennett at last evening's meeting or the council.

Tho City Council decided lost evening 'to waive its objection to tho clock over the footpath in front of a city hotel provided the owner substitutes numerals for the letters.

The Canterbury Education Board yesterday endorsed tho resolution of the New Zealand Educational Institute protesting against the exemption from military service of school teachers of private and sectarian schools, while tho 'State school teachers are called upon to join the Expeditionary Force.—Press Association.

Tho Masterton Bowling Club yesterday won the Booth Cup for the season in the final match played with Featherston at Carterton.

A draft amending by-law to give effect to tho City Council's decision to make annual, instead of half-yearly, water motor adjustments was approved! by the council last evening.

The war is interfering with. street lighting. Last evening the City Council decided that a renewed application for tho erection of street lamps at Orangi Kaupapa Road, Northland, should not bo acceded to, owing to tho fact that permits for tho importation of wire are limited by 1 the Ministor of Munitions to material required for renewals andl repairs, and then only in small quantities.

Last evening the Wellington City Council passed the following resolution:—"That, provided tho legal position pormits, the Karori Borough Council be charged current rates on their property situated at the Rigi, Northland, upon an assessment of £700, in lieu of tho amount previously charged upon, viz., £1465."

The Baths Coinmitteo reported to tho City Council last evening that they had been waited upon by a deputation representing tho residents of lielburn, Northland 1 , Taitvillc. etc., who urged that provision should he mado for a. swimming pool for the districts they represented. Tho committee intends to confer with tho City Engineer at an early date on the proposal submitted by tbo deputation, and make a report on! tho subject.

Tho season for deer-stalking in the Wellington district will bo from Juno 1 to July 31.

A complimentary luncheon was tendered at' tho Y.M.C.A. Hoste yesterday afternoon by the National j!,xecutivo -Committee of the \.M.C.A. to Messrs. H. M. Smeeton, Commissioner, who has just returned from Franco, and Mr. W. H. Wheeler, national secretary in Australia. Mr. H. V\. Kcrsloy presided. Thero wore, also prcsent:-Mr. C. P. Darnell (Masterton), Captain Sundstrum (Dunechn), Chaplain-Captain Seymour, and about twenty-five of the executive. Mr. Smeeton gave an interesting account ot his work and difficulties in Franco on behalf of tho Y.M.O.A.

A Dominion conference of representatives of both sides in tho bookbinding, letterpress, and lithographic trades will commence at tho Conciliation Council (Mr. Haggor presiding) at 10 a.m. to-day, when certain matters at present hefore the Arbitration Court •will be discussed with a view to a settlement.

Li the Magistrate's'Courb yesterday afternoon, Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., heard the conclusion of two actions in which Sarah Elizabeth Filer claimed from Elizabeth Kelly £200 and £70, moneys alleged to havo been lent by the plaintiff to dofendant. It appeared that the- parties, who were residents of Potone when tho cause of action arose, thought they would start a farm, and the plaintiff advanced £200. Tho question was whether this amount was a gift or a loan. The defendant received from the plaintiff a further sum of £70, and fir this she gavo an I O.TS. At tho hearing, the defendant maintained that the £200 was a gift, but admitted that the £70 was a loan. His Worship gave judgment for the claimant for the full amount of £270, with costs totalling £24 9s. Tho plaintiff was represented by Mr. Von Hanst and the defendant by Mr. A. R. Buuny.