LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3099, 1 June 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

During the past month one petition in bankruptcy was filed in AVellington, whilo 'thero wore none in tlw corresponding month of last year. l"or tho live months ended yesterday thero were three bankruptcies as against two for the saino period of last year.

Tho Napier draft for tho 30th Reinforcements, which left for camp .yesterday, included several returned soldiers, and also the father of two sons who are now lighting in France. in a - statement which appeared iu yesterday's .dominion, tue.ti.ou. Li. V. Jiussell made it very clear ttiat he- was entirely opposed to tiio men of tho Wellington Patriotic Society raising funds for the purchase of Air. \V. it. George's (late Air. Jolm ihithie's) JS'ai Nai estato for the purpose of a home for niontallvail'licted soldiers. . When consulted yesterday about the Ministerial statement Air. J. Lewis, secretary of tho society, stated that the Minister's statement was filial as. to tho purpose for which this estate should lie uurchased, and the proposal must lapse unless thero was another purpose for which this very beautiful homo and estate could be utilised in the country's service. Tho proposal had arisen through the fact that places had been secured at Auckland and Diinediu for such a purpose, and it was thought that the provision of another place near Wellington would bo helpful to the Government as well as boins an ideal placo for those temporarily afflicted as the result of their war experiences. As it was, the society was clad to know that full provision hud been made for all such cases.

In displaying the fire brigade's plant to tho now l'ire Brigade Committee of the City Council yesterday, Superintendent 11. Tait stated that the longest ladder in the possession of the brigade was (ifift., and it took six men to handle, it. The council had sanctioned the procuring of an un-to-dato 85ft. ladder, but unfortunately the war had broken out, and the English, firm to whom tho order was entrusted was unable to execute. The modem 85ft. ladder could be manipulated by one man, as against tho half dozen required to handle the 17-vear-old 05ft. ladder in tho possession of tho brigade.

As an indication of the rapid development of the suburbs east and south-cast of Mount Victoria—Hataitai, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, and Miramar—the load ror the electric lighting and heat for those places lias increased by 30 per cent, during the twelve months ended yesterday. This is a very remarkable increase for one year, reflecting a growth that lias probably never l>cen equalled in a similar period, and that during the stress of war-time. There has been a considerable increase in the current consumed at Kelburn, but other suburbs have not differed materially in tho demands made.

His Honour tho Chief Justice will sentence prisoners in tbe Supreme Court at .1(1 a.m. on Saturday.

The tender of Messrs. h'lotohor Bros., of Dunedin, has been accepted for the erection of the New Zealand Farmers' Institute iu Wellington. The building will occupy tho site at tho corner of Featherslon and Bnllance Streets formerly used as a coal, depot by Messrs. Thompson Bros, and Co.

The need oi' a sitting-room for convalescents has been felt at tho Kcatherstuit Camp Hospital for some tiuio past, ami through tho efforts of two ex-pati-ents and Mrs. Whatman, of Mnsterlon, this want ia being met. 'I'lio two soldiers, who understand ' bricklaying, offered to build in their own time a chimney and lireplaco in a room that has been used for other purposes. Tho material was estimated to cost JJS, and when Air. Whatman heard of the matter, ho at once sent a cheque for the amount. In addition to having a. cosy fireplitce provided, the P.M.0., Major Graham Robertson, is having tho walls covered- with linoleum to the. heigh t of a dado, and other improvements effected, so that during tho winter the convalescents will be able to find recreation and rest in a warm, comfortable loom.

As showing that there is money iu dairy-farming in the Wniraraua. savs our Masterton correspondent, it is re 7 ported that the milk chetjuo of one farmer, with a herd of fifty-six cows, has been .CllOO for the nasi season. The cheriue of another, with a herd of twenty cows, was JMIO. An agitation for an improved tram service for Northland has fjeen kept going by tho residents of the district for soma time now, and recently the North- 1 land Municipal Electors' Association and others forwarded letters to the City Council on the subject. At the meeting of tho council last nisht the Tramways Committee brought down the folioVing report, on the subject: "That they havo considered letters from the Northland Mnnicipnl Electors' Association and others for an improved tram service to Northland. The committee is of opinion that tho time has arrived when it is desirable that the city should'acquire at tho earliest opportunity, the portion of the Karori tramway between the Botanical Gardens and thp Karori Cemetery. They Tocommond that negotiations to this end be forthwith • entered upon. Tn this connection, they have instructed the Tramways manager to bring down a report respectine the suggested extension of the tramway to Northland." Tho council deferred consideration of the proposal until next meeting.

A regulation issued in Inst night's "Gazette" states that the Post Office will not bo responsible for the delivery of a letter by letter-carrier iinlesa tho name of the street and the number of the house are included in the address. Tf the.nddressee is a private-box holder, the number of the box must always bo given in the address if it is desired that the letter shall be delivered to the private box.

Tt is announced in tlie '"Gazette" that Mr. John Ixuircnson, of WelliiiKton, has been appointed censor of telegraph messages in Tespect of the telegTapli stations at or near Wellington. Mr. Laurenson succeed s Mr. G. G, Hose, the former censor.

A now and up-to-dato switchboard is to be provided i'or the .Central Fire Brigade Station, in order to simplify the working of the various electrical devices so essential to smart servic>. Iho new switchboard is to bo erected in the watch-room opposite the door, to provide room for -which tho room is to be enlarged by improving on the men's quarters. The now battery-room, now a par-| titioned corner of the watch-room, is to be erected by taking a portion of tho drying-room at the back of the station. Whilst the Fire Brigade Committee was inspecting the station yesterday Superintendent Tait showed what happens 1711611 one of tho street alarms is broken and the button pressed. Bells are set ringing all over tho station, the sensitive hand of a dial that registers the, different districts of the city (from 1 to 1G) points to a number, which indicate the locality of the fire; a clock stops"" dead on tho second tho alarm was received, and tho lights are switched on in the moil's quarters. This means that tho watchman may bo sound asleep when an nlarm comes, but it would not prevent every nmii from being mi the alert with-' in a second of the alarm's receipt.

A petition has been forwarded to tho City Council, 'signed by a number of residents, praying that the council permit the lessees of the Turkish Baths, iu Manners Street, to carry on the undertaking until at least other baths are substituted. On tho recommendation of the Finance Committee it was decided not to disturb existing conditions. regarding the occupancy of the Turkish Baths during the war. but it was stipulated that the tenants of the. baths' should givo an undertaking that they would snrrender that portion of tho land to bo leased to Mr. Gilmer, when renuired by the council to do so.

The Tramways management are still considering tho Question of the orovision of a tramway shelter shed at, tho nprthern end of Lambton Quay, in the vicinity of Government Buildings. The idea of building a shelter-shed in front of Parliament Buildings has been abandoned, as the council despairs of setting the consent of the Government to tho erection of suck, a building in such a place, and the present proposal is to move the stop southwards to a point opposite the verandahs on Lambton. Quay, south of Bowen Street. If this proposal is feasible the manager 19 authorised to put it into effect as soon as possible.

The City Council has decided to spend tho sum of ifilflO in replanting the bush destroyed. by fi.ro at the Karori Waterworks Keservc.

Petrol comes to New Zealand in cases which contain two tins, each holding four gallons. If a person's placo is considered reasonably safe, he will be granted a permit to store one cos© on tho promises. To store more than a case special provision has to bo made. ' As a -steady consumer of petrol the Wellington Fire Brigade has to have on hand a reasonably large stock of--petrol, and in order that it may he stored on'! the premises, Superintendent Tait has adopted-the Bowsor system of storage., I This consists of a large concrete tank/ (sunt in the ground under the hose-re-pairing and grading shop), which is capable of holding's3s gallons. This reservoir ss tapped by means of a patent suction pump, manipulated in a simplo manner by turning a handle—three revolutions to the gallon. 'From the pumphead the oil is conducted to the engine bv means of a hose. The pump registers accurately all tho petrol that passes through, so there"is no question of "leakages."' When the "Bowser" syslom of storage is more firmly established the oil companies will nrobablv doviso bigiror receptacles thn-n four-gallon tins for their export trado. A. request was made by a Kilbirnio, deputation, which waited upon the City/ Council last night, that the piece of land now named the Kilbirnie Keservc should bo called Crawford Park, in honour of the donor of tho oieco of land which formed tho nucleus of the reserve, .Mr. ,1. C. Crawford. It was urged that this was a proper compliment to pav to the lato Mr. Crawford, especially in view of the fact that Wellington had been sinculnrly unfortunate in having had vorv few public-spirited men to present such areas of Innd or other gifts to the City. The Mayor informed the deputation that he had that dav received intimation from some other residents that they would oppose the change of name, and the council would have to hear both sides of the question befovo coming to a decision.

Tho City Council last night accepted Hie following recommendation of thi Tramways Committee: "That an application for a tramwav waiting shed at the Highland Park train stop bo not srnnted, as the committee is of opinion that the traffic at this spot does not warrant the expenditure."

The Bov. H. Van Praverpn. who bus commenced n fun' 1 in Wellington for the relief of .Tews in vpsterdny forwarded to the Ch'"C Bnbbi "\ Lnmlo" Hie sum of ml. This, with the miinwd. forwarded a few dins am. makes ,\ |r,t;i| or ,CSM already sent. Durimr Mr. V !in Ktaveren's absence in Australia further contributions to the fund- nm\- be sent to Air. TT. One. « Willi* Street.

A notice- in this week's "Gazette" states that the Minister of Internal Affairs has approved of the fund established by the New Zealand branch of the British Bed' Cross Society and the Order of St. John. The Minister's formal approval is necessary under the War Contributions Validation Act, 1911.

Tho results of the biennial election of members of firo boards by insurance couiDanies are announced in this week's Gazette. Messrs. T. P. B. Ching, H. B. hempthorno, and C. It. Smith havo been elected to the Potdne Fire Board by tho companies.

Richard Shcohnn, a gunner on homo servico at tho Alexandra Barracks, last night fell from a window in. tho fourth story of that establishment. Ho broke his left leg and sustained internal injuries, and had to be removed to tho Hospital. It seems not improbable that his fall may imvo been broken by the electric light wires outside tho building. Jus condition last night was not regarded as very serious.

The president of the Methodist Conference, the Rev. W. A. Sinclair, has, sa . vs a -Press Association telegram from Auckland, announced that an anonymous Auckland resident had donated .£SOO to tho loreign Missions Funds, if conference would aim at .£IO,OOO as the Dominion's contribution this year. Reports from southern circuits had been so encouraging that ths donor's cheque wae already on its way to-the Missions Board m bydney.

I have heard it is costing the Government i-3 per head per week to keep the Germans on Somes Island." This statement was made by a member of a deputation of returned soldiers waiting upon Sir James Allen yesterday. Sir James Allen at once said that the report was incorrect, but afterwards he said that lid,did not know exactly the cost per head, if the expense of keeping the guard and running the steamer across to the island were taken into account. Ho did know that the cost of food for the prisoners was lees than 2s. per day, but Iho supply of water was expensive, as the whole supply had to bo carried across to tho island.

This is the day of the second "surprise bag" effort for tho beneEt of tho Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund. In a paragraph announcing the coming of this event, it was stated that every tag would contain an nrticlo\worth tho shilling that it would cost to purchase it. This is not so. The committee guarantee that tho contents of every bag will be worth not less than threepence, and of course there ~aie prizes which arc worth many scores of shillings which are to be won by some lucky purchasers. . '

Whilst tho now Kre Brigade Committeo was inspecting the Central Fire Brigade Station yesterday afternoon, tho Superintendent (Mr; H. Tnit) explained that a ■very common nuisance was tho . person who rang up on tho telephone and said: '"Iliis house is on hre-rcorae at once!" or perhaps it was-. "The house next door's on fire, please hurry up and put it out!" Having said something like the above, they ring off as a rule at once, and leave the men guessing at the address. People should remember that "Wellington covers a widespread area, and that the brigadesman at the telephone ia not gifted with powers that enable hits to know, where a house is on lire without being told. Tt was always best to know where a fire was, without having to look for it. As the brigade has only one telephone which may be employed when there is occasion to give an urgent call, a second wire is to be provided between the exchange and the station, which mil "nave the same number as the present one. ■

On June 9th and lOlh' noisois producing on request n Crippled Soldiers' Hostel irt ticket stamped on the front "Llovd, Jeweller," Teceive a present of jewellery or silver date: JE2S worth now on view iu Lloyd's window, Lambton Quay, will be given away.*