LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 131, 20 February 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A witness stated during the hearing of a motor collision case in Masterton on Monday that he had orders for 600 British-made motor-cars for delivery at the termination of tho'war.

Referring to the management of harbours and harbour works in his presidential address before tho annual meeting ,of tho Now Zealand Society of Civil Engineers yestertfay, Mr. J. Blair Mi son said: "1 think it was remarked by a member last session that it tooktbree years to educate a county councillor, and- if that wore true all round it would bo desirable that ii period of probation should elapse before a menilxT of a local body, not being an expert, should exercise bis vote on matters which may mean tho discontimmnie and undoing of sanctioned works costing much money which is thereby wasted." .

Chagrin and disappointment'were immediately evinced by a plaintiff in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. He had brought a claim against a neighbour to recover the amount of damage alleged to have been caused by defendant's son, who was stated to have broken windows in plaintiff's house. Plaintiff had not gone very far with his evidence when ho was interrupted fay the Magistrate, who explained to him that a father was not responsible for the wrongs of his boh unless the son was tho father's servant. In tho present case the son was too young to be a servant, therefore, judgment must be entered for defendant. Plaintiff left the witness box somewhat wiser than when he entered it.

A meeting was held in the Lower Mutt Council Chambers last evening to consider the question of establishing a branch of the Central Chamber of Commerce there. The Mayor, Mr. H. Baldwin, presided, and a number of other business men were present. After a genoral discussion Mr. J. Wray was appointed secretary, and it was decided to adjourn until next Wednesday. It is anticipated that the branch will be established with a membership of about twenty-five.

Advice has been received by Mr. P. Fraser, representing the Labour Representation Committee, that it is the intention of the Government to introduce next session legislation to give the right to hulk keepers and their, wives throughout the Dominion to exercise their votes at elections.

Winners of free places who were refused admission to the Wellington Girls' College owing to lack of' accommodation and who aro still desirous of entering- the institution, are asked to notify Miss Iktham in person, not later than Friday next.

A mining suit came before Mr. S. E. M'Cartiiy, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when the Mammoth Molybtlenili Company, Ltd., sued Frederick John Lysnar for £112 10s., share moneys alleged to be due. After hearing evidence, the Magistrate reserved his decision.

Two first olfemlers for drunkenness were fined 10s. each yesterday by Mr. M'Carthy, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court.

It i« customary during; the annual conference of civil engineers for the delegates to make trips to the various works of engineering interest in tho city or district. The delegates to the conference now sitting in Wellington will visit the patent slipway at KvansBay, and the ■Wellington Gas Company's works at Miramur to-morrow afternoon.; the Karori reservoirs on Friday morning, the I'etone Jiailway Workshops on Friday afternoon, and various municipal works on Saturday morning. "Lord Forrest, uf>Buubury, in the State of Western Australia"—this is

tho title to be adopted by Australia's lirst poer (says tho Melbourne."Ago").

A matter of some liitlo scientific importance 10 the exact professions whs touched on 111 tho council's report to the iNew Zealand Society of Civil iiingineers in the passing mention of the Wellington Philosophical Society's pamphlet on the proposal to alter iNew Zealand's standard time. The eifect of tho proposal is to make tho time twelve hours ahead of Greenwich time instead of 11} hours as at present, and at tho same time 10 get nearer the correct time- by solar measurement. At present we lag as much as a quarter of an hour behind in some parts of New Zealand —that is to say, that when the sun is as the meridian our clocks point to 11.45 a.m. instead of noon. Mr. \\. 11. Morton spoke favourably of tho proposed change, particularly as tramways manager in Wellington, as the change would put forward the peak load periods. A copy of the society's pamphlet was placed in the hands of the members, and will be included in this year's proceedings.

In its annual report to the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers, presented yesterday, tho council drew attention to what they considered a pernicious custom that should not be tolerated. The paragraph read:—"The council has watched tho interests of tho society by noting the forms advertising issued by local authorities for engineering services, and has taken notion in throe cases by drawing attention to the fact that it is undesirable that engineers should bo aeked to compete by tendering the remuneration required for their services, and urging upon local bodies to fix tho rate of salary to bo paid."

''Thcro are in tho Dominion 45 harbours controlled by boards/' said Air. J. liluii , Mason in his presidential address at. tho Civil Eiijjineers' Conference yesterday, "26 ot which huvo a collective loan indebtedness of nearly i)?,I2Oj(JUU with assets other than cash valued at £8,440,01)1), and total annual charges lor interest and sinking funds amounting; to £35U,0U0. Tho loan indebtedness of tho terminal aud main ports, viz., Auckland, Napier, Wellington Lyttclton, Timaru, Dunediu, and tho Blulr! amount to £5,40U,000. -Most of theso ports possess landed property of great prnspectivo valuo, notably at Auckland, Napier, Wellington and Diinedin, where the ondowmcnts'of land and land leclaimcd from the sea are city latds mid tho sources of considerable revenues which are in every case increasing every year. For example, the port of Dunedin possesses 145 acres of land in the city of Dunedin available lor leasing. From the portion fully absorbed into tho city rentals at the rate, of £1500 per acre are obtained. When it is remembered that Dunedin, liko < ther towns in New Zealand, is in its infancy, it can ho predicted that such an estate- will some (lay provide a revenue large enough to meet the cost of harbour improvement and maintenance. . . Tho position, however, with respect to some of the subsidiary coastal ports cannot bo said to be generally assured. Where little or no trade has developed the oponing up of the land by railway or road may effect a diversion of traffic and result in the stagnation or ruin of a port. In the, meantime money has been spent on improvement works which in the future may become useless, aud the port authority may have contracted liabilities whMi it finds itself impossible to meet."

A severe earthquake was felt at 1 .'ls this morning.

Tho Inspector of Awards (Mr. It. 'J'. Bailey) proceeded against 1 , . Mills, licensee of the Royal Hotel, Lambton Quay, to recover a penalty for employing a female during tho neriod from November 5 to 23, 1917, and did fail to pay her the rate for a general hand as required ■by the j;otel workers' award. Tho breach was- admitted 1,,y Mr. O'Loary, who appeared for tho defendant. Ho explained that the worker was engaged as a relieving housemaid, and Mrs. Mills was under tho impression that sho could put her to other work. Tho woman worked only 32 hours in tho week, or 20 hours less than provided by tho award. Judgment was given for plaintiff for 20s. ami costs.