LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 202, 21 May 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The North Island section of the soldiers who arrived at Lyttelton by tho transport Carpentaria arrived here by the Mararoa yesterday morning. Of a draft of 45, five were for Auckancl and the remainder were for the Wellington district. The Auckland men left by the mid-day express. Members of tho Volunteer Motor Corps wero oil hand to convey tho local men to their various destinations.

"The day when woman was regarded as of minor importance and influence in connection with our national awl municipal life has gone for ever," said the Hon. G. W. Eussell at the Town-plan-ning Conference. "The interests of man in polities are usually confined to what may be termed the 'breeches pocket* of finance. On the other hand the interests of woman are in jTie direction of the home and the children. It is most important, therefore, that the women of tlie cquntry sTiould nave the opportunity of expressing their opinions upon the very important matters which are coining' before -this conference." A special committee consisting if the whole of tho women delegates was set up for the purpose of considering town planning from the point of view of the women, the children, and the home.

Courtenay Place as a business thoroughfare continues to progress with giant strides. The best proof of this is the steady accretions in value for land which offers' a business.frontage to the street mentioned. Only- n, few years ago =COO and .£7O per foot was considered a tall prico to give for land in that vicinity, and many shrewd speculators thought it had reached the top figure when sections changed hands at'.£Bo per-foot. They were evidently out in their calculations, as within a recent period one small section has been sold at .£llO per foot, and another, not far distant from the Tory Street intersection, lies changed ownois at ,£l5O per foot—the highest figuro over paid for land in Courtonay Place.

The Parliamentary Industries Committee, which lias 'been touring the country taking evidence on the Industrie's of the DominionT has returned to Wellington. The Commission met yesterday, but not for tho hearing of evidence. To-day, and for two or three days ahead, the committee will hear evidence. On Friday it will go into tho AVnirurapa district, taking evidence in Masierton, Carterton, Greytown, and possibly Maryborough, returning to Wellington next Monday. An audacious attack by footpads look place in the Treasury Gardens, East Melbourne, about 10 o'clock on the night of May 1, when a ; young man, Frank Oldham, was not.only robbed of what money h'e had, but was also stripped to his shirt. Oldham (says the "Argus"), who was formerly a soldier in the New Zealand Forces, had been visiting a friend in East Melbourne. On his way home he walked through the Treasury Gardens, and near the Treasury Buildings two men jumped over a fence and made for him. They attacked him, rendering him unconscious by a blow in the face, and rifled his pockets, taking about 255., a gold ring set with a moonstone, and his soldier's badge. They also stripped off his boots and socks and his suit. When he recovered consciousness hc,fonnd himself numbed with the cold.' A passing soldier lent him his overcoat in which to return to his friend's house, and on their way there they fell in with a constable, who also lent his overcoat. On getting fresh clothing Oldham made a formal .report of the outrage to the police

Referring to the difficulties of trans-1 port, during the course of his reply to the Arthur's Pass Tunnel League's deputation on Saturday, the Hon. W. D. S. Mae'Donald said that iron for the Public Works Department was held up in Australia. al3o 40,000 telegraph poles.. For the transport of 2,000,000 bushels of wheat bought by his Department there was only one ship available at present.— "Lvttelton Times."

Mr. T. Wilkin, manager of the Municipal Abattoir, at Ngahauranga, has reported lo the City Council that during April the following stock was slaughtered:—lssl sheep, 1981 lambs, 605 bullocks, 119 cows, 81 pigs, and 18 .bulls.'' In each case the number slaughtered was considerably in excess of the tally for April of last year. The total fees 'collected for April amounted to ls„ .£153 13s. in excess of those for Anril of last year.

A deputation from the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union is to wait upon the Wellington Harbour Board at this evening's meeting to urge that Iho board should provide accommodation for a restaurant and offices for the union.

• Eeception6 oannot bo afforded to every draft of returned soldiers without incurring some little expense. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), who has been unremitting in his efforts to afford every draft a- fitting welcome, states that he had to make arrangements for a band to be present on- the wharf, and as the drafts were fairly numerous it was not to be expected that the. members of tho band could sacrifice their my without some return, Towards the expenses so incurred. Mr. Luke recently received a substantial dona I ion from tho Lady Liverpool Fund. and. he mow acknowledges the sum of i"'.B Bs., received from Miss Yeomans. of Poscneath. and her friends. Though be Imd a fairly substantial balance in hand at present for receptions, contributions would still be welcomed.

The shooting comnetition for Ihe Western Electric Shield, among P"-t -mid Tclcrnph Territorial and Senior Cadet teams nf New Zealand, has been uiinplelcd. The oe.ly CatK lof..Ms niUcd were two representing the 50th Cnmnanv (Auckland), and against 11 other Territorial teams tliev seen red firs'- and second ulnce. A team scoH <I'U l-mnK and TS team •!"' uoivts. Hie I m-iinrial Icnni'' ro'n-eseiited comnnni.r: nt Wmnnnui AVellin«fnn, Blenli"'m. i\ T cl=ou. Auek-. land, Thinodin, and Chvi'Muirch. and their scores ranged from MS to 1-Jfi. A Wellington resident has received advice from a friend in a part of tho country which suffered severely from the recent drought, stating that he had purchased twenty sheep for ss. 6d.

Prior to the ordinary meeting of the Wellington City Council on Thursday week, a special meeting will be held to pass a resolution (by way of special order) accepting the surrender and granting a now leaso in respect of lots 10 and 19, Block 11, of the Te Aro reclaimed land. The property concerned is that under lease to' Messrs. Laery and Co., Ltd. The term under the provisions for renewal iu the new leases are to" be for 21 years in lieu of 11 years. The. provisions to be inserted in tho new leases as to the valuation of tho rentals for the first renewal period of 21 years shall .be varied as tho City Solicitor thinks necessary. Mr. Blsdon Best, in his paper on the bush settlers of tho early days of the Wellington district, stated that pit sawyers, in those days, received 10s. per 100 ft., and when his people came to Now Zealand they appeared to have struck a period of depression, for they got timber cut at ;)s. per 100 ft. It is quite unusual to see tho jury panel exhausted at the criminal session of the Supremo Court, but this occurred yesterday when Percy Cashman was placed on trial on a charge of assault. The Crown Prosecutor ami counsel fur accused both exercised their right' of challenge, and as there was one jury out considering a verdict tho panel was soon exhausted. Ten out of the twelve required had been secured, and the other two were chosen from tbe challenged men. The newly-elected Public Health Committee of the Wellington City Council is not letting the grass grow under its feet in respect to inquiring into living conditions and, the suitability of certain premises as living quarters. Yesterday morning the chairman of the committed (Mr. E. A. Wright), and some members of the committee, accompanied by the Chief Inspector (Mr. James Doyle), inspected certain premises in the Thorndon district which had been suggested for condemnation. The committee will report in due course to the council. On behalf of the New Zealand section of the Merchant Service Guild, the secretary (Captain F. A. Machidoe) has forwarded a letter of welcome to Adinmil Jellicoe and those on board H.M.Ii. New Zealand, now in Australia. Captain Macindoe also intimated that it was the guild's intention to welcome the Admiral personally on his arrival at Wellington. The following resolution was carried at a heeling of tho Railway Officers' Institute yesterday:—"That this Wellington branch of tho Eailway Officers' Institute emphatically protests against the unjust application' of the veto of the MiuUlvr, of Railways in the recent Longton appeal case. Such a ruthless misuse of power in setting aside a unanimous (Incision of the board robs an appellant of any cTianco of obtaining justice, and, further, reduces tho board to a farce."

The "'Now Zealand Herald" states:— The univ instance of a lainless month in the history of Auckland is February, 11)09. At this period no rain fell from January 30 to March 11. The February of 19DS was also remarkable in that, the total rainfall of .51in. for the month represented only one-seventh of the average for forty years. February of the present year also had a low rainfall. The total registered , was O.Slin., which was 2.13 in. belc.i tho average over sixtysix vears. February also has supplied the two highest montlilv totals on record, that of UU.iiii. in 1869, and that of 12.67 in. in 1(117.

At the Waihemo County Council meeting on Saturday last Councillor O'Conncli stated that a number of scheelite miners in tho county had been seriously affected by the Imperial Government suddenly ceasing to take the product of their industry (reports an exchange). The position was that all tho scheelite had been commandeered by the Imperial Government for the duration of the war and six months aftenvards, but recently they recencd n fortnight's notice that no more scheelite would be accepted. Ho held .that the Government had broken its agreement, as the peace was not yet signed. The miners wore asking that the metal should be taken for six months longer to enable them to clear up what tlicv had on linnd. Councillor O'Neill suggested that twelve months should be asked -for instead of six. Eventually, on the-motion of Councillor O'Cormell, seconded by Councillor Matheson, it was decided to approach the New Zealand Government with a, view to securing from the Imperial Government an extension of twelve months for the. acceptance of scheelite. '

In a Press Association message it was staled that the authorities eaniiot understand tho failure of the brakes which resulted in the train smash near Okjkune. A Christchurcli resident has stated to a representative of the ''Sun" that he was in an accident' near Pietermaritzburg, Natal, a few years ago, when a train ran-away-on a fairly steop incline. It was afterwards proved that when coupline;'up the train n railway employee had accidentally allowed a piece of waste lie was carrying to set into ilie flexible brake piping, with the result that, although the indicator on the engine showed that there was ample brake-power, this only' extended to one or two carriages, and when the'incline was reached it was found to he insufficient to stop the train.

Australia has provided a large portion of the exhibits at the Town-planning Conference, the Australian delegate who intended to come to Wellington have been kept away by the quarantine restrictions. Yodterflay the. Hon. G. W. Itusssll expressed his regret, as prcsidont of the conference, that circumstances had prevented the attendance of the Hon. H. 1). FitzGernld, Minister of Town Planning for New South Wales, the Hon; T. Huxham, Minister of Local Government, and llr. Gall, Under-Secretary for Local Government of Queensland;'also other delegates from Victoria, who were'unable to be present as they intended. r J lie conference lost very much in interest by the absence of Mr. FitzGerald, who, however, had forwardcd_ two papers. The Government, added Mr. Russell, was indebted for exhibits to the Hon. H. 1). FitzGerald, to die municipalities of Melbourne and Brisbane, to Mr. J. C. Bradfield, Chief Railway. Engineer for New South Wales, to the Government of South to Mr. Lloyd Jones, of Sydney, and to Air. Charles Eeade, South Australian Government Town Planner.

Tiie telegram from Christchurelt regarding the proposal to develop the coal measures at Fox's Hirer, about thirty miles south of Westport, has attracted a good deal of notice in Westport business circles, a Press Association message stales. It is suggested that a railway to Fox's Ilivor, faking en route Charleslon Field, the Four-Mile and the SixMile, nil large coal-beariui; areas, and using Westport as the outlet , would be an even 'better proposition than shipping from Woodpecker Hay. Facilities txist at Westport for handling treble the present output, and the Tauranga Bav line runs within ten miles of Charleston. The early completion of tho line lo Charleston is contemplated by private concerns, which have also in view the working of large timber areas.

The following resolution was adcp'red bv the Wellington branch of Hie Pailwav Officers' [nstituto ft a meeting yesterday evening: — "The Wellington branch of the Railway Officers' Institute emphatically protests against the unjust application of the veto of the Minister of Railways in the recent Longton appeal case. Such a ruthless misuse of power in setting aside the unanimous decision of the board robs an appellant of any chance of obtaining justice, and further reduces (he board to ft farce."

Messrs. Murdoch and Co., manufacturers, of Dimedi'ii, nro creeling substantial factory premises in Taranaki Street. Mr. Thomas Ward is the contractor.