LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 31, 31 October 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Post Office Savings Bank transactions for the September quarter showthat 26,143 accounts, were opened and 20,206 closed. There were 309,090 deposits and 244,201 withdrawals. The aggregate of. the deposits was 9s. Sd., and of the withdrawals, .£7,146,24!! 3s. Id., thus showing an excess of withdrawals over deposits of £61,283 13s. sd. In the corresponding quarter of. last year the deposits exceeded tho withdrawals bv ■£916,855 9s. lOd.

In renlv to an inquiry made at last evening's meeting of the City Council bv Councillor P. Eraser, it was decided thai; all casual labourers were to be paid at the rate of £'J 15s. a week, the rate paid to tho permanent han<i6. The eame rate of pay is to be given to the milk station workers.

The Auckland .Grammar School Board lias resolved to revert to the pre-war system of having- only male teachers (states a ?ress Association message).

A defect in the steering gear of a light, motor-lorry caused it to run amuck in Courtienny Place jytsterday■ afternoon. Tho vehicle was about to lie pulled up when the steering gear gave out and the lorry ran on to the footpath in front of the Colonial Motor Company's premises. No material damage wis done and the driver was not injured.

Sixty divorce cases are set down for hearing nt the next sitting of the Auckland Supreme Court. Fifty nro new cases, having been filed since the last bitting of tin! Court (states a Cress Association telegram).

During- the. September quarter 170,091) niouev orders for .£1,250,841 7s. 2d. were issued, and 153,417 for ,£1,144,913 (Is. 9d. were jiaid. Auckland did the largest business with 46,853 orders for J!278,990 Us. Id., issued, and 46,483 orders for ,£307,446 18s. sd. paid. The figures for Wellington, which stood next were 31,737 orders for .£'250,294 os. 5(1., issued, and 33,910 orders for ,£257,440 7s. Id. paid.

At the meeting of the City Council Inst evening, Councillor L. M'Kenjie drew attention to the growing nuinber of vehicle stands in the city, which in certain parts made, for congestion of traffic. He futtlicr pointed out that business people whose premises abutted'on to streets where those stands existed complained that they were unable (o get vehicular access to their premises because of the Motor-cars on the stand. . Couaciluir Chapman doubled if so aiwnv stands were needed, and advocated the provision of further street telephones, so that anyone requiring a ear or express could ring up for one. Councillor Luekie said that Councillor Chapman's proposal was not within the hounds of. practical politics. As the city grow more stand- were needed for the convenience of goods and passenger traffic. The Mayor suggested that as' scion as Mr. \V. If. Morton returned he should be asked to go into the matter of street stands. He would know what was being done in that; icgard in other lands, which should be of value to Wellington,

Survovors' licen■■.•- have been issued to Mcssr-.' 11. M. W. Kicln-nNoii (L'almerslon North). .1. S. T,. Deeii. and (.!. I:'. I'a.vne (Waiinaniii).

Dnriir.! 'the past iiunrler discount .•damps to Iho value of J:17.1 10s. were sold, "nil of this Wellington accounted lor .£]ii,l as., Chrislchurch ,£!). and Auckland .!;! "is. These stamps do not seem to be popular anywhere in New Zealand except Wellington.

The Acling-Gencral-Manager of Traniuavs reported to the City Council last evening with respect lo the recent lire al tiiij Umpire Box Factory slating that the lire was not caused by Iho fusion of the electrical cables behind the switchboard. The report said:—"On inrjiiirtntr in!o the matter it was found that the swilch board referred to controlled the Sfifl-vnlt direcl current power supply installation. A. thorough investigation of the switchboard and connecting cables was carried out aI: my request, but noIhins whatever was found lo justify the statement given to the Press. The fuses had not blown, and there were no indication of any arcing having occurred on tho board or between the cables."

The revenue return of the Post and Telegraph Department for the September quarter of this year shows that the money order commission amounted to ■l'4!)10 13s. -til., the postal note commission lo Mi'H 17s. 2d., and the poslages to .£2.11,415 15s. Kd. The receipts from telegrams were .£145,051 lis. 2d., and from telephone exchanges .£82,036 H)s. 3d. The total postal revenue wns .'E2l!),()81 J-isj Id.. and the total telegraph revenue .£229,937 6s. Id.

The following local bodies have received the authority of the Government to borrow the. amounts staled:—Waimale West County Council, ,£10,000; Kawhin County Council, =£-1.300; Balclutha- County Council, .£3000; Ohinemuri County Council .£2000; Kiwilcvi County Council, .£151)0; Pakuranga Uond Board, and Moa Jlond Board. £VM each, and Kairanga. County Council, J.'GSO.

An experience in the Mediterranean during the war iras recounted by Mr. H. M'Gregor, of the Amokura, at the reunion of Clyde Quay School old boys last evening. The speaker stated thut whilst running towards: Alexandria a bevy of lights was encountered, and it was suggested at tho time that the ship was running into Alexandria without any regard for the coast and the position of the harbour. Amidst Considerable laughter the speaker recorded tho fact that it subsequently transpired that the alleged Alexandria- was none, other than' the Mediterranean Eeet, which at the moment was on the move with all lights ablaze.'

The Timnru South African Contingentem' Association, at its annual meeting, endorsed the action of other associations in claiming equal privileges with the liresent returned soldiers in regard to land for settlement.—Press Assn.

The Dunedin Education Board and the Hamilton Borough Council have decided to support the Wangamii Council in a strong protest against the reap pointment of Mr. von Zedlitz to tlie Victoria College staff.—Press Assn.

Three -months' notice is to be given by the City Council to the tenant of tho house on the Khandallah catchment area, and three months notice is to be given of the termination of the right to graze tiheep on tlie same area.

A meeting of the Wellington District Repatriation Board was held •on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. T. Forsyth presiding. Seventeen applications for loans to buy fnrniimre and tools of trade wore granted. Eleven grants for the establishment nf bus : .n.\ses were approved, twowere declined, and four were deferred. In 30 cases it was agreed to supplement the wages ol"disable<l men who .iro undergoing training in various trades, five applications were deferred; and one was

declined. The applicant whono ease was "turnrd down" was shown to bo in receipt of over .£3OO a year.

Tlie Citv Council decided last evening that the Mayor antf the Acting-General Manager of the Tramways Department be appointed to represent this council at the conference of tramway authorities in connection with the proposed tramwavs Dominion award.

The position of officer-in-cliarge of Parliamentary Buildings, which includes the managership of Bellamy's, rendered vacant by the death of M-r. Charles Robinson, has.been filled oy the appointment 'of Mr. P. W. Waodroffe,, who has been carrying out the duties during the present* session. Mr. WoodrolTe has been associated with the Legislative Department .since 1003 as clerk to the House Commit tc* mid accountant to Bellamy's.

Replying to a question at last night's meeting of ti.o City Council, Councillor C. J. IS. Norwood said that tlie cheese which was being manufactured by the City Council's factory was beino; disposed of on the oversea markets. There was no arrangement by which the product could be supplied for retail purposes in New Zealand, but the Milk Committee would be glad if that could -bo done.

"The housewives of Wellington are pleased.with Hie milk scheme," said Councillor C. H.'Chapman at last evening's meeting of tlie City; Council. "They now get cream on their milk, a thing they never got before the schenio was operating."

It was reported to the City Council Inst night that Is. id. per gallon had been paid for the city's milk up to September 11, and from that, time until the end of the month Is. per gallon had been paid. Councillor W. H. Bennett said that although there had been a loss for the first part of tho month, this had been wiped out in the latter part. "I am extremely pleased that we have turned the corner, in our rnilk scheme," remarked Councillor C. If. Chapman. Ho expressed gratification that a profit of 4:590 was shown, and he trusted that as the summer advanced there would he no debit left on the capital account. The Mayor (Mr. .T. P. Luke) and Councillor C J. B. Norwood congratulated Councillor It. A. Wright. M.P., on having got the Wellington City .Milk Supply Bill through the House of Kcnresentatives, and "said they trusted, the measure would Teceiv the support of the Legislative Council.

It has been decided by the Wellington City Council that learners driving motorcaw shall he allowed to drive only in that portion of the city where tho speed "limit is 20 miles per hour. Tho Financial Committee reported to the City Council last night that it had issued instructions that material should not be deposited on the Oriental Bn> foreshore until the construction of the wall was proceeded with. "It is very pleasing to find that in the lost return of the Public Health Department Wellington stands highest as far as the health of New Zealand is concerned, said the Mayor. "It is our duty, even if it. costs us a little more money, to jnit our debris in a place where it will not be a menace to the health or the people." The report was adopted. Councillor J. Glover made a strong anneal for public tennis courts in Wellington when the Evelyn Estate (Karon) proposal was before the City Council last eveiiin". He'mid that they (the Labour members) were receiving constant complaints from • young girls and men that they could not get a game of tennis without .'joining a church or a club. Councillor Luckie: "A very good tiling, too" Councillor Forsyth Bind thai; they should look very carefully into such gifts to the council. He did not know what the bafts would cost, but he did know what tennis courts cost to lav down, and it might be that Hie council would be called on to expend more money than the wholo of the land wis worth. There were six conditions entailed in Mr. T. Ward's offer, and they should lie examined very carefully. Ho ilimHit if they were to have public tonnfs courts and baths the situation should be more central. Councillor L. M'Kcn/.ie thought the gift was a gene,. OIW <,„,. It was the very Hung that thev were being asked to provide by the Koillibind people. Councillor C. B. \orwood, whilst approving such gif s. thought there were more essential works than this one to cany out. The Mayor thought that there would always be Pl „„£h water to till the baths .a the siimnier. The place could be made a verv beautiful spot. He pointed out that the city was spending too much cut of its general fund. List year they lirtii spent .EII.COO out of general fund which should have come out of special rate'. Indeed the Wellington City Council spent more than any other city council out of general fund. The report, which included the acceptance of tho gift of the land offered by Mr. Ward, was adopted.

A new union. coiH'.sfing of retail dress iilid inanlle makers, lias just been formed in Chri.stchurch, ami a set of demands has liesn sent in to llin employers. Tlie demands will iil-feel liel.ween IK) und 70 retail shops in C'lirisleliurch, and this dispute which will probably lake place will be of interest to aboul 700 workers.

The City Couiie'l ha-; agreed to the request of the Defence Department for the iim.-' of the Basin Iteserve free of charge on the ncM.-ion of the Cndet tounianient to be held on .November 20.

"Quite one hundred of the boys of the Anuikura joined the Navy in the Great War," Mated .Mr. 11. M'Gregor at a reunion of the Clyde Quay School old hoys last evening.

Authority has been gvanled by Iho Oitv Council for Iho erection of a meal room for the men at the Karori Cemetery, and also for the provision of new Htahles ami tool-house.