LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 201, 20 May 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Resentment is expressed by the trustees of the will of the late Major Broun at the attitude of the authorities in Wellington in endeavouring to secure his collection of insects for the Dominion Museum (reports an Auckland Press Association message!). One of the trustees stated yesterday that in a lettdv sent to tho trustees last October the prohibition against export.was absolute and final; there was nothing about it being merely for a time. As a matter of fact the object, of prohibiting tho collection from leaving tho Dominion seemed solely that it should go to the Wellington Museum,

The Wellington District Repatriation Board continues to bundle a fair volume of business. At its meeting this month 28 loans were granted for the purchase of furniture and one deferred. Thirteen applications wero received for loans for the purchase of businesses. Tou were granted, two declined, anil one deferred. A grant was made in ono case to cover tho purchase of tools of trade. An application for transportation to England wa3 not entertained. Tho following applications were also granted: Subsidised wages, 5; training foes. 3; grants to apprentices, 2; unemployment sustenance, 8.

Following tho decision of tho Government to grant cost of living bonuses to civil servants and momborß of the teaching profession, the Education Board yesterday decided to grant to those members of ilB staff who are in receipt of less than -CSOO per annum, a bonus at ths nib of £\h for married officers, and J27 10s. for unmarried officers.

The following resolution was carried unanimously at a meeting of the Wellington Labour Representation Committee: "That this meeting endorses the action of Councillor P. Frasor, M.P., in refusing to sign the civic address to the Prinoo of Wales, and considors his action to be in accordance with tho principles of tho miking daw movement,'-'

The Central Progress League has arranged with tho Minister of. Public Works to receive a deputation on tho hydro-electric development of Mangahao and Waikaremoana on Way 27, and representativiVi are expected from ovary porv ticytj o£ tho district covered hy the league's activities. It is intended to ask the Minister:—(l) For a definite statement as to the allocation of pow?r from Mangahao for each part'of the district and tho city, so that provision and arrangements may be made. (2) For a statement-/ . s lo the approximate time when that power will be available. Arrangements aro being made for the members of Parliament in tho district lo visit Su-ngahao on May 25, in order that th»y might oo personally acquainted with the conditions and progress of the work before proceeding on the deputation to the Minister. Already twelve members have signified their intention of joining the party on its visit to tho works.

Late last night the hospital authorities reported that William Cox, who collided with a _ taxi-cab on Tuesday evenin,: was still in a serious condition.

In view of the fact that the Education Department has definitely decided not to proceed with tho completion of the Kelljiim Main Sohool at present, llio Teachers' Training; College will lie faced Immediately with a difficulty. Tho matter was referred to by the principal of tho college (Mr. J. S. Tonnant) in a letter read at yesterday's meeting of ths Education Board. Mr. 'Pennant pointed out that one of the uses to which it was intended to put the large room in the new wing was for student purposes—for demonstration lessons and for physical drill. "After the vacation," wrote Mr. • Tennnnt, "the Department's instructors will begin ,1 upeeial course, and we hnvo no inside accomn odation for such classes in bad weather I would, therefore, like to suggest (hat a laTge gymnasium be erected 0:1 tho section south of the college building. This would servo the purposes above-mentioned and at the same time give, us an assembly and social hall. The board decided to again approach tho Department with a. request that the school be completed.

"Thnt the Government Insurance Department be requested to issue' a policy fo/ A'soo covering tho board's liability in regard to accideuts to school children occurring within the precincts of iho school or during conveyance to and from their homes," was the text of a motion passed at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board.

The Education Board has received advice from the Department that a grant of .£4057 ha sheen made for tho purpose of erecting a technical school at Lower Hutt.

"It would be wise," says the City Engineer in his report on his trip abroad, "for this council to consider at an early date the advisability of procuring ouo or more electric vehicles in order to demonstrate their suitability ur.der local conditions, capable of carrying, say, three tons, and be for use in collection with the collection of rubbish. It is clear that petrol vehicles are unsuitable for collecting from door to door oving to tho great consumption of petrol. The electric vehicles consume power only when traversing, and are therefore from the financial point of view the r-iost suitable for this class of work. They are somewhat slow on the hills, but reliable, and two such vehicles could be vsed with great advantage over the Hatter portions of the city."

The principal of the Teachers' Training College (Mr. J. S. Tcnnaut) is to be asked by the Education Board lo report upon the offer of a firm of .'lucktland land agents to sell tho resvlenco lately occupied by tho Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott) in order to cope with the growing demand for hostel accommodation for lady teachers and students. Tho building contains) 19 rooms, and thu ovner (Mr. J. P.. Campbell) through his agents had offered it for sale to the hoard at .£3IOO. The property is adjacent to tho Teachers' Training College at Kolbnrn.

Under 'the direction of (ho director-of reserves (Mr. J. M'Kenzie) wen have lieen employed in thinning out tlie ])ines (pinuS insignus) which havo grown 60 wetl 'on' that tongue of file Town Helt which extends along the face of thu hill above Oriental Bay (from Grass Street northward). These trees wore planted threo feet apart, and all have come on so woM that they now require a litrlo mororcom. Moreover, the closeness of the trees tended to kill off and dry Tip the lower growth, and so make the plantation a greater fire risk than was necessary. Mr. M'Kenzie is also giving some attention to the laying off of the grounds si rrounding tho City Council's dairy factory atOtnk). There are two acres of ground there, which lends itself to decorative treatment of an inexpensive character.

Tho trouble that has urisen in connection with tlie ■ erection of a teacher's residence for tho Ballance School yas again mentioned at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board. Since the previous meeting legal opinions had been obtained regarding the position between the bDiii'tl and Messrs. Vile and Quirke, tho successful tenderers for the erection of the building in question, the latter having declined to proceed with the work in view of the delay in acceding to their terniß. Acting on the advice received ttio board yesterday decided to refund tho contractors' deposit of £50. The board's architect was also instructed to obtain at once' the materials required for tho job, and arrange for the board's workmen to proceed with the erection within a fortnight, if possible; tho work to bo so arranged that two of the men can be detailed for the erection of tho proposed new school at Castlepoint when the materials for the lattor work have been transported to their destination.