LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

No decision was reached by the Finance Committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon on the question of the demands of the corporation labourers for higher wage*. Thie j pai't of the claims, which were the subject of a conference between the City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) and the representatives of the General Labourers' Union, was left as a matter of policy to the City Council. It will probably be a topic for Thursday even* ing's meeting of the council. Arrangements have been made for the revaluation of the City of Wellington to commence shortly. Mr. Jas. Ames, City Valuer, will undertake the work for the Government. The last valuation was in 1906, and since then it is realised that thei'e has been Considerable alteration in values. Some districts, such as Island Bay, will see a reduction in values, while in others, such as Northland, Brooklyn, and Kilbirnie, no great' change is expected. In Wadestown, Kelburne, and Hataitai iroperty is likely to apprciate. The net result for the whole city is not expected to bliow much difference either way. The Timaru Post learns (states a Pfese Association message) that Mr. James Craigie, M.P., is offering a generous gift to the citizens of Timaru. It is a very handsome Carrara marble etatue of Robert Burns, standing six feet high, on a pedestal of Coromandel granite, also six feet high, surmounting a Timaru bluestone base. It is proposed to erect the staiue, which will lie shipped from • Naples, next month. Mr. Craiffie'a gifts to the town during his ten year^ tenancy of the Mayoralty and since include a fine avenue of trees, valuable gifts for the Art Gallery, and chimes for the jaew Post Office clock. In his farewell address last night the Rev. J. J. North made a retort on oritics of ministers. He recalled Abe Lincoln's ljeply to a deputation which in the middle of the Civil War urged a different conduct of it. Lincoln said: "Gentlemen, if all your earthly wealth was strapped to Blondin's back, and he* had to carry it on a tight rope across Niagara, would you be squeeling, 'Lean a little to the south, Blondin'; 'Mind that wind from the north, Blondin'. Would you not shut up and pray he might carry his load to the far shore safety?" Ministers' critics, said Mr. North, were often keen with advice, and often had noses sharp set for heresy. He bespoke for his successor the release they had given him from criticism and nagging advices, for his successor was a man who could be trusted to carry his responsibilities straight over. The Rev. J. Crewes informed the Zoological Society last evening of what had been done to permanently retain Messrs. Wirth Bros.' lioness at the Zoo. He had received authority from Councillor Frost, on behalf of the City Council, to collect funds for tho purchase of the lioness. As chairman of the society, Mr. Crewes acknowledged the courtesy of Councillor Frost, and expressed the society's hearty good wishes for the success of the lioness purchase scheme. Among other things dealt with by the society was the addition of flamingoes to the ornithological collection, the meeting holding that the Bocioty should work earnestly to obtain these birds., the council having consented to receive them 5 also to increase the bower birds, procure scrub turkeyß, also a bear to occupy the pit built for the purpose by the City Council. Mr. Crewes reported that since the end of last financial yeaivthero had been placed in the Zoo by or through the society one flamingo, two plumed pigeons, two kiwis, and one white duck, and two hedgehogs and a flamingo had been placed in the Newtown Museum. The three youthful burglars who caused consternation in business circles in Wellington a few days ago have all received punishment. Tne two who were before tho Juvenile Court yesterday were souhdly whipped, and the third, who temporarily escaped while his mother was preparing him for the interview with the Magistrate, came up this morning, and was ordered to receive (and duly received) six strokes with the birch rod. Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd., are meeting with remarkable success 'with their summer sale. For to-morrow some extraordinary bargains are advertised. — Advt. Shipments of goods made regularly. Melbourne every, Thursday, Sydney and South Africa Fridays. The Colonial Carrying Company. Ltd., 107409, Cus-tomhouse-quay. Shipping and forwarding agents to all parts of ike world.— Advt.

The big Town Hall organ will not be available for recital • purposes until tho 'middle of the present month, owing to it» being subjected to a periodical overhaul and cleaning: Mr. Tustin, representative of the makeTe (Mesera. Ndrman and Beard), has the ta*<k of overhauling the instrument, while vacuum, pumps are at work di awing out- the diwt. Mr. Turin's parfc of the work «hould bo completed in a fortnight's time. A move economical Bye'eiYi of running the freight car on the city tramway* has resulted in a much better financial show* ing for tho four weeks ended 6th January. The revenue for that period totalled £30 la ahd the expenditure &il 4-n 2d, but the value of the departmental services rendered by the car (£1?) brings out tho net result ns ft credit balance of £14 16s lOd for the month. It is Well known that the busbieee of the car is increasing considerably-" ro much bo that there is not wilHeient accommodation at the Tramway Office at Thorn* don for the goods consigned. Very frequently the counter space- Und all available corners tire taken up, arid stuff has even to be left outside under cover. A special freight' office ie badly wanted, bub theonly suitable pluco in the tramway buildiag is. occupied by a shop. The Petono Technical School Board has for long been confronted with the question of providing additional accommodation nt the Technical School. For months past Ute High School pupils have had the use ot tho Technical School on two days of the wwkj and the Educa* tion Board has considered tho i}iieetiou of the ttdvieabknesß or otherwise of closing up the High School and making ad* ditions to the Technical School, so 88 to accommodate second nry and technical pupils under the nne toof. At ltust night' 4 meeting of thfe Technic,ii**S<!hool Board a letter was received {rom the Education Board. The letter stated tlnvt the board was willing to co-operate with th« Petone body. Some discussion ensued, and it was finally resolved, on the motion of Mr. J. W. M'Ewan, to Bet up a *pecial cub-committee and invite the Education Board to do fcimilaTly, the two committees to confer. The Rev. Mr, Thomson and Messrs. M'Ewan, M'Ken* aie, and Ca*tle were appointed the Technical School Board's BUb'Committee. "White-slave traders" had a rousing m London &s soon as the new Act came into force. "The moment—ll.2o a.m.— the Royal Asßent was given to the White Slave Bill in the Hotiße of Lordß yesterday," reported the Daily Mail of 14th December, "the special force of Metro* pohtan Police who have been atpoihted by the Commissioner to deal with the white slave traffic had a new and potent weapon in their hands. Until yesterday a warrant was necessary for the arrest of a supposed procurer. Under tho new Act an officer, on reasonable suspicion, can arrest at sight. Yesterday there was a further exodus of the foreign procurer* and bullies. Tn London more than 50 per cent, of the procurers and bullies are foreigners. Many of them left by the midday and the night trains for the Continent, while others, to avoid conviction, are seeking situations either as tailors or waiters. Seldom has an Act of Parliament had a salutary effect bo immediate as in this case." In the same issUe of the paper a despatch from the Paris correspondent stated [—"The procurers who have left London to escape flogging under the new Act are ap* parently transferring their headquarters to Paris. M. Joseph Denais, one of the city deities, has written to the Minister of the Interior asking what measures he has taken to prevent the arrival of these undesirables. 1 ' At iho Primitive Methodist Conference this morning, a resolution wne adopted, expressing sincere .sympathy with Mr. D. Goldie, of Auckland. General Commit* tee secretary, in. the bereavement which \ he has suffered in the death of his youngest eon. The inques* on the4>ody of John Christopher, aged, G5, who died in Martinstreet on Monday morning, will be held in the Magistrate's Courthouse at 9.30 a.m. to-morrow. A picture theatre, with seating accommodation for 1000 persons, was opened at the Thames laet week. "Why did" you buy that bottle of port wine for Mrs. —*«—?" was a question asked a witness in the assault and robbery case at the Supreme Court this morn, ing by couhsel for two of the accused, "Why," indignantly replied the witness, "if you wanted to offer my wife a 1 drink, would you buy her whisky?" The crowd in the back of the Court were convulsed. We want you to look at our fine selection of negligee ehirte. We chafg€ nothing if you look, and we shall »ot need to ask you to buy. Our shirt range w faecinating. Geo. Fowlde, Ltd., Man-aera-fitreet.*—Advt. With our motor vehicle we can r& move furniture long dUtancee, either into <>r out of Wellington. Sav«* lot handling, also time, money. The N.Z, Express Co., Ltd.. 37, Customhouse, quay.—- AdVt. News is to hand regarding the W«nganui swimming championship, and we find that a new record line been established. Records in Cuba-street are being broken ovory day at C. Smith's, Ltd., Summer Sale. The bargains offered nra breaking all previous records, and there are rtill some wonderful Hues left. Our Bhowroom abounds with dirt cheap bargains, and the people have only to bd made acquainted with them to snap them up. There is a lihe of ladios' white muslin dress Blurts, and no mistake it id a gift price. ' The iikirte are nicely trimmed with embroidery insertion, ami range in prico from 6s lid to 13s 6d c&oh, 1 but wo have determined to break another record atid Bell them all ut If, lid each. Don't tniss this lot. They arc at C. Smlth'f), Ltd., Cuba-strert, whore tho »ale is now on.— Advt.