WELLINGTON SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 341, 15 February 1902, Page 2

WELLINGTON SPECIAL.

VICTORIA COLLEGE SITE,

(Special to Times.; Wellington, last night. The settlement of the Victoria College site question by the acceptance on the part of the City Council of a strip of ten -eet of a Wellington College endowment ;u \\ illis street, in exchange for a six-acre reserve in Salamanca Road, is a source of satisfaction in educational quarters. At‘ tbe same time it means that the city has made a considerable sacrifice in order to secure the college for itself, as the difference between the marketable value of tie land exchanged is something like £6OOO in favor of the reserve which the city is giving the college, Still this may be regarded as a purely sentimental value, as the reserve cannot be cut up and sold, and its position is such that it is unlikely that it would be used for recreation purposes. The City Council has yet to arrange with Mr John Duthie a matter of compensation tor relinquishing bis interests iu the lease oi the Willis street property. breach of promise.

A breach of promise ease is to corno before the Supremo Court next week, in which F. B. Wilkins, the local manager of the Canada Cycle Company, is being sued tor two thousand pounds damages, to recompense a certaiu Miss Nellie Banks for unrequited love. FIRE ENGINES.

The steam fire engine built by Mossrs Shaud. Mason, and Company, of London, to the order of the City Corporation, arrived to-day. It has a pumping capacity of 600 gallons of water per minute, and cost £960 shipped in Loudon. The Harbor Board imported a steamer of similar mako last year, with a pumping capacity of 1001 gallons per minute, and costing £1264. Both engines will be available for big fires in the city. ARBITRATION COURT.

The Arbitration Court will sit at Napieron April 2nd, for the purpose of hearing the two cases under the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act of last session, particulars of which have alroady appeared in your columns. The claimants are bush-fallers, hailing from Dannevirke. The amounts involved are not large. THE CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM.

Mr Hanna, the N.S.W. Commissioner of Roads, is coming across to this colon .' to enquire into tho co-operative system ci road making as carried out in this colonyin consequence of Mr Wise's favorable report upon the system. Mr O’Sullivan, the N.S.W. Minister for Works, is soriously considering the idea of adopting it. PETITION FOR SHORTER HOURS The Corporation men are petitioning for. shorter hours. They are at present working 47 hours a week, and ask for a reduction of an hour on Saturdoys. The Council has referred the matter to committee. MAORI COUNCILS.

The Native Minister, Hon. Mr Corroll, this week established at Otaki the twentieth and last of the Maori Councils required under the Act of 1901. BROACHING OF CARGO. A cargo-broacher, who was caught redhanded in the hold of the Elingamite yestorday opening a case of whisky and extracting a bottle, was to-day brought before the Magistrate, and sentenced to a month’s imprisonment. Mr James, S.M., pointed out that these offences were very difficult to detect. Such a man as accused, and a man namod Stenberth, who were in positions of trust, should look after the interests of their employers. The punishment was intended as a lesson, not only to accused, but to others like him. A CITY COUNCIL ACCOUNT. f

The Auditor-General is “ sticking up ’! an amount of £135 11s, exponded by the City Council, in connection with the provision made for the various Contingents. He contends that any moneys so spent must be placed to the credit of the general fund account at the time of expenditure. The City Solicitor advises that a sum equal to 1 percent, of the general ra«s may be spent from the genoral account, irrespective of whether that account is in credit or debit. The Mayor has been authorised to endeavor to conciliate the watchful official.