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Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 62, 13 March 1919, Page 4

The weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day is as follows:— "The indications are for southerly winds, moderate to strong, and veering by south to weat. Weather probably cool and changeable. The night will probably be very cold, but the weather will probably become warmer after about 24 hours. The barometer has a rising tendency temporarily. Tides moderate. Sea moderate."

A deputation of returned soldiers waited on the Auckland branch of the Kational Efiieiency League this morning, on the question of disenfranchisement, and as a result of their representations the following telegram was forwarded to the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) by the secretary (Mr. Robert Laidlaw:—" After receiving a deputation from the returned soldiers, our league feels that the soldiers have a real grievance in that some of thorn will be disenfranchised if steps are not taken to enable every returned man, without exception, to vote. We suggest that those men who have not enrolled, and are, therefore, affected by the recent Order-in-Council, be allowed to vote by making an affidavit in the same way as an elector who has been wrongly struck off the roll."

The St. Patrick's Day celebrations on Saturday will include as the main attraction the big sports gathering in the Domain, in which the national games and athletic contests of Ireland will figure largely. Two bands will be in attendance, and a section of the programme will be devoted to Trish dances, while the whole of the afternoon's proceedings, which start at 12.30 o'clock, will culminate in a spectacular attraction in the shape of ihe formation of a huge Celtic cross by 2000 children. On St. Patrick's night (Monday) the usual Irish national concert Kill foe-hgld in the Ipwn Hall,

j Giving evidence before the Epidemic Commission at Wellington, Captain Munro, traffic manager for the Wellington Harbour Board, said the quarters-in some ships were very bad indeed, but there had been considerable improvement ;in the majority of vessels since. One of ! the worst things was the provision of | hunk boards, which he thought should be substituted by iron panels, which

could be easily lifted in and out. On Tuesday afternoon a scrub fire was started near the Birkdale wharf, which resulted in very considerable damage to property, and houses in the district were seriously endangered. From the wharf jfor nearly three-quarters cf a mile northwards, the scrub on both sides of the road was ablaze, and trees of over 80 feet were left in a charred condition. It 'ie conjectured that the Jire was caused [through the carelessness of some boys in the vieinitv.

A demonstration of the efficiency of an inhalation sprayer was given at Bero.sford Street School on Tuesday by Mr. R. M. Murray, in the presence of the subcommittee appointed by the City Schools Committee, with a view to obtaining spraying machines for the three city schools. The demonstration is stated to have been completely successful.

Local body representatives of Onehungn, One-tree Hill, and Mt. Roskill waited on the Mayor at the Town Hall yesterday in connection with paving of Mauukau Roatl, urging further application To the ratepayers for a loan for the purpose. It was decided to offer the matter for further consideration by each of the local bodies concerned.

''onmderable surprise is expressed by a correspondent that in the draft arrangement for the illuminations to be arranged by the Harbour Board when the Peace Celebrations take place no provision is made to illuminate the Stanley Bay wharf. Provision is made to erect festoons at Victoria wharf, the other landing-place in Devonport, and, as the Stanley jetty is a long wharf, which runs a long way out into the harbour, it lends itself considerably to dncorative effVct, and with little effort could be made a blaze of light which <"ould be seen and appreciated from many parts of the city.

The New Zealand Chautnuqua circuit, which was opened a fortnijrlit ago in Wellington by Sir James Allen, will close in Auckland with a week, opening March 20th. There will be thirty-five artists in all, including Carrie Lanceley, an English prima donna, Dr. Johnson, of Philadelphia, and Chancellor Bradford, of Oklahoma. Hon. J. C. Herbsman, who lias already spoken in Auckland, will return with the party. The assembly will be held in a big brown tent pitched on the Metropolitan Grounds, adjacent to Government House. Sessions will be held every afternoon and every evening. The programmes are composed of music, art. drama, and oratory. This is a new kind of entertainment for Auckland, and reports from the southern towns, where the artists now are, indicate it will be acceptably received.

A party that bids fair to become a hardy annual was that given by Sir Thomas Mackenzie, the High Commissioner for New Zealand! at Holborn Restaurant, London, on Friday of Christmas week to, a number of widows and orphans of men who fell at Mons. It was a very merry party, and the New Zealanders who helped Sir Thomas Mackenzie—Mr. R. R. Douglas Maclean and Mr. .T. C. Morrison—made the time pass like a flash to the delighted bairns, their mothers, and the red-coated Chelsea pensioners who shared the High Commissioner's hospitality right from the start with a banquet in the Venetian Chamber to the Christmas tree and present-giving by Sir Thomas disguised as Father Christmas. Madame Ada Crossley's singing was an exciting and enthusiastically received interlude, and the chorus was taken up finely by ycang and old, "Keep the Home Fires Burning. -, Mr. C. H. Cliomley proposed Sir Thomas Mackenzie's health, and added to his encomiums of the High Commissioner's kindness thanks to the New Zealand and Australian ladies who helped. They were the organises of the party. Sir Thomas footed the bill.

The Secretary of the War Office announces that an Imperial Education Committee has been formed at the request of the Dominion Forces under the chairmanship of Colonel Lord Gorell, lI.C. Deputy Director of Staff Duties (Education). The members of this committee are the educational representives of the Dominion forces, and representatives nominated by the War Office. The committee will in no sense restrict the independent educational activities of the Dominion Forces concerned, but will co-operate in furthering the various schemes of the Dominion troops in relation to British Universities and other bodies, and will render such other assistance as may be required.

At the opening of the Xew Zealand Poultry A-ssociation Conference in Chrietehurch, the Countess of Liverpool said that when she came to New Zealand she could not help being impressed at the quantity of work, both indoor and outdoor, done iby women here compared with women in the Old Country. Since the war, however, thines had greatly changed in the Old Country, and women there now were doing wonderful work. In Xew Zealand the women in country districts also were working on the land in an unobtrusive way. They worked without the glamour and limelight that surrounded the women workers at Homo. Returning soldiers were relieving them of some of the work, but they still gave attention to outdoor life, and that should be of particular advantage to the poultry industry. She believed poultry and beekeeping and fruit-growing * could be profitably combined.

The deputation appointed to wait on the Devonport Kerry Company to see if improvement could be made in the ferry service to Stanley Bay jetty, met the chairman of directors (the Hon. E. W. Alison) yesterday afternoon. Mr. Carrie, traffic manager, was also present. The intricacies of the time-table were discussed at considerable length, and the need of a better servk-e between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on all days of the week was strongly urged. A direct

boat to the city about 10 p.m. was also suggested, as now the ,last direct boat leaves as early as 7.10 p.m. Nothing definite was decided at the interview, but Mr. Alison promised to go fully into the matter, and hoped to be able "at an early date to considerably improve the se: vice.

Xfipier musical and elocutionary competitions are announced as a* great Easter attraction, commencing on Thursday. April 17. Entries close on March 22nd with the secretary, Box 236, Napier. i The call of Karangahape Road and George Court and Sons, Ltd., to the final two days of their great money-saviug .sale will he greater than ever". Some wonderful value throw-outs will be wait ing you Friday and Saturday.—Kara|ngahape Rosid.— 4.Ad>. ~ ■ -