LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2796, 14 June 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hie_ poslil authorities advise that tho fi.s. Wimmcra, which sailed for Wellington on June 10 from Melbourne, is carrying Australian _ and English mails via Suez, nud is dne in Wellingion on Thursday . noxt. The s.s. Jloeraki, which left Wellington on .lime 8, carrying mails for Australia and united Kingdom, via Suez, arrived at Sydney on tho morning of Juno 12.

Tho postal authorities advise thai NonZealand mails arrived in London ui Juno 10 and 11. These are probably mails which left New Zealand on Apnl 20 and 27 respectively..

In the report presented by the directors oi the Petone Technical School to tho board, it was stated that about a fortnight ago tho cashbox disappeared from the office.

A case of infantile paralysis from the Eketa.imia district was admitted lo the Masterton Hospital on Monday, says our Masterton correspondent.'

A war allowance of 10 per cent, has been granted to its permanent staff by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., for the year 1916. Tho company is also continuing half-pay to those of its officers who are at the front, who will likewise participate in the war allowance now granted. It is generally understood that Civil Servants are not encouraged to hold private positions apart from their official posts, but a case was mentioned in tho House ■of Representatives yesterday by Mr. W. Nosworthy in the following question, addressed to the Prime Minister:— "I s the H. E. Combs, who appears in tho Post and Telegraph Department's classification as being a clerk in.the Wei-, lington G.P.O. at a salary of .£260 a year, with 'principal duties adjutant to the Post and Telegraph Service Corps,' one and the same with the H. E. Combs who signs himself 'permanent secretary" of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association in the May 20 issue of 'The Katipo,' for which position his salary is understood to be £350 a year, with a travelling allowance, of iEIoO. thus making this man's total income 1 .£7(50 a year; (2) if the facts are as stated, what is the attitude of the Department to a man thus holding a dual position? (3) Does the Department allow official timo to be used for the discharge of private duties ?"

A man was caught in the act of breaking ami entering a 'Swelling opposite the Manners Street Police Station yesterday afternoon, and was arrested by Constable Anderson. He will be brought -up before tho Magistrate to-day.

The war lecture given on Monday evening by Mr. T. 11. WilfoTd, M.P., was under the auspices of the Patriotic Society.

The deadlock between the doctors and the lodges. continues. Several meetings of lodges have been held this week, and the members have been informed that arrangements are being made for the securing of doctors. '

In connection with the appeal for funds for the widows and orphans of tho sailors lost in the great naval engagement in the North Sea, owners of motorcars, who feel disposed to assist tho Patriotic Society on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, are asked to attend with their cars at the General Post Offico at 9 a.m. each day, for the purpose of conveying lady collectors round the City.

It is suggested by Captain Donald Simson that the Bank of New Zealand corner, at the junction of Willis and Customhouse Quay, should for the futuro be called "Kitchener's Corner," as a mark of lasting respect to a great military Empire-builder, and because it was at that corner where his portrait has been suspended fyr a year past, and where his memory was first publicly honoured after tho tragic happening in which lie lost his life. The corner might be given some further and permanent significance if the bank authorities would allow a stone or cement bas relief of Earl Kitchener to I be attached'to the building on the blank space now covered by the recruiting poster.

That the right thing was done in opening a central recruiting office at the Town Hall last year is shown by the figures that have been recorded there. During the eight months ended on Tuesday last 3701 men were enrolled for service. That number means that an average of 470 men a month were enrolled—a daily average of- about 18. The facility with which men have been put through their examinations at the Town Hall lias been largely due to tho daily attendance of; the medical examiner (Dr. Pe Lautonr) and tho dentist (Mr. Atkinson). Much credit is due to Captain Barclay-and the honorary staff of assistants who attend at the recruiting office daily to' dn the necessary work. The working staff has lately Ireen increased by the presence of two. ladies, who are sorting the postal canvass cards recently issued by the Recruiting Committee to those <m the National Register. The_ return of Hie card's lias been disappointing, but some good may arise out of all the earnest work devoted to it by members of the committee and their willing assistants.

A complaint regarding the practice of vehicles being driven or allowed to stand ■on streets unlighted was made to the Lower Ttutt Borough Council by Dr. O. I;. Ansou. The writer stated that his motor-car collided with ail unattended dray and horse standing 011 the side of the Main Road. After a brief discussion it was decided to refer the matter to the Inspector of Police, with a view to arrangements being made between the council and the local poliec to cope with th» nuisance.

The scarlet fever patients, admitted to the Masterton Hospital from the Featherston Camp are. says our special coi respondent, all making satisfactory progress. None of the 1 cases are serioas. -

The Central Committee of the Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board has sanctioned the detailing of one oi the nursing staff at the Masterton Hospital for the purpose of giving aiafsago treatment to infantile paralysis patients.

Tho M to Z Petitions Committee of tho Houso of Representatives will commence the hearing of evidence this morning on tho large number of petitions presented this 'session praying that hotel bars should bo closed at G p.m. during tho currency, of the war.

The New Zealand Club is ill the position of being embarrassed by its prosperity. Its membership Ims for some timo been close upon the limit ,of seating capacity for tho"'average number attending tho luncheons, and the election of a further batch of members at a meeting of the committee last night brought the roll up to 2GO, which is the extreme limit possiblo while, the present arrangements for the club's gatherings continue. It was, therefore, decided to- close tho membership list for the present, and to hold further applications until vacancies arise.

A meeting of the Tenants' Association was hold in tko Trades' Ilall Inst night. Mr. J. M'K.enzie presided over a fair attendance. The secretary, Mr. L. M. E-eardon, reported that the association was eFul gaining in membership. Various communications were Teceived disclosing Further, increases in rents, and these wore discussed. It was resolved that the premier lie once again approached and urged to introduce legislation at an early' dato to cope with the serious position existing. It was also resolved that _ a deputation wait on the City Council to urge upon that body tho necessity for taking up the matter of erecting municipal dwellings. The Fourteentli Reinforcements of the Army Service' Corps will begin a big trek through tho Lower Wairarapa this morning, and will return to Feathcrston Camp at the end of the week. At last night's meeting of the Karori Borough Council a resolution was carried expressing the deepest sympathy at the loss sustained by the British nation by the death of Lord Kitchener. Tho Fourteenth Infantry Reinforcements, which marched over the liimutaka Hill last week, and are now- in Trenthani, began firing their advanced musketry course yesterday. This should be completed by the end of tho' week. Next week these troops will go through a couiso of training in trench warfare at l'rentliam. Tho Fourteenth have been called tho Fovtunato Fourteenth, on account of their having enjoyed almost unbroken lino weather v;iiilc in camp.