LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2989, 29 January 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Last,week one ease of infantile, paralysis was reported in Auckland and one in Canterbury. Three cases of cerebrospinal meningitis were reported, in tho Waikato, Hawke's Bay, and Hawora districts respectively.

No new development is reported in connection with the waterside dispute. The statement issued on Friday night covers the discussion that has taken place already between the employers and tho Waterside Workers' Federation, and neither party has yet any further statement to mako. The delegates of tho Watersido Workers' Federation met on Saturday morning. Tlio men who had conic to Wellington from other centres left for their homes later in the day.

Representatives of the grain merchants and floumiillors interviewed tho Hon. AV. D. S. Mac Donald on Saturday with regard to the proposal of tho Government to take over the wheat crop of the Dominion at a fixed price per bushel. Tho Minister will probably reach a decision during the, present weclc concerning the prico to he paid for the wheat.

The .Fire Brigade was summoned about 6 a.m. yesterday to an outbreak of iiro amongst some cases stored in tho yard at tho rear of Sbarland and Co.'.s building in-Dixon Street. The b1a7,0 was extinguished before any damage could bo done.

Tho Minister of Publio Health (the Hon. G. \\. Russell) has received an offer from Mr. C. B. Hansen, of Waiouni Station, to place at tho disposal of the' Government an aTea up to 100 acres of the lands neld by him near Mount Ruapehu for tho purposes of a sanatorium for returned soldiers. The proposal includes an undertaking to do all 'carting necessary I'rom tho Waiouru railway station to- tho silo selected. Mr. Russell has replied, thanking Mr. Hansen for ids generous offer, but intimating that there is no prospect at present of it being accepted, as tho arrangements which have been made for fifty, additional beds at To Waikato (Cambridge) and the taking over of tho Otalii Sanatorium by the Government will -provide for the immediate necessities of returned soldiers in the North Island. Mr. Hansen has recently entered camp, and the Minister has congratulated him on his patriotism and expressed a hopo for his successful career as a soldier.

At the Marton. Court on Friday, Stephen Fishor, a returned soldier, was committed for trial for firing live shots at Alfred Elder, a'midnight visitor, on January 7. Elder received two wounds. Bail was allowed in £300.

The annual retreat of the Catholic clergy of the Archdiocese of Wellington will commence at St. Patrick's College on Friday next. Jfc will be conducted by tho Very Rev. Father Picquet, S.M., who has specially como from Sydney for this purpose.

Referring to tho proposed stoppage of annual leave, the "Pub'ic Service Journal" says: "There may bo an impression in the mind of a section ot the public that annual leave is a prerogative of the Public Servant, whereas it is tho rule rather than the exception with banks and other large institutions, including leading business firms, to allow their employees liberal annual leave on full pay. This is regarded as an economical practice by the employer iu that it benefits the health and increases the zeal of the employee, wbilst tho latter values the privilege as a welcome break in the monotony of continuous labour, and as a rule shows his appreciation in a practical manner."

The demand for electric current in tho hoi'ough of Napier has so rapidly increased that no further connections will bo made. Two 500 h.p. engines were ordered many months ago, and should have been erected in November last, but the makers at homo have not yet been able to commence constructing them. Several buildings in the town have beon erected to allow for electric lifts,' but no installation of these has had to bo deferred pending available power.

The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, which has been iu frequent communication with the Royal Agricultural Society in England on the subject of agricultural restoration in the countries of tho Allies, received a cablegram on Friday night stating that the council of the society expressed appreciation of the support extended by New Zealand to the fund for ruined farmers, and made an urgent appeal for additional subscriptions to meet further demands.

On the recommendation of the examiners, says the "New Zealand Herald," the Maemillan Brown prize for the best imaginative composition, either in prose or verse, has been awarded by the University Senate to Kenneth Alexander Saunders, of the Otago University, for a prose composition on the following phrase from a sonnet by Wordsworth:—"We must be free or die, who speak the tongue that Shakespeare spoke." The subject fixed for the 1918 competition is the following quotation from Hamlet: "Wo are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our littlo life is rounded with a sleep." The prize is open for competition by all matriculated students of the University who have not taken their degree.

A pet kitten from the Mountain House at Mount Egmont, Taranaki, followed a party of tourists to the summit recently, after scrambling for 2000 ft. through snow. "Ginger" had his photograph taken on the summit, and was carried back to tho hostel by Mr. Williams. He is now to have a' first-class collar and a silver medal affixed by his many admirers. The trip was very cold, and a fierce wind prevailed. He previously had_ often followed parties to Humphries'' Castle.

Regulations were recently brought into force in Sydney with the object of economising the labour of letter-car-riers. They provide that mail matter will not be delivered by postmen above tho first floor of office buildings not equipped with elevators available to postmen at the time of deliver/, nor to different rooms or suites oi rooms on any floor or apartment buildings, whether or not such apartment! buildings are equipped with elevators. In office, buildings where elevators are not provided, or are not available to the postman at the time of delivery, the occupants of the building above the first floor must.provido at or near the entrance of the building on the ground floor a suitable receptacle in which correspondence may be deposited by tbo postman, or they must arrnngo with some person to receive the mail m.atter from tho postman.

'A! new field of usefulness (says the 'Auckland "Star") has been found for the old town clock, which for so many years was a feature of the New Zealand Insurance building, in the lower part of Queen Street, recently pulled down to make room for the now structure. A request had been mado that the clock should be loaneel to the Fcathorston Camp, and at Thursday night's meeting of the City Council it was recommended that, as the Government docs not make provision of this kind, the request be acceded to. 'J'ho recommendation was adopted, on tbo understanding that the dock must bo returned to Auckland in good order within three months after the declaration of peaco by Great Britain. Tho soldiers' needs in reliable kliaki shirts, ss. *Jld., (is. Bd., 7s. 61, 7s. lid., at Geo. I'owldi, Ltd., Manners Street.— Advt.

If you want snow white linen use "No Rubbing Laundry Help." It makes white I'kithes winter, coloured clothes brighter, and tired hearts lighter, without rubbing. Try. it, •WardoU lOostrAdstj J

At the monthly committee meeting of tho Napier Chamber of Commerce, the matter of tho annual territorial camps came under discussion. Tho following resolution was carried: "That this Chamber, while fully recognising' the value of tho territorial system, requests tho Government to dispense with tho territorial camps this year on account of the shortage of labour, or, failing to dispense with tho camps altogether, suggests that no camps should Tie held between March 20 and April 20."

According to tho "Akaroa Mail," the bird nuisance is becoming acuto in and around Akaroa. This season the birds are attacking all tho stone fruits, and so great is the pest that soon all apricot and peach trees will need to be covered. The birds have never been so destructive as they aro this year. Evidently the last few warm summers and mild winters have resulted in a largo increase in. the feathered world of Banks Peninsula.

The Silver Mission Band visited the Hospital grounds and the Home for Aged and Needy yesterday afternoon, and played programmes of music. _ A collection taken up for tho Hospital Fund realised £3 Is.

On Saturday the Wanganui Slaughtermen's dispute was before Conciliation Commissioner Hagger in Wellington,and the agreement- recently arrived at was confirmed. The new award is on tho lines of those recently made in the slaughtering trade. The ordinary hours of work are fixed from 7.30 to 5 p.m., on five days of the week, and four hours on Saturday. The rateß of pay provided for aro: Freezing sheep and lambs, 275. 6d. per hundred; potters, £1 per hundred; rams and stags, other than ram lambs, 6d. each; dead sheep and lambs, Is. each; cattle—bullockß and cows, 2s. per head; bulls, 2s. 6d. per head; calves up to 1301b., Is.; up to 2001b., Is. 6d.; over 2001b., 25.; all dead cattle done at tho works. 7s. 6d. each; pigs up to 1201b., Is.; over 1201b., Is. 6d. per head. Provision is made for overtime at tho rato of rate and a quarter, and a war bonus of 2s. 6d. per hundred sheep is granted. There is provision for learners, with ' one learner for each Bix slaughtermen or fraction of the first six. The,award is pro-dated November 1, 1916.