LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3067, 1 May 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

There was only one bankruptcy filed in Wellington last month. For tho corresponding month of last year thero were none. v For the first four months of the current "year there wore two bankruptcies, as' against three for the corresponding period of last year.

So far the state of the corporation's coal stocks has not justified a reversion to the usual tramway service in Wellington. Until tho position has been improved and the authorities can see their way clear for some weeks ahead, the restricted service will bo main-' tained.

Some of tho reservists who forward appeals to the Military Service Boards appear to ovorlook tho necessity of appearing in person to support thoir claims. A case in point came before the Second Wellington Military Service Board yesterday. Charles William Torter, carrier, Kaitoke, had appealed on the ground that he had been married for ten years and had fivo children. If his statement madcin a letter to the board had been substantiated his appeal • would have been allowed at once, since he would be a member of the Second I Division. But he did not appear or forward any evidence, and so tho case was dismissed.

There have been from time to time so many attempts to lmposo Vipon the funds raised for patriotic purposes that it is cheerful to bo able to record an instance where ' a man, who was thought to bo in. straitened circumstances, refused financial aid. The man in question wrote to tho War Belief Association, in reply to a circular sent him: "I am glad to tell you that I do not require help at present, although I have two sons and two sons-in-law at tho front now. I am able to eani my own living jot, though I am sixty-two years of ago. Ono of. my boys went with tho Third Reinforcements, and has been wounded threo times; ono with the Nineteenth; one son-in-law with tho Twentieth, and another with the Twenty-third. Again thanking you for your, kind offer." On tho other- hand a returned soldier made a very, bumptious application for money the other day at the association's office, stating at the same time that be had never applied before. His case was looked into, and it was found that tho applicant, under another name altogether, had applied for aid somo sovon months ago. Since then tho applicant has not turned up again.

The tei'iit "recruit" is not now applicable to the troops who enter camp for tho first time. They are soldiers on leave, having takon the oath in tho district from which thoy camo and been given leave until called up for service.

A ballot is heing taken by the Tramway Union this week on the question of whether notice shall bo given to terminate the present agreement with tlio City Council. The tramways award expired some twelve months ago, and in place of a renewal a 10 Dor cent, bonus on all rates was granted, t'ris arrangement being terminable by three months' notice on either side. If the union decides to give notice of termination it will afterwards place claims for a now award before the council.

The headmaster, of the Brooklyn School (Mr. J. B. Hopkirk), in urging parents to see that the children's names were attached to their clothing, gave the following example of the difficulties experienced by teachers in sorting out the coats, 1 hats, and caps of the pupils. "What is your hat like?" "It is one of thoso bats the kind you raise when you meet a lady, you know." That answer, remarked Mr. Hopkirk, might apply as,much to a. tile as to a sombrero. The quarterly meeting of the Thorndon Parish Committee of the New Zealand Catholic Federation was hold on Sunday night. The Rev. Father Smyth, S.M., Adm., presided, and there was a crowded attendance. The feature of the evening was 'a spirited address by the Rev. Father Gondringer, S.M., of St. Patrick's College, on the subject of "Catholics and Education:" Tho address was listened to with close 'attention, and frequently

applauded. Father Gondringer was accorded a hearty v vote of thanks. During tho meeting'vocal items were contributed by Miss. Jansen and Messrs. Sievers and Reade.

At the annual meeting of householders held at Northland last evening, dis-

approval was expres6ed of the new standard . of efficiency that was being insisted upon by tho Minister of Education. The opinion was voiced that the only reason for the higher standard was that it meant the cutting down of the number of free places in

secondary schools for State school children, which might be a money-say-ing device, but was not a democratic movement as far as education was concerned. .

A meeting of the new City Council has' been called (as per statute) for noon to-morrow, when Mr. J. P. Luke will be sworn in as Mayor of the city for the ensuing two years. It is not anticipated that tho check and recount in connection with the City Council election will, have been _ completed by to-morrow, so that it is unlikely that any business other than tho taking of the Mayor's declaration will be scheduled,' the legal difficulty being that the returning officer cannot declare anyone olected until after the recount.

One of the many difficulties which often faces the War Relief Association authorities is tho application of men who, after being a month or six weeks in camp, aro turned down for medical or other reasons, and who make application for money to buy clothes in which to enter civil life once - more. It has been found that such men, on getting into khaki have either sold, given, or thrown away their clothes, and the remedy is obviously that men should not so dispose of their clothes until they are quite certain of being sent away as fit men with the Reinforcements.

Just at present the post office at Trentham Camp is having a comparatively quiet time, but recently, when there were largo numbers of men in tho camp, the postal staff had a busy time. Next to tho pest oftTco at i'flathorstoh Camp, Trentham Camp post offico puts through more business than any town in New Zealand, except tho four centres, and in the matter of telegrams it eclipses ' Featherston Camp's record. Outward, bound from the camp last month went 30,000 letters,. 400 registered letters, 2000 packets, and' 600 parcels^;' tho latter totalling 40001b. in weight. The inward bags were heavier in some respects. Letters numbered 27,000, registered letters 150, packets 4000, and parcels 10()0, of SOOOIb. weight. Over 6000 money orders are handled by the post offico in a week, while ono day's telegrams in a recent week totalled 1000 outwards and 650 inwards. \

Captain M'lndpe, secretary, of tho Merchant Service Guild, has received a very interesting letter from CaptainE. J. Hales' (Lieutenant E.N.R.), a well-known, master locally, and this was read at yesterday's mooting of the guild. Captain Hales says that ho has been transferred from his original base and out of patrol work. Ho had been in ohargd of a division of netdrifters, fifteen in all. His particular "flagship" had been a vessel of thirtyfour tons, and he had had her forward fish-hold converted into a cabin, and it was a cabin which was most things' ono -would rather a cabin were not. Tho deck overhead was anything hut ■water-proof, and was. decidedly airy. The ship herself, to/add to tho discomforts, did everything but turn over. He spoke highly of tho Scotch fishermen who manned tho vessels, and who had been specially trained for the work. They were grand men, and worked like heroes during day or night, in any kind of weather. Further on in his lotter Captain Hales gave somo news from London. Ho said: "I spent four days in London at Christmas, , and really if it had not been that the'city was all in darkness every night, you would never havo known the country was fighting for its very existence. Of course, hotels are full of men and officers ■in khaki, and the ordnance wagons aro continuously thundering along the streets. Occasionally you see a motor lorry with an anti-aircraft gun dashing along."

The Y.M.C.A. will bo glad to receive books and magazines for troopships at their headquarters office, Fcatherston Street.

' Mr. Edward Leydon, whose son was wounded recently in France, has received letters from comrades stating that Private Leydon was helping a wounded man along when he was hit himself (says the Auckland "Star"). A letter from the New Zealand General Hospital at "Walton-on-Thames states that the wounded soldier's right hand has been amputated, and he is progressing, favourably. Although disqualified for active service in the Army, he is not likely to be otherwise handicapped for civil employment.

At the meeting of householders at Brooklyn last evening to elect a school committee it was resolved to urge the Government to secure an adequate site and to have plans prepared for tho immediate erection and equipment of a modern technical school in Wellington in order that proper facilities should he given to all young people to obtain technical education.

Tho annual report of the Masterton District High School states that, in conscqncnco of an epidemic during the vear, one of tho assistant teachers was withdrawn from tho school. Although tho attendance lias moro than recovered, the teacher has not bocn reinstated.

A fire occurred on Sunday evening in a new four-roomed house in Mantel Street. Seatoun, owned by Mrs. Potter, and occupied by Mr. Walter Cribb, an engine-driver on the railways, who had just gone into the house prior to being married. Two of the back rooms were gutted and the contents damaged by firo and water.

Frosty nights aud cold winds are ou us. Inspect our warmth-producinc overcoats at 505., 705.. Ms. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners Street.—Advl.

"No Kubbing" Laundry Help is our special favourite for washing silks, muslins, prints, woollens, and mechanics' overalls spotlessly clean without rubbing or injury to the hands or fabric. Wo cire the famous Thinker Note Book free with evory'ls. packet of "No Rubbin?.". W.F.CU-Ady.t,

At the school committee meeting at* Brooklyn last evening a resolution was; passed l urging on the Government the necessity of' granting tree i school requisites, on the ground that as t'io whole community derives a benefit f roni N the education of the children it is only fair that tho whole community should pay the cost.~k mild epidemic of scarlet fever lias broken out in Mastertoa, says our special correspondent. There are ab present twenty-two cases in ifie hospital. The infant school has'been closed tor a week. _ i Some remarks upon educational velopments were made by the headmaster of the Newtown School (Mr. A. H. Parkinson) in a' report placed before last night's.rrieoting of householders. "It is very clear," said Mr. Parkinson, "that the coming timo will see changes amounting to revolution both in the attitude of the public mind towards education, and in the kind and duration of education deemed necessary tor future citizens. Two indications of the imminence of change may be quoted —the great Trades Union Congress of Endand and Wales lias demanded that the full-time school age shall be extended to the sixteenth year, and in the United States plans are approaching maturity for carrying on tuition to the eighteenth year. Twenty-two md ion pupils will be affected by this development Along with the extension of the school age there will be an expansion of the range of school work, .especially if one may Inward a conjecture, in the direction of science, manual and physical .training. This will demand more space, which prompts me to make the suggestion that we should not. wait till the war is over before' taking this important matter into considera- . tion." The "Wanganui Borough Council has accepted the tender of Messrs. braham ana Son, of Christchurch, for the erection of the Sargeant Art Gallery. The tender is £13,800. The designs were selected in open competition. There were thirty-three competitors, including several from Australia. Mr. Edmund Anscombe, of Dunedin, was successful.—Press Assn. ■ . . ' There was'a good deal of discussion on handwriting at the meeting. of householders at Brooklyn last evening. It was stated that the School Committees' Association! was endeavouring to have a uniform 'system of writing introduced into the primary schools ot New Zealand, and the meeting resolved to support the School Committees Association on the subject. The following donations have been received at ThbDomikiok Crippled Soldiers' Hostel Gift Fund; cheque for £5; for the Belgian Babies S from the Konini Sunday School children (per Eileen Warren), 12s.