LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 6, 2 October 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho House of Representatives met at 7.30 p.m. yesterday, and sat until 11.20 p.m. The evening was devoted to the discussion of one or two Departmental reports relating to education matters and of Ministers' answers to questions. Soino local Bills were on tho Order Paper for consideration, but they wore not reached. The Prime Minister stated beforo tho Houso rose that tho War Pensions Bill would bo the first order of tho day for to-day. Tho Legislative Council will not meet again until tomorrow afternoon. A return laid on tho table of the Houso of Representatives last night showed that the total cost of fitting and provisioning, refitting and re-provision-ing, and re-conditioning New Zealand transports owned fry the Union Steam Ship Company to March 31 last was ■£830,342. The amount realised from cash sales of material, stores, etc., was £10,171. As an instance of tho manner in which th'b cost of electrical equipment has advanced owing to war conditions, tho price of transformers before the war and now could be quoted. Our local body had occasion to secure three transformers, which were urgently needed for the power-house equipment. The prowar price was £109 each. _ A cablegram was forwarded to America —tho only source of supply now open to tho Dominion—and the reply came back ".£BSB for ttfree." Tho transformers were ordered. Tho matter of the income tax on companies will' bo brought beforo tho conference of chambers of commerce by the Wellington Chamber, and on endeavour will bo' made to have the tax put on a better basis. It was reported from Samoa recently that New Zealand was not keeping up its Island trade. This matter was briefly discussed by the council of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday, and it was 6aid that one of the chief reasons for Now Zealand not furthering its trade interests was a lack of shipping facilities. Auckland was more ccn. cerncd than Wellington, as the bulk of tho trade with tho Islands was done from there. It was decided to inquire of tho Auckland Cliamber what had been dono in the matter of shipping facilities. An outbreak of fire, which was subdued with the aid of a chemical fireextinguisher, occurred in the cycle premises of Mr. H. J. Masson, Carterton, on Saturday (states our special correspondent). The cause was due to a small Yulcaniser. In extinguishing the flames Mr. Masson suffered rather badly from the fumes of the rubber, and had it not been for tlie timely arrival of Mr. J. Crawley, sen., who saw Mr. Masson fall helpless to the floor, the-•probability is that he would have been suffocated: Very little damage was done, J. popular programme of high merit was given at Trentham Camp by the Pierrots, under tho direchtfh of the Ylf C.A., last night. Those present included the Camp Commandant, Colonel H R. Potter, C.M.G., and other staff officers, and the audience was a large and appreciative one, to judge by the trequont and sustained applause. Many clever local hits were made by the performers, including reference to subjects over which the men in khaki dearly love a laugh. The Piorrots were heartily cheered at the conclusion 61 Via anco. ' ~ ' Mention "was mad© at the last meeting of the Wellington Education _Boara ot some charts, that were being ffistributed amongst the larger schools by the Education Department, the object of such being to illustrate in a simple manner that would be readily grasped by mind the detrimental influences on the body and mind of alcohol, and generally the value of temperance, fta ß ® $"irts have been published by the National Women's Christian Temperance Union of Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A..- and companied by a "Manual _for Publio Schools," by, Edith fernith Davis, A.M., Litt. D., which is a guide for teachers as to how the subject might be P rese^ te °! and the manner in which the lesson of the charts could be clearly imparted to the children. The opening chaptei is devoted to a treatise on water and its many virtues as tlw first essential to life of every kind; and further on is shoivn how'tne "constructive foods, such aa wetiat, flour, corn, grapes, apples, etc., &T6 set against "destructives as whisky, alcohol, wine, brandy, and cidfci. Against the former is Bet the advantages of happiness, development, strength and'muscle, derivable from..the consumption of grain, as against beei, fat, weak ness decay, and sorrow derivable from the samo product. The now manual also attacks smoking as a habit, devoting a chapter to "smoker s heart, and also points out the harm derivable from chewing tobacco, through the by the tiny blood vessels of the membranes of the interior of the mouth and throat. The board is endeavouring to secure charts and manuals for all schools, large and small. Tho Wairarapa branch of the Teachers' Institute on Saturday framed a number of remits for the annual, conference. One of these urges that more inspectors be appointed, and another suggests the apopintment of lady teachers. The staff of assistants at the Gardens, Christchurcli, is about to be increased by the engagement of another _ woman gardener this making the fourth to be employed. The now Igardener is the daughter of a West Coast nurseryman, and 6he has already . had considerable experience in her father's gardens, particularly in regard to the care <? f * iat " a flora. She will be in charge ot the native section at tho Gardens. A laTge audience assembled in the Public Hall, Eastbourne, on Friday evening, to witness the unveiling of the war honours board in connection with the local school. Tho chairman of the Sohool Committee (Mr. Charles Russoll) presided, an 3" after a few introductory Te--1 marks called upon tho Mayor (Ml*. 1 • L*vi) to perform tho unveiling ceremony. The removal of tho XJnion Jack fronj the board was greeted with the greatest enthusiasm, the audience standing, ine Interest in the occasion was greatly enhanced by a very fine, lecture by. Captain P. M. Itenner on The Glorious .Battles of Snzac." The captain's effort was punctuated with frequent and hearty .applause from the large audience. Ihe singing of tho National Anthem brought a most successful gathering to a close. ■ Some good baskets of trout wore obtained by Masterton anglers at the opening of the trout-fishing'season yesterday, says our special correspondent. The overseer of the Wairarapa South County Council, reporting on the slip on the Kaiwhata Road at Te Wharau, at the last meeting, mentioned that it was the most difficult country to work in. When wet it was like glue, and when <lry it took on the characteristics of flint. Tho present trouble was hardly a slip, the whole hill having appeared to move. At the" top of the hill there was quite a large pool of mud which was in a constant turmoil, boiling away like porridge. The shipping companies and tho Harbour Board have been approached by tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce, which pointed out that nowadays even very expensive paper arrives in bale, and not in cases, and asked that hooks saould not bo used when handling these cargoes. Tho replies have been to tho effect that instructions will bo given against the uso of hooks.

The National Committeo of the YMCA. acknowledges the following subscriptions to its funds for carrying on work for (lie soldiers —Palnierslon North Patriotic Women Workers. .£500; Motueka Social Pair. J2300; North Tarimoki Pntnotio League. .£125; Waverler Patriotic League, <£25; New. Plymouth Patriotic" Committee, JBU; Mr. A. W. Nf».. I)nnn»virke, •£«;,• Mr. A. Nelson Pahiatna .£5; Mr. G. T. T. Huttcn, w£s; Mws M, Cunningham nnd friends, Wellington, _pi I? ; Mrs. Hudson, ICarori, £1; Mje. and Miss White. Wellington. J!1; M>. I) T Gibtmrd, Westport. 10s.: Mr. G. \stridgn (per Levin Patriotic Society), 7s. od."

/icconlin? to a eucolvptus export who has been visiting tho Wairarapa district there are some really tint we.aingi ri the eucalyptus spe:ies m/tl le (lislnpt. Rome of tho bluegums nie.said <o be perfect specimens. Answering questions in the House. of ■Representatives last evening, the Minister of Defence (Sir .Tames Allen) said that arrangements had been made already for the cabling to New Zealand of news of casualties sustained by New Zealancteis serving with the Imporial Forces. The names were coming to hand. Hospital reports were not cabled in theso cases.

The Minister of Customs (tho Hon, Arthur M. Myers) stated yesterday tfcnt tho amount ot Customs revenue collected for tho month of September was .£161,652, as compared with ,£3'20,G82 for tho corresponding month of 1916. The oxciso beer duty amounted to .£16,707, as com. pared with Ji11,822 for September last year. This increaso is accounted for by tho increaso in duty, which came into operation on September 15.

A claim that New Zealanders serving in tho Motor Boat Patrol should .bo allowed the benefit of tho soldiers'financial assistance scheme was made by Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington 'Suburbs) in tho House of Representatives last evening. Mr. Wright said that in some cases tho dependants of the men serving with the Motor Boat Patrol were in gravo difficulties. Tho men had discovered that practically tho wliolo of their pay was absorbed by esoenses that they could not avoid, and they had nothing left to send to their dependants.

"I am exceedingly disappointed that the report of Professor Prince on the Now Zealand fisheries has not yet tome to hand," said the Minister of Marino (the Hon. G. W. Russell) in the House of Representatives last night. "That gentleman visited New Zealand fonr years ago to report oil our fisheries, and was paid a vfcry large sum of money for his services. He supplied an interim report, but liis main report has not j«t come to hand. I cabled him before the session, asking him to send his report in time for presentation to Parliament, but lieyond a cablegram promising that be would endeavour to supply the. report in time nothing has come from him. A Sovernment grant of .£IOO has been mado to the New Zealand Swimming Association, with the stipulation that one-fourth of the amount should 1» Bpent on the encouragement of swimming among children. An inquest wa6 held yesterday afternoon by Mr. W. G. Riddcll, S.M., concerning tho death of John. Paul Duthle, fivo and a-half months old, who look ill at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday and died an hour and a-half later. Dr. Fyffe, who held the post-mortem examination, slated that tho child died of thymic aftlima, and a verdict to that effect was returned. Tho child's father is in camp; ' The winning numbers in the Wellington Commercial Travellers' Association's art unions are:—Dressed doll, ,1431; flour, bacon, etc., 1059; reinforcement badges, 365 The iced cake was inn by Airs. Moore, and the box of sweets by Mr. Huteheson. . , One bankruptcy was recorded in the Wairarapa during tho month of SeptemThe necessity for increasing the mount of financial assistance given to returned soldiers going upon the land was mentioned in the House of Representatives last night. The Prime Minister said that tlie' matter was receiving attention. Arrangements had been made already ior increasing the amount that could lie advanced to a soldier-farmer from .£SOO to .£750. .