LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 45, 16 November 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

There were 189 doaths of persons of G5 years and upwards in tho four metropolitan areas and nino suburban nrons during the month of October. 1917. as against 189 in the preceding month. Five of the persons \iad attained tho ngo of ninety-years or over. Tho Wei. lington metropolitan area had two hundred births and 119 deaths during the month.

_ Satisfaction with the eifect of prosecutions of milk vendors who soil milk not up to the standard required by law was oxpressed in tho following memorandum submitted by the Public Health Committee and approved by tho City Council last evening "Tho committee notice with satisfaction the reports of the milk inspector on the results of his inspections during the past month, and consider that the council should express its gratitude to Mr. M'Carthy, S.M., for the great help which his firm administration of the law is giving to the council in its endeavour to secure a pure milk supply for tho city." An Order-in-Council published in the Gazette yesterday authorises the Government Statistician to collect statistics regarding stoeksandanticipated imports of kerosene, benzine, petrol, benzoline, gasoline. naphtha, naphthalene, and other oils customarily used for lighting or internal combustion purposes. Persons holding stocks of theso oils, or expecting shipments, may bo required ixt any timo to furnish information to the Government Statistician on tho prescribed forms. At tho meeting of tho City Council last evening it was decided to alter the tramway stopping place in front of Government Buildings to opposite Quinton's corner. Yesterday's Gazetto contains an Order-in-Council authorising the Public Trust Office to lend the Wellington 'Hospital Board .£33.000 for the erection of new buildings and additions to existing build iiigs. Before the Chief Justice (Sir Eobert Stout) yesterday morning, Caroline Frances A. Eoss applied for a divorce from her husband, John Eoss, whom sho married on January 7, 1895. Tho charge mado by the petitioner, for whom Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared, was that tho respondent left her in 1910, and for four years and upwards did nothing towards supporting her or her family of three. Tho petitioner's ovidenco showed that in 190!) her mother had left her a sum of .£3500, and that her husband had stopped working six months after, and had begun to live on the money. Statements wero made that tho respondent was iu tho habit of drinking freely. His Honour granted a decree nisi, and stated that it was still open to the respondent, who had not appeared, to oppose the petition.

Tho headmaster of the Terrace End School at Palmerston North (Mr. P. Pairbrothor) mentioned in his last report to tho committee tho desirability of Labour Day boing added to the list of school holidays. On last Labour Day, the Teport stated, there was a very poor attendance at the school, and it seemed absurd to keep open on such a day when so many of tho parents desired to take their children with thorn on excursions or to picnics. The headmaster suggested that tho committee, should recommend tho Education Board to make it a school holiday, as it was observed in many other districts as such, and, ho thought, rightly so. Tho committee supported tho suggestion, and it was decided to approach the Education Board in tho way desired.

"When a Chinaman dies in a foreign land the first thought of his compatriots is to havo lis body conveyed back to China, from whose soil alone his spirit can ascend to the Happy Land. ]t is ono oi tho principal caves of the Celestials existence to save Up sufficient to R'twru to lug own land, or, failing that, to talio his body back after his death n that even.should occur abroad. A Chinaman, Willie Pong Keong, died at tho Napier Hospital last week from tho result o an accident, and his body lias been embalmed and placed in a lead shell lor the voyage.- Tho casket was'shipped away by tho steamer leaving Napier for Auckland on Saturday, mid will be forwarded from New 'Zealand to Australia, ami thence to Hong-Kong, at tho earlist ..possible date. The, total cost of Willie's voyage back to China is said to bo in the vicinity of £150.

there has just come to light a little romance of tho war, tinged with sadness ot what might havo been," concerning a young Scotchwoman and a Now Zealand soldier who has mado the great sacrifice (says tho "Glasgow Herald"). A Perth soldier at tho front wlio had round a chum in tho lonelv colonial, and shared parcels from homo with him, wrote to his wife suggesting that she might occasionally send something to the New Zealnnder. On receiving the request she mentioned tho matter to a iriend, n young unmarried woman, who at once cheerfully volunteered to supply the colonial with parcels. Tho friendless Answio, in the correspondence that followed, expressed tho hope that when tno war was over he would have tho pleasure of meeting his benefactor in Scotland. Hut this was not to be. Tho young woman has been officially informed that the colonial Boldier has died of wounds, and that he has rewarded tho kindness of tho friend he was fated never to meet by leaving her ,£2OOO.

At the meeting of. the City Council hold last evening it was decided that instructions be given to havo the wooden «all at Plimmer's Stops demolished forthwith in view of the danger likely to .result to the publio from tho condition of tho wall.

"That tho Board of Governors of the South Australian Pnblio Library and Museum and Art Gallery be informed of the council's approval of tho scheme for the establishment of an Australasian Academy of Letters, and that the board be requested to advise the council of tho steps from time to time being taken in tho establishment and to generally keep tho council posted with any information that the governing authorities may have available on the project." The foregoing was the wording of a resolution passed by tho City Council last evening.

The first New Zealand Parliament building at Auckland is shortly to bo demolished, in connection, with the construction, of a main eastern outlet for' the city. In the building, which fronts Parliament Street, facing the hack of tho Supremo Court, the Legislature of New Zealand opened its first session in May, 1851, and continued to hold its annual sessions there until ISGS, in which year Parliament met at Wellington, whore tho seat of Government had becomo permanently located, under an Act passed in November, ISG3. It was in the Auckland building that tho struggles of tho Legislature to seeuro responsible government, and tho early contests for power between Pox and Stafford took place, a party eontcst which extended on into the 'seventies, finally merging into what was familiarly known as "tho Continuous Ministry." Tho Auckland Provincial Council continued its sessions in tile building until the abolition of tho provinces, and toe bmlding subsequently served as tho Crown Lands Office. The Auckland University Collcgn will vacate the building early "next year, the property having already been acquired compnlsorily by the Auckland City Council.

U a recent meeting of the Christchurch ?*■■() Boaru 1 tho clerk was instructed to write to the Minister in chargo of Munitions and Supplies, suggesting ihat firemen belonging to the Second Division should bo exempted from military service. Copies of the letter were forwnrded to Inspector Hugo and to tho Firo Bonrds of Auckland, Dunedin, Palmerston North, and Pctone. At a subsequent meeting of tho board tho replies received were rend. The Minister wrote that tho National Efficiency Board had considered the question, hut was not prepared to recommend the general exemption of firemen, but considered thot each case should bo treated on its merits by the military servico hoards. The Auckland Fire Board wrote that it hesitnted to take any action likely to interfere with the working of the. Military Service Act. Tho board hnd obtained exemption for two single men for whom it had appealed. Tho Mayor (Mr. B. Holland), who is chairman of tho board, said that ho had instructed tbo clerk to appeal for all men considered essential, nnd, if necossarv, he (the speaker) would attend tho hearing himself. He had no 1 desire to secure exemptions unnecessarily, i but somo of their men were absolutely essential to the working of the brigade. Tho fire on Sunday night proved that. Tho chairman's action was endorsed. A Dunedin correspondent says that tho draft of recruits that left that city this week was reduced by orders from Wellington. A number of tho men who had been ordered to pavado received telegrams from the Director of Recruiting, notifying them that their leave had been extended to January. The licking of the men to get this extra leave seemed to havo boon done on no system, for 6omo who had been hanging on for 6omo time were kept back, whilst moil only just called were amongst those who had to go on, these including several nine-teen-year-old youths. Presumably (adds the correspondent) the ,choice was determined by ballot.

At St. Thouws's Church, Runa.nga, on Sunday night, there was a crowded congregation at a special memorial service for Mr. John Coulthard, tlio victim of the Runanga tragedy. In the course of his sermon, Archdeacon York, of Greymouth, said lie had stood that morning on the hillock selected by the murderer for his observation post, and ho had looked again at the "dug-out." Tho namo was a misnomer. It was rather the lair or hiding-place of a wild beast, a hole in the bushes, screened from observation. Mr. Mandcrsou, . the only witness of the crime, happened to be there on the hillock. Mandorson had described to him just what happened on Friday morning. Mandorson was closo enough to tho murderer to havo himself received the first shot. The murderer glanced his way before attacking the cor, but did not risk a shot at him, lest ho should,have given Mr. Hall the chance of shooting. From (ho strategical position of the observation post, the concealed position of the so-called dug-out, the nature of the form if obstruction selected by tho murderer, and which was calculated as being unlikely to arouse suspicion, the Archdeacon said the thought had occurred to him that hero was evidence of military training and experience. Again, the man vffio could handle two revolvers at the same time, and had the daring and nerve to do such a desperate deed, because he must have assumed that one at of the three in the ear would be carrying a rovolvor, was no ordinary civilian. In some respects the nresent murder was worse than that of Cain. Cain mw envious of Abel, and there were words between them and a quarrel. Here there was no quarrel. Young Coulthard was ordered to bold up his hands, and in tho attitude of obeving lie was shot dead. He was not afforded a moment even to say a prayer.