LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 50, 22 November 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The purchase of tho Now Zealand output of butter and cheese for the coming season by tho Imperial authorities has not yet been completed, lho Prime Minister has received information which ho will convoy to the producers at a meeting convened bv himself for Wednesday of next week. It is probable that satisfactory terms and conditions will bo arranged. Several allegations of theft from tho waterfront have been laid by the polico recently, and three men appeared in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer variouß charges arising out of tlio polico investigations. Ono man is accused of having stolen a £25 case of whisky. Two others are cbargcd with having helped themselves to a list of articles the total value of which is about £3. Tho cases were not gone on with yesterday, but are to be heard next week.

An ex-student of Victoria College has been appointed to tlio Chair of Experimental Psychology _at Melbourne University. When this fact was mentioned at a meeting of the College Council last night, several of tho members shoived fiomo doubt as to what "experimental psychology" really was. "It is concerned mainly with illusions was one of tho explanations offered. The college was not able to claim all tho credit for the success of its student, since ho had completed his studies at Leipzio and Cape Town.

A note in Featherston Camp Orders states that no soldier may dispose of, whother by pawning, soiling, destruction, or any means whatsoever, tho Government clothing or equipment issued to him or intrusted to his care for military purposes. Similarly, no individual may accept or purchase from a soldier any articles of Government clothing or equipment which have been issued to him. The payment of the first instalment of tho war bonus to Education Board employees lias been authorised by til© Government, and hoards have been notified of the fact. The bonus is the same as that paid last year. An inquest is to bo held this afternoon touching the death of John Lane, a resident of Howe's Lane, who died suddenly on Tuesday. There has been quite a little famino in the fowl wheat market for some little time past, and poultry-keepers have been at their wit's end to obtain adequate supplies. The shortage has been temporarily relieved by the arrival from Australia of 8600 sacks, but even that quantity, when distributed throughout the district, is not sufficient for tlTe demand for fowl feed. Tho latest Government restriction on importations of such wheat from Australia is, according to local dealers, going to have a serious effect on supplies irom that quarter. Tho Government has announced that 110 wheat ill which weevil is detected will be passed, a restriction that is considered unduly harsh at a time when supplies are practically unobtainable in New Zealand, and it is going to hit the poultry grower very hard. It has been pointed out that a lino of wheat quite free of weevil may be shipped in Sydney, yet through being stowed in tho same ho cl with a weevily line may land hero with til© weevil in it* and so bo condemned. Merchants will in such circumstances he chary of importing anv fowl wheat at all from the other side, and it is said that the prohibition is likely to have a prejudicial effect on the pouitry industry, which the Government in tho past lias done so much to foster. The residents of Whareatca Bay (D'Urvillo Island) have applied to the Wellington Education Board for tho erection of a school there. Tins wis th? board finds itself unable to gratify, but it was decided that if the people could provide a room the board would pay rent for the use of it for school purposes. Mr Alfred Matthews has been a member of the Featherston County Council for 42 years (151 years as chairman) Mr. W. J. Nix for 25 years, Mr. A D. M'Lcod for 20 years (13 years as chairman), Mr. J. Martin or 19 years, and Mr. John M'Leod for 13 years. At a meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council it was resolved "Tliat this council Tegrets exceedingly the timid and ineffectual measures adopted l.y tho National Government against enemy aliens and naturalised enemy subjects in the Dominion; that in view of recent happenings the government bo urged to immediately intern evory German and Austrian, rich or poor, and that strict and censorship bo immediately establ shed over all correspondence and the business affairs of all people of German and Austrian nationality or descent in the Dominion ; that nothing short of this will adequately protect the property and lives of British subjects and .secure the pressing needs of the Empire at this strenuous time." •

MormoliiKtn at the height of its nnwor ifi shown in "Tho Mormon Haul, tho powerful film drama screening next Saturday at the Kiiiff's Continuanco Picture Theatre —first session at p.m. Prices will ho usual continuous prices,— Advt.

The date of the January meeting of tho Wellington Education Board has been lixed for January 23. Tho next meeting of tho board will bo held on December 12. At the monthly meeting of tho Wellington Education Board, on the motion of Mr. Thomas Forsyth, seconded by Mr. Georgo London, it was decided to obtain a report from the board's chief oxccutivo officers on the subject of the board koeping its own staff of painters. Mr. Forsyth thought that a considerable saving could bo effected, and tho board would bo suro of good material being nsed if they had their own men, instead of calling for tenders every time. Tho board unanimously passed tho motion. Tho last dato of this year on which tho Magistrate's Court will hear civil cases is December 18. The first hearings in tho New Year will bo taken on January 10. A charge of housebreaking was made in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. It was alleged against William Seymour, an Australian, that on November 13 he broke into the of Frank Ernest Reading, No. 32 Tinakori Road, and stole £18 worth of property. Hearins; of the case was set down for Wednesday next. At tho monthly meeting of the Education Board yesterday it was pointed out that ono of tho teachers on the list of those who wished to resign only desired to do 50 conditionally on her being given the retiring allowance. _ On the acting-chairman (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.) asking l precisely what that meant, the secretary (Mr. G. L. Stewart) said that the Department had taken power under the Statutes Amendment Act to decline to pay such allownnccs as a deterrent to teachers retiring during war time. They had tho right to withhold the superannuation, and had intimated their intention of doing so in the case under consideration. Mr. R. M'Callum M.P.. swd that ho understood that the Act only applied to those who had arrived at the age limit. Mr. Stewart said that the lady had served lier full time. It is expected, says our Masterton correspondent, that between four ana fivo hundred Natives (including Kmc Rata) will be present at a meeting at the To Ore Ore pa at the end of this week, to discuss tho question ot the further recruiting of Natives for service abroad. . "I do not think the people of tins country, speaking generally, proper y realise what the producers are: doing toi it at tho present time, said the Inme Minister in tho course of a speech at Tuakau. "There «re too many P e °P' e in New Zealand to-day who think, tho money which goes to the " put in their pockets, or in the bank, o be taken out and admired occasionally. Nothing is further from being .correct. But for that money it would bo absolutely impossible for_ this Dominion carry on its share in tho war. Uno also hears a great deal to-day about tho cost of living, but many people overlook the fact that the cost of 1 - ing affects tho producer as well as the consumer." Mr. C. J. Cunningham, orchard instructor of tho Agricultural Department, is at present in Masterton investigating the reported existence or tho plant known as "poison ivy m tlio township. Poison jvv creates skm diseases, and is often mistaken for the Virginia creeper. "It is probably the most humane Act that has ever been placed on -no Statute-book," remarked Sir. b. Cruickshank, S.M, of the Proton Act, at the annual meeting ot llio Prisoners and Patients' Aid Society at Invercargill. "The scheme whereby an offender, who would at one time have been sent to prison to mingle with confirmed criminals, could be released on probation under the observation of a capable officer was,' continued tho Magistrate, "a splendid one, and often proved the making of a man. The probation system was introduced into Now Zealand in 1886, and into England in the following year. Since then it has been adopted, more or less, all over the world.

: A heavy downpour of rain occurred in the "Wairarapa yesterday. The ram, according to our special correspondent, will bo welcomed, especially by dairy fanners. The residence of Mr. Thomas Oliver, at Parkvalo, was, says our Carterton correspondent, totally destroyed by tire, together with its contents, durum the occupants' absence on Monday afternoon. The origin of the fire a, mystery. The building was insured m the State Office for £250, and the contents for £125 in the sanw office. Theloss above insurance is estimated afc £^00. A number of commissioners of the Upper Hutt Town Board visited Masterton this week to inspect the disused gas plant, with a view to its purchase. It is understood, says our Masterton correspondent, that satisfactory proposals were made, and tliaD these will be brought before the-Mas-terton Borough Council for confirmation. A caso was referred to at the meetins of the Education Board yesterday where tho use of an acre or two ot land, attached to a country school residence, would have been of great value to the teacher to ruii a horse and cow on instead of which the land lmd been leased to a farmer In consequence o there not hems any land connected nitli the residenco in question, it had been difficult to eet a teacher tc> stav at tho school. It was mentioned that there wero other cases where education icscrves adjacent to schools were not utilised, for the Improvement or advantage of the school. It ' that it seemed to ho a policy of the Education Department not to allow such lands to be used. Several members of the board expressed the opm ion that the matter should bo closely pursued, and on the motion of Mr. M'Callum, it was decided that the chairman and secretary Minister of Lands, to urge his inter vention in such cases.