LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 65, 10 December 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Christmas Day this year will fall on a Tuesday, and in the ordinary course of events the special late shopping night would he taken on Monday, December 24. Unless a very large number of shopkeepers wish to make an alteration, the usual half-holiday must be observed on Saturday, December 22. Tho Labour Department would bo agreeable, however, to have the Christmas late night taken on Saturday if a large number of shopkeepers agreed to close on Monday at 1 p.m. With the Saturday before New Year this does not apply, since there is a holiday in tho week,' and therefore the observance of the half-holiday is not compulsory. Shopkeepers, however, may obeerve only one late night (to 9 p.m.) in the week (apart from Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve), whether this late night is taken on Friday or Saturday.

An elderly woman named Susan Reid was found dead on Saturday morning in the room in which she lived at 13 Pipitea Street. Deceased was a married woman. An inquest is to be held this morning as to the cause of death/

A little encounter which occurred at the corner of Customhouse Quay and Willeston Street at 11.80 a.m. on Saturday gave bystanders some amusement. A motorist driving a little low-set motor, in crossing from Lamhton Quay to proceed down Willeston Street, passed very close to a man who was crossing the end of tbe latter street. Tho passing was so close indeed that it raised the ire of the pedestrian, who threw his arms round the motorist's neck and expressed his , feeling in no uncertain 'way: The constable who witnessed the episode took a serious view of tie matter, and ordering the pedestrian to get into the car with the driver, bade the latter drive all three to' the rolico station. The little trouble will picbably be thrashed out in court.

It is a comparatively 6imple matter to pack strawberries—the most perishable of fruit—from Auckland to Wellington, but on Saturday Griffiths and Co. received a consignment in good order from Mr. F. W. Duncan, cf the Sunnyvalo Orchard and Nursery Co., situated at Island Block, Central Otago. Thcso arc practically the first consignment over dispatched to Wellington from the place, as transport is The berties have to be carted for some miles to the Beaumont railway station, and thence' proceed to Lyttelton, via Dunedin, and are thence transhipped to Wellington by the ferry boat. Notwithstanding the distance they had trove led and the many times they were handled, the "Ettersburgh" berries earned in excellent condition and realised good prices. ■ Mr. E. AV. "Wliite, M.A., LL.M., son of Mr. John White, head master of tho Musselburgh School (Dunediu), has been selected by the authorities for the post of Registrar of the Courts of Samoa at Apia, which are under militaiy jurisdiction. Mr. Wbite has tor some time past been chief solicitor clerk to tho legal firm of Garrick and Co., of Christchurcli, and " ""> ni.tn son to serve in a public capacity during tho war. His four brothers enlisted voluntarily, and joined up with the forces. The youngest son, -Edgar, was killed at Messines. Recently the Ashburton County Second Division League wrote to Mr. \\. Nosworthy, member for Ashbnrton, asking him to explain his reason for not supporting in Parliament the league's demands in regard to allowances after promising that he would do so. Mr. Nosworthy now states that there was a separate meeting of the Liberal Party, and also one of tho Reform, Party," at which the Dominions financial position was put very forcibly before tho members and the question of allowances discussed. After this a joint meeting of parties was held, at which Mr. Massoy, Sir Joseph Ward, and Sir James Allen told members in confidence- the financial position, and tho length the Government could go in meeting tho demands of the league. At that meeting, which comprised the majority of thp members, it was unanimously decided to support the Government in its nroposalfi. "'When a division was railed for," states Mr. Noswortliy, "I think by a member who was at the meeting, I and other members who know all tbe Government had told us did not foel Justified in voting otlior than with tho Government anil taking our full slmre of the responsibility, by which I- felt I was doinj tlio brsfc to suonort tho league and the best tvossible interests of all at a timo when tho end of the war is not in sight."

A soldiers' dance, arranged by tho Mayor and Mayoress and their committees, was hold in tho Town Hall on Saturday night. All soldiers and their lady friends wcio admitted freo. There was good music, and supper was provided. The venture was a success, and there is reason to believe that later dances will bo'' even more successful, after tho soldiers now in the camps have become familiar with the arrangements Tho experience of Saturday .night, and of the previous Saturday, indicate that Hip men prefer a danco to a concert. An ■officiuni icommitteo directed the proceedings.

Giving evidence at a sitting of tho Second Canterbury, Military Service Board, a Canterbury fruitgrower said that his oxperience proved/ it was bew ter to employ boys rather'than women when men could not bo obtained. Women wanted somebody alongside of them most of tho time to assist them to lift tho baskets, or to do tho work for them. It seemed to him'the hm Zealand girls wanted something easy. Tho chairman (Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M.) commented that if that,were tho case New Zealnnd women were different from the women iu the Old Country.

Tho High Court of Australia dismissed the appeal of Adela Walsh (formerly Pankhurst), with costs, conviction under Section 4 of "The Unlawful Associations Act, 1910-17,' on. a charge thai on September 20, at Yarraville, contrary to the provisions of the Act, she encouraged the injury of property. Th© appellant was sentenced by a pqlico magistrate at Melbourne to imprisonment: for four months, the sentence to bo suspended on her entering into a bond, of £100, with one surety of £100, that she would not offend against the Act or attend to speak at any meeting of more than 15 persons without first obtaining,the consent of the Attorney-General or the Solicitor-General or a police magistrate.

In order to provide money for tho extra bonus it Ims been decided that an increase on freights and fares shall take place, and it gives as much pleaeuro to know that the increases are being accepted by the public with a good grace, 'which is another indication that our services are appreciated (writes the "N.Z. Locomotive Engineers' Journal," in reference to the-in-creased- bonus to married"men). So far as it is within our power we will do our best to assist the Minister and manager to keep the expenditure down. This may ,bo done in many ways, and we can each and all put the shoulder to tho wheel. If the loads of engines could bo increased we would suggest doing so, but at present they aro very much overloaded, and require reducing, iii order to do justice to all concerned. But in other directions we can possibly assist, such as being careful with stores and fuel. We have no_ hesitation in saying that no. man wilfully wastes, but there may be some who carelessly waste stores and fuel, and wo would ask all to givo some attention to these matters. Every engineer and fireman should etrive to be »s efficient and economical as possible, during the war period at any rate. By reducing the expenditure in this way we can do much to assist to pay foS the present increase, and also pave tho. way for further, consideration in_ a..: like direction when the time arrives , ' for consideration.