LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 185, 25 April 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

— Q. The .Minister of' Justice (Ihc Hon T. M, Wilford) slated yesterday that every effort would bo mndo to lind tho man suspected of tho murder at Gommell's Crossing, near Oainaru. The polico authorities were confident that if the fugitives was alive ho would bo found. A big search pnrty had been out in tho locality, but it was very difficult country, densely covered by gorse and scrub for miles. A largo area of the gorse had- been burned off, but Ibis clearing operation had been interrupted by rain. Thero were deep pools in this rugged country, and ono of the theories was that the man had disappeared into one of theso pools. The Public Trust Office business has been increasing at such- a rate in recent times that it lias been necessary to provide now premises for additional accommodation. Sir Joseph Ward states that the Department has bought the. adjoining building, at tho corner of Slout and Ballanoo Streets, at a reasonable price from .Messrs. Kirkcnldio and Stains. The premises, solidly built, are on a section 75ft. by GSft. The present occupants are the Civil Service Club, Messrs. Morison and Smith. Bultenvorlh and Co., and F. N. K. Meadows' nnd Co. The building has threo floors nnd ii_ basement. Tho pnrchnso price was .E18,500. In its annual report, the Wellington centre of the New Zealand branch of the British Bed Cross Society and (lie Order of Sb Johp and Jerusalem states: "In connection with the treatment and re-education of tho returned men, the society will require support and will find amplo scope lor its onergies Itmiay bo necessary to establish further convalescent homes where they can get functional frentment, nnd some assistance towards a l-o-cducatiou which will fit them for a now wnlk in life." ■■ It was announced at the monthly meeting of tho Wellington Harbour Board that tho Hon. T. M. Wilford had written asking tho board's consent for its engineer (Mr. J. E. Mnrchbanks) to become a member of a commission to visit tho various centres to inquire into the cause of accidents on tho waterfronts. Tho board granted tho Temiest. Mr. Danioll said that Mr. Wilford himself ns Minister of Marino proposed to sit as chairman of the commission, and would havo ns mombcrs Mr. Marchbanks, as a technical oxnerl; on gear and loading appliances, and » • epresentativc of tho watcrsidcrs, yet to lie selected. Tho following have been elected to tho Taita- School Committee:-Messrs. A. Burgess, S. Cooloy, W. Harris, D. M'Arllmr, H. Mawson, J. Stonohouse, and M. W. Welch. The Wellington Savage Club is to cqmmonco its season by holding the opening korero on Saturday evening, when tho Hon. \V. F. Massey, 8.C., will bo invested as Chief Savage for tho current year. It is gratifying to noto from the annual report of tho'Charilablo Aid Superintendent (Mr. A. Truebridgc) that the number of persons in receipt of relief from the committee • has a downward tendoncy. According to a return which gives <a comparison between the figures of tho last threo financial years, tho decrease has been quite reinarkablo, the falling away being nearly a third in three years. Tho daily averngo number of persons in receipt of relief in 1915-16 was 400 (indoor and outdoor); in 191G-17, 319; and in 1917-18 only 288. If the reduction goes on at tho present rnto-37 a year—the timo is not very far distant when charitablo aid will bo among tho things of tho bad old past. • It is remarkable that tho reduction noted hns taken place oyer threo years of the war period. Frederick E. Simmiss was charged in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., with being found drunk, and was remanded for. a week. ° It was stated in evidonco that Simmiss went to a motor garage, represented himself as tho son of a wealthy man residing at Wanganui, and said ho wished to purchase a car. Anxious to mako a deal the garngo proprietor provided Simmiss with a car and a chauffeur. While being driven on the Hutt Road, Simmiss requested tho chauffeur to mako inquiries for him at a house, and during tho Inttor's absence Simmiss drove away in tho car. Simmiss was eventually discovered at tho Upper Hutt in a very intoxicated condition, an 3 tho car was found standing on tho roajl.

In reply to tho signatories to tho requisition that ho should bo n candidal e for tho Hutt Mayoralty, Mr. H.'Baldwin has stated his position as follows:— "I have to thank you for your requisition asking mo to accept nomination for the position of Mayor. Whilst I would like to avail myself of your kind offer, I am of tho opinion that it would not be in the best interests of l the borough to reoccupy my former position as Mayor, seeing that fivo members of tho council arc opposed to my return unless I sign an agreement that I will not at any >imo tako steps to remove the resolution disapproving of my action in signing the circular letter in reference to the late engineer from tlio minuto book. TliSr attitude in this matter shows the possibility of further trouble if t should lie returned, and I have decided to keep to jnv former decision not to accept further nomination for tho Mayoralty, unless such resolution is removed from the minute book. Thanking you for the trouble you have taken in the matter, and also for your expressions of appreciation and goodwill, which I assure you are much appreciated." The annual meeting of parishioners of St. Mary's Church, Karori, wns held last niglit. The churchwardens' report showed a satisfactory state of nlfairs. The monthly offnrtorios for soldiers' coinI forts had amounted to JM9, and tho sum raised for missionary and charitablo objects outside the parish had amounted to .£l2B, as against .£95 in tho preceding year. The churchwardens pointed out the need of a now Sunday school and this matter was discussed. Tho debt nn tho vicarage had been paid off, and tho total debt of the parish was now only dC2SO. Mr. J. AV. Ilondorson was nominated Vicar's churchwarden, and Mr. T. 1): Bellett wns elected people's churchwarden. The following wero elected vestrymen:—Messrs. Cook, Caldwell, Harper, ' Holder. Newcnmb. Andrews. Rkegg, A. I''.' Henderson, Porter, and Short. Tho following were elected to tho Kaiwarra School Committee for the, ensuing year:—Messrs. llfTilyard (chairman), A. lorns (secretary), H. Menvood, E. Williams, and B. Eugc. On Monday last Victor Frederick Freemoiit Cook was charged in ' tho Magistrate's Court, before Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., with having changed his abode and failed to notify the Government Statistician of same, lie wns fined -10s. Between tho time the summons was served and tho hearing of (lie case, Cook called on the Statistician- and satisfied him that lie had enlisted, and was placed in Clnss Ci and was therefore not a reservist. Yesterday an application was made for a rehearing, which was granted and tho case was then withdrawn. One tells another!—thus the fame of •<\o KUBBING" Laundry Help, "GOLDEN KULE" Soap, and "GOLDEN RULE'' Candles is continually spreading. W.F.C.A., Ltd.-AdTt.