LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 218, 3 June 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

tho Minister of Defence has received advico that the Thirty-.wciith Reinforcements havo reached a port of call all well.—Press Association. Portion of tho old Mauricoville lim'o works was destroyed by firo on Friday night (says our Mnslcrton corresponded) ■tins will prevent tho output of lim o for some time to come. Two accidents arising out of collisions with motor-cars, occurred on tho Unit lvoad on Saturday. About 1i.15 p.m n motor-car, driven by Thomas K. James, collided with a horse and trap, in charge ol William Chapman, ami Mrs. Jano turner, who, with her four children, was an occupant of the trap, was injured about the head. It is believed that Mrs Turner was struck by a piece of the splashboard of tho trap, which was broken. The children wore unhurt. Mrs Turner was removed to the Hospital for treatment, but yesterday she was well enough to be able to proceed to her home at Johnsonville. The second case was one in which William Brown also of JoTinsonvillc, was travelling in a sidecar of a motor cycle with a Mr, Woodward. Tho motor cycle collided-with a motor-car, and Brown was thrown out. His head was injured, and he was admitted to'tho Hospital at 5.30 p.m. The Hospital authorities reported last night that his condition had improved. Diphtheria has been rather prevalent during the past three months in certain districts in different parts of the Domin. ion. In tho Wellington Health District (winch extends to New Plymouth on the West Coast 1 and East Cape on the other coast, and includes Wairau, Piclon, and Nelson) the following cases were reported during the month of April:—Cook, 15; Wairoa, 1; Hawke's Bay, 51; Waipawa, 24; Taranaki, 41; Stratford, C; Ilawera, 57; Patea, 4; Wanganui, 45; Paimcrstoii, North. 26; Wellington, 57; Wairarapa, 1!); Wairau, 2; Pioton, 1; Nelson, 49. The total number of cases notified in the

Wellington Health District for April was 401, as compared with 255 for tho preced. ing month. The disease, reports tho District Health Officer, is extremely widespread, every hospital district except Waiapu contributing cases. Tho two districts which are most affected by Iho epidemic are Hawera and Nelson, iii both those districts the children attending tho schools aro being treated with Clilorniniue T. Thirty-ono cases were reported in the Southland district, as compared with 2(1 for the preceding month. Referring to the 11 cases notified in the Wallace district, the Health Officer states that Ihey havo been of a severer type than usual.

An exchange relates that a Class B man of the Seconal Division, within a couplo of days of being called up in tho recent ballot, was overwhelmed with circulars and other advertising matter from various people offering to do all manner of things on his behalf if he would only favour thehi with his patronage Ho had offers to sell his furniture, and his house, to prepare his will, to administer his properly when ho was away —in fact, to relievo him of "all worry and annoyance"—in return for "reasonable charges." It is stated that several Second Division men have- been complaining of the annoyance to which they have boon subjected of late by having their mail flooded with this typo of "literature."

Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington during the month of Mav amounted to .£93,795 ss. sd„ as compared with #89,229 15s. lOd. for the corresponding month last year. -Tho beer duty colected dwing the past month amounted to #2378 13s. lfld., the figures for last year being £2082 3s. 51"

An inquest was held on Saturday morning by Mr. W. G. Riddcll S.M into the cause of death of a man named Alexander Olsen, who wa's found dead ! fi U !?T c? [ l miiAa y morning at 74 Abel Smith Street Dr. Pope stated that he had attended Iho deceased for heart trouble, and had seen tho body after death. He was satisfied that (he man had died from heart failure. Margaret Water stated that Olson had lived at her house, and ho had been in bad health tor IS years to her knowledge, hlie found him dead in his bed on Thursday morning about 8.30 o'clock. Earlier in .the morning ho was heard movinir about his room. Olsen was 03 yearn of ago. Tho Coroner returned a' verdict that death was due to heart failure.

11l iho Divorce Court on Saturday before His Honour Mr. Justice Hosking, Ldytho Lilian Clarge, for whom Mr. P. W. Jackson'appeared, applied for a dissolution of. her marriage'with diaries Oakley Clarge, the grounds alleging misconduct. The respondent did not defend the case. His Honour granted n decree nisi, to ho. made absolute in three months, and tho petitioner was granted ,£ls cosls and disbua-scments to bo paid by tho respondent.

Winter has set in early this year (says (he "Oamuru Mail")! for it is not usual to have in May such a fall of snow on tho back country mountains as occurred last week. Moreover, the snow spread well towards tho lower country, ii_ light fall occurring in iho vicinity of lvurow. Tho indications point to a more severe winter than was experienced last year, and it would not bo an unmixed evil were smch a condition to occur, for it would do a good deal towards er:idi> eating (ho multifarious pests whose ravages havo been evident in many directions.

A. frightened horse at a mad gallop probably saved itself from destruction at the Queen's Wharf gales yesterday morntng through slipping on tho wharf when about a chain from the gates. Tho horso attached to an express was standing at tho foot of the Queen's Wharf when it suddenly dashed uj the wharf towards Post Office Square. A number of persons were idling along, and a man who saw the possibilities of a serious accident, quickly shut the big iron gate.? across tho wharf, thinking no doubt that the horse would see them closed, ayd pull up before it dashed itself against them. Tho horse, however, slipped on tho wood blocks, and fell before it reached Iho gate. Several men van forward and secured it before it could' rise.

Reports received by Mr. W. H. Skinjier, Commissioner of Crown Lands in Canterbury, show that- kens, in spite of the prico on their heads and systematic destruction, are increasing in numbers, and are taking unprecedented toll from flocks in tho high country of tho province. In the Lees Valley, between tho Waimakariri and Hurunu: Rivers, (here has been heavy destruction, and the manager of the lisk Head station, south of Lake Sumner, states that about eighteen months ago an expert trapper employed by him to decoy and kill keas was paid for GOO head. Mr. Skinner's information shows that Iho birds Lave become a serious menace to sheep-owners in some districts.

At a meeting held in Masterlon on Friday night the report of the Education Committee urging educational reforms was adopted, and a number of those present joined the Educational Reform League.

•Were not teachers largely to blame for fhe-defects nf our schools, asked a lady of Mr. F. L. Combs during the lecture at tho Alexandra Hall last night. Were they not unsympathetic and standoffish when approached by parents? The speaker replied that the teacher of sixty children naturally dreaded possible interviews with sixty parents, and it being a deiui* rrnxic countrj, endeavoured to keep all aliko at a distance. Inside a twenty-four hour day it was impossible for tho toachnv of nighty weary cinldren i;, place himself on intimate terms with so many parents.

Anniversary services in connection with the Mnranui Methodist Church wen hold yesterday, targe congregations being ii rent urn of tiic meetings. The preacher was the Rev. V. C. Head, late chaplain to ouo-of the hospital ships, who has just taken up his new duties as superintendent of the now Kilhiniio circuit. The preacher's subject, from Corinthians 3 and !), was capably handled. A well-balanced choir enhanced the proceedings. Mr. R. Temple was choir leader, and Miss Hobman was at the organ.

How was it, asked Sir. Combs, of V.ne nudicnco gathered under (he auspices of tin: Trades and Labour Council last night—how was it that our children, so bright and original at five, leave our infant schools bo commonplace and sterro. typed? It was, ho said, for the same reason that tlio sardines all assumed tho earno shape in a tin. In neither ca.se could individuality escape drastic repression.

The present needs of our educational system are purely remedial rather than o! an ambitious, progressive character. Why talk of open-air schools and Montesorri methods' when, according to- Departmental data, overcrowding and uu(lerstaffing prevent an adequate interpretation of tho present syllabus. . Mr. Combs, during a lecture in Alexandra Hall last night. A suggestion (hat the Auckland city organist, Mr. Maughan Harnett, should, bo asked to include more "popular" music in his organ-recital programmes was made at the last meeting of the City Council. The matter was referred to the i''inauco and Legal Committee.. Bottles and tins for the Navy League Ladies' Auxiliary Committee's effort on behalf of the sailors of the Navy and tlio merchant servico are coming in freely. Any having doubts about their contributions should write or communicate by "phone with the lion, secretary, Mrs. C. Earle. The Government protection over Californian quail was discussed by the Auckland Provincial Couferenee of the Farmers' Union. Mr. A. M'Cougan, of Taneatua, moved that the (.-lovemmcnt 1» urged to remove all protection over the birds in question, lie said quail did enormous damage in the hill country, and repeatedly when grass seed was being sown they ate up tho seed almost as soon as it fell on the ground. The remit was carried. "The educational point of view must como to be that the child, however unkempt and neglected, is more important than the Feacher, tho Department, tfio Minister, and the whole adult population." A sentiment expressed by Mr. F. L. Combs, in his address last ovoiiiiiif, and warmly applauded by tlio audience. An eldor of tho Presbyterian Church at Lismore, New Sioucli Wales, etood up in the Presbyterian Assemoty at a recent meetiug and advueattd the formation ot a union ot Piesuytcnau ministers, to got higher supemis m order to moet the increased coso ol living duo to tlio war. Mr. James liarrie saui that all know that tne cost ot living had increased, and he olten wonuereu now many of tho people living in the manses were able to make bom ends meet. It was a serious matter in some instances, and it surprised him that u ministers' union had not been formed with the object of exacting higher wages. He wondered why the men who were well up in the church did not think out a scheme. Tho Key. John Ferguson: "What would you do!'" Mr. Uarrie: "I'd form a union and register it." The Uev. John Ferguson: "And go on strike?" Air. Barrio:

"Los, if iv living wage w;\s not paid." Air. iiarrie said thai; 'people ill certain districts were receiving more- money, than ever, and were spending on luxuries which they had hud to do without before. Ho 'thought that ministers should, not receive less than .MOO a year. Thai amount would bring them up to the standard of civil lite, and would enable them to fulfil their obligations. Ministers should be placed above benevolence and should have u living wage.