LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 288, 24 August 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

.11)0 Minister of Defence received adyico some two weeks ago that the Fortieth Ucinforccments had readied a second port of call, "all well." Advice has also been received thai; tho 38th Mounted Rifles nnd the 3rd Karotongan drat I reached their destination on August 3 "all well." Owing lo an oversight the news was not communicated to tho public, as is the iisual custom.

'1 should have thought that by .now everybody knew a two-penny stamp was required on a. receipt," remarked Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., in a case at tho Magistrates Court yesterday, in which Charles Matlneiou was charged with having given a receipt for ,£ls to a Mrs. iufly M'Xenna without ha v iug aflixed ii two-penny stump. It was stated that Mrs. M'Kenna had drawn defendant's attention to the mutter, but Mathieson re* plied that he thought a pt»nnv stump uould be sufficient. "If it had been a case of absoluto ignorance I would not have been inclined to take a serious view of tho matter" said Mr. Frazer. "The law is. rather strict about the observance of the lievemle. Act, and a breach is always considered somewhat seridus from the Government's point of view." Defendant was fined .01, with lis. costs. In a similar case Munt, Cottrell, ami Co. were ordered to pay 7s. costs. In this ease it was stated that the matter was one of omission. The firm had carried out some work for tho Rnnsitikei County Council, which cost ,£2O 55., and the receipt was given on one of the council's voucher forms, and not on tho linn's printed form. It could not be explained how the omission occurred.

For some time past tho work at the Magistrate's Court on' Fridays has been particularly heavy, and a rearrangement of sonic of the business has become necessary. Yesterday,' Mr. F. V. Pra/.er, S.H., intimated that with the concurrence of the authorities concerned, ho would devote Tuesday afternoons to the hearing of by-law prosecutions in future, -and thus relieve a great deal of tho pressure which results on "Fridays. Members of the legal profession who were present, and Police Inspector Marsack, agreed that the new projosaT would be entirely satisfactory. His Worship also stated that juvenile cases would be heard for tho future on Saturday mornings in order that school attendances might not be' interfered with.

The first green peas of the season made their appearance at the niar'tels yesterday, and wero sold by Griffiths and Co. at 3s. 4d. per peck, probably the highest price ever paid for peasi in Wellington. They are not expected to be plentiful in Wellington until the end of next month.

A retired railway servant named John Green Hall was found dead at the Railway Hotel, Thorudon Quay, where he resided," at half-past 8 yesterday morning.. Tho deceased was about 80 years of age, and although he had been in indifferent health for some time past, he had not been under the care of a doctor since 1915, when-'ho was found to be suffering from heart trouble. Deceased was believed to have been married, but nothing is known of his relatives. An inquest will be held at 9.30 o'clock this morning.

The Brisbane "Courier" is increasing the price of the paper to 2d. from September 2.—Press Assn.

Tho chairman of tho Hawera Hospital Hoard, says a I'ress Association telegram, refents the imputation of the Wellington Board, contained in n message regal-ding liability for the maintenance of a child. The Hai'-era Hoard lias not repudiated liability, either as to the past or future, though it did rju'estinii as unduly high the amount the Wellington Board demanded..-

"Jl takes .t:i a week for a hingle man to live," remarked a defendant in a ease ;tt the Magistrate's Court yesterday. "Does it replied Mr. I l '. Y. Frnsser, H.ll. "If it costs you .Ki. ) am afraid that you 11111 st live 011 something stronger than water."

Two informations of having sent; liquor into a 110-liecnse district without; furnishing the necessary particulars to the clerk of tho court' resulted in Messrs. 1! T. Taylor and Company beins prosecuted before .Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr. 11. M. Beechey, who appeared for the defendants, entered a plea of guilty, and stated that the difficulty had arisen through tho omission of a cleric to post the documents, which, unfortunately, were discovered nearly a month afterwards. A tine of 10s,, with costs, was imposed.

The new pipe organ has arrived (savs tho annual report of the St. James's Presbyterian Church), and is no.v in course of erection. The Organ Committee of the Deacons' Court has spared 110 effort in urging on the completion of tho instrument', bnt owing to some minor parts'being short shippeii, and to the very unsettled state of affairs generally pe'rtain-i ing at this time, it is regretted that no date can yet be fixed when the organ can be brought into iisc.

"This is a practice which will have to stop," remarked Mr. .1. Q'Shea, city solicitor, -at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, in 'vo cases ill which Harry Curriii ''and Thomas Murphy .were charged with having driven lorries without lights. • "A number of lorries have 110 conveniences for carrying lights, and if tho drivers get out after dark they just take their chaneo.and- risk it. Only recently'a fatal accident oecurrod through tho. samo cause." Each defendant was lined 10s.",'with 7s. costs.

Tho i'ublic Health Committee of the City Council visited the Karori Cemelery .yesterday afternoon lo inspect the main avenue iu connection with a proposal that, (o improve I hi: ( iine of vision for drivers of motor-curs and other vehicles, a line of trees should be cut down. These are a very fino row of magnificentlygrown pine trees, which, whilst they do obstruct to some extent the view along tho road near (lie chapel, arc a splendid ornament, and fulfil admirably the purpose for which they were planted. Some members of the committee were incline*! to think that a elcatr lino of vision along an interior road of a cemetery was not a necessity, ns once within the it was not seemly to entourage a speed of more than four miles an hour. Tho hedgo in the vicinity is to be trimmed clown a little, but it is not thought that the committee will reconvnend the destruction of the pine trees.

At a. .special meeting of the City Council to 'be held on -Monday evening it is proposed lo pass a special order relating to a certain To Ato reclaimed land leasehold held originally by Bendix Hallenslein, and now owned by .laeob It'Eldowney, of Wellington. The latter is surrendering (he original lease and continuing tho term of that lease as two, instead of one. The firni;l who have, sub-leased the buildings covering the two lots of land comprised in the proposed leases aro the New Zealand Picture. Supplies, Lid., and John Chambers and Sons, and Iho ground rents have been Xl2<> per annum for one and £" las. for the other. When Hie present leases run out it is proposed that (ho Jiew lease shall be for 21, in lieu of 11, years, and there shall be no 'building clause (the two lots of land are covered with three-story brick buildings). The provisions to be inserted iu the new leases as to the valuation of the rentals for the first renewal period of 21 years will be varied as tlio City Solicitor shall think necessary.

A suggestion was recently received in Wellington from tho "Wireless Garrison at Samoa that they would lie. pleased to receive a gramophono for the use of the soldioi's of the' Wireless Garrison. It may 'be explained that the garrison is isolated,, being some miles from (lie township of Apia. ' The Commercial Travellers' Club and other friends in Wellington, moved in. tho matter, and as a result a gryinophono was forwarded to Samoa, and the' following acknowledgment lias been received; —"Headquarters, Samoa Garrison, N.Z. Expeditionary l'oree, Apia', Sauioa.—The Wireless Garrison to. a man wishes lo express their . heartfelt .thanks to tho members of tho Wellington Commercial Travellers' Club, to Mrs. Herbert Kirkcaldie, and others for their very 'generous gift to a lonely lot of beggars, isolated at the Wireless Station, Apia, Samoa. This machine, with a plentiful supply of records, will give a lot of pleasure to soldiers of the Kmpire doing their silent 'bit in. the tropical .regions— (Sgd.) R. Jloataa Doughty, Lieut., Officer Commanding -'Wireless." ~

. On tho information of Inspector Henry, of the .S.P.C.A., a young, carter named Leonard Pack-wood, was charged in the !i!L. Court yesterday with ill-treating a liorse by working it while it was unfit. The inspector said that at about 11 a.m. on August 7 lie saw l'ackwood in charge, of a thrcc-horso lorry in Customhouse Quay. Tlio horse in the lead had a large' sore Under the collar on the offside, also a smaller one of the ribs on . ( lie oll'-side,. .caused by, the chain trace chafing, its side. Pnckwood said lie had been driving the horse-for a couple of veeks. Defendant informed the Court that his employer had compelled him to< work tho horse. His' Worship suggested to Mr. 1?. H. Webb, who appeared for the S.P.C.A., that investigation might be n.ude ns to whether the defendant's statement was correct. Mr. Webb agreed to this course, and a conviction was entered, defendant. to. .come up for sentence in a time.

Councillor J. E. Fitzgerald has given notice that ho will move at Monday's meeting,of the City Council: "That the resolution passed on the rccoaimendation of the By-laws. Fke Brigade, and Street Lighting Committee, as 'That tho taxi-cab driver who appeared at the last couiicil meeting in connection with his over-charge of a hirer, be suspended from driving for one week," be rescinded."

At the Kducation Conference in Christchurch, Mr. C. D. Hardie, scluo! inspector, presented a paper urging the need for unity of , control of secondary education in Christchurch (states a Press Association message). After discussion a committee was appointed lo define the scope of various stages of education, indicating the best means of effecting coordination between them.

In commenting upon ilio infectious diseases prevalent during tlio month of Jmio (says the Auckland District 'Health In-' spector), tlio point that stands out most strikingly is (he increase in the number of cases of diphtheria; One hundred ami sixty cases have been reported, 'being 39 inoro tli,in ill the previous month, and 41 more than the corresponding month of last year. The > majority' of 1 tlio cases have been of a very mild type, so much so that in many instances p/actitioncrs have not notified them until a positive result has been given by a bacteriological, examination. Julie has been a month of almost continual rain—in fact,-so-far. has been the wettest month.of tho'jear, there having been only three - days without rain. Sore throats and colds have been common eomplain's, and it would have been surprising if the -number of diphtheria cases. had lessened instead of increased.

A weakness in Governmoct, nnd frequently municipal, reports is that by the time they are written, printed, and issued the period they deal with has long gone by, and the topical interest they would otherwise have has departed. "The Journal of Public Health" Cor July was laid on the table at the meetiag of the Wellington ljospital and Charitable Aid Board on August 22 and the reports therein are not more up to date than Jumc, whilst: reports for July on Hie same subjects are presented by the board. The following is the District ll'eallh Officer's ■report for Wellington for Juno respecting prevalent mild epidemics:—"During Julie US cases of Aarlet. fever wore notified—a drop of five as compared with the preceding month. Nelson, with 11 eases, suppjied an undue, proportion, otherwise the disease is well distributed throughout

various parts of the district.. Diphtheria shows u marked drop, .130 cases being reported To June, as compared with B2 for tlio preceding month. Hospital districts show a general decrease, except Wangaiiui,. Pahnerslon North, Wairarapa., and Wairau.. During the.month the treatment by means of ihlorniuine T was administered to. school children■ ill ralmerston North and Hastings."

A paragraphed statement has been going the rounds of the Press of the Dominion to tho effect that a preparation of boiled linseed oil and charcoal brushed over timber wild preserve it from decay and make fencing-posts— even of inferior soft woods—practically everlasting in tho ground. For general information (says the Journnl of the Department of Agriculture) it may be slated that none of tho l'nany works 011 tho antiseptic troatment of timber refer to treatment with a paint of linseed oil and chaicoal. This would be effective only in so_far as it. prevented moisture from entering the post (moisture being necessary to ivood-destro.ving fungi), and su;:h treatment would be unlikely to be lasting in this respect for more than, about three years. The brush treatment of posts, even with the most efficacious of all timber antiseptics—namely, highgrade coal-tar creosote—will only about double tho life of fencing, posts. For, example, a post that would last naturally for abotit seven years would, when properly treated by tliis preparation, last for sonio fifteen years. Even so, it is necessary that the post should be seasoned, barked, and well painted with tho hot creosote .at foot and for about Ift. above ground level.

N<W and agair. the sober proceedings of (he Diinodin City Council arc brightened, as it., were, by gentle amenities between the councillors. While Councillor Sincoek was speaking on Wednesday night oii the Library Committee's report, Councillor Begg interjected, 'Tor tlio Tress." "Ono fool at a time, please," remarked Councillor Sincock. Councillor Begg smiled, and caiue back with tho re!ort: "Your turn."

A notable feat was performed on Wednesday by the Hon. Joseph CSriniinond, an old West Coaster. 11c determined to put up a record in the way ut travel between tlio West Coast and Canterbury, so he arranged for a trip through the tunnel instead of yoi ny overland, tie hail a ride in tho electric trolley for the greater part of tbe three and a half miles between the Otira mouth of the tunnel and tho heading, but had to walk a considerable way. lie emerged on the Canterbury side after being a couple of hours or so in (he bowels of the earth. He claimed with some pride that he was tbe first passenger to make the tunnel trip. He 6tatcd that the actual opening between the headings was about four feet high at the narrowest part, but for several miles the interior of tlio tunnel was completed. In other parts there was very rough going, arid tho wills had been double braced in placed. There was a great ileal of water dripping everywhere, and 6ince the tunnel" was pierced it bad been necessary to put up doors at intervals to avoid the draught that would otherwise sweep through. The Defence Department would, no doubt, be the last to claim that it never makes mistakes, but nevertheless somo of the things it is responsible, for are Gilbertian, states the "Otago Daily Times." In one instance a man was called in the ballot,- but as he was suffering from an fnjury io his leg, received through falling off a horse, lie, prior to going before the Medical Hoard, armed himself with two medical testimonies certifying to his unfitness. The board, however,, passed him as fit. He then appealed to the Military Service Board on the grounds of und'uo hardship, as he was the only assistant of his father oil tho farm. Tho appeal was dismissed, and tho man wont to camp. Later he returned home on leave, arid the next incident ill the story occurred when two military policemen called at bis father's house, ordered him to put on his uniform and comc with them to report himself at tho Defence Office. The man said he had never received a uniform, and as he was using a, stick to ease his bad leg his mother telephoned for a taxi cab to take hiin, at her own expense, to Dunedin, and accompanied her soil. On arrival at the Defence Headquarters it was discovered that the military police had got the wrong man, and he was permitted to return home. In due course he returned to camp, and then came to Dunedin on his final leave. He again visited his medical advisers, and was assured lie was unfit for activo service. However, his" final leave expired, lie returned to camp, and shortly after telegraphed to his friends that iio was embarking on a transport. Imagine the indignation of the mail's parents when a week or two later they received a. telegram from the Investigation Department of the Base Records asking for information as to the whereabouts of their son. This telegram was not replied to, and neither was a second telegram sent later, rcneating the question. The latest, incident was the receipt of a letter from the soldier from a transport at sea, stating that his le? was swollen and still troubling him. and that lie was suffering from rheumatism. Seeing that the Defence Department,has so far apparently not been ablo. to trace the soldier, his. mother has riot received any of his allotment pay. The most astounding assertion ill connection with the storv, however, is the statement that the soldier never did a day's training all the time he was-in camp. .