LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 223, 14 June 1919, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Some little timp ago a warning' iras issued to ■ theLpublic. that.'the regulations already:..'!]! force prohibiting Ihe Mipply of liquor -to ivoldiers on troop trains would be strictly, enforced! It lias now liPen held by llio legal advisers of the Government (hat it is an' offence for a publican to supply-liquor lo sol-' (Hois alißlitin? from troop-trains at wayelations in. the course of their journey on a troop (rain. :.

Owing to cases of diphtheria being reported in premises contiguous- to the Wellington Girls' College, the wliolo ! o, tho Undents were dismissed .on assembling yesterday morning,- in order -that Pae college classrooms should be thoroughly fumigated during the week-end..-

There was'-.a marvellous im;ji»o from another accident nt Normanby (staled it Press Association telegram). A motor lorry, the, driver of which was a nuui named'T'iuiJkner, got out, of control ■and. backed-over and turned down, a steep bank. T-h.o driver was uninjured, but. a loud of.'oheese was.soriously dainiiged by water.

Some, members of the Cily Council, who have tho right to travel free on the tramcars. occasionally ride on the front, or mot.ormnn's platform, from which the public is excluded by regulation. Councillor .T. Hutchison referred lo this practice nt. Thursday's meeting of Ihe council ■w-objectionable, as it might, interfere with the onerous aml : important, duties i.-f the motorman. -The .Mayor (Mr. ,T. P. Luke) said that..councillors should abide by the, regulations the same as mwnbers of Ihe public.

Tho.ollicer in. i-linrgß of the Men's Employment. Hurcau in Ghuznce HJreei renoi'ts that during Hie week ended Thurs<lnv the bureau assisted thirty persons in all. It eceured Government 'employment tor eighteen, private employment for eight, and reduced fares for four.

Motions recording dissatisfaction with TTe new (tlassilication were passed by tho Nolson, Napier, mid Hastings branches of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association.—Press Assn.

A largely-attended meeting of Iho congregation of St. Andrew's 'Presbylerian Church, Auckland, a resolution emphatically protesting against the. proposed union with tho Methodist and Congregational Churches.—l'ress Assn.

Anxiety is-Ml at Lower Hull for Hie safely of Mr. Joseph Denison, a builder, wliii, resides iu Haulami Street, Lower llutt, and who has been mis.-ing from, hjs home eincu Wednesday morning. Jle did not return home to lunch on Wednesday, and. uiib»ei|(ioiilly Hie following note, luldrc.-seil to his wife, was found:— "Dear Rulh,— I shall have to go. J ha.vo lost, iny memory.' , The last seen of tho niiin was when he was going towards tho Lower Hiiilt railway station, as if to calcli the 11.21 a.m. train'oirWeilnesday. The missing man, who is about. 50 years of age, f.hin featured, and about jfi. "in. in height, was dressed in a. tweed suit, with a tweed hat, when he left home. Whenever worried with business matters he was subject to temporary loss of- memory. ■

Women clerks continue to take a fiitl>stanlial part in tlio practical work of the Bank'of New Zealand. The nuinlxn- on 'the roll on Jliiy SI was 206, k reductiuli compared with the total of a year ii|}<i The chairman of directors stated, yesterday tlint'eev'ernJ Indies have retired voluntarily, now Hint I the need'for thnii services is no longer pressing. The management had not. so 'far, found it necessary to dispense with the services of any desiring lo remain, and was hopeful that adjustment iu the numbers, would bo .effected automatically.- A proportion , of women clerks would,'in. any case, lie permanently retained on the bank's staff, as it, had'hoen found that in certain classes of work they wore Very efficient ami highly satisfactory. ■ '••'•

The wireless operator on s.s. Karoolri has reported that .when his ship was off the north-west, const of AustrnHa. he received clear messages ..from /an. .English low-power station in. the North Sea which we.ro transmitted on the ordinary shortrange. wave length of COO metres. : This .feat "wns achieved with the new .Expanse type magnifying valve receiver, designed and manufactured in. Sydney by; Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited, These receivers were originally designed by the company's managing director, MY. 10. T. Pisfc, for demonstrating (ho -)ios'sibiliiy. of receiving messages in -Australia direct from .tlie> Marconi station ■at.Carnarvon, in Wales.-

"It is an •extraordinary thing, but no matter what, New Zealand produces, that production is of the best, quality in tho world," remarked, Mr., J. C.!N. ■Urigg, ■ in ■■ his ■•■address to the- Christchurch branch of the Jtoyat Colonial Institute on Wednesday. Incidentally, Mr. Grigg remarked on the ■ enormous value of the Panama Canal to New Zealand, and eaid that whatever Xc\r Zealand could spare would have a great, market in A T ew York in future, a matter which it would be extremely foolish to ignore..

Tho Masterton Chamber of Commerce has • forwarded the following remit on the shipping situation for consideration at: tho Conference of phambers of Commerce mid. local bodies, which is to tako place in Wellington next niontlr.-"(a) That the Government be \irged to endeavour to arrange for not less than three million carcasses of frozen mutton. ti> be- shipped from New Zealand between the end of July and the middle of November, otherwise it will not be possible for the freezing works of the Dominion to cope with- the fat stock next season. ■ O>) That the special attention of the Government be , drawn to the shortago of New Zealand and Australian insulated lonnnge." . ' .

The. City Council lias decided to pur- 1 chase a soil steriliser, at a cost of 4:50, for the use of the lleserves Department. Among the applications for assistance 'which, comu belore .the -Repatriation Board from tiine to time. Me requests for advances of money by. returned soldiers to purchase motor-cars in which to. ply for hire a=s taxi-cabs. In certain disc* advances have been made, and men so set up, but the applications have been so 'numerous of late that tne board decided to make inquiries to see how the tnxi business \va>'faring in Wellington, 'i'lio board waitml on the By-laws Committee of the City Council, and gleaned valuable information from tho council's officers, which .will have a certain influence in moulding iti opinion when further applications of the kind are received. At Thursday's' meeting of the City Council the By-laivs Committee reported.—"That they have received a report from the motor inspector with reference to the 'question , of returned soldiers takiiijl up taxi-work. ' The committee are of opinion that relurvil soldiers should not be onconriigcU to take , up I his means of livelihood/ as the number of cava plyins; for hire at present exceeds (ho demands. The committee have notified 'the. Repatriation Department accordingly." The council approved the report.

In the Public Health Commit lee's 'report to the City Council on Thursday evening -extended leave was asked in respect of certain condemned premises, the chairman (Councillor 1!. A. Wright) stating in support that people could not, and should not, be hustled in these days. Councillor W. H. Bennett therenn'on nwo and said that the houses in question had been vacated, and were at .V-resent being repaired, presumably for tho reception of other tenants. Thereupon it was decided, if Councillor Bennett's statement proved to be correct, to immedir.lely order the demolition of the premises. '

That the rural'lands of the Dominion should bo nioro closely settled will b< l urged at the Conference of Chambers of Commerce and local bodies, which is to sit in Wellington early next month.' Tho subject, hats'engaged the attention of tlie Wellington Central Chamber of Comnierce, which has forwarded the following remit'for consideration at the conference: "Thai in order to vigorously curry out it policy of closer .settlement of rural lands so v.iUtl to tlio- best interests of llio Dominion, thb Government be urged to establish'in each province slaniliird ."d----visory committees, consisting of rep:t-' fienlativcs of locni bodies, farmers' unions, and chambers of commerce, such committees lo study unci .report upon tin-, various aspects of settlooient of the country. That in\order to ensure 'lit success of such a. policy, training farms be established throughout tho country, where prospective settlers- could obtain the necessary experience, and that Crown lands bo available only to applicant* possessing such knowledge."

So -far Hie vain that has fallen since the drought broke up has not been sufficient lo appreciably affect (ho level of the Wniknto River. After the first heavy rain the river, level rose 'About one foot, but it is now lower lhaii.it was before A -resident: in the Waikato stated on ■Thursday ,that- the swamps on the'banks of the river were now so dry that houses and cattle could safely feed upon them, though usually at this season of (he year they are under water. ' '

free dental and medical treatment for all scholars, irrespective of class,. was advocated in a resolution pursed by .(he Mount Albert School Committee, and recently referred by the Education Board to the Director of Education. A reply was received at Wednesday's, meeting of Ihe board, statins that the present school medical statf would' bo- quite inadequate to {,'ivo. medical treatment, in addition to carrying out medical Inspection, and that after repeated advertisements if. M been.-found impossible, to- secure more than ohc'additional medical inspector for Ihe, present'. The riueetinn of freo medi-cal-treatment, or treatment for a nmnll .charge, could only bn dealt with when a sufficient staff was procurable. With regard lo dental treatment; authority had been obtained for the appointment of eight school dentists, and for, procuring Ihe necessary equipment, but it had been impossible to secure more'than two suitable 'dentists until those who had been on military service had returned. It was hoped these would-bo available in a few months. A resolution was passed expressing appreciation of what had been done by (hi! Department.

■A boy soldier who was discharged from , (he army nt Woking, .Surroy, • recently (states a London paper) is the solo survivor of Ilic. fiimily of 10. nine , of- whom perished at, the liniuls of Ihe enemy. He is Private Thomas William Smitli. and though: only IS years of age, \\p has had the distressing experience, of losing his father, .mother, four 'brothers, and three sisters. The youth,.-whose family belonged' lo Croydon. was exactly Kl years and 11 months old when he 'enlisted, and spent over (hrco years in franco.. .His father and four brothers were all killed on (lie same day-July 15, l!)lG-in I lie first advance, ill: (Tie brittle of the Somine. The oldest son wns only 22. Tho you Ill's three sisters wove all killed in air raids, while his nmther wns tho victim in n raid in the Bust Knd in l!)i".

"Yoloiir Hnts" ahvnys looK well. See oui' .stock .in slate, beaver, smoke and black, nt 275. Gd. Cico. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners Street.—Advt. . ' '

In tlie course of his lecture at the ■tiiii'risoii Hall, Buckle Street,.. lnst evening.. Major Tlioni, who dealt with infantry training for war. paid a warm tribute l<> Ihn wilun of outdoor ganns, especially I'ngb.v football, which iiad. done more to make Ihe N'en- Zoahind Division wltal i\ was than most people imagined.

"I will say this for I lie Japanese," said Professor Miionilliin Brown, nl Ciiristchurch. on Wednesday, "(hat probably next to the Scotch they are the most passionalelv fond nl' wlucnlinii of all the nations.of the world." He sai'l that bore-on their ivny lo whoo! in Japan could l>e soen poring over their books, amHwys in the holel lifts nl) had their English grammars.- Education,' however, as had been proved in the case of Prussia, might, jirovo dangerous in the wise of an .ambitions nation, for it enabled her Co make it very hot for her enemies.-.. ■ , . .■'•■'■•

FJis Honour Mr. Justice Edwards heard yesterday the undefended divorce • biiit of Ernest Samuel Kevell, printer, of Wellington. Mr. li. H. Webb appeared for the petitioner,- who sought, a, dissolution of his marriage w-iih jjllen "Conetniiee Jievell oil the ground of misconduct with Joseph Frederick Stanley,' labourer, Wellington. The pVl'ties' were married at New Plymouth-on January 30, 1905, and (here- were/ two children. The petitioner, discovered'--.that his wife was continually in the tbinpiuiy of'the-co-respondent, mid remonstrated ' with her, but- she denied all knowledge of the nian. Later, she left her- liumn and went to live with tlie.,co-rcspond,enr at Worser . Bay.; Corr.oboraiiye evidence having been given,. His Honour granted a decreo nisi, 'to .be moved absolute in three months, with.costs against the corespondent. ' ..- ■ ' '.. ■>"

: A charge, of supplying liquor to Kprmnn Howard ftvans, who wa.i'undor the age of 21 years, wns preferred. :ngninst -James M'Pariand, .-licensee,. anil William Cox, barman, of-the-Hotel. Cecil, before Mr: F. V.. Pruzor. S.M.;. at .the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr. A. W. Blair represented the licensee/and Mr. H. I'. O'Leary. appeared for the barman. Sergeant Edwards stated that, about ten minutes to 6 on the evening of May 2(> he visited the bar<of tile- 1 Hotel. Cecil.. There he saw the young manlivans, a ml' on questioning him,. elicited the infor- ; illation that he would'not be■ '21 years of age until October.next. ■ The'-, barnuui admitted that he had • served Evans, and had not asked him any-questions. Evans, in the course of his evidence, said ho. would bo 'ii on October 5. He had never, been in an hotel on a previous occasion, and only went in because he felt thirsty. The drink he hsked for was a shandy— beer and .lemonade. His Worship said Evans was fairly well '.grown, .and. the barman could not be blamed for serving him. as ho did not appear to be under 21. The informations againsi the licensee and barman were dismisesd. '~ ...-■■

A baby, five weeks old, had a remarkable escape from deatii during tlio height of the gale at; Dunedin .on. Wednesday morning. The mother' and , infant were sleeping in .the .front room of « house in King'Street'. , -"About 2.30 a chimney' from the adjoining premises ,of Wright's bakery, gave .way' !)efore tlie enormous pressure oi the gale, and, falling with a rtiar which' startled the neighbourhood, crashed through the .root" and ceiihig, pouring an avalanche of bricks am: masonry on to; the. sleeping occu[wils of. tlie room." The. motlier. was pinned in (he bed under ri load of bricks, but. although she , suffered rather severely from shock, her injuries, though painful and quite sufficiently'' distressing, were not of ft' very"serious nature. Sbo was attended to by Dr. Cottr.ell, who was -promptly called , in. The baby had it remarkable escape from 'death.' Tlie child vas sleeping in n little, cot at the opposite sido of the room to that above which (lie chimney broke through, but some six.or seven bricks came hurtling across the. room and landed in the col, bringing with them chips of cement, jagged pieces of wood, and splintered glass from broken pictures. From this terrible visitation the bay escaped unhurt. Tlie -impression on the bedclothes where the little child had lain was ringed round by a regular outline of bricks, which must have landed with great force, and (lie uot, like the rest of the room, presented n scene of wreckage and destruction. The i'tillinc: chimney had evidently crashed through the roofing iron like so much paper, and torn the wooden ceiling from ,th.c, cross beams, save for two jagged fragments, whieh cluii'er 16" (heir beams .by a remaining nail, home of the cross beams were gone, also portion of the ceilins of the next room; and pictures were torn from their fus-, tenings and cast in splinters to the floor, which was covered with dust, cement, broken bricks, slaps, timber, and other debris. The'bed was bent, and crushed by the weight of the bricks, which descended upon if where it stood, directly under the rntjgeif and torn gap in the roof by which the, falling chimney entered.

Reports by land and estate agents m Christchiircii sliow that;' Business is nnprecedcntedly active in regard to properties in' tho city, the suburbs and the country districts. .Ul kinds of properties are affected, and according to some reports nil kinds of prices are.given. J he manager of the land department of .1 large city'firm, ■ discussing the position with a Ghristehuvch reporter, said that agents were havies quite a new experience. It was usual for them to go out to look for buyers. They now found that buyers were looking lor them, and that to their surprise, they were unable to meet the demand. The- activity was felt in all parts of the city and rho suburbs, and a fairly long way ,f 10111 Cathedral Square, many demalids .being made for properties with comparatively large areas of laud—from two acres to leu acres-011 which men could carry on light industries'and side lines. lie accounted for the position partly by the demands of relumed soldiers, par!iy by Ihe fact that, the war practically having ended, people were more settled and w.re. readier to fix themselves jo certain nlace?, and partly by the high cost of buildini: material. In spite of the ast desideratum, building was brisker Iha 11 it hud been since the war lwgan. Many people were buying vacant actions, will, the object of holding them until material became cheaper, wheu they would erect collages. \ special meeting of Christchureh boot retailers was .held on'.Tuesday last jo consider the question of curtailing the present system of sending goods oik on •mnrobali'oii. It was pointed, out lint owin" lo the. present shortage of ccr-lam lines" it was impossible to continue sendin"'these goods out on npprnval., _liigli Eiwle shoes sent out in good condition, were frequently returned soiled or oreascd and this meant a considerable depreciation in the selling value of these lines. The quest ion of snecinl discounts also came up for con'ideraton. and it. was unanimously decided to discontinue, all special discounts_nflpr...)uly. 1. inia. "riie Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. W. Newt-orO-saiil yestwday that in order to remove if' possible the deadlock thnt had arisen ovei' the Manuwaiullasmill employees' choice of a military deIVulter as deloßale lo their conference with the employers, he had inritett rne Afanaivatu IflnxipilleiV' Association em ; ployers) and the Maiiawalu I'laMniUcrs Tnion (employees'! to appoint three, dcleRiit(« each to moot him. at PalmerMon North on Tuesday, and discuss (he dispute. - . ... Suggestions for Ihe establishment of village settlements are'lo be (.onsidcred at the Conference of Chambers of Uininerce and local bodies, lo lie held in Wellington on July 2nnd X- The following re 111 it dealing-with .th« question is to be submitted by the Wellington Central Chamber of "Commerce•-■'/Thai with a view of correcting Ihe drill of the rural population into the cities nml boroughs, and providing suitable dwellings- for ■country workers, v.illapft setllepjeu on modern town-planning lines bo establish; M |._(!) By the jojnf action of local liodiesi (2) by the projiiolion of garden setl lenient ooinpanies on lilies of Unglish garden suburb'associations; (X) I hat the C'overnment be urged to import, either from I'lngliind or America as early as possible, mi. experienced town-planner to direct ll'ie movement throughout'the-Do-minion; (i) that -Hi? Slate, arrange to finance tho town-planning scheme as is done in Great Britain." .

The "New Zealand ■ Free T,ance" cniiips out: tliis woplc in n permanently oiilaa-R , - ed form as an attractive sixpenny paper. New- fe.'itnrcs are added and old ones- are strengthened. There are nine mures of cartoons and other piclsires-36 bright liasjw in all. Tim reading matter is full of "variety. Captain W. Manning, formerly skipper of the s.s. Maori, is (lie writer of a sketch called 'Tlugjiug Away." ..-■..