LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 69, 15 December 1919, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Writing to the general manager of the Department, of Tourists and Health Resorts, Mr. W. 11. Blow, New Zealand Government Agent at Sydney, states: "I am daily receiving numbers of written inquiries from peop'o who state that tht-v intend visiting New Zealand in the n"ir future, and in reply to the«e letters I am sending parcels of literature and full information of how to travel. In addition to this, prospective tourist? an calling at the office continually for similar information, and in each ea-e they are supplied with as many particulars as pol- - Amongst soite of the distingirsjied people from Sydney who will be visiting New Zealand during this season *;<> Judge Harvey iiwl >"artv, Mr. Mauulu'.u. K.C., and Mr. Sloman, headmaster of the Svdney Grammar School. Passenger accommodation on the intr-r-eolonial steamers for the las'' two weeks has been full, and tho shipping companies report to me that nil the available passenger accommodation for the inter-roloiral steamers, and for, the steamers on the C.A. Line, lias already been booked up until early in January. It is very to note that so many Australians are visiting New Zealand this season, a? the sMnpin-' companies are charging the very high larr« Hi'eh they brought into existence whij" tho influenza epidemic was on last year."

The following resolution was passed recently by the staff of the Wellington Girls' College: "That for the sake of the young people in the community. well lis for tlie large number of adults who would welcome a better class ■of nro(rrummo than is usually shown in picture theatres, the stuff of the Wellington Girls' College is strongly of opinion that.: (1) Women censors should be appointed: (2) all picture theatres should .be efficiently controlled by the Education .Department. or bv the City Council ft ho municipal authorities). A deputation from the stall' of li'io Wellington Girls' College wa.s sympathetically received by the censor, and assured by him that lie would welcome suggestions or objections as to any pictures seen by any member of the staff.

Fines for disturbing political meetings are Advancing. Last week two men were fined Jj2 anil ,£3 each respectively, lor disturbing n meelimr held by Mr. F. Pirani, nnd on Saturday morning Mr. WG. Iliddell, S.M., indicted n line of .J. 1 ,"), with the alternative of H days' imprisonment, on Martin William Tier, who was con'viclod of disturbing Mr. Pimm's meetin? in the Town Hall on Friday evening Tier is n man nbout -10 years of age, and was born in Australia. Tier occupied a seat well forward in the Town ITall, ami early Wan interjectim; in a very loud voice. He was oautioncd by a policeman. but continued his objectionable behaviour, and was eventually removed from the. hall. Mr. l'irani's meetings have so far yielded the State a revenue of .(!10 in fines.

"Mr. Aginen Smith, of Nelson, is a visitor 'o v nii'Hflo' I'" i■ ■'* ml- Miine throughout, the district during tho next four or fivo weeks.

A relijrned soldier winied Henry Harris, 38 years of age, nml single, diep suddenly at CO Kent Terrace on Saturday afternoon. Deceased was wounded at the front, it being understood that a piece of shrapnel lodged in his lungs. Last week he complained of feeling unwell, and since Thursday he was confined to bed. On Saturday morning his condition became worse, and Dr. Clilmer, who was summoned, advised him to go to the Hospital, but lie preferred to remain where he was. Gradually becoming lower, he expired at 2.30 p.m. An inquest will h» held at the Magistrate's Court at MO a.m. to-day, when the result of the postmortem examination will be disclosed. Doena-sed had no relatives in tho Dominion.

The Minister for Marine has acceded to the application of the Hon. G. M. Thomson (chairman of , the I'ortobello Marine Fish Hatchery Board) for a grant of ,£201) per annum for the appointment of a research 6liident to work on scientific problems in the interests of the fisheries of the Dominion.—Press Assn. For the first time, in New Zealand candidates for Parliamentary honours have been asked to declare themselves with regard to town planning. The question asked Was whether tho candidates would support ,an Act providing for town planning on modem methods bein<r applied to all lands nnd works throughout the Dominion, including Croiva lands and works. We are informed that over one hundred candidates have signified their willingness to help in the direction suggested, the parlies being represented as folloiv: —TJeform. 30; Liberal, 32; Labour, 35; Independent, 9.

Mr. W. G. .Hiddell, R.M., held an inquest on Saturday morning concerning the death of John Hose, a carter, residing at Kilbirnie, who was found drowned in the harbour. The deceased, who was 58 years of age, suffered from acute rlieumutism, and early on Friday morning ho was seen walking' alonj,' the Kilhiniie ■lwach. He apparently intended to do ftwav with himself for he filled his pockets with stones, and must then liavq gone deliberately into the water. The Coroacr returned a verdict of "Found Drowned."

Mr. .T. T. Arundel, founder of tho firm of John T. Arundel and Co., the predecessors of the Pacific Phosphate Company, Ltd., of London, now carrying on operations at Nauru and Ocean Islands, died at Bournemouth, England, on November 30. Mr. Arundel's acquaintance ivith the Pacific Islands tinned buck some 50 years;, during the earlier part of that period he was very frequently in Auckland, which was the main port, of call in connection with his business. A great traveller, and man of particularly kindly and genial disposition, Mr. Arundel Rained a world-wide circle of friends.

According to a local exchange, the prico of oatmeal in Dunedin has gone up £3 per ton to .£3O, this inc.rease being due to the firm tone of.the oats market. Millers say there is nothing in oatmealmaking at the present price of oats, even at .£3O. At this time last year the quotation was JE2O. and oats wero then a little cheaper than at present. It may be mentioned that the cost of 251b. bags has gone up from 3s. 9d..t0 3?. Gd. per dozen, and that the outgoings for grain sacks, wages, firing, etc., aro all increased.