LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 70, 16 December 1919, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The public are particularly '•equcsted to note that all Dominion telephones will be re(|iiired on election night for business purposes associated with the returns, and therefore that inquiries for particulars of the pollinnr cannot be answered, Tho results will appear as received on the hoarding spec'nlly provided. and in l!ic next moraine's issue of Tuu Dominiok. Consideration for the staff during heavy pressure will be appreciated! A large number of letters paid for and posted at the G.P.0.. Wellington, wero Inund in the waters'of the harbour yesterday. The envelopes contained copies of a letter written by General Sir Andrew liusseil, which has been used ns prohibition propaganda. It is surmised that instead of being delivered to the addresses the simple expedient of dumping them into the harbour was praclVed, and the wind and the tide carried theiu,across.^.,the-, lxjjt, haj;.lTOni 1( where the.w.wer'e i)otiqf(P>.v. l a Tho - Postal, authorities' a'i'e • liiyestigat iiig (bo'maUer and procoedings'inay .follow;,/

The following cablegram, dated December 13, lins been received by the Government Astronomer from the Directoi'-Geft-er.il of Agriculture, Suva: "Letter published local Press predicting violent Seismic disturbances commencing about December 17 lias aroused considerable alarm. This Government would appreciate any information you could supply Ity cable on the matter." M r. George Hogbon, Government Seismologist, having been asked for liw views on the matter, 1 has submitted the following report to the Government: "It has been proved again and Again that sun spots and other asleoiumical nlienomer.on do rot emus earthquakes. Tho causes cf earthC|\i»l;es are wUhiji the earth, not outside il: Tl would be a mere chance coincidence even if.on? of the bir earthquakes that are constantly, happening were to fall on December 17- No one can foretell rarthriiiaUes in the way claimed, therefore there : s no snecial cause for alarm on the 17th." 1 This information the If on. Sir Francis Hell lias conveyed to the Colonial Secretary, Suva. The Moeraki. which arrived from Sydney yesterday, brought back to Wellington some 240. sacks of potatoes, which had been shipped to Australia last month and were rejected oving to the existence of lilight in the consignment. About a hundred Geiman eunsc.f various calibre, captured by the New Zealand Expeditionajy Force,' are at present parked in the old To Aro railway reserve, in WakefWd Street, where they interest no one. in particular. Some months ago it was stated Mial this • i enemy "ironmongery" Was to be distributed among the different local bodies far show purposes, but the election turmoil'has evidently interfered with the following up of that intention. It may interest the maiiy people .now .visting Welli'iiton to know where these trophies uiay bo seen. Amongst the arrivals by tlis s.s. Mocra!;i from Sydney, was Mr. Arthur S. Hutier, governing director of Messrs. Butler's. Ltd.. of London, who landed last week- in Australia ex. s.s. Orontce. Air. Butler has come to New .Zealand with the obiect of promoting and furthering bus'-ncss relationships and. becoming acquainted with the beauty spots of New Zealand. Mr. Butler is a member of the council of the. London Chamber of Commerce, and well known in Masonic circles in the Old Country. Ho has also taken an active part in Londonit.unicipal life, having represented tho Hawford Hill ward of the Hackney Borousli CAunei'l for many years past. Ha will leave fc-r the south on Friday. The Telegraph Office advises that on account of the extreme pressure of business on Tuesday, December 21, there is likely to bo abnormal delay on all telegrams presented after 10 o'clock in the morning, and the public are requested to present their greetings messages ns early as possible before December, 2li ."You will not make your 'mark in tlio world unless you have education, physi-. cril fitness, and.high character," remarked General G. S. llichnrdson when , addressing the pupils of Mount Cook School yesterday afternoon on /the occasion .of the reading of tho school Roll of Honour. ■ "1 hope you boys will try. io develop that character. It was one-ol the characteristics of tho New Zealand Army during the. war that our men were men, of good character. There was- -»ery. little crime, throughout the Expeditionary Force." "It' is estimated that there is s£2o,fll)o a year in time-paym-nts on clothing floating about Cuba Street," said Mr. 13. Kennedy, while advocating the claims of tearoom.and restaurant'waitresses before the Conciliation Council yesterday. > Reports from the local dairy, companies go to show that there 'is. a 'consider-,' able falling off In .the mppjy of milk and butter-fat as compared ; \vith the corresponding period,of last year fsavs the "Otago Daily Times").' South of Balclutha, owing to'the'unfavourable'weather, farmers are faced'with a poor outlook as regards winter feed. There is, of course, more butter than is required for the local markets, but the quantity available for exrort shows a heavy drop as compared with the miantity shipped at this time last year, lieports from tho North Island fj'.atc, however, that the' butter prospects there, ere quite satisfactory. • The Chief Telegraph Office will observe the following lion's during 1 the Christmas j and New Year holidays:—lTliurdav,'-De-cember 25, l.'iin, Christlna.s Day: 10 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ' to o.SO '-p.ni;; Friday, December 26 1913, Boxing ', Day: 0 a.in.'to -1 p.m. and 7 p.m. to mid"l night-; Thursday.'.Tannary .1,- 192<V-'New ■'■Teat's'Dav: 9 aim/to"!' p.iu: and 7 p.m. to midnight. The Tel°nhoiic Exchange will be.open-continuously': At the present time local merchants are" experiencing a shortage of sugar, and householders are. talking (f a sugar famine. A small simply is .due to arrive today, but until the New Year there will probably be a shortage. The Government embargo will b« lifted on December 31, and after that it is expected that adequate supplies will be obtainable. American, magazines ant periodicals are behind their time this month. - Speaking to a Dominion -representative, a local lviokseller "vplained that the cause of this was the lnrge number of strikfs that had been taking place. He explained that i"o?t booksellers obtain their.supplies in bii'k, and r.ot through the post, which wjmld be a very costly procedure.' Child labour was condemned by Dr. A. K. Newman, when speaking at Clyde Ouay last niirht in support of his candidature in the Reform interest for the Wellington East 'eat. "I believe that young neonle ought not to be allowed to work—they.. ought to be at school," he snid. "They eann«t work and be educated at the same time." At. the Peton'e Police' Court yesterday mornine. before Messrs. ,T. W. M'Ewnn and ,T. Piper, J.P.'s, Joseph Murphy was charged with damaging windows to tho value of JM 19*. a house occupied by .Mr. TVvn<n\ Hutt Road, and was convicted and fined .£l, and ordered to par the cost of ■ tli-' damage and witnesses r . v „ np ji-? r,o. He was also fined .-£10; in default one mouths' imprisonment, for using obscene language. • • ; • Tn our columns a list is to be found of the express trains to run to and fronv Wellington and Auckland, and Palm'er"stoil North and' Auckland' during the Christmas and New \ear holidays. Then is a trrerit shortage of labour in New Plymouth, and local bodfes are .exppriewinir profit difficulty in obtaining the necessary number of men to earn' nut the w'lrks thev have on hard. A further difficulty local bodies and other c-m|);overs are met with is that of housing nceomnio latum. In th:s connection it was imint n d out at the Borough Council meeting last week that nuite a number of men. from outside districts wera nreriared to accept employment -.with the iKivmish provided accommodation was guaranteed them. The council discussed •virion* proposals, including one that an c-fl'nrt be made to ourchase a number of . huts from the Defence Deuartiuont, but evml-ually it was agreed to go into the ruivlion 'of' wnvs and means of providiitir on iliP uoruutory prhciule with coiuuion dinimr-rooius, A plea I hat: tho people of Wellington should 'cultivate a civic 'Spirit, and a provincial district spirit wns put forward by Dr. A. K. Newman, when sneaking at Clyde Quay last night. In contrast' lo the residents of Auckland, lie said, the peonl® of Wellington thought 'n»lv of the city, and not ol the wonderful countrv 'around the city, and in Hte lirov'ncial district. Dr. Newman mentioned th" Tom'nriro. National Park, vvhi'-h. lie said, was being 1 converted into ii fine nlnyijrmmd fo- the pconle. Bv spending money on a holiday there the Vnnfif would accrue to Wellington, whereas Auckland province would gain when"'.people visited Rotorua. 'r% AneVand Women's Patriotic League has arranged (stales the "Star") for a message of welcome to be convcved to the Mayoress, Mrs. J, 11. Guiison. oh her return to Auckland, Mr. Walsh has consented to drop the message on board the Niagara fi-om his seaplane as tho ves c e! steams i»to the harbour. Tho message is as follows:—"The members of flic Auckland Women's Patriotic League most cordially welcome you and Mr. (Itiuson on your return to your native city, where you have both rendered such distinguished service." Oin yo:i Invent a time-saving device? Perhaps you hare an idea." that will derelop into a money-making invention. If you have, protect it by patent right, t Consult,' Uenrly Hughes;''Limited, o 'Patent" 157 FetitKei'stoir Str«f,")Wel' r■',Write' 'oi call ! for ffeo' w>6He^ v .-^Aftvice. 1

Tho report of tho Karori Borough Council's engineer, 'read Inst night at tho meeting of tho council, stated that there was a shortage of coal, aud ho hadj been forced to put the mon on to obtaining wood for tho engine and tar boiler. _ i ~ Tho outlook for cotton goods, according to an cxchangei is that higher prices will rule in the tuturo. An American trado circular states that tho manufacture of automobile tyres alone now call 3 for 750,000 bales of long-fibro cotton each year. This comparatively new demand for cotton is naturally increasing steadily. Mr. Len Barnes, tho ex-Wellington baritone. who left for America a few months ago, appears to be making his way in San Francisco. "I starteUi as soloist in the First Presbyterian Church! here tho first Sunday in October," he writes, "and two weeks later at Temple Sinai—one' of the synagogues. Both have quartet choirs, as have most of tho churches here. The San Francisco Musica) Club, composed of about live hundred ladies, is producing a light opera called "Tho Strike" next mouth, ano; I have been encaged (o take tho part of the "Futurist." This is an engagement in the rieht direction, as tho club has engaged a leading pioducer and conductor for the iob. i'ho opera itself i 3. good, having been written and composed by membors. The music which'l liavo to sing is set very high, anifhny lines are bright The plot is laid in Olympus, whore the Muses eo on strike. There is' no love-making in it. : We have plenty of good , music here, and the season is getting into gooa swinu'. so that I trust by next year I shall be fairly well established. Vaudeville is cood here, only as far as tho headliners are concerned; but, ;yo gods, the 'iazz'! What utter rot it is! I have heard it played by a good orchestra —it is tho most maddening noise one could imagine. Nevertheless, tho peoplo like it here. " Most of the picture houses have a Rood organ and organist, ; .not to mention fine orchestras. ... I had a pic-ture-singing engagement offered; me, and the monev was tempting, but singing such thinss as 'Asleep.: in the .Deep,' and 'Tho Old Church Choir' did not appeal to me." The fossil beds in the Wvnyard Bluff, Tasmania, whibh havo already beou shown many times to be'tho resting place of-the bones of rare extinct animals, have again yielded up one o£ those scientific treasures which only occasionally como into tho possession of a public institution (says the "Lauriceston Examiner"). Tho fossil whale, which was obtained lately by Professor Flynn, of the Tasmaiiian University, and thought, in its uncleansed condi-. tion, to belong to tho interesting group of beaked whales,, has now been taken to Hobart, and the greater portion of the covering rock has "beou lemoved. . It has been found to be much more valuable and rare than at first supposed. In fact, tho specimen is absolutely unique. It is one individual of a. race .of whales long-ex-tinct, in which some of • the teeth were serrated like those of a shark. A few teeth of these whales have from time to time been found in various deposits- in Australia: but never beforo has the complete skull been obtained. This unique specimen-is closely allied to a whale Prosqualdon, of. which two very much broken 6kulls were found in cprtain tertiary beds of Patagonia; "One of the skulls is in tho British Museum, the other in the Museum of La Plata. Besides the skull. Professor Flynn was able to obtain the skeleton of the'arm, a number of ribs' and vertebrae, the breastbone, the bones of the ear, and some others. 'It is vfJ.v, rarely that it is possible to obtain so" much material from a -fossil skeleton of this kind, whose age can bo'.'ve'ckoned as not» Ig£3 than two. million yearS.

The following-holidays have been fired by the Petone Borough .Council for the various staffs—office and outside:— l Thursday) Friday, and Saturday of-. Christmas v week, and New -Year s Day. The library, .Christina's Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. The development of the' work in the Technical School was mentioned at last evening's meeting" of the Wellington Industrial Association by ■ the chainuou (Mr. H. Mainland) who, whilst commenting on the value of ft recent exhibition' of ,the pupils'' work, emphasised the desirableness of members,of the association visiting the school. .The instructors ■welcomed such .visits, and he trusted that .in the future members would take a more active part in technical education. Mr. ,L.; S; l'artrfdge also referred to the , work and.intimatedthat.' mahj ' changes -were promised for the -future, and when the new building was erected technical education would make rapid progress. With It view to encouraging the pupils in their work it was decided to recommend to the Standing Committee that prizes be'offered to the particular classes whose pupils at present an without any special inducement fto de* velop'their'skill. • »• Number two cable across Cook Strait broke about a week ago a mile and a half from Otecnngi Bay. The cable repair steamer Iris picked'up-the ends dav. and' it is expeetcd repairs. will be effected to-day.' Representatives of the newly-formed New, Zealand Wireless "Institute wiiited upon Mr. E. A Shrimpton, Chief Telegraph Engineer of the Post, and Telegraphl Department, a few days'ago, to inquire as to the prospect of securing licenses to enable'- auiateur workers to operate wireless apparatus. Mr. Sliriinpton- explained that New Zealand was still'subiect to war regulations in , this matter; and the Department was unable at present to grant licenses except to ships. A' Bill had been prepared to extend tho powers of the Department, but it could..not be brought before Parlia-, ment last session, and would probably, be submitted during the next session. The deputation left with the impression that it will not be long before licenses will bo available for amateurs to use receiving, sets., and that there, is a prospect' that later bona fide research students' will be,, aide to experiment, with transmitting plant.

At the meeting: of the Knrori Borough Council, held last night, it was resolved that tho holidays of the men thould be from December 21 to January 5. Tlin holidays for the clerical staff were fixed from December 23 to January 5. Recently the requested Professor H- li. Kirk, of Victoria College, Wellington, to report on the. damage dono in fruit areas by opossums (says ; the N-Z, "Herald"). Professor Kirk visited Albany on Thursday in connection with his mission. A meeting of fruitgrowers with intimate knowledge of the habits of these marsupials was held at tho Coronation Hall, and Jfr. Kirk, obtained much information concerning tho depredations done by the animals in the district. Evidence was forthcoming that ill all stages of their growth fruit trees provided opossums with food, and' that even citrus fruits claimed their attention, i The rind of full-grown lemons was frequently eaten, .leaving the iuicy pulp hanging on the trees. A Press Association messngo from. Auckland states that'll three-story brick building, including tho Globe Picture Theatre, with 33ft. frontage to Queen Street, was 'offered by auction yesterday. Tim property was passed in at .£33.000 or .£IOOO per foot. , ' Tho municipal trams at Auckland, reports an exchange, are lo ho run during the holiday season at a loss. Til referpi'g to the matter at tho last meeting of the C'il.v Council, the chairman of the Public Sernc?s Committee said that Then ho anil the general manager, Jlr. J. J. Walklate, were in Wellington recently, they obtained permission from the Prime Jlinisbr to,purchase .100 tons of coal from Government stocks, but that eon] was cost'ipg the counc'l .£1 a ton. This memt that tho running of the ears in the holiday season would l-» carried on, but on an unprofitable lwsis. The menning of Ihe words "during the ]>eivod ,of the war" in awards, is to b'J Fubmitted to the Arbitral ion Court, for a decision (states the Auckland ''Star"). Tlie mailer wo-; brought before Mr. E. C. Cutt.'i, S.M., at the .Magistrate's Court, when a eare brought by the Inspector of Awards was called. Whether or net there had been :.i' breach of the award rested . upon t'le point as lo whether or not the period of war can bo considered ended uul'T Ihe peace terms have been finally signed by all parlies. Por the defence it was held that tho fe-vfi'ri'r,# not/ c sT-'ni;d^Jl.i', j-I,uttfjr «*-}•-.. i,<, wouj,o)j)p/\vjilF tfK'.liHvc 'a .rul'|ui(j'of '[.the. Arbifrafion'C9u{-r..upoi!-.lhe'!|H)int, so '.is' to be binding'" for tlie wliole Doiiiinion."

"If there is one thing mora ccrtain than another it is that if wo do not educate our young people decently, New Zealand will driit back," remarked Dr. A. IC. Newman in-the course of his address at Clyde Quay last night. "I was reading the other day that a child would 1m better unborn than be brought lip uneducated. • With the new industries that are being established in New Zealand, if we do not educate our boys and girls, the result, will bo that they will do all the poorest and hardest work and will get poor wages, and the best billets will go to those who como from elsewhere." Mr. G. C. C'reagh was last week elected chairman of the Auckland Stock Exchange, vico Mr. W. It, Walker, who did not seek re-election.- Mr. H'. E. Forde replaced Mr. H. G. Gillespie as . secretary, tho latter not seeking office again. A proposal for a combined war on rats by householders .was made by Mr. Oswald -SchuUo in a letter to tho Auckland Qity Council. Inst week, reports the "Star." Tho writer suggested that tho campaign of extermination bo repeated every four or five months, and submitted his -personal experience in dealing with tho matter. Itats, explained the writer, onlv accopted poison at long intervals, amf shied clear of traps; henco the necessity for a periodical campaign. The Chief Sanitary • Inspector reported that unfortunately combined action appeared to be impossible, of attainment, at present owing to the existing indifference, even in eases whore considerable dijmago and loss was being caused by rats. Tho movement of rats may be seasonal or caused by weather and' other conditions, and if .disturbed in their haunts, when trapping or poisoning is resortojl 10, they move to other quarters. The council decided to reply in terms of the' Sanitary Inspector's report. By direction of the Otago Education Board the architect (Mr. James Rodger) brought up on Thursday a statement showing the increases in building materials and wages as between 1912 and 1919. lied pino has gone from 14s. to 'lis., bricks from 355. to 605., ceinont ironi 39. Bd. to ss. 3d., roofing iron from i! 7 15s. to .£55, nails from 16s.' to 4Cs., white lead from 28s. to 855.; wages also have risen; and the increase is over 100 per cent. In,view of the fact that the department's grant for maintenance is increased by. only about 20 per cent., a nd a J SO that the . expenditure by the board for the current, year exceeded the revenue by .£SOO, and the commitments amount to ,£SOOO, the board decided to tell the Department that nil increased grant :« absolutely necessary.. Tho board further decided (reports an exchange) that for fome time to como they will 'be only able to execute works of the most urgent injure.

The housing scheme of the Parliamentary Industries Committee —which. supports the proposals of the Government on tho question—is generally approved bv the committee of tho Auckland Provincial Industrial Association. An'exception is made, however, of the proposal to let houses at a ,non-paying rent, 1 and make up the balance out of tnxatioh. This is equivalent to forcing one part of, the community to pay part- of the legitimate rent of another part, says the committee. It would have the effect of discouraging housebuilding and- so was not likely to attain the end desired. On othe.t : grounds also the -principle is considered vicious.. An able-bodied man in this magnificent country should,, the committee consider, be able to pay hjs way. If he cannot do so, then there is a problem' and something had to' be done.' To force somebody else to nay the able-bodied man's way was to.-.eivo up the problem in dospair, and eo do the worst thing possible.

An indignant discussion was aroused at the. meeting of the Auckland Return: Soldiers' Association Executive bv receipt of a letter from an Auckland business man, enclosing an ink-eraser, which,- ho stated, had been sold in Auckland during the last threft weeks. The enclosed eraser' was of a green rubber and clearly stamped with the name of the, maker on one side, and "Mndo.in Germany" on the other. It was undated. Sir. T. Long stated that by an over-, sight the. matter had not been Brought before the Prime Minister. "We should give the greatest publicity to this matter,"he said, "to-show that German stuff is being sold in Auckland by socalled patriotic .firms." Mr. V. Atkinson suggested that the eraser had been imported before the war. and that the -vendor had been ashamed to offer it- for pale during the fighting period. It might possibly have been old stock which tjie shopkeeper was trying to got rid of. "II doesn't matter if it were," replied Mr. E./ W. 'Indcf. The chairman,' Mr. G' E'.iott, moved that full publicity |bo given to the incident and. also 1 to the name of the vendor as-a protest- against the sale of German goods. . This was carried unanimously.