LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 73, 19 December 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. P. Masspy) has received since tho hour that, his return to power was announced, some two or three bushels of. telegrams congrntulating him on his victory.

Ninety-ono casee of infectious dis- —.,■•,<.• nor- dealt with by the Wellington TTospital Board's inspectors from November 1!i to December 9, compared with 17 for the corresponding neriod in 1918. Tli» diseases wero as follow, the, previous monlih's figures, totalling 101, beinfr given in parentheses :—Scarlet fever, 2 (17); diphtheria, i (22); tuberculosis, 3 (fi); piiterrc fpver. 3 (1);. influenza. 59 (38): imenmonia. 13 (1C): blood poisoning. 2 (1); measles, fj (3). The report noted thai , there- had been nn incron-o in the number of eases of influenza, 3t of which ■werp in the city. The remaindo" were in lihe suburbs, Petone topping tho list with 11. Of the pneumonia cases, nino occurred in WelliiipMl. three in Petono. and one in Lower Hutt.

•Speaking on the report of tho ' Power Station and Tramways Committee at last night's meeting of the City Council, tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) pointed out Hint tho corporation had had a perilous time of late in connection with tho coal, sometimes having only two or tfrreo day's' supplies ahead. However, their supplies wero now well assured, and he thought they would bo able to get along without any anxiety on this score for some, lime to come.

"L believe in punishment—at least I do now," said Bishop Julius, amidst lmighier, at the prize-giving ceremony at Christ's College, says h Christchurcli exchange. "Punishment, however, I look upon as ii confession of failure on the part of the man who administers it." Tiiiui'htcr., mingled Willi loud applause, particularly from the College boys, greeted His Lordship's remarks.

'J'lic immediate preparation of a ninohole golf links on the Town Belt at Island Day, at an estimated cost of JMOO, was last night authorised by the City Council. The extension is, it was reported, urgently required owing to'tlio congestion of the jn-p-spiit links at Isitiiui Hay. 'I'll u g"!f receipts Itir f lie period April 1 to November 30, for the years 11)18 mill 1910, were ; eported by the Cilv Treasurer to bo lie 'ollow:—1D1S: Tickets, JGI6B 75.; grazing, JEGI Us; total, X 229 18s. 111111: Tickets, JSXi 4s. !)d.; grazing, 462 11s. (id.; total, J32G IDs. 3d.

The ni'i'oi rravins! for 1 ■ ■ iiT'cit which found ;■. irino in the livc.-i iif ninny of I'll , uii-'is I , !' o-ikiy «■«.- dej:!iir;d hy Mi-s liiitle , lit til" ■mnir.il prize-!; iviiy; uf the '.Aiickliiml Hills' (.ir:iiiuiiiir .Scljiul this week. reiKiil- the "Stir," ni'd the ease ■Ind i-i'iidiae-<s with which Ihr-y were <iisti'iielcd iriiii the ordinary imitino work. "Parcnls." •■lie .suid. "arc in ;i grout liifiisir-c: lo bliiiiiß for this. During (he wnr I lure were so many entertainments oramised for war chnritie--, and children <v«re in Rie;ii cU-maiul ; tho war has ended, but. still the e;itp''tuimnents conlimie iinil ir would seem us if dnncing in niihlic were i'nr mire ininortaiit Ir. some irirls Ilian wiucation. 1 inn very stroiiL'lv of the opinion that every pirl should be tiuisrht daueing fliul deportmeiit but T think that public performances nt niubt. with their unnatural surami 1111 necessary exeitement, are exceediiiKly bad for '-'rowing girls, anil I should be very glnd if parents would forbid their daughters talriii? any nart in such performances during school terms. It grieves me to think of the nlivrical waslne* ami , umk of development which induhrenc" in such ' tilings mißt cost a growing eirl. .

Tho City Council (ffices in the Town Hall will be closed for i.rdinnry business from December 24 to T anuary 3. ".elusive For urgent business there 'Till lie officers in attendance c,\ery dnv, except on Christ-nine Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day.

Authority hai been granted by the Cily Council for picture entertainments to be given on Christmas Day, subject to a strict censwsliip of the programmes l>v the Town Cleric.

\s .Sunday trains commenced running on" December U the Ifo-pital Board 'has decided to withdraw tlie concision (0 visitor from the country visiting Iho Hospital on Saturday afternoons, ns from January 1 next.

Tho following candidates in the Manawatu district were successful at the exnmir.ations in connection wil'li tho New Zealand Pharmacy Board, held in \\ellineton recently:—Section A: Ivan Bramwll, Pnlmerslon' North, and P. C. Beard, Marlon. Section B: Tl. Mmiro and E. Sinmson, and Misses -T. l<. Mitchell and D. Boss, all of Palmerston North.

The formal communication from liV Karori Borough Council that the poll providing for amalgamation of Karon with the city had been Ireld was received by the City Council last nicht, and was' referral to dhe Finance Committee. The Mayor (Mr. J, P. Luke) said the copimitteo would arrange the necessary Htcns lo complete the, Wnl formalities early next year. Councillor M. ]•'. Liiekie stated that the council should make absolutely clear what wns implied by "unconditional amalgamation. as there apneared In be soino confusion on tihe point. Mr. Luke ."aid that the Act determined Idle position in that resppit. The committee would not fail to keep in mind that aspect of tho matter.

The City Council, has acknowledged with Uianica tlio. following donations to tho zoological collection :-Grcen lizard, Mr. Claphnm, Daniel Street, Nowtown; cockatoo and prey plover, chief steward, B.s. I'arattnh; five hedgehocr,, Mr. Nicholson ; ono sealion and six penguins, Captain Bollons.

Instructions have boon Riven by tho City Council that 'the butter that is being' manufactured at the flfthui milk station shall bft placed on sale at tho Municipal Milk' Depot, Dixon Street, at a price of Is. 7d. per lb. Councillor W. A. Dennett mentioned at last night's incetiii',' of the council that the Teason tho price hud been fixed at Is. 7d. was becauso tho butter was being made of absolutely pure cream. It was hoped thnt the'butter, which was being manufactured from the surplus 'cream at tho TCahui station, would be appreciated by the general public.

For years past n number of cily residents in tho MHißiisl'cd, areas have kept poultry in their backyards, in some cafes in fairly large numbers. This piactico has been a constant source of comrr.nint from neighbours of these poultry' fanciers, mid steps are now boiilg taken by Ihfl City Council to abate tho nuisance. At its'nieoling last nulit the council adopted a recommendation of the Bylaws Committee, tabled in the first instance by (lie Public Health Committee, that a by-law bo framed preventing Hie keeping of poultry within certain specified city areas. According to Councillor P, A. Wright, there v-ero certain backyards of limited nTea right <n the heart of the city which harboured poultry in large ■numbers, and indents in tho localitv had complained for years past about "the matter, which in mine cases constituted a menace to r-üblic health. Tho Public Health Committee, wished to see a by-law carefully' di sifted, after reports had been received from the inspector of nuisances and other officials on the matter. Councillor P. Vraser congratulated tlio committee on moving in the matter, and went, on to give several glaring instances of poultrykeeping in tho city proper.

In future the out-patients' clinic for venereal diseases at the Public Hospital will be free of charge. Exporting on tho matter at yesterday's mcctin? of the Hospital Board, the Hospital Committee stated :-"It has always been, tho policy of the board to require payment frompatients with sufficient means, but owing to the expense of anfa-eypmlitio remwlies (ss. to 10s. per dose), and the desirability of encouraging all patients to come for treatment, it is recommended that no charge bo made for outpatients at this clinic Littlo additional expense will bo incurred by tho board, because tho Department of Public Healtih will furnish Hie drugs for active venereal cases, and they have already provided a doctor and specially trained orderly." Tho recommendation was adopted-

The City Council has approved tlio foilifltion 'of the proposed- tramway association, as recommended by the recent conference of representatives of the various tramway undertakings in tho Dominion. According to a statement made by the Mayor at last night's meeting of the council there was apparently 6ome misK-ppTifchension with recard to Mio wages of tramwaymen. Mr. Justice Stringer, president of tho Arbitration Court, had announced that from January 1 an increased bonus of Id. an hour would be gifwn to tho men. It was the council'? duty, if they were under an award to see that the finding of the Judge was put into effect.' His (Mr. Luke's) recent, statement on the matter was not meant to indicate anything more than what he had just stated. This being the ense. he was surprised that somo people had adopted an attitude hostile to tho council. The council was simply going to alwle by the award, pending the conference arriving at some finding on the whole matter.

Four reserved judgments will, bo delivered by the Appeal Court to-morrow icorniiig.

The portion of Kataitai Tfoiul lyme-be-tween Mo.xham Avenue and AVai'im Uoad is to be renamed' Moxihnm Avenue.

The "Otago'Daily Times" statfs: "Wo are informed that'a strong 'bear' movement in the oat* market li.n originated in Auckland. Tt began with a stra.ige silence, evidently to convey the impression that tho northerners wauled nothing from Otago. Then cam« offers from Auckland to resell the oats that aro duo to that. i>lace from Dunedin in Decemher. Our informant snys thnt the few Ctago fanners who still hold oats would Iμ well advised to hang on in the meantime, since lo ninke any offerings would be. jilny'np into (he hands of tho attempt to demoralise the market."

Tho work of improving Pnlliser Pond was at last night's meeting of tho City Council left in tho hnnds of tho City Engineer, who Ins also been asked to report unnn a petition from Ihe Onslow Progressive Society with respect to tho proposed extension of M'Kenzie Road.

It is understood thnt tire .eleven New Zealand graduates from the Duntmon Milikirv Collr»e, who arrived from, Sydney (his week, will next year be drafted into the Indian Army for Hie purpose of gaining cxnerienre before taking up staff work "in New Zealand. .

A recreation ground is to be provided at Wiulesbwn at an en-ly date. The Mayor stilled at the meel- |.,,. M ' Hip City Council last night that such a ground was absolutely nr'eded in Wadestown. Details of tiie Fchi'Mic would be submitted hi jlie council later on. Tho council decided that the recommendation of the Reserves Committee that a recreation ground be t'nrme;l at AVadestown bo approved, and that the officers be instructed to submit plans, etc., for tho council's consideration.

A ihiindsoino ami varied .'olliu-tion of Ciii-Wma> vimb, ciilpihlhh, nnd gilt liDok.i has reached us from the house <if -\le-M-s. liaphiicl Tuck and Sous. The CliriMiiiiis cardfl producf<l liy this cute'prisMif; firm roinpri--e all varieties from works of art~evru inches by twelve lo (ho li limbic posloiud. A piirdicnlarly iiltrtictivn fVirisliiuii ca'd-ralomlnr ammiK the collcttion is one with a reproduction of Ifur Majesty the Queen's ChrislmnM i-ni-ii, "The "Anl-el of I'encp." A novoltv in Inv-books i,s "Father Tuck's 'AVorlc and t'livv' Paper Modelling," in which designs illustrative of nursery talcs enn be cut out and lransf<triii.ed info beautiful little models. The selection of Messrs. Tuck--' children's story books, for. warded is also excellently produced.

A longlihy discussion took place at Inst night's mcotinp of tihe City Council on a recommendation 0/ tlio By-laws Commit- : tee that consent should be sranfed to ' (wo proposals for the subdivision of proji.'rly at Moxhnm Avemio, Kilbirnie, on which houses had been ercctrd. the lots being slightly below Mic .1050 square feel nir spaed required by the by-law. Councillor ,f. Glovor contended that the council should noli permit (ho erection of houses unless Hie sections hntl a frontage of 40ft. The. council should not allmv, of anything tiliat would moke for congestion in tho erection of bouses. In, the c:wo under notice, he snid, tihe «aves of ono house overlapped (he entrance to the other dwelling. Councillor M. F. Luckie paid that that was not Mi* case, as -lie had seen both dhe, dwellings. There was not room in Wolljngton to lay down ;i rigid .rule providing that everv house must have a'4oft frontage. "There is plenty of room," remarked Councillor Glover. "There is sufficient land about Wollinffton on whidhi do build houses, eiinh. witli a 40ff. frontage." The connftil would be making a great mistake, be urged, if it allowed houses to bo built too close together. Other councillors eupportal the views of Councillor Glover, and the recommendation was defeated.

The City Council Inst night passed tiho following imprest for wastes and accounts falling dun during (ho Christmas mid New Year holidays:—General corporation account, ,£21,3 M; iirmmvays mid )ighting\ .£30,000; milk department, JC2BGO; total, £oi,2U. ..

"In it in any sense true," asked Mr. ,T. W. JfEwnn at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board, "that 200 natients at the Hospital are entirely in the charge of medical students?" Mr. M'Ewan explained that Hie question had been asked at a recent public meeting at I'etone, and he personally knew it was not true. He merely raised Uhe question now in order thnt an official <l»i.ial might be made. The liev. H. van Staveren remarked: "What is the use asking the question when you know tint tho Medical Superintendent is over all patients?" At the instance, of'the chairman tho Medical Superintendent '(Dr. .Daiulall Woodhousei puvo tho iilWMiin « moat omphalic, denial Mid described it as perfectly ridiculous. Ho personally was in Klinrse "f ill ').itionts. The incident was then dropped.

At the "breaking-up" of the Lyall Bay State school it was announced that two of the staff liad received appointments elsewhere. Mr. L. H. Amis, first assistant, has been appointed to the position of headmaster at Ohau, and Miss F! M. Hind has been appointed to an important position at tho Kelburn Training College. Both teachers received tokens of esteem from (he school staff, with whom they have worked for a number of years. ' In making the indentation the'headmaster, Mr. A. C. Blake, eulogised the, .valuable services these two teachers had rendered to the school; they were especially to be commended tor the interest they had taken 'in the. children's sport. Mr. Blake, remarked that lie thought more importance should be attached to ft teacher's qtialiealions for the physical training of tho children, and this could best be done by school ganifs.

The. present high cost of living is clearly reflected in the expenditure for charitable aid in tlio Wellington Hospital ami Chnritablo Aid Board's, district. During November outdoor r< lief as follows \vn<! disneiiPcrt by tlie, lx.iml, (lio corresponding figures for November, 15)18, bein" givnn in ]inventheses:—Number of eases 100 (03); daily avenme num. ber nf persons receiving relief. .T)2 (212); rations jrrantfd. EBS .TO: cash (-rants, .£303 (JM6); children, £W {M). At yesterday's nientiim of the board the hoeial Welfare Connnitteo :i>oortcd that during the period October 28 to November 25 tliree new applications were received for assistance, and fcven cases terminated. The nunvber of cases on the bonks was 12+. The persons assisted included 125 widows, three widowers, and 343 children The amount distributed during the four weeks was J?8C1 Is. Commenting on tlio first report, the chairman of the committee (Mr. G. .T.' PcHierink) said that tho expenditure represented a very considerable increase over the corresponding period of last year. Tie-Mi liopes that tho present position of the licensing poll .would Vo maintained, r.ml if sn the. expenditure would doubtless be considerably reduced. The increase in tho cost of relief dispensed by the board was no doubt duo largely to the increased cost of living. .

Those who look to fiction as a tc(-tm-tion during the holidnys should note that the lending departments <i the Wellmgton Freo Public Libraries will be closed from December 24 to January o. Ihe Tending rooms will be closed only on Christmas Day, Boxing Day. and Isew Year's Day. ■ .

The usual Christmas tree festivities will lw held at tihe children's hospital on Christmas Day at 7 p.m. Tho inmates of tihe OH People's Home will alao be entertained as in past years.

On tho .recommendation of the Finance mid Property Committee, Uhe City Conn cil decided to grant a remission of the general rate on tho property of the Knandallali La-wn Tennis Club.

Tho offices of the Wellington Education Board are to be dosed for hol'dnys from Wednesday, December U, until January 9.

An assurance has been received by Iho Reserves Cororoitteo of tho City Council from the chairman of the Lyall Bay Surf and Life-saving Club and the Mnranm Surf and Life-saving Club that the Lynll Bav bench will b9 adequately patrolled l>y' life-saving teams {luring the coming holidays. Tho Defence Department ha? deckled that all drill centres with an attendance strength of less than, twenty-four Territorials (irrespective o." .Senior Cadets) shall lie closed. In such cases, unless a suitable readjustment ca.u be made for Territorials mid Cadets to be trnined nt other drill centres, the samo conditions will apply as with trainees in country areas at the present time. Officers commanding- districts will make arrangement,; accordingly.

Tho City Council decided Inst night that authority bo granted for tho construction of ft road to connect indwell Street and Brooklyn Road. The Mayor Btatod Hint fcho work would only cost ,£2OO or ,£3OO, mid would prove of pleat benefit to ttio residents of the district.

Further to General .Ueadquartern instructions already issued, it is notified for the information of nil concerned thnt nil hospital patients, prantwl leavo during the Cliriwinns and New Year holiday period, may be issued with railway warranis to proceed to their respoct.vo homes, notwithstanding previous instructions in this connection. In those rases where patients are not entitled to tho iss,m; under existin<; regulations, the issue will bo made in lieu of warrants to beiKsued at the termination of the next thVce.-month.ly per'od. Tn enses where railway facilities do not meet requirements, steamer and coach warrants mny bo issued. These instructions nro iipplicflWo to hospital patients only.

"You will bo pleased to hear," remarked Councillor W. IT. Bennett at last night's meeting of . Hie City Council, "that Ihe debit balance vhich was presented in the last -onort of the Milk Committee us bemi; .CMS", has been reduced during the last month to X 7780. That, I am sure, will 'bo welcome news. (Hour hear.) AVp hope that during Uio next month it will bo still further reduced."

An instruction issued by General Hcnd-nuartci-i! stales that in all eases officers of tho N.Z.K.F. will temporarily relin(|iiish on transfer to units --T the Territni'iiil Force Hie rank they held in the N.Z.E.F., nnd will assume that in wlr'ch they arc appointed. On transfer to the Reserve, or Retired List, officers will invariably reeumo tho highest i-ank which they have hold in tho N.Z.E.F. or Terntorkl Force-.

On the recommendation of the Eeservi's Committee the City Council lust night decided that authority be granted for llio erection of residences for custodians of all the reserves at the earliest [Mssible date.

During November tlie daily average number of patients in the Wellington (ieneriil Hospital and lihe Imnrd'e .kin (lrod institutions, excluding the M'Carthy Convalescent Home at Uelmont, was 387. On November 31 there were 381 patients, distributed as follow:—General Hospital, Hfls; opthalmic ward, 17; children's !iO6pilal. 59; infantile paralysis in children's hospital, 13; SoMon Annexe, 20; infectious diseases hospital. 18; femaJo chronic cases in Victoria Hospital, 50; male chrome cases in Clifton Terrace institution, 19; M'Carlihy Convalescent Home, Bclmont, IG. There were '101 admissions and 0511 ]mtionts discharged during the. month, at the beginning of which there were 381 patients in tho various institutions.

The joint tender of Messrs. Whiteombe and Tombs and S. and W. Mackay for tho supply of ljooks for the Public Library for the years 1920-11)22 has. been accepted by the City Council.