LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 253, 20 July 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Board of Trade has reason to believe that sonic persons engaged in tho distribution of cement, bricks, and timber are infringing the regulations recently gazetted for the purpose of preventing the use of such materials for non-essential building operations. The board will press for the prosecution of such offenders, who are liable to a fine up to .-K2OO or to imprisonment up to three months. Tim persons particularly affected.by these regulations are those who supply direct, to building contractors, and other users. Tho responsibility is on tho ultimate supplier to ascertain whether tho materials ordered are to bo used for work for which authority has been obtained under the regulations, which apply to all works of which, tho completed cost exceeds .E2O. Local authorities throughout the Dominion have been authorise*! to issue permits for dwelling-houses and essential farm buildings within their districts. Applications for other kinds of buildings must be also lodged with the local authority, which will forward them on through tho local 'inspectors of factories to tho Board of Trade for its consideration and decision. *

Fears were entertained for a period yesterday afternoon that users of gas in Wellington would be seriously inconvenienced, and at one stage it appeared probable that the supply would bo cut off altogether last night. One of tho gangs of stokers employed at Mirntntir, owing to some alleged griovance, knoctceu off work with little warning, and camo into town to consult Mr. Gtover (the secretary .of the union). He advised ti:e men to return to work, and they did so after being absent for about four hours. During this interval the gas pressure fell considerably, but it began to improve immediately work was resumed.

In view of the stateniqnt made by the Prime Minister that payment, will shortly be made to woolgrowersr of their shnro in the surplus wool profit? up to March 31, 1919, the trustees of the New Zealand Shipowners' Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund will, at an early dale, call a meeting of contributors to the fund in order to decide what steps should be taken to Rive effect to the objects of the scheme.

It is reported that a definite majority of the members of tho A.S.R.S. favour acceptance of tho finding of tho special board that dealt with the men's demands for increased wages and bettor working conditions. Bcferruig to thedectsion, an officer of the Auckland branch of the society explained that there had beon an absolute majority of those cligiblo to vote in favour of acceptance, after allowing for informal votes and papers not returned. Ho considered that the new conditions would inean a guilt step forward as far as this branch of tho service was concerned, and would be neater tho mark of conditions prevailing oti-v side. The effect would be felt in fife service with increased efficiency. Durinfr the past few years it had deteriorated, through tho bad conditions not attracting a suitable claw of employee, and the efficient members' leaving to obtain bettor openings elsewhere. If the now Cflnrtitirjis were niainta.i\ed, however, it would have a. Rood effect. . The next thine exercising the minds of the men. ho ndded, was whether tho Department would immediately pay them tho retrospective pay due under tho conditions, They are trusting that tho Department will «eo to this, as it would greatly Wat the men, these wages being payable from April 1.

A Press Association telegram from Christchnrch reports that the City Council has decided to revert to proportional representation in the conduct of elections.

At the last meeting of tho council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce it was decided to communicate with the secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department relative lo providing' adequate telephonic connection between Wellington and the Hawko's Bay centres. A letter was forwarded, and at yesterday's meeting of the council tho following' reply of the acting-secretary (Mr. A. T. Markman) was road:—"'l k-g to inform you that the erection of an additional circuit to provide continuous telephonic communication between Wellington and Napier is recognised .us an urgent work, and wi,ll be considered as soon as sufficient material is available. The work is ft large and costly one, and it cannot be commenced until supplies of capper wire and insulators are being received freely. As yet only small quantities of these ma,tenuis are being received."

A very curious story is told in various books on London's history of tho way in which the famous Guy's Hospital came into being, Guy, fho founder, was a bookseller, who kept a shop at the .junction of Lombard Street and Cornhill. Hero he sold Bibles printed at_ Oxford and various educational and theological works. He speculated shrewdly, and is said to have been ono of tho few men who bought and sold South Sea stock at tho right time. The tnlo goes that he was so thrifty that he dined on his shop counter with a newspaper as a tablecloth. He fell in love with his servant maid, and, under tho influence of the tender passion, actually ordered that the pavement in front of his shop should be repaired. Whilo he wna out tho girl told the workmen lo repair a portion beyond tho had fixed, saying: "Tell him 1 hade you; ho won't mind." But Guy did mind. He was wild. He broke off the engagement, renounced tho idea of mavri-.ige, and took to founding hospitals and almshouses. He died at the age of eighty, alter endowing his great hospital with ■6200,000.

A youth, who had caused the fire brigado a will-goose chase in Ponsonby in the early hours of Juno 30 by giving n false alarm of fire, eame before Mr. ,T. E. Wilson, S.iL, at Auckland on Saturday. The case was a peculiar one in that the lad had got up out of a bed of sickness about 2 a.m., slipped into tho street in his pyjamas, pressed a fire alarm, and remained at the spot till Iho fire reel dashed up. The firemen could make nothing of him, and they sent a policeman along who took him in hand and ..managed eventually to get enough information to return him to his home. While not exactly a. ease of sleepwalking the circumstances indicated some similar kind of momentary mental aberration, probably following on influenza, and the Magistrate discharged' the lad,' whose health had not been improved by his night excursion in pyjamas.

A very serious situation as regards benzine supplies—or at least the absence of supplies—has been reached in Auckland, a stago which is even worse and more orouotinced than during the last bad spell when the cry for supplies was so strong (says the "Slav.") The local agencies are out of supplies, and no shipments are expected until about the middle of August. The price has also been increased, the Board of Trade having received advice to this effect. Prom ft 10s. per case it has bounded up an additional half-crown, accounted for by the fact that the price has becu increased in America, and handling charges have also risen. A leading' authority stated that lux Board of Trade had been advised many times of the position, and numerous telegrams had been sent to them, but. they had not seen fit to give any relief. The West JJahwah was in the harbour with general cargo and 40,000 eases of benzino fov Wellington. Tub only way to obtain supplies would be to have them railed from Wellington or tho south. In other words, it means that Auckland would have to pay a. very high price for its benzine. It is anticipated that after the middle of August things will be all right.

Herbert John Thompson, sixteen yeata of age, a. son of Constable W. Thompson, of Kwstbourno, met with an unfortunate accident while cnmpiiiff out at Orongoronzo on Saturday night. He and threo companions were out and on returning to their whare built up a bin log fire. During the r.isht the wharo caught alight, and the youths hnil barelv time to escape. Some burning scrim fell on Thompson, and caused severe burns to his face anil anus. His mates, not understanding first aid, put water on 'the burns, aggravating the injuries. They set out across the hills at about 2.30* p.m. on Sunday, and reached Eastbourne at 7.30 p.m.. after a twelve-mile tamp. Thompson was able to wnlk with the aid of his friends, and, on arrival at Eastbourne, he was siyi*. first aid liv -Mrs. Owen, Dr. Owen being temporarily absent. He was later brought into the Wellington Hospital, and was reported yesterday to be making good progress. The official report of the visit of Iha Parliamentary party to Samoa audother Pacific islands, and the report ol the Trade Commission that accompanied the party are expected to bo presented to Parliament in the near futuro. Iheso papers are likely to be made the basis of a general debate on the administration of the Islands, the indentured labour question, and trade matters.

Members of tho Legislature paid a visit to the Government Printing Office Yesterday at the invitation of the Minister of internal! Affairs'(Mr. Anderson). The visit, was planned with the object of acquainting .members with the extent of tho operations of the office, and with some of the difficulties that are arising" from shortage of paper and plant. The visit may be regarded as preparation for the printing economies that will be suggested to members later in the session. ' 'In." the course of his remarks from tho pulpit of St. John's Presbyterian Church, Arrowtown, the Eev. James Rattray recently drew the attention of the congregation lo the great need of financial help to savo 5,000,000 babies and children from famine and death. "The Work of Pity" was a splendid idea ami the object most worthy and urgent. Mr. Rattray declared that babies were lucky to be horn at all these days, what with artificial restriction"?, the prohibitive cost of living, and the dark deeds of the professional and unprofessional abortionist. A world-wide week of penitence might well be proclaimed by Church and State in this connection. "We must," ho said, "save the babies. Born or unborn they have a right to live."

That Evolution is something more than a theory averring that man is descended from the monkey was demonstrated by Professor H. 11. Kirk, of Victoria University College, in a popular lecture delivered last night in the Concert Chambert of the Town Hall. With tho aid of lantern slides the lecturer showed how the progress of lifo during tho long history of the world had beon from very simple to ver_v .complex forms, aud how the lr'ghcr animals tended to "climb their own genealogical tree"—that is, to pass through stages that were stages in tho life-history of the lower animals. Councillor ,1. if. Dalo presided over tho audience, which was rather small. A vote of thanks to the lecturer was carried b.v acclamation.

"Civis," writing of city affairs in yesterday's issue, mado reference to ' the Orongorongo scheme and incidentally to Mr. Semple and his party. It might bo inferred from the wording of tho paragraph in question that Mr. Scmple had returned to Orongorongo after attending the miners' conference. As a matter of fact Mr. Scmplc did not. attend the miners' conference and has not l>cen ofticiallv associated with it for many months past. Moreover, it was only about n week ago Hint ho personally •started work at Wninui-o-raata, so he could not be said to have returned to work there.

Improvements at the Picton wharf wero asked by a deputation from Marlborough which wailed on tho General Malinger of ltailways (Mr. R. W. M'Villy) yesterday. One of the requests was for a travelling crane on the wharf. In support of this demand it was mentioned that a barque had been in Picton discharging for 31 days, ami to empty her holds had had to engage the s.s. Admiral at a high daily charge in order to have tho use of the steamer's winch. Mr. M'Villy promised that this need would bo met at once. Ho also promised consideration of the representations made for increased shed accommodation at Picton and all along the railway line, and for a larger supply of truoks.

A series of classes is being held at the Drill Hall, Buckle Street, this wees: for officers and n.c.o.'s of the Territorial ami Senior Cadet Forces. At tho in. itial parade last night Colonel Sleemau was present and addressed thoso present pointing out the importance of the officers and n.c.o.'s being cilicieut, and the great benefit they would derive from the trailing, both physically and mentally. Ho said that before a mnn could command others he must be able to obey orders himself. Colonel Slci'man also referred to the unprepared state in which tho war found Britain. At the conclusion of his address Colonel Siceman witnessed a display of physical drill by tho trainees.

An inquest was held yesterday morning by Mr. W. G. Piddell, S.AI., into the cause of death: of Frederick Allen, a waterside worker, whose body was found at No 70 Dixon Street, on Thursday evening. Dr. C. M. Hector, who made tho post-mortem examination, gavo it as his opinion that deatn was duo to fatty degeneration of the heart, and tho Coroner returned a verdict accordingly,

A stimulus to tho export trade in tomatoes from the Cook Islands is promised by Mr. E. A. Reid, fruit inspector at Euratonga, who by hybridising has produced a new variety. Some four years ago Mr. Heid experimented by crossing the Pondcrosa variety of tomato witii the wild native species. Ho has evolved a'new 6ort which, he states, is both hardy and prolific. He reports that ho has about one hundred plants in fruit and hopes presently to hnvo a considerable supply of seed for distribution to growers. Tho new species will, ha expects, become the chief export variety before long. . A specimen case of fruit was received by the Hon. Dr. Pomare on Saturday. The tomatoes are larger than the average, and of good shape and appearance. They had necessarily to be picked green to lie forwarded, and upon arrival had not ripened sufficiently for their flavour to be put to the lest.

At the recent meeting of the Hutt Borough Council, when the question of tho purchase of Mason's Gardens was under d'scussion, the Mavor was reDorted to havo stated that although the place (Masons' Gardens) was still beautiful, it was not as good as it used to he, as most of the beautiful flora, which had been collected from all parts of tho world and placed in the gardens bv tho late Mr. Thomas Mason had disappeared. . We are informed on the best of authority that this statement is absolutely incorrect; that none of the beautiful flora has been removed, but that merely soine daffodils, propagated plants and bulbs have been disposed of and a few of the big trees that were overcrowding the place have been removed. The whole of the parent trees, plants, etc., arc still in the gardens and have, in fact, been considerably added to from' different sources. The grounds are not iu as well kept a condition as during Mr. Mason's lifetime on account of the intention to cut them up shortly for building sites, but the extent and variety of beautiful flora is stated to bo greater than at Mr. Mason's decease. We are also informed that tho price of .£l7,uotJ mentioned to the Hutt Borough Council was for seventy-one acres and not for 23 acres only.

The Wanganui District Committee of (ho Dominion Boy Scouts passed a resolution yesterday expressing "entire (satisfaction with tho Dominion Headquarters control of the Boy Scout organisation, and views with alarm any schismatic interference with the present system of control, as we are profoundly convinced that such a step would be disastrous to the.whole movement."—Press Assn.

Brief ment : on was made at last night's meeting of the Wellington branch of the N.Z.E.I. of the proposed inter, change of teachers between New Zealand and England. Without going into the question of the merits of the schenio (lie branch decided as a preliminary step to invite applications from those of its members desirous of participating in tho proposed arrangement..