LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 255, 22 July 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association- telegram reports that the south express did not reach Christchurch until 9.10 o'clock last night, two mid a half .hours late. The express was held up nt Chertsey by an accident which happened to the afternoon train to Ashburton, the engine of Dial' train being derailed at a loop line. A railway gang replaced the engine on the rails and the express was then ablo to pass and resume the journey to Christchurch. The ferry steamer Maori was held back for the passengers and mails and sailed for Wellington at 10.35 p.m.

It is evidently not considered possible to accelerate the mail train to New Plymouth. The following statement on the subject was made by the Minister of Railways (Sir. Massey), replying to a question in the House yesterday: "Having regard to the 11 umber of stopping stations aud the heavy grades to ,he traversed for a considerable' portion of the journey, the New Plymouth mail trains aro already timed fast. If tho number of stopping places were reduced tome saving could lie effected on tho through-journey time, but strong objection is invariably raised to any curtailment of tho stopping places. In regard to accommodation, extra cars aro added when possible en route up to the maximum haulage capacity of the engine power available on the train. There are occasions when, owing to unexpected tvaysido traffic and the fact that tho train is already loaded up to its maximum, the seating accommodation haa been somewhat overtaxed; but every effort is made to obviate this condition as far as practicable." (

"Tho rule requiting unanimity in jury verdicts did not originate in any Act of Parliament," the Hon. ,1. MacUregor yesterday reminded Legislative Councillors. "Originally the jurymen were witnesses; and the principle of unanimity arose from the fact that twelve men from tho district in which the crimc was committed were required to testify of their own knowledge."

Two long-needed works of interest to all who vnturo into tho city daily luivo, at last been started by the City Engineer. These nre the raising of tho wood-blocks up to the new level of the tram rails between Grey Street; and Willis Street on Lnmbtoii (Juny, ami the paving of that section of sidewalk along the Willis Street side of (he Duke of 'Edinborough Hotel, whioli has benn either a mud-hole or a dust-heap (according to the weather) for tho past year.

"I see that some teachers in the south have been protesting against toothbrush drill, saying that it is n inn tier for tho home and is undermining the influence of the parents," said Jlr. C. I. Harkncss at ilie Education Board meeting yesterday. "What nonsense! Why, that's tho whole trouble. If the parents had insisted 011 tho use of the tooth-brush in the home, this would never have cropped up. 'l'lie fact of tho matter is that many of the parents themselves have never used a toothbrush in their lives. That should not prevent tho schools teaching tho children bettor habits." This comment followed the announcement of the receipt of a letter from the Women's National Council on the tooth-brush drill proposal. Mr. E. P. liishworth said that the carts of school children's teeth had been handed over to certain responsible officers, ami as the board had promised these gentleman every support, ho did not see. how they could well go into the matter. On his motion the letter was received without being read in open mooting.

The Education Board lias decided to negotiate for the purchaso of a school situ at Morningtou (between Brooklyn and Island Bay). It also proposes to extend the grounds of the Brooklyn School by acquiring 6oiuo of tho contiguous property.

The central four-story building of .Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co.'s block on Customhouse Quay, winch was for some forlv years the warehouse of Messrs. W. ft. Tunibull and Co., is being transformed into modern otlico accommodation, for which there is a lively demand at the present time.

Some time ago tho Federated Malay States Government, through tlie Lauds Department of New Zealand, invited applications from young men who had some experience of surveying field-work, o'tferiiij» what seemed to be good terms as to salary and conditions and prospects of advancement. The Otago Lands Office, with others throughout the Dominion, net abroad the particulars of the offer, and one would have thought that it would bo attractive to adventurous young men, but as a fact not one applicant came forward.

Tlie Wairoa Power Board is to bo gazetted next week, says a Press Association telegram. The Government is calling tenders immediately for head works tor tho Wairoa scheme. •The local Power Board will erect transmission lines from the lake substations, and undertake the reticulation.

The soldier patients undergoing instruction in electrical and ,;eueral engineering in the Defence Department's vocational workshops at the Trentliam Military Hospital paid a visit to the iiHinicipal electric, lighting station in Harris Street on Tuesday afternoon. The students Were conveyed to the city in tho cars of the Eed Cross Society, and on arrival at the lighting station were taken iru charge by Mr. Bell, tho engineer in charge, wfio exhaustively exBjrtned to them the intricacies of tho ii.ant upon which the city of Wellington depends for Us supply of light. Fnrfllor,. Mr. Bell demonstrated the working of flie new Curtis turbine which at present is in the process of installation. Tho tour was intensely interesting, and tho students appreciated very much tho courtesy shown by the official in charge.

At the Petone Magistrate's Court.yesterday a motor-car driver named J. F. Nixon, who appeared on a charge of exceeding the speed limit, contested tho accuracy of the borough inspector's method of gauging the rate of speed. Mr. E. Page, S.M., decided to hold a test during the luncheon adjournment, and as n result it wns found that the difference in time between the three watches used was only two-fifths of a second. His Worship thought, the method comparatively accurate, and defendant would he convicted ami fined Jil and costs 18s. Gd.

Tenders have Been let for the erection of reinforced concrete schools at Martinborough and To Ore Ore. The Marfinborough school, which will have tivo class-rooms, will be erected on a block of six acres of land, which has been donated by local residents with the assistance of a subsidy. The 'J'e Ore Oro school will have a hvo-ncro site for its two class-room building.

Tho retail price of milk for Auckland city has been fixed at sevenpence per quart by the Hoard of Trade, to take effect from August I.—Press Assn.

A request for an extra train from Wellington to Johnsouville to leavo Thornuon at 5.55 p.m., to meet tho needs of people ceasing work at 5.30, p.m., was made to the Minister of Railways by Mr. R. A. Wright. Tho reply of tiio Minister, given yesterday, wns as follows: Trains now leave Thomdoii for Joluisonville at 5.10 p.m., 5.25 p.m., and 6.21 p.m. The request for an additional train at 5.55 p.m. has been fully considered and the traffic carefully watched, with a view to improving the services when circumstances warrant. I regret that at present the business offering is insufficient to warrant the running of an additional train, but I shall lie p'nj to iw.nnsider the proposal when ail Tmprovemeut has taken place

At the meeting of the Education Board yestefuay a ietier was received from the National Council of Women on tho suoject of thu design of schods. Tho letter was received without being read.

On May 21, at Cape Town, Bays an ex-, change, Antony Jacobs, a coloured stevedore, was charged at the Second Criminal Court with the theft of five bottles ol whisky, broached from the cargo of tlio s.s. Oulcniqua. The ottenco was proved, and accused was sentenced to receive 111 lashes and six months' imprisonment with hard labour.

The Minister of Public Works wa9 asked by a deputation yesterday for assistance to elieet the metalling of four miles of road giving access to the Westmere and Porapora settlements in tho neighbourhood of Masterton. Mr. A. D. M'Leod (Wnirarapa) explained that Wesfmere was a soldier settlement and Porapora had been subdivided under,tho Lands for Settlement. Act. Tho road was required to give access to both of these settlements, which were in rough and hilly country. If a subsidy at tho rate of for .£ were granted the settlers themselves would provide the remainder of the money. The members of the deputation slated that the whole cost of tho work would be about MSOO, aud suggested that a portion of the subsidy should be provided this year,-say, sufficient to allow of the metalling of a rnilo or more of the road. They now had a delivery of mail twice a week. The contractor was unable to take tho coach over the road. He had to complete the journey with a lighter vehicle. If something was not done it would bo impossible to liavo the contract renewed nnu tho settlers would get no mails unless they went in to Masterton specially for them. The Minister said that h.e knew that the Department was sympathetic in cases of this kind, and the soldier settlers in particular had his own very full sympathy. He had not made any promises in these cases, for nil these applications had to l>e confederal in the light of the urgency of tlio works involved. He would see what could be done in their case and had no doubt that some assistance would be forthcoming.

Under the auspices of tho Wellington Educational Institute, Mr. J. E. Stevens (director of the School for the Deaf at Sumner), last night delivered a lecture oil "The Principles of Speech." Mr. C.' A 7, llaslam presided over a fairly largo audience, which included members of the general public as well as teachers. Tho lecturer commented on the small number of thoso who could lay claim to any acquaintance with tho mechanism of speech, II« observed that the ancients paid more attention than the moderns to the important matter of vocal expression. Willi tho'aid of diagrams Jlr. Stevens discussed the'classification of the various specch sounds, aud described tho mode of their articulation. One should remember, he said, to keep the chest inflated and well forward during speech. Public speakers should open their mouths as liiucli as possible, and allow their voices to come out. It wa<; a mistake to suppose Hint exercises designed to promote mobility of the lips wore of any importance.

A considerable amount of business was transacted at the. last meeting of tho Wellington District Hepatization Board, ut which .Mr. M. J. fieardon presided. Thirty-live applications lor business .loans were "eceived, of which 20 wen- granted, 1-' declined, (wo deferred, mid one referred to the Lands .Department. In 42 eases it was decided to grant assistance for tho purchase of furniture. TI8& board resolved to subsidise the wages of 1(1 men who are learning new trades in privato workshops, and tii pay tho allowances and fees of 35 men who are receiving instruction in leclmical schools and on State farms. The board will meet weekly in future, instead of every fortnight as it has been doing of late.