LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 269, 7 August 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Citv Council's loan proposals are to be considered at a meeting of ratepayers, called by the Mayor for Thursday nisrht next. About ten minutes past 9 o'clock last night a woman, whose name is believed to lie Mis. Watts, but whose address is not known, was knocked down by a traniear in Lninbton Quay, opposite tho New Commercial Hotel. It is stated that 6he stopped off the footpath right in front of the car, which was proceeding to Lambton Station from Kilbirnie. After receiving first aid in the New Commercial Hotel, the woman was 'coiiveycd to the hospital. She was reported late last night to be suffering slightly from shock, but her condition was slated to be not serious. The Arbitration Court lias filed its award in connection with the Wanganui anil linngitikei district carpenters and joiners' dispute. The minimum wage has been fixed at 2s. an hour,, plus a cost-of-living bonus of .Id. per hour. Provision has also been made for the payment of an extra Is. pel- day in the case of certain leading hands employed on outside construction work. The third annual festival of tho Wellington Competitions Society to be held in tho Grand Opera House next month is attracting considerable interest among students of music, elocution, and dancing. Entries are. now coming, to hand inmrge numbers, and the society expects to again establish a Dominion record for total number of entries received. Competitors are reminded that entries will close on Monday next. The committee are issuing a limited number of membership tickets, for which early application' is necessary to save disappointment. Men who wero called up for service or were under arms during the l'arihaka and East Coast disturbances in 18GS-G',) are the subject of an amendment that Mr. IV. T. Jennings (Waitomo) proposes to move when Mr. Wright's Maori War Medals Bill is before tho House. Mr. Jennings proposes that these men shall be made eligible for tho medal. At a meeting of the Masterton Progress League, states our Masterton correspondent, Messrs.,W. B. Mntheson nnd C E. Daniell were appointed to speak on behalf of Use northern and central portions of the Wairarapa district at a deputation to wait on the Prime Minister on August 19, in connection with the liimutaka deviation. With tho object of importing mainly British films for exhibition ill New Zealand a private company with a capital of .£IO,OOO has been floated locally, tho idea being that within the Empire as far as possible British productions should be featured and Imperial interest fostered. Mr. C. D'Arcy Allen is the managing director of the new company, for which tho capital has been fully subscribed, and active operations will commence at an early date. Tho promoters are confident-thai; the public will respond to the venture for patriotio reasons. Mr, T. A. Langley, manager .of the Ideal Shoe Factory, was proceeded against by tho Inspector of-Factories (Mr. It. T. Bailcv) for employing nine women in tlio factory after G p.m. without first obtaining a permit from the inspector. It appeared from the statements made to Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., yesterday, that Langley, in order to allow his hands to have Saturday morning off, made up the time during the week, paying tho overtime rate. He, however, omitted to obtain the necessary, permit on one occasion. The breach was due to an oversight, and the defendant was fined 10s., and ordered to pay 7s. costs.

Three cargoes of timber are .being loaded in Auckland for Sydney. The ecliooner Abemama loaded some 225,000 ft. of white pine, while the baTquentine Senorita is expected to carry slightly more than the'quarter-million feet of pinna in«ignis nd other timber. The six-masted barquentine E. R>.. Sterling has almost completed a loading of tim-, bet in the vicinity of a million feet, vhich is to ■proceed.' to Sydney with, her during the next .few days—"Star.": Ruby Joseph, a Syrian woman,' was charged at tho Dunedin Police Court with smuggling into Now Zealand drapery and other goods, of ft total value of .£6O. with intent to defraud the Customs Department by tho evasion of the payment of duty. She was convicted and fined ,£45. and it was ordered that the goods bo forfeited.—Press Assn. At tho inquest at Palmerston North on the Ixidy of Percy Archibald Gillies, which was found in tho Manawahi River on Tuesday, n verdict was. returned that deceased disappeared on February 25 while of unsound mind, and'was found drowned on August 4.—Press Assn. It was freely rumoured in Lyttelton this week .that the Defence Department had decided to dismantle Ripa Island as a fort. Colonel Barton, when interviewed, said that so far as tho authorities in Christchurch knew, there was no such intention. What may have given rise to the report was the fact that tho men of the New Zealand Garrison Artillery, stationed at Ripa Island, would leave in September for a special month's course of training at Wellington. They would, however, return to their usual duties in duo course— Exchange. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr. R, C, Kirk, who appeared in a case, pointed out that he and his clients had been within the precincts of the court for three whole days during the past two or threo weeks waiting for the case to come on, nnd that had cost his clients at least oCIO He thought tho Justice Department should deal with the congestion in tho court, and- take some steps to deal with it so that specific cases could coiuo on on specific dates.

"If I were getting a suit of clothes I should think that very good," was the comment of the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. J. H. Gunson) as lie handled a bit of tweed at a meeting of the joint committee of tho Red Cross aud St. John Ambulance on. Wednesday. The commifcteo was being asked to purchase three private handlooms worth ,£37, which are being used by patients at the Botorua military hospital. Mr. Charles Hudson also admitted that the ■ tweed would make an excellent wearing ; suit of clothes. Those on tho committee who did not know where the article came from were much surprised when told it was the work of a soldier patient at the King George Hospital. Mr. Gucson was curious to know whether such tweed could be turned out commercially. Mr. Robertson, of Rotorusu said the price was 12s. 6d. a yard, which was cheaper than tho imported article. The committee agreed that the weaving work at the hospital should Ik encouraged, and decided to purchase tho looms for the hospital.—Auckland exchange. Herbei't Haines, a milk vendor, for whom Mr. C. W. Ntilscn appeared, was charged before Mr, J. S. Evans, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yestcrdivy with selling milk containing added water, And also milk, deficient in. solids. There were in all six charges. The defendant owns and milks his; own cows, which pasture on tho Town Belt. After the evidence for the prosecution was heard., Mr. Neilsen enid he vould plead guilty to the charges, and pointed out tliat only two samples were affected, and he thought that in the process of cooling the milk eome water managed to get in. Haines had been dairying for about eight years, and this was the fust time he lrnd l)een before tho Court. His Woiship deferred fixing ft penalty until Monday, and adjourned the case to that day. After a settlement was arrived at in (he Merchant Service Guild dispute, Mr. P. Hally. who is also engaged in the mining dispute, left for tho south. He was to hold a sitting in lnvereargill yesterday in connection with the dispute at the Nightcaps Mine. Next week he will return to Wellington, and later go north. It will also be necessary for him to visit tho West Coast mines. Tho chances of reaching a settlement of His trouble are said to bo bright. The Wellington public will have an opportunity on Sunday evening of hearing Mr. H. Banks,_ who is succeeding Miss Christie as national lecturer to the Theosopliical Society. Mr. Banks has just completed a successful tour of the South Island, lit- has n thorough grasp of Iheosophical knowledge, and his orations are described as _ at onco instructivo and enjoyable. His lecture to-nior-l'ow, to be given at the Theosopliical Hall, Marion Street, is the first of a series, aud-is entitled "Gone West."

The Prime Minister- has received a cable message dated August i from the High Commissioner stating: "Official prico cold to-day «£5 Hs. Gd„ shipments to India, and America." Just before G p.m. on Thursday, a Customs official on duty at the Taranaki Street Wharf noticed a man, who 'later gavo the name, of Stanton Harlow, coining ashore from the s'.s. "Mamma, carrying a suit-casc. The vessel had arrived from San Francisco that morning. Harlow was questioned with respect to the contents of the suit-ease, 'but appeared reluctant to give any information, and shortly afterwards left thG wharf with some celerity. The Customs officer followed, secured the man, and handetl him over to the police at the Taranaki Street station. There the contents of the case were, examined, and wero found to consist of a- number of silk blouses and -stockings. Harlow explained that lie had been peddling the articles about tlio city, and hod gono 011 board the vessel with the suit-case. Yesterday Harlow was churned in tlio Magistrate's Court, beforq Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., with having obstructed a Glistens officer in the - execution of his duty. Harlow was remanded for 'a week on the application of the Collector of Customs (ilr. 13. Brabazou) in order that further inquiries may bo made. Bail was allowed in .£2O.