LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 155, 29 December 1910, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Evening Post will not be pub- N lished on Monday next. It is officially notified that old age pensions will be paid on Saturday, the 31st December, instead of on the 3rd January. The Chief Money-order Office, Lambton-quay, will close at the usual hour, viz., 1 p.m. The mails which left Auckland for London, via San Francisco, per the R.M.S. Maitai, on 19th November, arrived in London on the 23rd December. Much praise has been given to the Harbour Board's new arrangement to control the pedestrian traffic at the sides of steamers. The order of the barrier brought peace last night when the Lyttelton steamer was about to depart, though a few opponents of innovations grumbled' 9. little. Tho threepenny charge kept a large crowd of onlookers at a respectable distance from the steamer's gangway, but there were many — about 120— who bought tickets. There was no confusion at the ship's side. Women and children were able to embark without danger to limbs or dress. This morning tho tolls office sold about 300 tickets. It seems plain that, the new system will pay its way, though the board's ideal is not profit, but the maintenance of order. There was only one foreigner in tho large number oi passengers hj tho lonic from London this morning. This was a German, and he passed satisfactorily the teet imposed by the Customs regulations. The oversight which resulted in tho Te Aro Baths being closed on Tuesday afternoon will not be repeated at New Year. The Town Clerk intimates that Sabbath hours will be observed on Sunday, and that the baths will be open all day on Monday. • Visitors to State experimental farms will receive no attention on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, and Sundays. These will be observed as close holidays on the farms. On all other holidays there will be a sufficient staff to afford information to visitors. Included in the lonic's cargo from London to N -day were the steel I'ails which are to be used in the extension of the electric tram track to South Karon. The extended line will be about a mile and a half long, and the work of laying Ihe rails will be prosecuted early in tne New Year 1 . The cases against Bernard Alfred Gifford of theft and breaking and entering and arson were called on in the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Dr. M'Arthur, S.M. Chief -Detective Broberg informed tho court that acoused had committed suicide in gaol, and thfc charges were withdrawn. The Wellington representative cricket team, which went near to wresting the Plunket Shield from Auckland, returned, from die northern city by the Main Trunk express yesterday afternoon. The olayers wero welcomed by a party of friends at the Thorndon station. Saunders, who ricked his back early in tho game, has noi yet quite recovered. Calvat's French Kid Gloves, quality 400, plain' backs, two lai'£e metal domes, in black, tan, brown, beaver, fawn, and white, a<, 4s (3d a pair. Kirkcaldio and Stains, Ltd.— Advt.

Volunteers who intend to take part in the military tournament at Palmerston North on 31st December and 2nd January will not be allowed to travel betwoen Thorndou and Palmerston North by the up Wellington-Auckland express trains on 30th December and 31st, and Ist and 2nd January. Advico to this effect has been received at the District Detence Office from Jie Traffic Manager for Railways. Except for the death of a third-class passenger named Paytou, who was buried at sea, and a rather '-ough trip across uho Bay oi' Biscay, the voyage of the lonic, which arrived at Wellington from London to-day, was uneventiul. There were 701 passengers on board, 575 being third-class, and of these 148 were assisted immigrants. Tho port Health Officer found it necessary to detain one third-class passenger, who was suffering from a, chest complaint. The man will probably have to be returned by the Tainiu. There has been some talk of protest against the decision of the Minister of Internal Affairs to allow the Sydenham Club to retain its charter until January 1311 31 (telegraphs our Christchurch correspondent). The reason assigned for this concession is that there would be difficulty otherwise in disposing of the stock of liquor in hand. It is probable that f he objectors will not take any serious action in the malter. "They are all healthy-looking and vigorous," said Mr. A. S. Danby, Immigration Officer, concerning the large batch of new arrivals by the lonic, from London, to-day. JToung people of both sexes comprised a considerable proportion of the newcomers. The whole number of passengers brought by the vessel was 583, of whom 23 were in. the firstclass, 90 in the second, and 470 in the third. Assisted immigrants numbered 148 — 119 adults and 29 children under the age of 12. There were 45 adults and 24 children nominated by relatives in, New Zealand, while 74 adults and 5 children were approved by the High Commissioner. These latter bring capital aggregating £5535, and the "assisted" passengers included 16 farmers, 16 farm labourers, 38 domestics, 8 cooks, 3 dairymaids, a shepherd, and 19 wives coming to Now Zealand to rejoin their i husbands. The steamer's third-class passengers also comprised a large number of miners, who paid their own passage money to the Dominion, as well as some carpenters, fitters, and other mechanical tradesmen. "If the measures held over from last session aro not sufficient to keep Parliament out of mischief while Sir Joseph Ward is away," comments the Christchurch Press, "there is the long-pro-mised Local Govornment Bill, which has been postponed year after year bocause members have had no time to discuss it properly. If we recollect aright. Sir Joseph himself suggested a little while ago that a special session should be devoted to the consideration of this measure, and now he has an opportunity to get it through at least its preliminary stages. If the Prime Minister has made up his mind that the session shall not begin till the end of July, a month later than usual, it is idle to think of any really useful programme of work being undertaken. Members will be entitled to get away from Wellington by the middle of October with an election at the end of November in view 5 but the Imperial Conference will cease to be regarded with much favour in New Zealand if every second year it is going to delay the country's legislation and disorganise its administration." Berlin, Canada, would seem to be a very progressive city judging from some references to it in a letter received by Mr. 11. C. Tewsley, president of the Chamber of Commerce, from Mr. AndrewGray, of Wellington. Mr. Gray represented Wellington. New Zealand, at the banquet, and celebrations held at Berlin in connection with the linking up of the chain of Canadian manufaotur. nig towns with the current* generated at Niagara. "The Government has staked its existence upon this policj- of spending public funds to carry this energy to the doors of twenty or more towns. It has also proved that the work could be dono at practically no more fot the lot of them; in fact, for 3,500,000 dollars, an estimate given by one private concern for bunging the current to one town alone. This is an object-lesson to us in New Zealand. The scheme, as I understand it, is that the Government brings the current to the towns and supplies it to the municipal authorities at cost, plus sufficient to cover interest and depreciation or the equivalent of the&e, in the shape of aa allowance for upkeep and sinking fund. The local authorities deal with, the manufacturers', lighting, and traction questions a.s seems to tiiom best." Berlin Mr. Gray found to be, as it* namfe implied, largely of German origin in population. The city was an ideal manufacturing centre, everything possible appearing to be done for the comfort of employees, 75 per cent, of them owning their own houses. They ar?, too, a thrifty and industrious people. The December number of the Australasian Nurses' Journal deplores the list of nurses who aro the victims of enteric fever. In spite of all tl^e precautions taken by tho hospital authorities —and -no expense or trouble is" spared— there is an increasing number of nurses who contract the disease from the patients, and too often with the nurse the illness proves fatal. "The explanation," says Lhe journal, "seems to be that in the rush of work of varying character in the general medical wards, nurses forget their instructions and overlook some necessary link in their disinfection, and thus the chain is broken and exposure to direct infection present. The junior nurses, through ignorance-, fail to realise sufficiently the risk they expose themselves to should not every detail in the recognised method of disinfection be carried out. Th» almost elaborate precautions insisted upon seem to them almost a fetish of the Sisters, not to be taken too seriously. . The chances of infection would, without doubt, be redac ! od it special wards wero a,«' apart for the nursm 5 only of patients suffering from enteric fever, and senior narsos, responsible and with a full knowledge of the danger o? infection, alone'employed m sufficient numbers. This we believe, bne of our large metropolitan hospitals has already decided to carry out v- J i V 0!V 0 ! be hoped that the immunity which the antityphoid vac-ine confer? will not be overlooked by the authorities, and that nurses engaged in the active nursing of enteric patients will appreciate this certain safeguard." ' Seven inebriates came before Dr. M'Arthur. S M in 'the Magistrate^ Court this morning. They were all lust .offenders, and were dealt with accordingly. Why fetter yourself with baggage when we check it free to your destination ? You've no bother. Bapßa<*e arrives soon as you, and you pay° only trifle for express. New Zealand Exnress Company, Ltd.— Advt. Good-bye to 1910-an open hand of welcome to 1911. This week will see tho (ion of a t;ibk well done. The achievements of -1910 have boon greater than our most sanguine, expectations would have led us to anticipate, and for the New lear we have a higher aim to fulfil, and m obedience, to the law of the survival of the 'attest this house will offer record bargains by way of welcome to tho New 5 oar. Ladies white mu'-lin dress skirts, -o in Yn, n enib r oi dery and tucks, length f< 40, 42 44 inchob, at 7s 6d, 8s Jld, 10s 6d, 12s 6ci. Note the address and make an early call to the Mantle Department at C. Smiths, Ltd., Cuba-street.— Advt.

A conference of representatives of the Typographical Unions of the Dominion opened at Christchurch Trades Hall yesterday afternoon. Proceedings were not open to the press. Mr. Walter Carter. Government diamond drill expert, who has done good work at Wailu and Oropuki. left Wellington for the north last night. He has been instructed to put down ,i bora in the Romulus holding at Waihi. Up till Monday last, the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club's "Exhibition" meeting m 1906 held the totelisa. tor record, so far as the Dominion L concerned, with £29,121. The opening day of the Auckland Racing Club s Summer Meeting saw £29,542^ put through tho machine. Mr. H. J. Marriner, acting-president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, has been visiting the east coast of tho South Island with a view to arousing keener interest in tho construction ot tho South Island Main Trunk railway. A meeting at Kaikoura oa Monday night was largely attended. It is estimated that the cocksfoot crop on Banks Peninsula will be barely, a third of that of last season, says tha Lytlelton Times. Some farmers report good crops, but the average crop is decidedly patchy. The crops aro clean, fog and goose grass being little in cvi. dence. Tho showers during the past week have benefited the grazing paddocks, and cutting will commence early in January. Yesterday afternoon at 4.30 a fire broke out at Alieetown in a shop occupied by Mr. O'Rourke, coal merchant and general storekeeper. Tho fire originated over a stove in the kitchen, but before it assumed auy serious proportions the occupants, with the assistance of some neighbours, extinguished tha flames. Members of the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade were smartly on the scene, but, fortunately, their services were nob required. There was no serious damage. The initial impression of Johannesburg itself is not favourable (writes the special correspondent of the Argus with the Federal party in South Africa). The eternal dust has given the buildings a shabby appearance. The city seems to consist of a few fine streets, to right and left of which lie dingy rows of mean houses, and a walk through the town confirms that impression. The wealth of the Rand is not apparent. 'Yet everybody speaks of prosperity and a handsome gold output. A drive around tha scattered suburbs readjusts your ideas. Mile upon mile of perfect roadway runs through open, grassy country, leading to ridges crowned with splendid mansions, to acres of gum and fir plantations, and suburbs of pleasant gardened villas. No Australian suburbs are more inviting. The conviction is forced upon you that Johannesburg is a good place to live in — if you have money. In the poorer quarters everything is squalor and neglect. There a hybrid population, whose main stocks are Malay and Hindu, with a sprinkling of Chinese, mingles with the "mean whites," a worthless class, unfit for skilled labour and unwilling to do "Kaffir work." They scrape a living by illict traffic in gold and liquor, by any means that is nob honest. There is no evidence of municipal enterprise there. The tram-lines turn aside to avoid such places. You bump heavily over ill-made roads that thread their~ narrow way betwoen tha shabby, shoddy tenements. When Johannesburg has time to pause in ita gold-getting, and its admiration of what it has achieved in thirty years, it may turn its hand to tho improvement oj Vredeborg, the outcast suburb. A notice by the proprietors of the Pana, ma House to visitors to Picton is adveri tieed in this issue.