LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 54, 5 March 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It is current rumour that Mr. T, C. A, Hislop will be the Government candidate for the Wellington Suburbs seat at the next election. Cabled advice lias been received from San Francisco that the R.M.S. Moana sailed yesterday for Wellington. A conference of trade unions connected with the Social Democratic Party was held at the Trades Hall last evening to consider the question of the Mayoral election. Mr. J. Glover presided. It was resolved to approach the United Labour Purty with the view of seeing if Labour could not present a. solid undivided, frjyit at the Mayoral election. An employee of the Post and Telegraph Department named William Anderson, living at 43a, Majoribaliksstreet, was this morning assisting in tho excavation of a pipe linu in Riddifordstreet, in connection, with the telephone system, when a brick wall collapsed, with the result that his right leg was fractured. Tffe wae removed to the ' Hospital. ' Mr. Arch. E. Hunt, London Missionary Society secretary, in a letter to the Editor points out that the istatement in a Press Association message (18th February) that the London Missionary Society's report had stated that contributions had totalled £458 13s as against £883 13b in the previous year woe erroneous. The amount of £458 13s really represents the increase of contributions over those of last year, the actual amount contributed in. 1913 being £1342 6s 3d. Th© amount only includes moneys received by th© local treasurer j a further Sum of. £500 was cent direct to London. Christchurch is in throes of conti'O' versy regarding a Town Hall (telegraphs our local correspondent). Picture .ahows have reduced 'the halls available for public meetings to a minimum ', itt fact, there is no hall of any Bize to be obtained. The Musical Union, by arrangement with a picture company,, Uses a theatre for concerts, but the results have not been satisfactory. Eecently i matters came to a head, when^ the City Council decided on a site in > Victoria-square. This site was originally set a-side for a Town Hall, but for many years has been used as a miniature park, where bands gave open-air concerts. The site is very central, overlooking the river. The decision of the. council has raised a chorus of protest against tho using of one- of the city's open places, and public opinion is certainly divided. The need for a proper municipal building, with a large hall, is certainly admitted, but tilery will probably be a battle before tho site is approved finally. The idea now is to raise a loan up tp, say, £90,000 for the erection of "a suitable building, and a poll on the questions-will not /be long delayed. An appeal from the decision of Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., formed the basis of a reserved judgment delivered by Mr. Justice Hosking tb-day. In the Lower Court M. Demuth and Co., land and commission agents. Wellington, euvd -Richard Quinn, hotelkeeper, Lower Hutt, for £100, commission on the sale 'of defendant's hotel, or, in the alternative, damages for breach of agreement, giving .•the plaintiff tire right to sell the hotel up to noon on Monday, 29th September. In spite of the agreement, it was alleged, defendant sold the hotel to one • Ross on the Saturday before the Monday, although the plaintiffs had a purchaser ready to complete by noon on the '■Monday. His Worship found in accordance with tho allegations, and awarded £100 damages. ' Against that judgment ■the defendant appealed. Mr. T. Young appeared for the appellant and Mr. D. M. Frndla-y for the responded. His , Honour upheld tho appeal. No costs i\vei« allowed, as the appellant had, ro4 marked bis Honour, allowed his word to »bo broken. Leave to appeal to the Ap•pcal Court was made by Mr. P. B. "'Cooke, on behalf of Mr. Findla.y. The 'application was held over. Coat wools ! Paton's wheeling, *doublo knitting, and rose petticoat just opened, in all the season's fashionableshades. Knitting needles in alunii.nium, vulcanite, and bone, in the neces>sary Macs for coats aad caps, etc,— . Jjj&CjljkKyg v .ttfid -{3iiyi& Ltd-.'.-'A.d.y.ti i'

The Minister of Education informed the Dunedin correspondent of The Post that he hoped to have the new Education Bill ready before Parliament meets. Discussing its probable provisions, lie said ho did not think that it would be •iKJcessary to make much alteration in 'the existing relationship -between Education Boards and School Committees, but as to salaries, notliine had been decided by Cabinet. 'Mr. Allen could not say whether the 'boards and interested people would get copies of the Bill before it came before the Education Committee, but he gave an assurance- that all parties realty interested would be given ample •time in which to criticise the revised Bill <as it came from, the committee. Hop-Kicking in th© Motueka and R.i« waka districts began yesterday. Be* stween 200 and 300 Wellington people, chiefly women and girk, are assisting in the work. A private letter from Riwaka, received in Wellington yesterday Bfcaten •that the crops have come on at a great rate of late, and there is every prospects that diligent woiifcers will be able to make good wages. '"Grateful Mother" writes to tho effect that her daughter, after three months' treatment in fcho Otaki Sana' ■ tormm, gained 12lb in weight, and after four months there "is able to come home •quite a different gk-1, and still gaining' in weight." The correspondent refers to the kindness of the doctor, matron, sisters, and nurses, and remainder of the staff, " who do every thing possible i'or each patient." She recommends anyone suffering from pulmonary trouble to go to the Sanatorium. The Hon. Dr. Pomare intends to attend the jubilee Celebrations of the fall of Orakau, which ended the war in tho Waikato. Ho states that if the restrictions preventing the Natives from travelling are removed lie has not the slightest doubt that the occasion will be marked by one of the biggest Native gatherings ever held in New Zealand. General Sir lan Hamilton and MajorGeneral Godley will be present, and it u^ expected that 3000 mounted troops will attend. The celebrations take place on Ist, April The Government Statist of Victoria (Mr. A. M. Laughton) in his latest bulletin of vital statistics, states that the birth and death rates in that State for the year 1915 were most satisfactory, but the figures for marriages were not so favourable as those for the previous year, being 414 less, but practically the whole of that reduction was due to the lower marriage rate among metropolitan residents. The births for the whole State numbered 35,978, and those for the metropolis 17,597, as compared with 55,817 and 16,879 in the preceding year. During the recent big strike in New Zealand, Captain D. J. Watson, secre» tary of the Dominion Branch of the Merchant Service Guild, was credited with having made a statement to the press which it was considered by some members reflected on certain shipowners. As the result d£ a meeting to consider the secretary's alleged abktude it was decided to take a ballot as to whether his services should be retained, and it s \s now announced that the great ma* jority of the members have voted in. favour of his retention. t During the past five years the births in Greater Melbourne increased by 4582, or 55 per cent., while those in the rest of Victoria increased by only 495, or fclightly lesfHhan 5 per cent..' The number of children bom out of wedlock in the year 1915 was 2171, &s against 2049 for the previous year. The deaths for the State numbered 15,475, and those for the metropolis 7960, being 1120 and 662 respectively below the totals for the preceding year. The death rate for the whole State in 1915—11 per 1000 of popu» lation~-was tho lowest recorded. Tho infantile death rate was 7 per 100 births, which was. with one exception, the most favourable rate experienced in the State. Tubercular diseases accounted for 1270 deaths, -md cancer for 1168, as compared with 1269 and 1225 respectively for 1012. Diphtheria was responsible , for 245 deaths, being 12 fewer than those for the previous year, but nearly double the yearly average for the previous five years. On the subject' of management of af« fairs on the waterfront— a subject, by the way, whfch has already been dealt with at considerable length in the columns of The Post— "A Freethinker and Worker" write* to the Editor. Ho i-says that the men who worked on the whatvee during the strike were to have "this and that" done for them, "but -where does it com© in now?" He refers to the Harbour Board's wagessheet for the month' of February, and says that although some of the new hands do not care how they do things the bulk of them are mosb willing, "and give the most aatisf action." He thinks that), a certain disreputable class of men should be kept off the wharves, as a man cannot go about hie work without being insulted, while on pay days "at the different offices there is a cadger with a rattling box in his hand cadging money." Waatera uhould be sifted out, and God-fearing men given an opportunity of making decent wages. IT, the correspondent concludes, men who came to the assistance of the Harbour Board and the shipping companies during the strike cannot get fair play, the Government should) take over control of the waterfront. In * lettee which Baslor Nield, of' ''Wellington, received from a- relation on Norfolk Island this week, it is etated that the inhabitants had experienced a lengthened drought, and were at tho time of writing anxiously looking for rain. Many of tho oldest residents are , passing away. A recent death was that ,of Mr. John F. Yoang, a cousin of Pastor Nield, and a former Magistrate of Norfolk Island. The deceased was a native of Pitcairn Island, but had lived on Norfolk Island for over fifty years. His father was the first Magistrate on the latter island, The letter also mentioned that Mr. Atleo Hunt was visiting Norfolk Island, arranging for the taking over-of the island by the Commonwealth Government. Pastor Nield, whose wife was boim on Pitcairn Island and spent ( tho earlier part of her life on Norfolk 1 'Island, states that many of the Norfolk Islaiidet's favoured annexation by New Zealand. The island can be reached from Auckland in two days, whereas it takes Burns, Philp and Co.'s steamers five or six days to run between Sydney and the island. A Union Company's boat passes the island at regular in* . tervals, but does not make a call there, and Pastor Nield says that any New Zcalander wishing to visit the island has to go by way of Sydney, at a cost? •of at least £18. The. population of the State of Victoria increased during the year 1915 by 51.565, 20;503 being duetto excess of births over deaths, and 11,062 to immigration. Experienced travellers always check thoir baggage through us. We collect, check by rail or sea., deliver at ftu % end at once. The N.Z. Express Co., 87*91, Customhouse-quay.— Advt. Strike! Stiikfvt thd 'world over. No matter what pappm wo pick up, we read of strikes in somo corner of the globe. And why is this stato of unrest continuing? Simply because peonlo arc dissatisfied for pome reason or another. Wo often wonder whether both strikers and non-Btrikci-e havo really been struck with tho wonderful values at Messrs. C. Smith, Ltd., who, in our opinion, make every onq feel satisfied. We noticed * Una of ladies' knitted wool sports coats there- at 6s lid, which excels anything we have • over soon, Mid wo do not know of n, «kon '•anywhere so homely as 0. Smith's, Ltd.; ,pi^b t ,Cub*-iit L r.«Let > .\YolUugtOtt.-A.dvt.

It has been decided by tlie Railways Department to discontinue the practice of ringing a bell five minutes before the departure of trains, as from Ist April next. The spectacular parade and display of the Wellington, Petone, and Htitfc Fire Brigades at the Carnival in New town Park last night, -was in charge of Senior Station Officer Robertson, of the city brigade. The University, Court of Convocation will meet at Victoria College this evening to consider the Bill forwarded by the Senate to reconstitute tlie University. The Bill makes provision for a Board of Studies to advise the Senate concerning schemes of study, or examination for degrees, etc. It is proposed thnt the board shall consist of four members from each of the Professorial Boards. A Press Association message from Oamaru states:— 'For the purpose of solidifying the forces of Liberalism, in view of the coming General Elections, a meeting of members of the party was held last night. Considerable enthusiasm was shown. It was decided to ask three or four of the party's best platform men to address a public meeting to be -held shortly. Nothing has been done yet in regard to the selection of a candidate. The Inspector of Awards (Mr. Richard Alfred Bolland) proceeded in the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., against Messrs. Norling and Quin, builders, Khandallah, claiming the sum of £10 for a breach of the Wellington Carpenters and Joiners' Award, by employing a carpenter named Ball at suburban work, and failing to pay him for the time occupied in travelling to and from such- work, as provided for in the award. The defendants pleaded guilty, stating that the man had been engaged on the job, and they were unaware that they would have to pay his travelling fare. His Worship inflicted a fine of 10s.