LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 40, 16 August 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

• During question-time in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Mr. Payne asked if the Government would pass an Act to enable the Wellington City Council to establish a farm for the purpose of supplying milk to the community. The Hon. G. W. Russell said he was not aware that the Wellington authorities had made such a proposal, but the matter would receive his most careful consideration. As fax as Wellington was concerned, his opinion was that the only way to guarantee the milk supply was for the. city to own its own source of supply.

Mr. Yue H. Jackson, Consul for China, has received from his Government the following message, transmitted to him by the Chinese Consul-General atMel- /- bourne:—"Wai Chai Tv (Minister of Foreign Affairs) has wired that China has declared war against Germany, and Austria. "-

A.-specialMiote on the subject of ss.ktting appears in. Trentham Camp orders. "Non-commissioned officers and men whilst on. pass or oa leave from camp," it is stated, "will be returned to camp at once, and huve theii' pass or leave cancelled, for the following offences: (a-)-. Failing to salute officers; (b) wearing civilian, great-coats; (c) -being dirty and slovenly."

The name of Mr. T. M. WilTora, M.P., has teen added to the inner executive of the War Fund Collecting Committee, recently formed in Wellington.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Gas Companies' Association is being held in.Wellington to-day. Dr. C. Prendergast Knight, Chairman of the Wellington Gas Company, is presiding.

The Council oJ Victoria College has set upi a committee, consisting of Mr. W. S. La Trobe, Mr. F. H. Bakewell, and Professor Hunter to formulate a scheme in regard to the S. A. Ehodes bequest to be expended in the matter of the instruction of girls in domestic science.

It is stated by tile Grey River Argus that Mr. Tom Leannont, of Eeefton, has been engaged by the New Zealand Government to make a preliminary survey of the Charming Creek Coalfield, with a view of ascertaining the best means of opening up the area, which is said to contain 2,000,000 tons of hard coal.

In the annual report of the Public Service Commissioner it is stated that somo Departments are still neglecting to define the duties attached to particular officers or to make clear the relations which should exist between officers in one section or branch of a Department and another, with resulting lack of uniformity of method. The Commissioner suggests that the duties of officers occupying responsible positions should be clearly defined, and the practices to be followed in routine work should be outlined and published. A large defalcation which recently occurred -would probably have been impossible if proper instructions had been in force.

, Still another conference will be held in Wellington to-morrow, that of the Cfry Beautifying and Town-planning Associations. One of the most important items to be discussed is a Bill which would give local authorities more power to spend money in town-planning works than fJney have at present. It is proposed that the different features brought out at the conference shall be "used as Ithe basis of the Bill which will be drafted later and submitted to individual associations and societies for consideration draring the recess, so as to be finally drafted for presentation to Parliament next year.

Public servants have loyally responded to the call to arms. The annual report of the Commissioner states that the number of officers absent with the Expeditionary Forces on 31st March last was 2133. and the wastage of the permanent staff numbered 1183, all of' which had -to be provided for. The wastage represented approximately 10 per cent for the yea.r for Departments other than the Post and Telegraph, and 5 per cent, for the latter Department. The report adds that the staff is being depleted, not only by officers being called up for active service, but by the demand of the Defence Department and its war branches for trained officers. "It is very desirable, therefore," says_ the report, "that it should be decided without delay what services are to be restricted or abandoned before the Second Division of the Public Service is called up."

Steps are to he taken at once by the Wairau Hospital Board to carry out its scheme for the instaDation of adequate heating, sterilising, lighting, and laundry systems at the hospital in Blenheim, and the ■ erection of a nurses' home. The improved equipment was strongly recommended some months ago by Mr. T. R. Lawton, the hospital en-. gmeer at Christchurch, who made an inspection of the institution and presented a detailed report. The cost of installing,- the ; facilities mentioned was estimated at £5570; and the approximate cost of the nurses' home is set down at £2430. ' Half of this total expenditure of about £8000 would be provided for by means of Government subsidies, and hah 5 would be found by the contributing local bodies; and it is proposed to lighten the burden by extending the levies aver a period of twelve years.

Mr. Allen, of Lower Hutt, states that a recent press paragraph, which mentioned that the earthquake was the heaviest since 1850, was not quite accurate, as there was no earthquake in' 1850,1 the heavy one being in 1855, and the previous notaJWe one in 1848. Mr. Allen, though only a lad of 10 years of age at the time, has distinct recollections of the 1855 'quake, which raised the land in the Hutt Valley. In Wellington the water rose several feet.. The house in which Mr. Allen resided was flooded, and when he went outside he had to clingl to the corner of the house to save himself from being swept away. The sensation was, he states, of a perpendicular as well as a horizontal motion. The houee, which was nailed down with huge eight-inch spikes, was lifted bodily, and its position shifted, and his mother, who was at the time ill in bed, was lifted off the bed.and thrown into a corner of the room.

Concerning the proposal to hold a "Silver Bullet Campaign" to collect funds for patriotic purposes, "No Swank" writes to The Post condemning such methods of "playing at war." "If such methods of collecting money are necessary," he continues, "its a reflection upon the people living here in comfort. I don't believe such methods are necessary. The wage-earner doesn't mind a raffle or a bunch of flowers sold for patriotic purposes. It gives him a little bit of something for his money, and does good ati the same time. But there are thousands of people in Wellington who are going to give 10s and more for this siver bullet play-game, and I say' it is a sign of rottenness at the core to get it this way. The money is wanted—ask the people for it in a respectable and decent way, and not in this carnivalistic, fun-mak-ing, rejoicing spirit. 'What haw we to make fun about? Here's my alternative :' Ask the public of Wellington-for 2s 6d, ss, 10s, or 20s each, according to their conscience. Let them pay _ their money in at certain places and insist upon their names being given, which then publish in the newspapers, as a receipt. If your name's not there then you havn't paid your debt to the fund to help our brave ■boys. You will get your balance-sheet without any bother."

Notice has been given by Councillor J. Caatle of his intention to deal, at next meeting of the City Council, with a number of matters relating to the aquarium at the Newtown Zoo. He is seeking information as to why the acquarium had no fish, in' it on Sunday, 12th August. He lias also given notice to move as follows :—r(l) "That, seeing that twicer when the acquarium had raised the interest of the people to a high degree, it has suddenly been rendered tenantless, the council will immediately try to arrange for Mr. Ayson and the City Engineer to devise come method of working the acqiiarium, that shall ;<revent such ca-tastrophies as the unfortunate, though popular, institution has twice been ruined by." (2) "That the curator of the Zoo be asked to report : (a) What means are used to supply the fish in the aquarium with oxygen; (b) on what principle the number of fish that can be maintained in good condition in a tank is 'estimated; (c) how many keepers have had charge of the aquarium and how long each of them has held the charge." (3) "That the operation of the new bylaw, providing for the increase of charge for admission to the Zoo, be suspended, pending the restoration of the aquarium."

In the charge of' -bigamy preferred against Charles '.Thomas Luxon, at the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, the ■jury returned a verdict <';E guilty, willi *\ recunimendfition for lenient treatment. ;.The passing of thn sentence.was deferred u uKiJi -Saturday inornhyE ■

"Hard-up" writes as follows to The Post: —"Regarding the Cost of Living Committee set up by the Government, it seems strajige why, seeing that Wellington is the deafest place to live in, no Wellington M.P.'s have been put on the Committee. Is the Government out for a favourable report?"

Notice has been given by Councillor Appleton that he will move at Saturday night's meeting of the Onslow Borough Council as follows: " That the council wait upon the General Manager of Railways in regard to an evening train service on the Manawatu line, and that if necessary the council pay a subsidy for the use of the motor train."

The police at Eockhampton, Queensland, on making enquiries regarding the death of Sarah Blanchard (80), an oldage pensioner, who lived alone in a hut on Glenmore-road, North Rockhainpbori, and who was found dead at the foot of her bed, discovered 100 sovereigns, 152 half-sovereigns, £8 10s in notes, £8 7a 3d in silver and copper, and also a small bag of gold dust. The neighbours used to supply her with comforts.

At its last meeting the Wairau Hospital Board dedided to increase the uniform allowance for the nurses from £5 to £13 a year as from ]st. April last. The amount was fixed for the period of the war and six months thereafter. It was remarked that the old allowance was not sufficient for footwear, to sa.y nothing of Hie cost of the regulation clothing, and its inadequacy was especially unfair to the junior nurses. - The price of the cloth required for the uniforms, formerly 6d a yard,' was now about 2s a yard.

A long discussion took place at the last meeting of the Grafton District School Committee (reports the Auckland Star) relative to caning in school, and more particularly the use of the cane in infant classes. While agreeing that some form of corporal punishment may be necessary for certain offences in the higher classes, it was felt that the time has arrived when caning in the primer classes should be entirely abolished. A motion as follows was carried : " That, in the opinion of this committee, it is undesirable that corporal punishment be administered 1 in the primer classes, and, further, in the opinion of this committee, record should- be kept by the teachers of the various classes or by the headmaster, setting forth the names of the pupils receiving corporal punishment." A copy of the resolution mil be forwarded to* the Board of Education.

Two very old and well-known residents of Masterton are dead. One was Mr. Samuel Kingdon, who died yesterday at the age.of 79 years. The deceased came to Masterton about 40 years ago, and carried on a plumbing business for many years. He was for some time captain of the Maeterton Volunteer Fire Brigade, and was highly respected by all who knew him. The other was Mr. John M'Kay, who was 74 years of age, and in the early days a well-kno-wn figure io Dunedin and the Taieri. In those days he took an active part in local affairs, and advocated many local industries which are now in a thriving condition. He went to Masterton maaiy years ago, and had been associated with many movements which had for_ their object tho establishment of local industries. For some years past the deceased had Eyed in retirement.

A vivid glimpse of the promptitude and enterprise with which V.M.C.A. secretaries at the front pursue their task of ministering to the comfort of the mien who are actually in the thick of it is contained in a letter lately received from the front. The writer is a relative of Field Secretary Kay Baker, from Wellington, and tho reference is to the recent big offensive at Messines_, in which the New Zealauders so brilliantly distinguished, themselves. "Talking of Ray," he says, " I forgot to mention that the ' stunt' started in; the early morning, and by 11 that morning the V.M.C.A. had a tea-buffet going in one of the German dug-outs on Measiues' HilL" And' the writer comments : "Some affair, our N.Z. V.M.C.A. To follow the men so closely in such a terrible battle, and to be in a position to help them in the very thick of it, is certainly an achievement of which, the association may well be proud."

"You are either a traitor or a fool., Anyway, you are a dangoi'ous man, and your utterances are likely to cause disaffection." Thus Mr. E. Eawson, 8.M., to Enro William Beer,- charged at Hamilton this week with publishing a statement indicating disloyalty by using the following words:-"If J was given my passport I would be quite pi-epaied to fight for Germany. I am not going to fight for England." For the prosecution it was stated ithat the words alleged had been used befora the Medical Board, in the presence of officers and recruits. Accused denied that he had made ithe statement complained of. He said it would be ridiculous for a man to say that ho would fight for Germany. His view was that millions of men were fighting on behalf of a lot of statesmen, and on whichever side he fought he would be killing innocent men, He refused to sign away his liberty. He denied absolutely that he said 'he would fight for Germany. He understood the Defence officer to say that a man like him should be in Germany, and, in order to'illustrato the fadt that it was impossible to leave the country, ho said he would do so if he got the chance. Ho stated he had given, over £1000 to the Empire War Funds. On being pressed by the Magistrate to prove this statement accused said that, he was paid pre-war prices, 5d per Ib, for his produce, which was afterwards sold at Home at lOd per lb, the difference in values amounting to over £1000 per year. Accused was and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.

In the Magistrate's Court this mom ing Mr. S. B. M'Carthy, S.M., ha-"' something to say regarding adjoun ments. " I want to say," said his Wo: ship, "that the business of the Magit' trate's Court should not be held up bi cause a lawyer is engaged in the Su: preme Court. If this sort of tiling ii allowed to continue the business'of the Magistrate's Court will never he got through."

"It's a Saturday though it's Friday" was a remark of the Mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr. H. Baldwin, at a public meeting last evening. When the laughte; had subsided, Mr. Baldwin explain ecthat since the shops observed Fridaj night as a late night it had now. become equivalent to Saturday.

There was a small "list" at to-day's sitting of the Magistrate's Court, over which Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., presided. Two first-offending inebriates were dealt with as usual, and James Coss, who used obscene language, was fined £5, with the alternative of serving one month in gaol.

"There seems to be an idea thait every returned soldier is impecunious," stated Mr. V. Lamer (Auckland) at the conference of War Relief Societies to-day. "Thrnt is quite erroneous. Some men are backed by thousands." Tho subject under discussion. was (the settlement of soldiers on the laud.