LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 68, 18 September 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Recently an embargo was placed upon the exportation of iron, and steel front Australia, and the Minister for Internal Affaire, the Hon. G. W. Russell, was taade acquainted by the Wellington In^ dustrial Association with the serioui problem such would bring about in the Dominion. Information regarding unfulfilled supplies on order by New Zea.land manufacturers was gathered by the secretary and forwarded on to the Minister, who,'in consequence, communicated with the Australian Federal Premier asking him Whether the embargo could be removed as far as exportation to the bommion was concerned. "The seriousness 'of this embargo," says the annual report of the association, "will be more fully realised when it i& remembered that our Dominion's supplies have been cut off from Great Britain and India. The Australian Federal Premier's answer is eagerly awaited. It is satisfactory to learn that the company formed to work the Taranaki ironsand is hopeful of obtaining satisfactory results. X the manufacture of pig-iron can successfully be carried out in our Dominion, ,. it will be of inestimable value and national importance."

In order to ascertain the reason why the State Coal Mines Department had entered into a contract to' supply coal to a private firm while denying a similar privilege to a public body, which both retails coal and uses, it for ga-s making, T. M,. Wilford, M.P., has asked certain questions in the House. On the motion of Councillor Churchouse, it was last evening decided by the Petone Borough Council to thank Mr. Wilford for his action. 1 "Has the attention of the.Prime Minister been called to the fact that a speaker at the: Town Hall on Sunday evening likened him to the' Kaiser?" asked Mr. M'Cailum in the House of Representatives last night. Mr; Massey replied that he saw in the press the remarks referred to. He thought they were vulgarly abusive, but otherwise he did not think they were worthy of notice... . .

Some amusement Was caused last evening by the criticism aimed at the Mayor a.nd councillors of the Petone borough by the owner of an old shed which has 'been gradually disappearing, without the owner's knowledge, presumably for firewood. The owner wrote that 'Tie thought it was part of the duty of the Chief Magistrate to protect citizens against haying their property destroyed, and that it was a disgrace to Petone representatives that such a thing should go on practically in the centre of a city. If any of the people* were in poor circumetances he would gladly put a load of firewood on d,'truck and forward it to them. The Ma.yor, Mr. *J. W.M'Evvau, said he hoped the owner did not think the Chief Magistrate and the representatives had anything to do .with thfe removal of the timber. The council took Jno further action in regard to the erection—which it had previously decided should be demolished—owing to the fact that the owner had promised to immediately put in hand building operations. A Press Association message from. Sydney to-day states that the dry spell has broken and there a-re general heavy rains.

The Defence Department advises that' Sergeant Alfred Ernest Foord, 34th Spe-; ciahstS; Featherstonj. died at Feathers- ; ton Military Damp on Sunday, at 2.30 a.m. The certified cause of death was thrombosis of the cavernous sinus and cerebral compression. The London correspondent of The Post states that .Mr. L. F. Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries in New Zealand, has a letter in the.-Fishing Gazette, of ltth July, on ithe acclimatisation of Pacific' salmon. He says,:—"Personally, I am confident that if the Government had persevered with the Atlantic salmon in the same way as quinnat was dealt with we should have been equally successful. However, I hope when this awful war is over, and if things settle down to noi" riial, again, that the introduction "of this fish will again be taken up, and in the proper way." "We consider that in the best interests' of our Dominion," says the annual,Teport of the Wellington Industrial Association, "effect should be given to the Pfe- | mier's promise that steps would be j taken for the setting up of a New Zealand Board of Industries having the inclusion of some of bur Dominion manufacturers, who could give practical advice upon some .of our latent industries. The importance, the absolute necessity, for opening up of new'lndustrie's, and the expansion of our existing ones must be dealt with for our future advancement, and for the Welfare of our workers, amongst whom we fervently hope may be many returned soldiers."

Acting upon the advice of the National Efficiency Board, the New Zealand Institute recently established • a Committee for Scientific and Industrial Research. The 'Wellington Provincial Industrial Association (states the annual report of that body) having been invited to be represented on the committee, the invitation was accepted, and Mr. F. J. EvanSj president, was appointed to the seat. The inestimable value of applied science to all departments of the industries of our Dominion is, according to the {report, hardly vet realised by the community. Research committees of the same nature are already working in Great Britain, Canada', South Africa) and Australia, with tangible results).-and there can be little doubt that, given adequate support, a New Zealand committee will prove to be a most useful institution.

Some pointed remarks on the question of calling up nineteen-year-old boys for service .were made by Mr. Coleman Phillies at the annual meeting, of the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Association of Veterans last evening. He thought that too much objecti6n had been made to lads of nineteen joining Reinforcements, fie had joined in the Maori War in 1864, when only 17 years of agej and it had done him no harm. In fact, it did him good, as it made a man of him. There was, therefore, ri6 danger in New Zealand lads joining at 19 to-day, 'when the Empire, required every man to defend it from a barbarous and unspeakable enemy. He would recommend Parliament to allow the enlistment of lads of: i 9. What was thought to be a danger was the growth of military caste in our midst if the war lasted much longer. But he thought this_ danger would be an advantage in checking the "Bed Fed." or I.W.W. castes. .

*'All must agree that technical educa--tion. becomes more and more necessary," ( says vthe annual report of the Wellington Industrial-Association. "It is remarkable that, the Government is slow in dealing with this important matter. .In our opinion, arrangements for such instruction should ; riot be left until 'after the war,' but assuredly should be met forthwith. The same stuffy, overcrowded little rooms still serve as accommodation for the many eager students who attend, the Wellington Technical College. We have heard of sotae parents who refrain from sending their children there owing to what they are justified in-considering; unsatisfactory accommodation. \A conference of technical College directors re^ cently assembled in Wellington and met at the Victoria College. Our association received a kind invitation to. send some members to express their# views on such matters as apprentfcesbips, etc., Mr. W-. Ferguson, chairman of the National Emciency Board/ was also invited, and attended., The visiting directors were invited to inspect the Wellington Technical College, but wo have not beeti informed of their views expressed after inspecting the classrooms and building. Probably they are be«ier left unrecorded. We hold the unenviable position of having the most unsuitable Technical College building in New Zealand; and this the Capital City. Our association, anxious to hell] the (iause of technical education, and to alleviate, in a measure, the crowded state of the classrooms, continues _to allow the board the use of the association's industrial hall as a classroom."

An interesting feature, of the last Horticultural Society's Show at W<e*tmmster was a small exhibit of . New Zealand apples, grown by Mr. F. G. Duncan, Sunnydale Orchard, tentral Otago. The London correspondent of Jhe Post mentions that there were half-s 'dozen glass-stands of' the fruit, comprising specimens of the Jonathan, Staymsui'Winesap, Cleopatra, and Stunner Pippirt. The exHibit was awarded ithe Banksian Silver Medal. One authority on fruit remarked that the display gave '.'a favourable impression of the possibilities of ofchafd-oulture in New Zealand." Oh behalf of Mr. Duncan, the High Cotomissioner presented several cases of. (the apples to the King, who was graciously pleased to accept them, Two, cases .were sent to Queen Alexandras and. Sif Dighton Probyn, acknowledging the gift on her behalf* said, "thfc fruit is a credit to the Domonion."

"We are pleased to record that Mr< William Cable was again returned as a member of the board. Mr. Cable has again been referring to the neoessity of a suitable dock for the port of Wellington, and the sooner such a necessary work is taken in hand the better. We fear, though, that, the answer will bo 'after the war.' "^An extract from the annual report of the Welh'ngton Industrial Association.

Butterfish is stated to, be very plentiful in the Strait Just how, and a case is reported in which one fisherman last Week caught aboUt JBIOO worth in a day. Some time before 1 o'clock this morn' ing tile Tire Brigade suppressed an outbreak of fire in a waßh-hbuse attached to Mi*.. Margaret Fatha's residence in Rugb'y-stteet. Very little damage was done. The premises ate lii I course ot renovation, and the fire originated some debris. One of the many disabilities suffered owing to the war is the stoppage of the export of gas cookers froln^England. The Pet-one Borough Engineer reported last evening that the brand of cooker usually obtained was quite unprocurable, and an order for anothei 1 make ftlicid iafet No- ! veniber had hot yet -been executed; In conducting its sewerage operations, the Petone Borough. Council has found it necessary to trench through private property, the owners of which have been duly compensated fot the damage.: Last evening, however, the tenant of • an owner applied to the council for £10 by way of damages to his garden and to thte health of his wife. It was decided to make a grant of S2, but it was pointed out that the landlord should' have advised the tenant in time to prevent his gardening operations Until the work was done.

' At its meeting last evening the Wellington Teachers' Association, decided to 'reply to the E«d Cross Society that, while cifcumetances would prevent it from taking a etall in "Paddy's Market," to be held on 28th and ,29th September, individual members would do their best, in the supply of articles, etc., to make the function a, success. - : Building in Petone, as elsewhere, is .almost tit & standstill, and houses are getting more and more .difficult t^ procure, ; Only three building permits"'were issued last month by the Borough Coun.cil, and the total value of buildings erected during the last J six months amounted to only £3157. /Of this sum £2000 represents the value of one building— a factory. \ The Wanganui Herald states that while engaged in boring for an artesian supply for Mr. Allan Hogg at Gastlecliff {about midway between the pilot station and the tea.kiosk), Mr. G. Smith struck a, flow of gas, which when ignited burst forth into names. This is another of many indications of the existence of Petroleum in the Gonville and Castlecliff districts. The Petone Borough Engineer report- - ed last evening that the local municipal buildings Were sinking. The fact was ascertained through the stoppage of .'the tewn clock, caused, it was. stated, by the portion of the mechanism^ containing. the pßndulum getting out of plumb through the downward movement of the building, An adjustment .of half an inch was found needful, and a similar alteration, the Engineer stated, had been found necessary some time ago\

"I sincerely hope that the Government Will be urged not ltd withhold our pen- , sions •when we leave Mew Zealand temiporarily," said Mt. T. Bland, at the annual toeeting of the Veterans' Association last evening. He added that, bo doutot, when the war was over, many veterans would want to go abroad tosee the last resting places of their sons, and it would lie a pity if they had to lose their pensions. 'The question might be asked: Why are we teaching drawing?'.' eaid Mr. J. Caughley, Assistant Director of Education, in his address to the Wellington Women Teachers' Association last night. "The answer you get," he said "is, 'Oh, well, it's on the syllabus, it's on. the programme, and .we've got to teach it.'" But why, he asked, wa6 this so? If they were riot prepared to show the aim of the lesson, were they prejiared to teach it? Drawing was the most natural means of expression the child possessed; \ "Useful rubb!sh"^-a term Used by the Mayor of Petone, Mr. J. W. M'Ewa-n— is, to be reported on, with a view to its utilisation, by the Petone Borough Engineer. The rubbish referred to is that tipped at the rubbish* depot, and I the question arose owing to an applicaj tion received by the council for the) right, for a term, of all the articles of value found therein. ■ Councillor M'Kenzie and other councillors contended that a large quantity of scrap iron found its. way ■to the depot, and it was decided that the engineer report on the best method of making use of anything of value found among the rubbish.

The history of the Hutton Memorial, which is to be presented to Dr. P. Marshall during the Governor-General's visit to Wanganui (says the Wanganui Herald) is interesting. The' late Captain Hutton, who was Professor of Biology at Canterbury College, bequeathed a sum of money to pro-vide a memorial niedaj. This memorial is awarded every three years to the person who has. done the best research work in any branch of science in Netv Zealand. The. first scientist to secure the coveted honour was Dt. Beriham, attd the second recipient was Dr. Cockayne. A' proviso of Hie bequest is that <Jbe memorial shall be presented in as public a mariner as possible.

The recent average weekly consumption of -water in the Petorie Borough amounts to 2,287,000 gallons,, and. the minimum and maximum pressure &o 40lbs and 851bs , respectively. J£he quantity of water consumed amounts" to, roughly, 43 gallons daily per person. This is a somewhat high «sbMijnpti6n, 30 gallons being reckoned a fair average. The engineer lias intimated that great Care Ijiitst be exercised during iihe /summer moltths, as, although there is ainplej for tti-din&i-y heeds, there is hone to spare for wasting. Individuals caught wasting water are to ibe prosecuted. It is interesting to 'note the daily consumption per head of the population of various cities: London 35 gallons, Liverpool 3l> Manchester 29. S, Dublin 36.5, Paris 49, Glasgow 54.5, .Melbourne 61, Rome 104, Jfew York 107, Philadelphia 187. Apparently Berlin and Vienna do not believe ithat cleanliness is a virtue, ' as 'their, consumption is only 17 gallons and 15 gallons respectively. • Following are extracts from a letter, dated 17th May, written by a Russian lady living iii Stockholm received by a resident of Timaru. ■ "Life has become frightfully dear, and many ; things are Hot to be had for money. We even have bread and sugar cards.. Without these cards you can't get one slice of bread, nor in the restaul'ants either. You can't buy more than about half a pound of. bread ,per day and per person. Instead of bread, of course, you can get flour—half a pound—or 'Albert or Maria* cakes. All the workmen complain that they 1 haVe Hot enough to. eat, and there was almost a revolution here lately. As to sugar, one gets one kilo per month per person; that means just 6or 7 luihps a day. Just now in the whole town of Stockholm there are: no potatoes. People run from sh6p to shop and. cannot find any. I hear from, some people' who have 'been in Germany that they haVfe very little to eat; they only get about two or three .punces of butter,a week: You dohY get a drop of milk unless you are very ill or a youiig baby. Yoti can buy meat only, twice a week, and then very little of it. They have, too, egg cards, but can't get more than pile egg every (fortnight. Besides they had no coal some time ago in Berlin; they were obliged to close some of the schools and keep little children in bed. You can't get for money what you want. There is not enough food."