LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 153, 26 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

As a, sequel to an additional grant of £6000 to school committees, the Minister of Education is hopeful that a portion of th© money/will be used to provide cooking appliances at some of the schools, in order that children who have to travel long distances to school may be given hot cocoa or soup, or even a hot meal, in the middle of the day. The value of an arrangement of this kind has been recognised widely in the United States and Canada.

An illuminated address has been presented to Dt. Gilray, of Napier Hospital (who has recovered from an illness), by a large number of returned soldier patients and ex-patients as an appreciation of his kindness to them. At the same time he was asked to accept for Mrs. Gilray a gold wristlet watch, and for his young son a large rockinghorse.

The usual Christmas functions were' carried out yesterday at the Home- for the Aged Needy. Mr. George Petherick, J.P., attended on behalf of the trustees, and presided at the dinner table. In a bright and happy speech he referred particularly to the fact that the superintendent of the Home had been in his position for 21 years. Among those present was an inmate who will be 103 years old by next June.

A few days ago a boy named 1 Albert Grant, of Auckland, aged 3^ years, ran choking to his grandmother, Mrs. E. M. Silveira, of Picton-road, telling her, between gasps, "I can't get it out!" The child suddenly collapsed, and as his grandmother could not get a doctor, she sent him to the hospital, where he died a few hours afterwards. After death a. large pebble was found in the boy's gullet. He had evidently put it into his mouth, and swallowed it accidentally.

A judgment of some public interest has just been given by. Mr. Ranson, S.M. The licensee of the Delta Hotel, Ngaruawahia, was charged with selling liquor to two lodgers named Watson and Burney, between six p.m. and nine a.m., such liquor not being partaken of by the lodgers in the dining room during the evening meal. His Wor&hip dismissed the information on the ground that section 191 of the Licensing Act, 1908, was not vepealed by section 10 of the Sale of Liquor Restriction Act, 1917.

Amongst the soldiers who returned to Wellington yesterday was Staff-Sergeant Gilbert Pulsford, who has served right through the war without being wounded. In the matter of sickness he was also very fortunate, as he was only laid up once (in 1915). When he enlisted in August, 1914, he was on the staif of Messrs. A. E. Kernot and Co., of Wellington. After being in Samoa for six months he went into Trentham Camp and left New Zealand for Egypt with the Otagc Regimeni, 4th Reinforcements, and was on Gallipoli before he was sent to the Western front. Serjeant Pulsford, who is on duty furlough, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

The story of a foolish theft and its consequences wa3 told to Mr. F. V Frazer, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court this morning. Michael O'Brien, a labouring man, pleaded guilty to having stolen JBI, the property of one Richard Wickham. It was stated by the police that Wickham, who is a returned soldier, met O'Brien, who invited him to a place in Tory-street where, he said, he could get a drink. They went to the place, and had dinner. After dinner, O'Brien put his hand into Wickham's pocket and took out a purse. Leaving the house he was pursued by Wickham, who eventually got his purse, only to find that a pound note was missing. When the police arrested O'Brien a little later, they found on him a sum of 19s 7d— he had, ho said,' spent the balance on "soft" drinks. The police,informed the magistrate that O'Brien had a bad record—nineteen previous convictions —but so far there was nothing about theft in the list. Defendant, who told the Bench that he was recovering from a drinking bout, was fined £2, with the alternative of seven days in gaol. The money found on him will go to the complainant.

The men comprising Returning Draft 199 which reached Auckland on Christmae Eve, arrived not only greatly benefited by the long sea voyage, but also, many of them much improved in their education. In accordance with instructions from Headquarters at London, educational classes were conducted for those willing to take advantage of them, the original idea of making them compulsory being abandoned owing to the large number of men on fatigue duties — over 300—and the number of old and unfit men. The classes had to be held between decks, where light and ventilation conditions in hot weather were anything but favourable. The presence on board of a Press delegate to the Old Country, Mr Fred Pirani, wae taken advantage of, and he was given charge of educational classes, and acted as instructor in shorthand and economics. Some 250 pupils attended the classes, and an examination conducted last week showed that wonderful progress had been m;sle, especially when it is remembered that little more than three weeks instruction could be given altogether The lectures on agriculture, history, and fruit culture were well attended. Nearly all the ship's company were present^ at tlie lectures and debates on economics, which mostly took the shape of practical legislation, were held in the evenings. A presentation, in the form of an illuminated i&dtttn w&& made by tne troops to Mr. Pfe&ni,

. The V.M O.A. CommiUtw nclmuWledges with thanks n ({Kt of UdO, |itn' Mr J' J- Roberts, from tlm truHluen of the Northern Bowling Amuicintion.

Tho doath occurred at Miintorlou OH Monday of tho Itov. J. W Hnmioll, the local Congregational miiiinlor, who lind been ill with complication!! following influenza. Docciisocl win* born mid wincated in Scotland, and boforo going to Mastcrton had boon uttittonud lit Optinake. Ho was forty yearn of ago and unmarried.

Gcclong m shortly to luwo * new Ift. dustry (says tho Melbourne An), About J acres ot inferior Grown land in lbs Wensloydalo forest district have- hctiii purchased by a. firm of Asfiyrhkiio, who propose to establish tho silk industry there. Tho land in to bo cleared mid planted in mulberry trees. Tho areu will be cut up into blocks, and by arrangement with the promoters of tho scheme families will bn netllocl on thorn, Representations wore yesterday mado to the Minister of Agriculture for Government assistance Tho propoaal wan that at a cost of about £150 the Govornmunt should import sufficient mulberry trcos to plant 300 meres of tho land at once. All doubt as to the suitability of Victorian conditions for tho production of high class silk was dispelled by the dirtplay of lengths of silk that might have been mistaken for Bradford tops. Mont of the silk had been taken from cocoons purchased from school children.

A warning against falso economy in given to some hospital imthOTitien by the Journal of Public Health. There him been a tendency recently among nomo of tho smaller hospital boards to endeavour to economise by combining the positions of secretary to tho board and sanitary inspector, the Journal states; and though, in the case of some of the small cr boards, the Department has not actually objected to the arrangement, yet it is of opinion that, generally speaking, such does not produce the economy desired, and, moreover, is detrimental to the efficient woTk in either capacity. The duties of a secretary of a small board are at the hospital, where lie should interview every patient on discharge. The amount of fees payablo to even tho smallest boards is considerable, and the amount of bad debts that have to bo written oft would oftentimes considerably more than s pay the secretary's salary.

An Auckland merchant says that he cannot accept as correct a report from Wellington that there is likely to bo a drop in the prices of glassware, tiaints, etc., and in support of his viow he ha« shown the Auckland Star copies of cable messages recently received in New Zealand. A cablegram on 3rd December quoted white lead at a price which would allow the material to be sold at the present price, and stated that the market was likely to advance. On 16th December another cablegram notified an advance of £10 10s per ton, which supplies would cost about £6 per ton more than the present retail price. It also notified considerable increases for all kinds of varnish. Apart from, the price of glassware, which has not fallen, it is impossible to get importations, as there is no shipping space available. The informant expressed the opinion that England would be sufficiently employed during the'next year manufacturing glass to replace the huge quantities damaged on the Continent, without having much to spare for these Dominions.

An inquest was held in Christchurch on Monday on the body of Samuel James Dyer, labourer, aged 18, which;: was found: in a plantation at Fendalton on Friday evening. A shotgun was lying alongside the body, and there was a bullet wound through deceased's chest. Evidence was given by a domestic servant thab she had kepft company with the deceased for six months. She last saw him about 11 p.m. on Friday. He said that he had sent her a letter earlier in the day asking her to meet him between 8 and 8.30 p.m., and making certain other statements. She had not kept the appointment. She had not encouraged him in his attentions to her, and her mother had also objected. At the interview at the gate the deceased asked har if she had burnt the letter, and she said she had. They walked to the corner, and he said that he wanted to say good, bye. She askedl if he was going away, and he replied, "Yes; I'm clearing out." She asked if his parents knew, and he said> that they would get a note in the morning. He made no reference then to taking his life, although he had done so in! the letter. His manner had certainly appeared strange at the earlier part of the interview, although she had not thought that he was thinking seriously of committing suicide. A verdict was returned that deceased committed snicide while suffering temporary mental aberration.

The Australian Army Beserve, the objects of which were outlined by Captain Tiddy at the quarterly meeting of the Sailors' and Soldiers' Fathers' Association in Melbourne a few days ago, is a movement which offers to returned soldiers an opportunity of retaining their identity as fighting men, and at the same time sets out to safeguard Australia in the event of another war In accordance with the scheme (reports a Melbourne paper), discharged soldiers who have seen active service, either in the A.I.F or by other means, whether in the war now ending or in previous wars, voluntarily take upon themselves further military obligations, amounting to four "days' service per year in peace time, which will ensure their no longer drilling in the citizen forces, as Captain Tidd> put it, "alongside the cold-footer." Each man retains his active service rank, and belongs to his old unit, is furnished with uniform, and may by passing examinations rise to commissioned rank. Members of the reservß ara distinguished by a metal "R" worn in the hat. In the event of war, they will again undertake national defence, but will not be sent out of Australia, nor may they be used for quelling industrial upheavals. A member of the reserve may resign upon fourteen days' notice. Already some 20,000 members have been enlisffcd in Australia.

Indications point to a tide of immigration setting in toward Victoria and Australia generally as soon as the post-war conditions permit. Numerous inquiries (says Melbourne Age) are being made at the Immigration Bureau by persons anxious to nominate for assisted passages relatives and friends in the LJnited Kingdom. The faTes from England to Australia are about double the pre-war ratee, and the Government, which, it is expected, will find its hands full in providing for, returned soldiers, is not offering any special assistance to immigrants at present. There are, however, a number of nominated immigrants in England whb are entitled, under an arrangement made between the Government and the British Controller of Shipping,, to passages to Australia at pre-.war fares, provided the journey is undertaken by June next. It has to be borne in mind, however, that the British Government has before it the recommendation of a Royal Commission that every British soldier should have the' opportunity of malting a free passage ,at the expense of the British Government, to any of the British Dominions, and it is considered likely, if the British Government Sees no economic objection in the way that a large number of British soldiers will answer the call to sunny Australia. Altogether, therefore, it would seem that some time must elapse before the ordinary immigrant will have an opportunity of realising hi* dream of settling in th« Commonwealth and the promised »ide-«f imniftttioa «*& bMomf ftiural.

flirt inmstes of the Terraoe Gaol were mil fwjjolton yostefdny, nnd they were oiilnrlumed with xnnsic by a number of

Bcmior-Sorgoant John Castles, of HamV«r Vii lomar}y.°i Hio detoctive staff in W<i llngtcm, is in ill-health, and has £one to HuUmia li> rmutperate.

Tim secretary in Sydney of tho Workmtf IntlimMol Council oj the One Dig Union movement stateg that that body itiUndn to make an effort to have workman judges appointed in New South Wales. Roproßdnttttions were to b« ihttdo to tlm (fovornment, now that three members of tho 'State judiciary were About, to l'etiro.

Liwt ftusoion provision was'made on tmt hut/mates for increasing the number oi medical school inspectors und school mimes, «nd for flic appointment of four dental officers. A voto Was also taken for lho appointment of a medical officer M combined head of the school medical nnd physical culture services. The Public Service Commissioner will shortly invito applications for theso new positions.

lho custom of taking to the grave per* annul clFecta has been followed by some of tho Maoris at Now Plymouth in connection with recent deaths .from inilucilza. In ono cuho v handsome mat was placed in the grave with tho deceased owner, und in another a sealskin coat nnd other articles of clothing were simii larly dealt with. In the case of a native who had died possessed of £100, the relative* were dissuaded from their intention to place tho sum in the coffin.

A consignment of about 14,000 cases of apples was brought to Auckland by the Miikura and carried on by that vessel to Australia, owing to the quarantining of the vessel in this port, reports the Auck-* land Herald. At the request of those interested, the Minister for Customs, tho Hon. A. M. Myers, endeavoured to hove tho apples landed in Sydney, but ineffectually, undtho whole cargo iB being returned to New Zealand. According to tho present law a duty of Id per lb is payable on all fruit landed here after the end of this month, but, in the special circumstances, the Minister has agreed to allow the consignment to be landed under the current rate of Jd per lb.

"The accused ig a young man of 18, who went to the war at 16, and was badly wounded at the Battle of the Somme, and it's no credit to the hotel■kcepcrs that a young fellow so obviously injured and wearing a wound stripo is allowed to get drunk." This was the complaint of Sub-Inspector Wohlmann, when prosecuting a young man at the Auckland Police Court thie week on charges of drunkenness and damaging a motor-car. Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., remarked tHnt the matter of shell-shocked soldiers arid drink was -a difficult question, which could apparently be solved only by having the invalided men wear a distinctive badge.

The respect in which the" late Mr. John Collins was held was shown by the large number of citizens who attended his funeral. Amongst those present were the officer-bearers of the Vivianstreet Baptist Church, and representatives of the public bodies with which the deceased gentleman had been so long associated. A> service in the Viv-ian-street chnrch was conducted by the Revs. S. Beckingham and J. K. Archer, who afterwards officiated at the graveside. Messrs. Charles, George, and Thomas Collins (Bone), and Mr. C. S. Godber (son-in-law) were the chief mourners, and the pall- bearers were Messrs. A. Donovan and G. Jackman (representing the church deacons), and Messrs. Alex, and Win, Nicol (relatives). A memorial service at night, by the Rev. S. Beckingham, was also largely attended. Appropriate music was sung, Mr. Forsyth being at the organ.

It is difficult to believe that if the Minister 1 of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Public Health had not been one and the same individual the public ■would not have been given the, complete vital statistics for each of the four centres long ago,'say3 the L.vttelton Times. The Minister held back the figures, and as the result of his action the public may be expected to think that he is trying" to hoodwink them. There was never a shadow of reason for the suppression of the figures. The wildest rumours were in circulation. It was rumoured and currently believed that there had been between two and three thous&nd deaths in and around Wellington. The Auckland figures were usually* given in the reighbourhood of 5000. In the Christohurch district there wero suppored to have been 1000 deaths in November Mr Russell must have heard of these stories. The proper way to stop their circulation was to allow the local figures to be issued in the usual course, but the Minister, "to prevent a panic," instructed the local officers to withhold them. They should have been available in the first week in December, but even at this date thb Minister has issued only partial returns for the four centres.

"No doubt," says the Journal of Public Health, "many persons feel concerned as to the prevalence of goitre^ or enlargement of the thyroid gland, amongst New Zealand inhabitants. The frequency with which goitre, manifested by an enlargement of the neck, is observable—more particularly in girls and women —at the present day cannot be altogether aacribable to the present fashion of open neckwear Many medical men believe that there is, at least in some districts in New Zealand, an unusual prevalence of this trouble—a disfigurement which may lead to the need for surgical attention. The causation of goitre is still a matter of doubt. So far as New Zealand is concorned, the Minister is satisfied the disease is sufficiently prevalent to demand thorough investigation as to its causation and prevention, but war activities at present do not allow of the Health Department entering upon such a detailed investigation as the problem demands. For the present, steps are being taken by the Acting-Chief Health Officer and the District Health Office, Auckland, working in conjunction with Dr Drennan, Professor, of Pathology at the Otago Medical School, which will, it is hoped, help to elucidate some of the mysteries of this disease now affecting three families in one district in the North Island."

Ten inebriates figured on the charge sheet presented to Mr. F V Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court this morning. Nellie Nelson, whose case was described as hopeless (this being her fifth appearance since September), wa« convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. If she offends again, ahe will be sent to Pakntoa for treatment. Florence Palmer, who. while in the cells at Taranaki-street, where she had been taken in a drunken condition, damaged the lock of the door, was lined 11s 6d, the amount of her bail. Thomas Blake was fined JB.l for drunkenness, and a prohibition order was issued against him. Five first offenders were dealt with according to scrfle. Thomas Withers, who when drunk went into Hope Brothers' shop in Cuba-street, and assaulted an employee, G. Living, pleaded that he had just come back from the front,, and had had liquor for the first time for years.. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. .Two young men, Arthur Barries and William D. Henderson, were remanded for eight days on a charge of having wilfully damaged aplate glass window, to the vnlue\of £75, the property of Karantze Bros., Cubastreet. Bail was fixed ia each case at £40, and both men are to report daily to the police.

The Defence Minister has been asked by the Minister for Education to give tno Education Department some- of the dental equipment of the camps, and is now considering tb.<s matter.

A young man named.Reginald Keddell, who resided at 147, Abel Smith-street, was taken ill early yesterday morning, and some of his friends conveyed him to the Taranaki-street police station. Dr Young ordered hie removal to the Hospital, where he died two or three hour* later. The cause of death Waß diabetes, and ac a medical certificate has, been issued to that effect, no inquest' will he held.

The rescue from drowning of Mies Ryan,- who had fallen off the Kawau wharf, by Master Andrew M'Bride, wl»6se father was chief officer of the ■Vfatunga when she was sunk by the Germans, is reported by the Auckland Star. The lad jumped off the wharf/ fully dressed, and, being art expert swimmer, was able to save Miss Ryan'« life. As a recognition of his bravery, Mrs. Ryan presented him with a new suit of clothes.

Regarding Professor Dominico lo Monaco's "cure" for consumption, Dr. G< J. Blackmore, Medical Director of Tuber* culosis Institutions, reported as follows to the Christchurch Hospital Board this week : "I began a trial of this method of treating consumption on 19th August, and so far have not been able substantiate any of the claims put forward by the originator. In his original paper Professor Monaco produces no evidence that he himself has ever treated a ca*e of consumption by this method, or that any person has ever been cured by means of it. Apparently only three cases had been treated by someone efse at the time tTie paper was written, and in no one of these is any pvoof adduced that the disease was cured; or. even arrested. The method of treatment may have( some uses, but that it will cure consumption is open to grave doubt, and certainly no proof that it will do BO is so far forthcoming."

Another Crimean War veteran, Mr. James Quedleyj who was born 91 year* ago, died in Auckland recently. At th# age of 17J he enlisted in the '55th Foot at Devonport, England, on 2nd January, 1846. He served throughout th« Crimean War, and received the medal with four bars—for Inkerman, the Alma, Sebastopol, and Balaclava—also the Turkish medal. After a few years' service in Ireland he joined the 14th Foot at Dublin on 14th March, 1859, and with that regfment he "served through much of the Maori War. After returning to England with the regiment he was admitted an out-patient of Chelsea Hospital on 28th'April, 1868. After 'a few years he came out again to Auckland with his family, and' settled down, receiving a New Zealand military pension. In addition to the Crimean and Maori War Medals he possessed the long service and good conduct medal, and five good conduct badges. The death of Mr. Thomas Mills, who eerved during the Indian Mutiny and the Maori Wai*, has also occurred in Auckland. He was 95 years of age, and came to New Zealand in 1861.'

American conditions as fo penology show a considerable advance on those prevailing in Victoria prisons. In re.cent years experiments in the treatment of men sent to gaol for indefinite periods have been carried out here, but the Indeterminate Sentences Board is not prepared to go as far as has the warden of Oklahoma State penitentiary. The warden not only employs prisoners outside the prison without guards, but allows the best, of them to go "down town" on Saturday nights sAt Indiana reformatory some inmates are often sent out to capture others who Tiave escaped ! It is pointed out in the annual report of the Victorian Prison*. Board, says the Age, that at French Island and Castlemaine farm opportunities are provided for applying a test to the honour and trustworthiness of prisoners. At no time are French Island prisoners under lock and key, and frequently men are sent to work away from camp without supervision. Generally the prisoners appreciate the trust reposed in them, and the system is calculated to develop their self-respect, and is of value in proving their reformation.

Some 250 officers and men, comprising the Wellington and South Island portion of Beturned Draft No. 199, which reached Auckland on Christmas Eve, arrived in Wellington by special train shortly before 1 o'clock yesterday after noon. It being Christmas Day a special dinner was provided for the men ' at Buckle-street Barracks, whither they were conveyed by motor-cars supplied by the Volunteer Motor Corps. The waiting at the tables was done by th« Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mi*. J. P.. Luke), Mr. and Mrs T. W. Leslie, and a number of orderlies from the Supply Depot. The soldiers did ample justice to the good tUFhgs spread upon the tables, and plainly enjoyed themselves, their festive spirit being heightened by the bunting with which the hall wag decorated. At the Town Hall the men were formally welcomed back by the Mayor, and were later addressed by Major-General Sir A. W. Robin, General Officer Commanding the Forces. They were also visited at the Town Hall by His Excellency the Governor' General and Lady Liverpool, who extended them seasonable greetings. The Southern men left for the South Island in the afternoon.

The duties of a stationmaster, the characteristic of national flags, and the powers of a J.P —ignorance of these three things combined to create a curious incident in a town in North Canterbury on Armistice Day (says the Christchurch Press). A long - established storekeeper in the place, as a preliminary to displaying the Jack, flew his national flag, which is a neutral flag, and not the Dutch flag. This caught the eye of the stationmaster, who took steps that resulted in a visit to the storekeeper by a passenger from a train just passing through. This wayfarer informed' the astonished neutral that he was " instructed to ord«r tlie flag to be lowered." Asked for his authority, the stranger said he was a J.P., and that he had moved at the instance of the stationmaster. He;ad|ed, when the storekeeper hinted that interference would mean trouble, that nobody had any right, to fly the Dutch flag. "Do you know what that flag is'" the storekeeper asked. The stranger admitted that he did not, and could not be expected to have all the flags at his fingers' ends. When rebuked for acting on so complete ft misunderstanding of who's who in flags, of the powers of a J.P., and of the rights of a citizen, the stranger apologised and pleaded in defence his ignorance and hi* excessive trust in the wisdom of country sta ironmasters.