LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 38, 15 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Advice has been received that 20663 Joseph, John Capper, a discharged soldier, died at the Hamilton Hospital on 10th February. Deceased was 42 years nf age and married, his next-of-kin being his wife, Mrs. A- Capper, 70, Kennystreet, Waihi.

Just now the Wellington market ia well supplied with all soft fruits, but only a few cases of apples are as yet coming to hand. Nectarines are still scarce, and prices are high. Peach buyers arp very cautious, and those lines not showing any signs of brown rot are keenly sought .after. Japanese plums are plentiful, but are very- small. Grapes are in fair supply, prices being normal. A few lines of pears are now on hand, but are not sold readily on account of the likelihood of the supply increasing very shortly. These lines are far too green for sale at the present time. Tomatoes are now plentiful, but prices are still firm. Many lines are still very green and far too great a proportion not fully developed.

The fixing of the registration fees for dogs caused considerable discussion at yesterday's meeting of the Makara County Council. After several propositions had been submitted, it was decided that the tax on all dogs used exclusively for sheep, cattle, and rabbits be fixed at 2s 6d per head, and that owners of domestic animals be taxed at the rate of 10s per head.

A meeting of the United Buyers' Cooperative Association was ■ held at St. Peter's Hall last night. Mr W. Beyer occupied the chair, and the following 'committee was set up:—Messrs. W. Beyer, C. M. Hill, J. B. Willis, A. Stas'sen, J. M. Meek, J. Allen, and Turnbull. It was proposed to establish a depot as early as possible for the convenience of members, and meanwhile to continue the delivery of groceries at a saving of 15 per cent. Certain retail houses of supplies other than groceries have expressed their willingness to assist by giving discounts on members' purchases. About 65 houses and. institutions,' representing over 1100 people, are now being supplied by the association. The committee are meeting at the same time ajid place next week.

"This player tells the story of the' piece well ; that player doeß not, is a distinction which has been several times drawn by Mr. Harold Gregson, who is judging vocal and instrumental music at the Competitions in the Town Hall. Pianists would be wise, therefore, to get a grip of the composer's meaning, and give their own interpretations of the 'story," if they would perform to best advantage. Last evening Mr. Gregson outlined the story of Edward MacDowell's delightful study "Told at Sunset" from "Woodland Sketches," The composer, he said, had in his mind an incident of the American Civil War, and the tale is told at eventide to a group of eager children by their old friend, Uncle Remus. In the midst of the story of war, and the burning of farm houses, the old man is interrupted by the sound of a patrol of militia passing by. The characteristic march, in the middle portion signifies the coming of the patrol, and when the body has passed, the story is resumed/ Then later the note of a cuckoo is plainly heard. The final rather massive chord, should be played quite legato.

Co-operative Labour on the waterfront is aimed at by the. Watersiders' Federation, and at the recent conference at Lyttelton the idea received unanimous support. The official report of the conference rea^ds: —"There is no doubt whatever that industrial Labour is beginning to demand a controlling voice in the industries. This demand is now worldwide j the worker is refusing to be only the mere 'cog* in the machine any longer. He controls the machine which, he operates, and he is now insisting to have a voice in the control of the industry. The caspal waterfront labour system has always been looked upon as a problem too difficult for the employers to handle The casual labour, system cannot, and will not, b e solved, by anyone but the waterside workers themselves, and the conference was unanimously of the opinion that one of the first essentials to solve the difficulties connected with the casual labour system on the waterfront was the establishment of union co-operative labour. Of course there will be many critics, and statements such as the waterside workers relieving the boss of a lot of hi, labour worries, etc. It may be true that the proposed scheme has some imperfections, but it must have a working trial before these imperfections are removed. The present system of casual waterfront labour is as old as the shipping industry, but can anyone claim it is perfect? Can anyone claim that it allows of much improvement as long as the system remains in operation?"

A man named William Albert Murray, who was arrested near .Masterton, was brought before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., yesterday afternoon, on a charge of stealing ai carpenter's kit of tools, valued it £-3, the property of Charles Butter Nixon. The theft is alleged to have taken place in July last at Wellington, and on the application of the police a, remand waa granted, till 19th J.et.raary, jjj, j», vs. J»c_-Ki_L»pj!#xfid fpt*ocw«i.

Meetings of ratepayers of tha Makara County Council are shortly to be held for the purpose of considering a, proposition'by the-council to purchase a new and up-to-plata -making plsnt.

"My firm lost about £10,000 as a result of the,closing of all theatres during the epidemic last year," was the statement made by Mr. -Walter Fuller to the Bylaws Committee pf the City Council yesterday.

A fatal accident is reported by the Press Association agent at Taumarunui to have occurred at Matiere yesterday. Peter Rhynd, aged 51, employed'by Mr. Alexander, a baker 'in that township, was killed through his cart capsizing. Deceased, who has left a widow (a sieter of Mrs. Henry Shaw, of Nairn-street, Wellington) and six children, was'a native of Dupdee, Scotland, and'was a baker by trade.

"Have the police anything to say agamst the way the defendant conducts his licensed premises?-' asked'Mr. F. V Frazer, S.M., during the 'jieai.pg.' of 'a case in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Sergeant Edwards said the hatelin question had been under observation, but nothing had been seen that would warrant a prosecution. "That is a negative sort of statement- I suppose you "won't say anything one way or the other?" replied the Magistrate.' "May I put it another way?" asked Mr. H. F. O'Leary, who appeared for defendant; "does "the defendant conduct his premises in a similar manner . —" "Yes," said the sergeant, quickly, anticipating the remainder of the question, " —■ .'as the majority of hotelkeepers in Wellington."

The Levin Memorial Home Committee held its monthly meeting at the Home, Brittomayt-street.* Miss Archibald presided. The matron reported the children vyere all well. Three children were admitted into the Home. Gifts from the following were gratefully acknowledged :-^Mrs. Mills, Hawl.es Ray Fisheries, Mrs. Green, Miss Archibald, and Mrs. Christie.

The monthly meeting of the Miramar Electors' and Beautifying Association was held in the Miramar Town" Hall, Mr, J. Hicks presiding. There was a large attendance. Several important matters concerning the welfare of the borough were discussed. Regret was expressed at the council's reply regarding the coal question. It was decided to write and congratulate Onslow on amalgamating with the city, and tlie unanimous _ opinion at the meeting" was that the time is now opportune for Miramar to follow suit.

Yesterday the divorce suit brought by Arthur South against Mary Helena South for desertion was continued, before his Honour Mr. Justice Chapman. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for the petitioner, and Mr. 0. O. Mazengarb for the respondent. Affidavits for the defence taken on commission in Dunedin were placed before the Court, and the evidence showed that the respondent was not, owing to her present delicate state of health, in a position to continue ordinary marital relations. After an hour's retirement, the jury returned a verdict in favour of the respondent.

The fourteenth annual report of the Wellington Choral Union (with which is incorporated the Royal Wellington Choral Society, and the Wellington Musical Union) states that "The Bohemian Gir}," "Elijah," "Faust," and "TheMes-iah," were given during the year. "Elijah" was given as a complimentary concei. to Mr. Robert Parker on the occasion of his completion of forty years' work as a conductor. The members are to open their season this ye&r with -Verdi's grand opera "II Trovatore." With the return of members from the front, it is expected that the chorus ' will shortly regain its former strength, and a successful season is anticipated. The financial position of the union is satisfactory.

The quarterly meeting of the Public Service Superannuation Board was held at the board room, Wellington. Twenty contributors, retired under section 35 of the Act, by reason of age or length of service, were granted allowances-"total-ling £3067 14s per annum, and four contributors, retired as medically unfit, were granted allowances of a,'total of £247 4s per annum. The case of oneofficer, whom it was sought to retire as medically unfit, was referred back to the Department, with a request that further sick leave should be granted. Forty-one widows and seventeen children were granted the statutory allowances amounting to £1674 per annum. In consequence of retirements under section 35 of.Hhe Act accrued compensation to the amount of £7274 became a liability of the Superannuation Fund and a correspondl--ing relief to the Consolidated Fund.

The/decision of the City Council to strictly enforce tha^ by-law which prohibits people standing' inside theatres during a performance has caused considerable dissatisfaction among showmen in the city. Yesterday a representative deputation asked the By-laws Committee to reconsider the matter. Mr W. F. Shortt stated thai the by-law was enacted long before the continuous picture shows came into existence, and, therefor*, he submitted, it did not apply to them in reality. There were certain circumstances which were peculiar to the continuous houses. For instance, the theatre might be fall at 8 o'clock and1 only half full a quarter of an hour later. Ins the past the council's inspectors had allowed people to stand at the back of the theatre under the control and supervision of a fireman, and every care was taken to safeguard the public. There were ample, if not more than ample, exits. "It has been our misfortune to be penalised on more than one ccasion," stated Mr. Shortt. "When there was a shortage of coal the first thing proposed was to close continuous houses in the day time During the epidemic one of the first businesses closed was. the picture theatre, although I think that was qujte just. We were put to considerable loss as a result of the epidemic." Mr. Shortt stated that there were occasions when overcrowding could not be prevented, and he quoted occasions iji connection with the Town H»U. There were many occasions, also, when the city's trams were dangerously overorovvded. In the past, the theatre managers bad been on the best of terms with the council's inspectors, and he hoped that the latter would be allowed to use their discretion in the future as they had done in the past. Mr. Walter Fuller also protested against-a strict interpretation of the by-law. The chairman of the committee (Councillor W." H. P. Barber) promised that the matter wouM be considered again. '

At tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., George Conroy, foi' a breach of a prohibition order, was leniently dealt with. He was convicted and ordered to pay 7s costs.