LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Eastern Extension Cable Company notifies that the cables are blocked for Homeward traffic, and the company is diverting all full-rate traffic for the United Kingdom to via Pacific.

Owing to the derailment of the goods train at Raurimu yesterday (as reported hy the Press Association), the AucklaydAVellington express did not arrive at Wellington until 2.30 p.m. yesterday, one hour and twenty-two minutes behind schedule time.

The Wellington branch, of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association, at a meeting hold yesterday, passed tht following motion:—''This meeting of the Wellington seotion of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association strongly urges the Government, to fulfil tho promise given by Sir Joseph Ward that ths war,, bonus would be paid up to 3Qth Septembsr, 191i£ and in support thereof draws attention to the still increasing coat of living which has been fully recon«iß«3 by t!i>> went awnrds of tho Arbitration Court."

Walter Grace was ordered by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., yesterday, to give up possession of a tenement known as 27,_ Marion-street, to Matthew Ledger, taxi proprietor, by 21st December, and to pay costs (£1 Is).

It has cost the paople of Wellington £20,000 a mile for tram construction, as against £10,000 a mile in Christchurch," said Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P, (Wellington North) last night. In face of that fact, he contended that the fares are very reasonable indeed.

At the Hutt Flower Show. Mr.' Henry Poole was awarded the E.H.S. silver medal for the highest points gained in the display of rases. The people's verdict in the decorated tables was t Adults' table, No. 2, Mb. Cooper; children's table, No. 2, Miss Kuth Hobbs, who receives Mr. Rrislrworth's trophy.

Speaking on the subject of the water supply last night, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. > Luke)- said the people wasted a great deal, the average consumption being 80 gallons per head per day, an average of from 35 to 50 in the Old Country. The Engineer's proposal for a, new dam at Wainui, he added, would mean that they would store 800,000,000 gallons, and it was contended that that would be sufficient.

A waterside worker, Joseph Hannan, who lives at 26, Jessie-street, fell out of tha bathroom window at his home last evening, and received injuries 'to his head which made his removal to the Hospital necessary. »He was admitted to the institution at 10 o'clock last evening in a semi-conscious condition, but is reported to-day to be better.

A Napier business man, »t one time in the building trade, recently required some work to be done, says the Herald. He consulted a tradesman, who estimated that the job would occupy the time of two men for a week. The estimate seemed absurd to the business man, who decided to do the work himself. Single' handed, he accomplished in two days that which two workmen would have done in a week.

An inquiry was held by Mr. W. 6. Eiddell. Coroner, this morning regarding the death of a Chinaman named Joe Quinn. Evidence was given by a. relative of the deceased that he was 64 years of age and kept a small store in Hain-ing-street. Deceased had been in illhealth for some time, and when witne&s called upon him on Wednesday he found the old man dying. Witness at once went to obtain medical aid, but on returning found Quinn lying on the floor dead. Dr W. Kingtcm Fyffe said a ■post-mortem examination disclosed that death was due to ■ heart trouble, and a verdict was returned accordingly

A young woman named Mary A. M'Donald entered a,plea of guilty, but had nothing to say when she was charg ed before Mr E. Page, 'S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day with, the theft o£ a- postal note for 20s, the property of the War Relief Association. . Chief Detective Boddam said that the young woman had been employed as a clerk by the association, and had stolen and open ed & letter containing the postal note, which she subsequently cashed. Unfortunately for her, she had been in trouble before, for in July last she had been convipted and. ordered to come up for sentence when called upon on two charges of stealing shoes from a dancing-hall in the city. The girl had an aunt in the country, who was willing to look after her. The: Magistrate agreed to allow the young woman to go to the country. and convicted and ordered her to come up for sentence when called upon, one of the conditions being that she should remain with her aunt for two years. ■

— Steps are being taken by the Commonwealth Treasury authorities to prevent Australia's stocks of gold coin being depleted by travellers leaving the Common-, wealth for. countries: overseas. Recently (says the Melbourne Age) it was announced that travellers to Europe would not be permitted to take more than £50 in gold coin from Australia, travellers to India being restricted to £30,, and those to China to £20. The restrictions have now been extended to Japan, and white passengers from Australia to that country will not be allowed to take more than thirty sovereigns • each, while Japanese. passengers for any destination will be allowed to take only £20 each in gold. The Customs authorities point out that the temptation to, take gold coin from Australia is not quite so great as it was a short while ago, as the pro fit that can be gained from the sale of a sovereign in Eastern countries has declined somewhat.

A conference has. been recently held in Wellington between members of the Tararua Tramping Club (Wellington), and the Otaki and Greytown Track Committees. The main object was to decide the best' method of expanding the Government grant of £500, whiph was placed on the estimates last session. It was decided to utilise the money to the best advantage on improving the whole trade, irrespective of the locality of the work to be undertaken. The meeting adopted the following programme of work in expenditure of the money provided (1) Track from Otaki Forks to Hector, £100; (2) hut between Field Peak and Mt. Hector, £150; (3) cable and bosun chair or suspension bridge, £40; (4) making track with posts and pointers, £15; (5) track from Hector to end of Beehives round sides, £80; (6) extension of Alpha hut, £65; (7) Table Top hut, £100. If the Government approves the expenditure of the money, the work will be put in hand as soon as possible.

In consequence of the absence of a material witness, the' case of Annie Bruns Baker v the King, set down for hearing by his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) to-day, was adjourned until the next sitting of the Supreme Court in February. The suit was taken under the Crown Suits Act, 1908, being a claim by the licensee of the Clarendon Hotel, Pajmerston North, for the board and lodging of a railway employee from November, 1918, to February, 1919. The amount involved was £70 17s 6d, and it was submitted that M'Donald had stayed at the hotel" by request and instruction of the Railway Department This was denied on behalf of the Crown. Mr. H. L. Fitzherbert represented the petitioner, and Mr J Prendeville, of the Crown Law Office, the Railway Department. The divorce case of Fraser v. Fraser, also set down as an undefended case, was also adjourned, respondent electing to defend the action. . ■' ■

Mrs. Pickering, who was injured as the result of a collision between a cart and a motor-car on Wednesday night, is reported to-day to be much improved.