LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 19779, 1 February 1928, Page 9

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tenders for the construction of the Massey Memorial at Point Halswcll will probably be called this month {says a Press Association telegram from Wellington), sufficient progress having been made with the specifications to enable this step to be taken. At a meeting of the executive of the Otago Expansion League held last night the president (Mr S. B. Macdonald) announced that he had, in conjunction with Mr C. R. Smith, that day interviewed the Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner) regarding the proposed “ Back to Dunedin Week ” movement, and had been very sympathetically received. Mr Taverner had undertaken to call a meeting of interested parties to consider the proposal. He had no doubt that if the project were taken up with the vigor and resources which Dunedin could put into such a movement : a great success would be achieved.

A very large meeting of ratepayers of the Taranaki Power Board, held at Stratford, decided to form a ratepayers’ association. A motion was passed that the Power Board had lost the confidence of the ratepayers. Exception was taken to works costing much over the estimate and, details of the balance-sheet being withheld from the public. The chairman of the Power Board was given permission to address the meeting, but was not granted a hearing. The imposition of the availability rate was the chief cause of dissatisfaction.

Few people not actually connected with the service realise what has been done by the New Zealand Dental Division in the treatment of children’s teeth (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington). Throughout the dominion, since its inception .in 1921, 970,021 cases have been dealt with by officers of the division, the cases including 414,040 extractions and 277,781 minor operations. During the past year there were thirty-one firstyear probationers, and twenty-seven second-year probationers in training, while nine dental officers and sixty-two dental nurses were in the field. Forty single clinics, sixteen double clinics, and one training school have so far been established. The number of children under regular treatment, exclusive of those treated at the training school, is approximately 41,000, and the number of children who have been treated at the training school is approximately 14,000. The treatments performed during 1927 by the dental officers, dental nurses, and probationers in training numbered 110,916 fillings, 66,523 extractions, and 76,656 minor operations, making a total of 260,095. On his return to Wellington yesterday from the Statisticians’ Conference at Hobart, Mr Malcolm Fraser (Government Statistician) drew attention to a cablegram published in the dominion in which he was reported to have said that the object of arbitration in New Zealand was to increase ■wages. Mr Fraser states that his remarks were in the nature of a defence of the functions exercised by the court. He said that the court had come to serve a definite purpose in the adjustment of wages, and until something better was found to pub in its place it would bo a great mistake to abolish it. Fire broke out last evening in the dyed and scoured wool store of the Kaiapoi Woollen Mills. _ Fanned by a strong north-easterly wind, the flames spread rapidly, and the building and its contents were completely destroyed. The damage is estimated at £15,000. The Woollen Mills Brigade and the Kaiapoi Borough Brigade had a, desperate fight to save the big buildings of the mill, in which they'were successful, the fireproof walls confining the flames to the wool store. While it lasted—a period of nearly two hours —the blaze was spectacular, and when at its worst grave anxiety was felt for the safety of the mill. Dense volumes of smoko rose from the burning wool, with occasional tongues of blaze bursting through the roof. The brigades kept water playing on the roof and, held the fire in check, so that no damage was done to the plant or to the other buildings. The mill buildings were insured in several offices and the stock with Lloyd’s. There was no separate cover for the wool store.

The 'Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League met last night, the president (Mr S. 13. Macdonald) occupying the chair. The members present were Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., Messrs G. J. Errington, D. Tannock, A. P. Aldridge, V. Jacobs, J. E. AVinsloe, James Horn, M.P., L. D. Ritchie, R. S. Black. The subject of a. national botanic garden was raised, and after a. full discussion it was resolved to hold, it over till next meeting, pending a report from Mr Tannoek. The question of the the dominion was mentioned, and an extract from a AVcllington newspaper was road announcing that the South Island itinerary would be Nelson, AVest Coast, and Christchurch. This was deemed quite unsuitable, and it was resolved that a letter be sent to Mr 0. J. Hawken and other members of the Cabinet and South Island members of Parliament, pointing out the suitability of Otajfo and Southland, and the exotic, plantations which have been established and are flourishing here.