LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13979, 8 February 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

We publish in another part of to-day's Herald an interesting interview with Mr. Arthur Myers, covering the municipal work that has been accomplished during the four years he has occupied the position of Mayor of Auckland. His present term of office is now drawing to an end, and Mr. Myers does not propose to stand again. He has made arrangements for paying a visit to England, and will leave New Zealand early next month. Owing to the continued shortage of railway rolling stock, the Union Company's collier Kotuku remains at the Onehunga, Wharf undischarged aaid idle. To make the position worse, the steamer Holmdale arrived from Westport on Friday night, also coal-laden, and she too is practicaTly an idle ship, owing to the lack of sufficient trucks to discharge into. The conditions, existing are far from satisfactory, for not only are the shipping companies inconvenienced, but the waterside workers' cowers of earning are much restrkted. m

At the last election reduction was carried in Parnell, and two licenses in that suburb must go. To this end there has been some talk of a compromise with regard to the conditional licenses issued to the racing clubs for their meetings, in the hope of saving the local bodies the expense of an election for a Licensing Committee. At present conditional licenses are issued to the Auckland and Otahuhu Trotting Clubs. The liquor trade naturally takes the side of the clubs, but the no-license party intend to resist the issue of conditional licenses to the trotting clubs. There is an attempt on foot to bring about a compromise between these conflicting opinions, but unless this is achieved the cost of an election for the Parnell Licensing Committee will be necessary. If the election takes place the principal issue on which it will be fought is this question of conditional licenses.

Already much interest is being taken in the election of a licensing committee for Manukau, in which electorate reduction was carried at the last local option poll. The no-license ticket recently announced consists of Messrs. W. Westney, D. Hattaway, G. Fleming, J. Flanagan, and Dr. W. G. Scott. So far the moderate ticket is not complete, but Messrs. John Rowe, A. W. Gordon, D. Neilson, and D. McLennan, sitting members, will again stand. An effort is being made to get Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, a member of the Mangere Road Board, to allow himself to be nominated, and thus make up the ticket.

The Birth and Deaths Registration Act contains an important provision in regard to the notification of births which does not appear to be as yet generally known or understood. It is required by section 15 of the Act that—(l) the occupier of any house in which a child is born alive shall give notice of the fact, and date of the birth, and the name of the mother or father of the child to the registrar of the district in which the birth took place ; (2) such notice shall be in writing, delivered or posted by registered letter to the registrar within 72 hours after the birth, if in a city or borough, or 21 days in any other case; (3) if the occupier fails to comply with the provisions of this section he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £5. A great many instances of failure to comply with this provision, which became law on January 1, 1908, have occurred, and in some of the cases in which the required notification has been given it has been thought that such notice removes the necessity for the usual registration of birth. This is not the case, as th« provision in regard to registration, for which a limit of 62 days from birth is allowed, is still in. force. If, however, it is so desired the registration may be effected at the tune that the notification of the birth is made to the registrar.

Statements of the expenses incurred by the three candidates for the Auckland East seat at the recent general election have been filed with the returning officer, Mr. T. Culpan. The total of the expenses of Mr. F. E. Baume (the successful candidate) is returned as £66 17s 4d, whilst Mr. W. Richardson's attempt to win the seat cost him £55 3s 6d. Mr. J. H. Harie, the third candidate, expended £26 18s 6d.

A large number of Aucklanders journeyed by steamer to Waiwera for the Waitemata A. and P. Association's show on Saturday. The outing was enjoyable, combining an exhilarating trip on the briny with a pleasant sojourn at the pretty seaside retreat of hot springs fame. A party which crossed the gulf on Friday afternoon, including some of the show judges, spent a refreshing evening in the up-to-date baths, with a saunter on the golden sands fronting the btfld background of thickly-wooded hills as a final inducement to slumber. The little settlement was inundated with week-end visitors, and the staff of the well-appointed Waiwera Hotel experienced their rush of the season.

Arrangements are being made whereby a number of Albertland settlers and their descendants will be represented at the opening of the North Auckland railway to Wellsford on February 15. All those interested in the movement are requested to communicate with J. Becroft, Jervois Road, or Dr. F. W. King, as early as possible, in order that arrangements may be made for their attendance.

The Union Company's steamer Corinna, which arrived at Onehuriga with a general cargo last Saturday, left for Wellington yesterday with 13,878 boxes of butter. No cheese was forwarded, but the Rotoiti will ship about 600 crates to-day. The butter shipment will be divided between the Cornwall and Kaikoura at Wellington for shipment Home.

Auckland maintains its low rate in the incidence of zymotic disease, as will be seen from the following return of the cases of infectious diseases which were notified at the District Health Office during January : —Enteric fever, Auckland and suburbs 10 cases, country 9 cases ; scarlet fever, Auckland and suburbs 5 cases, country 1 case; diphtheria, Auckland and suburbs 4 cases, country 4 cases ; tuberculosis, Auckland and suburbs 7 cases, country 6 cases ; blood-poisoning, Auckland and suburbs 1 case : total, 47 cases.

Masterton has been stirred by a perusal of the Navy League's story of the success of the Germany Navy League, of money by penny subscriptions to "smash which is reported to bo raising large sums the perfidious Englanders," that it is in constant communication with the Wellingthe Navy League (says the New Zealand Tiruefi). It is understood that the Masterton branch will offer a £200 scholarship in connection with the work of the Navy League, and Mr. Palmer, secretary of the Wellington branch, will possibly go to Masterton to arrange details for the winning of this handsome prize.

The Wellington Commercial Travellers' Association passed the following resolution at a meeting on Friday evening: — " That it is essential that a federation of the New Zealand Commercial Travellers' Associations be formed, and that the question of affiliation with the Australian and similar bodies be held over until such federation be accomplished."

The greatest congress of officers of the Salvation Army ever held in Australasia is to take, place in Melbourne during the latter end of April, on the occasion of the farewell of Commissioner McKie, commanding the Australasian brigade. The leading officers of the- Salvation Army in New Zealand will attend, and matters of administration widely affecting the future of the organisation will bo discussed.

A man named Andrew Kelly Wat* thrown from his horse while riding on the Great North Road on Saturday afternoon. He sustained some slight injuries to his head by the fall, but after being treated by Dr. Porter be was able to go to his home at Kingsland.

The 5.6. Wimmera, which left Sydney at two p.m. on Wednesday last, reached port at 2.15 a.m. to-day. The Wimmera, which has an English mail,via Sue, aboard, has evidently been delayed by bad weather. She will undergo inspection at eight a.m. to-day, after which ehe will berth at Queen-street har&-