LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15717, 18 September 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

The postal authorities state that the steamer Ma-heio, which is due at Auckland on Sunday morning from Sydney, is bringing 428 bags of mail matter for New Zealand. The mail includes a small quantity from Britain find European and Eastern countries.

Cargo from fire vessels was being discharged at the King's Wharf yesterday, and the wharf presented a very busy appearance throughout the day. At one time ui the morning it was almost impcsbible to find sufficient space to accommodate the largo number of waggons, carts, lorries, and motor waggons which were engaged in delivering or loading cargo at the sheds and chips' sides. On the cast side of the wharf the Norwegian barque From was discharging phosphates, the Norwegian steamer Odland was loading timber for Sydney, and the Navua wa6 discharging fuiit from the islands. On the west aide the Wan-inKo, which arrived at 9 a.m. from Southern ports, was discharging 1750 tons of cargo, which included transhipments from "several Australian and Home steamer*. Ahead of the Warrimoo the large French barque Chateau D'if was engaged in discharging her cargo of superphosphates from Hamburg into railway truck*, -lie Talune arrived from the Cook and Society Islands at 11 a.m., and was berthed at the Northern Wharf to discharge her fruit cargo. There were also several vessels of the Northern Company's fleet berthed at this wharf, loading and discharging. The work being carried on at the waterfront yesterday gave employment to hundreds of waterside workers, l'no port, will be bufcy for the next week or so. as a number of oversea vessels are expected. •

The following resolution, on the motion of Mr. S. J. Harbutt. was adopted at a meeting of the Charitable Aid Committee held yesterday:— "That this committee recommends the board to make a strong representation to the Government drawing attention to the increasing number of cases of wife-desertion coming before the committee, and would urge that the Government instruct the police to take steps to bring deserters back. We are firmly convinced that the present system, demanding a guarantee of expenses before action is taken, is placing a premium upon this form of crime.''

"The Harbour Board's revenue." remarked the chairman, Mr. J. H. Gunson, yesterday, "is obviously affected hi more ways than one as a result of the war conditions, but in view of the existing circumstances it is keeping up satisfactorily. Should the present position be relatively maintained the board anticipates no difficulty in continuing along present lines, and every endeavour is being made to make provision for the employment of the- present staff of employees."

An addition of some historical value was made to the Leys Institute last evening in the form of the original draft of a Bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Sir George Grey some 30 years ago. The document was presented by the lion. J. A. Tole. K.C.. who produced it as an evidence of the industry which always marked the life of the great. Liberal leader. Mr. Tele, explained that most members of Parliament secured the assistance of the law draftsman in preparing Bills for presentation to Parliament, but Sir George Grey always drafted his own Bills without assistance. The measure of which he had the original copy was intended to enable persons to make an affirmation instead of taking the oath, and its principles were afterwards adopted by the Government and passed into law. The gift was accepted for the institute by Mr. W. Cecil Leys, and an expression of appreciation was also given by the audience.

The objection made by the AuditorGeneral to an item of £5000, loan money in the balance-sheet of the late Grey Lynn Borough Council, which, it was alleged, had been illegally used, was rereferred to by Mr. A. J. Entrican at the City Council meeting last evening. It was explained that the question raised by the Audit Department was simply a matter connected with financial adjustments. Mr, Warnoek said that the money had merely been transferred from one account to another, thus saving the ratepayers £45 iu interest.

The Harbour Board's proposals to increase the ferry wharfage charges were considered at last night's meeting* of the Waitemata Chamber of Commerce. During the discussion it was mentioned that it cost 6s 6d to bring a ton of Taupiri coal to Auckland by rail, and 8s 3d to take it across the harbour. Better accommodation for vehicular ferries? so that barges could carry goods as well, it was pointed out. would reduce the freights by half. The subject will receive the further consideration of the chamber, the general opinion being expressed that nothing should be done to lessen the present efficiency of the ferry or to increase the passenger and freight charges.

In answer to a question yesterday as to how the Harbour Board's works were progressing, the chairman, Mr. J. H. Gunson, stated that all the more important works were proceeding satisfactorily-. The arrival of the machinery for the big slipway at Freeman's Bay had been delayed a little, but it had now been, shipped. "We anticipate." said Mr. Gunson, "that the slipway will be completed before the end of the year. Afterwards the board hopes to Ik? in a position to make a start with the launch landing to the west of the ferry jetty. This is a most important work and will provide much-needed facilities for a large proportion of the smaller craft in the harbour. ''

The advantages of posgessins a telephone club are being appreciated by Northern Wairoa farmers during the propress of the European war. says our Dargaville correspondent. Members of the Kaipara, Club who are located in wayback holdings are enabled every day to learn the latest achievements of the' belligerent forces. Each evening the manager of the 'central bureau calls up the partv wires, gives the word to all to stand at their receivers, and then he reads the latest daily press reports. By this means settlers from Ruawaj in the south to Mangakahia in the north are kept in touch with the events of the war. and those in bush locations are almost as well supplied with particulars of daily happenings as are the people in the cities.

Matters in connection with shipping have been quieter than usual this week. " Up to the present time, however," remarked the chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr. J. H. Gunson, yesterday, "the volume of shipping has shown very little if any diminution. In fact, the port has been particularly busy up to this week. Several steamers are due next week, so that the volume of shipping will be much greater than during the present week. Cabled advice has been received that several large oversea vessels have sailed, and from time to time during the nest few weeks these vessels will put in an apgeaiance at Auckland.''

Two improvements were stated at last evening's meeting of the Waitemata Chamber of Commerce to be needed on the Victoria Wharf, at Devonport. One of these is the provision of a waitingroom for men, and this is receiving the Harbour Board's consideration. The other improvement is a clock on the wharf, placed for preference on the entrance gates. At the present time there is no clock, and the meeting was not sure whether the one which used to be there had been permanently removed, or only taken away for repairs. The matter was finally left in the hands of the secretary to deal with.

Formal notice has been given in Parliament by Mr. Yeitch- member for Wangaiiui. to ask the Minister for Labour whether he is aware that the Labour Department in Auckland has refused to take action in the interests of the health of certain hotel employees, who are required to sleep in an underground apartment, which is alleged to be only lighted by a grating from the street. Mr. itch stated that complaint has been made by the secretary of the Hotel Workers' Union at Auckland*. An immediate investigation is suggested, with a view to having a more satisfactory arrangement made.

I The lot of the back-blocks children who ; have to travel long distances to school was j referred !o by Mr. G. Hunter in the 1 House of Representatives yesterday afterI noon, telegraphs our Parliamentary corj respondent. He. suggested to the. Minister i that some more generous provision ought to be made by the Government for the conveyance of school children in sparselysettled districts. He noted that there was a sum of £10,000 on the Estimates for this ptrpose but it would probably prove to jbe insufficient. It was very depressing indeed to see in the back blocks parties of i small children riding or walking long disi tances to school in pouring rain. These I children had to remain in school in their wet clothes all day and in the. evening j thny arrived home in the same condition. The Hon. Jomes Allen said that the subject, of the conveyance of school children ! was a very vexed one. The Government did not profess to take upon itself the whole burden of the conveyance of school children for the reason that if the Department were to do this, the Government would be let in for expenditure over which it had no control. The Education Boards had control of this expenditure and it was necessary, in order to put the responsibility on the boards, to make them find come of the money. The boards naturally tried to put all the expenditure on the Government when they ought to shoulder some of it themselves. This would ensure care m the administration of the money. He was in favour generally of the principle of conveying children te school in the back blocks to prevent the multiplication of small schools.

The announcement has been made by the New Zealand postal authorities that a money order office, under the auspices of the New Zealand Government, has been opened at Ap:a, Samoa. This is expected to facilitate the exchange, of money orders between the. troops and their friends in New Zealand.

The hardships of bachelor life are influencing at least one member of the expeditionary force stationed in Samoa to think seriously of getting married when he returns to New Zeakad. " When I get back to the metropolis." he writes in a letter received in Wellington, "the first thing I intend to do is to get married. This resolution is the result of having to do my own washing and the sewing on of buttons. Perhaps even before I return I snail have taken to myself a wife from among the natives. They wash well, although thc\t do knock holes in the clothes. The method adopted by the natives is to take the clothes to the river, soap them well and place them on a stone. Then theT prod with a stick, occasionally rinsing, until the clothes are clean."

The civil sessions of the Supreme Court have now been brought to a conclusion. With the departure of the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, for Rotorua to-day,' Auckland is left temporarily without V a Judge. His Honor Mr. Justice Cooper is in G'sborae and His Honor Mr. Justice Stringer is still engaged in the South upon the Foods Commission.-

Beach bathers in Wellington during the coming season may not have it all their own way in the matter of costumes, telegraphs our correspondent. Notice has been given to bring the following motion before the City Council:—"No person in swimming costume who is over the age of ten years shall be or remain on any beach or foreshore open to the public except for the purpose of entering the water or when leaving the water to reach any bathing shed or other place for the purpose of dressing unless such person shall be clad in swimming costume known as the 'Canadian costume.' "

Arrangements have been made for a number of native meetings to be held throughout the North during the approachin? summer months, telegraphs our Whangarei correspondent, for the purpose of compiling a record of Maori stories, legends, and traditions of the early days, in the North of Auckland.

Alterations are to be made to the reference department of the Public Library, and a certain amount of renovation is to bo carried out.. The following tenders for the work were received at last night's meeting of the City Council Carrara Oiling Company, £415 ; W. Batts, £394 : Auckland Fibrous Plaster Company. £246 2.1 6d. It was decided to accept- the lowest tender, and the work will be put in hand at once.

An order hts been issued by Colonel G. W. K. Patterson, Commander Coast Defence Forces, notifying employers that any of their employees mobilised at the Auckland forts can, with few exceptions, obtain leave to return to their work during the day only.

The Paymaster-General, Wellington, states that he has received an amount of £12 from a correspondent- at Hamilton signing himself "' Honesty," and requestiii2 that the receipt of the amount be acknowledged in the New Zealand Herald this week. No explanation accompanied the remittance, which has been credited to the Empire Defence Fund.

The promoters of the Rotorna Empire Defence Fund wrote recently to the Auckland City Council, advocating the principle of civic responsibility for the relief of the widows and dependents of those who volunteer for the front, and suggested that united action should bo taken to have legislation introduced with a view to the i stablishment of local military pensions wards to supplement the work of the Dcler.ee Department, under the Military Pensions Act. At the meeting of the council last evening, the Mayor, Mr. C. J. Parr, pointed out that the law made provision for the relief of widows and dependents, and the Auckland Citizens' League, intended to Bet aside a considerable portion of tho magnificent sum subscribed by the public to supplement anything the Government might do. In view of this it was hardly necessary to consider the suggestion mado from Eotorua. It was resolved to send a reply to the effect that the City i Council at present could take no action in the direction indicated, I