LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16962, 23 September 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The eleventh anniversary of the proclamation of New Zealand as a Dominion will fall on Thursday next, but the holiday in connection with the occasion will be observed to-day. Formerly the holiday was observed on September 26, but during recent years it has been observed on the fourth Monday in September. The Government, insurance, and legal offices and the banks will be closed to-day. The Auckland Stock Exchange also will observe the holiday.

An outbreak of fire occurred shortly before one o'clock yesterday in a six-roomed house situated at 78, Owen's Road, Epsom. The Parnell and Reinuera Fire Brigades arrived quickly and subdued the fire before much damage was done. The outbreak was caused through the gas escaping from a califont in the bathroom. The bouse, which is occupied and owned by Mrs. M. J. Wrigley, is insured for £500 in the National Insurance Company.

An Australian mail which left Sydney on Thursday is duo at Wellington to-day, The Auckland portion of the mail will probably arrive here on Wednesday morning.

The five-day week experiment which has been inaugurated in the Auckland clothing factories has not found favour with the local boot manufacturers, and applications for the trial of the system in their workrooms have met with an unfavourable response. At a meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Federated Boot Manufacturers' Association a resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote expressing strong disapproval of the shortening of tho hours of labour in the clothing factories at this period of the war. It was considered that as all workers were being expected to use their best effort* to increase production, any alteration of hours should be in the direction of lengthening instead of shortening them.

Knotty points of medical testimony arose- in a compensation case heard by Mr. Justice Stringer on ■ Saturday, and were referred to a medical referee for decision. In assenting to this arrangement Mr. Richmond, counsel for the defence, said that though there was no machinery in the Act for such a relegation, it was desirable that in cases of the kind a medical referee should sit with His Honor during the trial. In future oases, involving medical problems, he would probably propose that course. His Honor said ho would be only too delighted to have a medical referee sitting with him in eases of the kind.

" The first and best element in the education of children is the building up of character," said Bishop Averill at the Papatoetoa Orphan Home on Saturday, " and any system of training which does not put the training for life and service in the first place is not real education at all. It is no use merely teaching children morals or civics. Both are good in their way, but unless some foundation is given upon which to ground such training, they must fail. Civics and morals can never be substituted for the training of children in the true religion of Christ. We must all go back to school and home days for the best and most lasting influences of life. Every child is a potential hero, and that is what we must aim at— make our children heroes in civil as well as in military life."

The foundation of the first soldiers' hostel in Wellington was explained by the Minister for Internal Affairs on Saturday as having been brought about by the presentation by a Hawkes Bay lady of a second-hand motor-car, which was disposed of by art union, and realised £9000. " And I want to make this offer," added Mr. Russell, "If there is any patriotic lady or gentleman in Auckland who has lately bought a brand new car, and wants to lay aside the old one, I am prepared to accept it on behalf of the Women's Mutual Aid Society, and I will guarantee to issue a permit for an art union. I believe that you would make £10,000 out of it."

A little girl named Jean Warner, aged two years, was admitted to the hospital last evening suffering from a broken leg, the result of a fall. Tho child's parents' reside in Servia Street.

A prompt settlement of the question of site for the soldiers' information bureau is considered important, in view of the objection of the expressmen to its being erected in Victoria Street, where the recruiting station formerly stood. A special meeting of the City Council's Works Committee, which has been given power to act in the matter, will accordingly be held to-morrow, to consider a suggested site. It is desired that the building should be started this week.

The policy of the Education Department in regard to teachers and military service is reaffirmed in a letter received from the Minister by the Auckland Timber Workers' Union. The Minister states that he has given instructions that appeals be lodged by the director of education on behalf of teachers called up for service in all cases in which the education boards decline to appeal.

Further evidence regarding the conditions affecting tho production and distribution of coal in the Auckland district will be taken by the Board of Trade tomorrow, The board will leave on Wednesday morning for Huntly, where the coal mines will be visited, and further evidence taken. Two days will be spent in ho Huntly district, and tho board will leave for Wellington on Thursday night. The evidence taken in Auckland last week was considered by the board in committee on Friday and Saturday.

Testimony to the Hon. Arthur Myers's enthusiasm in war work was given by the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. O. W. Russell, in apologising for Mr. Myers's absence from the soldiers* hostel ceremonv on Saturday. Throughout the war, said Mr. Russell, warm-hearted and practical sympathy had been shown by Mr Mvers for anything that would benefit returned soldiers. Mr. Myers was entitled to all credit for the part he had taken in connection with the war, especially with the provision for the returned men.

Tho reopening of the Devonport Methodist Church, which has been closed for renovation, took place yesterday. In the morning, the Rev. W. J. Elliott conducted the service, there being a large congregation. An augmented choir rendered anthems, the soloists being Miss Winnie Johnson and Mr GAR 1 nomas. The Rev. R. D. Gosnell'conducted the evening service, the soloist being Mrs E. Richards. Master L. Elliott presided at the organ at both services.

The official count of votes polled at the New Lynh Town Board election has resuited in Mr. A. Shaw being elected as the seventh member, instead of Mr. B. Mathias._ These two candidates tied In the preliminary count with 98 votes each On lots being drawn Mr. Mathias won, but the official count shows that Mr. Shaw polled 99 votes and Mr. Mathias 95 votes.

An impressive service, which was largely attended, took place in St. Man's Church, Northcote, yesterday afternoon, when the ceremony was performed of blessing and dedicating statues erected to the memory of Corporal Leslie Arthur O'Leary, of Northcote, who left in the ninth reinforcement draft, and who received fatal wounds at the Somme, in September, 1916. and Private Ernest J. Donahoe, of Birkenhead, a member of the fourteenth reinforcement draft, who was fatally wounded at Messines in June, 1917. The parish priest, the Rev. Father o'Malley, officiated, and an eloquent dedicatory sermon was delivered by the Rev. Father Doyle, of Remuera, who was chaplain with the forces, in France. Mr. A. Lennon rendered the solo, " Nearer, My God, to Thee," and the "Dead March," in " Saul," was played by the organist, Mrs. McMullen.

A roll of honour, containing the names of 65 old pupils of the Maungaturoto Dublic school who have gone on active service, is at present being displayed in the window of Messrs. Milne and-Choyce, Ltd. Of this number 14 have made th« supreme sacrifice. The roll will be erected In the Maungaturoto school,