LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16987, 22 October 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

wards of 300 members of tho fortysixth reinforcements, who have been spending their final leave in tho Auckland district, left for Featherston by a special troop train last evening. Tho soldiers, with their relatives and friends, were admitted to the station platform after tho departure of the Main Trunk express. An enthusiastic send-off was given to the men as the train left shortly after 7,30 p.m. In ronsequenco of the decision to postpone tho drawing of tho first ballot of D Class reservists of the Second Division until February, the local Defence authorities have decided to disband one of the

District Medical Boards in about a month's time. Under the new arrangements one board will bo ablo to cope with the work of examining reservist* for the time being. Proposals for a new award made by local bodice' labourers will be considered by a conciliation council on Wednesday, November 20. Tho principal alterations asked for in the new award are in respect of hours of work and wages. They provido for a roduction of hours to 44 .i week. In all hourly wages an increase of 6d an hour has been demanded, permanent hands to bo paid £4 2s fid a week. _ The union asks for £3 18s a week for drivers of one horse, and £4 2s for two-horse drivers, workers at tar macadam or asphalt work to bo paid 2s 6d a day extra. A meeting of delegates from local bodies will be held on November 13 to consider the demands

and draw up counter-proposals. An exhibition of illustrated matter, depicting the principal events of Lord Nelson's life, was opened yesterday at the children's department of the Auckland Central Public Library, in connection with the Nolson Day celebrations. This exhibition, which is of particular interest ! to young folks, will be maintained for a few days. This is the first demonstration of its kind in the children's department, but it is intended to celebrate other anniversaries of great men and events in a simitar manner throughout the year. Referring to tramway accidents, & correspondent remarks on the risk to pedestrians involved in the detachment of the tramcar trolley-pole heads, and states :— "Throe times lately I have noticed the heavy wheel connecting the trolley-pole with the overhead wire crash down into tho road behind the car." The traffio manager of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company stated yesterday that detachment of the pole-head is exceedingly rare. The cars are thoroughly examined every night at the depots and all parte are overhauled.

3 A conference of delegates from chanv ) bors of commerce in the Dominion will be . held in Wellington on October 30 and 31. f The order paper is a lengthy one, compris- . ing no fewer than 58 remits, of which . four have been forwarded by tho Auckk land ohambor. One of theso urges the ' appointment of a commercial ropresentaI tivo of the Dominion in the United States, [ another advocates the equitable adjustment of tho tax upon incomes derived from capital invested in joint stock companies, 1 a third suggests certain amendments of the law in regard to compulsory subscriptions , to war loans, and a fourth expresses the view that the number of special bank holidays should be curtailed. The need for greater attention by the Oovernmont to public works in the Auckland Province and the question of insisting that the next Minister for Public Works shall be a North Island member, will be discr..:2d at a conference between fu Auckland members of Parliament and the Auckland Railway League, to be held at the Chamber of Commerce rooms this afternoon, October 22. The president of the league, Mr. J. H. Gunson, will preside, and the general public are invited to

be present. A ' married woman, whose husband if Mr. G. T. Simmonds, of 3, Dominior Road, Mount Eden, was found in an un. conscious condition at the entrance to the Auckland railway station last evening' at about half-past seven o'clock. ,She had gone to the station to say good-bye to her husband, who left for camp last night, She was taken to the hospital, where it was founds that she had sustained no serious injury. Advice has been received by Base Re cords, by cablegram from London, that Corporal 0. Wade, a New Zealander, at present attached to. the Royal Garrison Artillery, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in tho field of action. As this soldier is not a member of the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force, his next of kin iB not known to Base Records. The proposed formation of a Citizens' Moral Welfare Committee is to bo diseased this afternoon at a public meeting convened by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, to be held in the council chamber, Town Hall. It is suggested that such a committee of business men could do useful work in directions in which, it was deemed advisable to approach Parliament. The meeting has been called at the request of tho Social Workers' Oonference. The Telegraph Department states that '■he Pacific Cable Company notifies that heavy delay is expected on all classes of cablegrams. Cables at Expeditionary Forco rates are now suspended both via "Eiistora" and via "Pacific."

Eleven students of the Dominion Colieg

of Radio Telegraphy will leave this month for England, where they will join the

Royal Navy as wireless operators. The

| necessary arrangements have been completed with Captain Hall Thompson, naval adviser to the New Zealand Government. Tho age limit for such volunteers is 19 years, and the term of service is tfye duration of the war and six months thereafter. Of the elevon youths, six belong to Auckland, their names being :—O, Walters. T. Young, F. Marsden, R. W, Badeley,' C. L. Bernard, and H. M. Bernard. It is probable that other detachments of i wireless operators will go Home to join the Navy.

: Tho congregation of the Kingsland Methodist Church on Sunday adopted a resolution urging the introduction of a Government measure to provide for the taking of a referendum on the First National Efficiency Board's proposals in regard to the liquor question. A Maori boy, two years of ago. Was drowned at Ngarua on October 15. The infant was playing alono in front of his parents' house and slipped into a deep drain.

A petition to bo adjudged a bankrupt has been lodged by Charles Munro, tailor, Opotiki. In his statement to the assignee his liabilities are set down at £455 15s 6d and assets £142, leaving a deficiency of £313 158 6d. The first meeting of creditors will be held at the official assignee's office on Friday, November 1, at 2.30 p.m.

Suggestions for the celebration of the declaration of peace Were made by the Mayor at the last meeting of the Wellington City Council. Mr. Luke said he desired tho co-operation of the council in taking fitting steps immediately definite news was received that the enemy bad capitulated and peace had been proclaimed. Ho suggested that the council should arrange a public demonstration— that a band should be engaged; that children from the schools shoujd assemblo; and organisations of various kinds should be invited to be present. He trusted that employers would arrange, where possible, : for their employees to be free at the time, i

, The stonemasons who struck at Parliament Buildings are 6till "out." It is said that thoy have obtained other occupations. The question of prosecuting the strikers is under consideration by tho Labour Department.

After one of the windiest, wettest, and certainly the coldest winters on record, Wellington is experiencing a changeable and boisterous spring. During the past month the weather, which should on the average be warm and bright, has been marked by a succession of violent northwesterly gales, with only an occasional fine day. I