LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16996, 1 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Peace celebrations were referred to by the Mayor at the City Council meeting last evening. Ho stated that, although peace might not be declared for six or nine months, it was felt that some preliminary steps ihonld be taken, and he had invited the chairmen of local bodies and other public bodies to meet him and discuss the matter. He would advise tho council in duo course of the result of tho conference; The position of returned soldiers suffering from influenza in boarding-houses in the city and suburbs was mentioned by Mr. E. P. Andrews, secretary of th 0 Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association, at the citizens' mooting yesterday. Mr. Andrews said that many men were ill in boardinghouses. Subsequently Mr. Andrews said that no accommodation could be obtained for the men in the hospital, and ho did not know what to do for them, lie will be pleased to hear from anybody willing to nurse or assist' any of these sick exsoldiers. An endeavour is being mndo to secure an alteration in the boundaries of Taka-j-una borough, which at present aro formed largoly by roads, which the bonugh has to maintain without aid. The matter has been placed before the rnne Minister by the Mayor of Takapuni, Mr. W. Blomfield, who iB at present m Wellington. A proposal to remove the concrete wall at the corner of Karangahapo Road and Symonds Street enclosing portion of tho Jewish cemetery ground, and to open up the u;;used area for public use, was agreed to by the Ciiy Council last evening. The superintendent of parks reported that the estimated cost of removing the present wall, erecting a rock margin, falling a number of unsightly trees on the area, and filling-in work, was £268 10s. Tho Reserves Committoe reported that the Jewish Chapel would bo placed further back in the cemetery, and It was also intended to remove the picket fence at the corner of East and Symonds Streets, as well as a short length of the concrete wall, in order to render | more presentable an area which at present was somewhat neglected and becoming insanitary. A total of 1635 people arrived at the Port of Auckland from overseas during October, compared with 924 for the corresponding month last year, an increase of 711. The departures numbered 641, as againtt 412 in October, 1917, an increase of 229. . The Minister for Labour has appointed Mr. E. O. Cutten, S.M., to act as chairman x of the Labour Disputes Commltteo appointed under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act to deal -with certain mattors in dispute between tho Auckland Gas Company and its employees. The parties agreed_ to the personnol of the committee, but failed to agree regarding the appointment of a chairman, -which was consequently referred to the Minister for Labour. The first Bitting of the committee has been fixed for to-day. " The opening of this splendid building is a matter of vital interest to the employers of this city," said the Mayor at the opening ceremony of the Young Women's Christian Association's new building yesterday.- " Since tho war, hundreds of girls have entered industrial and commercial life, and it is largely for these girls that tho association caters. If employers understand that the Y.W.C.A. is a factor which works in every way for the good of the girls of the ctiv they will, I ant suro, favourably consider a movement which wo should all support very substantially." A total of 227 births were registered in Auckland last month, a decrease of 16, as compared with tho figures for October, 1917. Deaths as compared with corresponding month last year increased by 20, the number being 145. The marriages for the month numbered 89, this being an in?ni^ Se ™ fpur <ver tlle 101111 for October,1917. Tho registrar performed 26 of the marriages. The figures for the past 10 months are as follows, the totals for the corresponding period of last year being given in parentheses Births, 2432 (2733): deaths, 1186 (1174); marriages, 880 (941). 0

An entertainment arranged by the Queen Victoria Association was held in tho Bishopscourt library yesterday afternoon for the purpose of receiving money and gifts for renewing the linen of tho Queon Victoria College for Maori girls. Dr. A. W Averill, Anglican Bishop of Auckland! in hin remarks, said that the Trust Board of the college had applied to the Government for an increase in the grant for the school, on account of the rise in the cost of living. Tho pupils of the' college gave an ontertainment and served afternoon tea to the guests. , The quarterly civil sessions of the Auckland Supremo Court will open on Monday morning before Mr. Justice Cooper. Forty-six cases are set down for hearing. They include nine actions to be heard beforo a Judge and a jury of 12 •three before a Jud?o and a jury of four, and 34 beforo a Judge alone. ' The indecent remarks and drawings on the walls of the shed in Parnell Park were brought under tho notice of the City Council la t night by a clergyman, who wrote suggesting the park should bo closed at sundown each evening. Tho superintendent of parks reported that the practice referred to had given ft good deal of trouble, and the walls had had to be washed repeatedly. It wan decided to offer a reward of £2 for evidenco leading to the oonviction of offenders.

Referring at the City Council last evening to tho Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the conditions of the fishing industry, the Mayor said it had been stated that the City Council had petitioned for the commission. This -was incorrect ind he would take steps to make this clear .0 all concerned. Mr. A. J. Entrican said the council should protest against being called upon to my the- cost of the commission. Mr. Gunson replied that the council was not liable, and would not bl called upon to pay the costs. After an unusually severe thunderstorm which passed over the Karaka district last Monday, two cows belonging to Mr. John Clark were found dead. They had evidently been killed by tho lightning, as a leg of one of them was singed. In supporting an appeal for the exemption of a teacher before the Military Service Board yesterday, Mr. J. W. Tibbs, headmaster of tho Auckland Grammar School, said he did not want to speak as ai, alarmist, but ho viewed the stripping ot tho schools of -malo teachers with much concern. He had noticed a distinct falling of? in discipline among the boys who had entered the Grammar School from tho pnmary schools this year, which was evia«ntly duo to the absence of men on their staffs. The last thing ho would do wan to say anything depreciatory of the work of the lady teachers; on the contrary, he fully recognised the obligation the Grammar School was under to those ladies who had come forward to help on his staff in their time of need. But it was obvious the ladies could not help in the outdoor work of senior hoys, and it was in this r.cpartmont where the work was suffering. The chairman of the board agreed th»t the shortage of teachers was very acuto but remarked: "We hope your difficulties. won't last much longer, I think we can see the end now!" The suggestion that those men of the Expeditionary Force who desire to do so should be allowed to remain in England for a period after the declaration of peace litis been made to the Minister for Defence by Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christcliurch North). Mr. Isitt stater, that many men desire to remain in England either for professional re&fOns, or for purposes of pleasure, and that., in view of their immense services, it would be reasonable to accede to their request. The unveiling of the MacLachlan monument at Puponga Point, which was to have taken place in August last, will take place on Wednesday, November 13.