LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17011, 19 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Sixty,years ago to-day, the 68th Regiment, under Major ; Thompson, left Auckland on the troopship Mary Ann, en route to England. On November 17, 1858, the men assembled in the square of the Albert Barracks, and, headed by the band of the 65th, they marched down Princes Street, Shortland Crescent, and Lower Queen Street, to the Queen Street Pier, wnere they embarked in cargo-boats for transport to the vessel which was to convey them Home. At 2 p.m., two days later, a gun sounded the warning for departure and a fleet of boats was soon steering for the Mary Ann, to bid the men farewell. As the vessel left .the port she exchanged salutes with other vessels and Fort liritomart, and the strains of "Auld Lang Syne," played by the band of the 58tb, floated across the water. ■ (© To-day is the 57th anniversary of the arrival at Auckland of the ship Black Eagle, with 250 passengers. Although the vessel was only 1358 tons register, there was not sufficient depth of water to enable her to berth alongside the small wharf which, at that time, extended from Customs Street to about half-way to the present wharf gates. Many of the passengers settled on the Maungakaramea Block, where some of their descendants are now living.

Instructions have been received to.the offect.'that all soldiers at present on leave from camp may, if they apply, to district headquarters, have their leave extended until January 7, 1919, without pay. During the intervening period they may resume their civil occupations, and wear civilian dress. The men will be required ti return all kit and equipment to the camp quartermaster, accompanied by an inventory of all articles left in camp.

The suggestion that all Auckland married men in camp, who are in good health, should be,released, has been made by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, to the Minister for ; Defence. Mr. Gunson considers that these men should have been returned last week, as they had been urgently required at their homes to assrst in combating the epidemic. It was noteworthy, he said, that Australian .and American troops were being demobilised, and he felt sure that the Minister for Defence would release men from the camps.

A tribute to the work of the acting-chief health officer, Dr. J. P. Freng',ey, was paid by the Mayor Mr. J. H. Gunson, yesterday. The precautionary measures ordered by Dr. Frengley were, he said, in the interests of the community. Provided the citizens worked with Dr. Frengley, he was nuns business would be restored to normal at an early date, I am sure ■ that : citizens whose businesses have been affected by any necessary restrictions will recognise that the health of the community is ft paramount issue, said Mr. Gunson. "We must not give the epidemic a chance to, break out again." '. Many cases of sickness and distress among the poor and aged have been relieved by the Ladies' Benevolent Society during the last- few weeks. ; A prominent officer of the society yesterday expressed great thankfulness that the recent dance carnival given by Miss Daphne _ Knight had been held at so opportune a time, for it. augmented the depleted funds of the organisation to the extent of £150. .Tins carries a subsidy of equal amount, giving the society a Substantial sum to tide it over a time of great stress. . Cases of most urgent need have been dealt with, the epidemio having brought many extra calls tor assistance. -

In regard to the two vacancies on the Auckland City Council caused by the deaths of Messrs. Maurice Casey and S. Moore-Jones, the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, has telegraphed the Minister for, Internsd. Affairs stating that- it is. not desirable to hold any elections at present. He asked the Minister to use his .power under section 368 of the Municipal Corporations Act to postpone the election. The Auckland City Council was not taking any action in the- matter, but Mr. Gunson said he would bear all responsibility for its failure to comply with the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act. : :.;■/■■'

Special arrangements for the ; cleaning and disinfecting of the principal streets have been made by the City Council. The municipal water-carts now sluice . main thoroughfares every few days.with a dilute carbolic disinfectant, which. both, cleanses and disinfects., The usual nightly washing of Queen Street with streams of water from high pressure hydrants, after it has been swept, is continued. .

In regard-to the proposed National Party, Sir Joseph Ward sjtated on Friday that he knew no more of the matter than he had seen in the newspapers. He had not been consulted on the point. : He saw noureason why all parties in Parliament should not continue to work harmoniously together on questions arising out of the war. But the merging of parties wee a matter he could not discuss,, even if there were need to discuss them, without consulting the members of his own party. He did not know that the matter would be mentioned at th» Liberal caucus on Tuesday.

The conditions at the telephone exchange have improved slightly, -but over seventy attendants are still absent through influenza. The present staff is very much overworked, and, . consequently, the curtailed hours will still be continued until sufficient of ■■, the absentees return to work to lessen the strain.

Welcome rain commenced to fall in Auckland last evening. . •niosewho will benefit most will be the market gardeners and strawberry growers, The rainfall up to midnight, as registered by the Herald gauge, was .12in.

The formation of a fund to relieve dietress arising out of the epidemic will be considered by the Citizens' Committee this morning. The proposal. will be made that a citizens' finance committee should be formed with the object of immediately raising a general fund, from which urgent cases of hardship may be provided for. :

An outbreak of fire occurred at Balmoral Road last night in a shed owned by Mr. E. Ay ling. The Mount Eden Fire Brigade prevented the fire spreading,

The Main Trunk line near Mataroa, where the slip occurred reoently, has been sufficiently repaired to permit of a small volume of goods traffic passing over it.

Over 1000 pneumonia jackets have been made to date at the Red Cross depot. These garments have been used for pneumonia patients in the local hospitals and for urgent outside cases. A few jackets are now available for cases outside the city, a.nd committees combating the epidemic in the country districts who desire jackets are directed to telegraph to Mr. H. D. Robertson, honorary secre* tary of the Red Cross Committee.

An elderly man, Mr. Joseph Putan, was found dead on the floor of his house in Vernon Street, Freeman's Bay, yesterday morning. Death is believed to be due to influenza. ;'

No cases of influenza have occurred at Melmerly College. The boarders spend most of their time in the open air, and occupy themselves with gardening and games. A few hours daily are devoted to study. V- ■

The sitting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian CliUT'ih of New Zealand, which was fixed to be held in Christchurch next 'week, has been postponed until the New Year.

Several street collections which were to have been held during the next few weeks have beeh postponed in view of the epidemic and ; the necessity : for limiting crowds. .'■'