LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17097, 28 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

In order to do honour to soldiers returning to New Zealand in transports which will call at Auckland, the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association desires all affiliated craft to meet the steamers as they steam up the harbour. Any boat owner willing to assist is requested to notify the secretary.

Giving evidence in regard to the system of inhalation treatment in Auckland at the commencement of the recent epidemic, Dr. J. P. Frengley stated before the Epidemic Commission yesterday that the efficacy of spraying measures had been questioned by many. His reason for going on with such means was the already definitely determined efficacy of the inhalation of antiseptics as a means of preventing catarrhal diseases in the camps. Above all, he thought this provision was of considerable mental value to the nervous.

The registrars for the various Auckland city electoral districts are being kept very busy bringing up to date the rolls for the licensing election on April 10. Owing to the circumstances in which the rolls are being compiled, the supplementary lists will be exceptionally large; in fact, in many cases they will take the place of the main rolls. A 'large number of objections have been lodged owing to electors having changed their places of residence. The supplementary rolls will close on March 6.

A somewhat peculiar position has arisen in connection with the projected excursion of the Thames Old Boys' Association to Thames to-morrow. The excursion has been widely advertised, and a largo number of tickets sold at the usual rate of 6s for the return trip. It appears that a new regulation of the Thames Harbour Board imposing a toll of 9d a head on all passengers by steamer arriving at or leaving the wharf comes into operation on Saturday. In view of the fact that the excursion rates were fixed by the association in ignorance of the impending regulation and that large numbers of excursions tickets have already been sold application has been made to the Harbour Board to suspend the operation of the regulation in regard to the excursionists.

Protest is being mado by the residents of Manurewa concerning the post office proposed to be erected there. It is complained that the plans show that the building is entirely unsuitable for the district and that, standing as it does on the main road, it will be a disgrace to the Department. The land was given to the Government as a site for a post office over six years ago, and disappointment is felt by residents now that it is proposed to reward their years of patience by the erection of what is considered an entirely unsuitable budding. Another ground.of complaint is that the Department failed to carry out a promise to submit tlio plans of the building before tenders were called.

The proceedings at the meeting of the Protestant Political Association in the Town Hall last evening were enlivened by the prcsenco of an elderly lady who loudly proclaimed that " she came from the north of Ireland, and that the men from there, say what the speaker would, had done their duty in the war." At intervals she burst into unrestrained laughter at the remarks of the speaker—a laughter that proved contagious to tho other members of the audience. Ultimately, she was warned to be quiet. This warning she managed to obey for a few minutes, but then the hall resounded with another burst' of joyous laughter, and the lady arose to depart simultaneously with tho approach of two officials. Am I too late?" asked one. "You are," was the replv, " for I must laugh, and so I'm off!'"'

" While the Auckland people have in a very marked way signified their appreciation of my efforts during the recent epidemic, I cannot claim, and havo no desrro to claim, the credit for the initiation of tho first steps to combat tho disease,' said Dr. J. P. Frengley before the Epidemic Commission yesterday. He said that the Mayor, the Citizens' Committee, the chairman of the Hospital Board, and his colleague, Dr. T. J. Hughes, wero tho initial organisers. All that he could claim was that he tried to speedily recognise what measures proposed were likely to be effective and how beet they could be applied or improved upon. From tho very first it was the prominent desire of tho Citizens' Committee, the Hospital Board, the St. John Ambulance Brigade and j Association, the Red Cross workers, the Women's National Reservo and the Public Health officers to work together. All wero working together as well at the end as at the commencement of the epidemic. There was no friction, and no complication of authority.

The new chapel which has been erected at tho Papatoetoe Orphans' Home will be consecrated tomorrow morning by the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, Dr. A. W. Averill. Tho consecration service will commence .it 10.15 a.m. In the afternoon there will bo a children's service. An invitation is extended to all friends of the institution and the orphans to attend the day's ceremonies. Trains will leave for Papatoetoe at 8.15 a.m. and at 1.13 p.m., returning at 1L56 am. and 5 p.m.

The steamer Mapourika, which was unable to leave Wellington on Monday for Picton and Nelson owing to a difficulty in procuring firemen to fill two vacancies in the crew, obtained the necessary men on Tuesday, and sailed that evening.

In order to encourage the destruction of rats, which are reported to be becoming very numerous in Wellington, tho City Council has decided to pay to all bonafide city residents a bonus of twopence per rat delivered at the destructor.

The Christchurch Hospital is at present in the unique position of being in " No Man's Land," being in the area neither of the city nor of any borough. At this week's meeting of the City Council Mr. Nicholas moved that the necessary steps be taken to have the area of land occupied by the hospital include!! in the City of Christchurch. In the hospital, Mr Nicholls added, there were no fewer than 154 resident employees, including five house surgeons, two dispensers, 114 nurses, 27 maids, and six porters. All those people, Mr. Nicholls contended, were entitled to a vote. The proposal was carried without dissent.

The Htiddart-Parker Company announces that passengers intending to proceed to Sydney by the Riverina, which is to leave Wellington this week-end, are required to produce medical certificates of temperature and pulse taken on the day of sailing.

A practice which the Wellington city authorities are determined to put down is that of smoking and spitting in fruit mar Us. In the Wellington Magistrate's Court, before Mr. P. V. Prazer, S.M., George Baker, Abraham Josephs, and Oreste Terrini were charged with the offence mentioned. In pleading guilty, Josephs and Terrini contended that tho smell of rotten fruit and vegetables did much more harm than smoking. Mr. Frazer remarked that it was not his business to deal with that aspect. If such vegetables were allowed to lie about the mart, however, it constituted a menace to public health, and it was the duty of defendants to point out the nuisance to the city inspectors. Baker was fined £3 and costs, and Josephs and Terrini each £1 and costs.

" Has he been convicted before?" asked the magistrate at the Napier Court recently, in convicting a defendant charged with driving a motor-car having no number plate affixed. " No, not on this, Your Worship," said Senior-Sergeant Eales, amid laughter. " Sir," said Mr. Lusk, for defendant, " I hope you know you are speaking of the Mayor of_ Hastings," Amid more laughter the magistrate intimated that he knew the identity of the defendant.