LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17130, 8 April 1919, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

An English mail, consisting of 450 bags, arrived unexpectedly by the Westmoreland from Liverpool on Sunday. The Auckland portion was delivered yesterday. A small Australian mai] arrived at Wellington on Saturday. The Auckland portion, consisting of five bags, will arrive here this morning. The Ravenna, which left Sydney for Wellington on Saturday, has on board an Australian mail, of which 55 bags are for Auckland. These should reach here on Thursday.

The Main Trunk express that left for Wellington last evening consisted of a total of 16 vehicles, including two sleepers. The number of passengers was about 400

The committee set up under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act to consider tin* request of the Devonport Ferry and Takapuna Tramways and Ferry Companies' Employees' Industrial Union for a 48-hour week and a genera] -rise in wages, continued its sitting in camera yesterday, at the Magistrate's Court, under the presidency of Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M. Considerable progress was made with the dispute, and the committee adjourned until to-morrow, at 10.30 a.m.

Failure to secure a licenso from the City Council before erecting posters on tin l verandah of Everybody's Theatre was alleged in a prosecution against the Gaiety Theatre Companv, Limited (Mr. E. Skelton), before Mr. J. E. Wilson. S.M.. in the Police Court yesterday. Counsel for defendant stated that a permit was obtained in 1915. The magistrate held that such permit was valid, and he said he did not see why a tradesman should apply for a fresh permit each time he wisher! to change his sign. Both informations were dismissed. On Mr. Skolton applying for costs, the magistrate .-aid that it was not usual to grant costs against the council. He did not see, how ever, why people should be put to undue expense by the city authorities. Costs of £2 2s were awarded.

The City Fire Brigade received a call at 9.9 a.m. yesterday to a house in Islington Street, off John Street, Ponsonby. A pair of window curtains had ignited, the damape being confined to these. The house was" owned by Mr. A. S. Gallagher, and occupied by Mr. T. Boyd.

The total number of influenza ease.* notified in the Auckland health district last week was 25. There were nine caw in the city and suburbs, and ten in conn try districts in the Auckland Hospital Board's district. All wcro stated to be mild cases. Twenty-one cases of diphtheria were notified in the health district, 15 of them being in the Hospital Board's district. No deaths occurred from influenza or diphtheria.

A request that six members of the Waikato tribe, imprisoned for evasion of military service, should be released, was made yesterday by a deputation of Maoris to the Minister for Native Affairs, the Hon. W. H. Herries. Mr. Hemes said he would place the request before the proper authorities.

The Public Service will not observe a holiday on St. George's Day, April 23. The celebration jias been postponed by Order-in -Council until April 25-Anzac Day— falls on the Friday following Easter.

The town district of Papatoetoe has been constituted by proclamation. The boundaries are denned as amended by the commission appointed to roport upon the petition presented to the GovernorGeneral.

"Soldiers in uniform should not be charged in civil courts.''' said Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., in imposing a fine of £5 on a soldier in the Police Court yesterday. Addressing the accused, Mr. Wilson said:-—"Men like you, who are still under military jurisdiction, should be dealt with by the military authorities. They should look after you; you should not enter the Civil Court at all."

An ancient Maori custom is that relatives of soldiers fallen in battle must perform certain rites over the graves of their loved ones to ensure their happiness in the next world. A deputation of representative Maoris of the Ngapuhi tribe waited upon the Minister for Native Affairs, the Hon. W. H. Herries, yesterday, asking that the Government should supply two transports to take the next of kin of Maoris fallen to France to visit the gam of their relatives to perform the customary rites. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Tau Henare, M.P. for Northern Maori district. Mr. Herries said he would consider the matter and place it before the proper authorities.

Il was recently announced that Lieutenant Griereon intended to apply for a new trial of his action for slander against Dr. Thacker, M.P., on the ground that the damages awarded were inadequate. It is now understood that no further proceedings will be taken.

" From the point of view of national efficiency the indiscriminate employment of boys or girls under the age of 16 years is a serious matter," said Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Wellington "Magistrate's Court, during the hearing of a case brought by the Inspector of Factories. 'Counsel for the defendant company, admitted that a girl under 16 years of age had been employed in the factory, hut stated that the girl looked much older than she was. Her age was not asked when she was employed. A One of £2, with 7e costs, was imposed.

At present the compensation paid on pigs condemned at public abattoirs w twopence per pound. The Palmerston North Borough Council considers that the compensation should be increased to SO per cent, of the value of the pig *'as a further inducement to have pigs killed at. public abattoirs." Wellington has agreed to support Palmerston North in requesting the Minister for Agriculture to have this change effected.

Thousands of New Zealand soldiers who have returned from the war nave spoken enthusiastically of the receptions they have been given by the people along the Panama Canal. In connection with this matter the Wellington City Council has passed the following resolution :—" Thai this council place on record, on behalf of tho citizens of Wellington, their sineerest thanks to the citizens of the United States for their generous hospitality tendered to the New Zealand troops during their stay and passage through the Panama Canal. The cordial expressions of welcome that our kith and kin have received has made a profound impression on the people of New Zealand, and has tended to strengthen that bond of comradeship which was first established in France in the common cause of humanity and world advancement." A copy of the resolution if to be sent to the United Stales Consul, with a request that he will semi it to the authorities in the canal zone.

The- limber workers of Wellington in tend to apply to the Arbitration Court, under the provisions of the amending legislation of last year, for an increase in their wages, consequent on the higher cost of living.

Some time ago the Wellington City Council took certain steps in the direction of dealing with the rat menace. It was announced that the cuipoialion would burat.- at twopence on-li hut ; ,o far only 79 rat? have been fold to the iniinii ipal authorities. It is understood, however, thai in the las-l few month* men employed mivately for the destruction of rat? have accounted for thousands of the rodents.

The records of the official assignee, at Wellington show that during 1918 41 applications in bankruptcy were received from debtors and 10 from creditor. As-sets realised by assignees amounted to £22,872. and £18,357 was paid in dividend.-. Miidi\ pavnieiit- amount-.; "to £69,34.

" They have been catching .i few salmon in the South Island rivers lately."

stated the Hon. T. M. Wtlford, Minister for Jaarine, at Wellington. The fish go to 16!b in weight, and give very good sport indeed.