LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17632, 19 November 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Two accidents occurred on the wharves at about nine o'clock yesterday morning. Mr. A. Wheeler, aged 29, residing at 31, Crammer Road, Grey. Lynn, was struck on the shoulder by a bar of pig-iron that fell from a sling while being loaded into a vessel. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital, suffering from bruises to the shoulder and body. A shunter, Mr. D. Best, aged 35, residing in' Wellington Street, fell from a loaded truck on the King's Wharf and sustained injuries to his jaw and right arm.

One of the features of the polling in the municipal by-election yesterday was the very, large number of people who discovered that their names were not on the roll. The returning officer, Mr. P. F. Notley, came across numerous instances of the kind during the day, as did candidates. In the great majority of cases it transpired that the disfranchised people were formerly ratepayers, accustomed to vote on that qualification in the past, but who, owing to their having sold their properties, had had their names removed from the roll and had failed to have them reinstated under the residential qualification. The result was much heart-burning. It is stated that at one polling plaoa in Ponsonby nearly 100 persons who had intended to vote for a particular candidate found that their names were not on the roll. Only a few days ago some 3000 names were erased from the roll, the majority for the reason given.

To-day is the 59th anniversary of the arrival at Auckland of the ship Black Eagle, from London, with 144 passengers, after a passage of 100 days. The usual periods of stormy and fair weather were met with. Of the passengers who came by this shin, which was commanded by Captain W. Smith, there are still a number living at Cambridge, Okaihau, Maungakaramea, and other districts. Among those who have passed away since the last anniversary are Mr. James Howden and Mr. Alexander Watson. 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 site of the present -wharf gates. The passengers and cargo consequently had to be landed in cutters.

The sittings of the Police Court yesterday occupied only 15 minutes. The magistrate, Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., dealt with two first offenders for drunkenness, and remanded two cases, one in which false pretences were alleged and the other in which breaking, entering, and theft was alleged.

A question of name was discussed by the Avondale Road Board' on Wednesday, when Mr. W. J. Tait moved in accordance with notice, that steps be taken to have another name given to the district. He stated that a certain amount of odium unjustly clung to the district by the fact that the Auckland Mental • Hospital was very generally called the Avondale Asylum. Mr. R. B. Nesbitt agreed that there was something in what Mr. Tait said, but he believed the district could live the name down. In his opinion what was doing far more to keep the district back was the ■ lack of proper water and drainage conveniences. The motion was lost.

The church membership test was the subject of a report presented to the Methodist Synod last evening by the Rev." J. E. Parsons, convenor of a special committee appointed by the last conference to consider the question. Mr. Parsons said the committee recommended that members of the church who failed to attend the sacrament of the Lord's Supper at least once in six months may cease to be regarded as members of the church. After much discussion it was decided that greater stress should be laid upon the observance of the sacrament, and that a sacramental roll bo kept in every church.

The report that 140 Indians had reached Suva en route to Auckland was referred to at the meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association' last evening. Mr. M. P. Boyle said that if the Indians arrived the members of the association should form fours, march to the wharf, and tell the shipping company not to land them. On his motion a resolution was passed protesting against the influx of Indians and against any more arriving.

The North. Auckland Land Board continued its sittings yesterday, the commissioner, Mr. R. P. Greville, presiding. Fourteen application! for farm properties were refused, five were adjourned for valuation, five recommended for approval, and eight held over for further consideration. Including a number of transfers of houses, the board "considered 58 applications for advances for the purchase and erection of dwellings. Of these 47 were recommended, seven were refused, and four held over for further consideration. Amendments to plans and specifications of buildings are required in several instances. The board also dealt with 35 applications for advances to purchase stock and effect improvements.

The practice of obtaining their numbers on the roll from persons standing outside polling places was indulged in during yesterday's civic by-electign, as is generally the case on similar occasions. It is not, however, by any means a safe practice, as some people found out in time yesterday, though others were less fortunate. In one instance "an elderly man, "related to one of the candidates, was informed by the person he had asked for his number that he was not on the roll. He was turning away in wrath when he happened to be overheard by the returning officer, Mr. P. F. Notley, who had just arrived on the scene. A scrutiny of the roll by that official led to the discovery that the wouldbe voter's name was duly entered thereon, and he thereupon recorded his vote.

Satisfactory progress was made yesterday in the fellmongers', curriers', and beamsmen's disputes, which were considered together by a conciliation council under the presidencv of the commissioner, Mr. T. Harle Giles. Mr. S. E. Wright acted as advocate for the employers, with Messrs. J. E. Astley, J. A. Waxnock, and A E. Lawry as assessors. For the- three unions Mr. A. Rosser was advocate,, with the asessors as Fellmongers, Messrs. W. McKnight, W. Lovett, and A. B. Rawlinson; curriers, Messrs. T. Boswell. C. Walker, and T. Fahey; beamsmen, Messrs. W. Pearson, A. Rogers and A. Rosser. It is hoped to arrive at a complete settlement this morning in all three disputes.

A proposal to record appreciation of the services performed in the interests of soldiers by Mr. C. F. Bickford as honorary organiser to the British Red Cross Society was made at the meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association last evening. Objection was expressed, however, on the ground that a particular individual should not be singled out, but that all workers should be thanked. An amendment *in that direction -was earned unanimously. A resolution was also passed thanking the men and women who had carried out preparatorr work at the new Soldiers' Club.

The condition of Margaret Allen, who suffered severe injuries through falling from a train last Saturday evening, near the Parnell tunnel, is still very low. The youth Russell Harrison, who "was thrown from his horse at Ellerslie on Wednesday, is still in a semi-conscious condition.

At a meeting of the Westport Borough Council it was resolved, with one dissentient, that the election for borough councillors and a borough member ofHhe Hospital Board should in future be held under the proportional representation system, says a Press Association message.

The shortage of kerosene has been so acute in the Poverty Bay district, that many dairy farmers have had to discard milking by machinery and report to the hand method.

At a meeting of the employees of the manufacturing chemists, held in Christchurch, it was nnanimoaslv resolved to apply for registration of a union covering the occupation. Proposals for working conditions are to be drawn up after tration is secured, and forwarded to the employers.