NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8733, 15 May 1914, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The question of improving the formation and width of the lower end of Ohiro road has btren postponed by tho City Council until the estimates for this year are being considered. At yesterday’s meeting of the hospital committee of the Hospital Board. Dr. Platts-Mills, Messrs Smith, Baldwin, Castle, McEwan, Nash, Petherick and Robertson were appointed the house sub-committee for the year. Messrs Smith, Gardener, Freeman and Galloway, tho hospital committee and tho treasurer will form the Otaki sub committee.

The City Council decided last evening that the passengers who have complained of over-crowding on the Kilbirnie and Newtown routes be inform-' ed that the present position of affairs is caused by shortage of cars, due to the work of converting the existing cars. The work of converting the cars and building additional ones is being expeditiously carried on. A well-attended meeting took place last night at the Y.M.C.A. rooms; the object being to reform a once-flourish-ing athletic club 'in connection with the physical department of the association. Mr A. C. Kitto, well-known in athletic circles, presided, and the meeting was fully representative of all the varied interests existing >n the athletic life of the institution. The outcome of the meeting was the formation of a committee, whose office will be to reorganise the club on a firm basis and to stimulate interest during the close season.

Councillor Barber moved at last night’s meeting of the City Council: —“That provision be made" in the tramway estimates for the erection of a cabin equipped with levers, for the purpose of altering the points at the junction of Cuba street and Manners street, so as to avoid as far as pos slide the risk of accident to tne pointsman and exposure to the weather.” He pointed out that it was time the council provided a shelter so that the pointsman would not have to stand out in the roadway in all sorts of weather. There was great danger of accident to the official through the increased traffic, and therefore the shelter should be equipped with levers to move the points. On the motion, of Councillor Fletcher, it was decided to refer the matter to the tramways committee.

A new motor ambulance is being built by the City Carriage and Motor Works Co. for the Hospital Board, and yesterday they were granted an extension of time (till May 27th) to complete with thoroughness the work of construction. Dr Platt-Mills asked if the van would contain four stretchers or two. She thought that the board required the van to take four stretchers, but was afraid provision would only be made for two.' This was a matter that should be looked into. It was decided that the treasurer (Mr -H. Baldwin) and Dr Hardwick Smith should make inquiries. _lt was agreed, on the recommendation of the medical superintendent, that the two gardeners at the hospital should be taught motor driving, and that they be paid an extra shilling per day for their services in connection with driving the new ambulance van.

A fall through a trap door resulted in litigation in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr W. G, Riddell, S.M-, when John Nelson, labourer, sued David Sullivan, proprietor of the Caledonian Hotel, for £75. Plaintiff alleged negligence on the part of the defendant, in that he left open and uncovered a trap'-door in the floor of the hotel, through which plaintiff fell into the cellar below, breaking three ribs. Mr McGrath, who appeared for defendant, asked for a nonsuit, submitting that there was no evidence to show negligence on his client’s part. His Worship said ho was not prepared to nonsuit the plaintiff. For the defence, evidence was given that the public entrance to the jug and bottle department, through the trap-door of which plaintiff was alleged to have fallen, was, at the time of the plain tiff’s visit to the premises, not only closed, bnt locked. The trap-door was made in such a way that when it was raised it automatically locked the door of the department, and it was in that position when the accident took place. At a very early hour, just when the premises were being opened for the day, the plaintiff went in through the private entrance and made his way into the iug and bottle department tbrougb a’door in the private bar. It was submitted that he bad no right to enter in that way, and the accident, although unfortunate, was entirely due to his own fault. Decision was reserved. Mr J. F. W. Dickson appeared for the plaintiff.

The Hon. F. it. B. Fisher will deliver -political addresses at Timaru and Waimate at the end of the month.

The city solicitor was last night instructed to draft a by-law in order to prevent tho bathing of horses on Sunday mornings after the hours of B.hi o'clock at the Oriental Bay bead). A sitting to settle the civil list for tho present Supreme Court sessions will be held by His Honour Mr Justice Hosking at 10 o’clock to-morrow morning.

Tho Mayor informed'tho City Council last evening, in reply to a question by Councillor Luckie, that the Wadestown cars, instead of stopping at tho Hotel Cecil, will run through to Aro street on and after May 25th. The retrial of William Thomas Young on a charge of sedition wih be taken to-day, before His Honoui Mr Justice Hosking. George Johnsti> charged with taking part in a riot, will bo retried at 10.45 a.m. to-mor-row.

Ah instruction has been issued Vthe City Council to the city engineer to provide better ventilation in tin Town Hal! by making ail the windows in the hall open. At present only ten out of twenty windows can be used for ventilation purposes.

Last evening Professor T. Hunter, of Victoria College, lectured before the Moral and Physical Health Society, his subject being “Some Factors in Moral Education.” There was a large attendance, and at the conclusion of his address, tho speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

The finance committee recommended the City Council last evening to pass for payment the first quarter’s levy ol the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board (£3256 16s sd) for tho year 1914-15. This was agreed to. Tho levy for the year amounts to £13,027 5s Bd. as against last year’s levy of £13,623. During the month of April, ten patients were admitted to the Otn Hospital, and fifteen were discharged, leaving seven males and three females under treatment at the end of the period. At the Otaki sanatorium, one patient Was admitted and three discharged (all well and able to work), leaving fifteen males and eight females under treatment.

A Royal Commission to report on the care and carriage of explosives has been set up 1 by the Government. If will consist, of Mr R. IV. Holmes (Chief Public Works Engineer), Lieutenant Elmslio. ! R.N. (H.M.S. Psyche), and Captain Edwards, R.E. (of the Defence Department). Hie Commission has been given until July 31st to report, and evidence will be taken in all the centres, commencing when Mr Holmes returns from the north. The finance committee of the City Council recommended the council lasl evening to hold a special meeting on Monday to consider the Mayor’s loan proposals. Councillor Hislop moved as an. amendment that the meeting be held on Friday. He said that councillors had not had time to make up their minds on the proposals, as they had only received them a‘few days ago. The amendment was carried, hut subsequently it was agreed to hold the meeting on Monday week. Much interest is being manifested in the re-introduction of basket-ball into Wellington, and a well-attended meeting was held at the Y.M.C.A, last evening for tho purpose of forming a committee of control. The committee elected was as follows:—Messrs A. CKitto, D. C. Sclater, W. L. Wilson, R. Goad, C. Nicholls, T. Daubney and the physical! director. The season will commence on Wednesday next with an exhibition match in tho Y.M.C.A. gymnasium-, between two representative teams of the association.

When the tramway return for the month of April were under consideration by the City Council last evening, the Mayor said that the figures were not quite satisfactory. This was due to the increased wages scale coming into force, and also to an increase in the cost of repairs and maintenance totalling £6OB. Then there was no Good Friday in last month as there was in the previous April, which made a difference of £IOO. Altogether, there was, something like £762 increased expenditure compared with the corresponding month last year, and when this was taken into consideration, the return would not h° found to be so bad after all.

The'first meeting of tho Industrial Bureau set up by the Wellington Trades Council was held last night. The purpose of the bureau is to collect information as to awards and all materials'necessary to organise Labour. To organise those trades and callings hitherto unorganised is also one of its aims. It proposes to collect and tabulate information in connection with the cost of living. Members of tho committee will also be at the disposal of unions as advocates m industrial disputes. Mr J. Campbell elected chairman, the other members of tho committee being Messrs H. Thompson, W. Norton, M. J. Reardon, E. J. Carey and" L. M.' A. Bearden (secretary).

Professor W. M. Davis, of Harvard University, delivered a most interesting lecttire to the geological section of the Philosophical Society last evening on “The Sculpture of Mountains by Glaciers.” There was a large attendance, especially of geological students at Victoria College. The professor went very deeply into the subject of the formation of mountains, and quoted the latest results secured by geo--1 legists of observations and calculations in connection with this branch of science. He said that the subject was one which only students of geology, who mastered these results, and who formed some idea of the amount of work leading up to them, would thoroughly grasp and assimilate. The professor went on to deal with the re markable effects of glaciers upon earth formation, and went , through the various ways whereby students are enabled to follow up the science closely and with the best results. The following circular has been issued by the secretary of the Trades Council concerning the celebration of Labour Day: —“I have to inform you that at tho last meeting of the coun cil, it was decided to immediately make preparations for the celebration of the forthcoming Labour Da3% and as wo desire that this year’s demonstration shall eclipse all previous efforts, we cordially invite your union to select one delegate to represent you on the Labour Day Committee. We earnestly trust that you will respontl to the invitation, for the duty ni maintaining the traditions of the day devolves on every trade unionist, and can only be fittingly observed by th» co-operation of all. As you are aware, the proceeds of the celebration are placed in trust for the erection o r a trades hall, and it is hoped to commence the new building this year. W» ask you, in the name of comradeship, to co-operato with ns in a work that will be for the benefit of every man in every union.”

The Hon. W. H. Herrics (Minister for states that in spite of tho bad year owing to the strike and other causes, lie exopects the railway system to pay £3 12s 3d per cent.

Tho tenders of Mr John O’Donnell for pile driving and Messrs Stewart and Co. for cross-arms for electric light poles were accepted by the City Council last evening Tho hospital committee yesterday decided that Dr Platts--Mills, Messrs G. Nash, J. IV. McJiwau, D. Robertson, and J. Smith should form a committee to inquire into tho wholo question of tho hospital’s milk supply.

A recommendation will bo made to the Hospital Board at its meeting next week by the hospital committee, that the charges for examinations made by tho bacteriological department bo remitted, where evidence is forthcoming that they are strictly charity cases.

The offer of the'Minister for Marine to present tho wholo building and tho tanks ,(including certain exhibits) used in connection with the aquarium at tho recent Exhibition, for installation at the Newtown Eoo, was accepted by the City Council last night, when a resolution was carried thanking tho Minister for tho gift. Application lias been made by tho Wellington Rugby Football League for five ■ playing grounds on tho Hutt Park. Tho park committee has allotted tho League three grounds at ITS per annum, sufficient space not being available for tho extra two grounds at present. It is tho intention of tho League to centralise tho League game on the Hutt Park.

On the recommendation of the bylaws committee, tho City Council last night resolved that tho city solicitor bo instructed to draft an amendment to the by-laws to make it uniform that all vehicles shall carry lights between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise. Under the existing by-law lighting time extends from sunset to sunrise.

The tramway committee reported to the City Council last evening, will, respect to Councillor Fuller’s motion, that a report be furnished as to the extension of the present Brooklyn tramline to Taft street, that the proposal would involve an expenditure of £4OOO, and would ■ not increase the earning-power of the cars. The committee therefore could not see their way to recommend the proposal for the favourable consideration of the council. Tho danse was adopted.

The strain of standing at attentio'n is sometimes more severe upon territorials than the fatigue of marching distances. When inspections took place at the Hautapu camp, several men fainted, even though they were not standing stiff for any length of time. At Hamilton on Tuesday several of the senior cadets dropped in tho ranks, though they were not brought to attention until the last possible moment, nor kept so any longer than was absolutely necessary. A matter in connection with the estate of a bankrupt named Michael King, of Palmerston North, was before His Honour Mr Justice Edwards in tho Supremo Court yesterday- This was an application on behalf of the Official Assignee to have an agreement declared ivoid. Mr M. Myers, with Mr H. R. Cooper' (Palmerston North), appeared In support of the motion, which was opposed by Mr A. E. Skelton (of Auckland) on behalf of the Onehunga Sawmilling Company. Judgment was reserved.

Complaints have recently been made that the tram service has been somewhat curtailed along Cuba 1 street owing to Newtown cars being diverted through Courtenay place. At a meeting of business people yesterday morning, it was decided to wait on the City Council in reference to the matter. When the attention of the Slayer was called to the complaint, he stated that the cars were not being diverted through Courtenay place, and tho ordinary timo-tablo was being adhered to.

It was reported by the tramway committee to the City Council last evening that they had considered the inquiry made by Councillor Wright as to whether the Sunday morning tram from Karori, which reaches the city at 10.30 o’clock, could not be started earlier, so as to connect witli the train. The matter was taken up with the Karori Borough Council, which stated that it did not desire any alteration made in tho running of the ear referred to. The 'Mayor said that the Karori Borough Council had to be considered in this matter.

The Hospital Board at its next meeting will be recommended by the hospital committee to adopt the following seal© of charges for mtfntenance of children under treatment at the hospital:—Children’s hospital, up to twelve years of age, 12ff 6d per week (minimum fee 10s); diphtheria ward and fever hospital, up- to twelve years of ago, £1 Is per week; over twelve and up to eighteen years of ago, £1 10s per week. These charges, if approved, will come into force on July Ist. i

Tho annual meeting of the ‘Wellington main branch of tho United Labour party was held last night at the Trades Hall, when there was a largo attendances of members. Nominations were received for the various ’positions, and the elections will take place on the 28th insi. The annual report will ho then, brought down by the president, Mr D. McLaren. Tho same meeting (on next Thursday week) will also decide upon the electoratee, foe which the party is to run candidates, so far os the Wellington district is concerned. Last night there was also a meeting of the Dominion executive of tho 7 United Labour party. At a lengthy sitting, matters of importance to the Labour movement were discussed, and the meeting was adjourned to next Monday night. Representatives of the committee which is making arrangements for the town-planning tour of Messrs Davidgo and C. Rcado, of the English TownPlanning Association, waited on the Minister for Internal Affairs (tho Hon. H. D. Bell) yesterday to ask tho Government for a £1 for £1 subsidy on the amount already collected, to defray tho expenses bt the visit. In answer to the deputation’s representations, Mr Bell said he thought that the municipalities already had sufficient town-planning power under the Public Works Act and the Land Act. Townplanning was a local matter, and must bo carried out in the light of local conditions. After further discussion, the Minister expressed the opinion that where land was lying outside of, or close to. the limits of a borough, the power to determine how it should be subdivided should not be solely in the bands of the Minister, hut also in those of the borough. It was quite unnecessary to put into an Act powers which were already in existence. The matter, in his opinion, was a local and not a general one-

A notification appears in last night’s “Gazette” that postal correspondence addressed to 60, Hornsby road. Peckham, London, has been prohibited.

A boy named James Moseley fell and fractured bis left arm in the playground of the Petono West school. First aid was rendered tho lad by tha teaching staff at alio school. At a meeting of the hospital committee yesterday, it "'as decided to recommend the board to authorise Vlr F. do J. Clcro to proceed with the preparation of tho plans in connection with the new kitchen block and new ward; and that the plans bo forwarded to the Minister for Public Health for his approval.

Two lads under sixteen years of ago were charged in tho Juvenile Court yesterday with discharging a firearm (a pea-rifle) at Kilbirnie. After severely cautioning tho culprits, His Worship discharged them. Two other lads admitted having thrown stones and after receiving on admonition were also discharged. The Christchurch City Council is to be informed, in reply to a communication on tho subject, that tho Wellington City Council considers that tho Wellington city by-law, dealing with electrical installations, is _ quite satisfactory, and that tho _ Wellington council dofes not consider it advisable to make any alteration in same to fall in lino with other centres.

The ceremony in honour of those students of Victoria College who are graduating this year will bo held in the Town Hall on Thursday next. Tho central feature of tho ceremony will bo the public presentation of tho students graduating. The programme will include student songs in chorus, and Mr John Prouso will contribute items. General Sir lan Hamilton will speak on tho occasion, also the Prim© Minister, if ho is able to bo present. A formal notice has been receivedby tho City Council from tho Miramar Borough Council of the latter’s intention to purchase tho electric light undertaking of the city in. the borough of Miramar. Tho matter has been referred to tho city solicitor and electrical engineer, with' instructions to safeguard tho interests of the corporation. Tho Karori Borough Council has been invited to meet , the power stations committee in conference to consider the Karori lighting agreement.

Over 450 cases, ranging from broken bones to toothache, were treated by members of the St. John Ambulance brigade in Auckland during the Exhibition period. The Exhibition finance committee considered on Tuesday tho question of donating something towards tho brigade’s funds in recognition of tho good work accomplished. It was decided to let the matter stand over until the publication of the balancesheet, when, it was stated, it would be necessary to consider a number of claims that aro worthy of recognition. “That the request of tho Northland Electors' Association for tho establishment of a branch library at Northland ■be not acceded to at present, but it is hoped to give their request further consideration next year.” This recommendation of’tho libraries commit tee was adopted by the City Council last night. Councillor Buddie asked why tho branch library was not to bo established, but was informed that ho bad raised tho question too late, tbs recommendation baying been passed before be spoke. The International Institute of Agriculture has published a supplement to its March Bulletin of Statistics, ■in which an estimate of the Argentine maize crop is given. Tho estimate ia> 90,000,000 quintals or 180.2 per cent, of last year’s crop, which was 49,950,000 quintals. In the supplement there is a table in which these figures for Argentina aro given together with those for tho yield of maize in 1913 in the countries of the northen hemisphere, so as to show tho total yield for the whole world. Tho table shows the total yield of maize for 1913 and 1913-14 in the following countries of tho northern hemisphere:—Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Eoumania, Russia, Switzerland, Canada, United States, Japan, Egypt, and Tunis and in Argentina in the Southern Hemisphere, as 882,310.299 quintals, as against 1,013,219,786 quintals in 1912 and 1912-13, 87.1 per cent, of the yield of tho preceding year. A clause in tho finance committee’ll report read at the meeting of tho City Council last evening recommended that the improvements at the abattoirs decided on at a previous meeting should ho undertaken immediately and paid for out of tho abattoir fund; any deficiency to be made up from the district fund. Councillor Fletcher wanted to know if these improvements wore to he paid for out of the fees for slaughtering. Tho Mayor said that if there was any amount to bo made up. it would have to come out of tho district fund. There was not much money in hand, and they could not wait to raise a loan. Councillor Hislop said that when the improvements were discussed. Councillor Godbcr informed the council that there was £IBOO in hand for these works, and they would only cost £1750. The Mayor said that there was £1049 cash in the bank on this account, and £BB7 on deposit, so that fully £BOO would be required out of the district fund. The clause was adopted on tho casting vote of the Mayor. Members of the council who voted against it held that the modey should not bo taken from tho district fund for this work.