NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10525, 28 February 1920, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The R.M.S. Tofua is now expected to arrive at Wellington on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning from San Francisco via ports.

A welcome cargo of cement is ex pet-tod-to be landed at Wellington ov Monday - when the Anchor Company's steamer Alexander arrives from Tarakohe.

The Pacific Cable Board notifies that until further notice messages for any place other than Norfolk Island and Australia cannot oe accepted via Pacific. All international traffic must be routed via Eastern.

'jjho Superintendent of Mercantile Marine (Captain S. Stringer) completed the preliminary inquiry yesterday regarding the mishap to tho Baden Powell last week. Tho evidence will bo considered 1 by the Marino Department

A shipment of 25,000 narcissi bulbs, which arrived at Auckland last week from Holland, via England, were condemned on arrival owing to the whole shipment being infested hy the narcissi fly. Tho fly had hatched out un tho voyage, and some were found to be alive on arrival.

Two important questions will he considered at a meeting of the Advisory Board of the Federation of New Zealand Patriotic War Relief Societies to be held ia Wellington next week. These are the assistance of partially and permanently disabled soldiers, and tho utilisation of balance of patriotic funds.

A number of Wellington telephone subscribers havo been seriously inconvenienced during tho last day oi twq owing to a cable containing sonic forty or fifty wires breaking Business people havo endeavoured in vain to get iu touch with many of those telephones which have maintained <v mysterious silence. The trouble w*ll he remedied in the course of a day or two.

Accommodation for young men very difficult to find in Wellington, and with n view to relieving the position the officials of St. Andrew's Pr*s‘hyterian Church have acquired the residence of Mr Algar W illiaras, in ■Hobson street. Tho building will shortly bo opened as St. Andrew’s Church Hostel for the r accommodation ot young men of the city. Acommodation will bo provided for about 25. up to the ago of 25.

Tho total number of* applications for employment received by tho employment bureau of tho labour Departmeut during the week which ended yesterday was 37; of this number 33 applicants were placed, 11 in Government and 18 in private work, while the remaining 4 men were assisted to various destinations by reduced railway fares. Five returned soldiers anplicd for work during the period, two being given Government work and three private employment.

An appeal for increased support of the local branch of tho Navy League was made in the report submitted to the annual meeting last night by tho executive. Tho report pointed out that tin branch at present possessed no endowments' and its activities consequently were dependent upon tho amount of money received front members by way of subscriptions or donations. Its scope would be go veined entirely by the amount of additional support that was forthcoming. Given the necessary support there was practically no limit to tho expafiatou <n the league on tho lines desired.

As a solution of the interminable industrial’ dissatisfaction the Now Zealand Welfare League urges the calling together by the Government of a conference of employers and workers in order us establish common authorities to govern the settlement of disputes and effect the establishment of common' rules upon which the industries would be operated. The idea, it is pointed out in a memorandum issued by the league, comes from the Labour Federation, and the league heartily supports it. particularly iu view of tho needs of the reconstruction period. Tho general welfare, it 'is asserted, is sure to suffer so long as each industry, trade a"d calling follows its own course without regard as to how it affects others

Another famous London newspaper has passed out of family control into the bands of a shipping magnate. Sir John Ellcrmaa has just purchased for LIqO.OOO tho Ingram iutcresit in the Illustrated London Nows” and the “Sketch.” Sir John, who also owns the ‘Sphere” and tho “Tatler,” is one of tho richest men in the world, his income being put. down at something like a million -sterling per annum; yet ho started life without a penny. Ho is a shining example of wliait determination and courage can accomplish. He wisely leaves the administration of his newspaper enterprises to tho men who have built up their reputations; thus Mr Muddick, a well-known figure in Fleet street, retains the management of the “ illustrated” and tho “Sketch.”

According to (the Act, only those men who havo been passed fit for tho Expeditionary Force, and havo been, given a number, are eligible for the benefits provided hy tho Repatriation Boards: This point was introduced at a meeting of tile Canterbury Repatriation Board, when consideration was given to the application for a loan from a man, as that he might engage in the taxi-driving business. It appears that the applicant, after spending two months in the Cl camp, was employed for 11 months on 'the hospital ship Maarama, on which he contracted malaria. There wai a divergence of opinion regarding the rights of (the board in the matter, and it was ultimately decided that the application be granted, subject to authority being obtained from Wellington.

“This great city of Auckland/’ said Bishop Averill to a meeting of men recently, “is going .to entertain our future King, and has decided to do it with a race meeting. I venture to say that the Prince of Wales will not be greatly amused by a race meeting.” The Bishop wont on to suggest Ithait it would bo vastly more helpful to both the Prince and the people if ho were taken on a Hour of the different humane institutions of tho disltriet. “Let him get among tho children, see tho orphans and the blind. Ho has himself said that ho does not want to see (the country so much as tho people in it/’ continued tho speaker. “Ho will not bo greatly'amused by tho races. Wo have (too'much races, anyway. Let us show him things that will help him to be a better .King, and will encourage tho people to believe in him all the more when tho time comes for him to rule over us,” ,

Nearly a quarter of a million feet of timber is due to arrive at Wei lington this morning from Greymouth The Karori has a cargo of timber for Wellington and Lyttelton.

The coronation ceremony in connection with the Levin .Mardi Gras proved most successful. The attendance was large, the enthusiasm great, and the spectacle a brilliant one.

The Pacific Cable Board notify ‘'until further notice messages for any place other than. .Norfolk Island and Atiarralia cannot, be accepted via Pacific.” All international traffic must be routed via Eastern and additional charges if any collected.

Mr J. J. Dougall, at a mooting ot Christchurch citizens, described every member of the nursing profession ns a victim of public indifference and public apathy. “I agree with the Mayor,” he said, “that the status of the nursing profession should bo close to that of the medical profession, and 1 hope that something will be done soon to improve its status.' -

A rumour gained currency in Invercargill tliis week that the "Defence Department was sending a territorial force ,to Samoa. The rumour was entirely ' without foundation, but it disclosed that a large- number of the youth of the town arc eager to' go abroad for service. The local Defence office was besieged all day by enthusiastic territorials, who were obviously disappointed when they woreytold that there was “nothing doing.”

Information has reached Palmerston North that a gentleman by outward seeming. Ins victimised a number ot gentlemen by nature in Taranaki. From one he “purchased” a farm of 800 acres, and from another a motorcar, gave a cheque for £IOOO, was freely entertained, and told the mechanics at the garage to use the car in his rJbsencc, which they did. The absence now appears to bo permanent, and tho cheque is marked tvith .the mystic letters “N.S.F.”

Before leaving New Zealand, MVerbrugghon, the conductor of ih o State Orchestra, commented adversely on the railway facilities available, and also on the hotel accommodation provided. Ho said that “certain unscrupulous hotelkeepers treated them as members of a travelling circus!” Mr George M irth, of M irth’s Circus, no't writes indignantly to the M’anganui “Chronicle,” stating that a travelling circus has afforded clean and wholesome pleasure to more thousands than the snecrful conductor’s orchestra has to hundreds.

A telegram front Hobart to a Sydney paper states: —George Pearce, aged 17, had a remarkable experience while ratbiting with his father near Strickland. H thrust his hand into a hole do pull out a rabbit, and his thumb was immediately seized by what was subsequenltlv found to be a large snake. He dragged the snake out of the hole, still hanging to his thumb, and called to his father, who killed the snake. The lather’s pocket-knife was too blunt to treat til© wound, and ho therefore told the lad to hold his thumb at the end of the gun barrel, and, pulling the trigger, he blew the thumb off. The lad was taken to the nearest doctor, and ho is now progressing satisfactorily.

Hr J. K, Brown, Balclutha, says ho wonders why the Health Department does not go in for more inoculation as a preventive of influenza. His experience as a surgeon in Egypt and on transport .proved the eflicaey of the vaccine treatment with large todies of men. The transport on which ho came back to New Zealand carried 1500 soldiers, who were inoculated several times before reaching southern seas, and on arrival at Fremantle (M r .A.) they were given shore leave through some misunderstanding, although the “flu’’ was still raging in the town. The men were ouit for a good time, and went everywhere —“'they were looking for influenza” —yet when .the whole contingent was collected and got on board there was not a single case of “flu.’’ They were also given a run ashore at Sydney and Newcastle, with the same happy results. The treatment is comparatively simple, involving no ill-eflocts, and the doctor has inoculated several m Balclutha during tlmf present cpidmeio.