NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 29

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

AUCKLAND. To the question v. hether married couples with children are wanted here, the judging by the result of inquiries in Labour circles by a press representative, seems to be a most emphatic “ No.” The Labour Department claims, that special efforts are made to place farm couples with children in suitable places in the country, but fanners object to “ encumbrances.” They are willing, and often anxious, to engage a married couple, but the mention of cnildren in nearly every case ends all chances of employment for the willing parents. This is said to be largely on account of the difficulty of providing accommodation. Another phase of the problem is that landlords, in finding tenants for their houses, give a preference to a tenant “ without encumbrances,” and in some cases landlords go so far as to refuse to let their houses to married couples with young children. Here is a case in point: A working man who had taken a house in Auckland recently received notice from his landlord that he would have to vacate. The man offered a higher rental. but it was of no avail. The- owner of the house told him he could not com tinue longer in occupation, as he had a tenant wanting the house who had no young children. The children had settled the- ques-ion. A disability that presses hard on mothers is the increasing difficulty of obtaining hired help in the household duties. There is a very manifest disinclination on the part of domestics to take engagements where there are children of tender years. A medical congress, at which important results of research work were made known, was recently held at Manila. Major A. Hooton, of the Indian Medical Service, who arrived in Auckland by the Morea, on Wednesday, attended the conference, which was the first held under the auspices of the Par Eastern Association of Tropical Medicine, as the representative of the Government of India, and delegates were also present from Ceylon, Singapore, Siam, Hongkong, Japan, and the German possessions in China. In referring, >n the course of an interview, to tie success of the meeting. Major Hooton said that one of the most remarkable results made known referred to Jeprosy, the bacillus of which may now he said almost with certainty to have been at last successfully cultivated. It was also announced that a new treatment had been evolved' for cancer which appears to be most promising. The treatment has been tried for nearly a year, and the Manila doctors state that almost all the cases treated have improved materially. Major Hooton added that it was too early yet to say whether the cure was permanent or not, but a number of cases had been treated which would not otherwise have been treated, and the persons were still living after a considerable period and were much improved. The treatment consists of an injection of vaccine. The Shelter for Men, which the Salvation Army is about to erect on the .ground acquired by the Army authorities at the corner of Lome and St. Paul streets, will contain several new and interesting features. One will be a ward for the accommodation of men under the influence of li’quor. The shelter will be a three-storey building in brick and concrete. The land and structure together will cost £6OOO, and of this £2500 is provided under the will of the late Mrs Knox. On the top floor a special ward will he provided as a memorial to the late Mrs Knox, the beds in which will be absolutely free. The new building- will accommodate 130, against 74, the capacity of the present shelter. It is intended ultimately to replace the nresent “ People’s Palace ” by an up-to-date structure on the lines of the Wellington establishment. The £SOO left by the late Mrs Knox to the Prison Gate Home is being applied to renovating and painting the building and erecting a house for the officers. This will allow the whole building to be used solely for the accommodation of inmates, and it will be possible to take 16 or 18 more. The officials are much hampered for want of room, and men are sleeping in all sorts of odd corners, while some applicants have, bad to he turned away. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce is interesting itself in the work of the School of Commerce connected with the Auckland University College. It is proposed to establish a degree of commerce and an associateship of commerce, and to aim at imparting by special lectures by prominent commercial men sound instruction in practical commerce. Business men will be asked to recognise this degree as a mark of efficiency. The chamber also proposes to found several scholarships. Burglars entered the Remuera Road Board office on Saturday morning. A quantity of clay was found inserted in the keyhole of the safe, and outside on the roadway was discovered a plug of gelignite, while not far distant a bicycle lamp and a glove were found. The way in which these articles were scattered indicated that the intruder or intruders had been disturbed. As it happened, if the safe had been exploded nothing of a valuable character would have been secured. POVERTY BAY. On the recommendation of Dr Valintine the Gisborne Hospital Board has decided to purchase a new site • of about 25 acres for a hospital. It is proposed to dispose of the present hospital buildings and erect an up-to-date ‘nstitution.

HAWKE’S BAT. The owners of trawlers state that the industry in.Hawke’s Bay is at present at a very low ebb, and they have approached the emoloyees with a view to a modification of the conditions of employment. The small catches of fish are attributed to the absence of westerly winds, and those acquainted with the bay believe that the industry will pick up again in time. Some vessels have been laid up, but several are still working. Deliberate attempts to burn down Stewart’s Hall, next to M‘Bengali's book depot, Wairoa, were made on the 19th. On the building being opened it was found that a stained glass window at the back had been smashed. On a table was a bundle of half burnt clothing, which had been taken from a wash-house at Storey’s Hotel. Judgment was given at Dannevirke in an unusual case, that of Woulfe v. Woulfe. The plaintiff, who is a niece of the defendant, claimed £IOO in respect of an alleged breach of agreement, whereby the defendant agreed, if the plaintiff lett England and came to New Zealand, and there acted as defendant’s housekeeper, to provide her with a home and leave her by will all his property. The plaintiff sold up her business in England to carry out the agreement, and found on arrival that the defendant’s representations as to means, etc., were false. Judgment was given for the full amount claimed, with costs. An elderly man named James Stevens pleaded “ Guilty ” to a charge of stabbing Constable Keane on April 5 after the accused had been arrested on a charge ot drunkenness. Stevens was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. WELLINGTON. Sir James Mills, managing director of the Union Company, arrived at Wellington from the south by the Mararoa on the 19th inst. At - a- meeting of the Executive Council the same morning, his Excellency the Governor presented him with the patent and insignia of office of the knighthood recently conferred upon him by the King. Sir James Mills, who will shortly leave for London, returned south by to-night’s steamer. At Taihape on the 20th Frank and Edward Merritt were each fined £25 and costs on a charge ot supplying liquor to a Maori for consumption off the premises. Another myth has been destroyed. It concerns the Boer general, De Wet. New Zealanders pictured him on a fine steed careering over the veldt, and generally galloping away from the British pursuers. When Lord Kitchener was here recently he told Sir Joseph Ward the true story. As a matter of tact, De Wet was unable to ride. He was a burly personage—a outeher by trade—and got about the country in a Cape cart, frequently leaving camp on foot and going to a quiet farmhouse near by, whilst his pursuers were supposed to be hot on his trail. Lord Roberts,* writing to Mr J. T. Marshall, of Wellington, says “ Not only is shooting in New Zealand 'doing well, but in adopting the principle of universal military training, she is setting a fine example to the Mother Country, which I trust may soon be followed. Lord Kitchener’s pre-. sence in the country, and his advice and experience will be of the greatest use in helping the Government to work out a sound system of defence. lam glad to hear that the Boy Scout movement is likely to flourish in the Dominion, as it affords an excellent preparation for the Cadet training which is doing so much good for your boys.” A very big work is proposed in the Rangitaiki. At an interview with the Hon.. R. MTvenzie, Mr C. M‘Cutcheon, speaking on behalf of the Rangitaiki Drainage Board, stated that they wla tied to divert the course of the Rangitaiki and Tarawera Rivers at points near the mouths and send them right into the Bay of Plenty, thereby draining the whole of the 70,000 acres of swamp land in the immediate vicinity. The area in question, when drained, would be capable of producing a quarter of a million a year. According to expert advices, an expenditure of £25,000 in diverting the river would give the desired effect. The board had already put in 100 miles of drainage without much benefit, and the position now was that the Government had to help it, or the mortgagees would walk in. Owners of homing pigeons have long suspected (says the Post) that many, if not most of their losses in birds have been due to the misplaced marksmanship of socalled “ sportsmen.” A. confirmation of this was given by Mr W. Bailey, a wellknown keeper of racing pigeons, who yesterday showed a Post reporter a bird still living, from which he had extracted several shot. It is Mr Bailey’s custom to give his birds exercise daily. As soon as they are released from the loft he finds that they nearly always fly in the direction of Happy Valley and the hills beyond. Last Sunday, after the birds had come back from their outing, he missed three, and presently one came flying slowly through the air, with one of its legs dangling in a disabled condition. It proved to be one of the missing birds, which had been shot in the side. Mr Bailey extracted the pellets, and the bird will probably live. This is convincing proof of a very mean, discreditable practice among men and boys with shot guns of firing at tame pigeons. Several members of the Wellington Homing Society have lost birds in this way, and Mr Bailey has lost one of the best flyers in his loft—a ben which had flown all the way from Parenga, 500 miles away, by herself. As the birds are exceedingly valuable, and in time of war might prove the salvation of a besieged town by communication with the outside world, the practice cannot be too strongly condemned. It has been decided that no rock oysters are to be taken this year from the northern oyster beds. Mr Ayson, inspector of fisheries, having visited these beds, recommends that owing to the depletion that has taken place these beds should be given a rest. At the most there would be only

' a month’s supply. Younig oysters have been taken to these beds, but they will take four years to mature. WEST COAST. A public meeting was held at Hokitika for the purpose of organising a committee to arrange for the carrying out of the annual fire brigades’ demonstration, to be held in Hokitika next February. A strong committee was appointed, and it was resolved that £4OO be the minimum amount of prize money for the competitions. A barnacle-encrusted bottle was picked up near Westport containing a paper put overboard from the s.s. Pericles on August 6, 1903. The position of the ship then was northward of the Crozets. The bottle has drifted over 7000 miles. Mr Wade, of Wanganui, nas been appointed judge of the Greymouth band contest, to be held next month. Seven bands have entered, and other entries are anticipated. * The Greymouth Methodist Choir will compete at the Christchurch choir gala. CANTERBURY. Two stacks of oat sheaves containing approximately 1000 bushels of grain, the property of Mr John Cochrane, were totally destroyed by lire at Elgin, Ashburton. It is supposed that the cause waiS a spark from the engine driving the machine about to commence threshing the grain.