THE COLON IST. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1919. SUMMARY NOTES.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14869, 18 September 1918, Page 4

THE COLON IST. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1919. SUMMARY NOTES.

The Dominion and the War.

The turn of the tide on the Western front, and the dramatic success of. the Allies' repeated blows have thrilled the Dominion, which - sees hr the changed aspect of affairs the beginning of the end. The severity of the fighting in which our troops have borne a part ia reflected in the daily casualty lists, which, after tho long period passed by the New Zealand division in less eventin{ sectors, recall''the losses su^ered. in earlier days. Meanwhile the war effort of the country continues without 'in-' terruption. The; 46th "Reinforcements mobilised this/month, the Nelson quota being given a public, .send^ff on'Sepj-': tember 9th. This draft is mainly coniposed of Second Division class B men. The men remaining in clasa C will be called up en bloc this week, after which there is a possibility of a brief respite before Class D (men with three children) goes into the ballot.

Proposed Purchase of the Wharves.

The long-debated proposal that the Harbour Board should acquire the wharves from the Railway Department will be decided one way or the other at a poll of ratepayers »on Tuesday next. When the harboiir district was constituted some eighteen years ago, and the administration passed into the hands of the Harbour Board, the Railway Department retained the wharves and the foreshore, and has controlled them ever since. It has long been felt that this dual control was not in the {best interests' of the port, and that so | essential an enterprise as the wharves should be under the! Harbour Board's jurisdiction. There are also other reasons' which make it extremely desirable that the wharves should be xmder local control. Until the war unfortunately interrupted the ordinary activities of the country, the trade- of the port was showing a steady upward tendency, and something approaching a boom is to be expected when peace conditions return. It is felt, therefore, that the time is peculiarly opportune for the district to acquire the wharves and be in a position to reap the fullest advantage from the harbour in future years.. The property has been placed under offer to the Board at a very reasonable valuation based on the present revenue, the amount necessary to effect the purchase 'being. c £103,000. In the event of-the. proposal being carried tne loan will be forthcoming on favourable terms from the ■■ Government.-:---' . ■

Parliamentary Vacancies.

Two vacancies in the House of Repre-sentatives-have been occasioned by the death of members. Mr Robert Fletcher, who had represented Wellington Central for several years, died on the 4th inst. Mr Fletcher had been a prominent public man in Wellington for a long period, included in his public service being a useful term of office as chairman .of the Wellington Harbour Board. Mr Fletcher's death was followed on September 12th by that of Mr H. J. H. Okey, member for Taranakii Mr Okey also had a long period of service on public bodies to his credit, his Parliamentary career dating from 1907. Several candidates are mentioned for tho Wellington Central seat, and among those already definitely announced is Mr Harry Atmore, the ex-^nember for Nelson. The official candidate of the National Government will be Mr W. T. Hildroth,. a Wellington business man. The date of tTTe by-election is October 3rd.

The Grey Seat.

The return, of Mr. H. E. Holland as member for Grey was the subject of a petit-ion by the defeated candidate, Mr T. E. Coates, who advanced various grounds on whicli Mr Holland's return should be set aside. The petition was adjudicated upon by an Electoral Court at Greymouth last week, when the decision of the judges on certain issues agreed to by the parties being against him, the petitioner abandoned the proceedings. Mr Holland's return was therefore affirmed, and the petition was dismissed with costs.

The Hon. C. W. Russel!.

On his return to Wellington from the West Coast this week the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, broke his journey at Nelson. He was accorded a civic welcome on Monday evening, when lie delivered an interesting address on some phases of the work of his department, particularly in regard to hospitals. Mr Russell, who has proved a good friend to Nelson in connection with the finances of the new Hospital, tho erection of which has unfortunately to be left in abeyance tyntil after the war, announced _that in the event of the Board being able to secure a more suitable site for the new building, at a cost of up to £5000, the Government- would bear a half share of the cost.

"Our Day."

Arrangements are well in hand for the raising of Nelson's contribution, towards tho annual special appeal on behalf of the British Red Cross, which is to close on October 24th. Daffodil Day, in aid of this fund, was,hold on Saturday last, and • the proceedings were entered into with the usual enthusiasm, the financial result being a return of over £300 for the fund. The spring show of the Nelson Horticultural Society was again held in conjunction with Daffodil Day, and for the same object, and it also was very successful in every way. Last year Nelson raised £1500 for the Our Day fund, and it is hoped that this year there will bo a larger amount to send forward to headquarters in London.