LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11207, 13 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Corporal 0. M. Norm, of the Dannevirke Mounted Rifles, left by the-Mono-wai last night in charge of a detachment of infantry of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to join the main body of the troops in Wellington. The need of a municipal cooling chamber in Lyttelton was mentioned by Councillor W. Radcliffe at the meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council last night. After some discussion it was decided to refer the matter to the Abattoirs Committee for a report.

The adjourned case against Carlo Guabello Bartholomeo on a charge of alleged arson at Lyttelton on September 30 was again called at a sitting of the Lyttelton Magistrate's Court this morning, but on the application of Senior-Sergeant Ryan the ease was adjourned for a week.

Mr George Sheat, one of the Reform candidates for the Selwyu seat,, opened his campaign at Tucker's Hall, Rakaia, last evening, when ho addressed an audience of about one hundred and twenty persons. The motion declared carried was as follows: " That we, the electors of Selwyn, representing the _ Reform Party assembled in public meeting at Rakaia, hereby pass a vote of no-confidence in Mr Georgo Shoat as our candidate- at the coming election; furthor that tho Prime Minister (Mr Massey) and the Ministry be requested to ask Mr Sheat to stand down in favour of Mr Joseph Hamlet." (Applause.)

At a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Land Values League (Auckland branch), it was decided to put the following questions to Parliamentary candidates:—(l) Would you if elected demand the reduction of the Customs taxes ou the necessaries of life? The taxation thus remitted to be made up by an increase of at least 3d in the pound on the ordinary land tax, with no exemptions in respect of such increase. (2) Will the candidate if elected demand that the cost of the war and the cost of defence generally shall be met by the taxation of land values, and not by Customs taxes, which already amount to au income tax of 6s in the pound on the average income of £l3O a year? (3) Aro you in favour of proportional representation ?

Apparently the sinking of the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer, Kaipara, involved the loss of a contribution from New Zealand for the relief of distress at Home. The " Western Daily Mail," of August 21, reports that tho Lord Mayor of Bristol, addressing a meeting on the previous day, said that tho_ Bristol and Dominions Produce Association had received a cable from Mr W. D. Lysnar, the resident director in New Zealand, stating that shareholders in the Association and other producers had authorised a large amount of beef, mutton and lamb on. board the s.s. Kaipara, a liner on her way to Avonmouth. to be given to the families of Bristolians on active service. A number of names were associated with thh practical example of sympathy and loyalty, and the retail value of the meat was no less than £-160. Tho gift nroducedwarm applause, and the Lord Mayor said he hud provided for the distribution of this gift, _so that it might reach those for whom it was intended.

The following is the report on tha Canterbury trout streams this morning:—Waimakariri north (clear), Waimakariri south (discoloured), Jiakaia (iishablo). Waitaki (clear), and Opilii (clear). Mr W. 11. Hawkins, tho Liberal Candida to for Stratford, is an uncompromising opponent of sectarianism in politics. In a recent address ho said; "1 stand hero to-night as tho sworn uncompromising enemy of ' sectarian, bigotry.' n is a withering, blighting curso that exists only under tho ban 01 heaven and tho smiles .of hell. It was spawned by Satan to divide the home, blight the nation, and curso tho world. From whatever source it springs, ! hate it with an undying hatred, and I shall fight it as long as God gives mo breath. If at any time during the, progress of the present political light this hydru-lieaded sectarian monster is drugged into the firing lino, whether by party hack or by "sectarian bigot, crush it even as you would crush any other viper that exists only for tho blight and ruin of mankind." (Loud applause.) Auckland's municipal fish market was referred to by the Mayor of that city, in view of tho fact that applications are now being invited for tho position of manager and salesman. The '• Herald"' states that he said the City Council desired to give the fishermen the first chauco of co-operating and making the scheme a success. Trawling would not be resorted to unless tho authorities found it otherwise .impossible to supply the city, but the .Mayor stated that ho had no fears in this respect. The secretary of tho_ Thames Chamber of Commerce had written, stating that they could supply the Auckland municipal market with all the fish required at prices quite as low as those which would obtain as tho result of trawling. Mr Parr remarked that an attempt must be made to solve tho problem of how to supply cheap fish, and now the summer was approaching it was hoped that prices would bo very much reduced.

Two Belgians appeared in the dock at the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, yesterday. Both are seamen 011 the steamer Arrino. The first called was John Baptist Cuvillier, who was charged with drunkenness and with resisting the arrest. On the first information he was merely convicted, and on the second fined £l, in default three days in gaol. Emile Van Hove then came forward to answer a charge of using obscene language, and said he could not speak English. When an interpreter was obtained, Hove said he remembered nothing of the occurrence; that if the constable said he did, use bad language it must bo so; that he was very sorry and did not know that he was doing wrong. Mr D. G. A. Cooper, _ S.M. (to the interpreter) " Tell him I am very sorry to have to convict one of his nation, but under the circumstances I will impose a small fine of 10s—a very small fine for such, an offence. If. he does not pay, he must go to prison for three days." This information was duly conveyed to accused, who thereupon left the dock.

Referring to the proposal that townspeople go out into the country and assist the farmers in the direction of growing as much wheat as possible, Mr J. G. Wilson, Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, iu a letter in the last issue of the Farmers' " Advocate," states that he has been assured that practically every team in the" Dominion is at present either 'engaged turning oyer the land or getting • crops in, including much extra wheat, ana, as thex-e is no work which can be done, otherwise than by ''our faithful friend the horse," it is impossible to employ more men in the process. " When harvest time conies, however," continues Mr Wilson, "it will be another thing; all hands and the cook can be engaged then, and it would facilitate the garnering of the.grain, which may be so precious, if townsmen would help at that time. In fact, I have taken upon myself to say to the farmers that they will do so. _. . Hay is another necessary production, and probably we shall require assistance with that, for in our moist climate speed is often the only way to get hay in, in good order." One would imagine, that the hundred odd Germans who are compelled to make Somes Island their home for the time being were immune from invasion, yet on Wednesday the small Teuton populace was set in a ferment of excitement by an untoward invasion of their island prison. invasion was nob made by an armed force of men, however, but simply by a solitary bullock of Hereford breed. The intruder was armed, however, with two formidable 1 orns. He had swum the harbour from' Ngahauranga, presumably to escape the butcher's knife, and had sought refuge at the island. The German populace gathered at a tactful distance rroiu the animal, as, dripping with water and almost exhausted from its long swim, it stood on the beach. Then some of the watchers endeavoured to " shoo " the animal to a more hospitable spot. Several of the bolder spirits approached the bullock, which quickly retreated again into tlio harbour. Asain and again the attempt was repeated, but the animal, unnerved by its immersion, each time retreated. The bullock, wet, miserable and exhausted, was still shivering on the beach "when night fell. Some interesting sidelights on the conditions in and about Glasgow consequent upon the outbreak of war are contained in a letter, dated August 20, received by Mr John M'Pherson, City Forester, Dunedin. The writer says: "We have had some stirring times. Dunoon has been invaded with soldiers and Territorials. The fort at Ardhollow is fully manned, and the Argyll and Sutherland Volunteers were mobilised here. . . The-Clyde is being well guarded, and every steamer, whether flying a Union Jack or not. is searched by naval officers. Each of the railway steamers has to get a daily permit to sail in the_ Firth. The only torpedo works in Britain are at Fort Matilda, arid they are being zealously guarded. Even a tram car when it comes near the works is stopped, and passengers on top are made to go inside. The car starts again, and after a non-stop run past, the works passengers are allowed on top again. 1 can tell you they are taking 310 risks. . . _ . Anyone with a camera is immediately stopped and detained until his plates are examined by an officer. The convalescent homes _ were cleared of patients and turned into barracks, and the Grammar School was put to a similar use. The mobilisation of the troops was splendid. It v. ill come hard on the man if the war lasts long, but relief funds have been openod everywhere. 11

Ono of tha most modern appliances Mr Morris (secretary of the Post and Telegraph Service, who recently visited America) saw in New York was a new stamp-printing machine and plant, which in an area 3ft bv 18ft printed, gummed, perforated and cut into rolls thousands upon thousands of stamps as required. The old system used in other countries absorbed quite a large area of building, and the new arrangement was quite a feature of mechanical ingenuity. " Another great feature in Now York." continued Mr Morris, "is the telephone exchange. There are said to be 560,000 telephono subscribers m that city, and 10,000.000 telephones. The svstem is the common battery. It works splendidly. The telephone exchange—floor upon floor—is a revelation. The operators are women. They work right on in shifts, night and tiny. The officials sav that men operators are not necessary.'" In the telegraph business Mr Morris found that the Americans had got past the experimental stage with the patent of a New Zealander, Mr Donald Murray. This, it was claimed, would send out printed messages, receive and despatch over the one line. The system had been installed in Boston and New York Among other American features that Mr Morris saw was the Congressional library of Washington, whero books were moved by simply sticking a tab in an endless rotary machine, which also returned the book, after it had been read, to its proper ica^tacle.

The question of overhanging trees was mentioned by Councillor Collins at tlio meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council last evening. He stated that quite recently a gentleman had an eye injured through coming in contact with a branch. It was decided to refer the matter to the Inspector for attention.

At tho meeting of the Lyttelton Box** ougli Council last evening the question of improving tho Sumner-Lyttelton Road was mentioned. Councillor J. Horton said that ho had been informed that the Christchurch City Council iiad contr.buted £SOO towards the work. Councillor M. J, Miller said tnafc ho wars under tha impression that money hau been voted towards tho rormation of another route. Tho town clerk (Mr L. A. Stringer) said that the .natter was quite satisfactory, as the Minister of 1 üblic "Works had particularly mentioned the a work winch; the Government was prepared to ■»ubsidiso provided the local bodies con* br.outed He understood that the sur. vey of the late Captain Thomas's road md been completed, and that a start would be made to-day to survey the proposed deviations to tho Zig-Zag. Inquiries made by an Auckland btar representative ascertained that during the past few weeks quite a number of hidden wireless installations have been discovered in the course of the search—in backyards, on roofs, and upon other points adapted to intercepting messages. The assurance is given that so far there have been no suspicious circumstances connected with any of the stations discovered, and that in every case, the police and the postal authorities are satisfied that the apparatus Was being used by boys for perfectly innocent purposes. For that reason no action has been taken against those responsible for the erection of the wires. However, in view of the fact that by this time amateur wireless operators have had ample opportunity of realising the unwisdom of continuing thea| experiments, the police have aecida® that in all future cases discovered thsgp will take action and bring the offender to Court.

It is frequently asserted that State Departments generally fail to show their clients the courtesy and consideration that are regarded as essential in successfully conducted private enterprises, but as an example of official arbitrariness and disregard for reasonable business methods it would bo hard to surpass the disconnection of several telephones in Invercarg'll last week, says the " Southland Times." It appears that Thursday was the last day for the payment of the telephone subscriptions, and because the matter had been overlooked a number of important business firms and several well-known citizens were summarily " cut off " yesterday morning. Surely it is a needless affront and irritation, as well as a ridiculously narrow and short-sighted reading of departmental regulations, to seriously inconvenience a substantial business firm simply because it is a day late in paying an account of paltry dimensions. Doubtless it would be a. mistake to allow unreasonable latitude, but would it not be a matter of simple courtesy and good business if a lad in the Department were instructed to ring up the dilatory subscriber and give .*> reminder that the fees were overdue?

An exciting time was experienced by passengers on board the steamar Paroo, whioh arrived at Fremantlo frcm Singapore and ports, recently. The Paroowaa delayed an extra sevon days-at Singapore, as th-3 "all clear" signal had come through from the naval authorities. On the Saturday before the Paroo actually set sail for Australia • uswa came to hand that the British steamer City of Lincoln, 0867 tons, belonging to the Ellerman's Line, Limited, had hoes sunk off Penang by a German anriser. The passengers of tho City of Idr.eola had been given twenty-niuo 'niiii/ea in which to leave their ship. In vies? of this news the passengers of tho Par roo felt the greatest apprehension whoa proceeding down the Straits of Sunda. Nothing had been left to chance, ar.d all the boats of the vessel were fully provisioned. At night all the lights were put out. Much to the relief of all on board, tho West Australian coasfc was sighted without anything untoward having occurred. The officers of tho Paroo state that matters are very bad in Singapore since the outbreak of war. All the tin mines have closed down,: and the coolies are being shipped back to China at the rate of about four or five thousand per week. Business was also very bad in Java, where paper money was now absolutely useless.

The St Albans School Committee meb last evening; present—Messrs E. idj. Andrews (chairman). J. W. Beanland, A- H. Hobbs, J. M'Farlane, J. D. Golville, F. C-010, A. D. Hassall and Mri Stewart. It was decided to send a favourable reply to Mrs S. Page, who sought permission on behalf of Mips Lloyd to address the scholars on International Peace. The Board wrdt-e that £36 9s 3d had been placed to the crediti of the incidental fund. Sick leave had been granted to Mr Somerset and M ; sS Doris Hassall, and Miss Joll and Miss Best were added to the staff. It- was resolved that Mr "Wilson be granted leave to attend the' University examination. Report was made that"the contractor had carried out _ the improvements to the bath satisfactorily nt a cost of £3l. Messrs Colyille and Hassall Avere appointed a visiting committee. The headmaster reported that! tho attendance last week numbered 698 out of a roll of 770. The average attendance for the month had b?ei| 689, and the highest attendance 704. The mil number for September. 1913, was 694, and September, 1914, 743. The chairman estimated 'that as a result of a conference between the staff ana committee t-hnt evening it had_ beei| decided to hold the annual excursion at Asbbui-fcon on Saturday, December 5, and a sub-committee was appointed to make necessary arrangements.