LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15863, 7 July 1919, Page 9

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mrs Wm. Hall, of Ngar'uawahia, gave birth to four sons last week. They are all healthy.—Post.

A branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association has been formed in Palmerston North. There are at present 100 members, and it is • hoped that before August another 100 will be enrolled. At the first meeting of directors the following officers were appointed:—Chairman of Directors, Mr M. H. Oram; hon. treasurer, Mr C,‘F. Spooner; ion. secretary, Mr John H. Dick.

“Is this the man who went over to the Police Station and asked to be locked up?” asked the Magistrate at the Court this morning, when an elderly man came before him on a charge of drunkenness. His Worship said the State could not provide free board and lodging. The cost of hotel accommodation had gone up, and one could mot get anything under 10s a day. He must pay for inviting himself as a guest. A fine of 10s or 24 hours in default was imposed on the defendant for his lapse from sobriety. \ A sensational experience befel a party consisting of three men and two women at Matau, in the Upper IVaitara. Hie intended crossing of the, river, 50 feet in width, by cage, and four being seated, the fifth member of the party jumped in behind, but the extra weight was 'too much for the rope, which parted before the journey was completed, precipitating all the passengers into the river 47 feet below. Fortunately there was deep water at the spot. One man, Mr P. Eaife, succeeded in saving the two women, and the other men) though unable to swim, managed to scramble out, all eventually reaching the opposite side.

The recent action of the Christchurch City Council regarding Anzac Day was severely criticised at a meeting of the executive of the Christchurch Returned. Soldiers' Association this week, and the following motion was carried unanimously: “That this executive of the Christchurch Eeturned Soldiers’ Association 'takes strong exception to the suggestion hy the Christchurch City Council that Anzac Day should be commemorated on a .Sunday in lieu of 25th April, and emphatically states that little interest will be. taken in commemoration on any day but that which is most cherished by the returned soldiers, The Association again strongly urges that Anzac Day should be observed as a close holiday.” “There are too many cases of this kind for the pleasure of,the Council,” remarked Mr Brodie, on behalf of the Borough Council, at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, in a prosecution where J Coakley was charged with allowing his horse to wander in College Street. Mr Brodie went on to say that the horse was found in a garden of a resident in that street, and had done considerable damage. The defendant said he understood that the matter had been arranged with the owner of the garden, “There seems to be only one way in which to deal with men who use the long green paddock. *ln a town like Wanganui, where many people take a considerable trouble with gardens, it was essential that this nuisance should be abated,” said his Worship. The defendant was fined 20s . and ordered to pay 10s fid solicitor’s fee, and 7s court costs.

An action for alleged assault was heard at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, the parties concerned being residents of Wanganui East. The plaintiff stated that he employed defendant’s boy to milk some cows and paid him 7s a week The boy intinmted that he was leaving, whereupon plaintiff arranged that he should work for another week ar.d receive his pay at the end of two weeks. Defendant came to see plaintiff that evening and demanded payment of 7s, following this demand up with a couple of severe blows. A struggle ens.ued, in which plaintiff held defendant down. The defendant said there was a dispute about the boy’s wages. Plaintiff seemed to be very excited and pushed at him. The defendant thought plaintiff was going to strike him and so struck at him. There was a bit of a struggle, and plaintiff sat on defendant and punched him. The Magistrate dismissed the information, with costs against the plaintiff. He remarked that the latter had only himself to blame, The following notices of motion, bv Miss F. Roberts, Mr P. M. Jackson, and Mr W. W. Rountree, respectively, are to be discussed at the meeting ,of the New Zealand Educational Institute on Monday next:—“ That whereas in accordance with the provisions of No. 45 of the Staffs and Salaries Regulations an infant mistress has been appointed in schools of Grade VC and upwards, this branch recognises the importance of the duties of the infant mistress, and respectfully recommends that the position should carry the grade of salary co-equal with that of the first assistant in the school”; ‘ ‘that every teacher receive, beside his fixed salary, an increase equal to the increase in the cost of living. This increase to take effect from 1914”; “that the opinion ot this branch is that the present grading scheme is most unsatisfactory and ought to be abolished”; and that the following scheme should be adopted, viz.; —( ° That there be three g«aded lists—(a) head teachers; (b) male assistants; (c) female assistants. (2) That the marks be: Efficiency 160, service 26, literary attainments 15, A certificate 15, B 14 C 13. D 3; total 200.”

The recommendation of the Minister for Mines to invite applications fox; the appointment of addition officers; for, the Mines Department has "been approved by Cabinet. 'The hew officers will 1 include a geological expert, a palaeontologist,* and assistants. There have been many applications by districts for geological survefife and soil survey for a considerable time past, .and it is. hoped, now, in | conjunction with the Agricultural Department; to put these necessary surveys in hand. Speaking at a meeting of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute, Mr Edgar F. Stead said that at times a mysterious “something' 'would attack certain animals in New Zealand causing them to he almost exterminated in certain places. For the want of a better name-he would call this “something” a sickness. In many places where rabbits had thrived a few years ago there were now hardly any, and he doubted whether strong, healthy rabbits introduced to these places would thrive. He considered it would pay the Government to investigate the matter as it applied to rabbits. _

The house hunter is not peculiar to Wanganui, for, says the Gamaru Mail, the sign, “A House to Let” appearing in Oamaru at the. present time is like a red flag to a hull, causing a commotion of some magnitude, and the rushing hither and theither to And its owner, aftid afterwards to view the premises. The house shortage is extremely severe, and anything with, four walls is being used for living purposes. One local resident had reason the other day to feel the full weight of the shortage. The mistress of the house had occasion to remove her curtains for the purpose of washing, and at the same time de- . taehed the blinds for renovating. Hardly had these dr apings been lowered when the rush set in, and throughout the day her time was occupied in answering calls ‘to know, when the house would be vacant. Needless to say she wasted no time in hanging the* articles again, as a visible sign that the place was occupied.

At Chalmers* Hospital, Christchurch, the carpenters’ shop and occupation room are being enlarged to cope with the increased attendance of soldier patients for vocational training. Out of 91 pate ients at Hanmer, 80 have been attending the classes, which have been established in the following subjects:—General agriculture, stock breeding bookkeeping, shorthand, typewriting, economics, hoot repairing, sign writing, and motor repairing. The motor repairing class, with 29 pupils, has been very successful. It is intended to establish a wool-sorting class when the building now being erected for its accommodation is completed. The classes in agriculture, economics, and motor engineering are exceptionally large. The economics class numbers 40, and is being conducted by one of the patients, who is himself an enthusiast. Classes have also been established in Timaru, and a new carpenters’ shop is being built, as the present workroom is too small to accommodate the number of soldiers who wish for instruction.

"Very favourable comment has b^e ll made regarding the conduct of the troops which were on parade at yesterday’s Pence celebrations. Their discipline, steadiness, and conduct on parade were excellent. Speaking to a “Herald” representative this morning, a military authority remarked that the public should be warned against interfering with or blocking the progress of troops, otherwise the consequences might he serious It was noticeable yesterday afternoon that a large section of the public was standing around the entrances of both the Drill Hall and His Majesty’s Theatre, and it was only with considerable difficulty that the troops were able to force an entrance,, especially to the latter building. It should be remmembered that troops on the march constitute a very powerful machine, which can only act on orders, and any nnoraganised body which comes against it on the march is in danger of receiving severe injury. The procedure in ail church parades, and this was followed yesterday, was that the troops should march into the building where (ho service is to be held, taking precedence o f the public. The same ord.r was deserved at the conclusion of (he service. This was carried out, not, only in respect to the King’s uniform, but for the safety of the public. The service yesterday was fb? those f< •idng part of the procession. Th© main entrance of the theatre was picketed against entrance of the public until the troops and school children forming part of the parade were seated, but’ some or the public found an entrance and occupied seats which had been reserved. the main body of troops marched into the theatre, a woman who was carrying a ten months’ old child, was knocked down. This is an instance of the danger run by the public in coming into contact with troops on the march. But for the excellent discipline and most creditable behaviour of the troops yesterday, a much more serious accident would have occurred.