News of the Dominion

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 19, 8 May 1912, Page 4

News of the Dominion

A Petrol Famine. i / T SERIOUS shortage of benzine and / I petrol .ss<Eg anxiety in the [I Do<r«:i..<n centres. In Auckland petrol is s-.r.e. the price i- ally r.-.ug. ar., I users are being . nvra cured. D»e Utembc h -iipp’.v - reported to be exhausted, ad costing ; ‘ a ease. The ex -ster >■ of the motor traffic is temporarily thieatenel. Ihnsd n has not been affe -t d to - - a ser.cus ext«nt. An Alleged Trust. The st c.-i i.rider the New Zeuinnd Ccxnttn -ii Trosts Aet of 19i0, m likely to e use on for hearing at the next sittings of : ■- Supreme Vo-art in Wei’.ing- *: :: Information laid against the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. last Febraary. charging it -*sth having committed a breach of the Aet. whieh renders any p-rs r> or firm liable to a fine of £5OO if it enters into a conspiracy to monopo--1 ,e. wholly or part.ally, the demand or supply of any goods in New Zealand if s-.seh a monopoly is against the publie interest. It is alleged that the Colonial Sugar Co. gave preferential terms to a group cf merchants, and that a table of discounts was in existence under ■» . h only pur. hasers of unwsually large quantities of sugar could obtain genefit. Ti e Merchants’ Association of Near Zealand as been joined with the Sugar Co. as defendants. There are over fifty- members of this association, but as a test of the individual petition of all these members the <?rown has selected of their number leading Wellington wholesalers: Messrs. Levin and Co.. Wm. Bannatyne and Co . and Joseph Nathan and Co. for prosecution. Under the same law the Supreme Court has just granted what is technically termed "an order for discovery” against the defendants. This is aa exeeedinalv important ste> as it gives the Crown power to examin the documents oi the firms, including Jarir correspondence relating to the pur< base and sale of the commodity alleged to be the subject of a monopoly arrangement. Disinfecting Schools. Replying to an inqutry by the Wellington Education Board on the subject of s'hot I epidemics and disinfection, the District Health Officer (Dr. Chessoni wrote the Board as follows: "The work of disinfection for the prevention of infe:tiou* >’seases has teen for some time now handed over to the Hospital Beards .'-nd consequently the authority dealing with disinfection in this district at the present time is the Wellington Hospital E* an’. Disinfection once a year would not. however, be a safe measure to trust to for the prevention of various epidemies in the schools. At any time disinfect on is only a preliminary step to a thorough and efficient house-cleaning. In my opinion, therefore. the various school committees should be instructed to have the schools under their control thoroughly and efficiently 'spring-cleaned’ every week: this should include attention to floors, walls, and desks especially. Sates and everything used or likely to be used by the children in common should be cleansed daily. I think if such matters were conscientiously and regularly attended to more good would be done thaa by an occasional disinfection.'’ Dr. i'hesson's report was formally “received.” Papeete Harbour Works. When the Panama Canal is opened toward* the end of 1913, Tahiti will lie al most la the direct route of shipping between European and Eastern American ports, and Australia and New Zealand, and will in all probability become an important port of eall. The Talune. which arrives! from the Cock and Society Island on Fridav afternoon, brought information that a Fren -h syndicate under the a:»t»ries of the French Government intend to carry cut harbour improvements on a vertex ten-ire scale at Papeete (Tahiti), in view rf the approaching opening of the eanal. It is stale] that a sum of £900.000 la to be spent in the construction nt no-to-date wharves, the building of a dry doek. capable of accommodating vessels of the largest type that will be able to work the canal, and in deepening and uuprov ing the approaches to the port.

Affilia a. A meetuig oi members and friends of the Auckland l-ramh of the New Zealand Land Values league was held last week. Me-srs. F. M. King and Arthur Withy id-.ieg.v.e-. respectively, from the Auckland and Wellington branches of the League to the re cent Unity Conference held at Wellington) gave their reports as to the proceedings at the Conference, and on the motion of Mr. King the following resolution was passed unanimously: “That, in view of the prominent position wh ch has been accorded to the taxation of land values in the programme of the United Labour party and of the further fact that many other fundamental reforms. which in the past have been advocated by members of the Land Values League. have also been ineluded, this brails T of the League re-e’-es to affiliate with the United Labour party.” The H Geo. Fowlds announced, amid loud applause. that he was about to undertake forthwith aa active campaign on behalf of the United Labour party, and that he was leaving Auckland o-i 8-..’>iday to commence that campaign bv a meeting at Dunedin on May 9th. Congested Traffic. In order to telieve the congested traffic in Queen—treet, and to provide a new outlet for tram and vehicular locomotion, Mr. C. J. Parr iMayor c-t Auckland) has outlined a scheme to <pen a w:de thoroughfare from Customs-street Lastthrough Jennyn-street (at present narrow and steep’, into Parliament-street, and along Symonds-street- Jermynstreet would be widened from 33ft, to SOft.. esst down in places ami filled in in others, making a grade of 1 in 25. Tise cost of the scheme is not expected to be heavy, because of the resulting compensation in improvement of properties, while the benefits would be ineaseulable. American Schooner Lost. The Union Company's steamer Talune, whieh arrived at Auckland last week from the Cook aed Society Islands, brought news of the wreck of the American three-maste<i schooner G. W. Watson on a reef at Raiatea (Society Groupl on April 5. The schooner had completed discharging a large cargo of lumber from Puget Sound, and was proceeding to sea under the charge of a pilot, when she struck the reef in the channel. She remained hard and fast for several hours, but eventually Seated off. and it was found that she was making water. An attempt was made to enter the north-west passage to Raiatea. but the vessel became unmanageable, struck the reef, and was broken up by the force of the heavy swell. Progress at Wairoa. The ceremony of driving the first pile of the Wairoa harbour works (Hawke's Bay) by Sir James Carroll will take place on the 20th inst. Tise Maoris are arranging a big hui and the settlers a banquet to the Ministers and Sir James Carroll in the evening, when the latter will be presented with a testimoniai in recognition of his long services to the country and the borough. Sir James Carroll having been born in WairoaA Model Suburb. Some time ago the Auckland City t.'ouncil decided to take steps to acquire the Orakei Estate for thg purpose of creating a model borough, and it was proposed to get the necessary legislative power fr-.m Parliament this year. In the meantime, however, a syndicate has entered into negotiations with the native owners, and it is reported that certain transactions hare enhninated. To frustrate this move, the City Connell committee has decided to immediately secure Government intervention. “ Soft Driaks. ’

In order to put an end to cut prices for soft drinks, aerated water mannfaetnrers of Auckland have eome to an “nnderstandinri* to charge a certain price for all cordials to hotelkeepers. The latter considered the prices fixed too bi*h. and have decided to retaliate by starting a factory of faeir own.

Savrmilliag Slump. Quite a serious slump is bring ex per i-em-ed in the aawmilling indn-try on the West Coast of the South Island, a number of mills round about Hokitika have been compelled to close down. Some rf the mills have been working with half the usual staff, but they have had perforce to further rediwe the number cf hands employed. Various reasons are assigned for the slump, but the chief apiwars to be the lack of orders for red pine timber. The mills which are fortunate to have white pine bush to work are doing well, as plenty of orders are forthcoming, but the local mills are not so favourably situated, and Use big shortening cf hands m»i«t have an effect upca business all round. A VlZider Dstr. Sj’eaking at Masterton, the Hon. J. A. Hanan stated that the new Ministry had decided to extend the principle of free university education l.y opening the door provided by university bursaries somewhat more widely. Hitherto sueh bursaries had been tenable only by those who gained credit in the university junior srhobtrships examination, even although they had not obtained scholarships. It was now proposed that unt\er»ity Ixtraaries carrying free university education should be open to all who had completed satisfactorily a four years’ secondary courseArt in Christchurch. Out of a collection of twelve pictures sent from England by Mr. N. M. Lund, tie Caateriury Art Society has been able, with the funds at its disposal, to purchase six. The others are now hang ing in the gallery awaiting private purchase. It is hoped that, as in Wellington. citizens or firms will purchase the remaining pictures and present them to the society. The pictures are of great merit, and would form popular and valuable additions to the society's collection. Posters. During the hearing ef a ease in the Magistrate's Court at Auckland, Mr. Kettle, 83J-, drew attention to rhe following section <2«»S) of the Municipal Corporations Aet. 1908:—"No per-o-n shall post, paint, affix, earve, inscribe or exhibit any placard, bill, inscription, advertisement, or notice upon any telegraph or telephone pole or on any street, private street, building, structure, or place within the borough, save only on hoardings or places licensed by the Council for such purpose. For penalty, see Section 336.” Mr. Kettle remarked: "We are adopting the American system cf disfiguring handsome buildings with advertisements. This is an age ef advertising.” Effect of Labour Unrest. The labour unrest in the €>ld Country is being felt in New Zealand by a rise in the price of goods, especially all kinds of hardware. Crockery is most affected, the recent increases working out at 15 per cent. Glassware, tinware, and copperware have risen materially. The new conditions will eome into force more noticeably after present stocks are exhausted. Cperaticn and Tetanus. A letter received by the Auckland Hospital Board from the Tramways Sick and Aeeident Fund Society, asked for an explanation of why a member, admitted to the hospital and operated upon for appendicitis. should make good progress, then develop tetanus, and pass away in excruciating agony. It was stated that a tetanus patient occupied the same ward as the deceased. Dr. Inglis, in a brief explanation, stated that tetanus had been known to follow operations for appendicitis. and denied the suggestion that deceased was occupying the same ward as a tetanus patient. The Board has derided to held an open inqu.ry into (he matter this week. Auckland Art Exhibition. The exhibition to be opened under the auspices of the Auckland Art Society this month promises to be successful from the point of view of numbers. Something between Kri and SCO pictures will be hung, many being sent up from the South. Auckland's Draislfe.

The big drainage scheme taking in the eity and suburbs of Auckland will not be completed till some time in 1913. Several sections are under conatruction, involving extensive tunnelling, and other sections will be put in baud in due eooraa.

Goad Results. "Last year for the first time,” stated the Edu-.ation Board's annual "the law required the child to attend 'whenever the school is open.’ An increasing degree of regularity was at onee observed, the March quarter reaching an average of 9S per eeut, but severe epV demies widely prevailed during the following quarters, so that the percentage for the year was but 90.1. an extremely good result in the e:r—.imstanees. The corresponding figures for the preceding years were: 1909, 89.6 per cent.; 1910, 88.9 per cent.” Keen Interest. At the annual meeting of the Soutllland Acclimatisation Society nearly a thousand persons faced the wintry night to be present, of whom between 700 and SOO were members. The main business wa« the election of members of the Council. and the ballot resulted in the rejection of all the retiring members, the voting in favour of the new candidates Icing in the proportion of over two to one. Dominion's Population. The e-rimated population of New Zealand on March 31 last (exclusive of Maoris and Cook Islanders) was 1.031500. This is an increase of 609< since December 3], made up as follows r —Excess of births over deaths. 4559; excess cf arrivals over departures. 1535. Captain Cook Relie. What is believed to be a genuine relio of Captain Cook is in the possession cf a well-known native resident of Watngake (Gisborne), who holds it as * treasured heirloom. It is an ancient axe, which, according to Maori tradition, was given by Captain Cook to an important- Maori chieftain of the Mal.ia Peninsula in 1769. Auckland's Library. The latest report from the Auckland Publie Library shows that the reference) department contains 1(1563 volumes, the lending department 14.065. and juvenile department 846, making a total of 46,611 in the library. Seme seventy volumes went a«dray during the past year. The lending branch issue ! 41554 books, and of this number 3352 S were works of fiction. Magazines were extensively used. Sale of LysoL In a recent ease of lysol poison’ng at Auckland a suggestion was made by the foreman of the jury to the effect that measures should be taken by the authorities to restrict the sale of the poison, A police officer stated that already regulations were being drafted to cover tha matter, and would soon be enforced. 'Wkangarei Steamers. A special meeting of the Northern Steamship Company directors was held last week. It is understood that the advisability of acquiring another steamer for the Whangarei service wa3 seriously considered. and that, after considerable discussion, it was decided to open negotiations for the purchase of a Howard Smith Line.vessel. Expanding Revenue. The Prime Minister announced at Oamaru that the revenue for the month ef April showed an increase of £66.593 over the amount for the corresponding month last year, the figures being £574.768 and £5«X5.075. He added that if the increase continued the current year's revenue would be £750,960 over its predecessor. Morgue for Auckland.

The new morgue has been erected at the Domain side of the hospital ground is now completed and ready for use. The building is a commodious one in briek and stone, and will fill a longfelt want. It * excellently fitted, and two features are the lighting and ventilation. which leave nothing to be desired. The Coroner's room is a Large and lofty one. with a dias at the end of a long table where the Coroner will »t» In addition there is a private room for the Coroner, a feature which is lacking in the old morgue. Abolishing Road Boards.

The Wanganui County Council recently carried a motion to take over control of all roads ia the Rood Board districts within its boundaries This practically means the abolition at the seven Road Boards in the County, and substitution of ridings.

»‘T»«a«iwc ■ Payment. People who attempt to evade payment of tram-car fares need to be circumapeet. The Auckland Tram Company recently prosecuted several offenders who had not tendered their fare to the conductor or who had blankly refused payment. Costs only in some cases and fines in others were imposed, according to circumstances. The code of ethics is not high when such meanness prevails. Interim Dividend. The Board of Directors of the Auckland Tramways Company has declared an interim dividend of sevenpence per share on the ordinary shares of the company, the dividend to be free of English income tax.