LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 792, 15 April 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that the Victoria, which left Sydney 'for Auckland on Wednesday, April 13, has on board an English and Australian mail, which is expected to reach Wellington, per Main Trunk express, on Monday next. Il is stated in officnl quarters that for the present the territorial force of a district will train by corps— viz., regiments or battalions—and where not ablo to train by corps,' then by units—viz., squadrons or companies. Allowances will be as follows while in training camps: Rations per maa per day, 25.; forage per horse per- day, Is. 6d. Pay as follows:—For I'ach day spent in camp, all ranks will' be granted the following "personal allowincos — Lieutenant-coionels, 155.; majors, 125.; captains. 10s.; lieutenants and second lieutenants, Bs.; sergeantmajors and staff sergeants, 55.; sergeants, fs.; corporals, 3s. fid.; other ranks, 3s. These rates of pay can only apply.when ofheers and mon remain continuously in camp for seven days (day and night), and should this not be carried out then only rations and forage will be allowed.

Teh New Zealand Aliionco Executive was waited upon yesterday by a' deputation of Wo-License .workers, from the King 'Country, with reference to licensing matters in that district, and it is understood that as a result of the facts laid before them, tho Alliance will make representations to tho Government.

There is no likelihood of the inquiry under the Public Service Act into the allegations made against Mr. Peter Heyes (Commissioner of Taxes) being • ■ commenced' until next week. Mr. Stringer, K.C., of Christchurch, has been instructed to appear at tho inquiry, to see that the investigation is thorough. Aβ has before' been mentioned, Mr. Heyes has intimated that he desires to be represented at, the inquiry by Mr. Skerrett, K.C.;. of Wellington, and Mr. W. J. Napier, of Auckland. .Speaking to a Dominion reporter on the'.subject yesterday, the Hon. Dr. Pindlay said that the inquiry. would be held now at the earliest possible moment consistent with fairness to.Mr. ■ , The revised regulations under which commissions in the British Army may be obtained by university candidates appear in this week's Gazette.- These regula-: tions are in substitution of those contained in the- New Zealand Gazette of February 13, 1908. , ■ Colonel E: J. Collins, 1.5.0., chief executive officer of the Dominion Bifle Association, received a letter yesterday, morning from the Commonwealth Council - of Sitie-Assqciations of Australia congratulate ing Now Zealand "oil wnining the Gordon Highlanders' trophy. In order to mark tho event, tho council is sending over a silver commemorative medal for the,cap-, tain !and each member of-the team, and' also one for the colonel himself as a souvenir of the occasion.. Major Paine, the secretary, says that "the splendid treatment the New South "Wales ..team, received at your hands will long be remembered ■ with gratitude." The trophy Vrill bo on exhibition at Littlejohn and Son's for a few days. , : ' .

The ship's boat belonging to the hulk Tobias met with a mishap yesterday morning,. when braving the Jury"of'the northerly' gale. The : boat, Hjvhich was being sailed by ','the caretaker -of the hulk, Mr. Hchiiltz, was Hying' along between the hulk and "the Thonidon Esplanade when an exceptionally fierce gust struck herj and.'caused her to fill.' The capsize was noticed from the shore, and before.long-the steamers Huia, Pilot, and Natone were on tho scene on rescuobent. Before they arrived, however, Mr, Schultz had been picked up by ono of the neighbouring hulk-keepers iioDe the worse for his experionces. "' ■'

The Wellington Farmers' Meat Export Company, of Waingawa', has accepted the tender of Messrs. J. J. Niven and Co., Ltd., of Napier, for the supply and instalment of the Linde refrigerating machinery for the works. Tho plant, which is to be sapplied according to the specifications oi Mr. A. S. Mitchell,' of Wellington, will be large enough to deal with 1500 sheep daily. The works are ; to be in operation by November.

Various allegations which have recently been made to tho effect that little reliability (if any) can bo placed on the crop returns this year were brought under the notice of the Hon. T. Mackenzie (Minister for Agriculture) by a Dominion reporter yesterday. In reply, Mr. .Mackenzie remarked: "I think that if it had been a normal season the estimates arrived at would have been found to have been: reasonably, accurate. There . has been, however, droughts in some parts, heavy rain in others, as well us pests. As a result the hopeful promises that existed early in tho season havo not been fulfilled." .

Having heard final argument yesterday in the Bowron Kros. case, arising out of proceedings' taken in tho Christchurch Magistrate's Court by the Income Tax Department, the Court of Appeal reserved its decision. The Court ordered that tho name of Kichard Williamson Hall, of Ohakuno, ■ should be. struck off the solicitors' roll, he having been convicted of theft of a client's money. Details of theso cases are reported elsewhere. Today the Court of Appeal will hear the case of the Gisborne Harbour Board versus Frank Brayton Barker and Percival Barker. Mr. Justice Chapman will deliver judgment, at 10.30 o'clock to-morrow, in tho case of Holmwood v. Eeid. His Honour will also pass sentence . upon Henry Stephen Coburn, manager of a newspaper called "New Zealand Truth," who was found guilty at. tho . last Wellington criminal sittings on a charge of having distributed obsceno printed matter for public sale, and in connection with whoso case an appeal has just been disposed of. Tho necessity for an extra train to Jolmsonvillo, which would' leave tho Thorndon station just after noon on Saturdays, was placed before tho Government recently by Mr. J. P. Luke, M.F. At present a considerable number oi working meu and pthbrs who havo their homes in the Johnsonvillo district havo to wait till 1.20 p.m. for a train, which is always crowded with workers, excursionists, and "weck-ondors." It would be an advantage to all concerned if two trains wero rim instead of one. Mr. Luke has received a letter from tho ActingMinister for Railways, tho Hon. James Carroll, stating that tho matter, will receive his earnest consideration. , A notico in this week's Gazette pro-" claims tho united borough of Invercargill (which iuclndes Invcrcargill. Gladstone, Avonal, North Invovcargill, and East lnvercargill) to be an undivided borough. The new council is to consist of a Mayor mid twelve councillors. ' ■

In- conversation with a -Dominion re'porter yesterday, the Hon. T. Mackenzie (Minister for Agriculture), who has just returned from an extended visit to Otago, made some interesting observations on the farming prospects in that district. He pointed out that many of the grain crops had produced splendid yields, but in other cases owing to the sudden ripening resulting in tho. ear not filling properly tho yields had been disappointing. At tho present time (ho continued) he was very sorry to say that nearly all the winter feed in the shape of swede turnips in Otago was destroyed as a result of tno ravages of the green fly. This was especially the case in regard to crops on low-lying areas. Grass, too, was very scarce, owing to tho want of rain. Many of the farmers were, however, of the opinion that next year tho land would benefit as a result of the unusual amount of sunshine with which it had been favoured this year. In conclusion, Mr. Mackenzie remarked that stock on the whole appeared to be in fairly good condition.,

At an early date a conference will be held between the Hon. T. Mackenzie (Minister for Agriculture), the heads- of his Department, and dairy factory owners, on tho subject of the use of sterilised skimmed milk for feeding calves. The first election of a member of the Public Service Superannuation Board by tho Police Department has been fixed for May 31 next. Nominations will close on May 12. The wireless telegraph apparatus plnyed an important part in the last voyage of the P. and O. liner Morea to Australia. I'or 14 days after leaving London communication was maintained with_ the shore and passing vessels. Communication was also kept up with H.M.S. Hyacinth for four days at distances varying from 900 to 1020 miles. On March 16 (says the "Argus") a chess match was played by "wireless" with the Dutch mail steamer Oranje, bound from Eottei-dam to Datavia.' Mr. H: G. Lee, of Bath, England, played on behalf oftho passengers of the Morea, and Mr. Jjorgeon, of Amsterdam, .represented the Oranje. Mr. Lorgeon won the'toss, and claimed first move, and a very even game was maintained fo'r the rest of the day. On resuming play on the second day, Mr. Lee rapidly gained a very strong position, and on the thirty-seventh move Mr. Lorgeon was forced to resign. This is the second match which the Morea has played recently by means of her Marconi telegraph, the previous one haying taken place in the Bight last January against the P. and 0. R.M.S. Mantua,

Many persons would give ■ much to know the secret of health, and a great deal more, perhaps, for the secret of life. Therefore (says' the . Sydney '.'Telegraph') a statement made by the secretary, of the Master.Tanners' Association at a social function at Willoughby has a special interest for the public. He had declared that the tanning industry was the healthiest occupation he knew of. For that reason alone he had put his only son into it. He himself was' one of a family of seven sons, four of whom had died, of consumption; the three'living wero_ tanners. As a further proof ho mentioned the case .of a man at Botany, 72 years of ago. This patriarch had worked as a tanner for GO years, and of his family of 24 children, 21 were alive, and every one was a tanner! lii the face of such evidence, he asked, how could tanning be classed as a noxious trade? The Premier, to whom the question was addressed, could only smile iu reply. . ■

The days of the Mount View Mental Hospital are numbered. Owing to the demolition of some of the . buildings, barely enough acconimodation now remains. Within a few weeks some of the inmates will be removed to Porirua whilst the others will be distributed among the. other mental institutions. It is expected that the' extensions of the women's section at Porirua will be sufficiently forward in a few days to receive the female patients from Mount View. As regards the additions to the men's branch probably a month will elapse before the.'. male, patients from Mount View can •be received into them. It is thought undesirable, in the circumstances, to' send to various, parts of New Zealand those patients for whom accommodation will so shortly be found at the institution at Porirua. :

-Speaking at Gisborne," the Hon. G. Pdwlds said that the reason why the Departmeat was opposed to the establishment of maternity hospitals' away from the largo centres was because of the fear that the standard of training -of maternity nurses , would be lowered thereby... The Department was afraid that by the multiplication of maternity hospitals it would not be possible to get sufficient rases to give the necessary experience to probationers under training within a reasonable time, and it was all important, in their estimation, that the midwives' training should be maintainedon a sufficiently liigh level, to make it perfectly safe for them to go into any part of the back-blocks and carry out i their work. in the' absence.' of medical assistance. Now, they were 'so impressed with the need of further opportunities for training midwives that ho should be glad tq see all the hospital boards getting maternity attached to their hospital institutions, : in order to, increase the opportunities for training midwives.'

A peculiar position is said to have arisen with regard to the Government subsidy on ■ rates collected by the Mackenzie. Town Board. During the first year of the board's existenco the rate was levied on the unimproved value, the board considering that as tho'.disr trict was still part of the county, the county system of rating should be continued. Some of the ratepayeis, however,, refused: to pay the rates, .Contending that the board should not, have rated on the unimproved value without first having got the consent of the ratepayers; The magistrate upheld this contention, and although, as he pointed out, the rote could only be set aside by appealing'to the Supreme Court, he refused the board costs' in his decision, stating that its action'had been careless in .the manner, of fating. The board then had no other course i;han to rate on the capital value, but now the Valuation Department states that the board's action-in. so: doitg is unlawful, and that it cannot get an advance on the Government subsidy. ',' ■ ';■'■

Upon inquiry in official quarters yesterday it was learned that the outbreak of typhoid among tho Natives at Jerusalem has been checked. During the past few weeks two trained nurses have been employed, and Dr. Pomare has on several, occasions visited ; the township. Necessary drainage works and cleaningup operations have also been carried out.

Two parties of surveyors / have been biifSfy engaged for about a month in surveymg' lands along the. Wanganui River, which are'to be set aside _as scenic reserves. The area affected.is reported to be fairly considerable and' comprises beauty spots here and there right up as far as Taumarnmii. Land suitable for homestead sites is not being interfered with. It is understood that the survey work will occupy another four or five months. .-■.-■'■' : ; ' A meeting of the Public Service Superannuation' Fund was held, yesterday. Referring to the prison reform scheme, the Hon. Dr. Findtay, Minister for Justice remarked 1 to a Dominion reporter yesterday that under the , new system not only would better results bo achieved, but there would be a saving to tho conimnnity of thousands of pounds a year for the maintenance of the prisoners. During the course of some remarks at Te Puko on Tuesday evening the Hon. E M'Kenzio said that fruitgrowing was more beneficial for small landholders thau the : freezing csport. There was not n. better climate in the Dominion for fniitgrowing than their own. .Land worth .240 per acre for dairying would return .£1(11) per acre for fruitgrowing. The Government had d e "iden to give assistance for the development of the fruit export trade to Eugland. They would do for the fruitgrowers in the north what had been promised* to Nelsonguarantee them , against loss. Ihe Government experts would instruct them in growing fruit, and tho varieties to plant, also how to deal with orchard pests. He throw out those suggestions in tho hope that they would act upon them.

Authority is given in this week's Gazeito for the llnstcrton County Council to construct, two bridges over tho Waipoua Kiver at the nprthqrn entrance to tho town, together with !2G chains of approaches. Half the cost is to he borne bv the Jfasterton Horough Council and half by the Mastortop Coiuity Council.

A list of thoso persons to wlioni Government licenses have been issued entitling thorn to conduct private hospitals appear in tliis wee.k'6 Gazette,

The erection of tho buildings in connection with the proposed eemral mental hospital for the North Island at Tβ Puhi ' will be commenced shortly. It has teen decided not to follow the old style of one large building, but to construct a. number of. buildings capable of accommodating from 25 to 100 patients apiece. . The buildings will eventually form -a circle, beginning and terminating in an industrial centre containing the kitchen, . laundry, and workshops. Ample space will be available on the site for agriculture, horticulture, and various outdoor games. To facilitate communica- • tion a light branch line of railway will be constructed, and probably a tramway ■• along tho road which the buildings are to front.

The Victorian Minister- of Lands (Mr. M'Kenzio) is preparing a- scheme of re-. afforostation in the treeless districts of the State. In travelling through tho more settled areas (says a Melbonrno paper) he has been struck by tho devastation of timber which has occurred in the past, and the now consequent scarcity of firewood, fencing material, and the other timber requirements of the community. His idea is that steps should be takenby tho State to encourage tree-planting.; His proposals, as evolved up to the pre-j sent, are that the State should be divided . into four districts, and that the Government should provide prizes to be awarded', at the end of three years to land-owners who had attained the best results; tie scheme to be administered by a. com-: mitteo consisting, 6ay, of officers of trte . forests, Lands, and Mines Departments, associated with the agricultural editors of the weekly papers. He also contemplates : the subsidising of local effort in this direction. Mr. M/Kenzie expressed approval. of the resolution carried at the Conference ■ of. Progress Associations at Bendigo affirming the desirability of systematic treeplanting along the banks of creeks and rivers that have been denuded of trees..

Speaking at Auckland on Saturday, Mr. Sedgewick, who is on a visit to New Zealand in connection with a scheme to place Home lads in the colonies, said • the working lads in the gnat cities at Home might be described as. the" backbone of the Empire. If some of these ■lad 9 could he got on to farms out in the dominions overseas •it would be t great blessing to the.Old Country. Popu< lation was what the younjj countriel. wanted, but,. at the eatne time, it wa* no; nse their coming out unless the conn-- , tries to which they came were prepared., to offer them land. It had been said, by. some people that, this class of laboui ■. , would Have a depressing influence on the rate of wages prevailing in the Do>, i ; minion. He flatly denied that This wa» illustrated in New Ronth Wales, which/ , received 12,000 immigrants last year, whereas the whole!of the rest of the. Commonwealth received only 6000, but in' spite of that wages went up considerably, in New South Wales. It would he a very good thing if the Government of .this.;, country could understand that the far--' mers of certain districts were prepared to try these lads, and find out which were the most suitable, so that they could profit by the resuli of the experiment. ■ . '.. . ;. '

. Thus the Huntly correspondent of the Auckland "Herald":—"Though such extreme reticence is being observed that it is almost impossible to obtain accurate information; it appears an undoubted fact that the Kimihia mine, which is held on lease from the Government and the Auckland University College Council by tlie-Taupiri Mines, Limited, is on- v fira. It is supposed that the accumulation of slack and coal debris from the roof becoming > overheated caused ■'■■.-. spontaneous combustion. The fire commenced some, eight days ago, and the men were at once withdrawn. All work, except that necessary to choke the fire has been ; suspended. It is stated that the fire originated in the old workings at Kimihia Lake, and that a considerable portion of the roof has collapsed. Several experienced minera are of opinion that it will be impossible to work the mine again. For some time past very few men have been engaged there. Mr. Boyd Bennie, the Government •inspctor of mines, is said to have visited the mine-last week." ,, ■ ■ ■'■• ";