LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1781, 20 June 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that tho 6.5. Wimmera, which sailed from Sydney on Wednesday for Auckland, has on board mails from Australia and the United Kingdom, <via Suez. The Wellington portion is duo on Monday next. At intervals during the last; few months tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, in iliis capacity as Minister for Justice, has been visiting the various prison establishments in the Dominion. Ho completed his tour of inspection when ho went north a few weeks ago, and is now preparing a statement embodying liis proposals in regard to prison control. Probably this statement will be made available for publication to-day. "I object 'to Maoris receiving charitable aid," said Dr. F. W. Mackenzie at the meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday. "It is not only wrong to tho contributors, but it is derogatory to the race. They aro not a subject race to us; they have been provided for by the Government, and indigent Maoris liave ' a special fund set apart for tliem for relief." For theso reasons Dr. Mackenzie urged that it was not right either that Maoris should bo made contributors to charitable aid funds or that they should be made recipients of charitable aid. Tho chairman said that an application had been mado to the Government on this matter some time ago, but no satisfactory reply had been received as to how tho arrangements wore made. Dr. Mackenzie: There is tho Civil List, sir. The chairman undertook "that tho Government would bo approached again.

An anonymous correspondent has forwarded to tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, as Minister for Customs, a Bank of New Zealand note' for XI. The accompanying letter, which is self-explanatory, reads as follows: "By the mercies of God I am able to make ample restitution for a s;nall amount of tobacco I onco brought ashore." Grip of a difficult situation seems to have been displayed by Warder Evans in securing tho arrest of Donovan, tho escaped prisoner, at tho Roval Tiger Hotel on Wednesday evening, knowing what a rough customer Donovan is, tlio warder, after sighting his man, did not deem it advisable to act solus, so went as far as tho corner of Buckle Street, intending to go to the Police Barracks for assistance. The thought then struck him that Donovau might get away from tho hotel, so ho sent a boy on to tho barracks with a message, and returned to watch the hotel. When tho constables arrived they entered tho bar together, and Warder Evans covered Donovan with his revolver, as ho 6aid "Hands up!" Donovan, seeing resistance futile, was then escorted quietly to the gaol.

Tlio scheme which tho borough of Gisborrie "discovered" recently of raising money by inviting residents to deposit money with tho corporation at call, or for short periods, is by no means a now one in Hie city of Wellington. Tho scheme lias been in operation for a number of years, and is considerably patronised by small investors. Tho rates of interest are;— For call loans, 3 per cent.; six months, 31 per cent.; 12 months, 4 per rent. Last year tho nmount received was ,£OI,OOO, and tho amount withdrawn .£60,000. "At present the corporation holds in its deposit account £20,700. Tho city at present does not want any more money on deposit, having sufficient already to keep the overdraft down to a negligible amount.

The No. 4 Field Ambnlanco held its first annual smoke conccrt on Wednesday night in Godber's rooms. The corps attoiufcd in full force and an enjoyable evening was spent. It is the intention of the committee to endeavour to hold this gathering annually.

The question as to whether any kind of farm colony should be established at the Otaki Sanatorium for consumptives came before the Hospital Board yesterday. A letter wn» received from Dr. Valintine on the subject, which, it was understood, was in opposition .to the, supposed policy of the board to leave to tho Government exclusively the duty of providing farm colonies at which convalescent consumptives might be employed; but the contents of the letter were not available for publication. Dr. Valintine wag unable to be present, at. the meeting, having been delayed at. Christchurch, anil as ho wished to be lieard on the subject, it was decided that consideration of the question be deferred until next meeting, and lluit meantime the letter be referred to the Hospital Committee for report. Along with the letter wero referred also all sections of the report of the Otnki Committee concerning the proposal to establish a farm colony at the sanatorium,

When the, chairman of tho New Plymouth Hospital Board visited tho Dreadnought on Tuesday (says tho "Daily News") he took special interest 111 tho hospital arrangements oil the big ship. "I was very disappointed," he said at a meeting: of the Hospital Hoard. "Tho Arrangements were not at all up-to-date. It' tho ship ever went into action, the wounded would have a very poor show. There was hardly any room at all." In tho visitors' book in the AVellington Government Tourist Bureau is a column headed "remarks," provided for visitors to make whatever comment strikes them as appropriate. Many of these remarks aro appreciative and some are ironic in character. A visitor from America ivritos "God's Own Country, for sure," and a Melbourne round-tiipper inscribes his feelings laconically: "Glad I'm Here." A Minneapolis lady writes: "New Zealand is a wonderful country. The people arc most hospitable. A great placo to make lasting friendships." "Charmed with scenery around "Wellington," is another comment. A frank citizen from Suva inscribes his sentiments in the cryptic sentence: "Nothing to skite about," and on Iho next line appears tho antidote: "Simply magnificent." "Admire your I'ost Office," writes a Brisbane visitor; "the new arrangement for receiving telegrams without the stamps is a clever and clean idea." A London tourist, struck with the panorama that spreads out before the eyes from our hill-tops, writes: "Would recominond a climb up the hills and a_ spin out to Day's Bay if tho weather is line." There are several appreciative remarks written by visitors 011 tho attention and information given tliem by the officials of the local bureau. ;l letter from Sir John Bradford canio before the Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard yesterday suggesting that tho board should contribute to tho funds being collected in London to raise a.monument to tho late Lord Lister, to mark appreciation of "the remarkable advanco of surgical scienco achieved by tho lato Lord Lister, and the priceless benefits conferred by him on humanity at large by the alleviation of suffering and tho mitigation of disease." The hoard had no power to make any contribution, but 011 tho motion of Mr. D. M'Laron it was , resolved that the chairman bring tho matter before the Minister for Public Health, with a view: of action being taken by tho Government in the matter. Tho Hospital Board decided yesterday to appoint >an additional collector at £3 per week. The Finance Committee had recommended this, for tho reason that it had been represented to them that if an additional collector were appointed, some .£SOO per year more could be collected.

Some weeks ago an increase of 2s. a toil was ordered in the price of State coal at tlie Wellington depot, while the price at depots in other towns remained unaltored. It was explained at the time that the Wellington dopot had been running at a loss, ivlnle tho other depots had not. It should have been stated also that until the Wellington prico was increased the coal had been selling for two shillings a ton less at the local depot than in other towns. Uniform 'pricos aro now being charged at all tho depots. The Minister for Mines hopes to rednce prices all round, possibly to tho former Wellington level, when proper access has been provided to tho new mine at Point Elizabeth. A middle rail, similar to that in use on tho Bimutaka incline, is being laid on a steep jjortion of tho railway from tho mine. This will bo completed in a few weeks, .and it will then bo possible to fully load,the. coal trains. Detective Cassells and Constable M'Kelvio arrested another man yesterday on a charge of being concerned in the alleged assault and robbery in Courtenay Place on Wednesday. Long-distance wireless work is becoming a common occurrence with steamers approaching the New Zealand coast. Tho latest vessel to do good work is the Union Company's Tahiti, which arrived from San Francisco yesterday. At distances varying from 1300 to 1900 miles Wellington, Suva, Honolulu, and San Francisco were communicated with. The new highpower station at- Port Awanui (North Auckland) was heard at a distance of 2SOO miles. On one occasion on tho run down from the Pacific slope, when the Tahiti was 2000 miles out from San Francisco, a conversation by wireless telephone in that city was distinctly heard.

Tho Marine Department were advised that tho coastal steamer Kairaki went ashore on the North' Spit whilst outward bound from Karamca yesterday morning. Nn further news was obtainablo yesterday. Immigrants to the number of 143 are being brought to Wellington from London by tho New Zealand Shipping Coinpony's Eemuera, which is due at Wellington next Tuesday. Included in the number are 2G farm labourers, 42 domestic servants, and 75 wives with families who aro ooming out to rejoin their husbands. ' It is estimated by the contractors for the reconstruction of the tramway tracks in Queen Street, Auckland, says tlio "Herald," that tho cars will be running again in about nine weeks' time. Tho work of laving tho concrete round tho rails lias already commenced in Lower Queen Street, and it is expected tliat this portion will be completed in about ten days' time. Tho hammer and drill men are expectcd to have driven the Inst hole by to-clav, and it is expected that blasting will bo finished by Monday next. Tho next stage of tho work, when tho concrete is laid, is tlie asphalting, which 'will to'ko about a fortnight to complete.

The medical committee of the Auckland Hospital and Charitnblo Aid Board lias reported to the board, that owing t) tho rapid growth of nursing as a profession the honorary medical staff should bo responsible for the teaching and examination of linrses for certificates. To this end it was considered that a training school should be instituted so that the training might bo placcd on a similar footing to that of other professions. The New Zealand Allianco Convention, which opened its .sittings in Christchurch on Tuesday, enjoyed a hearty laugh at ii printer's error in the proof-sheets of tho annual report. According to the "Press," "democratic voto campaign" was printed "democratic vote champagne." Inquiries are being mado by tho police regarding tho whereabouts of a boy of twelve years and a half, who has been missing from his home at Ivelburne since ■Tuesday last. Tho lad is small for his age, and thin. He has brown hair, large blue eyes, and when last seen was wearing <v dark brown Norfolk coat, a cap with his school badge on it, long stockings, and blue nickers. Any information concerning him should bo forwarded to tho nearest police station. Comprehensive rules under tho Administration Act, 1908, which governs tho administration of estates, are gazetted. Charwomen aro exempted from the provisions of Part 2 of tho Public Service Act by a notice in tho current Gaziet'e. Part 2 of tho Act deals with the appointment, examination, and grading of oliicers. A notice in the Gazette states that tho close season for seals, in 1913, will bo from July 1 to September 30. The Secretary to tho Treasury has received a postal-note for 55., forwarded as conscience-money, aud marked "pay to Customs duty at Wellington." Applications aro being invited for tho position of assistant land registrar, Dunedin. Applicants must be qualified solicitors.