LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1828, 14 August 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sir Walter Buchanan is to ask the Government whether they will more efficiently guard against the admission of Indian coolies into New Zealand from the South Sea Islands and Fiji. It is reported, he states, that 275 prison-cells were considered necessary for dealing witli them in the new big gaol recently erected by the Fiji Government.

Centenary celebrations are very common in older countries, but so far New Zealand has not reached tho necessary age. The centenary of tho discovery of New Zealand is of course passed, but that of the beginning of her civilisation will not come round till the end of I9lt. On Christmas Day, 181-1, tho ' R-ev. Samuel Marsden arrived in the Bay of Islands and preached the first Christian sermon, thereby ushering in Christianity, and with it civilisation. This intrepid missionary and lii-s few friends had come from New South Wales for the express purpose of introducing Christianity and the arts of civilisation amongst tho fierce and warlike Maoris, and it wns their work, carried on without intermission from that day, whicli paved the way for the prosperity and greatness of this Dominion, The Anglican Church has determined to fitly commemorate this great occasion at Christmas time in 1914, and i) V way of creating interest in it a meeting is' to Ik; held in the Town. Hall on Wednesday next, at 8 p.m., when the story of Marsden and his great work will bo told bv well-known speakers. Amongst the c e will bo the billions of Christclmrch and Wninpu. The meeting will bo freo to all, and a collection will bo takon up to defray expenses. ' It is probable that the New Zealand Government will take part in tlio San Francisco Exposition in 1915. Tho Prime Minister told a questioner in the House of Representatives yesterday that the matter had been under consideration for some time.

Xo information ha.s been received from ' the Imperial Government with reference to tiio establishing of a naval base at tho lionniir'U Islands, the Minister lor Defence informed Air. A. 11. .Myers in the House of Representatives yesterday; nor had the Inipwial Government nuulo any suggestion about altering its present proposal that Auckland should Ijd a naval l;ase. "Tips" formed the subject of a short discission when certain accounts were being passed for payment at last night's meeting of the Management Committee of the Xow Zealand Rugby Union. Some of the touring members of unions in sending in their accounts had included "tips" asexpenses incurred. "[ object to 'tips.' " said ono member. "On principle ivo should not pass any 'tips,'" said another. "Xa," was the expression of yet another. Tliey do it well," remarked still another, but its 'tips,' 'etc.,'" sai<l the first •speaker. "That 'tips' be struck out," moved the chairman. This was carricd unanimously. The "City of Wellington Y ear Book" for 1913-11 has now been issued by the Corporation, and as usual is right up-to-date with the membership lists, etc., not only for the City Coimcil and its committees,' but for a largo number of other local 'bodies and associations. Information is given regarding the various city departments, including tho libraries, tho Zoological gardens, abattoirs, tho crematorium, ami the fish morlwt, and thoro are tho usual financial and tramways statistics. Altogether the handbook forms an indispensable reference for city affairs. Of tho 338 candidates who recently sat in various parts of Xew Zealand for examination bv the Inspection of Machinery Department examiners, 259 wore successful. ~ The llutt Road is again blocked by a slip at Ngahauranga. Just as tho slip which occurred in May last has been ekared away, another 10,000 tons of earth has slid from the hillside on to tho road. A gang of men commenced work yesterday on the removal of tho slip, but tho task before them is a big one, and it is probable that over a month will olapso before the road is again clear. Vehicles will onco more have to use the deviation niado after tho previous fall. Mr. J. A. Young, M.l'., is to ask the Postmaster-General in the House of Representatives whether, in a case wliero a person or firm posts a parcel and receives a receipt from tho; Ijost offico for tho same, and such parcel is lost by tho Postnl Department l in transit, he will promote legislation which will protect any such' person or firm against suffering the full value of tho loss. Tho Government lias no present intention of appointing inspectors of totalizators in the four chief centres, tho Prime Minister informed Mr. Glover in the House of Representatives yesterday, but if it should appear that inspection is necessary action will bo taken in that direction. It is hoprd, the Minister for Education informed Mr. Craigie in the House of Representatives yesterday, that the State institution nt'Otekaike will be ready for the reception of feeble-minded girls early next year. At present it affords accommodation only fcr boys. Mr. G. V. Pearce, M.P., is seeking to ascertain from the Minister for Public Works wlitm the railway to tho Mount Egmont quarries will be completed, and when local bodies will bo supplied with metal from i;hat source. The Committes which lias been inouiring into tho appointment of Mr. W. R. Simpson to the Westport Harbour Board deliberated until late Inst evening, and it is understood that they may present their report to-da.v. It is regarded as probable that thero may bo a minority, as well as a majority, report. The member for Napior (Mr. J. V. Brown) is asking tho Government to place a sum ol' money—soy, .£looo—on tho Estimates as a grant towards the Royal Life-saving Society of New Zealand. William Thomas Morton, who was fined .£2 at tlie Supreme Court on Monday for failing to appear when summoned on the jury, yesterday pleaded. that stress of work caused him to overlook and forget tho engagement, and tho Chief Justice, ■Sir Robert Stout, accepted this excuse and remitted the fill?. A special meeting of tho City Council was to have been' held lost 'evening to deal with'business held over from last mooting, but it was fonnd necessary to postpone it until the date of the next ordinary meeting. ' A break occurred in tho overhead wires near Lambton Station yesterday and affected tlie running of the Lambton Quay ours between the station and (he Government Buildings corner. Repairs were quickly effected and tho service was running as usual in about five minutes. Proceedings are being taken by tho City Council against numerous dog owners who liavo failed to register their dbgs. Summonses have also been issued in the caso of several carriers who have ■ failed to take out licenses. In tho House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. T. M. Wilford gavo notice to ask tho Postmaster-Goneral whether notice lmd been given to Post and Telegraph Store omployeea (casuals) that their wages were to be reduced from Saturday next, and whether they had not also been informed that in future they would not l>e paid for holidays. Wlicn the multter was mentioned to the Post-master-General last evening, he said that he had never authorised tho issue of any such notice, and that the wholo thing had arisen through a misunderstandinf;. A meeting of the Wellington Early Settlers' and Historical Association was held last evening in tho Tiffin, the Hon. J. E. Jonkinson presiding. There was a large attendance of old identities. Mr. John Waters, who arrived in Wellington with his parents in 1812, read a paper on the early days of tho settlement, while soveral others indulged in reminiscences of almost forgotten episodes in the history of the city. A heart)- vote of 'thanks to 'Mr. Waters' for his paper was carricd. Increasing the age at which children are carricd freo on tho railways, tlie Minister for Railways stated ytsterday. in tho llouso of Representatives, in reply to a question, would have a material eifcct on the revenue of tho Department, and involve considerable changes in the incidence of rating. "In view of the fact tliat the Government has nmssarily had to make considerable concessions to tho railway servants, and is now considering representations made concerning tho conditions of employment of tho railway staff, which will further increase tho cxpiiditiiTel of the Department," ho added, "I consider it would be inadvisable to in any way reduco the .revenue of tho Department at "the present time." In the course of discussion the freo transport of children on tho railways was advocated by a number of Opposition members and by two Government supporters, Messrs. F. H. Smith and J. 11. Bradney.

The city fire brigade received two calls to fires yesterday, but both proved to bo false alarms.

A suggestion was thrown out at last night's meeting of Wellington Early Settlers by Mr. Kilminster that a monument should b? erected on some such site as l'etone Beach, in memory of the foundation of the city. It wos at Pctone that the first settlers landed. The suggestion was received with general favour.

The scries of lectures on "First Aid," which at stated times have been delivered to tho A section of the No. 4 Field Ambulance since the commencement of the defence year, was resumed last night, in the Lecture Hall, by Major Holmes, who look for his themo "Internal and External Haemorrhage."

Final widening of Willis Street seems not far distant now. During recent weeks matters have advanced so satisfactorily that there remains.only the Duke ol' Edinburgh Hotel to 1)8 deult with by agreement. Tho lease of* the block of buildings between Morrah's Building and fiercer Street is almost -falling in, and when it docs the structures \Hll be immediately set back on to the new road-line.

Gas was scarce in Lower Hutt at nil awkward time yesterday morning. For about lour hours tho supply wus cut'oil' owing to a dead syphon becoming choked with water. The trouble was remedied and the pressure was returned about 10.15 a.m.

_ Estimates of receipts and expenditure for tho present financial year will be considered by the Hutt County Council at a special meeting to bo held at 10 a.m. on August 26. The levy on the county this year for hospital and charitable aid purposes is illiß 10s. Bd., as compared "with •i'B7B 12s. id. for the pa«t financial year.

At tho fortnightly meeting of tho Society for the prevention ol Cruelty to Animals, held on Tuesday evening, tho following subscriptions (collected since last meeting) were acknowledgedJ. Norton, 10s.; Dr. Dearner, W. H. Morrah, J. Cilover, Bryant, May, Bell, and Co.. Watson and Meredith, Mr. L. Smith, Mrs. J. Duncan, J. W. Hoaro and Co., A. Milhgan, and T. W. Leighton, ss. cach; Mr. W. Belcher, 3s. Cd.; Messrs. F. Swift, 11. J. Morgan, Wilson and Caugham, Bert Hoyle, F. Castle, Hunter, 11. limes, M. Nilnmo, Ramsay, Wilson and Co., G. Jeffrey, Miss Tendall, Mrs. Baillie. Mrs. Moorhouse, 2s. 6d. each; JLrs. Mathewson and Miss Cxruar, 2s. each; "Plus," Is.'

At about 9.45 last evening a slight outbreak of ii're occurred in the operating box of the Star Picture Theatre, in liidtliford Street, Newtown. The result of the firo was that the machino and tivo reels of film wero destroyed.

Mr. T. M. Wilford is seeking information from the Minister in' charge of the ■Government Printing Office whether arilan has recently been appointed to the position of temporary reader in the Government. Printing Office who has not had (iurte seven years and a half service, and whether this man has been Appointed over jhe head of three colonial-born men who have had over fourteen years' experience and two colonial men who have had arger experience than the man who has been appointed; and why preference w~s K'von to the man who was so appointed. "Tho Public Works .Department is un-d;r-stalfed—with the amount of work it has to-do—thoro can bo' no question about Wat, said tho Minister for Public Works (tho Hon. XV. Eraser) in tho House of Kepresentativcs yesterday.

, Tho establishing of a coin-in-tlie-slot telephone at Courtenay Place, l>r. A. K. Nownian, M.P., was imormcd by the l'ostin tho jlouse of Representatives yesterday, will bo undertaken as soon as a supply of machines ooinas to hand. Tho question of 'establishing similar machines at Oriental Day ana lloseneath will then Jiavo consideration.

"The question of e.-?tabHsliing maternity hospitals in all towns, witli a population of livo thousand or over by tho Hospitals Department has not l-ven considered advisable," t'ho Hon. 11. H. Rhodes replied to an inquiry in tho House of Representatives yesterday, "but it has been recommended that in tike provincial towns and country districts tho Hospital Hoards shouild establish mnterraty wards which would bo partly supported by the subsidies given by the Government. In tho four chief prpvision- is already mado m tho .Stale maternity hospitals. Tho question of affording free treatment to the wives of men corning not more than 10s. per day has not been considered, - but such treatment, including. medical and nursing attention, is provided at a lowcihargo in the Slato maternity hospitals. Tho Hospital Boards that establish maternity wards witli the assistance of Government subsidies no doubt grant similar facilities in sucli cases." Commenting upon tho reply, Mr. Poland, by whom tho question was put, said that he oould not see why the same provision Should not be made in towns with n population of 5000 or more as in tlio larger towns. He contrasted tlio provision made for tho inspection and oniw of stock with that mado for maternity.

The first confcrcnco of employed officers of the Y.M.C.A. in New Zealand will bo held in Christclrarch on Friday, when a general policy for the whole Dominion will bo mapped ont. Officers will bo present from Wellington, Chvistchurch, Duncdin, and Inveroargill.

Some people care for their parents in their old age, and some don't car© unless tliey are mado to. An old woman and liot daughter faced each other in the maintenance Court at Auckland on Tuesday morning, while the (laughter asserted that 'sho could not possibly pay a shilling a week for her mother's benefit. "That'll do, Lizzie," reproached' tho older lady. "You know you've got three ot four boarders." The reproaohed young woman evidently resented tho reproach. "If you wero not behind that witness-box I'd smash you where you stand," she panted. this exhibition of filial love and a flection tlie magistrate ordered tho payment of 3s. arrears forthwith, with tho choice of going to gaol for a week. It was paid, states the "Star."

A peculiar incident happened in Christchurch at tho corner of Gloucester Street and Fitzgerald Avenue cn Monday afterneon. A horse broke away from a cart in Gloucester Street, and careering along with all its harness on, charged into another horse drawing a spring dray, which was proceeding along the avenue. Tho shock of the impact caused the runaway to slip ami fall under the other horse, and as it did so one of the wheels of tho dray went ovor its logs. Strange to eay, the animal was unhurt, though it was considerably subdued.

Tho Minister for Railways is to be asked by Mr. J. V. Brown, M.l\, in_ the House of Representatives, whether it is correct that an official of the Railway Department called upon a sufferer who was hurt in the recent New Lynn railway accident and got him fo sign a paper accepting dC3 as full settlement of lus claim against the Government for any injuries he had sustained in the said accident, and that this man did not know what ho was signing or he would not have done so.