LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2275, 8 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

.The secretary of the Post Office advises:—During the war, in addition to the prohibition of business dealings with persons for tho benefit of an enemy, it appears to be necessary to warn the public against acting as intermediary in the correspondence of persons born in either of the enemy countries, whether such persons are naturalised British subjects or . not. Ajiyone found to act in this manner will certainly find his complaisance recoiling on himself, for it will lead at least l to his correspondence being censored even if severer consequences do hot follow.

After very gravely extinguishing the match proffered him by the Court orderly in the Magistrate's Court-yester-day, a Chinese 'seaman related in .apparently agonised tones, with appropriate gestures, what had 'happened to cause him to leave- his vessel without permission. With the exception of the interpreter tho flow of Celestial jargon was meaningless to the Court, .vet it was very evident that something very serious was amiss. The Chinaman looked as though he were telling the tale of his life. Ho tenderly placed his hand on the region in and about his waistcoat, pointed aloft, while his vocal tones crescendoed or diminuendoed appropriately. Then came the unravelling of the mystery. "He says he had a severe stomach ache and as lie could not stand it any longer he went ashore to procure some Chinese medicine," .explained the interpreter sympathetically.

It is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation validating contributions of local bodies made towards tho Scott Memorial Fund.

It is a well-established practice in tho House of Representatives that leave of absence is granted only for "urgent private business," of "urgent public business," and of course for illness and such causes. Mr. Gf. W. Russell wore r broad smile yesterday when he applied for four days' leave of absence for Sir Joseph Ward, "on account of urgent public business." "Why don't you say electioneering?" asked an honourable member.

Inspector Hugo, in his annual report on the fire brigades of the Dominion, states that the total losses throughout the firo districts for last year amounted to £84,367, an increase of £37,287 as compared with tho previous year. Of this amount £70,523 ivas insured and £13,845 uninsured. The losses throughout the Dominion for the year ended Deqember 31, 1913, are estimated at £645,949. The inspector.suggests tho advisability of introducing legislation making it compulsory to install "<nito-3etector6" in certain, classes of buildings. The reliability of such installations generally, he adds, is beyond doubt. After ten years' working the automatic fire-alarm companies are able to show that the losses sustained by tho insurance companies on detectorprotected risks are less than 5 per cent, of the premiums paid, as against the average.loss ratio of 53 per cent, in respect of unprotected property.

■ When Wm. Amos Midline was called on at the Magistrate's Court to answer the charges of the attempted murder of his wife, Eliza Johnson Mullins, and attempted suioide, Inspector Hendrey informed the Magistrate that he would he prepared to go on with tho case next Wednesday. ' Mullins was accordingly remanded till Ootober 14.

A conference convened by Mr. John Rigg between the United Labour Party and the Social-Democrats' was held in tho Trades Hall yesterday afternoon, Mr. Rigg presiding. Tho discussion was with the idea of combining for tho aenernl elections so that the combined forces might work together in those electorates in which it was considered Labour has a chance of success. It was also desired to come to an agreement regarding the basis of the special taxation that will ho introduced in view or the war. The conference was held in private, and it was stated .afterwards that there was no information for the Press.

Twenty-three minor accidents were reported in connection with the Christchurch tramways Airing last August, states the "Press." Ten of those cases were collisions with cycles, motor-cars, and other vehicles. No fewer than thirteen were oases of passengors alighting from moving cars, five men and eight women. _ In September there were thirteen minor collisions with vehicles. Five men fell in alighting from moving cars, and a boy received serious injury from the same cause. Five women made the same mistake, one of them, unfortunately, losing her life in consequence.

A gentleman who returned to Wei; lingtoii from liondon by the Tainui states that one of the queerest and most interesting sights during the- mobilisation operations which followed the declaration of war, was to see the peremptory commandeering of all manner of vehicles and horses for work that had to bo done. Motor vehicles, bakers' carts, aerated water carte, and furnituro vans were taken off the streets whilst engaged in their ordinary work, and the despair of the drivers on occasions was distinctly comic. At times only horses wero required, and these wor'o taken out of the shafts, where tho carts were pulled up, leaving tho driver, in a quandary as to how ho was to get tho vehicle back to its yard. Our informant stated thftt u German was caught in the act of trying to poison the water of one of London'e reservoirs, and it was said that ho was shot. All the reservoirs and pipe lines were promptly -placed under guards night and day to prevent any further attempt of the kind being made. The 145 th annivorsary of Cook's first landing in New Zen land was celebrated at Gisborne yesterday, when wreaths were placed on tho Cook monument. Tho ceremony was performed by Major Boose, representative of tho Royal Colonial liistitutei at tho request of tho local committee.—Press Association,

_ The proposal in regard to the extenBiqn of the T&upo Timber Company's railway from Mokau to Taupo, which the company is about to bring before Parliament, was explained by Mr. F. G. Dalziell, chairman of the company, to a meeting of Auckland members or the House of Representatives yesterday. The meeting was convened by Messrs. W. D. S. Mac Donald (Bay of Plenty), and J. A. Young (Waikato). Mr. Mac Donald presided, and in explaining the business of the meeting spoke of the importance of the extension of tho railway 'to the interests of settlement in the Taupo district. After hearing Mr. DalzielFs statement Mr. Young moved a, motion to the effect that Mr,. Dalziell bo thanked for his explanation of tho soheme.and that he be recommended to petition Parliament in order that the scheme may bo more fully explained. Mr. Dalziell's explanation, he said, was to his mind somewhat crude. There wore many points winch required to be explained before the members present could satisfy themselves as to the soundness of the scheme, apart from the question cf satisfying members of tho House generally. The extension of tho line waa a work of great importance, and ho thought that the Government should shape a course with a view to ultimately taking over the railway. The motion was seconded by Mr. Coates and carried.

During the month of August the following stock was slaughtered at the Municipal Abattoirs:—ls7 cows, 566 bullocks, 4 bulls, 5108 sheep, 73 lambs, 37 calves, and 15 pigs. Of this number 50 animals were condemned ae unfit for human consumption. The total fees for the month wore £461 6s. OJd., a decrease of £45 2s. 5Jd. on the amount received for July, and a decrease of £19 15s. 9|d, on the fees received during August, 1913.

"The great, hindrance to the breeding of good horses in some parts of the Ndrth Island is that we have had horses, hundreds of them, running about and procurable at such a cheap firice that a man would not trouble to ook after a good horse if he had one," said Mr. W. D. S. Mac Donald, in the House of Representatives last night, speaking on the Remounts Encouragement Bill. "I remember when we used to boil them down—lsoo of them in one year. I have seen 100 horses sold for five pounds."

"A meeting of the friends of Mr. Stanley Rankiii was held in the Town Hall to arrange a complimentary concert in recognition, of the services rendered by him in musical circles during his\ stay in 'Wellington. Mr., Stanley Rankiii, who has been practising hie profession ae a dentist in Brooklyn, is being tendered this concert prior to his leaving Brooklyn. The concert is to be held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on.. October 28.

Messrs. J. H. Bethune and Co., under instructions from the liquidators of the Kelburn-Karori Bus Co., Ltd., yesterday submitted the freehold property at Bella Street,. Karon, the garage, and plant, consisting of two ArgylL motor buses, each of a carrying capacity of 35 passengers and one of 24 passengers, together with fittings and tools. The whole was sold in one lot as a going concern, the purchaser being Mr. Thoma-s Ward, and the price £1100. ' ■It was stated in an advertisement published yesterday that at a meeting of the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Industrial Union of Workers held on September 30 certain action had been taiken in regard to the secretary (Mr. E, J. Jones). Mr. Jones states that no meeting or the union has yet been held but that the meeting referred to was a meeting of the executive- of the union*