LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2288, 23 October 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that until matters are in a more settled state it has bean decided that insured letters or parcels will not bo accepted for transmission to Samoa.

The Postal Department notifies that the postage for parcels for members of the Expeditionary Forces, whether main or reinforcement (other than the''one at Samoa) will bo one shilling for a parcel weighing up to three pounds, two shillings up to seven pounds, and three shillings up to .eleven pounds. Parcels, should be addressed in the same way as letters. Andrew Fairburo (states a Press Association message from Ohristchurch) has served on Henry C. Godfrey, merchant, Ohristchurch, a ■ writ claiming £601 for alleged libel in a letter to a newspaper over the Cqst of Living Commission. The very favourable position of tho Wellington ' Public Hospital as shown in the comparative death statistics of the several big'institutions in the Dominion was remarked on at yesterday's meeting of tho Wellington Hospital Board. For tho year 1913-11 the figures wore:—Wellington, total patients 4236, deaths 2GO: Auckland, 3G30 and 341 j Christchurcli, 2174 and 234; Dunedin, 2576 and 229.

In tlio House of Representatives .yesterday of tornoon Sir Joseph Wrtrd! broke in' upon an ordinary debate and threatened that unless there was a full explanation forthcoming regarding the supplementary order paper _ containing amendments in tho Legislative Amendment Bill there would bo a very loiigthy discussiou on the short title. Mr. Mftssav: You are breaking in upon another debate. Sir Joseph Ward proceeded to reiterate his former statement when there wcro several protests and Mr. Fisher interjected: "One would think vou owned the House;" Hero Mr. Speaker took a hand and the Leader of the Opposition had to resume his seat, remarking as he did so: "It was only to save time, sir."

On a'chargo of issuing false cheques with intent to defraud, a man was arrested bv Detectives Lewis and Dempsey yesterday. He will appear in court this 'monww;.

Sir Joseph Ward rnado great efforts in the House ol Itepresentatives last' night to show that tho electoral enrolment system was in many respects very defective. At one stage in his dissertation ho produced a very fine sample of a "bull." "Tho trouble is," ho declared, "that these people who are on the roll don't know they are off."

The recent report that tho islanders of tlio Tongan group, owing to tho irregularity of tho steamer service, wera very short of food was referred to in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by tho Hon. J. Allen. Ho said that he had been informed by the Union Steam Ship Company that the report was a greatly exaggerated one. Tho supply of sugar and flour had certainly been low, and the flour had about run out,_ but there was an ample supply of biscuits, meat, and other commodities.

The Wellington Hospital Board contemplates the expenditure of about £15,000 in alterations and improvements at theJPublic Hospital. Tho board deoidod yesterday that the plans for tho . following additions and alterations ' should be submitted to the Department for tho consent of tho Minister: (a) To alter ward 3 and build ward ovor east ■ end of southern corridor, £3400; (b) to build over ward 4 connecting up with ward 6, £3400; (c) now operating theatre, £2000 i (d) to altering kitchen . wing, £1400; (e) to purchase and fit up kitchen appliances, .£1150; (f) to add to Nurses' Home, £3000; (g) store and garago, £400; total, £14,950. ■ The following are the results of the , St. John Ambulance Association esam- ' ination in homo nursing held at the. Nowtown School last week, Dr. BoWerbank being the examiner:—Misses 11. B. Anderson. E. H. Anderson, Lillian, Croll, Essie Hollis, Ethel M'Kay, Gertrude Jenkins, Sybil Jenkins, Edna Gell, Grace Gaudin, Muriel Dawson, Jessie Milne. Ivy Martin, Vera Heavey, Eve- i lyn Clarko, Frances Tobin, Helen Tobin.. Miss Milne headed tho list with 98 marks, with Miss Martin ,next with 93 (out of 100). The examination of the meii's first aid class will be held on October 30 at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lambton Quay. Consequent upon the resignation of Dr. Hardwick Smith, the chief medicaf officer at the Wellington Public Hospital, tho Wellington Hospital Board decided yesterday that,,-applications should be invited for the position, the salary to commence being fixed at £800, rising to £1000 by annual increases of £50, with furnished house. Two bodies have been found on the; north beach five miles north of Point Elizabeth (states a- Press Association message from Greyrnouth). They are believed to be victims of the wreck of the Kairaki.

When dilating "upon the possibility of commercial relations being opened up ono day with the Antarctic, during the course of his remarks at tli« New Zealand Club's luncheon yesterday, Sir Douglas Slawson / revealed a sense of humour. He said that one would have no trouble with our mutton, as two days after leaving port it would be in a climate cold enough to preserve it indefinitely. They had taken mutton to tho Antarctic, which was quite good

when eaten twelve months later. They, had also taken two tons of ordinary case butter. It had been carried on the deck, the dogs had slept on it, and the seas had washed' over it, but it was impervious to all Biich influences. When they .arrived at the _ Barrier it was tossed out on to tho ice, and a break-" wind was built of the cases. Yet two years later it was o.uite good eating, except for a little taint.on the outside. Two candidates were nominated yes- ~ terday for-the vacancy created on the Eastbourne Borough Council by the retirement of Mr. F. P. Kelly (now, of Hastings). They are as follow: —Wm, : Perry, nominated by J. P. Kelly, W.. F. Marsdon, and H. W. Short; and Charles Russell, nominated by Joseph FitzBimmons, D. Robertson, H. W. Preston, H. Tombs, and B. Doherty. The poll will take place oh Thursday next. . Commissioner and Mrs._ Richards will conduct their final meetings in Wellington at the Citadel, Vivian Street, on Sunday, and they will say good-bye to South Wellington on Monday evening. The Commissioner and Mrs. Richards will sail direct from Auckland toi Vancouver on November 3. "It may be that if this case is given prominence by the Press, some kindlydisposed person will offer, him _ soma work," said Inspector Hendrey in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, referring to the case of Chas. Goddard, a. man appearing on remand, charged with attempted suicide. It was a ( pitiable case. Goddard had reached his last penny some time ago, and being without friends he had in a fit of despondency cut his throat with a razor. "It would not be fair to send him out into the world.in this state," said the Inspector, and informed the Magistrate that the OhiroHome authorities were prepared to take him in until he was able to resume work.. Goddard was accordingly convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.

The breath of Christmas! Yesterday tho Matron at the Wellington Publio Hospital was authorised by the Hospital Board to spend up to £80 on Christmas presents for tho inmates. A meeting of the Hutt Valley Labour Day Carnival Committee was held last evening; at Petpne, tho Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) presiding over a full attendance.' The sub-committees reported that £39 had been donated m cash, and trophios to the value of £38 had been recoived. Mr. W. Cox was appointed ground supervisor for tho day. Arrangements are all well in hand iot the Labour Day demonstration on,Mon-> . day next.i and everything points to a mo'st successful demonstration. The revival of the procession is being looked forward to with the greatest interest. Practically every union in the City will bo represented, 'some by most ambitious trade turnouts. Tho sports in \the afternoon are to be on a large scale, and ■ the prizes and trophies to be competed for are valuable ones Entries for the tug-of-war and all procession displays are announced to close at 8 p.rn. to-morrow. The Labour Day Commit, tea has decided to contribute.half tha proceeds to a patriotic distress fund. s The Auckland Hospital Board is again; \ considering tho question of establishing a tubercular dispensary in that city. :

Yesterday ibe Full Court * continued the hearing of argument in the case Alexander Gillies, of Victoria, dairy- ■ man, against the Gane Milking Machine Company, Ltd., in which thp plaintiff alleged an infringement of lettors patent on the part of tho defendants. Their Honours tho Chief Justice Sir Robert Stout), Mr. Justice Sim, and Mr. Justico Stringer were on the'-bench'.. Sir John Findlay, K.C., with him Mr. D. M. Findlay, appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. 0. P. Skorrett, K.C.; with him Mr. W. E. Moore, for the defendants; The case is not concluded. ' The Wellington Hospital Board proposes waiting on the Prime Minister and asking if the Government will regulate the price of rnoat. Tho board was faced yesterday with' a request from its meat contractors to drop their con- - .tract. It-found the problem a knotty one, and eventually decided to take tho course mentioned. ; It is understood that all the German prisoners of war from Samoa are to be interred on Motuihi Island, Auckland. Yesterday the ex-Deputy Govornor of Samoa (Herr Teclenburg) and six • • others, with two of their wives,- were sent there from Somes Island, Wellington. There are about 20 others to be sent north from Somes Island. Alto- , gether about 30 of these prisoners are held in the Dominion, and three of them, including Dr. Sohultz, ex-Goyer- - ■ nor of Samoa, have been in Auckland i ■ ' for. some little time. .:■■'' The first two Parliamentary election ■ rolls to come to hand are those for Wol- ■ lington South and'Wellington.Suburbs, which are now available for inspection at the various post offices, -publio librar- ■ ies within the (electorates mentioned, and also at the offices of the three Wellington daily newspapers. It was reported at yesterday's meeting of the Reserves Committee of the .'• City Council that the gate receipts for the Zoo between September 1 and 21 amounted to. £43 7s. 6d. The public is notified that the price of all grades of .sugar manufactured by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company was advanced £1 per ton as from yesterday. .1 ■ - '. \ V'Where. do they Go When the Band • Stops Playing" is the title of. a song which had come to an fcnd at the Wind- . «or' ,Theatre, Ponsonb'y, last' night (spates, a PreS3 Association message), when an alarm of firo was given. Despite the smoke and flames which wore issuing from the box, used by the kinematograph operator at the opnosito end of the hall, the ■ singer, with great presence of mind, broke forth afresh in the popular chorus, "It's < a Long, Long Way to Tipperary." At first the. audience was not disposed to take the song seriously, and some, occupying the back seats,' made a'rush for the main' , 'door, but with the aid of the orchestra the singer soon had a number joining in. the air. Before the song ended the outbreak had been suppressed, with the aid of a fire extinguisher. , It has been decided that a Magisterial inquiry will":-be .held concerning tho wreck of tho coastal steamer - Mangapapa at Ka'ramea. The Court will sit at Westport ort Monday next. > Captain W. J. Gray, of Wellington, will act as nautical. assessor. It is reported that "the Mangapapa is breaking up fast, and that the condition of the null is becoming worse at each tide. On account of the delay which occurred through the revaluation of the City proper this year by the Valuation Department, the rate demands of the City •—which accepts the Government valuations as the basis for rating—for the . first half of the present year, usually issued l -about May or, June, are-being 6ent out'this week, and already a number of property owners have been served with theirs. Those whose properties have not increased in value will find that" the ; amount they have, to'pay' is slightly less than last, year, whilst otters whose land has appreciated will ■ find that their rates have increased pro- ' portionately. One ratepayer with a residential property in the centre of the'" city produced his papers to show that his" rates had increased from £14 6s. per half-year to £24 15s. One authority who was questioned about the heavy increases made on residential properties stated that-it would, probably .be found necessary to revise i such valuations next, year, particularly in cases where it can Jje shown that the earning value has not advanced, or has receded, since the last valuation. City properties along the main city streets—Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Manners Street, Cuba Street, and Courtenay Place—have,all been advanced, in tome oases very siibstanti- , oily, and the rates have increased proportionately. Three and a half pages of this week's Gazette are filled with the names of successful and unsuccessful tenderers for Government stores of various kinds, including electrical supplies, ironbark poles, typewriters, stationary, motor cycles, and uniforms. ; Stock on -the East Coast, according te our Maste-rton correspondent, : are suffering severely from tho effects of the drought, and in some cases settlers have experienced. great difficulty in securing water. V