LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2299, 5 November 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A visit was paid .to'' the Trentham Military Camp on Monday afternoon by the Minister of Defeuce (the Hon. Jas. Allen), who delivered an address to tho men on the subject of discipline. The Minister was accompanied by Colonel Robin, G.0.C., and Lieut.-Colonel Gibbon, Chief of Staff. • . A clause in the .Appropriation Bill passed by the House last night authorises the Minister of Finance to pay out of the War Expenses Account a sura of £20,000 .towards the relief of Belgian distress caused by the war.' . Two hundred and thirty-six applicants, for work were assisted by the Labour Department in October. Of this number, 85 were married and 151 single men. One hundred applicants were sent to Government ■" employment, and 136 were placed with private employers. Ac-cording-to tho "Labour. Journal" private employers in the country districts are still applj'iug for men for general farm work. The outlook for labour in November is considered brighter-than at any time during the , paet three months. ' . .:. "Trade appears to be quite 'normal in Wellington," said the Mayor (Mr. J. 2. Luke), yesterday, "and I hove no reason to doubt that it will continue so, as long as the. people maintain their optimism. As far us applications for relief by those in distress are concerned I can confidently say that the position is satisfactory, and the outlook at present promises that there will be no great stress on the fund. Most of the applications which have been received and dealt with so far are from the wives and families of English Reservists, and. in those cases we have, after due inquiry, assisted by paying the rent." ■

We are beginning to Buffer from the. customary deluge of contributions for and against the Prohibition and NoLicense issues to be decided at the poll a few weeks hence. The subject has been so thoroughly threshed out in recent yeara that our correspondents almost invariably traverse old ground, with which the public is quite familial - . In the circumstances, and in view of. the pressure of war news, we must- close our news columns for the 'time being to further .correspondence on this subject. Those correspondents who still desire to air their views on the question can do so through the medium of our advertising columns; and these communications will carry the distinguishing words "Published by ' Arrangement;" ' All sides and : individuals will be treated alike in the matter. The Postmaster-General was asked yesterday by ,Mr. Glover (Auckland Central) whether he was aware that a' large mail bag of correspondence from Berlin had been delivered by special letter-carrier to the ex-Goyemor of Samoa, at Motuihi, and, if. so, what explanation had ho to offer. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes said that ho had heard so many extraordinary rumours that lie was a little sceptical regarding tho truth of this statement,. but he would make inquiries. Sir Joseph Ward asked whether mails, oven iu war time, did not go to their destination. > Mr. Rhodes said that it was the rule to censor letters. Those which contained information of importance were either destroyed or sent to the military authorities, whilst others which contained nothing of importance- were forwarded to their destination. '■

A ballot of the trade .unionists of Wellington, taken under fclio auspices of the Labour Representation' Committeo for the- purpose of Selecting a, Labour candidate for the Wellington East seat at , the general election, has resulted in the choice of Mr. D. M'Laren. The other nominations were those of Jlossra. J, lllgg and C. H. Chapman.

As a result of the two recitals recent--1.7 pjivcu- by Miss Betty Purdom, Mr. J Culford Bell, and their pupils, the Huntly Disaster Fund will benefit to the oxtent of £53 Bs. Mr. Bell and Miss Purdom desire to thank all who in any way whatever helped to make these recitals so successful. A man was arrested by Detective-Ser-geant M'llveney yesterday on a charge of forging the name of Walter Ramafie to a Post Office Savings Bank withdrawal receipt for £10.

The following successes achieved by pupils attending Marist Brothers' (School during the past twelve months were announced at the annual entertainment of the Thorndon Brothers' School, given in the Town Hall last night—Three scholarships at St. Patrick's College, December, 1913; two. junior free places (Junior National Scholarship examination), December, 1913; seventeen proficiencies in Standard VI, December. 1913; the winning of the "Duthie" Cup, Wellington Schools' Swimming Championship (relay race), 1914; the winning of the "Thistle" Cup, Wellington schools soccer championship, 1914; and the winning .of a set of silver medals, Wellington schools' five-a-Ride tournament (senior grade). Mr. R, A. Wright, the Reform candidate for the Suburbs soat, addressing a meeting of electors at Miramar last evening, said that whatever their oth ponents might say, they were bound to admit that the Government had been a strong one, and would not be. intimidated b.v threats or cajolery. They recollected the closing scenes of the last Parliament —scenes which were a. disgrace to a civilised community, and which for the time being had degraded the New Zealand Parliament: in the eyes of the general public. Ii they wanted to maintain the high traditions of a British Legislature they would make short shrift of many of those honourable gentlemen who were aephing to guide the destinies of this democratic country. '~-.. . ■ : In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon Mr.Massey announced that he had received a cablegram from England, stating that the Imperial Government, at the request of the New Zealand Government, had agreed to release one-of our insulated' ships, the Muritai, for the New Zealand trado. He had also ascertained 'that the Shaw, Savill Co. were sending back, the Karamea in ballast. ' Ho was satisfied that up'to tlie end of January, we' would have a sufficiency of ships tp 'carry away our produce. ' . j

Notwithstanding the growling that has resulted over the now valuations and the increase in rates in some quarters, the Mayor (Mr.' J. P. Luke) stated yesterday that the rate money was coming in very satisfactorily. As the result of this the big overdraft, which had been piled up a,t the bank through tho delay in petting out the new valuations, ■ had already been substantially reduced! and a few days more would see the amount etill further diminished. In tho meantime those who have notpaid ■ their long overdue' 'demands should do so at the earliest possible occasion, as the officials will soon have •to busy themeelves with the issue of the second rate. demands for the current year. ' . In the Magistrate's Court yesterday a ship's fireman swore, in the witnessbox, that he had never heard a pin discharged in all his life. -,"'■'

A protracted discussion was raised in tha House of Representatives., yester-' day when ■ the Medical Practitioners' Bill was in Committee, on the suggestion thrown out by a member that medical fees should.be\nxed by law. This proposal did not meet with a great deal of support. It-was thought to be impossible to fix the fees. It. was stated that doctors, did "more for nothing" than tho members of any other profession. If a price was fixed for, say, an operation, many poor people would not be. able to, undergo the operation, , whereas now many doctors would perform the operation for nothing. Dr. Pomare, in Tobutting the charge that doctors sometimes charged too heavily, said that lib had known a case where a doctor filled a pill-box s with sovereigns to help a poor family out in their sickness. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh 'saad that whore an. overcharge was' thought to be made, the patient found-it impossible to get evidence that that was so, when he contested the charge in Court. Tho Hon. ft H. Rhodes said that he did not see his way to insert any scale of charges ■in the Bill. There was alwavs the Hospital to which a patient could go. The matter then, dropped. .''■■... .

' On tho night of October 29 last Mrs. Mary' Sinclair, - who owns a fruiterer's shop in Courtenay Place, heard _ a noise in the front shop, and on going out saw a man behind the counter with hii band on the till. She asked him what ho was doing and as he said nothing went over to him and caught hold, of his hand. The man broke away and ran along Courtenay Place.,' The same evening the man, whose name was .Joseph Kean, was arrested by Sergeant Cassidy and when charged with the offence, that .of "being found by night in a dwelling-ho.use with intent to commit a crime therein." Kean replied:. "It's a big hurdle." Kean was charged accordingly in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. He wore an-'air of hopeless despair throughout tho hearing of, tho charge' which was an indictable one. He promptly pleaded guilty. and was con>mitted to tho Supreme Court for sentence.- .-"-..'

When the TJlimaroa. left Sydney last week two men, Michael Lyons and Michael M'Phereon) embarked on the vessel without tickets, or tfe money to pay for. the same. They .were soon discovered and put in a cabin under lock and key. • When the vessel arrived here the pair evidently took advantage of the bustle and excitement, and broke out of the cabin and ttole ashore. One of-them, Mishaei Lyons, celebrated his escape by getting drunk, while the other wandered round the city. Lyons' 8 behaviour was such that he was arrested, while M'Pherson oame under tho notice of the police .who were on the look-out for Mm. Both appeared in Court yesterday morning ;' charged with travelling by tho Ulimaw without paying their fares, while Lyons was . also charged with drunkenness. Both were fined £6 or one month's gaol. Lyons was convicted and di»o'harged lor drunkenness. "The trouble about the Printing Office is that the machinery is eo out of date and tho building so congested that we can't put any more men on than there are now,"- Gaid the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher in the House of Representatives last night. "Until the Printing Office is enlarged and the employees have a reasonable opportunity of getting through their work in a reasonable time, tho House will have to wait for its printing. The work the Printing Office does now is marvellous, ftbRolutely marvellous, with the machinery there. I hope that in the course of a year or two we shall have an upniO-aato Printing. Office with up-to-date machinery." Mr. Fieher made the statement in reply to coniplainte about delays m tho publication of certain Government papers. ■ . , ■ ' Four months' imprisonment yith hard labour wns'tlie sentonce passed by His Honour Mr. Justicq Hoskmg yesterday moining on the prisoner, George 1'... Siovers, who had pleaded guilty at Mastortou to stealing several sums • of raouoy from his employers. Sicvcts had been in a position of trust, and his thefts had extended over a considerable period of time. Jn passing sentence on tbo prisoner, His Honour soul' that, it was not possible to Recede to the request of counsel (Mr, T. M. Wilford) to order the prisoner to come up for sentence'.when called upon. In view, however, of the ovidenco as to tho previous good character borne by Sievers, the sentence passed was much lighter tiue it otherwise would have been.

When the Supplementary Estimates were being considered in the House of Representatives ■ last night, Mr. G. Witty expressed curiosity as to what wae being done with the J 'Britannia" aeroplane, arid seemed inclined to talk a great deal upon the topio he had raised. "I can eatisfy you at once," the Hon. James Allen told him. but Mr. Witty would not .consent tor o time to give way to the Minister. When Sir. Allen got his opportunity he.satisfiod the Hoiise about the disposal of tlie aeroplane in a single sentence:. "It has gone to the front." "Hear, hearl" said members, and Mr. Witty eubsided. Mr. T. Ryjur, of Adelaide, who has been staying at the Grand Hotel for the past nine days, and has , been inspecting the various primary, secondary, technical, training, and university colleges, lunched with the Minister oi Education, Mr. James Allen, yesterday, and left for Auckland last night, breaking the journey to view some rural, industrial, and secondary schools on the road. Mr. Ryan.- will return to Wellington about next Thursday, and will then leave for the South Island, catching the boat for Melbourne at the end of November. . Messrs. Cable and Co. have pleted'the manufacture of the big oast-iron water circulation pipes i new Parsons turbine at the I Street electrio lighting powerhouse the engine the pipe is reduced to 1 but the larger pipe has been inst<> along the full length of the powerho. to provide for the possibility of sti another turbine being installed theiv some time in the future. The new turbine will be connected up with the pipes, and ready for work within a week from now. . ; Our contributor "Liber" writes' as follows:—A' rather serious misprint orept into my article in terday's issue on Mr. J. 6. Wilson's interesting book, "Early Barigitikeii" Under the heading "Some Early Settlers" occure the phrase: "Of Tricker, falsely accused of the murder of Alick M'Donald . . ." This should have read: ".Of Tricker, falsely accused of murder; and of Alick M'Donald, to whose yarns, etc., etc." •

' A clause in the Washing-up Bill, presented to the House of Representatives on Tuesday night, gives statu-, tory sanction to the (My Council to proceed with the alteration of certain city streets in conformity with a plan submitted in order to provide for the future demands of the traffic consequent upon the erection of the new.. Central Railway Station in Bunny Street. These alterations include; the block-up of the western section'of Whitmoro Street (the thoroughffre between the Supreme Court and Police Station block and • :the Go/ernment Buildings), and the continuation of Stout Street, following its;, present alignment through the grourijs at the rear of'the Government Buildugs. This will mean that there will be four, distinct arterial thoroughfares which traffic will be able, to diverge aom the station—to Waterloo Quay, ton Street, Stout Street, and 1 - fjrjnny Street (to Lambten Quay).' The proposal is to widen out Bunny Street and round off adjacent corners, in order to provide for all reasonable expansion of traffic at that point in the fu» ture. The Mayor stated yesterday thai) although this work could be commenced at any time now, nothing will be done until some substantial progress is hiade with' , the erection of the station.

. Trades and labour fluctuated during tie month of October. The building trades slackened off in.the early period, but work subsequently, put in hand improved matter towards tie close. The , . engineering trade* are still in a satisfactory condition, and few (if any), skilled workers in these trades are out or employment. The textile trades, are very busy, ivnd order-tailoring is perhaps the only branch not; up to the, usual standard. Shopkeepers report business ■ as satisfactory, and there is little or no reduction, in the number or assistants employed. The annual general .meeting of the', Board of Governors of the New Zealand Veterans' Home was held yesterdav morning. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Liverpool) presiding.' The annual report and balance-sheet as submitted were Toad' and The report of tho superintendent _of the. home at Auckland was received and read His Excellency the Governor was re-elected president, the Hon. Mr. Mitcholson hon. treasurer, and Colonel R. J. Collins, ,C.M.G.,.1i0n. secretary. The average number of veterans resident at tho home has been 39 per month, and the average age at present of those in the Lome is a little over 78 years. . A , hearty vote ,_of thanks' was accorded to the committee for the good work performed, also . a cordial, vote of thanks to .the chaplain, medical and, dental advisers, who have civen their services gratuitously tor the benefit of the ■ institution. The board noted with pleasure the capable manner in which the .home .is maaaged by the superintendent, Alajor it- carpenter. , . ', : In answer to a question as to whether it was intended to proceed witb any part of the Constable Street tramway extension scheme this summer, the Ttfivnr (Mr J P. Luke) said that at one s tLe the council.didiope that, this work would have been time for the late summer traffic, bu* he was afraid that it would now have to remain in abeyance the lack of funds consequent upon the com< pulsory shelving of the loan .proposal* brought about bythe esigencies of the, war. It was a work which he considered necessary, and if by any special arrangement an early start could, be made with the extension works in tliat direction ho was sure■ that_ it-would, bo favourably considered by the council. Some three months ago the Harbour Board approached the City Council with respect to the latter body taking over aTare* of the newly : reclaimed land adjoining the corporate yards at Mayor (Mr. J. P- Luke) states tlowUe .natter will probably come to for further consideration at the nest feting of the Finance Committee. The great war is likely to. be reepon-., eiblo for the adoption of baptismal namos for children states the Christeimrch "Sun." . Already a "Liege" and a "Louvam" nave been registered at the Christchuroh office.