LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2368, 26 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"Will you allow mo to compliment New Zealand on the generous and brave policy pursued by its Government and Parliament ever, since the great shadow of war.foil upon, us?" remarked Mr. Alfred Deakin formerly Prime Minister of Australia, at Auckland yesterday. ' "Australians- everywhere have watched with admiration the splondid response made by your people whatever happens; the manner in which New Zealand, and perhaps I might hore be pardoned for adding the Commonwealth, has tisen to the occasion will have deeply impressed the nations at present engaged in the freatest war of all the centuries."— ress Association.

The University Senate deoided yesterday, according to a Press Assooiation telegram from Christohurch, that law students accepted for service with the Expeditionary Forte may. bo examinod in May this year.

Typhoid fever is prevalent in the Taihape distriot (says a Press Association telegram from Wanganui). Recently three cases were reported to the local health.authorities, and during ih& past few days five fresh cases have beon notified. All the patients aro Europeans. So far one death has occurred. It is believed tho epidemic is spreading as a result of some' unaccountable delay in the notification of the original cases The Health Department is taking active steps to localise the epidemic

Troopers were responsible for another disturbance in Cuba Street last night. A picket had appeared on the scene and arrested two members from the Trentham camp on charges of insobriety. A large crowd gatherod and eventually the police secured the two men and conveyed them to the police station. Tho-y will appear before, the Court this morning charged with insobriety.

A. transfer of the custodians of tlio To Aro and Thomdon Baths is to bo effected in consequence of tho illness of the custodian's wife at To Aro Baths, and the salaries of the officers arc to be readjusted according to the naturo of the work devolving upon them. Tin's was decided by the City Council at tho flrsfc meeting of the now year last night. The first meeting of ffie Wellington Education Board this year is to he held this afternoon, Tho State schools aro to revpen on. Tuesday. aesU ■.

The Public Service Commissioner has Issued the following notification to the members of the Servico:—"The Official Circular will in future bo issued on the Ist and 16th of eaoh month, and Departments are particularly requested to see that no delay occurs in the distribution of copies tor offices outside Wellington. Copies of each circular should bo made readily available for theinformatiou of officers by posting up on the office notice-board or m some other convenient way. Officers Bhould note that they are to expect to see the circular soon after the date of issue. If any undue delay ocours t the faofc should be brought under notice To meet the case of officers who may be travelling, a copy of tho circular will be availablo for perusal at all post offices which are in charge of permanent postmasters or I postmistresses."

There is evidence that the question of whether women should work in Government offices after 6 p.m is at present receiving the attention of the Department of Internal Affairs. That 'a regulation of' this kind applying to young people of both sexes would be right and beneficial, one is prepared to admit. It often happens that young cadets and typists are called upon to do a great deal too muoh night work. This, in the case of cadets who Bhould be preparing for their compulsory examinations, is obviously unjust, and in the caseof young typists is overtaxing and unwise unless there is suitable supervision.—"Public Service Journal." A gardener named Reynolds, of the Lower Hutt, had trouble yesterday morning with an ill-natured cowj as the result of which the usually dooilo animal attacked him with groat resolution. ■As the result of the encounter, one of Reynolds's legs was broken, and he had to be brought into the Wellington Hospital for treatment.

"We have been informed (flays the "Public Service Journal" of yesterday) that some of the senior officers of the Service take a conservative view of the association's policy, which may very well be described as one of progress. The main objections raised are that the association asks for too muoh, and that its attitude. is aggressive. We can readily understand this_ point of view when we remember the times when everj man fought for his own hand, not openly,_ but under cover, for fear that his neighbour would discover and circumvent him. The spectacle of men coming forward boldly in honesty of purpose in defence of common rights and privileges must be somewhat of a shook to the lone-handers.i But we have every faith in the power of time to cure suoh distorted mentality, and we do not doubt, that a gradual process of conversion is even now going on, and that eventually those who como to curse will Btay to" bless."

A dock for the Town Hall tower may be procured in the near future, as the City Council deoided last night that provision should be made on next year's estimates for the erection of such a clock. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) mentioned that the Orphans Club had | already collected a very large sum towards the clock—he believed £200—and ■had it not been for the war the club would no doubt have been successful in collecting the full amount required.

"That the Star Boating Club be informed, in reply _ to their application for a reduction in the rates on tlteir club land, that the council cannot see their way to accede' to their request. The club is also to be reminded that they are occupying one of the council's valuable sites at a very low rental."— This waa a recommendation in the report presented by the Finance Committee of the City Council at last night's meeting. The recommendation gave rise to considerable discussion, and was eventually referred back in order that the committee might further consider the club's request.

The Libraries Committee of the City Council reported at last night's meeting that they had given careful consideration to the proposed reorganisation of the management of the Newtown Museum, and they had to recommend that the museum be carried on in altered lines by utilising the services of the caretaker only; the institution to. be open to the public at suoh times as shall be recommended by the committee later; and that the curator be notified that after the expiration of one month Ilia services will not be required. The report was considered by the counoil in committee and adopted, after a lengthy discussion.

Street lighting alterations are to be oarried out by the City Council as follow :—Salek Street, Kilbirnie, two lamps to be oreoted; Bidwell Street, two lamps to be ereoted and two altered; Eolleston Street, one lamp to be erected and one ehiftod to a new position; corner Hargreaves and Wallace Streets, fire alarm lamp to be altered to . double braoket; Butt Street, two lamps to be erected; Rawhiti Terrace,; one lamp to bo erected! and the position of one altwod.

The annual retreat of the Roman Catholic clergy of the Arch-Dioceses commenced at St. Patrick's College at 8 o'clock last night, and will be continued until Friday evening. The Rev. Father P. J. Lynch. C.S.S.R., will be the preacher, and the retreat will .be presided over by his Grace Archbishop O'Shea. It will be attended by oyer 80 priests from all over the Aroh-Diocese.

At last night's meeting of the Hutt Borough Council the Mayor wa6 authorised to interview the Mayor of Wellington re convening a meeting of the contributing bodies to the new road through the Hutt Park, to consider the question of erecting a fence along this road as a safeguard against accidents, and the straightening of the fence on the Waiwetu bridge approach.

Mr. Henry E. White, architect, has been instructed by Messrs. John Fuller and Sons, to prepare plans for tho re-ereotion in brick of tno Club Hotel on Lambton Quay. The ground landlord of the site of this hotel is the Wellington City Corporation, from which body the Messrs. Fuller hold a long leaso. This lease- contains a compulsory building clause, which, is now to be 'acted upon. The new hotel will be thoroughly modem in every respect and will 'be a handsome addition to the architecture of Wellington's principal city •thoroughfare.

As a result of exceptional rains on Thursday and Friday, it was feared that some damage might result from the floods (Bay 6 a Press Association telegram from Invercargill). The rivers affected rose rapidly, and in some cases overflowed the banks, but they just as rapidly receded after the cessation of rain, and no damage is reported.