LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2389, 19 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Maheno, which sailed from Sydno.v on February 17 for Auckland, has on board Australian mails and also an English mail, via Suez. The Wellington portion is duo per Main Trunk expross on Monday. Grass fires are raging in several parts of the -Wairarapa district. The municipal carshed employees are to be informed that their request for a holiday on which to hold a picnic cannot be granted, as they receive a number of holidays not included in the award upon which they can hold their picnic. When the question arose at the meeting of the City Council last evening, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke)' said that there seemed to be some .misunderstanding among Corporation employees as to the holidays' granted the office staff. It was thought that the office staff got more holidays than tlio outside staffs, but the fact was that the office employees were required to work night aiter night to cope with rush business.

The Defence authorities reported yesterday that although the now card system of recruiting was only launched on. Monday, tliero has been such a rush on tho cards that Wellington Post Office and the other offices have already ran out of them. The Defence Department is getting some thousands more cards printed. During tho month of January the arrivals in New Zealand from oversea ports totalled 2049, as "compared with 4801 in January last year. The departures last month numbered 1558, as compared with 2913 for the corresponding period of last year. The six nursing sisters who have been seleoted lo go to the front from the Hospital are to have their kept open for them. The hon. secretary of the Wellington branch of the Navy League desires to acknowledge the receipt of the sum of £26 10s., collected yesterday at the Masterton show, by Mr. J, D. Cruickshank, Navy Leaguer and late Paymaster of the Old Wellington Naval Brig-' ade. The amount is to go to swell H.M.S. New Zealand oilskin fund, organised by Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool. - Telegraphing last night our Napier correspondent reportsDetective-Ser-geant Kemp, of Napier, who leaves tomorrow morning on transfer to Dunedin, was the recipient of a solid leather suitcase and dressing-case, presented by representative citizens, who also gave Airs. Kemp a purse containing about thirty sovereigns, to-night. Eulogistic speeches were made, complimenting the recipient on the thorough and tactful manner in which .he had carried out his duties while stationed at Napier, and genuine regret was expressed at his departure. To-night members, of the.local police force presented him with a silver fruit basket as a token of good-will.

Tho Wellington City Council last night voted £2 to the Carfcier Centenary Fund Committee of Canada. ' ' i

It has been suggested to the City Council that, there should be a tramway shelter shed at the Kant Terrace stop,, near .the Basin Reserve. When the matter was mentioned at last evening's meeting, some of the councillors expressed the -opinion that it would be a good idea to have a shelter there. The Tramway Committee will-' deal with the matter.

A petition for a tram stop at Stoke Street, off It in to ul Street, was presented. to the City Council last- night by Councillor A. H. Hindmarsh. The petition was referred to the Tramway Committee; , .

The application of the Karori Borough Council to the Wellington City Council in connection with the proposed increased tramway time-table, for a reduction in the stand-over time at the Borough Council Chambers from sispence to fourpence per car, has been granted. ' This decision was arrived at last evening. , ■

The Petone* Slaughtermen's Union, at a meeting on Monday, pSssed the following_ resolution witn respect to compensation cases under tho Workers' Ac-' cident Act:—"That the notice of the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, bo directed to the serious financial losses involved through cases under the above' heading (compensation cases under the Workers' Accident Act) having to be fqugbt in the Law Courts of the Dominion oil behalf of widows and children. Every accidental death is simply sowing seed from which the legal fraternity reap a rich harvest to the financial detriment of women, children, and others engaged fighting under the present legislation provided m these cases;" ' -

The Rev. W. (Hutt Methodist Church) has organised a "Hutt Methodist Fellowship," the objects of tile new brotherhood being: mutual help' to extend tho right hand of fellowship to strangers as well as church members' and to give practical assistance to those who are in trouble. A. committee has been set up to further the ob-. ject and monthly meetings are' to be held, at which addresses on matters of moment will be delivered. Mr. B. C. Warnes is acting as secretary pro tem, and the election of officers takes place at the first meeting of the Fellowship oh March 7.

It is the business of a High Commissioner to advertise (says the Sydney "Bulletin"), but Mackenzie, of M.L., overdid the drum-banging ' when, he wrote to Churchill, after the smashing of the Bluoher by Beatty's battle-cruis-ers —"The gift of New Zealand's ship was a most far-seeing act of statesmanship." • What the Maorilanders themselves would have, thought about it if their remote and vulnerable islands had been bombardld by raiding Germans is another matter; and that, the raiders didn't actually arrive was solely due to their dread, not of the distant Nfew Zealand, but of ' the lingering Australia. Sorao varieties of_ "far-seeing statesmanship" need a plain business-like lifebelt to keep them from foundering. It was Maorilaud's good luck that Australia was able to supply the lifebelt.

The tender of Mr.- T. R. J. Grimmett, of Nelson, has been accepted by the Minister of Public Works for. the erection of tlie Port (Nelson) Post Office. The .contract prico is £1119 9s. '4d. The tender for tho erection of station buildings in connection with the South Island trunk railway has been decided iu favour of Mr. W. H. Osgood, of Blenheim. The contract price is £2291 13s.

Tho lessee of the Club Hotel (Mr. J. Dwyer) has been granted by tlie City Council an extension of time (from July 1, 1915, to June 30, 1916), in which to erect a new building on tho city leaseholds he now occupies. Tho council has decided, also, to combine tlie two leases into one, with a proviso tliat the building must b'o of a minimum value of£lo,ooo.

The following is the copy of a letter received by the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board from the Horowlienua. County Council: —"I have to adviso you that the following resolution was passed i)t a meeting of this council held in the 13th inst."Chat. notice be given to the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board tliat after 31st March next this council will refnse to pav any demands for hospital and charitable aid except for hospital treatment at per head for those patients who cannot afford to pay.'" Mr. Geo. Nash at once -drew attention to this rather extraordinary letter, and _ asked the chairman to state tho position. Tho chairman stated that there was statutory power to recovor the subsidies from all contributing bodies, bv making application to the Government toomnound subsidies due to the defaulting contributing body on its rates. The letter was „roceivo&,

Last evening's collection taken up by the Magpies Company of entertainers at His Majesty's Theatre in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund amounted to £1 10s. sd. For the past four nights the sum of £8 18s. 2d. has been collected. Next week the oompany intend taking up a street collection on behalf of the same fund.

The fortnightly return from January 19 to February 1 for the _ Wellington Hospital showed the following inmates during that period in the various institutions .connected with the Hospital:— Seddon Hospital, 19 males 20 females; Victoria, 22 males and 6 females; measles, 16 males; Fever Hospital, 7 males and 7 females; Children's Hospital, . males and 13 females; General Hospital, 104 males and 82 females.

Since it has been decided to ran the proposed new tramline known as the Constable Street extension, down'Crawford Road, tho matter of the width of the road has been discussed on several occasions. 'Last evening the City Council'resolved:—"That the City Engineer shall be instructed to widen out the formation of Crawford Road in excess of the requirements of the tramway ■undertaking, viz., 42 feet, wherever possible, and that the extra cost of such formation be charged to tho district fund account."

"The Pathological and- Bacteriological ■ Department of tie Wellington Hospital has completed a .year's : working. This department has done invaluable work, and has materially helped the medical staff in their treatment of patients, and, though givan' much extra work, fiho bacteriologist, Mr. Hurley, and his staff have always been ready to help, and there has been no delay in dealing with examinations. Nearly 2000 examinations have been made during the vear for the hospital alone. The medical superintendent reports that these ex-, animations inolude many which are very exacting, but all have been done with great care and thoroughness, and strongly recommends that the arrangement made with the Government bo continued."—Report submitted to. tho Wellington Hospital Board yesterday, and adopted.

The. Saturday half-holiday petitioners have already secured about 4700 signatures .of municipal electors. The checking doue by the secretary of the movement) and others has resulted in the rejection of about one-third 'of the number as invalid. As 'about 5000 signatures are required to secure the poll on tho question, the association reckons that it will need 8000 signatures to bo safe.

The City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) has advised the City Council that the protective works at the Mangatainoka River, authorised by the council last year, have been earned out satisfactorily. It has been reported to Sir; Morton that there is a possibility of further erosion taking place -at one particular point.' 7. ,

According to a return presented to the Wellington Hospital and 'Charitable Aid Board yesterday- the quantity of bread baked at the Wellington Hospital between April 1, 1913, and March 31, 1914, was, 150,86311)., which cost £823 16s. The apportionment of the 1 cost was as follows:—Wages, baker, £169; carter, £-54; fuel, £18; malt, £4 10s. : potatoes (yeast), £18 10s.; flour (82 tons,'Boolb. at £9), £559 16s. The cost worked out at 1 5-16' d: per lb.. Cor 2id. the 21b. loaf). From Awil 1, 1914, to January 15,. 1915. 130,8301b., were made at a cost of £798 4s. Durine; that time 32 tons of flour at £11 per ton and 15 tons at : £12 Bs. ver ton (a total of £540) were used. The cost worked out at a fraction over 1 3-Bd. per lb. These figures did not allow for cake and scones made durine the oeriods mentioned, as the qnantity of flour used was not sonaratrd from the flour charged to bread. Tile cost per loaf is therefore slightly under the cost mentioned in each case...

As showing the capabilities of-the West Coast of the South Island for sheep-rearing and wool-growing ' purposes, the Chrisfc.hurch "Sun" remarks that it is an interesting fact that at the Christchurch wool sales, held a few days ago, wool grown on. the West Coast realised , the highest price. Mr. P. -Hende, of South, West]and,' entered eight bales from which he obtained 14d. per lb., whilst Mr.P. Butola', of Poerua, got 13|d. for his entry of ten bales. This.goes to show that, provided the most suitable breed of sheep is obtained for the climatic donditions, wool as good as the best produced in Canterbury can be grown on the ..West Coast. '

At the monthly meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Rov. J. Kennedy Elliott was cordially congratulated on being honoured with the , degree of Doctor of Divinity by his old University. In referring to the matter, the chairman of the board (Rev. W. A. Evans) said that the conferring of such a degree to one in such a fardistant land meant merit and Tons and faithful service, and they would all join with him iu congratulating Dr. Elliott on the high distinction conferred upon him. Dr. J. K, Elliott thanked the chairman' for the nice things which had been said about him. Praise from such a man so generally esteemed in fhe City; as Mr. Evans was sweet praise indeed, and was praise '.hat he would not soon forget. It would be affectation for him to say that he did not value the honour which had been conferred upon him by his alma mater, and to realise that it had not forgotten its children in the outposts of the Empire. Thero was a pang of regret that his wife and sister to whom he had been tenderly attached were not able to appreciate the honour done Mi?i, but the younger members of his family would doubtless do so.

Cable news of the death of. Mr. Andrew Campbell, at Caulfield, Melbourne, on Tuesday last has been received in Wellington. The late Mr. Campbell was at one time a prominent figure in' business circles in Wellington, where ha was branch manager of the National Insurance Company for an extended period. Seventeen years ago he was promoted to the management of the Melbourn ebrauch, a position he retained until' some six mouths ago, when, in "consequence of ill-health, he voluntarily resigned. In the old <lays he was a very keen bowler, and was an tremoiy popular member of the Wellington Bowling Club, of which he was an ex-pr'esident. He leaves a mdow, a ■son, and four daughters *3 is Mrs.-W. Cruicksliank. of Masterton, and another Mrs. 0. Bunny, also of Masterton).