LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2449, 30 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Prime Ministor informed a reporter yesterday that New Zealand's total expenditure lip to March 31 last on account of war expenses was £2,151,835. Towards this expenditure the people of New Zealand had contributed in tiash £159,137. Tlie Agricultural . Department lias been advised by the Now Zealand Trade Commissioner at Melbourne that tlio wholesale price of butter in that city is Is. 9d. and the retail price 2s. per lb. The master of the Rofcorna, on which the Now Zealand contingent of nurses are going Home on Red Cross service, has reported "All well" at Monte Video. Yesterday in the Juvenile Court the young boy charged with setting fire to the Presbyterian Church at Island .Bay was convicted and ordered to report himself to the probation officer (Mr. Mills) twice a week. In accordance with the organisation of the National Reserve and the tactions appertaining thereto, the Wellington unit of the Otago High School Old Boys' Association has received the separate establislunent of' ammunition supply column. This new rank will entail special drill which will be entered upon, at to-morrow night's parade in Harbour Board U shed.' At the parade the section will also elect officers. The Wellington District Land Board opened its monthly meeting yesterday morning, but adjourned at mid-day for the demonstration in Parliament Grounds. The board will meet to-day at 9 a.ni. In the Arbitration Court yesterday during the hearing of. the Cooks' and Stewards' dispute Mr. E. J. CaTey, appearing for the union, said that if their demands were granted the members would draw up a soheme to do away with "tips." Mr. Justice -Stringer (laughing): "You will have to alter human naturo before yon can do away with tips." Later a steward, gave evidence , that people's tips were not so generous now as tliey used to be. A lot of "commercials," he said, who used to give 25., now gave 6d. Another steward gave evidence that he estimated he got £6 a month in "tips" the year round on the "Wahine, but the men were willing to do away with the_ "Cadging" system if they could get a living wage. They had to seize a man's small bag simply to get a "tip" off him. It was later stated that- as the fares were raised the "tips" decreased, and the passengers stated to the stewards thatthey had had to pay so much extra for their "fares that they could not afford the old "tips." The general manager of the Bank of New Zealand has been a'dvised by wireless message that a branch of the bank was opened at Apia, Samoa,.on Wednesday. Mr. Keeling, formerly manager at Suva, is in charge of the new branch.

Two/small boys, aged, respectively, 10 and 14 years, appeared in the Juvenile Court yesterday morning charged with breaking open a gas meter and stealing the contents, 15s. One was convicted and discharged and the other admonished and discharged. Another hov who stole a bundle of ]2. Dominions was admonished and discharged. - The Christchurcli Meat Company have decided to duplicate the holding capacity at their Smithfield freezing works, Timaru, ; and their architects, Messrs. Panton. and Sons, Timaru, have, on behalf of the company,, let the contract for the necessary refrigerating plant to Messrs. J. Wildridge and Sinclair, Ltd., of Auckland, the, licensees in the Dominion for British Linde refrigerating machinery. The following have been nominated for the nine seats on- the Roseneat-h School Committee: —Mrs. Low. Mrs. Falconer, H. N. Morrison, W.; Helyer, .T. Smith. F. Stott, T. K. Garrett, H. R, van Borssum, ■S. H.; Jenkinson, A. T. Carter, F. Jelley, J. B. Brinsdeu, and J. M. Neal.