LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2521, 23 July 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Advice lias been received from San Francisco that It M.S. Maram-a. sailed 011 July 21 for Wellington with 340 bags of American mails only. There are 110 English mails 011 board.

Private Duncan Fras'er, whose deatli occurred at the Wellington Hospital on Wednesday, succumbed to cerebrospinal meningitis, and not pneumonia, as stated yesterday morning. Private Kempthorne's death was duo to pneumonia. Both, patients entered tlie Hospital as suffering from pneumonia and were entered ou the books accordingly. In consequence of tliis, the cause of Privato Eraser's deatli was given to us (over the telephone) on Wednesday niglit as pneumonia. The 'Medical Superintendent' (Dr. Barclay) advised the real cause of deatli in answer to an inquiry yesterday.

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has forwarded a cablegram to General Botha, Prime Minister of the South African Union, and Commandant of the Union Forces, congratulating him 011 -behalf of the councillors and citizens of the City of Wellington on his splendid achievements in bringing to such a successful issue tho troublous position with which South Africa was menaced. The Mayor lias received a letter from the Mayor of Auckland stating, that a shilling subscription has been- opened in the north for the purpose of making a presentation to General Botha. Any local subscriptions nwy be handed to tlie Mayor.

"Your committee has to confess that it is much perturbed at some of the recent decisions of tho Arbitration Court, which have been destructive of longestablished precedents, and which must lead to further industrial unrest rather than to the settlement of disputes."— Extract from tho annual report of tho committee of the Wellington Employers' Association.

"At present tvo cannot recognise the National Reserve, because the law does not allow it," said the Minister of Defence last evening. Mr. Allen said that he proposed to introduce a Bill this session giving this Reserve recognition' as a voluntary organisation. He did not profess, however, that the Government would be able to do very much more than give recognition at present. The .members of the Reserve could not be supplied with arms or ammunition. ' "I am afraid," ho added, "that we shall have to cut tlio riflo" clubs short this year in order to keep up the Supply to the front. _ Tho Colonial Ammunition Company is working at full speed to give us as much as possible, but wo must conservo tho supply."

Councillor T. Bush asked tho Mayor (Mr. J'. P. Luke) last night if the City Council could take any steps to recognise the brave deed achieved by Major Freyberg at thp Dardanelles. The matter was of particular interest to Wellington becauso the gallant major mas one of our own citizens. The Mayor said he was glad the matter had been mentioned, and lie would confer with Councillor Bush in. regard to it.

Tv/o extra lamps are to be erected in the Wellington College grounds for National Reserve drilling purposes.

A deputation from the Aro Street, Mitchelltown, and Taitvillo Householders' Association waited upon-the City Council last night to urge that certain improvements should be carried out in the Aro Street district. The deputation, which was headed by Mr. C. W. Tanner, presented a petition outlining the various disabilities under which the district at present labours. The association desires that the open creek at St. John Street should be covered, that the tram service should be greatly improved, that the triangular piece of land at tho tram service should_ be planted or otherwise mado beautiful, and that there should in general be better lighting and drainage ill that portion of tho City. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) promised the deputation that the various matters referred to would be considered by tho council.

"The health of the Natives in-these islands, as reported last year, still remains in a most unsatisfactory and deplorable condition," states the Commissioner for the Cook Islands in his annual report. "For the, islands of Mangaia, Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro, Aitutaki, Palmerston, Rakahanga, Manihiki, l'enrhyn, and Pukauka we are doing littlo or nothing, though in October, 1911, Dr. l'ercival reported that the health of tlteso islands was in such a bad condition that 'it would take a medical man six months on each island to rectify before they could bo visited at stated intervals.' ... By the annexation ot these islands wo have matlo ourselves responsible for the health of their Native inhabitants, mul, in my opinion, wo "J criminallv negligent if we do not adopt some more effective measures than Has been hitherto taken to endeavour l'cduco tlio enormous mass of contagious and infectious diseases now existing. 111 tlio interest of our fruit trade, if . more cogent reason, our medical service must be imnroved." According to the "New Zealand Trade Review" the value- of the exports from New Zealand during the year ended June 30 last totalled £20,244,30r , apart from specio, as compared witli_£-4,0b0,-699 for the previous year. value of tlio wool exported totals £9,90f,6(0, as against £8,262,153; froj® ll , u !? a ' £5,814,331, against £5,11v,410; butter, £2,336,302, against £2,1% ,662; cheese, £2,277,709, against £2,31 (,980. These four main lirtcs of r°f.' £BO,iI3«,FFS m of the fiS6,Sli|ao< for .tie y.m«

At next Wednesday's meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. It. Sinclair intends to move: "That the officers of tile board be .instructed to'compilo a return of tho number of _ Germans, Austrians, and Turks, naturalised or unnaturalised, employed by the board on the wharf."

A suggestion was made to tho Government yesterday by way of a question by Mr. j. Payne regarding tho free carriage by train, steamer, or tram of all blind persons. Mr. Payne has given notice to ask the Prime Minister whother he will this session introduco tho necessary legislation to enable_ the blind to travel free of charge, within Now Zealand, either on tram, train, or steamer, in order that we may help, to make brighter the sad lives of those unfortunate peoplo who are compelled to spc-iid their lives in darkness.

A speaker at the Public Service dinner last evening referred 111 _ glowing terms to the New Zealand soldiers, and informed tho gathering that these men were of a typo which "resolutely resolved to do what they are going to do."

"Although the Shops and Offices Act lias been subject to a number of amendments by tho Legislature," observes the Committee of the Wellington Employers' Association, "it is notoriously imperfect in some respects. A number of different classes of shopkeepers make bitter complaint against tho provisions of the Act relating to tho working of overtime. Shopkeepers feel aggrieved that they, are required by law to obtain permits to omploy assistants at urgent and necessary work during extended hours, while proprietors of factories are at liberty to call upon their adult_ workers to work ovcrtimo without being compelled to secure permits. It is felt there is ample protection for assistants in tho provisions of the Act requiring employers to keep wages and overtime books, and in the fact that the minimum overtime rate that can be paid is time and a half. A short Bill purporting to deal with tlio above matter was introduced in Parliament in the session of 1914, but the proposed amendments were little better than the present unsatisfactory provisions, and were withdrawn. It is. intended to urge the Government to introduce a more comprehensive measure during the approaching Parliamentary session."

Tlio presence of an organisation of Syndicalists in Auckland was mentioned by Mr. Craig, president of the Auckland Employers' Association, at the annual meeting, says a Press Association telegram. Ho said .1 direct group had established headquarters m this city, and were openly advocating scientific sabotage as being the most _ powerful weapon of the militant minority. ■ lit made the statement that members of the association should bo aware of thr presence of such dangerous individuals.

Over £17,000 in cash has been subscribed by the members of tho Public Service to the Carnival, Patriotic, and Belgian Funds. This fact was referred to at the Public Service Association's dinner last evening, and it was stated that the whole of the amount came out of the pockets of tho Civil Servants, and was given witli great goodwill and freedom.

Tenders were received at the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday; for tho erection of a' new sick ward and for tlio erection of-a new garage and store. The board decided to accept t.ho lowest tenders subjcct to them being in order.

A resolution has been, passed by the executive of .the Saturday Half-Holiday Association iu the following terms:— "That the Executive Committee of the Saturday Half-holiday Association enter a most emphatic protest against any legislation which will defo.it the expressed wish of the electors of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, aud Dunedin, in declaring that the statutory half-holi-day shall be 011 Saturday." A.deputation is .to wait on the. Prime Minister in connection with the matter.

In the Gazette issued last evening are given the receipts and expenditure of the Consolidated Fund for the first quarter of the current financial year. The ordinary revenue totalled £2,631,339 135.; the territorial revenue to £15,490 3s. Bd.; and the national endowment revenue to £92,654 17s. 4d., making a total of £2,739,484 14s'., as compared with £2,666,552 6s. 2d. for the corresponding quarter of last year. The recoveries on account of expenditure of previous ycars_ brought in £8206 7s. sd. On the expenditure side ; the total under "permanent appropriation 6" .was £1,-. 349,096 4a. 2d., as against £1,391,403 18s. Id. for the corresponding quarter of last year; and under "annual appropriations," £1,611,337 14s. 3d.,, against £1,501,041 6s. 2d., and there is also an item "temporary transfer to war ex-, penses account, £75,000." The Treasury bills outstanding at the end of the quarter amounted to £1,250,000.

"I fear," said Dr. Basij Adams, tuberculosis officer to the Wellington Hospital Board, in a report to the meeting yesterday, "I am not getting quite sufficient help from the medical practitioners, who seem very averse to notifying cases of tuberculosis. I lose no opportunity of encouraging them to d) so, and have undertaken that no stops whatever shall be taken until I have communicated with them after last notification received. _ I have notified 25 cases myself to the District Health Officer this month." Dr. Adams added that there had been instances where medical men had not notified cases under .their control. The usual excuse offered was than Dr. So-and-so had had the case under his caro before him, and he thought the case had been notified. There bad been tliree cases recently which had. not been notiSed until the patients wero .dead, and another until he had left tlio district. There was a legal obligation to notify, but medical men had been known to assert that they would fight the Government on the matter, as when cases had been notified tlio Government had done nothing in the matter. The board adopted the doctor's report, tho chairman remarking that the matter could bo left to Dr. Adams and tho British Medical Association to deal with.

At the monthly meeting of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Rev. H. Van Stavcreu moved 'for tho establishment of an orphanage for Wellington City and district, and invited the board to consider (lie question seriously. He knew of one person who would be willing to contribute £200 a year for five years for such an institution. The board had an endowment for an'orphanage, in the big Kelburn property formerly part of tho lown Belt, and at present paid over £6000 away every year for the upkeep of orphans —£3500 to tlio Education Board and more than* £500 to another institution. In view of tlio .attendance at the meeting, and tlio importance of the matter, consideration was deferred.

At Trentliam rifle range on Monday morning a- number of locally-made shells will be tested/ Six shells in all, will be fired, tlirce rounds 18-poundcr Imperial pattern, to find the range, and he comparison, and three rounds 18pounder locally made, for testing. Inquiry is being made by Mr. R. 'A. Wright, "M.P., of the Minister of Railways as to what arrangements are to bo mado at tho- Johnsonville railway station to prevent congestion of traffic, and when the work will be commenced.

Mr. 0. W. Jones intends to move at the next meeting of'the Harbour Board: "That by-law 187 bo altered to make the Harbour Board fixed holidays tho same as those in the Wharf Labour Arbitration Court award."

Considerable interest lias been evokotl by a large now building—the largest of its class in the Dominion—erected in Tory Street just oft' the Courtenay Place woodblocking. We axe pleased to ba able to inform our many readers that this building kas now been opened as a Garage by tha psmlnlon Motor Vehicles, Ltd,, the jttlwsiiOTi motor Imjioiters.-Advt,.

All important notice concerning the Copyright Act, 1913, in so far as it relates to Italy, is published in last night's Gazette.

The Charitable Aid Committee of tie Hospital and Charitable Aid Board reported yesterday that the thanks of tho board be accorded to Messrs. J. Staples and Co., Ltd., and the Westport Coal Co., Ltd., for their gifts of 40 tons and five tons respectively, of coal for distribution among the poor of the City. Also, that the Marion Street offices bo rented for a further term of two years from August- 1 at a rental of £115 per annum.