LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2709, 2 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tlio postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Manuka, which left Wellington 0 „ Thursday, February 24, carrying Australian mails, arrived at Sydney en the afternoon of February 29. By Order-iii-Couneil made yesterday, the export of. any goods to Switzerland without the consent of tho Minister of Customs is prohibited. An interesting ceremony was performed yesterday morning <it the breakingup of the otli Wellington llogunGiit Gamp,: which has been 'held during tho last fortnight at Karori Park. Tho occasion was the presentation of the Chitllengo Cup for camp discipline and general efficiency to C Company, after a keen competition with the other companies in tho regiment. 0 Company is under the command of Captain J. Koir, with Lieut. J. Duffy as second in command. At the meeting of the Dominion Council of the New Zealand Catholic Federation yesterday, the following resolution was adopted :—"That this council draws attention to tho exorbitant nursing and mcclical fees now obtaining in connection with maternity cases, which i'ees are a severe tax upon poor people, and suggest tho Government should take the proper steps to provide some means of reducing such charges, either by oxtending tho St. Helen's Hospital prineinle, district nursing, or otherwise." The Metliodisj Conference at Auck-, land yesterday discussed the report of the Welfare of the Church Committee. 11l the course of tlio discussion, the Rev. Mr. Eaton expressed the opinion that tho Church had failed by paying too much attention to women and children and (oiilng its «rio on men,—l'vcts Association.

One notification of infantile paralysis was received by tho Public Health Department_ yesterday, mailing the total for tho Wellington district 54. The new case is at Hawera. The official allowance to soldiers in hospitals is only 15s. per fortnight, and representations have been made by the .Auckland Patriotic Association that tho literal observance of tho regulation involved hardship ill some cases. ' 111 response to its request for a modification of tho rules, tlie, association has been advised by the Minister of Dofencc that ho lias no objection to the Patriotic Association advancing lus. per fortnight to the men against their pay, providing , »hat it is immediately stopped if tho medical superintendent of the hospital notifies that such a course is desirable in tho interests of tho health of tho patient. Tho advanco will he made about the 7th and 21st of each month, and the refund will be made by tho quartermaster-general. If the arrangement proves satisfactory in Auckland it is proposed to extend it to', other centres. ; As two defective cables in Cook Strait require attention, the /'Government steamer Tutanekai is at present taking aboard lier cable-repairing gear, preparatory to putting to sea. It is expected that the vessel will sail about the end of the week. The scarcity of surveyors, and the delays and difficulties that arise in consequence, were emphasised by a statement made by a witness in a Maori land case in the Supreme Court at Auckland (reports tho "Herald"). It was a common experience, said this gentleman. for persons after obtaining a lease of Maori land,, and having it confirmed by tlie Native Land Board, to have to wait four or five years before tboy could got the land surveyed. ' Tlie colcbratiou of St. Patrick's Day on March 17 promises' to he quite equal to those of previous years. An attractive sports programme for the .day's celebrations at Newtown Park has been propped. A singing competition has been arranged, and many novel sideshows will be run on the grounds. For the concert well-known performers have been engaged, including Mr. Farquliar Young and Miss Mildred Wrighton (of Christchurcli), Miss Kearins (Palmerston North), and Misses Teresa M'Enroe, Eileen Driscoll, Nellio Strickland, and M. M'.Keowcn. and Messrs. Kevin Dillon ami Exton. The Marist Brothers' Choir-and Orchestra will also take part in tlio concert. Tlie sum of £21 13s. Gd. has been forwarded to tho Mayor by the Camp Commandant, Trentham, as a contribution towards the Serbian Relief Fund. Tho monoy was subscribed through a collec-tion-box in the canteen. A cablegram has been reecived stating that the Maieja, which was mined off Dover, did not carry any New Zealand mails. "I think that we ought to keep hammering at the City Council if we want our new road," said il.r. C. W. Tanner at the meeting of Vogeltown ratepayers last night in the Brooklyn School. "Even if ive have to wait on the council every month," he continued, "I. think wo ought to do it. I have spoken against clkutcisin before, and there is cliqueism in tlio City Council. I think that a Ratepayers' Association such as this, and acting in the way I have suggested, would be a step towards breaking up that cliqueism." Liability for damages arising cut of an accident on land differs from i lift ility respecting a marine accident. According to Mn, Justice Chapman, in tlie Supreme Court, a rule of negligence on the road is to tlie effect that if both parties were to blame for the tccurrence, damages are not given agau ; st the defendant in the subsequent litigation. But ou the sea, if both p.-irties are blameworthy, and both vessels are damaged, the damage is pooled and shared. Thus, if one vessel suffered, to the extent of £100, and the other to the 'extent of £500, each party would bear £300 of the total damages. "Everyone who uses tho King's highway is entitled to use it in a reasonable way, and whatever his rights he li.Lst use them with caution and reason," remarked Mr. Justice Chapman during the, course of a Supreme Court action. "AVhilo so. using the road he is entitled to be protected from rash or incautious users. We have hoard that, in Paris, vehicles have a prior right to tho roads, and a right to knock anyone down. We don't recognise tiiat at all. Here, caution is called for by anyone usiug the road." Thomas ■ Brown, a young man with four aliases, appeared in tlie Magistrate's Court yesterday charged with the theft of £5 from Tlios. Hazelhurst, a soldier returned from Samoa. Brown pleaded hot guilty. The story against him was to the effect that Hazolhnrst picked up with Brown, whom he did not know, and bought drink and taxi i ides out of a £10 note which he changed in Brown's presence. The drink tpok effect on Hazelhurst, and, while in one of the taxis, lie folt Brown's hand in his pocket. Browii said he was only putting Hazelhurst's handkerchief back. Shortly aftervards Hazelhurst found that five or six 7 'jund notes had gone. With the aid of tho taxi drivers, who were suspicious of Brown, the police traced and arrested the accused, who then had five pound notes and some silver 011 him, 'vhereas, prior to leaving Hazelhurst he had stated that he had not a penny, lirown was committed to the Supreme Cor.rt for'trial.' The Wadestown Municipal Ratepayers' Association is advising ratepayers of the district to pay the tramway rate, but under protest. In the ttist case before the Supreme Court it was that the City Corporation was within its rights in imposing the special tramways rate imposed. A joint meeting of the Royal Choral Society and the Wellington Musical Union will be held in St. John's Schoolroom this evening, to institute the union of the two bodies, elect officers, etc. The meeting will commence at 8 p.m. sharp. All members of both societies are requested to attend. A charge of bigamy was made in the Magistrate's Court yesterday against Rhoda Randall Davidson, a young woman whose husband (James Morion Davidson) was still living. Gordon Stewart Mason, with whom she v/ns said to have gone through a form cf marriage, was oliarged with having made a false declaration in order to secure tho marriage certificate. Both were remanded till March 8. The New Zealand Poultry. Industries, Ltd., reports as follows: —"The supplies of guaranteed fresh eggs are again not equal to the demand, and the price lias advanced 0110 penny to Is. 7d. per dozen as from-to-day." — Tho Amalgamated Society of Engineers at Auckland decidcd last night at a special meeting to make early application to tho Court to amend, their award in respect to several'of tho more important clauses, and failing any amendments, the society to seriously consider the matter of cancelling its registration.—Press Association. The first meeting of the Board of Trade was held yesterday. Business of a formal nature was transacted, and it was decided to appoint a secretary. Tho Board, as soon as a course of action is definitely arranged, will, if it is found necessary, visit other centres. Tho Outlying District Coniniitteo of the City Council visited Vogeltown 011 Tuesday last, when they met members of the Vogeltown and Mornington Ratepayers' Committee. The new road between Brooklyn and Mills Road was I discussed, and the Ratepayers' Committee were given, to understand that it, they were willing to forego a number of minor details such as footpaths and an amount of tracks, the main road would in all probability be recommended to bo placed on the munie.ipivl estimates for the ensuing year.