LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2720, 15 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The s.s. Manuka, which sailed honr Sydney at 2 p.m. on March' 11 for Wellington, is bringing Australian mails, also a sijiall mail from the United Kingdom, via Suea. She is due here' today. ■ .

One death from pneumonia following upon measles has occurred at Featherston camp. The measles outbreak, however, is not yet extensive, and the Dofenoo Minister, says it is causing the authorities no uneasiness The epidemic of enteritis appears to ha.ve died out almost entirely at the camp. A deputation is to wait on tlie Prims Minister and the Minister of Customs (so it was stated, at the Hutt County Council yesterday) respecting the Question of access to the Waikauae .Fishing Settlement. . Tho subject is an ancient one, and involves the matter of •an old Maori Road. The fishermen are agitating for better access to the settlement.

Motorists will be interested to hear that the Hutt County Council proposes to proceed with-tile-erection of a bridge over the Mangakotukutuku Stream, near Paraparaumu.

By Order-in-Council, duly gazetted, the exportation of copra,, oleaginous seeds, nuts, and kernels is prohibited to any other destination _ than the United Kingdom, oxcept with the consent of the Minister oF Customs.

A member of tho .audicnce which Sir J. G. Ward addressed in Invercargill on Thursday asked if tho speaker was favourable to a policy by . local bodies of discharging employees, eligible for the front. Sir Joseph replied that if ho was a single man employed by a local body he would not wait to be discharged. • '

Yesterday the Hutt County Council received a communication from the War Necessities ' Committee, asking support of the movement, for tho early closing of hotels and for the establishment of wet canteens in camp. The county chairman (Mr. Welch) expressed himself iis in favour of wet canteens. No action was taken.

The Lauds Department has asked the •Hutt County Council to take action in tho direction of improving the drainage of Waddington Settlement, which, it' is" understood, is to be utilised for returned soldiers. Tho settlement, is in the Hutt Vallov, near Taita, and was acquired bv a formor Government for workers' dwellings purposes.

A lady visiting Asliburtoii lately was much impressed with the convenience of an arrangement; made' in the Public Gardens. A little gas stave is set, witli a kettle chained to it, Mid there is a penny-slot, so that people who may be picnicking can fill the kettle, put in their penny, light the gas, and have their tea most Comfortably. It was remarked at Monday evening's recruiting rally 'at Brooklyn that Trooper J. H. Winter, wlio has been awarded the D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry in rescuing, 011 two occasions, wounded men, and carrying them 011 his back to a dressing station, is a Brooklyn boy-

The installation of the new automatic fire alarm system in the Hawera Borough is almost completed, fourteen alarm boxes having been erected at various points. Superintendent Pettett informed a reporter that the trials made ' have proved entirely satisfactory: ' The .Hnwko's Bay Relief Association has granted £250 to the Salvation Army • Fund, which is being used for social work in the camps. At a meeting of the Hawke's Bay War Relief Association it was stated that the total funds in hand held by the various patriotic societies connected with the association amounted to £100,000. Captain S. M. M'Gee, V.1)., accountant for the Canterbury Military District, and Honorary Captain A. R. C. Whit), district storekeeper, have been attached to the Now Zealand Staff Corp.-. during their occupancy of their present positions. The cost to the Government of main-. taming the Wanganui River during tho past seven years reaches a total of £11,250. For years past Friendly Societies have cherished a grudlge against the State aided National Provident Fund, which cuts 6orely into thoir membership. This grievance was mentioned in the Houso a good deal last session, and the Prime Minister promised that a conference of Friendly Societies would be arranged this year to discuss the matter. _ The Minister in charge of Friendly Socioties (the Hon. J. A. Hahan) _ intends to 'summon this conference in about a month. meeting of the Hutt County Council a letter was received from the Levels County Council re- , questing support of a proposal to aBS tho Government to give county Councils power to make speed by-laws for motor-cars, ana to license ffie drivers of motor-cars.. The Hutt Council approved' the proposal.'

Yesterday tile water at Lyall Bay and the surrounding coast-line up to Island Bay was again infested with thousands of jellyfish. This time, in addition, to the smaller ones that usually make their appearance during tot weather, there was a species of huge variegated coloured jellyfish, weighipg up to 401b. During the day-many people complained of a stinging sensation after leaving the water, and it transpires tliqt these larger jellyfish emit a fluid which causes a stinging feeling, and sometimes produces a rash to anyone in proximity to them.' Bathers aro warned to give them as wide 'a berth as possible.

The competition of the Mount Eden prison with the quarry-owners of Auckland is an important factor in determining- the price of road metal in the city (says the Auckland "Herald"). .It. was stated a quarry-owner in the Arbitration Court that the prison authorities supplied a large_ quantity of stone at 4s. 6d. per cubic yard. He said he was prepared to pay 4s. lid. per cubic yard to anyone who would supply liim with metal, and in addition lie "would , allow the supplier the free use of the whole of his valuable plant. When asked by the President ■of the Court, Mr. Justice Stringer, why he did not buy all the metal the prison authorities could supply at 4s. 6d. per yard, the witness's reply was somewhat contradictory. He said ,he did buy large quantities from the prison, but that he could not get enough. He said that the prison authorities were the largest suppliers of stone metal in the city. The position of the Prison Department in relation to contractors had been, placed before the Minister of Justice some years ago, but he had 6aid the Department must do something towards making the prison pay. There tho matter had rested.

A very general belief exists .that tho Now Zealand Expeditionary Force is sure' to go to Salonika very 60011. Indeed, some reports have it that sinio New Zoalanders are already there. The only particle of trutli in all theso rumours is that the No. 1 Stationary Hospital. Colonel M'G-avin in command, is at Salonika. No other New Zealand troops are , there. Of course i>o one knows the mind of tho Commander-in-Chief, but so far as anyone here knows at present, the Now Zealanders are not going to join the Balkan expedition —at least .for some time. They may never go to that theatre. Mention of their present whereabouts is not permitted, but' perhaps this assurance ' may' be given: that if they are fortunate enough to have a fight where they are now, they will fight at better odds than they, did at Gallipoli. i

An original method of gaining subscriptions'for the building of a hall adjacent to the Taradale Presbyterian Church lins been hit upon by tho Bev. R F Fish, of that church (states the "Hawke's Bay Herald"). It is the circulation of a number of cards which have been printed in a manner so that each card will represent ten boardß. some of which will be sold at Is. and others at 3d. The. idea is that eacn contributor will feel that he is conirir buting towards tho cost of the timber for the hall.

In response to an influential Invercargill deputation (states tho Ohristchurcli correspondent of tho Auckland Hci* aid"), the Union Steam Ship Company, officials have given an assurance. that,if not prevented by the requisitioning of ships by the Defence authorities, a Bluff-Auckland three-weekly service will bo inaugurated, and, in addition, threo, boats a week will run from Bluff to Wellington. It was mentioned that at present 17 vessel's belonging to the company are on Imperial service.