LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2738, 5 April 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities advise that the mails which left Now Zealand on February 17 and February 22, arrived iu London on March 30 and April 1 respectively-

A meeting of the executive council of the Federated Chambers of Commerce will be held to-day at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The meoting will uot be open to tho press.

A Press Association message states that the Canterbury military district sent, or is sending, £5000 in cash and «oiui«. ta the French Red Cross Fuud, as the result of a General appeal,

The Government has received a cablegram from the Indian Government fa tho effect that exports of refined saltpotro from India for meat-curing purposes can be permitted only on receipt of applications from tho New Zealand Government.' Merchants who_ may therefore desire at any time to import saltpetre from India should comrnuni-, cato with tho Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce, Wellington, stating names of shippers in India, quantities of saltpetre required, and refraction. The exportation of crude saltpetre from Lidia remains prohibited.

The Wellington Housewives' Union, an organisation which is heard of at irregular intervals, lias addressed a letter to tho Public Health Committee of the City Council, advocating that all stables should bo removed outside the city, in order to check the spread of infantile paralysis, which tho union apparently attributes to flies. The union also urges the city authorities to appoint women sanitary inspectors, evidently under the belief that the woman inspector would make it pretty hot for her sister who did not put and keep her I house in order?

Tho health of the garrison at Samoa is good, according fa a report made by Colonel Logan to Defence Headquarters. Sergeant M'Kay is suffering from catarrhal jaiuidice. ,

The large cargo carrier Waimarino, which arrived at Auckland from Vancouver, San Francisco, and Suva this week, had included pi a very large general cargo, no less than 200 motorcars from San Francisco. Of this numher about 70 will be landed hero, and tho Balance will be taken fa Sydney. Sixty of 'the cases containing cars were stowed on deck. It is stated that over 1000 motor-cars are awaiting shipment at San Francisco for New Zealand and Australia, and one vessel now loading there is bringing a cargo consisting solely of motor-cars.

It is estimated, says our Masterton correspondent, that more than £200,UUU lias been voluntarily subscribed in the Wairarapa since the war began towards the various patriotic funds. This represents over £10 per head for every man, woman, and child in tho district.

A Masteijton settler states, according to our Masterton correspondent, that a rabbit-trapper earned over £7 per week for six months of last year, trapping rabbits for the Wellington market.

On account of there being no quorum present, the usual meeting of the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was not held yesterday; Subscriptions for the four weeks ending April 4 were received from the following :—H. Headland, £1 Is.: It. Pearson, £1; T. A. AVells, E. Collie, Jenkins and Mack, H. P. Allen, M. Book, Marsden and Chamberlain, Jones and Co., and R. M. Griffiths, ss. each; M. R. Litchfield, Dr. Palmer, M'llwraith, and M'Gill, 2s. 6d. each; X.Y.Z., 2s. Total, £4 13s.

The ratepayers of the County of Makara will take a poll on Wednesday, April 12, to Secide upon the proposal to raise a special loan for the purposes of rebuilding and effectiug repairs to the bridges of the county.

The Petone and Ngahauranga Slaughtermen's Union, whose agreement expired on March 26 last,_held a conference a few weeks ago with the employers, with a view to obtaining an increase in the present rate of 275.. 6d. per hundred. As no settlement resulted, a secret ballot was taken by the union on Monday evening upon the question: "That the dispute between iihe Petone and Ngahauranga Slaughtermen's Union and the employers be referred to the Conciliation Commissioner." The voting was as follows: For the motion, 120; against, 20. '

The raffle for a well-filled picnic basket, presented by Mr.' "Larmour, manager of the Colonial Motor Company, was won by Mr. G. Morgan, of tho mechanicians' branoh of tho _ General Post Office. The raffle realised tho sumi of £20, which is to be handed over .to the Wellington Nursing Division of tlie St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas.

Two new and handsome combination cars, Nos. 110 and 112, made their debut on the city tracks in honour of the opening of the new Constable StreetCrawford Koad section on Monday. These new cars, which have the centre aisle, and are beautifully finished in polished wood veneers, are considered to be the ideal type for Wellington, though perhaps notHhe best carriers for rush-hours. The workmanship throughout is a distinct credit to those responsible. An innovation in these cars is the inclusion of an artistic advertisement about the municipal golf links at Berhampore.

Owing to the great shottage of water, the Wellington City Council notify in this issue that they prohibit the use of water supplied from the waterworks under their control for _ the following purposes, viz., for cleaning windows of shops and business premises by'means of a hose; for public baths; for ornamental purposes, such as fountains, ponds, etc.; for watering gardens by means of a hose or other removable pipe. ' ■

"Sheep-farming in America," said Mr. E. Clifton, Now Zealand commissioner at the recent Panama-Pacific Exposition, who has returned to the Dominion in the Niagara, "is carried out on different lines to the system adopted in New Zealand.'' He remarked that all sheep were herded in flocks of from. 2500 to 3000. The herder lived with the sheep, and fencing was unknown. The reason for tho presence of theVherder was to protect the stock from predatory animals, such as the coyote and the fox. A further reason was that the tenure of land in some of tTie large districts was not well defined. '■

The tramway figures for the eleven months of the past financial year were published yesterday, and reflect a very healthy conditio!' The returns for the month of February are likewise exceedingly satisfactory.' The revenue for the month amounted to £15,538, compared with £13,433 for February ot last year, an increase of £2103, whilst the working expenses were only £702 in excess of° those for + he corresponding month last year. The capital charges in both months under reviow were about tho same, but the credit lnlance amounted to £3063, as compared with £1700 in February, 1915. Tho power end track lighting figures for tho eleven months show the revenue to be £11,692, compared with £10,702 last year, a not gam of £990, but as the working expenses increased by £?<=§, the profit is not very great. During the eleven months 1,253,554 units of current were sold for power and track lighting, as compared with 1,059,301 units for tho corresponding period of last year.

Members of the Wellington Land Board on Monday paid a visit of inspection to the Wainuioru Block, \\airarapa, which it is proposed to subdivide among returned soldiers.

The busy grocers arc those that specialise in "No Rubbing' -Laundry Hell) ; for washing clothes clean without rubbing. Wellington Observers.—Advt.

Petrol motor traction is advancing l.y leaps and bounds throughout the nonunion, and the forward orders for English motor vehicles at present in the hands of the local Dominion Motor Vehicles, Ltd., are piled up, and now represent a capital value of many thousands of pounds. The difficulty of deliveries is a most serious factor, and while'we thank our many customers for their patience and willingncss to wait, we recognise that business must go on. Wo have, therefore, secured control of absolutely the finest Standard American Motor -Lorry, and have now on show a 2/3-ton vehicle, with every possible equipment, and designed for heavy roarts and rough work. Wa invite inspecion by all our present clients' and intPnilint: purchasers. The Dominion Motor Vehicles Ltd., 05 Courtenay Tiaco. AUVt'.