LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2772, 16 May 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Daylight saving was a subject briefly discussed by the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday. It was resolved: "That this Chamber views with pleasure the l'act of the Daylight Saving Bill which comes into operation to-day (Monday) in many countries in Europe. The Chamber desires to urge upon the Dominion .Government, whose Ministers are advocating economy throughout New Zealand, the necessity of putting a similar Bill upon the Statute Book as a measure Df uttermost war importance. This Chamber will do all it can to give loyal support to the measure, and that a copy of this resolution be r.ent to the Prime Minister and Mr. T. K. Sidey."' Mr. P. ,T. Atkins, who moved the resolution, said that ft shortage of coal 'was threatening, and that had daylight saving been introduced last year New Zealand would not now be on the threshold of that shortage. Reporting on the health of the Samoan Garrison, under date May.ls, Colonel Lo»an, Administrator, states: "Rorgt. But•r, abscess; Pie. firav. tinea."

"Wo want our men to marry. Roman Catlwlic Clubs are all right in their way. But when a man passes 21, it is tjme for him to think of establishing u little club of his own. (Applause.) He can bo the president—even if he is not tho speaker. (Laughter.) .And the bieger membership he has the better. (Applause.)"— Brother Egbert at the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' re-union last evening.

At about 3.15 p.m. yesterday(a 'soldier walking along the Jervois Quay Wharf was observed to fall into the water. Those in. the vicinity endeavoured to rescue Mm by means of a rope, which he managed to grasp, but weakness overtaking liim ho vcas compelled to let go. Mr. A. Black, a crane-driver employed by the Wellington Harbour Board, seeing the soldier's predicament, plunged in with all his clothes on, and succeeded in keeping the drowning man afloat till a rope was thrown out. With, this lie secured the soldier, and a Harbour Board storeman and a number of Black's fellow-workers succeeded in landing him on tho -wharf. After a brief interval the soldier was taken to the police station by a policeman.

A Parliamentary excursion to Featherston Camp was held yesterday. A good number of members, mostly of the Lower House, left by special train yesterday morning, inspected the camp thoroughly during a stay at I'eatherston of some three hours, and returned in the evening. Tho visitors were entertained at lunch iu the- commodious social hall of the. Soldiers' Club. General Robin, Commandant of tho Forces, briefly welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Defence Department and tho camp authorities. The Minister of Defence (Hon. J. Allen), in a short speech, referred to the fact that tho large and well equipped building in which they were assembled was provided by the Wairarapa Patriotic Society, with the assistance of the Government. He also stated that a building for an officers' club—a. much needed institution—was to be provided by the same Society, with the assistance of a contribution from the Government. This announcement was received with applause. Tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke), on behalf of tho non-Parliamentary visitors, thanked the committee and members of the Defence staffs for the hospitality extended bo them. Members of the Press Gallery were given special- facilities for becoming acquainted with camp organisation und routine. 'As guests of the Defence Department they went up by the troop train on Sunday night, stayed the night in camp, and so had an opportunity for seeing the earl} morning work in camp, the most interesting part of the soldier's day. They returned by the Parliamentary train last evening.

■■ Tho Railway Department lias reported to the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce that by way of improving communication between Taumarunui and Wellington, a truck has now been put on to run direct from Wellington to Taumarunui daily.

The death occurred suddenly on Saturday night on board the Moeraki, during the trip from Sydney to Wellington, of a little girl named Esme Davis, daughter of Mrs. M. Davis, of Gympie, Queensland. The child was five j-ears of age.

The following resolution, .moved by Mr. L. A. Edwards, was adopted by the Council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon: "That for tlie purpose of malting this Chamber of wore practical value to the community, there should be established a comprehensive information bureau capable of placing before the prospective farmer, settler buyer, manufacturer, merchant, labourer, etc., reliable and adequate information concerning the resources, economic conditions, etc., of Wellington Province, and for that purpose this Council desires to set up a special committee with power to act, to bring this scheme into effect." Messrs. J. F. Atkins, Hislop, and Edwards were anpointed the committeo referred to in the; resolution.

A conference of the New Zealand Furniture Trades Industrial Union of Employers is to be opened in Wellington tomorrow. The local union of employers is tendering the delegates a eomplinionr/ary" dinner at Godber's rooms, Cuba Street, to-morrow evening.

An honest oitizen of Brussels, returning home late at night under artificial stimulation and singing at the top of his coice, was apprehended by a German patrol. The citizen resisted, and after a. scuffle broke away from Ms captors and fell into the canal. Unable to swim, he began to call for help, without eliciting any response from the German policewho seemed to think that this was as good a way as any out of the situation. .Tust as he was going down for the third time the fugitive had a happy •thought. With all his remaining strength he yelled, "Vive la France! Vive la France I" A couple of Germans dived for him at once. Ho was hauled out, taken to tho lock-up, and the next day sentenced to three months for uttering seditious cries.—"Echo Beige."

Up to the present .£1045 has been received in Napier toward the T.H.C.A. Relief Fund.

Our Napier correspondent states that nil danger from floods in the NapierHastings portion of Hawke's Bay is now past, and not a singlo case of damage to stock or property has been reported in tho district. On tho other hand, tho Napier Harbour Board's lands about to bo reclaimed have been considerably benefited by a useful deposit of silt, and tho value of this reclamation is probablyenhanced several thousand pounds.

A special meeting of the City Council will bo hold on Thursday, to pass a special resolution declaring fennel a noxious weed, within the City.

The difficulty o£ securing boy labour was discussed at a meeting of the \Yellington Provincial Industrial Association last evening. A memljor wrote pointing out that lie could employ a number of boys to pack candles after school hours. He stated that he would have no difficulty in fiuding the boys, but ho did not know how the Labour Department would look at tho matter. It was pointed out that under tho Factories Act no person can employ boys under the age of 14 Years and who have not passed tho I'ourth Standard. Seeing that there is such a shortage of boy labour the secretary (Mr. H. F. Allen) was instructed to write to the Labour Department asking permission to employ boys to do the necessary work.

At the meeting of the Hibernian Society held last evenjng, the followine resolution was unanimously carried: "That this branch of the Hibernian Society considers that the time has arrived when Hie Home Government'should extend leniency to those who are now being tried for participating in the unfortunate rebellion that has occurred recently in Irelaud, and that such resolution be conveyed to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, through the District "Executive of the Society in New Zealand."

At Thursday's meeting of the Hosnital n«d Charitable Awl Board Mr. F. Castle will move: "(1) That in the opinion of this Board the Fourth Schedule of (lie Hospital and Charitable Aid Act (which has caused Hie rate of Government subsidy on ordinary expenditure to fall from- £\ ner £\ in 1911, to 16s. ■3d. ier £\ in 1015) onerates unfairly in the Wellington Hospital di=li'ict, and *that Hie Act should be amended to prnvido a minimum subsidy of .21 ner .£l. _(•>) That expenditure for lirovidii'g special accommodation and treatment for consumptives should be subsidised by tne Government-so thnt one-third of the net expenditure whiW fall on Hie local contributing bodies aiid two-thirds oil Hie Government, i'3'l That Hie Government 'be asked to legislate in the above directions."

The offer of made by Mr. Hcnfv Hayward, of Hayward's Pictures, for a competition for a national song or anthem is arousing a good deal of attention in literary and musical circles. Com-'' petitors for the verses inn st have their' contributions in Auckland, addressed to the Lyric Theatre, on or before .Tunc 15. The literary adjudicators are Miss E. K. Morton, Mr. Richard Singer, and Mr. J. Y. Birch. The Hon. ,1. A. Hunan is acting as referee in tin's section. Immediately the prize verse is chosen a further month will be given to musical aspirants, manuscripts for which must be sent to the Lyric Theatre. The adjudicators in the niusicnl section are Miss D. Nicol, Dr. Thomas, Mr. Maughan Barnett, and Mr. Walter Gray.