LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2801, 20 June 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Manuka, which sailed from Sydney at 8 p.m. on Juno 1G for Wellington, is carrying Australian mails only, and is clue in Wellington late this evening.

The ainalijamn.tion.has just been completed of two of J;ha Dominion's largest and best-known business houses, namely, 'Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co., whose headquarters are at Dunedin, and Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co., with headquarters at Wellington. Both iirm3 have branches in various other parts of New Zealand. In future tho two businesses will be oonducted under the name of Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co.; with a share capital of half a million. Mr. James Macintosh joins the board of directors of Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co., bat the Wellington business will< be carried on practically under the same management as heretofore. Reporting- from Samoa under date June 19 on the health of the garrison at Samoa, Colonel Logan states that-Captain R. C. Smith is suffering from muscular rheumatism; Pte. Grant from synovitis kneoj Pte. Bcid, lymphangitis foot; Pte.' Davis, sciatica; Pte. Morrisson, insomnia; Pte. Marsdon, lipoma; Pte. MTherson, enteric; Pte. Fitzgerald, bubonocele; Pte. Johnston, debility. ' No case of infantile paralysis has been reported in the Wellington Health District during the last three days. There was a considerable, fall in tho number of recruits enrolled at tho Town Hall during the past week. For several weelcs past tho number enrolled has extended well into three figures for each week, but last week saw a drop to .81— less than 14 per day. Some excitement was caused in the To Ai'o part' of the City yesterday by the bolting of a spirited horse,. attached to an express, that was driven by Mr. B. Wood and owned by Mr. 0. Wright. The horse took fright in Mount Streot. whirled down Tho Terrace, and, in turning round into Ghuznco Street, got rid of tho express by smashing it against a telephone post. Having unloaded its dead weight, it galloped madly down Glniznee Street until it reached Cuba Street, where it fell opposite Browne and Yeats's shop on the cornor. Tliero a police constable thought it wise to shoot the horse, but tho bullet only seemed to act as a restorative, for tho animal at once regained its legs, and made off up Ghuzuee Street, finally coming to a standstill in a right-of-way. It was 'then found that one nf its logs was broken, and to put an end to its sufferings four more shot" had to bo fired into tho animal beforo it died. ■To the credit of commercial ftravollcrs bo it said, "No Rubbing Lar.ildry Help" is selling fast. Is. packfcgo sufficient seven weeks' washing. Coatahio nothing injurious; ,£lO guarantee. AU grocers.— Advt.

Tho .Postal Department has advised the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce that authority had been riven for coin-in-slot telephones to be installed, on the Wool Wharf and tho King's WhaTf.

As a result of tlio Prime Ministor'6 efforts a great deal has been done to relieve tho congestion arising from the shortage of ships in tho carriage of flax. The various shipping companies have each agreed to take a certain proportion of flax. Mr. Massey has received several letters thanking him for his efforts in this matter.

"I think the recent Empire' celebrations will do a great deal of good," was tho substance of a report on the Empire Day scheme mode by Mr. C. M. Luke to the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday. _ Mr. Luke added that the status and meaning of Enuiire had been well brought before the school children.'

"Our tl'ado would have gone in one sweep had Germany been able to defeat our fleet in the recent naval battle," observed Mr. C. M. Luke, president of the Wellington Central- Chamber of Commerce, yesterday. Sir. Lnlte thought it a matter for great joy that tho British fleet had been able to defeat the German flcot.

During Hib hearing of tho licensing, cases yesterday Mr. T. Young said that some exception had been, taken by the residents of Garrett Street to remarks made by him in a general way at the previous sitting of the Licensing Committee. He desired to assure tho Court that he had no intention of reflecting upon the good people of Gamtt Street, and would not under any circumstances do so. Mr. Eiddell: "Perhaps the gentlemen of tho Press will give publicity to your wish, and help you to Temove any wrong impression yon may havo made."

At the conclusion of the sitting of tho Licensing Bench yesterday, Mr. W. G. lUddell, S.M., said ho desired, on behalf of the committee and himself, to make an observation applicable to the licensed trado generally. ' It was notable that a number of.premises have not lately been conducted in the way they should be to accord with tho Statute. Most of tho hotels in Wellington wero properly conducted, and a credit to both, owners and licensees, but some licensees wore negligent, some incajxible, and somo both; and tho committee were of opinion that the onus .was. upon owners to see that they were getting competent men as licensees to take charge of their_ premises. By doing so, tho owners would not only be assisting tho committeo in the discharge of its onerous duties, but protecting their own interests.

Tho boiler capacity at the tramways power-house in Wakefield Street is being increased at present by the installation of two 5-tou 7cwt. Babcock and Wilcox water-tube boilers, wliicli aro to be heated by a furnace with a travelling floor, after the manner of those employed at tho electric light .power-house in Harris. Street. The installation of tho new boilers (each of which will be thirty foot in length) will materially incrjease tho efficiency of the plajit at the power-house. When they are in -position all 'the available boiler space in the power-house will have been filled, leaving the matter of futuro expansion a rattier knotty problem.

A woman, well dressed, and considerably below middle age, mado her way down to the King's Wharf -shortly after nine o'clock last evening and endeavoured to board tho Tahiti, with tho intention of seeing one of the crow. The woman was, however, forbidden by the wharf officials to board the steamor, and she thereupon moved along and stood under the. light at the head of the wharf, In a few. moments' those in tho vicinity heard the report of a revolver shot, and quickly discovered that tho woman had attempted to shoot herself. The bullet had missed its mark, however, and she was fumbling with tho firearm, and was about to shoot again when some Harbour Board officials wrested the revolver from her. Constable Fleming, on arrival on ithe scene, found that the desperate person had already been escorted from tho wharf by a foreman named Johnston,, who stated that he had put her on board a tramcar and advised her to go home. As far as could bo gathered the- woman resides-in Taranaki Street. The polido are making further-inquiries. -

In tho village of Bromley, near Eotherham (says the London "Times"), lives an Army pensioner, aged G7, who has served 22 years in the Army and has reared 31 children, including 12 daughters. ■ Sixteen of his sons are engaged in the fighting line. - -

The Board of Trade has gone to New Plymouth to collect such information there as may b6 necessary for tho completion of its report to tho, Government on tho prices ruling for wheat, flour, and bread. An interim-report has already fceon received by the Prime Minister.

A gramoplione and records were recently provided for the Salvation Army. Institute at the Feathbrston Military Camp, the gentlemen contributing to its cost being:—Messrs. D. Cameron, ,£2 10s.'; "J. M'Leod, £2 25.; J. W. Kershaw, -CI Is.: H. A. Matthews, .£1 Is.; , Sir W. C. Buchanan, and M. M'Govern, 3s.

The Public Health Committee of the City Council ,met yesterday to further discuss the uailk problem, and it was deoided to agiiin wait on tho Minister of Public Health' (the Hon. G. W. Russell). Tho committee will endeavour to get an appointment with the Minister for to-morrow.

, Recently the Wellington. Provincial Industrial Association pointed out to t'ho Department of Labour that' there was difficulty being experienced by manufacturers - in. securing sufficient boy labour, and suggested that some provision might be ctfule by which boys who are attending school would bo permitted to bo employed affcer school hours at certain. classes of work, at the rate of wages ordinarily jtaid.ito boys of fourteen years. Replying, "Hie Secretary for Labour (Mr. F. W. Howley) remarked that Under tlife Factories Act permission could be granted by an inspector for any boy or girl over thirteen yeara of age to bo employed in a factory, except in connection with inachinary, and provided that th© child held, a certificate of exemption under tho Education Act. He took it, however, that the association would desire to employ the school boys after school hours, and ibis would need a special Order-in-Coumcil under the Reflation of Trades and 'Commerce Aot. He did not think the Minister would favourably consider tho suggestion unless it was' shown .that tlio '.necessity was fairly general. Tho association decided to ask the Secretary for Labour to lay the matter beforo tho Minister, and request him to have tho Order-in-Council made.

Mr. I'. N. Deuton, of Messrs. W. Littlejohn and Soil, grocuTcd, wlien he was living in India, a? full-length photograph'of the late Lon? Kitchener, bearing ii is signature, in lilon. Mr. Denton is willing to supply, twdlve copies of this fine autograph picture »at ,550 each, the monej' to be handed ovter to one of the patriotic funds. Mr. Tfl. Rowiii'tl Booth, of Carterton, lias {riven ;£SO for the first copy, which mav be scan ill the firm's window. 'Che Mayor fJklr. J. P. Luke) has seen the photograph,, and has written approving of the scheme for adding' to the uatriotic funds. Donors • should apply direct to Mr. Dentdn. < Cleanliness is a virtue—it is also a necessity in the home, and' you. will find tho "Daisy" Vacuum Ctenuer a great acquisition in your cleaning operations. It thoroughly cleans! and lightens your daily work to a marvellous <3egree. The "Daisy" is a daisy, tlieito's no donbt, and if you call we will ijiow vou how simple it is to operate and liow low. it is in price. Oscar Hewett and Co., Ltd., 56 Cuba 'Street (just belVw Bank of N:Z.). —Advt. The Goodyear Tyro and Bubber Company, of Akron, U.S.A., has becomotho largest and most successful tyre company in the world, solely 1$; its policy of makiu" only tho high'Jat class of tyres. Seventy_ per cent, ci: tho new Motor-cars now imported into' this country, especially tho better data cars, are fitted with Goodyear Tyres. Motorists should make sure that they buy the genuine Goodyear Tyre. Partict liars and' price lists can be obtained fnom Tho .Dominion Motor Vehicles, Lutaited, 65 Courtenay Place, Wellington, Controlling Agents for Wellington, , 'Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, tSaid Nelson—Advt. Notwithstanding war conditions, men can still obtain a liard folt hat aV 10s. 6d., high quality, from Geo. Fowk'tq, Ltd., >fji.rmisxa Street.—Advt,

Writing to Mr, Jas. Moore, of th« Mission to' Seamen, from "somewhere at sea," an. o fflcer on tie Japanese warship Ibnke, wlii 3 was on the vessel on lier recent trip Ito Now Zealand, and was also a cadet <fl 1 one of the vessels of tho Japanese 3 quadron which visited New Zealand in' 1907, states that the trailing ships lira 11 e and Azuma will perhaps v.isit New .Zealand waters next winter, 'j'he writer expresses deep gratitude to Mr. Moorc-.'.for hospitality extended wheu the Ibuke n'as in Wellington.

Preeagini} disaster to the industry unless so.uho relief were promptly afforded, cither by an increased duty or tj tie prohibition 'of dumping of foreign hops into Australia, a la.ilip deputation of Tasmaniiin hop-growers '.interviewed the Commonwealth Hini of Customs this month, and urged p rouipt action on tho part of the federal Government. It was stated that growers . ( were, faced with absolute ruin on tho present condition of the market, as htuxs were.practically unsalo. able, wliilo guj ie' of tho sales effected wera at prices that did not rocompenso growers tor tjh<i cost of picking. Tasmnia was able to produce sufficient hops for the whole jjf Australia, and the industry guvo -lployment to thousands of tho poorer ai '.asses on the mainland. ' Mr. Tndor lAvouv tsed consideration of tho request, bnt suj' seated that tho hopgrowers should ft llow the example of tho lucerne-growers i n Victoria, and induce . tlie\State Govern inent to como to their aid by creating i \ pool. Tho Commonwealth could not: interveno except in the ease of goods iin;? : orted into or exported from Australia, <9 ' take over control of the hop industry-! without tho sanction of the Government.

It transpired fn the Arbitration" Court proceeding at Cha istchurch that a man, lus wite, and five !of a family had had to exist since J\lsj • last year on 28s. a week, half the wai pay of Ji2 12s. a week. tluwJ ijh t<\o man meeting with an aocident. The wife went into \ tho box, <md Mr.'Justice Stringer Questioned her. "Y'oti halve had a Lard time?" The womi'.n nodded her head, and tho luute actio' was more eloquont than words. "A in in and his wife andfive children on 2Bsv a week," said Bis' Honour. "And srimi,) of it," quietly said tho wurnsrt ")vna cm; quarter pay—l3s. a week." And those : p resent realised then a little of tho difficulties that beset the poor. ■

Tho American "liii.y and Navy Jour- - nal" says:—Tho expes ience of the European war anil of oua • army in Mexico has demonstrated thai tho -tan marching shoes now issued to • * tho «rmy are not suitablo, for field stirtrice. Marching in the sand in Mexico, ijhe tan shoes have / been cut to pieces, sin d have mado the men's feet sore. Ooky of the most objectionable features o; I .itho shoo has been tho lining. It has bell' it discovered that ■ the lining wears throng! i on a long, hard march and cuts the m Idler's feet. Especially is this true i *fter tho shoes have been wet and tfcni d. In preparing plans for the new shew which -will probably'be adopted, tl'ta : Quartermaster Corps has examined rati- shoes that are now being used by tho 1 frwich, Belgian, Greek, and Italian '.'arniiii's. It has been found that liolio of thesio- has lining, and. all of them are made \1 itli tho binned . surface on tho inside of,', the shoe. Most of thorn havo hobnails ( to. the soles, and heel-plate. Twq types ' : havo boen_ developed by the Quartern] tt'ster Corps for ] the Aimy, and will shortli; have a field-. service "test. 1 They have toe same shnpo • as the present marcjyug t shoe, • but instead of a lining the smoa th surface of the leatlior will be on tli<]./ inside. The rough or flesh sido o£ the leather outside. gives them a very tingaiti y appearance, but they will be more cojnfortable.and durable than the present na arching shoe.

A large number of ek-j« ipils of the Waitalri High School have): given their lives to the Empire, in thcV war. Thero has already been shown a determination to have their memories ppipetuated at the school. At the last mieu'iting of tho Board of Governors (says -tile "Oamaru Mail") the rectort forwai-Md a letter received by him on Saturday evening from Mr. Harold. BeauchoiliJ? (Wellington), stating that he had decided, oil behalf of himself and Mrs. B;H'nchamp, to vest in the Board : of Gove: h lors debentures for .£2OO, bearing inkM«st at the rate of. SJ 'or G per cent., ■ 1 ®ie proceeds-, to be ahiiually devoted ; to;; prize? in,, memory of their son, Lieuteuiant Leslio, ' Heron Beauciinmp. It was jnsk4d' v Cnat the prizes should be given itir English literature and Latin, in whic|i two su!>jects Lieutenant Beaucliamp cal'stingulshed himself at tfie "school. Th iv .offer was accepted with thanks. Mr. M'ilner also wrote that the families of Private T. L. Burns and Private W. J. Burning, who were killed in action at. Gall.Siwli, had expressed a desiro to present, to the school memorial prizes, in eacfli case o! tho value of £10. These offers ivere also accepted with thanks. -■ The French ship Bonnevcin £ u\rived at Fremantle reoently, after taking. 169 days to sail form New York. The ctellay was caused by tho .unprecedented iveather experienced after rounding the ,<2ape of Good Hope. Before reaching t!pe Cape the Bonnevein called in at TristSan da Cunlin, Island, in the South Atlantic. The population of this island ricitv numbers 100 people, 20 of whom are -women. They were clad in skins and of civilised clothing, and some, indeed, 1 wore nothing. The Bonnevcin vfns the first ship that had called there liar six months,."aud the first cry of t'ho inhabitants was for flour and cltoChing. For these they bartered purses maile of Foalskin and shoes made of fox sUins. There were several white men fist;' the population. These were survivor3-;.from wrecks. One Italian-boy, who lm.bcen the sola survivor of a wreck on t djj island 11 years ago, had remained .there ever since. One superior member of the colony, who acted as the doctor ana in a general professional capacity, .said that he had been a:i the island ' '10 years, and during that period only- - 12 ships had called. The master of -the Bonnevein received many letters to-post at Froraautlo to various quarters of.'.the globe. -j, It will be generally admitted (says the "Otago Daily Times"), especially by ais farming community, that the DonunTMii has an inexhaustible supply of rabbiL-, the complete extinction of which COJI hardly be hoped for. However, it. is pleasing to know that the pest I s . jl' 1 properly utilised commercially m tho Old Country, where the shortage of fo-ou is always an important question, and especially so at the present tune. Ihiil, tho rabbit export trade is rapidly ; developing was evidenced by the romaN; 3 mado by an officer of the steamer . Mkl* dieses to a Dunedin reporter. On heit§ last trip to the Homeland from Australia,.the vessel had as part, of her frozen' meat cargo nearly 1,000,000 rabbits. That; there is good money in the trade-is ex-' emplified by the fact that rabbits find. «.■ ready retail market abroad at from Is. (o 2s 3d. eaoh. Dealers (it is said) were able 'to encourage business by seUingtlio Dominion's rabbit as the English wood rabbit, which is general)}- considered to I>9 a choicer table dclicacv Tl. Middlesex is at present loading crate ot rabbits and expects to take Home on her forthcoming'trip anotlfer 5000 ench of which contains two dozen labbits.