LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2826, 18 July 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wellington's railway stations wero described by the President oi the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce (Mr. C. 51. Luke) yesterday as a blot on the City and a disgraoe to the country. "If we hail half tho push, of other towns our new station would have been started long ago," he added. "But wo are peaceable and reasonable, ami I think our attitude has been misinterpreted. The war is no longer an excuse. It was once, but not now. The Jinanee? of the country are in such a. prosperous condition tlmt it is duly of (lie Government to remedy this matter." 'Ihe Chamber agreed with its chairman, and resolved to join with any local body in urging the carrying out of this very necessary work.

"That the Government be ashed to introduce legislation making it an oft'ence for any employer when advertising vacant positions to invito applicants to state tho amount of wage or salary they may require, tho practice being tantamount to euoouroging people to work for less than a reasonable or a living wage." The foregoing resolution, was moved by Councillor jflConzio at last night's meeting of the Petone Borough Council. Councillor JlDougall seconded tho motion. The mover urged that the practice of employers advertising in this manner meant tho cutting down of wages, and in tho interests of the working community, and particularly the itnorganised workers, ho believed legislation, should bo brought forward by the Government to make the practice an offence. Tho motion was carried.

With-a view to enabling those who have business with staff and administrative officers engaged ill training to distinguish readily between tlie various classes, the British War Office has revised tho dress regulations, with the result that those officers now wear red, blue, or green cap bands, and.'gorget patches according to their respective categories. Previously most of theso officers wore red cap bands and gorget patches, and tho change lias resulted in tho various dresses being moro readily distinguished. The change lias now hoen adopted in New Zealand, according to General Orders issued yesterday from Defence Headquarters.

One of tho cables across Cook' Strait has developed a fault, and is temporarily out.of commission, thus delaying southern tolegraphic work to some extent. Tho Tutanekai will, it is understood, be commissioned to locate the fault.

Tlif.ro was quite ati assemblage of prominent military officials and citizens at the Mayor's Room yesterday afternoon to witness a demonstration of the new mechanical arm invented by Mr. P. M. M'.Kay, of Nelson. What this amazingly serriceaMo arui v can do was very lucidly explained and demonstrated by Mr. M'Kay, who fitted it on tho stump of his left arm, and then with the aid of different grips, drove nails, sawed wood, handled a shovel- and paint-brilsh-<K-ith easy facility. Hie arm is essentially one for tho man who intends to work at this or that trade, and was declared by allpresent to be a wonderfully effective substitute for the real thing. A full description of Mr. M'Kay's invention appeared 111 Saturday's Dominion. Among those present yesterday were BrigadierGeneral Sir Alfred Robin, C.M.G., C.8., General Henderson, several staff officers, Bishop Sprott, Hon. ,T. G. W. Aitken, and several members of the City Council. The total collected in Wangairai on "Sailors" Saturday and since for tho benefit of the dependants of tlio sailors lost in the Battle of Jutland, has now readied the sum of .£1575 10s. 3d., and further amounts promised will, it is expected, bring.this up to about ifilGOO. The committee has also forwarded to London the sum' of raised by various donations to tho Serbian Reliof Fund. A peculiar fish was landed at the Bluff on Friday last, and caused a considerable amount of interest. It was about eight feet long, similar in shape to' a whale, and had strong dog-like teeth. Tho spccies. is (says an exchange) apparently unknown..

The Nee.-' Zealand Railways Department has issued a set of poster stamps which it is hoped, will assist in advertising NewZealand 'as 1 a tourist l-esort. Tlie idea is that New Zealanders should aflix thein to oversea letters. The stamps contain views of this country, and the words "Visit New Zealand." They aro ,io be sold at the rate of 500 for 55., or °80 foils. The fact was brought before the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday, and thero tho opinion was expressed that the idea was excellent.

Thoro is soiuetliiug like a slump in* recruiting in. Wellington at present. The official dental examinor, who reports on recruits' teeth, both at tho Town Hall and Bucklo Stroet, stated yesterday that ho was only called upon to examines tho teeth, of one recruit in five days at tho cliief roerniting offico last week. At the Town Hall there were 4G names registered during, the week ended Saturday 'last. Of the papers which, had been returned by those men, 2G had. been pronounced fit and 9 unfit. ■'

A. circular notico recently .issued by the Telegraph Department in connection with bureau telephones has been responsible for a considerable saving of money, and the expedition of merchants' business, especially in regard "to bureau communications. Tho telephone exchange now requires persons asking for bureau wires to give their own names (as "well as their firms'), so that when the line is free the operator can ask for tho proper person. Without this precaution being taken, it was found that mmiy peoplo were using 'merchants') hotels', and boardingho;ise telephones for long-dis-tance work'without payment. Merchants with extensive premises and several telephones have welcomed the neiv rule as expediting business and saving*their own staff worry, while from- the departmental point of view the change has more than justified (itself in the 6aying of time and money.

During the-hearing of a motor-car caso in tho Supreme? Court yesterday, His Honour tho Chief Justice, commenting upon somo evidence given, observed:

"What amazes me, and doubtless it has amazed others, is the number of motorcars that can be sold in this country, and their interminable variety. Wo liavo. one man fancying a car of 'American make to-day] changing it for an Italian car to-morrow, and disposing of tliat for a Trench car the day following, just-as the fancy takes him. I had no idea that the tranic in motor-cars was so inexhaustible." ; '

About 1-1,000 cases of bananas from the Islands wero condemned at) Auckland by tho Inspecton on account of tho fruit being largely affected by scale (states o. Press Association message). The value of tho bananas is about .C 5950. Instructions from tho Agricultural Department headquarters are awaited as to how the condemned fruit is to bo dealt with. A luter message states that the consignment hold .up by tho jirst fruit inspector has been released for delivery on tho production of tho shipper's certificate that the fruit had been fumigated before leaving Fiji. I

A correspondent, wriiin? in the "Itanawatu Standard," says:—l see there are some cases of diphtheria in Palmerston North. Some time a doctor'told mo that this dread complaint may easily he averted if, as soon as the throat becomes, at all rough or sore. ( hc->sufforcr would eat half a leaspooiihil of Hour of sulphur. It' kills all germs, and I have proved it? -efficacy.

At one time llelbourno provided a steady market for Southland's surplus draught horses, but. of late years, to a continued drought in Australia, tho trade has languished to such an extent that it has become of little account. It has beyn thought, ' however, that the breaking of the drought 011 tlio other side would remedy matters, auc\ onco again some Southland breeders have been tempted to try their luck. By the Wimmera oh. Thursday Inst 22 horses were shipped from Bluif for Melbourne. Included in the lots that went forward were somo of tho finest quality animals, and these will provide a, test as to whether or not breeding horses for export to the Commonwealth is a payable pro|»sir lion.

Tho Liquidator in the Estate of tho "North Otago Times" Co., Ltd., will bo pleased to mcot probable tenderers and supply'any further particulars required. Appointments may be made at the office of Messrs. Gordon nlid Gotch Ply., Ltd., for Wednesday and Thursday, July 19th and 20th.—Advt.

The beat advertisers of ""No Rubbing Laundry Help" aro tho' many thousands of delighted-wives using it.—Advt,