LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2846, 10 August 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It is probable that tho heariug of the charge of murder against E. 0. J. Devoin will not bo taken until September 4.

The Aliens' Commission has concluded its inquiry into tho loyalty of 'the Dalmatians on the Auckland gumfields and the necessity for their internment. Since the commission commenced its sittings no fewer than 135 witnesses have been examined. The Commissioners will draft their report and forward it to tho Government in due course. Mr. J. W. Poynton, one of the members of tho Aliens' Commission, returned to Palmerston during the -week-end.

As a result of the new regulations governing the issuing of permits for persons to leave New Zealand, it is now necessary fori all those over the ago of fifteen (including women) to' secure permits before leaving. The new regulation will bo enforced lor the first time to-day, when all passengers by the Moeraki will have to secure permits. In order to minimise inconvenience, particularly to lady passengers, special arrangements have been 'made by the Department of Internal Affairs to issue permits on application at tho Permit Office, Government Buildings, any time from 9 a.m. up to the time of the departure of the steamer this afternoon.

A wdman named Ellen Roberts, who wandered away from the Ohiro Homo on Tuesday, was 'found! drowned in the Jio'.vly-i'ornicd artificial lake in Central Park yesterday. Deceased was a widow, 69 years of age, and had been an inmato of the institution since May 11, 1916. The caretaker in going his rounds foundl tho body and immediately communicated with the police, who had it taken to the morgue. It is not known whether deceased had any relatives in New Zealand.

Mr. Lionel Curtis was tho guest oE the Wellington Commercial Travellers' Club at luncheon yosterday. The president, Mr. W. J. Bridson, was in the chair, and tliero was a large attendance of members. Mr. Curtis spoke somewhat on the lines of his remarks on Monday night. He referred to tho problem of the internal management of tlio Em'pire after tho war, and eontended that tho British Empire, representing as it did a quarter of tho world, should be governed as one State. He dealt with the question of citizenship, and suggested that members of tho club should form themselves.into groups of twelve or less to discuss the subject and to confer with "their fellowtravellers regarding it. On the motion of Mr. "W. G. Duthie, the speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

Arangements have been made (says a Groymoutli paper) for Dr. Henderson, of the. Geological Survey branch of the Ulines Department, to visit the West Coast next month to select tin? deposit of lime considered most suitable for the establishment of agricultural lime works on the coast. Dr. Henderson will prepare an estimate of the cost of burning the limo and delivering it at a suitable place for distribution. The Minister of Agriculture lias also arranged for Mr. M'Taggart-, agriculturist, who recently made a cursory inspection of deposits in the Grey and Inangahua districts, to consult with Dr. Henderson oil the coast in order tiiat the deposit decided upon may bo tho most suitable from an agricultural point of view, as well as geological and engineering fitness. As regards financial assistance from the Government, the Minister (it is 6aid) is favourably disposed towards introducing legislation next session to enablo Government loans to be- mado at a rcasonablo rato of interest to those intending to, establish lime works fertile bonefit of set. tiers, but no definite promise can be isado.in, this direction during the jjreBont time of financial stress arising out of the war.

Tlio following resolution was carried at a meeting hold .at Te Kuiti in connection'with the war anniversary:— "That we, the citizens, of To Kuiti, pledge ourselves collectively and individually to ensure that tlio following measures 6hall ho carried into effect after the successful termination of the war: (1) That no German-born shall be admitted to any of the British Dominions for at least 21 years after the termination of -the war; (2) that ro Gor-man-born shall be capablo of ho'ding British property or owning shares in British companies; (3) that no' Germanmade goods shall be admitted into the British Dominions or used by us." In tlio course of his "address, the Mayor state! that the amount of i'.7200 had been forwarded from the Te xCuiti district to the Patriotic Fund, and, in addition, a .local relief fund liad been started' for returned men who were able to do light work. Tho men vrcie to bo employed on town beautifying woiks and paid out of .tho fund. As indicating tho manlier in whicli the manhood of the district had answered the Empire's call, the Mayor said tLat- fiom the Te Kuiti Club, with a membership of 150, no less than 50 men bad gone to tho front. ■,

On being re-elcct-ed chairman of Wellington Education Board yesterday, the Hon: J. G. W. Aitk'en, after expressing appreciation for tbo high honour conferred upon him, said that the board, as the successor of the two (Wellington aud Marlborough) hoards, had to take ovor not only their assets but their liabilities. All -teachers of both bodies had been taken over. It would be necessary for both boards to prepare financial statements Tip to July 31. The outside staffs were hardly on the same footing as tho teaching stnffs. The combination of "the two districts hadi been effected by the Government with a viow to economy in administration. There were offices in Blenheim and Wellington, ifcith staffs in both places. No provision had been made for tlioso staffs, and the new board had until September 22 to decide what it was going to do in regard to tho mem-' hers of those staffs and their pay. The Chairman of tho Anzac Art Union, Mr. M'Hardy, will traverse the principal streets of Wellington on Saturday, and present half sovereigns to those who, when asked by him, can produce an. Anzac Art Union Ticket. At yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Education Board Mr. T. Forsyth brought up tho subject of the teachers' new grading 6clieme drafted by. Mr. J. Caughley (Assistant Director of Education), -which they as a hoard would have to work under in tho matter of appointments. The speaker said he bad talked with several teachers and none of them seemed to be quite clear as to how' Mr. Oaughloy had arrived! at his results, particularly as regards some of the teachers in the Wellington distriot. He suggested that Mr. Caughley might be invited to address the members of the board and explain his grading scheme. The chairman said that they usually left such tilings to the Chief Inspector (Mr. Fleming), who represented the Department. Mr. Forsyth said that his point was that the principles of the .soheme should bo ma/fe clear to members of the board. Hei moved formally that Mr. Caughley bo asked to address the 'board on the subject, and Mr. W. H. Field seconded the motion. Mr. W. Allen disagreed with tho proposal, saying that he did not know if members of the board were prepared to listen to a. dissertation on" the grading scheme. On the motion being put it'was lost by one • vote. , ' . A fine tribpto was paid to Inspector E. H. Sturrockby the retiring Marlborough Education Board in a. letter read at the newly constituted Wellington Education Board yesterday morning. Tho board wrote that he hadbeen many years in its employ as a schoolmaster, and for the last three years as inspector, and had done excellent work. The chairman remarked that it was well known that Mr. Sturrock was a very capable inspector. Lieut. E. A. Nilson, who returned from the front some time ago, has been formally struck off the strength of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and been absorbed into the establishment of his old unit, the 9th (Wellington East Coast) Regiment. ■ The Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, has forwarded the following telegram to the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, chairman of the Education Board:—"I desire to congratulate the members of tbo new board on their appointment thereto. The change marks a- new stajre and additional administration. I feel confidont that 'the deliberations and activities of your board will make for educational progress, and that I will have your hearty co-operation in my endeavours to increase the efficiency of our educational system." This afternoon, by arrangement with Captain Simson, the management have generously agreed to .allow the Tiyoli Follies to entertain returned soldiers at their now club on Lambton Quay. All returned soldiers are cordially invited to be present. Messrs. Biggs and O'Donnell, patent attorneys, AVellington, report that they have recently filed the following applications for patents:—R. WestfieM and R. W. Jones, Wellington, household indicator ; W. Waller, Christolfurch, trol-ley-head; W. Holder. Auckland, borer destroyer; E. T. , Edmonds, Timarn, footwear, diyer; H. S. Woolcott, Wellington, household detergent; C. H. Davis and W. T. Eaton, Wanganui,' petrol vapouriser; C. H. Davis, Wanganui, newspaper vending machine; J. Brown, Aucklandl pneumatic tire; R. W. Jones, Brooklyn, stencils; D. J. Knight, Wanganui, building slab".