LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2864, 31 August 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Wellington Licensed Milk Ven. dors' Association lias just received advico from tlio Farmers' Association that from September 1 tlio wliolesalo' jirico of milk will be.reduccd by 2Jd. per gallon. As a result, tlio Vendors' Association is now able to announce a reduction to the public of 4d. per gallon, which means that the prices will be 21d- per pint and sd. per quart as from Friday next. Interviewed yesterday (says our'social correspondent),'a vvell-knovjj J>a< pier publican estimated that the anti"shouting" regulations would reduco his takings by fully 40 per cent.

Consequent upon the pending issue of proclamations by the Government that will bring into play thoso provisions of the Military Service Act applying to the calling up of tlio First and Second Divisions of the Expeditionary Force lleserve, tharo has been quite a revival in rccruiting in Wellington. After a very poor rccruiting period in June and July (when only some 20 to 30 rcoruits per week were registered), an improvement set in about the middle of the present month. The number of recruits regißtored at tlio Xown Hall lleoruiting Oiilce last weok was 83; and on Monday last thero were 29,- and on Tuesday "6 names registered. As there is a fortnight to elapse after the proclamation ill which persons may register _ in tho lleserve, •it is fully anticipated that therer will be a good many straightout enlistments for service by those who have boen hanging back. State school holidays ill the Wellington Education District will begin next Monday morning. The schools will be closed the whole of next week, and also on the -following Monday. Schools will _ commence work again on the morning of Tuesday, September 12. . A Press Association telegram from Napier states that a case against Professor Isherwood, magnetic healer and clairvoyant, in tho Supromo Court .yesterday created much local interest. Isherwood was charged with ibtaining money by false pretcnces from a rniml>ov of Maoris. He foretoldl. events, cured diseases, and promised children to childless' couples for payment Lengthy evidence for the prosecution took up the whole day.

Ihe experiment of open-air classrooms for primary schools ■' has been tried recently in New Zealand, and, according -to a report from the Department which was before the Wellington Education Board at its meeting yesterday, the experiment has proved a success. . Records of the working of the open-air classrooms in Wellington' South showed that the children benefited both physically and mentally, and both, scholars and teachers_ preferred' Us open-air rooms. In''view of this the Department proposed to try the scheme in a numbe|r of Native schools, and information as to the best type of building was being sought from the educational authorities in England, Canada, and the United States. When this information was obtained the Department hoped to bo able to provide tor opon-air classes, where the climatio conditions wore at all favourable. The board was' asked to submit proposal# for schools in the Wellington district, having regard to the prevailing cli v mate. The Chief Inspector suggested that the board's, medical advisers be asked to act with the clerk of works in drawing up plans of a type of open room that could be used in localities not favoured with the most gonial climato. This proposal the board adopted. Tliero is an unusual boom in recruiting at Napier (says our special correspondent). No fewor than 31 recruits wero medically examined on Tuesday evening. Up to the present.tho Napier Soldiers' Club has regis tared 836 recruits. . Last' owning tho council of tho New Zealand Tonnis Association discussed tho question of investing in tho war loan. "It was resolved: "That it bo a recommendation to the Management Committee to tako into consideration the question of investing a portion of the funds in the war loan." The funds referred, to, it was stated, amount to £500. Tho Patriotic Socioty.afc Falmerston North lias received tho sum of £7 12s. GJd. from non-commissioned officers of tho 'No. 6, 7, and 8 Group quotas, Twentieth Reinforcements. A collection was made among tho mon to cover'some damago done at Masterton station, and the balance, after payment of tho Railway Department's account, was handed to the society.

Four lirouien, named. Georgo Ravenscroft, Thomas Berry, Thomas' Cook, and David Swift, wont to the Empress Theatre' in "Willis Street 011 Tuesday about 6.30 p.m. As a contributory factor to tlieir enjoyment they took with thorn a bottle of whisky. Comfortably seated in the best part of the house, they settled down for a social, but rather obstreperous, evoning. When remonstrated with by the management they claimed they were out to onjoy themselves, and were going to do so. The riotous revelry continued. A policeman was sent.for, but 0110 constable against four burly firemen made the former realise that there was a grdat deal in the'old saw that discretion is the better , part of valour. And this solitary policeman was an miwilling auditor of thosing-fiong. Presently two moro constables arrived on the scene, and 1 there was for a little while all the elements of a miniature riot. However, tho three policemen captured the firemen, and yesterday morning it was a dejected forlorn-look-ing quartet that faced tho magistrate. The story was told by Inspector Hendre.v, and tho offenders pleaded! guilty. Each was fined 205., in d'efault seven days' imprisonment. One of the party, David Swift, who !had overstepped tho bounds and used bad language, was also fined .an additional 405., default being fixo'd at seven' days' imprisonment.

An. inquest was held yesterday afternoon by the Coroner, Mr. W. G. Iliddell, into tho circumstances attending the death of an infant. named Anzac Walter Thompson, who was found dead in bed. The child was in bed with its parents, and had apparently been overlain and suffocated. A verdict to this effect was returned. In his weekly report to tlio Labour Department-, the Inspector of Factories at Diinedin states that there has been a marked slackness in tho demand for work by workers during tho period mentioned. All classes of work have been affected, the only applicants being a few labourers. No mechanics and no artisans applied for employment.

Spurious coins of various descriptions are in circulation in Auckland at the present time, and several shopkeepers have been. victimised during the part- fetv days. The false coins include imitations of half-crowns, two shilling and ono shilling pieces. The last-mentioned is almost _ a perfect imitation of the Australian shilling, and is stamped with the year 1914. while one half-crown bears the date TOR Horace Goklin, tho magician, whose season opened at tho Grand Opora House hist night, will presont 4325 cash aiul a free season ticket to tho first person who approaches him after 6.30 p.m. on ! Saturday, September 2, with an Anzao Art Union Ticket, stamped on the back, "P. A. M'Hnrdy." These tickets aro obtainable at tobacconists and booksellers.* Wellington Grocers! Whenever yon feel your ears tingle vest assured that ladies are saying -kind things about you for your zeal in pushing "No Rubbing Laundry Help."—Advt. Wo are showing somo favourito patterns in good material shirts, 3s. 11a. each of thrco for 10s. Cd. Geo. Fowlds, i T>t'.. ani'i»w —-\fl"h.

On Tuesday, September 12, the new school at Hataitai, which is to be under the control of tho Roseneath School Committee, will be opened. On the previous afternoon the school will bo open for inspection by tlio public. The' members of the Locomotive. Engine-drivers, Firemeii, and Cleaners Association have decided by a majority of 538 votes in favour of bringing their grievances before tlio. Arbitration Court. The voting was 710 for arbitration and 181 against it. Tho sumo ballot was used to ascertain the mind of the mombers upon proposals for reorganisation. This was also carried. The old Arctic whaler Aurora, which arrived at Port Chalmers in a much damaged condition from the Antarctio a few wepks ago, is again seawort.iy, and fit to contend with the ice. Extensive repairs have been effected during her stay in the graving dock _at Port Chalmer6, and experts in marine matters say she is now a "new ship."

Recently the Wellington Education Board mado application to the Education Department for a grant wherewith to purchase eorno land adjacent to tho Wellington. Torraoo School, for an extension of the playing ground. At tho meeting of the buard yesterday the reply of tho Department was received. It was to the effect that tho cost of the purchase would bo so heavy that the proposal oould not at present bo entertained. The board decided to approach the Department again, and to point out that for the number of children, attending the school the playground was not adequate, and that additional ground waß urgently required. In accordance with a. request from the Prime Minister, the Mayor has.' called a meeting of the Mayors and chairmen of adjacent local bodies to be held at his room at 4.30. p.m. today to make arrangements! for enrolling and recruiting all men within military age (20 to 46 years), in accordance with the provisions of the Military Service Act. What steps the local bodies can take in tho way of assisting the Government will he discussed at the meeting. It is assumed that the Prime Minister believes that each local body —particularly those of less. congested boroughs—will know more about their own people and' each one's circumstances than any other-authority, and that some use might be made of that local knowledge in the enrolment of men in the Expeditionary Force Reserve.

The insulators for the booster power line that traverses Mount Victoria from the power station, via Wakefield, and Majonbanks Streets.and the Town Belt arrived from England by the Devon, 'and will be erected forthwith. This line ha 6 beon erected for the best part of "a year, but owing to insulators not being procurable, the wire has f simply boen tied to the poles pending their arrival. The work of bolting them on to the cross-trees of the poles will be put in hand at once, and within a week it is expected that the line will be in use. The boosters themselves have not yet arrived, but that will not prevent -the line- being used in tho course of a few day*. Thore is a State-aided school at Fencarrow for the benefit of the family of the light-keeper there. Tho Education Board gives a subsidy, and the liglit-keeper has to, find the balance required to make up tho salary of a teacher for his children. Ho has lately made application to tho Education Board tliab he should bo relieved of this expense, and the board forwarded the lotter to the Department. The reply of tho Department received by the "board yesterday was that tho man was a sorvant of the Marino Department, and that this Department refused to make any allowanco. Tho board decided to make a strong rcoonimeiidation to the Government to tho offcct that men performing important service such as that rendered by light-kcecpers should bo freed from liability for tho education of their families.

In tho courso of a letter to tile, national secretary of tho Y.M.C.A., Field Secretary J. L. Hay, writing from Frauce, says: —"I havo discussed! with officers and men—including men who were on tho Board of Directors in several N.Z. Y.MXJ.A.'s —what is the greatest need, and all agree that in no way can money bo mora profitably expended than by providing a fow oxtras in tho way of eatables—something to vary '.the monotonous sameness of tho daily ration. Of courso to do the thing in an adequate manner a considerable sum of money will be required', but the need is so great and the opportunity so unique for meeting it that I feel ■ I must act. The commanding officers are only too anxious to assist me, and already every man at present in the front lino of trenches has received something. The following is typical of the issue which each man has received:—One piece of chocolate, one tin of meat paste or sardines, six cigarettes. In addition, I 'havo sent ample supplies of postcards and writing materials. Then, to numerous men from tho other line of trenches who aro sent in for 6tores, etc.. I give whatever I happen to have.'-'

■ Messrs. Kirkcaldie and) Stains have granted space in one of their vindows for a display of raffia baskets niado by the sick and wounded soldiers in Wellington Military Hospital." Theso baskets are. very artistic in design and neatly made, and considering the short time "most of tho men have teen learning, aro very creditable productions.. The men find the work very interesting, and it helps to make the time pass pleasantly, and diverts their minds from thinking of their wounds and ailments. Over two cwt. of raffia have been converted 1 into baskets, tho funds for the purchase of which have been provided by friends, tho medical officor in charge attending to the purchase of tho material. Mrs. Deck, of Motueku, acted as teacher to tho men, arid it must bo very gratifying to her to seo th'o successful results of her tuition.

The prize offered by the management of the King's Theatre for the best essays on the recont picture "Tho All Red Route" will be presented at the matinoo on Saturday afternoon next. A large numbnr of essays were submitted, all being oF very fair merit. Over GOO women secured prizes "in the recent Desert Gold Tea Competition. A new competition is now under way, with •■eso in prizes, and also sift prizes. DrinkDesert Gold Tea and 6avo the "Camels." —Advt.