LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2868, 5 September 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The export from tho Dominion pi wattle bark and platinum is prohibited savo with the consent of the Minister of Customs. This prohibition in made by Ordors-in-Council gazetted last night. Wattlo bark, which is produced in fair quantity in the Waikato district, is used in tanning processes. Platinum has acquired a scarcity value during tho war. It" has many uses. Tho prohibition in regard to this metal applies to "platinum ore and platinum or platinum scrap, in admixture with gold or otherwise." A Press 'Association telegram from Napier states that the waterside workers at the Port yesterday morning refused for 1\ hours to accept work offered by the Richardson Company, their grievance boinp; that they should all have a turn at tho work of unloading the Tongariro atlOs. per hour and 15s. per hour overtime. In the end tho men acoeptod work. Three boats were affected. "I don't remember any time when work wfts so bad on tho Wellington wharf as just when war broke out, nor do I think there was any time when work was so good as at the present time," remarked Mr. M. J. Reardon in tho Court of Arbitration yesterday.

In describing the noise made by an empty jam-tin tied to a string and whirled by a hoy, a witness in the Magistrate Court yesterday said, "It was like a rooster crowing with its throat cut." "That U t>. rory good description," remarked tho examining counsel.

Tho Hon. G. -W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, states, with reference to tho shortage of doctors, that arrangements have been made for bursaries to be established at Dunedin University, to be held during the last year of the student's course —that is, in the fifth year. There will be five bursaries, each worth £80, intended to cover the cost of board and lodgings at Dunedin hospital, all first-class fees, and the necessary books. The selection of students will be made by tho In-spector-General of Hospitals, on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine, and given as far as possible to the sons of poor men.—Press Association.

• A briof meeting of the council of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday, Mr. J. Macintosh in the chair. Accounts amounting to £95 wore pased for payment. Mr.'F. R&sey was oleetod a member of tho Chamber, and tho resignation of Mr. A. Levy was received.

War Regulations gazetted empower an agent, attorney, trustee, executor or administrator, who ia a member of tlio Expeditionary Force, or who is about to leave New Zealand for service with that Force, to delegate all or any of his powers to the Public Trustee by power of attorney executed. The regulations also authorise the Public Trustee to aot linder.such powers of attorney; and to exercise the rights and duties delegated to him.

A deputation from the 'Auckland Cremation Society (states a Press, Association telegram) informed the Hon. Mr. Russell that out of over sixty medical mon approached in Auckland only four had refused to sign a petition in favour of cremation of tho dead. Mr. Russell expressed pleasure at the progress of tho movement in Auckland, and said that if legislation were passed ho proposed that the bodies of all persons who died in public institutions should bo cremated.

A demand for the issue of monthly addenda cards in connection with the telephone system was voiced _at yesterday's meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The issue of these cards to subscribers was discontinued somo time ago, and now many months may elapso before a new subscriber's name appears in the official tolephono list, .published half-yearly. The Daivnevirkc Chamber, of Commerce had written complaining that the monthly addenda lists were a serious loss to businoss people, and members of the council endorsed this view. Mention was made of the fact that new subscribers are given postcards on which they may advise friends of their numbers, and that provision has been ! made at the exchange for supplying numbers not on the lists. The council decided to support the Dannovirko Chamber in appealing for a reversion to tho old system.

Mr. "W. Jolliffe will retire from tho position of Crown Law Draughtsman on September 16, to take over nis new position as censor of kineina .films on September 18. Tho theatre, which has been erected near the museum for the conscrrship work is now nearly completed. The work of screening tho films will be carried out by the staff of photographers of the Agricultural Department. A circular has been sent out to proprietors of Alms, asking .them to send in, for censorship purposes, pictures ahead in New Zealand. On receipt these will bo dealt with. After October 18 no picture may bo exhibited unless it has been censored.

At yesterday's meeting of the War Relief Association Mr. David M'Laren referred to a case of hardship whero the mother of a soldier had been refused the separation allowance allowable by the regulations because sho was not solely dependent on her son, being iu receipt of the old ago pension. Mr. M'Laron thought it was a somewhat narrow construction of the law to mako a person ineligible for a separate allowance, when that person was in receipt of a pittance by way of old age pension, especially when that person had given her offspring to tho country. This vus a caso that demanded consideration. -Tho chairman said that if Mr. M'Lareh would give tho particulars of tho caso to the secretary (Mr. Wills), full inquiry into it would be made. That is to bo done. Tho council of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce authorised tho president (Mr. J. Macintosh) yesterday to invest a sum of £500, at his discretion, in War Loan Certificates. At a representative public meeting in Duncdiu last night it was decided to urge tho Government to consider efforts, as a part of tho Empire, for tho bettor organisation- of science in relation to industry and education, so •Wiat Now Zealand might como into linn with other parts of the Empire.—Press Association. In placo of the Ansae Art Union scheme advertised by HOWE AND. SOWJfAN, Tobacconists, whereby a man with a ticket marked a certain number would travorso Lambton Quay and (rive M to the person asking him if he had the ticket, that tho procedure hitherto followed of giving away halfsovereigns to those who, on request, can produco tickets marked "Howe and Sowman" will bo Adopted instead. To facilitate tho drawing, which will take placo at Palmcrston North on Friday next, the Committed has decided to hand over nil partly-sold books to Messrs. Howe and Sowman, J. n'nd M. Berman, and Mr. I. B SBPed.'*

"Call.at a post office" is good advice to any man of military ago who has not a clear understanding of his duty under the Military Service Act. An official at the post offico will give good guidanco to any roßervist who is in doubt about his obligation in any matter.

Samuel Sidol appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer a charge of failing to maintain his wife and child. Accused explained that he objected to live with A certain femalo relative, and his wife refused to leave tho relative in question. Inspector Hendrey at th/s stage intervened, and asked that the accused be remanded to Wanganui, where he could havo it out with his relative.

Tho Southland League is protesting against a period of fourteen days only being allowed for the lodging of objections against valuations under the Valuation of Land Act. A revaluation wag made recently in the Invercargill district, and complaint was mado then that agents had not sufficient time to communicate with their principals concerning objections to tho new valuations. The period allowed, according to tho league, should bo at least a month. The council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce decided yesterday to support the Southland League in making representations to the Government.

Tho monthly report of tho Labour Department for Wellington shows that generally the month of August was a good one for flie worker. There was no scarcity of employment. ■ The building and engineering trades are re. ported as "busy." Good tradesmen can readily be placed. Tho bootniaking and clothing trades aro still very busy, mostly on war work. Many ol tho boot factories want ' additional hands.' During.the month 104 workers were assisted—23 by reduced fares, 59 to private employment, and 22 to Government works. (These last were mostly men who had enlisted, and who were waiting to be called up.) Those assisted comprised carpenters, enginedrivers, minors, farm hands, hotel workers, and general labourers. Of these men assisted, 19 camo from thn North Island, 16 from tho South Island, 9 from Australia, 56 from Great Britain, and 4 from other places. In the women's branch, 165 applications were received" during the month from employers, and 73 applications from workers. Of the 73 workers who applied, 71 were unplaced. The two unplaced were- women requiring day work only.

' In the course of a letter to Lady Carroll, Sir James Carroll states that the Parliamentary delegates had an interview with tho King and Queen, and had done a lot of sightseeing. They wont through tho House of Lords and the Lower House, which were splendid buildings. "London is a great place," states Sir .Tames, "all bustle and crowds. We went through the hospitals, visited our brave lads, and had a chat with them. "Hoadds: "Our programme will bo finished on July 31, and then we will have time to look around. The only trouble I have had is no rest. I hopo to visit France soon to see our boys." ■,

Bull Rock, where tho Tongariro struck, derived its name from whalers, Often on a calm night whales swam round the rock, and as they rubbed against rt to remove the barnacles from their skin, tkev roared like a bull. The sound could he distinotly heard from tho slioro, and whalers in the vicinity were mado aware of tho proximity tof "right", whales. Tho rockin question has a sufficiently flat surfaco on tho top for the whales to rid themselves there of barnacles that may have adhered to the under portion of their bodies. The native name for wliale is Tahora, or Pakako, and the practice of these mammoths for making use of the rock was well known to the Maoris. .