LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2901, 13 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise that tho mails which left New Zealand on September 5 arrived in London on October 9.

War on flies was waged more fiercely in Wellington last summer than ever before, and there are, indications that even greater precautions will be taken this oo'ming summer. Various preliminary moves have already been made, and last evening tho subject was briefly discussed by the Miramar > Borough Council. The council decided_ to havo tho houses in the borough inspected monthly, but tho Town Clerk (Mr. Fox) pointed out that (inspection or no inspection) accumulations of rubbish would ho the chief harbours for flies, and yet the council did not enforce its by-law requiring that all refuso should be kept in covered-in receptacles. On the motion of Councillor Underwood, it was resolved to have a circular sent to all residonts advising them how best to guard against flies, etc.

Two pationts in the military hospitals were reported to bo seriously ill yesterday, one suffering from cerebrospinal meningitis and tho other from measles and pneumonia. Tho reports regarding other cases were satisfactoryMany mild cases of measles are still Doing treated at Foatherston.

Commander Armstrong, who is selecting recruits for the naval auxiliary patrol, will leave Wellington for the South Island on Wednesday next. He will visit Cbristchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill, and will go to Greymouth, Nelson, and Picton if time permits; otherwise candidates from those centres and the surrounding districts will bo asked to come to Wellington for tho necessary personal interviews. Tho number of applications placed before Commander Armstrong has been large, hut there are still plenty of vacancies for men of the kind required, that is. men having experience of yachts and motor boats, and possl-ssing mechanical knowledge.

Privato information received from New York yesterday states that between June 1 and August 26 of this year there were 6(107 cases of infantile paralysis in New York, and out of this number there were 1356 deaths. The orchestral organ which has como into fairly general use in America in picture shows, largely through the heavy demands of orchestral players, has come to Now Zealand. Two of these organs have been imported into I New Zealand by the N.Z. Picture Supplies Company, and are to be installed !in the Empress Theatre, Wellington, and the/firm's new theatre in Auckland. The organ contains all manner of effects, including drums, . trumpets, bells, triangle, etc., and, skilfully manipulated by one who must at least he an accomplished pianist, pleasing music can bo produced. Mr. Rose is here from Australia to fit the organs up. Tho Hon. J. G. W. Aitken will unveil a memorial tablet in memory of Private Percy Harlon at the Roseneatb Presbyterian Church noxt Sunday afternoon. ' _ .

"uTa name of "Gorman Bay," in Banks Peninsula, lias by proclamation gazetted been changed to "Taka-nra-tua."'.

A half-yearly return presented to tho Miraniar Borough Council last evening" shows tho Miraniar trams to bo about £300 on tho debit side for the six .months. That position is about equal to the position for the corresponding period of last year. It is reckoned that in the ensuing half-year the Miramar trams will return about £100 profit, and thus reduce the loss for the whole year to about £200.

Mr. Lan Duncan, of tho Waikanae stud, received advice on Wednesday that his sire Birkenhead dropped dead in the morning. The son of Orme was a great stud success, and his stock won over £10,000 in five consecutive seasons—a record only equalled by Soult. .

In the Magistrate's. Cour.t yesterday, says a Press Association . telegram from Christclmrch, a charge against Gordon Wilkinson, of Wellington, of betting on the Biccarton racecourse at the Grand National meeting was dismissed.

"It is humiliating to have to admit, it, but it is a fact tjiat there are many people keeping shops who' allow flies to crawl all over food which they sell for human consumption," remarked Councillor Underwood at last oveningVmeeting of the Miramar Borough Council.

Miramar Borough Council is enjoying an experience similar to that of the Wellington City Council—more rates have been collected so .far this year than at the corresponding stage or last year. „ At the Methodist Churoh quarterly meeting held in Levin on Wednesday overling last, tho Rev. W. H. E. Abbey was unanimously invited to continue in the Levin pastorate for a fourth year. It was reported that the sum of £53 had been raised during the year for Home and Foreign Missions. It was decided to send letters of sympathy to the parents of three of the Levin lads who have made the great sacrifice at the front, and letters of greeting to all men of the Church now in the trenches or in hospital.

In connection -with the betting .cases, heard in Christchuroh on Wednesday,William Vivian Wbitta'was charged yesterday with owning houses used for gambling. The Magistrate said therewas grave, suspicion', but he would give accused the,'benefit of the doubt that existed. The charge was dismissed.— Press Association.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie, High ComnuV sioner for New Zealand, his received from Flight-Lieutenant S. Howard Ellis, son of Mr. H. Ellis, of New Lynn, Auckland, a letter written.from a' German military hospital. Might-Liouton-ant Ellis, who took part in the great aerial raid which acoompanied the openingof the Sommo offensive, writes:—"l was brought down by an 'archie,' or anti-aircraft gun, on July 3, hit in the left leg (which was broken and put me out of action) and in tho right cheek. Tho leg is moro serious, and' that is only a matter of'a few weeks. I was a bit seedy for a day or so, but am now mending rapidly. I have been treated with most wonderful kindness by all ranks throughout, from the man who lifted me out of my machine (which was smashed) to the very able surgeon who now attends me." He asked the High Commissioner to notify his relatives by cablegram, and to perform other requests which were immediately complied with.

"It is incomprehensible to me," remarked Mr. H. Mackenzie at a meeting of the Manukau County Council, "why tlie_ Government has not shown more business ability -in employing the German prisoners on the roads, instead of keeping them in luxury in internment camps at a cost of from 4s. to Ss. a day."

Two residents of. Dunedin, Mr. .Benjamin Edward Tall, and his wife, have eight sons who are wearing the King's uniform, or have done so, and another — the youngest—accepted for service at the front. Mr. Tall has himself served his country, having fought in.the Indian Mutiny andifaori War. The eldest son, Benjamin Edward, fought in the Boer' War, in which, he was wounded in the neck. He is now living in Dunedin. The 'second son, Daniel Thomas, also fought in the Boor War, and was wounded in the face. He now resides in Auckland. George Gilbert Tall, the third son, also.fought in 'the Boer War, and is now at the front. He was wounded with shrapnel in tho shoulder. William Tall served in India with tho Eoyal Horse Artillery, andwhen transferred to France it was to join the Royal. Fusiliers. He was in Ireland at tho time of the Sinn Fein revolt, and there won the Victoria Crnss._ Harry Phillips Tall also served ii India with tho "Royal Horse Artillery. He was .in the Loos battle, where he was shot in the lungß. No word of .him has boon received since, and ho is supposed to bo invalided. Jack Tall,, another son. who'served in-India with the Royal Horse Artillery, was transferred to England, then to France. Leonard Alexander Tall ' enlisted in •Diiiiedin, and -was wounded at Gallipoli, receiving five bullets in the right arm. He is now discharged, and in Wellington. Clinrlos Gilbert Tall went with an early reinforcement draft and was_ wounded, but is now hack with his regiment. .Arthur Simons Tall, aged nearly 20, has enlisted with the Twentyscconds, and is waiting to go to the front.

At its.noxt meeting the Hawke's Bay County Council will receive a petition from motorists in the district asking for the erection of a. bridge at Marshall's Crossing. At this crossing (says our Napier correspondent) there- is a stream which rises very rapidly during wet weather, and as it is on the Napier-Pohue-Tanpo route tourists am constantly asking why there is no bridge.. The proposal to build a, bridge there has frequently been considered and deferred. On this occasion, howeyer, three well-known settlers, Messrs. G. P. Donnelly, B. Chambers, and T. Clark have offered to give all the timber required. Hence it is anticipated, that the work will no longer bo delayed.