LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2912, 26 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Harbour Board decided last night to increase the dumping charges on wool and liax from Is. 3d. to 2s. per bale. The increase is made on account of the very great increase in tha cost of steel bands and studs. This increase in price has been upwards of 160 per cent. In May last the wharfage rates oil woo! wero increased from 6d. to 9d. per bale. The increase will take effect from December 1.

Disappointment was the case many times yesterday, first over the nonarrival, and finally at the noil-berthing of the Maori from Dunedin. First advice from Dunedin stated that the vessel had left thero at 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday, and would arrive _ here at noon yesterday. Later, radio advice was .received to the effect that she would not arrive until o p.m., and later still another radio message stated that the vessel would not arrive until 9 p.m. The Maori got into, port at 8.20 p.m. and finally it was decided that owing to hour the vessel should stay in the stream durinc the night, and she is to come into the Ferry Wharf at 5 a.m. to-day, those with next-of-kin passes being the only ones allowed on the wharf. No one came from the vessel last night, and no communication was held with her. She carried no mails. What exactly was the cause of the delay was not ascertainable last night, but with a hard gale and heavy seas against the vessel all the way from Dunedin there would be some excu6o for the late arrival.

At the annual meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society, held last evening, tlie cinematograph picture, "A Tour of tho Southern Alps" (taken for the Tourist Department), was shown. The picture, which was screened under the direction of Mr. Taylor (photographer to the Agricultural Department), WB6 reduced in size to suit the room in the Dominion Museum, with the result that a sharper line was obtained than when it was exhibited on the full-sized screen in the King's Theatre. The picture was thoroughly appreciated by all present. The duties of the Deputy-Quartermas-ter-General to tho New Zealand Forces are stated in General Orders issued yesterday. Colonel J. J. Esson, who recently returned from active service, has been appointed to this post, and will devote a portion of his time to the Defence Department's work, while retaining his position at the Treasury. Since the outbreak of war the Commandant (Brigadier-General Sir A. W. Robin) has carried out the combined duties of General Officer Commanding and Quartermastor-General. Tho De-puty-Quartermastor-General will now "relieve the Commandant in some measure of the general financial and accounting responsibilities during the progress of the war; act for and on behalf of tho G.O.C. and Q.M.G. as he ilaay from time to time direct in matters which do not involve questions of policy or principle; assist in further completing the organisation of the administrative branch of the New Zealand Forces on business lines; and bring about a gradual and systematic qtandardisation of the Q.M.G.'s Department and services in accordance with tho methods of the Imperial Army and the principles laid down in Field Service Regulations."

The Wanganui mercantile houses have decided to give daylight-saving a trial, commencing froin the Ist of next month. Tho offices will open at 8.30 instead of 0 o'clock, and close at 4.30 instead of 5 p.m., as at present. These Hours -have been tried for the last two years by one local house, with, .the "Chronicle" understands, most gratifying results..

Some public attention has lately been called to the fact that there-is in Wellington a lamentable lack. of efficient ambulance vehicles for street and waterside casualties, and cases of sudden illness. The matter was mentioned at the meeting of the Harbour Board last night by the chairman (Mr. C. E. Daniell). He said that he had conferred with the Mayor and the chairman of tho Hospital Board about the providing of.an ambulance for special service on the waterfront. The hospital ambulance was not sufficient. The Mayor had offered the suggeation that the vehicle be kept at the Fire Brigade Station. No decision had been reached. The chairman was given authority to confer further with the Mayor and the Hospital Board, and he stated that if he could not obtain an agreement ho would bring down an alternative proposal. Mr. M'Ewan suggested that the board should buy its own ambulance. The Chairman: "That will bo provided for in our alternative proposals."

Tho charges for storage of goods in the Harbour Board's bond are to be very considerably increased as from December 1 next. The deoision to make the inoreased charges was made at the meeting of the board last night.

The Education Board has promoted: two of its teachers during their absence on active service. Yesterday it decided to promote one grade Mr. N. A. Foden, of the Eastern Hutt School, recently reported wounded. At the previous rnetmg it was decided to promote Mr. Hawkins, of the Terrace School, one grade.

The shipping companies have come into conflict with the Harbour Board about a proposal they have made regarding the payment of storage charges on cargo awaiting shipment.; The practice of the port for the last 40 years has been that the ship loading on the berth for oversea ports pays all storage on her cargo while in. store awaiting shipment. Now tho companies announce that they will pay only two weeks' storage on wool, and no storage on any other cargo. The board decided last night to confer with its solicitor as to the advisability of altering tho by-laws of the board to prevent this change being made, and in the meantime tho chairman is to confer with the shipping companies regarding the new situation.

At the' Cliristchurcli Hospital Board to-day it was reported that the attendance at the clinic for tile treatment of venereal diseases had dwindled until thero wore now only one ortwo attendances per week, although it could not bo claimed that there was any dimunition in the disease in the Cliristchurcli district. In a discussion members of the board laid particular stress on the need for educating the public in the matter and for the Government to institute a very strenuous campaign. It was decided to convey to the Government the board's opinion that compulsory notification of venerea! disease was essential. —Press Association.

The memory of the lute Dr. A. A. Martin, of Palmorston North, who died of wounds in Franco, is to be perpetuated by the erection of a bust of the deceased Gentleman in the local hospital and the institution of a scholarship to assist students to take their medical degrees.

A man named John Reardon, aged 51, died in the Terrace Gaol on Tuesday, while undergoing medical treatment for alcoholic ailment. An inquest will be held at 3 p.m. to-morrow.

An Akaroa deputation yosterda.y asked the Hon. W. Fraser to have a survey made of tho Alcaroa-Little River railway line. Mr. Eraser said lie would try to get a surveyor to do the survey, but in the circumstances ho could not make any definite promise. A lot of his surveyors had gone to the front, and goodness only knew how many more would have to go.—Press Association.

A Press Association telegram from Cliristchurch states that Mr. R-. 0. Duncan says his offer of Glenmark Homestead was not made to the Government, but to the Mayor of Christchurch, in the later's capacity as chairman of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund. He (Mr. Duncan), however, had no intention of allowing Glenmark to be made a. dumping ground for consumptives or soldierß suffering from ' other infectious diseases.

A 'statement regarding measures to bo taken under the Military Servicc Act will bo issued by the Recruiting Board, probably ._ to-day. Various points; connected with the operation of the conscription system havo been under consideration by tho Defence authorities lately, and tlio heavy shortago in tho Twenty-second Reinforcements lias made it important that the necessary steps for putting the Act into full effect should bo taken as quickly as possible. The "family shirker" clause cannot be counted upon to produce moro than 500 men, though it may bring in a larger number, and this wiil not' cover the shortago in the Twentysecond Reinforcements, while'a further shortage is threatened .in connection with the Twenty-third Reinforcements, due to mobilise during the week November 13 to 18.

The Returned Soldiers' Club have invited the Marama's returned men to be the guests of the club whilst tlioy are in Wellington. .

The management of the Returned Soldiers' Club has,. through the generosity of Williamson's Operatic Company, received siit-y freo dress circle tickets for returned men .

The results of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music annual examinations are expected to be published on Saturday morning.

There is a little school difficulty in the Hataitai and Kilbirnie district. In September last there was opened at Hataitai a side school, a branch of Roseneath School. Parents in the neighbourhood are disposed to rush tho .new school, and tho board has had to define boundaries. At last meeting it decided to put into the Roseneath School district about half of Hataitai, leaving tho other half in Kilbirnie. This arrangement both school committees approved. The residents of Hataitai, apparently, do not approve, for a petition was presented to the board yesterday asking that the whole of Hataitai should be incorporated in Roseneath. The board resolved, put of hand, without so much as hearing tho petition or examining, the signatures, not to vary the decision already made.

For failing to attend parades, two lads were each- fined £5 by Mr. J. G. L. Howitt, S.M., at Wanganui yesterday morning.—Press Association.

The officers of the Featherston Camp on Monday entertained their brother officers of the .Nineteenth Reinforcement who hare been stationed at Tauherenikau. Tho Nineteenths are due to march over the hill to Tremtham on Thursday next, and the entertainment, which took tho form of a dinner in the Featherston officers' new mess, was given as a farewell to the' departing officers. Lieut.-Colonel Adams, N.Z.F.A., Camp Commandant, presided over an attendance of a.bout 170 officers, and congratulated tho guests from Tauherenikau on the successful work done in camp. He mentioned that the Nineteenths held' two rather unwelcome records —they entered camp on the wettest day experienced by any reinforcement on a similar occasion, and they conducted their night manoeuvres under tho. worst conditions yet met with—but, he added, he was| extremely pleased to note tho fine spirit shown by the men in the performance of all tneir duties. After dinner the company adjourned to the iiew club-rooms, where musical items were provided by a number of officers., /

Both the Harbour Board and the Waterside Workers' Union have been examining lately the methods and practice of the present inspection of vessels and hulks and of gear for -working oargoj and both bodies have concluded that there is room for improvement. Independently the board and the union have asked the Minister of Marine to amend the Harbours Act in certain direotions, though not in every particular in tho same directions, But the Minister will not act until there is substantial agreement about what is required. To this end he has suggested a conference. Accordingly at the Harbour. Board meeting last evening the chairman asked tho board to authorise him to call a conference, to consist of three members of the Harbour Board, three members of the Waterside Workers' Union, and three members of the Waterside Employment Association. The board gave the authority desired, and the chairman, Mr. C. W. Jones, and Mr. W. T. Hildreth were named as the delegates to represent the Harbour Board at the conference.

An officer of the Fourteenth B enforcements, writing from Sling Camp to his people in New Plymouth, says that on hoard the transport on which he travelled there were no fewer than 130 cases of measles, while over 300 cases of various kinds passed through the ship's hospital during the yoyage. The two nurses had a busy time, and the men, prior to disembarkation, presented each with a purse of sixteen sovereigns.'

Mt. Johannes Anderson spoke interestingly at last night's meeting of the Philosophical Society on the harmonic constitution of the notes of New Zealand birds. By careful observation ho' had discovered that the tui, bell-bird, and other habitues of the native bush had notes -which, though they sounded as one note to the ordinary ear, were composed of a variety of notes that made up a common chord. . The overtones could not be heard in. the ordinary way, just as a person sitting in a room could not hear the ticking of his own clock, but tho trained car could catch the combination of notes. Mr. Anderson's observation's on the point were being embodied in a paper dealing with tho musical analysis of bird notes and tones.

Experiments aro being made by the Wellington Education Board with openair class-rooms, and experience to date favours tlie extension of the scheme. Yesterday the board approved plans for an open-air class-room at Lansdowne School, near/Mnstorton. Tho plans for this room embodied suggestions made as the result of oxporience at South Wellington. The dimensions of the room will be 30ft. by 24ft.j with a full length corridor behind the room. The essential idea in the structure is that it can be opened to admit the free passage of air on three sides in fair weather, but that when the weather is too boisterous to permit of work being carried on undo those conditions the room can be closed in. No provision is made, however, for artificial heating.. One side of the room consists of French windows opening outwards, and the other two sides of horizontal sliding windows, all of which can be opened or shut at will. Tho one point to bo emphasised concerning the use of these rooms is that both pupils and teachers must be warmly clad in cold weather. In Canada the rooms are used throughout the winter, and ohildren are habituated to do without artificial heat even when snow is oil the ground.

Tlio Nineteenth Infantry Remforca- 1 raents, v/ho havo been in camp at Tauherenikau for several weeks, will starK mi't on their march to Trentham Camp this morning. '.Hie usual routine of this march and the accompanying day, and night manoeuvres will be followed.. The troop will bivouac at Kaitoko tonight, and after lunching at Tippet Hutt io-morrow will move out across fclip hills, in order to go through night manoeuvres near Mangaroa. On Saturday the Nineteenths will march into camp about noon.

Sergeant-Major R. Crouclier, a mem- 1 ber of the New Zealand wireless troop; writing from 34th, Welsh, General Hospital, Deolali, Bombay, says:—"Expected great things of this Mesopo J tamia, and was disgusted to find thai the land, so famed and glorified in Biblical history as being a country, wonderfully productive, redolent of milk and honey, civilised beyond tha ordinary, the homeland of Adam and Eve, Sinbad the Sailor, and countless others, was in actuality a barren, inhospitablo land, cruel -and pitiless,. and inhabited by uncivilised raccs, cruel and pitiless, too. The summer temperatures were 6imply awful; justs imagine 125 degrees or 130 degrees in the shade, at times, and seldom below 115 degrees. 1 was quite disappointed in the wonderful Garden of Eden, which is only a degreo better than the surrounding barren, sun-baked, mud desert, inasmuch as it grows a fewacres of date palms, fig, lime, and. applo trees. And tho apples, ray, goodness, they wero tho limit, quit© devoid of flavour , and the colour of grass, and hardly tho size of a golf ball." ATTout, thirty -recruits entered .Trentham Camp yeat'erflay, and were drafted to various companies of the IVentysecond Reinforcements. It is understood that the Nineteenth and Twentieth Reinforcements are both fullstrength drafts, while the shortages in. the Twenty-firsts have been made up to a great extent. The Twenty-seconds are bearing tho full brunt of the shortage, and the figures quoted as representing the shortage in ithis draft ought really to apply also to the .two preceding drafts, to whioh men who enlisted for the Twenty-second were transferred. The Twenty-first Reinforcements will move to Featherston to-morrow. ; .