LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2942, 30 November 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In cabled advice just received by tlie Defence- Minister, it is reported under a recent data that tho 18th Reinforcements were- then "All well." Tho only caso of sickness reported fit tho military camp yesterday were the ease of cerebro-spinal meningitis at Fcathorston, and ono at Timaru, and two cases of measles at Trentham. A caso that is of interest to the general public as well as to architects is coining before tho Supremo Court in Wellington shortly. An architect is suing a client for certain moneys, and a counter-claim has been mado alleging that the architect received a secret commission from tho builder, who carried out tho client's work. The alleged commission, it is stated, was, in fact, tho charge of ono and a half per cent, usually mado by architects for tho supply of working plans to the buildor. This chargo appears to be general throughout New Zealand, but it has been criticised adversely on various occasions, on the grounri that it involves a payment by tho. buildor to tho architect, who is representing tho of the. person for whom tho builder is working. Architects luivo urged that this payment of ono ami :i half per cent, should bo mado direct by tho olionl, and not by tho builder, who merely adds it to his contract price. The foldierri' ncwls in reliable khaki shirts. 6s. Gd., 7s. (id., 7s. lid., at Geo. lfowlds, Ltd., Miumors Street.—Advfc,

"Tho ballot has picked up some hundreds of farm labourers, ploughmen, and milkers, and I really don't know how these men are going to be spared," said a farmer yesterday. "The Military Appeal Board is saying that tho farmers sons cannot have exemption, and that may be fair enough. But if the farmers sous go, then other hands must bo found, and there is a shortage of competent farm workers ah'eady. Tho position is more serious than many people realiso, from the point of view of the primary industries, and I am glad to seo that the Government is giving some attention to tho subject." The Council of Agriculture, acting on the suggestion of the Ministry of Munitions, has sent circulars to all branches of the Farmers' Union, pointing out that there aro about 3000 boys in tho secondary schools whoso services could bo secured during tho holidays for harvesting and other farm work. Tho school holidays coincide with the busiest season on tho farms. Visiting members of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, who are attending the annual conferenoo of that body in Wellington, are impressed by the unpainted appearance of this city. "A casual visitor might be excused for imagining that the capital city was suffering a slump instead of onjoymg a boom period owing to tho war," said one architect yesterday. "Three-fourths of the houses and business buildings look as though they had nob been painted for years, and from my hotel window I survey melancholy acres of rusty roofing iron, perishing for lack of a littlo attention." Tho visitor suggested that the Wellington City Couucil should lay in a stock of paint, and rotail it to the citizens at cost price. Five Chinese lauudrymen were sentenced at the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday to six months' imprisonment apiece- for having had improper relations with a young girl who visited their business premises.—Press Association. Tho law point resorved for further argument at tho hearing of tho case brought by Alfred Ernest Cocker, a tram conductor, against -.Mrs. N. Nightingale, garage proprietress, to recover £698 damages for alleged injuries recoivod in a motor accident, and in respect of which, tho jury tho previous day awarded the plaintiff £180, came bofo'ro the Chief Justice yesterday. Tho' point reserved was whothcr tho driver of tho motor-car was engaged in his own business or that of his omployer. Aftbr hearing' counsel, His Honour reserved his decision. The Mayor and City Councillors have been invited by Mr. H. A. Ward to' visit tho Mungaroa Cheese Factory on December 5. Motor-cars are to leave Fitzgerald's garage on Lambton Quay at 7.30 a.m. An appeal is being mado in the Wnirarapa for a sum of £1000 to enable the Y.M.C.A. to provide comforts for tho men in /the trenches. The Masterton Borough Council has refused an application by gaefitters and other men in its employ for an inorease in wages. It is feared, says our Masterton correspondent, that, owing to the shortage of labour, a difficulty will bo experienced in gathering in the abundant harvest of hay in the 'Masterton district this season. To-day, being St.: Andrew's Day, the Corporation offices, with tho excoption of the City Engineer's, public office, and the rates and electric light offices, ■will be closed for tho day at noon.

In reply to its request for a twelve months' notice instead of a three months' notice of intention to discontinue the use of the septic tank at Kaiwarra, tho City Council has decided, on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, that it regrets that it cannot see its way to accede to tho same.

"Tho past has been a very dull year, building .work, affecting architectural almost at a standstill," states the annual report of tho Southland branch of tho Institute of Architects. "So pronounced lia-s this been that several InvercargUl master builders, being practically starved out, liavo taken to farming and other pursuits. Almost every eligible man in. -tho building trades lias already gone to the front. But for this there would have been serious distress through unemployment. The Dominion as a whole, and this district in particular,' are sound and prosperous notwithstanding, and with the advent of more settled times wo can assuredly look for corresponding prosperity in things j architectural." Tho resignation of Mr. G. A. Lawrence, as milk inspector for the City Council was received by that body last evening. "Over fifteen per cent, of the fellows and associates of the lloyal Institute of British Architects are at the fronit," said the president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects in the course of his annual address yesterday. "Here, amongst what may fairly be termed a more vigorous people, not eleven, per cent, of our. fellows and associates have volunteered. It is a question if all our eligible members are doing their duty. Have they any justification for holding back? Should not our profession be more laTgely represented? I leave that for each individual to answer." The Salvation Army has been granted permission to hold open-air meetings in the Basin Eeserve and the Newtown Park on Sunday, December 31. Tho Hataitai Electors' Association are to be informed that it is impossible at the present .time to inaugurate a bi-weekly rubbish removal service in the suburbs. Driver J. R. Cairns, 8.N.Z.A., was, says a Press Association telegram, from Christchurch, charged before district court-martial yesterday with having on November 3 disobeyed the lawful commands of Acting-Sergeant J. W. M. Snow, with having used insubordinate language to a superior officer, and with having on November 10 used threatening language to a superior officer. Accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, and stated that anything he said was said in the heat of tho moment. Decision was reserved. The. papers will go to Wellington. The flotsam and jetsam from the wreck of the Tongariro near Portland Island has come ashore in large quantities on the East Coast as far roundas Opotiki (says a Poverty Bay paper). During a recent visit to the coast, Mr. TV. E. Goffe collected a large number of interesting relics and articles that had been strewn along tho beaches. Another thing to be noted on, the coast at present, Mr. Goce reports, is a phenomenal death rate among penguins, and this is considered to be attributable to some poisonous matter which has escaped from tho Tongariro wreck, and. which is scattered about tho beach in largo quantities. Dead penguins wore to he seon on tho beaches between Tolaga Bay and Hicks Bay, and further on as reported by tho Natives. Last evening, says our Napier correspondent, 51r. S. 0. Stokes, of Hastings, caught his Tight hand in tho wheel of his motor-cyclo, with tho result that tho second, third, and littlo fingers wero completely severed. Many people find a 2s. grado tea tho most suitable for everyday use,- and tlioso who do so aro advised to tost the superior quality offered in the 2s. grade ot Desert Gold Tea. No othor brand orfors such splendid value and delicious flavour at tho price. Other popular Desert Gold prices aro Is. 10d., la. Od., and Is. Sd.-Advt. Wo aro having a. busy time handing out Is. cartons of No Bubbing Laundry Help for washing clothes clean without rubbing or injury to hands or finest fabrics; JGIO guarantee with every paefcssb. .Wardell Bnxs. and Co.—Advt.

Mr. P. K. Sargood is the third mem* ber of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association, to resign from membership in consequence of the Hon, J. T. Paul remaining on the association (says a southern exchange). A! fourth member will announce his resignation in a few days. There are one or two members, however, wk> 6ay that even if the whole of the other, representatives on the association re-" sign they will sit at the table with thfl Hon. J. T. Paul. The Board of Trade is still in Auckland, where the members are gathering information as to the factors governing the retail price of meat. Thoy, have been investigating various aspects of tho subject, and they intend later to extend their inquiries beyond Auckland. It is understood that they, may make proposals later for securing a reduction in the retail price of meat,': but first thoy will get into effective touch with the retail trade, and get a, working knowledge of the conditions of tho trade. An echo of a recent law suit in con-j nection with Wadestown tram rateri was heard at the City Council when) the council approved tho settlement arH rived at by the Mayor in connection: with tho claims for Tefunds of paid for AVadestown tramway rates, viz., that half of last year's rate bd refunded, and that legal costs, amount! ins to £20 Bs., be paid. A return was prosentc3 to the City; Council last evening by the Public; Health Committee, dealing with in-, spections of milk made in Wellington, betwoen October 30 and November 9. This included tho details of forty-three inspections, of which it was found that in thirty-six cases tho Act was being complied with. Of ■ ths remaining seven, two were found to be deficient in milk fat, two contained dirt; in two cases_ tho milk was not fresh, and in one it was discovered that colostrum had been added. These seven had been prosecuted. . In six cases the vendors had been warned. A letter from *tho Melrose R-atepayi ers 1 ' Association came before the Wellington Education Board yesterday urging that tho board tako into consideration tho. acquisition of a site for a school in the district. The chairman (the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken) said that he assumed that the locality referred! to was at the back of Newtown Park or over towards Island Bay. On his motion it was decided that the officers of the board should look into tho matter.

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) announced at the meeting of the dtji Council last evening that Councillor John Fuller had written him. saying that ho had attended the installation of Mr. Hennesy, as Lord Mayor of Melbourne, and had been given a seat bcsido the Lord Mayor.' He was also, as a member of the 'Wellington City; Council, present at the Mayoral dinner. The Education Board decided yesterday, on. the recommendation of "'the Training College Committee of Advice, that a deputation wait upon the Minister and the Director of Education to discuss the urgent necessity for now proceeding with the erection of the main Normal School building, Kelburn; also the questions, of additional staffing- and standards of instruction at the Infant School. The chairman (the Hon. J. 6'. W. Aitken) stated that the proposal was that a portion, of the building, should be erected now and the remainder at a later date. The staffing and the accommodation for ' higher classes at the Infant School were other urgent questions.

Ab yesterday's meeting of the Education. Board, it wae decided to apply to- the Education Department for a grant for the erection of a school at Pukanui (Wantwood), near Martinborough. In the matter of the application for further school accommodation, the executive committee is to report to tho next ineetirjg of the board.

Befcrring to membership, the annual f report of tho T.If.CA. said a special effort was mado at the end of the financial year, and this had resulted in an addition of 100 newmembers and subscribers, bringing the membership up to 531, including boys. This is the largest membership since tho new building was entered. Tho membership fees total .£732 135., or mora than double the previous year's amount. Dealing with tho religious work of tho association the report showed that 4S meetings were held throughout the year, with an average attendance of over 40. Tho largest gathering was when Dr. Elliot, late of Adelaide, addressed over 100 men. Besides the Sunday afternoon meeting, the association have tho Foreign Work Club, Bible study groups, and prayer meetings. Tho strangers"' tea had not been attended as well as vn former years, but was well main-' tamed. The Wellington Association, because of its geographical situation, had; been able to take the larger part of the military work, but h&l been loyally supported by the other asociations of the Dominion.

In the list of -undefended civil casesin the Magistrate's Court published yesterday, the action brought by G. Hardt and Co. against H. G. Bedell, Ltd., a claim for £60 18s. 6d., was wrongly entered: in the Court records as judgment for plaintiff by default, while as: a matter of fact the amount had been paid before the case came into Court.