LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2971, 8 January 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

On Saturday afternoon two men were arrested on several different informations on a charge of speaking in Dixon Street, and thereby inducing people to congregate eo as to impedo traffic in the street. The two men will appear before the Magistrate this morning. Wo arc asked by the Base Records Branch of the Defence Department to publish tho following:—Under date October 24, 1916, the High Commissioner writes from London that he has received a communication from 2261 Lance-Corporal Macready, 24th Royal Fusiliers, who is a prisoner of war in I Germany, and who is a New Zealandcr. If this should meet the eye of LanceCorporal Macready's relatives will they please communicate with the Base Records Office. A touching incident of canine fidelity comes from the Pahautanui district. As Mr. Magnus, of the local automobilo firm of Magnus, Sanderson and Co., was motoring out to Paokakariki yesterday, ho noticed at tho side of the road, about fivo miles on the other side of Pahautanui, a disconsolate-looking and very emaciated black and tan Gordon Setter dog. Hβ was subsequently informed that the dog had been at that identical spot for a week, and had presumably been loft there and forgotten. It had apparently eaten nothing, and appeared to have made up its mind to stay there until death or its owner claimed it. Mr. Magnus made arrangements with some people in tho neighbourhood to have food placed near the dog, so that it might not starve to death. It is hoped that the owner, seeing this paragraph, may be in time to rescue his faithful setter before its state becomes any worse. All the stores at Napier are packed with wool, the demand 1 for space being so great that tho Coronation Hall and Gaiety Skating Rink have had to be requisitioned. Tbo Dunedin district police returns for the year show that since September, whon the anti-"shouting" legislation came into force, there has been a distinct falling off in arrests for drunkenness. —Press Assn. The revenue from the Napier tramways last year exceeded tho previous twelve months by £94 17s. 6d., but a good proportion of this is accounted for by increased faresj which were particularly rpvenue-producing during tho holidays. Tho Westport Harbour Board has granted its ongiueer (Mr. C. N. Boult) leave to enlist, and has agreed to allow him £250 a year while he is at tho war. Mr. Boult stated that he wanted 1 nothiug' but his military pay, but the board thought that it was only right that he should he given at loast a quarter of his salary. Subject to tho approval of the ratepayers, the Christchurch City Council has agreed to purchase the Canterbury Hall for a sum of £20,000 for the purposes of a Towrt Hall. The proposal has been made the subject of a controversy, as the property lias been offered to the council-on two previous occasions. On tlio first occasion it was offered for the sum of £27,000, and a special committee set up to go into the matter Tecomnicndod tho council not to enterte.in the offer. Tho report was strongly supported' by tho then Mayor (Mr. C. M. Gray), aiid was adopted. Another offer was made in 1005 to sell the properly for £25,000, afterwards reduced to £21,000. On March 7, 1006, that offor was submitted to the ratepayers, and was lost by 2044 votes to 809. In connection with the elections which take place this yenr for the Mayoralty, the City Council, Harbour Board, and Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the municipal elections roll for Wellington is i ow heing prepared. Tho main list will close- on February 15. All persons -who arc--21 yenrs of ago and who liavo been resident twelve months in the Dominion arid thrco months in Wellington arc eligible for enrolment.

A ballot taken by the Auckland watorsiders on tho question, of the cessation of work between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. resulted in 512 votes for_ yes and 59 against—a majority of 453. — Press Association.

The- Belgian Consul in Auckland, Mr. A. M. Ferguson, las received the following telegram from the Hon. G. W. Russell: "The High Commissioner in London lias advised the Government by cablegram that the leakage from Belgium into Germany is exceedingly small, practically negligible. Ho strongly represents that the urgency of relief to our biavo Allies is ns great as over, owing to the inoreased «ost of the food supply, which is, roughly, 80 per cent.; and! that if contributions were lessoned tlio.' Belgians would suffer heavilyj and would be unablo to hold out against German tyranny. I therefore- earnestly liopo that the gifts of the- people of Now Zealand to the Belgians will not.only bo continued but increased.

Tho annual conference of the Now Zealand Master Bakers' Association will bo hold! at Wangaiiui tomorrow. It is understood that a deputation frill wait upon tho Board, of Trad? in regard to the question of nxing the price of bread. A. erant of £50 Tias been made from tho Roman Catholic Field Service Fund to Chaplain-Captain Connolly, who is to sail in the hospital sliip Maheno. A. very interesting report on tie dental examination and treatment _ot school children was before the conference of tho Now Zealand Education Institute on Saturday. This report contained a very complete account of the observation oE the children of a school near Oamaru, which information had been collated by an Oamaru dentiefc, who had visited the school on n™ nalflioliday for seventeen weeks. The. report also contained a recommendation, really emanating from Professor Pickerill, of tho Otago Dental School, that the Department should try the exneriment of fitting out a. motor travelling dental clinic, for uso in ono district. This report was adopted, and the proposal to try this experiment in one district will shortly'be made to tliß Minister of Education.