LOCAL AND. GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3053, 14 April 1917, Page 8

LOCAL AND. GENERAL.

■ "It" is', now 'some' we'eks*''"since :■ the" I Board-'of Trade'began to •be' interested:; iit the price of meat', and to take "Steps' iri ■ some localities' to "limit the retail prices' to the consumerr-'- "tue State shops' in 'JCucHarid'are'now ancient liib„A +T.OV onTitiniin 4,0 carrv on

tqry,- and they continue to carry on Successfully. ' A modified scheme has been 'established in ''-Mastcrton,' by which all the butchers save' one are being supplied from" the- Waingawa works with meat which is purchased by "the Government for the Imperial authorities, and the retailers are''required' to give an 'undertaking that- certain maximum prices shall not be exceeded. Tn other towns—Napier, Hastings,' and Palmerston- North—the. board has. fixed a. schedule of prices by agreement with the Iqcal butchers, and the _ butchers have promised that these prices shall not be eaoceded without reference to the board,. It'is reported that all the schemes aro. working satisfactorily. . '-The cheap fish supply scheme which has been established with, such-success in-Auckland by the. municipality ha 3 .excited the - envy of- .some. of the, borough councils of towns on- Hie -Mam Trunk, line, wherevthe-.price of meat is =said to bo; very high,.;and-through the Board of Trade a V ;tentativo arrangement has been,made for the supply of fish to the Borough of Taumaramii, to bo distributed bv.-the council without profit. If the scheme is found to work successfully it will be extended to any towns which can be supplied from the Main Trunk line.. It is anticipated that some kinds of fish can bo supplied in Taumaranui at twopence per pound. It "has not yofc been decided whether or not an inquiry will be necessary with regard to the firo that destroyed ;tho Wellington. Hotel 'on Thursday morning. The inquiries-that have been made do not throw any clear light upon the origin of the fire,, but it is understood that no facts implying blame in any quarter have been elicited. . The buildiug was an old one, and the firo might have originated in various common ways. I w~ r>„™„i„,n Tu :.. ~«!■ i.., „w

Ths wearing of military overcoats by soldiers or ex-soldiers when in mufti is an offence under the Defence Act, and tho authorities have decided to enforce the regulations in this respect. Discharged soldiers, members of the Territorial Force; and Senior Cadets are informed in General Orders thai their military overcoats must not bo worn without uniform. - The military, and civil police'are being instructed, to take proceedings against offenders. The removal of the military buttons does not alter the position. Discharged members of the Expeditionary. Force are allowed to retain their uniforms, including the overcoats, but they must not wear them except under military orders. Some of the men have expressed a wish, to have the overcoats -dyed, so as' to •make them available -for general use-, but this-is not permissible. The returned men should keep their uniforms intact; in any case, since~ they' may wish to wear them later at ceremonial parades. New Zealand will see some., big parades when the war medals are presented after the declaration of peace.

He was new to.camp-life,.new to his. drill, new to the mess,, and having come from a. comfortable home at the call of the ballot, was prepared to kick . at anything and everything. So his messmates persuaded him to kick at the stew' (which, like_ Tennyson's: '.'Brook," runs on forever in the camp). ■ They told him to say anything—that it was not cooked enough, or ill-flavoured, or that it was served cold. So when' moss inspection was on, the new recruit stood up and spoke his piece in a manner quite foreign to the camp or military discipline. "I say, old chap," said the recruit, "this stew is the beastly limit, you know! I had. some stew three. years ago that I didn't i mind in the. least, but I can't go on | with the'game on this beastly stuff. Besides, it's horribly cold, don't you iknow!" "Well," replied the sergeant, | with an indulgent look, "what do you ! expect. It's been waiting for you for two and a half years!"

. "I feel after doing- Milford Trackthat the. Yosomite Falls and the Yose-. mite Valley niust take second place,.... writes Mr.' George B: Thayer, of Hartford, ; Connecticut;, : U.S.A., in the Tourist Department's'visitors' book.

There was some alarm' amongst exporters of butter and-cheese recently because it~ was feared. that the levy made on butter-fat under the butterprice adjustment scheme would .hot" prove to be sufficient' owing to the increasing price of butter, in the. English market.' Tlie" matter' has been examined by the Board of Trade, and after a very full investigation the board is satisfied that the. fund established under the scheme is solvent, and that no addition to the levy will be found necessary.

, Tho concluding session of Grand Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was presided over by Bro. T. H. Walton, G.C.T. Reports, were received from the Juvenile Work Committee and Q'.H: Executive. The Grand Lodge decided to obtain a roll of honour board for the Dominion,-and to accept the offer of the Wellington Reception Committee of'£lo to this object. Votes of thankß were passed to the Wellington Reception Committee and all those who had contributed in any way to the success of the sessions.

Some time ago the Board of Trade was appointed a commission to inquire as to the expediency or otherwise • of prohibiting the export of white pine timber. This is the only timber in iise in New Zealand, for the making of : butter-boxes, and as supplies are getting short, the suggestion is made on behalf of farmers'and' exporters of butter that export of this timber, ; for which there is a strong demand 1 in 'Aus-tralia,-should be prohibited'or restricted. The only counter-suggestion made is that the Government ought to experiment with other; -timbers. ; -The 'Board of Trade was.;.direcfced fo--in-quire into these questions, and actually opened the investigation in the; Auckland district .some time ago. .The.in-, quiry had to be dropped because the board had other ureent business to deal with, but it will be resumed on tho West Coast early in next month.

.. The charge against Charles Butler for -the murder of .Henrietta-.Louisa Foster at View Hill on April 8 was 'adjourned at Christcburch till April 19, on the application of the police.—Press. Assn. ' Instructions have been issued by De- • fence Headquarters • that -. -the Sam Brown belt shall'be worn by_ officers on all,-occasions when in service dress uniform. One. brace will always be ■worn with the belt; The frog will only be worn with the sword.

• The Wellington recruits for the:2BthReinforcements entered camp yester-day.--The.,men. made a good showing in their march to the train. The mobilisation'of the draft, is now nearly complete, but there is a shortage to be covered, and some additional bodies of 'recruits will be sent to the camps nest week.

Some idea of the slackness of thebuilding trade is afforded by an illustration given an Auckland "Star reporter bj. Mr. Moston, officer in charge 'of the Labour Department recently.: He "mentioned that.fie. was' waited' upon by a•"• builder'' who,, before the war,' regularly employed 'forty hands. The man's object in interviewing. Mr. Moston was to ascertain what •fie could do with'four apprentices, for whom he could not find building employers. "The position is," said Mr. -Moston, "that owing to the coudrttons, High prices of materials "and dullness of the. trade, many' employers have closed down. n . ..i ;• ....;-.-

• • In the chopping "event." at the.Te.Karaka sports oh .Easter. Monday (says the "Poverty Bay: Herald")", :}V. Wilson had the misfortune,, whilst .engaged in the under-hand chop, t0..-let his axe drop and cut off three of. his toes. He still ■ continued • chopping,, and won, the event before having his-foot attended to. .-.'-•.'■■

An interesting reunion occurred in. Hornehifrcli Hospital, on March 30, says thoAuokland "StaT-" During tho fighting'on the Soram'o' Riflerhan ; A. Harper, of Church Street, Deyonport, was wounded in the left knee, and was sent to Brockenhursfc Hospital. After some. wocks J treatment ho was removed to Hornchurch Hospital, where he is still undergoing a period of convalescence. Meantime his 6on, SergearitC. P. Harper, who went with the. Main Body, was "gassed" in the fighting at Armentieres, during November, and he,' too, was sent to Brockenhurst.' On •the last day of .March' Sergeant' Harper was transferred to- .Hornchurch, father and son thus meeting again for the first time -sinco last year's great attack" was begun: ■ " Owing to subsidence ab the bridge at tho head of Ngahauvanga-Gorge Road, near Johnsonville, : the-road is stilU.mpassablo to all .traffic-until f"™ KVnotice. Traffic inky pass through .Nowlanda and Khandallah. Tho serious plague of mice in all the wheat centres of Australia has already, caused great damage anions the largequantities of sto7ed grain.. The losses threatened aro so extensive that tuo Wheat Agents' Association is petitioning tho. Government to 'remove the wheat to Sydney without delay, so as to minimise tho evil as far as possible. —Press Assti. ■■:■■■ ■ . A mooting of the Council of the Wellinfton Chamber of.Commerce was held yesterday afternoon. There were present tho president (Mr. James Macintosh), Messrs. Thomas Ballmgor, C. Richardson, F. W. Manton, R. W. Wnterhoiise, and W. F. Cuthbortson. Tho chief item of business was tho consideration of a draft copy of the annual report of- the chamber, which is a comprehensive document. A proposal to augment the membership of the chamber was also laid before the council by the.. ?^tM''9ffVf(V^'y* o^?)'-'- "■"' ■>

._..,, ,„„,„_,._. -~,.„.■■,, ~ J ... .1 ~.l In the Magistrate's Court yesterday* Harry Jarvis was charged that on December 4, 1916, he sold milk containing a boron compound, which is not a preservative . specifically permitted by. the Sale of-Food and Drugs' Act, Mr. P. S. K. Macassey proseouted. and Mr. I*. J. O'Regau appeared for defendant. Mr. O'Began stated that owing to the shortage of water for his cooler, defendant had put carbonate of soda into the milk.'"'He-had been in the habit of -using' this compound in the milk reserved for consumption, in his own house, and had no'knowledge that he was doing wrong. The Magistrate convicted defendant and.imposed a fine of £20, -with costs £3 16s. •'•'

" Some interesting remarks on tlie relationship existing between the Government' and friendly societies; were made by Bro. Thompson, P.G":E., .in responding to : the toast' of Druids' Grand Lodge at the installation of the district presi-dent-at. Onehunga onJYednesday night. Referring to the deputation -.to ths •Hons; J. A. Hanan and A.. 31. Myers at Wellington with ..regard to' the operation of the.National Provident' Fund, he said he was satisfied the Government had given "them all it was possible to do owing to the great financial strain on the country. .Friendly societies had secured recognition by trie Government, which they, had been fighting for .for the last 20 or'3o years. As,the majority of the members of friendly societies were working men it-was impossible for them to join the National Provident Fund as well as a friendly society. 'After the war-they should continue to right for terms that would bring the fund within the reach of members. The protection afforded to friendly societies' funds by the appointing of an actuary deserved the best thanks of societies to the Government, especially as the service was carried out free of cost.

An unusual degree of apathy is apparently being evinced in the approaching local bodies' elections at Dunedm. (savs- the Otago "Times"). This is evidenced by the fact that up. to the present the.number;of candidates nominated for the City Council is certainty not in excess of -the. number... of positions'to' be filled, and.-also by the facb that in the borough of St, JKilda there are ;so Tar only eight candidates In the, : fieldTfor 10 positions."

. Good progress is-being made with the erection of St. Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin (says the. Otago ."Times'.'), and. about-half the work thafr is intended to be, put into the building in the meantime is completed. . In. the'finished cathedral there will be practically no ■wood work .except the seats. The contractor estimates that he has another 12 months' work ahead of him'.

Adverse comment is commonly made in New Zealand regarding the worn and filthy condition of many of the banknote kept in circulation. Over 200,000 bank notes are burnt every week by the Commonwealth Treasury officials. This statement was made by, Mr. Collins, secretary toJhe Treasury, when referring to a leading in the/Melbourne "Age," pointing out the numbers of dirty bank notes that were in circulation. The notes having been cancelled are burnt in' a special furnace in the Department, fittea with a wire grid. This' prevents pieces orcharred notes fluttering through the chimney and being subsequently produced for payment-as happened some years 3go when the postal officials m Melbourne were burning certain sheets of. stamps. "Thai in view of the-number of Petone residents who travel, on, -the trains to their daily, employment, this council enter its protest against the drastic reduction in the suburban train service." The foregoing motion is to be moved by Councillor Cox at Monday's meeting of the Petone Borough Council.. . :. ;.-.,. ...r: '-...;'-.,. ■'

-Tho case at Christchurch. against the manager of- the.-''Lyttelton.Times for , a Vbreach. of -tlieVWar.-Regulations, in publishing information. regarding the movement of a steamer, was .adjourned to secure the attendance of .an essential witness.-r-Press Assn.

Councillor Anderson, intends to, move at Monday's meeting of the Petone Borough Council: "That the recreation ground proper, with the exception of No. 1 ground, he;- ploughed and planted-.in potatoes..- The crop to be sold to residents of Petone at a reasonable price.". -

The Waterside Workers' Band will play a programme of music at Island Bay at 3 o'clock to-morrow afternoon.

Mr. the Efficiency Board, took evidence at Thnaru jester* da- regarding racing, sports, shows, and pictures. He stated that the evidence was the same as Riven elsewhere; —Press Association.

At the Grand Opera House next Wednesday ■ afternoon, Mr. Robert Greia-and* Miss Beatrice Holloway, of the J. C. Williamson Comedy ComPruv, will sell Ju auction a Union Jack which has been autographed by >ew Zealand returned soldiers. : : For '.thft occasion tc. unique entertainment; will be presented, and afternoon- tea'will be 'provided. • ;

.. That foodstuffs are scarce and deal 1 in 'Britain "is 'recognised .'arid understood. ..That there sbould.be ''famine prices" "in'"th'e""lJnited States is ' less comprehensible."- .Yet .the monthly circular, dated March■■?,- of one of tnei leading firms, of export merchants in' New 1 York states, inter alia'.: '• "Since the. first;sbpck'..of the'breakihg of dip* loiriatiq "relations'the specuTStive -mar* kets. haye held 'their. own' wi able' firmness,'.'and ..it' is/P'robable that even an actual declaration of- war would • make no immediate change.

.•■-.- . Business during-February was apnarently as active .as 'ever, and prices of all'commodities continue to' rise. ' Foodstuffs'' in' particular are now at almost'famine" prices,' . and_ tWre! bave been several demonstrations ni New York (written '"> by the newspapers as 'food riots') on account- of the excessive prices asked by dealers for moats, noultrv. vegetables, etc.There have been ■ strikes, in. many of thn sugar refineries, and this, .'on-ton of all the other causes, has .resulted in sugar -se'ling at retail as hi>h as 10. ■eonts -(53) per-lb. Flour retails' nt 12JI dollars (525. Id.'i per barrel of 19R1K/J Vintatoes at 4 dollars to 4} dollars ORs. M. to IRs. Bfl.V.Tier bushel of WIV; and in spite of the high wages which! <renefally prpwil, the .working classed •h'«<•<!-. great ..-difficulty.-..in making botH ends meet," .... ■-'.-■-.