LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3087, 18 May 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho of finance (Hon. A. 11. Myers), interviewed concerning the coming War Loan, was aslccd for what amount the propose! issue would "be. "That," he replied, "has not yet been determined. It is a matter that will have to be decided on tho return of tho Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to New Zealand. It is quite obvious, however," lie remarked, "tluit tho amount will have to bo n large one, in view of tho fact that New Zealand's war expenditure has already passed the millionpound mark per month, and that it is not likely to ho a diminishing figuro. On the contrary, it mny 1)0 expected to increase."

The Secretary of tho General Post Office has been advised that Bagdad is now open for international telegraph traffic. The rate is the same as that to Basra, on the Persian Gulf.

A return of the persons brought 'before the Magistrate's Courts during the years 11)10 shows tho in "Wellington city 5233 males and 62S females were dealt witn: Taking males and. fomales together, tho summary convictions are classified as follow:—Assaults and other offences against the person, 115; burglary, stealing, theft from tno person, 6; cattle and sheepstealin;,', theft, and other offences'against property, 371; drunkenness, 2428; prohibition orders, 60; other offences against good order, 1160; selling liquor without a license, 14; other breaches of Revenue Acts, 12; offences against by-laws and public welfare, 813.

The Featherston Racing Club held a meeting yesterday afternoon, and voted .£SOO to the Salvation Array Soldiers' Relatives' Hostel and JCIOO to the Eetl Cross.

The matter of tlie annual grant of J8250 for the encouragement of school Rugby was discussed at length by the New Zealand Rugby Union last evening. Mr. ,T. 11. Lynskey moved that the grant should be discontinued. He said that the money should bo put to a better use. The amount of interest taken in school football did not merit the grant. A delegate stated that in tho days when the union was without any money, Rugby was in a more flourishing condition. The grant to each school was not a large one, and he thought that if the schools were ardent followers of Rugby they would help themselves by asking local sportsmen to contribute to their funds. The schools were inclined to lean on the "New Zealand Union for support. instead of helping themselves or seeking aid from the union in their districts. Another delegate suggested that the grant should be reduced to £120, and that the amount should be used in subsidising? the schools _ that were helping themselves. A division was taken, and by a large majority it was decided to make a grant of .£250. At yesterday's meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board it was decided: "That circulars be 6ent to all private hospitals and doctors advising that they will be held responsible for the use of the hospital ambulance for the conveyance of patients to private hospitals." The great need for a shelter-shod to suit tho convenience of peoplo catching outward-bound cars on the Jfolesworth Street routes was stressed'at the meeting of the City Council last night. It was decided to make renewed representations to the Government for permission- to erect a tramway waiting-shed opposite the Government Buildings. It was suggested by Councillor. Barber that the "only feasible solution of tlie problem was to move the stopping place further south along the Quay, in- order to give the people the advantage of verandahs. The Government, Councillor Barber said, would not be at all likely to agree to the front of their big Parliament Buildings being obscured or disfigured by a waiting-shed.

A very large meeting of railway servants at Taihape passed the following resolution:—"That, owing to the inability or disinclination of the Government in adopting measures to materially check the undue exploitation by which the community is continually suffering, the Taihapo branch of the Amalgamated Society of Kailway Servants is compelled to request the executive to endeavour by all reasonable means to secure an increase

of 0110 shilling per day to all members oi the Second Division." —Press Assn.

Tenders wore received by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday for a substantial addition to tlie Nurses' Home. Tho tenders were referred to the Finance Committee of the board.

11l one of tlie schools on tho West Coast the woman who cleans the building is evidently a true unionist. When requested by tho headmaster to perform some additional work, she bluntly refused, with the curt comment that it was "not in her scuttle of duties."

' Tho City Council has decided to apply to tho Railway Department for a tenure of the Thorndon Baths, subject to termination oa twelve months' notice. Tho Department had previously offered a monthly tenancy. It is expected that. soon after tho end of the war there will be heavy reclamation work in the neighbourhood; and that tho Thorndon Baths will have to bo closed, because the reclamation will extend so as to cover their present location. The new front will be in water too deep for baths, and tho entrance to tho water-front will be shut of? by extensive railway yards. It is admitted that when the reclamation, is made it will Dot bo practicable to establish baths anywhere oa the Thorndon fore?hore. } A ruling of interest to trado unionists has been given by the Arbitration Court in a case in which Bailey and Lowe, yacht builders, Auckland, were proceeded against for an alleged breach of award ill failing to pay an employee for the time occupied ill travelling to and from Ilia work at Northcote, which is across the harbour. The Inspector of Awards claimed that Bailey and Lowe's office in Auckland was, for the purpose of the award, the employer's place of business. Bailey and Lowe contended that the ofEee was used principally as a showroom and agency for the sale of oil-engines. Tim books relating to the boat-building part of the business were also ■ kept tliere. The actual work of boat-building was conducted ut Northcote, and workers were paid or dismissed at the yards tfiere. The case was one of considerable importance, as any ruling reversing tho generally-adopted interpretation that tho defendants' registered workshop, where work is usually performed, was tlio place of business for the purpose of tho award, would have affe'oted a large number of businesses, the offices, in. connection with which are in the city and the workshops in the suburbs. The Court decided on the facts stated for its opinion that the defendant company's workshops at Northcote wore the employer's place of business within tho meaning of the terms of the award.

The City Council dccided last night that a by-law be drafted authorising an increase in tlio license fee of picture theatres to cover the cost of supervision of disinfection work, which cost is at present borne by the council.

An instance of how harshly the new passport regulations press on people who wish to visit Australia was brought home to certain Dunedin residents recently (says the "Otago Times"). Tho husband lias recently' jjetired from business, and he and his wife had made arrangements to go to Sydney for twelve months, with the ultimate object of settling there if the climate proved suitable. The man, who is well over sixty years of age, was disagreeably surprised when, on applying for a passport, he was informed that the only conditions upon which it was issued would be that he entered into a bond to the extent of ,£IOO that ho would return to the Dominion within a period of two months. In the event of his failure to do so the bond woijid bo estreated.

The City Council last night voted grants of <£100 each to the Workers' Kdueational Association and to tlio Richmond Free Kindergarten Union.

A list of the members of the New Zealand Institute of Architects is published in this week's Gazette.

According to a statement made at the Miramar Borough Council meeting last evening, there are 767 ratepayers in the borough.

At Ibe Palmerston North Supremo Court yesterday, George Stout was awarded JXIS damages against the Agricultural and Pastoral Company, Ltd., of Wellington. Claimant was employed as nightwutchuian at the show grounds, and lie alleged that by the company's employees negligently placing certain pipes ia tho show grounds they fell upon him as lie was passing, and lie was injured,

At t.lie last meeting of the Kairanga County Council the following resolution was passed:—"That in the opinion, of this council the present method adopted by tho Government of taxing on the war profit basis is not satisfactory to the farming community, entailing as it does hardship and unnecessary clerical work, and tending to lessen the production of the country for homo consumption, and it recommends that an export tax would bo more equitable to the farming com- ! niunity; und that the county clerk be ! instructed to forir.'ml a copy rf this resolution to the Prime Minister and the County Councils in the Wellington and Hawke s Bay Provinces." Mr. Harold Beauchamp has purchased from the trustees of the late Hon. W. B. Rhodes the property on the crest of the Wadestown Hill known as "The Grange," and resided in by Sirs. Rhodes up to the time of her death. Later it was leased by Lady Kelburn (now the Countess of Glasgow), who Tesided there until she returned to England a few months ago. The property that has just changed hands is that part of the original Highland Estate containing fche (former Rhodes residence, which is still surrounded by extensive grounds.

When tho question of iucreaiug the garden area iv it'll in the borough came up tor consideration at the Jtiramar Borough Council meeting last evening, several councillors stated that there were not more vegetable gardens in the district because of wandering cattle. The Mayor said that the council had power to deal with the wandering cattle nuisance. According to. the Mayor, Miramar, Limited, is willing to provide a quarter of an acre within tho borough for anyone who desires to grow vegetables.

It is, perhaps, not generally known that it is an offence to lay poison on a public place. The fact has been brought home rather forcibly to a lady resident of Auckland. She had been for several nights annoyed by a dog barking on the street at all by-passers, and eventually about three o'clock one morning she got desperate and got up and prepared some poisoned meat, which she/threw out on to the street to the dog, which, however, ran away without taking the bait. The lady went out to pick up the poisoned meat, and was seen by a constable on duty, who inquired what she was looking for, and who found the poisoned meat. The result was a prosecution, against the lady for laying poison in the street, and though Mr. V. Frazer, S.M-., expressed sympathy with persons who had their sleep persistently broken by a barking dog, he pointed out that lo throw noison-in the street was a danger to other dogs that didn't bark. The defendant was convicted and ordered to pay 7s. costs.

"I enlisted at one time and was refused, so I got married, and now I have domestic troubles," stated a seaman in a, letter to the Third Wellington Military Service Board. He was granted exemption.

The City Council last night approved the. City Engineer's action in issuing instructions for the collection of fees for golf played on Sunday on the Municipal Links at the same rate as the week-<lay charges. This decision to charge for Sunday play is in consequence of the judgment of the Full Court that the council has not power to stop Sunday play.

Following upon the result of the recent poll, the Government has gazetted Saturday as the statutory half-holiday for the combined district of Wanganui. The notice takes effect from June 1, and remains in force till another day is appointed by a similar poll. A similar notice appears in the Gazette Telating to' the combined districts of Petone and Lower. Hutt. '

The want of school accommodation wa3 referred to at the' Miramar Borough Council meeting last evening, when a letter from the Education Department offering to rent the Town Hall was under consideration. It was stated that the present school accommodation in. the borough was severely taxed, and it was impossible for the children to be taught as they should be. It was decided to let the Town Hall to the Department at 255. per week.

Regulations under the Land and Income Tax, 19115, are published in this week's Gazette. They prescribe the forms to be used in the mating of returns, and define the powers and duties of officers. A deadly trap for mice is described by a correspondent of the Sydney "Bulletin." Get a kerosene tin and half fill with water. Sprinkle a fair Kyer of chaff, brail, and a little bit of cheeae gratings on top. 'The chaff makes the surface of the lot appear solid and dry, and the mouse jumping aboard . goes right through the layer into the water, and tho trap is ready for the next item on the programme. If the ground is not too hard, sink tho tin so that the top is flush with tho ground. Thousands of mice are caught about the wheat-stacks in Victoria this way.

The prices of fertilisers and artificial manures of all classes lmvo been increased recently, the average rise being in tlio neighbourhood of v 3o per cent., and it is reported 'locally that further advances may take place. Basic slag is at present urobtainable, and there is little likelihood of supplies coming to hand in any quantity, the immediate cause of tlio increases in prices of somo of the manure is not a shortage of stocks, hut the apparent impossibility of replenishing existing stocks when they are exhausted. Shipping space for the carriage of manures to New Zealand cannot be obtained. Tho artificial manures manufactured locally by the freezing factories have not advanced in price to any great degree, but they require for most purposes to ho mixed with the imported manures. 1

Councillor George Frost had a motion on tlio order paper of tho City Council "last night which proposed that tlio city should- double the rates charged' to the Ivarori Borough for car mileage on Sundays, for the reasoii that it was tho custom of that borough to charge double fares on Sundays. When the time arrived for the motion to bo considered by tho council the Mayor ruled that it was out of order, on tho ground that although tho agreement between the City and Karori had'expired, it was still in operation, and that it would not be proper to vary it in an important particular without notice from tho council that this was to bo done.

An attractive programme has Leon arranged by the Fuller artists for the entertainment to lie given in the eity strcets at noon to-day in aid of the Crippled Soldiers' Hostel Art Union. Cusko's monkeys will bo. seen in their wonderful acts, and an American auction of a book or books of tickets will be conducted. This last act is something new in the city. On May 25 and 26, £25 will be given Away in sums of ss. or' 10s. to those who on request can produce a Crippled Soldiers' Hostel Art "Union vcket stamped "Suratura D."* ■'