LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3144, 24 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The State Labour Bureau in Wellington reported yesterday that it could have placed every applicant for work in employment last week, but for the wet weather. Aβ it is now, thero are about fifteen men seeking work. Those out of work are mostly general labourers. Such men as engineers and electricians have been difficult to secure for some time. "Wellington is probably the healthiest city in the world, yet the death-rate of nine per thousand per year is higher than that of some English cities in which, with a less favourable climate, the rate has been reduced to six per thousand, by improved drainage and sanitation and obtnining all the sunlight possible."—Sir Robert Stout, speaking at Brooklyn on Sunday. The Fire Brigade was called about 10.55 last night to an outbreak of fire in the Queen's Drive, Maranui. The house, which was owned by Mr. J. J. Boyd, jun., and was insured in the Victoria bffio'e for .£BOO, was almost totally destroyed. It was a ten-roomed two-storied dwelling. It did not contain much furniture, as the owner wns just moving in. Messrs. Cardalo and Scott, the New Zealand agents for tho American Trading Company, have received advices that owing to the reports appearing recently in tho Sydney Press that freights from New York had advanced to GO dollars and in some cases 75 dollars por ton, a cablegram was sent through inquiring whether thjs. report was correct. ■ Their New York'ioffico has replied that for tho steamers now loading the rate is 50 dollars per ton, and that no immediate advance ia expected. AV. Ulrich, a resident of Ciiriecliurch. eerving as third engineer on the Breeze, was badly burned yesterday as tho result of a bonsiien explosion. It appears that lie was carrying a naked light through the tunnel from the engine-room to tho propeller shaft, when benzine vapour from Hie cargo exploded. Ulrich was admitted to tho Hospital in the afternoon. At 7.30 p.m. on Thursday next a special meeting of the City Council will bo held to pass a resolution (by way of u special order) adopting "tho Wellington City Kesorv;es Chnrscs 'Amendment ByLaw." This by-law concerns the raisjnff ol the price of admission to tho i'Zoo'* on Tveek-daya from Bα, to 6d.

Tho Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, yesterday hoard an aDpe.il from a decision givon by Mr. S. K M'Carthy, S.M., in a. Dannovirke case. In the Lower Court, Frederick de Jersey Clero. architect, of Wellington, made a claim against the n-ardeus and vestry of St. John's Church, Diumevirke. l'laiiitilV slated that he lind been instructed to prepare, plans for tho erection of a new church,and ho had done so; but tho payment of the uaiial fees was withheld because when tenders wero called tho lowest tendor exceeded the desired figure by about .£IOOO. Defendant alleged that plaintiff hnd guaranteed that tho cost would not exceed .£ISOO. Tho Magistrate K ave judgment for defendants, and against this decision the appeal was made. Mr. A. W. Bloir appeared for the appellant, and Mr. -ft. H. uobertshawe, of Dnniievirke, for tho respondents. I'ho Chief Justice reserved his judgment. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon by the Coroner, Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M., concerning the death of Emma Burke, married woman, whose body was found washed up on the beach at Miraniar a few days ago. The evidence showed that Mrs. Burke suffored greatly from insomnia, duo to nervousness, and the Coroner returned a verdict of found drowned, adding that the evidence pointed to the fact that the deceased had committed suicide while temporarily insane. An inquest will be held this afternoon concerning, the death of Thomas William Hill, the soldier whose body was found hanging from a treo in tho bush not far from Trenthara Camp; Speaking at the Men's Own al Brooklyn on Sunday, Sir Robert Stout said prison reform should start a long way back. When Oliver Wendell Holmes was asked by a father at what ago a boy's schooling should begin, ho replied "a hundred years before he is born," and the same answer was applicable in regard to/'nil phases of life. It was as we lived now that would mako the future citizen either a desirable or undesirable one. Hβ advocated higher social and moral ideals and cleaner municipal life that would set a better standard and example to the children in tho cities. ' A deputation representing tho JVlmerston North Borough Council, headed by tho Mayor (Mr. J. A. Nash), interviewed the Minister of Internal Affairs yesterday in connection with the proposed now road near the Municipal Opera Houso and other matters. Subsequently the deputation interviewed the Minister of Agriculture concerning abattoir, matters. | Tho National Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association will entertain Messrs. H. M. Smeeton and A. Varney at a luncheon on Thursday at 1 p.m. The luncheon will be held in tho Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, and Mi , . Massey will preside. Mr. Smeeton acted as oho of the first honorary commissioners in England and France, and Mr. Vnrney acted as supervising tary, and they will give an account of how tho gifts and money from New Zealand are being distributed, and other interesting matters dealing with the Y.M.C.A. war work in England and I'ranco will bo referred to.

An appellant plated at tho Military Service Board at Hawera that his mother, who was 65 years of age, last Mason 7nilked 25 cows night and morning, and she would probably do 'the samo thi9 season. "The Taranaki people ongh to present her with a special medal as an example to the younger people," re r marked a member of the board.

According to the last census.-figures (1816), tho population of tho Masterton electoral district was 12,373, against 12,901 in 1911. The population of the Wairarapa electoral district was 13,1)42, compared with 11,563 in 1011.

Mr. Grahame, Minister of Agriculture in.New South Wales, was asked recently if, as reported, men engaged in re-bag-ging mice-infected wheat had been infected with some disease, there was not danger of tfce wheat also being infected? "Personally," replied the Minister, "I do not think that the inico communicated any disease at all. What really happened was that men .were ..bitten by mice, and the wounds, having been neglected, festered. While I was at iteefton I saw'men with their hands covered with blood through being bitten by (he rodeDts, which they were pulling from the stacks in handfuls, but I have not heard of any caso where disease has been communicated by the mice."

The "Weekly Telegraph," Belfast, Ire-: land, contains an interesting reference to Mrs. Lynch, of Arva, who has nine sons at the front. In opening the assizes at Cavan, on March 5, Mr. Justice Eenny referred to tho fact that in County Cavan [one thousand applications had been made to the War Office for certificates of honour in respect of men who had joined the colours. His Honour referred to this as "a remarkable record," and added: "An old woman of the name of Lynch, who lives at Arva, has made applications for certificates in respect of nine sons who are with the colours. I will give the names —for really tho record is wonderful—Philip, Patrick, Francis, Edward, Peter and John are in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, Michael in the Munsters, Thomas in the Leinstcrs, and Joseph in tho Seaforth Highlanders, and every ono of the nino alive. I think that is ono of the most marvellous records that I have heard of in connection with tho war. I have.rend of women fuo.'-i }itq "A'ut.iy enj m suos o.uf ijjiii is a woman with nine, and not one Gf them has been killed." A novel means of raising money, but one which has been tried with' much success in Southern Canterbury, was mentioned at the meeting of the Christchurch Red Cross Executive. One of the proposals for raising money on "Our Day" was that the farmers should hold a -'"'sheep drive." Starting with one or bvo ,sheep, the "drive" commenced at a giv<m point; and passed along certain previously defined roads, leach farmer who desired to contribute adding his sheep to the flock «s it passed his laud. When all tho eheop had been thus collected, they arc then driven to the' nearest saleynrd and sold, the proceeds aoing to some patriotic object. The proposal was referred to the "Our Day" Committee for consideration. Mr. Percy Grainger, tho Australian pianist, who onjoys a world-wide reputation, has joined the Fovt Hamilton (New York State) Military Band as an oboe player, for which he will- be paid throe dollars (12s. 6d.) a month. He lias sacrificed valuable concert engagements and has permitted his long hair to be cut. According to the' New York "Evening Post" Mr. Grainger took out liis first naturalisation papers before enlisting for service as a bandsman in the United States Army.. Corporal A. Roaney, Royal Irish Rifles, son of Mr. Andrew Rouney, Crawfordsburn, Bangor, County Down, Ireland, is reported >by the Belfast "Weekly Telegraph" to be the hero of a very selfsacrificing deed, which he performed since entering St. Luke's War Hospital, Halifax. A comrade had last a leg, and was almost dead from loss of blood. The only means of saving his life was by transferring blood to him from some other person, and immediately Corporal Ronney heard this he volunteered to make "tho sacrifice. ' He did not know the name of the man who was in such a precarious condition, but when he ivns brought befoi'e him he at once recognised him as a comrade from his own company. On Friday and Saturday, 27th and 28th July, persons in Wellington producing on rff|iiest a Crippled Soldier?" nostel Art Union ticket bearing (ho words "Wizard Light" will receive ss.*