LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3150, 31 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The gas supply will be turned on at 7 o'clock this morning and will be cut off at 10 o'clock to-night. "Beforo the war the best customer of tho New Zealand primary producer was New Zealand itself," said a sneaker at last night's meeting of tho Chamber of Commerce. ''Tho people of this country bought 70 per cent, of the beef, 50 per cent, of the muttoji, all tho pork, grain, coal, and. timber. Tho farmer is not entitled to talk as though the local market was of no account." Ko fewer than 13 cases of diphtheria have been reported in the Na-pier Hospital District of Hawke's Bay during the past month. Tho number'of cases bas considerably increased during tho past week (says our Napior correspondent). The troops of tho 32nd Reinforcements, who were transferred from Trentham io TaUiheronikau Camp last week, have settled down to tent life. Tho bad weather which has prevailed in Wellington during tho past week was felt in the Wairarapa also, but has had no ill-effect upon the health of the now troops. Fwther drafts of tho 32nds vent to Tauherenikau yesterday and moro will follow today. " The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stoat) yesterday granted a discharge in bankrupety to Harvey Vivian Gazznrd, a builder. His Honour, in adjourning the bankruptcy sittings, remarked on Che iufref|iiency of bankruptcy proceedings in Wellington nowadays. The "Journal of Agriculture," issued by tho Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce, has been considerably reduced in size, the reduction being necessary owing to tho prevailing shortago of paper. A grievance that affects manufacturers was mentioned by several speakers at last night's meeting of tho Chamber of Commerce. Tho Taxation Department allows f> per cent, depreciation on machiuerv when assessing incomes, but tho natural depreciation is sometimes as high as 25 per cent. One speaker mentioned a machine that has a nfo of three years only. The flection of officers of the Petono Fire Brigade for the ensuing year iesultcd:—Foremen, Foreman Shardlow (reelected) and Foreman AVhitcher; secretary and treasurer, Foreman Sehvood (reelected) ; chairman, Fireman Hart; audi-toi-H, life-members .1. I'iper and Deputy Superintendent Godber; lion, surgeon, Dr. Boss. At the annual meeting of tho Society of Musicians, the following officers were elected for tho ensuing year:—President, Mr. C. 'W. Kerry; -rice-presidents, Messrs. B. F. Page and L. F. "Watkms; joint hon. secretaries, Misses lv. bimpson and E. Mowatt; hon. treasurer, Mr. Harry H. Tombs; acting-librarian, Miss Heinemaiin; hon. auditor, Mr. J. . H. 1». Jack; hon. solicitor, Mr. E. Herbert Webbj members of the council,. Mrs. Ciachemaille, Misses Kennedy, nermann, and Watkins, Messrs. Robert Farleer and H. Temple White.

At tho last meeting of the Wreater Wellington Town-planning and Municipal Electors' Association the following resolution dealing with tho Bill now before tho House was unanimously passed:—

"This association strongly urges that no further power ehould be granted to the Wellington City Council- to impose a permanent charge cither direct or indirect on ratepayers without the express consent of the latter, and while concurring in tho proposed safeguards for reserve, renewal, and other fundi) if created, maintains that snch funds should only bo permissible, and to a specified limit, out of surplus revenue remaining after all lawful charges now existing have been duly satisfied, and further that r.ny balance beyond the suggested specified statutory limit should bo utilised to relieve tho general rates."

Speaking at yesterday's Kapier sitting of the Appeal Board, says our special correspondent, the military representative, Captain Culvert, remarked on the fact that employers when advertising for men generally put "state salary required," wherea3 they should offer tho highest salary they could give. Another member of the board said that men requiring the work would look upon tho "state salary required" advertisements as coming from a sweating business.

An explanation concerning tho military designations of chaplains is made by 'Defence Headquarters in general orders. Chaplains are classified as under, for purposes of pay and soniority: Chaplain to the Forces, Ith class (captain), Chaplain to tho Forces, 3rd class (major), Chaplain to tho Forces, 2nd class (lieu-tenant-colonel), Chaplain to the Forces, Ist class (colonel). The highest rank a. chaplain can attain is chaplain-goneral. Chaplains, however, do not possess military rank, and they should not l>o addressed by military titles, except in the ease of ohaplain-soneral. "Chaplaincai>Uuii" is incorrect. Tho official desigration is "tho Eov. John Smith, chaplain to the Forces, 4th class," or whatever tho class may be. The chaplain 6hould bo addressed in. conversation as plain "Mr. Smith." Tho report to bo presented at tho annual meeting of tho Now Zcalaud Society of Accountants says that tho provision of i'reo clerical training in office routine and bookkeeping for returned u-tiully babied eoldieis was continued throughout the year, and in all :10 returned nieu availed themselves of tho society's offer. "It cannot bo said, the report continues, "that tlie scheme Las nroved as successful as was Anticipated, ind tho proportion o£ effective students is small. Tins is duo in somo cases to the physical and mental condition of the returned men, although in many caeca Hiei-o is evidence of a lack of appreciation on their par! for I'ho tuition provided and that they do not realise that serious study and application :s essential to progress. The question of the, continuation or further extension of tho Boheme will be carefully considered by the council at its next mooting."

Jliero is at present reposing in honoured retirement ut Kakaia, a l)k-ycle, which lias proved a trusty friend to its owner, having carried him' through muny countries (says llio Cliristchurch "Sun"). It was purchased in Kuglnml by a New /.eiiliimler at Home for a holiday, nnci Htarled its earner by a lour 'through Kiiiuce and Italy, going over tho .SimpInn J'ass. .Switzerland was next traversed, and then up tho TChine Valley, and through Belgium, and thence hack to England. Another trip, this lime round the British Isles, \v:\s then taken, the main spots of interest in each of Hie three countries being visited. Back to the Continent once more, through Germany and Austria and Italy, down to Naples, where the trusty mount was packed up for its long journey to tho Antipodes. On arrival in Wellington, it again was placed in commission, and carried its owner over practically 'the whole of the Dominion, hut at last the rims gave way, and tho owner was, only last week reluctantlv compelled to forsake his long-tried friend.

Nellie Dixon. n girl residing in Luxford Street, Newtown. was V.st evening knocked down by n motor-car. She was admitted (o flic Hospital about 7.'2fl p.m., suffer-ill;; from an injury to the right foot.

A new departure was introduced by Mr. Aclipson. S.M., at tho Assessment Court, Balchitlia (says the "Ym Press" i, when several farmers, who were objecting to the values made by the Government valuers, were asked to name- the price at which they would sell to the Government. One man. whose property of 3!") acres was valued at J!2515. jiromptly said he would sell for 421600, and signed a memorandum to that effect. The 'Magistrate said he would recommend (he Government to take it. seeins that it was nfter land for returned soldiers.

Fifty-threo cases were dealt with by the Claims Board of the Auckland Patriotic Association 'at its last meeting, and assistance was granted in the majority. A pulhelic case was lhat of a mother who received advice early in June of tho death of one of her sons on active service, and who reported that she had since been notified that another son had been killed, while her remaining eon had been wounded. All three left with the Main Body.

Asket! how the flax market was in Auckland a gentleman interested in that branch of trade said small parcels woro being got away, but pointed out that it was only the scarcity of shipping that had forced up prices in London, and pneo vessels were obtainable, hemp would pour in from Manila as well as New Zealand, and rates would drop proportionately.

A few weeks ago a sub-contractor at tho Cbristehureh Infectious Diseusc-j Hospital was killed through contact with one of tho live wires conveying current to the institution. 'I'lio widow, through her lawyers, has made a claim against tho North Canterbury Hospital Board for tho sum of ,£2f>oo damages, the basis of claim being "that her husbifud's death was caused by tho wrongful act, neglect or dofealt of the board." At tho recent meeting of tho board authority was given to the Finance Committee" to act in file matter as it considered advisable.

Instructions liavo l>ecn issued V'-y- tho Director-General of Medical Services to the district medical boards that any man who has attained his 4-llh birthday on being called up for service is to placed in Class C 2 (medically unfit), and transferred to home'service.

A recent report by the New South "Wales Eailway Commissioners states that at practically all of tho wheat etalions the mice plague was found to be still virulent. The general opinion was that while possibly (he movements of mice might bo somewhat more lethargic in anil about the stacks, the numbers had not sensibly decreased, but (hat in (ho open paddocks tja , ' cold and wet weather had largely diminished their numbers. This latter fact was emphasised as of considerable importance in relation to next season's Top, os it was asserted at many stations that the mice in the sown paddocks had followed m> the drills of nowly-sown wheal, which they burrowed up ajid destroyed, and maiiy paddocks had (o be sown a second time. At some places resowing was nctivnlv in progress. "Many slacks of wheal," the report corjiinups, "are still in bad order, but progress is now being made 'with 'the -measures adopted to protect it. The view is hold that i<. spoil of cold weather would rapidly diminish tho number of the mice."

Seven outbreaks of fire occurred within iive hours in n residence in a Sydney, isubiirb, but oji each occasion the flames were extinguished before (hey secured a hold, and tlio damage sustained was estimated at only .CIO. Early in (lie morning the curtains in a downstairs room were found alight. The flames were subdued by the inmates without trouble, but a little later the curtains in another room were seen to be blazing. Again the firo was subdued, but shortly before noon a fire was discovered in the balcony room. This time the local brigade was called out, and the firemen got the flames under before serious damage was done. Theieiwere four other outbreaks in various rooms before three o'clock in tlte afternoon, but no trouble, was experienced by the inmates in extinguishing them. The most serious blaze was in an attic room, where the contents were damaged and the skirting boards scorched.

An inquiry regarding tho conditions and administration of the Civil Service of New' South Wales has been ordered by tho State Government, Mr. G. Mason /.Hard, accountant and business manager of Sydney, having been appointed a, Koyal Commission for the purpose. Thn Acting-Premier. Mr. G. W. Fuller, said the terms of the Commission would be wide enough to cover the whole of the operations of the Public Service. Every Department would he taken in turn, and it h hoped the miort will bo available before the end of the sessioa of fho Stale Parliament. Mr. Allard will 'i'ivb + !ift assistance of an assessor, to bo chosen from among the members of the Public Service Board. As the inriuiry is begun in each of the. Government Depar':nenrs another assessor will, be appointed from the Department under review, to be chosen by the particular Minister in charge, after consultation with the unions and associations whose 'iiembeis are concerned in the administration of Wfe Department.

■Writing to his sister (Mrs. H. G. Bryant, of Sergemoor. Mannknii). Gunner Arthur Palmer-Bray has tho following to eay of the Battle of Messines:—"Wo wont, over the top at 3.10 n.m., before it was properly light, and tho sight was great. There was a dull roar, and tho ground shook worse than one hundred A T D\y Zealand earthquake!; put together. A golden ehjpot of flame shot up hundreds of feet in tho air a? wo wont over ami straight on. The artillery knocked all tho fight out of Fritz. . . .

Where wo had to get to ami dig in was just on the right of Mcssinos. Wo lo.it (i few men. . . . Towards 1C o'clonlc the Oeriiiim artillery started to shell us and the town, and from then on it yens hell. A shell burst risrht in our section and killed several and wounded and lialf-bnricd the rest. T escaped wKh shrapnel wounds in the. left ■.α-m, and suffered from tlie shell concussion. . . .

M'o did not need the tanks with us, but they did good work for the Australians, who went beyond !is. The Australians siot it worse than we did, because their ground was morn i>pen, and Frit/, could sco them going down tin , , side of the hill. Nevertheless, (iicj smacked him well up. . . ."