LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 57, 30 November 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

To-day is St. Andrew's Day. It will be observed as a holiday by tli6 Civil Service, banks, legal profession, and insuranco companies.

Tho Camp Adjutant at Trontham (Major F. Lampen) has advised Mr. G. S.' Hill that general leave will be granted for tho soldiers' sports tomorrow. Should tho weather keep fine there should be a notable gathering, as it will be tho first sports meeting held since the Basin lieservo has been improved. The ground is now ono o* tho prettiest city sports grounds iii Australia, and when it is provided with a new pavilion the change will b6 complete. The City Council decided last evening that tho City Engineer be instructed to proceed with the water and drainage scheme for the Day's Bay district as early as possible. « House agents report that the demand for seasfde cottages and whares this season appears to be as keen as, if not a little keener than, ever it was. Although a good deal of building has taken place at Soatoun, Lyftll Bay, and South Kilbirnie during the winter, the demand for house-room for the summer months is nowhere near being satisfied, and consequently there has beon a stiffening in seaside rents foT the poriod covering tho next three months. A thief who specialised in the acquisition of other people's overcoats was caught by the police last week, and he appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday on five charges. His plan was to go into a hotel, take a ooat from one of the pegs, and walk out as if he owned it. In one big hotel he secured several valuable coats.

It was told against two men who appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday that they had visited the fruit markot and helped themselves to a sack of new potatoes off a cart. They had then taken a truck from tho markot and gone off to hawk the potatoes from house to house and sell them. One was minding the load on the truck and the other was showing the samples to possible buyers when they we're como upon by someone in search of the missing property. In Court, each was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. One of the men had over 7t convictions on record against him. The Wellington Technical School is to "break up" for tho summer vacation on December 12. An exhibition of work will be held in tho school on the afternoons and evenings of December 13, 14, and 15. The City Council milk inspector received nn invitation to visit tho premises of a milk vendor recently. The vendor showed him a can of milk which he said had just come in, with a dead rat. floating on the top. Fresh fish should bo cheap in Wellington to-day. The Island Bay Italians brought in a gift of about fivo tons for the Citizens' Christmas Gift Fund, and thoir compatriots of Rona Bay havo also made a big presentation of fish. Messrs. Townsond and Paul's market, Allen Street, and the athletjc stall, Winder's corner, will sell this food to the public. Any surplus will bfi sold at the Allen Street market tomorrow. The Department of Internal Affairs has given a large parcel of smoked trout. At tho last meeting of the Ashbii'--ton Hospital Board Mr. Hugo Friedlander and Mr. W. -T. Dickie tied for the office of chairman, and the position

was decided by lot, Mr. Diekie prov-

ing successful." Mr. Nicoll, who had nominated Mr. Diekie, said that it was

not desirable to have anybody of German origin in the chair. Mr. Friedlandor, in reply, said that ho had three sons at tho front, and bin bro-

thers had similar records. His opponents would, if they could, belittle his patriotic work, but bis best recommendation was that they had not succeeded in doing so.

Tho Wellington tramway revenue iii the -month ended November 10 was £16,649, which is £1386 morn than was received in tho corresponditm month of last year. In the April ■to November period there was an increase of £6880, and the credit balancewas £3848, as against £2883 in tho similar period last year.

According to a statement made bj Councillor W. H. P. Barber at the City Council Inst ovoning, tliere are 2178 motor vehicles licensed in Wellington.

"Your motor people talk about the difficulties of tho Ngahiiranga Gorge road and the Paekakariki Hill," said a visitor from Gisborno, who lint! just motored through to Wellington. "Why, there are thirty miles of road worse than the Pnckakariki Hill between Gishorne and Wairoa, and the Gorge road is wood-blocks compared with what we bavo to put up with!" Tho speaker said that ho had a car at Tolago Bay. but owing to some miles of tho road having boen completely swept awav in a recont storm he had beon forced to leave it there.

The JWollington South Progressive (Society is to be. informed, in reply to thoir request that tho Vivian Streot tram line bo duplicated, that tho City Council does not nt present contemplate th'e carrying out of this work.

Tho vicar of St. Mary's Church, L'ovin, has received from Maior G. M. Burlinson a massive brass tablet bearing an inscription in memory of his son who was killed on active service, and this is to bo placed on one of the walls of the church. Tho tablet is surmounted with the Burlinson crest, bearing the family motto, "Nil nisi fidum" on tho ribbon. Then follows tlin following inscription in black with red initials:—"To the glory of God and in memory of Troopor George V. G. flurlinson, Ist Mnnawatu Mounted Rifles, Main Body, N.Z. Expeditionary Force. Served bis country during the Boor War. Died on active service at Holinpnlis, Egynt, January 6, 1915. Aged 30 yoars."

Gcnornl leave lias lieen granted to men of Trentliam Camp for to-morrow's military sports at the Basin Reserve. Troop trains will leave Trentliam at 1.35 and 1.150 p.m. Tho proarnmm6 (for which tho entries exceed 500) includes nil maner of athletic events— running, jumping, throwing the hammer and nutting the shot, and others. There will bo also special military events such as mine-firing and hridecJbuilding competitions, Highland . piping and dancing, the Patriotic Society's Band, tho fancy dress and postei pn scant, nnd many amusing tide shows will help to .live tho public a wide variety of pleasure.

A by-law has linen passer] hy IV Feathorston County Council fixing tlu. maximum weight of loncls 1o lio taker, nvor the. Eiimitakn. Road at two tons, and over tlio Lower Tnuhercnikau Bvidgo at fivo tons. Unerrins accuracy and Jynamic strength in organisation and n.nnufac(lire Rivo to the CHEVROLET car Hint ondunng life which power, accuracy, and strength in the forgn give (o the hundreds of important though unseen parts of the car,—Advt.

'fhellion, veterinary surgeon of tliG zoological collection says in the course of a report on tho Wellington • Zoo: "The general health of the animals in the Zoo and their .sanitary conditions I found most satisfactory, and 1 am indebted to tho caretaker of thb Zoo for tho facilities he offered ni6 whilst making a general inspection. Having had tho privilege of visiting several in other parts of the world, 1 have no hesitation in saying that, taking everything into consideration, the City Corporation havo good reason to bo congratulated upon tho progress they havo made in the formation oi tho Zoo. They are, in my opinion, working upon sound lines, which, il continued, must lead to a very attractivo collection of animals."

A special meeting of the New Zealand branch of the Manchester Unity of tho Independent Order of Oddfellows was held in the Oddfellows' Chambers, Lambton Quay, last evening, when delegates were present representing Auckland Ashley, Ashburton, Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth, Motuclta, Nelson, North Canterbury, Wellington, nnd Wanganui districts. The business before the meeting was the question of suspending the payment of sick pay to soldier members whilst on active service until tho conference to be held in Wellington next Easter has reconsidered the question of soldiers' sick pay. The question was very fully discussed, and on the vote being taken was declared carried by 22 votes to 12. This will take effect from the time of registration, and districts will be duly notified.

A catJtlo fair, held at Masicrton) 01 Wednesday, realised a. sum of over £12,000. The best price obtained was for a line of seventy forward Shorthorn bullocks, bred' by Mr. John Strang, of "Glensidc," which roalisea £17 lls. per head.

The Mauriceville County Council, says our special correspondent, raised tho wages of its carters and pick and shovel men by one shilling per day.

The Wellington Automobile Club is. to bo informed by the Wellington City Council, in reply to the club's application for an increase in the speed limit of motor-cars passing street intersections ,and turning corners, from eight miles and four miles per hour respectively, to twelve miles and six miles per hour, that it is found, upon inquiry from other centres in the Dominion, that the present limits in force in Wellington are liberal as compared with Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

At a special general meeting of the Wanganui section of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association held last evening, the following resolution was unanimously carried: "That this general meeting of t}>o Wanganui section of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association vigorously protests against the action of the Government in postponing the reclassification of the Public Service until 1920. The procedure adopted in rushing the clauses in question through in the Washing-up Bill without referring in any way to those whose statutory rights were being taken away is bitterly resented, and it is regarded as a matter of regret that Sir Joseph Ward should have lent himself to such questionable tactics."— Press Association.

Before the close of tlio aumial conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand yesterday, the delegates congratulated Mr. James Macintosh on his re-election to the office of president, and thanked him warmly for the manner in which he had conducted the business of the conference. Mr. Macintosh, in reply, said that the Associated Chambers had been iu existence for little more than two years, and had not had time to procoed very far, but ho was sure that the organisation would prove of great value in the future. The conference had covered a wide field expeditiously, and yet without undue haste. The delegates also thanked the secretary (Mr. H. D. Vickery) for his valuable work and his consistent courtesy.

It is stated in the Gazette that a proclamation has been, issued by the Imperial Government prohibiting the Importation to the United Kingdom, except under license of the Board of iVa3e, of the undermentioned goods :— Abrasive wheels, binder or reaper twine, brass rod and brass wire, cycles tfEher than motor-cycles, electric meters, electrical motors over one-half horse-power, electric hand lamps and torches, magnetos, measuring tapes and rules of all descriptions, including Vernier's micrometers, pens, penholders, pencils, and all other stationery of wiiich importation is not already prohibited, and vegetables in brine. Tho Minister of Customs notifies the .public in yesterday's Gazette that applications for permits to import wlioat, flour, bran, and pollard during tho months of January and February, ]i) 18, v Ti!ust bo posted so as to reach the office of the Comptroller of Customs, Vfeliington, on or before December 20 next. Applications should state the port at winch tho goods are to be landeu, "no quantities of each commodity applied for, and the approximate time ol importation. It should be understood that all wheat imported must be absolutely free from weevil. Two fat cows donated by Mr. H. &'• M'Laren, of Hinakura, in aid of the Trench Comforts Fund, wcro sold m Masterton on Wednesday for £14 15s. each.

Mr. R. L. Patcrsou (Napier) moved at the conference of the Associated Chambors of Commerco yesterday. "That in view of tho vital importance of properly directing technical education to equip young workers for industrial and commercial life, a committeo be sot ,up to investigate present methods, and bring down proposals for reconstruction to meet future requirements." He spoke in support of tho motion at some- length, urging that the young people of Now Zealand were not receiving adequate technical education. They were not being trained to be efficient workers capable, of earning liign wages and assisting- their country to hold its own in world-wide competition. Other countries had left Now Zealand behind iir this- -respect. Tho motion was carried, tho committee to co-operato with any committee set up by the industrial associations.

At yesterday's conference of Associated "Chambers of Commerce, Mr. J. S. Burton (Wellington Central) moved: "That this conference approves of and recommonds chambers of commerce throughout tho Dominion to give active support and financial assistance to tho Workers Educational Association, which is now doing such valuable work throughout tho Dominion." He said that the Workers 1 Educational Association was doing valuable work already, and it had very great possibilities for good. It tended not merely to provide sound instruction for those who wished to receive it, but also to promote sympathy between employers and employ-, ecs. Mutual knowledge of industrial and economic problems from all points of view would make for tho speedy settlement of industrial disputes and tho nvoitlanrp of unnecessary and wasteful friction. Tho motion was carried.