LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 69, 14 December 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tlio Minister _ of Defence lias received advice of the safe arrival at a purl of call nl' the lirst section of the '.1 hirty-lirst Jieintorcenients, and also ul Llie sale arrival at iior destination oi a >>'cw Zealand hospital ship. Advantage is being taken of the fact that all training camps uro being closed down over the Christmas anil New Vear holidays to (jive the staffs of the various branches of the Defence Department that are concerned with the administration of the Military Service Act a much-needed vacation. It has accordingly been arranged that tho Military Service Boards, tho District Medical Boards, tho Military Registration Branch, the Recruiting Branch, and the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Branch will closo down from December 'It until January 7, this being the vacation period for the soldiers in the training camps. A preliminary meeting of those parties interested in tho problem of minimising tho number of accidents on tho waterfront has been called for this morning by tho Minister of Marine. At this interview the .Minister will receive suggestions, and decide upon the procedure to bo adopted in dealing further with the matter. It is not oxpccted that anything more than the preliminaries will bo deal with at this meeting to be held to-day.

The proposed Gallipoti Star for issue to all soldiers who embarked for actiyo service from Now Zealand in 1914, and who served on the Peninsula, led to somo lively discussion at tho executive committeo meeting of tho Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association held on Wednesday last. Various suggestions on the merits of the issue wero discussed, and it was finally decided to obtain from the authorities tho exact reasons under which the Star was pro-

posed. "If you were drunk, ns you say, the conductor would have been quite justified in putting you of£ tho car. As it was, when the conductor asked you for your fare you wero insolent, and you struck l him. When a woman ceasos to act as a woman and becomes just a virago, sho has to be treated as one. •On the cliargo of assault you are sentenced to pay a fine of £5 serve one month's hard labour. On'the other charge, that of refusing to pay your fare, you are convicted and discharged."—Thus Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., to Annie Maud Sales, who yesterday acquired her _ thirty-first and thirty-second magisterial convictions.

A now regulation gazetted imposes upon tlio master of every ship tlie duty of having the ship's steering gear inspected at every terminal port. If a master fails to have this examination 111 ado or to have the necessary repairs effected, lie becomes liable 011 conviction to a iino of £50. School children, accompanied by a master or a mistress, are to be given free admission to the Corporation liatlis on four afternoons per week (upon days to be decided upon) during tho months of February and March. This proposal is the outcome of the request of sonic school teachers, and is intended by the City Council purely as a trial. ffho executive coniinittco of Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association ha? docided to hold their final meeting for 1917 on Wednesday evening, December 19. The membership roll shows that BO new members were elected monthly for tho eight months ending Novombor 30 last, making a grand total of 1513. At a sitting of tho Upper Hutt Magistrate's Court Sydney James Moulden, Nathan Hall, and Gilbert Roland Abbott were each convicted ot doin" wilful damage to a paling fence, and °vero lined £5. The palings destroyed numbered fifty j tlio fines totalled £15; so that any who desired to imitate the defendants' prank would probably find tho charge of 6s. per paling almost prohibitive. Applicants for permißsion to erect tents 011 the Lyall Bay Beach and Reserve for camping purposes aro to bo informed that tlio City Council will not agreo to issuo permits for camping on such areas. It was considorcd that the council would be unable to exercise satisfactory control over tho tents.

Improvements havo been .made - ''' at Thorndon Station which will conduce to tho comfort of passengers booking tickets for the express trains. The former small booking-hall has been increased in size by about 120 per cent., and outside aro signposts directing first and second-class passengers to their respective entrances. Thatof itself is calculated to enable booking to proceed more speedily, but in addition there aro now four entrances to tho platform, each 7ft. wide, instead of only ono of the same width. 'These are for reserved rnd unreserved seats for each class, and when the train is full or the time for occupying: reserved seats has expired tho fact is plainly notified. The new scheme of operations came into force yesterday, and although the train was full there was r.ot the slightest appearance of haste or crowding. When two expresses are beins worked luggage and passengers for the second express will leavo from the No. 2 platform, to which a new gate access is provided from tho booking-hall. Several anplicants for permission to erect boat-sheds on the* Loaches at Ohiro and Island Bays are to be_informed that the policy of the City Council is against permitting the erection of structures of such character on any of the city beaches for priv.ato purposes. "The standard of preliminary education necessary to reach even a moderate degree of efficiency in any walk in lil'o is rising rapidly, and tho importance of secondary education, literary as well as scientific, grows from year to year," said Mr. J. W. Tibbs, headmaster of the Auckland Boys Grammar School, at the annual prize distribution on December 7. "It is, therefore, all tho more amazing that the boys' secondary and technical schools of the Dominion should not be represented on the general council of education. Tho governing bodies cf these institutions aro not recognised in tho Act which constituted the council, and the combined teaching staffs send ono assistant master." Tho plan of tlio proposed new entranco to tho Botanical Gardens lias been completed, and the estimated cost is £505.

In an allusion to submarine outrages in his speech at Whakatano, the Prime Slinister said ho hoped that after war these outrages would be remembered in connection with any movement that might be initiated for tho resumption of trade relations with tho present enemy countries. This question lind been discussed when ho was at Home, and tho answer always was, "No." There was now a suggestion, however, that as a means of assisting to bring about peace Germany should bo allowed to resume her trado relations with British countries on the previous terms. Ho hoped that this would not bo allowed. When tho war ended it would be necessary to inaugurate a, policy of development throughout the wholo cf tho British Empire. If tho British peoplo had done their duty in this respect during the past half-century Great Britain would not have been in tho position, during war, of having to go outsido the Empiro for a portion of her Army supplies. Tho City Corporation milk inspector mado SO inspections in tho last fortnight, and states that 84 complied with the Act.

| The promise of a gift to tho Government of land valued at £30,000 for tile settlement of returned soldiers was announced by the Prime Minister i»t Whakatone. lie said that a few days ago a resident of the Dominion, who lms no sons to send to the war, informed him that ho would make this handsome gift. Tho land was of good quality, and it would be made good use of. Trio Government would be able to let returned soldiers have it for considerably less than the ordinary price. The rental from tho land would be used for the purpose of assisting other soldiors in need of help. A supply of fresh water, controlled by a spring tap, is to be provided on tho beach at Point Jeriiingham, and if a suitable site on the same bcach can be found, a brick fireplace is to be constructed for tho use of picnickers. A Leamington contractor, named William Ilogan, had an exciting adventure with a bull (says a message from Cambridge). Ho had ridden out to drive somo cattlo from one paddock to another, and had just opened the gate when the bull chargcd tho rider. The animal gored the horse in tho chest, and it fell dead. Mr. ITogan was ablo to spring from tho stricken horse and make good his. escape before tho bull could continue hostilities. ITis only injury was a hruised leg. The City Council decidod last evening that picturo entertainments be allowed on Christmas Day, subject to the Town Clerk exercising a strict censorship in tho. matter of tho programmes to be shown. ' Sir Joseph Ward, referring to tho enclosing of sugar for soldiers, announces that- sugar may only be sent in parcels being of saleable value, and sugar may not be sent by sample post. To send it by samplo post will exposo the paclcago containing it to the risk of noil-delivery to the addressee. Sir Joseph Ward also announces as a result of his negotiations with the Imperial Post Office that tins of condensed milk for soldiers cannot bo allowed to pass at sample rate of postage (*ld. per lb.). Persons wishing to dispatch condensed rcilk must see that it is properly packed in absorbent material, to as to offer no damage to mails, and must prepay it at a minimum of Is. as for a 31b. narcel.—Press Assn.

Questions concerning the city water supply were raised at the City Council last evening by Councillor J. 0. Shorland. Councillor Shorland said that in 1910, when a loan was being asked for, it was stated that tho scheme would provide Wellington with 12,000,/00 gallons o fwater per day: there was to bo water for four times tho population of Wellington. He wanted to know where tho trouble lay. The Mayor said tho trouble was that the people, were using the water too freely. A deputation waited on the City Council last evening and asked for reading facilities to a quarry which it was gathered was somewhere in the direction of Makara. It was said that this nuarry held largo quantities of very fine building stone and jasper. It was urged that if the council helped to provide roads a big of great valuo to tho city would quickly spring up. The Mayor said that ever since lie could remember Wellington had been looking for building stone closo to its doors. The City Engineer had visited tho site of a proposed bridgo and the matter would come beforAhe council. As to a road, lie had conferred with the Hon. T. M. W ilford regarding employing a_t useiul work certain men who would not answer the call to arms. Tho request of the deputation was referred to the Finniiro Committee. ' The officers of the Thirty-third Reinforcements were entertained at dinner at Trentham Camp last night, the hosts bein« the officers of the Staff and other draft."! in camp. The opportunity was taken by tho Camp Commandant, Colonel H. R- Potter, to open the new wing, containing a billiard-room and loungo, which has been added to the Expeditionary Forces officers' mess through the generosity of the Y.M.C.A. Tho Gazette published last night contains regulations made under the Statuto Law Amendment Act of last session. Tho regulations relate to the appointment of temporary teachers during the war period, and to the payment of supplementary _ grants to school committees for incidental expenses during tho war. An amended tablo of fees to be taken in respect of proceedings under tho Magistrate's Courts Act is gazetted.

It was reported to the City Council last evening that a fire passed through about 1600 trees at the Lyall Bay Reserve on December 2. The majority of the trees wore scorched. Two hundred ako ake, six ngaio, and eight pine trees wero completely destroyed. The eucalyptus, coprosma, and pine trees which wero scorched would, it is stated, soon pick up again after a good shower of rain. Instructions have been given to the city forester and tae creation grounds overseer to tako precautions to prevent a similar happening in future. A cable mossago publish ?d in the Australian newspapers stated that there was a great rush of investors to tlio tank, which is serving as a war bonds depot in Trafalgar Square, London. Subscriptions received on l'nday, November 30, included £100,000 from ono insurance company. A queue of actors and actresses, which included Mr. Georgo Robey, Miss Madge Titheradge (a native of Australia), Miss Lily Brayton and Miss Lilian Braithwaite, gathered near the tank on Saturday and subscribed £4000. Miss . Titherato stood on tlio tank and recited a patriotic poem. During tho week the tank sold £319.640 worth of war bonds; It was hoped to complete the £1,000,000 tho following week, before tho tank went to France.

Taking advantage of the Hon. J. A. Hanan's presence* at a break-up ceremony, Mr. T. D. Pearce, M.A., Rector of the Southland Joys' High School, while congratulating the Mirister on rocont reforms, mentioned 0110 or two others that wore desirable. In 1918, said Mr. Pearce, tlioro would come into operation, in connection with the Junior University Scholarship examination, a new scalo of marks, whereby for tlio first time Latin was. placed on an equality with—instead of a superiority to—English. Chat was a splendid reform and he welcomed it. lint the reform should not end theie. Already I Latin was not compulsory for matriculation or B.A. Nest year it would not be compulsory for tlio University scholarship. Still a boy could not at present become a doctor, a dentist, or a lawyer without Latin. The speakei had asked old hoys of his school who had taken up those professions wlicthor Latin had been absolutely essential to them after they had matriculated. They had answered No. » might be desirable, hut it was not essential. Some of the newer imiveTs - ties in the North of Englaiul hnc^ Hfos year made Latin cease to .be comp son for tlio medical preliminary examination. He himself was a Graduate n Latin, and had taught the laM for 25 years, vet, ho maintained dint it should'not be'compulsory for tlie professions which bo had named. It Limn wero removed from the compulsory lis thov could get just as mvch out of their glorious heritage! of luighsh litei"Tscries of lectures on "Raco Buildinu" will he commenced at the Y M O.A. on Sunday, and wul be _ continued on Monday, Tucsday. a'unVdnesday, the lecturer being D ; n. D Bedford, of Otagn Umversitj. llie first lecture will be Iho Mail, arid „.il| l, n for men only, hn three su - cerdiiui lecture, will I*'"1 J" "The Child," a«d finally Hie State. Tim three last-named lectures will ue open to men and women. |

Speaking at the City Council las#' evening, Councillor It. A. Wright Rati that tlie buildings which were being erected in Wellington to-day were »ot> nearly so good as the buildings which were erected hero in earlier days, 110 knew of a house erected forty years ago which was in a far better stato of preservation than another house which*, was erected twenty years afterwards. Seemingly the timber used in modernbuildings was inferior to that used iu tho old buildings. On Weduesday evening the Jit. CookSchool Committee held a special meeting to consider the sotting up of an Honours Board in the school, containing the names of all the old boys who have gone on active service. Tho board is made of polished oak, and the panels upon which tho names will ha written are removable. Tho space will, provido for about 400 names at time> of writing. Mr. Bary, tho headmaster, has a list of about 250 names, and, as advertised elsewhere, wishes friends and relatives to communicate with him in order to compile a complete list of old boys who have enlisted. Tho lettering will lie in white and the characters Egyptian black. The coat of tho hoard alone is £13, and tho writing has been contractor! for at one shilling per name. Mr. Bary will bo very pleased to accopt donations from oK boys, their friends and relatives, toward tho cost of this work.