LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 98, 18 January 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"Tho diphtheria epidemic appears to have died out," stated a report to the Hospital Board yesterday. "Only four cases have been reported throughout tho whole district during January. They occurred in Wellington City, Miramar, Levin, and Makerua respectively.

The exportation of plate and sheet glass from the Dominion except by con. sent of the Minister of Customs has been prohibited.

Two men in a trap had a sensational experience on the Rimutaka. hill yesterday, says our Masterton correspondent* Their 'norso backed over the side of the hill and fall a distance of between two and three hundred feet. I'assers-by in cars had much difficulty in recovering the men, one of whom was severely injured, and conveyed to Greytown Hospital. The horse was killed outright. It is believed that the men, who had a marvellous escape from death, belonged to Fea! lien: ton._ At 8 o'clock- last night the Fire lit'ig'i:le received a call to extinguish ; n outbreak of fire at Brownlee's Box Factory in libor Street. The fire burnt tl rovgh portion of the root'.

The Wellington Hospital Board yesterday had something to say about the milk supply and the trouble caused tho institution on the opening day of tho municipal clearing station. The fiasco meant, of course, that the supplies of milk to the Hospital wero seriously delayed. Mr. A. S. M'Curdy suggested that there was no necessity for tho Hospital milk to go through the clearing station. The Hospital authorities wero quite satisfied with tho pre cautions taken by, their _ contractor against impurity. Ho failed to sen why the milk supplied to the Hospital under a special arrangement should jjo to tho municipal house. The chairman and some other _ members said they could see no objection to the council's having tho milk examined, so long as its delivery was not delayed; liowover, tho board finally appointed the following members a deputation to wait on tho Minister of Health, and urge that Hospital milk bo exempt iWm examination at tho clearing house: Tho chairman (Mr. Baldwin!, Mr. B. G. H. Burn and Mr. F. T. Moore,

A notice in the Gazette announces the addition of an oflico to the administrative division of tho Public Service. The new olfieo is that of Assistant-Undcr-Secretary, Prisons Department (nisii Inspector of Prisons).

A notice in this weelc's Gazelle authorises Ule expenditure ot money from the New Zealand War Relief Fund on the laying-out, planting, and upkeep of grounds connected with institutions established or set apart for the care of tick and wounded soldiers.

"f will say," remarked Captain Baldwin at yesterday's sitting of tho Military Service Board, "that the large stock agents seem to have lodged fewer appeals with this board than almost any other concerns."

After the beginning of April it is intended that the staff of the Post and Telegraph Department shall be paid fortnightly instead of monthly, as has been the custom hitherto.

At yesterday's meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board Mr. J. Smith alleged that too many people nowadays were inclined to thrust Heboid relatives upon tho charity of the public. The board lins to send them to some public institution to bo looked after there.

There were twenty-eight cases of infectious diseases in Wellington district during tho month ended January 7.. The total was made up as follows:—Scarlet fever, ID cases; diphtheria, 12 cases; tuberculosis, 5 cases; blood-poisoning, 1 case.

The Wellington Hospital Board yesterday received a report upon a complaint that a Gorman nurso was being employed by the board. A full inquiry, stated the report, had been made, and no action was recommended. The nurse in question was New Zealand-born, her mother was a British subject, and she had at no time exhibited pro-German tendencies. Tho recommendation contained in the report, was adopted.

According to a decision matlo yesterday by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, girls twenty years of ago will during the period of tho war and for six months after be eligible for positions as probationer nurses under the board. Formerly applicants for employment as probationers had to be twenty-one years of age.

The time for holding a general election of members of tho Palmerston North-Kairanga Elver Board has been extended. The date now fixed by Order-in-Council is Thursday, February 7, 1918.

Hie quinnat salmon season opened this week. The "Oamaru Mail" states that the trout season lias been a most unsatisfactory one, what with floods and the paucity of fish, save one or two runs of sea trout, and anglers generally are looking to the salmon to redeem the character of the Wmtnkl as a fisherman's resort. The rumoured trawling operations of the Marino Department off the mouth of the Waitaki tor salmon are being awaited with interest by anglers, who arc somewhat sceptical as to the possibility of their success. The trawls will be so full of other and worthless fish that they will roquire to be shot very frequently if any number of salmon are to be taken. If kuhawai, red cod, etc. ; were vcitd.iblo commodities, tho enterprise would prove a great financial success.

It was to bo expected that with limited shipping space and a very wet spring the exports of beef, mutton, and lamb from Auckland during the year just ended would be down in comparison with the previous year's export, says the "Star." This proved to be the case, the decrease being a substantial one of about 9,000,000 lb. The figures were: For 1917, a total of 27,143,3481b., and for 1916, 36,171,1351b. It lias to be remembered, however,' that the year 1916 was a record in the meat export trade in Auckland, tho quantity of meat exported exceeding the 1915 export by over 7,000,0001b. The quantity of meat held in store in Auckland and in the works on December 31, 1917, was 6,081,3071b. in excess of the quantity on the same dato in 1916. This position is also a result of the limited shipping space and the wet spring.

An unusual letter was read before the First Auckland Military Servico Board. In his notice of appeal, a reservist stated: "My calling up for service is contrary to public interest, because I am a coalminer, at present labouring for the benefit of my health, knowing that coalminers are exempt in God's Own Country. I will wait until you see into tho matter; do not intend to get medically examined, as I applied for a passport some time ago to got back to Sunny Australia to follow my occupation, the land of my birth, and was refused. Not me."

Owing to tho great increase in tl-e practice of travelers jumping off>moving vessels, the Auckland Harbour Board lias issued instructions that proceedings are to be taken in tho future against those who infringe this by-law. Tnis is considered necessary for the safety of the travelling public.

If anyone thinks that we have not many stern lessona yet to learn lie noed only let his eyes rest on the vast crowds that day by day throng tho shops. It is bewildering hero in London (writes Christopher Cheshire in the "Commonwealth ). Oxford Street is one solid block of buyers; the pavement is impassable; round the windows peoplo swarm like flies. It is the tiamo everywhere; all over the West l n iul there are the same keen, pushing, tense, greedy multitudes. It is an ugly, nnpleasing vision. The whole place smells of coin. No price is too high, no bargains too stiff. Everywhere Mammon is master and vulgarity ascendant. And this shopping mood bodes ill for the future. It is morally and financially disastrous, and fatal to tho virtues that alone can build the better days. Will nothing sober us? The host mind from the front loathes tho whole scene.

For some (.lays after (lie six o'clock closing measure came into operation Hip, arrests in Chmtchnrcli for drunkenness were very few, hilt now they seem to be drifting back towards the old standard (states the "Press"). A well-known member of the legal profession expressed the idea- that the earlier frilling off in the matter of arrests was duo to the fact that the drinking fraternity had by then not discovered the best remedy for the early cutting off of their supply. Now, however, tliey had "got into the running" in tho way of laying in overnight stocks, establishing "plants," etc., and hence the rise in the drunkenness statistics.

During the performance of "The Marriage of Kitty" at the Theatre Royal in Ohristchurch a heavy sigh from the family circle, followed by considerable laughter, interrupted for a second or two a short sentimental passage between Miss Mario Tempest and Mr. Graham Browne just before tho close of the second act. AVhen the curtain fell, Mr. Browne led Miss Tempest back to the stage to acknowledge the applause, and something hurtled through the air and fell at their feet. 'Miss Tempest picked it vp, and, advancing to the footlights, briefly addressed tho audience, "Ladies and gentlemen," she said, "I am a stranger, to this country, and some 'gentleman' has done me the honour to throw a matchbox at me." "He's no gentleman," came a voice from tho stalls. "Thank yon, sir," replied Miss Tempest, and left tho stago amidst loud applause. Why knit when yen can buy khaki sox for vour soldier friends at 2s. fid., 3s. fid., to ss. fid. at Geo. Foivlds, Ltd., Maimers Street.—Advt. "NO - RUBBING" Lnundrr Help, Is. "GOLDEN RULE" Soap, Is. 3d. , "GOLDEN B,ULF," Candles, la. Ideal for family .use. Hill Bros., Cuba Street.—Advt.

In response to numerous requests, Mr. Harry Parata has decided to become a candidate for the Southern Maori electorate, the representation of which lias been rendered vacant by the death of his brother, Air. C. R. Parata. Mr. Parata will stand as a supporter of the Liberal Party, lint will be a follower of the National Government during the period of tlio war. Jt is rumoured that Mr. AY. Barrett, of Kaiapoi, will probably contest tie seat. —"Otago Daily Times."

The members of the Butter Committee, witli which Mr. Massey has been in touch while he has been negotiating with the Imperial Government lately regarding the purchase of New Zealand butter, met the Prime Minister yesterday to settle one or two minor matters pertaining to tile transaction. At the end of the interview the members of the committee accorded to Mr. Massey and the officers of his Department, a hearty vote of thanks for tlio trouble he had taken in conducting the various sets of negotiations to a successful issue.

Mr. AY. H. llngger, Conciliation Commissioner, has derided to hear the forthcoming disputes in Dunedin:— Chemists' assistants, February 12; canister workers, .February 13; tramways, February 14; licensed hotel workers, February 15; Taratu miners, February 18. News from Ohristchurch is to tlio effect, that there is still difficulty iu obtaining men for the Otira tunnel work. Mr. C. AY. liervey, secretary to tlio Canterbury Aviation Company will bo in Wellington to-day to interview intending pupils for the flying course. The aerodrome at Christelmrch now houses seven machines, including two 100 horse-power dual control biplatUß, on which long flights at an altuj. lo :-f 4000 ft. have recently been made. The company has already turned out 27 pupils for the Royal Flying and has increased its pupils' quarters considerably. The tuition fee of £100 is the lowest in New Zoaland, and tlio pupil receives an immediate iou-rn-ment refund of £75 on qualifying. The average tuition period so far has worked out at four weeks.