LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 100, 21 January 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Private Hartigan, one of the Queen Alary Hospital staff, Hanmer Springs, wa.s on Friday struck on the head by a cricket ball. He was unconscious for the greater part of tho night, bill had improved on Saturday morning.

Speaking in Christchurcli of the enor'nious loans advanced by Britain to her Allies during tho war, tho Hon. G. W. llussell said that after tho war Britain had to get the money back, and tho only way in which it could be repaid was by produce shipped to tho Old Country. Wliou that, time cnino New Zealand would havo to compete with tho Allies in the production of meat, wheat, cheese, and butter,, at a very great disadvantage, owing to tho higher cost of production entailed by tho freer conditions in tho Dominion, and thu ablest men of the country would havo to put their heads together to coordinate every industry, and regulate labour so that not an hour would bis lost. It might be that this would he the severest crisis in tho country's history. Ho was glad to say that tho future relation of science to trade, commerce and production was being carefully considered already, with the object, among other things, of turning wasto lands into productiveness. It only remained for the Government to grant £100,000 for tho extension of chomical laboratories for wiciice to come- to the aid of tho people in bearing their tremondous war debt at the- close of tho war.

A generous offer was submitted to the Defence Minister at Dunediu by a deputation representing the Red Cross Society of Otngo and Southland, states a correspondent of tho "Lytteltou Times." It took tho form of a proposal to establish, equip, and maintain an auxiliary hospital for returned soldiers, tho hospital to bo in Duncrlin, and to start with twenty or more beds, the society to undertake all financial responsibility. Tho Bov. Dr. King explained that thcro was coiificstion at Dunediu Hospital on account of men whose,cases are not acute having to he kept there. This new hospital would servo as a sort of midway institution, comin* between the hospital and the mon'sliomes. For a further reason tho society thought it would be a good tbin" to be able to see a little of tho returned men. Ho had no doubt tho funds would come. They only asked tho Government to appoint a matron, but if they could got tho hospital allowanoe of 14s. a week so much the better. Sir James Allen thanked tho society for the offer and said that ne would bave m consult Surcjcon-Goneral Henderson before giving a reply.

Foildin" farmers at a special meetin" according to our special corw*TXHident, decided to support a doputfition of Wanganui farmers which is to wait on tho Prime Minister regarding the agreement in respect to the price paid for wool, the Government not adhering to the terms of purchase to give a 5-> per cent, increase on 1913-14 prices, especially on wool with seed :•!. it. T!ie lnattsr of the draft charge in London wp.s nlso discussed. Mr. J. S. Cobbe said it was known that the British Government was at present making an enormous profit out of New Zealand wool. They had just put another shilling per pound on the wool they were selling to manufacturers. It was decided that the Dominion Executive of the Farmers' Union ho asked to confer with the Associated Chambers of Commerce with a view to having the draft on wool removed.

Tho Dimedin' correspondent of tho "Lyttelton Times" states that the Otago Returned Soldiers' Association proposes prosecuting a campaign throughout the district for the purpose of procuring funds to erect an up-to-dato memorial club in Dunedin. For this purpose £'20,000 is required. The Mayor of Dunedin (Mr. J. J. Clark) has consented to arrange a committee of business men to work in the interests of the association.

It's tho easiest thiujj in the world to keep cool by wearing our Aertex Cellular Underwear for Indies and gentlemen. Ideal for tlio hot weather months-and tho essence of comfort. Davie and Clater, Ladies' and G-ontlemen's Outfitters, 216 Lambton Quay, Wellington'.

A peculiar incident in connection with the lighting of (lie Rangitoto channel occurred a few nights ago (says the Auckland "Herald"). The green light in the channel went out. An examination was immediately made, when it was found that a swarm of bees had settled on the lamp. The bees WM'u .so thick that they bad closed tho ventilation hole, with the result that the pilot-light was extinguished. Harbour Board officials managed to open the lamp and re-light it. Onco before a similar thing happened to the .Rangitoto beacon light, but on that occasion the- obliterating force comprised a swarm of house flies.

Mr. W. Hume was on Saturday e'eclared elected to fill an extraordinary vacancy in connection with the South Wairarapa Biver Board.

The busy bee hath many habits and ways peculiar to no other insect. That ft populous hive should select a corner of the ongine-room at the Greymouth waterworks pumping station, and there, amidst the noise of the exploding gas engines and the groaning of pumps, make honey all the day, was a noted incident in a visit to the station by the Greymouth City Fathers (says the local paper). They wore informed that tho hive had Been there three years, and this was .evidenced by the comb, resembling stalactities, .hanging from the iron roof, and could be seen through a space left by tho removal of one of tho ceiling boards.

At tho last meeting of the Executive Council of the South Island Poultry Association tho president reported that lie had received the following reply to tho North and £outh Island Associations' joint offor to tho Championship Association, Ltd., to heal the breach existing in the fancy:—''Wellington, December 29, 1917— G. E. Jeffreys, president South Island Poultry Association. Dear Sir,—l have pleasure in acknowledging receipt of vours of December 10, which 1 duly placed before my board at its last meeting. I am directed to thank you for same, and to state that, after going carefully through your proposals, my board feels, and obviously so, that tho time appears to bo inopportuno for constructing a, foundation likely to bo accepted by fanciers generally throughout New Zealand. .My board wish to assure you that wo havo not, nor havo wo any intention of changing our attitude in that direction, but we do emphasise our attitude as set forth in our letter, of October 19, and again affirm that if any good purpose is to be served, that can best ho dono by a conference and having a round-table talk, and also that in opening these negotiations it would bo better not to encumber same with any sot or specific con-ditions.-—Wishing you and your association a successful.and prosperous Now Year, yours faithfully (signed) A. G. Guthrie, secretary." The letter was received, and it whs decided to confer with thu North Island Association on the matter.

"Why not a Labour Government for Now Zealand?" was the title of an address given in the Alexandra Hall last night, under the auspices of the- Social Democratic Party, by Mr. R. Williams, of Palmerston North. Mr. Willinms said that a Labour Government could not mako a worse mess of affairs than the capitalistic Governments had done in New Zealand and elsewhere. The present disorders in Europe were conclusive evidence of the failure of tho old Governments. Ho would like to believe that the sufferings of tho nations to-day were the birth-pnugs of a now social order that would benefit the whole human race, but if this was,to bo so the workers of all races must wake up and take their part in the governing of their countries. The speaker omphasised the need for organisation among the working classes.

A deal of ooufusion appears to exist regarding thongs at which a reservist is exempted from being culled on. to serve abroad. If a reservist is 44 years of age at the time he is called in the ballot, or at tho timo ho comes up for medical examination, lie is automatically classed as C 2. If he is, sny, 43 years and 9 months of age, and is passed fit by the medical officers, and goes into camp, the fact that he may reach it while- lie is in enmp does not release him from going to tho front. The authorities say that there must be a dividing line, and that if a man verging on 44 years of ago wero to bo exempted they would simply bo wasting timn in having him medically examined, provided with a uniform, trained, etc. Tho belief in some quarters that any man who Teaches the ago nf 46 while on active service is withdrawn and sent back to Now Zealand is entirely without foundation.

One' of tho most potent defences against the submarine is a good lookout. If a submarine is sighted by the look-out, whether tho vessel is armc'l or not, it is 7 to 3 on tho ship getting away. I But in ten attacks when the submarine is not sighted eight ships go down. "Therefore it is 7 to 3 on thn ship when tho submarine is sighted and 4 to 1 against it when it is not. —eir Erio Geddes, First Lord of the British Admiralty.

The Hon. G. W. Russell stated in Christcmiich that tho first number of tho "Soienco Journal" will be issued shortly. Its contents will include an article by Mr. E. Parry, Chief Government Electrical Engineer, dealing with the important matter of tho preparation of carbides in Now Zealand. The paper will probably provo to bo a standard authority on many questions that aro constantly raised by manufacturers and others, and it is intended to print ii sufficient -number of tho "Journal" in order to be able to supply this paper to inquirers, and thus prevent separate answers to individual inquirers.

The Godloy statue, which for more than fifty years has stood in tho position facing the Christchurch Cathedral, was lowered on Friday last. The operation was performed at 5.30 a.m., the only spectator present being an enthusiastic photographer.' The work of lowering tho statue was effected by placing a strong cable under the arms and across the shoulders, which gave a perfect balance. The approximate weight of tho statue, which is of bronze, is 35cwt., and the height 9ft. Gin. A. 3-ton derrick was used to effect tho lowering from tho pedestal to the ground, and with the necessary gear tho figure was lifted and lowered with case by one man. The statlio is to be ro-erccted in a new position.

The significance of the title of an industrial union was involved in. a question raised at the hearing of tho storemen's dispute by a conciliation council at Auckland. Tho title of the workers' union is '"Hie Auckland City United Storemen's Union," and the union is seeking an award _ embracing nil storcmen within a radius of ten miles from the chief post office. This area includes the borough of Newmarket, and an interesting point arose when Mr. C. Grosvenor, who represented tho employers, applied for exemption for a Newmarket employer. He contended that the union was bound by the inclusion of the word "city" in its title. The workers' assessors argued that the title did not affect the question, and Mr. A. L. Monteith said that, in the case of a Wellington union with a corresponding name, an award extending over a radius of twenty-five miles from tho eity bad been miidc by the Court. Tho Commissioner, Mr. T. Harlo Giles, ruled that the titlo of tho union could not affect, tho scope of the award, but Mr. Grosvonqr said that tho question might be reviewed boforo the Arbitration Court.