LOCAL AND GENERAL
The official weather report for the month of December mentions that tho total rainfall for the month in Canterbury was considerably above tho average, but elsewhere a deficiency was generally recorded. The weather generally was changeable, owing to the passage of various depressions over and in the neighbourhood of the Dominion. In the course of proceedings at tho Military Service Board's sittings yesterday, it appeared that the naturalisation of a father during his children's minority naturalised the children, also. The board granted exemption .to a young man who proved that while he was still a minor his father took out naturalisation papers in America. An ostrich w'as found dead in the Wellington Zoo recently, and the report is to tho effect that death was caused by a sove're blow on the head. Councillor E. A. Wright said that clearly this deed was committed by some person out of mischief or downright cruelty. The people should bo asked to assist in the detection of such vandals. A Press Association message from Melbourne states that the exportation of animal fertilisers .and superphosphates has been prohibited. An eel two feet-long and pure yellow in colour was caught at Poukawa Lake on Sunday (says our Napier correspondent), and will be sent to the Wellington Museum. A Press Association telegram states that the newspapers in the Auckland province are raising the price to twopence from February 11. ' ,
Frank Fycroft, one of several reservists who proved to the Military Service Board yesterday that they should not have been called upon so early, was 45 years of age and had a hoy of 23 at the front. The lad had been lighting for two years.
xVn inquest was held, yesterday afternoon by Mr. W. G. Riddoll, S.M., into the circumstances attending the death of a female child whose body was found on the beach at Lyall Bay above liighwator mark by _ .fames Jones, a labourer, on Anniversary Day. Dr. Kington Fyffe, who held a post-msrtem examination, stated that the body was that of a six or seven mouths' child. The body had been in the water for from eight to twelve days. In his opinion the child had breathed once, but had not fully inflated the lungs. There was nothing to show what caused death except the effusion of blood in' the right side of the brain, which might havo been caused by violence. It was quite possible for the body to have gone out to sea through a sewer drain. The coroner said that on the evidence, which was very scanty, tho verdict would he that there was nothing to show the cause of death. ;
There are occasionally paragraphs in the newspapers chowing that there are people ready and anxious to take advantage of those who through being called up for relive service have to close or sell up their businesses at short notice, We have not seen any mention of transactions showing a brighter side of such position, but we have a jjrent deal of pleasure in giving publicity to Messrs. Pink and Hall's accmilnt of the sale their business (says the Carterton "News"). .Both partners were' called up for military service. Olio was rejected, lint tho other passed fit and ordered into camp, and it was necessary to dispose of the business they had industriously 'built up. Amongst others approached was the W.RC.A., and Messrs. Caselbsrg, directors of the association, negotiated for the purchase. They agreed to take the whole stock at invoice prices and the plant at valuation. 'Jlie.v asked tho owners to put their valuation on the various items of the plant, and when all were enumerated ono of the buyers made
a little speech Said lie: "Now; look here; in this time -when war inflicts hardship, it's up to men to stand by each other; and not to take advantage. You have put-a- groat deal 100 low a value, on several of the items because you urgently want to realise upon then). We are not out to take- advantage of that. We wilt give you the full market price for the whole lot." And they did, leaving two astonished and extremely gratified partners to congratulate themselves upon having struck a genuine vein of patriotism when least expected in n, business deal.
A meeting of Maoris hold at Napier yesterday unanimously decided to put in a claim for the islands in'the Inner Hnrbour beforo tho Nativo Land Court, which sits at Hastings on February 5.
About twenty business men attended a, meeting held at Lower Hutt last evening to consider the question of tormina; a branch of tho Central Chamber of Commerce. The chair was occupied by tho Mayor, Mr. H. Baldwin. It was decided, on the motion of Mr. E. P. liishworth, that an auxiliary branch jf the chamber be formed.
Up till recently the Victorian police were worked on a basis of four hours' shifts, but this has been changed for n system of straight eight-hour daily shifts, but this has been changed for 6 a.m. till 2 p.m., (ho next shift from 2 until 10 p.m., and the niglit shift from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The day and night duty is to be altered each fortnight, in ordor that each constable will have a fair share tf cW and night duty. Half an hour is to bo allowed tho' day shift men for refreshments, which must be partaken of at the police stations or other places approved by divisional officers.
Some delightful motaphor came out in the Hawera Magistrate's Court. ' k witness, plaintiff in a- defended case, declared "that tho . dofendant ' had threatened to blow his brains out with (i tomahawk in his hand." The expression created much mcrrimont. Crossexamined on the point, tho defendant in tho action deniod that ho had used such threatening language. He admitted, however, that "I threatened to push plaintiff's face through to tho back of his neck."
The Australian military authorities arc inviting pigeon breeders to give practical effect to their patriotism by providing homing pigeons for war purposes (says the Melbourno "Ago")Carrier pigeons form part of the equipment of all tho armies in the field, and, it has been suggested that the supply of these birds for use on active service might bo augmented by individuals or societies in Australia. The Assistant Adjutant-General (Colonol Hawker) said recently that any offers of birds would be welcomed, and they would be recorded, with a view to their acceptance at a later date. Ho emphasised tho fact that it was not proposed to purchaso tho pigeons; but said tho idea was to give pigeon breeders an opportunity to make practical _ use of their special talents to assist in connection with the war.
The usual facilities' aro to be given by the Wellington City Council for the corporation staff to hold its annual picnic on February 1.
A subsidy of £5 for- this year has 'been granted to the Sailors' Friend Society by the- City Council.
The City Council resolved last evening: "That the renuest of the Onslow Borough Council for n reduction in the KmVarra water account for rb» June (1017) quarter by the sum of £48 Is. 9d. ho declined."
The request of the Wellington Labour Representation Committee that tl") Citv Council in future slioiild adopt the proportional voting system in conducing iruifcinnl. Harbour Board, and Charitable Aid Board rU" tions, is to bo replied to to the effect that the council cannot recommend any departure from the present system in force. '
Mr. G. Lauchlnn, assistant manager of the Cornoration Lighting Department, has been appointed the council's assessor in ; the Wellington Electrical "Workers' Union's dispute, re the wages and working conditions of electrical workers; and the general manager e v the Lighting Department, and Messrr G. Lauchlan and F. W. Good have been appointed assessors in connection with the linesmen's dispute.
Tho sections in the AVilford Settlement, at Petone, aro open for selection on renewable lease,. and applications will be received by the Land Board up to Wednesday, March 27. The ballot, if one is necessary, will take place on March 28. There are seventeen sections, the capital value ranging from £45 to £75 and the half-yearly rental from £1 os. 3d. to £1 13s. 9d.
A formal notice in this week's Gazette states that the Southern Maori seat in the House of Representatives has fallen vacant by reason oF tho death of the lato Mr. T. Parata.
The Railway Department has received two sums of conscience money, 2s. and 2s. Bd. from persons unknown.
Some little time ago the New Zealand Natives' Association put forward a proposal that they should raise funds for the building of a memorial hall to those New Zealand soldiers who have fallen at the front. The association has just decided to go on with the proposal, and an "Easter egg" scheme, very like the surprise packet sohomes used with some success by different organisations lately, has been adopted as the method by which an effort is to he made to get the money. The prizes will include a motor-car and a piano. A meeting is .to he held next week, at which ways and means are to be considered.
The coal supplies to the Masterton municipal gasworks 'have been short of late (says our special correspondent). The State coal mines have notified an increase of ss. per ton on small coals. The manager has been advised that the recent storms practically destroyed the coal-storage bins of the Liverpool colliery, and slips, etc., would prevent any coal being got out for at least three weeks. The Reserves Committee of the City Council has instructed the Zoo curator to construct a few more ponds in the Zoo stream, in which stock fish are to bo kept, two or three specimens only being drawn from the ponds from lime to time for the aquarium. This alteration will considerably reduce the consumption of water at the aquarium.
The Berhamporc School Committee is to be informed by the City Council that the question of affecting improvements to the approach to the Britomnrt Street cutting will be consider!-; in conuection with next year's estimates, and also requested to instruct tlie headmaster to warn tho school children to keep a look-out for tramcars at the intersection of this street with Adelaide Road. A warning notice board is being erected by the City Engineer, and instructions have been issued to tramway motormen to keep a strict watch when approaching city seliools.
Commenting in November on the shortage of paper, a London trade journal said: —Owing to the paper shortage no more foolscap paper will be issued for official correspondence. Quarto and octavo sizes will take its place. . . .
We venture to predict that if the war is still going on in six months' time there will not only he further reductions in sizes of all publications, but that serious consideration will have to he given to further increases in price. If the paper shortage continues prominent, wholesalers forecast that the publications to 20 first will be the cheaper novels, then poriodicnls and' luxurious papers, and last, trade papers and newspapers should continuance of publication become impossible.
The employees at the Government Printing Office liave petitioned the City Council against the moving of tlie tram stop from near the Government Printing Office to Quinton's Corner.
A fire which occurred at the Melbourne Corporation's rubbish destructor (states a Press Association message) ignited a tar reservoir, resulting in damage totalling £10,000.
_Mr. von Haast announced to tlie University Senate tliat tho examiners for the Arnold Atkinson memorial prize had selected the following subject for the essay:—"The Bearing of Political Co-operation and Federation of English-speaking States in the Past upon the Elucidation of , the Present Problems of tlie Closer TJliion of tho British Empire." Tlie matter was referred to the Statutes Committee for incorporation in the statutes.
The request of the president of the Wellington Esperanto Society that Esperanto be included as a subject for the Bachelor of Commerce Degree was rejected by the Degrees and Commerce Committee of the University Senate. Reference to the request in the committee's report occasioned some interesting remarks on the subjects of Esperanto and of Spanish from the Chancellor, Sir Robert Stout. Esperanto was an easily learned language, he said, and he himself had learned it in about six weeks, though ho was not good at languages. He believed it would yet play a very prominent part in our commerce, thought it might bo ioo soon to include it as an examination subject. Continuing, ho said that if Now Zealand was to play any part in commerce in South America wo would have to make the teaching of Spanish popular. Wo were doing considerable business with South America in stock, and a Romney Marsh sheep from New Zealand won the gold medal at Buenos Aires. It would be a very good thing if our business men were to learn Spanish.
The Melrose Electors' Association is to bo informed by the City Council, in rcpiv to their request for improvements to bo made at the corner of Tavistock and Sutherland Roads, that the widening or alteration of i-he read at this particular spot is a work of some magnitude, but in the me:mt ; me u post and railing painted white is being erected, and notice boards p'sce:l on the road warning motorists and drivers of wheeled traffic to go slow.
Tho Question of the Government policy respecting tho Pacific islands taken from Germany was brought before tho Wellington City Council last evening by a southern body, whichsupported tho attitude of tho Prime Minister on tho subject. Tho City Council also decided to endorse tho Prime Minister's attitude.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 109, 25 January 1918, Page 6
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2,285LOCAL AND GENERAL Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 109, 25 January 1918, Page 6
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