LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 228, 14 June 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Wellington and southern portion of returning soldiers, Draft liiG, will arrive at King's Wharf. Wellington, at 1 a.m. to-morrow. Only those- holding next-of-kin passes will bo admitted to the. ressrved euclosure.

The Postal authorities notify that mail matter .forwarded by to-day's express for Auckland, will connect with tho outwardbound steamer for Vancouver.

"Fishermen lose nil seneo of smell of fish after thov havo been somo thno in tho business," declared a witness in a case- at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. "But," added tho witness, "they can always tell a bad one if there should happen to be such in a consignment." '

The question of speed was a point discussed in a case heard at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, in which damages wero claimed as a result of a collision between a motor-cycle and a uiotor-ear. In reply to a question by Mr. M. Myers, the, City Council's motor inspector stated that as far as tho city's speed regulations were concerned motor-cyclists wero a greater source of trouble than were the drivers of motor-cars. Ho had seen motor cyclists travelling at as high a spoed as thirty-five miles per hour, and it was sometimes difficult to detect tho numbers on tho machines. Thq witness added in the course of further cross-examination that it was very hard to judge to within four or five miles per hour tho rato at which a moving vehicle was travelling.

_As it is _ impossible to say when the Pateena. will resume her running again, tho Anchor Company announce that as from Monday nest they will dispatch tho Kaitoa for Picton aud Nelson at 12.45 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, in the tiine-tablo of tho delayed Pateena. Tho Kaitoa will make the return trip from Nelson direct, but the Nikau will leave Picton at ,5 a.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for Wellington. The Nikau will leave Wellington for Nelson direct on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 7 p.m., and this arrangement will exist until tho Pateena resume: her running ae before. To-morrow, Messrs. Levin and Co.'s Opawa will leave Wellington at 9 a.m. for Picton, taking passengers.

A. firo totally destroyed a eix-roomed dwelling on Lincoln Eoad, Carterton, last night. The houao is owned by Mr. O'Keiley, and occupied by Mr. Strawbridge, senr. Only a fovr personal effects were saved, and owing to the isolated locality of the place tho fire brigade was unable to render any assistance. Tho building was insured'in tho Phoenix office for i'loo. There was no insurance on tho contents.

At a largely-attended mooting c'onvened by tho Mayor of Polono (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) tho following resolution was carried unanimously: "That this meetins of citizens of Petono wishes to emphatically protest to the Minister of Justice and tho Acting-Prime Minister against the removal of Mr. S. E. M'Cartliy, S.M., from Wellington to Wangami'i, and would ask that he bo kept at his present duties in Wellington until Mr. I). G. A. Cooper, S.M., is released from hie duties on tho Military Service Hoard.

Onu of Sir Ernest Shaekleton's <logs, tho big fellow called "Oscar," dropped dead at tho Zoo the other day whilst being exercised. Apparently the strenuous months on the Antarctic ice had broken the animal's constitution, for a post-mortem examination showed that his liver was much diseased, and his heart was enlarged. Tho skin is to be handed over to the museum to bo stuffed -and exhibited.

A notice In this week's Gazette prohibits tho exportation of casks o( any description, save with the consent of the Minister: of Customs.

A man was arrested last night by Constable .Tsbestor, of the wharf police, on a charge of stealing stores from the tiovmimoiit steamer Hinemoa. Tho goods, which wcro valued at .€l, comprised a box of eggs, butter, pork, jam, and vegetables.

In the Supremo Court yesterday afternoon His Honour Mr. Justice jloskiug adjourned sine die the appeal easo of Henry Bodley v. Frederick E. Rawlinsoii, inspector under tho I'uro Food and Drugs Act. liodley appealed against tho decision of Mr. S. IS, M'Carthy, S.M., in lining him ..£lO for selling milk to which water had been added on the ground time the. decision was. erroneous in law, the point involved being whether liodley had taken all reasonable steps to seo that the mill; was pure. Tho adjournment was granted in order that the cise might be heard in conjunction with another of a similar character. Mr. T. iXrave appeared for ihn appellant.

Tho Minister of Education (the. lion. ,1. A. Haiian) was to visit I'alinorslon yesterday to mnko an inspection of tho town schools and receive a deputation of tho various school committees, when various matters in connection with the sohools and education were to bo placed before him,

The question of using slates in place of oxerciso books in the interests of economy was mentioned by Mr. A, W. Sutton at the meeting of the Terrace End School Committee, Palmerslon North. Mr. Sutton said the committee should recommend tho headmaster to roduco tho use of exercise Ixwks as much as possible. This had been done at West JJnd, and ho believed its adoption would mean a big saving to . parents. He moved that the headmaster bo recommended accordingly. Air. S. IT. Snell, iri supporting tho 'motion, said in some families tint cost of exercises amounted to Is. Gd. per week. Tho motion was carried.

A .shopkeeper in Palmerston North det?fl'cil the small thin arm of a boy among iiis goods, and promptly challenged tho visitor. The latter speedily made his exit, and, curious to seo what temptation ho had inadvertently placed in the path of tho youth, tho tradesman searched among the articles, and, his surprise, found n handbag containing a roll of notes to the value, of »C 27. Shortly ii Her wards a lady called and asked if a bug containing money had bmi left at tlit! tOiop. A few questions completely satisfied tho slinpmnn that tho bug was the property of tho lady.

A Taranalii soldier writes from Talestine: "I am keeping very fit. ami havo broadened out, but am getting grey. That is not tn bo. wondered ill", as a chap Rets some, decent frights here, such as n. shell passing so close that tho rush of air Wows your hat off, and incidentally makes your Imir viand on oml. But .lacko has wmio thing bolter than that, and it is a. fuir 'snorter'—the aeroplane, bomb. This is tho true invention of the devil, and nothing «m dispute (he claim, mid it will.lnrn Uliick Imir while, in half a minute. You cm hear them coming, but ill is no use running away from them, as the. infernal things don't como straight, and you never know ".•here they arp going to land. There is an amusing sido to it, though, sometimes. You may hear one coming, and pivliMivonr to burrow into the earth. After llm explosion you get up with i sickly grin, exclaim, 'By jove, that 'was close," and then feel about the size of a sandfly upon finding that it had burst about Half a milo !\wayi"

Whether or not fresh fish was likely to Iro affoctrd in the process of chilling so as to become unfit for human consumption war. a subject upon which evidence, was hciird in a ca«o at the Mngisfcrato Court yesterday. One witness stated that some time ago proper wa3 brought, from the Chatham Island to be frozen, but: in the chiller it turned black, and although tho fish remained perfectly wholesome, the. practice had to bo discontinued. . Tho same- witness added" that because somo kinds of fish gave off unpleasant odours that was not. to 6ay they were bad to eat. Thoro were somo fish which smelt "very high," but were yet perfectly good for fond. "When in New Zealand, Professor Princo had recommended tin introduction of elephant lish to this country as an article of diet. This variety of fish was perfectly wholesome, added the witness, but ho was mire thero would bo no demand for it here simply on account of the fact thnt it offended the olfactory nerves.

In a enso heard before Mr. S. 13. M'Carthy, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, in which damages were claimed following upon a collision between a. motor-cycle und a niotor-cnr, tho plaintiff was questioned in cross-examination as to tho speed ho was travelling at at tho time of the accident. "I had tho right of the road," he declared, "and thought I could proceed at the rate 1 was travelling." "Tlint is a doctrine, that hns never been laid down," observed the. Magistrate "If there were such a rulo we would have some fearful accidents." Mr. M. Myers remarked that there was a Scottish'case in which it was laid down that a mail had the right of the road to a certain extent, but ha could not travel 'at any speed he liked.

At yesterday's Napier sitting of the Military Appeal Board, says our special correspondent, the appeal of a teacher i\t the Boys' High. School was dismissed, tho Hawko's Bay Education Board, in accordanco with ii recently defined policy, having withdrawn their appeal. The chairman (Mr. J.-W. Poynton, S.'.V?.) said he considered it very, strange that in somo parts of New Zealand boards were appealing for teachers, whilo in Hawke's Bay they were not. Tho schools wero being depleted of teachers, and it was a serious matter that the schools should ba loft understaffed. In other places the boards wero realising the disastrous, affect of not appealing for teachers. There should be some uniform system. "I believe," he said, "the Germans are not allowing school teachers to to the front, and. that their grants for education have been increased since tho wnr. It would bo a very serious thing to send all teachers away. Tho board had resolved not to appeal, which put the child in Napier at a disadvantage to the children of Wellington. Thero ehould_ be uniformity."

Referring to the finances of tho Wellington Hospital 'and Charitable Aid Board in connection with the protest which the council has made to the Minister of Public Health against the abnormal rise in tho levy, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) informed a Dominion representative that the council had no wish to embarrass the board in any way. Payments wero being made to the board as usual, but on tho basis of last year's levy, and such would bo continued until a settlement was arrived at after tho round-thc-tablo conference proposed by the Minister.

"Tho value of the goods alleged to have been stolen is small, but tho offence is a very great one," remarked Inspector Marsack at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, in a case in which a waterside worker named Edward Mitchell was chargod with tho theft on June 12. of four packets of dried peaches, valued at is., the property of the Union Steam Ship Company. 'Mr. H. P. O'Leary, who appeared for accused, asked for a remand until June 17, and applied for bail, when Inspector Mai sack made tho observation reported above. Mitchell was remanded until June 17, bail being allowed, self in the 6um of .620. aud two sureties of JHO each.

■ The civil case in which Hobert Eichards, waterside worker, proceeded against Alfred M. Guy, dairyman, on a claim for .2150 damages for injuries received as a result of a motor-car accident, was resumed before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. Ilio accident occurred on Mnrch 9, the caso for the plaintiff being that on tho dato mentioned plaintiff, with other waterside workers, was waiting for a tram at the comer of I'eathorston and Bunny Streets. It was alleged that defendant's motor-car came along on tho wrong sido of tho road, and suddenly running across to tho other side, eot in front ot a tramcar, plaintiff being struck from behind, and carried a distance of twenty feet. l?or the defence it was contended that thoro was contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff in standing on the road to wait for tho car. Mr. 11. F. O'Leary appeared for tho plaintill,, and Mr. D. Jackson for the defend, ant. After hearing evidence. His worship reserved his decision.

Judgment was given by Mr. W. CI. Eid<lcll, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday in a case in which John V. Morrison, 'imjiorter, claimed from the Wellington Harbour Board llw sum of -Ci 3 ss. (id. for goods (mixed draperies) pillaged from a bale- consigned to tho plainlift', iind delivered to tho defendant board from an overseas steamer. in giviii, , ,' his decision, His Worship said there was no evidence Hint tho bale had been pillaged on tho ship, and two; tally clorks had failed to delect iiuy damage on its discharge. Judgment was given lor defendants, with costs oE2 -3.

The City Council last night voted a grant of .£SO to the New /.enlniul Academy of J'ino Arts for the, current year. The theatre-stops for tramcars between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. are to be cut out. The City Council decided last night that in order lo save power anil reduco wear and tear, and also to minimise tho possibility of accidents, the practice of stopping oars between 7 and S p.m. in front of His Majesty's 'theatre ami tho Grand Opera llnufio bo discontinued until further notice.

"Mr. T.'B; Strong, tho senior inspector for tho Wiingauui Education District, has been paid a sistnal honour ill being nominated by the (invermnent for the position of representative of llio inspi!clor:i.lo <m tho Council of IMucation" (says tho FeildinE "Star"). "It is only two .yours and a half since Sir. Strom: took over Iho roins as senior inspector, but ho has made good to a remarkable extent, and fully deserves the kudos attaching to tbe ronition reforred to."

The City Council agreed last night to tlio propositi to ■clcclicate a piece of ground, three chains by two and u half chains, in Karori Cemetery as a soldiers' burial-ground, and lo empower tlio officer in charge lo'pmcccil with tlio layout of tlie ground in accordance with tlio approved plan, and with the removal of pino.trees at present spoiling the ground.

A Doriod of two ycors and eight, months has l)oon occupied by the Defence Department in winding up the affairs of a deceased Kcildiiur soldier (sayn Ihe "Star"). The lad had been invalided home early in the war, and had since died, mid representations were then nindo lo the Department to arrange pension, und other financial matters. The father has just received-the papers—after an interval of two years and eight months. At a, meeting of the L'oxton Harbour Board on Tuesday tho secretary reported that nil the necessary steps in cqnner.tion with the loan were now well in hand, and would soon be ready for adoption by the board. Authority was Riven for the chairman and secretary lo sign the necessary debentures in connection ■with the loan. Mr. J. A.-Nash moved that a remit be sent to the Harbour Boards' Conference, that in the opinion of tlio board it is desirable that when a loan.poll is taken by harbour boards, tho ordinary electoral rolls for boroughs and counties eliould be used, so as to avoid unnecesEary expense. Tho remit was agreed to.

Tlio Home for Working Boys in connection with the Hoys' Institute is now open, and advice will bo welcomed of any orphan boys engaged at 'work who require assistance. Preference will l>o given to sons of soldiers who have- been killed at llio 'rout.