LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 231, 18 June 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

To-day is tho 103 rd anniversary of tho Battle of Waterloo. , "A mero boy, whero 'does ho get his drink?" asked His Worship Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, in a case in which John Edward Ryan, who stated that ho would be 20 years did on July 23, pleaded guilty to a charge of having been drunk while in charge of a horse and cart. It was stated by Inspector Marsack that there wore three previous convictions against the youth, who was employed as a driver. In connection with tho present charge accused hail to bo' treated at tho Hospital, medical expenses amounting to XI Is. being incurred. "Four convictions within nix months! Havo you thought what your end will be?" remarked His Worship to Ryan. "A fourth conviction cannot be dealt with by a fine. I don't know where these boys get the drink from." Inspector Mar-1 sack stated that ho would have inquiries made.. Addressing Ryan His AVorship said that it he appeared before the Court again ho would be sent to Koto Roa Island for twelve mouths. A prohibition order would be issued against him, and lie would be ordered to como up for sentence when called upon. Mr. W. .J. Price, Crown Lands ranger of tho Wellington district, left his homo at Piriaka at 3 o'clock on Sunday morning and failed to return (states a Press, Association message from Tnumarunui). :

As ho had been suffering from an aggravated form of nilimps for a week, and as lie complained of cold, his wife went to make him a hot poultice, when she heard the click of tho door and followed quickly out. She was too lato to find her husband, and reported the matter ,to the neighbours of tho scattered district, and search parties wero out v all day Sunday, when the missing mail's was found in the AVnnganui River half a mile away. During further search Mr. Price's tody was found at two o'clock near the Matapuna railway bridge, about five miles from Piriaka. Deceased's temperature was abnormal. and lie would .have died from tho exposure. Deceased leaves a widows 'and three children.

. The hundredth pupil of the Canterbury Aviation School took the Aero Club's certificate yesterday (states a. Press Association message from Christ.chureh). The first passenger flights were made less than a year ago.

in unusual incident occurred on an in-ward-bound (rain fiom Henderson oil Friday Inst .(says the Auckland "Herald"). When tho train was running down the Waikumelo bank n young child fell out of a carriage window, 'l'he guard happened fo notice the accident, and promptly applied tho brakes. On being picked up the young passenger was found to have escaped without a .scratch. The appointment; of a trade representative of the Poininion at Washington as nil urgent necessity was advocated by llr. R. Burns at last week's meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. He said that more buying was now being done in America by Jfew Zealand firms than ever before. In view of tho continual changes in the regulations. both as rcgnrth exports and imports, it was becoming essential that a. commercial representative should bo stationed in the United States. A motion was carried that tho Acting-Primo Minister should be nsked to consider the appointment of ?ueii a representative, and that the Prime Minister should be asked by cable to support tho proposal. The co-operation of the Now Zealand Chambers of Commerce Association is also to be sought. Tho urgent necessity far more shipping space was also emphasised by the president, who expressed the opinion tliut Wellington was getting preference over Auckland in the matter. He considered that Auckland should be represented 011 tho Shipping Board, and it was decided to approach the Government on the subject. Tt was further decided to cable, to Mr. Massey, asking him to nsb his influence, while in london. to havo more steamers allotted to j Auckland, and pointing out thnt tho no- 1 sition was a verv serious one from tho producers' point of view. Mr. Burns said that unless some relief came before next season-Auckland firms would not know what to do with the produce now accumulating in the stores. The latter were full, as were Hie Harbour Board sheds. He advocated the fitting up of hulks as sailing vessels for the benefit of shippers. and tho council approved of his suggestion to communicate with the Minister of Marino regarding this matter.

Messrs. Forsytho, J. Clarke, and F. C. Hvans liavo bcon nominated by the Terrace School Committee for the threo vacancies on tha Wellington Education Board.

Tho Pelono Borough Council is faced with a serious difficulty in respect to road motal for the streets, and the position is declared to be somewhat ncnfcc. The Borough Engineer reported last uv.i.ning that the council's quarry was exhausted, and ha<( been condemned by tho Government inspector. A trial shot was put into the faco of the rack at the entranco lo the Domain, but the result has not been oncouragins. "Further investigations are to be. made. In the event of thoso not turning out satisfac-, tory tho engineer states that lie does, not know where to turn for motal.

Tho suggestion of tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society that a conference of the societies in Now Zealand should be held in Wellington during tho next session of Parliament is supported by the e'c.'cutive of tho Now Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Association, which has circularised all tho affiliated societies on tho question'. Among tho' subjects which tho Auckland socioty proposes for consideration are proposals for a gun liconse of ss. per annum, and also a license of 2s. for tho carrying of a rifle, pearifle, or revolver. Other proposals are that the use bv sportsmen of guns that will lire morn than two consccutivo shots should not lie allowed, and that firing from maimais, cylinders, or loos be prohibited, otherwise than on the shore of a lake, with its area of rushes or natural cover, and that such camouflage must not bo erectcd until tiio day before the opening of tho season.

The Industrial Association last night received the resignation of a member who expected to be called to tho colours shortly and who felt that in tho. circumstances he could not continue his membership. Tho association decided that tho membership should bo continued without subscription for tho period of tbo war.

Six Maori reservists were arrested at Mercer on Saturday for failing to parado for medical examination, and with soven previously arrested they havo been medically examined, ten bci'riff passed us fit.— Press Assn.

Regarding the inquiry made by tho Invcrcurgill Chamber ot Commerce as to tho apparently excessive charges made by the (Jovernmeut for attention given to and tho testing ot' weighbridges, the Central Chamber roi'erred the matter to tho Internal Altai ra Department, which has replied to the following elfeet:—"l have to inform you that tho rates in questiou aro fixed by statute and there is no present power to vary them. I may, however, add lor your information that tho lion. Minister has already directed that legislation bo prepared dealing with this and other aspects of tho Weights and Measures Act, but it has not been possible to proceed with such legislation, as you aro no doubt aware Parliament is at present only passing legislation connected with tho war. At tho same time, it is proposed to introduce legislation in the matter at the earliest opportunity."

A delegation of tho Wellington Grain and Flour Merchants' Association waited on tho Hoard of Trade yesterday morning to place before the board the difficulties that were being created against importing produce from Australia through the action of one steamship company raising the freight charges in a manner tiiat the delegates considered out of all proportion to tho ordinary charges and prejudicial to trade. At present potatoes, oats, and maize were required from Australia, but at the ordinary freight rates (275. Gd. a ton) they were finding the utmost difficulty in obtaining space, yet it had been conveyed to them that plenty of spaco could bs found if the importers agreed to pay lis. per ton. Even at the present rates potatoes were selling here at .£9 per ton, which was a high price for tiie public to pay, and were the increased freight paid the price of potatoes (imported) would havo to bo increased proportionately. The Board of Trailo doubted if it could interfere, as the company was not registered in New Zealand, but inquiries are to be made into the position. Discussing speakers and subjects for tho next general meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Mr. H. Hart suggested that they might get a Labour man to go along. "I don't think they would be embarrassed," said Mr. Hart, "and I'm suro that they would not embarrass us.-" Whilst admitting tho excellence of the suggestion, one member doubted tho wisdom of it at tho present time. Tho question was being handled by tho Empire Service League, which was doing the spade work, and it had to bo done very delicately. As tilings were nt present it might do more harm than good. On tho suggestion of the executive tho question as to speakers was left to the executive. <

At tho sitting of the Arbitration Court yestorday His Honour Mr. Jlistice Stringer stated that the wliolo question of tho amalgamation of unions would probably como before tho Court of Appeal shortly, and tho Court would then know to what extent amalgamations might take place. Mr. James M'Kcnzie,' 1.5.0., has been-asked to stand for one of the vacant seats on the Education Board caused through tho retirement of the Hon. J. G. AV. Aitkcn and Mr. William Allan, and will give his decision shortly. In the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, before His Honour Mr. Justice Husking, Mr. P. Levi, acting for Mrs. Millio M'Laren, wife of Andrews M'Laren, a soldier who .was killed by falling from a railway carriage, and who was awarded ,£225 damages by a jury, moved that judgment be entered in accordance with tho jury's verdict. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, who appeared for the respondent, the Railway Department, opposed, and asked that judgment bo entered for tho respondent, on tho grounds that there was no evidence of negligence to go to tho jury and that the Court must find that tho deceased liad been guilty of contributory negligence, in the alternative that an order should be made for a new trial. After hearing argument His Honour reserved his decision.

At the monthly meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce, held yesterday, reference was made to the proposed alterations ill the postal arrangements, whio.li are to tako plnco as from July 1. The secretary said he had mado inquiries, and detailed what tho proposed alterations were (they have all been published in these columns). Mr. H. Hart said that they should know what time the boxes who to be cleared in tho morning. Would the first cleara-iee in the morning witch tho early morning trains? That was the important point. Mr. A. b. Hunt paid that, they shodld know ! about the morning delivery, ami should get the Department to . define exactly what was a suburban post office. He did not think that Courtenay Place or Newtown should count as suburban offices. The president (Mr., C. M. Luke) said that they only wished to know where they were respecting these matters. Tho alterations were the result of war-timo measures, and they could not bo too critical. The secretary is to get. further particulars' of the changes from the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department. At. yesterday's meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce the president (Mr. C. M. Luke) said that it was gratifying to note the readiness with which the. idea to form a. hydro-electric power leaguo (which was mooted first at the last meeting of tho council) had been taken up. Tho league had been formed at Palmerston North, and notification had been received of tho intention to hold a conference at an early date, and asking the Chamber to appoint delegates. It was decided that the president and Messrs. J. F. Atkiys and A. L. Hunt should "be the delegates. A statement that no essontial goods have been shut out in shipments from London in favour of spirits was mado •.last; week by the president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Bobert Burns. lie said that from investigations he had found the complaints to that effect to bo without foundation. The reason why essential goods had not been coming forward from. Great Britain had boon the great difficulty in obtaining goods, in obtaining permits to ship them, and getting them forward to a port. Latterly, steamers from Great Britain had been coming out only about half-filled with cargo, therefore ho did not see how the chamber could take'exception to tho boats bringing any cargo which was offering. In view of the alarming rumours in connection with the importation of spirits, he had mado inquiries trom the Customs Department, and found tho reports verv much exaggerated. The imports' in 1913 totalled 61,094 gallons, in 1917 49,536 gallons, and in 1918 41,399 gallons.