LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 240, 28 June 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

That on Wednesday, Juno J9, there was a. record number of patients in Hie hospital, viz., 433," was u clause in the report of tho hospital committee submitted to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday afternoon.

It was recommended to the City Council last evening that as a trial for three months from September 1 next, the lending department of the public libraries be closed on Saturdays from 1 o'clock p :n for tho purpose of enabling the stall to work full time on overy other weekday, and thus obvinto the necessity far assistants working in shifts. The council adopted tho recommendations.

At 4.18 p.m. yesterday tho Viva Brigade received a call to J. .T. Nivon and CVs foundry. Luke's Lane, whore a small outbreak of fire occurred in tho roof. The blaze, which was oaused by a spark from some flax used in .1 moulding process was soon suppressed, and very slight damage resulted. The building is covered bv a policy for £700 in (lie Northern Insurance ofiico.

Yesterday tlio Napier Chamber of Commerce ipnssed a resolution uirtii"tho Government to appoint a hoard of control in regard to nil trades, businesses and professions, with .1 view to compelling those who do not havo to go on military service to make an oqml sacrifice with tboso who are called up.

Tho attention of the Internal Affairs Department is to !>c drawn by the City Council to . "tho fact that botlleoollcctors are at present unlicensed, and also that those unauthorised persons have access to private premises in a manner which tho council consider inadvisable," and "as frequent offences aro reported tho Department be requested to deal with tho (present difficulty" by an amendment to the Municipal Corporations Amendment Act, 1910,' or by War Regulations.

Mr. K. ,\. Armstrong, national president of the. Second Division League, who was culled up in (he ballot recently, has been medically examined and classed C 2.

By a steamer which arrived at Wellington this week (hero returned to Now Zealand three, officers of . tlio Union Steam Ship Company's steamer Wai homo, which was torpedoed in March whilst on Imperial service. Tho party comprised Messrs D. M'Pherson (chief officer), C. B. Atkinson (second officer), and W. (I. Kelsey (third officer). Other members of the crew went ashore in Australia. -When tho vessel' was attacked in the Mediterranean at about ■]■ o'clock in the looming—those on board had some thrilling experiences, being exposed for varying periods, in open jifelioats in bitterly cold weather. At the timo of tho attack a fresh galo was blowing, and the steamer was breasting a heavy swell. IS'o attempt was mado to warn the vessel, and tho darkness made it impossible, for tho track of tho torpedo to be seen. Tho first indication was a crash and rending of steel, the water pouring through a large hole which had been torn in the niter portion of Die- ship's side. jfo panic was caused, nnd the lifeboats were swung out carefully, cveryono on board (about fifty all told) getting' away safely from the sinking ship. Tho Wnihemo went down about fifteen minutes after the torpedo found its mark. After being buffeted about for somo time, the lifeboats were picked up by a destroyer, the survivors being subsequently conveyed by a battleship to a port whore they were cared for by tho British authorities stationed there.

A girl. 13 years of age, was brought before Mr. F. V. Frnsor, S.M., at the Magistrates Court yesterday, on a uliargo of stealing a purse and -money, of a total value of os. 7d. After hearing tho ovideiilco J lis Worship adjourned tho case for twelve months,, and ordered that the child should be placed mulct tho supervision of tlio juvenile probation oliicer during this period,

The precedent consent of the Gover-nor-Uenoral-in-Council has been received by the City Council to tho raising of the following loans:—Fire Station Loan of #25,000; Day's Bay Wnter and Drainage Loan of ,£12,000.

A complete statement of receipts and expenditure in connection with Iho recent Auckland v. Wellington representative cricket match has been prepared by the secretary of the Wellington Cricket Association. II: will bo remembered that tho net proceeds of this match were in their entiiety devoted lo tho Udell Park (Auckland) Fund, work on that ground having been seriously hampered owing to (he war. Tlio accounts show that after paying all expenses tho local Cricket: Association was able to donate to tho Auckland Cricket Association the sum of .£B(i o<<. 7d.

Notice was given to the City Council ldst evening that Councillor J. Castlo intends to move that a representative bo appointed to confer with the city organist and the Education Board with a view of arranging recitals for pupils attending city schools,

The following resolutions will bo moved at, the meeting of tho Wellington, branch of tho' Educational Institute to be- held on July 19:—"1. That tho minimum salary of n teacher bo .£15(1 per annum, and that all salaries not affected by the minimum salary be increased by 2S per cent.'" "2. That tho question of the establishment of a hostel for women' teachers is worthy of consideration."

A supply of enamel figures to indicate tho depth'of water at the To Aro Haths and llio Island Bay diving pier is to bo procured by the City Council.

There was a largo attendance at a "stop-work" meeting of tho Wellington Waterside Workers' Union held yesterday morning. Mr. 1,. Glover was appointed delegate to the July conference of the New Zealand Labour Parly, and in connection with this appointment tho following resolution was passeds "Thai, this meeting instructs its delegate to oppose very strongly any attempt to bring into operation industrial conscription in any ehapo or form."

Some time ago the. wife and child of a me nber of tiie Fountain of Friendship Lodge, Auckland, received treatment at tho Wellington Hospital, and under instructions, Ifchfl Jaccounil was rendered to the lodge. In reply tho secretary of tho lodge wrote, stating that thero was an arrangement with the Auckland Hospital for'treating tho lodge members at 2s. 3d. a day,' and asking if tho same concession would bo granted by tho Wellington Hospital. The hospital secretary replied very emphatically that no ■ eueb arrangement existed hero with friendly societies, and that payment on a basis of 2s. 3d. a day would certainly not bo accepted.

It was recommended to the City Council last evening that the City Engineor be instructed to prepare for the council's consideration a design for tho improvement of the Oriental Bay Parade. Without discussion tho council adopted tho recommendation.

Tho honorary treasurer of tho Wellington branch of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John, acknowledges receipt of the following additional contributions:—ReiJ Cross and Ked Jersey Baby Competition, per Miss Frnser, £1658 18s. Yd.; Wairarapa Sub-centro British Ked Cross Society, .£1000; Messrs V. and E. Riddiford, £300; Inglewood Ladies' Patriotic League, £170 Bs. lid,; Hastings Red Cross Workers. £100; Waipukurau and District Branch of the British Red Cross Society, £100; Patea Ladies' Committee Red Cross and Soldiers Comforts Fund, £100; Huntervillo Countess of Liverpool Fund and Red Cross Guild, £79 Is. Bd.; Napier Subcentro British Red Cross, £66 18s. 3d.; Greytown Branch British Red Cross Society, £37 10s.; Wanganui Sub-centre British Red Cross Society, £20; North Taranaki Patriotic League, £15; Tariki Patriotic Society, £6; Manakau Red Cross Guild, £0; Newman Red Cross Society, £5 175.; Stratford Red Cross Guild, £5; Mr. P. Margesson, Glenhopo, £1 Is. Gd.

The City. Council has accepted with thanks the offer of the Wellington Zoological Society to pay the whole of tho purchase money, excepting freight, insurance, etc., for the 'two tigers recently .authorised to be purchased by tho council. Tho society's offer is conditional upon tho council granting them permission to take up a collection on the first lino Sunday tho tigers nre on exhibition at the Zoo.

City Councillor .T. Cnstlo has given notice to njovo at the next meeting of tho council that a deputation should wait on the Government to arrange such a train service as will ensure a supply of milk to tho city.

A deputation from Northland waited on tho City Council last evening respecting tho amount allocated in the estimates for the district. Mr. h\ W. Manton, speaking for tho deputation, said that Northland felt that the suburb had not received tho recognition it was entitled to. They thought that more mouoy should be expended on the suburb, and particularly that a tram lino should be laid. Tho Mayor, replying, said that he regretted that tho council could do nothing more for Northland this year; ifho council had expenses to meet which would tax its resources. •

The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Ministor-in-Oharce of Soldiers' Land Settlement, has just visited I'cilding to meet the settlers on three soldiers' settlements in that district with regard to a number of grievances • which the soldier'settlers wished to bring under his notice. The Minister.was ablo to give io them encouraging answers in regard to most points :rai.scd, and these answers were apparently satisfactory to the men. Tho most serious matter was in regard to tho drainage of the Makowai settlement, where there are somo 25 selectors, and they have suffered somewhat severely from flood waters encroaching on their land. Before he visited the locality (he Minister had been aware of tho facts, and he had received a comprc hensivo report from the Chief Drainage Engineer oh the matter,, so that it was already under action.

Irrecoverable rotes amounting to ,CBt os. lOd. have been written off by the Wellington City Council.

An inquest will be held at 3.1!> p.m. today touching the 'death of Dolinn Al Nivcn, a married woman, who died at her residence, !> Tui Street, on ■Wednesday. Tho late Airs. M'Niven, who was forty years of age, had been ailing for some time, and early on Wednesday she took a bad turn, and subsequently expired. Dr. Clay, who was called in, was not able to certify as to the cause of death.

Authority has been granted for tlio construction of Beach Street, Island Bay. Tho City Solicitor is to collect tho owners' contributions.

An exchange publishes the following as having been supplied by a lamer:--"I discovered some, years ago that wood could be mado to last longer in tho ground than iron, but thought tho process so simple and inexpensive that it was not worth while making any stir about it. 1 would as soon have poplar or ash as any other kind of limber for fenco-pnsU. 1 have taken out tliese posts after they have been set soven years, and tlicy were as sound then as 'when I first put them in the ground. Tho posts can bo prepared for about one ponny each. This is Iho recipe: Tnko lx>iled linseed oil, and stir in pulverised charcoal to the consistency of paint. Put a coat of this over tho timber, and there is not a man living who will see it rotten."

An offer of Mr. Wakcman, of Pahiatua, to donate a sum of JCIO towards (lie supply of native flora for Hie present planting season hns been accepted by tho Wellington City Council with thanks, and Hie question nf selection of sites for the planting of the trees lias been left over (ill tho new Director of Parks and Reserves i« appointed.

A San Francisco message in the Australian papers says the German, raider Hoe Adlcr, which wns sunk in the South Seas, is to ho lloated. A. steamer equiypod for salvage left some time ago. She will also try to raiso another steamer sunk near 'by. The Sco Adlcr ran ashore and /vas set on fire by the crew, hut she is not damaged seriously.

A curious and striking story was ioid to a "Southland Times" reporter on Saturday. Two years ago a youth employed in (be shop of a well-known lnvcrcargill grocer made up his mind So go. to tlio war. Ho was only 13 years ol" nge; but was well grown, and managed to pass (he doctors nnd join in tho Expeditionary Force. In due course he went lo tho front, was wounded, invalided to New. Zealand, and discharged. On the Wednesday morning the ballot list bad in unusual interest for him, for ho vot.d his .own name in it among the, ycutiis ni' tho. First Division automatically called up on reaching the age of 20 years. There was perhaps nothing ntrikiiifj in that. The Government Statistician could hardly, lie expected to know that this lad of 20 years had two years' service- to his credit and received an honourable discharge from tho Army. An incident tho next morning, however, was still more interesting. The lad's mother received a telegram from the Defence Department reporting with- regret that her son had died of wounds on Juno 6. In tho afternoon the mother received through the post a bundle of her own loiters written lo her son while he was at the front. Across Ihe envelopes was slamped tho word "deceased.'' Despite all this official. evidence that hcv soldier son was dead, the mother accepted his bodily 'presence and his broad smile as clear proof that he was very much nlivo.