LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 252, 12 July 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

His Honour tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) will sit in Chambers this morning to arrange fixtures for Banco business noiv in arrears.

About 5 pm. yesterday a man named George Slevens, '0 years of age, dropped dead on Thorndon Quay. The deceased was a retired farmer, and resided at Tawa Flat. Tho Ixidy was removed to tho morgue, and ail mqiiest will probably'ho held.

Another warning is given in District Orders against the wearing of articles oi uniform with mufti. Some Territorials and Cadets havo been using thoir military greatcoats for civilian purposes. Group commanders nrs directed to have all such offenders dealt with under the terms of the regulation. Tho offence being a. civil one, tho police are to be requested to take action ii\ overy case.

A regulation gazetted last night provides for llie levying of an export duly on copra and pearl shell exported from the Cook Islands. The duty will be ,E1 a toil on cojjrn and JH a ton on pearl" shell.

There are seventeen licensed theatres and halls, with a seating capacity of IS,GSH in Wellington. If the Town Hall and Concert Chamber (which are not licensed) arn added, the total seating capacity of all pine vt of entertainment is set down as 22,453. The largest auditoriums are the Town Hall, which (with tho Concert Chamber) seats 3COO; His Majesty's Theatre, 2300; tho Grand Opera House, 1810; and tho King's Theatre, 1111. The smallest licensed hall is tho Alexandra Hall, which seats 270. .

A meeting of temporary clerks employed chiefly in branches of tlio Defence Department was held last night 1 to consider several matters, including the advisability of forming an organisation to voico their interests. A further meeting is to be held. It has heen announced that the Public Service Commissioner consents to the computation of overtime on a daily basis .in the case of temporary clerks. This means that any timo worked in excess of eight hours in a day will bo paid for as overtime. The concession removes a grievance that lias been agitatihg some of the temporary clerks.

Licenses issued by .tho City Council during the last financial year brought in a revenue of .CGtG!) Is. Id. Of that amount the publicans paid iilSSi; dog licenses accounted for .€1074 55.; auctioneers', .£945 10?.; and wholesale licenses, ,£■l2o.

It was decided by tho City Council last evening that four property owners at Ngaio Road be given notice to either shift their fences back to tho correct boundary or otherwise enter into tho usual agreement to pay a rental for the land in occupation, and embodying the usual conditions, nnd in such event the council will permit their fences to be placed along tho back line of tho footpath.

Surviving passengers of tho Wimmera who left for Sydney by the HuddartParker Company's lliverina yesterday included Mrs. Croft and her six children, Mrs. and Miss .Browing, Mrs. White, Miss Alice Durn, and Mrs. Burt.

The following remit from the Otr.go Harbour Board to the Harbour Boards Association's conference touches a newpoint that may make for a lively discussion: "That the Harljours Act be amended to provido that: In respect of goods under one hundred tons intended to bo exported from any port in tho Dominion, and for tho shipping of which tho board shall havo satisfied itself that thero is no vessel available other than a vessel which would, by shipping such goods, become liable to pilotage and port charges, such vessel shall not become liablo for pilotage or port charges by reason only of its shipping such goods, provided that, in addition to tho harbour improvement rate payable under the by-laws bv tho persons or one of them referred to in section 105 of tho principal Act, there shall bo payable to the hoard by the persons or pin of them referred to in section 104 of tho principal Act a special charge as wharfage of ss. per ton of such goods; and in addition thereto, (he sum of £b."

Shooting at sparrows in tho street is a form of sport much beloved by somo small boys; but owing to its obvious risks it is greatly abhorred by adults. On the King's Birthday two lads, aged 16 years and 17 years respectively, spent a portion of the day at Wadestown firing at small birds with a pearifle, and Yesterday they wero arraigned hei'oro llr. V. Frazer, S.M., and charged with discharging firearms in a public plaeo to the danger of passers-oy. Sergeant Wado said that n bullet went close to tho head of a man walking on the road. Tho lads woro each fined 55., with Ss. ■costs.

Tho dogs licensor! in Wellington (luring the year ended March 31 numbered "075. Unregistered dogs to tho number of 'IST wore taken off the streets. Of (hut number IGI were released, 213 destroyed, .mil 113 sold.

At last evening's meeting ot the City Council Hie By-laws Committee reported that they had instructed the motor in-

spector to deal with the ease of a taxicab driver reported for running into a push-cyclist on Jervois Quay. The cominittoo havo given the inspector as an expression of their opinion, that the driver should not bo allowed to continue driving until tho inspector is satisfied that tho driver's vision is corrected by an oculist. Th? council approved.

Lieutenant W. C. Leeso, son of Mr. C. I.eese, of Owen Street, and formerly of the stalf of the National Hank in Wellington, is now an experienced member oi the Royal .'\ir Force ft In- unofficial designation of the lioy.il l-'lyim? Corps). Ilieutenant Leeso was among thv iirst of Wellington's youths to wiu.'tw for service, and went to ,with the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He returned to Wellington, and loft for Egypt with tho Fifth Reinforcement, but did not proceed to Gallipoli. He subsequently went to England, and after a course of training gained a commission in the Royal Air Force, and ever since October 17 ho has, off and on, been in France, doing his hit over the Fritz positions. Lieutenant Loose was a member of tho "cavalry of tho air" which did such damage at closo quarters during the recent big German push.

At last evening's mooting of the City Council it was decidcd to apply for tho exemption of a portion of Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, il'rom tho provisions of Section 111 of the Public Works Act, subject to tho building lino being set back thirty-three feet from tho centre of such street, as recommended.

Tho vexed question of tho Tlinii'.t hawker and his place in the community was brought before the City Council by Councillor L. M'Konzie hist evening. Councillor Mlicnzio did not think these men should bo allowed to hawk, as was the ense. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said that the question of dealing with the Hindu was going to bo an acnto ono in Wellington and elsewhere. They were British subjects, and he thought it. was a matter for tho National Government to consider. He had, through the Labour Department, tried to get work for theso men, but there was nothing offering, and as they must live they had resorted to hawkiiig. Another matter that was giving trouble was providing somo sort ot work for . men who had been crippled beforo tho war. Of course it was onlj right that returned men who were disabled should be given the preference when any suitablo work was available, and that fact was operating against prewar cripples. Time after timo such men had come to him, but he could do next to nothing .for them. Elderly men who were unused to hard work—men who wanted some sort of clerical work—proved another trouble. They were, in many instances, finding it difficult: to l' v ,e under the altered conditions of life.

It was Announced at the meeting of the City Council held lust evening that advice having been received that tho Wellington Harbour Board will raise 110 objection to the council's application for a seven years' extension of time in which to complete reclamation works at Evans Bay, authorised by the Wellington City Reclamation and Empowering Act, 1906, steps lie taken to obtain tho necessary permission from tho Government.

Before anyone can collect funds in any way for any patriotic purpose whatsoever a 'permit has to bo obtained cither from the Mayor of tho city or town, the Inspector of Police, or sucli other constituted authority. A condition attaching to tlint permit is that a full and completo balance-sheet has to be furnished not only to the executive of tho fund being benefited, but. also to tho war funds branch of the Department of Internal Affairs, the officers of which have found it absolutely necessary 'that the letter of the laiv should be exerted in all such cases. Recently it lias come under tho notice of tho branch dealing with war and patriotic funds that advice has been received from mayors and inspectors of police, staling that no permits rp collect have been issued, whilst (ho local papers announce all sorts of entertainments in aid of patriotic funds. It is'pointed out quite seriously that it is illegal to give such entertainments without permits, and steps are being taken to advise those at fault that their action, however well-intentioned, is contrary to law, and must not be persisted in. On Hto other hand there wero some authorities who issued permits in profusion, and could never give a list of tho objects for which tliey have been so issued. This, too, is not conducive to an efficient check, and such authorities are being asked to keep a careful note of tho number nf permits issued, tho nature of tho entertainment or collection, and tho particular fund proposed to bo benefited.

A lotlcr wns received at the City Council last evening from Mr. ]'\ T." Moore pointing out that general goods were being carried tu .lobnsonvillo in meat wagons without their having been washed down or cleaned, nnd pointing nut (hat it wns not right that butler and oilier such goods should be carried in such vehicles. One councillor- doubted if this was Hie business of tho council. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said it wns a matter that affected the .public health, nnd it would be referred to tho Health Department for a report.

District Orders state it has been brought to notice that chaplains to the New Zealand Forces are appearing in other than correct dress, badges of rank being worn on sleeve. The correct jacket for chaplains is service dress, except that shoulder-strap shall bo as for greatcoats, but edged with twQ blond stripes of black cloth showing |in. of sergo between; badges of rank (in black metal), on shoulder-strap; sleeves with plain pointed cuffs. Uniform is not obligatory for chaplains except on activo service.

Soldiers in camp at Trentham complaiu that while they could get leave on Wednesday to go to tho races they could not secure a pass to come to town beforo 3.50 p.m. This -position, it is stated, will obtain again to-morrow, and it hits tho senior draft in camp harder than any others. Many of these men havo relations in town nnd would be specially glad of tho opportunity of seeing them. One member of the senior draft put his ease in tho following way: "My people havo coino to Wellington to see mo, and I (and many others in a similar position) would jump at the chance of getting in to see them, even if we had to hire a spccial conveyance. But we must get leave, or we, us members of tho senior driift, will bo suro to be held lip bv the police when wo are in' town and be 'crimed' 011 returning to camp. In ordinary circumstances wo would piobably all go to tho races, but when a man is ncaring'the point of departure, and his people have coino to Wellington, lio can't afford to risk the races. I hope the Defence Department will do its best to meet, tho position 011 Saturday. Wo aro absolutely in their lmnds, of course, but thev could if they liked do us a turn that would be appreciated to the full."

One subject • which came beforo the City Council in committeo last evening was a communication from tho Treasury Department with respect to a proposal to erect a tenement building in Aitken Street.

During the month of June there was an excess of departures over arrivals at the New Zealand ports of 109 ocrsons. The returns do not taku count of numbers of the Expeditionary Force.

Tho. frco use of the Town Hall for a religious servic? to be hold on Sunday, August 4, wna granted to tho Council of Churches b,v tho Citv Council last evening. The date named is tho fourth anniversary of the declaration of war by England against Germany.

Tho positions of a number of off tho English coast are notiuou in '.ins week's Gazette for the information of marineis. Tho wrccks mentioned ava chiefly steamers that have been sunk by submarines in shallow water*.

An offer to supply a quantity of cast iron water supply pipes was accepted by the City Council lust evening. The Mayor explained that tlicy wore short of such pipes, and as tho pipes wero extrlmiely difficult to obtain anywhero as things were, they had recommended the acceptance of the offer. Tho council was in eomploto agreement with the Mayor.

An amendment has been made in tho city motor by-lrnvs tho effect of which will bo that vehicles cannot be driven on tho wrong sido of tho road past stationary tramcare.

On General Pershing's recommendation, the War Department has recogniscd that tobacco is as much a necessity for soldiers as clothing and food. Each soldier with the American forces will be issued a. daily ration of 1-lOths cf an ounce of smoking tobacco and 10 cigarette papers. As an alternative, four ready-made cigarettes will bo issued, or, if preferred, l-lOths of an ounce of chewing tobacco. Just how -i-Klths of nil ounco is going to bo issued to the men lias not yet been determined, but tho quartermaster is now working out a plan.

At question time at tho City Council last evening Councillor J. 0. Slioi-land asked what steps a Citj' Council employee should take, who had been called up for military service, and who wished to go away and fight, and yet was being appealed for—should 110 resign? The .Mayor (Mr. .T. P. Luke) said that lie could only give .his personal views. There were tho.;o who put civil duties before national ours, ami with that view lie did not agree, lie asked himself what he would do, and without any hesitation lie would go and fight, and if 110 did he would think very poorly of tho council who would not reinstate him 011 his return. (Hoar, hear.) He did not think a man should have to resign in order to go fo the front under the circumstances presented by Councillor Shorland. (Hoar, hear.)

I read a few days ago that Mr. Masfey, Mr. Hughes, and "Joseph Ward, Labourite and former Premier of Australia," had arrived at a Pacific port (states an American correspondent of Ilia Christeliurch "l'ress"). Most Americans think New Zealand is part of Australia, and that it doesn't matter much if it isn't. 111 a museum here the *pecimeus of kauri gum are labelled "A fossil gum found in Australia and adjoining islands." A dear old lady in New Hampshire told me that she was so pleased to meet anyone from New Zealand, because her Church had spent such a lot of money in missionary work- there. 1 had a vague feeling that a word of thanks for benefits received would not iuve been taken amiss, when slio remarked that I spoke quite good English. Another lady asked if New Zealand was not the very hot country where tho, bird o( paradise lived! Shu evidently confused New Zealand with New Guinea, like the New York papers that reported Mr. llolman as saying that Australia would never give back ihe north of New Zealand to the Germans. This reminds 111 a that Lord Northclifte, when asked his opinion of American reporters, said he found tlicni very ill-informed.

An obelisk of polished mottled granite, erected over the grave at Limvood cemetery of (lie lato Hew J?'. W. Isitt, was unveiled yesterday by the Rev. T. A. .Toughin, president of'the Methodist Conference, in the presence of a number of the friends of the late' Mr. Isitt and supporters of tho Prohibition cause (states a Press Association telegram from Christchurch). On the faco of the obeiisk is inscribed the following: "In loving memory of the Rev. Frank lsitt. October 3, 1810-November 11, ISIIG. Patriot, preacher, Prohibitionist, friend of children, lover of mankind. His life was a challenge, not a truce." An adjournment was made to the Durham Street Methodist Church, where a memorial service was held, tho speakers being the Revs. Dawson, Joughin, Williams, and Mean, and Messrs. A. R. Atkinson and A. S. Adams.

It is not generally known that the steamers employed in the carriage of mails betwee'i New Zealand and San Francisco and Vancouver pay no harbour dues. These services are, of course, fairly heavily subsidised, and in order to rediye the amount of the subsidy tho Government, when calling for tenders, takes upon itself the authority to eay that vessels engaged in such mail services would bo exempt from harbour dues. This has always been a sore point with the harbour boards affected by the Government's magnanimity, and o't the annual conference of the Harbours' Association of New Zealand at the end of the month, tho following remit from the Wellington board will ne considered: "That the Government be again requested to omit from future mail contracts tho special clause-,exempting steamships carrying mails from payment of lmrjxmr dues." The Lyttelton board has also put in a remit to tho same effect.