LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 275, 9 August 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A wireless message was received by tho Chatham Islands Fishing Company yesterday from Chatham Islands, to the effect that the wrecked steamer Himitangi has broken up.

Relntivcs desiring to see members of .the Forty-tliir<l New Zealand Engineers Reinforcements and F Company, Fortythird Infantry Reinforcements on Monday next will be able to go to Trentham by the ordinary train leaving Lambton Station at 0.15 a.m. and returning at ■4.15 p.m.

A young woman was arrested by Detective Torrance last night oti a charge of stealing jewellery to the value of .£IOO. Sho will be brought before the Magistrate's Court to-day.

While a deputation of tramway men was waiting on tho City Council last evening one 'of the speakers stated that if men were to bo hold responsible concerning accidents tho present overcrowding should not bo permitted. He suggested that the council should lay down sonicthing definite for the guidance of the tramway men..

Tho Marton Junction Branch of tho A.S.H.S. nave special consideration to an attempt being made to impose unacceptable working conditions at the Government dining and refreshment rooms a"; Marton ,1 unction, states our special correspondent, and it was generally agreed diat the waitresses had a just cause for resigning. The society decided to send delegates to-Wellington to have the girls' position placed before the Manaier for Railways. It is understood that the question will be considered at Wellington, and meantime the cirls have been prevailed upon to withdraw their resignations in anticioation of favourable consideration of their claims. In withdrawing their resignations the waitresses made it"nuitn clear that there was no weakening in tho stand they have taken. A ■later message states that a now development bos occurred. In yesterday's Dominion- thero appeared an advertisement inviting applications for sixteen i waitresses for Government refreshment rooms. In view of tho fact that the waitresses withdrew their resignations owing to a promise made to them that their"positions would not be prejudiced, and that their attitude would receive every consideration at Wellington, they claim that the bond has not been kept I ami that the advertisement suggests intimidation.

Councilln'- J. R. Fitzgerald suggested last evcniiur tlmt tho City Council should go into the question of whether it was wise Io license any more Inxi-cnbs in AVellinglon. lie thought Wellington had reached its limit, and in tho interests of efficiency the question was worth looking into, as labour was becoming scarce, and anyone going along the street now could soo numbers of taswlrivors on tho stands, awaiting woiki

Reference to the proposed fish depot arid factory at Island Bay is made in the following resolution, which was passed by the City Council last evening:"Tliat the Wellington Zoological Society be informed that consideration of their protest against the establishment of a lisli depot and factory on the island at Bay lias. been deferred in the meantime, and that the society bo also informed that all that the council has hitherto had under consideration k tho provision of a suitable landing place for fish, and as it has been ascertained that the proposed work will bo costly, tho whole question must be left in abeyance for tho present."

Tho weather summary for July states that tho month was cloudy and wet, with rainfall 41 per cent, above tho mean of previous years. Total, bjyghK sunshine, 110 hours 39 minutes, and three sunless days. Frost was recorded on the grass on eleven mornings. There was thunder, lightning, and hail on July 18. Mean earth temperature at (ft. was SO.ldeg., and 53deg. at 3ft. Mean .dew-point, ■tl.Sdeg.; mean elastic force of vapour, o.29iin;; and mean relative humidity, 7SI per cent, of saturation.

Tho excellent record of Wellington College old boys in war service is mentioned in a circular issued by the Old Boys' Association to members in an appeal for contributions for the Memorial Hall. Nearly ICOO old boys have joined tho colours, .139 have been killed in action, and 203 others wounded; 101 have received decoratious or have been mentioned in dispatches. . In other words, ono out of every four has been killed or wounded, and. pno .out of every sixteen has been singled out for distinction. The circular concludes:—"Again wo ask—ls it nothing to us who only stand and wait?"

The re-trial of.Alfred George Jaques in the Supreme Court, on a charge of theft of money ..from a dwelling has been ordered to be taken at the next sitting of the. Supreme Court in November.

•'• During- the' month of July 909 persons arrived in Now Zealand from various places beyond.-while 851 left the Dominion. • The excess of. arrivals over departures wa6 55, as against 269 for July of 1917.

The following cablegram was sent? on Tuesday to the Prime Minister of Great Britain by the members of. tho Dunedin Stock Exchange:—"Most-.distant Stock Exchange of tho.. Umpire heartily applauds your steadfast determination to 'hold fast.'"

An- offer to sell two "Mann' steam wagons for tho sum of £1192 each, C.1.P.-E. Wellington, has been accepted by tha Wellington City Council "in order that tho cartage of metal from tho Ngahanranga quarry can. bo expeditiously and. properly undertaken."

Tho position of suburban milk-produc-ers and vendors was introduced at the conference between the vendors of Wellington and the Milk Committee of the City' Council. It was'deduced that the council would have.no flower at all with i regard to milk distribution outside of the boundaries of the city, but if a vendor served peoplo within thoso parts of the city which abut on to neighbouring boroughs, milk for such localities would bo subjeot to the same attention as if it came from tho country by rail. Assuming that a dairy farmer who vended his own-milk only within the confines of a neighbouring- borough, ho would not bo subject-to the conditions to be imposed upon city vendors. This fact may serve as a further inducement to the residents of such, suburban districts to seek, with greater celerity,-tho amalgamations with the cityj which have been in' the air for the past few months.

It was reported at - the • City Council last evening that advice had been received that the Minister of Financo had approved Of the raising of a loan not exceeding 0C20,M0 for tho council's milk undertaking.

The registration of the New Zealand Federated Lithographic and Letterpress Printers Machinists' Industrial Association of Workers, situated at Dunedin, has been cancelled for the purpose of reregistering under the now name of the New Zealand Eclated Printing Trades Industrial' Association of Workers.

Petitioners for the -increase (f bathing accommodation at- To Aw Baths are to be informed by the City Council that it is regretted that tho council at present cannot take any action in the matter of their request. for the reason that the legislative sanction to occ:ipy certain land for the baths is already fully availed of, and any further extension would require statutory authority.

New regulations 'governing fhe basis ot representation on technical school boards of managers in.New Zealand were published in tho Gazette last evening. They provide, tor the first lime, for the direct representation on the boards of parents of pupils attending the schools in addition to tho representation of the controlling authority, the, school committee of tho urban district concerned, and (lie local or other.body interested in the establishment and maintenance of the institution. .

During the.discussion at tho milk con-, fcrence on Wednesday evening ono of the vendors asked what wages it was proposed to pay' those engaged in the vending of milk if the chartered, company schemo were adopted. The chairman (Mr. C. B. Norwood) was. very clear on that point. In the first place he dispelled the erroneous impression which some held that they.wouW become employees of tho council if the scheme were adopted. That was, not the case at all. They would be employees of the registered company or central body, which would be composed of themselves, a board of directors, of their own choosing. The weekly 1 wage for each vendor would be £3 10s., but in. addition to that he would get the profits of the sale'of byproducts (butter, cheese, and cream), and, according Jo his holding in the company (based.on the extent of his business at tho time the scheme comes into operation), ho would receive a dividend or bonus out of the whole of the profits for the year, estimated at =£12,000. The council, in addition, was prepared to allow each vendor a 50 per ,cent. increase on the present cost of distribution, so that he would bo thoroughly protected. The vendors, would get all the money made practically for two years, less 2!- per cent, on the turnover.

The City Solicitor has reported to the City Council that many private ways have been laid out in the past in Wellington city without the consent of the council, and for this ho was of opinion that the Land Transfer Department was to blame. Ho has drawn the attention of the Minister of Stamp Duties to the matter, and, judging from the reply received from tho Minister, he. considers that troubh in this direction in future will be obviated. He points out that tho passing of the Wellington City Empowering Act, 1918. which gives the council control of subdivisions, will prevent any further infringements of the )aw in this respect

The exportation of cotton piece-goods suited ■ for use as' meat-wraps, cheesecloths, and similar articles from New Zealand is prohibited, by (publication rn tho Gazette.

In respect to the remarks made by Colonel G. F. C. Campbell at the conclusion of Colonel Sleeman's address to Territorial

ami Cadet officers on Tuesday night, that officer fears that some people may have gathered that he intended to convey that the proposal made was merely tho revision of one'already in existence. It was not his intention to convey any such idea. The scheme is an entirely newone, though it had been discussed previously by a number of officers, so that Colonel Sleeman's spontaneous remarks were most opportune, and it was hoped that all officers would support it. A meeting is to bo held this evening, when it is hoped that a start will be mado io put tho scheme on a practical footii'S

A notico in tho Gazetto states that "Subdivision ft, l'ipitea Point, part Section 515, Town of Wellington, and other pari: of Pipitea Point, City of AVollinglon," has been taken by the Government "for tho use, convenience, and enjoyment of tho Welliiiglon-Napior Hailway."

An allegation that machinery needed for tho Wellington tramway and electrio light! undertakings had been excluded from ships by cargoes of liquor was contained in a letter from the Hatuitai Electors' Association to the City Council., but the Mayor stated last night that tho statement was not true. The material had not oven been ready to go to tho ports. The council could urgo that essential commodities be given precedence over liquor, but .that was' as far as it could, go.

A new case of cerebro-spinal meningitis was reported at Featherston Camp on Monday. Tho soldier was admitted to tho cam]) hospital, where he is at present under observation. There aTO no other serious cases in (he camp hospital at tho present time. Tho men who have been admitted during the last few days are suffering chiefly from colds and inlluenzn, which are not taking a serious form. '

By a majority of one, the City Council decided last evening that the council remove tho embargo against the issue of licenses to motor-car drivers who possess tho eight of only one eye, in order that applications may ho considered on their merits.

Last evening a city councillor solemnly asked tho City Council if it would approve of men with one eye driving tramcars. Subsequently he wanted to know if i.t would, bo right for a man with one eye to drive a train, and then ho insisted on knowing if a mail with ono eyo' should be' allowed to drive a motor-car. Evidently with irnffic "the outlook is bad." '

A change in the method of compiling (ho attestation papers has been decided upon, in tli.it in future the question as to tho recruit's religion will not be asked by tho medical officer, but by the attesting officer after tho oxamiuatiou is completed and the classification is decided. Complaint was recently made that' medical officers when examining recruits usually asked for particulars of religion, the suggestion being that this information might influence the classification of the men. It was then explained by the Defence authorities that particulars of a reservist's religion were merely required for the purposes of attestation which followed examination. The change has iboen made in order to' allay any doubt which may exist in the public mind.

Cabinet lias approved of the erection of a convalescent ward at Masterton Hospital for returned soldiers, our special correspondent telegraphs. Tho Wairnrapa Patriotic Association will contribute X'sooo, the Defence Department 663000, and the Public Health Department i3OOO towards tho work.

In connection with the examinations for junior and senior national scholarships, that part relating,to tho examination in woodwork, metalwork, housecraft (cookery and laundry work), and dressmaking and needlecraft (which in each case consists of a written examination and a practical test) Ims been amended by tho addition of the following requirements:—"ln addition, every candidate in the subjects of woodwork and melalwork is required either to hand to tho supervisor at the examination or. to forward to tho Director of Education at Wellington by November 30 a piece of woodwork (or metalwork as tho case may be) copied from a typical example or designed by him. as n specimen of his work performed under ordinary workshop conditions. The specimen is to be made between October 1 and November 30 nearest to tho examination, and is to bo accompanied by tho freehand sketch or the finished "drawing from which tlieiicee of work was executed. "Willi tho specimen of work there must bo sent a certificate signed bv the class instructor and the director of 'the school that tho work is the candidate's unaided effort, executed without tho supervision or direction of the: instructor."