LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 286, 22 August 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Fcalhcrslon Military Cauui advises Hint 82,1)58 Private Edwin Hall (,'ornoy, Specialist Coy., Forty-seventh Reinforcements, died at the Auckland Hospital on Tuesday at 9.30 p.m. Tho cause of death is suspected to have been cerebrospinal meningitis. Deceased was twenty years of age. The next-of-kin is his father, Mr. Waller Corney, 8 Pompaßier Slrcet, Ponsonby, Auckland. In reply to the resolution of the Palmerston ..North Chamber <,f ■ Commerce resarding tho National Efficiency Board sitting with tho military tribunal on tho Defence Commission's report, Sir James Allen said: "I nm very much obliged to your chamber's suggestion, but inquiry is being made by the Defcnco staff into each suggestion mado by the Royal Commission, and if; is not in my opinion necessary to invito tho Efficiency Jsoard .to join in tho deliberations."—Press Assn. Five fresh cases of diphtheria liavo been admitted to tho Masterton Hospital this week. "I am not gmng lo make a good motor road to the Vest Coast," said the Minister of Public Works (Sir William Fraser) in Christchurch. "Tourists can take tho railway. If they must go to the West Coast they should go by rail. If they want to go by motor they can go, but I nm not going to make a motor road. It is absurd.' As soon as a railway is built nowadays, they want a good motor road alongside." He waß quite prepared, he added, to help in keeping tho road passable and open to traffic. Critics had said that tho Dofonce Department was sending moro men to the front than New Zealand was capable of doing, remarked Sir James Allen in tita course of a speech at Greymouth. When big casualties had been anticipated tho Army Council had asked that the reinforcements bo doubled for the following five months* The request bad bpen complied with, as had'been done with all requests that had come from the Army Council. When it way found that tho casualties wero not heavy he had communicated with tho Army Council, asking whether tho increased drafts should bo continued, and ho had received tho reply that it would not be necessary. The Defence Department had been criticised, but it had nevor sent one moro man from New Zealand than was necessary. ' It had acted on tho advice of tho Army Council in tho Motherland. Thero wore soino who said that New Zealand had dono her -part, and that- America should now bo loft to finish tho war, and that we should not send more men.- Ho hoped that the people of New Zealand would not subscribe to that doctrine. The Minister, who expressed tho opinoin, that if ihis vcar did not end the war it. would end iii 1919, added that he hoped it would not bo necessary again to increase the reinforcements from Now Zealand.

Tho'Chief Postmaster advises that the mails for the United Kingdom which left New Zealand on July 4 last have arrived at their destination sofoly.

Somo months ago the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard discussed ibuilding plans at some length in view of the early arrival here of a new and up-to-date American-built, X-ray plnnt, which bad been on older for somo time. This plant has now arrival-all except ono nsscr.tiai port, which has been hanging fire now for three weeks. Cablo /advice has been received stating that the missing part should arrive in Wellington about the end of next month. When previously discussing how tho X-ray plant was to be suitably housed it was suggested that the prasent suite of board offices on tho top iknr of the bacteriological .flat might bo given up to accommodate the newest branch, and that new offices (to take in the Charitable Aid offices) be erected near tho main entrance to the Hospital grounds.-That, proposal has evidently been knocked on the head, as, at the Iward meeting to-day members are to be asked to sanction the "raising of a loan of ,£GOOO fortbe erection of a new ward on top of Ward 4 for tho use of tho X-ray branch of .the Hospital's activities. The proposal has ibeen agreed to in committee, and only needs to be endorsed by the full board to mako the way clear for ihe money to bo raised and tho work proceeded with. The X-iay expert, who was recently appointed to the staff of the Hospital, is Dr. Robertson, a Uunedin gtadunte, who has practised in Johnsonville. Ho is a son of Mr. DonaH Robertson, the Public Service Commissioner, and was formerly a student at Wellington College.

Whilst speaking informally at tho meeting of tho Hutt Road Board yesterday afternoon, Mr. F. T. Moore said that whilst a definite speed limit (25 miles an hour) was placed on motor-cars traversing ■ the Hutt Road, no provision had been made regarding a speed limit for motor-buses. He was of opinion that the speed for motor-buses plying for hiro should bo limited to fiftee-i miles an hour. Tho City Solicitor :Mr. John O'Shea) stated that he gathered from evidence given in the Court's that these motor-buses could not (ravel faster than eight miles an hour. Mr. J. ,M.. ,Dalo (also a lawyer) said that was only tho case when they bit anyone. (Laughter.) Mr. Moore (a motor-bus owner) said that the motor-buses raced one another along the lTutt Road, and that sort of thing 6honld be put a stop to. He had known one motor-bus to attain a speed of 2(5 miles an hour in a race along the road. It was very bad for tho engines, and hardly safe for passengers. On being asked why he, a bus proprietor, did not order his ibuses to stop racing, Mr. Moore raid it was all -very well to talk, but one driver did not like tho other fellow to get ahead, and they could not bo got to obey instructions.

Mr. D. Grant has resigned his position as woodwork instructor to the Masterton Technical School, owing to failing health.

At the annual meeting of the congregation of Knox Church, Masterton, a glowing tribute was paid to the good work accomplished by the Rev. R. Inglis. Tho report, of the managers showed an all-round increa.se in the work.

"Tho attendance for Uio month has not been good, owing to tho abnormal weather experienced," reported Mr. J. W. Butler, attendance officer to tho Education Board, at its meeting yesterday. "I am persuaded, however," ho added, "that the weather gavo an opportunity to tho slackers to make this an excuso for absenco from school. Tho weather was so shocking, however, that it was difficult to discriminate between thoso ca6es that wero perfectly ligitimate and those that were not. In many of tho country districts tho rivers were in flood for quite a lengthy period, and in many schools it was quite impossible to maintain good average attendance." The officer further reported that during the month he had issued 8i notices and nine final warnings, as well as 61 type-written letters to parents. In seven cases of old offenders Court proceedings were taken. "Ono caso of absolute defianco of the requirements of the Act has given me some concern. A lad of 12, who has only passed tho 4th Standard, has not attended 6chool for upwards of five months, aud the lad is employed by his father to drive an express tor hire. The parent has been before the Court on four occasions, and the last time a fine of .£2 with costs was inflicted. The father evidently finds it more profitablo to pay the fines and to exploit the boy's labour in tho way he is doing. I am again proceeding against tho parent. Tho average roll," reports the officer, "shows an incroaso for the quarter over that of tin} March auarter of 39!) and an increase in the average attendance of IGI. This is an increaso in the roll of 718, and in the average attendance an increase of C 53, since tho end of the ouartcr ending December 81 ,• 1917. This increase is chiefly in Wellington city and suburbs, aud tho transfers from all parts of tho Dominion. The city schools are at present verv full, and I am experiencing some difficulty in niacin? new arrivals in a school adiacent to their homes." The average roll for the twelve months showed mi increase of 825, and the average daily attendance an increase of 802.

According lo the Thilcli journal "Mnnsbodo," Hie artist who designed l.lio f-fty pfennig paper money for I lie town of Nieder Lnlinstein, in Prussia, has boon arrested, as if; was found on close examination fl>"t above n \\»m which was included in "ic design ho had inscribed in very small tellers, "zarte Soluissiielit: susses' Hoffen (Tender longing: Sweet hopo), and above a design of throe turnips t.ho words, "So loben wir." (This is how we Hve.) The paper money had been in circulation for a long lime before the discovery was made.

A circular sent by the Minister or Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell) l-i Hospital Boards through the Dominion requests that they should agree to a uniform maintenance charge of £2 2s. a week for patients. At present the average is about ,£1 155., but in several

small hospital? they run as high as .L' 3

Us. In rho caso of members of friendly societies it is recommended that the weekly fee should bo .81 Is. The report of tho City Council's milk' inspector (Mr. F. Rawlinson) covering inspections mado during tho month of July states:—"l beg to report the seiious position re adulterated milk during the month of July, 1918. For tho whole year, 1017-18, 1455 samples wero taken, and only twolvo were found to contain added water. From July Ito 31 the number of samples taken totalled 10'J, and of these twenty wore found to contain added water ranging from 4 per cent to 28 per cent. In two cases where water was found in milk-cans on vendors' carts, tho samples obtained proved to contain 28 per cent, added water in one caso and fl per cent, in the other. As a check against the vendors concerned, Inspector Cowdrey and myself carried out: a special inspection of the farmers' milk arriving at Lanibton and Thorndon railway stations on July 30, and 33 samples were taken. The results showed that only two boro traces of added water, and these were less than 4 per cent.; and I also obtained 2G samples direct from the Makara farmers, and only ono sample contained added water. Therefore it would be unjust to suspect tho farmers all tho time in, face of this inquiry." More than a year ago complaints wore made that certain agents had misled reservists and their wives in regard to insurance. Tho Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board had evidence ' of such twelve months ago, but the schemes continue. The board's report for July igain warns reservists to bewnro of the ambush into which they may be led. "Tho board regrets," tho report runs, "to roport instances of deliberate irregularities on tho part of certain insurance canvassers, who have, without consultation with the board, discussed with applicants, both orally and by circular letter, matters of policy. This is a dangerous practice. As tho applicants are invariably proponents for new free life insurance, and have been prompted to effect such, the insurance offices would be well advised to warn their, canvassers, and not only will applications for financial assistance bo prejudiced by their interference and misdirection, but the soldiers' wives or their dependants Till find themselves called upon to meet fresh obligations needlessly incurred. Insurance canvassers have wilfully and deliberately instructed applicants not lo mention existing life insurance and to take out a policy for XSOO, on the canvasser's assurance that tho board will meet premiums on tho full sum assured without further inquiry. An inspection of grants of new life insurance has been arranged, and it is probable that several grants .will have to bo rescinded." A large proportion of recruits has taken advantago of tho free-life insurance scheme, and many difficulties have arisen in the matter of meeting warloading within a reasonable time after the embarkation of tho assured.

About 8 o'clock on Monday night a daring attempt waß made at robbery of jewellery from the window of Mr. Moss Robinson's pawnshop, in Victoria Street, Auckland. The sound of breaking glass drew the attention of Mr. Myer, Robinson, who was in tho house behind the shop, and he rushed to tho street to see the shop window broken and a man running down tho street. Ho went in pursuit, and caught the man, enlisting, tho aid of a couple of bystanders to hold the captivo till a constable was summoned. The prisoner, on being taken to the police'station, gave the name of William Joseph Gaffcy, and his age as 35 years. He was charged with breaking and entering and the theft of jewellery valued at .£SB 17s. fid. An examination of the window showed that a flat-iron bad been thrown through it, and that the jewellery inside had been hurriedly gathered up at random through tho hole. All the missing articles were recovered, the loss, being confined to the damage to the window, assessed at .£ls. Gaffey was brought before Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M., next morning, and remanded till next Monday.

Increased activity in shipbuilding in the Auckland province in the near future was. indicated in a statement made before' the First Auckland Military Service Board. An appeal iras made by a shipwight, employed by the Northern Steamship Company, on the ground that he was engaged in an essential industry. Mr. Skelton said that, while the Northern Steamship Company was not supporting tho appeal, for the reason that tho appellant was employed only as' a casual repair hand, it was imperative that shipwrights should ho retained, as renewed activity in the matter of building wooden ships locallj was to be expected. Ho mentioned that at present the timber for two IOOu-ton ships, was being taken out nnd prepared in the Northern Wairoa, aud it was proposed to utilise the services of carpenters and semiskilled labour under the ' direction of men such as the appellant. There were, he said, in Auckland, only 52 shipwrights, who were kept constantly employed, and tho importance of retaining them was now becoming apparent.

In an address on the supply and distribution of milk delivered to member! of the Auckland Civil League Mr. E. J. B. Allan, vice-president of the Dairj Employees' Umon, said the shortage ol supply was now only temporal}', but there was a possibility of Auckland becoming as poorly supplied as Wellington now was. Distribution was another serious problem. The present methods wero insanitary and unhygienic. Tho Temedy was tho serving of milk in hermetically sealed bottles. Another factor to be. considered was tho physical condition of tho roundsmen. Reforms could only bo effected when supply and distribution ware taken out of tho hands of pri/ate companies nno placed under the control of u. public body. Mr. Allan stated that the proportion of the incroaso in wages to tho increase in tho price of milk was a3 £ to 37j per cent.

Warrington got its full share of tho recent snowfalls, the "Otngo Daily Time*" says. On ono farm tho family were surprised to find it quite dark late one morning, and discovered that a snowdrift was banked up round the house to a height of nearly 15ft.. through which they had to dig a "communication sap" to the surface. Naturallv, farm work in that locality was at a standstill, but tho community was not unduly depressed. They brought out household trays of various shapes and, sizes, and climbed the long, steep slopes. Then, instead of tho ordinary farming routiue, there was to be seen the invigorating spectacle of farmors and their families careering swiftly and gaily down the one-in-ono gradients mounted on tea trays, until they brought up against a wire fence at tho bottom, when thev gathered their respective trays .aud started over again.

A graphic story of the recent mishap to Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co.'s steamer Tambo is told by Mr. E. C. Eliot, Resident Commissioner for the Gilbert and Ellico Groups, who was a passenger. At tho time of the breakdown the vessel was some SO miles north-east of Cape Byron, with a heavy sea running, and it was soou found that the break ( in the rudder post was of too serious a nature to bo repaired on board. The only means of steering tho steamer was to attach a steel hawser to the rudder, and bring it amidsliips of tho "steamer, and to do this it was necessary that someone should go into the water to [attach tho ■hawser to tho rudder. It was then, said Mr. Eliot, that the native members of the crew showed bravery of a high order. They dived into the water, which was very rough and infested with sharks, and accomplished the work, sometimes remaining in the sea for hours. All the time it was found necessary to cover the vicinity with revolvers to protect them from tho sharks, of which two, between 10ft. and 12ft. in length, were shot, and two others wounded. Eventually the vessel was got more or less under control, and proceeded to Tweed Heads, arriving there on August 3. After remaining there a brief time, she went on to Brisbane. Mr. Eliot spoke in tho highest terms of the captain and crew, who showed bravery and skill under vory trying circumstances.

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It was stated by the Ashburton County Council's traffic inspector that upwards of 1001) motor-cars from tlio south crossed tho Ashburton traffic bridge last week, hound for the Grand National Kate Meeting in Chrislchureu.

Tlifc tender of Mr. J. L. M'Millan for JlVlbQ lias been accepted for the erection of the'iirsl portion of Iho Normal School, Kolburn. The class rooms are arranged according to the latest ideas of school planning, .namely, round a courtyard with an upon verandah and balcony connecting the class rooms. Windows are placed on both sides of the rooms, so that there will be ample ventilation. The interior will be plastered throughout, and the exterior will be finished with cream, rough cast, and red brickwork. Thoi'oof is to be covered with Marseilles pattern tiles. The building will be completed in January next. The plans were prepared by Mr. W. Gray Young.