LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 294, 31 August 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Second Wellington Military Sor-' vice Board will resume in Wellington on Tuesday next.

I'almerston shopkeepers have, according to a Press Association telegram, decided in favour o; closing at 5.30 p.m. in future.

The_ enlarged committee set up by the Wellington Diocesan Synod to consider the ultimate site of the proposed Anglican Cathedral unanimously decided on the present site of St. Mark's, Church, Dull'erin Street. Sir. John Duncan has given £500 to the cathedral fund.

It is stated that from October 1 the wholesale- price of nilk landed in .Wellington will be reduced to IOJd. per Kallon. At present the- landed piieo n 12.} d. per gallon.

The Camp Commandant at Featherston, in. routine orders, regrets to announce the death of Sergeant-Ma ior J. C. Burns, of Infantry Details, who died at the Wellington Hospital on Awust 23. . "

"I think that if there is one thine: the Hun regrets having started the' use of it is poisoned gas," said the llev. W. Walker. Chaplain ■ to the Forces, in Christcliureh. He continued: "There is not the slightest doubt that at the beginning gas gave him many advantages, but so splendid is our protection to-day that on one night when seven thousand gns shells were fired, by the Germans not a casualty could be traced to them. One night 28,000 shells were fired, but I only heard of just a few—half a dozen—who were gassed, and do nnt know that one death resulted. If the Germans started its use. certainly the British have perfected it. (Applause.) lam glad to hear yon applaud that, for I have heard some people, in Nov.- Zealand express doubt, as to whether wo should use it. We cannot afford to let the enemy use the most diabolical, despicable weapon without giving him back some of his own coin. We wn" u«o very nuinli more gas, a worse kind of gas, and more effective methods than do the Germans. (Applause.) I ca'_ finite understand the Germans sending a message to Switzerland agrp"ini to five im the use of poison 7,as if the Allies would do the same!"

A father who appeared before the Second Canterbury .Military Service Board at Christehurch, in furtherance of an appeal for the return of u son on furlough to New Zealand, after four years on active service, said ho had boon 53 years in tho Dominion, and had 21 children. Five of his sons had gone away at the beginning of tho war, and two had been killed. In reply to a question, he said lie had been married twice, and had 11 daughters married. The board decided to recommend three months' furlough on full pay for the soldier son. An executive meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association will be 1 eld to-day, and will continue over the week-end. Among matters that will In discussed are the questions of enemy aliens and the employment of returned soldiers. Bird-catching has provided remunerative, employment for trappers in the Ashhurtoir County this winter. One resident in the liakaia district has. receiv-.-ed .from tho County Council since tho beginning of the present.-month cheques amounting to £51 !)s. 3d., which represents 17,129 head.'

A conference of directors of technical schools and supervisors of manual training centres is to sit at the Wellington Education Board's rooms on Tuesday, Wednesday, Mid Thursday next. Tile conference will be fully representative of technical education, as practically all those engaged in administering it have signified their intention to be present. At the invitation of the chairman of the National Efficiency Board a joint conference between the members of the National Efficiency Board and the directors will take place on Thursday next, when the place of technical education in promoting the efficiency of our future citizens will be tho topic under discussion.

A pretty soldier- story was told by the Hon. T. M. Wilford at the Soldiers' Club luncheon in Masterton on Thursday- 'The Minister stated that somewhere in Franco some New Zealand soldiers ontcrnd an .inn where beer was retailed in the smallest of measures. They each of them took .a jug, which they had filled, and they then consumed the contents. As they left the iijn three Belgian hoys, who were seated in tlit corner, asked the lady bar-tender who were those strange fellows «ho had just departed. ' "Why,.don't vou know?" she replied. "Those are New Zealand tanks in action!"

A Gazette extraordinary was issued yesterday declaring certain companies, iirms. and persons to be enemies, and removing others from itho list.

At a meeting of the Wellington liiiinch of the New Zealand Educational Institute last evening the secretary (Mr. W. W. Jtowntrec) reported that the resolution to the effect- that the institute should call on 'the Minister of Education for an. immediate increase of teachers' salaries had been forwarded to the Mew Zealand Educational Institute. ,' A reply fad been received that the ' loial members did not .think that it \ould bo wise to send the resolution' on to the .Minister at. the present time. The resolution was being' forwarded to distant members of the executive for their consideration. It was resolved to rcfei the letter back to the N.Z.E.1., with a request that the replies of tho distant members of the. executive be expedited. '.. i . . .

■■''No-Man's-Land'has its tragedies, .but it has its humour, also," said the Jtev. W. Walker, Chaplain -to the Forces,' in the course of • an address in Chris.tchurch. "One night.:when, wo were in the trenches. it became quite evident that something had-happened —I. don't know what—which had made the enemy 'get his wind up.' Ho thought ho .was'going.'to. be raided, so put up a S.O.S. signal, and brought down a ■ barrage of German, shells on No Man's Land. This - puzzled our men, and they immediately ■ suspected that this was a German protective for ! a raiding party. 'We therefore sent up ■ a S.O;S. also, aiid'our barrage commenced on the same spot. ■' Thousands of' shells poured dowii' there, vet no one was out in No Man's Land. It is all raht to laurdi, but £20,000 to ~£30,000 worth of shells were spent there and no ono was hurt!"

Tho Auckland Education Board refused to sanction arrangements reported to have-been made by--the chairman of t-lic' City Schools Committee,;' Mr; E. Lilly,' for the holding of special picture matinees '.for : the ' benefit' of' children under its. charge,, It'was stated that the first matinee- had been arranged for August 80, eacli performance to'take an hour and a half, the price- of'admission to .'bo 2d. -The matter was lirought. before the board's attention'in a letter from, a member of the committee, .who pr,ote«tod strongly against the proposed innovation, on the ground, that it/Would mean the loss of half a day„'s schooling, and be certainly .would not allow, his own.child to go.' Members of the-board took tho-'samo view of the matter, Mr. Botldie expressing the opinion that the whole, proposal. was absolutely absurd and untenable. The chairman of the School Committee, had no authority whatever to attempt to'introduce such a scheme. No compulsion could, be applied in ,tho case of pupils who might not wish to attend, and any attempt to carry out the scheme would, therefore, result in serious disorganisation of classes. Mrs. Baumo stated that the whole question was one of policy, upori which the board .should mako a ruling. If the scheme was one to bo taken up, tha board was the proper- body to do so. Members unanimously supported a motion that- teachers and committee bo informed that the board entirely disannrovod of school time being used in this way, and would not permit any deviation from its rules. The chairman of tho committee stated subsequently that in spite of the board's resolution the entertainment will bo held as arranged. ~ ~

- The dairy industry is increasing so rapidly in Canterbury ,that\ difficulty i. found in securing storage.accommodation. Mr. J. R. Thacker, of Okain's Bay, speaking on this subject, stated that last year cheese producers entered into arrangements with tho Lyttelton Harbour Board to supply cstra' cool storage at-a cost of. £5000.. Tho pioducers agreed to pay £2500 of. tho sum. They collected it by a surcharge, and estimated that two years would' be required to clear the liability. As a matter of fact, the surcharge, en ncccunt of the irweascd ' production, yielded £2100 in the first year.

The Inspector of Factories (Mr. G. 11. • Lightfoot) proceeded against Raleigh •Ginsberg, manager of the Rialto, at tho Magistrate's. Court yesterday, on an information of haying employed an assistant after 10.30 p.m. without written authority, and also for failing to keep a wages and time book. Mr. P. Levi, who appeared for defendant, admitted the offences. Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., who heard the ease, said that undoubtedly there was a rush in restaurants after picture shows and theatres closed, but tho law was quite clear and reasonable. Half-past ten was late enough for young girls to work. On tho first charge defendant was fined £5, with 7s. costs, and on the second information a penalty of £1, with 7s. costs, was imposed.

The Minister of Mines stated yesterday that boring operations havo been in progress on the State coal mine reserve at Point Elizabeth for some months. It is hoped that the prospects will make the opening of a new coalfield possible, but this has not yet been proved a certainty.

A milk vendor named James Cathcart was prosecuted at the Magistrate's Court yesterday ou an information of having carried a sackful of oyster shells on his cart._ Mr. J. O'Shea, the City Solicitor, said tho practice was dangerous as it might lead to contamination of the milk. Defendant stated that.he was carrying the shells to oblige a friend, and his cans were empty at the time. Ho was going.into camp and was disposing of the business. Mr. F. V. Frasicr, S.M., imposed a penalty of £1.

A number of years ago Dr. A. H. Cookayno prepared a book on the trees and plants of New Zealand, and this book has become a text hook for botany in tho secondary schools and university colleges. The book is not out of print, but Dr. Cockayne has agreed to prepare a second edition. Dr. Cockayne has handed tho copyright of the book to the Government. So soou as tho new parts of the manuscript have been prepared the book will be at onco reprinted, a request, urging that this .should be dono having been. received from a. professor of biology at one of the university colleges. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon.. . G. W. Russell), giving this information yesterday, said that the intention was to make a small -profit on the publication, and the money so ■obtained would bo set apart fov a prize fund for students of botany.

The winter, with its heavy and fairly cuitiuuous rains, has been n gowl one for the "weathering" of the filling bobii:ii the new seawall at Oriciflrtl liny, which is to form tho side-walk. Providing the conditions continue favourable and labour is procurable the v.wk of laying the footpath will he procDjded witli during the summer months.

Mr. Boon (captain of the Miramar Fire Brigade) waited on the Miramar Borough Council on Thursday evening with the suggestion that a conference, be arranged between three councillors and three members of the Fire Brigade ta discuss certain differences that bad arisen. ] t was decided to conform with the brigade's suggestion, and tho Mayor and) Councillors Chapman and Robertshaw were appointed to represent the council.

Tho Hutt Bowling Club hopes, as a result of Thursday night's concert, to hand over to tho Red Cross Copper '['mil Fund the sum of approximately £300. • The sale of sweets realised £28; the copper trail in tho Arcade, £25 lis. 3d.; and the sale of soldiers' baskets £146. The following bought the basket at auction, the final buyer being Mr. G. 11. Scales for £32 12s (Mr. Scales had previously purchased it for £10); Mr. W. Callender, £10; W. Brodcriek, £8; Mr. W. L. .Meek, £7; Hon. T. M. Wilford, Messrs. 0. S. Watkins, Hrassell, Sladden, Trevethick, Harry, Ilayward, Cotton, Cooper, G. I'carce, W. Mowbray, and Mcsdames Cameron, Ayson. and T. R. Lees, each £0; Mr. B. P. Rishworth.' £3 35.: Mr. H. E. Ward, £2 25.; and Messrs. Parlow, Grautham, and Bulkley, each £.i. Is.

Several tobacconists were proceeded against before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., ' at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday on informations of having kept their premises open after 5 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, August 14. The names of tho defendants, who were represented .by Mr. P. Levi, were J. G. Bennett, R. Houldsworth, J. W. Walker, and Violet Woodhouse. From the evidence it appeared that one section of tho trade closes on Wednesday afternoons and the other on Saturdays. Under a requisition,, those who close .on Wednesday afternoon were granted permission to keep'open on Fridays till 9 p.m. and on Saturdays till 10 p.m. Those/ whoclose on Saturday must close each day at 7 p.m., except on Wednesdays and Fridays, when they inust close at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. respectively. Mr. Levi pointed out that under those circumstances tobacconists who observed Wednesday as their half-day had'five more hours in which to do business than did those who closed on Saturday. His Worship said that the Wednesday people were.in the'.happy position of having two late nights against tho other section's one. It appeared to him that the requisition fixing the hours was framed for one of two. reasons—either to gain an unfair advantage over, those who closed on Saturday; or else to force them-to-close on the. same day. Probably the latter was the correct view. He was sympathetic with those who closed on .Saturday, but. the law would have to bo observed. The Minister might be apnroached on- the question/-, but it was doubtful whether anything could be done. He would impose merely a nominal'penalty of Is. and costs, in order to give the tobacconists concerned, an opportunity of approaching the Minister. ] Security -for appeal was fixed at £10. •