LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 295, 2 September 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A good many complaints have been made regarding the telephonic difficulty, of getting into communication with tho Public Services offices between 11.30 a.m. and noon on Saturdays, and tho Exchange has beon considerably bothered by exasperated inquirers. The explanation is simple. Now that the services commence work at 8.30 a.m., instead of 9 a.m. (as it was a month ago), office duties cea3B at 11.30 a.m. instead of noon on Saturdays.

. About 9 o'clock on Saturday night somo trouble omirred on an overseas steamer berthed at tho King's Wharf between several firemen and a Japanese member of the crow. As a result of a fracas the Japanese was arrested on a charge of assaulting two of tho firemen by stabbing them with a fork. The two men are alloged to have received wounds in, tho chost, but tho injuries are not of a serious nature.

"I liayo had a letter from an officer who knows all about tho Rarotongnn soldiers," said Sir James Allen, Act-ing-Prime Minister, on Saturday. "Writing from,, 'somewhere in Pales'tino,' " he says: 'From my experience I am more than ever convinced that, from a military point of view, you have in the Cook Islanders a splendid asset to the man-power of New Zealand. They are remarkably practical and nuick to learn.' "

A Chinaman named Leo Coo was found dead in bed at his house, 5 Haining Street, about 9 o'clock yesterday morning. The deceased, who was about 60 years of ago, was last seen alive at 6 p.m. on Saturday, when he appeared to be in good health. The body was removed to the morgue, and an inquest will probably be held.

Force of habit is often responsible for amusing incidents. One of these occurred in the Christ-church Magistrate's Court on Friday afternoon during the hearing of a Dofenco case. A sergeant-major instructor was giving evidence concerning the non-attendance at parades of a young delinquent, when he found that his roll papers had been disarranged. "As you were," he commanded in a peremntory tone while he proceeded to straighten out the documents. A "loud" smile went round the Court, as this was the second occasion upon which the same instructor has made this "break."

The committee representative of the whole-of tho Wellington Anglican Diocese, set up by the Synod in July to consider the long-proposed cathedral for Wellington, has reported to the Standing Committee that it has unanimously decided, on the site of St. Mark's Church in Duifcrin Street (overlooking the Basin Reserve) as the most central, convenient, and dignified site for tho cathedral, taking everything into consideration. The assumption is that tho Rev. Mr. Askew's scheme, announced a couple of years ago, will bo promulgated in tho course of time. The Roman ' Catholic Hierarchy, it is interesting to note, has also decided on 'Dufierin Street as the site for its ne.v cathedral.

During last month two petitions in bankruptcy wero filed, as against .one in August. 1917. For the eight months of the current year thcro wero thirtc-m bankruptcies in Wellington, a-s against four for the corresponding period of last year.

"I have never been to school in my life, and I have got on in the world all right," said Alfred Bradley, who was charged in the Juvenile Court on Saturday with having failed to send his son to school. Mr. F. V. Frazcr, S.M., who heard the case, remarked that had ho attended school he would probably bo now holding a better position (ban driving a cart. The Truant Officer (Mr. .1. W. llutlcr) stated-that Bradley bad been four times previously prosecuted, but still persisted in flouting the laws. Bradley was fined £2, with costs 75., in default seven days' imprisonment. A. D. Aitken, who was similarly charged, but whoso offence was less serious, was fined 55., with 7s. costs, and William Kealing wan fined- 25., without costs.

At tho Christchurch Magistrate's Court on Saturday, before llr. S. E. M'Cnrthy, S.M., Ann Gallagher and Frank Tliorno were each fined £50 for selling watered milk. —Press Assn.

At tho Auckland Police Court on Saturday Ernest Henry M'Kay was charged that, nt Chrißtchurch in September last, ho committed bigamy by going through a form of marriage with Pearl O. Chidgoy, teing then married to Ivy Alice La.fitte, who was still alive. Ho was remanded to appear at Wellington. Bail was fixed at ono surety of £100, or two of £50 each — Pross Assn.

A natural sequence of the iccent heavy suowstoims was the occurrence of big slips on some of the surrounding mountains Isnys the "Lako Wakatipu Mail"), and in ninny cases they vc-rc responsible for a heavy toll of stock. In ono case a slip luilf a mile wide raced down one of the slopes, accompanied by a roar like thunder, and buried a mob of cattle depasturing on tho fiat at .the foot of tho mountain in anything from 100 to 150 feet of mow. Other smaller slips—smaller only by comparison—have como down the gullies, carrying with them scores of sheep. In some instances tho "avalanche" has gained such speed in its downward course that even the natural barriers which the configuration of tho couutry piesented were not sufficient to check its career. One high-country owner tells of witnessing such a sight. The huge snowy mass just surmounted tl ese barriers, 30 or 40 feet high, as though they wero so many paltry mounds.

Some patriotio societies have from time to time been imposed upon by returned soldiers seeking to obtain money easily by fraudulent' statements. This subject was considered at a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association on Saturday. After discussion the executive passed the following _ resolution:— "That this association gives its hearty support to the prosecution of any returned soldier who has _ defrauded a patriotio society, or similar body, and urges this course in the best interests of returned soldiers generally."

"Timaru harbour a day or said a speaker at a meeting in Christchurch last week, "was absolutely bare of shipping, but if tho Dominion would grow lucerne every port of the Dominion could bo filled with ships. In the Australian drought of 1914-15, California was shipping unlimited supplies of baled lucerne to Australia, while New Zealand could not offer a single bale." The returning soldiers, he added, should not be sent to the LackMocks, for there was ample land near the railway lines, and ilf only a tenth of a man's holding was sown m lucerne that man would not come back for assistance. The whole trouble at piesent in regard to lucerne growing was due to lack of organisation among the farmers.

It is alleged that the process of procuring oil from penguins on the M'acquarne Islands, which are under tho jurisdiction of Tasmania, is a cruel one. Before issuing further permission to destroy the birds the Tasmanian Government intend to investigate the matter. They have communicated with Captain S. A. White, the South Australian ornithologist, asking him to undertake the task. This will be by no means easy work in these remote and frigid regions. The means of communications, are few and difficult, and the expedition may take five or six mouths. Captain White is seriously considering the request.

Consideration was given at a meeting of the exeoutive of the New Zealand Roturnod Soldiers' Association on Saturday to the subject of the treatment of returned soldiers suffering from tuberoular trouble. Instances wero quoted of men, generally in the early curable stage of tubercular disease, who wero moving about in public freely, and who declined medical treatment. It was decided to urge that the Pensions Bcujfd should recommend swell oases to the Defence Department for treatment, and that steps should be taken to prevent the discharge of such men until a cure had beon effected.

Tho question of tho employment of returned soldiers was considered at a meeting of the exeoutive of tho Now Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association on Saturday. Several speakers explained that in their respective centres matters on this head wore rapidly approaching a critical stage. It was decided to. constitute in the four chief centres of the Dominion, and ask them to investigate in detail the local situations in regard to present needs, as well as future demands .connected with repatriation. The committees aro to bo requested to report regularly to tho headquarters 'of the. association in Wellington on the matter, and the general secretary wa6 instructed to obtain the fullest information on tho subject from other countries.

Tho Mayor of OhristcUurch hopes some day to have a fragment of the West Coast forosts thrown over his front gato every evening. Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce dinner last week, ho said that with the waterpower and such areas of timber available, the Coast news-print paper manufacture should ho a success right from tho start.

It is hoped that the new Anglican Cathedral at Dunedin will he opened for divine service on December 1 next. The Primate has communicated with Archbishop Clarke, of Melbourne, asking him to preach at the opening service.

A fine seal was taken on tho Waihi beach recently, whore it had come up to bask in tno sun. Tho seal was brought into Waihi and exhibited, hut as the exhibitor subsequently' discovered, upon consulting the police, that tho taking of a soal is a breach ,of the Fisheries Act, he returned the visitor to its native element.

The proposed Fish Commission was referred to by the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. J. H. Qunson) a few days ago. He stated that other than an acknowledg-ment-of tho tolegram sent on hohalf of tho City Council ho had had no ( word from the Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister of Marine. Tho commission, as far as the council was concerned, had not yet been announced. Tho council's attitudo, and he might say that of Messrs. Sanford, Ltd., wko, after conferring with tho council's representative had left the matter in the hands of tho council, was unchanged. Tho council, fiftcr further consideration, was strongly of the opinion that the commission as a wliole was unnecessary, involving at this time of stress and strain a cost which was unwarranted, and from which no direct results could be expected. However, it was manifest that tho question was beyond the council's jurisdiction, and now rested with tho Government. At tho same time it was obviously tho duty of the council, having regard to tho interosts of tho citizens, who were tho principal nartios in the matter, to express its views, which had been conveyed to the Minister. It was to be hoped that they would receive duo consideration.

A valuable collection of natural history specimens was left by Mr. Henry Suter, who died recently in Christchurch, lie left directions to the Public Trustee, who is executor under the will to the effect that the collection should not bo sold without the consent of hit! two sons, whom ho instructed to offer tho collection to tho Dominion Museum. The Minister of Internal Affairs stated last week, in reference to the question of tho purchase of the collection, which is at, present in the CiMitorburv Museum, that he was awaiting proposals from Mr. B-. Speight, curator of the Canterbury Museum, and Professor Chilton, of Canterbury College, who are- acting as trustees for the sous in tho matter.

Probably few industries _ havo been hit- so badly by war conditions as that of tho mineral water trade, states a Christchurch paper. Prices of rs.w materials used in tho production have gone up from 100 to 400 per cent., bicarbonate of soda and citric 'icid especially. In addition to this somo of tho materials are almost unprocurable. This is the case, also, to a very serious extent with bottles, corks, and wire. In consequence of these conditions it is intended to increase the price of lemonade and other aerated waters.

In reporting to the Pop the desecration by Germans of 180 Catholic Churches in 0110 day, Bishop Crooy, of Tourney, Belgium, wrote:—"Most Holy Father,—l fulfil a painful duty in informing your Holiness of profanations perpetuated by tho Bavarian army in our churches. On November 14, at G o'clock a.m., soldiers invaded about one-third of the churches of my. diocese. They stopped tho services, expelled tho congregation, and forced the priest at the altar to interrupt the Holy Sacrifice of tho Mass. They then searched every corner of the buildings ; they lifted the consecrated stones of tho altars to inspect the interior; in many cases they broke the altars, and a number of sacred vessels were carried away. In numerous churches they obliged tho priest to open tho tabernacle' and show them the contents of tho holy ciborium. In a convent of tho city the officer in charge took the ciborium from tho tabernacle and opened it himself, because the nuns had refused to do it. Money and objects of art wero taken away from several rectories and convents.- Even convents of cloistered nuns were.invaded by soldiers.