LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 8, 4 October 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

. Many of the stafFs in tho big offices in town havo been thinned out this week by the ravages of influenza. Somo of tho banks have felt the scou'rgo severely, probably through the grubby medium of the perambulating bank-note, and tho staff of the General Post Office lias suffered appreciably. It appears that thore, is no avoiding the scourge, and ordinary measures of self-protection aro impervious to the insidious attacks of the • epidemic, which is worse this spring than for ten years past. The recruiting authorities have decided that reservists twenty years of age, 1 enlisting voluntarily, must produce birth certificates. Soipe trouble bad been caused in the post by the enlistment of nineteen-year-old lads, who represented themselves to be twenty years old in order to avoid having to produce tho written cpnsent of their parents.

A Press Association message from Timaru states that General Robin and General Henderson ;yesterday inspected. St. Saviour's Orphanage, which was recently erected, and which it has been proposed to acquire for a military hospital. They will report to the Government. They also visited the Boys' High School sports, nnd General Robin praised the boys' drill and bearing and the band. The children of the Fifth and Sixth Standards at the Maranui School conducted a mock election yesterday, under the supervision of tho teachers. On the previous day the pupils were told that the election would bo held, and that it was hoped they would show they were able to vote intelligently. Much interest in the event was displayed by tho children, who proved that they were by no means ignorant on electioneering matters. The. names on tho voting papers wero those of tho candidates for Wellington Central. There wero one hundred on the electoral roll, and the votes wore cast as follow:—Mack, 62; .Tlildreth, 22; Fraser, 11; Garmson, 3; Atmorc, 1; Tanner, 1.

Mr. James Henry Burnet has been appointed a member of the Licensing Committee for tho district of Wanganui.

A meeting of tho executive of the Wellington Competitions Society was held last evening, Mr. Helliwell presiding. It was decided to hold tho whole of the competitions in the Grand Opera, House, thus ensuring tho comfort of tho (icjnpetitors and of the general public. Tho secretary reported that tho total number of entries received constituted a record for the Dominion, the number being 1416, not including a few froni outlying districts which had been received by telegraph., It was hoped to have them tabulated within a tew days, when the entries in the various sections will be made known.

"The Wellington _ Public Schools Lawn Tennis Association still continues to'clo good work among school children, and its annual tournament again proved a very successful affair," says the annual report of the Wellington Pro-vincial-Lawn Tennis Association. "It is deserving of all the encouragement your association caii give it, and your committee is alive to its potentialti.es. A donation of £3 3s. was made towards tho prizes at tho tournament, mul application made to tiic New • Zealand Lawn Tennis Association for a donation of a similar .amount from that body/' Special rcd'erciieo is made to the loss sustained .by tho departure on active sorvico of Mr. W-. J. Melody.

A taxi-driver was suspended by the City Council last evening frota driving foil one week for failing to deliver a teleplioue message whilst occupying the, iirst position on the stand.

The Auckland Branch of the Now Zealand Educational Institute passed a motion protesting against an attempt niado by circulars through tho public schools to destroy the teaching of true patriotism and loiver tho military morale of our people. The mover of tho motion stated tlmt tho circulars bordered' oil sedition. Teachers wei;o urged not to display war pictures on tho walls, and to refrain from praising the soldiers, and it was suggested that the text books should be repealed, with a view to ultimately freeing the people from militarism.—Press Assn.

"Is it possible to improve the conditions under which school children can renew their tramway concession tickets at the Thorndon oiiinei"' Councillor R. A. Wright asked at tho City Council meeting last evening. . "It seems that .the,v have to. get their tickets cn tho last day of the month, so there is a crush. (L'ould they not. get tho tickets on any day in tho last week of the month?"' The Mayor said that the system needed improving and that he would consult, the Tramways Manager to see. if a better arrangement could be made.

Receipt, of the sum of £10 forwarded to the Treasury by a. person unknown, as conscience money, is acknowledged in the Gazette.

Since the City Council took means to diminish tho confusing glare ol fullpowered head-lights on motor-cars, a distinct improvement is noticeable 'in tho city streets of an evening. 'Ibis is due'to most of the ears being now provided with dimmers, which enables tho driver, by turning a switch, to throw a half-light instead of a lull 0110 on tho road ahead. On the country roads, too, an improvemenet liasi been noted, as the motorist knows perhaps better than anyone tho danger of being mot with ii pair of powerful acetylene gas lamps, which dominate his own •'electrics," so when a motorist hears the horn of an approaching ear ho dims down until the car has passed, and the other invariably responds. It is becoming tho etiquette of tho road to do so—etiquette bused upon the sound principle of mutual safety. The Wellington City Council deserves credit for tho ma-nncr it took up the glaring headlight nuisance a few months ago.

Tho Wellington City Council resolved last evening:—"That tho St. John Ambulance Association be informed that it is regretted that the council cannot accede to.their request to provide a section of land for tho erection, of a. building to houso the association's various branches.

By an amendment to the regulations wider the Public Service Act, published in the Gazette, the allowance which may be paid l'or the use by an officer of his own bicycle on official business is increaseed from £5 to £6 per annum.

Tho prospects of the flax industry in the Auckland district this season are still somewhat uncertain, in view of the limited shipping space available, the' "Herald" states. A certain number of mills havo commenced operations, and under present conditions will be able to continue working until Christmas. A prominent Auckland merchant stated that tho only shipping space available for hemp at present was in sailing vessels to America, and as the American demand for the commodity was limited to a period of two montlis it was impossble to form any reliable opinion regarding the industry. Those engaged in the industry were hopeful, nowever, thai conditions in regard to both shipping and markets would improve as the season progressed, and enable the mills that had commenced operations at least to continuo' throughout the season. ' The Finance Committee 'reported to the City Council last evening that they had been waited upon by a deputation representing the Wellington Industrial Association with reference to tho Technical Education Board's finances. Tho associaton havo urged that tho council grant the sum of £22,000 for tho buildings and surrendered leases of Mercer Street land, instead t of the amount previously proposed to be granted, viz., £10,000. The committee would report to the next meeting of the council on tho proposal.

Tho Marino Department have presented a number of quinnat salmon to the aquarium at the Wellington Zoo.

Amended charges for admission to tlio Waitomo, Ruakuri, and Aranui Caves are published in the Gazette.

The Commandants of the Somes Island and Motuihi Island internment camps have been appointed additional registration officers utidor tlio Registration of Aliens Act.

"Some people are unler the impression that the finances of tho tramway undertaking can stand almost any strain," the Mayor observed at tlio Citv Council last evening. "I am not speaking with any reference' to the tramway, trouble, but on tho general business .aspect. The. fact is that the cost of everything as rising so rapidlythat tho finances are in that way boiug liit."

Tho Auckland Coal Dealers' Association has derided to increase the price of house and kitchen coal from tho Taupiri, Pukemiro, and Waipa collieries, as froni October 1, from 445. 3d. a ton and 40s. 9d; per ton, to 495. 6cl. aiid 455. 6d. respectively, with a discount of 2s. a ton for cash on or before delivery. Schedules of tlio dues fixed and the regulations mado for the use of the wharf in Collingwood harbour arc published in tlie Gazette. The recent allegations of laxity m morals among children were reflected in a motion passed by tho Auckland branch of the Educational .Institute, states a Press Association ' message. Tho motion viewed with regret the attempts beng mado to establish denominational primary schools througliout the Dominion on the ground that the public primary school work was secular and behind, and the ground thaH the attitude of the teachers was unChristiaii.

The Gazette announces that the prohibition Of poswloorrosponckncoacldressed to Marshall Brothers, Sjdncj, lias boon revoked. f The Clutha Branch of the Farmers Union discussed the rabbit pest last week, and it urged that with the cessation of trapping, on account ot the drop in the price of skins, the natural enemy of the rabbit should be encouiiitred. A motion was earned urging the Government to establish breeding stations for stoats and weasels, and supply thein to the farmers.