LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 26, 25 October 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association cablegram from New York states that the Australian editors havo left New York en route to Australia.

Only 22 cases of diphtheria were reported by the Health Inspectors for ■Hμ month ended October 15, as compared with 48 during the previous month and forty for the corresponding month of last year. During tho month eight cases of scarlet fever, eight of tuberculosis, and three of cerebrospinal meningitis wore reported. ( The miners a. Pnparoa are on strike over a certain place being included in bavii ground and bad ventilation, eays a Press Association telegram from Greymouth. The management insisted that the inspector of mines had made two tests. He found 750 cubic feet of air per minute on the first test. When the second test was made a brattice was broken by a shot fired, but even then 350 cubic'feet was shown. The Mining Act provides for only 300 cubic feet. Tho inspector declared that the spot was well ventilated, but tho men still refuse to return. Mr. Konrkc, the president of tho Millers' Federation,, visited Roa, and nsked the men to resume, but they refused. Mr. Reid, Chief Inspector of Mines, will make sin examination of the locality on Saturday. The mine remains idle in the meantime. The hon. treasurer of King George's Fund for Sailors, Mr. R. Darroch, acknowledges the receipt of the sum of ,£SOO from the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Navy League, Masterton. The Wellington City Red Cross "Our Day" Appeal Committee acknowledge with thanks the following further donations:—Johnston and Co., £'M; Laery and Co., .£SO; Wellesley and Co., .£lO 10s.; J. Betlmne and Co., JJIO 10s.; Mrs. T. Young, .£10; S. R. A. Wood, £7; Mrs. E Caldwell, £b 55.; Dimoud and Hart, «C 5 53.; D. S Patrick, .£5 55.; C. H. Seville, £5 55.; "Plaiu Bill," ,£5. Owing to the unfavourable weather experionced yesterday the authorities of St. Patrick's College wero again obliged to postpone the annual sports meeting of the students. The postponement is to an indefinite date. Receipt of the sum of £10 forwarded to the Land and Income Tax Department by a person unknown, as conscience money, is acknowledged in the Gazette. Our message to the racing public! We would remind you of our supremacy where gentlemen's" attire is concerned. We know the diversified requirements of men of all tastes, and our stocks sire most complete with styles and qualities that are unapproachable- in hats, ties, shirts, pyjamas, etc. Don't hesitate, but bo straight to Davis and Clater, Ladies' and Gentlemen's Outfitters, 21G Lambton Quay, AVollington.-Advt.

Writing editorially on the subject of "The Public Service as a Career,' the "Public Servico Journal" says: 'Nearly seven out of every hundred persons who are appointed"permanently find that the game is not wliat it was cracked up to I bo and this conclusion is not difficult to j understand when wo remember that 73 | per cent, of the total number employed | receive salaries ranging downward from ,£220, whilst 82 per cent, are unable to get beyond JJ2OO per annum. To nearly three-fourths of the "fortunate" public i servants a tramway conductor's job offers better remuneration than that of their official positions, notwithstanding the fact that a fairly etilV competitive 'examination, (is to educational attainment has to be passed to qualify for appointment to the service-of the State. It seems evident that some materia] improvement in the prospects of public servants is needed at once to stop the rot that is fast pervading the service, otherwise the business of the country is not. likely to be carried on in an efficient manner. The first step in this direction will be for the National Government to repeal that section of last year's Appropriation Act postponing the regrading lor two years. Until this has been done evea'y public servant who is in a. position to do so will seek some other sphere of action where he will have a better chance of earning an adequate wage." It is announced in the Gazette that the condition imposed on the granting of exemption of Duncan Terrace, Kilbirnie, from the provisions of Section 117 of the Public Works Act, 1305, to the effect that no building or part of a building should nt any time be erected on either sido of the street within a distance of thirty-three feet from the centre hno nf the street, has been cancelled. The Wellington Hospital authorities ;.nve been advised that the Public Health Department will not pay for ambulance fees or other charges for soldiers' dependants, but restricts payment to maintenance fees solely. The chairman (Mr. II Baldwin) thought that the board should protest against the attitude of the Department, and on his suggestion the matter was reported back to the Hospital Committee (nt yesterdays meeting of the board), with the. understanding that the matter should be thrashed out with the Department.

As a tag to his monthly report to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Mr. J. A. Hurley, bacteriologist, wrote:—"l have to report that owing to tho Health Department failing to send the necessary reliefs, my staff has been two member* short since October 1, and one member sliort since August 7. I have found it difficult to carry on, but have arranged it mainly by dropping certain Government works.' It ia notified in the Gazette that the provisions of the Public Service Act, 1012, are not to apply to the law draughtsman of the Crown Law Office.

A notioe appearsiin the Gazette revoking the letter of naturalisation issued to John Cicela on December 15, 1315, and stating that the said John Cicela will cease to be a British subject naturalised in New Zealand ae from November *1 next. ■ , The Otago effort in connection with tho Copper Trail concluded yesterday. Tho street collections in Dunedm yielded ,£498. Tho total collections of Otago and Southland are approximately ,£52,062. The amount aimed at was ,£d0,000.Press Assn.

The appointment of Mr. James Christie, LL.M., as law draughtsman to tho Government, is gazetted. Mr. W. T. liildreth has been appointed a member of the Wellington Licensing Committee, in place of the late Mr. R. Fletcher. ■ Tho appointment of Mr. Ceilnc Stanton Hicks, M.So;, as an analyst under the Sale of Pood and Drugs Act, is announced in tho Gazette. To-morrow the. Trentham Military Band will parade the streets whilq the first big effort of the Trentham Dominion Scholarships nit union is being launched. The Commissioner of Taxes draws attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in our advertising columns that the due dato of payment of land tax for the current year is on Friday next, November 8. The body of tho late Thomas Francis Bennett, of Brunswick Street, Lower Hutt, was found by his housekeeper yesterday morning' at the bottom ot a iwth full of water. Deceased, who was 80 years of age, ha 9 been ailing for some time, and latterly has beon suffering considerably. Ho spent a sleepless _ night on Wednesday, and yesterday morning at 6.30 his housekeeper went out to summon Dr. Mirams, and when she returned sho discovered tho body as stated. An inquest will be held. Deceased was a woll-known resident of Lower Hutt, and leaves a grown-up family.

"Tho Arawas nro tlio bluest Wood of the Maoris," said Mr. Fred Earl, K.C-, v in putting their claim to tho bed of Lake Kotorua before Judge Wilson in the Native Land Court. "No other tribes that I know of can, with tho eamo facility, and as much certainty, trace their genealogy 'back to tho original voyageurs from Hawaiki cs tho Arawas can-back to the landing of To Anuva canoo at Jlaketu some 500 years ago.' In illustration, Mr. Enrl mentioned that Lieutenant Kepa. Eliau, who was appearing with him before tho Court, could trace his ancestry through 20 generations, back to Tamil tc Kapim, tho com. manclcr of Tβ Arawa, and also to wgatoro Irangi, the high priest of the canoe. A lump of ambergris worth .£IOOO was found recently by a Maori in the Bay of Islands.

Lake Kotom'ahana is stated to have risen within the last two or three months to a higher lever than at any time in its history, us tho result of the heavy rainfall of the early part of the yean , . Captain Gilbert Mail , informed the Native Land Court at Eotorua this week that ■prior to tho eruption of Tarawera in 1886 Botomahnna covered only 187 acres whereas its present area is nearly COOO i\cre3.

The following communication concern, ing the hemp situation has been forwadred to tho Prime Minister by the Auokland Chamber of Commerce :—"Wo have been informed by tho American Consul-General that the American Government has caucelled all licenses for importation _ of New Zealand hemp into the United States, and is only issuing licenses far a very limited quantity. There are two boats' loading in Wellington now, which will absorb practically all the licenses it is granting. In th,e event of the American Government adhering to these regulations tho flaxiuillers here will havo to stop. It is a matter of importance that the productiveness of this Dominion should be kept up to its highest capacity. We therefore ask you to cable, to the American Government urging upon it the important to New Zealand that these restrictions should be withdrawn.