LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 36, 6 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The l'orty-fourtli anil Forty-fifth Roinforcements were- inspected on pnrade by His Excellency tlie Governor-General at Trettthitm yesterday morning, i'ino weather niiulo tho sceno n brilliant one, and the troops looked well and showed good marching discipline. Hin Excellency 'had with .him during: Iris insnoction MajorGeneriil Sir Alfred Eobin, G. 8., K.C.M.G., 'General Oflicer CommamlitiK'; SurßeonGenoral R. S. V. Henderson, K.H.P., Director-General of Mwlicnl Services; Colonel C. M. Gibbon, C.M.G., 1.G.5., Chief of Staff; Colonel It. R. Potter, C.ltG., Camp Commandant; Colonel C. It. Macdonald, C.M.G., 1.G.5., Director of Infantry Training; and Major D. 11. Swootzor,' Camp Adjutant; and othor headquarters and camp officers. The Camp Bunil played during tho inspection, and let! tho troops to tho saluting base during the march-past.

Ailvico lins been received from the Defenco authorities, Christchurch, that 2G/10S Private Maurice Dugßa.n, a returned discharged soldier, died at Christchurch on Octobor 31. Decoased was a single man, 28 years of age, and bis next-of-kin was his father, Mr. John Duggan, 178 Bordesley Street, limvood, Christchurch.

When tho British forces penetrated into the more thickly populated parts of Palestine—Jerusalem, Jaffa, etc.—there was absolutely no gold in circulation in any coinage. Silver was the current epecie, and so highly was it prized that a Turkish £1 note (and even a British note of tho same denomination) was worth only about S3. With the quickened propensity of the native people to hoard up that ■which wae of the greatest \alue at the moment, silver itself became exceedingly scarce. To get over, the difficulty the British Government sanctioned the Egyptian banks to issue a (ive-piastro note (worth Is.), and such was tho effect of that move that the natives tmptied their hoards of silver coin on to the market, until there was a positive glut, and it was not aii uncommon thing for natives to accrat soldiers and ask them if they wanted change for their notes, tho reason Vinp that the banks in Palestine recognised the British piastre note, but not the Turkish silver money.

A man who appeared before tho Military Service Board yesterday stated that he was now so short of 6ta(f that had to engage a girl as an "office boy." Tho Executive of the Wellington School Committees' Association at its moeting on Monday night made final ..arrangemonts for tho Dominion Conference of School Committees' Associations to be held in Wellington on November 26. This meeting will coincide with the Education Boards' Conference, and will discuss the questions of free school books and requisites, increased payment for teachers, increased capitation, and other educational matters considered to be calling for reform.

In reference to the recent request for increased wages for labourers in the City Council's, employ, the Mayor (Mr. J P. Luke) stated, yesterday that tho application should have come before the council at its last meeting. However, owing W an accumulation of work, it was found 'impossible to secure the necessary information in time. Consideration would be given to the matter atnext weeks meeting. In iV letter to the City Engineer (Mr W- H. Morton), Mr. M. J. Beardon, secretary of the Wellington Builders and Goneral Labourers' TJnion, points out that the corporation labourers bto ' very badly placed as the result of rising prices. Boforo the war the council paid its ''permanent" lahourers Is. lid. per hour and its casual labourers le.'SJd. per hour for a week of 46t hours. This worked out at £2 12s. kl and ,£2 16s. 2d. per week when a full week was worked. Since tho last award of the Arbitration Court fc council has been paying the bare award rate, namely, Is. 3d. • per hour, with ;i war bonus of 10 per cent. The wages now amounted to £Z 4s. per weak.- That increase, however, did not brine the wages up to a pre-war standard. c -

The 'Mayor of Eastbourne has accepted the suggestion of the Eastbourne Katepayers' Aesociation to call a public meeting of the Eastbourne electors and place before them.the facts as to the motor-bus service. The meetins is to be held on Thursday.

A boy fifteen years of npe named Edward iHoskins, who resides at Parkvalo Road, Karori, accidentally shot himself in the right arm with a pea-rifle on Monday. He was removed to the 'Hospital,

Two children were admitted to the Hospital yesterday suffering from injuries. One of them, who is named Lewis, whoso home ia on Thorndon Quay, fell into a tub of hot water and was scalded about the legs. The other child was knocked down on Adelaide Road by a baker's cart and somewhat severely injured.

A special meeting of the Hawera branch of the Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association passed the following motion: "That the executive be informed that wo will not be satisfied with the war bonus recently announced, and that nothing short 'of increased .wages and better conditions as asked for will satisfy us, and we call on the executive, if it cannot get us these conditions, to resign and allow an executive that will get them to bo elected."—Press Aesn.

The new Governor of Fiji, the Hon. Ceoil Hunter Eoilwell, arrived, with Mrs. Eodwell and their four children, in Suva last mouth. The town was on fete with arches of welcome. His Excellency was 6worn in by the Chief Justice (Sir Charles Dawson), the cereiqony taking plnco at the Town Hall. At tho conclusion of the function the Mayor (Mr. H. M. Scott, ICC), on behalf of tho townspeople, presented the Governor with an address of welcome. In reply, His Excellency tho Governor said he had come thero to learn. Ho realised tho importance of the problems before him, and would be glad of advice and help. Altogether His Excellency has created a most favourable impression/ (says the Suva correspondent of tho Auckland "Star"). A good Governor in a colony liko Fiji is tho equivalent of a good Government in constitutional dominions, for his decision overrules everything. Tho elected members in tho Legislative Council are .in 'a minority, hence the importanco of having n. good man in that position.

.At tho meeting of tho Technical Education Board last evening Mr. L. M'Kenzio gavo notice to move at the next meeting of the lward— "That a committee be set up to consider what stops should 1» taken to nationalise technical education, so as to make it compulsory and follow tho education in the primarv schools, provision to be made to exclude scholars receiving secondary education at high schools or colleges."

Overshadowed by ovents of national importance the celebration of Guy Fawkes Day yesterday by tho youngsters was only a mild reflection of what it usually is. Thero was a good deal of cracker-banging last evening, but the strong sharp-edged wind prevented the usual hillside bonfiree making tho customary display in tho evening.

When tho proposal to raise a fund, to bo known as New Zealand's Tribute to France, was mooted in Wellington, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) sought tho cooperation of tho othor centres. At the timo Auckland was engaged in other patriotic oifoi'ts,' so tho appeal in tho northern city was dolayed. Mr. Luke ha 3 received from Mr. J. H. Giin«on (Mayor of Auckland) a cheque for .C6ooO—a further ovidence of Auckland's generosity in the matter of patriotic appeals. The total amount collected by Auckland for tho fund was .£6067 13s.

The annual meeting of tho Wellington Hairdressers' Union was held on Monday night. It was decided to alter the name of the -union to tho AVollington Hairdressers', Hairworkers', and Wigmakers' Assistants' Union. Tho following officers were elected:—President, Mr. Cliff Shakes; vice-president, Mr. E. Minifie; secretary. Mr. W. H- Rims; treasurer, Mr A. Eoxborough; committee, Messrs. A. Duncan, Trower, M'Clutchy, and Gardiner. ' Tho Board of Studies met at. Victoria College yesterday. A motion—"That present system of examination be replaced by a method that will give more weight to the work of students during their courses"—was carried. The report of the committeo sot up by tho eenate to draw up a prescription in agriculture as an advanced subject for tho B.A degree was received and adopted. The'board set up committees to deal with various matters to be reported uijon. Tho re-solutions of the board are recommendations to tho senate, and 'must be approved by that body beforo thoy can como into force.