LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 39, 9 November 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association telegram from Christctiurch states that nineteen pupils of tho Canterbury Aviation School who were about to leave for Wellington en route to England have' been stopped at the last minute, instructions being received l'rom the Defence Minister that they were not to proceed.

During (he hearing in the Magistrate's Court yesterday of a, ease cf alleged adulteration of milk,, the defondant said he did not possess a, lactometer, and was unable procure one anywhere. The Magistrate said they were simple enough aud could easily 'be matie in New Zealand. Mr. Andrews, the Government Analyst, stated that lactometers were not easily made, aud he wan not awaro whether they were obtainable in New Zealand at tho present time. The Magistrate observed that vendors of milk should- be given every assistance to get lactometers, and the Health Department might import or have some made in _the Dominion, so that milk vendors might obtain them at a reasonable cost.

The Executive Committee of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Association, after consultation with the Health Department, has decided to postpone the conference of delegates from all'affiliated societies' fixed for Wednesday, November 13, the Health Department' being averse to the bringing into' Wellington of a number of persons from places where perhaps the influenza epidemic ir, in full swing. As the length of the Parliamentary session is uncertain in view of tho present circumfitances, the postponement' " probably menus the abandonment of a conference during tho present year.

The high nor'-west winds which are raging over Canterbury have done extensive damage to North and Mid-Canter-bury plantations (says a Press Association telegram). All parts are suffering .severely. .Thursday's gale snapped great pine trees! The worst' damage done so far reported is in the Springfield and Darlield. districts. Another effect has been to release the snow waters friin tho mountains, and most of the Canterbury rivers in consequence aro "up." The Waimakariii Tiiver yesterday morning was running bank lo bunk in places, whilst He waters had invaded low-lying areas.

A proposal is to be submitted to the Clii'istcliur'ii Tramway Board on Monday thiit all the board's employees be grunted a day's holiday on full pay on peace Iwing declared. Asked whether there was any suggestion that the men would cease work on their own account as the Wellington Union ha<l decided, tlio chairman stated that he was certain the Christcliurch men would not act. in this manner and time seriously inconvenience ti'.r- public nt n time when so many public functions were in progress.—Press Assi).

A largely-attended meeting was held at PctoiiD last night in thoMiiyor's room. Town Hull, to arrange for a permanent memorial for the men who have fallen in the war. Several donations were received in the room. A finance committee wns set up, and n further, meeting will bo held in a fortnight.

We think'summer's coming eoou. Anyhow wo are right ready with light-weight knee drawers, Is. lid. lo Bs. lid. Also full rungo famous Cellular underwear. Geq. Fowlds, 'Ltd.—Ailvt. .

Mr. J. 1 , . T.tike (Wellington Xorlh) has asked Ik Minister of Education if lie will ill an early dato mnkc a public ntnh'iittmt indicating when (lie Government, intends commencing tlie election of the proposal Technical College on -Mount Cook, Wellington. (

Mr. W. Ci. Riddell, S.M., !,cld mi inquest yesterday morning into the cause of death of-n'lioy four years old, named Frederick Charles Lewis, son of MY. Frederick Charles Lewis, of Thormloii Quay. Tho child died in ihe Wellington Hospital on Wednesday from Die efi'ccts of severe scalds received, through falling into n copper of Ijoiliiij; w.-itor on Tuesday morning. The little fellow climbed tip on to the copper lo reach a wheel placed on tho bricking, and. was thrown into the wafer.through the wooden lid of the copper tipping when lie placed his foot on it After hearing the evidence tho Coroner returned a verdict, (hat death was duo to shock due to severe scalds the result of tailing into a copper cf boiling w-ater.

Mrs. Strickland, of Auckland, has received ■Jγ letter from her brother, Mr. Horace Hunt (of Wellington), who to been a civilian prisoner of war at llulilcben, Germany, ever since war broke out. As showing that art Ms not altogether nclecttd Mr. Hunt, who will be remembered as a distinguished pianist, forwarded three programmes of concerts, in which lie was concerned, viz., a Brahms concert giver, on May 27, in which Me=Srs' H. .Hunt; and.Gordon Shorn played waltzes for the piano in duet form (Op. 30), and a chamber concert «iveu on Sunday, May 12. at winch Messrs. limit and Shortt played as a duo for two pianos tho "Andante and Variations" of Schumann (Op. 16). ' On April 13 and 15 last the English prisoners at Ruhloben presented August btrindbevßH piny, "The Dance of Death, in. which Mr. Hunt played'the role of Kurt. . A female witness of tender years win subjected to n close cross-examination by counsel lor the defence during the hearin!: of a case at the Supreme Court yesterday. During the course of tho examination counsel warmly pressed witness at one point. Witness became nyu'jh. agitated, arid! in a heated manner declared that she could not Iμ expected to answer;a growling man. "You re like an. old.grandfather," she remarked. ' I am too young to be a grandfather, replied ■counsel: ■ "A ' pity you were-not 0ne,... rejoined witness... Later in. the crossexamination the girl burst into tears; and tho matter proceeded slowly. However, iv further stir occurred when witness declared that'she would "smack Ins dial" if he came'near her. The Makara County Council--resolved yesterday to. give, one day's holiday, to a 1 its employees when an armistice with Germany "is and another day-s holiday when peace is completed. The honorary treasurer of tho Wellington branch of the British Red Cross feociety and Order of St. John _ acknowledges receipt of the iollowing additional contributions :-New Plymouth Copper 'trail Fund;.-.£2200; Taihape SubCenlro British Bed Cross Society, JilMo; Dannevirfce branch British Bed p Cross Society. West Block effort, <£1101 lCs. 2d. ; Waipiin-a Ladies' Patriotic Committee, .0910 hi. 7d.i Hunterville Countess of Liverpool Fund and Bed Cross Guild, .£B9O 15s. sd.i Wellington Red Cross Shop, Lainbran Quay, JC800; Hastings Hod Cross ■wkers,'*46oG;-. Waver ey .-Patriotic League, .£350: North Tnranaki Patriotic League, £150; Inglewood Ladies; Patriotic League. £i3i U 5d.; Eaetihi Ladies Patriotic Guild, X 118; Norsewood branch British Red Cross. Society,. .£2B 10s., Moutoa Sick and Wounded feoldiera_ Fund Ml 18s. !)d.; liarotonga-, Ladies Guild, Cook Islands, £1 12s ; Cd. Complaint was made by Mr. AV. H. Field (Otaki) in the House of Representatives that country schools had,not received prompt information of tho recent surrender of Austria and Turkey, and ns a consequence they had not been able to celebrato the victories, He. asked it tho Prime Minister could sec Ins way to distribute such news as quickly as possible in the future. Mr. Massey replied that lw woulc. be.glad to do so. It an armistice were arranged between Germany arid the Allies he would give lnstructioiw that tho news should reach tho public schools at the earliest possible moment. Mr. C, J Parr (Eden) has given notice to ask the Minister of Finance the following question in ' Parliament :- ."Wlieiber he will supply full-particulars of tlio. following-item in the Tubhc. Accounts of 1917-18, for which'there is ap-. 'p'aron'Uy no'voucheivto.-wit-, -Lady-L, AW Godley,- native servants' wages in Egypt, xto is;? , ' ■ ■ ' ■:

! "When will the Government make a commencement with the proposed rechmcal College building on Mount Cook \\ . oi> lingtoi:?" was a question addressed to tie Minister ol Education yesterday by Mr. J. P. lAtke (Wellington North). 4.n interesting fragment about Marshal Focli is in Miss Mildred Aldrieh's / On the Edgo of the War Zone." She states Unit early in 1917 she knew for a fact, which was kept generally secret, that the. Marsh;! was-laid up for three months in an ambulance near her house as the result of a motor accident. . He came into collision with a house in endeavourin" to avoid a woman and child on the path. Many people will know that woman aud child; they probably massacre during the year as many people as a HohonzoUern, and- on tints occasion they nearly cost the Allies their greatest general. Mr. G. E. Butler, the well-known Bristol artist, ha< (says a Bristol paper) received an important commission from the New Zealand Government to proceed to' Franc- for.the purpose of making sketches of the most notable places where the New Zealand Expeditionary loree have won their laurels, and incidents in .connection with their work. The eOmniiesion also embraces portraits of prominent men, including the V.C.'s, who will come to him at Clifton for sittings on his return. Prior to settling in Bristol Mr. Butler spent 21 years in New Zealand, and since accepting the commission he has discussed the matter with Brigadier-General Richardson, whom he knew in. New Zealand, and he has been, given a frer- hand to carry out this'comprehensive task. l r or the time being hewill' hold the rank of hon. captain in the New Zealand Forces. The work is bo form part of a national war museum for Now Zealand, the idea being that Mr. Butler will paint pictures from his sketches later on. For some time past Mr. Butler has been drawing-master at Clifton College, and his absence will only be temporary: Ho expects to be away for about three months.

The north-west gale of "Wednesday was the heaviest experienced in North Can- , tei'biirr thi c ' season. It was at -its height between 5 and G a.m., but it continued more or less boisterous during the greater part of the day. Damage wns done t- trees; fences, and outbuildings, aud also in gardens and orchards generally. When the' gale was at its height si portion of the rear brick wall of trw New Zealand Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association's stores at Rangiora, "utlo'l by lire recently, was blown down; and in its fall badly damaged an attached huikiini! which was saved from the fire. ' A fierce nor'-west gale raged in Ashburtoti throughout Tnesday night, and much jlsiniage wns done to fruit trees and gardens and orchards generally. A large plate-glass window in a glazier's shop in East Street was smashed rnd blown-in, and .panes of glass in a number of houses in different parts of the (own were broken. The gale was exceptionally severe- in the Mount Somors, and iSpring'biDii districts, where tliere were also heavy showers of rain. Telephone and telegrnpr communication was interrupted in many parts of tho county. At Ttanipstond the roof of a glasshouse was lifted bodily and carried a distance of about twenty yards. In the samo district the iron roof of a cowshed, 2'iff. long, was carried fully five chains. The County Council's reserves also suffered, many trees being uprooted. In the Ashburton Domain several trees werp blown down.. . ,