LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 45, 18 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Pacific Cable Board notifies that all United Kingdom and European traffic except Government messages ia to bo diverted to Eastern until further notice. Canadian and American traffic is accepted, but will probably be subject to considerable delay.

The Telegraph Office states that London advices notify that deferred cable messages to the-United Kingdom'pro temporarily being posted from Gibraltar. Tho average delay is about eight days. "Hearty congratulations upon New Zealand's splendid part in great victory," runs a cablegram received by tho Prime Minister from Messrs. Turner, Davidson, an important shipping firm in the United Kingdom.

Private correspondence received fromAustralia intimates that influenza is abnormally prevalent in parts. But it is said to be not of a particularly; virulent type. Ev>»ry precaution is being taken to combat increase, and tho strictest supervision of shipping and enforcement of, quarantine regulations in regard to vessels infected is being carried out. The medical'profession is having a busy time, but it is hoped that the precautions taken will have abative effect on (ho disease. Tho doctors have . ecommended almost unanimously the use of dry borncic powder us a enuff. It has n rapid effect in loosening any catarrhal secretions in the nose.

It is understood that the virulence and abnormality of the influenza epidemic will delay the demobilisation of the .roops now in camp. A T one are to bo released, except for special and essential reasons, until demobilisation can be considered to be without, detriment to tho soldiers and the civil communities. It is probable that all men with the exception of the New Zealand - Medical Corps will be demobilised. This particiiilar corps will be retained until thoir services irill be no longer required in military hospitals, which will be in use until all wouiiidttl men are discharged. In the meantime the medical branch of the Forces are hard at work in the various camps. Abatement there f.hould release a number of men for duty elsewhere. Kvery possiblo chemist and dispenser hue bqen released from duty to assist- the over-worked but tireless chemists.

A Press Association cablegram from Sydney states that the Federal Government has abandoned the proposed jjiiper control.

The Minister of Public Health has arranged for the purchase in Christchurch of 40,000 fresh uges. These are to bo forwarded to Wellington by .the first steamer, and will be used for hospital purposes and to supply the needsof the population affected by the epidemic.

During the course of the epidemic instructions have been given that there is to be no issue whatever of books from the Parliamentary Library, and that all returned books are to be disinfected beforo being reissued.

Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., conducted an inquest on, Saturday morning into the causo of death of William Brenton, a storeman employed by tho Wellington Harbour Board, whose 'body was found floating in the Boat Harbour on Friday. Mr. A. W. Burnett in his evidence stated that the deceased had lived with him at bis house in. Tory Street. Branton was somewhat disturbed of late, but, gave no indications of suicidal tendencies. The day he disappeared, which was about a week ago, witness found on his dressing table a bank book'and a sum of money. When the body was recovered a note was found in one -of the pockets in the handwriting of tho deceased containing the following words: "The burden is greater than I can cany. Good-bye." Brenton. who was a single man, was U years of age. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide while suffering from mental depression.

There is still a lot of sickness in and around Greytown (says out special correspondent). There is no resident medical mail, now, ami Greytown has to rely on Cnrterton nnd camp dootovs.

There are those shrewd observers, over on the look-out for a theory, who are associating the present outbreak of inftV enssa with the comparative absence of tho household fly. Whether the .'ate spring and unusually cold weather experienced last month lias been the cause of it or not cannot bo determined, but the scarcity of household flics has been, frequently remarked upon 'by butchers and qthors to whom they ore usually such a pest, and there nro those who hold tii.it the flv has its place in Nature's hygienic system, and that trouble of <he present kind accompanies those periods marked by their absence. "It's all very well for university professors lo preneh '.Swat that fly,'" said a local butcher, thirty years in the business, "but I have noticed that whenever a fly is absent tho public are given something mud) more serious to swat!"

At a meeting of tho Wellington Trades and Labour Council, held on Friday, thn following motion by .Ur. J. M. Campbell was carried unanimously:—'That tho Wellington Trades and Labour Council rceords'its entire satisfaction on the cessation of hostilities, and expresses tho hope that Iriie Christian spirit, which is the only guarantee of lasting pence, shall bo duly fostered ami encouraged by the nations.'"

Tho Mayor acknowledges receipt of thn following donations for the Fire Relief ■pund:—C.W.O., 10s. j Hnydon and Lubransky, £2 Us.

"Stetson's," "Tress's," "Battorshy's."— Wo huvo just landed latest stylos and shades from these popular makers. See our stocks. Goo. Fowlds, Ltd.—Advt.

The Mayor has received the following sums for'influenza Relief Fund:—! 1 . H. Sargood. -£50j J.A.P., J-'afl; (I. W. llley, JJ2O; A. S. Palwsoii and Co., ,£2O; Mrs. Martin Kennedy, 4:5; J. R. Todd, £1.

Advice has been received by Base Records from the medical superintendent that 13/27-12 Gunner J. Cornmnn, i> returned discharged soldier, and Pte. A. 0. AVhitlield, a camp case, died at the Auckland Ho.=pitnl on November 13. An inquest was opened by Mr. F. V. Frazer S.M., yesterday, at the Mount Cook Police Station, on tho body of a child named John IVillvim he Comte, (red three years, who died fa'om injuries received throng brim; riiii over 'by a ii-cad cart in Adelaide Hoiul > n November 5. The little buy wm taken to the •Hospital sufferinjj from injuries to the head and chest, but as the case was regarded i\s hopeless ho was taken to his parents' home at their request, and dieu there on Saturday. John William Lβ C'omte, of 11.1 Brown Street (off Adelaide Road), father of the child, gnye evidence of identification, and the. only other witness examined was Reginald Arthur Newton, the driver of the baker's cart concerned, Newton said he was driving his cart in a northerly direction on the proper side along Adelaide Road. When opposite Douglas Street three children, apparently chasing one another, ran rapidly down Douglas St.rcet, without looking to the right or the left. Ho. immediately applied the brakes, but■ was unable io avoid running over the lililn bov. The child was picked up at once, and taken by a passing motor to the Hospital. Owing to oilier witnesses concerned 'being laid up with the inflticiizji, the inquiry had to be adjourned till a date to .be fixed.

Tho epidemic and the measures taken to prevent its spread press hard upon theatrical folk in New Zealand. In every theatrical contract between managers and players? there 16 a clause which exonerates" managers from any responsibility should the, theatres be compulsion]}' closed on account of an epidemic, so tliiit simultaneously with tho closing of the theatres all salaries stop automatically. Fortunately, outside the vaudeville business tlicre (ire comparatively few professional companies touring tho Dominion at the present time. One of them is J. and N. Tait's "Peg o' My Heart" Company, who were to have appeared in Wellington this week. Tho members arc in Wellington, and several of them arc down with influenza, amongst them Miss Sara Allgood, Mr. Gerald Henson. and Mr. Maurice Ealph (manager). In the. case of the vaudeville business the management is paying -half salaries to the extra people (ballet and chorus). Anion" those, whose arrangements have had to be cancelled is Mr. Alexander Watson, the English elocutionist. At a coroninl inquiry held by Mα'. F. V. Frazer, S.M., yesterday, concerning the deaths of two influenza victims, ,n female witness who gave evidence appear, ed to the Coroner to bo looking rather unwell. He asked her if fhe had any pain about the chest and back, and she said she had. In answer to further questions she said she had eaten no food lately, and had collapsed in Willis Street, on Saturday. She had been looking after the two patients who had died. As she did not appear to realise her serious condition, the Coroner advised her to ge straight home, nnd instructing Ihe police to immediately gel; in touch with the he lief. committees, so thnt she might ireceivo attention.

\n inquest was held yesterday by Mr. F. V. Frazer. S.HI., concerning tho deaths' of Sarah Aniiio Ward, a widow, aged 64, and her son, George Henry Ward, a labourer, aged JO jears, who died on Saturday at No. 1 Till Street. Kvidence was given by another son ot deceased Mrs. Ward, William James Ward. Ho said that his mother ,nnd brother br.d suffered from what appearcd to be a severe cold in the chest. At first they appeared to improve, and then 'both took a turn for the worse.. A neighbour endeavoured unsuccessfully to secure medical assistance. ■ Ho was unablo to get a. doctor, as hie brother w,ns delirious and required constant attention. The mother died at 9 p.m. and the brother at 11.30 p.m. Mrs. G. King, a neighbour, also gave evidence, and in n'cnly to a question by the Coroner said she did not approach one of the relief committees as she did not know the cases were so serious. Constable Cox slated that he had examined the bodies and found no marks of violence. The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to pneumonii following on in- , fluenza.