LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 54, 28 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"Tiie repatriation scheme has been very carefully considered, and it will require .legislation," said the Minister of Defence' in the House of Representatives.

"The necessary Bill has already been prepared, but it has not yet received the approval of Cabinet. When Cabinet has dealt with it tlio Bill will be introduced in the House and a full statement will be made regarding the Government's intentions. The repatriation scheme, embraces a great deal more than settlement on the land.

The landslip on the Main Trunk railway, two miles on the Wellington side of "Utiku, was cleared away sufficiently to .allow the express from Auckland to Wellington to get through. The train reached Thorndon yesterday afternoon about twenty minutes late. Earth and stones continue to fall on the line, but it is hoped to prevent any further blocking of traffic.

Mr. F. Y. Frnzer, S.M., was very much surprised yesterday when presiding at a sitting of the Magistrate's Court to .find that there were six charges of drunkenness on the sheet. "Six drunks," he exclaimed, "has someone found a secret spring?" "A back entrance, I suppose," answered Inspector Mnrsack, who further remarked that, the men were aiding and abetting an offence on the part of certain publicans in obtaining liquor at all. "Naturally it is not - much ing where the liquor was obtained." A first offender was fined 55., in default 24 hours' imprisonment; Joseph Scott and Ernest Edward Flowerday, both third offenders within the past six months, were fined 20s. each, with the option of serving 72 hours in gaol, and also had prohibition orders issued against them. John Casey • and John M'Donald, who were sentenced on a more serious offence, were convicted and discharged, and Kathleen von Cant, who was in a very shaky condition, was remanded for a week for medical-treatment.

"Labour is a fine question—it is too fine for any man ? to handle," remarked the Hon. J. Topi Patuki, amidst laughter, in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon.

Answering a question in the House of Representatives yesterday the Minister ot Marine (the Hon. T. M. ili'ord) said he could not consent to allow the steamer ■Admiral to carry passengers.' The present manning of the steamer did not make it safe for passengers to be carried.

In urging that more attention should be paid to the teaching of science in the educational institutions of the Dominion, the Hon. G. M. Thomson stated in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon that the officer class of the British Army was drawn largely from the public schools of England, which gave a splendid education in some respects, but which steadily ignored science. The Boer War had provided a lesson in that connection, but tho nation had failed to take advantfigo of it. At the outset of grefit war the British Army was not scientifically trained. Men of tho most- superb courage unci high character had been thrown away again and again because they had not gone through the_ scientific training they should have received. Un the other-hand, however, the Navy had been scientifically organised from the beginning.

"My view is tlmt in the future some concerns will bo run by tho State, and that other concerns will lie controlled by groups of individuals," remarked the Hon. J. T. l'aul'in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, "because, groups will be able to run soine concerns in tho interests of the community better than the State itself. Some businesses will remain, wholly private."

Speaking in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, the Hon. G. M. Thomson urged that the Government should'thoroughly develop the fishing industry of the Dominion, io this olid advances sliould he made to bona uuo fishermen for the purchase of boats ana gear, on the same lines as the Advances to Settlers Act; In years to come, lie said, this, country would become a great maritime nation, and it would have to undertake proper measures for its naval defence, either by the establishment of a local navy or increased contributions to the Imperial Navy. Tho problem oi manning could bo met by encouraging fishermen to become naval reservists. A large portion of the interest for the advances made to them in the manner he suggested could be worked off by tho fishermen serving in the naval reserve and undergoing training in.lieu of payment. ..

In the Supreme Court yesterday mornin" Ilis Honour the Chief Justito (Sir Robert Stout) granted a decree nisi, to lie made absolute in three months, in tho divorce case of Henry Gill, formerly of Palmerston North and now of Wellington, cook, v. Mary Gill, the ground of the petition being wilful desertion. The parties were married on March 23, 1908, and there was one child of tho marriage. In March,' 1911, tho respondent deserted petitioner, and had not returned since. The petitioner, for whom Mr. It. E. Evans appeared, was.granted the custody of the child. The postponed ordinary meeting of the Wellington City Council will be held on Monday next at 1 p.m.

Jn Class A (First Division) the total of rejections was 20,5!)!). The main causes were:—Valvular disease of the heart, 3120; other diseases of heart, 845; defects of lower extremities, 1706; defective vision, 11i'27; diseases of veins (varix), 11-15; defects of upper extremities, 081); hernia,, DIM; impaired constitution and debility, 052; diseases of the middle ear (including deafness), 500; Hat feet, 510; _ rheumatism, sciatica, lumbago, 401; diseases of lungs (except tubercle), 182; other respiratory diseases, 440; tubercle of lungs, 330; other tubercular diseases, 70; diseases of joints, 425; malformation of chest and spine, 200; defective intelligence, 3G4; goitre, 218; ' ulcers, wounds, and cicatrices, 204; other affections of cutaneous system, ,21t!. Among the small numbers are syphilis (52) and 1 other venoreal diseases (25). Tho fact that when .lignite is sold with other coal the full price of bituminous coal is charged for the mixture was mentioned in the House of Reprcsentatives. The Minister of Mines (Hon. W. IX S. Mat-Donald said the whole matter was being considered by tho Board of Trade, which had investigated the coal trade in tho JJortli Island and in part of the South Island. The hoard woutf have completed its work by this time had not its members contracted influenza in Cliristchurch, where they had all been laid up. Answering a question regarding the recommendations of 1 lie Waterside Commission, the Minister of Marine (Hon. T. M. Will'ord) stated that the repeal of section 2115 of the. Harbours Act was necessary in order that: the recommendations might be put into operation.' lie hoped to secure this repeal' during the present session, without any general amendment 'of the harbour law. A man was arrested yesterday on a charge of cargo-broaching on (lie steamer Kaiapoi. The articles alleged to have been stolen consisted of two hats, a quanlily of tinned mill; and cocoa, and sill; and knitting wool. The accused will appear beroro the Magistrate this morning.

The Telegraph Department notifies that to-day telegrams may be accepted at o« dinary rate for all offices in ihe North Island, but telegrams for offices in the South Island are to be accepted at urgent rate only. All oilices will continue to close at 5 p.m.

The amount of .£IBO Bs. Cd. has been donated by the Chinese .Residents of this cil.v and suburbs lo the hospital niiiids. This amount has been handed into the Hospital and Chairitabl-3 Aid lioaicl, and it shows once'more the generosity ol the Chinese community.

The opening day of. the Island Bay Surf Club lias been indefinitely postponed. Messrs. ,T. H. Bethune and Co. yesterday submitted at auction a residential property, No. 90 Hill Street", being a- tenroomed liousc standing on a section 45tt. 2in. bv a depth varying from 141 ft. 3in. to ,146 ft. Gin. The reserve not being reached, the property was passed in, and is now in the hands of the auctioneers for private sale.