LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 72, 19 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

News has been received (states a Press Association message from Sydney) that a disastrous hurridaue recently swept the New Hebrides and Banks groups, causing great, damage in the plantations. Many small vessels were lost. The late Mr. Allan Maguire left the sum of J;300 in the care of the .Public Trustee, the interest on which was to be devoted to Christmas extras for the oiiildren's Hospital. The accumulated interest for three years, amounting to a stum of .£B4 odd, has been handed to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and ■ will ensure a real good timo for tho littlo patients who have to spend their Christmas this year in the hospital. There will be the usual noble Christmas tree, laden with all manner of fascinating fruit, on Christmas Day, and the fare will be all that it: should be at such a season consistent with the health of tho little ones. The secretary nf the 'board (Mr. (3. Tiobinson) will be plnaeed to receive and acknowledge any donations for Christmas celebrations in the .General Hospital. The proliminwry inquiry into the cause of the mishap to the F. and S. liner Dorset, which grounded a week ago while entering Wellington Harbour, will be held to-day by tha Superintendent of Mercantile- Marino (Captain G. C.i. .Smith). The survey of the Dorset has not yet been completed. To assist in relioving the rush of southern, holiday trafiki the Monowai will sail from .Wellington for LyUelton on Saturday and Tuesday. On tlieso two days she will sail at i p.m., and the lMarunw will leave half-an-hour later. 'I he Union Steam Ship Company advise that ample accommodation is available for Saturday. Tickets foi" use. that day will be issued at tho company's office tomorrow. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers is to bo held in Auckland from February 18 to '22. There are at present 30 Now Zealand staff cadets at the Royal Military College of Australia. Eight joined this year. One cadet was discharged in 1017. These staff cadets who joined in 1915 will complete the course in December of this year. The senior boy in tho college is ii New Zealander. At a meeting of the Wellington Patriotic Society, held in tho Accountants' Chiimbous, tho present political situation ■of tho Dominion was discussed. Several proposals were put. forward, with a. view of thoroughly organising its forces for immediate action. Tho following motion was eventually carried:—"That this meeting of citizens is strongly of opinion that tho present state of politics demands a speedy reconstruction, and. that each of the existing political parties should at onco publish a clear and definite statement of its political principles, its programme of reforms, and its policy for the coming years: with a record of what its party organisation is." AVriting to his father (Rev. J. Rattray), says the Lako County "Press," Rifleman Edgar Rattray has the following regarding his brother (Victor), who -was gassed in September last:—"l took a walk over to the 3rd Field Ambulance last night (September 21) jind saw Victor. He is looking us well as can be expected under the circumstances, although ho has lost tho use of his voice, but of course that always happens when ono is suffering from a slight touch of gas. He expects to be out and about again within the next fow days. Ho was lucky to get through this time, as o!<! Fyitx dropped a bomb on their gun and wiped out the whole section bar himself and a mate." Rifleman Rattray mentions that the dato of writing (September 22) was the third anniversary of his soldiering. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that the, Auckland Returned Soldiors' Association has passed a resolution protesting against the appointment of a Director of the Board of Repatriation, urging the retirement; of the appointee, and that applications be invited by advertisement. ' A Press Association message from Hobnrt states that the Licensing Bench has refused to renew the licenses of thirteen hotels in the city, on the ground that they are not necessary. The cruiser Philomel -will probably go up on the Patent Slip about January 6 to undergo cleaning and painting. This will be the first time that a. inan-o'-war has ever used the slip. Two small boys had an unoviiible experience in Kelburn on Tuesday, and one that they will long remember. The driver of ft commercial motor lorry, after emptying the contents of a tin of benzine into the lorry's tank, thoughtlessly left the empty can on the side of the road, and this the two boys promptly secured. They wondered what would liappen if a lighted match were placed in the tin! They iittle thought that all Kelburn would wonder at the terrific report that ensued. The tin was blown'to piecee, but beyond a nasty cu,t on one of the boy's faces nothing serious resulted. An onlooker remarked that the other 'boy travelled ns fast as the report—almost—when he saw the result of his curiosity. Motorists generally should consider the seriousness of leaving empty tins on the roadside. Ono of tho New Zealand sisters, in acknowledging election to membership of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, writes:—"l Iliink most highly of all the men iu the N.Z.E.F., and found them at all times, without exception, always ready and willing to render any assistance the "sisters" may need. Had it not been for that help we received from "our boys" I I'm sure we never have dono tho work which has been put down to cur credit. Hoping soon to have many of the "sisters' , in the association, and that you will all have every success." Included in the 79 new members elected at the committee meeting to which the letter was read vera llrs. V. E. Barclay, nee, 22/290 Sister Petersen, aud Lieut. Samuel Frickleton .(Y.C.). At a meeting of tho executive of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, a resolution protesting against the permanent appointments to the Public Service was passed and forwarded to Headquarters, N.Z.B.S.A. The permanent appointments of Stipendiary Magistrates whilst some of the Dominion's ablest lawyers were on active service was denounced by speakers. . Extensive irain has broken tho drought in (he Wide .Bay and Burnett districts of Queensland, states a. Press Association message from Brisbane. Mr.. W. T. Young (secretary of the Federated Seamen's Union) stated yesterday that in most cases the improvements to ships' quarters »» Union Company steamers wero being carried out immediately. The improvements were gonornl, but special attention was being paid to sanitary conditions, in cases where extensive improvements wero to be carried out, the work will bo done at the time of the ship's annual survey. .1 Press .Association cablegram from London states that at a meeting of the County Cricket Advisory Committee it ives decided to run a couuty championship in 11110. Tho matches will bo limited to two days. There will be no change iu the number of balla in an over. J

After a brief discussion on the recent epidemic i\t the annual meeting of tho New Zealand Employers' Federation yesterday, the following resolution was, on t'ho motion of Mr. Jleuli, adopted;— "Thai; whilst this meeting of representatives of the employers of this Dominion views with satisfaction the action of the Government in appointing ft Royal Commission to inquire and report on the causes that: led up to the recent epidemic of influenza and how best to prevent euch occurrences in the future, it respectfully risks that the Commission should in particular report concerning the scientific aspect of (lie problem with a view to securing through the agency of the Imperial Government a searching investigation by the Empire's foremost experts of llio origin and nature of the disease, to the end that if possible its eradication may effected and its recurrence prevented." "0"? of the lessons to be learned from tho war is tbe necessity of fostering ndtriotism in our- schools," said tho president of (.he. X.Z. Employers' Federation (Mr. T. Shatter Weston) yesterday. "Ketigion is not one of the subjects there taiHit. Some. Well «+-.ndiml of life should be impressed iW- the cWlclren's minds. Lovo of counrv* tbo onlv one open. But snmetV-» more thim this ig required.- AVhen ev v cWM upon henomin/f ttventy-ono yenv of age is entitled to a vote, surely th« study is mo.n desirablo in. our schools, of «cin n short trxt-book explaining the growth of Slates from small viliise communities, (he pnriws of the Slate, the wotnetio" and other advances derived bv the citizens therefrom, ffie correlative o!i' : "iliflin due in return In' its wemWs. fl ie nm-nose •t livrs and punishment, and, in «hnrt. +'•» flostripe <~ f civic rights and rcsnonsibilities. A democrncy to be succs-.ful I tmi=t be an educated democracy. :U nrefpi)t <]<>moP.racv, mainly for want of ni'v education in the elements of rw-ilney .is .is insistent on t!i» rights due to it bv the State as it is silent on its own dntH (owsml« tl"> State. I'nr <«-imii?e. Hioufli t!iA New Znjilanrt Labour Fartv i'onv)H('= further privileges from tbe -Slate. *\«*h n» an extension o! Hi* benefit-- *f the Old-Ac? Pensions Act. it resolutely m> noses c<wnni'-i«ory service for the protection of Hie Store." Something like a record was put up at the market yesterday, when Messrs. Thompson Bros, realised Sis. -per case for a limited number of cases of Stunner apples. , In the Divorce Court, yesterday afternoon His Honour tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) heard two divorce eases that were undefended. I" the case of Albert Charles Gleeson v. Elizabeth Gleeson. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for tho petitioner. The case- was before the Court in November, and was adjourned for the production of a certain letter which was not forthcoming, but His Honour agreed that the evidence already given was sufficient, and granted a decree nisi, which is to bo made absolute in three months. In the second case, Mr. H. P. O'Leary appeared for tha petitioner, George Henry Mew, who sought, a dissolution of his marriage with Isabel Francis New on the ground of desertion. The petitioner stated in evidence that he married the respondent in October, 1011, at Auckland, and they lived together until March, 1911 He then went to work in the bush, and his wife, by arrangement, went to live with her mother in Auckland. His wif<\ however, sold up the furniture and went \r, Sydney, and then to Melbourne. Since (lien he had not lived with her. In 'November, 1912, respondent returned to .Auckland, and wa , ) convicted of bein.T an idle and disorderly nereon. Respondent had written to' him asking for inonoy. and had admitted tltur she had given' birth to a child of which another man was the father. His Honour granted ii decree nisi, to be made absolute in three- months. A (correspondent com.plaLn& that in one of tho city streets yesterday afternoon he saw a dead eat and a sack full of very unsavoury fish offal lying withm a few yards of a factory where food is prepared. A little later he heard a sanitary inspector ring up tho City Corporation yards and request that a noto 1)0 made of the fact that the cat and tho offal were in tho street, and should be removed. Apparently, however, the inspector had not sufficient authority to order the immediato removal of the offending matter, for our informant said that it was still lying there in the evening. The question is asked by our informant: Why are not the peoplo who dumped the offensive stuff in a public street sought out and brought to jiiatico? One of 'the most enthusiastic and largely-attended meetings ever held in Miranuir took place in the council rooms last evening. The object of the meeting was to take stops to show suitablo appreciation of residents of the good work done by helpers during the recent: epidemic. Tho Mayor (Mr. F. Townsend) presided. It whs agreed that funds bo raised by public subscription to suitably roeogmso the services rendered. A committee representing all parts _ of the 'borough was set up to administer this fund. Several suggestions wero put forward as to the form the thanks of, the public should take, and it was eventually left lq the committee to decide on a presentation to each helper. The meeting at wliich tho presentations will bo made will take iplace early in the new year. A glassware merchant informed n Dominion representative that there was every likelihood of a sharp fall in the price of glass during the next few weeks. Glass bulks big as cargo, and as already freight rates had receded by 25 per cent., the war risk was dispensed with, and tha rate of exchange had fallen, the price of incoming shipments must be considerably affected. Already the agents of ■Pilkington's, the big English firm, had notified buyers in New Zealand of a. fall in Hie price of their products. There would soon bo a fnll, too, in the price of paint. Tho cost of this indispensable commodity was ruled to a very large extent by the price of pig lead, which was already down in price, and white lead always moved in sympathy with pig-lead. As to the price of oil, ftny fluctuation now depended largely on tho position in India and Russia, imnm was still obscure. At each of the resent by-elections, as well as in the present "ne for South Wellington, the executive of the New Zealand Education Institute has submitted to the various candidates the following questions:—(l) Are you prepared to pledge your self unreservedly to the support and maintenance of the present system of free, secular, and compulsory education. (2) Are you prepared to actively oppose any proposals that might tend towards tho disruption of tho national education system? (3) Will you promise to vote against tlio payment of any public funds oa any account to privato schools, primary or secondary, or iu respect of any pupils attending sue, , , schools! - (i) Will you by your vote and influence assist in improving and extending the education system?' To thesa questions Mr. Castlu has replied, both on the platform and in writing, in tc-rras of unqualified assent. Mr. Frost has given his reply in writing in tho fame . terms. Mr. Scrapie's answer to Ihe questions is contained in the single word "Yes." Extensive alterations are to be made to the interior arrangements of tho big thiee-storied Harbour Board building on the northern side of the entrance to the Queen's Wharf. At present the accountant's staff occupies the ground floor rear the main entrance and part of the first floor. Now it is proposed that the v hole of the top floor (for many years used as a wool display stare) shall bo converted into up-to-date offices for tho accountant, that tho Harbourmaster shall bo accommodated conveniently on tho first floor, and that the present tolls office shall be done away with altogether (with the object 'Of providing further space for traffic at the entrance to tho wharf), and .tho- tolls clerks accommodated in the quarters on the ground floor of tho brick building at present occupied by the accountant's staff. An elevator is to be installed near tho main entrance of tlio building for the convenience of tho staffs and public using the building. In view of the altered arrangements in connection with tho arrival of tho troops comprising draft 200, the hotels will not be closed all day to-day, as ordered formerly. They will now be closed from 2 p.m. to (j p.m. I