LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 75, 23 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The French mission, headed by General Pan, is to reach Auckland on December 27. It will visit the thermal district and several other centres in tho North Island, and will reach Wellington on January 5 or 6. Then it will proceed b Christchurch and Akaroa, and will return to Auckland via Wellington in time to catch the Niagara on January 15. •Ucaroa, as a French settlement under the British flajr, has special interest for the members of tho mission. Tho visit (i) New Zealand is nooesfnrily hurried. In "fact, there was a possibility recently that it would be abandoned altogether.

The official recount of the votes cast in the Wellington South by-election Rives SSie following result :-Semple, 2411; l.'Yost. 1286; Castle, 398; informal, 17. Totai, -1112.

On Saturday it was officially stated that the Dorset was >n no way damaged as a result of stranding on Hope Shoal, while entering Wellington Harbour. Tho preliminary inquiry into the cause of the mishap has now concluded, and the Marine Department is considering the evidence. ■

The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, was asked at Ashburtjn on Thursday if it were neces?ary now for women travelling to the Old Country to pay the fees of 10s. and supply photographs in the same way as during the war. He replied that, in normal cases passports were being issued to women merely on application, but no instructions had been received from tho Imperial authorities to discontinue the two conditions stated. "It is as well to let it be known," the Minister added, "that the authorities state that the restrictions on women travelling from the United Kingdom to New Zealand will continue until all soldiers have returned." i It is understood that the Government has paid .£lO 10s. per acre for the Westmera estate (Wairarapa). A Masterton resident who knows the property well states that it is cheap at the price. It will probably be cut up into six or eight farms, access to which will be gained by the Te Wharau and Westmere roads. Speaking at the annual meeting of the North Canterbury Thrashing Machine Owners' Association Inst week, Mr. T. B. Jones said that the country was accused of exploiting the towns, but. in reality the towns were exploiting the country. Referring to the charges made for machine repairs, he said that recently ho had replaced the centre of a tractionengine wheel, at a cost of .£lll, the price for the same, work prior to the war being £i 2 10s.

Applications from returned soldiers for loans to purchaso liouso properties, and for the development of soldiers' sections, raised a lengthy discussion at the meeting of the North Otago Soldiers' Aid Association held on Tuesday. The , , following resolution woe carried: "That it be the fixed policy of this board to encourage soldiers in need of dwellings or loans for land settlement purposes, to take advantage of the present Government scheme of advances to returned soldiers, and that if it appears that the Government advance meets the case of applicant, -no grants be mado by the board." It was resolved to fully advise returned men of the advantages offered under the Government ssrenic.

Tho new ferro-CQncrete bridge spanning the Shotoyer at Arthur's Point .is now nearing completion (says the Lake Wakatipu "Mail"). The bridge will not be opened for vehicular traffic till February 9, but pedestrians are being permitted now to use it. The approximate cost of the bridge, which is the first of its kind to be constructed in New Zealand, is .84500.

At the mooting , of the Napier Chamber of Commerce held last week a letter was received from the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, pointing out that they had written to the Poslmnster-General to the effect that no town in Now Zealand was as badly off as Gisborno in the matter of postal services. Gisborne asked that tho Napier Chamber support their action in urging the Government that when aerial postal services were being established a servico from Gisborne to Napier would be one of the first to be considered. It was stated that the only time rn.iilsi had been delayed as far as Gisbomowns concerned was during tho recent epidemic. The matter was rather premature, and it would bo better to wait till thej 'plaues were in New Zealand. Other members agreed with this suggestion, and the letter was referred to the committee to deal with.

An act of heroism, as. the result of which a boy named Colin Crowther met his death at Taupo, is to bo brought to the notice of the Royal Humane Society. Tho evidence at the inquest showed that Crowther had attempted to save another boy who had fallen into the AVaikato River. Tho coroner and jury added a rider to the verdict that the attention of the society be drawn to the action of deceased.

Why are potatoes so dear? From inquiries mado by us (says a Dunedin ex-' change) it -would 'appear that the answer is simply because sufficient quantities of them cannot be obtained. The lateness of tho local season is a big factor in bringing about state- of affairs, and relief from the North Island and Australia is rendered difficult—almost impossible—by the lack of transport facilities. There are few, if any, old potatoes fit for table use, so that tho public arc, as it were, in a cleft stick. We understand that efforts arc being made through the Minister of Munitions to obtain priority of loading for potatoes and onions in the case of tho Kainpoi, which is at prosent loading in Melbourne. If this can be managed it will relieve the situation considerably, and tide us over until our own supply is available in quantities. To give an idea of the demand it may bo mentioned that Auckland new potatoes were sold at 3kl. to id. per lb. wholesale the other morning, and Oair.aru and Peninsula, freshly gathered, at skl,

"Tlie/jreturned soldiers are not going to allow their names to bo used in connection .with any outside project to abstract money from the pockets of the public," said Mr. 0. T. J. Alpers at a meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Memorial Hall Fund Committee in Christchurch. "Anyone who wants to drag in their, name into any such project will be promptly turned down, and there is going to bo no misuse of this name. If any name has been scandalously misused during this last year or two it is that of the Belgians. We have had 'Belgian buns,' 'Belgian biscuits,' 'Belgian eansage,' and all that kind of thing, and Hie practice has been simply scandalous and sickening. We are going to seo to it that the soldiers' name is not traded on."

The real meaning of tho influenza epidemic is brought home to us (says the "Springfield Republican" of October 20) when we read that in the north end of Boston bodies sometimes lie 35 hours because the services of undertakers are so greatly in demand, or when wo learn that the undertakers of some Worcester county towns are so overworked that members of their trade from neighbouring towns have been called in to assist.

Two fishermen, Mitchell Brown and a man named Phillips, left the Old Pilot Station on Friday afternoon in an open boat with the intention of going fishing near Pencarrow lighthouse. -No further word hud been received of them up till Saturday-afternoon, and fears were expressed 'for their safety, as their boat was an old one and not in very good condition. It was thought that the high wind on Friday night, might have caused an accident. The police were, however, yesterday informed that the two men were safe at "the lighthouse. Their intention to return home on Friday night was frustrated by the rough weather, so they camped for the night on the beach north of the beacons. On Saturday morning the light-house-keepers gave the men breakfast, and in the afternoon another attempt was mide to get home. The boat was halfsir'y across the harbour entrance when a strong northerly wind blew it back to the shore south of th? lighthouse, and the tv.-o men had t>. most trying time. The boat was moored, and Bvnwn and Phillips sheltered for the night. The gulo grow, however, and yt-sterdny morninu it whs found that the" mooring-vone had broken and the anchor had draeged, allowing the boat to drift some distance.. She was (hen submerged, but not damaged. It was this thnt kept them from returning yesterday. The men, one of whom was an elderly man, were looked nfter by tho Hghth'ouse-keepers, and are quite well. Slippers.—A splendid idea for Christmas presents. See. our Black, 7s. lid. to los. Kd.; Tan, Us. Gd. to 19s. 6d. Geo. Fofflds, Ltd., Manners Street—Advt.

Our Featherston correspondent reports that the Borough Council, on tho motion of Councilor A. C. Holms, seconded by Councillor T. R. Saundors, carried a resolution unanimously protesting against the concentration of venereal disease cases in tho Featherston Military Camp. An earlier motion by the same mover, and seconded by Councillor M. H. Kendall: "That a public meeting bo held to afford full opportunity for discussion of the question," wa3 > a " er a warm debate defeated by one vote, Councillors B. S. Yelverton and Jas. Adamson supporting the. proposition. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. Card) and several councillors held that there was no cause for alarm, but eventually supported the protest.

A nieetine of the Drivers' Union was held yesterday afternoon to consider the action to bo taken by the union in connection with the present dispute with the employers of drivers throughout the Dominion. Some time ago the unions had a conference with the employers, and the employers made an offer which the unions rejected. Tho position now is that the drivers have asked the employers for a second conference, and they are awaiting: a reply from the employers, which will no doubt be given as soon as all the parties to the agreement at present in existence have had time to express their opinion. The possibility of a strike of drivers has been mentioned in. the event of the second conference being in the case of an unsatisfactory 'ending from their point of view to such a conference. It is probable that this was one of the topics discussed at the meeting yesterday.

The pranks of a twelve-year-old Assyrian boy with an air riile' on the at'tornoou of Sunday, December 1, caused annoyance to a Salvation Army officer, especially as tho latter was struck on the »ack of tho neck by pellets fired by the embryo marksman. 'At the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning the boy was . brought up and asked to explain why he was in possession of the weapon, seeing that he was under sixteen years of age. Sergeant Lopdell explained that the lad fired at tho Salvation Army officer over a backyard fence.. The matter was reported to witness, who took the rifle from' the boy. As eoon as he had done so the hoy 'became extremely annoyed, and, hailing his companions, followed witness to his home, making use of bad language to 'him, and enjoining the other boys to smash in the windows of witness's 'house. "He has au ungovernable temper," eaid Sergeant Lop.dellj "and has been , in trouble before." The sergeant added that the boy had been a source of annoyance, and until recently, owing, to his misconduct, his father kept him practically a prisoner. The father was away from homa a good deal, however, and during tho epidemic the lad got out amongst other boys. The parents were doing their best for the youngster, but he was a bit of a problem. Mr. Dineen, the juvenile probation officer, said he regretted to say that the boy was very bad His father was an industrious man, and the boy had causejl 'him a good deal of trouble. Another difficulty was that the hoy was in the habit of being about the etreets late at night. "I almost feel inclined to recommend that he he sent to an industrial school," said Mr. Dineen. The Court decided to give the boy a last chance, and adjourned the case for two years, during which time the lad is to be under the supervision of the juvenile probation officer. The air 'rifle was confiscated.

During a discussion by the Auckland Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union on Wednesday ou the valuation of soldier settlement land,' the chairman, Mr. J. Boddie, 6iiid thsvt new valuation: were not used for ioca; rating purposes until n general revaluation of the district was made. With reference to this statement, Mr. B. F. Andrews, secretary to the Auckland Returned .Soldiers' Association, says that rates on the new valuation were charged on Streamlands from tho day the sections were taken over, and that thed'e has been no general revaluation since 1912.

Bathing facilities are being provided for the German interit.ies now at Narrow Neck camp, on the shores of Rangitoto Channel, Auckland Harbour. An arrangement in regard to the use of a small portion of the Narrow Neck beach by the prisoners of war now interned there was reached at a conference betweon the Defence officers and the Mayor of Devonpori (says tho "Her. aid"). It was agreed that the prison, era be permitted to use a small uuuseir portion of tho beach itumsuiately beiow the camp, between the hours of 5.30 a.m. and 8 a.m. only. It was staled"that a guard may bo easily maintained, and that the public will be in no way deprived of the use of the main beach. Tho Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) has received from Mr. M. L. Hippeau, Vice-Consul for Franco at Auckland, an intimation thai he has cabled to the president of tho Home for Blind Solditrs. Paris, .EISUU 15s. Sd., ns the net proceeds in New Zealand of the Frenclv art collection exhibited by Sir. Wiliy Rogers. The collection wns ■ exhibited in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Mr. Hippeau writes: "I beg to thank you most heartily for the interest you shown in the artistic and charitable initiative of Mr. AVilly Rogers by granting him the authorisation and facilities necessary for the holding of his exhibition. I wish to say how touched I .5111 by this new and practical proof of sympathy given by your generous countrymen to my country in the cruel times she has gono through." Mr F H Pope, chairman of the Auckland section of the Public Service Association, has been in telegraphic communication with Wellington urging upon the\ Executive Committee the necessity of taking strong action to induce the Government to arrange payment of the bonus prior to the holidays. Stress was given to the fact that large numbers of the lower-paid officers are in financial difficulties 'brought about by the recent epidemic. It was suggested that authority should be given to local heads cl Departments to pay bonuses from theij imprest accounts wherever this course is practicable. A reply has been received stating that the Acting-Minister ot Finance and. the permanent heads of the Audit and Treasury Departments have been, interviewed, and, as a" result, the Executive Committee is satisfied that it is not possible to make the payment beforo Christmas. The bonus .will be paid early in the New Year.