LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 77, 26 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Although the streets were thronged with thousands of joyous people on Christmas Eve, instances of rowdyism were rare, and tho police had no great difficulty in controlling the crowds. One regrettablo instance occurred late in the evening, however, at a restaurant in 'Cuba Street. A number of exuberant young men went in to have supper together, but some trouble alose, and .the result was that a large plate-glass window, valued at .£75, ,was kicked .. in. Constables Cox and Withers were' soon upon the scene, and they arrested two of the party a charge of having caused the damage. The boots of both men were cut about, and one of the pair was found to be suffering from a lacerated foot, which had to. be bandaged up at the Mount Cook Police Station. Both accused will be brought before, the Magistrate's Court this morning.

Tho Minister of Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) stales that an amendment is to bo made in tho constitution of the Appeal Board set up 'in connection with the grading of teachers.

Early yesterday morning a youth named Reginald Kedde'll, who resided at 117 Abel Smith Street, was taken seriously ill in the street, and at half-past two he was taken to the Taranaki Street Police Station by some of his companions, Dr. Young was summoned, and he ordered Iveddell's removal to the Hospital, to which institution he was admitted at 4.15 a.m. in an unconscious condition. About two hours and a half later, however, he expired. It transpires that the cause of death was diabetes, and as a medical certificate is to bo issued no inquest will be necessary. The deceased was 19 years of age.

A little boy named Albert Grant, aged three and a half years, ran choking in to his grandmother, Mrs. E. M. Silveira, of Picton Eoad, on Saturday, telling her, between gasps: "1 can't got it out!", The child suddenly collapsed, and as his 'grandmother could not get a doctor, she sent him to the hospital, where ho died ii few hours afterwards. After death a large pebble was found in tho boy's gullet. He had evidently put it into his mouth, and swallowed it accidentally.Auckland "Star."

Between 9 a.m. on Monday and the same hour the- next day 6ome person made his way into the Government Meteorological Station at Pipitea Point, and Mole a terrestrial radiation thermometer and two earth thermometers, which were lorn away from their emplacements by wrenching away the chains which held them ■in position. Another instrument was also damaged by the vandal, but fortunately it is one which can be easily repaired. Luckily the Department is able to replace the stolen instruments, though what use they can be to anyone outside the Department cannot be imagined. Tho polico are making inquiries.

A local merchant denies a report from Wellington which states that the prices for glassware and paints, etc., are likely to drop (says tho Auckland "Star.") In proof of this he showed a "Star" reporter copies of cablegrams recently roOeived by 'an Auckland firm. A ■ cable on December 3 quoted white'lead at a price which would allow the material to be sold at the present • price, and stated that the market was likely to advance. On December 16 another cablegram notified an advance of ,£lO 10s. per ton, which supplies would cost about XG per ton more than the present -retail price. It also notified considerable increases for all kinds of varnish. Apart from the price of glassware, which has not fallen, it is,impossible to get importations, as thoro is no shipping space available. The informant expressed the opinion that England would be sufficiently employed during the next year manufacturing glass to replace the huge quantities damaged on the Continent, without having much to spare for theso Dominions.

It is difficult to believe that if the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Public Health had not been one and the 6ame individual the public would not have been given the complete vital statistics for each of the four centres long ago, says the "Lyttelton Times." The. Minister held back the figures and as the rosult. of his action the public may be expected to think that he is trying to hoodwink them. There was never a shadow oF reason for the suppression of the figures. "The wildest rumours were in circulation. It was rumoured and currently believed that there had been between two and three thousand deaths in ..and around Wellington. The Auckland figures wero usually given in the neighbourhood of five thousand. In the Christchurch district there were supposed to have been a thousand deaths in ■ November. Mr. Russell must have heard of these stories. The proper way to stop their circulation was to allow the local figures to be issued in the usual course, but the Minister, "to prevent a panic," instructed the local officers to withhold them. They should have been available in the first week in December, but even at this date the, Minister has issued only partial returns for the four centres.

It may not be generally known (says a Southern writer) that the late Mr. C. 0. Kettle was one of the best cricketers of his day.

Remarkable developments have occurred in England during the past few months, says an English paper, in the methods of treating shell-shock cases amongst soldiers, and other cases of neurosis which have arisen as the result of war service. Long-standing and apparently hopeless cases of paralysis, loss of speech or hearing, and other functional nervous diseases, have been cured in a few days-sometimes in a few minutes— by purely persuasive treatment and without the aid of hypnotism or electric massage. An interesting .point was considered in Auckland last week by Mr. Justice Stringer in tho case of William J. Powell v. the Crown (states an exchange). Up to August, 1917, the plaintiff was employed as a painter by the Railway Department at d£3 15s. a week. Ho contracted lead poisoning, and received compensation up to January 9, by which time he had recovered. He refused to accept defendant's offer to re-employ him as a painter, having decided to abandon the occupation of. a painter, owing to risk of again contracting lead poisoning. He had been working as a storeman, but had not been able to earn as much as ho had received as a painter, and he claimed comperisation amounting to one-half of tho difference between his average earnings boforo his sickness and the amount he was now earning. The Court held that the plaintiff had not proved increas. cd susceptibility to tho disease as a result of the attack. The fact that the plaintiff, quito reasonably from motive, of prudence, refused to return to tin painting trade could not he ui«ue a basis of compensation under the Act. As, however, there might be effects of lead poisoning upon some of the vital organ. 3 , which might remain latent in the system for a long time, and ('nly manifest themselves as the result ot fiomt exciting cause, tho plaintiff was entitled to have his rights preserved in the event of such a contingency arising. The Court, therefore, made an order for the payment of ono ncnny a we?k until this sum was ended, increased or commuted. No order as to costs was madb.

Slippors —A splendid idea for Christmas presents. Sen our Black, 7s. .lid. to 15s. 6(1.; Tan, lis. Gd. to 19s. Gd. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners Street.—Advt.

The Mararoa is expected to make a late arrival at Wellington to-day. Tho vessel is three firemen short, and is coming up from Lyttelton under reduced speed.

Christmas Day was fittingly observed in the principal city and suburban churches. Special services were held in the Anglican, Roman Catholic, and several of tho Presbyterian churches, and hvmns and carols suitable to the festival were sung. At the services there were large congregations present, and many worshippers partook of .Holy Communion. The Bishop ot Wellington preached an eloquent sermon at the It o'clock service at St. Paul's ProCathedral, laying pointed emphasis on tlie significance of the advent of the Prince o! Peace, and His message to the human race. The offertories at the ProCathedral are to be devoted to the Boys' Home and the Maori Mission. Two works of exceptional artistic merit have recently been donated to the Academy of Fine Arts for inclusion in tho collection at the Art Gallery, and have now been placed in view. The large watercolour "Pangbonrne Woods, Upper Thames," presented by Mr. and Mrs. John Duncan, is probably one of the largest and most effectively-treated works in the medium which has been shown in this citv, and its airy freshness and coolness will appeal not only to those who know something of the upper reaches of the great river, but to New Zealanders who have wandered in their own land and seen something of its river stretches and beautiful streams. The other gift is a finely-executed etching by the wellknown author and illustrator, .Mortimer Meupcs .of a cathedral facade. This has been presented by Mr. W. L. Meek, and is an excellent example of the clever artist's work. A small collection of Japanese silverware has been loaned by Mr. James Taylor for exhibition. The skilful treatment of plum and cherry blossom in tho decoration of the two vases, and the setting of the four protecting dragons at each corner of tho jardinioro. show the skill of the Japanese craftsman at its best.

A boy, aged 13 years, was charged in the Juvenile Court, Dunedin, with stealing nine books, valued at XI 4s. 3d., the property of Whitcombe and Tombs, and also with stealing two books, valued at •Is., the property of Braithwaites, Ltd. The chief detective said that the property had been recovered. The lad attended school regularly.. He took the books homo. Tho mothor said she was ill at the time, and knew nothir; about the stolen property. The Magistrate (Mr. Bartholomew) siiii that the way books wero displayed in booksellers' shops was a great temptation to lads, especially to boys from humble homes. Jt was almost too tempting. The boy wrclo be admon-. ished and discharged and Ordered to be placed under the supervision of the Juvenile Probation Officer.

Four chimes were apparently not sufficient for the Post Office clock at four o'clock yesterday, for it /repeated the four strokes at twenty minutes past tho hour. The postal officials, when communicated with, were unable to any explanation of the occurrence.

The proverbial uuliappiness of the policeman's lot was, in the case of the members of the force stationed at Taranaki Street, accentuated yesterday _by splintered hopes and vexation' of spirit. According to annual custom, a local brewery firm had sent, round to the. station a'lO-gallon keg of beer as Christmas box. On its arrival a "high authority" ordered its arrest and confinement in the padded cell, where it remained. It was confidently expected that the' Christmas feeling would melt thc_ "high authority" to the point of raising tho blockade", but notlmig happened. The "dangerous prisoner" is still under "close arrest" in the padded cell.

Although tho war is practically over and the big camps have been cleared, there is still an acute shortage of skilled tradesmen in Wellington, chiefly bricklayers, carpenters, and plasterers. Several big jobs are months behind timo owing to the dearth- of bricklayers, among them Scots College Miramar and the new Firo Brigade Station at the top of Constable Street. In these cases there was not such a difficulty as formerly in getting unskilled labour, but in the case of tradesmen thero 'was no improvement. The difficulty was to get a man to stay oil at his trade. One contractor informed a Dominion representative that somo of his bricklayers had temporarily deserted their trade in order to work at the Ngahauranga meat freezing works, where higher wages were offering. One could not blainc the men at all. The problem would settle itself "when tho boys come homo."

Tomatoes, usually so cheap and plentiful at Christmas, have been vying with tho rarer fruits in season as far as price is concerned. Owing to a bleak, boisterous season the plants did not come on so lustilv as is their wont, and many growers 'found that tho few which did comu on were Slackened and shrivelled by the gales of November, which ware destructive all over tho country. The mean result has been that last week saw tomatoes (the ordinary 221b. case) bring 275..Cd. and 305., and the week before Ji2 per case, which accounts for the label, "o s per 1b.," at a time when tlia price should be 2d. On Tuesday sound red tomatoes brought 18s., and green lis. per case, and the day was hailed as tho first "cheap fruit day." Tomatoes were being sold at from Is. to Is. 6'.!. per lb. re all. . The Arbitration Court has decided to incrPiifP the carpenters' and ioiiiers' war bonus of 2d. \ier hour to 3d. The increase comes into effect on January 6, and operates in Wellington City, Wellington district, Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Hawke's Bay districts.

The municipal "Zoo" is well worth a visit during the holidays. There is, perhaps, no place more completely furnished for the entertainment of children as tho "Zoo" and Park adjoining, and parents aro not slow in taking advantage of the opportunities it presents for a cheap convenient and altogether delightful days' outing. After the novelty of watching the animals and birds in tho "Zoo" has worn off, there are the swings and swing-boats in tho adjoining Park, with sheltered nooks for picnic parties, and all the comforts of a home close lo hand. Among the "extra" attractions to be viewed at present are a couple ot thar, (hose small mountain deer which come from tho lower slopes of the Himalayas. These thar were born in the "Zoo," 'and appear to be thriving splendidly. The rosery is just now in full regalia. Although the roses have suffered by the boisterous weather of the past month, they havo proved their stamina by coming on splendidly during the past fortnight, and there is still a magnificent lot'of blooms king borne to bid all a smiling welcome.

A Press Association message from Sydney states that heavy rain has broken tho drought in the Riveriua district. The Y.M.C.A. committee acknowledges a gift of .£6O, per Mr. J. J. Roberts,' from the trustees of the Northern Bowling Association. In response to a largely-signed requisition'from tho electors of the borough, Mr. J. W. Card, Mayor of Fealherston, has decided to convene a public meeting in the Town Hall, to afford an opportunity for public consideration of the concentration of venereal disease cases in the district. It is expected that the representatives of various Wairarapa local bodies will be oresont, and a weighty protest made. The members for Masteiion. Wairarnpii, and Pahiatua v-ill bo invited to attend the fixture.

On September 25, allowing plenty of time for delays in transit, the Otago Harbour Board sent, through the Overseas Club, to each man in its employ on active service a, Christmas hamper containing one whole midget Dutch cheese, one tin chicken, one tin boiled beef, one tin meat and vegetable rations, one plnm cake in tin, one tin baked beans, one tin steak and kidney pudding, one tin treacle pudding, lib. biscuits, one tin butter, one tin salmon, one tin tomatoes, Jib. tea, lib. sugar, one tin milk, one tin jam or marmalade, one tin golden syrup, one tin peaches. By the outgoing mail of about that date was also forwarded a letter announcing the di.-patch of the hamper, an* continuing;—"Wo desire to repeat what, was said last year, that we wish you to understand that wc nil immensely admire you for your heroism, devotion, and sclf-Jiicrilice in this time of the Umpire's great need, and feel particularly proud of you as a representative of this" fair land. In the small way herein indicnted, we are trying to 6how this in a practical form. Our best thoughts and good wishes aro constantly witli you, but bo sure of this, that on Christmas Day they will bo specially dirvntJ towards you."

Speaking at Feilding on Friday night, the Mayer (Mr. A. M. Ongley) said that the deat'is from influenza in . Feilding during the recent epidemic had only been six.

Recognising the advantages to be gained by direct telephonic communication with Palmers ton North, llaxmillers between Shannon and Palmerston are erecting a, number of wires so that the use of the bureaux in tho district will be obviated. It is elnimcd by them that in tho event of fire in any of the flax areas an army of Are fighters, representing at least a thousand men, could be secured at short notice. A leading sheepfarmer state,d to a Hawera "Star" representative that the position in regard to shearers for this season's wool is serious. Sheepfaimers in that district have always depended largely ou the Maoris, and unfortunately they are not now available in any number. Tho epidemic, too, has been responsible for a lot of trouble. A riinholder in the Wanganui hinterland, who has 40,000 sheep to shear, had 25 men at. work in his sheds when the influenza attacked them. Four died, an<l most, of the others were seriously affected. Whereas shearing is most-' ly finished about Christmas, many farmers have not started. The shearers, said the informant, are not in sight. ' What wool has come in was shorn before tho epidemic came. The position he emphasises as very serious. It is difficult 1 to say when the shearing will be completed. During the influenza epidemic goods traffic was practically suspended on the railways. Since its resumption the traffic through Palmerston North has been exceedingly heavy, and every effort has been made to get the sheds and lines clear before tho holiday traffic. On one night last week there were no less than 1500 tons of goods on trucks waiting at the Paekakariki Station en route to Wellington. This necessitated the running of three special trains in addition to the two ordinary goods trains. .