LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 85, 4 January 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Replying to inquiries as to when the Postal Department is likely to be able to restore the more frequent clearances and deliveries of mails, the Acting-Post--master-General (the Hon. W. D. S. JlacDonald) eaid that ho was looking into the whole matter of mail and parcel services. Tho Minister said that the Bepartmont would be hampered for :i lons' time by shortage of stalf. Tho men now overseas with the • Army would not be released and brought hack in a body, but only in their turn as soldiers with the succeeding drafts. As the demobilisation of'fit men would not commence until after the formal proclamation of peace it would take some time to bring the postal staff up to the required strength.

The New- Zealand Shipping Company, According' to a Press Association telegram from Chrietchurcli, states that the sailing vessel Terpsichore has left St. Johns for Wellington with cargo, including a large quantity of paper for Now Zealand newspapers. She comes via thn Capo of Good Hope. The voyage is estimated lo take 100 to 120 dnys.

It is asserted by thti "New Zealand Locomotive Engineers' Journal" that about 1000 engineers, firemen, and cleaners have resigned from the Now Zealand railway service since 1914, ' /

Largely as the result ,of it' movement inaugurated by Mr. E. Nowsian, M.1 , , for Rangitikei, New Zealand sheep-own-ers decided to devote the extra profits accruing from the sale of surplus wool in London to a fund fra , tho benefit ot dependants of members of the naval and mercantile marine. The latest outcome is the receipt of the following, cable messages by the treasurer of the fund (Mr. T. R. Lees):— "Edinburgh, December 28, I!)lß,—Rear-Adniiral Lionel Halsey, on behalf of the naval and mercantile seamen serving on warships, trawlers, and defensively armed merchant vessels, sends to New Zealand sheep-owners hearty thanks for their generous proposals.' "London, December 28, 1918,—Havelock Wilson, on behalf of the executive committee of the seamen's union tenders to New Zealand sheep-owners warm appreciation of their offer to help the dependants of' British seamen \yho hayo heen wounded or have lost their lives in defence of the Empire."

When asked in Dunedin this week by an "Otago Times" reporter when the additional sum that he caused to be placed on the Estimates for assistance to school committees would be distributed, the Hon. J. A. Hanan stated that.tho regulations governing' this vote would fee gazetted this nionth.

Some workers employed \ at Vesty's meat works, Port Darwin, havo seen the "slow strike" froth, a new point of view. Some girls employed as waitresses in the men's dining-room demanded from the men, who are their employers, j.their steamer fares from the south, a privilege granted to other employees. This, the meii refused, whereupon the waitresses went on waiting, but only carried one plate at a , time, and that in a leisurely, dignified way, more befitting a duchees than a waitress. The result was that very few of the men got all that they wanted, and some got nothing at all before the whistle 6onnded. One man, explaining the situation to an outsider, said: "The little beggar brought me a plate of beef, but' no. vegetables, and there was ho salt on the table. I said, 'Get a move on, Sissy,' and she eaid very politely, "I am sorry you are kept wnitiug,' but' she nover brought another thing. I filled the\gaps with bread and jam, but next day, blest if all tho bread nnd'-jnni hadn't been moved, and I didn't get a bite of anything.- Fair terrors they are, and they'll have'to get what tuey want." . "• ■ ,

Following were prices advertised in Sydney a few weeks ago for new galvan-. Ts'ed corrugated iron:—sft., 75.; 6ft., Bs. id.; 7ft, 9s. 3d.; 9ft.,.!25. Bd.; 10ft.,Hs. (25 guage, per sheet). Per ton: sft. to Bft. long, 467; 9ft, eE67- 10s. j 10ft., .£6B 10s. ' ' ■.

The Mayor of Featherston has convened a public meeting, to be held next week, to- consider the concentration of venereal disease patients in the district, and it is expected that representatives from public bodies as far north ae Pαhiatua will be present. If the boy is father to the man, Auckland possesses the future John D. Rockefeller, for when the would-be. lunchers forgathered on Howick's , ' shore to spend a festive time -with the colonial cup which always revives, they were confronted with a hot-water supply which cost ninepence the quart (remarks the "Star"). But water had to be procured, and the only supply wns in the hands of two •small boys, who had erected a .copper and, as it were, cornered the market. The picnickers were very indig-. nant, but could not refrain from laughter as they etood in a queiioand awaited .their turn. Some of them oven went back more than once, but there wns no reduction for quantity. But, alas, even embryo Carnegies cannot always retain the market; and by afternoon-tea tirno iinother party of email boys were well to the fore with their boiler, and hot water was then down to threepence tho potful. ' . , AVo have just received an account of how two boys, one Riflenian Fj. Fischer, of Palmerston, and Rifleman C. B. Chandler, of Wangamii, kept side by side through their whole experience of "doing their bit" for. their country (says the Mauawatu "Times"). They, started their, career by going into camp and going through , the necessary training together while in New Zealand, where they had to put in another two months of hard training, wnich at liaet made them fit fof active service. Tliey then left for France, and after seeing some heavy fighting on the Western front had tho, misfortune of both being wounded in the arm on the same morning, and to their astonishment came face to face in a dressing station behind the line. From hero they were transferred to a hospital in France, and were parted until they found themselves side by side on an operating table. After a week had passed by, not knowing where each other was, they at last came.'together once more, having the luck'to.be. in the same.hospital in England. They are now honing to cntch the same bout back to New Zealand. ' : , '"•■

The inquest, on the body .of .Alfred Ericksoii, a flaxmili hand, who collapsed while bathing nt Day's Bay on New Year's morning, was concluded .yesterday. Evidence wns given by Dr. Shand, who attended to deceased after he was removed from the water, that death was due to heart failure. A verdict was returned by the Coroner, Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., that • death ' was caused by heart failure, due to shock while bathing and remaining too long in the cold water.

A harmless-looking young "man got into a smoking carriage on the Sydney4rmidale train recently, and, taking, out a, pack'of cards, began to play patience. He was chatty, and, explained that he had been an inmate of a lunatic asylum, but was now cured, and was going up country to buy a farm, as he had had ten millions left him. He said the lunatics.' were foiid of cards, and that he used to win a thousand a night ■ from the warders. ' The. passengers were amused, and wheri he oifered to (show them the three-card trick, and placed the cards very, clumsily, two of them cheerfully bet. with him and he won £2. He seemed so surprised and pleased at his luck that prssently all the carriage bet with him, and he won every time. He left the train at Gosforcl. and later, when his companions mentioned the lunatic's astounding luck to a detective, they, were laughed at, and assured that they had met the cleverest card-sharper in the State.

A heavy fall of snow-at this season of' the year an -unpleasant novelty, but at JSfokomai, near Kingston, last Saturday (the longest day of-the year), such an unwelcome visitation wos experienced, says the "Otago Daily-Times." Very heavy flakes fell, and in four hours there was a fall of five and a half inches. All manner of fruit trees, heavily laden with fruit, were broken down, - and crops of . long grass were flattened to tho ground. Next morning there was a keen frost, followed by mid-summer weather.

Phthisical cases that leave Home ports on troopships benefit greatly by the sea voyage. This fact has been noted many times during recent years, and it was commented on by Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence) in conversation with an "Otago Daily Times" reporter. Ihe Minister expressed pleasure at the marvellous improvement made by very many men on the way out. "On irrivnl in . New Zealand," he said, "the majority of the cases are well on the road to recovery, and the treatment they receive here ensures to every man the bt st chance of regaining his health.". He. added that at present there were ci'y 6U cases of the kind in the sanatorium at Pleasant Valley, while 'everal men wlic were almost cured wore on leave, l>. may be that when proper provision i as betn made at the. Wnipukarau iHawke'e Hay) institution, phthisical CR6es will be treated there instead of 'at Pleasant Valley. : ■ ~. ■■■:.■■ ,-■'

. Shortly after 2 p.m. yesterday, a fire was discovered in a building in Quin Street, used by Messrs. David' M'Crae, Ltd., mattress manufacturers. The contents of the place were mostly rags,, and the amount of damage was not .very great. The cause of the outbreak is attributed to a spnrlc, which came either from the electric motor or from outside. Mr. John M'Crae was burned somewhat, but his injuries are in-no way serious. The insurances itro i.ot yet available.

"We are officially informed," says the "British-Australasian," I'tliat, the .Imperial GoyiirnVient had anticipated Mr. Massey's request that Anzae troops should garrison Clallipoli, and that such troops, most probably, are already ocenpying Hie forts. We also understand that the Australian and New Zealand authorities on this 6ido had, with eommendablo foresight, made arrangements for immediate notion, after peace with Turkey, in tending the graves of our dead on Gallipoli,"

The prospects for the fruit season in the Hastings district are better than was anticipated, and tbe late frosts did not do the damage that was expected a month ago.. Although the crops are light, they are of excellent quality, and should command good prices. A profitable crop, particularly in''the Pnkowhai district, is loganberries, which are selling well and are much in demand for jam making. The fruit-growers who \v«re fomenting their bad fortune last month now tee before them a fairly profitable season.

A fleece shorn at Mr. J. J. Hill's farm, Brightside, Waitahorn, recently from an "improved Iloimiey ram" was credited with "311b. of wool, without the bully." The shearer said had he known that the fleece would be weighed he could, by careful shearing have added another half pound to the aggregate.

Mr.-Albert Roberts, of Ashburton, has written to say, that in the casualty list issued by Base Records on December 13 it was reported that his son, Private A: W. Roberts, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, had died of sickness. This, he states, is not correct, for Private Roberts lins informed him that he arrived in London on December 7, safe and well, as a repatriated prisoner of war. He was taken prisoner on September 7, 1918.

A disastrous hurricane recently swept the t Ne\v Hebrides and Banks Groups Numbers of small vessels were lost, and considerable damage was done to property. The most northerly portion :of the Banks Groups and several islands of the Now Hebrides suffered, including parts of Santo, Jlnlekula, Maewo (Auffora)', awl Aobn. Hundreds of natives' houses were ruined, and many' coconut plantation? were destroyed. At Aurora u chapel of the Melanesia!! Mission was blown down. The Melanesia!! , . Mission vessel, Southern Cross, rendered' as much assistance as possible .to the sufferers. A number of recruiting and other small vessels foundered, nnd , 11 craft are missing. It is stated that near Devil' Rock at 'Aolm four ketehei ou,t <f five were lost. Four wero lost at Aurora, nnd four at Pentecost, and five others which were at anchor' at Dunidui, ,near Aobn, nro missing. -• When the Southern Cross was leaving sho passed an 'abandoned ed schooner neair Aoba., Mr. Fricotte lost the ketch Clothilde at Epi, her cargo being then valued at .£750. ■ Afr. Ancelin lost a schooner, five of the crew being drowned. Mr. laucons's schooner La Polynesia had not been heard of up to the time the Eiiphrosyne—the .British Resident's yacht-had left the scene. Among those who lost vessels wero Messrs. Cliantreux, Prenel, Maynaril (killed), Draghicewitz, Cassin. Ancelin, Flamming, and Bourdois. — Auckland "Herald."

'liie vote on th<j Estimates. for kinematographs was referred to by the I On. ,T. A. Hannn during his stay m nmitdm this week. Ho enid lie -.vould liks to do something to help the introduction ot the kinema into some of our Schools, and ho had taken .the. initial vote with .1 view to giving a, small subsidy where the lunemato?raph was installed by a school committee; It was pointed out to the Minister that the. Monnngton School Committee purposed installing a machine early in the year in place of the made lantern secured Jast year, hut it was faced with the problem of getting suitable films for instructional purposes, '.[ho Minister said, he appreciated the enterprise of the committee mentioned, and ho. hnd under consideration a sohome whereby ,a supply of educational films would be made available for use in schools where the kinematdgraph wir installed. • ■ ~. Referring to the influenza epidemic at Fiji, it cori-ospoudent of the Mew Zonlond "Herald/ , writing under date December G says: "The principal difficulty in combating the disease in a. community such as ours is the ignorance of the natives. The Indians are inclined to take notice of advice,, but the I'ijians and other natives are lower in< the mental scale, and it is no uncommon thing for them to take the medicine offered, keep it in their mouths until the back of the helper is' turned, iind then spit it out, The heat of the fever is too much for them,' .and . they obey Brst instincts to get cool. It was a frequent sight to see a native with nothing on but his narrow bulu or loin-cloth sitting on.a mat out in the , open air with torrents of rain falling on him, or to find men and women with not a stitch on lying across open doorways, shoulders heaving .with ,the coughs that were racking them. • Some eights were gruesome that greeted the voluntary aid workeis. Neither the. Kjian nor'tho Indiinhas. a grandiose idea of a house, and in these homes would be half-a-dozen natives in various stages of the disease,, w,ith a corpse in the midst of them—a corpse that had already been there a day. Thia was in the early days of the outbreak. Thanks, however., to the energy and enthusiasm with which the work was undertaken, it is safe to say that within the town itself and the villages" near by there is'- not a single instance of a Fijian dying through neglect or lack of nourishment:" ■

The peregrinations of a barrel of ale, a Christmas'gift from a local brewery to the constables ' at Taranaki Street Police Station, which, by the order of a "high authority," was incarcerated in the padded cell, still provide a topic of discussion amongst the members of the force. Aβ previously mentioned in The Dominion, the disappointed policemen at Taranaki Street were, not allow-* ed to test the contents of the barrel which was kept under "close arrest" until its fate' Should be determined. It now appears that just before the. new, year orders were issued that the "dangerous prisoner" should be returned to the source from which it came, as its presence at the station was not conducive to ."good order-and police discipline." Accordingly the brewery was communicated with, and c a dray dispatched to take the, barrel away. On its journey through the city, however, the offending Barrel disappeared, and it is. officially described as "lost in transit." A rumour is current that the barrel rolled into another police station, where it received a warm welcome. ■' . ' . •