LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 87, 7 January 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Telegraph Department advise that censorship on all wireless messages to and irum ships and shore stations has been suspended as from yesterday. This does not refer to men-of-vrar.

Cabinet had before it yesterday recommendations for tho appointment of the Board of Health to bo sot up under the Public Health Act of last session. 'I'lio recommendations were not, however, finally approved, and they will have to be further considered before. the board is set up.

During the year ended December 31, lf'lß, the number of.polico cases heard at the Wellington Magistrate's Court totalled 4793, a decrease of 118-1 as compared with 1017. Of these, 539 were those of females, which was 93 less tluiuthe number of female cases heard in the previous year. In 1918 the. sum of .£3510 15s. 2d. was collected by way of fines, which, compared with the amount of .£3574 os. lOil. received in 1917, showed a decrease of -tG3 lis. Sil. On the civil side of the Court's jurisdiction, 3939 plaints were entered in 1918. representing a decrease of 517 when compared with the total of 4150 for 1917. The total amount sued for last year was «£GG,TI2 3s. 3d., which was JJG32I,IBs. less, than what was claimed in the previous year.

One of the matters before Cabinet yesterday was the arrangement of details connected with tho purchase of New Zealand wheat from the harvest which should soon be gathered. The decisions of the Government will have to bo ratified by a meeting of tho executive beforo being 'announced.. In any case it is understood that no material. changes have been made in the proposals made to the farmers some weeks ago—6s. Gd. per bushel for all good milling grades of wheat.

Rules and regulations for tho management of military canteens are issued in General Orders. -

A telegraphic blunder of a startling kind caused anxiety to a Dunedin family recently. Two brothers, Ono of them named John, are with the New Zealand Forces, and the parents received a cablegram from the other brother containing the words "John killed." Base Records had not announced thO apparent casualty, and knew nothing of it. A cablegram of inquiry was dispatched to London, and after some delay tho fanr.ly learned that the original message had read "John sailed." Carelessness or bad writing had been responsible for the dismaying statement.

One who signs himself "A Victim'' writes to state that players at Anderson Park on Saturday were robbed of about jE7 by thieves, who rifled clothing which .had been left in tho dressing-shed. "A Victim"'adds:—"l lost my purse, which contained keys, .£1 notes, stamps, receipts, and military papers, and I would ask who ever has them to return the purse and papers to the address on them, and keep, the money as a reward for their honesty."

. The Mayor yesterday informed a Dominion representative that the Central Epidemb Committee had not yet terminated all its work. While other voluntary workers ' had been released from their onerous duties by the passing •of the scourge, Messrs. Dayiason, Ross, and Israel had remained on to assist the Mayor in the administration of tlio Epidemic Fund. It was hoped now that the services of . these gentleman would not be required much longer. His Worship said that he intended to present a report upon the work when it was completed. He wished to record, with some emphasis the fact that white the claims to be met were' by no means few-, the fund hnd been very generous, ly supported by members of the'public, and he was anxious to express his graft hide to all who had contributed.

During the year 1918 fourteen petitions in bankruptcy were filed in Wellington as against eleven for the year 1917. ; No bankruptcies wero reported during December, 1918, but for the same period of 1917 two petitions were filed.

The City Council yesterday offered for re-sale at auction nineteen ''hawkers' stands, in the city streets. Tho by-laws regarding the stands provide for their being, put in the market four times yearly—at the beginning of January, April, July, and October respectively. ■.The purchaser is thus limited to a three months' tenure., Competition was, very- keen at the 6ale ,held yesterday, and the. stands were knocked down at .prices-ranging from M 10s."to' Mi 155., 'to .purchasers of whom ten were-Euro-peans and nine were. Hindus. All the Hindus and' seven of the Europeans bought stands for tho sale of fruit, while the remaining three Europeans took' stands for the sale of peanuts, ice-cream, and coffee respectively. The auction realised a total amount of ,£157 10s. Commenting upon the number of Hindus who had bought stands, the chief sanitary inspector, Mr. J. Doyle, expressed the opinion that these people were quite desirable tenant.-:. They were very docile and law-abiding, and were clean and decent in apuearanco. "Some of them," ..dr. Doyle incidentally observed, "appear to have a bit of money."

Before he left for the war Private C. W. Childs, formerly assistant. linotype engineer with Tub Dominion, was presented by. The Dominion Companionship with a safety razor, outfit in a particularly solid case. While he was in action an enemy bullet penetrated the case of the outfit, but did not get any farther. The outfit has been returned to New Zealand, and its condition appears to,be clear evidence that it was a means'of saving its owner's life. • . An ex-tramway employee was arrested by Detective Torrance yesterday on a charge of having obtained the sum of ',£l2 from the Wellington City Corporation Tramways by means of a, false pretence. It is alleged that he received the money by claiming • that he had not been previously paid' in full. He will be brought before the Magistrate's Court this morning.

The Defence Minister said yesterday that his Department was, reorganising the education scheme for retarded soldiers under treatment in-the institutions prior to their discharge. Mr. W. H. Montgomery, Assistant irector of Base , Eecords, had taken over supervision of this work, and he had made certain recommendations which had been approved for the extension of the work. Miv Montgomery had been to Auckland in connection with this work, but the extension would apply to all the rest of New fteaInml as well as to institutions in Auckland and Eotorua. He had gone to Hanmer to make arrangements for the establishment of the new schepie at the soldiers' institution there. Tho children in Wellington who were left orphans by the epidemio are no longer charges of the Slate. A lady fr6m the country yesterday made inquiries with the intention of adopting a child, but was informed that all the children'who had come into the hands of the authorities as orphans were now in the homes of kindly people, and being treated as their own. It was also stated that many more children could have been placed in the care of couples wishing to adopt them. . A seaman uainud Michael Singi, who is u member of the crew of the American ecnooner Columbia, at present berthed at the Taranaki (Street Wharf, was charged before Mr. 1\ V, Timer, S.M., at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday with having landed without ti permit from the Collector of Customs, defend ant being an alien. Actiug-Sub-InapeoA tor Emerson stated that along wiih others of tha crew, defendant, who is' a Finn, was issued with a permit to come ashore for menls, but for no other purpose. The police learned that some of tho sailors, including Singi, were in tho habit of coming ashore at night time and sleeping in n vacant section near the Taranaki Street Wharf. Singi was arrested. Defendant gave as his reason for leaving tho ship-at nights tho fact that he was cooler in the grass than on tho vessel. Air. Frnzer said tho excuse was "rather thin," and thought that defendant must hiwa had some other reason for reposing in the grass. He. requested Singi I) tell the truth in the matter. Singi continued to aver that tho grass was coed, and that he preferred it to stuffy quarters on the. ship, and was fined <£2, in default seven days' imprisonment.

An inquest was held bv tho Coronor (Mr. W. G. Eiddcll, S'.M.), yesterday 'touching the death of a threo-months-ord child named Phyllis May Delaney, who died at the Wellington Receiving Home on Saturday morning. Dr. W. Kington Fyft'e, who made a post-mortem examination of the body, stated that the cause of death was tuberculosis. A verdlot was returned accordingly.

According to observations taken by Mr. David Watkin, of Piopio, in the King Country, the year just closed was a very wet one. Tho rainfall for the month of December was 9.42 inches, falling on 22 day 6, tho maximum fall being 2.09 inches on the sth. The total fall for the year 1018 was 129,58 inches, falling on 228 daj'S. The whole year was an exceptionally rough one, frosts occurring up to December 13. Up to January 1 there was practically no summer weather

Maori soldiers have recently been much in the picture at the old parish church of Cliertsey, from which, prior to the war, the curfow had Bounded for several centuries without a. break (says the London "Daily Hail"). Private R. W. Waiting of the New Zealand Force, was married to Miss Emily Poarce, of. Fordwator Road, Cliertsey. The happy pair were then accompanied by Lance-Corporal Komone Poutu, another Maori, and Miss Alice Julia Pearce, sister of the bride, the former being described as the son of W. J. Poutu, tanner, of liixbay, Wellington, New Zealand. Corporal Poutu ana Miss Alice Penrco entered their names in the parish church register as witnesses of the marriage. They had never met before, but after only nine days they, too, appeared at the old church and were married. To complete the romance, Private Waitia and his bride appeared in turn as witnesses, and their signatures were attached to the register.

A lady who.was sitting on the shore front of St. Clair, near Dunedin, minding .children, jumped up suddenly as a big wavo ran in. In her anxiety to seize theyoungsters she dropped her bag, and the sea made sport of it, letting out the contents, which included a fair sum of money in notes. Some of the notes were washed in, buit about .£ls was lost.

Mile, de Valette, the head of the American section of the Press Department of the Foreign Oltice, was instantly killed by the explosion of a hand grenade which she had picked up while conducting a parly of American ' women through the reoccupied territories on the French front. A French officer with the party had his arm blown off. He had carefully warned the members of the party to touch nothing Miss Elizabeth Shipley Thornton, of the "New Republic," New York, was wounded, but not seriously, in the face and other parts of the body by grenade splinters.

In another year or two Alaskan reindeer meat will he coming into the market, says an American paper. Alaska's present reindeer herds number 200,000 head, and they ordinarily double in- number every threo years. About 10 per cent, annually are surplus males that can be marketed without impairing (he future supply. A shipload of tho meat reached Seattle this summer from Nome, and it found ready favour in the market. The deer, fattened on the Northern grass and mosses, were in prime condition, and averaged about 150 pounds dtessed. Tho Fedei'al Government put the Northern Esquimau in the way of financial independence when it started him in reindeer breeding 20 years ago. The natives now control the majority of the herds, and private capital is also being attracted to the business. Inspired by the example of America, Canada is now encouraging reindeer breeding in its north-west territories, and on the Crown lands of the Western provinces. An Indian company has recently applied for and been granted a permit for the uso of certain territorial grazing lands for 37 years. • Private capital is invited to invest in tho industry, which is regarded as an ■ important feature of Canada's future development. The Western ranges long ago ceased to furnish any important source of beef supply in the United States, due to tho settlement of these districts by farmers and the utilising of the ranges for growing crops. Canada and Alaska have vast tracts of land suitable.-for the reindeer - industry, but too far north for cattle to"do well. In' this situation reindeer ranches promise profitable earnings, as well as some relief to the public in market prices.

The District Coroner, Mr.W. G. Eiddell, S.M., will hold ah inquest at 9.45 a.m. to-day, touching the death of Mts. Winifred Dyson, who died suddenly at her residence, 61 Ghuznee Street, on Saturday.

A Press Association telegram from Dannevirke states that the inquest on the body of the' man found at Dannevirke Railway Station on Saturday disclosed his - identity as Samuel. Alfred Eossiter, a well-known resident of Tamaki. He was left..at. the station by. relative; to Bleep after having had a severe fall and he 1 died during tho night from heamorrhage of the brain. A verdict to this effect was returned.

Tho circumstances of the death of a shorthand-typist named Constance Maud Sparrow, 27 years of-age, who died at the residence of her parents, 533 Adelaide Koad, on Saturday aftornoon, were investigated by the Coroneri (Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M.), yesterday. Dr. 'W. Kington Pyffe, who conducted a .postmortem examination of the body, said that ho found definite signs of jaundice. The cause of death was an, internal rupture, caused by gall-stones. Esther Elizabeth Sparrow, mother .of . the deceased, stated that deceased had been in bad health, for two or three years, and had been under medical care. Decease* went to Mangatinoka for the Christmas holidays, and returned to Wellington on January 2. On' Friday her condition became worse, and on Saturday afternoon about 1.30 o'clock she expired. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical testimony.

A note in Trentham Camp orders states that a board or court of inquiry, composed as under, will assemble by direction'of the'president when required for the purpose of investigating and reporting upon such matters as may he ordered ,fo"r'inquiry'by the Camp Commandant:—President. Cantnin E. Purdon, N.Z. Staff Corps; Captain A. Cheater, 1 N.Z. Staff Corns: Captain W. Hoar, Unattached List "B."

Women have played a very important part in carrying on different -pursuits through lack of male labour on account of tho men being' at the front, but droving has not claimed many aspirants, and a' fine piece of work by Mr. and Mrs. Amos Phippen, .of Marton, states the "Advocate," is worth recording. Quite recently Mr. Phippen was unable to obtain assistance to drive a mob of sheep, and Mrs. Phippen filled the breach by offering her services, which were : accepted. They started from Lake Alice with a mob of 2020 two-tooth shorn wethers, with three dogs,. wero 6ix days on the road, and landed tho full count at Mr. Charles Wilson's run, a distance of' 50 miles, without a casualty.

Whilst in Pnlraerston North on Sundny General Pau met an 013 school-mate of'liis in the person of Mr. J. r B. Pascnll. In the short time at. their disposal they were able'to recall with pleasure incidents connected with'the days they spent together in France. The Prime Minister has forwarded to tho Acting-Postinaster-General the following letter from Captain Hall-Thompson, Naval Adviser to the New Zealand Government:—"Now that tho war is drawing to a close, I am desirous of > causing to bo conveyed "to the Department of Post and Telegraphs the verv sincere appreciation felt by ths Admiralty Intelligence Centre in my charge of the valuable assistance rendered during the last four years, without which tho intelligence work—so largely dependent for its effectiveness upon reliability and rapidity of communication—would havo been impossible. Every facility which it has been possible to afford has be'on readily granted-both by the Department itself, as well as by its officers individually—and in ray opinion.. tho secretariat is to be congratulated as much upon tho practical and businesslike oftanisation of the service as upon the personal efficiency of its officers. Ap9?t from the \Y/T branch (which is dealt with in separate correspondence) I specially wish to acknowledge the service of three particular sections: The operating room, the telephone department, and the dispatch office, to all of whose officers and men my special thanks lire due for the invaluable courtesy and willing shown by them at nil times of_ tho day hnd night over a long period."

Sir. John Farrell, representing J. C. Williamson, Ltd., arrived from Christchurch on Saturday to complete arrangements for tho presentation of the big D. W. Griffith motion picture "Hearts of flic World," which is at: present attracting record houses in Dunedin.

The run is on the pure "GOLDEN RULE" Soap in pretty coloured cartons, depicting Now Zealanders lifting the world into love and harmony. Price Is. Bd, Wonderful value. All grocers.—Advt.

Sixty-five young women are undertaking a unique means of proving their value to the country, by beginning a highly specialised type of war work that will eventually moan much to the labour power of the country, says a Now York paper. They are. graduates of the Train.ng School for Psychiatric Social Work at Smith College, Northampton, and are styled "shell-shock experts." go immediately to clinics in New York, Uoston, and other cities to begin six months' practical work with nervous patients. They will undertake the economic and physical reconstruction of shell-shock victims, with the idea of making these unfortunate men lit once more for places in industry... It is estimated that eventually 2000 .psychiatric aides can bo used to advantage in this work. The Department of Labour is cooperating with the War Department and the Federal Board for Vocational Education in the rehabilitation of. disabled soldiers.

The trustees set. up for the management of soldiers' farms and businesses were only in a very few cases called upon to exercise their powers of supervision, etc., but they were largely instrumental in bringing about satisfactory arrangements privately," states the annual report of the Canterbury Commissioner of the National Efficiency Board. "Since ■ the powers were conferred upon the board in the regulations regarding soldiers businesses (gazetted June 21, 1918), some businesses were dealt with. The necessity for these regulations, had the war continued, was very evident, as at the date of the armistice quite a large number of potential soldiers were owners of businesses which would have required the powers of the regulations, m order to have conserved their businesses against tctnl loss.- As it was, there were somo businesses brought under the regulations in some form or another, and it.was satisfactory to notice that those left behind wore generally speaking pleased that under these regulations it was coiupu - sory upon all likely to profit by a soldier's absence to be linble to contribute. ■Ypart from bringing in the full powers of the regulations many business people, upon having the matter laid before them by the board, assisted in preventing undue loss falling upon a soldier.