LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 96, 17 January 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Telegraph office advises that, the hours of attendance previously in vogue are to-be resumed 1 from January 20. From that date the hours will be from 8 a.m. to midnight, except on Saturdays, when the hours will be from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on holidays' from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. to midnight. The money order hours from Monday next will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., an extension of an hour.

Approximately 200 men of the Post and Telegraph Department has been discharged from camp since the armistice was signed, and this will enable tfie Department to extend its services as from Monday next ; and to provide for clearance of posting-boxes in the larger cities after 10 p.m., for the restoration of somo of tho postmen's deliveries, for longer attendance at public counters, and for an extension of -the money-order hours, but mails will close as at present except in- tho smaller towns. As soon as a sufficient number of trained men have returned from the front *the full restoration of the services will be given effect to, according to the Acting-Postmaster-Gen-eral (Hon. AV. D. S. MacDonnld).

Advice has been received bv Base Records Office that 19,361 Private Harry Mason died at the Christchiirch Hospital on January 12.. Deceased Was 22 years of age and single, his :uext-of-lcin being his mother, Sirs. Tipara Mason, Arahura, Hokitiba.

When Messrs. Watson Bros, fishermen, of Waikanae, went to haul up their nets at Kapiti Island tho other day they found that a large shark had become entangled in the meshes, and bad been stranded on tlie beach. Mr. W. E. Bendall and Professor Kirk, who •visited the island during the week-end, saw the monster, which is 29ft. Gin. long, 15gt. in circumference, and its jaw is 2ft. lOin. from side to side. The shark belongs to a strange species, tha bono feeing soft, transparent,' «nd' easily broken, the teetli small and curted inward, the eyes as largo as n. teacup. n»'l set close together. The fishermen stated llwy had never seen a similar specimen, and Professor Kirk lias taken a portion of the tail to; Wellington in an endeavour to establish tho identity of tho 6peeie». '

A number of visiting meinbors of Parliament are in Wellington at present. The special House Committee, set up to consider the furnishing and arrangements of the new House, is iu session, and the visitors are members of the committee. Among them are Sir Fred--erick Lang, Mr. A. S. Malcolm, 'Mr. G. Witty, Mr. G. J. Anderson, Mr. C. J. Parr, and Mr. C. A. Wilkinson.

The hospital ship Marama is duo at Auckland on January -20. Sho lifts on board 556 men for all parts of Now Zealand.

There was some exci+oment in Cuba Street last evening, when Constable Small arrested a man on a charge of insobriety. The constable was escorting his prisoner to Taranaki Street station, when, without any warning, he was attacked from behind, and struck in the right check with a wharf labourer's bag-hook. The sharp point of the hook penetrated tho .constable's face, causing a wound about an inch long, and damaging the gum. Constable Small immediately released Mb prisoner and turned round to grapplo with his assailant. The latter, •it is stated, made, another blow at the <vnstable, fortunately without striking him, and'then made off at top speed down Cuba Street into Manners Street. Though slightly dazed by the attack which had been made upon him, Constable Small immediately ran after the man and caught up to him in Manners Street. Ho then endeavoured to close with the man, who, it is stated, raised the hook to strike 'him again. Fortunately, a soldier happened to bo standing near-by at the time, and, seeing the constable's predicament, ho straightway caught hold of the hook and snatched it from the man's grasp. The constablo was, then able to seize the man, whom he conveyed to Taranaki Streot Police Station. The man was charged with assnult, ,' causing actual bodily harm, and will bo brought before the" Magistrate's Court this morning. After the accused had been lodged in the lock-up. Dr. Young had to put two stitches in the wound in Constable Small's face.

An Order-in-Council of February 22, 1916, prohibiting the importation or certain explosives, has been revoked.

The first largo shipment of . hemp from Auckland for many months will be' taken by the steamer Suevic in February. The shipment _ will comprise about 4000 bales, and is expected to ease the position of the flaxmillers to a certain etxent. Tho present season is expected to be a good one, in spite of the fact that it has been late in starting. . Most of tho mills are now busily at work.

A notice under the Public Service Act in this week's Gazette declares that the provisions of this Act shall not apply to the Audit Officer in London.

The spelling of Maori is phonetic, although' it would be hard to convince many visitors to our shores that that is so. Because it is phonetic one of our French visitor's who was looking over some wool in one of the stores in the city yesterday found not the slightest difficulty in pronouncing the name of a well-known clip when asked to do so. The name was "Tupurupuru," and the Frenchman's pronunciation was much nearer to the Maori sound of the word than the average Englishman can ever get to it. Then another member of the party thought to stump the visitor with another name, and he spelled it out. The name was Ngahauranga, and it happened that he spelled it wrongly. Another corrected him, hut he in turn was corrected for another mistake. The visitor found hisway of escape from this poser by saying. "1 think, gentlemen, von hud better 'agree among yourselves how the word is spelled before asking me to pronounce it."

An inquiry in Auckland into building trado conditions indicates that there is little prospect of any reduction in the price of materials in the near future. On the contrary, the opinion is generally held in well-informed quarters that the advances in the price of certain building materials during the four and a half years of war will bo more or less permanent in character.

Tho Mayor acknowledges the receipt of the sum of £24 Bs. 6d. from the Mayor of Dunedin, covering additional amounts collected in that town for the New Zealand Tribute to Franco Fund. This brings the total amount subscribed in Dunedin to £2174 Bs. 6d.

A notico in last night's Gazette states that the milk supply regulations are to be in force in the city of Wellington on and after January 20, 1919.

■Referring to the methods of building construction, the president of the NewZealand Institute of Architects, in an address yesterday, said: "There is no doubt that before the war the methods of construction were in a stat« of transition; new forms were being created, and the old order was on the wane. This was no sudden departure, hut had been in the air for some time. The war was the immediate cause of bringing matters to a head, and generally the immediate cause receives the blame, though there were previous indications that tho old order of construction and the mode of carrying on business was changing. The old order ehangeth. and giveth place to the- new, and it is questionable if the bulk of the architectural profession and those engaged in the building sciences wore not following the forms of a dying past and neglecting to adapt themselves to the altering conditions. I make the suggestion that this institute should appoint a strong committee, with wide powers of reference; to consider the whole question of tho relation of architecture to architects, to the institute and kindred societies, to the public, and each other, so that the building industries of this Dominion may be put on a sure and solid foundation, and thus may we be enabled to meet the altering coalitions."

Captain F. A. Macindoe (secretary of the Merchant Service Guild) stated yesterday that the Union Company has offered certain increases in pay, which, however, the guild does not consider to ■be sufficient. The position was yesterday considered at a meeting of the guild, and a small committee was set up to go fully into the question of wages. ' >.

Tho problem of repatriation was touched upon by Mr. C. Lawrence, president of tho Now Zealand Institute of Architects, in his presidential address to members yesterday. He said tho question was one with numerous difficulties, but there could be no difference of opinion that in the interests of the men themselves every reasonable endeavour must be made'to hasten the soldier to the return to civil life and profitable employment. As a great number of returning soldiers would have become accustomed to an outdoor'life, it naturally followed that they would wish to' settle upon 'the land. ■At the samo time they would expeot to have some of tho advantages and benefits of town dwellers, and it would therefore appear that it would bo necessary to establish soldiers' village settlements. A commencement 'had been made in the hospitals in the Old Country and on the returning transports, to give tho soldiers instruction in various professions and tradoß, including architecture and building. Nothing could be against so worthy an object, but the instruction so given should be such that the soldier had a reasonable chance to "make good" in the occupation he elected to follow. The times allowed l in the syllabus published at headquarters in England for the study of architecture were altogether inadequate to do more than give them a very rudimentary knowledge of tlie subject, and unless opportunity was to bo given in the Dominion for further training, the time the men had so' far spent would be wasted. It was to be regretted that the authorities, before drawing up the syl-. labus, did not consult with those bodies who .were diroctly interested in the' subjects.'? . At a mooting of the Inangahua Farmers' Union the Railway Depart-ment-was severely criticised for what members termed the inadequate train service on'the Rcefton-'lnangahua lino, and it was resolved to use every means to obtain a service suitable to the requirements of the district.

A notice in the Gazette abolishes the First Auckland Military Service Board, Second Auckland Military Servico Board, First Wellington Military Service Board, Second Wellington Military Servico Board, First Canterbury Military Servico Board, Second Canterbury Military Service Board 1 , and First Otago Military Servico Board.

Pheasants are reported to be very Humorous in the country districts in the neighbourhood of Tauranga, and have worked' havoc amongst many of the crops of maize, pulling the young plants right out of the ground for the purpose of getting at the grain. In eome instances tho pheasants' depredations have compelled farmers to plant their maize crops three times. Hares have also caused much damage to' crops.

The suitability of pinus iusignus for butter boxes is being tested by experiments carried out by Mr. H. G. Kingsland, of Nelson.' He has forwarded to the Agricultural Department three boxes of buttor, which have been stored at the freezing works, Stoke. The, butter will be kept for three months,' and the condition then reported on by the Dairy Division.

The trials and tribulations of a tax collector are proverbial, says the Gisborne "Times," hut few have had tho trying experiencewhich Mr. John War-, reii, who is retiring from the position' as clerk to the Cook County Council, had when acting, among other duties, as dog tax collector in 18S2. He:went to a pah at Waorenga-ahika to collect the tax of ten shillings per dog from the Natives. There were a hundred dogs, at the pah, and the Natives expressed a strong objeotion to paying the tax. They informed him that he had no right oh the land, and rushed him, knocking him head over heels. The Maori women then carried him face downward in spread-eagle fashion for some distance, and gently placed hjm in a ditch, face downwards.'

• A. seaman on the American schooner Columbia, named Arthur Antonsen, fell from the gangway of tho vessel about 4.30 p.m. yesterday, and received a severe injury to his head through striking a stringer. There was a net suspended between the wharf and tho sid'e of the ship, and this fortunately saved the man from falling into the water. He was removed from the net in a dazed condition, and after receiving medical attention was removed to hospital in the Harbour Board's ambulance. - ,

When a boy was charged. with thefj, at the Juvenile Court, before Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., at Christchurch, on Wednesday, Sub-Inspector Mnllany said that it would be a good tiring if in these cases the offenders were ordered a good birching. "A good birching," said the Sub-Inspector, "administered by the police in the presence of the parents would do a world of good, that is if the parents will not chastise their children for such offences." .The sub-inspector V'aid lio believed that this "was the practice in Wellington. The Magistrate said that in his experience he had not found that the birch had any reformative influence.

According to the Timaru "Herald," visitors to Dashing Rocks state that the sea is breaking down the. rocks to soiuo extent at two points near each other, especially at the opening into what was originally a circular cavity in the rock, filled with clay before the sea broke; into it. The same persons' comparing the original and present positions of the Washdyko Spit, estimate that by the shift of the beach landward tho area of the* Washdyko Lagoon has been reduced by about SO acres.

The Government offices in the Wellington provincial district will bo closed 011 Anniversary Day, Wednesday, January 22.

A conference regarding soil, survey, and other matters, between Dr. C. J. Jieakes (Director of Agriculture) and the ljoard of Governors of Canterbury Agricultural College, is to bo held in Christchurch ou Februray 5.

, "This man has given.way to drink considerably lately, and no doubt that has been tne cause of the trouble," remarked Actiug-Sub-liispeotor Emerson to Air. l'\ V. i'Tazor, S.al., at the Magistrate's Court "yesterday, in a case m which Bartholomew Jlahoney, a man with 107 previous' convictions against him, was charged with using threatening behaviour in Jlolosworth Street, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. A barman a,t the Cecil Hotel, Thomas Wetidoihurn, stated that ab six o'clock on Wednesday evening ac : cused weut into a bar just as lie was closing up, and without any provocation intimated that he would ''tear him to pieces." Accused also caught hold of him, and tore his shirt. The witness also stated that about six years ago he was in tlio act of quelling a disturbance in another hotel, when Jlahoney took to lunv and "stripped him to the waist." Mahoney said lid did not ask Wedderbnm for a drink, as he knew he would not be served. Ho maintained that ho had been attacked bv Wedderbum without- any reason. "The 'cop' who came along wanted to let me off," declared accused. "If ho wanted to let you off lie might'be a friendly witness, and you might got something out of him." interjected'Jlr. Frazer, amidst laughter. Constable Harrison said he arrested accused, who was striking at Wedderbum. The latter was defending himself. Mnlinney muttered something to the Bench alinut "these Cockney blokes having n5 time, for him," but the Magistrate came to the conclusion that on the present occasion the accused was in the wrong. i Ho warred accused that if h"•-•"•• >•■■ fore the Court again ne would be sent to Roto Boa. Ps drink se*med to be his trouble. ' "With a. record like yours, that is kept quite up to date," commented. Mr Frazer, "I cannot let the .offence pass with a mere nominal penalty. T' shall have .to fine you a substantial pmrmnt." TWnnonor was fined £5, in default a'nionth's imprisonment.