LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 101, 23 January 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The one seaman who was needed to complete the crew of the steamer Hinemoa was engaged yesterdny, and the vessel sailed at 10.30 a.m. for North Island lighthouses with stores and provisions.

The French Mission, when they were in New Zealand, asked for information about the work of certain Government Departments, and they were most anxious to have the- fullest information about the Departments in the control of the Hon. D. H. Gnthrie, those of Imperial Supplies and of Lands. This information the Department prepared, and had the papers bound in handsome leather folios, inscribed in gilt letters, with the- emblem' of the Tricolour on the cover. The chief of the mission hr« written-to the Minister a specialletter of thanks for tho folios. " s

' A Press Association telegram from Auckland states' that the Auckland city streets improvement loan proposal was carried at .yesterday's poll by a substantial majority. The poll provides , for raising £165,000. The suburban districts rejected proposals affecting their areas. The voting was remarkably light in all cases.

The Minister of Health, the Hon. G. W. Russell, in returning the books on cremation lent him by the Auckland Cremation Society , , wrote: —"I have not had , time, of course, to read them all through thoroughly, but I have, gone through them briefly, and they certainly appear to meet many of the objections which people raise against cremation, and also to prove the wisdom of aSdpting that method of disposing of the dead. I wish the society success in carrying on its work.' , -♦•"Star."

An unusual case of strangulation wai brought under the notice of the Sydney Chief Coroner recently, when an inquiry was held into the . death of Myrtle Gunn, aged - faro,' who livad tfifj.her mother in Leichhardt. Evidence, given was that on December 21 the child was playing in the. backyard, in her month's absence, when she caught her head in a loop of an old blouse that was hanging low from the clothes-line. She was fontd in this position soon after, and a doctor was called in. His efforts coiild not revive her, however, and she died the same day. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

The Christchurch tramways evidently suffered from the epidtjiic in the same way as the Wellington tramways. A Christchurch paper states that at the meeting of tho Tramway Board, on Monday the Works and traffic Committee reported that the revenue account for the four weeks ended December 22, -9.18, showe da deficiency of £2554 against £399 for the same period.last vear, or. £2155 in arrears. There were three Sunday services only in this period. The increased deficiency was duo to the reduction in the services and the consequent falling off in the receipts owing to the influenza epidemic.

Mr. C. B. Smith, a vice-president of the Wellington Cricket Association, has donated a bat to be presented to the player who makes 'the highest aggregate of runs in the course of the Plunket Shield match. The bat may be, TVOri ; by a member of either team. On yesterday's scoring Hiddleston (Wellington), with 63, looks likd a possible winner. ' However, the game "has yet a good way to go.

Mrs. Isabella Matthews, , a young married. woman, was struck by lightening and killed instantly on Bondi Beach, Sydney, while a thunderstorm was at its height. ' Shortly before the downpour Mrs.' Matthews, her husband, and ; little daughter, together with others, turned to leave the water. Shq was holding her daughter by the hand, while the husband was about ten yards away. A vivid flash ■of lightning struck Mrs. Matthews, who fell, apparently dead. Mr. Matthews and the little girl also suffered from shock, but did not receive any serious injury. Mrs. Matthews was taken to the Snrf Club's rooms, where examination by a doctor showed that life was extinct.

Very severe criticism (says the "Suii") was levelled at the Minister of Public Health (tho Hon. G. ' W. Russell) and his Department in a resolution passed by the Iliocarton Borough Council at its last meeting. The •resolution, which was carried unanimously without discussion, read:— "That this council strongly protest against the Influenza Epidemic Relief Fund as voted by Parliament being administered hy the Charitable Aid Board, the Public Health Department, or any body under the Minister of Public Health. Viewing, in our opinion, tho most unsatisfactory way the Minister of Public Health dealt with the epidemic, his . Department should not now administer this fund. Further, that the proper channel'through which to administer the fund end_ the one which will appeal to the public confidence is the local bodies in whose area the different cases are at present situated." It was decided that a copy of the resolution should be sent to the Acting Prime Minister (Sir James Allen), to the menlher for the district (Mr George Witty, M.P.), and to every local body in New.Zealand, asking their endorsement t<) ifc.

The anomaly, of existing laws under which a woman is compelled to adopt the nationality of her husband has frequently" been evidenced in striking manner at the Auckland Permits and Passports Olfice (states the "Herald"). Since 1917 all aliens have been required to register with ,the police or Customs Department, and registration cards in all cases of aliens must be, produced before passports or permits can bo issued. A recent visitor to Auckland was a lady, born in this city, who married an American a short time ago, and went to live in America. She returned to pay a- short visit to her parents; when shn went to collect her passport she learned for the first time that she had become an "alien" in her own birthplace. She was immediately advised to report to the police, ..with the result that, being now an American, and an alien, she was fined the full -amount for failing to register as

A remarkable incident is recorded in the Melbourne "Argus" of December 23 last. It roads as follows:—About 9 o'clock On Saturday evening the outer section of the cage containing Mollie, the orang-outang, in the Zoological Gardens, was seen to be on fire..Fortunately. Mollie was lot out of the cage by her keeper before she received muchinjury, beyond , having some of her. hair scorched off. The fire was coon extinguished -with the help of the brigade Then the animal had to be looked for in the dark. Eventually the was found on the top of the cockatoo' house, and after much coaxing she. came down and went towards the stables, but the sight of-the. firemen scared her. She took refuge in the Oak trees by the flamingo pond. The overseer (Mr. Wilkie) sat down on a seat under the trees with some bags, and in about an hour Mollio came down and sat alongside him and covered herself with the Thoy sat there while the keepers procured a, strong hov and placed it Hour. Th<i overseer then put some- hags in ;rd told Mollie to go in. She promptly d'd SO, and w*s secured. It is probable that some, foolish person had given Mollie ii'box of matches, with which she had set her bags alight, as she strikes all the matches she flprs. Thijfe was ,np sign of fire at half-past ■" o'clock. It is interesting to note that the fright Mollie got made her find her voice. ,It was the first t,ime she had uttered a sound for about 14 years. Men'e Sport Suits, in Colonial Tweeds, 703., 80b., 80s., at Geo. tfowlds , , Ltd., Mannert Street.—Advt.

A representative of the Jugo Slavs in New Zealand has called at a. well-known tourist agency and made preliminary inquiries in connection with the desire of a large body of Dalmatians who wish to return to their own country (states an exchange). He stated that any number up to 500 persons wished to avail themselves of the opportunity of leaving for Europe, and suggested that the agency make arrangements witli somo shipping company to lake them straight homo and land them either at Naples or Trieste in one body.

The returned, convalescent, and wounded soldiers in "the hospitals in Botorua are greatly concerned with the resignation of Lieuteuant-Colonel Herbert, N.Z.M.C., who expects to leave for England about the end of March or the beginning of April (states the Auckland "Star"). They hope the colonel will reconsider his decision. A meeting of the . military patients of the Government Sanatorium was held in the billiard room on Saturday. A civilian patient addressed the meeting, pointing out that Colonel Herbert's knowledge of the curative properties of the Kotorua Hot Springs was unique, and that no other man was able to apply such knowledge with .better results. The training bf a yoisig man to take his place had been overlooked. The speaker urged his' audience to elect a committee to decide upon the best means of getting Colonel Herbert to reconsider his decision, which would bring regret to thousands of people in the Dominion, both soldiers ■ and civilians. The speaker concluded by paying a strong personal appreciation of the colonel's courteous and able , treatment of himself. The applause following showed that the sentiments expressed were popular. A committee was appointed to go into the matter at once, and to interview the Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister of Railways, on his arrival.

In the District Court in Brisbane last month. Judge Jamoson announced his decision in a case in which S. R. Howard, a returned wounded soldier, claimed from the City Mutual Insurance Company £100 in respect of an accident policy. The, accident was alleged to have occurred in • France through the premature explosion of a British shell whilst Howard iras advancing on the German lines. The defence set up was that the plaintiff was injured in the ordinary course of warfare. His Honour found that Howard was injured by accident within" the meaning of the policy, and gave judgment against the City Mutual for £100, with costs. He added that as the matter was such an important one he would give a written judgment in January.

Satisfactory reports have been received this, season as to the fishing in Lake Botorua,- and the adjacent lakes, states the Auckland "Herald." Some good catches have been made, and the trout are generally in prime condition. There are indications tnat they are regaining the weight which used to- characterise the trout in these lakes. A few days ago a fish weighing IOMb. was taken, and many six-pownders are reported to have been caught.

.A fight between two sharks was witnessed off Coogce (Sydney) recently. Four; fishermen saw a. shark close to their boat, and soon caught it; but while they were playing it a f ar larger shark arrived, and attacked $ 3 one on tho line. A battle royal ensued, but eventually the fishermen landed the smaller of the two, which proved to be an Bft. blue pointer.' They thpn put out another bait for the bigger one.. He tookjt at once, and also took chenre of the boat, dragging it nt' .1 terrific rwee through the water for half anlmur before he could be ffl>t alongside. This was a c;rey mrrse shark, which measured 15ft. A third line beinc put out. the bnjt Was pgain p - f'nptly snapped no, this time by a wobbegong' shark, 6ft. long.

. .Thn Moeraki's mail .brought the news that' Messrs. J. ond JT. Tait have secured the sols rights for the United Kingdom and Australasia of the official pictures of the surrender of the Rprm.in naval fleet. The picture w |u wrcennd in Sydnev next month and in New Zealand in March.