LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 102, 24 January 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

For the past week the staff of the General Ppst Office has been working day and night endeavouring to distribute the accumulation of oversea mails which has resulted from the shipping shortage. Most of -the letter mail has beon sorted, but there still remain some thousands of parcels to be delivered. On Saturday last the Port Lyttelton brought some 12,500 parcels, some of which are still iinsorted, and on top of that number the Moana, which arrived in Wellington on Wednesday from San Francisco, brought 7517 bags of mail. There was no space available in the Post Olfice for tho parcel mail, and the Customs shed on the Queen's Wharf 'jaj to be taken for it. There hags of mails are piled to the roof, although most of the north and soiuh mails lisv/t. been ficnt to their dostiniition.s. U : s uluted 'hut r.evur in the history of Xnv Zeiilaud has there be.ou such an accumulation of .'nail, nor has one vessel bef'jrj brought so nmch mail in one trip. A further parcel mail will arrive here by, the Suevic on Saturday.

A Wellington citizen has received the following information as to prices, in a letter dated November 28 last, from Athlone, Ireland: ' 'Already the armistice is making ,a difference in the matter of commodities. In Ireland rnjy sugar is rationed, but all food is ery .clear. . . . Eggs are .6d. each,

and milk scarce at 6(1. .per quart; jar is Is. Id. to Is. 8d- a'pound; goldei syrup is not easily obtainable at Is. SJd for a 21b,. jar. ... .Coal is .£3 lOfi per ton, and very bad—full of slate, and much slack. . . '. Alr.eadj here flour is whiter and* the bread better; the' price of .clothes and ,of materials comes doiva more every day. Of course fpod .and coal must continue dear." Our informant comments that the reduction in the price of .clothes seems to contradict to some extent the cabled soft-goods statements as published hero. ,

, "1 am very glad .to see," said the chairman. of the 'Wellington Hospital Beard ,(Mr. H. Baldwin) yesterday, in reforring lp .the Health Inspector's report on infectious diseases an AV.eL-, lington at the meeting -of the Hos-, pital Board, "that tho Vprd influenza, is not Ihore."' The observation ,coiivftved the fact that during .the .-inontU ended .Ja.iii.mry no. ciiseß of influenza had toetn reported in 'NVellington.

The Superintendent pf •Workers' Dwellings yesterday gave to a representative statistics sho.wiug the number .of workers' dwellings erected during the past few years,' and tho amount expended on the;r erection. The figur.es up to the war period were -as •follow:—1911-1.2, 59 dwellings. £22.701; 19'12-ie, 43, £46;899;' 1913-14, 81, £42,024; 1914-io, 162, £68,737. The figure's for the war period \vere:—l9ls- - 82, £56,595; 1916-17, 66, £35,951; 1917-18, 21. £15,917; 1918-19 (to date), 8. The total mimher of workers 0 dwellings erected under the 1905 Act from 1908 to 1911 was 126. There are therefore 648 now in existence.

During a search of the American schooner Columbia in tho stream yesterday afterjiioon, SergeaJit .O'Hara'and Constable Ander.sonj ;of the waterside police, came .across a middie-aged man secreted among the cargo. Hβ was hidden behind some barrels in the fore part of'the'.ship, and as he could give no satisfactory explanation of his presence he was taken into custody on a charge of being ,a stwyaw.ay. The ,ac.cused will be brought before the Magistrate's .Court this morning. The Minister of Marine (the Hon. T. M. Wilford) ftas ordered a Coron er's inquiry into the cause of two deaths from poisoning that occurred pu the Moana recently. An informal in,quiry was held on hoard --ffie ship at the ;time of the .tragedy, 'but by special powers under Section '2?7 .of tlie Ship,l)ing and Seamen's Act, 1908, affecting loss of life at sea, without damnge to the ship, an inquiry before a Magistrate is considered necessary. It will probably he lield to-morrow morning. The Public Health Department has adviepd the Wellington Jfpspit&l Board that it will pay for the tiieatnient ,of deuendants of .soldiers' wh,o Jiaye rotuj'Ae.d ffom the .fr.p»t until such sol? diers ; are ..discharges!. The Federal Minister of Defence has instructed district .commandants in. the various States to issue an order prohibiting the eale of fireworks, crackers, and similar articks containing .explosives .substances, within a r,adius of ten miles from Hie G.P.O. in the .capital .city of each State. The period dufin» which this order is to be enforced liae not yet been fixed, but will cover the days on which the peace celebrations are to take place. * Special power has been conferred on. .district commaadants to grant permission to persons who desire to use fireworks during the celebrations. This power is to obviate any difficulty in regard to official displays of fireworks.

Jn connection with the foundation of district repatriation boards, the Wellington/ Soldiers' Association has nominated Messrs, A. Gurtayne (secretary to the local association), <5, W. Clink,ard, and W. G. Morpetji .as representatives for the W.elljjjgton District Board. The .constitution of the local hoard js not yet known, but the association intends to submit .the foregoing names for selection.

Some ways in which the present congestion of dwellings in the larger .cities might be relieved were touched upon by the Superintendent of Workers' Dwellings in a talk with a Dominion representative yesterday afternoon. The superintendent strongly expressed the opinion that a uniform faro should be fixed on the trams irrespective of the distance, as was done in New York and Chicago, where there was , a uniform 6 cent. (2id.) fare. "This suggestion," Mr. Rowley said, "does not mean that the tramway -revenue should be reduced, but merely that-the fares be averaged—a uniform faro of, say, 2d. or even more being fixed; even 3d. would .not be out; of proportion to the American 2Jd. fare, and there could, if desired, bo concession tickets at a lower rate. This would do more than anything else to relieve congestion, and it. would alsp save some expense in management. Everybody agrees on the desirability of encouraging everybody else to live in the suburbs; and every encouragement should be given. Eves the uniform fare would still leave the suburban resident with the disadvantages of time lost .every day in travelling, extra cost of marketing and delivery of supplies; and, again, the cost of building in the suburbs is greater, than in the city by reason of the extra cart-ago and travelling time of the builder and his employers."

When the report of the Health Inspector was being considered at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board, Mr. D. Campbell raised tho point a? k< -whether the Health Department should not take over the maintenance of the inspectors altogether. At present tlie board finds them in motor, 1 cycles, etc., and yet the recent epidemic had shown that they had no control over them. They were simply under the control of the Government, and that bting so the Government should pay the expenses. The Rev. H. van Staveren said that under the new Public Health Act the board had no control over the inspectors. It was no good kicking against a stonewall —they had no power at all over them. Mr. C. M.Luke said that probably in tlio recasting of duties the control would be moro definitely fixed. Possibly they would be associated with the medical officer to be appointed by the municipality. The matter was reft in abeyance.

Some interesting information regardopossums, and the damage done by them to fruit, was given to- a representative of the "Press" by Mr. L. G. Gardiner, of Purati. Mr. Gardiner said that the opossums had made their way over from the Kaituna side of tho .hills to Furaii, and are gradually working their way along the liills towards Port Levy. In addition to their depreciations jn respect of peaches, Mr. Gardiner has noted that on his property at Purau the walnut trees have been attacked by opossums, who have eaten every jiut on tho trees. Apparently it is only a matter of time before these pests will reach Akai-oa, which is famous for its walnut trees, nnd when that happens the opossums will be able to uorge themselves to their hearts' content.

A rare'bird, a white kiwi, has been discovered at Tahora. The bird was' run down and killed by dogs at the rear of Mr. J. Robson's mill. .At first it was thought to be a fowl,, but investigation proved it to be a kiwi. The skin was removed and shown to siveral Mi'.or-is in Hawmi, and all sti'.le:! 'hat it was the first white kiwi they had wen. Tho specimen will be forwarded to Prof. Drummond, Wellington, The Hawera. Natives were very enthusistic over the find, and offered £10 for tho skinj .which was. declined.

Detailed instructions given to ships trading the New Zealand .const for this .destruction of floating ,mines should they bo sighted by a .ship are published in the Gazette. It ; is notified that a .reward of £5, and in Bonic cases £10.. will bo paid for deiStruction .of .a mine, and in onses .where ■ •the ship is .unable to destroy a mine ■the .direction is to 'locate it exactly , and report .haying sighted it. One of' •the cautions given is that a ship from : which an attempt js being made sink a mine by iifle fire should not ap-' •prpach nearer than .200 yards <lo -the ;niine; otherwise $ier© miiy ,be serious,! .damage to ,the ship, for which no com-3 p.ensation ,-yi.U be .paid -.by the tlovorn- ! tment. . ' .j

Anting to its New Zealand agent a ■w.ell-kupw.n .Shojueld firni says: ff A\'o i ,are sorry j,o say .that the .cutlery trade ■wi.U .not be in a ver.y favourable position for .the .execution of .orders -for' wine ..time Ap .cpiiiq. We ,ai;e iniorjiio<,l: by .the .Contracts Department that their reqnjrements for .cutlery will be very , considerable as Uoiik as the armies aro ; ■in the field. Ajll the prisoners of war are .to receive new kits 'in place ui those they may have lost, an(l that means, amongst .other things., that .every returned prisoner will want . a now pocket jtuife and a new table knif». 'Ihe Contract Department .is not in a good position ; to supply vthc .present ■wants ,pf the .Army, f o;' .conta:aotors in fehofhelij are niore than articles in arrears o,n their orders. How..ever, no doubt the position will become somewjiat easiei;. At any rate we .shall soon be able to' obtain materials as we a'cquire them. \Yo shall bo able to obtain a ; bettor quality or steel than we have done for the last three years, and we .expect .that very shortly supplies .of .stainless steel will be more liberal, and that we .shall .be able to -fill pur orders for these- goods.. ■ • • • We hope t.lio .cost .of w.p.r.knia.nship will not increase .any more, hut only last week, we pa,id '.an .advan.ee of ab.oii,t 10 per .cent, ftll -ro.uud to the wp.rlcmen on everything -we onairiifac■ture, ; and -we .do jiot see any prospect of being { able to'.reduce the .prices 'for a long tiine 'to .co.me.'"

The \Miiigtofl hospital Board is arranging .with the, City Engineer (Mr. W. JI. Mprfcqn) ,to .wood-block ami generally repair .and improve iho main entrance to -the hospital in Riddiford Street.'

A list .of rthe steel required for -the construction of the superstructure for the fi.r.st ten tiers o.f piles .of the 'Pipitea wharf has been ' sent to 'Messrs. I. B. 'Williams .and Co., .of London, with tp obtain quotations awl to pa:ble the result to the-Harbour ..Board. If the hoard considers -that the price .is the .order for itn.inediate .delivery ,can he cabled and the material Shipped in (the shortest possible time. It no hitch takes place in the proceedings, it should .be • possible to obtain delivery here in .six months from now. There are fortj> nine tiers of piles in the wharf., so that this steel will complete .about one-fifth of the total area. .>

The shortage of navvy labour for roading contracts is .holding up several large schemes in the Auckland prov.ince. A leading civil engineer. of laud informed » reporter.-*hat despite an offering wage of los. per day on a contract not far from Auckland, it was utterly impossible to secure This class of labour. In one co.untvy .district lie knew of a pon.tractor who had to o.ffer the enticing wage of ,£1 per day to secure the labour he required. Ho had endeavoured io .obtain jnen ijom the ranks of returned soldiers at "almost any .price/' ,but was imsuooessfyl. Thie position was not .confined to one section of the province cither, he said, hut at the estretne ends. The contracts hs had in "liand comprised some of the biggest local bodies had agreed to let. In the meantime they were being held up. ' '

. Reference has been made in The Dominion , to the case of a soldier Who ■rant into camp in September last, got his discharge in J),ecemb,tr, .a.ijd was still without the promised financial assistance in January. The Financial Assistnuce Board had promised to make a grant towards rent aud insurance, but there was a hitch somewhere. A. Dominion reporter, who interviewed an officer of the board on'.January 17, was refused any information regarding the delay or as to the progress of the transaction. Yesterday Mr. Wills, secretary of the boardj informed a reporter that the money has been j)aid to the landlord and the insurance .company. He stated that the payments .had been made before January 17, when a"Dominion 'representative triedto get information on the subject. The cause of the delay, explained Mr. Wills, was the absence of a paper that should have been signed ,nt camp and returned to the .board by the soldier himself. The tack qf this paper'had , led the board to believe that the soldier had not entered camp or had abandoned the claim for assistance. When tho board learned that the .soldier had been in camp there was f-jrther delay while necessary -information wa.s obtained from the camp authorities. ' The soldier himeejf states that he took the paper to camp and got it signed as directed.by the board. But he was informed -there that the. camp staff would send the document to the board, .atid it was not returned to him. He and his relatives, who made inquiry on his behalf, were not told at any time what was the cause of the delay, nor were they informed when the money had been paid.

The Hon. Dr. Pomare has notified the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. J. H. Guneoji) that the Maori Contingent, the pioneer unit that went to the front, is expected to arrive in Auckland about the first week in March. The Mayor has replied intimating that a civic reception will bo accorded the pioneer Maori Contingent upon its a'jw rival in the city.

The Sydney "Daily Telegrapl A states that it has been learned that Private Malthouse has died of starvation in the prison camp at Ruhleben, Germany. The deceased was captured when the Matunga was sunk by the German raider Wolf. It is quite evident, says tho , "Telegraph," that goods which has been sent to deceased by his wife and friend's never reached him. His letters to his wife -were pathetjo in,his description of the sufferings from hunger and privation, and ill his appeals for food. Mrs. Malthouse sent sufficient food and comforts to sustain half a dozen men for the full time her husband had been a prisoner, yet they were commandeered.

Yesterday the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) received a letter from General Pau, leader of the French Mission, expressing tho mission's appreciation of the reception accorded it in Wellington. The letter reads as follows:— "Dear Mr. Luke,—On behalf of the French Mission, allow me to thank you very deeply for the kind reception we found in Wellington. The beautiful civic function by which we were greeted on our arrival wijl remain jn' our memories as a magnificent token of the feelings of sympathy of this country towards France. We regret that our .stay in Wellington has not been longer. Some of my .colleagues .at least have been ablo to study your line city better than I; and I know they have enjoyed immensely the very great care you took of them. The visit tp the waterworks provided them with a most agreeable afternoon, and the cprdiality of their reception there has gone to their hearts. Permit me to thank you and your colleagues most heartily.— Believe mo, dear Mr. Luk'!, yours very truly, (Signed) G. Pau, General."

and Doctors' Cream O'Groats are the best. Make delicious gruel. All-Grocers. i-Adjt, ■

The Minister of Public Health has received .a telegram Sxm the Chief Medical Officer in tho Fiji Group regarding tho fight with the influenza thore. The medical officer reports .that clean .bilk of ;hen,lth .have- been issued in respect of all tho islands. There have been no fresh cases in Suva .and Lcvuka since December 28, and jio frqsh cases in Lautuku since January 7. It will be remembered i that a detachment ,of medical officers .to the group .to assist .in dealing with-.the influenza outbreak, which was .at.tliat time reported to be very severe.

The Mayor of 'Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) gets some curious epistlop by .almost every oversea mail. By the Manila's mail came an inquiry upon whiclr someone .may :be .able to throw light, but wliicb .caiino.t yet ,bc satisfactorily answered by the ,\laypr. The letter reads as .follows:—"United States of America, Berlin, Benssdaer Co., N.Y V December 10, 1918.—Bear Sir,-—My mother's brother, B. SurSayre'held a small Governmental position in Wellington about 1344. .1 think it was gaolkeeper. W.ith' him was ,a cousin, John Garner. Can you ■give me ithe addresses of any Sayres or (Jarnera who are Jiving .in your city.? JDeutschlsmd unten Allies! May England hang the Kaiser.-—Yours (signed) Robert G. Saunderson, Berlin, New York, U.S.A."

The ihopes ,of 'hundreds of people an-; xious to get baclc lo England have recently been deferred by the .information, received in Auckland a few days ago, that several largo steamers duo to leave New .Zealand shortly would take only ,a v.e.ry limj.ted number at h'rst-cjass passengers, Slaving be.en .requisitioned to carry home .troops from Mesopotamia. With, war at an ,endj: it was confidently expected that .shipping .conditions would soon returji to norjnal, and jthat long-delayed oversea? voyages would .s.bor.tly be possible. In this expectation large ■.numbers of intending passengers—the majority women anxious to return' to England to rejoin hastened to '.bpw.lj passages by the first available steamers. Several large y.essels, jncluding the Ruahine, Corinthic, Athenic, lonic, and Tainui, due to .arrive at Auckland via Panama within the next two or three mpnthSj were lieavily booked' jip, and the disorganisation .of arrapgenionts has caused .much disappointment. These which were to have returned' via 'Panama, have now been diverted to the Suez route, and will enibark returning -tro.ops at Bombay, the base for the 'Mesopptamiau forces. No other Panama sailings are as yet in sight, and even if they were the disorganisation of shipping which will most probably result from demobilisation would make it impossible to guarantee passage !by any parr ticular steamer. A .number of people .urgently anxious to return to England are now trying to obtain passages yia .Canada..