LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 114, 7 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A slight shock of earthquake was felt in "Wellington about twenty minutes past seven last night.

The Labour Representation Committee has decided to run a full "ticket" for the City Council elections,, and us the number of candidates exceeds fifteen, the selection ballot will be held on March I.

The horse belonging to the Police Department which died on Monday last as a result of injuries received from a fall in Jervois Quay, -was the much admired bay animal named Colonel,' whose great-grandfather was Musket—a horse well known in racing circles throughout New Zealand. Colonel was bred at Tβ Whaiti, in the King Country, and was a particularly valuable animal. The Auckland City Council last night decided that the City Engineer (Mr. w. E. Bush) should visit America and England to investigate municipal engineering in those countries. The tour will lasft about nine months.—Press Assu.

The crew of the transport Briton have contributed considerably to the rovenne of the Dominion by way of fines. No fewer than 15 of the crew were arrested during the vessel's short stay in Lyttelton, the charges comprising drunkenness, obsceno language, and disorderly behaviour.

The Police Department's training depot at Nwtown, which has been closed since 1914, is about to reopen for the instruction of recruits. Already a number of applications for admission to the Force have been received, and the Department is prepared' to consider still further applications from suitable men,

"It should be noted," says the ar.nual report of the Wellington Wna , Relief Assooiation, "that your association has not rushed wildly into print when desiring to remedy conditions appearing to ir.flict undue hardship upon our soldiers and sailors' dependants, but being actuated by a real desire to assist the Government in the tremendous task co successfully achieved by it, displayed only a spirit of constructive criticism when taking up these matters with Ministers of the Crown."

'At the meeting of the Social Democratic Party, held in the Trades Hall lasE night, the following resolution was carried: "That this meeting of the Social Democratic Party protests against tho proposals outlined by the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) to increase the term of camp service for the Territorials, and thereby fasten European conscription permanently on the people of New Zealand, in spite of tho endeavour being mado at the Peace Conference to abolish conscription and militarism by the inauguration of a League of Nations."-

An amendment •of the rules for lifesaving appliances on pleasure craft _is gazetted. It is now provided that ships over -10 feet iti length shall carry two lifebuoys secured in a convenient place on deck, one on each side of the ship, and that shins of 40 feet or under shall carry one lifebuoy on deck. It is provided also that every ship shall carry sufficient lifebelts to supply one to every person on board.

"As it i= open to question," says the annual report of the Wan' Belief Association, "whether the Government was wise in appointing four Ministers to control the Department of Hepatization, the Advisory Board has voiced its dissent iby means of a deputation to the Eight Hon. the Prime Minister and his colleague the Minister of Defence. The consonsus of opinion is that the Department could be more efficiently conducted by one Minister of Uepafcriation, ns is the case in Australia, The vie.va of affiliated societies were not given effect to, and whether the Government i? right or wrong it is now the manifest duty of the association to assist the soldier and the State to the utmost of its ability and resources."

The danger of the wood-blocked thoroughfares to horse traffic during wet wenthor was emphasised recently in the loss of a very valuable horse belonging to the Police Department. On the date on which this particular animal fell and received injuries which brought about its death, no fewer than five other horses belonging to th? Police Department slipped and fell, but fortunately did not receive any injuries. The accident happened on Jervois Quay at the corner of Harris Street, where the thoroughfare is very slippery. That there is urgent need for eonie covering: over the wood-blocks to prevent slipping is the opinion of not a few owners of horses. The practice on rainy days , in London is to sprinkle thick sand over the moredangerous wood-blocked thoroughfares, and it is euggested that this scheme might well be adopted in Wellington. It is not an uncommon eight to see the traffic constables in London city streets sprinkling sand by means of a shovel on the roads, during wet weather. The delay in proceeding with the erection of the public conveniences at the Oriental Bay tramway terminus has been caused by the shortage of labour and the heavy cost of materials, as well as the difficulty in obtaining tho same. As soon as these difficulties are overcome the work will be put in hand. At. a meeting of the. Social Democratic Party, held in the Trades Hall last night, the following resolution was carried unanimously, all standing: "That the AVellington branch of the Social Dc-mo-cilitic Party places on record its deepest and most sincere regret at the brutal murder of Comrades Karl Liebknecht and Eosa Luxemburg by the militarist supporters of Prussian reaction and foes of the working-class revolution. It expresses the opinion that the Barnes of those two devoted and illustrious champions of and martyrs for the cause of humanity will be enshrined forever amidst the noblest of mankind, and earnestly trusts that their work for international Socialism will be completed and crowned by the establishment of tho co-operative commonwealth in all lanils."

The Hon. T. 51. Wilford says that the statement attributed to him in an Auckland paper that he wished to see tho National Government continue aftex pence was signed is incorrect. "I never made such statement," he say?, "nor do I wish it. I said I wished to see tho National Government continue until peace is signed."

Speaking at yesterday's Chautauqua meeting in the Mayor's room on the advisability of securing a more stable building than a. tent "for a meeting-place in Wellington, Mrs. Carson, one of the movement's heralds, was firm for canvas. "Wherever wo hold a gathering, even if it is in New York, it is in a tent. Ours is khaki, piped with red, and looks very pretty," explained tho visitor. "i r ou see," she continued, expressively, "a tent is so very democratic—people can just float in or out as they please, whereas a hall—well, wo think it is a little more highbrow!"

The further hearing of the charge against Michael O'Brien of, on January 11. assaulting John Conlon so as to cause him actual bodily harm, was taken in the Supreme Court yesterday morning, boforo His Honour Mr. Justice Edwards. Tho accused gave evidence in liis own behalf, and declared that lie never etruck tho mnn. but pushed him, and perhaps pushed him a little harder than he would otherwise have done, because lie was angry at the l>ad language used. In answer to Mr. Macassey, the accused admitted a long list of convictions for various offences. Tho jury, after a short retirement, brought in a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was remanded until this morning for sentence. A witness before the Industries Cominitteo of' Parliament yesterday stated that the .emotes of New Zealand .consumed annually three million pounds weight of tobacco. Another witness said that he believed the annii.il consumption was equivalent to 41b. per head of tho male population between 17 and 40 years of nge. » About eight o'clock Inst night a motorcyclist riding along Lambton Quay became awa.ro that his motor was on fire. His efforts to extinguish the flames proved unsuccessful, and his petrol tank was in danger of an explosion, when someone rushed up with an extinguisher and directed the contents on the.five, putting it out. No damage was done to the machine.

During last year the Wellington War Belief Association to place six soldiers on the land, provided two with agricultural implements, and has enabled two others to engage in poultry farming. The report adds that ''the two last-named aro fortunate in possessing energetic and able wives, and they are progressing exceedingly well."

The endeavour that is being made to Tevive athletics in Wellington is receiving encouragement in unviy quarters. The Reserves Committee reported to the City Council last evening that they had received a'deputation from the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club for permission to hold an afternoon sports meeting on the Basin Reserve nn one Saturday in March next, with authority to charge for admission. The committee recommended that the necessary permission should be granted, and that the matter of the day be left to the Reserves Committee to arransre with tho Wellington Cricket Association. Regarding tho club's request to be supplied with a dressing shed in tho Basin Reserve navilion, the committee recommended that an endeavour be made to arrange with the Wellington Cricket Association to vacate one of (.he rooms with a shower installed, at present used by the association, the club to be responsible for the payment of water consumed, and to pay the council a nominal rental of 10s. for the season. The report was adopted.

At Inst evening's meetinc: of the City Council a letter was received from' the New Zealand- Alliance', asking whether the War Regulations debarred them from 'holding open-air meetings (in connection with the approachin? Honor poll). The Mayor (Mr. J. P. T .uke) said that the time had arrived when they should remove the embargo, and that, in his oDinion the New Zealand Alliance should be permitted to use the street corners as well as other neoplc. It was just as importent that the citizens should hear the arguments for and cgninst the proposals as was thfr. ense in Parliamentary and municipal polls. He saw no objection to grantin" the application, the locations to be determined by the council in the usual way, and he moved accordingly. The motion was carried unanimously, and without discussion.

At the meeting of the City Council Inst evening the By-laws Oommitf-°e reported that the matter of overcrowding at picture Theatres had been referred to the committee by the corpomtion i»spectors for an interpretation of the bv-hw governim? the offences, i After full consideration of the subject. Hie committee recommended the officers be instructed to strictly enforce the provisions of .the bv-law, as far as th» interiors of the theatres nre concerned, cud permit them to crnnt a rensonable amount of latitude for crowds to stand in the foyer.

The Day's Bay Ratepayers' Association is to be informed that its request to the Wellington City Couucil for the supply of a firebell in the Williams Park grounds will be forwarded to the Hutt County Council, the local authority controlling the affairs of the Day's Bay district. •....'

John ilichalick, convicted at Taumarunui of keeping liquor for sale, was fined .£SO and costs £12 18s. 6d.-Press Assn.

The inquest was concluded at Tauniarumii yesterday on Ernest Tyler, alias Jack Jones, whose body was found on tho railway line on Saturday. The evidence showed that one bag of whisky was found lying between the man's legs, while other two bags were lying side by side lower down the line, as if put off after he left the train. A verdict was returned to the effect that deceased was accidently killed, tat that there was not enough evidence to ehow. how he:came by hie death—Press Assn.

The necessary authority was given by the City Council last evening to make improvements to the entrance of tue Zoo at Newtown Park.

"Approximately applications are to the extent of 50 per cent, of the responsibility of other societies," states the annuul report of the WaT Relief Association. "Each application in detail must be recorded, duplicated, and posted with a covering letter, or wired or telephoned through to the society concerned. If we act for them, payment must be recorded on finance cards'and in the ledger. The volume of correspondence and financial adjustment thus entailed is very extensive. . . . During the year we dispatched 506S outward letters, telegrams, and cables, received 4540, duplicated 231 letters, and issued 962 memoranda—a total of 10,801, exclusive of circular letters amounting to nearly 1000."