LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 116, 10 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities report that the mails for the United Kingdom, which left New Zealand on December 3.. arrived at London on January 30. The Waterside Workers' Federation, at the recent conference held at Lyttelton, decided to make a demand for an increase in the wages of its members. It is stated that a conference of the employers of waterside labour has already considered ft request for a confevenw with the federation. The forty-two New Zealand naval ratings, late 'of H.M.S.. Doris, on the East. India station, disembarked from the Port Hacking on Saturday morning. Though none of the men are in any senso invalids, there was a representation of the Volunteer Motor Corns (under Captain Pryor) in waiting on the wharf to take the men to 'their homes. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) extended to the "boys in blue" a hearty welcome home, and entertained them during, the forenoon at morning ten. A , Press Association telegram from Auckland states that sufferers from tho recent influenza epidemic are reported to be losing their hair. A hairdresser states that the hair does not come out in the ordinary way, but in handfuls. He is busy shaving girls' heads every day. The only member of the Wellington Harbour Board -who is not <lue to retire on the last Wednesday in April next is Mr. J. Or. Harkness, wlio was appointed a member for three years by the Government in April, 11)17. His term will not expire.until next year.' An ardent worker in the Taranaki district during the epidemic has just received an account for 3d. from the Taranaki Hospital Board (says the "Herald") for three aspirin tablets. It is interesting to note that this worker, whose residence is in New Plymouth, went into tho Tariki district to assist the settlers there. Ho used up all his own aspirins whilst out there, and when he himself was taken ill sent into town for a fresh eiipply, but could only get three. , He gave his time, and his wife, who, is a trained nurse, put in three weeks in the hospital nursing. He broke his thermometer, which cost him 7s. Gd., and supplied hid own disinfectant, costing 2s. Cd. Incidentally, of course, the Hospital Board expended lid- postage in forwarding the account.' The Wellington Choral Union will commence rehearsing Verdi's opera, "II Trovatore" next month. In view of the retirement of Mr. Eobert Parker, the society will be called upon to appoint his successor at the annual meeting to be held towards the end of the present month. . At the Police Court on Saturday, Patrick Francis Newton was charged with failing to maintain his wife, states a Press Association message from. Auckland. His 'defence was that he was ■'not married to plaintiff. . He admitted that he was married at Glob?, Sydney, in February, 1901, sind that his wife was alive. Investigations showed that the clergyman who performed the ceremony was dead, and that other witnesses were not available. Plaintiff, it "was stated, was a respectable womnn, with whom accused went through H'.e form of marriage subsequently in Wellington. Accused admitted that his .real name was Francis ,T; W. Bullivnnt. He also admitted paternity, and was ordered to pay ten shillings .a week. The British Hed Ensign flying from the foremast and the American national flag on the peak of the gaff on the full-rigged ship Tonawanda, berthed at the King's Wharf, attracted the attention of observant strollers along the waterfront yesterday. Tho sight of ■ two national flags hoisted on the one ship was unusual, and no authority being on hand the nationality of the vessel was questioned. The Tonawanda is an American ship—a war prize—and inquiries found that the British, flag was flown' in courtesy to New Zealand and the port. It is a customary compliment at the discretion of the master when in a foreign port. A- little girl eight yenrs of age ; belonging to Epsom, who has been visiting the North Egmont mountain house with her parents, lately 'performed the praisewnrthw feat of'wnlking with a jarty of others to and from the Dawson Falls house, a distance of nine miles each way. or a total of 18 miles altogether. So pleased were the.older members of the party with the child's performance that at the end of the .journey they entered the details in the visitors' book under the girl's name, mentioning the fact that it was thought that it was the first tinid one so young had accomplished the journey on foot. Further pases of- chronic rheumatism being treated with pneumonic-influenza vaccine are reported in the Sydney papers. A member of a well-known business firm, who had been a sufferer from rheumatism for the ipast twenty yearo, has been under treatment for three weeks. After the second injection he was able to discard the walking-stick which he had used for over fifteen years.

A great shortage of telephone machines and of all electrical apparatus connected with their installation is at present being experienced by the Telegraph Department. . The telegraph engineer at Auckland informed a "Herald" reporter that this unfortunate position had arisen as a result of the commandeering for war purposes In Great Britain and America of the factories concerned in the manufacture of the apparatus, but that speedy relief was expected,, and that the department hoped to cope with a normal demand for telephone connections within a period of two to three months. At the time of the outbreak of the war, he said, the Departments at Auckland and Wellington, and in eevernl smaller centres, had almost reached their limited number of subscribers, and instead of extending the old manual board system had planned a new scheme with the automatic machines; nml had already let a contract. This apparatus, however, was principally made at Antwerp, and the war prevented the carrying out of the scheme. For a time English ami American factories produced a limilec! supply, but this, too, was aoon stopped. The position then was that instead of having the prospect of nil early "cut over" to the new systoni in view, the Department H obliged to carry on with the old plant for an estimated period of two (o three years before the new machines will be available. Mr. H. E. Holland. U.V., has written to the Acting-Priuio Minister . asking for the release of Messrs. Cummins and O'Ryan, undergoing sentences as u result of tho "Green Hay" prosecutions, and lias received a reply to Hie effect that the representations made in support of tho request will receive careful consideration. The first report of tho cost of operating the recently established noroiuail scrvico in the United States was recently made available, and it is interesting to learn that tho expenses all round, but particularly those for fuel, were less tlinn was expected. Tlio total expenses for nine machines, with sin ngercato (light of 7231 miles, was ,£736, and the • total consumption of fuel was 1377 gallons for 113 hours 8 minutes of (lying. This works out at 10s. per hour, or 2s. per mile. The total expenses inclutlo all oxpensee, direct and indirect, connected with the flight of tho maohines.

Prom war causes the American merchant marine lost 138 vessels, totalling 311,868 gross tons, with a loss of life of 500 persons. These figures are based on the reports of the United States Bureau of Navigation. The American tonnage lost is less than one-fifth of the British losses and less than one-third of that of all other Allies and neutrals. Only one American vessel of over 10,000 tons was lost. This was the tanker G. B. Jennings, 10,289 gross tons, sunk during the U-boat activities of last August. Out of tho total of 138 American vessels sunk only nineteen were over 5000 groes tons. The above figures take no account of losses of ex-enemy or ex-Dutch steamers. Ex-enemy war losses were nine vessels, aggregating 76,141 gross tons, while two ex-Dutch vessels, aggregating G233 gross tons, were lost.

At The Hague an exhibition was held recently of work done in Germany by British prisoners who had been transferred to Holland. The prisoners showed much ingenuity in gathering materials for their handiwork. A colonel, who exhibited a series of books tastefully bound in blue ami white, had obtained his binding materials ' from cardboard packages in his parcels. There was a considerable show of knitted goods, for which the wool was secured by ' pulling down" old socks. Another curious exhibit was a tiny model of a motor chassis made from meat tins, door hinges, and such things. The rubber tyres were made from the handle of a tennis racket. Even German bread had ken pressed into service, as a pair of carved and painted sabots was produced from a loaf. The King nnd Queen returned to London late in October to a fireless palace, for by Their Majesties' command household fires had not been lit. In Buckingham Palace, Windsor Gastlo, and Sandrinehnni grates had been bricked up and the number of fires greally reduced, in view of the scarcity of coal. Tho lightin" of passages, corridors, and anterooms had been cut down by more than half, and officials had been given duties as economy inspoctore. All ashes were sifted and'the cinders used'for fi'd and banking up fires. As, a result of these economies it was estimated that the Royal household would save one-quarter of tho coal ration. In a detailed scientific discussion of the German long-range gun which bombarded Paris last spring, Major J. Mait-land-Addison, writing in the "Journal of tho-Boyal Artillery," takes a peep into Hie future, and considers the. possibility of a gun capable of shooting proiccliles entirely off the earth into space, a- In Jules Verne. The requisite velocity of such a-gun is not, he says, so very much higher than what has already been achieved, viz., a muzzle velocity of a ■mile per second. When wo are :ic!e to increase this to five miles per second, tho projectile," if fired at a suitable angle, will travel around tho earth as a grazing satellite, completing its orbit between 17 and .18. times dnily. With a velocity of about seven miles a second, it will move off into space, never to return. One of the leading needs for New Zealand which was repeatedly stressed by the late JJr.. Seddon when he was Prime Minister of New Zealand was the desir'ability of more- population for "God's Own Country," as he was wont to name tho land of 'his adoption. Whether this thought wns in the'mind of a young New Zealand soldier who, on his looks, is in tho early twenties, is not ascertninabli , , but the fact remains that before lie left England on his return home the soldier took unto himself a widow with six ypung children, and brought them out with him in a troopship 'which arrived the othe:r day (says a southern paper). On tho same vessel there was another English bride awl her grown-up daughter. The story goes that this soldier had intended to marry the daughter, but that Cupid's arrow somehow went astray, and he led the mother to the altar. In cross-examination in the Christchurch Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, a woman, who was suing for separation nnd maintenance orders against her husband, admitted that while engaged to defendant she had becomo engaged to another man. .Counsel was pursuing his inquiries as to this other proposed matrimonial contract when the-lady clinched the questioning with the remark: "But you don't say anythiwr about Mr.. —-'s being engaged to another girl when he was courting me!" .

"The holy places made little impression upon them," Chaplain James C; Wilson, who had been to Jerusalem with tho troops, told the Dunedin Presbytery, "but the land itself made a great impression. AVe could not supply Bibles fast enough, not.,«rimarily because the men wanted to study the great truths, but because they discovered that tho Bible was probably the best guide-book to the country that could be got.'

The ishburton County Council at a meeting discussed the compulsory training scheme, to which all members were opposed. The following resolutions were passed:—"That this council views with alarm Colonel Chaffey's statement in regard to thel holding of training camps, as appeared in the public Press, and. is strongly of opinion, now that the war has ceased, that this training is unnecessary aud burdensome to tho community in general; in the council's judgment no system for the defence of the Dominion should bo introduced and passed by Parliament before the electors have had an opportunity of expressing their views through the ballot-box; the council also thinks that the time has arrived when the Territorial system could be: advantageously abolished, and the Government should be urged to use every means to bring returned soldiers back to civil life."—Press Assn. Discarding all extraneous aids, and Tβlying solely on a quick eye and a pair of strong hands, an employee of a Dunedin grain and wool firm has acquired quite a reputation as a rat-killer. The plan adopted is very simple. Before the men stop work at night a high-sided truck which has brought in a line of chaff is run into the "gully" and. left there for the,rats to assemble. When the men come, on next morning the system of attack is at once proceeded with. All the sacks of chaff are' taken out of the truck, with the exception of one at each corner. The rat-catcher then gets into- the truck and the massacre starts. • Cautiously lifting a sack. the catoher observes a rat. A quiok grab, and a rat is almost simultaneously dashed against the side of the truck. The rats run from , one sack to the. other, and the escapes are practically nil. The "bag" on Friday morning was 35—of all sizes. One only managed to get out of the track, and it was dispatched by an onlooker with a broom. The catcher very seldom gets bitten, and appears to revel in his self-appointed task.

The fact that the programme of Government shipments of Australian wheat during the past year has not been fulfilled has resulted in a number of mills running short of grain, says tho Christchurch "Sun." At least one.largo city mill lias had to suspend operations during the past three weeks, not only in manufacture but in the delivery of orders ' The state of affairs generally amongst millers is that (hoy are iust carrying on. and have to restrict orders. Although the new season's wheat should soon begin to come forwnrd, much will depend on the weather. In any case, it will probably be a month before it domes on the' market in appreciablequantity. As matters stand now, several of the mills f'i" only carry on without fresh grnin additions for n woek or ten days. A tro'ibk-will be where mills have not a "sweating" plant, and are compiled fn use tho new grain, that « reflex will be seen in the quality of the (lour., Discussing tba manner in which tho Government 1 •«cl supplied the market, one miller said tlwt it had nuiy provided for 111 months out of 13. Thai: meant that he hud been ablo to get only six-seventh? of boHi AustvnUnn and Now Zealand erain needed in his business. Since he had been in business he had been short two times up ,, . - . I>oHi times l)oiin! during the period of-Government control. /

Speaking to a reporter at Hastings, Sir John Findlny, K.C., M.I 1 ., stated that the rumour that he \ras unt going lo seek re-election us member lor Hawkc's Buy wiii quite correct, his reason being lliat lie considered an elcctorato like Hawko's Bay would, in normal times, prefer to be represented by someone resident in tlio provincial district, Questioned as to whether ho intended to stand for any other seat, Sir John replied to the effect'that he had not yet definitely decided. Speaking regarding tho prospects of a goneral election before December, Sir John considered that a general election shortly after the Houee meets.in June is probable.

The marine suburbs were the only ideal places at which to. enjoy and benefit by such glorious weather as was Wellington's lot yesterday. It -\yas truly a perfect' day, quite outstanding from any good holiday weather that has prevailed recently. By the first trams and boate thousands ot people, freo from work, were off early, to make the most of the day. Very heavy traffic wns registered at the Eastbourne Ferry Company's of' iice. The other popular'bays were also thickly visited, in particular Lyall Bay, with ' its rapidly-increasing residential population and easy access, drew large crowds during the afternoon, before a chilliness crept into the air. It is reported thnt the peculiar, class of vandals who operate in cemeteries js unusually busy at the present time in Christclmrch, and that not only flowers placed on graves, but also the vases containing them, are being stolen. The matter is in the hands of the police, with, the view of proceedings being taken against the offenders. A conference representing agricultural instructors from various education districts throughout the Dominion was held at Christelujrch on Saturday (states a Press Association message) to consider matters in connection with the policy of agricultural instruction in the State primary and secondary schools. A number of remits were discussed, and various proposals adopted with a view to effecting improvements in the present educational - system. The mail steamer Paloona is due hero to-morrow from San Francisco, via Papeete. Mr. Leipst, well sinker, Hastings, had a unique experience recently while sinking a well on Mr. Thompson's property, Longlands. On reaching a depth cf about 70ft., a considerable quantity of gas was met with, the force of which threw stones from a shingle bed to fully 30 feet above the ground, making it difficult to remove the tools from the well. A continuous roar was kept up the whole time, completely drowning the working of the machinery. Although gas has been met with previously in different parts of the Heretaunga Plains, it has never been discovered in such, <i vol. ume and in 1 euch violence It is well knoiwi to be highly innammable, and gives a very unpleasant smell. ihe temperature of artesian water at a depth of 150, feet is 52 degrees, but in the present instance the temperature was between 30 and 40 degrees. Sportsmen who have fished in Lake Taupo this eeason express the opinion that netting on a scale much more extensive than that hitherto adopted is necessary if th« lake is to be restore/] to the pride of place it formerly held in the estimation of anglers (says the Auckland "Star"). They deolare- that it is now so much overstocked that the trout we unable to find sufficient food, and that, consequently, the proportion of "slabs" in the catches is very large. One gentleman averred that'it is necessary to take at least 600 tons ( of .fish out of the lake, and declared that the present netting operations would remove only about 30. tons. It has been estimated that there are at least 1000 tons of trout in Lake Taupo. Netting in la.ke Itotorua has proved efficacious so far; probably a more drastic programme would still further, improve the condition of the fish-