LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 123, 18 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It is announced thnt Returning soldiers, ex Nestor, will arrive by the Mamari at Auckland to-morrow evening. The supplementary electoral rolls for the various electoral districte of Wellington and the suburbs close on March

Reporting to the Petone Borough Council last evening, the borough inspector (Mr. W. B. Gough) stated that he had- inspected all the dwellings situated in the Hutt Road, south of Jackson Street, Edmond Place, Ryan Street, Nevis Street, and Atmidale Street, and out of 81 premises 33 houses had no baths, 12 had no tubs, seven had bath, sink, and tubs, two 'had tubs only, four had sinks, and all but three were connected with the drainage.

A man was arrested by the police yesterday on a charge,of theft of a brief bag from the Lambton railway etation, He will appear before the Magistrate's Court this morning.

Unsuccessful in their efforts to obtain a meal in a city restaurant yesterday, two members of the Barotongan Contingent unwisely gave vent to their feelings by damaging the shop fittings. The offenders'were quickly npprehended by the police and will appear before the Magistrate's Court this morning on a ckairge of wilfully damaging property.

A member of the light-fingered fraternity gave an exhibition of his, professional methods in a city hotel the other day in a manner which bewildered the few onlookera. A man entered the bar and ordered a drink, and produced a roll of notes to settle the .charge. The lightfingered one made a swift calculation of the position, and without any fuss relieved the innocent one of his paper money. A hue and cry wa9 raised, and the thief was chased without success. However, the matter was at once reported to the police, who are not without hopes of apprehending the offender,

Decently men have be.sn arrested for drunkenness on Sunday afternoon and evening. Yesterday two Sunday offenders were before Mr. I' , . V. Frazer, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, which, led the latter to remark that he proposed to differentiate between those who were arrested for drunkenness on Sunday and those arrested on other days for the same offence. He said those arrested after 10 a.m. on Sunday would 'be fined double rates; 10 a.m. should be late enough lor them to get over their Saturday night debauch.

Lieutenant-Aviator Fonck, the "star" airman of France, interviewed the other day, said he had brought down altogether. 124 enemy aeroplanes. It was his custom to use two machine-guns simultaneously, and by a method of crossfire set up a nasty barrage at a distance of about 150 yards. Lieutenant Fonck never had to repeat the crossfire more than twice. Ho regrets that the experiences of war have added but little to the speed of aircraft.

A modest lawyer was encountered at a meeting held the other evening (says the Auckland "Star"). A certain carrying company had failed to take delivery of certain goods for the body in conference, livid portion of the shipment was destroyed. The chairman explained the position, implying that the fault lay with tho defaulting company. "I don't think we should take on a lawsuit, if we can avoid it," said the barrister. "I see there they have put in a bill for 17s. Gd., so I think the best way to st[iiaro matters is not to pay it. Then if they nre noL satisfied they can .sue us." The surprising diplomacy was adopted, and tho meeting members contentedly smiled satisfaction at this easy «-ny out by turning attack into defence. The following vewls sliniilr] h<\ wMiin i -vireless range to-day,—Maori, Ma*ar-ft», 1 Moeraki.

New South Wales is in the grip of a terrible drought," writes a Sydney correspondent, and, coming at such a time on top of all other troubles is more than serious. It means ruination to .a great many small farmers and sheep men. . Sydney to-day is a city of masked citizens, with all its places of amusements closed, half-daserted shops and restaurants, and thousands of persons thrown out of employment owing to the influe'hza. I was in town the other day, and it was like a Sunday. The State Government has taken drastic action, and hope with the help of the citizens to stamp the scourge out before it gets a great hold."

The Auckland Museum has received an intimation that under the will of Mr. Edward Batty, late of the Lodge, Longlands, Dawlish, Devon, a marble bust of Napoleon the Great has been bequeathed to the museum. The bust was originally from the studio of the celebrated Italian sculptor Canova, but it is not supposed that it was executed by Canova himself, but by one of his students. It ivill be some months before it is received in Auckland. It will probably find an appropriate place in the war collection now being formed at the museum.

In the operatic solo for male singers nt the competitions yesterday the choice of song was left to the competitors with rather striking results. One would imagine that such singers would take great care to select some of the simpler airs from the thousands available in the range of opera. Nothing of the sort. The competitors, almost without exception, selected difficult high-pitched numbers that under the most advantageous circumstances takes an artist to put over" (as the Americans say). Thus, one competitor attempted the beautiful, but uniformly high-pitched, "Siciliana," from "Cavalleria Eusticana." Another. "Let Me Like a Soldier Fall," and a thjrd the difficult Toreador's eong from "Carmen." The programme did not relate the opera from which the numbers were taken, so the public, who did not know, saw opposite the name of one competitor "Loving Smile of Sister Kind," and lower down "Even Bravest Heart May Swell." As a matter of fact, each title referred to tho same identical solo—Valentine's song in "Faust."

The Presbyterian journal, "The Outlook," has this week an article on "Audacity," in the course of wjich the writer remark: ". . . Biographies of military leadership from Alexander to our greatest New Zealand Victoria Cross winner (General "Tiny" Trejle6cy) show that it has been audacity and audacity again— and victory! "'Tiny' Freyberg's friends," complains a correspondent, "will hardly recognise him under this Czecho-Slovak-looking name." .

Shortage of firemen delayed the departure of the cross-strait packet Mapourika yesterday. The necessary complement was not forthcoming till evening, and the vessel got away for Picton at G. 20 p.m.— just aix hours Fater than usual,

An interesting and authoritative report on the increase in the cost of living in. Great Britain since July, 1614, was published recently. The facts now brought out by the Government iijjresti--81 per cent. The average inci'eaSe in. the cost of living to the family of a skilled workman had been up to July of last year 67 per cent; in the case of the semi-skilled the increase is 7."> per cent., and in the case of the unsilled 81 per cent. The average incr 'ise in all classes of working men s tallies <vas Ii per cent. at.the end of last July, and is now estimated at SO per rc-itt,- Inlood alono the average incro.ise has been 90 per cent., but there has been comparatively little addition to rent awl ctlier items, and that brings the average down to the figure stated. Although the rise has ben extensive it is as .least 20 per cent, less than has been generally. represented; An average addition of 80 per cent, to the expenditure of working-elms families represents a formidable increase in household charges. How iias it been met? In many cases by a rise in wages rates of 100 per cent, and over; in others by an increase in family remunerative emmore regular and more remunerative employment; in still other cases by an addition to the" number of family .-tfageearners.

The members of the Chinese Mission and friends have contributed, through their missionera, ,Mr. Law and Mrs. Wong, the sum of j>l76 17s. towards the Anglican Cathedral Fund.

The members of the Rarotongan Contingent, who have been having a right royal time during the past week, will leave for their island home by the Paloona on Thursday next. After their long incarceration on Somes Island* the men have been allowed amplo shore leave since, and their conduct on all occasions is said to have been exemplary.

Representatives of the Wairarapa Hydro-Electric Investigation Committee visited Martinborough last week, and addressed a combined meeting of Featherston county councillors, Featherston borough councillors and members of the Martinborough Town Board, Mr. John Martin presiding. Mr. J. C. Cooper was the principal speaker, and was supported by Mr. C. E. Danicll. A resolution was carried according the committee an expression of hearty support, and urging early action in the direction of proceeding with the Waiohine River scheme-in the event of the Government failing to take immediate steps to carry into effect the Waikarernoana -proposal.

In connection with the influenza epidemic in Australia tho New South AVales. Government has issued a proclamation declaring that all vessels arriving in Sydney direct from Victoria or South Aubtralia should remain in the stream until four days had elapsed from the time of departure from the Inst port. No passenger will be disembarked until after the medical examination, .at the expiration of four days. The proclamation dealing with the quarantining of vessels orders:—"That the master or person in command or control of any vessel arriving at any. port in New South Wales from any port in Victoria or South Aus-

tralia shall not berth or moor ):js vessel at .any wharf, pier, or jetty in any port in New South Wales, but shall bring

such vessel to anchor in tho stream until a period of four days shall have elapsed &ince_ such vessel left her last port of call in either the State of Victoria m the State of South Australia; and it is further ordered i that no person being on board such-vessel eo arriving at a port in New South WaleT as aforesaid, shall land or come ashore or quit the said vessel until a medical examination of such person iby the proper medical authority shall have taken place cfter the expiry of the said four davs, nor shall any person go on board such vessel until the said period of four days shall have so elapsed as aforesaid." Owing to the dateß fixed for the New Zealand Town-Planning Conference and Exhibition clashing with the installations and swearing-in ceremonies in connection with municipalities, tho conference and exhbition is now to be hold from May 19 to 21 in the Town Hall, Wellington.,

A party from Karaka Bay, fisliing off Palliser JJay in Mr. S. T. Silver's launch on Sunday, caught 17 hapuka of an average weight of 501b. These huge fish— which are splendid eating—were all caught on stout lines., The "catch" was made on the same ground that Mr. Silver so successfully fished last summer. As the result pretty well the whole of Karaka Bay were supplied with free fish, tlie monsters being taken away in motorcars, motor i side-cars, barrows, and even dragged along the road by boys with the aid of a loop of flax passed through the gills. A few days ago local fishermen caught 11.001 whareh.ou in two days in tho Strait and sold them to a local company. \

The steamer Kokiri grounded at Onelmnga on Saturday afternoon, but floated off six hours later undamaged. She has left for Greyinouth.-Press Assn.

The widow of the late Sergeant Mervyn 11, E. Gorringe, of levin, has donated a sum of ,£SOO to cover the cost of a new wing for the Y.M.C.A. Institute at Rotorua. This is the outcome of a letter written to his wife by the late Sergeant Gorringle from Ypres, stating that if the worst liappened and there was something to spare she might remember tho Y.M.C.A. The wing is now being erected. Within will be placed an enlarged portrait of the late Sergeant Gorringe (who was a singularly handsome man, 6ft. -tin. in height), and beneath it will be placed a brass tablet on which tho following lines will be engraved :—"This wing is erected as a memorial to the lat-e Sergeant Mervyn H. E. Gorringe, of Levin, New Zealand, F Company, Twentyfifth Reinforcements, son or the Rev. P. E,. Gon-inge, Manston Rectory, Dorset. Born Manston, Dorset, England, Uth August, 1877; killed in action, Flanders, 12th December, 1917."

At a meeting of the Waikato branch of the Heturned Soldiers' Association, Mr. STEyoy, of Waereuga, representing the Taniwha soldiers' settlement at Waerenga, submitted a report showing that the Government had charged the soldiers ,£IBO2 more for the property than it had paid for it. A committee had met the authorities, who refused to discuss values. It was resolved to place the matter in the hands of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association.

During the past month, permits were issued by the Fetone Borough Council for two miscellaneous buildings, the total value of which wes <£55. The total value of new buildings erected during the year was .£3IOB 12s.

News from Australia states that Mr. Hugh D. M'lntosji has secured the Australasian rights of Oscar Asche's spectacle, "Chu Chin Chow" and the famous war play, "The Better 'Ole," popularised by ill-., Arthur Bourchier, iu London.

Nurht time in the sU-eets of Melbourne is gradually, assuming the appearance of the oW English towns in the middle ag«s, when file curfew bell pealed out at 9 o'clock—or thereabout, eays the "Age." Melbourne is donning- the influenza garb. Since the definite extension of file epidemic and the consequent closing of the theatres and other places of entertainment, the streets at night have been practically deserted. In the principal cafes, which formerly kept open until midnight to cater for theatregoers, the absence of patrons has been felt to a marked degree. The remarkable change in the streets, however, is not confined to the night. During the day disconsolate groups of punters, who favour a certain section of Bourke Street, wager on the date'on which .the epidemic will "officially" end—that is to eay, when races are again permitted. Other melancholy parties wa.it patiently outside the closed hotel doors. Some are lucky. Others there are who, through stress of time, have to quench their thirst with a beverage which would have delighted the Prohibitionist, but which, apparently, ■ does not deter the influenza bacilli.