LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 127, 22 February 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"Style" is a- virtue in vocalists which counts for much with the'judge of the musical selections (Mr. HarOld Gregson) in tho competitions now in progress at the Town Hall. Almost every day and evening LMr. Gregson is insisting that style must' be assiduously cultivated all aspirants to tho • concert .platform. "The voice must lie .there; of course," says the judge, "but, having the voice, points may yet bo lost for lack of stylo in presence and address. A, girl may liavo a very' beautiful' voice, ' but may not succeed in a competitionthrough neglecting to cultivate a thorough knowledge of tho character and meaning of tho song. I consider style most important—all important—to succcss as a singer."

An attractive feature In connection with tho homecoming of three drafts of returned soldiers yesterday was the gaily decorated cars of the members of tho Volunteer Motor Oorps, which turned out in good strength to convey the men, to their several destinations or homes, in the city and suburbs. Nearly all tho. cars wove'prettily garlanded-with (lowers, which lent a spirit, of festival to the occasion. One car' was handsomely and elaborately decorated with tho flags of tho Allies, and with its load of smiling horoes, attracted-a good deal of attention as it sped through the city.

Tho Wellington Education Board has authorised tho erection of a new classroom at tho'Khandallah School, and. its erection' will be commenced at' an early date. The aiyiuiU picnic and sports in connection with tho school Will bo held to-day. ' •

Two third-class passengers (stated to. lie 1 labourers) 'from Sydney bv the Manuka were met by the police' and served with notice under the war regulations, that they were deemed to be ot such a character that their presence in New Zealand was undesirable in the interests of public safely! They were warned that if they landed they wore liable to be taken into custody. The captain of the Maiiiika ~w'as ' also .' .'warned that he was responsible for the 'removal,of the men to some other country.—Press Assn.'

' The Bqse Records office advises (hat--20/593 Riffcman Lancelot Douglas Miller, a discharged soldier, died at the Dunedin Hospital on February 20. Deceased was ,30 years of age, and single, his next-of-kin. being his brother, - William James Miller. Orchard Leigh, Maiu Eoad, GreenIsland.

"That the active membership of the Returned Soldiers' Association be thrown open to all British veterans in other wars, provided that they can Show good •discharges," was a remit that the executive of the Christchureh Returned Soldiers' Association at its; meeting on Wednesday decided to send to the coufercnco of Returned Soldiers' _ Associations 'to be held in Christchureh in May next. It is considered that if tho remit -is adopted a largo number of Boer war yeterans will join 'ilic association. .

-The Christeluu-eh "Sim" says: For the first timo for many years the Moderator of. tho Presbyterian General Assembly appeared yesterday (Wednesday) in court dress. Though such apparel is quite in order, aud in Scotland is tho rule, the Rev. \V. Gray Dixon, M.A., is the first Moderator since the Rev. Dr. Gibb's term of office to appear in full official vestments. From the spectacular point of view the effect is marred a little on the, present occasionjiy clashing with a Geneva 'gown and Glasgow academic hood. ■ To others; however, the result is symbolical-of the threo institutions .which a moderator should represent—the Court, the Church, and the University.

"If the competitions do nothijig else," said Mr. J. F. Montague, judge ol' elocution at the competitions,' "it fosters a love for the beautiful in poetry aud good music. Competitors, are compelled to learn tho pieces set for them, and, having done so, they remain with tliem a joy for the rest of their lives. . So.it is with music. The pieces set for competitors are invariably the best of mjisic, and must have au elevating effect'on tho young people who have to learn tliem for all time."

At a meeting of the Auckland Grammar School Board on Wednesday, the chairman reported that he had written to the Minister for Education, the Hon. j, A. Hanan, asking for an increase in the capitation grant for free-place pupils, to enable the board to increase tho salaries of masters in view of, the. extra cost of living. The Minister. had . replied stating that the matter would bo carefully considered when amendments to the 'Education Act were next under review. It seemed, said the chairman, that tho Minister did not consider tho whole of tho teachers of- New Zealand when salaries were under revision, yet the costs of tlioso in secondary schools had gone up the same'as had those of teachers in primary schools. The latter had received increases, aiid the former had not. Thisrlid not seem equitable. The Napier High School had moved i" the matter.

Rotorua is -unusually full of visitors at present, owing to the attractions of the bowling aud croquet tournaments. Fortunately the weather lias so far been line. As an indication of the largo number of visitors, it may. bo noted that on Saturday last the eiio of tickets for bowls; tennis, and croquet at tho Government Gardens constituted a record. Tho "Feilding Star" states that it is not unlikely that Lieutenant Clutha Mackenzie, the blind son of the High Commissioner, will contest one of the North Island West Coast seats at the next general elections. Ilis father, Sii Thomas Mackenzie, it will bo remembered. represented Kgmont for a short period in 1211-12.

\p ' extra'express train will run to Auckland to-day, leaving Wellington, at 2 p.m. Tho Europeans and Natives of Maintain, the second • largest. island of tho Cook Group, recently made a request to the Resident Commissioner at Romlonga for tho return of Major J. -T. Large, as Hesident A&rcn'i. Major Laixe relimi'uislud the position Mnnguia in 11113. aid lias since Imu resident in Auckland. .. ..

The New Zealand Natives'. .Association Bnnd will play at Lyall : :»U to-inorr'ow (Sunday) at 3 P>m.

A niiTd surprise was sprung upon the Auckland Hospital Hoard on Tuesday evening, when a letter was read from a grateful man enclosing a cheque for JUS ss. in payment of an account for £i 2s. The writer, whose wife had received medical nllciilion during 1 lie epidemic, said:—"Ko lam enclosing I'o 55., which ■is still less Ihan the care and skill extended." Tho chairman said the board had received eo many, letters from peoplo dissatisfied, . alleging they did not see Ihe doctor, or that ho oiily looked at tlieiu occasionally, that it was quite refreshing to receive such a letter. "Frame it," ejaculated Dr. V. Keller, and the matter dropped as tho particular letter, with others, was "received." "When a man sties in a court ill a country like New Zealand ho should use his correct nanie. He should not use a false name, to shelter, his hncostry, or for any other reason," commented His Honour, Mr. Justice Herdmnn, in summing up in the caso of Husch v. Bates in the Supreme Court, Christchurch, on Thursday. His HonourVcomracnt was prompted by the fact that reference had' been made, in counsel's addresses, to that portion of Jli. M. Myers's cross-examina-tion of plaintiff .in. which it-had been revealed that plaintiff had been baptised Hans Heinrich AVillielm Buseli, although he had sued iis 'Henry William Busch. His Honour pointed out that in cases eucli as this, in which there was a conllict of evidence,. l,atitudo was allowed to counsel to enable a witness's, crcdit and credibility to'lie tested. •

Giving evidence before' the 'l'rawjing Commission now silting ftt Thames, Mr. 11; G. Hood* ninnnger of Thames ■■l\isheries, Ltd., said that his company-limited the .fishermen now owing to inadequate appliances for storing and means 01 'transportation. The limit was not upon thu (lumber of fish'to bo caught, but on ■the number "-of trips-per week. He stated that his. company. was now installing. additional pliant, which would eniible#tlieni to hard freezes 15 tons per Ul hours, and lo chill for near markets eight ton. This additional plant would be ready in about two months. .They had markets, all oyer t lie .North Island, but he considered ilio class of vans used by 'the Railway Department were tho cause of considerable loss, and it a better class of van was adopted for . the transportation of fish with inorc efficient ventilation the fish woul/1 arrive' at its destination in jjetter ' condition. • fho present charges for freight, wore excessive, as boxes containing Hcwt cost lis. 3d. to Auckland, and Gs'./to Wellington 'i'lio' vield could bo easily increased if they'had belter facilities. for handling the fish. .He considered the ellect of allowing the. trailers to conic further into the gulf .would:be detrimental.'to the industry.. ... -.v ■

A Gazette notice issued .last evening, referring to the regulations made.under tho AVar -Itognlations Act, 1914, restricting. the . sijlo- and., supply . of. intoxicating liquor upos the.occasion or (lie-arrival in New Zealand of soldiers of • His Majesty's Forces from beyond--tho ; seas, states that these rogulahoiis- shall not be construed so as. to- prohibit the delivery .ut a wharf or. railway station within the-area:in which .a notice under those regulations in force for carnage by rail or sea beyond that, area, of..any intoxicating- liquor by the holder .of a wholesale license or f f any beer, by the holder of a brewer's license.

•"Plioto was "a lime when I ,would have hesitated to give a. man chewing siicl Chaplain Ronald Watson 'at St. Paul's Church; Fcildiiig. Ho was mentioning t.lint he had .always tried toJ>ave" 'something'to givo the men when visiting thefn in tlie trenches; so that cold- words, of comfort would not seem a mockery. He had : been' able to supply chocolate, chewing gum,;- cigarettes, oranges, • etc. "My experiences," 'ho went on to say, "led'me to'tho' conviction that, host to prayer, there was nothiiig like chocolate for bucking up a man's spirit to enable him to stand'the strain. And clicking ir,nn ran tho~ chocolate a good race for second place."'

An .Auckland■ fruitgrower, who! was in Cliristchurch recently, made, some remn/rks. about.thci high prieo. of- fruit . ihbYe.' -H© had sent, down <\ toii of pliijnsfor sale, and,- received.. 3Jd,. per. lb., .for them. .He -was' quito,'satisfied with tho : price, I)ut lie saw the same plums shortly afterwards, offered retail, at fid. per lb. "A" consignment of lemons sold at ■ Hit. equivalent of -liv per. ease," .lie said, "but 011 th« retail prices asked -they will cost tho oonsumw about 8.55. pea'-, ease. This, to him, seems ah' nnfa-ir,-.profit., to ask the consumer .to ..provide."

'At .tho meeting ,of 'citizens - held .- in Christchurch 011. Wciinsday- to take precautions in case of another visitation' of tho influenza epidemic, Mr. E. C. Bishop, towards the close, rose tuid said: "In future, Mr. Chairman, you will have to manage without my help. I nm very sorry, but • I am taking this course be-cause-of the., dirty, mean, -.."contemptible action of the Government.- While I was busy attending to epidemic, affairs at St. Luke's, in Manchester Street, my own. business had' to be neglected. I did not attend at my office. In consequence, I omitted to pay my land tax until after tho date fixed for tho imposition of 10 per cent, extra. When my services were 110 longer, needed at St. Luke's, 1 sent my cheque for the. sum criginally demanded to the Commissioner of Taxes in Wellington, explained the whole position,'and asked that., in the circumstances, the imposition should be remitted,''-and.l received a reply that my request could not bo granted. The 10 per cent, extra is a small thinj;—nothing, 'in fact—but the Government's action towards one who was doing work for the public that should have been done by. the Government itself is abominable. Jn future, lis far as I am concerned, the Government can employ returned soldiers to do the work, and pay-them." •

J fo the Rev. John I'aterson's idea the churches are suffering from the blight of respectability. "When people tell 1110 that tliey have seen mo in company not exactly clerical,"', lie confessed to' the Presbyterian 'General Assembly yesterday, "I begin to feel that I am doing some good. Quite recently I was invited to supper with a theatrical party, and went and enjoyed myself. Far from. feeling uneasy about it,. I regret that I have not had i.iore opportunities of getting to know such people, as they really are."

Three returned soldiers were charged before Mr. F. V,. Frazer,, S.M., at. the Magistrate's Court yesterday, with having .been found in.the Grand Hotel after tho ordinary hour, of closing on February G. It appeared that tho three defendants had been present at a meetin?; of returned soldiers, where they met for the first time since the departure of the Tenth Reinforcements. Being anxious to discuss their reminiscences, Smith suggested that they should adjourn to the commercial room of the Grand Hotel, where he was accustomed .to stay occasionally. Each of the defendants denied fliat he had gono to the hotel for the purpose of obtaining liquor, and they said that they did not receive any. Mr. Frazer said he believed .their, explanation, which he accepted without any rewrviihioii. "Tho mortal of all llii.s" lie said, "is that unless you are lodging in an hotel it is just as well ot to go there after hours, even if you wish to go there.for 110 improper purpose." The informations were dismissed. Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for the defendants. The'lnspector of Factories (Mr. It. T. Bailey) proceeded against C. B. Lenipriere, of Willis Street, at the Magistrate's Court yesterday 011 informations of-having sold cigarettes after 7 p.m., and of failing to observe a weekly half-holi-day. Mr. Bailey said the informations were laid under the Shops and Offices Act. Under a requisition signed by a number of tobacconists some time ago it was ordered that tobacco should not be sold after 7 p.m'. Defendant lscpt a shop ill which lie sold fruit and confectionery, but ho also stocked cigarettes. At 8.40 p.m. on January'2l witness was in the defendant's shop, and while there a man camo in and bought a packet of cigarettes. Witness asked tho lady behind the counter what instructions sho had received respecting tho. sale of cigarettes and tho observance of a weekly half-holiday, and she replied that she had not received any. It was' submitted by Mr. Bailey that .lefendant was compel led. to close on Saturday al'ternoons until ho. notified tho inspector that'- ho desired -t:o close 011 onother day. For tho defenco Mr. 0. C. Ma.'.Migarb maintained that a conviction eiiiini not bo entered as Lempriero was nnt t"i:n owner or the occupier of tho sl'.op. The point was debated at length, and as ii result of Le.nipriere mentioning in evidence that his wit'o was interested iu the business His Honour, Mr. F. V. Frazer, 5.M.., amended tho'.inforniatioii. by. strik'.iucf. Out the initials "C. 8.," aild- imposed & "penalty of ,&l and' costs. 011 each infor--1 mation ajjaiivst' Iho firm of "LDmpriere,"-

The mombere 1 attending: tho'Civil Engineers' Conference in Auckland motored to Nihotupu yesterdny to inspect the waterworks and the new dam now in course of construction. The engineers were the guests of the city at a lunch at Nihotupu—Press^Assn. At the Presbyterian General Assembly yesterday the report of the Youth of the Church Committee was adopted, ■ and it was decided to authorise the committee to appoint a general director at a salary of .£4OO until December next, and to urge the Eev. D. D. Scott to accept the position,—Press Assn.