LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 130, 26 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A memorandum issued by the Wai , Funds Office' mentions that twenty-two additional societies controlling war funds have been added to the approved list. They include tho Palmerston Norj:li Sub-Centre of the British Ked Cross and Order of St. John, the Wallticeville Patriotic Guild, the New Zealand Sheepowners' Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund, :yid the Wellington Commercial Travellers' Mercantile Marine War Fund. A Press Association cablegram from Sydney states that splendid, rains are falling in the coastal districts—several inches in places—completely relieving the water shortage and drought conditions. A> movement is on foot in Wellington to accord something special in the way of a welcome to the 1500 Main Body men who 1 ! are due to arrive by the Hororata about the middle of next month. Definite arrangements to that end are to be made aa soon as the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) returns from the south, probably early next week. A resident of Wellington who has returned from a stay in Australia states that of his eight weeks'- holiday he spent nearly three weeks in quarantine, was examined sixteen times by various doctors, was in and out of inhalation chambers daily, and had, in conclusion, to move about Sydney wearing a mask with the temperature 90 in the shade. "I think that excessive speed on the part of motorists in tho city should be put down," remarked Mr. F. V. Fraxer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, in a case ■in which John Jr.mes Oliver was charged with driving a motor-car through the city at a greater speed than twenty miles per hour. Mr. J. O'Shea, City Solicitor, who prosecuted, stated that the imposition of drastic penalties had put a stop to the practice some time ago, but there appeared, to be a recrudescence of the trouble. Mr. E. M. Beechey, defendant's counsel, said that Oliver had been in a hurry and took advantage of the fact of there being little traffic about to speed up his car. Ho was a resident of the Wairarapa, and did not know tie city by-laws very well. "A man who docs not live in town should lie more careful than a local resident," commented Mr. Frazer, who inflicted a fine of £3.

Each returning draft of troops include? some railwaynien. but the shortage of staff in the Railway Department, particularly in certain skilled branches, is still severe, and it is not likely to be relieved for many months yet. The men do not necessarily arrive back in the order that would suit tho Department best. Some hundreds of engine-drivers and cleaners are still away, and the majority of them must return before the Department cap undertake increases in services. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that Franz Volkner, an interned German, was missed at roll-call at tho Narrow Neck Camp on Monday night. He was arrested in Auckland and returned to the camp by the police. It is stated he displayed Bolshevik ten- ( dencies, and had beon involved in quarrels with- other interned Germans recently.

The annual picnic of the Defence Headquarters staff will be held at Day's Bay to-day. The parly will leave Hie fewy wlinr'f by the Janie Seddon at 9.30 a.m.

The erection of the flight of steps leading to the main entrance of the new Parliamentary Buildings is now proceeding. The steps mount with an easy sweep to the first floor of the buildings, where the main doors are to be eituatcd immediately opposite the entrance to the members' lobby. ■ The building under construction is a portion only of the complete Mock as planned by the architect, and the fact that the steps are situated at the <=ide and not in the centre of the new building draws attention to this fact. Eventually the old wooden Government House, used by Parliament in recent years, will be removed, and the structure of white marble will- bt extended southward to the Bowcn Street frontage.

Owing to the fewness of the entries received to date, it seems doubtful at present whether the proposed Dominion rifle meeting will be held at Trentham next month. The programme was prepared on the assumption that there would 'be at lea;t 300 entries, but so far only 124 marksmen have sent in their names. The matter will probably be finally decided this week.

Mr. "W. E. Evans, who has occupied the position of postman in Ashburton for the past sixteen years, will retire on superannuation from the service of the Postal Department on Saturday next. During his forty years' service as mail-carrier— he was stationed in Chrislchurch before going to Ashburton—he claims to have walked a distance of over 150,000 miles in the performance of his official duties The committee of the Wellington Competitions Society .has consented .to allow Chancellor George H. Bradford, of the Chautaufjua party., to speak for a few minutes to-morrow night and on Friday

night on the subject of the Chautauqua movement, which is about to be introduced to Wellington. Chancellor Bradford will make clear exactly what the Chautauqua idea is, and what it aims at creating in the world of the immediate future. Notice has been lodged in the Supreme Court of an application to movtf'for a new trial in the libel action Lieutenant Grierson v. H. T. J. Thaeker, M.P. for Christchurch East, on the ground that the damages awarded by the jury were inadequate.

■Vnnouncements now published from time to time in the Imperial Board of Trade Journal as to the removal of various war restrictions afford to the New Zealander some curious glimpses of the state of affairs that existed in Britain during the period of hostilities. _ A December number announces the issuo of a general license modifying Hie provisions of the Horses Batoning Order, No. 2, 1918, and authorising stated cereal rations for carriage horses, hacks, p°l° ponies, and other classes of horses "not hitherto entitled to be fed on grains. Along with this permission goes the withdrawal of an order which for a time prohibited the nso of omnibuses and chars-a-banc for pleasure purposes. |

The newspaper proprietors and master printers at present meeting in Wellington have unanimously decided to welcome the incoming draft of returned soldiers arriving by the Zealandic to-day, and have arranged for a steamer to leave the Ferry Wharf at noon. The party on board will bo• thoroughly representative of the newspapers and printers of the Dominion.

In order to encourage the destruction of rats, which aro reported to be becoming very numerous in .the city, the City Council has decided to pay to all bonafido city residents a bonus of twopence per rat delivered at the destructor.

The' Tramways Military Band will play at tho Basin Reserve to-night, at. 8 o'clock. The New Zealand Natives' Association Baud will play at Newtown Park.

An example of thankfulness wliicii is in contra-distinction'to other communications received by the Auckland Hospital Board is worth recording, says the "Star." During the recent .influenza Gcourge two Chinamen, Joe Set and Joe Gnow, were stricken and were taken into the Pukekoho Temporary Hospital. The former died. The surviving Oriental has •sent along to tho Hospital Board, which charged 12s, 6d, for Set and .£3 for Gnow, the money to pay the ■ accounts. He included a donation of £2 2s. on behalf of the deceased friend mid £2 2s. on behalf of himself. Tho grateful Chinaman has further' shown his appreciation by supplying the hospital with between four and five pounds' worth of vegetables free of cost.

The' thirty-sixth and statements of account of the Salvation Army, made up to September 30j 1918, shows that the balance transferred to capital account was MtiU 13s. 2d. The receipts included: Grant from self-denial fund, .£3403 19s, 9d.; grant from trade fund. ,E33(i 10s. Bd.; profits from People's Palace, £3978 2s. 10d.; and bequests, .£133 16s. sd. Divisional and corps expenses amounted to J297 15s. 4d., and the territorial headquarters maintenance expenses totalled .C 3059 os. 9d. Contributions from divisions, being amounts raised by senior and young people's corps for the self-denial fund, totalled ,£37,417 17s. 9d. Donations and contributions on behalf of military camps and war work amounted to £102,741 Us. Id., and .£23,000 was remitted to General W. Bramwell Booth for work amongst New Zealand troops in England, France, Belgium etc. The Military Camps and War Work Appeal Fund had a balance at the Bank of New Zealand of .£35,714 17s. 2d., and a fixed deposit at the Bank of New Zealand of ,£15,000. In regard to superannuation the Christchurch Cits Council yesterday agreed to adopt the National Provident Fund's system; which is that, already adopted by the Wellington City Council. The Superannuation Committee was requested to investigate the position of all the employees with large families and the men of mature age, with a view to the council assisting them financially to enter the superannuation scheme. Spea"king at o> meeting of the Christflliurch City Council yesterday, the Mayor remarked that the Wellington City Council had of late done active work as regarded the milk supply. He expressed his extreme anxiety to receive ail the very latest information on the matter, and moved that the Town Clerk visit Wellington to ascertain the exact position. This was agreed to.—Press Assn. The conference of the Wellington District Order of Oddfellows, held at Greytown yesterday, passed the following resolution:—"That this conference of the Wellington District Oddfellows in conference assembled extends to the fellows and brethren who have returned from active service to the Dominion, and to those who are still on duty for the Allied cause of freedom and justice our hearty gratitude for the very successful termination of the greatest war in histoiy. We are pleased to know that the representatives of this district were united in the bond of friendship, love, and truth with an army of over 200,000 Oddfellows who so nobly upheld the honour of the Allied nations, and brought about so successful a termination of hostilities. We mourn the loss of so many noble souls, but have the consolation of

knowing their sacrifices were for the -uplifting of our cause and the crushing of a very bitter enemy.' , '—Press Assn. A Press Association message from Christchurch states that at the Presbyterian Assembly last night the report of tho Temperance Committee was submitted. The committee's deliverance included the following :—"That the Assembly express its appreciation of Parliament having granted a referendum on the National Efficiency Board's proposal; that all ministers, office-bearers, and members of our Church be urged to use their utmost r.ndcavours to secure the carrying of National Prohibition on April 1C; that the committee be authorised to issue a manifesto to be read in nil our churches; that Sunday, March 30 bo appointed a day of prayer for God's guidance and blessing in the present Prohibition campaign; that Hie Assembly declares that it regards the u;sue of national ownership of the liquor traffic as a calamitous proposal, whicli would in nowise lessen (he worst evils connected with the use of alcohol as a beverage." The report and deliverance were unanimously adopted. ■ A general "cleaning up" week will be inaugurated in Auckland to-day, nnd arrangements have been made for the removal of anything at all under tho heading of rubbis , ' or material that tends to create insanitary conditions.-Prcss ' Assn. •■ ■ . .•■■' .

Fears are entertained tor the safety of a woman resident of Tinakori Road who has been missing from her home since Monday morning. The woman has been in ill-health for some time. Her description is as follows: Age, 40 years; height, sft. 7in. She has brown hair, is of good appearance, and at the tune ot her disappearance was well dressed, bne was wearing a black crepe-de-clnne coat and skirt and a. black beaver hat. Vigorous inquiries as to her whereabouts have been made by the police, but no trace of her has been discovered.