LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 152, 22 March 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

1 he Acting-Prime Minister stated yesterday that bccause of the disinclination of the New Zealand authorities to crowd men 011 transports bringing back drafts from Britain, the period of demobilisation would be extended from nine month* to eleven months and a half. He said that in view of the causes of this delay ill returning tlio men, the people of I\'ew Zealand would 110k l>e impatient, but would rather appreciate the action of Hie Government. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and Mrs. Luke motored out to Tventham yesterday morning to view the alterations that aro being made lo convert a portion of the big military camp into an orthopaedic hospital for returned men who need special treatment. Mr. and .Mrs. Luke were accompanied by the Mavor of Chrislehurch (Mr. If. Holland), and all three visitors were favourably impressed, with, the Governments hospital plans. ' ' Tho Acting-Prime Minister' yesterday, said that he had no information about the alleged influx of Indians from the ■ islands reported by the Press Association from Auckland. Sir .lames Allen said (hat lie suspected that the newspaper statement was an exaggeration, of the sort to which some newspapers were ad-, dieted. He had made inquiries into other similar sensational statements, and invariably' Jib had found (hat they were

exaggerations. Tho determination of the amount to be paid lo medical men for the services

rendered by them at the time of the epidemic has not proved quite an easy mat(or. The fees demanded have varied, it is understood, in different parts of ilie.country. In Wellington the demand of the medical men was for ten guineas a day. Tho question was before Cabinet yesterday, and tho Minister of Public Health is.to uieet the doctors lo discuss (he fees with thcin. "IT you found your -dogs had • been worrying sheep, what would you do with them?" a veteran drover was asked in tlio Feildiiig Court, during the hearing of a claim for damages. "They ought to be shot," was the- reply. "Supposing you sent llunu lo tho sale.vards. what would you do about iheni?" "Well, J wouldn't tell them about sheep worrying." "Oh," exclaimed counsel, "I i didn't think you drovers would take each other down." "Wo'ro like yoii lawyers!" retorted witness, fo the accompaniment of laughter from the Court. "I probably know as much, if not li" ore, than anyone else in New Zealand about amalgamation," was the modest claim made by tho Mayor of Mirainar (Mr. F. Townsend) at Thursday's meeting of ratepayers at Seatoun. The Hishop of Wellington will dedicate' two war memorial windows in St. Mary's Church, Karori. to-morrow, at 1 ] a.m. One window is to perpetuate General Allenby's victory in tho Holy Land, and to commemorate the freedom of the Holy Land from tho yoke of tho Turk. Tho window-is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Henderson, Karori. The other is a thanksofrcring for the cessation of hostilities on November 11, and is (lie gift of Mr. and Mrs.. .11. Coot, of Friend Street, Karori. tho subjects of the windows, which have been beaulifiilly tarried out, are Iho Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin and tho-Purification.

A special effort to raise'funds for the Wellington Ilcturned Soldiers' Club' is made on novel lines by the commil tee. assisted by the "Charley's Aunt" Club executive. The latter club is to give a big concert in the Town LI all on April 5, niul in order to obtain support ihe.v are appealing to the heads of firms to make a donation to the Returned Soldiers' Club by taking so ninny tickets for tho. entoi'taiuiueiit for distribution among their employees. Tho idea has so far proved very .successful, over £100 worth of tickets having been so disposed of in three or four days.

The Wellington Centre of the Workers' Educational Association is gradually extending its activities. Last week a now branch was formed at. Shannon, and injiiiiries are being made as to the possibility of constituting a branch at .lohnsonville also. The Wellington classes will open early in.April.

A man was knockoil down by tramcav No. Oil, bound for Hntvilai, in" I.ambton Quay at a quarter to S yesterday otternoon, but, thanks to the promptitude with which the car was [lulled up, ho was not" hurl. The car struck liiin a glancing blow- and he merely fell on his side.

"While it would bo invidious to singlo out for special mention gentlemen who last .season rendered yeoman service to the game of liu<;by opportunity is laken to refer lo tlio jjroat assistance received from Colonel 11. 1!. Potter, C.M.G.," says Ihe annual reoort of tho Wellington Kugby Union, "it is not too much to sav that as a result of his kindly assistance I lie funds of the union benefited lo a large extent in increased gate-money."

The motor omnibuses run by the Easlbonrne Borough Council which, until recently, wero the subject of no small amount of controversy, have at last been satisfactorily disposed of. The residents on the eastern side of (Im harbour now depend upuu tho original horse ''bus service.

Councillor J. Castle lias given notiot to inoyo nt the next meeting of the (Jilv Council: "That in future no anijnals which die at Hie Wellington Zoo shall lie buried within (ho limits of the Zoo. Such a proeeduro ig not in the interests of public. health, ami is in contravention of the city Ijy-laivs. which prohibit the burying of animals within the precincts ol the city." A request that old nlayers should hecome reterees is contained in the annual report of the Wellington Kugbv union, '"flic IJeferees' Association continues io do .splendid work, and its member worked harmoniously with tlio union throughout the season," says the report. "In view of the certain revival of interest and increased number of teams (his ncason as a result of the end of the war, the union anneals to old nlavei'.s to assist in controlling the game by joining the association and taking up referee! n;;. It is desired to thank all those members who nave up so much of their valuable lime last seasun in so faithfully fulliliing their engagements." In the Divorce Court yesterday, before His llummr Mr. Justice Edwards., Kellie Hodgson sought a dissolution of her marriuge with Sydney Harold Hodgson on (lie ground of misconduct. Mr. J.'. \V. Jackson 'appeared for the petitioner, and the co-respondent did not defend the case. The parties were married at T'ort Chalmers on Aligns!; t,.] I JI3, anil there were no children of the marriage. .They lived togelher until DeeeniJter IK), 19IG. when tho petitioner was turned out of (he house, the furniture sold up and Hie respondent joined the hospital ship. Maheno. The petitioner had not seen him since. Not since February, 11117, had her husband contributed, towards her maintenance. Corroborative evidence having been given His 'Honour granted a doeree nisi, to he made absolute in three months.

The. Labour Disputes Amendment Act. HIKi, has *it been invoked by nwro than three or Mir unions since it came'into force. Its application has, however, on each occasion been attended with some success. The latest experiment with it is to be seen in the dispute of the Devonport and Takapuna I'erries' and Tramways' Employees' Union. In this case a conference, presided over by the Conciliation Commissioner, has failed to effect a settlement; mid arrangements have been made by the .Minister of Labour to set up a disputes committee under tho Act.

At Hie meeting of Miramar ratepayers called by the Seatoun and Bays' Halepayers' Association 011 Thursday evening, iUr. 11. Wyatt mentioned that although souie fifteen or sixteen men had-return-od to the Ijorousrh from the front, thcra had been no aiteimi! to accord thein an.vthiug in the way of a welcome. They had 'Riven them socials when they left, and told them how gladly they would welcome them homo again, but nothing of the sort had been done, and Miramar was perhaps the only place which had neglected to do its soldiers Die honour they deserved. Mr. Wyatt; proposed .that the association should take the matter in hand. The matter was duly noted. At a special meeliiiK of the Wanganui Harbour Board it was decided to appoint Sir. J. ]>. Blair-Mason, C.E., to inspect nnd report on various matters affecting the harbour construction work. . Uuder the will of tlie lale Mrs. 'Isabella Siteiuan (wid<Jw of the lale William Jacob Siteman, of Wimbledon, Kawke's Jlay), who died at Pannevirke 011 March IS, the residue of her estate, aijuroximately £'500, is left in trust for ths purpose of providing assistance lo vouag men and young women, or boys and girls desiro.us of attending and prosecuting

tlieir studies in anv of the universities of New Zealand in the form of bursari.es, scholarships, or otherwise, as the trustees shall decide, to be known as the_ "Isabella Siteiuan Scholarships." Several legacies have been left to Dannevirke residents.

The Linneau Society of London, at n meeting on January iC, decided to take steps to, as far as possible, murk the (,'inves where Australian, New Zealand, Canadian. Indian, and other overseas soldiers lie buried 011 or near battlefields in llie present war. An effort will be mado to grow around tile graves plants native to the countries from which the soldiers went to the defence of the Empire. Jtefcreniv »as made'to problems associated with soil and, site, itfiich often I rendered . successful gardening very difficult. Some of the cemeteries, aro in very sandy places,'others in chalk, and other in fern land on the.Belgian.border, j Kcmills obtained up to the present prove that, with proper care, whatever the soil may be, a good turf can be formed in Northern France. 111 cemeteries where permanent planting is not. vet nossible s,'w>d results- have been obtained by sowin>; annuals, either according to a. ueil-ar-nmged colour scheme, or in mixluiv, nnd the elect in summer,, it was staled, vas beautiful. Bulbs have been planted extensively. Some of the cemeteries in Franco are in old orchards, some in Bandy districts, nnd soino in the open country. It is intended 10, as far as possible. make the cemeteries of soldiers from the Ijniled 'Kingdom smooth; wellkept lawns, sunoiinded by hedges of thorn, beech, or hornbeam with groups, avenues, or pole-hedges of such trees as limes, hornbeams, willows, and Siberian crabs, nnd planted with rosebuds, the liis. and dwarf carpeting plants.

A returned soldier of nearly three years I service, who was a defendant in a judgment summons ease in the Court at .-Hftwera, stated that he was- out of work ami .was advised by his doctor not, fo tnka on any hard work for twelve months. He had tiofc a pension bocauso of a pre-war disability. The Magistrate • remarked that evidently the. authorities considered tlio man.to ho Rood enough to sond'away to light, Tint after his service did not think ho was worth a pension, which he deserved after his. lengthy service- Ho desired to congratulate the !iian upon his service, and ho thought the order would not have been asked for if the whole of the circumstances had been known. Counsel, who appeared for the creditor upon instructions from a. N'ew Pl\ mouth firm, agreed with His "Worship that the order would not. have lwen asked for had the debtor's position, been fully-cxplnined. A'o order was made.

At the last meeting of the Otago University Council a'letter was read from the Perpetual Trustees Company, Stating that urulcr the will of Hie l«itp Mr. /)on* aid Jfeid <£5000 had been bequeathed to the university, to l>e nocuuiulated for 21 vears or imt.il tlio death of the survivor of his two daughters (says the Dunodin "Star"). Oilier bequests were also made urder the will, subject to life interest. I,ho whole of these bequests to be utilised for tho endowment of a chair in the university; to bo called the "Donald Koiil Chair''of Economics." The Chancellor (tho Kev. A. Cameron) remarked ilia m the course of time this bequest might bo worth a large sum, .£,'.50,000 or morethere was no lelling how much. J r -T. C Stephens said he understood that tlie Government subsidy on the bequest was only £>ofl. Tim Chancellor replied that that wius so. Mr. Stephens remarked that [ bo hail never been able to discover why in these subsidies there should be any ditferenco between a want made to a urnversify in a wall's lifetime and a under his will. The Chancellor said that the University Council had previously asked tho Government to so amend the regulations as to be able to r've the tun amount of £ for ,£,. with a limit of ho sum to be paid in any °no vw- '"'t hnvina in view an ultimnto and continuous liability for Ihe full subsidy Mr. .Stephens moved that, the matter ho referred to tho Finance Committee with a view to a-ain asking the Government t<> amend the regulations, and this was agreed to. Of the oftven Xew Zealand candidates who sat for the 191S examination for cnIranee to the lloyal Military tollwre, ■Duntroou, Australia, only one candidate was succeestftil in qualifying. I his was ,T. lv. IT. Fulton, of Dnnedin. 'I ho imsalisfaolory result is said to be due in some measure to the influenza epidemic, which interrupted Hie candidates'studies. PROFITS You cannot be sure that vour invention is "yours" for very long unhsa jou protect it with "letters patent." It w worth your while—many a big fortune has sprung up from seomingly trifling items—but 'I hey were patented before "the of her fellow" got busy. Consult Henry Hughes, Ltd., Patent Attorneys, 157 Featherston Street, Wellington.— Advt.