LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 159, 31 March 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sixteen cases of influenza were reported Til the Auckland district during the past seven days. Only one was a serious case. No deaths from iniii.cnzft have been notified since (lie recurrence of tlie malady in its present mild form. —Press Assn.

A telegram from Marton published in last Friday's issue stated that influenza had made its reappearance at Marton, and that several cases had been reported. It was also stated that one serious case had been removed to the Wanganui Hospital where the patient had died that day. Mr. Wilson, Mayor of Marton, now asks us to contradict this report which be says is untrue and alarmist. "There, havo been," he states, "only three or four cases of mild influenza in this town, and district during the past month or more. The death specially mentioned in the telegram was from meningitis, following on influenza of three months ago." •While walking off the King's Wharf at 5 pirn.. on Saturday a waterside worker was acoosted by Nonstable V. Cosgrove and searched on suspicion of having stolen goods in his possession. Five women's 6*mglets and pairs of women's stockings wero revealed, and the man was arrested. He will be charged at the Magistrate's Court to-day. - ? A court-martial sat at Christchurch on Saturday to. try Private Arthur Massev, charged.with failing to parade for. medical examination at, Timaru when ordered to do so by Gazette notice, and prisoner was found guilty .—Press Assn. Lieutenant A. H. Grierson has issued a writ for ,£2OOO against ' the Napier "Daily Telegraph" on account of a statement'published concerning him on February 10, 1918.' Some of the Wellington shopkeepers who sell fruit have been,, . protesting against the- existence of the barrowman, who obtains his stocks at the same place as themselves, and point out that whereas they a're mulcted in rent the barrowman goes fsee, and is therefore a business rival to be feared. As against that it is stated that though the barrowman does not have to pay rent he has to pay fairly heavily for his stand. Every one of tho thirteen,barrowmen compote for tho stands, and competition is sometimes very keen for goo'u stands. The city inspector's books. show that as much as J3l2'and even J!U,' have been paid for the use, of a stand for three One fruitgrower from Nelson said that lie visited the markets and saw brands of Cox Orange Pippins sold there at 10s. per case, which yielded the grower about 6s. 6d. or 7s. net) but when he went to pricethe fruit at the shops he stated that they v asked him XI per , case. On Friday the Fruitgrowers Association sent a deputation to wait upon tho By-laws Committee of the City Cpuncil to refute the case made'out by tho Wellington shopkeepers, and represented' that the barrowmen in selling the l'ruit' at a reasonable price were doing good, as tncy were encouraging people to eat more ..fruit, and thereby conferring health upon the community and encouraging (lie cultivation of fruit as aii industry. -The chairman (Mr. W. 11. P. Barber) stated that the representations of the deputation would be carefully' considered.

At the meeting of the. College Governors on. Friday it was decided to fix the fee for primary pupils at the Girls' College at £3 3s. per annum. > . The attention of students and others is drawn to the advertisement regarding the examinations of the Institute of Actuaries, London, which appears on another page. The examinations have. been suspended during the war, ]rut' will now be held in June and December in .each year, the first taking place at the office of Mr. J. H. Kichardson, Government Insurance Commissioner, Wellington, from Juno 23 to 25' next. "I think in our experience in this Court we have never had a Chinaman who has not answered his bail," remarked Mr. H. F. O'ljcary at tho Magistrate's Court on Saturday.' "Yes, they aro pretty good that way," agreed, Mr. F.-V. Frazer, .S.M. A 11-year-old boy was charged before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court on Saturd_ay with having stolen four pairs of.boots, the property of E. C. ■ Browne and . Co.- It was explained to tho Court that E. C. Browne and Co., by whom the accused was employed, were accustomed to hand over to a second-hand dealer named Louis Dabscheck any footwear which had been left with the firm for repair, but which had not been-called for. Dabscheck had merely to pay the cost of repairs. The boy, it appeared, took four pairs of boots to tho second-hand dealer, and the latter, thinking that the transaction was genuine, paid him.for.them, but omitted to enter the purchase in his books. Mr. H. F. O'Lcary, who appeared for Dabscheck, said liis client had not been in the habit of entering up'boots received from E. C. Browne ,and Co., though ho ahoflld have done so on every occasion. As soon as he was informed ot the theft, Dabscheck did everything possible to clear the matter' up, • and lie had refunded tKe value of the boots to Browne and Co. In the circumstances, a charge against Dabscheck of dealing with a, Iro.v uncles 18 years of age, was dismissed, and on a further information of failing .to enter the transaction in: his books he was ordered to pay costs. The boy's uaso was adjourned for two years, and he was ordered to be placed under the supervision of the Juvenile Probation Officer during that period.

The Arbitration Court at Christchuroh. in the t'ramwaymen's case, has awarded the employees a bonus of 10 per cent.- on their total earnings.' The Court said it was unable to put. tho Christchurch men on the same footing as to hours and .wages as those of Auckland and Wellington. When the existing award expired in October,.it would Ve competent for either party to apply for a revision, and the fact that increased rates were granted in those cities would be a suong argument for similar increases in Christchurch.—Press Assn.

At a mass' meeting of the Waihi Miners'' Union on I'riday night it was decided to take a ballot at an early date on the question of the offer of Mr. Charles Rhodes, director of the Waihi Company, to pay into the union the entrance ifees, dues, and legal levies of exempted men—Press Assn.An elderly man named William Dunbar, coal trimmer at the Junction Mine, Waihi, committed suicide on Saturday night by cutting his throat with a. razor. Death ensued before medical aid arrived. The deceased had been, a resident' of Waihi for 25 years, and had lately been in a poor state of health.—Press Assn. It is understood that another deputation will wait upon the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) early this week with respect to the Mayoralty. Its mission has nothing in common with the deputation that waited on, Mr. Luke on Thursday last. In connection with the proposal to purchase Elmwood' Park, 'the Mayor of Christchuroh has received a telegram from Mr.'lsitt, M.P., stating that he has received a definite promise from two Government of JiIOOO towards the purchase.—Pres3 Assn. - At the annual meeting of tho CanterI bury Printers, M«\chiriists,_ and Boot', binders' Union tho following resolution was unanimously passed'"That thif> meeting records its dissatisfaction at the action of the Court of Arbitration in recently granting the printers, a skilled occupation, an hourly waje amounting only to Is. 7Jd., while providing other skilled trades a wage of Is. lOd. an hour."—Pre6s Assn. In .response to an inquiry as to whether tho Cifcv Engiueor (Mr. W. H. Morton) was being; entrusted with any buying commissions on behalf ot the couucil, tho Mayor sta.ted that 'he had not been empowered to liuiko any purchases or placo any orders. Mr. Morton's visit to America and England was to enable him to gain all the information possible that would bo of benefit to tho city, and in that connection he would study tho tramway systems and methods -of handling traffic, now forme of road constriction, otc. It is reported, states an exchange, that land aggregation in the Wanganui district is taking glace extensively. Tins is said to be particularly sp in the Main Trunk district about Maugawoka and Hunterville, and the former township is suffering in consequence. It is noticeable that along tho main roads between Wanganui and Feilding thore are quito & number of farmhouses standing empty and desolate.

The Harbour Board elections will be held at the end of next month. All the members (fourteen in number) will retire, with the exception of Mr. J. G. Harkness, the Government nominee, whose term of office will ijpt expire for another year. The only member wbo has so fat decided not to seek re-election is Mr. A. Macfarlane. who, with. Mr. C. E. Daniell, -the present chairman of the board, represents the Wairarapa combined districts. The other members of the board are Messrs. R. A. Wright, W. I. Ilildreth, W. Cable, and C. B. Norwood (representing the city), Messrs. J, W. M'Ewan and 11. \V. Welch (suburban districts), Messrs. J. G. C'obbe and M. Cohen (Manawatu), Mr. W. Wallis, and Captain C. M'Arthur (payers of dues on ships), and Mr, R, E. Sinclair (payers of dues other than dues on ships). The Customs revenue at the port of New Plymouth for March was JSS99S, compared with <83917 in March, 1918. The year's revenue was £56,323, as against .£48,415 in 1017-18.—Presa Assn. The following officers of the Welling, toil Typographical Union were recently 'elected unopposed :-President, Mr. T. Sheerin; vice-president. Mr; E. Stickttuyf 6ecretary-treftsurer> Jlr. C, H» Chapman j delegate to the New Zealand Federated Typographical Association, Mr. A. D. Robbie.

Captain W. A. Smith, of the brigantino. Aratapu, speaking of fust passages made by sailing craft, said that the famous barque Notero, which he commanded for some years, sailed from Fremantle to, Newcastle in nine days. This record has never befen beaten. The previous record was made by a GOO-ton barque which did tho trip in 13 days. The Notero on that voyage averaged 13 knots. On another occasion> the Notero sailed from Lyttelton to A uckland, wharf to. wharf, in three days five hours, which was a. most remarkable performance. On another occasion the Notero, still under the command of Cantain Smith, sailed from Auckland to Thursday Island in the fast tiine_of 1G dnjs She averaged 11J knots on that-voyage. Another notable sailing performance was thn.fc'of the barque Lake Erie, which, under the command of Captain Smith, sailed from Cape Town to Calcutta in 36 days, : and later v ri sailed from Calcutta to Lyttelton in liti days.

"Jane's Fighting Ships, 1918," gives information about the many new and powerful vessels added to'our Navy during the war. H.M.S. llood, of over 3000 tons displacement, with an estimated 6peed of more than SO knots, despite her "blister" or torpedo-proof hull, oildriven,, and armed with 15-iijch guns, is the most formidable battle-cruiser afloat; The much-discussed hush cruisers, Courageous and Glorious, are said to have turned out well in service, despite their structural defects, five of the new monitors of the- Earl cf Peterborough class, it is stated, were araed last autumn with. 18-ineh guns, mounted aft, for bombarding the Belgian const. The new sloops and destroyers are very numerous. The latest ifotilla-leaders displace over 1600 tons and carry five 4.7 inch guns, while the oidinary destroyers of the V. aind W. class displace over 1200 tons and carry, four 4-inch guns. K Z class was projected, if not under construction. Tho details of our new sul>marines are vague, but we are told that a submarine monitor armed with a 12inch gun was actually in'service, and that we had 22 submarine cruisers of the K clav. displacing 1700 tons on tho surface, 5: service before the enemy had begun to build one. H.M.S. Mackay, which had been specially designed (o act as a flotilla, leader, was recently launched at Cammell Laird's' shipbuilding yards at Birkenhead. It is one of a class of vessels comprising all the latest features of the last destroyer, with the added advantage of a cruiser. She lias a speed of 40 miles nn hour, carries five guns of heavy calibre, and engines of 40,000 horse power.

"The rotten character cf the Hun," said Mr. I'. W. Haybittlo, at the Wei* lington Bowling Club on Saturday even, ing, "was shown in a little incident that occurred at Bapaume. Three weeks after our troops took Bujiaume, the !; Mayor and a few priests went to tlie little Cathedral—not a big one—to hold a service of thanksgiving. They were in the middle of the service when a time-fuse bomb went off, the Mayor and all the rest of the party" "were. blown to atoms, and the churoh fell in. There Ms Bimply iiothing but a heap of ruins when I saw t'he place." ; .

At a meeting of tho executive of tho N.Z. federated Typographical Association, held on Saturday, it was decided, on the votes of tho Canterbury, Otogo, Southland, and Gisborne delegates, to giant permission to tho 1 Otago Union to approaoli the Court of Arbitration for a variation of the recent agreement. The Wellington' and Auckland delogates refusedl to take part in" the proceedings, claiming that those members of tho Wellington Typographical Union representing Canterbury, Otago, and Southland,who were concerned in the settlement of the, recent dispute, should have resigned in obedience to a resolution of the Wellington Union, carried by a laiige majority of ten to one. This course the. delegates mentioned to take, claiming the fright to direct tho business of the association until their appointments as delegates of the unions mention-, ed were cancelled by these unions. Mr' A. D. Bobbie, representing Wellington! and Mr. A. T. Car tor, representing Auckland, thereupon intimated that they would: take no aotivo part in the proceedings of the executive which would be regarded by their unions-, as invalid until the other members produced evidence of the continued confidence' of their unions, amkremained' passive witnessed of the further proceeding's.

A stack .containing about ten tons of oatshe'af, a portion of a stock of wheat estimated to yield 90 1 bushels, and a large stack of hay harvested from eight acres were destroyed by firo on the farm of Mr. G. Bevington, at Rangiona, last week. Messrs. Todd Bros, wore engaged thrashing the whe&b when from soma unexplained cause a fire broke out under the . combine,. and, fanned by the gtiif nor'-wester blowing at the time, took a strong hold in' a few'minutes. /The combine was hauled out of danger with no further damage than a scorching,' but nothing.could be done to save the stacks. At one o'clock in the afternoon. the combine was observed to be on fire, and the mill hands quickly got to work and apparently successfully dealt with the . Three hour.4 later, however, the machine again burst into flames, and, despite every effort jmade to extinguish the fire, the combine was, completely destroyed. Mr. Bering- ' ton had no insurance, but'thcre was a small policy on the combine.—Auckland | "Hcyald."

Mr. H. C. Lane, secretary' of tho Canterbury Education Board, lias sent a circular to all school committees and headmasters enclosing a memorandum from the Education .Department' suggesting .(hat hot lunches should be provided foi! children attending schools from a distance. He recommends that the sugges-} tion. should bo brought before of householders next month. . "In country districts, where the facilities afford-* ed by cookery rooms are generally nonexistent," Mr. Lane says, "tho lunches must of necessity take a simple form. The provision of hot tea, cocoa, or milk, however, and oven-of hot soup in somo eases, should be practicable. Tho board, therefore, trust fliat in the interests of the children who live a long way from 6chool, committees and head teachers will be able to, secure the coopnration and support of the parents in introducing some such system as is outlined in the Department's .letter.''

Easter will soon be here. See our lnt'Se variety in suit cases. All eizea from Ss. Gil. to Sis. Gd., at Geo. Fowlds, ' Ltd., Manners Street.—Advt. There is a decided shortage in woollen underwear, and Iho position is not likely to bo relieved for some considerable time. Therefore do not hesitate any longer making your purchases. We are Showing the finest selection of underwear -i in the city, and would draw special attention to our Jnegor underwear for men < and women. Satisfy your needs now. > Davis and Clater, 21G Lambton Quay/ '■ Wellington.—Aavt. '.j Ladies, do not wear out your beautiful summer clothe? on the old antiquated washboard. Let "NO RUBBING" Laun- ' dry Help and "GOLDEN RULE" Scsj do. the work and oblige, Wellington £S2> : erg,—Advt,