LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 164, 5 April 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

■ When the matter of the long-deferred purchase of a municipal motor ninbulanco was before the City Council on Thursday evening, Councillor A. Veitch suggested that a garage for the' ambulance should ho provided first. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said they would soon find a place for it, once they litid the ambulance. It is now between three and four years since (he City Council began to promise itself a motor ambulance.

Proof of tho great "come back" of the sailing vessel is shown by the fact that there are at the present lime no fewer than eleven ocean-going sailers in Wellington Harbour. These comprise two full-rigged ships, three barques, four four-masted schooners, one four-masted barquentiiie, and one three-masted barquentine. Of these three are British, seven arc American, and one Swedish.

A farmer near Levin was much puzzled by recurrent outbreaks of a violent skin irritation among (he members of his household. The trouble has now been traced to a climbing plant that lie was carefully cultivating, under the delusion that it was a Virginia creeper. Tho plant has now been identified as the Californiau poison vine (Hints toxicodendron). Contact with the leaves produces a form of irritation ttmietiines like eczema and sometimes like erysipelas.

A poor opinion of many of tho housewives of Dunedin was expressed by the JKcv. V. G. B_. King in giving evidence before the Influenza Commission (says the "Otago Daily Times"). Mr. King was asked if anything was being done in the way of instructing the housewives of the city in matters of hygiene and the care of the home generally. "There are very few housewives in the present generation, as a matter of fact," ho replied. "Hygienic instruction might be possible, but the only way to impart it would be to have special films inserted at the picture shows, unawares. It would have to be unawares, for if they knew that anything of an instructional nature was to lie shown .they would not attend." ' "Do you find widespread ignorance among housewives in the matter of attending to the sick,, etc.?" asked Mr. D. M'Laren. "The vast mass of thb people are very ignorant on this subject," replied Mr. King, "and as to fresh air, they hate and abhor it. It is a rare thing to see a window open in certain quarters of Dunedin, and when a window is open, it is only an inch or two at (he outside. These housewives have no idea of nursing or cooking. They leave school at an early age, and go straight into 6hops or factories. They spend their evenings at places of amusement or promenading the park or bush. Then they marry, and when a child conies, and 'contracts some ailment, they have no knowledge of how to deal with it." ■

A correspondent lias written asking about the supposed decision of the Government to cancel tho usual St. George's Day holiday for !he Public Service. What tlio Government has done is to decree that the holiday, which should proudly bo observed on April 23, is to be observed on April 23, Anzne Day. This uas done last year.

Captain Sergeant, a (ally clerk for (ho Union Steam Ship Company, who was working at tho M'oana, was last night struck by a piece of timber that fell from a sling, and received a wound on the head. Dr. Hyde, of tho Jloana, attended to liiin, and ho was able to go to his home.

Tho City Council has denied liability in connection with a claim for payment of expenses in repairing a horse-van alleged to have been damaged through collision witli a tramcar in Adelaide Koad.

Tho prospects of five soldier-settlers at Tuataperc ■ were particularly bright up to a year ago (says the fnvcrcargill correspondent of tho "Otago Daily Times"), but a disease that has not yet bcou diagnosed, despite the efforts of veterinary experts, has broken out amongst their cattle, one man having lost over (iO head. The War I'uml Association has taken tile matter up, and has been advised that the Director-General <.i Agriculture will depute an experienced officer to,take the best action possible to relievo the soldiers' hardships.

"What's in an ice-cream? Hero is one recipe as given in thn Police Court (says the "Otago Daily Times"): lj gallons of milk, 5 pints of cream, 31b. of sugar, 20 yolks of eggs, and 3oz. of vanilla. It would surprise most people, however, to learn that (hero are hundreds, of retipes, so that the cooling ice-cream may have many other things besides ice anil cream in it.

A. returned soldier at present in temporary clerical employment in a Government Department, in a letter to tho .Ucpatrintion Board, staled that ho had not been informed that if he could not pass tho Civil Service eiitntnco examination he would be discharged (states, tho "Lyttelton Times"). Ho submitted (hat as it was very difficult for a returned man to get back to his schooling days itwould be as well if tho entrance examination in the caso- of soldiers gave way to a departmental examination on ordinary clerical qualifications. Tho board took a sympathetic view of the matter, and referred it to the Education Committee.

The Wellington City Council passed tho following .resolution at Thursday's meeting :—"That the council join with the Pnlmerston North Borough Council in forwarding tho following resolution to the, 'Minister of .Agriculture, wilh the object of encouraging the slaughtering and inspection of pigs at public abattoirs:— 'Thai, as a, further-inducement to have pigs killed at .public abattoirs, all councils be' requested to make representations to tho Minister of Agriculture to increase the compensation for condemned animals from '.'d. per lb., as now paid, to 50 per cent, of tho value of the pigs."'

Two of tho slolen and forged National Bank one-pound notes havo been delected in Cliristehureh, and it is feared that (i systematic allempt is being made lo put them into circulation. A bundle of unsigned notes was slolen from a vessel' in Wellington on which they wero consigned to tho bank, but tho thieves forged signatures to tho notes and dated them "Ist January, 1018," and no notes of that dalo have been issued by tho bank.—Press Assn.

At tho Diineiliu Supremo Court yesterday .lolm Watson and Pearl Watson were charged with making a false declaration under the Marriago Act. The male accused was ordered to pay the costs of I lie proceedings, 505., in instalments of 10s. a man tit. The female accused was discharged.—Press Assn.

■the Minister of Marina (the Jlon. TV M. Wilt'oril) met the hoys of the train* ins-ship Amukuru yesterday al'teriiuon. He had been invited to present to the Ji'imiqrs of thein (lie medals iireseiitcd to the Ivlo leading boys of tho year for good work and goud conduct. ]'t is the custom of the Department of Marine to tnweiil a gold and a silver medal eaeli year for lirst and second prize. 11 happened that the medals for 1918 and l!ll!) had to be presented, and also that both ol (lie winners of the gold medals were not available, being out .of Wellington en sea scr\icv. J| r . Wili'ord presented n-eUnls to John Mithcson, winner of the 191!> silver medal, and Lawrence- Uawljiiis. winner of tlie ]!)li) silver medal. Jhe gold medallists were L. Knuclielle (11118) and Frank (.iikun (11)19). !|r„ lianisdale. in riiminaml of the ship, informed Hie Minister that during tho past year Ihe conduct, of Hie boys had I:ten extremely good. _ Jlr. Wilfofd eniil (hat he was delighted' to hear thai, the conduct of tile boys had been so good, and he wished to congratulate the boys en their good record. . He said that the training of boys tor the mercantile marine was most important, and if it should ever happen that we should be a naval lower of any kind, and recruits wore needed for the serriee, the boys who bad been trained on the Amokura, would have a big advantage, over all others applying, lie spoke of the possibilities of submarines and hydroplanes being used ehiettv for the defence of the coast ol Neu- Zealand, and Jia intended to seo wlmt could be done in the way of teaching the boys something about submarines and liieir engines, and parts. Ho spoke to, the boys also about esprit do corps, urging them to be proud of their ship, which, though old. had a very interesting history in tho lioyal Navy. At the call of the Miuistcr cheers were given for the medallists, and tho boya fang "For They Are .lolly Good Fellows." Mr. Barnsdale called for cheers for the Minister, and these cheers, 100, were given heartily.

Now thai the war is over ami (he soldiers are returning.' ono would expect a marriage boom, hut judging by the figures at.the office of the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages iu Christehureh, the returning men are not rushing inlu matrimony immediately, upon their arrival home (says tho "Press"). The first clear month .after the signing of the Armistice was December, when OS marriages wero solemnised in Christen urch, as agaiust S7 in tho corresponding month of tho previous year. Possibly tho influenza epidemic was largely responsible for the decrease in what is generally a popular month for marriages, for in January there wero 59 weddings, as against 48 in January, 1918, and in February there were G4, as against 40 in February, 1918. Last month, however, tho comparison was reversed, for there were .but 75,' os against 84 during (he corresponding period of last year.

A Press Association telegram from Tcnmaruriui states that Mr. It-. Semple has 6ont the following telegram to the. Minister of Defence: "Kfiturned soldiers Imvo brought under my notice a ticket issued by your Department . debarring them from the use of the same during holiday periods, to which they take great exception. I fail to see any justifiable grounds for your Department in making such discrimination between soldiers and civilians. I therefore urgo your Government to Temove this unwarranted restriction and give the soldier the r-ght to use his ticket during the holidays, and thereby enjoy the same privileges, as civilians."

Accordiug to a Press Association message tho Auckland Savings Dank Trustees have decided to invest .£70,000 in the Government war loau, mulling the tolal in Government securities held by the bank

An important statement with regard to the supervision of harbour works was made by (he Minister of Marine (tho Hon. T. M. Wilford), when speaking to the Wairoa Harbour Board and tho members of local bodies. With reference to the harbours of Ivew Zealand and the contemplated expenditure on harbour works, running in one case into many million pounds, tho Minister said that, in his opinion, the time had arrived when a marine' engineer devoting the whole of his time to harbour work alono should be obtained by the Government, and attached to the Marine Department, While frankly admitting the ability of (lie Public "Works ' engineers, Messrs. Holmes and Furkert, who were always, when available, lent by the Marine Department, he felt that in the near fuime no engineer from the Public "Works Department would have any spare time for marine work. There was plenty to do for a marine engineer in the dozens of harbour problems which wero constantly arising, and ho believed, in connection with the appointment of a marine engineer, that the general law should be altered to provide for tho stricter supervision of the carrying out of local works by harbour boards by a competent. Government engineer attached to the Marine Department. "I do not want to hold the mistakes that have been made .by harbour boards constantly before those "boards." said the' Minister, "but I feel suro that tho expenditure 1 of over ,£70,000 by ono board recently contrary to the approved plans of tho Public AYorks Engineer,! acting for tho Marine Department, contributed largely to the loss of that sum."

Seventeen Hi ml us were landed at Wellington yesterday by the Mauuku from Sydney.

Judgment was given bv Mr. W. G. 3iid> dell. S.Jf., at the Magistrate's Court yesferdav in the case in. which William Liiigard, estato agent, of Wellington) claimed front Ernest lladley, builder| of Brooklyn, tho Mini of £32 10s. for commission on the sale of two houses. On behalf of plaintiff it wa.s stated that defendant placed certain properties in Lingard's hands for sale. Plaintiff had introduced a Mr. Jlunn lo the defend-i-nt. with the result that a farm and certain properties in Wellington wei'B exchanged. There was no dispute a<7 to tho conimisison on tho first houses disposed of, but later on two more houses were sold. For tho. defence il vas denied that, any authority had been itiven to Linganl tu. sell (he houses, His Worship nonsuited plaintiff on tho wound that he had not proved (hat the two properties sold subsequent to Ilia exchange, of (he. other, pvopartics wen* within the authority to sell given him bv the defendant. A(; (ho hearing MY. Douglas Jackson appea,r?d for plantar], and Mr. T. W. Hislop for defend'ant.

Reserved decision was given by Mr. I-' V. Frasicr, -S.il., yesterday in tho in which ,1. .11. Tiller, licensee o£ thn Brunswick Hold, was charged willv haviug sold liquor after tho ordinary hour of closing on January 3), niid with having exposed liquor for sale. When the case- was hoard it was show;) that at 8.35 p.m. on the. date in question, the noliec visited tho lintel and found that the barman was behind tho bar, and I here were Ihtw men in Iho bar who had been tyi-ved with liquor. The licensee was absent from the premise.' attending a. meeting of the-Licensed Victuallers' .Association, but prior, to going out ho instructed tho barman that on nil account was any liquor to bi> sold. ( Tho question arose, whether, in the. circumstances, (ho licensee could be convicted for his barman's act. In view of a decision given by ill'. Justice Sim in a case of a similar nature heard at hniaru. Id's Worship did not Hi ink tho licensee could.be convicted, as ho was in no way a party to the sale. Both charges were dismissed.

The Waterside Workers' Band will play selections at Newtown Park tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Easier will soon be here. Pee our large variety in suit cases. All sizes frojn Bs. 6d. to 975. Cd., at Geo. lowlds, Ltd., Manners Street.—Advl. SIMPLE IDEAS ARE PAID FOR. There's money in that '.dea. That, littlo time-saving device you "mado yourself!"' There may be lots of money in it. Fortunes have been made out of very simplo ideas. But there's such a thing as being forestalled—as many a man lias found out to lu6 loss. To-day is the timo to act—do 6o! Get our frco book, "Advice to Inventors.' - —Henry Hughes, Ltd., Patent Agents, 157 Fc* thenston Street, W«Uin*ton.-.AdTt,

At the Port Chalmers Police Court yesterday AA r illi am Jones pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully petting tiro to tho pavilion of the local Recreation- Ground, nnd was committed to tho Supremo Court for sentence—Press As3n.. A mceling of members of the old Wellington Naval Artillery Company, convened for tho purpose of arranging for a reception of Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson, was held last evening, Peit.v Officer Rabo presiding. After some discussion it was agreed, on the motion of Petty Officer Martin, seconded by Major Andrews, that a reunion of old' navals bo held after tho officiat reception. It was also decided to arrange tor an nil-, dress of welcome, which will be signed by all old members of the companv. The following committee was set up. to" make the necessary arrangements:—Major Andrews and Messrs. Itabc, Alexander, Martin., Spark, Stevens, Briiullc, Btirge, Burgess, Anion, and Broouihill. It- is understood that Councillors J. Brasell. S. Clendon, AV: Ken\ and J. AV. M'Dougall will not be seeking re-election to the Lower Hult Borough Council. So far the only new candidate definitely announced -is Mr. AV. B. Hardy. Other names mentioned are thoso of Mr. Hugh Lowe and ex-Councillor J. Ball. Councillors D. M'Kenzie and J. M'Dougall nre unlikely to seek 'c-election far the Petone borough. ■ ■ An Auckland Press Association telegram states that the Suburban Local Bodies' "Labourers' Union, dissalisfied with tho decision of tho Arbitration Court, in granting only 5 per cent, increase in. wages, has resolved to. cancel its' registration under tho Arbitration Act and join the Federation of Labour. Tho City Council has consented to the establishment 1 of a new taxi-cab stand in Clyde Quay, opposito tho AVentworth Private Hotel and Gas Company's .fitting shop. A meeting-of. the Athletic Rugby League Football Club was to have been held- last evening, but had to be postponed because of tho small attendance.