LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 175, 19 April 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

— r The transport Kaikoura, with returning troops im/board, is to berth at the King's Wharf at 7.30-o'clock Ibis morning. The local Returned Soldiers' Club will be open throughout the day, where soldiers will be received by a committee of ladies, who-ivill provide light refreshments. A slight shock, of earthquake was felt at 10.57 on Thursday evening. A. Press Association cable message received 1 last evening ' states that tbo Pakeha has left London foi' New Zealand with 150(1 troops oii board. ,I'he Secretary, General Post. Office, l:-as been advised that from November 35, IUIH, Greenwich time has. been adopted as legal lime i" the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg.

• ' Arrangements have been made by Sir Joseph Ward, Postmaster-General, witli the British Past Office authorities to make use of the ships conveying our troops back to New Zealand to carry n.ail matter in cases where a quicker dispatch can be made than by the San Francisco or .Vancouver routes. The use of troopships in this way will no doubt bo mucn appreciated by'the people of the .Dominion. The Westmoreland was the first troopship to -bring "a mail under theso conditions.

The Secretary, General Post Office, lias been advised that legal lime has been advanced one hour i.ii Spain from April 0 io October-li. . -

Through jumping off a motor-bus whilst in'motion, a young-win named Arnold Ackroyd sustained a fracture .of the left arm', 'it is stated that ackroyd and fourteen others had been cut; jiicni'cing, and were 'returning to .'-'etone, via Constable Street, late Yesterday afternoon, when the motor-bus in which they were travelling behaved .in' such a manlier that with the exception of the driver the whole of the party jumped oft' the bus, and,' while the majority were shaken, Ackroyd and Iwo others received cuts and bruise's which required medical attention. Ackroyd. who lives at Cuba Street, I'elone, was admitted to" tbc Hospital at 545 p.m.,' hut the others were allowed to proceed to''their homes al'ter'haviug their injuries dressed. The (iriver brought (ho bus to a standstill soon after the passengers had deserted it.

The Slaver (Mr. .1. I'. Luke) at Thursday's meeting toojc occasion to thank members of the City Council for the able and conscientious manner in which.they had worked with hinv throughout the last (wo years. It might appear from Hie outside, said Miv Luke, that there were differences, but, when examined, those differences were found to be very slight and trivial. He also tendered his (hanks to the officers ol' the council and the einplovces generally, also to the Press for the able manner in \\-liicli the, proceedings of the council >vere reported. To iinake assurance double sure the firm of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., sent Dr. It'Yitty, of Svdncv, over to Wellington with the lioval Comic Oliera t'onipany, in order to be prepared for any eventuality on the voyage or whilst" in (iuarantine. -Dr.' Jf'Vitty is ' •returning jo Sydney, by the Jiiverina.

The City Council has approved the purchase of a Monroe two-seater car from Inglis and .l.uriss for «EiM,l'or the use of the Assistant City Lngincer when visiting the outlying dUricts. 1 lie .Mo-tor-Car Purchase Committee has recommended that the - council consider Ihe advisableness of dispensing with most of its cars at present in use. as soon as an opportunity presents itself with a view to standardising the corporation cars. The City Council decided on Thursday (hat (he island Bay .Municipal Klect.vs Association be informed 111 veplv 10 their rawest for the erection ot a boat shed on the Island Bay beach that the proposal will be submitted to the incoming council for the purpose of giving eflect to same logether with 'other improvements on the Island J3ay beach, in 11 comprehensive manner, although tlio piojjosnls may involve ilic uspciidituic ot loan inouey.

"It should bo noted; I think,** said Councillor W". Jl. Ucnuetl at:.Tluißsilw's meeting of the.Cil.y Council, "lhat the Wiidestown School is tho only school, in Wellington not in" receipt of books from the Wellington I'rec Public Library. They carefully'returned Ihe hooks unpacked which aro offered-'them "free for distribution."

It was announced lo the City Council on Thursday that the. following letter had been received by the 7,00 curator retelling to n visit lo the Wellington Zoo by the writer early in rcbruiiry.—"Australian Jlnseuin, College Street, Sydney, March 'H, 191(1. l)ear Sir,-As a professional zoologist and especially as a trustee-of the Sydney Zoological Gardens,' 1 was much interested in the small mil: well-arranged Zoological Ciurdcns at W ei- i lington. 1 had intended to wrde earlier and thank you for the pleasant morning ] .spent there in your compnnv, but after leaving youl was so harassed by troubles incidental to opuloiuit' and j ciuaranline thai 1 oniitlcd to do so. Allow me now lo express my appreciation of the institution under your .control, ill spite of the harsh'climate of Wellington. 'I noticed that (lie animals irerc breeding-freely.' The young lions. Inur, and rliosus monkeys.that you have reared are a pleasure to, see ami are proofs of sympathetic and intelligent adminis--1 ration.' The enclosures are suited to the welfare of their occupants and. are skilfullv and tastefully arranged.. Ili.ero are several details in which, your gardens" improve oil the practise, of tjie laige and expensive, gardens of Swlnev and Melbourne. Especially dii 1 comnliment you on economical management. 11 dilferenl capacities, 1. am connected, vyjti three large scientific institutions which each spend many thousands a year, 1; was ft surprise to me how nnicli you had contrived'to do. on so'sniall an incoine. I (rust that when you are next in \\d U" you will not forget your promise to call on me-here. Sincerely- youis, (Sgd.) Charles Hedley. The Public Health Committee of . the City Council reported as follows to Thursday's meeting:— that. they liaie received" from the Public Health Committee ■ reports. from the City l ngmeer and Chief Sanitary Inspector on.the tori dition of the Zoo slaughterhouse and e report, has been referred back to, i lie City Engineer for the PH W "h 1 " ' in a a comprehensive report • fioin nnn generally on the water .supply, drainage and the alterations required, at me slaughterhouse, and. in the meantime,, the committee will visit thei Zoo■ «ith li e Pih' 15n«* neer in order to make men 0$ investigations." The • report was adopted. > • ... . Oh Thursday-the City Com.cil d«id«l: "That an agent be informed th.rt He council will he prepared to grniii lu» principals a lease in perpetnil, n h icliewal periods.'of 21. years, ol at the corner of' F.eatherslon and Biandon Streets, at a ground rental of .l-MJ per milium, and .(hat payment will venuire to he made to the conneiHoi. ,lh ■value of the existing buildings, . \ letter has been received from, the Vellingloii Harbour Board tlra>ynitf the attention of the City Council to lie fact that sand was being. rempyed with* out: a permit from the beach M, Ua> s Bav. With a view to checking such I action Mr;, Heatlr :(of the Eastbourne ! Borough Council) "had heen eiealed .i board official, and .the hoard songl t 1 -he co-operation' of' the' t.ity , (.ouncil ». '-"S; I ioilkn in preventing further niteifXe S'the motion of. Councillor A. : \e kh it was - resolved, to co-operate, .Willi the hoard in the mutter. . -

'The sanitary' department.- ot the Gi ,v. Council tins been instructed to-abate the rat nuisance ,iu Jnm lin G" l s fl c urgent wish of residents in tli.it loc.tlnj. The officer at present jn charge- as Medical Inspector of .Schools is Dr.. Ada Patterson:- ami not Br. .Bennett, as «as stated' in our issue ot I liursdny. Ui . Bennett is away trom >.ew Zealand oil militai'v duties. English .and American .mails', the firstmentioned a heavy one, ;:ro. on boardl the steamer l'alouna, which ivih reach \\ellinglim on Friday next from, ban I<raiicisco. On Thursday (says a Press Association telegram fVom llotorua.) the ActingPremier (Sir .Tames. Allen) "P e,ie( Y.M.C.A.'"lint'' at Georee the iiltli Hospital, in. the' presence of a, large gat lien ii". -Whakane Hik'rtinro, chairman ot the Maori Patriotic Association, handed in 4:so'for beautifying the grounds an<rmaking tennis and croquet lawns. An intimation has been received by I lie Dunedin City Council .from the Public Works Department. Wellington, that it is.proposed that.thet.cw tramway regulations which were prepared prior to the war but suspended for the: time being, should he liiiide to lake effect as from January 1 next. In order to conipy with the regulations, a very Urge audition will,need to lie made to. (lie carryj ing capacity of Jlie tramway system, ami in order that no time should be lost, instructions have :been given to invite tenders 'at once for the new cars necessary to enable the service being -maintained. In the meantime the .Tramways-Commit, tee has given instructions for the town clerk to endeavour- 10 «irange 1 a..confer-ence-of all tramway authorities in the Doniinion for the. purpose of discussing the new regulations and coming to some decision in respect thereto. The Public AVorks Department is also, being communicated with - on the subject, and a.Mvcd to extend the time' in" which the alterations are.to.be made to.existing rolling stock. ' '

The Presbyterian-' Kyiiod of Otago and Southland lias sanctioned.the appointment of a chaplain to work among the relumed soldiers in Otago. The appointment. is for one 'year,' and the stipend was fixed.at not less than ,1:3(10. exclusive of house allowances aiid travellitw expenses. The motion was brought before Synod on Wednesday by' t he Hpv'. A. fi'rav, who now in his capacity as a'chaplain'holds the rank of lieuteuant-colonel.

It was decided atTliursday's meeting of the.-.City Council that- the imtyic-■ convenience at Conrteliay Place- tramway stopping place he remodelled on modern lines at the,earliest -possible date; This means that the council intends to. provide a senH-undergi'O'.ind lavatory at ilie smiction of Cour.lenay-.Place.-Cambridge Terrace, and' Clyde Uuay.'similar in-'form to tliose at J lie foot of- Taraimki ..Street and on lambtoii Quay.-:

Ground fees'to the amount'of. ,£47 have been remitted in the case of the Wellington T''ootbnll Association owing to. special circumstances arising- out of the war.

■Repudiation bv Hie Minister of Public Health of liability for- the payment of. food relief accounts, amounting to, iCSI7 17sl Sd., incurred by the Auckland Hospital Board during the i nideinic.' caused surprise at a meeting of the hoard this week. The secretary staled that the' letter from the Minister'hiul been received only that liioriiiuz, and he had iinniedialeiy telegraphed to the chnirman of t he board. Mr. W." Wallace, and Mr. ,T. Howe, who were in' Wellington, to interview the MinUter regarding the matter. • The action of 'Hip" secretary was endorsed, and it was resolved to 'communicate further with the chairman and Mr. Howe, and request them to press the Health Department for payment of the accounts.

TKe Outlying Districts Committee re. ported to Hie ("if.y Council on Thursday that it had passed a- vole of, (hanks to Councillor M'Kenzie, chairman of tlio committee. for thl- excellent manner-in which lie had tarried <,ut the duties of chairman during the• past -two years;.for his wise guidance of end loyalty, to tlio committee; and also expressing'the sincere hope that he would return to tlio council to further continue his administration of municipal "IVairs in the outlying districts of tlio city. Advice received in Wellington during Ihe week showed that" (lie Exchange 011 the United States had improved, telegraphic transfers. New York London, being now quoted at. dollars, against t.50 dollars a few days i\go. The Tramways .Military Hand will play selections at (lie Botanical Gardens 011 Sunday afternoon. '