LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 195, 13 May 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Paparoa, with Returning Draft No. 246 on board, is expected to reach Wellington on or about May 24.

At a recent meeting of limbless men held at the Returned Soldiers' Club-rooms tho lack of consideration received by maimed men whilst travelling on trams was again stressed. The men complained not so much of tho discomfort as the liability to accident when they could not obtain a seat. It was agreed that boys, especially college boys, were tho first to perceive their plight and offer thorn scats. Tram conductors, girls, and womenfolk generally were considerate, but the average adult male, however, preferred to place his own comfort boforo tho risk to tho disabled man. Tho association has under consideration tbo issue of a distinctive badge for these mon, nnd it may also bo.necessary to ask tho corporation to have the trams, placarded, drawing tho attention of passengers to their obvious duty to maimed men.

A striking exhibit was produced at yesterday's meeting of men and women who had served as special sanitary inspectors (hiring the influenza epidemic. It was a toa-towel with a notable rocord. The person who brought it to light Enid thai, it had como from a city restaurant, and in that restaurant it -had wiped "clean" 150 plates, .150 cups and saucers, 150 knives, 150 forks, ,150 largo spoons, and 150 d«sert spoons. Tho appearance of the rag boro out tho accusations made against it.

What the embargo on passenger traffic from Australia means lias been fully experienced by Lieutenant C. E. L. Alderton, R.N.V.R., of Auckland, who is now stranded in Melbourne. Ho left Malta for Alexandra in a destroyer as no troopship was passing that way. He travelled by another destroyer down to Aden, and there picked up an Admiralty, tramp going to Albany. By way of incident the ship struck u cyclone and the bunkers were on firo for three days. Arrived at Albany tho ship was quarantined. Subsequently she sailed for Melbourne, but put into Port Spencer. Lieutenant Alderton had then to lcavo tho ship and taken 'a motor-car to Adelaide. He wa* again quarantined, and after seven daysdetention left for Melbourne. There lib booked a passage for Wellington, but the vessel abandoned the trip, and he is again quarantined.

The Rev. Gray Dixon, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, is at present paying an official visit to Wangamii, states a Press Association telegram. Speaking at a welcome gathering, the Moderator declared that ho appeared among them in tho interests of unity, and file historic continuity of the Church. It was very strange that tho sister national Church of the Empire, tho Anglican Communion, for which they had all respect, and with which, as with, every- branch of one catholic church, they desired the fullest co-operation, should so studiously ignore their historic and uational position. The Anglicans spoke of them as Nonconformists, but members of the Church of Scotland were not Nonconformists. As a matter of fact they would make themselves Nonconformists by 'joining the Church of England, whose places of worship were in the Scottish. Statute Book designated as "Episcopalian meet-ing-houses.'" .Surely it was possible for English and Scottish churchmen to cordially recognise one auother. The Scottish Churchman, with his broader outlook, was amazed at the pathetic spectacle of the English churchman solemnly shaking their heads over supposed difficulties in tho way of united worship with Christians who held tho same essential catholic faith. They seemed to share tho spirit of the Highland chief who. calling upon Governor M'Nab, of Canada, left his card with the superscription "The M'Nah." Returning tlio call the Governor left a card with the designation on it in largo characters "The Other M'Nab." Especially in these'times of cnlightment it liehoved every church to remember that there was more than one M'Nab in the world.

Tho hew Chief Electrical Engineer of the Public Works Department (Mr. Lawrenqo jßkks) stated in Feilding that everything possible was being dono to push on tho Mangahao power scheme. Rome men were on the site already, and he expected that within a few weeks the necessary roadwork would bo completed. Then the Department would bo a'ble to begin the dams and tunnels.

Thfi Merchant Service Guild met. yesterday morning in connection with tho peace' celebrations anil seamen. Captain Mncindoe (secretary) was instructed to write to tho shipowners, asking what is their intention regarding the great occasion with respect to the members of the guild. Nothing definite has yet been decided with regard to tho celebrations.

The remits to be submitted to the annual conference of the New Zealand lletiirned Soldiers' Association, commencing on May 20, will be discussed at the meeting of the local association to be held in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, tomorrow night at 7.30. o'clock. The subjects of the remits practically cover all problems affecting returned soldiers, and a record attendance is anticipated. Briga-dier-General Richardson, who hag another engagement later, will attend the meeting at 7.30 p.m.

Though it is understood that the Wellington tramwaymeu linvo consented, in return for certain concessions, to continue the tramway service during the peace celebrations, tho arrangementa have yet to be ratified by a meeting of the City Council.

A southern paper recently stated that tho Mayor of Christcburch proposed to purchase from tho military authorities cheap supplies of surplus blankets for tho benefit of the poor. A Dominion representative yesterday inquired of tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. J>. Luke,) whether the example might not advantageously bo followed in this city. Mr. Luke replied that the relief of tho poor was in the hands of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and (hat in his opinion it would be inadvisable for the City Council to usurp in any way the functions of the board. • The board had all tho staff that was necessary to investigate applications for relief, and the City Council had not. Therefore he did not favour the Christchurch. scheme at all.

The New Zealand Miners' Federation is at present holding its annual conference in the Trades Hall, Vivian Street. Mr. P. O'Rourke .(national president) is in the chair. The Press is not admitted to the sessions.

The annual meeting of the members of the Wellington Officers' Institute will bo held on Friday in the lecture room, Garrison Hail, Members will. have- an opportunity of welcoming BrigadierGeneral G. S. Richardson, C.8., C.M.G., who has expressed his intention of being present.

No work was done yesterday by the .local watorsidcrs on the Federal-Shire steamer Northumberland, berthed at the Kiug's Wharf. From the'attitude of tho men it appears that they disregard tho statement of the Public Health Department thai; tho ship is clear of disease. The Northumberland arrived, on Friday afternoon from Liverpool, anil the civilian and military doctors who boarded her issued a certificate declaring tho vessel to be free from serious or infectious disease. Eight cases of typhoid' fever (six members of the crew and two soldiers) have been admitted to the hospital from the ship, and in consequence of this the Waterside Workers' Union have declined engagement to unload the enrso in her holds until Wednesday—four whole days after arrival. Tho vessel has been fumigated in the usual way,

It was a Ministerial instruction as far as possible, where permanent appointments could be given, they should lx> given to returned soldiers, said Sir James Allen to a Dunedin deputation, referring to tho employment of returned soldiers in the Defence Department. In Tegard to the permanent staff of the Defence Department, if they had not done anything iu Tegard to changes thero up till now, the reason was—and he believed it a sound policy—that they were awaiting the arrirtil of Genwal Russell and General Richardson and some of the other senior officers from the front before they dealt with permanent 6taff appointments. He hoped that after a conference with those officers they would be able to niako the permanent staff of the Defence Department tho very best possiblo for the Dominion. Major-General Sir Alfred Robin was .just as anxious .as he was to' give every facility possiblo to returned men; but they did not. wish to mislead them by putting them into positions that were only temporary.

Tho Vicnr of Milford Haven, the Rev. Edmund J. Howells, is appealing for subscriptions for a memorial to the late Lieutenant-Commander Sanders, V.C., whose ship was based at the port. "It is proposed to place in the parish church of Milford Haven a worthy memorial of this fine seaman's noble life and still more noble death," writes the vicar. "It will take the form of a carved reredos, on which will be inscribed his name and the record of bis deeds, as well as tho names of the crew who perished with him. It seems fitting that a memorial fihould bo placed in this town, from the port of which Lieutenant-Commander Sanders sailed on his last voyage, and particularly in the church, the foundation stone of which was laid'by another great naval hero—Lord Nelson—in 180/, when on n, visit to Milford Haven after tho Battle of the Nile."

The Auckland "Star" has the following by way of supplement to. an article upon tho passing of tho "Blnck Maria": The origin of tlio name "Black Maria" goes back many years ago' to Portsmouth. Thoro was a'nogress living in that town called "Black Maria." She was Gft. Sin. in height, and weighed closo on "Ost. When the "runners," as tho thief takers were called in those days, wanted tjj catch a man thoy engaged "Black Maria" to assist them, as she was in touch with tho underworld of Portsmouth. She was so strong tl/at once sho got herhauds on a man he had no chauce of-escape. By and by the vehicles in which her prisoners were carried to gaol wore also called "Black Maria," and tho name has thud been transported across to various portions of the British Empire.

Tho signing of the armistice checked the development of a new industry in Christcluirch. A syndicate, taking advantage of Hie cheap and abundant electricity available from the Lake Coleridge power station, planned to manufacture carbide of the kind used for lighting purposes. The war had sent tho price of carbide soaring, and experiments had shown that the article could be produced successfully in this country; But when the war ended the price of carbide in America fell quickly. Importations at reduced prices became possible and the syndicate decided not to proceed.

Mr. T. A.'Wolls/oil and paper merchant, Manners Street, has donated tho sum of £~a ss. towards tho firemen's iccroation fumd, in recognition of tho brigade's work at the fire at his premises on April 25.'

Tho Main Trunk passenger traffic from Auckland was exceptionally heavy during last week. The express which left for tho south on Friday evening carried over 450 passengers. The train.comprised eleven carriages, two sleeping-cars, postal van, and two luggage vans.—"N.2. Herald."

Accommodation in Hamilton ie very difficult to obtain at present (says an .Auckland paper), and except at hotels, where permanent board is not required, it is almost impossible for visitors to find lodging/ Tho boardinghousos are filled, and people who want board and lodging witli private families are unable to obtain it. So acute has the position become that instances haye occurred or persons offering to take up domestic duties in order to have u roof over them.

Tho yellow flowered rata is of extremely rave occurrence in New Zealand, and a report that some lino specimens had been discovered in the Waitukere ranges naturally arouses much interest (says the Auckland "Herald"). There seams, however, to be some doubt whether these are genuine yellows. Mr. T. V. Cheesoman says he has seen about a dozen, yellow rata They are seen only occasionally, hardly more than ono or two specimens in a clump, and perhaps twenty specimens liavu been observed. People are accustomed to see the ordinary crimson flowered variety, and are rather surprised to see yellow flowers, which may be simply an abnormal colour of tho flower of a tree not different in other respects from tho ordinary autumn flowering rata.

Olio of the most enjoyable trips in the North Island is tho one via Otaki Gorge (o "Table Top" and Mr. Dennau.. . Tho scemu'v ranks among the best in New Zealand, the going is easy, ami the distance from Otaki and back may be done (Miinfoi'tablv in one day. On Sunday >hst three' ladies were among a party, and accomnlishod the journey without an effort. For the most part tho track leads through lovely native bush, ferns of all varieties, including the Fringe of YMes's leather, mountain plants, etc., iv bile, tuis, pigeons, and even the bellbird (moki-inoki) are seen. Tho. party who made tho ascent on Sunday were:— Mrs. Hassling, Misses Knu.x (2), Messrs. il. Nicolson [secretary of the Mt. Hector Track Committee), Messrs. Knox (3), W. F. Hassling, J. Ayre, D. Corrigan, and C. Uroiidiiiore, of Inglewood. The t\lt. Hector Track Committee are now anxious to make the track known to parties, and with a view to encouraging. visitors oro spending money on huts, etc, oh the track leading past Table Top, Dennau, Nephn, Hector, "and on to Grey town.