LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 197, 15 May 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

0 The Secretary, General Post Office, has been advised that legal time has been advanced by one hour in Bulgaria. Relics of early New Zealand are fairly frequently fennd on the sites of c'd Maori villages and camping ■ grounds in Miramar, the beaches of which were vsed as the "jumping-off" places when the Natives were leaving on visits—friendly or otherwise—to the South Island. Whilst a section was being levelled at Karaka Bay last month two Maori axes, of blacK shale-like stone, were discovered a couple of feet under the surface. Doth axes have, even now, sharp edges, and the smoothness of the sides is proof of the amazing patience and industry of the old-time Maori, Steps are being taken by district, headquarters to replace temporary members of tho Headquarters and Group Staffs who have not'seen active service by returned soldiers (states a Press Association telegram from Auckland). About twenty positions in the Auckland district will become vacant. Major Titchencr, Adjutant of the. Field Artillery Brigade, Lieutenant Roberts, Adjutant of the Garrison. Artillery, and' Lieutenant Burge, m 'charge of the Gilbert Islanders, are being demobilised immediately. The guard at Narrow Neck internment camp has been reduced by sixteen men, Two Germans, who were to leave AVellington yesterday for the Fatherland, are still in the city. Before the departure of the, Willochrn a • medical inspection of all the aliens was held by the port health officer, who singled out two with high temperatures. They wm later admitted to the AVellington Hospital as suspicious cases of influenza. "This is a sweet job when men come here mad, but that does not worry me ono little bit."—Extract from a letter from tho county poundkeeper (a woman), received at the last meeting of the Waimairi County Council. "I am not too sure that His' AVorship is to he congratulated upon his return to office at the present time,".said Councillor P. Fraser at the Mayoral installation yesterday. "At present there appears to be in AVellington a great shortage of necessary things. 'J here is a shortago of houses, a- shortage of water, a shortage of milk, a shortage of coal, a shortage of trams—in. fact, as a friend of mine has suggested," concluded Mr. Fraser, "there is a shortage of everything except beer." The Government has completed the purebnso of Mr. F. "Moore's property at Makuri, along with stock, to the value of X9OOO. The sport of wild goose shooting is .to bo fostered by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. The chairman of the council of the society (Mr. C. A. Whitney) announced at tho lust meeting of the council that lie had presented a flock of geese to the society with, the object of having them placed on tho swamps at Rotorangi, near Cambridge, to breed. Geese reared away from tho haunts of man became very wild and provided excellent shooting. - He expressed the opinion that there were several localities in 1 the society's district where geese could be bred to advantage in a wild state. Several speakers endorsed the chairman's remarks, and it was decided tojmdeavour to arrange for geese to be reared in the Ivaipara district. -"New Zealand Herald/' A touching story of a horse's devotion to its mqster comes to a "Daily Chronicle" Bedfordshire correspondent. Soon after the war broke out a horse, of which the owner (a farmer) was very fond, was requisitioned by tbo military authorities, and was shipped to For two years it played its • part in the great war, but apparently it never forgot the master at home. Eventually ft was sent back to England, where it was_ reoffered for civilian purposes. Curiously enough, it was another Bedfordshire farmer u'ho bought it. There some chord in the animal's memory seems to havo been touched, and its thoughts turned toward its old master, Anyhow, the original owner was disturbed one night by a noise at the garden gate, accomoanied by tho stamping of hoofs. Going out, ho saw a horso poking its head over the gate. He tried to frighten it away, but the animal would not budge, and on going up to it he was amazed to find it was his old horse, All the horrors of war, coupled witli two years' separation, had not killed the animal's love for its old master, and at the. first opportunity it had made its way home. The suggestion was made recently by the Auckland District Repatriation Board to several Ministers that a branch of the Government Printing AVorks might be established in Auckland to provide employment for disabled soldiers. The hoard has now been advised that the Government, after full inquiry, has decided that it is unablo lo grant the request. A young man named Lawrence John Maloney pleaded guilty in the. Supreme Court yesterday, before His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), to breaking and entering tho shop of James William Martin, boot importer, Courtenay Place, and stealing therefrom three pairs of boots and one pair of shoes, valued at £6 95., and a sum of £Q 15s. in money. The prisoner was remanded to Saturday for sentence. ' The Hon. G. AV. Russell. Minister ot Internal Affairs, has received from the Wellington branch of the Countess of Liverpool Fund an application that tho balance in hand to credit of the fund, amounting' to ,£IB2O 2s. Hid., may be transferred to the Wellington War Relief Association for the relief of soldiers and their dependants. The Minister has approved the application. Many people apparently are not awaro that tho shooting of wild pigeons in Njw Zealand has been forbidden by the Government, says the "New Zealand Herald." The secretary of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society stated at a recent meeting that he had received many inquiries as to whether pigeons could be shot tlm season. He added that wild pigeons were now protected, and apparently it was the intention of the Government to make tho embargo permanent. There is a serious shortage of milk for the Auckland city supply at present owing to the protracted spell of dry weather, states the "New Zealand Herald." Tho city milk vendors state that supplies obtained from farmers are decreasing daily, and are likely to show further considerable diminution. A prominent vendor stated to a reporter that he had been obliged to curtail sunplies to customers, and no milk was now kept in the shons for sale. Th" shortage was attributable to the drought, though nl this time of the year there was usually a falling off in supplies. The position wan rendered more acute bv the fact Hv.it it was impossible to obtf.in supplies outside the ordinary channels, r.s dairy' farmers who customarily inilked for the factory wore just, drying off their Farmers who inilked for the city supply had to make snecial provision to have eows wiving in the autumn in order to provide for a winter supply, but owing to the drought these cows were not giving their! usual jeturns, and it was very doubtful if tb"v would do so even if rain came in the near future. There was every indication that supplies to customers would have to be' cut down still further. The question of the payment of tho war bonus was raised at last night's meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association, and General Richardson, in reply, stated in effect that tho men could rest assured that they would get it in (Ufo course.

At the meetiiig of returned soldiers last evening General Richardson said that thb polict of the Defence Depart, ment in ilie future would be to give preference ot employment in the Department to men who had always actually fought, for their country. As far as possible, home service men were being de mobilised as quickly as arrangements permitted. (Applause.) He assured the men that in the future preference would bo given to those men who had served their country.

There are several natives of Syria resident in Wellington, whose relatives in Syria have suffered cruelly under Turkish rule during the war period. Among these is Mrs. Noon, of Courtenay Place, who has recently had word from, her sister, who resides a few miles from Beirut. Tho letter records the death of Mrs. Noon's father and mother, her brother and his wife, and other relatives, all from starvation, consequent upon the. Turkish soldiers commandeering" everything in the nature of food. Owing to the 'war the cultivation of the rural lands had been neglected, and what food there was was taken by the Turks. Such was the dire plight of the people that blocks of land were offered by owners in return for enough food to keep them alive for a few days, but without result, and whole villages perished through starvation as the result of the depredations of the Turkish forces. The Syrian penpie hope that the country will be governed "for the future by the British, for the Turks were always the oppressors of the Christian people within the Moslem Empire. "Gold mining is 'almost being put out of existence,, by the present conditions," said Mr. R. Gilkison, who presided over the annual meeting of shareholders in tho Rise and Shine Company at Dunedin. "Certainly no new peonle will go into it. AVe were taxed to the extent of ,£I2OO excess profits that never should have been taken from us. That money should have been left to our credit in a reserve fund to help us through the bad times wo are having now."—"Otago Times." The question of political action was referred to by the general secretary of the. New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association at a meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association last evening. Mr. Seymour mentioned that several remits on the matter had been received for consideration at tho Dominion Conference of Returned Soldiers, and all of these favoured an amendment of the association's constitution by making it political. Ho pointed out that the policy of the association was not political, and he moved that it be ,\ direction to the Wellington delegates that they vote against the proposal to alfer the association's constitution. Once the association became political it would fall— all unity would bo lost. After further remarks the motion was carried unanimously. At a meeting of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund yesterday, it was ' decided o defer for a month tho question of assisting the passage of a New Zealander who enlisted in England, and has been demobilised there. It was stated that several aviation school cadets were walking the streets of London, ns their parents refused to pay their passages home.—Press Assn. A Press Association message from Auckland states that" tho motor launch Siliafai has arrived at Apia, Samoa, after a passage of thirteen days from Auckland The little vessel is only 5-1 feet in length, and is to be used for servico in the Samoan inter-island trade. She left Auckland on April Jl in charge of a captain, an engineer, and two deck hands. An inquest was held at Invercnrgill yesterday, states a Press Association message, on tho body of Jean Greig, a married woman, who had been treated during an illness by A. R, Nicol, a chiro praetor,' for kidney trouble. Dr. Stewart was called in a few days before death, and found the patient- suffering from consumption. Dr. Wilson, who made a liost-mortem examination, said deceased had probably been suffering for years. He did not think any treatment would have helped .her. Nicol deposed that Jig did not know deceased was consumptive till the day she died. He had studied ■ for two years at an American school of chiropractice, and held a diploma. The jury found that Nicol was in no way to blame, but thought it unfortunate he did not. know the advanced state of tuberculosis of tho deceased.

The AVellington waterfront has rarely been so busy as during the, last few days. Yesterday was a particularly big day for tho port. All the deep-sea berths were fully occupied, and others less regularly used for this class of tonnage were assigned to large ships. During the day there were at .King's Wharf the Northumberland a2,lGfl tons-), Kurow (2581 tons), AVillochra (778-1 tons). Kia Ora (8031 tons); at Glasgow Wharf, tho Tainui (9905 tons), Kaikoura (SG97 tons),, and abreast of her the Middleham Castle (-1531' tons); at the Railway Wharf, the AV'aihora (4638 tons), Raranga (10,010 tons); at Queen's AVharf, the Rcmuera (11,276 tons), Manuka (4531 tons), Atua (31-14 tons); and at Taranaki Street AVharf, the AVhakntane (7022 tons)> The above-mentioned 13 ships, which include only four in intercolonial services, have a gross total of 94,706 tons, There were also in port working at the various berths the usual coasters of all descriptions and sizes. In the circumstances there is a verv marked shortage of waterside workers,'the result being a general delay for nearly all shipping. Tho position' is likely to be easier next week. The City Council notifies that owing to the continued dry weather the use of water for other than domestic purposes and urgent industrial machinery must lie immediately discontinued. _ AVater used by. means of hoses for cleaning footpaths, watering gardens, and cleaning of motor-cars, irrespective of the'fact that a meter is installed, is prohibited until further notice, At a well-attended public meeting at Timaru last night, convened .by the South Canterbury Development League, Mr. J. Craigie, M.P., moved, and Dr. Loughnan seconded, a resolution, which was carried unanimously, asserting the need for increased sanatorium accommodation for consumptives in the South Island, and urging tho Government to establish a sanatorium at Lake Tekapo, where the conditions were stated to be eminently suitable for consumptive cases.—Press Assn. The Canterbury Patriotic Fund adopted the following'resolution: "That this committee is of opinion that as a general principle advances and grants should not. be made for the purchase of homes, but exception may be made when the very special circumstances of some widow or soldier whose physical disablement is of so grave a nature as to call for special sympathetic treatment. In the case of widows receiving assistance, it should be conditional on their undertaking to repay any advance in the event of remarriage.'"—Press Assn. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that the final report of. the Epidemic Commission was handed to the Government on Tuesday. The following officers have been elected by the Now Zealand Miners' Federation: —President, ■ Mr, P. O'Rourko; vice-pre-sident, Mr. J. M'Bride; executive, Messrs. A. Toseland (Duller district);' R. Spencer (Grey district), J. O'Brien (Northern district), P. Nivin (Southern district), J. A. Pine (AVaihi district). At the conference now sitting in AVellington, the, 'ballot for the position of secre-arv-treasurer caused considerable discussion, and the following motion was carried by eleven votes to six:— 'That owing to tiie irregularities which entered into the ballot'for the office of national secretary-treasurer, a new election takes place for that position on Thursday, May 22."

Tho Greater AVellington Town-Planning and Municipal Electors' Association, in its annual report, states that Mr. S. llur.'t Scaler's visit to the Brisbane TownPlanning Conference has homo good fruit. The New Zealand Government has convened a Town-Planning Exposition, which will be held here, next week. The result of Vhe association's propaganda work is now noticeable. Every candidate at the recent Ci'y Council election (ii'c'areil himself or herself in favour of the town-planning principles set out by the association in its platform. Conferences were convened by the committee, and'held with the 'Institute of Civil En, gineers, the Institute of Architects, and Institute of Surveyors, and Im TownPlanning Bill, which was printed at the end of the last session of Parliament, was discussed, The Fill itself was the outcome of the offorts of the Now Zealand Foderated Town-Planning Association.

Mr. Arthur Leaver, Mayor of Westport, has been elected chairman of the Buller Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, vice Mr. D. J. Williams, who resigned owing lb'the pressure of private business.—Pi-ess Assn. At lasr evening's meeting of too Wet lington Returned Soldiers' Association a letter was read from the Drapers' Association, enclosing a copy of a resolution passed recommending that Auzac Day be celebrated on the Sunday nearest April 25. The substance ot the resolution has been previously dealt with in these columns, and the meeting decided unanimously to oppose tho proposal of the drapers, and lo do their utmost to have April 23 made a close holiday in future. It was also decided to send a suitable reply tu the Drapers' Association. The death of Mr. D. W. Wilkinson, of Oriental Bay, will recall to many old residents of Wellington tho time v. hen Wilkinson's Tea Gardens was the (nly arboreal resort of the kind in Wellington. Some thirty to forty years ago the gardens were tho most popular Sunday afternoon resort in AVellingtoii. Here and there along the shady walks were garden seats, picturesquely disponed, and if visitors desired a cup of tea they could repair to the old family residence near the entrance. In those days the gardens extended along the Bay frontage (now Oriental Para.de), where some half-dozen residences are now erected, au.l every, yard of the ground was cultivated by the industrious owner. Mr. Wilkinson was a successful vine-grower, and his 'rothouses, even up to the present, were always worth a visit.