LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 206, 26 May 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

M'ith regard to tho appearance in Auckland of a new disease, known technically as lethargic encephalitis, a reporter mado inquiries in order to ascertain if there were any sufferers from the disease in •Dnnedin (states the Otago "Times"). It was stated that several medical men weri. of the opinion that cases did exist, and the matter has been freely discussed. In Dunedln and other parts of Otago for some weeks there had been cases tho symptoms of which had caused much con. sideration, and recently there had come under notice ono or two cases developing symptoms of a suspicious character. The disease is very vague in its manifestations, and mostly affects the muscles of the head and face.

Tho Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Eussell), whoso Department has had charge 'of the passport administration during the period of the war, stated on Saturday that the- passport system would probably bo maintained for some time to come, as tho Government was anxious to keep closo control of the movements of people into this country and out of it.

The Minjster of Mines has' heard no more of the miners invited to co;ne to this country from New South Wales, where, according to report, there aro many men out of work iii tho town of Cobar. The New South Wales Government has advised that it will place no obstacles in the way of tho men coming to New Zealand if they wish. At present the restriction on passenger traffic from Australia owing to influenza may bo some) obstacle to the men coming.

The flour subsidy being paid to millere by the Government works out at from J62 15s. a ton, according to the varying circumstances of millers. Last iyear h. was calculated that at the price of .£ls 10s. millers made a very email profit. Some of them claimed that their profits had been, cut down to a shilling a ton. This year they have -to pay Bd. per bushel more for their milling wheat, and thcy> havo to pay increased wages to their own workers. Also this year they have to accept the reduced price of <£!"> per ton for flour, this being necessary to allow the bakers to give increases 1.0 their workers without putting up the price of the loaf. Tho Government determined that the price of the loaf must, not be raised, and this susidy to millers is tho only way in which the bread supply can be maintained at present prices.

General Richardson's first act on arrival at Christchurch on Tuesday (says the "Lyttelton Times") was to drive fiom the railway station to the Orthopaedic Hospital, whore li& arrived a few minutes before Colonel Wylie, who had come up in tho ferry train. He made a complete tour of the hospital, and expressed'himself as very pleased with what lie hart seen.. "I would like to see a similar institution in each of the four centres,'" was his comment, "because special surgical treatment that many of our eoldicrs require will be a matter of two years."

The "pleasing swelling" in the front of tho neck which is regarded as a mark of female beauty should he regarded with suspicion, according to Dr. Brennan, of Otago .University. Speaking at Hie annual meeting of the Royal Society lor. the Health of Women and Children recently, he said that he had been impressed, in walking about the streets of Uunedin, by the prevalence of goitre, of which this swelling, freely exposed by file present fashion in females' upper gar-': ments, was an indication. The women of New Zealand were widely affected by ihis disease, which was apt, if neglected, to have the most serious consequences both to present and future generations, and might lead to chronic invalidism. The. speaker dealt with the causes of the disease and tho reasons for its prevalence, and made several suggestions for combating it. Dr. Fitchett, speaking later on the eaino subject, gave point to his remarks by looking around his audience, which was largely composed of ladies, and announcing bluntly that several of those present were affected by goitre, as he could see by a glance at their bare necks. Both speakers stressed ihc necessity for taking the matter in hand promptly, and combating the further spread of tlje disease—"Otago Times."

A new postage stamp of three-cent denomination has been issued in the United States to commemorate ihe successful outcome of the war. The de.sign preseii ts a standing ugiiro of Liberty Victorious, with a background composed of the ilags of the five countries which were most actively engaged in tho cau6e. The figure of Liberty is helmeted, the upper part of the body is encased !n scale armour, a»d a flowing skirt falls to ihe feet. The rteht hand grasps ?. sword, the point of which rests on the ground at the feet of tho figure. The left arm is partially extended, and 'the Iwnd lialds a balance scale, representing Justice. Back of the future appears the American flag, at the left are draped the BritNh and Belgian flags, and at the right the Italian and French flags. The whole design appears upon a shaded panel, and is reproduced in a purple tint.

As a set-off to the traditional schoolboy, creeping like snail unwillingly to school, we have an Otago boy (hi 3 name is John Kerr) who has been daily riding li miles each way in order to attend the Middlemarch School, and it is only by taking cross-conntry cuts that he keeps his ritle to 28 miles (says the Dunodin •'Star"). In Otago no fewer than 61 meetings of housgholdere on April 11 failed to elect school committees. When this was reported to tEo Otago Education Board the chairman a,sked if there was any special reason in any case, nnd- tlie only reply was from H£r. James Smith, who suggested tliat the wet night was the cause. The board fixed Jnne 10 fresh meetings of householders.—Dunadin "Star."

"It is very easy to start a riot by interfering with a constable, and tho man who starts a riot is going to get it very hot," was the advice tendered by Mr. F. y. Frazor, S.«[., in tho Magistrate's Court on Saturday to an. otfender charged with obstructing the police.

At an early stago in the history of. the association (states the annual report of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association) arrangements were made that it should bo represented on all casos in which an application for an imder-rato permit for a returned soldier was concerned. This has been uniformly done, and as a result of its. closo contact with euch cases the association has been able to remedy some defects iu individual cases, of whicli a frequent instance was flio failure of employer's to train their men in the technicalities of the work for which tho permit had been granted. With tho introduction of the Hepatization Department this supervision would largely bocotne a function of the Department, but the association will continue lo havo ife representation at permit hearings.

The Auckland City Council at a special meeting on Saturday received a report by Mr. IV. Ferguson, C.E., who reported that tho valuation of the tramways was satisfactory. It was not excessive at 411,180,000 for the rights and assets as a going concern. Tho council decided to confirm the resolution authorising the purchase, and authorised a poll to sccuri* .£1,250,000 to finance tlio umlortnliiiiK.— Press Assu.

The Urowora Native lands are being inserted on tlio■AVhakatane county, valuation roll, and will increase the rateable vuluo of tho county from JC1,000,000 to 41,500,(100. It is 'intended, if tho Natives, do not pay the rates, that .iiulf,'lnentt) shall bo obtained and registered with the Native Land Court for action when Natives dispose of their land.—Press Assn.

At a meeting of the Manawahi I'laxworkprs' Union on Saturday it was resolved: "That this special meeting: of tho Manawatu I'laxworkers' Union rails upon tho llaxworkers not to resume vork for loss than Hα. per day., till the conferencu with the flaxmillers. Tho union is endeavouring to arrnngo a conference on Juno 2, nml draw up a working agreement."—Press- Assn.

A Press Association message from Timaru states: At a meeting of members of tho Y.M.C.A., addressed by Mr. E. C. Biwiiell, Dominion secretary, am; Mr. J. C. Field, president, G'hristchurch, a branch was formed of fourteen directors representing several churches. It is proposed to carry on as in other centres, and erect a hostel later on. A site has already been purchased near ■ Caroline Bay. Discussion has taken place on a proposal that tho liehirned Soldiers' Association, which desires to erect club-rooms, should combine with the Y.M.C.A., but tho soldiers refusal to do fio. Tho meeting appointed a committee to wait on tho U.S.A. to remove misconceptions.

In the caso of decorations which were being forwarded by post to soldiers who had returned to New Zealand, and which in a number of cases wore lost by submarine action, the Defence Department (states the annual report of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association) instructed that tho cost of a duplicate should bo borne by tho individual to whom the decoration 'had been awarded. .Strong representations as to the unfairness of this regulation wero mado to the Defence Department, and as a result the Govornment took full responsibility for decorations lost in transit, and has supplied duplicates free of charge to tho soldiers concerned.

There aro no fresh developments to repart in connection with IRo Auckland tramways dispute, and the officers of the union will meet to-morrow night to disouss further action. The men declare that they are determined to secure what they consider iust treatment at tlve hands of the Auckland Tramway Company-Press Assn.

Reference to New Zealand prisoners of war was made by Geiioral KicJiardson in his speech at Uie lted Cross Depot in Christchurch (says the "Press"). General ltichnrdson said that it would be found that our prisonors of war in Turkey had been treated abominably, in Germany normally. From conversations with prisoners; repatriated from Germany he had elicited the facts that they had not been ilMreated, but that they received too little food. That, of cours,e, could not bo helpsd, as the Germane went hungry themselves.

Saturday last was the centenary of the sailing of'the first steamship to cross the Atlantic. The first steamboat to cross tho Atlantic was the Savannah, ah Ameri-can-built full-rigged ship of 350 tons, with imdille-ivheels, which could 'be unshipped it necessary. Kho left Charleston on May K, TSI3, and arrived off the coast of Ireland on Juno 17. During the. voyage steam was used forxmly eighty hours. The first vessel to cross under steam only was tho Sirius which crossed from Queenstown to Now York in 1838. with 94 passengers, in 17 days. Tho Sinus was ft Brit-lsh-built vessel of 703 tons, rigged us a briguntlne. Her engines • developed 320 horse-power with a daily average coal consumption of 2-i tons.

In a domestic case in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, the defendant, in his evidence, said that about two nights before his wife left him he said to"liBr: "Mum, isn't it grand that we have had no words for so long? This caused Mr. Justice Hoskiug to remark: "You ought to touchwood -when you say that sort of thing."

A movement is on foot to form a league linking up the districts of Kelburn extension, Northland, and Taitville to further public interest in a tramway service ; to these localities. An interim committee has been energetic in attending to tno ■preliminary work, and a public meeting is called for this evening in the Kelburn Presbyterian Schoolroom. .

\ cable message from Paris, published recently stated that Sadi Lecoint readied a height of 26,877 feet in an aeroplane, making the world's record, and. Un additional paragraph stated that Captain 1?. AV Scliroeder, of Ohio, had exceeded that altitude, going as high as 25,900 feet. A recent issue of "Nature" 1 sets the .record at 30,500 feet. It stales that this altitude wiis reached by Captain Andrew Lang at Ipswich, England, on January 2of this year. A higher altitude on that occasion, '"Nature" explains, was limited ■%the fnilnro of the patrol pump pressure, due to the rarity of the air, and not by the aero-dynamic performance of Lung's machine Scientific interest in these attempts is stimulated by the fact that they havo'proved the possibility of using aeroplanes for exploring the highest peaks of the Himalayas and of great mountain ranges in other parts of the world.

The "Wairarapa Age" states that a patient suffering from lethargic encephalitis was admitted to the Masterton Hospital a month ago.

■\ New Zealand firm has received from Scotland tho following letter, stating that the action of the dockers there may have the effect of lessening the export of Scotch whisky to the Dominion: "We beg to advise you. that export of whisky is meantime suspended indefinitely, owing to tho attitude adopted by tho dockers at Glasgow and Liverpool. Apparently they have the feeling. that no liquor ehould be sent out of tho country when the Government is allowing ■ so little out of bond for consumption by the Home public. This impossible state of matters cannot, of course, continue, and we are just afraid that the Government will be, forced to release more whisky arid other liquors from bond to appease the public clamour; Consequently, if tow happens, then the quantity of whisky available for export will be correspondingly curtailed." The above news is not likely to disturb the local market, which is at present well stocked with whisky. Indeed, there is already a downward tendency in price in some quarters. Whisky olid 'soda, or nny other spirituous drink, it still being dispensed at 9d. (as compared with Cd. before the war), but there ate those in the trade who belieev that the time is net far distant when the price ofi such drinks will revert to the pre-war rate.

Says the Napier "Telegraph." :-"It is reported that at a certain station recently a well-known railway official secreted himself in a carriage over-night in order to discover a little scheme that was alleged to be worked every night in tho station yard. A party of jokers, hearin" of the brilliant scheme, got busy, and turned a high-pressure . ll . os P° n through a window, and the official afterwards admitted that he hnd had the coldest and most unpleasant bath that it had beou hie bad fortune to ever exper.ence. The experiment was not repeated.

• An acute position has arisen at Napier owing to a shortage of coal. Tho "Daily Telegraph" states: "There is no household coal available, and tho winter will havo to bo faced without coal. ' Fortunately some of the merchants have a fairly good supply of firewood on hand, but tho price is high and consumers are not prepared to pay the cost at pre-sonr. One merchant stated that a few years hro he was able to purchase firewood loaded on trucks at 03/ per cord, bat now Hie price is 555., and the supply unsteady and difficult to get. In order to try to außmont Napier's supply at least two dealers are at present in Wellington seeking to impress on the Government the absolute need that exists for coal. Tho three local meat works nre short, and the majority of householders are on short commons, and, unless tho Government provides a plentiful supply in the near future the difficulties will become intolerable."

Describing his Tecent lour of Marlborough Nelson, and Wcstlnnd, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald informed a Christcliiiivch "'Press" representative ihat whilst at Nelson ho had visited the fruit farms at Tasman and other places, where tlio Government had been advancing a tair amount of money, and he had then trone dn to Motucfca. There was no iineshon, lie said, that the people were working hard trying to make a success of tho fruit-'TOwing industry- They scoiiied to be of" the opinion that now the pence iicntialions stage of the war liful Uecn l-achcd there would lie a possimlny next season of their hoin<r able to export fruit to America, and probably Britain. Much of the fruit had been used for vinegnrmakiiiß, nnil, of course, owing to the l.liffht in Cliristehwoh, the Nelson growers had toon able to secure a good aver- ™ m .jcc All .seemed to be generally nt'i'lied \H they » skc(l iov ) verD sl, . i l ,_ piiF facilities. It was very interesting lo sec tho large number or trees which had Town up since ho had last visited tho district thrco years ago As the fruit farms wero coming into bearing more people were going to lesulo id tho district every year, so that unless eomo epidemic camo along tho future ot fruitgrowing in Nelson seemed to be weured, that was, from tho commercial pcint ol view.

The Christchnrch Coal and Blanket Fund has benefited to the extent of XIOO by the will of tho late Mr. Thomas Griffiths, Poynder Avenue, Fendalton, who h;i3 also nuqueathed .£2OO l-i the trustees of Knox Church, Bealey Avenue, towards the Sunday School Fund.— "Press."

ft has been represented to us (says the "Wairarana Age ) that one of tho men whoso names appeared in the military defaulters' list as haying been deprived of his civil rights enlisted from Foatherston with the Ninth Reinforcements, and was killed in action at tho Somnie in October, 191 G. The name, occupation, and address of tho soldier who made the supremo sacrifice are identical with those siven in tho list of alleged defaulters. It seems pretty certain, therefore, that a daring and serious bunglo has been lnndo by somebody. If it is discovered that ijid namo.of a soldier who has died for his country has been published with the names of those who are "shirkers." a prompt, full, and abject anologv should be given by the authorities. 'The nost-of-kin of the gallant soldier aro naturally grieved to think that so regretlablo an error should have been made.

In the courso of tho annual report of tho New Zealand Rugby Union, it is stated that tho New South Wales.Bugby Union had written exchanging greetings on the inomorablo occasion of the cessation of hostilities, and suggesting that the time was opportune to open negotiations with regard to visiting teams and matches, and to Ret into touch on the various aspects of tho game Tho matter would Ise for the incoming committee to take in hand.

Whatever the Government neglects or refuses to do in connection with repatriation becomes a corresponding responsibility to tho association (states the executive of the New Zealand lhturned Soldiers' Association in its' annual report). Tho inadequacy of its treatment of the land question together with tho pit-falls prepared for tho soldier by various agents and advisers, not nlways wholly disinterested, have made necessary the creation of a land department in tho general work of tho association. The work of this Department will become very important if a substantial fall creates a critical financial position for settlors whose holdings have been weighted with a fictitious war valuation. The next practice of tho Peace Celebrations Choir will be held in the Town Hall this evening, when a full attondanec is requested. As the aooptuiuodatiqn for the choir is necessarily' limited in the Town Hall, it has been decided to issue tickets to the choir members, which will be- done on Monday night. After that date no more members will be admitted to tho choir except on application to the conductors, Messrs. Parker and. Temple White. It will also be necessary for members to present their tickets at all practices after Monday.

At the Pukekohe municipal elections a voto on the preferential system was taken jo ascertain the wishes of the citizens in respect of a war memorial for the district. There were threo projects, namely, <i cottage hospital, swimming baths, and a monument, tho firstnamed beiiiy named by a large majority, the baths being second choice. A peculiar position has now arisen. It is doubtful whether the Hospital Board will agree to permit the erection of a hospital as a memorial. Furthermore, a letter has '136611 received from (lie member for Franklin (the Eight Hon. W. P. Mflssoy, P.C.J, superscribed "Hotel Majestic, Paris, March 13," and replying to a letter from the council, in which Mr. Massey states that a number of captured guns nre being sent to New Zealand, and it would give him much pleasure to arrange lor two of the guns to be sent to Pukekohe, in recqrdimce with the council's request. The Prime Minister also stated that nothing definite was known at the time of writing in regard to the proposed visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to this. Dominion. The writer would, however, at the proper time convoy to His Highness the council's invitation to visit Pukekohe to unveil the memorial. The letter was received, and tb.o council decided to wait on the members of the Hospital Board, who would be passing through Pnkekohe shortly on their way to Waiuku and then discuss the hospital proposal with them.

The following letter, signed V the respective presidents of the Dunedin Caledonian Society, Gaelic Society, Burns Club, Dumedin Highland Pips Band, and the Piping and Dancing Association of New Zealand, has been forwarded to the Moderator of the Cliurch of Scotland, the Moderator of the United Free Church of Scotland, the editors of Hie "Scotsman" and the Glasgow Herald": "the members of the undersigned Scottish societies of Dunedin, on behalf of tho people of New Zealand, desire you to convey to the people of Scotland their sincere and heartfelt thanks for the hospitality and kindness which wap so freely extended to our New Zealand soldiers when on furlough in Scotland. Every returned man has told us of the splendid fighting nualities and the comradeship of the Scottish regiments, but above all tliny speak in the most affectionate terms of the genuine welcome ond the untiring efforts made on their behalf while on their visits to your country. Wβ therefore feel that it is our duty to ask you to intimate, throughout the length and breadth of Scotland, from the pulpits of your church, and also through the medium of the Press, the appreciation of thtfathers and mothers, and the wholeheart ed thanks of this community for all thb, loving kindness and paternal rare ex tended to oiw boys. Our gratitude io due to you for making dear euld Scotland a second home to so many of our men while absent from their own lend."

The following letter has been sent by the Mayor of Christehureh (Dr. Thacker, M.P.) to the Minister of Marino; "The accommodation and treatment that passengers from the South Island aro now receiving by the present ferry service is indeed nothing short of being a scandal—overcrowding and discomfort oi the worst degree. It seems strange thai now the war has, beep, won a fine ferry steamer like the Maori should be held up in Wellington, and I appeal to ' yon directly, as Mayor of the city of Christchurch, to attompt to do something to get her in tegular service again. Moreover there are practically thousands of tons of cargo lying for months in 'Wellington that is sorely needed in thie city. Surely something can be done to get this cargo sent on to us. I hope to hear that your immediate attention has solved the difficult but distressing set of circumstances."

For a long tinu past the question of casualty on temporary rank has been a very vexed one among all soldiers (states tho annual report of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association). Hitherto the regulation has been that when a soldier holding a temporary rank is cnsualtied, on entering hospital he reverts to his substantive rank. The association represented to tho Minister that this requirement was very unfair, since tlio casualty would bo largely dependent upon the nature of the duties which the soldier was carrying out, and particularly in front-line work the holders of responsible positions were' much more likely to be easualtied than others. The Minister has now agreed to continue the pay of the rank until the soldier is discharged or returns to duty, but ha 3 restricted this privilege to those casualtied on account of wounds or injuries. The association has mado strong representations on behalf of sick men, and expects that the regulations will be extended to cover all cases of this kind.

There is a curious commentary on the psychology of two widely-dissimilar peoples in the use that has been made fif tlio Lusitauia medal, struck before the liner was torpedoed, and issued immediately after the nows of the dastardly deed .readied Berlin. On that occasion the Volkszeitung" said:— "With joyful pride wo contemplate this latest deed of our navy." Now that their "glorious navy" is growing weeds in English waters, and tlio Germane are supplicating for mercy from the victors, tlio Lusitania medal is being struck in England for sale throughout tlio world; all profits being devoted tf> St. Dunstan's Blinded Soldiers and Sailors' Hostel. Circulars showing facsimiles of each side of the medal and giving full'particulars in connection therewith havo been forwarded to tilt Education Board for distribution throughout the schools. Tlio board has decided that it is hardly the kind oi thing to bonefit eohool children iu any way, and it servos to perpetuate that which nmy be better forgotten by the school child of to-day.

,At tho Auckland Supreme Court on Saturday George Dale and James Gilmour were sentenced to five years' imprisonment each for attempting to commit an unnatural offence at Botorua.— Press Assn.

A complaint has reached this office regarding tlio condition in which certain people in the city receive their bread'. The loaves have a dirty appearance, suggesting careless handling either at the bakehouse or on the delivery round, lu some cases, it is stated, the coudition of the bread is very bad, calling for the official attention of tho Health Department.

The speedy re-establishment of the sheet-glass works in Belgium was one ot the inimodiato results hoped for in English business circles following-the signing oi : the armistice. A ietter addressed to an Auckland firm from London in November 15 expressed the hope that these works would be quickly restarted, and that, if all went well, supplies would bo obtainable for shipment within about two months. That this hope hae been frustrated is made evident in another letter received in Auckland bst week, in which it is staled that labour troublt!* in Belgium had disorganised the trade, and only one works, and the niakerof machine-made sheet glass, were in full production. Prices were, stated still to bo exceedingly high, and information I'.ad just com? to hand that ivo thousand 100 ft. boxes of "fourth?," stored at Am6terdam before the war, hud just been sold for shipment to Greece at the nigh price of lOfls. ner box. These were purchased by Auckland merchants for about 20s. before tho war.