LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 219, 10 June 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A warrant hag been issued appointing Sir Robert Stout Deputy-Governor 4 New Zealand during tho absonce of tho Governor-General from the seat of Government. Tho warrant will remain in force until His Excellency's return to Wellington, as tho Deputy-Governors Act authorises tho appointment of a deputy during the Governor-General's absenco from the sent of Government or from Now Zealand. During a part of his tour in tho islands the Governor-General will bo awav from New Zealand territory, for Tutuila is American, Tonga is not under New Zealand control, nor is Fiji, and Samoa is as yet only under, military occupation. Tho Appeal Court (Second Division), which was to lmvo delivered reserved judgments yesterday, was farther adjourned to Friday, Juno 20, by Hj s Honour the Chiof Justice (Sir Robert Stout), when it is espocted that the longdeferred judgments will' be delivered. One of tho oldest and best known commercial buildings in Wellington is now being demolished. Tho promises are the old slate-roofed storo on the corner of Waring Taylor Street and Lnnibton Quay, now being dismantled to mako way for tho now Stato Fire Insurance Department's impressive etructuro. Mr. David Nathan states that tho building was erected on land roohiimcd by Jacob Josoph and Co. when ltis father (Mr. Joseph Nathan) was Mr. Joseph's partner, (ho spoil being obtained from Hie rear of the W.F.C.A.'s building on the opposite side of the Quay. Tn those days the structure was considered (|iiite a fine one. and being tho first three-storied building erected in Wellington, It became in duo course the property of Joseph Nathan and Co., and was for somo years leased to tho United Farmers' Co-opera-tive Company, ultimately absorbed bv the W.F.C.A. Much of tho timber in tho old building is quito sound, and the Welsh slates on the roof are, of course, as good as ever they were. A man named Fred llyder, employed by the "Free Lance," and residing at 17 Childers Terrace, yesterday had the fingers of his right hand crashed in a machino. no was admitted to the Hospital about 5 p.m.

Referring to the proposal that the Terraro Prison site should be handed over to tho Education Board for the purpose of a Teachers' Training College, tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said that tho area of laud at the back of tho prison was part of the Town Belt, but through the graco of tho City Council, _it had been loaned to the Prison authorities for the purposes .'of a kitchen garden. Speaking i'or himself only, Mr. Luke said that if the site were handed ivcr for the purposes of a training college or school, he would favour the area being attached to tho school us a playground. Indeed, ho would go as far as to say that in any case where a school was erectcd adjacent or backing on to tho Town Belt, that area of the Belt should be loaned tho hoard for playground purposes only, such arrangement to do in tho form of a loan, not a gift.

It is announced that tho King has approved of the Artillery of the Dominion of New Zealand being shown in the Army Li?t is allied to tho Royal Regiment of Artillery. The same privilege lias been extended to tho Australian, Canadian, and South African Artillery.

Between six and seven o'clock last evening a motor-car standing in Egmont Street, near the King's Theatre, caught fire through the ignition of benzine while the tank wns being filled. Tho fire brigade appeared very promptly upon tho scene, and suppressed tho .blaze before much damage had been done to tho car. Tho Timaru Borough Council ;lasfc night unanimously adopted a proposal for a superannuation system for all employees under (i 5. with provision for thoso over G5 who have been ten years in the service.—Press Assn. A parchment commission signed by tho Governor-General and the Minister of Defence is issued to every commissioned oiheer who was appointed direct to the Expeditionary Force, but over two thousand have failed to apply to Base Records for this important document. The commissions await applications from their owners, and a number of King's commissions are filed there, to be distributed in the sauio way. Tho latter are to be issued to all officers, whether appointed to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force direct or transferred to it from the Territorial Force. The desirability of strengthening the good feeling between the producers iu the city and those of the country is emphasised in a letter from Mr. T. Blood- , worth, president of tho Federation of Labour, to the Auckland provincial exe-cutive-of the Farmers' Union (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Mr. Bloodworth, on behalf of the national executive of the federation, expresses thanks for the invitation extended to representatives of the federation to attend the tinmini conference of the Farmers' Union, and states that several remits passed by tho conference will have the effect of bringing tho union and tho industrial workers closer together. He also states that tho Government lias been asked to call a conference representative of the various interests of the Dominion to discuss industrial matters, but as thero appeal's to be no likelihood of a meeting being arranged prior to tho annual conference of tho federation he suggests that a conference of the executives of tho Farmers' Union and the Federation of Labour ho held either before or after the conference of the latter organisation. The matter will bo discussed at the nest meeting of tho Farmers' Union executive. Whilst passing through Morrinsville recently tho Hon. T. Wilford was interviewed in reference to a ne\v_ courthouse at Morrinsville. The Minister admitted the necessity, but said until the return of tho party leaders from England it was not known if the National Government were to continue. "If it does not," he said, "I shall not he the jfinister who will frame tho Estimates. If I am the Minister, I promise you that a grant will be [jut on tho Estimates for the s building—Auckland "Star."

News has been received from Home by Mr. W. K. Howitt, of Devonport, Auckland, of the sudden death of his cousin, Captain John Gibson, R.N., of ,H.M. transport Lord Devonport. The deceased commander, who was just over sixty years of age, had before tho wot retired from active service, .alter having sailed in many seas. When tho war broke out ho was ono- of the very first to enter the active list again, and for a long period, while troops were being conveyed to tho various war zones, ha went through strenuous times, being ever in the midst of danger. Ho was a big man in every sense of the word, and camo safely through all the dangers of tho sea. Hb had hoped to Temain at his post till all tho soldiers were brought homo again, but the strain of tho war period jiad been too much for him. Heart trouble developed, and ho had to give up his command last month. Now comes tho news of his death. Ho has relative* in Auckland, Wellington, and Taranaki, and belonged to tho saino clan as Siri James Taggart, Lord Provost of Aberdeen, whose brilliant war work has not been excelled by auy other civic .head m Scotland, and who, during tho war, raised a company of volunteers known as "Taggarfs Own." Although well up in years ho visited Ills regiment in FraiTW and went right to tho front of the firing line.—Auckland "Star."

Tho question of jurymen's pay is the subject of a letter written by Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., to the Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister of Justico (states tho Auckland "Star"). Mr. Parr says: "The present system of paying jurymen for their services requires overhauling. It hits very hardly working people bocause tho payment'if. inadequate. At present they receive Bs. for a full day, and is. for a half day. A man may servo half a day and be unablo to go back to his work, and so lose half a day's pay. One ease reported to mo shows that a ijainter reccived only IM-s. for & full wsoks attendance. No man should bo penalised for doing his duty. Of course it is equally true that special jurymen and members of tho business and professional classes aro also poorly paid, if one .considers tho loss of valuable time, but their families hardly suffer, whereas in the case of common jurymen tho wife and children may suffer. There should bo a reasonable all-round increase in remuneration. Could Cabinet not amend the regulations without waiting for Parliamentary direction?

At the meeting of tho Lower Hutt Borough Council last evening, in discussing a' remit received from the Waihi Council asking tho local council's support to a resolution asking tho Government to bring down legislation making Saturday the statutory half-lioliday, the Mayor (Mr E. T. Rishworth) said ho thought that thero wero at present too many cir-cular-motions and remits going the rounds of the councils in the Dominion. He thought it a bad policy for local bodies to endeavour to harass the Government. Councillor Cotton suggested that tho particular remit was one of common sense, and he moved as an amendment that it be endorsed by tho local council. The amendment, however, was lost, and tho letter was merely received.

His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), sitting in tho Divorco Court yesterday morning, granted Arthur Herbert Coward a decree nisi on his jielition for a dissolution of his marriage with Horn Winifred Coward, on tlio ground of miscondnct with Roy Bateup, recently stock dealsr at Tho parties were married on Juno 20, 1000, and there were three children. Tho respondent, wheji taxed with misconduct, admitted her guilt. Mr. It, H. Webb appeared for tho petitioner, who was awarded costs against tho corespondent. Tho Pacific ■ Cable Board notifies Hint the Commercial Pacific Cable lias been restored. Mr, Scott Colville, of Auckland, who is at present in Wellington, has completed a now arrangement with JIM. Mirovitch and Piastro, the Russian pianist and violinist. to revisit Mow Zealand. These distinguished artists worn !o linvo relumed in the l)oiniuion over four years ngo, but the incidence of the war and sickness prevented the fulfilment of tho engagement. Australian papers stale that the knighthood recently contorted upon Sir Harry Lauder is not the only title ho will shortly 1m able to lay claim to. Sir Harry's financial agents in Scotland have recently acquired, on bckilf of the famous Scottish comedian, the (lien of Branla, an estnto nf 11,000 acres, not altogether unknown to liistot'v. The lillcdeed, which io I ho fourteenth century, is inscribed on rough sheepskin, and bears such historic names as of tho j)uko of Argyll and "the bloody Monlroso." Right of ownership wiLl entitle Sir Harry Lauder to be known as tho Laird of Glon Branta.

At To Xniti Edward Walsh, a labourer at Aria, on fivo charges of forgery and uttering cheques totalling J!G4, pleaded guilty to oiio charge, and was committed to Hamilton for sentence. He was committed for trial on tho other charges. —Press Asen.

Tho Wellington Builders' and General Labourers' Union at its last meeting passed a resolution strongly condemning tho Arbitration Court for having granted so little when tho union applied for an amended wages clause. Speakers to the motion pointed out that tho amendment of awards under the War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment Act, 1918, was provid'ed for in order to permit of wages being adjusted to meot tho increased cost of living. In the case of the tradesman, the Court had increased wipes Is. Gd. to Is. lOd. per hour; but it had raised the pay of tho labourer only from Is. 4Jd. to Is. Gd. The labourer had to purchaso the necessaries of life in the same places and at the'6ame cast as the tradesman, and the meeting failed to see why the Court should have shown such discrimination.

At yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce, tho Napier Chamber requested support for a motion urging that Saturday bo made the compulsory half-holiday throughout die Dominion. Tho chairman (Mr. C. If. Luke) favoured the Napier proposal, and Mr. L. A. Edwards moved that the meeting support it. Tho motion was carried.

In its review of "Oh, Don't Dolly," a new musical comedy, the London "Daily Telegraph" says that in Mr. W. S. Percy (well known in Wellington, and a brother-in-law of Mr. A. E. Donne, secretary of the Wellington Woollen Company) the management discovered an artist of a singularly alert, agile, and mercurial description. The "Daily Telegraph" also says that Mr. Percy, as the Professor, recalls at one moment the late Nat; Goodwin, and at another their own W'eedon Grossmith. Ho never spares himself, and, working at high pressure throughout, won not only for himself a genuine success, but obtained a favourable verdict for tho piece. "His style," the "Telegraph" goes ;>n to say, "is not remarkable for sublety or flnw.se; iT ou cannot, however, deny to him a rollicking sense of humour and an abundance of high spirits." The "Daily Mail" and "Express" also comment on Mr,. Percy's success. Writing to a friend in Syd--ney, Mr. Percy says that the first performance of "Oh, Don't Dolly!" was a wonderful night. The "Aussies" rolled up and took charge, and the next morning he woke up famous. All the papers in London fell over him, and the managers wanted to know how soon he would be free to talkbusiness. "So," he adds, "it looks liko'big money in a year or two." He also mentions that his agent is already talking in hundreds.

A suggestion that the controlling Bugby bodies in Australasia should hold a conference to discuss matters connccted 'with Rugby football and forward recommendations for the improvement of the game to the English Rugby Football Union has been made by the New South Wales Union. Mention was made of the matter at last night's meeting of the management committee of the New Zealand Union, when members agreed that the idea was a good one. On the motion of tbo chairman, Mr. B. A. Marris, howover, it was decided to defer consideration of the question until a later date. At a well-attended parade of the Wellington Technical School Cadets, held in Mercer Sheet last evening. Cadet D. W. Malcolmson, of the Technical School Cadets, was invested by Captain Bell (Group Area Officer) with the district belt, won at the District Rifle Meeting, held at Wanganui during April, Attached to the honour was a handsome gold modal and JCS 10s. in money. Captain Bell heartily congratulated the recipient on the good show lie liad made, which ho understood was very largely duo to his steady training. His shooting had been very good indeed, and such a meritorious performance should be something that every cadet should strive to emulate. After placing tho belt on Cadet Malcolmson's shoulders, Captain ■ Bell called for three cheers for the recipient, which wero heartily given. During the war tho Defence Department established a Legal Bureau in connection with the Expeditionary Force, to systematically secure from the soldiers information as to whether or not they had made a will, and if not, to enable thorn to do 60. The Legal Bureau, which had its headquarters in London, has completed its work, and the staff will shortly sail for New Zealand. About 40.000 soldiers' wills hfivo already been forwarded to Baso Records, which is now getting into touch with the owners or tho administrators in ease of decease. The latter class of will is forwarded to tho Pay Department, which adjusts the deceased soldier's account, and sends the will to the administrator. It is noticeable that tho majority of the men have appointed the Public Trustee as executor. The wills of mon who have returned and been discharged are being forwarded to them by registered jiost when Baso Rccords ha 6 obtained their correct address. In tho caso of undischarged soldiers in New Zealand, their wills aro to bo forwarded with the parchment certificato of discharge. Where the Lega: Bureau has not received a will from the soldier it ha 6 secured a declaration that ho does not desire to make a will, or that one is in existence.