LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 224, 16 June 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) presented war honours before a largo crowd at Hamilton on Saturday. The honours consisted of three Distinguished Conduct Medals and six Military Medals. —Press Assm

The Auckland Chamber of Commerce has passed a motion :k favour of a universal half-holiday on Saturday'.

It is estimated that, to meet the tremendous demand for houses, something like a thousand more residences are needed in Christehurah (says the "Sun"). The present position is canning consternation to a large proportion of Hie populace. It is being accentuated by people, dazzled by high prices offered for houses, selling their homes and then finding themselves unable to get others.

A conference of ten packers was held in Wellington last week. |t is reported that the (local price of tea is likely to rise one penny per pound. Cable advices from Colombo . report that prices nfe still high and firm, Sydney's surplus stocks of tea are said to have disappeared, and importers reduced to.buying from each other, there being more buyers than sellers. Strong buying orders from New Zenland could not bo executed. At ail auction sale in Sydney on May SO, 745 packajes of Cevlon teas were practically cleared, good liquoring sorts fetching up to Is. 3}d. per lb. Tea merchants stated that they expected no shipments from Ccv'on for at least two months.

While 1 playing football at the Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon, in the junior match, Hutt v. Berhampore, a Berhampore player named G. Davies had the misfortune to have his collarbone broken. Ho was rendered first-aid on the park hy the St. John Ambulance Association officials, and was afterwards sent to Dr. Fyffe for medical treatment.

A deputation under tlie auspices of J ihe Association of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce will wait upon tho Hon. AV. D. S. Mac Donald, Postmaster-General, to-morrow, for the purpose of discussing with the Minister the matter of the delay in tho transmission of conimerehl cablegrams.

An, excellent goal-kicking record was established on Saturday ill , the third gi'ttde football mutch between St. Patrick's College and Johnsonville. Each sido scored three tries and couvwtod all from difficult angles, in spite ot a high wind. In addition St. Patrick's College kicked a goal frum a mark and potted a goal. The place-kickers were O'Jiegan tor St. Patrick's College, and Bromley for Johnsonville, while J. O'lirien potte.l the goal for St. Patrick's College.

Tho employment of bpys of school age to deliver milk .is a common practice in Wellington. Tho school attendance officer. (Air. J.'W. Butler)-has received a letter from a head teacher, stating that a boy twelvo years of age is employed on a milk round, commencing 11.15 a.m., and finishing about a quarter to just in time to be at school. The l>oy states that he rises at 2.30 a.m., and the head teacher reports that the boy is listless and bloodless, and quite unfitted for his work at school. Another instance is given of a boy who commences a milk round at 4 a.m. This hoy is only ;line years of ago. In another case a 1)6.y eight years ol ago is employed to deliver milk, commencing at (i o'clock. Mr. Butler savs that tho Education Board has Tiad this' matter under consideration on several occasions, and representations have been made to the Education Department ■lo hayc the law altered so as to make it an ollenco to employ children of school ago for such work as tho delivering oi' mill;, which means their rising at unnecessarily early hours. There arc stated to ho children attending school whose health is being impaired by this practice.

Mr. Albert Goldie has been commissioned by Hie Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce to visit A'ew Zealand to inquire into trade conditions between western ports of tho United Slates of America and New Zealand and Australia. 'Mr. Goldie bus a good deal of information to give regarding the subject ot his visit, and particularly with reference to the probability of Los Angeles becoming a port of call for the steamship service between the United States -and i\'ew Zealand, and the advantages afforded by shipment via that port. A meeting of members of the Wellington Chamuer oi Commerce is to be held this afternoon to meet Mr. Goldie.

At the Hamilton Supremo C'fiurt, W. ilartin, a Maori, charged with stealing seven bottles of whisky from the Paiaca Hotel, Hotorua, was acquitted.—Press Assn.

The Makara County Council has decided to grant the Peace Celebration Committees of the county a 2o per cent, subsidy upon the funds they collect.

Messrs. Sargood, Son and Ewen have purchased a. controlling interest ■in tho Onehunga Woollen Mills, which will ho conducted under tho present management, with a now board of directors:— Press Assu.

A thirteen-year-old boy appeared' before Mr. r. V. Frazer, S.M., in the Juvenile Court on Saturday, charged with stealing a bag of chaff, valued at 75., tho property of A. .T. Curtis. It appeared that on May 31 the boy was caught by a stableman filling a bag from a bin of chaff. The accused had a mate with him, and as soon as they detected tho stabloman they made off. Not being ablo to escape from the yard, the boys hid under a dray, where they were discovered by a policeman who was summoned. Tho accused informed the Magistrate that lie took the chaff for'his brother's horse. "Perhaps," said Mr. Frazer, "it is not as mean to steal chaff for a horse as it is to steal something for yourself, but it is mean to steal anything in any circumstances." Tho case against the liov *-a.s adjourned for twelvo months, during which time tho lad is to be under the supervision of the juvenile probation officer.

The labour question continues to causo much anxiety to- both officials of the colony and the Planters' Association (says the Suva correspondent of the Auckland "Herald"). Many suggestions have been mado as to where and . how more coolie laboiir can bo obtained, but nothing so far of a practical character has been decided upon. There is a section of Suva Indians who are bitterly opposing the immigration of more Indians until they havo been granted the suffrage. This extremist element does not represent the wealthy class of . Indian, but .is composed of mercenary agitators, and it is causing a great deal of trouble and obstruction. Meantime every plantation is short of labour, some, to the extent of 'over 50 per cent. The local vegetation grows at an alarming rate, with the result that many plantations arc showing signs of falling back into u state of primitive nature.

The late llv. Lmanucl Lyons, who died recently in Melbourne. was nt one timo one nf the best-known figures in the New Zealand racing world. The lale Mr. Lyons was one of the leading bookmakers of his dav, and also a prominent, lmr.v owner. Jlo owned First Lord, winn>r of the C.J.C. Middle Park Plate, and was also part owner of the only horse that over seriously threatened to upset Carbine's nnbealen career as a two-year-old. Mr. Lyons was al>o inter esteil in Ihe ownership of other horses I rained l,y the iate Mr. It. Goodman, a notable one being Axe. one of the nest I rotters of his dav. When the totnlisator became- established, Mr. Lyons dropped out of the bookmaking business, but always took a keen interest in racing. lie decided to settle in Melbourne about ten years ago.

'The Wairoa County Council has prae. tically decided lo embark on a local hydro-electric scheme from Lake Wni karemoana, irrespective of others coming in. A committee was 6ct up to confer with the Borough Council on Monday night. In the meantime Mr. Hay lias been communicated with to provide & plan. The committee will proceed to Wellington to obtain a Government permit for the project, which olfers no difficulty for Wairoa. the road being already made—Press Assn.

The City Council lias ordered tlia spending of a sum of .C£o on Lindruin Terrace, the steep road that leads from the Oriental Bay Parade to Koseneath (at tho back of the Kiosk). Councillor L. M'Kcnzio states that this road has m parts a grade of one in four, and wa» too stoep to asphalt. The improvement, would have the effect of making tlu> grade in the steepest parts about one in six and a half.

Subterranean water-finding promises to become a popular week-end pastime -ill nd around Wellington, as tho result of tho successful work of Sir. A. C. Clarke at Miramar. In the fair fields of that borough, and also at ICarori and Ngaio, people have been seen . wandering over open country carrying forked twigs be fore them—just to see if they possess the diviner's power. So far there has been no news of any remarkable instances of experimentalists being successful.

A Press Association message from Hamilton states that James Irwin, who escaped from Waikaria Prison Camp, was captured by the police at Kawhia.

When the City Council meeting commenced on Thursday evening last at 7.3U o'clock the whole of the space allotted to the public was occupied. The occiv pants proved to bo members of deputations, who kept the attention of the council for an hour. Three speakers voiced the claims of one deputation, and two spoke for the other—both being from Hataitai. Later on in the evening the Mjiyor (Mr. J. P. Luke) made reference to the growing habit of deputations bringing more than one speaker and so occupying the valuable time of the council. He thought that they would get along much better with the busiuess of the council if these deputations were heard by committees, which would not prevent their wants becoming known to the general public. It was 11.20 p.m. before the council meeting ended. It should be explained that when deputations appear before committees the Press is invariably permitted to bo present, though not always advised of their advent (which could bo easily arranged).

The Ho.n. G. W. Eussell, Minister of Public Works, paid a visit last week to the quarantine station on Motuilii Island. He slated subsequently that excellent progress was being made with the impiovemcnt :if tho accommodation. The renovation of the fisting buildings was well advanced, ;nd practically tlia whole of the outside work in connection with the new buildings nad been completed, so that, if the weather broke, the inside work could bo continued without The Public Works Department was doing the work most thoroughly, and in the course (if a few weeks the quarantine accommodation, for the first time in tho history of New Zealand, would be effective and up-to-date. Within ten days, 300 people could be accommodated on Motuihi. The work on Somes Island, Wellington, was also . far- advanced, ami last week 180 people could have been accommodated at a moment's notice.

"Since the issue' of the )>C3 nber number of the Review, the Church Army lias received another .£GOOO from the Military Affairs Committee in Now Zealand" (states the "Church Array Review" in its February issue). "This now brings the total amount to over .£22,000. There ia no nee-d for us to assure our friends in Now Zealand that we are most grateful for their help. It is most cheering and encouraging to us in our efforts. The New Zealand huts at the front and elsewhoro are doing valuable work, and are much appreciated by those of our brave fighting men who ore fortun.-ite enough to make use of them. In addition to tho alwve-nientioued sum, we have also received .£IOO from tho l!ov. F. W. Whibley, Vicar of Onnondville, and the society's first lion, secretary in Now Zealand. on behalf of our Christmas Dinner Fund for tho children from our slums. This is a great help to us, rind it will he the means of givin,? many a poor child an hour or two's enjoyment. On behalf of tli.fse poor little mites we send Mr. Whibley their warm, grateful thanks."

Lake Coleridge, on its present output of hydro-electricity, is saving Christchnreli nwl suburbs n matter of nearly ISA,Win tons of coal tier annum. Last week's load delivered at Hie Addington sub-station was over 012.000 units; which is equivalent to over 800,000 horse-power a week. Beckoning un efficient steam plant to give a, horse-power to 7lb. of rrml, this weeklv Baving r.f coal '= about 2500 tons. In the summer time the load i= liot so heavy, but, reckoning un evenrihinpt in the way of conl flights, the saving "f.T.nke Coleridge in chean rower fives Christchurch a big industrial .idvniiln»e over other .'entres. A survey of a nossible South Canterbury power line I>-\i hnen commenced, and it seems tiroba'''" 'hat the nresent turbines at 'ho lake wMI have to bn duplicated in the near future to meet the growing demands.

At a meeting in Christchurch of 6oldiers who had lost limbs on service, it was stated there were between 40 anil 50 limbless men in the city. The question of employment for one-armed men was discussed at some, length, and it was decided to urge the Government to find employment for such men in Government Departments at a living wage. It was pointed out that one-armed men could lio employed as messengers in Government offices, be put in charge of railway crossings, bo trained as sanitary inspectors, or as gas and electric meter readers. It was decided also to urge upon tho Government that in even' case where a limbless' man was employed by a priyate firm as lift man, watchman, etc., a permanent subsidy should be made by the Repatriation Department in order to encourage such men to continue in thoso positions.

A New Zealand soldier, writing from Egypt on April 10, to. a relative in Masturton, says, inter alia, according to the "Are" We seem to be marooned here, as wo cannot get a ship to take us away. The people of Now Zealand seem to have forgotten about us chaps in Egypt, for apparently all they tlunk about is the welfare of (hose in France and England, vho, for tho most part, aro having a fairly good lime. They aro in civilised countries and are treated well by the people, whereas we have to live in thodesert with nobody to see and nowhere to go. You bet wo are anxious to get back home again. Our brigade has gone down to Lower Egypt. There was a lot of trouble with tho natives, and we are supposed to be held back on that account. The trouble is all over now, so there should bo no reason for keeping us any longer. We aro just doing guard duty here, in the village, over the railway, principal buildings and bridges. It is not very exciting.work. We had tho genera) hero fo-day giving us a lecture as the result of complaints we had been making—quite proper ones. We aro being better treated now. I. don't think our "heads" hero are so much to blame. We all havo an idea that the "heads" iu Now Zealand are responsible for tho way we aro kept here, and I think .we will have to get somo new blood into Parliament after this war is properly fixed.

Replying to an Auckland deputation on the subject of tho restricted hours of picture entertainments, tho Hon. G. W. luissell said that ' the regulation was passed during the epidemic and possibly it had gone too far, but it must be maintained until altered by Parliament. His idea was that each- theatre should 'be licensed according to its merits, some for continuous and somo limited hoursPress Association.

At last meeting of tho Makara County Council, Messrs. Flitter, .l-ines, olid Kenny, representing .the Nowlands Progressive Association, drew attention to the bad slate of various sido roads in tho county. In a discussio nthnt followed, Councillor Bowler .irged that it was necessary fur each councillor to be familiar with conditions, not illy in his particular riding, but, in each riding in the county. He moved that arrangements be mado for the whole council to insoect the roads of lhe Makara Riding this month, and thoso of the Porirua Riding next month. Tho motion was carried. The council promised that the representations of lhe deputation would not bo ignored. Suits to fit all figures, 90a., 100s., 1205., in best Colonial Tweeds and Worsteds. Geo. Fowlda, Ltd., Mannors Streot.— Advt.