LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 229, 21 June 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In our editorial comment on the Epidemic Commission's report -in yesterday's issue we regret to say we. inadvertently did the. Commissioners injustice in referring to the date of the arrival of tho s.s. Niagara at Auckland as October 13. The report, which gave tho date of the arrival as October 12, was correct. The blunder was ours, nut tho Commissioners.

The military authorities advise lhat returning diai't 2(10 (the Ttiiahine) will not now arrive, at Wellington until July 11.

Private cable advice from Yaneo.ivcr stales lhat the T.tihour trouble, 'here is ol' a serious cliaracler, and that liie strike may be protracted. In case of certain goods intended for shipment to New Zealand, it is recommended that they be sent fo San Francisco and slopped from there.—Dunedin "Star."

Two of Ihe whole-time professors . at Iho Univcrsitv of Otago, who were cmployed on liie Central Bureau during the influenza opidi.iiiic, have handed over to Hie University Council the i't'es paid to I hem bv the ilovcrnment. This sum ol money, is to be used for the encouragement of research in their departments. • At Christeliiirch yeslerday Prank Morris was committed lor sentence on a charge of forging and uttering a withdrawal slip on tin- Post Office Savings llank for ,1'li) and forging an application for a new bank luiok.—Press Assn.

"There seems, to be a general, idea .that a mini is entitled to buy a drink just on the stroke of six, spend two or three biinutps in consuming it, light his pipe, and get yuf 0 f (] l(s i, ar jn leisurely fashion," id Mr. F. V. Friuer, yesterday. "That. is nol, Hit; law at. all." continued His Worship. "When the law says the bar must be .shut at six; that is just' what it means.''

Another Otago property to be available for returned soldiers has been acquired by tho Government, this being a farm ot 1162 acres a little way out of Ngapara (North Otago), recently held by Air. I'. T. Shand. It is limestone land of (ligh ((unlity. and will probably cut. np advantageously into livo farms. Thanks largely to the activity of the Otago Land Board in promptly putting through all business connected with the'acquisition of propertips that have been taken for soldiers, the opportunities for etieli men to settlo 011 the land—land that it will pay. to work-are said to be greater in Otnijo than in any other district,—Dunedin "Star." . .. An Italian named Orecshio JJatale, aged I)2,'was found dead yesterday inorning at No. 11 Sage's Lane, where he had been living alone. The cause of death was medically certified to ba heart, disease. Deceased had no relatives in the Dominion. , A gang of men has commenced work on the. Napier end of the East Coast railway. doing preliminary.work preparatory to a gang starting the formation.—l'rcss Assn. .! In accordance with the Bill passed last session, a poll was held at the Thames on the question of the suburban area in the country uniting with the borough. The proposal was carried by 407 votes to (11. The alteration will date from March 31 next, and will result in the ywpulation of the Thames Borough being increased to over 7000. It is now the in* fention of the Borough Council to submit proposals for a loan for -£30,00!) for a sewerage scheme for the united district'. Oil Thursday the Thames Borough ratepavers by a substantial majority (decided to abandon the scheme of annual rating in favour of.rating on improved value.— Prnss Association. • At the meeting of the executive of the Runedin Returned Soldiers' Association Mr. R. Jones drew a comparison between the repords of people who had won the D.S.O. mid other decorations in the field with (hose of people who had been awarded the O.B.I'!, and the M.B.E. (states the "Star"). The decorations siven to psople who were thousands of miles nwav from danger, and who often drew large salaries, took precedence lo those ivon in action by men who had performed deedi of vii,lour and who had risked their lives. He thought that as an association they should uphold the courage and determination which had enabled their own men to gain honours, and should claim tor them first place. Be moved: "That representations be made through headquarters to the Governor-General 1 , praying His Excellency to bring before the Home authorities the necessity of reversing the place of honour of the '1.8. E., and suggesting that it be an order subservient to all honours and decorations .received on active service. The- motion was carrieti unanimously. The Wellington Central Branch of the Amalgamated Societv of Cnrpenters and Joiners is submitting the following liominations to the Representation Committee's selection ballot: Mr. J,. Read, for Wellington North: Mr. I!. Semple (sitting member}, for Wellington South: Mr. A. L.'Monteith, for Wellington Easts Mr. P. I'raser (silting member), for Wellington Central; Mr. A. \V. Croskery, for Wellington Suburbs.

The Mayoral warning to users of electrical heatius: apjiftratus durinc the peak--1 oa(1 hours (from- t.30 p.m.'iiiitil 7 p.m.). followed lit) bv a circular memorandum to firms known to u-sood deal of current for the purpose specified, lias had nil appreciable effect .at the power-house. As it draws near mid-winter (to-day is the shortest day of the year) a severe tax has been plncod upon the electrical department to keep apaeo with the demand, and as there lias not been the opportunity, to extend tho plant; during Hie war period the "pull" on the current Konerated sit. the "Mercer Street powerhouse lias oil occasion reached a "peak" which lias eauscd-some anxiety fo staff. The appeal-to users of:electricity for ileal ins; within those hours when the fullest demand is. being made for light in? by shops, warehouses, factories, and private house-: is one which necessarily must: he attended to by consumers, otherwise more drastic means must no devised to curtail, the supply of power to (heiii. H is therefore "rnlifymsr to tho authorities to learn that I here ha.s been a wnsib'lo diminution'in Ihe. demand bfiIwppii I p.'ii. and 7 p.m., and, if this continues. the department will be able to manage until the hours ot daylight extend a little, anil thus make the need for strict.economy less necessary than at present. ' . t

-"There is one mailer thai should fluserve consideration in the event, of coinpulsorv military service being reintrodttend in New .-Zealand on future occasion.'' says a military officer cf wide, experience.' "In lkitaii), lccruits- ■ afo (riven ;i hot bath before being' medically examined, i-ivcry medical ofiieer who has. been engaged on medical board work will probably Agree with the -statement, that Iheir work.'would have been more agreeable had'recruits been Riven a hot bath before being brought: in front of "Ihem. It is a fact, that, in country places, where accommodation 'was limited, the conditions we're highly disagreeable not onlr to the medical' eiamiiVer.s'bnt to most of the men themselves. Considering,' the' great pressure under which medical offfcers"worked.' it can well be realised that t.hey searcply relished working oil a hot summer's day amid » crowd of undressed, over-hen If d recru.its whose last bath had been taken days. at. least, prior thereto. It. is. little, wonder that some-medical officers suffered in health. nnH iMt=. a. irint-ter-for surprise that the others.were able to carry on so long as they did.'.' .

A Ohristchnrch incident, as iej>orted bv the "Ijyttelion Times"-.-"This ' is pretty cool," sai<l the Drainage Board's engineer as he read a beautifully brief letter from the New Brighton "Borough Council, which said, "Dear sir—ln reply to your letter regarding account for. rates, the matter will be attended to as soon as possible." Mr. Outhbert 'remarked tint the letter was dated May *2S, and it. was now three weeks since it was written, yet. nothing more hiid been heard' of it. Last year the board had had to threaten legal proceedings, and he was afraid the came thing would happen again. One or two members' commented oil (lie fact that the council must have collected the'rates. and yet was withholding them. Filially, the matter was left in the hands of the member for tho district.

The. fact llfat a vessel in Australian waters, should have picked up clear wireless, message from alow-power station in Ihe North Sea illustrates 'says the Sydney' "Sun"), the marvel of wireless telegraphy, aiifl at the same time, emphasises the tardiness of Australia in adopting-this cheap and effective 'method of lung-distance communication. Proposals have been lmulo to the Federal Government by the Marconi Company "or the erection in Australia of a highpower Still ion ivfrTt-'i could receive and dispatch messages at a speed of from 10 io fi(i words per'minute. Owing to some vague idea that the granting of any con(•essfon to a private t company would mean Ihe creation of a monopoly or would interfere with (he Pacific Cablo traffic, .the Government lias shelved proposals, and announces a policy of "watching and waiting," which has been so far dosl.il.nle of result. No question of monopoly is involved in the Marconi suggestion. It will not prevent any oilier company from engaging in a similar project. nor will it debar the Government from erecting stations of ils own. Any sucTi enterprise is impossible just now, for the simple reason that Ihe Government has neither the expert knowledge nor the equipment. In the meantime the ordinary cables have practically broken down owing to the congestion of messages. Jt' advantage had been taken of the Marconi Company's offer we should now have had a cheaper service and viirular and rapid communication with Kurope.

.V properly in Queen Street, Auckland, situated just, alwve Vulcan Lane, and owned by Mr, ilolin Endean, was purchased to-day by .Mr. .V. if. M-'Kenstie, the total sum involved in llie wle being .MD.fiOO. 'Hie properly consists of a freehold of 22ft.. occupied by a jeweller, and the. leaseholds of Ihe same frontage arc occupied by a tobacconist and one of Sanl'ord's branch shops. Hoth run through tu High Street.--Press Assn.

The local bodies of the West Coast Lavs decided to hold a conference 011 J ill j- I to emphasise and elaborate their protest against tho recent forestry regiT. lotions and their cil'ect 011 tho West Coast. Tliey have asked Sir Francis Bell to meet thorn, and he has agreed to da so. At (lie meeting at which it was decided to call the conference, Mr. Bruce, chairman of the Wcstland Counly Council, said Hint it' they could get Sir Francis Bell amongst them and place their views before him they would bo able to assuro liim of tho great irrong ho would do to the district by tho present scheme. Mr. Bruce thought I hoy shouild ialce active steps to set, up an agitation lo prevent the very 'best interests of Westland being endangered.

The unveiling of the roll of honour which has been erected by the children of tho Island Bay Baptist Church will take place to-niovrow in the Town Hall Island Bay. at 2.30 p.m. Addresses will be given by the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir- James Allen) and Major Wnllingiord. The services will bo in the nature of a thanksgiving for the cessation of hostilities. Special anthems will bo" 1 entered by a large choir, and the soloists will bo' Misses K. Nicol and Jennings, and Mr. Leonard Barnes. Special seats will "Tie* reserved for tho'relatives and friends of soldiers. The roll of honour, which is of solid oak, was built by Mr. Jeffrys, and bears the following names Ta Cornier. 0. Dixon, ]•!. ,1. Firth, S. Blading, H. Hampton, L. Hamlin. Kv Hamlin, W. Ivory, A. T. Jockninn, L. XV. Keene. R. li. Ts'eene, G. L, Keene, A. H. Keene, F. Lake, F. Mildenhall, L. Myers, A.. Osborne, C. Perry, A. J. Tliompson. In memoriam—Captain K. K. Nicol, M.C. (missing, believed killed).

Residents of Brooklyn interviewed the Outlying DUtrict Committee of the City Council yesterday morning with the request that the Public Library reserve in Harrison Street should be adopted for the purposes of a recreation ground. The spokesman, Mr. A. J. White, said that the area mentioned comprised about three-quarters'of an acre of.land, which the residents thought could, without great difficulty or expense .be converted into a convenient recreation ground, which Brooklyn at present lacked, lie also suggested that the City .Council should carry out the proposal of' constructing a swimming pool, preferably below the Bell Boad service reservoir. The deputation also urged upon the committee tlio matter of placing the Nairn Street reserve in a usable condition. The/chairman (Mr. L. MMCenzie) gave the deputation the assurance • that .their reqiMsts would "lie sympathetically considered. Some members said that the proposed reserve in Harrison Street would be a very small one, but (he deputation replied that it was preferable to have a small one than none at all. •

A piece, of land, about Ihree acres, situated oii the hills overlooking Island Bay and Ohiro Bay, has been offered to the City Council by 'Mr; and Miss A. Robertson as a park for the district. This olfer was announced by Councillor L. M'lCenzie at a meeting-of the Outlying Districts yesterday morning. Councillor M'Kenzie said that the gift was being made in ' connection with the subdivision of Mr. Robertson'sproperty, and added that it was proposed to call, the reserve Adelaide Park in of Mrs. -Robertson. Mr. Robertsou had also decided to dedicate an approach to the park as an extra extranee, while tho council, at the suggestion ol the engineers, would undertake to form .Robertson. Street, and give an approach to the park, and to lay out the ground lo the 'best- public purpose." Councillor M'Kenzie added that the area j was well sheltered, and was mwt suitable for tho purpose, and in time should become a most charming asset to the city. The committee decided to recommend the council to accept the generous gift.'

The residents of Eastbourne arc alive to the'future of their district,'and at, a meeting held recently if was decided lo form an Eastbourne Welfare Longuc. .Air. H. .Do'wnes, a well-known ec.Hler of tli.e bay, has been requested to call- an early meeting ef all those interested in the progress of . the borough, when the mat ler will be thoroughly discusscrt

According lo a letter received •« Aitcfc; bind from Colonel K. N. Titfe, ActingCommandant at Samoa, s gaud -ieal ,of damage js "dou'e.' 'owing to had packing, to goods sent, to the Islands. .Colonel Tate says •.-—"'The goods landed in best order arc those of I lie -New Zealand Expeditionary' .Force, but even these sutler more damage' than is reasonable. I'el'erriiig lo cargo generally. I saw boxes of potatoes containing 1501b. made of lighter timber, than would, bo safe for ji.-iOlb.. apple caso for a ten-mile railway , trip. Tlicy. were simply absurd. Soap and butter are packed in ridiculously flimsy packages, llico in single hags invariably suffers o great percentage of loss, whils rice in double bags suffers less. The Kxpediliotiary Force chafT is belle/ than any other landed here, and there is cuntiiiual effort, to steal it and substitute bags of. inferior stuff'with which H is often mixed by the black boys. A large distinction mark on each sack would obviate this. Strapping with hoop-iron seems to be Ihe best 'safeguard for boxes, which themselves should be of stout timber and 'properly nailed.'' 'I'ate suggests with, regard to Expeditionary Force cargo that each package or sack should have large distinctive marks, such as the, use of a big broad, arrow and the sign "N.Z.Iv.F." in six-inch.letters. All boxes, lie sn.vs, should be of stout timber, nailed with longer nails than are .usually used. The boxes should be of such.size and strength as to .bear tluv weight of the contents, and to.bo invariably strapped with iron. 11 ice should be packed in double sacks. ...

The Sarjennt Art Gallery building in Wanganui is now completed. It is cue of the largest and finest buildings of tho sort in the colonies,' costing about ,£IB.OOO for construction and equipoiivtt, this not including anything-.for land., The work was curried out-by (irahnni ;iiid Son.' and the architect was . Mr. Edmund Anscombe, of Dunediu, -who persona ilv supervised everything, and has received high praise from those concerned., lite money came • front • a hequeU • by 31r. Hctirv Sarieant,- a sheep farmer. Another Wangnnui resident lately.deceased —Mis? Alexander—has left £12,000 lor vi library building. ' .

The following motion moved by Mr.' ■H. S. J. Goodman was carried at. last 'meeting of'tlio Canterbury 'Pist-rict .Kepatriiition Board:—"As it lias been brought under the notice of lire board that men who have been discharged and ■have subsequently required treatment and aro unfit for' employment have to wflit a considerable time before tlio necessary pension is granted to J .liem, lliis board urges, that tlio Pensions Department: be asked to devise mains whereby provisional allowances may be immediately available on tlio certificate of the medical officer."

' Dr. Benliam provided for member? of lbs Otaxo University Council the other day a summary of (ho honours and decorations won by ex-students, graduates, and members of the university staff during- the great war. The list is as under: C.M.G., 3; .D.5.0., 13;.C.8.E.,1; ,1; M.C., 31; D.C.M., 3; M.M., 3; Croix (le Guerre, 2; French Admiralty sold medal 1; courage et devouement, 1; mentioned in dispatches, 15. Dr. Benliam made, particular reference to the record of Captain-P. A. Ardagh, D.5.0., M.i,., a graduate of Dingo University. >vho attended the. wounded in the open ulK.or hcavv shell fire, and was recommended for the V.C. The doctor quoted'trom a recent number of the ''Waitnkian as 'under: "U'liy Captain Ardagh Jitl nut get the V.C., for which he was recommended by General Sir Andrew Uus.-'cil. is not clear. In its place be receirttl the D.5.0., which, for a captain, is considered almost an good as a V.C., conferred on nil officer of higher rank. I'or Captain Ardai;h, as n medical ofticer, to have received bolh this decoration and (lie ,M.C. is regarded as little short' of marvellous, and ho is believed to be t.ic onlv New Zealand doclor who has bi-j'it recommended for the V.C., and is the only one holding these two distinctions. The double decorations which lie l-otcls aro seldom possessed !»y officers of.'lower rank than lieutenant-colonel or major, liolii were won for personal bravery in the field."

A correspondent at. Henley writes as follows to the "Otago Times": "Mr. \\■ Marshall, of Berkley estate, while working at one. of his hay stacks, made a strange discovery, liuding a hare's nest with seven young leverets about two weeks old. all strong. A number of residents express surprise at seeing so many. 1 have seen scores of nests, and two seemed to bo Uio usual number of youug. Only on one. occasion T came across a nest with three. I think this is a record for one nest."

Tho Navy League is organising a flt« ting welcome for Admiral Jellicoa and the.officers ai)d. men of H.M.S. New Zealand. Tho Finance Committee estimates Unit, in round figures ,£IOOO will be. required, and urges the citizens of Wellington to send contributions to one, cf tho tlireo honorary treasurers, namely, Mr. J. H. Palmer, Town Clel'k,_ Mr. Jaines Macintosh, c/o Messrs. Wright, Stephenson anil Co., or Mr. A. F. Wiren. c/o Messrs. Chapman, Skorrotl, Tripp alia Blair. Contributions are limited "to a maximum of .ft!s for companies and firms, and to Jls for individuals.

The veslry of St. Luke's, Wadeslown, have resolved- to raise the necessary funds for tho erection of a Parish Hall. Arrangements for the purchase' of the site have already been completed. The scholars attending St. Luke's iSunday School arc overcrowded, and the provision of sufficient accommodation is now a matter of urgency. A hall lis tho centre for the many prospective, activities is regarded as an essential necessity. About L3O p.ni. oil Tuesday (says th# "Lyttelton Times") Mr. H. Miles, taxiproprietor, having picked up in Charles Street', Kaiftpoi, two lady passengers, Mesdames J. Capstick and J. Armstrong, started his car, which must have been on (lie reverse gear, because it Backed rapidlv over the river 'embankment, which' is 3ft. high olf tho road, with .a drop of about 12ft. on the river side. Passing between two willow stumps, tho car continued on its career until it wan 30ft. from the water's edge, and came to a. (standstill in about; Bft. of' water. The 'ladies were in the rear of the car, aiid by this time in a veiy perilous position.; The hood of the car being raised, they, were just enabled to keep their heads above the water. The screams of several iadies on the bank quickly brought assistance, and Messrs. 0. Hemingway and F. Clarke swam to the assistance of Mr! Miles, who cut the liood of the car.-Tho ladies were then assisted through the opening mid drawn ashore, by means .or ropes. They were in nn exhausted condition owing to shuck and'their immersion .. Heforo leaving* to participate in tlis Commonwealth i-'IO.OOO flight each competitor will lie allowed to choose any camera of Kodak manufacture that he prefers, and will be given a generous supply of Kodak film lo make photographs during the flight. This is the outcome of a, cablegram sent to • the Prime Minister by the Kodak Proprietary, who are supplementing the already Momentous prize by offering -£800 for I lie. best. .£ I fit) for the second, and JC'.iO for the third-best, series of at least fifty 'printable negatives, made en route by the airmen themselves. These pictures will have an intimacy of detail that will give them the greatest possible interest not onlv to New Zcalanders, but to all civilised peoples. This- is a particularly'timely offer, for though even as interesting as will be the photographs of subsequent (lights, they can never Jiava the same appeal as thoso of the historio first'flight.' If the Government-can lie induced to develop tho Tongariro National Park, it is believe.l (says the Wanganui "Herald") the facilities fur winter sports will be unique;'indeed, there are those who say they' will be the best in Australasia. The slopw of volcanic • mountains, are generally uuiforrii, and are ideal for skiing and tobogganing. In the course of a low weeks a quantity of long grass and tussock wili be cleared away, in order to make a ski rriii handy to-the new cottage. This run will bo nearly a quarter of a mile in length, and .will he so gradual' in slope as to be attractive to beginners. It will terminate nn tho grass flat nn which tho new cottage lfl situated. The sport of ice-skating, too, has been considered. It is intended to construct a small dam in a little creek about five lniinites' walk from the cottage door. This will make a sballoir lazoon, which will freeze readily, and which will be quite free froin' danger. Those who wish for more cxciting sport could walk to Lake Tariia, which freezes over every winter, and which is largo enough for hundreds of skaters. So far as this park is concerned, it is possible to ii.dulge in ski-mg and tobogganing either in, summer or .winter.

Mr. W. Oudney, of Casllo Street. Dunodin 1 , lias written to (lie "Star" in itt'erence to the inclusion of the mime oj W. i Knox, baker, Leitli Street, in the list: of military defaulter. Mr.'Oudney, who is an intimiile acquaintance of Mr. jvnox. was associated with him for man.' vears in Ule artillery in England, and feel'd Dial: it. is incumbent upon ''.imselt to remove the shir cast his iiieud, who has communicated with him regulnilv. Mr. Knox, lie states, left New Zealand with the Sixth Reinforcements, and eitrhf- months later was on 'the hospital ship Mabeno. He then returned i.o Keif Zealand, and left again on the troopship Corinthie. On arrival in England he enlisted for active service. bill was rejected and classed C' 2. Ui> till a months (iso he w.is cngased in the transport of American troops. The suitability of basket-making as. an employment for partially disabled men was again referred to at a meeting of the Canterbury Repatriation Roard (slates the "Press"). Mr. ,F. T. Eldridw said that, he had been making inquiries about the industry in .(.'liristchurch, and had discovered thai: there was a considerable opportunity here for partially disabled men. The work. too. was of n most congeuiaj nature. Mr. Eldridge added that in the factories he had visited 119 had 'been' struck by-the fact that absolutely no machinery was used. The repatriation officer. Mr. T. M. ■ Charters, expressed 'Ihe opinion tbal.bnskef making ■was ah ideal industry for disa'hled men, especially those who were disabled in the lower- limbs. There whs any amount of such work offering, forliasket-ifiakers in Chrislchurch were quite unable to fulfil the demands' put iipori them, and there was undoubtedly great scope for the class of men whom the.board wished to see placed in employment. Mr. Charters also mentioned the. possibility of ..on avenue being opened for disabled men ia the way-of fancy leather working. Of the other speaker?, Mr. E. J. Howard supported the basket-making and bootmaking industries, but, condemned treepla'nting:'as -being only of a temporary nature.'