LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 249, 15 July 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho military hospitals at Trentliam and Feutherston are no longer part of the military camps. They aro organised as separate units, and they aro controlled by the Officers Commanding Hospitals and not by the Camp Commandants. Communications intended for tho hospitals should not bo addressed to the Camp Commandants.

The establishment of eantcens at military hospitals, for _ the ' benefit of tho patients anil stail, is to bo undertaken in some oilses. General Headquarters lias issued instructions that whore considered advisable, ami at'tho request of the' Officer Commanding a hospital l , the District Headquarters may authorise tho opening of a canteen. Tho military canteens aro able to sell many goods at less than tho current retail prices. There is no proposal to sell liquor at tho canteens. All the military hospitals aro strictly "dry."

It was reported yesterday that a burglary had been committed upon tho business premises occupied by Messrs. L. Caselberg and Co. at 120 Victoria Street. Safes were alleged to have been opened, but no particulars of flio affair wars available last night.

Mr. Lionel Nelson, speaking at yesterday's meeting of the council of the Central Chamber of Conimerce. said that when he was at Napier a few days ago tho railways refused as goods .'a- casting weighing liewt., but the officials said that if it were made up into narcels, it could be taken. The railways would not take goods that were not on the "free" list, and would not send away any trucks unless they were filled, so that in the Napier yards there were—when he was there a few days ago—a number of trucks half full of allowable goods waiting to bo filled. Ho urged a cutting down of the daily goods service in favour of one that would run on alternate dfiys.

In the course of a discussion on the coal shortage, and tho fact that extra steamers were being put into commission whilst the railway services were being cut down, Mr. W. J. Gaudin pointed out at yesterday's meeting of the Central Chamber or Commerce, that they should be careful in making comparisons between the two services, as steamers were able to use cual that was almost entirely slack, whilst Hie railway engines liavo to -be sToked Willi screen coal. Mr. Gaudin said that The railways had got to depend, to a largo extent, on Newcastle coal, because it was a hard, "good-keep-ing" coal, and that they had felt the pinch as soon as theroi was a serious stoppage of Newcastle supplies. lie thought that they should learn to depend on their own coal.

Mr. Francis Holmes reported lis follows to the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday on tho subject of the shipping of fruit to South American ports. —""I find that at any rate for somo time to conic tlicro is not the slightest hope of any regular communication being established with South America. As a matter of fact the shipping companies do not want to go 'there, as it has been found that in addition to shortening the journey, bunker coal can be procured by the Panama route much more cheaply than in South America. Tho seasons in South America correspond to ours, ISO that there is not much chance of back loading if a subsidised .vessel eyen wore put 011 the berth. New Zealaiid is also in a good position for purchasing manures, etc., and this is about the only lino from the west coast, of South America of use to us." The letter was received.

■"All towns capitulating to 'Diggers'' raids. Successful night operations everywhere. Rely on you to arrango wo tako over Opera House sector July 21 lo 'JS." Tho above is part of a communication received by Mr. M. King from his. partner, Lieut. G. P .Hanna, and refers to "Tho Diggers" Divisional Pierrot Troupe, who proved themselves so popular hero a fortnight ago. It will ho welcome ilews to the hundreds who wero unable to gain admission to.their performances, and also I hose more fortunate who witnessed I hem but wlio desire to renew their acquaintance should the opportunity present itself. Their early relurn .season in Wellington is duo to tho fact that "Tho Diggers'' have.decided to play in Wellington before proceeding south, instead of aftor, as was originally intended.

Instructions issupd by General Headquarters provide that secondary selio.il boys who sire iiwkv I'onHven years of ago, but who are physically lit. in all respects to undergo senior cadet I raining. may be provisionally posted to tho senior cadet companies of their schools if they wish to bo eo posted.

At a combined meeting of the branches of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners iu the Wellington district, the following resolution was carried unanimously.—"That this meeting of carpenters and. joiners strongly protests against the action of tho Government in carrying beor and. spirits on the, New Zealand Railways to the exclusion of moro essential products."

Messrs. Veitcli and Allan wrote (0 the Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday stating that with regard to pilfering at tho waterfront, the protection afforded by the polico was altogether inadequate, and suggesting that the chamber should make representations to police , headquarters. TIIO president (Mr. C. M. Luke) said that this form of crime was greatly 011 the increase, and they might see Captain Munro and the shipping companies concerned respecting the matter. On being told that the question had been taken up in another quarter, and that the Minister had been consulted about the snrinus prevalence of pilfering ibv the 'Wellington Chamber of Commerce), it was decided to confer with that body with a view of strengthening their hands in combating the trouble.

liccent mails received from Sydney state that foui' of the theatres arc to be shut. One paper states: "There is little use in keeping theatres open when onehalf of the theatre-going population is down with .1110 enidcmic, and the other half is nursing (hem. There simply isn't enough audience to go round. And there is little inducement to ksr;p theatrical companies in this 'liu-jnfested city when more profitable theatrical fields beckon, l'or the productions are being hit both ways; tho audiences are pr;rfo,rco rapidly dwilullin<r, and the ranks of the performers arc being as rapidly depleted. No stage manager knows till the curtain goes lip who is under-studying the understudy's understudy, and the printed programme nightly speaks anything but the truth about, Hie names in the cast.

At a meeting of tho bakers, pastrycooks, and their labourers held 011 Saturday evening the following resolution was'passed"That seeing that Saturday, July 19, and Monday, July 21, have been declared Peace holidays, no bakers, pastrycooks, or their labourers work on those days."

At yesterday's meeting of tho council of the Central Chamber of Commerce it was decided to thank Professor Easterfield for the very interesting address given to the recent conference of local bodies held in Wellington.

A deputation consisting of Messrs. Nicol, Standidge, Buekmaster, and Cornwall, representing tho Master Painters' Association and Painters and Decorators' Union, waited on His Worship the Mayor and asked that the following matters should be taken into consideration when by-laws are being framed relating to tho inspection of interiors: —1. The appointment of an inspector, who should be a practical painter and paperhanger. 2. Tho question of the number of papers on the scrim. They suggest that the limit be four papers. 3. The question of fumigation before repapering. 4. A form of. registration on similar lines to that adopted in tho case of plumbers. It was suggested by the deputation that the appointment of the inspector ,be made under section 10 of the Puifclie Health Amendment Act, 'and the repapering of rooms under section 27 of that Act. The Mayor stated that he wns in sympathy with the deputation, and that he would arrange for the matter to he further considered at a conference to be held between the representatives of the association, the chairman of the By-laws Committee (Councillor Luckie), the City Solicitor, and himself.

The methods of loading vessels at the Wellington wharves direct from the vehicles which convoy the goods to the waterside, were criticised by Messrs. F. Cooper, Ltd., in a letter read at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce. In the discussion which followed reference was made to tho case of the Mokoia a few days ago, when lorries and carts were kept waiting half the day, in order to get alongside the' vessel. The president (Mr. <7. M. Luke) snid that such delays meant not only a serious loss of time, but a big waste of capital. There should be some place where cargo for a certain vessel could bo received and unloaded without the carts having to wait the greater part of the day.

The members of the J. C. Williamson Royal Comic Opera Co. will leave for Sydney by the Kigoma tp-morrow.

A deputation from the Central Bowling Club, Petone, appeared before tho meeting of tho Petone Borough Council last evening, asking tho council on what terms the club would.bo granted the usii of the green for tho coming season: Several speakers referred to the amount spent on tho upkeep and improvement of tho green—somo during the past season. The club, when formed, was intended primarily for ratepayers, and it was thought by raonjbers of the deputation that iv low rental should be tixed. Councillor Cox thought a report ds to tho likelihood of any further cost occurring in connection with the green should bo obtained from tho Reserves Committee, and he moved to that effect. Councillor Anderson moved as an amendment that tho club be granted the use of tho green for tho coming season on the same terms as before. Before the green had been formed, ho said, tho place had been an eyesore, but now it had been transformed into a. very pretty place, and it was a decided asset to tho borough. Tho use of the green was not entirely restricted to the use of members. Three rinks were always kept open for casual members of the public desiring a game. It was eventually decided that the matter bo held over, pending consideration by tho Reserves Committee.

Among the many interesting exhibits shown by Professor Easterfield at a lecture at* Palinerston. North not the least was a piece of guueotton made iroin Manawatu flax. In answer to a question the professor stated, that on account of the gummv .substance in the flax, it was not so suitable for tho manufacture of guncotfcon as ordinary cotton, which was less liable to deterioration. It was pointed out. however, thai: the Germans had been forced (0 uso wood fibre in the manufacture of theii- guncottoii. but 'bad they possessed supplies of phormium tennx fibre, 1 bey would undoubtedly have used it very largely.

Once more Patea's prospects of an ironsand industry at that port are on the wane, says an exchange. A year or two ago rights over certain ironsand areas were let and small works erected near the Patea bridge, at which the ironsand was to bo treated under a new process. A. few promising looking iusrots of pig iron were turned out, but smelting operations then ceased, and the chairman of the Ilnrbour Board mentioned Inst week that ail (he machinerv had now been removed from i;ho building.

A Masterton resident witnessed a pathetic scene, with an intensely humorous ending, in Wellington last week. A young lady, with her. mother, had gono to the city to welcome home the soldier boy to whom she had been 1 betrothed four years ago. To her amazement, she saw him descending the gangway with a child in his arms, followed by a smiling damsel. The young lady swooned, and fell'into the arms of her mother. The soldier, seeing what had happened, turned In (lie woman behind Vm. and exclaimed: "Here, take your blootnin' kid and let mo go to the assistance of my fiancee!" '[V latW soon recovered. Explanations showed that, the soldier was .merely 'assisting .the bride of a comrade, wlm wis looking after his kit. Everything ended hanpily, and the nuptials are shortly to be pronounced.

Inquiries made at the Timavu offico of the Union Steam Ship Company elicited the information that there .'was 110 truth in a rumour that the company intended to run a ferry servieo between Timaru and Wellington, and that the comuany had. not any knowledge as to_ whaf: had given grounds for the circulation of report.

"It is 110 use taking to (he jVavv as a means of living; you must take lo it because you love it," said Admiral Jellicoe at his reception in Sydney.

At his lecture at the Philosophical S'ocicly. Palmers!on North, last week, Professor Faster field conducted some very sprctacular exnerimcnts, among them be. ing the exploding of small quantities ot powerful explosives and gases under pressure. The audience were protected from nn.v possible injury by u glass screen in front of the experimental table, while the professor merely held his hand in front of his face to prevent any flying particles of glass entering his eyes. In explaining the necessity for these precautions the lecturer said that when dealing with explosives it was never possible in tell quite how llley were going to act. lie remembered onco telling a student that ho should always be careful not lo take undue risks, but the advico was not taken seriously. "And when we were lmtting him in the ambulatico," added tho professor, amidst laughter, this student was heard to exclaim: "By George! Tho professor was right after nil."