LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 271, 12 August 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The completion of Hie setting back to tho new street alignment in Willis Street of tlio still projecting properties lis ponding. The Mayor slated yesterday that Messrs. F. J. W. Fear, W. Smart, J. Sherwood, and E. Arnold, the occupiers of thh wooden shops which still obtrudo on the'new line, have received duo notice of the intention of tho council to proceed with the annexation of tho 10ft. arranged for, and it is hoped that tlio new fronts to these buildings will be orectcd with such dispatch Hint their completion will synchronise with that of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel. As soon as tho weather permits after that tlio new strip of roadway (now tho sidewalk) will bo laid down in wood blocks.

The Base Records office of tho N.Z.E.F. has been constituted a civil Department of the State, working .under Defence Headquarters. No officials of Base Records are to hold military rank in consideration of their positions in tho office, and service in Base Records will not count as military service. ; Tho officer in charge is Lieutenant-Colonel J. 0. Eoacho, D.S.O.

A collision between a motor-car and a motor lorry occurred in Adelaide Road between 0 and 6 p.m. yosterday. It appears that J. Leach, an instructor in tho employ of the London Motor School, was at 4ho wheel of a car occupied by a constable and a post office employee, when a motor lorry ow'ned by llargrcnves, carriers, camo up from bchiud. Both vehicles wore coming towards Hie city, and a collision took place about eight feet from the southern verandah-posts in front of Taylor's bakery. The car was forced against the verandah-posts. Tho car smashed one or two posts, and the verandah fell on tlio hood, narrowly missing tue constable, who was on the loft-hand side and so most exposed to danger. Tho "driving dog," it seems, came off the ; lorry, which "free-wheeled" on for somo distance. The motor-car was protty badly damaged. Just what happened to tho lorry was not easy to ascertain from tho information available last night.

Officers commanding military hospitals have been authorised by Defence Hearrauarters to withhold the privilego laavn usually granted to undischarged soldiers on demobilisation in cases where the conduct of the men in hospital has beon unsatisfactory.

The Hon. T. If. Wilford informed a TeDorter yesterday that he intends to stand for tho Hutt seat at tho coming elections. Mr. Wilford said _ that there had been a rumour that he intended to stand for Wellington North, probably because n deputation had asked him to do so. Re had also been asked to stand for WoHington Suburbs and the now electorate of Kotorua, but lie had nevei had any intention of standing for any other scut than Hutt.

U.M. Trade Commissioner has notified (he Central Chamber of Commerce that British industries fairs are lo be held simultaneously in London, Birmingham, and Glasgow from February 23 to "March 5, 15120. Participation is confined to British manufacturing firms not controlled by foreign interests. Admittance is lo be restricted to bona lido trade buyers seriously interested in the participating trades, and admission is by invitation only. Space will be provided at the London fair for manufacturers of suitable goods in tho Dominion.

At tho meeting of the Lower 1-Intt Borough Council last evening it was decided to accept the offer of the Hu.lt River Board to lease to the council an area of approximately <1 acres on Gear Island for o recreation reserve.

A statement was . published in The Dominion last week, us coming from a business man in Wellington, ihe effect that the Minister of Internal Affairs hot! asked business people to keep their illuminations paraphernalia erected for tlie Peace celebrations in position for uso when Lord Jellicoo comes lo Wellington, '-the Hon. G. W. Russell said yesterday that ho had never given anv such advice to privoto people. All that he had said was that as Lord Jellicoo was coming to New Zealand on business, the Government did not propose to make any display of illuminations. and that local authorities must decide for themselves r.s to whether they should have illuminations or not. He added that in any event the Government would not be paying subsidies to local bodies for expenditure on illuminations or decorations.

A Press Association message from Elfiiem states tuat vsriisient rumotira are current that Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, member for Egmont, will not bo a candidate at the general election. On being approached, lie was reticent, but it is generally understood that ho will shortly convene a nutting of his supporters and announce his intention of retiring fioni politics.

A peculiar accident befel Mrs. Annie M. Baker, of Motumahoe, on Thursday, while she was doing some housework. Sis knocked over a loaded gun, which went off, 'the charge entering her right thigh. Neighbours discovered her, and alter receiving medical atten;ion she was taken to the Wailalo Hospital. Her injury is not regarded as serious.

At last night's meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council Mr. W. Hayes was appointed borough poundkeeper, out of six applications for the position.

A remarkable prediction of the successful careers of three men was described by Mr. H. Buckleton, general manager of the Bank of New Zealand, at tho Chamber of Commerce dinner at Auckland (says th*» "New Zealand Herald"). He stated that many years ago, when in Sydney, ho received a. rise in status without a cor-

responding increase in salary—times were then bad. In answer to his complaint, vigorously voiced, his manager, who had enjoyed wonderfully rapid promotion, said "It's all right, Buckleton. 1 am satisfied that Anderson, Thomas, and yourself will beat my record." Tho firstnarjed was Sir Robert Anderson, who presided over the New. Zealand Defence Commission; the second was Mr. C. F. Thomas. one of tho speakers that evening, now manager of tho trust branch of the Nsw Zealand Insurance Company; ho hiinsdf being the third.

The ivcent eruption at White Island is considered by Mr. J. W. Tibbs, headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School, <is the explanation of a curious phenomena witnessed by himself and several others aarlv on Tuesday afternoon (says tho "New Zealand Herald"). "Looking from the Grammar School grounds towards the Coromandel range," said Mr. Tibbs. "wo were surprised to see what looked- like a very large waterspout mounting into the sky. Wo watched it, and as it rose and extended saw .that it must be a huge column of either dust or smoke. There was also a very black cloud apparently over Mount Hobson, nnd I remarked we should probably 'hear of a torrential rainfall in Remucra. A dull rumbling as of thunder strengthened the idea. Now that wo know thero was an eruption at White Island on Tuesday, I feel certain what wo saw was tho aftermath; it was right in iho lino of tho island, and remained visible for at least half an hour. When a visit is »aid there, we shall probably hear that there has been a very violent eruption."

The following telegram has been sent to tho General Manager of Railways by the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce;— "deferring to your letter of July 14, stating that the coal position was acute, membera of tho Chamber of Commcrco personally investigated the matter liore, nnd find that, on the contrary, Waikato coal is being used exclusively, on the Rotorua-Auckland line at present, and an abundant supply is available. The hunkers hero and at, Vrnnktori are full, nnd there is no limit to supplies to householders. In view of the fact that practically normal services aro ill operation in other districts where, local coal is available, is the Railway Department determined to dony the samo right, to this section? A protracted continuance of the (present conditions means the ruinatiou of this town."

A mastiff named "Jerry" lins bee;t decorated by tlio Massachusetts S.P.C.A. 1 , with a gold medal because ho sulfered to: bo gassed that men might live. He was out; of the ninny dogs in the United States who, at tho rate of 800 per month, endured or died in the awful gas tests of the chemists at the Camp American University, Jerry somehow survived all tlie tests/but had cruel sores on his forehead and burned ears. Ho is now to spend the rest of his life in ease and comfort on a pretty place at James River.

Information on a Gisborne venture to sell frozen meat to the public, which only lasted six months, was given to an Auckland "Stnr" reporter by a gentleman interested in the frozen meat trade, who is strongly of the opinion that if frozen meat is properly defrosted it is palatable. He said that in the business in question tho meat was offered at prices fixed by tho Board of Trade. The public would not buy it, however, and at tlio end of six months it exchanged hands, the new owner aoing over to the sale of fresh meat. He snid that tho public did not caro for Hie appearance of the meat on tho hooks in tho shop whilo it wns thawing.

The grip which football lias upon tho average Aucklander was manifested when the men returned by the Matatua (savs the "Star"). One soldier had just gripped tho hand of n waiting friend, and bis first, query was: "How's the football going ?" "You're home in lime for tlio rep. match," was the prompt reply, and tho soldier said, "That's lucky, as the two walked away.

"Jfv gross turnover is -£125 per week, and I only employ two hands to assist tiio in currying on my business, I am losing at the present price I lirvb to pay for stock .£2O per week," was tlio emphatic assuranco of an Auckland butcher when discussing the prevailing high prices for fat stock at Westfield. I iTiifflit fts wMI closo ill 6 doors (ind tfiko n. holiday and snend „£9 per week in recreation. It would pay me better, ho concluded. —Auckland "Star.

The suggestion that approaches to bridges should be painted white, and that where necessary white painted boards should be erected each anproaeh, was contained in a letter from '.lie New Zealand AnWimobile Union received by the Petone Borough Council last night. It wns also recommended lliat local authorities should have power to order the trimming, removal, or lowering of trees, fences, or hedges on corners where they obstructed the view of motorists. The council decided to forward a rcnut on tho matter to tho forthcoming Municipal Association Confcrcnco.

Advice was received from the Deputy Superintendent of Workers' Dwellings by tho Petono Borough Council last night tiiat it was anticipated that 15 to '20 workers' dwellings would bo trected in ■Pctono. Definite information ns to when tho houses would be erected wos not yet available, however. "We'll hear something definite on that point on the day before the general election," commented a councillor. By the smiles "which went round the room, and the remarks which were made, it appeared as if the rest ot the councillors were of the came opinion. Tho letter was received.

One of the first officers to he wounded in the Great War, a captain, who is at present in Wellington writing sketches f..r (lie Home music halls (writes n cor- ■ ■ iioiuir-nt) lias been approached with a ieiv to producing locally for charily one of his comedy sketches. The coptain, who is well known in tho Knglish music hall profession, coupled wifli Captain Bruce Bairnsinfiier, in producing military sketches. lie, as tho principal comedian, and hi-: company were making London laugh while the Huns were overhead dropping bombs. An Knglish paper writes of one of his'sketches: "To sec this genial giant of six feet four as Little Willie, the pi<i c pective recruit, is one of the flinnicsl things seen on tho music hall stage for a long time." Vhis sketch deals with tho captain's actual experience;) as a recruiting officer, and is described n.9 an excruciatingly funny recruiting burlesque. It is hoped to sco this sketch in Wellington towards tho end of August, before tho captain in .question loaves the country.

One of the parcels of confectionery and cigarettes dropped from a seaplane on to th.o troopship Matatua at Auckland struck the master of the vessel, Captain P. Greene, on the eido of the head. The blow was a glancing one, and, though painful at the time, no serious injury resulted.—"New Zealand Herald."

The monthly meeting of the Wellington School Committees' Association was held last night. Mr. A. G. Wallace, president, presided over a good attendajico of members. Two representatives of the Educational Film Company attended the meeting, and placed before the members matters in connection with films as a means of education. It was resolved as follows:—"That facilities be granted vo the various school children to witness a screening of a film the company intends to show." The following notice of motion was the subject of a keen debate: "That this association considers that tho growth of denominational Church day md secondary schools may eventually becomo a menace to the present administration and maintenance oi the present national system of education, and urges the executivo- of the association to give the matter its earnest consideration." After a lengthy debate an amendment was carried instructing the delegates to bring tho matter before the various school committees prior to vho next meeting of the association. Mr. Wallaco reported on tho work of the Technical College.