LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 274, 15 August 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Superintendent of the Pacific Cable Board, Auckland, notifies that the condition of Canadian lines is normal. The Minister of Public Health (tho Eon. G. W. Russell) has received a cableflrnni from South Africa stating that .during the week ending August 9 there were 25GS cases of influenza, and 120 deaths. The cablegram also conveyed tho Ixul news that then: had been U deaths from smallpox, and 20 deaths from typhus, the latter sickness bein« in tho inland districts. The .Minister said yesterday that tho Acting-Chief Health Officer had been instructed to take the matter in hand, and careful watch would bo kept against the importation of infection of these diseases into this country. Ho would ascertain, what vessef.s were en route or likely to come from South Africa.to this country. Cabinet has decided that thero shall bo no Government decorations or illuminations on tho occasion of tho visit to New Zealand of Admiral Jellicoe on H.M.S. New Zealand. A demobilisation statement for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Kuropo gives tho following particulars: Strength in France, 13; in tho United Kingdom, 407G; in hospital in tho United Kingdom, 008; men vitlwvives and families in the United Kingdom, 1107; nurses and .Red Cross workers to bo evacuated, 50; total number evacuated since tho signing of the armistice, '11,550. Government offices throughout Nw Zealand will be closed on Dominion Day, Monday, September 22. A notice abolishing the Expeditionary Force Reserve was issued by Gazette Extraordinary yesterday. A deputation from the Transport Workers' Federation is to wait on the Prime Minister, nnd possibly other members of the Ministry, ou Saturday illuming, to discuss with him the position of the coal mining industry, with special reference to the recent abortive conference between the minors and tho roino own.-rs. This Transport Workers' Federation, or, as it is now called, the National Alliance of Labour, is now a very powerful organisation, representative, it is claimed, of 40,000 workers. The unions affiliated are tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, tho Waterside Workers' Federation, the Miners' Federation, the Seamen's Federation, tho Drivers' Federation, and the Federation of Tramway Employees. It seems probable that (ho intention is to ask tho Government to take some part in the dispute. In the meantime "tho coal.miners are reported to bo carrying on their work in tho mines as usual.

_ Somo returned soldiers aro still .wearing tho so-called "Allies' ribbon," which shows twenty-ono narrow vertical ban. of various colours. Defence Headquarters announced that this ribbon is not authorised and has "no military signifi. oanco whatever." It should not'bo worn with uniform.

In a speech at Christchurch, Lieutenant Frickloton said the civilians wero doing thoir best to help the returned soldier back into civil life, and while cases would be met with in which tho soldiers thought they wero not boiny fairly treated, ho thought it was ai, much their own fault as anybody else's, for, if they brought their case before proper authorities they would recoivo sympathetic consideration. As a rcs».l\, of tho appeal of tho new officer com., manding the Otago district for returned soldiers to take., their grievances to tho Defence Offico instead of writing to tho papers, etc., the local office has been verj busy during tho last few days (reports tho Duncdin "Star"). On Thursday 3li returned men visited the office, and a large number had their grievances promptly settled, whilst tho others wero referred to tho competent authorities to deal with their cases.

Whilo possiblo tramcar accidents were being discussed at an inquiry at New Plymouth, Mr. J. W. Poyntpn, S.M., told tho story of a man who gained fame in tho United Status, becauso ho succeeded in beating the railway companies in compensation claims for accidents. A certain lady had such strong leg muscles that she could break tiio tibia or fibula bones in her legs whenever she liked. The enterprising American married her, and started a business. Ho would find a hole in a railway platform, and then bring his wife out on his arm. She would pnt her foot in tho hole and break her log. and tho company would be compelled to pay iTiimages. This happened a number of times, but eventually the fraud was discovered, and tho man got "livo years" instead of any moro damages. Mr. Poynton assured his hearers that this was not a yarn; it was reported in the "Law Times."

Somo British critics were recently condemning tho Government for lavishing honours on tho civilians and ignoring tho claims of tho lighting men. The "Globe," in June, printed a table showing that betweon December (i, VJIG, and Juno t, 191!). tho hereditary honours bestowed were as follow:—Civilians, 151; sailors, 1 (Lord Jcllicoe); soldiers, nil. The civilian honours wero: One inrldom, U viscounties, 40 baronets, and 9!) baronetcies.

The British Oil Companies have given .£200,000 for tho endowment of a chemical school at Cambridge University. Tlio gift is made up of contributions of ,£50,000 from the Burma and Anglo-Per-sian Oil Companies, tho Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company,' Lord Con-dray, and the Hon. Clivo Pearson respectively; v.hilo Mr. Dotcrding has offered a further contribution of .£IO,OOO to convert the pounds into guineas.

At (i. special mooting of the Ciiy Council held for the purpose yesterday afternoon, tlio rates recently struck (full particulars of which wcro published some weeks ago), wcro formally approved, on the motion of tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), seconded by Councillor li. A. Wright.

A welUHoiv.led public meeting in the Anckl.u::! Town Hall Concert Chamber, iirwided over by llr. Huldswortli, ti meiubor of the Auckland City Council, Mr. Kntdcan, Deputy-Mayor, also being on tho pluLfonn, paewd, with two dissentients, it motion against the proposal io give youths of eighteen four mouth*' military training in camp.

I'ho Auckland watersido workers suspended labour for two hour,': yesterday morning to hei.r an address by .Mr. (.Mover, presidtnl. of tiie federation, who dealt with the findings of the National Disputes Committee, which met recently at Wellington. Two ileuis mads public are the allocation of a day for stop work nicotines and the fixing of nn annual holiday on a day which coinokles with (he children'-: Christmas holidays—Press Assn.

Mr. T. K. Sidey, who has represented Lunedin South in Parliament for nearly Jti years, has, cays a press Association telegram, decided not U> seek re-election at the general election. Mr. R. 1). Martin waited on the Hon. J A. Hanan on Saturday to enlist his support for tho proposal to delete certain obsolete clauses from the Shops and Offices Act, such as the existing clause instituting a 53-hours' week, a tOi-hoius' week being wanted. Other proposed alterations were a statutory hall-holiday and Easter Saturday in audition to Inn existing public holidays, the abolition of the non-payment oj: overtime to ;iiyone, receiving .£'2oo per annum and over, and the clause requiring chemists' assistants to work on Saturday evenings and Sunday nights to serve out medicines and surgical instruments, if needed. Mr. Hunan said ho would make representations to tho Minister of Labour. Should tho matter come up beforo the Cabinet, ho would express his views on the proposal at a future day—Christchureh "Press."

With tho passing of war days and wat work, the need for a special soldiers' division of the Public Trust Office has disappeared, and the division has now closed down. The staff last evening celebrated tho dissolution by giving a dinner at Astor House, Willis Street. Mr, H. S. Movnagli presided over a. merry gathering "of about forty ladies and gentlemen connected with the division, Among thoso present was Mr. T. E. Eol>erts (controller of the division from its establishment). The esteem in which his fellow-workers held Mr. Roberts was evident from the frequent kindly references to him in speeches delivered during tho evening. The toast of "The lung" was honoured in its duo place, and other toasts were: "The Office," "The Ladies," "The Branch," "Tho Visitors," "The Permaneuts," and "Tho Temporaries." There was no lack of musical entertainment. Misses Manson and Davis officiated at'the piano, and a programme comprising items by tha following was given:—Miss Fenton, Miss.M'Davitt, Mr.11. 1\ Wood, Mr. E. J. Hill, Mr. G. Munro, and Mr. I'. Williams. The spirit of the assembly bore eloquent testimony to the amity in which tho members of the staff have worked together through the war-time. The practice of commandeering unprotected motor-cars for joy rides is steadily growing in Invercargill (says tho "Southland Times"). On n, recent night Mr. J. W. Stead brought a number of tho inmates of the Convalescent Home to

town and left his ear standing in, Tay

Street. On preparing to go home some hours later he was astonished to find

the vehicle gone,. The matter was reported to the polico and early next morning the car was discovered inYthan Street. Judging by. the contents of the petrol tank, the car must have been driven atleast thirty miles. Mr. Stead was more fortunate than some other owners similarly treated, the car being undamaged.

At 3 o'clock ye.-.terday afterhcon ft littllo girl named Thelma Jackson, aged 2\ year.-', residing at Boston Terrace, was admitted to the hosptml suffering from a ,-crious injury to the head, caused by being run into by a tranicar in Adelaido Road. It was reported at a lato hour last night that the condition of tho child s.howcd a slight imiirovcmenf.

Wasteful use of irrigation waters' wae condemned strongly by Mr. V. 'W. Furkert in the course of a recent lecture (states an exchnuge). In tho United States, ho said, a farmer 'had used 51ft. of water on an. acre of lucerne beforo cutting it. 'An engineer arranged for a demonstration, and divided Iho acre into halves. On one half he used tho original amount of water. On tho other he used Gin. The land on which Bin. of water was used produced twice as much as tho other.

Over 100 employees have been discharged from Rotoruii h'olels end boardinghouses throngh the falling off of business owing to Iho railway restrictions (says an exchange). A mrge number ot these left Itotorua last week.

Tho divorce case of Clarksou v. Clorknon and another, set down for hearing before a. jury yesterday, w;is adjourned until Monday. The bicach of promise case of- Spiro v. Schneideinan and tho divorce case of Armstrong v. Armstrong iiro set down for hearing to-day, and tomorrow morning tho iivorco caso ot Berry v. Berry and another will be heard.

Tho eloso season for seals nasi been extended for a period of three years from November 27, 1911). 'The Fisheries Act allows protection t'o bo given to sctu'.s 'by Oidcr-in-Council, which hat to bo renewed every third year in order to remain effective. Tho cxisitng order was issued in November, 101 G.

A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that at a meeting held last night tho following motion was curried:—"That this meeting of members of tho Piping and Dancing Association of Now Zealand form themselves into a centra of the association to bo known as the North Canterbury Centre, with headquarters nt Christchurch, and that tho stops necessary for affiliation with tho association bo immediately effected."

Sir James Guthrie, who recently resigned the presidency of the Eoyal Scottish Academy, in a recent letter to his brother, Dr. John Guthrie, of Christchurch, ,says: "Three big groups are to bo painted for the National Portrait Gallery, London, in commemoration of tho war, one of the military commnndors, one of the naval commanders, and one of tho statesmen. Sargent is to do tho soldiers, Sir A. Cope tho sailors, and they have asked me to do the statesmen. It is a very big job, and I declined at first, but Sargent is very keen about it, rind I have agreed now. The othor groups havo 22 and 23 figures each, mine has 17." New Zealand will havo an interest in ono of the groups in that one of the statesmen to bo included in Sir James Guthrie's group will bo the Eight Hon. W. F. Masitey, Prime Minister of tho Dominion.

The twelve men who -comprised tho jury at the sitting of tho Supreme Court at Christchurch on Monday week were sent back to reconsider a verdict (reports tho "Press"). The ease, was n-peculiar one in that two accused, a maii and a woman, were jointly charged with stealing a handbag containing ,(M0 Ills,, and separately charged with receiving stolen goods. Tho Judge summed up strongly against the accused, and the jury, after three-quarters of an hour, returned with a verdict against the two accused of guilty on all charges. Mr. Cunning ham, who appeared for one of tho accused, asked if a person could be found guilty of both stealing and receiving an article, and Mr. Jolms'on, who represented tho other accused, said that the inconsistency of tho verdict, showed that the jury had not properly considered the matter. His Honour (Mr. Justice Herdman): "If you desire it I will send tho jury back. What do you say?" Mr. Johnston- (after contemplation): "It is not necessary for me to say. You are tho presiding Judge." Tho Judge, addressing the jury, said: "Perhaps'you had better furmally go back then and reconsider your verdict." After less than a minute's retirement, the jury returned with a verdict of guilty of (heft, but not guilty on the counts of receiving stolen goods.

An ingenious rusa on the part of a small boy, U years of age, 'had its sequel in the Juvenile Court at Invercargill when.he appeared to answer a charge of obtaining Is. undor' false pretence from a lady 'resident of South Invercargill. The story told to tho police by the woman who was hoaxed (says tho "Southlaud Times"), was that on June U tho boy came to her hotiso crying bitterly and asked her for somo matches with which to look for Is., which ho said, had fallen through a hole, in his pocket. Ho said that the lady's dog had tried to bite him and had caused the damage to his pocket. The lady said that tlio dog was too small to do that, nnd tlio boy said that the dog had ehu'ed him and he had run into a linrb-w're fence in front of tho house. Shi save l.b'i tho matches and the boy made a search, but after a while returned and said he had been unable to find the money whereupon she gave him Is. Alter lliinkin," over the matter, however, she concluded I hat she had been deceived, especially when she remembered thai: there was no barb-wire in front of the house. Later the boy told her a wrong name and «ho rcnorli'd the incident to the police. When the boy was interviewed by Conslahle Dunlop he admitted that if >.wa.s all <i hoax and said he wanted the matches lo light a cigarette. The tears ho shed were used lo make his story inipear truo. Constable Dunloj> said that the boy was an inveterate cigarette smoker. Tho defendant pleaded guilty, and was convicted and discharged ,and was ordered to pay back tho money.