LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 278, 20 August 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nothing untoward is revealed, in the weekly return of infectious diseases for tho Wellington health district. There are 29 cases of diphtheria, six of them in Wellington, seven in Palmerston, five in Wnnganui, and three in Hawke's Bay. There are 23 cases of'influenza recorded, eight of them in Wellington. Six influenza cases.are classed as pneumonic, two of them 'being at Lower Hutt and two in Wellington city.

A statement was made in Auckland recently to the effect that Sir William Fraser was ahout to retire from the Ministry. It was based on something he was reported to have said to tho Automobile Association when approached by this hotly with a request for the expenditure of largo sums of money on permanent roads in concrete or such materials. Sir William Fraser said yesterday in regard to this report that ho had never hinted to the Automobile Association or to any other bod.y that lie intended to retire from the Ministry or from politics! If he should come to any si;.ch decision, the first people, that lie* would take into his confidence would be his own constituents. All that lie had said to tho Automobile Association had been that the Request they had made involved "heavy expenditure, and was ono that ought to be dealt with by the new Parliament. On the eve of an election ho would not commit the country to any such expenditure, and lie did not consider lie wouild be justified in pledging the finances of the country heavily under such circumstances.

A report is current that the railways aro to resume normal running early in next month. If all goes well it may be possible for the railways to resume at least partially the ordinary timetables during September, but all is not yet going well. The stocks of coal are not being made public for reasons which are in the interests of the community, but they are not by any means large enough to .warrant an early resumption of express trains and a full goods schedule. Tliero is no clianco that the homo output of coal will suflicc, and therefore coal must bo obtained from Ncwcastl?. Every effort is being made at present to get more coal from Newcastle, but until the Australian strike is over it will not be possible to increase this quantity very much.

Any anxiety felt regarding the transport Giessen (returning draft No. 209) putting into Hobart on account of the influenza epidemic should be removed by the announcement that strict instructions have already been sent to the commander of the vessel to allow no one on board and no 0110 ashore during the vessel's call • there. The Gicssen is expected to reach Hobart early this morning,- and to arrive at Wellington on Tuesday next.

The Financial Assistance Board is still doing n. good deal of work, but n great deal less than it was called upon to do when men were still being called up for service. In those days meetings used to be held daily. Last month seven meetings were held. The office is still issuing warrants for the payment of financial assistance to men not yet released from tho In all 21-11 warrants were issued during last month. .Sinco it was established the board has considered some 22,000 cases, 3000 of them being reconsidered cases. Of the. total applications made only 253 have been declined, and 09 withdrawn.

The Mayor reported to the City Council last night that matters in connection with tho widening of Willis Street were being pushed ahead as speedily .as possible. In view of the great amount of money which tho City Council was spending on the work, he wished the council had powei to insist upon now buildings in the street "Doing erected in keeping with the dignity of the thoroughfare. Such si policy was dcsirablo in connection with all main streets.

The Reserves Committee reported to tho City Council last night that they had considered the question M the remission of ground fees, and recommended that in eases whoro the grounds had been prepared and owing to weather conditions matches were not played thereon, only half cost of preparation bo charged. The recommendation was agreed to.

"It seems peculiar that a woman in receipt of charitable aid should own a motor-car. I suppose a cheap motor-car is about the most expensive thing in tho world to run," remarked Mr. S. L. P. l-'ree, S.M., in tho Masterton Court lash week.

English buyers appear lo have plcnly of money to spend on art treasures. A pair of old Chelsea candlesticks recently realised 92ft guineas. At a sale of porcelain at Christie's a set of figures of Apollo and tho Muses 'brought 2500 guineas; anil it pair of bow figures, "Summer and Autumn," l.lin. high, realised lIGOO guineas, which is a record price. Certain complaints have been mado by residents of Tiiiakori Road about tho noise mado b.v ' milkmen in that neighbourhood. . Tho Mayor stated last evening for the benefit of thoso interested that the matter had been referred to the Milk Committee for a report.

Alexander Altonen, an employee at tho Petoiie Woollen Mills, yesterday had his hand caught in some machinery. He was admitted to the Hospital in ordet to have an injury to his middle linger attended to.

A request from the Wellington Builders and General Labourers' Union that the rule of pay of 'labourers in the corporation services be increased to 2s. per hour was discnscsd by the City Council last night. The finance Committee recommended that tho union 'be notified that the rate of pay is already in excess of the award rates granted by the Court, and that the request be not acceded 10. Councillor I'. Fraser moved an amendment that tho wages bo increased to Is. 9d. por hour. On being put to the voto, tho amendment was lost by 10 votw to i

Mabel Thornley, the little girl who was taken to tho Hospital on Monday suffering from scalds, was last eveuing stated to be getting on very well.

A meeting of tho Historical Section of Hie Wellington Philosophical Society, presided over by Mr. Eldson Best, was held in the Dominion Museum last eveuing. Mr. 11. M. Christie road a paper on "Old Maori Middens at Paremata, Porirua," while Mr. I l '. P. Wilson sketched "The attitude of the British Government towards New Zealand before 181-1 ~ ; Air. Christie referred in his paper to interesting finds that had been made in the main midden on tho site of Paremata village. These finds included parts of u moa, somo of the bones of which showed the marks of stone implements which apparently had been used to cut off the flesh. "Paremata middens had some queer contrasts," said Mr. Christie. "Here, mouldering moa bones that may be centuries old; there, lying almost on fop of them, pieces of clay pipes. Here, a 'spool'. of unknown antiquity; there, a collcction of broken rum bottles. Ilere. more moa bones; and besido them the much-rusted plane iron that had probably served its last owner as a substitute for anindze."

Tho Finance Committee reported to the City Council last evening that they had received an offer to sell to tho council for tho sum of <£50 a collection of newspaper reports and clippings dealing with military,. naval, political and industrial matters during the period ot the war. The committee could not recommend tho purchase of the volumes, but suggested that the owner he informed that the council would be pleased to accept sanie as a presentation to the Public Library.

Dealing with the question of supplies of butter and cheese, the Christchurch "Sun" says it now seems certain that an over-export of dairy produce has occurred, and at present a decided shortage exists. Three local butter factories aro cutting down supplies to their customers, and tho position is likely to become worse. Previously it was thought that the shortage was one of locality, and the Board of Trade held this opinion. However, most of the local -factories do not seem able to obtain sufficient supplies from the North Island, where butter was supposed to be held, and in many districts there the commodity is very scarce. In the South Island many towns are short, notably 'I'imam. Cheese is almost unobtainable in some places, yet a quantity is still held for export and siwce has just been allotted for this. That this position has arisen does not reflect eredit on the Trade Commit'tee, which was supposed to regulate export so that the New Zealand consumer should not suffer.' In may. be mentioned that higher prices are obtainable for export. Before tho new : season's supplies are available it is possible that tho consumer will feel'tho pinch in a decided manner. The early new season butter, unless steps are taken to prevent this, may mostly bo'exported under the lmptnal contract, which holds up till June, and the new cheeso will not bo fit for consumption until about November.

Somewhere in tho stricken region of Steenwerck is an Auckland soldier's grave, as devotedly fended as any grave within the access ot those who mourn, thanks to tho kindly thought of a young i'rench girl, states the "Star." Many and close were tho friendships formed (between tho New. Zealand troops .and the civilians in the war zone, born of acts of mutual kindnc-ss and sympathy which the terrible circumstances of war prompted, and even now that the soldiers havo departed for (he distant parts of the earth, hands are still stretched across the sea in token of onduring. esteem and lespect. Private Stanley Hubert Hoare, of Auckland, fell in action two years ago, and, timed to reach.. New Zealand at a .-noment when remcnibi'ancc is most poigna.it, the, French girl has written several touching letters to his relatives. "1 went to tho cemetery yesterday to look after your dear brother's grave," sho wrote to the dead soldier's si'.ter. "Tho weather is getting better, and I hope that it will help "on the pretty flowers that I hafe put in. A fewweeks ago I planted rose trees on both sides so as to have a pretty liedgo of roses when the summer comes. Yesterday I put. in some very pretty plants, with very pale coloured leaves, nearly white, intermixed with cornflowers in the form of a cross. At the foot of tho cross : I puit in a big red paeony to symboliso the (lag and cover up the grave of the poor hero who fell for his country."

On. tho recommendation of the Outly-, ing Districts Committee, it was decided by tho City Council last night that the request of tho Koseneath and Oriental Bay Municipal Association for the emu tion of a drinking trough for horses close to the, fire station at Koseneath, at an estimated cost of i£s, bo granted.

Mr. R. M'Keen, secretary of tho Wellington Labour Representation Committee, has sent circulars to all Labour organisations in tho city inviting them to take part in a monster-meeting to discuss the housing problem. The meeting will be held iii the Town Ilall early next month, and will be something after the style of a "demonstration." A representative from each Labour organisation will have a seat nn tho platform...

Tho meeting of creditors in tho estato of the late Mrs. Margaret Alico Stringer, which was to have been held yesterday, lapsed for want of a quorum. Deceased, whose c-state had been declared bankrupt, was at one time the lessee of tho AVentworth Private Hotel, Wellington. The lease of the hotel .-and tho_ value of some property she owned at Christchurch were stated to show no. surplus, Claims bv the unsecured creditors amounted to ,iioG9, and the only asset was an amount of <£10 in the bank. Tho, petition for bankruptcy was filed by.the administrator of deceased's estate.

Speaking at, last night's, meeting of the City Council, Councillor M. Pi Luckie said he thought tho council should bo empowered to spqnd more . out .of unauthorised expenditure than was allowed at present. Tho council wis*called upon to spend money on all sorts of objects that were deserving of . its best attention, and he considered that it should have a wider limit of expenditure.

In the courso of a lecture which ho gave in Auckland, 'Professor P. D. Worloy stated that it had been established that a person following a sedentary occupation required 2-000 calories ti day, but this quantity increased in proportion to the physical exertion, and for a lumberman 0000 calorics wero required. In this connection the lecturer stated that this had a definite bearing upon wages, because ono could not get more work from a workman than, the amount of fuel in the shape of food ho obtained. A table showed that tho amount of work jier man varied throughwit the world, the figures for England being low and ihose for Japan and China very high. It was quite possible that the values of the foods of tho two countries had a strong bearing upon tho results. .He spoke of the importance of a knowledge of food values in connection with tho rationing of armies and the providing of food at schools and in public institutions, but declared thai; thoro was probably not an institution in the country which fixed the diet on a scientific basis. ■

The eitv millc "supply is only 10 per cent, below normal. On Monday tlio City Council's nMlk department distributed just over MOO gallons of milk. Tt is pointed out that the increase in tho milk supplv is general, and, in addition, tho council is not sparing anv expense in securing all tho available milk. Motor-lorries are running regularly, and uro said to bo giving a very satisfactory ..service. Tho quality of tho milk now coming.to hand is reported to bo very high.

Mr. .T. IT. Hancock, chairman of tho Ocean Beach Domain Board, forwarded a quantitv of marram grass to- the New Zealand. Paper Mills (Matanra) with a view to ifs utilisation in tho manufacture of paper, stales the Daily Times." Mr. Hancock has received a reply stating that the marram grass was" found fo be suitable for tho purpose, but the manufactured article would be improved if old sacks or woolpacks wcro mixed with the grass pulp. A sample of the wrapping paper forwarded with the letter showed it to bo toii"h and of ' satisfactory texture. When normal railway facilities are restored, another consignment will bo forwarded to Mataura so that the experiment may be continued. The experiment is 'not without prospects of success, and if this should bo so, a satisfactory revenue to the Ocean Beach Domam Board will accrue,

"A glorious success," was tho manner in which tho supervisor of manual education (Mr. J. P. Kalaugher) described, at a meeting of tho Auckland Education Board, the recent classcs for farmers at tho Ituakura State Fa/nii. There wore in attendance throughout tlio week sixty-eight farmers from all parts o£ t.lio province, in addition to eighteen returned soldiers and fifteen cadels, who attended the lectures and demonstrations. Owing to the fact of tho Department granting the uso of the newly-erected returned soldiers' building, forty-live of the farmors were accommodated' at the farm. "I have never met a keener or more enthusiastic body of men," said Mr. Kalaugher; "they listened to the lectures with tho greatest interest, and afterwards plied tho speakers with questions."

"I lmve been a resident of tho Auckland district for 70 years," said Major D. H. Lusk, in addressing a Good Loads Meeting at Auckland, "but I cannot say I have had any experience of good roads." Mr. J. A. Shepherd, a member of tho Rodney County Council, later stated that lie had lived in the north lor GO years, and had yet to experience tne benefits of a real road. Mr. Allan Bell referred to settlers who had been ' dumped down" in tho Kaitaia district 30 yeais ago, and had wasted their -lives in the struggle, owing to the neglect of n loading policy.—"Now Zealand Herald.

"This case is one concerning a monace to public health,", remarkod Mr. W. JM'Eldowney at the Magistrates Court; yesterday in a prosecution agamst Sing On Kee for a breach of the by-laws. The information against defendant was that lie left vegetables in a position accessible to dogs. Evidence was given that defendant liad pumpkins, potatoes, and lettuce exposed for view outsido his shop door, the vegetables being on a benoh which stood only ten _ inolies above the pavement. As a previous ■warning had been given to defendant, it was decided to take action on the present occasion. Mr. E. Page, S.M., who heard the case, imposed a fine of <£3, with 7s. costs.

Authority was given the Millc Committee by the City Council last evening to expend the Bum of .£550 on drainage work at the Baliui factor)', Otaki, and ,£I4OO for the purchase of machinery,. including an engine and boiler, for a but-ter-making plant and fixing same.

A Mataura soldier, Sergeant H. M'Quiillan,.who recently returned from tho war, took up a soldier's farm in tlia Boghead district (says the "Ensign")- O ne morning the neighbours sprung a pleasant surprise upon the returned man, who found 13 teams ready' to commence ploughing, and before the day was finished 40 'acres were turned over* Heat for dinner was gratuitously provided by one of the local butchors. The fanners of the district, evidently appreciate what the 6oldiers have done for them, and their_ action-was niudh. appreciated by the soldier-fanner.

Tho City Council decided last evening to postpone further consideration of the housing question until a special meeting to be called for next week.

An inquest was conducted by the Coroner, Mr. W. G. EiddeJl, S.M., 'yesterday touching the death of Harry Howitz, a Russian Jew, 51 years of age, whose body was found floating near the Ferry Wharf, on Sunday. Evidence was given by Constables Cleverley and O'Connor, who recovered the body, that there were signs of liquor about the deceased. The body was still warm when recovered. Samuel S. Heath, manager of the Enstbourne Borough Council's ferry service, said he saw the deceased asleep on a seat at the end of tho Eastbourne Ferry Wharf about 10.15 a.m. on Sunday. Witness roused him and asked him what was the matter. Deoeased, who was undoubtedly under the influence of drink, replied that he was suffering a recovery from the effects of over-indtf.gence on* the Saturday. Other evidence was given that Howitz, who was a cook at Trentham Camp, was' given leave on August 5 for three days, in order that he might proceed to Masterton on business connected with, his naturalisation papers. He did not return, however. In returning a verdict of accidental drowning, the Coroner said that probably deceased stumbled and fell into the water when the' wharf was deserted, otherwise somebody would have raised an alarm..

That all motor-cars should bo compelled to stop behind stationary tramcars, no matter what the width of tho road, was a suggestion made by Councillor L. M'Konzio at last night's meeting of the City Council. Ho said that recently when a motor-car was passing a stationary tram car an accident .to some school-children was narrowly averted. Tho Mayor said that if ho had his way all motorists would bo made to stop behind trnancars which were stationary. Thero were too many instances in which motor-cars dashed past trams which had pulled up at stopping places. Ho thought tho matter was ono which tho city motor inspector might look into with a 'view of seeing whother a by-law could not bo drafted to deal with the subject.

Tho Acting-Consular Agent for Prance in Wellington (Air. Bendalft), has been advised of the progrqss of tho'Universal Commercial Museum of Prance. It has for its object the concentration under ono establishment of specimens, samples, and literature relating to raw materials and finished products, for the inspection and guidance of buyers, of whom some •500,000 have received invitations. Tho museum is.open to nil manufacturers and merchants, in order that they may meet ..buyers from every quarter and "get together" to discuss business, and exchange ideas. Buyers unable to visit the museum aro themselves visited by travellers with samples and all information relating to prices, quality, delivery, and other particulars. •

• At Jast night's meeting of the City Council tho Public Health Committee reported that they had considered a letter from the Wellington Master Plumbers' Union of Employers, urging that a Sanitation Committee bo so? up under section 13 of sub-section 1 of the Public Hoalth Amendment Act, 1918, and that provision bo made for the appointment of a representative of their union to such committee. The committee was of opinion that at the present time thoro was no necessity for such a committee to bo set up, and recommended that tho secretary of the union be informed accordingly. Tho Recommendation was approved.

"The only thing I object to is the price," remarked' Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., while speaking of motor-cars in the course of a speech at Tataraimaka (Tnranaki). The cost to people in this country could bo lessened if definite steps wero taken to deal with tho matter, and ho thought New Zealand would yet bo in a position to manufacture her own ears at a cheap price that would place them within tho reach of everybody. To illustrate what sometimes took place with regard to price.?, Mr. Smith mentioned that some years ago it was found that sewing machines costing ,£2 15s. on importation were being soCd for from J?l2 to <£14.

Councillor J. Hutchison, in referring to tho contract for printing tho tramway tickets, urged that the council should go in for a printing plant of its own, and asked tho Finance Committee to tako tho .matter into consideration in tho near futuro. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said that the matter had been gono into somo years ago, and, on examination, was not so attractive as it seemed. However, there was no objection to inquiring into tho matter again.

Another now political party i 6 announced in Christehnrch, the People's League. Ouo of the demands of tho league is as follows: "That the Regulation of Trade and Commorco Act be gazetted in its entirety to cover all commodities, and bo made retrospee.tivo to August 11), 19H." The demand lias evidently beon framed in ignorance of tho law. Timo w;as when tlio Act was applicable to certain articles of food only. As _ tho Act is now it applies to "any artielh of food for human consumption, «nd ingredients used in tho manufacture of such article." The request that tho statute be mado retrospective is, of course, quito impossiblo of fulfilment. The law was amended to its present form by tho Cost of Living Act, introduced and passed in the 1915 session.

At tljfo Hamilton Polico Court,' Harry T. Gillies, solicitor, when charged with contempt of' Court by leaving the Court hurriedly and abandoning a caso on July 28 and failing to appear when summoned by tho Magistrate (Mr. Burton), said ho wished to apologise. He'realise"!! that he should have asked leave to withdraw, Tho Magistrate accopted the apology, and said that ho thought that the solicitor noted oil tho spur cf tho moment—Press Awn,'

In Groat Britain the scarcity of raw materials for furniture-niakinp is being mot by the use of cheap, plain timbers, painted or grained l . This gives an inexpensive article and allows of a greater volume of manufacture. Trained labour is scarce, cabinetmakers and upholsterers being advertised for at 2s. per hour for a week of 51 working hours, with no reduction on weekly wages before the hours are reduced. Women's wages before tho war averaged about Ms. per week. The average is now 155., and they are demanding, through their union, 2!d. inoro per hour.

The man who on Monday evening was knocked down by n tramcar and was admitted to the hospital suffering from a fractured skull, was last night reported to bo still unconscious, and still unidentified. His condition was considered critical at an early hour this morning.

On the subject of approaches to bridges, tho Finance Committee of tho City Council reported last evening that they had received a circular letter from the New Zealand Automobile Union with reference to tho painting of approaches to bridges, and recommended tliat tho City Engineer be instructed to comply with the request in so far as it affects any bridges under the control of the council. The recommendation was approved.

A Press Association telegram from Cliristclinrch states that the Mayor intends to agitata for the old Provincial Government Buildings site being handed to tho city by the Government, the old Provincial Council Chamber to be used as n Hall of Memories, mid the remainder of the site for a peace memorial.

The suggestion that members of the Public Service, including the railwaymen and the police, are contemplating affiliation with the party at present led bv well-known apostles of Socialism, was made in an article published in a Wellington paper on Monday. A deputation representing the Public Service Assocition. which includes among its members the Police Force, waited, on the Minister of Justice (the Hon. T. M. Wilford) yesterday to assure him that there was no truth, in the suggestion, and to ilive this assurance, especially with respect to the Police Force. The deputation could not speak for the Post and Telegraph Association or the • railway societies, but Mr. Allport, president, and Sergeant lopdoll, of the police, both declared that the Public Service Association had never even considered affiliation with any outside body such as suggested, and thjji the association had no intention of doing so. Sergeant Lopdell sfiid that police were a loyal and dutiful body of men, and that they would not be false to their oath of office in the. manner suggested. The Minister, in reply, expressed satisfaction with the assurances given, and also expressed his own opinion that the police were a loyal and patriotic body of men,, who would not ally themselves .with the body mentioned. He felt justified in repudiating on his own account the suggestion that they would ever be disloyal or unfaithful t(f their oath of office. All tha.t he said about the party with whom it was suggested that the police were about to amalgamate was this: "The man without a country is no good to any country. Tho man who has not some country that lie feels prepared to make a sacrifice for is better out of this country."

A Press Association message, from Glsborne states that it is reported from Tokomaru Bay that Linton Kunciman, eldest son of Mr. G. .A. Runciman, manairer of the Makarika Station, is missing. Ilis horse was found on Monday evening across a flooded river. Search par. ties were yesterday scouring the country.