LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 279, 21 August 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association telegram from Ohristchurch states that the transport Somerset, which arrived ot Lyttolton yesterday, brought a big English mail, consisting of COO bags, for the Dominion. Before the end of the year tho Post and Telegraph Department will have overtaken tho demand for telephone connections. Applications accumulated during tho later part of the war, owing (0 tin shortage of equipment, and some of tho •people who are now being provided with telephones havo been wailing a year or more. Tho growth of tho telephone servico in New Zealand has been remark' nble, ill spite of the feinporiry check inflicted by the war. Since I'JIO the number of direct connections to telephone exchanges has increased from 25,212 to 57,572, the number of miles of telephone

v/iro in use has increased from 35,233 to 1C5.9C2. and the receipts havo grown from jCm,2SS to .£273,169. When His Majesty's Trado Commissioner for New Zealand (Mr. li. W. Dalton) went 011 an official visit to the United Kingdom somo months ago, the general supervision of his work in tho Dominion was entrusted to tho senior Trade Commissioner for Australia, Mr. M'Grcgor. Owing to t!ie dislocation of shipping services and other obstacles, Mr. M'Gregor has not been able to visit New Zealand, but he is expected to arrive 011 tho Niagara next week, and will then undertake an official tour of the Dominion. The Sunday preceding National Steeplechase day has in time-honoured custom | been the day of tho year when the jockeys of the North Island- should try conclusions on tho football field with tho jockeys of the South lslaiuL Tho annual contest has bccomc what might be termed "fl popular gathering," and 011 tho last occasion, Sunday, August 10—when South Island won—the Tramway Board ran special oars to Riccarton. The Christchureh Council of Churches discussed tho mutter on Monday night. Tho liev. P. Knight, in moving "That a protest be entered against public football matches being played 011 Sundays, and public conveyances being used to tako people to those matches," said that ho was not an everlasting "Don't"—in fact, he thought it was no sin for people to go to tho 'beach or tho hii'.ls on a Sunday afternoon, but 110 thought the council must protest against the city trams being used to convey people to football matches on a Sunday. The. motion was unanimously carried. Tho sudden death occurred at Pctone about 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday of Mrs. E. It. Pudney, the licensee of the Grand National Hotel. Deceased, whose maiden namo was Richardson, was married only «n August 12, and had returned from Christchureli 011 Friday last. Mrs. I'udney complained 011 her return of a cough, but was not otherwise unwell. Silo re--1 mained in lied all day Tuesday, and seemed to bo getting rid of her cold. She , was talking 'to her sister at 4 p.m., aud suddenly expired about half tin hour lator. Dr. Harding examined the 1 body, but could only declare life' ex- : tinct. An inquest was conducted by Mr. ■ E. Page. S.M., Coroner, and a verdict was reArded tl|at death was duo to heart 1 failure. ) Tho man vrfio was knocked down by r. tramcar on Monday died at the hospital at 1.15 p.m. yesterday, without regaining 1 consciousness. Up to tho present tho ! deceased has not been identifiod. lie 1 appeared to be between 40 and 45 years ! of age, was about sft. fiin. in height, and, except for a brownish moustache, was clean-shaved. When picked uii ' after tho accident ho was wearing a blue 1 serge 6uit and a hard hat. Written on • the bajid of tho hat was the 1101110 "G. [ Vallor," but beyond this there was 110 , further cluo as to his identity. From his appearance it is assumed that ho was a working man, _ possibly a waiter 1 or a cook. No inquiries for any inlss- > ing man havo been received b.v tho . police, who aro anxious that the identity , of the deceased should be established as soon as possible. I 111 a communication received by yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Education Hoard, the Wanganui Board urged ! i that the Government be asked to simply ; a suitable peace memento to eacih school child. Tho proposal did not meet with j. support. Tho letter was merely "10- ' ceived." ' i The strength of the Wellington Tech--1 1 nical Education Board was recently re- • ! duced by tho department to 15 memi | hers. Upon tho announcement of this | decision, tho ■Wellington Education Board , I invited the Minister to consider the ad- ' I visability of granting a membership of J I 17. Yesterday the board was informed ' | that its request could not bo acceded to. - 1 A resolution expressing appreciation of ) i tho work done by the. Teachers' histi- ] j tuto ill conncctioil with the children's | peaco celebrations was carried by yester ' 1 day's meeting of the Education Board. ' Tho mover was Mr. J. .T. Clark, k William Bean, aged 20 year?, youngor.l - son of Mr. H. D. Bean, of Kailaratahi, , had an unenviable expericnco recently (re- ' port:} tho "Poverty Bay Herald"). Ho was riding over Cooper's estate at Here, nnd was thrown from his horse about 0 ! o'clock in the morning. Iseing unalj:c to ' remount his horse he sent it away, in 1 tho hope that it would rouini to the j homestead, but owing to the gates being 1 ' shut this did not work out as hoped, lie endeavoured ' n Kp wl his dogs away, but they would not leuvo him. As night; 1 fell, and he had not returned, Mr. Tny--3 lor, the station manager, accompanied by e some of the station hands, constituted a 1 search party. They travelled all over tho back of tho station throughout the night, and did not find Mr. Bean until about 9 o'clock tho next morning. He " had boon 24 hours in the rain, and besides " suffering 110 was also much oxhausted f through pain and exposure.

On Tuesday morning Messrs. B. Keesing (chairman of the Educational Committee of the Navy League) and Mr. Clulha Mackeiizio visited the Koseneath anil llataitai Schools, when (he former gentleman presented to er»ch scholar ii Xeif Zealand ensign—the reward of 'having a roll of oyer ono hundred members in the Navy Lengue, a fact which redounds to the credit of tho headmaster, Mr. Jiobert Darroch, who is an enthusiastic member of the league. At both schools Mr. Mackenzie gave very interestiijrr addresses on t'iie uchicvoments 01 the •Vavy during the late war, that were listened to with marked attention and appreciation.

The students of Victoria College are desirous of planting ivy or some ether creeper against the red brick walls of tho college buildings, and naked recently for t.ho consent of the College Council. When tho matter was mentioned at a meeting of tho council last night, tho Registrar said he. had been informed by the architect that ivy or another creeper would not do any harm to the walls. Sir Robert Stout remarked that Knox Church, at Dunedin, had formerly had a very beautiful growth of ivy against its walls, but tho plant had been removed because it was doing damage. Ihe church was built of stone. Iho council decided to give the students authority to plant ivy or such other creeper as mi"bt be recommended by the architect and Professor Kirk saw no objection to the proposal. . ■ A painful accident befel a thirteen-year-old boy named Jack Eider, who resides with his parents at No. t Walter Street, about, midday yesterday. the lad .was riding on a motor lorry, which lie mounted as it passed the Queens Wharf. AYhen the lorry reached the Central Fire Station he jumped off, and one of the wheels of the vehicle passed over his left ankle, inflicting an injury which necessitated his removal to the Hospital. At yesterday's meeting of the Education Board, Sir. J. P. Shand criticised the action of tho Lyall Bay School Committee in going direct to tho Minister of Education in order to urge the acquirement of a certain piece of land. lie pointed out that the bourd dealt with tho matter some time ago, and received from the department a reply, of which it duly advised tho committee. _ He thought that the committee had slighted tlie board by "going behind its back. Mr 'I'. Forsyth (chairman) explained that when Hie'board put the proposal before the Department, tho Department declined it on tho. sround that it ' was not good enough." The board had fully discharged its duty in the matter. At this stage the discussion lapsed.

"Once a neurasthenic, always a neurasthenic," declared Dr. M. Louisson, in giving evidence at the Supreme Court at Christchurch on Monday. Dr. Louisson said that any person suffering from neurasthenia was always liable to fall a victim to it again, notwithstanding that he might be quite henlliiy in l»tween. Mr. Justico Herdman expressed surpriso at this statement, and asked the witness for his authority. .Witness said his statement had been based-.upon his own experience.

When replying yesterday to a deputation from the Kindergarten Association, the Minister of Education (tho Hon. J. A. Hanan) inadu appreciative reference to the interest which Mr. William Ferguson hail toKen ill educational matters and to the report 011 education which lie had submitted to tlio Government when chairman of tho National Efficiency Hoard. 'He said that die recognised tliu need l'or extending the scopo of education in tho direction of making provision for those children uuder fivo years of age receiving instruction and for continued education for those over 11. All countries, were awakening to the lact that the "break ill the education of those between 14 and 18 —that was'between the time they left school and took up employment—should cease. They should bo given such instruction as would' make tliciu not only better tradesmen and more efficient workers, but enablo them to iullil tlieir responsibilities as citizens. Last session ho had succeeded in ihaying legislation passed to onablo regulations to be issued to provide for continued education in that direction. He hoped that-the time was not far distant when the enabling powers would be taken advantage of.

Tho moral effect of ■ camp life on youths was dealt with by LieutenantColonel Colqulioun at a meeting of returned soldiers at Dunodin last week. He said ho had no time for the suggestion that camps had a bad moral elfect. Of course, much depended on tho officer in charge. Wihorever a large number of youths gathered together there might ba a certain amount of looseness. Ho had a wide experionce of camp life in New. Zealand and England, and he thought that one great thing was that when youths got together they knew how to ileal with their fellow creatures, how to work with tlieni, and how to be more tolerant. Tliey came back to civil lifn better men, more tolerant and better fitted to carry out their ordinary duties. They were stronger not only physically, but "morally too. They had nothing to fear 011 the moral side for young men getting into camp.

Drapers in England have been advised that lower prices for certain kinds of sewing cotton were to come into operation 011 May 10. At present 71d. is charged for a red that before the war cost 2',d. Manchester firms estimate that about <£10,000,000 worth of cotton goods—yarn and cloth —will bo released by tho romoval of the restrictions 011 exports to Holland, Dcnmnrkv Norway. Sweden, and Switzerland. Sweden has actually paid for 412,00(1,000 worth of goods at present in Manchester warehouses. A general improvement in tho cotton industry is anticipated. ,

Members of the locomotive branch of the railway service are stated to bo sn dissatisfied wilih their working conditions that many resignations have taken place, and others are likely to. follow, 6ays an exchange. Seven engine-driver. 1 ) on tho Auckland-Frankton run are said in have resigned last month, the reasons civen being insufficient pay, irregular hours dsmestic inconvenience, nnd deprivation of social life. It is that all tho men who havo resigned aro married men. somo of whom havo b«c-n in the service from thirteen to twenty years, nnd that whilo one or two nave other positions to take up, the remainder intend Inking their chance 011 the open lalwur market. .Comparing the_ wages paid here with those in Australia they point out tho mtes of pay prevailing locally are from 4s. to Ss. per day lower than <in the other side.

An interesting statement was made at the conference at Dunediii last week between the Returned Soldiers' Association and members of Parliament on Wie pronoci»d four months' camp. Mr. Statham, M p., asked Lieutenant-Colonel D. Colrniho'un for his views on the matter. Look-ins at tho proposal from the purelv military noint of view, said tho colonel, he thought that no doubt such a camp would make for efficiency in turning out a military machine. But then, of course, they had to look at it from tho oth. l r noint of view—the Inking nwdv of ynths from their ordinary civil life. There was 110 doubt if they got men for a continuous period, say. three or four months at n time, it. would make for military efticici l "'-'. ITe ibought for a country liko New Zenland it was neoes°a.ry to have an or<wsmtio?i. The Territorial Forces supplied the officers and n.e.o.'s. They should h-we- classes for them and cot Si'-m well iviined. It was not altogether necessary in a country like New Zealand io have the rank am' file trained, because if they had the organisation—the officer" "nnd " fnirlv large proportion of n.c.o.V-it did not tnke long to _ twin the rank and file for any emergencies.

A shout of laughler interrupted Sir Joseph Word for a few moments .during thi* civic reception to Lord .Tollieoo at 111? Town ITall vesterdey. "What I adivivo in T.ord Jellicoe—and I want to snv it in his proseticu, because I cannot i-.TV j|- on nn occasion like this in hi< absence " the Minister for Finance r" marked. The "brill" delighted Ihe audience.

A complaint, shout "the nrvoiles I'-.0-laiily laiily thai goes on in shearing idled.," litis reached tho Wellington brunch of the boe'ety for the Prevention of Cruelty lo Animals from the South Island. The correspondent steles that some shejrer"(alio no care whatever when they arc shearing, and not infrequently so mutilate the sheep that they havo to be killed, this merely for Ihe sake, of increasing their tally." At a meeting of Ihe society a. suggestion was made that inspectors 6hould be appointed to visit tlu sheds during tho shearing season, and that tho Formers' Union should be asked to support tho schema financially, in view of tho loss that careless shearing wns causing them.

The following special order signed by Lieutenant-Colonel J. .1. Essou, C.M.G., commanding, appears in battalion orders of the sth (Wellington) Regiment: "lhe commanding officer desires, ou behalf ot' tho regimental officers who were absent on duty elsewhere, to record 'tho high appreciation in which tho service rendered by all officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, who, during the war did duly with the regiment is held. Tho commanding officer is specially indebted to Major Simm, who temporarily commanded the regiment from February 18. 191(i. to March % 1919. Major Siinma personal influence and self-sacriheing efforts have been of the highest possible value, ant! it is largely due. to him that the future prospects of the regiment are so bright."

At last evening's meeting of the B® o ' logical section of the Wellington 1 hilosophieal Society, a member produced an exhibit of sand purporting to contain iron. The particular sand was discovered at Lyall Bay recently, when a clivrt glittering patch varying from the common sand was noticed. A sample w«£ procured, and it was found to coiuain iron grannals. A roagnot jjlaced nea the exhibit attracted the minute iron particles. It was mentioned that n previous report of tho exis>ence ot sucn cand at Lyall Bay had been received, and it is proposed to further test tno samplo to ascertain whether 1S I >U iron suud.

Mr. Galway, who is to be adjudicator at the Duned'in Competitions, is on board the steamer Durham, which is due to-day. A I'res? Association message from Gisboi'iio states that no trace has been found of the missing young man, lamon Ituneiinan. liuncimali spent tho weekend at home, at Makarika Station, ana left on Sunday oil his Tohivn. to Horaliora, Station, in company with another. They had to cross a ilooded creek, when Ifunciiiian's mato was swept down stream, lihero he scrambled out, but saw no sigii of his companion. A search was instituted, and subsequently Kunciman s horse was found on the opposite side of . the creek. The missing man had onJy just returned from serviw in France.

A letter from Lieutenant-Colonel J. L. Sleeman, Director of Military Trainin;;, accompanying a copy of the new 6yllabns of training for Senior Cadets, was before the Victoria College Conncil last evening. Lieutenant-Colonel hleeman said that the syllabus aimed clnctly at character building and physical development. The qualities that were intended to bo produced would bo ot value to the youths in whatever walk ot life they entered. He hoped that the council would support the Defence Department in its effort to improve the Cadet training. The council, on tho recommendation of the Finance and Business Committee, postponed consideration of the matter until tho December meet'HS- , . When tho public were made aware ot tho many reforms which he had carried out during his term of ofhee, said the Hon. J. A. Hanan yesterday, in reply to a deputation from the Kindergarten Association, he believed that tliey would form ft favourable verdict on the work accomplished, particularly when they recognise the difficulties that ho had had to contend with during that period by reason of the war and other conditions. There were many forward-looking progressive proposals which lie had been formulating, and whioh he was to see introduced, and he hoped that whoever succeeded him as Minister 01 Education would be given an opportunity of obtaining the necessary legislation to give effect to same. A great deal had been said in the past of the rights ot men and women, but 'he tvas 6ttongiy convinced that in this country the rights of the children should receive more practical recognition at tho hands of the State. It was tho duty of all to see that the reasonable needs of the children in the matter of health and education were met, an.d he expressed the hope that at the next election the people would make education a leading issue and press for substantially increased grants being made for tho purpose.