LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 285, 28 August 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Repayment of loans made "by the Wellington Repatriation Board under the Repatriation Act is now proceeding at tho rate of some .£7OO a month. With a few exceptions, tho repayments arc regular. Tho hoard insists upon applicants repaying loans as quickly as possible, tho idea being to enforce a saving in funds, and'enable the Department to help more men with a given amount of capital.' The amount of the repayment for July, for example, would suffice- to start two or three men in business.

A conference of directors of technical colleges and schools throughout New Zealand is to be held in Wellington on September 9. On the succeeding two days a conference of directors and representatives of technical school boards will lie held. The placo of meeting will probably lie the Education Board's room, Among those invited to attend the general conforence are the Director .of Education (Dr. Anderson), the Superintendent of Technical Education (Sir. W. S. La Trobe) and Dr. Hanson, of Christchurch. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has consented to deliver a speech of welcome at the opening of the general conference oil September 10.

"One of tho most important tasks of repatriation hoards," said Mr. T. S. Weston (chairman of the, Wellington Board) yesterday, "is that of seeing that apprentices who have served their country nro taken back by their old masters and paid a fair rate of wages. As these men are both older, and in many cases better, for their experience, most employers arc glad-to deal liberally with them, and grant them wages in excess of those towhich thev are entitled under the awards. Tho Government has to make the wages up to .£1! per week, and thus it will be seen that the generosity ol' employers can much reduce the burden placed upon the Stale. There, are some employers, however (fortunately in u very small minority), who are inclined to bo mean, and stand upon their strict legal rights. In justice to the rTval employers, who aro generous, the officors of the board always endeavour to make them recogniso tho unfairness of their attitude—and generally with success. Consequently, it. has not been necessary for tho District Repatriation Board to intervene and pass any resolution on the matter."

Every now and then an individual with some mental kink arises in a city or village, and through his pranks, which may bo more or less harmful, becomes a disturbing element in the neighbourhood, says tlio "Lyttelton Times." At the present time there is a person with a peculiar form of mania, who is causing no littlo perturbation in a portion of the Fapanui district. It is towards the dusk of evening that, tho offender makes his presence known, and tho victims of his molestations up to date havo been womenfolk. According to infoimation received, the man hides in a by-road, and when a girl or woman passes by on a bicyclo lie ia quickly awheel, and silently pursues them. Immediately tho stealthy cyclist gets alon;;sido tho other rider, it/ is stated that his custom has been to give the woman or girl, as tho case may he, a blow or push, which causes her to fall on tho roadway. The period of those happenings has now extended over about two months, and thoy have been duly reported to tho police authorities, but it is understood that nothing has yet been clearly established to lead to the identity of this terror of the country roadways.

There is talk these days, that the Belgian lion which, from its vantage' point on the great mound at Waterloo lias long glared defiance at Prance, is about to bo tur.ped about in order that it may transfer its glaro toward Germany. Tho suggestion for this about-face of the famous beast, is said to have been made by one of tho many American soldiers who twico n day were taken by the Young Men's Christian Association 011 a sightseeing trip from Brussels to Waterloo. Tho idea received favour at once. The guides mentioned it to their various parties, and so much sentiment has grown up in its favour that tho Belgian people themselves aro seriously considering the matter, and favourably) 100, it is said.

Tho plan for an educational institution, thoroughly unique in conception and purpose, is being worked out bv Mr. •T. Ziegncr Unburn, at Riverside, California. This institution is designed to bo different from the conventional house of learning in that it is thought out in terms of Pan-Americanism. It is to be called tho Pali-American University, and all of its forms and functions, according to ils prospectus, are designed to promote unity and progress among the republics of the three Americas. Organised and incorporated' under the laws of tho State of California, tho Pan-American University is described as "an international educational institution for advanced learning for the American hemisphere." An academic department will contain ail Ilia branches of learning and all the methods of instruction to be found in any of the graduate schools of tho American hemisphere, and all courses and methods of instruction will be shaped to meet the needtf of Pan-Americanism. The extension department will provide for the exchango of professors, teachers, and students between the _ universities and schools of the American continent and an exchange of the artistic and histrionic talent of the Americas. The plan will be financed by individuals and, it is expected, by the governments of tho American continents.

• The Christchnrch Hospital Board decided to appoint Miss Aluir lady superintendent. A proposal to reappoint Miss Thuraton, formerly lady superintendijnt, who was granted leave o£ absence . for war services and is filling the position of matron of the chief New Zealand hospital in England, was defeated, on tho casting vote of tho chairman,—Press Association. '

At a late hour last night the hospital authorities advised Hint there was 110 improvement in the condition of Albert Georee Gunders, who slipped whilst alighting from a moving tramcar in Manners Street on Tuesday.

A Tress Association telegram from Dannevirke states that the examination of applicants for sections in the Tirahu soldiers' settlement'concluded yesterday afternoon. The ballot will take place this morning.

Altogether twenty beasts were lost as the result of the stampede of cattle on the railway bridge across the Kauaeranga Riv.er (wires a Thames correspondent). Tho whole mob of 158 went through and over tlie 6ides of the bridge, which was open between the sleepers. It wis a dark night, and although a gang was quickly organised, rescue work was very difficult, owing to tho deep nature of the mud, and some of the animals having only their heads above. The loss is roughly estimated at =£200.

When a claim for possession of premises was called at the Hamilton Magistrate's Court the other day, Mr. Swarbrick, for the plaintiff, said he would have, to accent a nonsuit, for since taking proceedings ho had learned that tho defendant was a soldier within the meaning of the War Regulations, and. therefore could not bo turned out of the house. It seemed rather peculiar, however, that the plaintiff, who was a' returned soldier, found, on his return from active service, ■that he could not obtain possession of his house because it was occupied by a man who was in camp when the armistice was signed. Mr. Smith, for the defendant, said that he was quite willing to give up the house when ho could get another. The caso was struck out.— "New Zealand Herald."

A question as,to whether the Harbour Board would be in favour ,of erecting' a boatshed at Island Bay was asked by •Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., at last night's meeting of the board. There was plenty of demand for such a shed, he said, and, in his opinion, it/would be a payable proposition for the board. The chairman, Mr. J, G. Harkncss, pointed out t'.'at the board had no control ovor land above high-water mark. Before any . definite steps could be takon in the matter it would be necessary for tho board to have such control.

A motor-car wliich Mr. F. H. Ford was driving down Wyndhum Street, Auckland, on Saturday afternoon got out of hand through the steering gear carrying away (says an Auckland paper). Mr. Ford immediately shut oil' the engine, but on the steep grade the car gathered pace, changing direction at every stono the wheels struck. Finally it crashed into a street lavatory, the car lifting about five feet into the air, The occupant avoided' being thrown out by tigntly gripping the back of the seat befovo tho impact came. The engine and front portion of tho car were crumpled up. -

A Christmas tree for horses is a novel idea, but one was held in Boston Post Office Square, where hundreds of horses woro provided by the S.P.C.A. workers each with a 'box of oats, some carrots, and apples, while tho drivers were regaled with hot cotfeo and dough nuts. This society has also a rest farm for weary horses. At 11 -a.m. to-day aa officer of H.M.S. New Zealand will present a New Zealand ensign to the Newtown School on behalf of the Navy League, in recognition of the school having passed the 100-mark in membership.

Mr. R. L. Andrews (analyst, Dominion Laboratony) lt(st evening a meeting ot' the Wellington Philosophical' Society on "Milk, with ielation to infant feeding." .Mr. Androws put before his hearers the results cf analyses of various forms, of milk used for infant feeding. "Modified milk," lie said, "approached human milk much more closely in composition than the average patent food. He expressed the opinion that in New Zealand there should bo a special milk supply 'for* infants, and that such supply should be rum on the lines established by the certified milk movement ill the United States of' America. 'Certified milk'-was produced under rigid sanitary auditions, and was not permitted to con-, tain more than 10,000 bacteria to tho cubic centimetre. AVlien it was considered that a fairly good ordinary milk might contain 500,000 bacteria per cubic centimetre, and that milk was commonly vc-nded containing many millions of bacteria, per cubic 'ienti'iictro, it would bo seen that bactcrially certified milk was an immense advance on urdinary market milk, Mr. Andrews instanced the results achieved by the supply of certified milk properly modified to 568 tenement children in Newark (U.S.A.). fie pointed out that the milk alone reduced to 2.7 per cent, a mortality rate that, commonly langed from 25 to 90 per cent.'

A startling mishap, happily without serious consequences to those concerned, befell Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Tatton and thrco of their children recently (says tho Nelson "Mail") whilo motoring. On the Maitai Itoad the attoution of Mr. Tatton, who was driving, Was momentarily diverted by ai noiso from 0110 of tho wheels of tho car. He leaned over tho door to find out what was tho matter, when the door flow open, and throw him oft" his balance. 111 recovering himself Mr. Tatton lost control of tho steering wheel, and the car shot over tho bank into the river, and tho occupants floated out. Mr. Tatton, with tho assistance of Mr. Boyes, who happened to bo in tho vicinity, rescued Mrs. Tatton and family, who were swept down some distance, tho river bsing in fresh at tho time. The river, fortunately, is narrow at this particular point, otherwise tho work of rescuing would have been much more difficult. The car did not overturn, but settled ("own in water daap enough to ju&t about caver it. Tho sudden plunge was, of course, a shock to tile occupants ai the ear, especially so to the infant eiiiid; but beyond this no ill-effects are. anticipated. The ear was subsequently dragged from tho river, and with the exception of the effects of tho water, was undamaged, not even the wind-screen belnj broken.

At a representative meeting of prominent Liberals it was decided to tender a reception to Sir Joseph Ward in tho Town Hall on Monday nest.

The Wellington Repatriation Board effects a considerable saving to applicants by drawing up legal documents in its own office,' and so cutting out tho expense of employing a solicitor. Something more tlm a hint that tram fares in Christohubh would shortly be increased was thrown out by the chairman of tho Tramway Board (the Hon. .1. Barr) at the board's last meeting, in tho course of a discussion 011 the board s finances.—'"Lyltelton Times." Dr. Tbacker, M.P., Mr. G. Witty, M.P., and Mr. M'Combs, M.l\, met the members of the Superannuated Railway Men's Association at Christchurch to consider tlio movement by the superannuated men to obtain tho 3s. per day increase to railwnymen who are now on superannuation at the rate of one-sixlicth for each year's service and to make it retrospective. Tho members, after listening to the men, considered they had a just claim, and promised to bring tho matter before Parliament.—"Lyttelton Times." A plea for the preservation of the English language was made by Mr. llieliard Brown at the literary lecture m the Y.M.C.A. Hall on Tuesday night. Much of tho faulty grammar and spelling 111 evidence to-day, he stated, was directly traceable to American fiction now flooding the market. Mr. Brown thought the English of Shakespeare, Ruslcin, iennyson, Macaulay, and Thackeray was i a standard many would accept. . In urging the study of the great authors, the speaker observed that language was the greatest power iu the world to-day, aud created every other power. English was tho most powerful tongue in the world; science, art, commerce, the intellect all basked under it; jiowhero else was there such.a literature as we possess. By-and-bv tho English tongue would, he urged, be the world's tongue. Concluding, the speaker stressed the importance of valuing and preserving our mother tongue and to seek by every means to correctly express it. Literary societies' and reading circles offered good opportunities to that end. A correspondent of the Clutha "Leader" writes Anyone driviug to Balclutha from the south last sale day would have seen an interesting sight—an elderly lady driving her own sheep to the saleyards. Sometimes 6ho was at the hack of them, aided by her trusted dog, and then again, 'like the shepherds of old,' in front of them, plodding steadily on. One could not ]ielp admiring the shepherdess, and thinking how independent she was of man's aid."

• "The abrupt ending of the coalition by Sir Joseph Ward, immediately prior'to the sitting of Paiiiament," said Mr. Vernon H. Reod, M.P., at Auckland, "must by its, suddenness create grave difficulties in the country's finances, -.nd throw into confusion such national problems as soldiers' settlement, repatriation, production, and commerce.". Mr. Reed added that it might be good tactics from an electioneering point of view, but it sayourej of sacrificing tha country to gain a political advantage. The great work of reconstruction, upon which so much depended for tha future development, prosperity, and happiness of the nation, had been now thrown into the maelstrom of petty party strife. Now Ministers wo.ulsl be hurriedly summoned to take up the important portfolios of Finance, Supplies, Repatriation, and Commerce, jind master the intricacies of each. The impending great victory loan and the shortage of coal supplies were of grave concern to the nation, and it was difficult to think tliut iV.iy Minister could give that "service, which the nation expected, when called upon suddenly to take up the work abandoned by another, within a few days of what must be a difficult session. "The secret of the sudden break was well kept," said Mr. Heed, "even the notification, summoning members to Parliament' was signed by a Liberal .Minister, who is now resigning before Parliament meets."