LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 286, 29 August 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wireless advice has been received from the Atheiu.e with Eeturning Dr'nf* Ko '77 on board, stating that she will arrive "at Wellington on Monday morning next Her complement comprises -l-i2 troops 35S wives rind ;76 children. The Ellinga with Eeturning Draft No. 27(1 on buiud is due at Newcastle to-day, and is expected to reach Auckland on Septembers Imucrial Details ex Ormcndn aro expected to arrive at Auckland,by the Port Melbourne on September i ' ■

Tho Prime Minister has promised to meet n depulati'.n of of butler producers shortly. Tho request the producers wish to make to him is that tho equalisation fund sliuukl bo (liscontimied. and that the cost of ■■iviiiß the people bnlter at Ihu Di'csoiil fixed rate sh-iuld be borne by (he (_onsolidati.'d Fund.

Considerable datiuigu was suslninn 1 oy one of tho hospital motor ambulances yesterday, as a result of <i collision with a heavilv-loadcd motor lorry ownnd by Messrs. Munt, Cottrell anrt Company. The ambulance was, it is understood, proceeding along .Hallancc Street, on its way In l'ebiie. and when at the intersection of Feiitherston Street it came into collision .with -the motor lorry, which was loaded with firewood. The lorry struck the 'nnibulonco .iust behind the driver's fieat, smashing the woodwork, windows, Hie running-board, mud-guards, and damaging the rear off-wheel. The lorry was only eliglitly; damaged. Fortunately there was no one in tho ambulance except the driver, and he escaped injury

At the conclusion of the meeting of tho Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid lioard yesterday, Mrs. Beck snid that slio wished, to air complaints that had heeii made to her as to tho way in which certain Hospital fond was cooked and vegetables washed. It had been reported to her that slugsihad been found in tho cabbage on patients' plates, and the meat MS so hard that there-were times when it could not be eaten. Mr. J. W. M'liwan (uhuinuaii of tho Hospital Committee) said hu would not refer the tiattcr to tho committee, but would at once sue •.he housb steward about the matter, and if he could get no satisfaction he would see what could be done in another way. Mr. F. T.'Moore said Hint if the Hospital would pay the price it could get i? good meat as anyone else. Mrs. Aitk-m said that was not the cause of the trouble. The meat was all right—it \<as vho wn.y it v/is cooked. Regulations niade under, the Distillation Act, IiKJS, for the government of stills are gazetted. The fir.-t Dominion conference of School Committees' Associations will be held on September I.' Keplics from al! associations have been received advising that delegates will be present on their behalf. The Executive Council of tho Wellington Competitions Society have now issued the syllabus for the competitions to be held in November next. The- programme issued embraces vocal and instrumental music, all sections of elocution, national and fancy dancing, while' the choir, contest is expected to attract a largo entry. The committee are also inviting entries for a cover design. The syllabus can be obtained from any music dealer, or from the secretary. Entries for all subjects will close on Septoniber 22. An instruction has been promulgated' bv Defence Headquarters dealing with the issue of free railway passes to soldiers in hospital. A free return railway pass may, at the discretion of tho O.C. of the hospital concerned, be granted to in-patients after having been under treatment for one month, and thereafter one free railway . pats . every three months. In the event of any such patients being medically unfit to travel, a free railway pass'may be issued, as above, to permit (il the next-of-kin visiting them in hospital.

Tiie Wellington College Old Girls' Association havo decided to establish a oot in the children's ward of the Wellington Hospital. The association has handed in a sum of JC3O, and they propose that the cot should be financed from year to rear. The association has been thanked for its offer, and informed that the association would have its name-plate over the cot so long as the cot was financed.

Information has been received by the New Zealand Defence authorities from the War Office to the effect that the holding of Army entrance examination's overseas for admission to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, hns been abolished. Candidates will be admitted on tho recommendation of His Excellency tho Governor-General, Not more than two candidates can be accepted for any particular entry. „ .

Distinctions in dress for wounds, similar to those' authorised in 1916, may now lie worn by officers, soldiers, and member's of the military and nursing services in respect of wounds sustained in iiny campaign prior to August 4, 1914— that is, one strip of cold braid mny 1)6 worn for each occasion on which an officer, etc., was wounded. Retired officers, ex-officers, discharged soldiers, and retired nurses w.ho were in direct military employment mny, if duly qualified,, wear these distinctions on plain clothes. Army Order 313 of 1918 remains in force as regards eligibility for. and the wearing of, tho distinction in dress for wounds for all officers, soldiers, etc., who have been wounded in any of Iho campaigns since August 4, 1914.1 Official casualty lists or records constitute the authority for wearin? wound stripes. Accidental and selfinflicted wounds do not qualify. Any unauthorised person who wears the distinction in dress for wounds is liable to prosecution. ' .

A general instruction issued by Defence. Headquarters provides that the disposal of fat. bones, qnd refuse from camps and hospitals shall lie supervised and accounted for by A.S.C. services, and nil money* from sales shall bo paid into the public account. The accounts must he available for audit when called for, and will show all overhead charts for labour, material, rent, depreciation,' etc., ,to enable net profit to bo ascertained. .Such net profit will be available for re-issue by ttie Treasury to the camps or hospitals concerned for regimental funds, or for defrayment of charges for barrack damages.

The Post and Telegraph Cadets recently held a shooting competition for Captain Reid's trophy, and the results were as follow:—Cornoral W. R. Stunners. 28; Cadet A. ,T. Tcaeuc, 2G; Cadet P. T. Cropp (scratch), 25. Corporal Stunners and Cadet Tcague each had a handicap nf six. The messengers' cup and medal for the best shot and first-clpsa conduct during the past year was won by Cadet f. T. Cronp. Drummer 11. A. Colledge won the Godley eup and medal.

A petition from Mr. Pa-trick London, of Island Bay, was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday. The petitioner states that while employed as n. clork in.the Public Service he worked overtime in order to "keep up with the important and strumous work involved by the inauguration of the passport system." Payment for tliis overtime to the amount of -£U 7s. Gd. was refused. His engagement.was terminated in Juno 01 the ground that he had attained the age-limit, "while the services of older men are still retained," and he now asks Parliament for the amount already claimed.

A meeting of returned soldiers is to be held in the Concert Chamber of. the Town Hall on. September 9, and as the subject for discussion, "War Gratuities," is oup which concerns nil returned men, a largn attendance is anticipated. The eoinmittee has decided that only financial members will be admitted. It was intended to call this meeting at an earlier date, but iowing to tho inability to obtain a suitable hall this was not possible:

Tlfc need of improved communication between the Auckland and Taranaki districts .was emphasised by Mr. W. T. Jennings (Tauniiiriinui) in giving notice in tho House of Representatives to ask the Minister of Public Works to consider tho advisability of bridging the Mokau Rivor. Mr. Jennings explained that traffic between the provinces at present was dependent upon an obsolete and altogether inadequate river ferry.

At Hie meeting of the Wellington Hospital ami Charitable' Aid Board yesterday it \v,\s stated, in answer to a question, that, foe salaries , of the secretaries of the bor.nls in the four centres were as folloiV-.—Auckland, JSOO a year; Christchurcli. «t"725; Duncdin, X 550; .Wellington. £Vrt (with a .£ls war bonus). Mr. C!. M_ Luke remarked that it was only fair to state that they were getting the salaries 'of all the administrative officers of other boards. . .

The resignation of Mr. C. F. Porter, of .Dannevirke. of his apopintment as Justice of the Pence, has been accepted. The Secretary to the Treasury acknowledges in the Gazette receipt of the sum of .£G 10s. forwarded to the Treasu-y by "Ne:no," as conscience , money to the Electrical Department.

By Order-in-Council, published in the Gn-iette, the naturalisation oE E-en Chisteiiseu is revoked as from September 1 next.

Petitions presented to tho House of .Representatives yesterday included a claim made by F. W. Mason, of Weilinxt«n, for compensation on account of two munths' detention in Sydney through the Quarantine regulations. Ho claims .SIS. at the rate of M a week, "to make good-my losses and-as compensation for ilio «,!iuocessary expense caused through my illegal detention in Australia and Ihu upkei-p of my home in New Zealand, and :!;■• prevention of my following my own iiusiiie.'ri as a photographer."

Tlio Hospital authorities reported last, night that John Dobson, who was knocked down in Vivian Street on Wednesday by a muior-uar, was in a slightly improved condition.

Thu raising of the following loans is authorised by an Order-in-Council :— Bruce County Council, Jt'-KXH); Kair.iwt Jdvir Hoiirii. Xi'MJ; laiiiuriJiic borough Council, .£SOO.

The niiointmcnt of Mr. H. E. Jloston, deputy-superintendent of workers dwellings, Wellington, and Mr. C. A. Btreudsen, chief clerk, Department of Labour, as inembeis of the Workers' l)\vi:ll : %'s Board, is gazetted,

The question of the relation, of the Returned Soldiers' Association to politics was raised at the Dunediu Association meeting on Monday night by Mr. J. K , - M:\cMainis, who moved thqt the association ask every member of Parliament, to state definitely where he stoud in relation to the association's demands, ami that the Executive Committee bo instructed to draw up a statement of demands to submit to candidates. Mr. B-. P. Jone.<: Is not that the thin end of tho wedge of politioul action? Mr. M'Orao e::id Iμ would oppose the motion on tho ground that it was contrary to the association's regulations regarding political action. . What was the association going tc do after it got the- replies from candidates? They could not recommend their members to vote for any particular candidate. Mr. 'M'Nish nlso opposed the motion. The candidates would promise all that was wanted readily enough, and it was-just a waste of time asking thesequestions. Mr. Gilmour proposed as' an amendment that this matter be referred to tho Executive Committee, for it opened up a very big , field. It was not. a fair tiling to spring on a meeting uneonsidered. He had fat all along that the proper placn far. the Returned Soldiers' Association was. outside the political arena.—("Hear, hear.")—where they could demand fair treatment from any party that happened to bo in power. Tho amendment was carried by a large majority.

The Gazette announces that the salmon fishing season will commerieu on. October 1, anil extend to April DO next. It is provided that no person shall take more than six salmon In' any one day.

Advices by cablegram from Itah' show that Miss Ara Fitzgerald, a Syduiw singer, has made a success in opera in Milan. Miss Fitzgerald studied ivith M. Bouhy in .Paris for a year, and then cutered the studio of G. Borghi, ol Milan. She appeared with success in important provincial towns in Italy in the roles of Violetta, in "Traviata," and Gilda, id "Rigoletto," in 1911, but her career wae interrupted by the war, which closed most of tho theatres throughout itaiy. .Completing her studies with the celebrated tenor and master, Ernesto Colli, she reappeared in the provinces and made a hit as Rosina in Rossini's "II Barbiere di Seviglia." Now, after two performances in Milan of "Lucia," and three in "IP Barbiere," acne is cabled of a very great success scored bv the young Australian. Further particulars are awaited by mail.

It is notified in the Gazette that tha Piikuratahi Stream (JTuft County) and the Makuri River (Pahintua County) ?r» added to the list of streams. in whHi no lures or Baits other than artiliciiU fly or artificial minnow may be used for trout and perch fishing.

An Order-in-Council exempts Broadway Terrace from the provisions of section 117 of the Public Work* Act, 190 a.

Sergeant M'Lean, of the Mount Cook Police Station, arrested a man yesterday on ii charge .of stealing a box of cigarettes, valued at £%■ from the shop of a Chinaman in the To Aro district.

• During the pross-exaniination of the co-respondent in a divorce case at the Christchurch Supreme Court on Tuesday, the witness quoted to Mr. Alpers a commaiidmcnl: "Thou elialt not covet thy neighbour's wife." "Of all tho maudments that is the one most broken in -modern society," doclaml Mr. Alpers —"that is, in the experience of these Courts at any rate."

A strong plea for an improved system in the education of children in rural subjects was advanced by \Mr. E. J. Loton, the agricultural instructor of tlie Hawke's Bay Education Hoard, at the farmers' annual dinner of the Wocdville A. -and. P. Association fit Woodville. What was wanted, he said, was a system where it would not be necessary to definitely pass a written examination at all. After this we have not in New Zealand yet achieved the third etagefc'ho agricultural college.- It was questiouablo whether this college ehoukl be under the Education Department or the Agricultural Department, but sooner or later we must have.' an institution of the same type as the Hawkesbury College in New South Wales. Quite recently the Smcdlcy Estate, of about 8000 acres, near Tikokiuo, had been left to the Government for the purposo of establishing an agricultural college. This: was -inHawke's liny, and lie thought it was up to the. people of Hawke's liny to see that the Government used this money for the purpose for which it was left..

Members of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association wore cautioned this week by the secretary (Mr. A'. C. Laing) against lending their badges or allowing them to be in the possession of unauthorised persons. . He explained that tliis was a pennl offence, for the. badge , was registered and on the sauio footing as any other war badge. He reported having interviewed two offenders of tins kind, and warned them of the seriousness of their position. Mention was made of the case of a man who had defaced Ms bndge by talcing the crown off it. The secretary said he had written to this man asking him to come and offer «n explanation, but so far he had not appeared. Several members expressed indignation at the action of the man, and proposed such drastic remedies as calling in the badge, expelling him from the association, or bringing pre?suroto bear on his employers to dismiss him. More moderate couusels, however, prevailed, and on the motion of Mr. M'Lean it was decided to leave tlie matter in the lmndß of the committee to deal with.

Mrs L. E. Carter, Pqkakrao, Mangaweka.'has secured first prize for, landscape in the B. and N. Club art collection, Eng. land. The paintings wero sent to England, before the war, and Mrs. Carter had not expected to hear 'more of them.

The Wellington Land Board sat in committeo yesterday, , and dealt with a number of applications from discharged solders. The board decided to make advances in respect to 172 dwellings to be purchased or built, and in respect to 64 farms.

■When the war was in progress recruits in the training camps in New Zealand were supplied for the most part with trousers, and the wearing of pantnloone bv other than mounted units was severely discouraged. Apart from the dress regulations providing for the wearing of "slacks" by infantry troops, it was apparently the official opinion that trousers were more serviceable than pantaloons. When worn with puttees and turned down four inches below the knee, tho "slacks" were never very popular with the rank and file, who considered that their appearance was not altogether becoming, and it was customary for manv men to provide themselves * with pantaloons for use when on leave. The undoubted effect was thai , , such men looked much smarter, and more neatly dressed than those attired in trousers. For lnnnv years the members of the Royal New . Zealand Artillery have been supplied with trousers, but a change hns been decided upon, as it is now held that pantaloons wear better than trousers. A Opiioral Headquarters instruction stales: —"The issue of.trousers to K.N.H.A. will be discontinued, and in future pantaloons will be worn by all sections."

At the Magistrate's Court, Geraldine, this week, before Mr. V. G-. Day, S.M., a case of interest to fruitgrowers and others was licard. W. E. Barker, of Peel Forest, was charged with endeavouring to sell fruit after being notified that several consignments were infected and had' been condemned. Officers of the Deportment from Christehurch, Dunodin, and Timaru. gavo evidence as to pears ond apples sent for snlo by defendant being condemned for roller caterpillar, ami apple and pear scab. In reply to tlu Bench it was. stated that black spot was called scab. One of (ho officers in cross-examination said he did not open all the rases; perhaps .he opened three or four; ho should say that 10 per cent, was enough on which to condemn a consignment. The defendant said it was absurd to lake action in regard to black spot, for it was .ill over the coiiniry, and there v.-n« not.'n «u-o of Canterbury fruit fres of.it. As (» ro'.lcr caterpillar, he searched the books and found it mentioned in one-, and there it enid it did not affect the fruit. He had been.growing fruit for market for 35 years, and this was the first tinie action had been taken against him. To the best of his ability lie only sent to market that which was fit for use, and tic agents to whom he «ent the fruit reported it as being, of rcood quality. year ho destroyed ten tons of fruit that was infected; it did lint pav to send infected fruit to market. The Magistrate said he would have.to convict. The inspector risked.for a substantial penalty. His Worshin said payment of exnoiises would be Bufiicicnt pun--1 isliment. The costs were M 7s, Bd.

A Press Associatioa message from levin states that tha Horowhenua Raciig Club and the A. and P. Association have jointly raised i!4.)00 by debentures during the past few days for the purchase of 70 acres' at Levin for racing and 6how l.nrposes..

George Ludwig Rings, an ex-inember of the New Zealand Police 'Force, is petitioning Parliament for compensation uu account of his forced retirement'from the Polico Force. Rings was born in Prussia in lfc'lil, and settled in New Zealand iu 1878, at the age of fourteen years. He was naturalised in 1887. He joined Ihe Police Force from the Permanent Militia in ISDS, and 6erved continuously for 21 years. In May, 1916, his resignation was demanded on account of. his nationality, and ho was refused a peneipu.'but was allowed a refund of superannuation payments.

Stephen Shalfoon and George Shalfoon, storeKeepcrs and farmers at Upotiki, are petitioning Parliament to remove from their names "the stigma of being-of enemy origin.". T.»3y wero naturalised in New Zealand sixteen years ago, and they arc natives of the province of Labanon, which was only technically a' part of Turkey. Their countrymen have been persecuted and inussacred' for refusing to bear arms for Turkey, and arc well known to have beeii opposed to the Turkish regime. The two petitioners, vho have both served on local bodies and have married New Zealand wives, have been classed as enemy aliens under ttie War Regulation.

A remarkable demonstration of wireless telephony was given in the course ot a lecture oil wireless communication before the industrial section of the Royal Society of New South Wales a few days ago, with the aid of apparatus designed and manufactured in Syuuey by the 'Wireless Company! A gramophone was piayed into a wireless telephone trans-, initter at the works at \)1 Clarence Street,' Sydney, and the music was received on a lew wires strung along the wall in the lecture room iu Elizabeth Street. The music was clearly audiblo in all parts of tho hall, and tho lecture -was suitably closed with the audience standing while the National Anthem was played by wireless telephone. This was liio first publio demonstration of wireless telephony in Australia. '