LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 5 September 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

—3— A Press Association telegram from Olmstohurcli states that owing to bad coal the Maori did not berth. until 12.40 p.m. yestorday, and great indignation was felt among the southern passengers that; theßailway-Department cud no t delay the Dunedm express for half an hour tor them. As it was they wore forced to stay in Ohristchurch liist night, and will not reach Dunedin until Saturday, whereas they would have completed their journey last night had they been able to oaten the express train yesterday. The Mayor told the City Council last e\ tiling that ho knew of mother with fivo cliildren who 'bad to come down to Wellington to live wjtli her parents because her homo in Wanganui had been sold over her head, she found she could not posfibly get another house ill Wuuganui. • Gnipentors in Wellington aro now 111 a day,'and good men aro i 'i.i ® et< "" a ' iin'iro," said a builder to a Dominion reporter yesterday. deferring to the proposed amalgamation ol Lastbourne and Wellington city tho Mayor informed the City -Council that a deputation had waited on the i'liianco Committee with ■cert-iun information. By next committee meeting ho iioped to have conclusive figures respecting the borough for the consideration of members. Several petitions from people who suffered loss through being stranded in Australia during the shipping embargo are before Parliament. Three were presented in the llouso cf Heprese.ntatives last niL'ht. . Onb petitioner asked for ,£7 10s. a week from April 17 to July 8 in refilled of himself, wife, and child stranded. and of tho maintenance of two cliildren in New Zealand. Another petitioner. who had been delayed in Sydney while returning to New Zealand after workinsr during the war as a munition worker, asks for.iM Bs. a week, less 31s. Gd a week allowed by t'.a Australian (iovernmont. Another asks for JS3 a week for nine weeks. ■ He also was a munition worker. During the war many wooden buildings weto left uupainted owing to the high cost of paint. As things have turned out, the work could 'have beon done cheaper More peace was signed (says the Auckland "Star"). Liuseeu oil is no> quoted <at lis. to lis. Cd. per gallon, best American white lead recently landed in tho south cost 81s. per cwi, and latest quotations from the l-'nited States give a figure for turpentine which, when the rate of oxchange is talwn into consideration, would moan a loaded cost of over 13s. per gallon. Advice has been received by Headquarters,- New Zealand Military Forces, that the N.Z.E P. Itngby lootllall team will deave South Africa for New Zealand on September 7. Tho next-of-kin of the two Postal officials killed when the Main Trunk (rain ran into a slip at Mataroa, near Taihane. oii November 8, 1918, are petitioninir Parliament for compensation, 'l'ho Detitioners are Caroline Agnes AVilliatns, of Ponsonbv, widow of one victim, and Caroline P. Martin, of Ponsonby, mother of tho other. Each has n-cei'ved ,£SOO, and each for that sum to be made ui> to the .£IOOO now guaranteed in restiect of accidental death of postal ollifiijils..

Tlio following- donors of gifts to the Wellington Zoological coHection wero lust ovening thanked by tlw City Council for their presentations: Mr. Boavis (Russian goose), Mr. 'Jacobus (pair ol rabbit?), Mr. Young (Galali parrots). Tho City Council last, evening granted to tho Wellington Rugby League the use of Nolvtowh. Park for a return match with the Australian representatives on October 1. "Councillor Fraser' at iho Council Chamber and Councillor Fr.ner on a public platform, whero his statements could neither be refuted'nor analys ed, were two different people," said Councillor M. l'\ Luckic at tho meeting of the City Council last evening. • "At the Council Chamber," ho continued, "Coun<:illur Frasor was calm and as logical i:s his lights permitted him. to be, hat on the public platform ho threw logic to tho winds." The Mayor smilingly said that Councillor Eraser confused the atmosphere of general politics with municipal politics, which was often to be deplored. Apparently there is no teacher for Wallaoovillo School at present. Mr. Wilford gave notice to ask tho Minister of Education question in tho House of lfepre- , seutatives last ovening. He- drew attention to tho absence of a icacber from tho school, pointed to the ,'act that fclio i children imu irwn lor ~.\ar>.m* ' ations, two specially prepared for scholar- j sl)in examination?, una <i4e<i irliat nic ] Minister proposed to do abcut it. , , In resnonso to a request of the Levin I I'orouu'h Council, Superintendent |[. 'fait, 1 of the -Municipal Fire Brigade, is to be 1 allowed lo Rive expert advice :o '.he ' iJomusrii Council respecting its /ire bri- ' and the matter of the purchase ol 1 (i. suitable, fire-engine. i There have been quite # number of ( cit.y business cites changing hands of ' late. Merr.rs. S. George Nathan and Co. ' report having sold a valuable block in ! Willis Street adjoining the Grand Ho- s lei, on behalf of tho trustees in tho estate of the late Jacob Joseph. The nro- ( perty has a frontage of 45ft. 9in. by a , leptli of 125 ft. 4in., togei her with a ] three-story building, tho price realised $ being £25,000, equal to .KSO per foot. \ including buildings. The purchasers are j Messrs. E. C. Browne and Co., Ltd., tail- j )rs and outfitters. r

Tho Chinese have a novel way of pro pagating fish. Tho spawn is oarefull; collected from tho surt'aco of tho water and when sufficient quantity has bcei obtained they tako a number of liens eggs, itlio contents of which have beei carefully emptied through a email aper ture, and refill the shells with .spawns The holes aro sealed up, and the egg; put under tho broody liens. The hen are allowed to incubiito the eggs for i certain number of days, when the egg: aro again broken and their contents pu into water that has been previously warmed by tho sun. In a very shor" timo the spawn hatches, and the youn; fry aro then kept in pure fresh watei untij a sufficient size to be put into thi ponds. At one time a considerable busi ness was done in this stylo of spawi hatching. A great reception was giv6n by mem hers of the Grant clan to iord and Strathsoev on their first visit to their an install home at Strathspey in June lasl faccordiiiir to '.he Strathspey "Herald' of June 12). Lord and Lady StTathspey and various other members of the Seafield family are well-known in New Zealand, the present lord having lived ir Onmaru. Lord Strathspey is chief ol the clan Grant, and naturally there was a renresentativo gathering of the clan. Provost Grant, Lieutenant-Colonel Grani Smith. D.5.0., presiding. Lord and Ladv Strathspey were'" accompanied bj their son. the Master of Grant, theii daughter, the Hon. Joan Ogilvie Grant, and Ladv Caroline Ogilvie Grant, his lordship's sister. After the Provost had delivered a speech of rousing welcome, Lord Strathspey said he had recently comn from New Zealand, and was a comoarative stranger to Strathspey. He had been told in New Zealand that the Scottish 6Dirit was dying out, but that he did not believe. Tho spirit was there, hut it needed working up. He entered nn eloauent plea for the revival of Scottish games, customs, and music, and urgc-d that the Grant clan should be shown to be the strongest in the world. Clansmen should, like the Freemasons, cultivate the spirit of unity and the snirit of helping one -another. A very cordial welcomo was extended to his lordship and party by other leading members of the clan. Lord Strathspey saw a considerable amount of eervice in the war and was demobilised 'only last

The Government Astronomer, Dr, C. E. Adams, states ' that in London a very careful check is kept of the Westminster clock, which automatically reports itself every day to tho Poyal Observatory, Greenwich.. The At onomer Eoyal, in his 'l'eport dated Juno U, 1919, states that the performance of the' clock"was that on 50 days the error was not greater than 0.2 second, on 4fi days the error was between 0.2 and 0.51 second, on 55 days the error was between 0.5 and 1 second, and on 79 days the error was greater than 1 second. On one day the error of the clock exceeded 3 seconds. This is a wonderful record for a public clock, particularly when it is remembered that the clock is not corrected daily. The City Council last evening hnd before it a proposed amendment! of the Tramways Act, 1908. The amendment is designed to prevent passengers from recovering at any one time n, greater sum tlmn i's in respect of luggage lost. The council approved it, and decided that a copy of it should be forwarded to tho Minister of Public- Works with a request that steps be takeh to bring it into force. The committee which recommended the amendment also urged, the Tramways Committee to consider the advisability of providing folding blinds on car platiorms, to minimise the risk of luggage being stolen. ' . Mr. J, Arbucklo (secretary of tho Miners' Federation) has received' from union officials at Huntly some correspondence relating to tho final steps in the negotiations that led to tho settlement of the/l'aupiri trouble. The cornspondenco indicates that tho men took exception to a published statement which they considered cast a reflection upon their. check inspectors. Mr. Bisliop (manager of tlio mine) wrote to tlie union expressing his regret that certain references by tho checlc inspectors to "oreep" had not come under liis notice before lie commented upon tho statement given by Mr. O'Brien (secretary of the union) to tho Press. Tho men decided that they would resume work when Mr. Bishop's letter, or, its purport, had been published in the newspapers. When they received satisfaction in this matter, they returned to work, on the condition that the company paid a miners' representative to remain during working liours in the neighbourhood of the crcep, with a telephone at hand, to give warning of any danger. Professor Sir Baldwin Spencer, who will retire at the end of tho year, lectured for tho Cnst timo to _ first-ye.l-1' medical students in tho biological school, at tho Melbourne University a. few days ago. After tho lecture was over somo of his early medical students—he began his lectures in 1887—presented him with a flamed pliotograpli of himself, to hang in tho lecture-room. Mrs. T. A, a'Beekett, one of Sir Baldwin Spencer's early stu* dents; made tho presentation, and Canon Hart also spoke. Others, present were Dr. Clara Stone, one of the first two women to take the. medical degree, and Dr. 11. C. Brown, of St. Kilda, Sir Baldwin's first biology exhibitioner. Presentdn.v students wore represented by Mr. Craig. In returning thanks, Sir Baldwin Spencer said that he was much touched by the demonstration. Tho Public Health Committee reported to the City Council last evening that they had received notification from the city treasurer that a saving has been, eli'ected to the council of a sum of .£1835 6s 10(1. by the action of the city solicitor in bringing tho matter of tho refund to butchers of abattoir charges before tho Appeal Court. The committee placed on record its appreciation of the city solicitor's services, aJid recommended that tho thanks' of tho council be tendered,to him. The report was adopted, after the Mayor had expressed his appreciation of tho good work which had been done by Mr. O'Sliea. The difficulties encountered by theatre proprietors in rigidly obeying 1 tho by-laws was emphasised at tho City Council meeting last evening by Councillor M. F. Luckie, who stated that Messrs. Fuller and Son had recently been prosecuted for overcrowding, when as a matter of fact tho theatre was not overcrowded. There wore empty seats, but people rather than occupy them had persisted in standing up. In order that tho managers may bo placed in a position to deal )vith fiuc-li peoplo the By-laws Committee recommended: "That tho city solicitor be requested to frame a by-law to provide that pea-sons standing in the passage ways of theatres when seata are available or after being requested to leave by any. official of a. theatre or any corporation inspector, shall be liable to a penalty." . Tho report was agreed to. At the meeting of tho City_ Council held , last evening, it was decided that tho. request of the AVatersidp Workers' Glee Party for a. reduction in the rent of the Concert Hall for a concert in aid of tho minors at Broken Hill should not bo acceded to, as the charge for benefit ooneerts was a nominal one. A letter was received by tho City Council last evening from the Makara County Council requesting a contribution to the upkeep of the Ngahauraiiga Gorge Road on the grounds that it was a main arterial road. The Town Clark j stated that l'ho latter had vet to bo considered by the Finance Committee,

Thorn have been cases of theft of lug' gage from tramcars lately, as the result of which claims have been- made upon the Citv Council for tho value of tne same,. The matter was discussed in coiii.umtee at lust evening's meeting, when it was decided to promote legislation limit ine the amount which may bo claimed for lost luggage to .to. The position in respect to the carriage of luggage is that' the cr.minc.ovs charge for each package deposited on the rear platform of a car. bill: rnnnut very well safeguard it absolutely ouing ! .o the nature of their duties'. au:l even if-they did see a person removing a package they eannui always remember which passenger on a crowded car is the rightful owner. It is suggest nd that the of a cheek slip (to be presented to 'ho conductor before the package is removed)., might have (lie (!«- >ir?d effeet. Tho Tramways Committee of the City Council last evening recommended that in j response, to a request from residents of j Kilbiinie East for an improved tramway ; service, the Kilbirnie Post Otßco cars be j run through to tho l>omidi\ry every ten ! : minutes during tho summer months till I r.30 p.m. each evening. The recom« I mendation was adopted.

Tho Anglican diocese of Wellington. ' has a movement on foot to bring tho . stipends of its vicars up to .£3OO per | annum. In somo parishes this can only bo accomplished by giving an. increased i grant from tho central fund. On Sun- ■ day next tho offertories in all churches ■ aro to be given to this fund, and an ' appeal is being made for contributions. ' Very littlo harm to deciduous trees , wiU result from tho snowstorm (says u :. Chrislehurch exchange). It is prema- , turo 1.0 say wliat will happen to fruit . blossoms. Most of tho present blooms ; aro those of apricot, cherry and plum I trees. It is just possible' that, owing , to tho coating of woolly snow, their vital organs will not bo injured by tho frost, i A daily Win gazette of interesting ovents all over tho country—tho lirst 6tep towards a daily newspaper by film— i is projected by Mr. Albert do Courville, tho London theatrical manager. Mr. do ; Courville intends to devote Terry's ' iKinema in tho Strand entirely to 1 topical pictures, to be changed every night. At present the "topical gazettes" are changed twice u.'woek. Tho idea is that a man who has read his morning and evening papers can go into this theatre at night.and obtain a "moving" supplement of tho news. A staff of kineina-cauiera operators is being organised under a; "news editor." Tims . -Mr. do Courville hopes to show on the screen at night pictures of the important events in England during the day. Ho anticipates that aeroplaues will ]>3 needed to bring films from a long. distance. A new cave has been found in tho hills at ltcdcliffs (Ciiristchiu'ch) near Moa. Bone Cave, and not far from tho tramline, says tho "Sun." The floor is covered with sand, and the cave is high enough for a man to stand up in. It runs' back into the hill for about a chain. The bones of a seal, which crumbled away when touched, and 6onie pumice-stono were found in the cave. The cave has been cursorily examined by Mr. E. Speight, curator of the Canterbury _ Museum, 'and he intends to seek permission to make a thorough investigation, in tho hope' that objects, of scientific interest may be discovered. Pending this, the cave has been temporarily closed, by instruction of the Hon. 3. Barr, Mayor of Sumner. Moa Bone Cave was discovered about 50 years ago, and many valuable relics were iound therein. ■ . "If he had lived he would have returned to the club and spent many . happy hours there," wrote Mrs. Middlc- , ton to the secretary of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association in ior- , wardinga donation, iii aid of the association's tuuds. Mrs. Middlelon etuted that 1 her son, Gunner Vivian Middleton, left : with the Fortieth Eeiniorcements on the steamer Tahiti and he was one of those who succumbed to an attack of. ' influenza during the voyage, and she forwarded a donation on tho anniversuy of his death. ■ A list of_ the licensed Bharebrokers in the Dominion is published in the Gazette, issued last evening. There are 48 sharebrokors iu tho Wellington district, of whom'2s are in Wellington, nine in Palnierston North, six in Wangairoi, five in Mastei'ton, and one each in the Lower Hutt, Feilding, and Eactihi. The, Order Paper of the Legislative Council yesterday contained a notice of motion by the Hon. G. M. Thomson, who desired to have upon the table a return of the amount received for death duties during tho past' year. This brought a reminder from the Leader of the Council (Sir Francis Bell), who said that he had frequently appealed to members not to move for returns which might not appear if they happened to be opposed in the House of Representatives. No Government had ever granted returns moved for in the Council unless they were returns which would be granted in the House of Representatives. He was not, however, going to oppose tho request for the return. The Post and Telegraph Appeal Boon continued its sittings yesterday under tho chairmanship of Mr. F. V, Frazer, S.M. It is expected that the board' will be occupied in Wellington for another two or three weeks. Councillor M'Kenzie last evening suggested to tho City .Council that a snv-'! nig might bo effected by the erection of . barns for tho storage- of : cars at tho tramway termini. Ho said: that good result? had attended 'the execution of 6iich a project in Christchurch. It would tend to economy in the service, and would suit tho convenience of many employees who had at present to malte long journeys home after they left their cars at night. Ho thought the Mayor might obtain a report on tho subject. Tho tender of Mr. W. AVilson has been accentod tor tho demolition of tho premises in Willis Street owned by the city cornoration and occupied by Messrs. Edwin Arnold and F. J. W. Fear-proper-ties which still debouch to the old buildmi: aliirnment near the Duke of Edinbureh Hotel. Tho buildings to take tho nlnce of those to be demolished will bo set. hack ten feet to the new building alieuinent. • . Whilst in Wellington Admiral Viscount Jellicoe gave a vivid insight into tho character of the naval Hun. During the Heligoland battle, a- German destroyer was sunk, and the British vessel responsible was at once manoeuvred to pick up the survivors. Among those saved was the Hun captain of the destroyer. As soon as he got on board he proceeded straight up to the bridge, advanced to tho captain, and expectorated in his face. The filthy act was observed by the boatswain, a big, hefty man, who. walked calmly over to the German captain, picked him up and dropped him overboard. A little boy who was cycling down Willis Street yesterday morning had n narrow escape from being run over. His machino swerved and got in the way of a motor-car. which was following. The driver applied the brakes smartly and merely struck the front wheel of the bicycle, unseating the boy. The boy fell clennof tho car, and practically landed on his feet. The bicycle liiul ono wheel badly buckled. The TJppor Hutt Town Hall was offered at auction <cin Wednesday last by Mr. A. L. Wilson, and was sold to Mr. Albert Wylie (as agent) for .£llOO. Authority was given the Acting-City Engineer by the City Council last evening to nurchaso two motor trucks to assist in tho work of cleansing tho city, the same to be available for use during the cominsr cleaning-up week, and thereafter for the removal of city refuse. A notice in tho Gnzetto states that 224 acres 1 rood 3" perches of Block 1, Pencarrow Survey District, and part of Section 35, Block 16, Belmont Survey District are declared a reserve for recreation. At the meeting of tho Petone War Memorial Committee last evening those members of the committee who had been collecting for the fund reported having received, on the whole, a disappointing response. Mr. Schofield. ono of tho collectors, reported having called on one particular individual who was outwardly a most patriotic and enthusiastic citizen. Upon being asked for a subscription to tho. fund ho produced a shilling very heartily and then demanded a receipt! There were many instances of a similar nature, said Mr. Schofield. Answering a question in the House of Representatives last night, Mr. Massey stated that whilo in England ho' hall made inquiries regarding a training ship for New Zealand. He had been informed by the First Lord of the Admiralty that New Zealand could have a suitable ship for training purposes. Certain ships had been mentioned and eventually tho Minister of Marine had sent Captain Hooper, late commander of the Amokurn, to Britain to select n ship. Mr. Massey added that ho had no doubt the Admiralty Vould ! provido iNew IZealnnd with a thoroughly suitable vessel for use as a training ship in place of tho Arnold! ra. "