LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 301, 16 September 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

iln instruction issued by General Headquarters states that authority, has boen given for the wearing of the Allies' Victory Medal riband. The riband is of watered silk, containing two rainbows, purple on outer edges, ranging to flame orange in centre; and will be worn immediately after tho British war riband. Something like a building boom occurred at Christchurch hist month, compared with August of 19111 (states a Press Association message). Last month 42 building permits, representing a value of .£70,190, were issued, as compared with 14 uermit?, representing a value of in August last year.

The Board of Selection to clioose 50 candidates to attend a qualifying coursu •for 'commissions in Hit New Zealand Staff Corps will assemble at General Headquarters on Friday. Tho members of tho board are Major-General Sir Alfred Robin (General Officer Commanding New Zealand Forces), Major-General Sir .Andrew 11. Russell (late General Ufh'cer Commanding; New Zealand Division), .and Brigadier-Gewral G. S. Richardson (General Officer in charge of Administration). Candidates selected will proceed to Trenthani on September 30, and tho course of instruction will continue from Octobcr'l to December 20. At tho conclusion of the course a board of selection will nominate the successful candidates and recommend them for rank and probationary appointments. Jn nccordnnco with reports which will bo rendered upon them, candidates will be confirmed in their appointments or otherwise on October 1, 1920.

Last night nt 5.30 a toy named John Ogg, aged about 11 years, whoso parents resido at No. ill llichiuond Street, Petone, while playing at tliß intersection of Nelson Street and the Esplanade, was run over by a motor-cycle, driven by Alec Miller, of Bay Street, Petonc. The lad suffered a brokm right leg and severe cuts about the head. Ho was attended by Dr. Harding, and then brought in to the Hospital. The hoy is slated to bo in a very serious condition.

"The relations of the United States to the Republic of Mexico are again becoming strained," according to a trade circular to hand from Nov York, says an Auckland paper. Lilt'io consideration is given in that country to foreign residents, not to mention foreign capital, nnd Americans seem to faro worse than the nationals' of any ottar country. Frequent outrages against life and- property have bec.i recurring for many years past, and as the perpetrators seem never to be brought to justice, there is a strong feeling that the Carranza Government is either unwilling or unable to afford foreign interests proper protection.

According to "Fairplay," the Maritime Navigation Company of San Francisco, which has a lleet of twenty vessels, has decided to develop trade between that port, Australia, and New Zealand. refrigerating apparatus are to run frozen meat, ard it is in'ended to carry cargoes of hemp, hides, tallow, copra, rabbit skins, and wool.

A Press Association message from Dunedin states that at a meeting of tho University Council yesterday n motion was passed that the Government be asked to introduce legislation empowering the council to pay an honorarium lo tho Chancellor, and that governing bodies of other university colleges lie approached wilh a viciv to securing their co-opera-tion.

"Are Dalmatians debarred from taking part in matches under your jurisdiction ?" wii3 the nature of an inquiry from the Auckland district considered by the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union hist nigh:. The secretary (Mr. A. E. Combs) reported that a reply had been sent pointing out that, it was inadvisable to allow Dalmatians to play until the union had considered the matter. "There has been a lot of tronblo in Thames over this question," remarked Captain T. 11. .Tones. Mr. G. Howe said lh" union had no power to debar anyone from playing. The committee resolved to repvy that it had no aulhority lo prevent Dalmatians playing football.

The cold and unsettled weather which has prevailed in Auckland for the la~'t few works has had the inevitable ve>u.'.t of greatly increasing the number of people, suffering )ruin ci'd* uivi chest troubles (says Ihe "New Zealand Hoia'd"). As might lie (spooled, rumour.* of a recurrence of influenza in various districts have gained ground, but these ore given reassuring xuilmdjclion by Hie weekly Health Department reports. A somewhat unusual feature in connection with the colds now prevalent, however, is that of intense pains in the head, lasting, in some instances, for (wo or three clays. One medical mai: expressed the opinion _ihat there misht possibly be some association between Ibis very prevalent complaint and a mild form of influenza, bur in none of the eases that had come under his notice had there been any symptoms of n. serious nature. Colds were always very prevalent at this time of year, and he had observed no indication of any conditions that might give ground for uneasiness.

Mr. Ashford, Minister of Lands, speaking at Parramatta, 6aid that to dato 3,385,179 acres in New South Wales had been made available for soldier settlement, This total represented 30C0 blocks on a living area basis. In addition to 1100 blocks, non-living areas had been made available for soldiers for the es tablishmcnt of businesses, with Federal assistance. From tho inception of the Closer Settlement Promotion Act in 15)11 up to twelve months ago, tho estates purchased averaged about three a month, representing about 15 farms. During this year the estates purchased nver'aged 26 'per month, and provided an average oi about 52 farms. This rate, .however, had been considerably increased since the system had been reorganised, and during the past four months the average number of settlers per month was 73 as against 15 during tlio previous eight years. In the purchase of land and advances, added the Minister, the Government had spent i'2,350,0f1f1. Three thousand farms were already available, and by the end of the year the promised 1000 would bo available if required.

Next Friday and Saturday a competition unique among daffodil growers will be held in tho Art Gallery at Christchurcli, between a collection of daffodils raised by Colonel E. Heaton Rhodes, at Otahuna, Tai Tapu, and a collcc'.jon of daffodils imported and crown by iir. I!. Gibson, .of Taranaki. The competition should be a very interesting one, as both gentlemen are well known as tho leading growers of tho Dominion. The daffodils grown at Otahuna nre known, nil over the world, and it will require 60n>'> thing very good from Mr. Gibson to beat them. On Saturday afternoon next the members of the Horticultural Society will visit Otahuna. to see the daffodils.— "Lyttelton Times."

At the meeting of tho Pctoiie Borough Council last evening some discussion took place over a communication received from the Palmerston North Borough Council asking support to a resolution recommending that Government grants to returned soldiers for tho purchase of homes shall only be given on. condition that the money is utilised in the establishment of new homes, and not for the acquisition of dwellings already in existence. It was moved that the letter bo received, but several councillors spoke in favour of supporting the resolution. Councillor Churchouse said that he would not support the resolution. Everybody knew of the present great shortage of houses, and if returned soldiers had to wait in every case until new houses were built things would be in a very bad way. Several other councillors spoke against the motion. It was finally decided to merely receive the communication.

The Christchurch Citizens' Defence Corps has 1 been advised by the otticer in charge of war expenses that payment ot the war gratuity in respect of a deceased soldier will be made to the person who was entitled to receive the balance of his pay i.e. the beneficiary where there -is a 'will or the legal next-of-kin m the caso of intestacy. The Minister of linance may, however, authorise the payment to bo made other than in tins way where there are circumstances which, in his opinion, would justify a variation being made. An invitation has been received by the Mayor of Christchurch to attend a meeting of the Christchurch Accountant Students' Association next Friday, at which.teams from tho Christchurch arid Wellington Associations will debate the question: "Should municipal trading' be carried beyond such public utilities as water, lighting, drainage, r.nd tramways ?" Mr. A. Perrin, who for many years was secretary of the Kilbirme School Committee, and has always taken a keen interest in all school matters, has presented to Hie school n handsome (shield in memory of his son, Francis Desmond Perrin, an ex-pupil of the school, win" was killed in action at Sailly-au-Bois on May 15, 1918. The shield has a rosewood base, and a delicately chased silver centre on an ebony backing. Above the inscribed centre is the late Rifleman Perrin's Liverpool's Own badge in gold, and placed round the main shield are smal silver tablets on which will be engraved the name of (he dux of the school each year. The shield will probably be handed over to the school this week. There has been a happy sequel to the elopement of a (jlouccsu-i'slure girl ana an American officer. Soon after the elopement the American was sent to prison for suborning two witnesses at ihe wedding, but ]>y permission of the Secretary of (Scotland tlm couple have now been married formally, and after the ceremony it was announced that tho Secretary for Scotland had agreed to tho immediate release of tho bridegroom from prison. Tho officer (Mr. Raymond -Leo lilies) met his wife, Mrs. Marjorie Evelyn Hiles, a year ago, but: tne girl's people refused to consent to the wedding owing to the bride's' youth. The couple thereupon doped to Scotland, but found: that 21 days' residence was necessary before the marriage could take place. Two porters were approached, and agreed to make a false statement at the wedding that the couple had been in Edinburgh for the necessary time. The subornation was discovered, and tho couple were arrested on the Olympic before 6he sailed for America. Following the trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Mr. Hiles's solicitor presented a memorial to the Secretary for Scotland, pointing out that Hiles's offence was in a different category from the ordinary cases_ of this description, inasmuch as on arriving in Edinburgh from the south after eloping with the lady, and finding that ho could not be married at once, he, in order to savo the lady's honour, committed tho offence. The Secretary for ..Scotland gave permission for Hilc's to bo properly marTied, and tho ceremony duly took place in St. Andrew's Parish Church. Immediately after the wedding the governor of the prison appeared, and, to the joy of the bride and bridegroom, intimated that the Secretary for Scotland had consented to tho immediate relcaso of Hiles.

Tho granting of a taxi-driver's license to a man alleged to be a military deserter was brought before a meeting of the executive' of tho Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association by Air. It. P. Jones, who moved: "'lliat'a strong protest be sent lo the City Council agaiust the granting of a taxi-driver's license to a deserter from the N.Z.E.F., and that a deputation consisting of the president, the secretary, and the mover be formed to interview the General Committee of the City Council with reference to the matter." Mr. M'Nish seconded. The secretary (Mr. A. C. Laing) said tho council had already been approached concerning this man. He had been three months in camp, and had deserted while on filial leave, and had been harboured by a relative. On being arrested he was court-martialled, lined M 10s., and sentenced lo 180 days'-detention for desertion. He had not forfeited his civil rights, but had not been honourably discharged from the Forces. Two previous applications for a license had been, refused bv the council, but on this occasion it had been granted, and the committee had refused to reconsider tho mailer. Mr. Calvert said in his. opinion the offence had been condoned by the punishment, and it appeared as if they were trying to perpetuate a punishment which had already been served. Tho motion was carried.

.The New Zealand Club will entertain at a luncheon to-dav the Hon. J. G. Onatcs, M.P.. Hon. J. B. Mine, M.P., Messrs. W. Downie Stewart, M.l\, am; T. E. Y. Seddou, Mi'.

si|j in upaq-paos ut .10 tmuil-poas ui jaujro Mr.'F. AY. Yickerman advocated at |li« annual meeting of the Industrial Amoeiatioh last evening that a change, of lillo would be advantageous. Bethought thai the association should be called the ('hanvber of Manufacturers or the Manufacturers' Industrial Association, ut ilia same time saying I hut somehow or olh»r the word "a-sooiaiioii" .-wined in imply ii .body of employers out to light Labour when quite the reverse was the caw. Theassociation was not a militant body, but was one that wished to nelp employees. Mr. II Mainland (president) said that they had never considered seriously a change of name. Mr. Wilson (of Auckland) thought it would be a pity lo change the name, and Mr. T. Bollinger said that the secretary had inquired into the matter, and had ascertained that they could only change the namo by going into liquidation, in which case they might lose their little XI2OO nest-egg. It was suggested-that perhaps the word "manufacturers" could be worked into' the title without anything so serious happening, and the secretary was instructed to write to the Registrar-General, on the point.