LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 12, 9 October 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

■» The Postmaster-General (Hon. .T. G. Coates), replying to a question in tho House of Representatives, said that tho question of a mail service via Panama was being considered by Cabinet. In tho meantime he could not make any statement on the subject. Mr. E. Lightband and other residents of Hornpito yesterday witnessed an eruption of Alt. Ngiuiruhoe. Black columns of steam, snioko and ashes shot up several thousand feet, spreading and falling and covering the snow. Yesterday after-, uoon the- mountain was still emitting volumes of steam. A few cases have arison in which ihe Wellington District Repatriation Board has experienced difficulty in securing repayment of loans granted to returned soldiers to enable them to buy iurui'uiu'e or set up in business. Ju the gre;it: majority of instances the men aw huucsl, reliable, and hard working, and are making every endeavour to repay their loans regularly, but it is stated thsvt- iliei-e are somo who are a trifle too f':uiv in paying back tho amounts advancer! to them, and who fail to respond when written to on the subject. The cliaiir.i.m uf tho board, Mr. T. S. Weston, stattd at the meeting of the board ou Tuesday that if on inquiry it was shown that the financial liiinclil's were being abused, it would be necessary to tab: immediate steps to secure the repayment of the moneys. In fairness to tlie men who,were complying with their obligations', it would do only right 'to do this. "lUllemen are not 'pot-huuters,' they arc true 6uorts, anff it is only right that tho public should appreciate that' fact," remarked Mr. W. Vellinglmni, president of tho Suburbs Rillo Club, yesterday, in the coiirso of a welcomo to Sergeant L. Loveday, winner of tho King's Prize at Bislcy. Mr. iFelliiigham, emphasised the value of having expert marksmen available for defence purposes, and he said that rifle shooting deserved every encouragement, both trom tho • public and from the military authorities. Tho views expressed by Mr. Vellingham were heartilv endorsed by .several other speakers, including the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), who tf.id he was sure citizens of Wellington would be always ready to assist the rifle clubs in their vnluable work. Mr. A. L. MonleiUi, Labour candidate for tho Wellington-Hast electorate, yesterday furnished a Dominion reporter! with the following list of "weighted average" weekly rentals in tho larger cities of Australia and New Zealand:— Sydnoy, 19s. IOd.; Melbourne, 19s. Cd.; Brisbane, Us. lid.; Adelaide, 16s. lid.; Perth, Us. 3d.; Hob-art, 16s. 7c1. ; Dunedin, 15s. 5d.; Cliristehurch, lfis.-lOd.: Wellington, 235. Id.; Auckland, 17s. 10d. Mr. Monteith states that the above figures are for February, 1919, and are taken from the official statistical returns of each country. , ' A hospital and progress report states that 79,724 Private Alfred Robert Curtis, a member of the N.Z.E.F., with noxt-of-kin at Westport, is dangerously ill. *At about ono o'clock yesterday afternoon a 'boy named Roy Hammington, a"ed 7 year's, whose parents reside at iSo. G Ilutt Road, Petone, was struck by ;» small garden fork, which had been thrown over a fence, and received two severe gashes on liis head. He was taken to his home, where his injuries were attended to.. He is reported to bo -progressing favourably. Tho Wellington District Repatriation Board held a meeting this week, Mr. T. S. Weston (chairman) presiding. Twentyfour applications for grants to purchase furniture and tools of trade were approved, and 34 requests from disabled men, who are- receiving training in various avocations to have their wages subsidised were also considered, the majority of tho applications being granted. Twenty-two applications for financial assistance in the establishment of businesses were approved, five were declined, and ton were deferred. • There was before the Pull Court yes-, tewlay a Innd. caso involving an exchange of properties, and during the coursu or the hearing His Honour Mr. Justice Ilosking remarked that ho knew of a case up north where thero were JO or 50 exchanges' with respect to one property— in fact, there were so many exchanges that counsel became perplexed and did not quite know how many changes there really were. The formation of a natural history section which has been mooted in connection with the Wellington Philosophical Society, was briefly discussed nt last night's meeting of tho geological section of that body. The proposal is to to bo considered at the next meeting of tho committee of thu section. The society has decided to aek the committee to olscuss the advisaWeness of the amalgamation of the two sections. A ■ very fine framed photographic en largemont of H.M.S. New Zealand him been presented to tlie officers of tho Wei lington Garrison by the wardroom ofli cers of the warship. Tho picture will bo hung in the lecture-room, Garrison Hall. ■ . From and including' to-day, the following office hours will be observed by the military and civil staff of General Headquarters, New Zealand Military Forces-.-Monday to Friday: 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.; 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Saturday: 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. At a meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiors-' Association, Mr. J. Leo moved a motion of no confidence in the executive, on the ground that the support of political action 'was disrupting the association throughout New Zealand. After a stormy discission, Mr. Lee's motiou was lost on the voices, and a motion endorsing the action of the Auckland association and the' Provincial Committee in the stand taken against head-, ■quarters was carried,—Press A66n,

There was a. large attendance of members of No. 31 Company (Wellington City) Senior Cadets at the Garrison Hall this week, when Lieutenant A. H. Miles handed over command of the company to Lieutenant 11. Kenkin, who has returned from the front. Before going to the war lieutenant Renkin was O.C. tho company, and in his absence tho lads were very efficiently trained by Lieutenant Miles. Captain W. M. Bell (group commander) was present at the parade, and brieHy addressed the cadets. He said that the company always bora an excellent reputation, and during Lieutenant iienkin'e nbsenco it had. thanks to the good work of Lieutenant Miles, continued to maintain its very high standard. Captain Bell warmly thanked Lieutenant Miles for the energy and enthusiasm ho had thrown into the work of training the lads, who, although delighted to seo their old O.C. back from the war, were vet exceedingly sorry to Mr. Miles.'. Ho trusted that Mr. Miles would be abli: to take-over the command of some other Senior Cadet company. At a meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, hold in Wellington, it was resolved: "That any soldier returned from overseas lionourably discharged from tho Forces upon passing the.commercial accountants' examination shall be entitled to be enrolled on the register of commercial accountants compiled by the society without the necessity of passing the preliminary examination or matriculation, and upon completing the professional accountants' examination shall bo entitled to ndinission to membership of the society on the usual conditions as to character, etc." Advice has been received by tho Mminter of Defence that the imperial AVar Graves Commission has decided that memorials to the dead, whose graves havo not been found or identified, shall be put up in tho cemetery near lo the spot where the men are believed lo havp lost their lives, or, in the ense of members of the Royal Air Force, to the acrcj drome from which I hey started. . A Press Association telegram stales that Mr. James Wright, a Duuedin butcher, made a speech at the Burnside yards yesterday, advocating that butchers should get permits from the Government to buy stock from the freezing works, and thus help to meet the cost of living. First-class wether mutton, he said, could be bought at the works for 30s. per 601b. carcass.

A Press Association message from Dunedin titates that it is understood that the nominees for the Bishopric wore Archdeacon Richards (the appointee), lnvercargill; Archdeacon Fitohclt, Dunedin; Archdeacon Woodthorpe, Dunedin; the Bishop of Waiapu; and (.ho Rev. P. A. M.eiklom, rector rif St. James's parish, Sydney. A Press Association message stales that Napier has decided to again hold its Mardi Gras during the Christmas season. The. (|iieen election with a trip to Sydney and .C 25 to spend on the way as first prize will be the feature. Replying to a question in Ihe House, this morning, the Prime Minister said that Admiral .lellicoe's report would l>o presented to the House this session. At Petono yesterday Mr. 'I'. M. WilI'ord, Mjl\, ireceived a .deputation of business iiieii, headed by the Mayor (Mr. ,T. W. M'Ewau) relative to a proposal Id approach the Government with the object of installing a new goods skiing .adjacent to tho local railway yards. The deputation met on the proposed site, which comprises tho property until recently ' occupied by Messrs-. .Bailey and A roils, timber merchants impinging on tho railway line on the Lower Hull side of tho "station. The object of agitating lor the now siding is to do away ■with the steep haulage over the. Koro ICoro Road bridge, entailed by tho present Hiding. Mr. Wilford went thoroughly into the matter with the deputation and agreed that the scheme wa-5 a feasible one. At his suggestion the deputation decided to interview the trustees of the Price Estate and ascertain at what figure they would dispose of the laud, and -subsequently approach the Railway Department. Tho offerings at the annual «ile of lost and unclaimed luggage, held by tlm Railway Department yesterday, included a range of articles from walking sticks and umbrellas to full-sized portmanteaux. One man paid six shillings for a promising-looking bag, which, on being opened, was found to bo empty. Towards the close of the sale it was possible to procure a serviceable tjwagging outfit foi the small sum of !!s. Ctr. Reference to the Dominion Rifle Association meeting to be held at 'i'rentham next year was made by Colonel R. J. Collins, president of the D.R.A., in the eource of a speech at the welcome to SerKeant L. Loveday, winner of the .King's Prize. Colonel Collins eaid that the success of the last D.R.A. meeting ljad been due largely to the support given by members of rifle clubs, and he looked forward to similar action on ( the part of the riflemen at the next meeting. Mr. W. Judd (Karori Rifle Club) remarked that General Richardson luici been a3ked to allow the riflemen to assist in drawing up tho programme for the meeting. At the present time the programmes for rifle meetings were drafted by the military authorities. Colonel Collins stated that the riflemen knew what was required to make a meeting a success, and it was to them that, lie looked for help in tho coming meeting. If General Richardson desired his assistance in drawing up the programme, then, on behalf of the rifle club men, he would bo perfectly willing to give all the help in his power. He hope-6: the meeting would be a Success. Already he had written to tho Government askiiii; for the usual concessions, and hfl believe:! they would be granted. It was desired thnt in addition to riflemen the meeting should bo well patronised by Territorials and Senior Cadets. Widows of soldiers are continually applying to the Wellington Repatriation Board for loans to acquire houses, but as they are not eligible under tho Dischai;?ed Soldiers' Hettlumant Act, and the Repatriation Department docs not handle dwellings, the women are ujiablo to get houses. In most cases y.-idows and their children could livo in tho suburbs and thus relieve congestion in the city. Tho board lists informed <!.e Ministerial Board ithat if, believes facilities should bo given to widows with several children to acquire houses. On their return to New Zealand several muses have expressed a desire to acrjuiro dwellings for private hospitals, etc., while others have applied for loans {;«■ houses for themsolves ami those lependeut on them. Tho board considers it reasonable that the nuises should have this privilege, and that applications should be made through the Repatriation Board, who would refer them to the Lands Department. The opiuion of the board in these terms has been conveyed to the Ministerial Board. An influential group of Methodist laymen in Canterbury have initiated _ a movement to i sociiro an immediate increas in the 'stipends paid to Methodist ministers. Inquiries elicited 'the information that although the cost of living has advanced by about 35 per cent, since the war started stipends have, except in rare cases, remained stationary, and in only a- few instances huvo any bonuses been paid. The- quarterly meetings of officers now being held khraiighout this Dominion are being asked to consider the matter, and take immediate action with a view to lifting ministers' stipends to something approximating a pre-war value. In such meetings as have already considered the matter hearty support is being accorded the proposal, says a Christchurcih paper. Although last winter was rather more severe than that of tho present year, the latter has taken slightlv heavier toll of aged folk in the Auckland district, remarks tho "Herald." During the winter months, June to September, IG2 old folk, 70 years of ago and older, have passMi away, the number last year being 100. The last two months, however, have not been so severe on the aged ae Juno and July, the figures being 73, ns against 89. There wore no nonogenarians of cither sex among those whose deaths were recorded 'in August and September; only one man had attained tho age of over 90 at deatli this winter, but three women nono.jenarians -have pr.ssod away, one being 91 years of age, ono 03, and another SUI