LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 20, 18 October 1919, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A supply ol about 25.01 X) I9U-15 stars for distribution abong members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is arriving in the Dominion sliort.'.y, and will "bo sent i:o the holders' immediately the names and regimental numbers can Iks engraved. This work is being done by the Defence Department, and it is expected that the distribution will commence early in November. The New Zealand certificate of service will shortly be available. • Memorial plaques and scrolls .ire to be made at a special factory which is being erected for the purpose in England. When supples arrive, they will be-distributed to the next-of-kin of . ail deceased soldiers, irrespective of whether their service was abroad or in New Zeai'aud. The personal effects of deceased soldiers are still coming to hand for delivery to next-of-kin. These facts® show the importance of keeping Base .Records, Wellington, advised regarding the correct addresses of returned soldiers and of the next-oi-kin of deceased members of the Expeditionary Force, n:< a proper distribution cannot be promptly carried out unless the correct addresses are known by Base T!rcrnk Soldiers who were el'scharged in England, and wlw have returned to New Zealand, should cil'so send their present address'to Base Records, so as to secure their medal.

■A resolution has been passed by the Dominion Executive of the l.leturned Soldiers' Association complaining of the delay of the chairman of the Repatriation Board in forwarding, a..reply to'a deputation vjiich waited oh Cabinet on August '2 last. Tho secretary of the board points out, in regard to this com-, plaint, that the deputation waited on Acting-Prime Minister, other members of the Cabinet being (present by invilation, and that the remits then submitted affected many other questions be-, sides repatriation. Although/ tins- chairman diel not formally reply to the letter sent by the general secretary, a verbal communication was sent by the secretary of the board, suggesting that the request for an answer to tho representations of tho . executive, should he addressed to the Prime . Minister, who would then no doubt communicate with the several Ministers concerned and. get their decisions with respect to the questions affecting their particular Departments. As a matter of fact, adds the secretary, the Repatriation Board has only within the last few days been in a position to reply on all the matters because before replying it desired first to consult its district boards and committees with respect to. thcm.j

"It is usually much more satisfactory to both parties to arrive at an agreement by a conference of experts round the table during conciliation proceedings than lo allow tile matter to go before the Arbitration .Court," said Mr. H. Hagger Ctlie Commissioner) at the close of an abortive conference at Dunedin this week, reports a local exchange. "At these proceedings," he continued, "the whole of the pros and cons of an agreement can be discussedfby men with an intimate knowledge of (he business, whereas if the ease goes before - Hie Court a great deal of exponse is, incurred, and much conflicting evidence has' lo be siflcd before an award can be formulated." •

The blueguin scale, according to llr. W. Martin, the Canterbury Education Board's instructor hi agriculture, is doing more damage in Canterbury than is generally believed. 'Mr. U. (.•. liobinson. the Sclwyn Plantation Board's superintendent, recently stated that the .blucgum in Canterbury was being attacked by the scale 'to an alarming extent. Mr. Martin, speaking at a meeting of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute 1 this week, said that the insect was attacking all' speiiies of eunis in/the province. He had walked through several- giini-tree' plantations iii which, lie believed, every tree was de.id or dying. At 13ar field the previous day, lie' had about half an hour to spare, and collected on the leaves of a bluegum tree n large number of beetles, grey in colour with brown 'spots. which, evidently, had devoured the loaves. The bluegum scale was well known, but it.'did ifiit seem to be general knowledge that a species of beetle alsow.ns atlacldng the gi.im frees. Wil li th'e'Tublic Works demands'for-{ he destruction of frees that inlerfered -with electrical/wires. Ihe scale and the beetle, the giini trees'of Canterbury were in for a bad .time.

The hero'sm and■ devotion to duty.of' Constable V. Dudding. whereby he so tragically lost his life, are to be marked by a memorial fen-ice. in the. Town Hiill on Sunday evening.-under, .the auspices of the MethodW. Central Mission,, to vWiich church lie belonged, ( Th'o'.'P.rjiiie Minister, His Worship the Mayor,: .the Speakers of the Upper-and Lower .Houses of Parliament, the Chairman of Coiiiiiiittces, members, of Parliament of afl three parties, the. City .Councillors', the Chief' Justice, Stipendiary' ■ 51agistrat.es; and many other leading citrzens have already intimated their intention of tnking part in" this service, and citizens generally will no doubt welcome tins opportunity'of showing their sympathy by attending in large numbers. -

The Salvation Army self-denial (city) street collection amounted to <£81. which is a little better, than last year. Brooklyn,' Kelburn. and. : Newtown were not included, iir tlie .city •collection, • .

Gn- Tuesday -last at the factory., of •Messrs. 0. J. Ward and Coi/Mr.-ftharles J. Ward was tho "recipient of a travelling I'uff from the .employees of the' firm, upon the occasion of his leaving on. a business -trip to America; Mr. Wil-. liani3,-. 'm a short speech, on' behalf of the employees, wished Mr Ward, a pleasant htid,'- successful trip. • Mn v AVard thanked all'who participated in this.,ex-pression-'of good will. He staged it was' liis' hiteiltion while in America to. studythdjjpiethods in vogue there .in the shoe, industry,'to. investigate the' Amoricatv method of manufacture in the,most np-' : to-daie factories, and, if possible, to. bring beck with him the latest in shoe machinery. He stated it was his firm, opinion that by means of . this better equipment, a slice could be manufactured in New Zealand nqual to tho best produced in America. AYith regard to profit-sharing Mr. AVard mentioned tho /sehenies' already in existence in New. Zealand, also some: in 'operation in the,, factories in the United States, which lat>ter' lib would closely investigate, with a view-to adopting some' such scheme in, his own factory; In cbnelusion, ho stat-. edMtlwsS. liis intention- at tho beginning of the New Year, to put every employee of the firm at that date, into the Government: National Provident l?uhd.

According to the Auckland "Herald," difficulties ail regard to obtaining supplies of timber are apparently still seriously hampering contractors in the building trade. The architect to the Education Board reported at the last lueetiin; that no tender had been received'for'the, erection of a school building at Oparau, or for additions to Motumaohoa school buildings recently advertised. . Tho ■ contractors ' were tired of trying lo secure timber to carry out contacts, and in many, cases had given up .rendering.'

A .remit, from the Warkworth braiwh of the Tanners' Union that the Government be urged to introduce legislation to prevent land agents receiving two commissions for effecting an exchange of properties, as at present, "was .discussed this week at Auckland by the provincial executive of the union.' Several members supported the remit. 1 Mr. 11. 0: MiUsopp considered that an honest age-it earned two commissions 011 an exchange, as he effected two sales. Action should rather be taken in the direction of having the rates' of- commission reduced, .as at the piesent high prices of land the, amount' of the commissions was altogether tw<. high. The motion that the remit be forwarded to the Government was carried.

. The desperate position which the housing, problem has reached in Hamilton wn!s shown by a letter which the Itorcngh Council'received at its last meeting, (states a local exchangi l ) from one of its employees. The writer asked for ponuissioy to erect u tent on boroii;;!i land, as lie had botiglit: a house, but owing to its being occupied by a rein rued soldier, he could not gain' jiossessiju. The Mayor said il; was 11 desperate stale of affairs, but there was apparently no-, tiling else for them to do but to grant the request, and his suggestion was adopted.

As showing the keen demand for dwellings in Wellington, it was mentioned in the Supreme Court - yesterday" ti.v .a land agent in a compensation'claim. that he sold a property a( Halailai for .ilSflfl. and the purchaser resold the-property within t-, week at an advancc of JjMO.

The Eastern Company advises that communication with Mitnu Higa and the province of Livonia is interrupted. Mr. Justice Jlosking will speak on "The Navv League," and Mr. J. I'. •Firth.on "'fhe-Koyal Navy and the Mercantile' Marine"' at the Navy League gathering nt the 'J'own Hall on Tuesday evening next. A. special parade of 'Wellington College Senior Cadets is. to take place on the college ground? at 12.1S p.m. on Tuesday, when the college (which has enrolled 390 members in tin; league) will he presented with a New Zealand ensign. - The Tanentna Farmers' 'Utaion o;i Thursday discussed Tnuranga's offer of electricity from its'existing 700 horsepower surplus and a further 100.000 iiorse-powor available at k'aituna. The settlers present enthusiastically welcomed the proposal, and arranged a conference, of various farmers' unions to develop the scheme either by direct action or in conjunction with the Whakatnne County or Borough Council.—Press Assn. The remains of the infant daughter of the poet Adam Lindsay Gordon were (says the "Australasian") brought from Batlarat, where they had been interred 51 years ago, and reinterre'd in Gordon's grave in the Brighton (V.) Cemetery on October !). -Mrs. T.uw- (formerly 'Mrs. Gordon) was present with her husband and their son. The. Rev. W. H. Adcney, who had been at the Ballarat graveside, conducted the service. Addresses were delivered, and Gordon's poem "The Hick Stockrider" was recited. On October.s, the annual "pilgrimage" to Gordon's grave, was held. The grave was visited by thousands of people, many of whom placed flowers upon it. Afterwards addresses were delivered from a platform in the outer reserve of the cemetery. The, speakers iwduded Senator Uussell and several others, and recitations from Gordon were given. Mention was made of the fund for the erection ,of a statue to Gordon' in Melbourne. •

Tlie City Coiwicil. is being continually asked for rebates in the the Town Jlivll and the Concert Chamber by local institutions. The Jetting of these halls is subject to very dearly-expressed conditions and charges, and 'the Mayor has on a previous occasion slated how careful the council should be in setting up precedents in the remission or reduction of the schedule charges. At the last meeting of the City Council I lie Finance Committee recommended that applications for. rebates in tho rental made by the Scottish Society and Pipe Baud of AVellingion and the Waterside Workers' Cilee Party be not. acceded to, and also that a similar renucst in connection 'with the' Khaudallah Town Hall be similarly treated. '

Captain Ciildmg, master for the nasi four , yours of t'lin schooner Tiachael Cohen. ■ which trades with Macqnario island -ill connection with the. oil industry, i" tho course of iyi interview at JTobart a few. flays ago, contradicted certain statements in resnrd lo the penguins on Hie -island, lie said that the statements that penguins.. were driven to the o.iid of ji race, knocked, on the head, and. fell inlo a lioilincr vat, where lliey were-literally boiled-alive, were .ridiculous.- "Bnch a task," .lie added, "would be liqth impossible • and .unnecessary/.'' The birds came ashore to a rookery elo-:e to the works. Each one was knocked on the head with a waddy on which an iron ferrule was. fitted. They wero then taken the digesters, which were really hi? .enclosed'boilers holding from POO to 100(1 birds, provided l.hey were properly packed bv a man inside. The steam was then turned on at l!"db. pressure, r.nd the dead birds were steamed for twelve hours. There were no, boiling cauldrons, no races, no planks, and no live birds. Where the inhumanity or. the cruelty came in jle failed to see. • Tf. the killing of: penguins wero cruel, so w,as I lie killing of sheep .and cattle for eating .purposes.

The proposal to. set up an'. amateur wireless association iii Wellington was ■carried out on Thursday evening. About a dozen amateur .workers met and discussed at. length the prospect? of such an association, especially the possibility .of having the existing, embargo on practical work ■ removed.' The (luestion'of licenses for. operating, and the nature of limitations (is to : power an'd 'rahge of instruments,' was talked over iii' .detail; : and 'it was agreed that, ;steps slionlfl be laker, 'a t 11 early d ate. to * apprnaeh the,a li thor ftics of the Post and Telegraph "Depart"-, meiif. on the subject. . The opinion was expressed_ that • representations- tho. issue of licenses are strengthened beforc-

hand by the permission already granted iu -Australia, the United States, and elsewhere, .for properly regulated amateur, work... Further proposals to be investigated are the creation, of .branches elsewhere in New Zealand, mid some form of relationship with the Australian Wireless, Association; and it. is hoped that it will be'pos-ible, as there are many advanced, students of the' subject in", the' Dominion, to obtain' valuable lectures and papers on wireless, topics. The. "New Zealand Wireless Institute" was duly formed ).\v resolution, and a/committee wqs set up consisting of Messrs. ,T. 1,. Mulholland, C. M. Taylor, C. E. Forrest, C. Curnew, I. D. Shearer, and W. P. Mitchell, with Mr,' J, 0. Taylor as honorary secretary pro tenr. The committee is to draw up rules and take other necessary'steps to establish the-institute on a'working basis, "and'member? undertook to'inquire-personally into the '-prospects, ot • organising' tranche's in other ceutrw in Mew Zealand. .

]n connection.'with the City Council'shousing "scheme," the' Acting 'City''Engineer reported to the C'ity Council oii TJiureday- that lie- had , appointed the'"'following'officer.l! to take fj'argc of' the scheme.:—Kngineer, Mr. ji. E; Luke; architect.'' Mr.'. I/. Atkinson; supervisor, Mr. v T!. •M'Kenzie..

A demonstration of a new. system of -life-saving was given-in the boat har hour, Oriental Bay, on Thursday,l)y Mr.' .Lowe, .in, the presence of.-a nunibejvof prominent, shipping ruen, including Mr. (>.; Allporfc (Secretary for Marine;, Mr. C.'M. Turrell (manager of the New (Zealand Shipping Company), and Captain E. B. Atwood. The system,, briefly explained, is as follows;— Metallic bars are attached to each side of the'keel of t)io lifeboat, tho object being that when tllie boat is capsized the occupants., will havo something to cling ' to. When pressure •is applied to one bar by some' ten men the boat can also be righted. The demonstration proved very .successful, those present considering tilie idea a good one.

The roads in the Makara county arenow in a. good state of repair, and'compare favourably with any other roads in tho Wellington district. This-fact was reported at the monthly meeting, of- the council yesterday, over which Councillor ,S. Bryant pressed. A draft was submitted t;!ie new by-law regulating motor traffic, in the county. The by-law, which will be considered at a specialmeeting of, the ..council in November,stipulates that the maximum speed on any county roads shall not exceed 20 miles per hour-unless the driver ias a clear view of the road for at least five chains, and, 10 miles'per hour unless he has a. clear view of the road for at leastone chain ahead.

Marksmen will apprccinte s the intimation contained in this week's general orders issued by Military Headquarters that a supply 01 Lee Enfield long rifle barrels has been' ordered from England tor sole'' to rifle clubs. Unless unforeseen difficulties arise in cbnnectioii wil!l> the shipment of the=e barrels they should be available for sale in December next. The landed cost will be, ,barrel ami body, ,C 3 13s. each. Pa.rl-worn Lee Enfield rifle- are now available for sale to bona-lide members of rille clubs on application to the Ordnance Braneh-»cost per rifle, ,£l. Applications for purchase of rifles or barrels must be ..endorsed by the president and .secretary'of the:-club to which the applicant belongs.

Owinj.to numerous rennests, the council of Ihe .Academy of has decided to keep the exhibition open for two more days, eloping on Tuesday October 21, at: II.HO p.m. '

At Thursday's 'iicetjng of llie City Council, when the Mayor moved the Finance Comniitlee's report. Councillor T. i'Orsylh drew atleolion to the-fact that there were several• items in the report which the members kne.v iiothiii'; about. An very little or nothing was |o!d eoun-i-illors aliosil sucli matters, il would perhaps be Viler if the c-nuiHl us n whole were n"-mbers of Ihe finance Couuuiftert. The Mvor ';l (hi\ (here were •■erlirn ii'-dln--- involviii'r noi-chase' of land .which eoiild net very well be giv<-;i out. but, the information was alwavs available !■' members of the council. Councilor l-VrsyUi added that all the memhers ki'ew of such things at . one time, but I hat was always when the transaction was over.

During the session of tho Coal Commission at Christclnirch, koine evidence was given by one witness to which exception was taken by the Nightcaps Coal Company. The 'manager has now' received a telegram from the chairman of the commission stating that the witness had 'tendered corrected evidence . to the effect that Nightcaps coal was being used on the Southland railways. Tho commission had also . ascertained from tho Department that tlic' manager's statement that the average weekly supply by the."'company -was eighty tons was eorrci'.t.-Press Assn.

The ease of a .blind, soldier who has I recently returned and is anxious to |ie assisted in starting a jjuult:y larni in or near Cliristchurcli, was discussed at the last meeting of the Canterbury Repatriation . ■L.j.ml, says ' tJii> ''Lyltelton Times," and it was decided lo give the man every assistance possible. The chairman (11 r. A. \Y. Jamiesun) said that he had visited the soldier at .'his home and found him in remarkably good spirits. He was a married man;-his wife having been a nurse at St. Dunstan's Hospital in London. Uoth the soldier and tii's wife had learnt poultry farming in England, and they now wanted about two acres of land on which to make a start. He felt confident that they would make a thorough success of, the venture, even though the soldier had suffered terribly as a result of his-- blindness through mustard gas, and he (the chairman) thought the board should approach the Government with a view of obtaining a farm fol- tlieni. It was the most deserv-, ing ease that had come before the .board. The matter was left in ihe= hands of the chairman, and the board.agreed to Rupport whatever action lie-took, l.aler in the evening the chairman m™ 1 . toned; that there was oulv one-other b'ieil re-' turned soldier iu Canterbury. -1 e was at Duiisnndel, and was .getting a.ong verv well, and it was satisfactory l', know that his sight was gradually re-;, turning to him.