LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A conference of senior officers of the Xoiv Zealand Expeditionary Force will open at tho Garrison Officers' Clubroom, Buckle Street, at !■) a.m -in November 5.9, nn-:l will continue on the two following days. Consideration will be "iven to a number of matters of interest to <f.e N.fi.B.F., including the disposal of regimental and canteen funds and of the Colours presented by the King to th* service battalions.

Owing to the (luclualions of the dollar Ihe price of all American magazines has been increased from receipt of the last mail. This is the second increase during the war period, but it is tho first ■which has been passed on .to the publie.

When the Mayor of Karoti (Mr. 15. G. If. liurnl was interviewing the Finance Committee on tho subject of amalgamation, ho asked whether the change, if brought about, would interfere with tho residential area by-law now in existence. The AssisUut-Cit.v Engineer (Mr. A. ,T. Vaterson) stated that the minimum building area in Karori borough was an ei"hth of an acre, with a minimum fronta»e of .'l3 feet. Whilst making no promises the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Taike) said that it was the intention of himself and, he thought, the council to adhere strictly to the principles of townplanning in connection with any areas which may be merged in the city in tho future.

At last night's meeting of the Wellington Bowling Centre, Mr. Townsend bromdit up the question of "ranting facilities ou all bowling greens throughout Wellington and other districts for invalid soldiers under treatment, particularly shell-shock patients, toplay an occasional game of bowls. Mr. Townsend mentioned that when the men were at tho Alexandra Hospital various clubs in ■Wellington had thrown their greens open, to the men in question. This year most of the disabled soldiers were quarterod at Trentham, but if arrangements oould be made for their transportation, there was no reason why greater use should not be made of the privilege. All that was wanting was a little wider publicity of the fact that the men would be made welcome on all greens. Incidentally, Mr Townsend pointed out that medical authorities considered that bowls and golf were the two most beneficial forms of recreation for shell-shock patients.' The centre decided to write to the military hospital authorities offering to co-oper-ate with them in providing the soldiers an opportunity of accepting the bowlers' invitation.

A Tress Association message from Christchurch stales that information has been laid by the district repatriation officer, Mr. T. M.-Charters, alleging fraud against a returned soldier, who obtained a grant of ,£l5O from the. board. This, it is believed, will be the first case of its kind in' the Dominion. The circumstances alleged are thali the soldier incorrectly stated that he had had eleven years' experience as a tobacconist, and obtained a grant to start him in this business. He actually hnrl ilind no experience in this-particular line, and it was noli long before the board had to take over the business.

. At a meeting of the Lyall Bay Municipal Electors' Association la.st evening a sub-committee was appointed to endeavour to arrange a settlement of the trouble between the two surf clubs, and report to next meeting. The meeting decided to ask the Lyal.l B;,v Epidemic Committee to assist the association in defending eases which arc to be heard in tho Magistrate's Court where certain residents are being summoned for medical attention during the epidemic of lost year. It is tho intention of the association to retain counsel for the defenco in theso eases.

With a view of encouraging children to take an interest in animals anrt also to'practise kindness to them, the Christchurch committee of tho Society for the Prevention of Cruelly to Animals has decided to award to Canterbury schools engrossed certificates as rewards for tho best essays from the upper standards on tho subject "Kindness to Animals."

Since iiis return to Dunedin from Wellington Sir. C, E. Statham, M.P., has been interesting him.-rll' in the case of a number of returned soldiers who were discharged' by the Travelling Military Medical Board. As a result of his inquiries Mr. Statham waited upon Sir James Allen on Saturday, and urged that the charges made against the hoard should bo fully inquired into, and where an injustice was found lo have hcon done In a soldier that it Should bo immedialelv remedied. The Minister, it is understood, is looking into the matter.

There is in existence a by-law which limits the speed of vehicles across street intersections to eight miles an hour, but there is evidence that it is broken almost daily. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday two offenders were fined £2 and „C 3 respectively, and the Magistrate, Mr. E. Page, S-M., remarked that the practice was a dangerous; one and must bo stopped.

It is interesting to learn that Mr. David Lloyd George, at present Prime Minister of England, was appointed on February 13, 1903, by Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, a Commissioner of tho Supreme Court of New Zealand under tho Commissioners of the Supreme Court Act, for the purpose of taking oaths in England.

Further reference to the establishment of a. permanent returned soldiers' club in. Wellington 'was made at last night's meeting of the Wellingon Returned Soldiers' Association. Mr.- M. Badger, who had brought forward the project at a previous meeting, remarked that if somo definite steps were not taken within a month it would be-useless to consider tho matter further, as interest would have lapsed. He understood that the association could vacate its present premises within a month. The chairman, Mr. J. D. Harper, raid that that was not so. It would be aix months before tho association could leave the premises, "I move that we so in for a charter," suggested a member amidst laughter. After some further discussion, consideration of the matter was deferred until next meeting.

In a caso brought by the Waimato Acclimatisation Society against Crust, Dunedin, a claim for Us. 6d. rent for a, hut placed by defendant on the AVnitaki South Fishing Reserve in 1913, th* Magistrate, Mr. W. li. M'Kcan, decided that the right having been given on tho eole condition that Crust would tako out a Waimato fishing license, the question resolved itself into whether the license was revocable. The Magistrate decided it was revocable. On the other hand, the claim being based on use and occupancy, the account was not due till December 1 next. He therefore nonsuited the plaintiff society. As no method of apportioning the amount due at the dnto of the summons had been agreed on, the plaintiff society might sue again, eav, on December 2. The case was brought as a test. There are some score of others, but the holders are resisting the right of the AVaimate society to demand n la\ for huts erected at the Wallouiaiis' private cost.—Press Assn,

Jlr. Allan AVilkie informed a Dominion reporter yesterday that he believes that the Dominion of. New Zealand offers an extensive enough field for the operations of a stock company, and it is his intention to attempt the venture with the company now playing at the Grand Opera house- Having gone thoroughly into the matter he has calculated that such a company could piny for eight months continuously without' visiting any one town twice, and that given sound performances and a change of repertoire he believes that tlio idea is commercially passible. "Of course,-" said Mr. Wilkio, "a new repertoire would bo necessary for every tour, but that would not bo difficult to arrange. Indeed, I have already a great many plays in tho box which I. am sure New Zealand playgoers would like to see, and am negotiating in England for iho rights of other new plays. Then, as you see, we would not be tied • down to any 0.11 e class of play. Our present repertoire include* Shakespearean plays, melodramas, old English comedies, modern problem plays such as "fliiidle Wakes," "Mrs- Warren's Profession." and ''Candida," the two last by George Bernard Shaw, so you see our taste is as catholic as tiic public we hope to please. On sucli lines as these 1 feel confident that we will be- aMe to win mi'; on'y the confidence but Ihe approbation of lovers of the spoken drama, and so keep the country supplied with healthy and intellectual entertainment. Anyhow, J am going to give if 11 trial. Two or three trips up and down New* Zealand will tost the value of ray theory."

From inquiries made, at the office of tho Union Company on Saturday, it was giitlicral that tho storing tho Nolsou trader Paleena has been thoroughly ove.rhaiui.od, and is in perfect working order. Tha machinery was speeiiilly tested in tho harbour on Thursday and again on Saturday, and no trouble was experienced.

Tho lack of common gratitude which is; displayed by soma people is positively astounding, and, a. .■newspaper runner had an iustame of this thrusl upon liiin very forcibly recently at Cliristchurch. He was on his cycle, doing his round, when he saw a kindling lyinß on the roao'. He stopped, picked up the bag, and on opening it found it stuffed with various documents and a number of bank notes, lie put the bag in his carrier and rode on, and shortly met a car being driven furiously in the opposite direction. The car stopped, and the occupant: asked if the- cyclist hart ficon the lost bag. As he described it and its contents, the runner handed it over to him without, demur. Not only was no reward forthcoming, but to crown all the man in the car asked for a paper, got il, and drove off without paying for it!

Tho little-known fact that there id a beautiful iconic reserve of 100 acres of native bush near Hay wards was mentioned at yesterday's meeting of the Butt County Council by a deputation of Hutt Valley residents. It was pointed /out hy Messrs. \V. IT. George and Sladden' mid other members of the deputation that tho reserve comprised one of the most perfect pieces of native bush in the country, but that at present it wufi inaccessible. The deputation asked the council to go into the question of erecting a traffic bridge over the Hutt Haver at Hay wards and connecting the road on that side of the valley with the reserve, which, is adjacent to the railway bridge. Quito apart from its usefulness in opening up the reserve, it was emphasised that a traffic bridge over the river at this point was much needed in order to connect the main road on the eastern side with tho western road on tihe Haywards side of the river. Councillors were much in sympathy with the proposal, and it was decided to arrange for the member for the riding and the overseer (Mr. J. W. Cndby) to inspect tho locality on Saturday morning in company with Mr. gladden, with a view to formulating 6ome scheme for having tho wort done II was suggested that it might be feasible to wait on the Minister of Public Works and ask for a pound for pound subsidy or a straightout grant towards the project.