LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 53, 26 November 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

'I have renson to bolicve that tho last soldier to 6ail from England is aboard shin at the present moment," <siid Mr. Mosscy, in reply to a deputation at Christeh,urch yesterday. Ho addeo: that there would be a few stragglers coming book later, but thoso who wanted to come were now on their way. Ho came to this conclusion -because one ship coming out had been able to take passengers other than those who had been engaged in war work.—Press Assn.

An increaso of 2d. per lb. lias been made in tho price of tea packed in New Zealand. Tea stocks are said to bo low in the Dominion and Australia. .

Smoke from tho big electric light station stacks is responsible for a good doal of the dirt and grime which settles on tho roof and facades of the' Town Hall and other buildings in that vicinity. Recently an effort has been made to clean up tho roof and smoke-blackened parapets of the hall.' As showing tho state of things, it is Baid that about a cart-load of cinders was removed from tho roof. Tho work of cleaning up the cement facing of the Town Hall, and.also tho Municipal Firo Brigade's briilding, is 6till proceeding.

A tribute to tho work done by Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., during the influenza epidemic last year was paid by Mr. A. I.eieh Hunt at Hatait'ai last night. Mr. Hunt, who was presiding at Dr. Newman's meeting, reminded the gathering that in the critical days of the epitfemio the member for Wellington East, although not an active medical practitioner, had taken charge of tho Wellington Collego hospital, and had worked in the most energetic and 6olf-sacrificing way during the period of trouble. While •he. was labouring among the influenza sufferers his son was away fighting tli9 ehomv,

The following message has been received by. the\Seorelary of tho General Post Office front the officer in ohargo of the wireless station at Chatham Islands: "Carrier pigeon in exhausted condition reaehol Islands' three days ngo and was captured to-day. Ring on one leg marked "N.Z.P.A. .1918-9 118," and on the other leg a small rubber band."

The following cases of influenza, wero reported between noon on November 20 and noon on November 24:—Auckland: 4-9 mild, 1 pneumonic. 0 severe; Wellington: 37 mild, 0 pneumonic, 1 severe; Canterbnrv: 21 mild; Otago: 2 mild.

Tho City Council lias already taken possession of the 'building in Mercer Street recently purchased from the Consolidated Dental Company, and alterations are being made to tho interior to fit it for • the'accommodation of some branchos of tho City Engineer's department. Tho ground floor of tho central part of the building is to bo occupied by tlio bousing and sanitary department (which has to do with the drains and plumbing work of tho city) and will take possession next week.

Tho cement bed and filling of the new tram track on Lambton Quay has now set sufficiently hard to enable traffic to be resumed along tlie eastern track, and south-bound oars will uso that track from to-day. As the western track along the same section has now to be rclaid, all north-bound cars will be diverted at Stewart Dawson's corner to Customhouse Quay.. During the thunderstorm In the Ashburton 'County on •' Thursday afternoon lightning struok an oatsheaf stack On Mr. 11..5. Sim's f arm, • Cnrew. At first there was a cloud of dust, which was followed by flames, which quickly spread all over the stack, making it Impossible to save any portion.

A country correspondent of the Christchurch "Press" states that a gang of sbearcrs on tho Peninsula struck work recently because no beer was supplied.

Auckland is complaining of the 6hortage of timber'nnd of labourers to meet the house-building boom. The most serious problem is thnt'of labour. The West Coast mills, reports the Greymouth correspondent of "The Sun," aro feeling tho shortage. Seven of the 4.1 mills are idle on this account. Not sufficient timber is available for present use, if there were means of 'transport.

Speaking at Mosstown, Mr. G. V. Prarce: M.P.,' said he was a member of thn Wool Committee, and through his personal action farmers got 10 per cent, more for their wool. When the list was drawn up it badly affected the email farmers. He divided the conference, and bv 2G,to 25 votes the original offer was not accepted. The result was an increase in the price was given, which meaut an additional one and a quarter millions to Now Zealand. An admirable garden suburb could be built on tho prison reserve at Point Halswell, said Dr. Newman at Hataitai last niu'hr. The peninsula had boon bought origii'nlly as a defence reserve, but it was really of no use for defence purposes under modern < conditions, There was plenty of good residential land in tho reserve. The Wellington people ought to resist any attempt to put a prison on Point Ifalswull. A stupid mistake had lieei) made when a gaol was oreoted on Mount Cook, overlooking the city, and another prison on Point Halswell would be a very crave blunder. The city old not want .to tune gaols as its prominent architectural features.

Unionß applying to th» Arbitration Court for amendments of their awards have been assisted by tho Government Statistician's figures only in demonstrating increases in the cost of the "three food! groups" and rent. Mr. Justice Stringer stated yesterday that in future dealings with "cost of living" cases, the Court would consider tho riße in the cost of clothing, .and not only that, but the increase also in the cost of fuel and lighting. These matters had been specially investigated bv tho Statistician, and His Honour thought that the Court had now more accurate data to go upon than it had ever had before.

"Trading -with tho enomy"' regulations have been amended by the issue of an Order-in-Council dated November 34,1919, now reading: "It shall not be lawful for the Registrar of Companies or for any Assistant Registrar of Companies to issue a certificate of tho incorporation of any company under tho Companies Act, 1908, until and unless tho Attorney-General, being satisfied that no enemy, nnd no enemy company, and no alion enemy (other than one who is also a natural-born British subject), possesses or is about to acquire any interest, whether legal or equitable, in that company, or being satisfied that, notwithstanding tho existence of such an interest, incorporation of tho company is not contrary to tho public interest, authorises tho issuo of such certificate." Further amendment now provides that it shall not bo lawful for any alien enemy to carry on business in New Zealand unless he is already resident or carrying on business in New Zealand at the date of tho coming into operation of theso'regulations, "save with the permission of the Attorney-General."

Tho Waterside Workers' Hand will play at the Basin lieservc to-night, commencing nt 8 o'clock.

A brief meeting of the Karori Borough Council was held last evening. There was no correspondence, and the usual committco ropurts woro short. It was decided to let tho Tea Kiosk nt tho park to the Anglican Church Guild on December fi for tho purposo of holding a bazaar in aid of the building fund for a ohurch hall.

Major-Gonoral Sir .Edward Chaytor, K.C.M.G., C.8., will be tlio eliiof guest and speaker at a New Zealand Club luncheon next week.

The petition of tho women of Melrose presented to tho Tramway Committee of Die City Council on Monday was signed,by 10! women, and the petit.oners' families"of children nunihcred 212.

Further reference to tho complaints regarding the treatment of soldiers at tho Pukeom. Military Sanatorium was made at last night's meeting of the, Wellington Returned Seldiers' Association. The Chairman, Mr. A. J. Curtaync, reported that tho association had not received any official reply to tho representations that had been made to Brigadier-General D. ,T. M'Gavin, Director-General of Medical Services. On tho motion of Mr. A. D. Siovwright, it waß decided .to write to headqunitera of tho N.Z.R.S.A., asking them if they had received any reply to tho letter which they had forwarded to General iM'Gavin some weeks ago. Tho action of the secretary of tho Wellington association (Mr. It, J. F. Aldrich) in through the Press to certain statements made in General M'Gavin's | published report was approved.