LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 61, 5 December 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The number of war gratuities paid during the week ended November 21) was lilll), the payments representing a sum of ,£307,1-18 3s. 7d. The average daily payments wore 1020. From tho timo that Parliament authorised tho payment of tho war gratuities up to November 29, a period of a littlo over two months, tho total number of claims granted was 31,291, tho aggregate value being <£1,919,842 13s. sti.

During tho month ended November 29 the Wellington District Hepatization Board advanced *126,551 by_ way of loans to enable discharged soldiers to enter into various businesses. Repayments on business loans for tho same period amounted to .£I9OO 19s. (Id. It has been tho policy of the board to insist upon repayments on loans being commenced with as little delay as possible, and with a view to encouraging the habit of saving, tho instalments have been mado as high as possible. By getting in tho money promptly the board is able to assist a larger' number of men with a fair amount of capital. For instance, the repayments on loans during November will provide a sum almost sufficient to establish eight men in business. As n rule applications for business loans seldom exceed ,C 250.

Tho Eastern Extension Cable Company notify that Teheran reports that communication with Tiflis and Odessa, via the lndo-Eurone routo. has been restored.

A tentativo arrangement has been arrived at between the Wellington Gas Company and their retort hands at Aliramar, whereby lilie men have consented to work timo and overtime as formerly. There are said to bo good prospects of a permanent arrangement or a satisfactory nature beinir brought about.

Tho Eastern Extension Company notify that tho cables arc blocked for Homeward trnflic. They are divertiiijj all full-rate traffic for the United Kingdom to via Pacific.

The Lower Halt Borough Council lias appointed Sir. Joseph George Holland to tho position of borough ranger, rendered vacant by the resignation (after 15 years' service) of Mr. Arthur Hills.

The Wellington branch of the l'ost and Telegraph Officers' Association, at a meeting lield yesterday passed l tho following resolution:—'"This meeting of the Wellington section of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association strongly urge tho Government to fulfil the promiso given by Sir Joseph Ward that the war bonus would be paid up tn September 30, 1919, and in support thereof draw attention to the still increasing cost of living which has been fully recognised by fclie recent awards of the Arbitration 1 Court/'

A list of registering authorities under tho Motor Regulations Act, 1908, is published in the Gazette issued Inst evening.

The inquest on William Edward Forster Nattrass, who died as a Tcsult of Injuries received through being kuocked down on Wednesday ]>y a taxi driven by John Fearon, of Petone, will be opened at the Courthouse this afternoon.

Tho naturalisation of Peter Mandeno Sulenta has been revoked as from November 21 last. Letters pf § Naturalisation wero issued to Sulenta on Ainrust 16. 1911.

Mr. Hart, president of tho Board of Trade, says that under tho new Act tho board is empowered to place a staff of accountants into any business establishment where profiteering is suspected. This staff would take charge of the books and mnko a thorough investigation of tho accounts—Auckland "Star."

We understand (states the Dunedin "Star") that the Crown Solicitor (Mr. W. C. Mncgregor, K.C.) will, by direction of the Solicitor-General (Sir .T. W. Salmond), apply for a change of venue to Wellington in the charges of illegal oper. ation against Hayne and Neylon in which two Dunedin juries disagreed. Tho application will-come before Mr. Justice Sim in tho course of a few days.

An inquiry will be held at tho Courthouse this morning into the circumstances surrounding the death of a Chinese named Joe Quinn, who died suddenly at his residence in Haining Street on Wednesday.

The Wellington District Repatriation Board, at its last meeting, approved 22 applications for grants to buy furniture, two wero declined, and one was deferred. In 17 cases loans were authorised to enable men to start in business, 10 applications were declined, and three were deferred. It was also decided to pay for and subsidise wages of 27 disabled trainees. V

On Saturday last at Hukatero, a bell, whicli is of considerable historic value, was presented to the school by a former pupil, Mr. Anthony Silich (states an exchange). The bell was formerly hung in tho belfry of a church at La Bnssee, but when the church was destroyed by German shell-fire and La Eassce was captured, the bell was discovered among tlie ruins and used in a German trench to sound tho alarm of an approaching gas attack. Tn Ju1y,"1917, when the Allies Te, caiiturcd La Bnssee and its environs, tne hell was' found in the German trench, and was also used by Hie Allies to givo warning of the approach of poison gas. Ultimately, bearing the scars of battle, in the form of three shrapnel bullet marks, it came into tlio possession of Quarter* master-Sergeant Silich, who brought it back as ono of flic trophies of war anil presented it to the school where he had received his early training.

The secretary of the Dnr.edin Chamber of Commerce ! has lieen informed by the management of the Union Steam Snip Company that in view of the representations which have been made in regard to the inward freights from Calmitta and the East, it has been decided that a reduction will be made of 7s. Cd. per ton on juie goods and on all other cargoes pioporUonaielv. Under tike new scale of fares for tho Go\eminent railways, which conies into force on December IS. excursion hcM-ls will Ik- issued to school parties, factories, friendly societies, ' and registered trade unions. Scliool excursion trains will bo run conditionally on the committee pi ovitling supervision of tilie children, lootball, cricket, tennis, hockey, bowling, golf, rowing, and rille teams, and pleasure parties, delegates to mcetiii„s of religious bodies nnd Inundly societies, and judges of exhibits proceeding to shows, will bo allowed to travel at tcQucod rates.

• Because ho will lie going out of offico as soon as the new Parliament is elected and his successor appointed, a kjm representative suggested to Sir WllllaI " Eraser (Minister of Public A\orks) that a few farewell words on the Arthurs Pass Tunnel would not bo out of place. The Minister smiled. He was, lie said, still pushing the work ahead, and only last week had relieved an awkward positiou by having «H)0 tons of cenjont foi the tunnel brought down by tne bovernment steamer Tutanekai. J-' IC F 11 au been almost out of cement at Arthurs Pass. "We liopo that you may be at the opening, sir—when it conies, said the questioner. "If I am alive 1 shall be," was tlie reply—"but I can t say when,"

The Naseby branch of the Farmers Union has adopted a resolution expressin" its objection to any form of compulsory military training in peace time, and suggesting that tho Government initiate 601110 form of voluntary service — "Otngo Daily Times."

Sir Arthur Connn Doyle has, says an exchange, informed the president of the Spiritualistic Council of Victoria that ho may visit Australia and New Zealand next year and deliver addresses ou spiritualism.

Alterations to tho 6calo of fares, rates and charges in forcc upon tihe New Zealand .railways, which como into forco on and after December 18, are published in tho Gazetto. Single tickets for distances over 20' miles will bo available for four days instead of three, and return tickets' for distances over ten miles will be available for return for ono month instead of three days, as previously. Provision is made for the-issue of return excursion tickets on such holidays and special occasions as may bo arranged by the Department.

Tho importation into New Zealand of tlie book entitled "Red Europe," and purporting to be written by Frank Anstpy, M.l\, and published at Melbourne, is prohibited by notico appearing in last night's Gazette.