LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 107, 30 January 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Applications for the retrospective children's allowance approved last session are not being received by the Defence Department as freely i;fi_ expected, despite the fact that details of I lie scheme have been widely published. The wife of any soldier (or guardian of his children) who lias not received the maximum rale of children's allowance (Is. (Id a day) for tin; full period of his military service is advised lo communicate immediately with the Ofliwr-in-Chargo, War Expenses, Wellington, it being necessary to clear \ip all eases to which tho grant is Appjicablo as.expeditiously.as possible.

The train from Auckland with the I wops e.v Ihe Itiiaprhu will nrrivo at Wellington between 2.110 p.m. and 3 p.m. to-day. A shark measuring 19ft, in length by 17ft girth was landed (he other morning at Port Chalmers by four fishermen (slates tho "Otngo Times"). The shark was known to have been in the harbour for the past three weeks—a menace lo 'bathers and small craft nlikc—it actually threatened a racing skiff one evening recently. Several attempts had been made to locate Iho unwelcome visitor, but u-it limit success. After an all-night vigil l.e was located about opposite the Crescent Hotel in Carey's Hay. The fishermen were quickly at work, and after breaking two hi'i'pnons on him they succeeded in gelling a third home at about 2 a.m. Then, the light began! Towing a 30ft. lishifrjiian's launch behind him he made for the island, where, after a few hours' light, in tho course of which the brute smashed a dinghy, the men succeeded m killing him and in lowing him back to about the starling point of the fight. At a meeting of thoWel'.inglon Social Democratic Party held at the Trades 1101 l last ovoning the following resolution was nasseil:—"That in view of tiie liability placed upon the shoulders of (he. New Zealand politicians for I lie future welfare of Samoa, this meeting of Hio Wi'l'.iiiLrton Social Democratic Party is of oninion that the visit of the Parliamentary party for educational purposes is of vital importance to all concerned." A warning that radish seeds are poisonous is given in the annual repor; o; the •Dominion Laboratory. Dr. J. S. Maclaurin, the Dominion Analyst, slates that during a post-mortem examination radish seeds were found in (he disrestive system, and weic indicated as the probable cause of death. Confirmatory evidence was obtained by feeding seeds of both the turnip-rooted and the long scarlet varieties to three white mice, which ate 10. ID. and 35 seeds respectively. Two. showed marked i=yiniiton;u of distress in from four to five hours?, and nil died within 24 hours. 1! does not appear to lie generally known, Dr. Maclaurin remarks, I'hat radish seeds are-so poisonous. .A scheme for tho centralisation of fhn activities of the SJ2 trade unions operating in Auckland has been proposed (slates the "N'.Z. Herald"). In a report prepared by a committee representing' the unions concerned it is stated that under the present system of separate secretaries and stparalc offices, little or no organisation is done, and a considerable amount of overtopping occurs. The committee estimates that at present tho lowest possible annual cost of administering trn.de union affairs in Auckland is iE'COO, with no-provision for organising work. The estimated annual cost of the secretarial and office work under the suggested scheme of centralisation, including an efheient office staff and eight organisers continuously at work, is about iUOOO. A list of tho officiating ministers under the .Marriage Act, lilOS, is published in this week's Gazette. For several years the market has been fairly bare of wax matches, and the shortage continues, says an exchange. The output of tho two factories in New Zealand is restricted for several reasons. Labour is scarce, tins aro scarce, mid wax is scarce. The supply which is available from abroad is also very restricted. There are plenty of wooden matches on the market. A Chinese fruiterer in Auckland who, it was proved, had sold mildewy strawbories and refused to return the money which he had charged for them, litis been fined .£3 and costs.

Giving evidence in ft Court cn.=o at Palmcrstrm North recently, a chimney sweep said that his occupation was not a very lucrative one. People did not seem to want their chimneys swept, as they did •in other towns. Tn Tjnnncvirise two swoons wore 'able to make a good living, whereas he, tlio only one in Palmerston North, liad difficulty in making end? meet. One flue that lie cleaned the other day had not been <lone for two years. With regard to the Maoris' memorial nt Hotorna to their fallen and In those who, went to (lie front, it is reported that' .£(100 is in liand, and that thero will be no difficulty in raiting the remainder,' -HMO, The aim is to havo

the foundation ready for the Prince of Wales to unveil'during his approaching visit.

The following nre the returns of infectious diseases in the Dunedin and Fever Hospitals for the week ended on Monday lush—Diphtheria: Admitted, one; died, one; remaining, nine. Scarlet fever: Admitted, two; discharged, one; remaining, nine. Inilnenza:'Admitted, five; remaining, five. Pneumonic influenza: Admitted, one; remaining, one. Total cases of infectious diseases, 24.

An unusual find has been made by Mr. Graham and party at Clark's Flat, Forsyth, midway between Lawrence andWaitiihunn (say's an exchange). They discovered a large/seam of good lignitequite near the surface; in fact, only about 2ft. of stripping will be required. The peculiar feature of the coal is that it is impregnated with resin, some nieces of which appear to 'be almost pure resin, weighing as much as 31b.

In the Auckland Hospital last, year CI2S natients were treated, 3777 operations " were performed, and -127 deaths occurred. A clearer insight to the magnitude of the operations of this institution will bo given if these figures are brought down to n daily average (comments the "Star"). They mean that Icr even- normal day lfi or 17 patients came into'the hospital, and ten or eleven operations were performed, while every week .eight, or perhaps nine, patients passed awav. In the previous year the number of deaths was as high as ;ui, the large increase in the mortality rate being attributed to the epidemic at the end (f 1018. Lnst year there were 02!) patients more than in the twelvo months previous, ami there were .ISS more operations performed.

The report of the Sales, Grading, and Fruit-tree Committee of the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen, presented to the conference yesterday, stated that a considerable overstocking in the leading commercial varieties of apples and some lines of pears had existed during last year. As a result, some thonsnnds of tons of yell-grown fruit-trees had been consigned to the flames during the year. There had been a slight shortage in stone fruits, the result of the slump of 191G-17, when large ouaiititie.s had to be destroyed through the falling off of the demand owing to war conditions. A closer cooneration was recommended between the official representatives of the fruitgrowers and the executive of the Nurserymen's Association, so that the wants of tho fruitgrowers could bo met without: any perious losses like that of recent years.

Alwiit ninety soldiers from the hospital at Trcntlinm were yesterday nftornoon entertained by the Salvation Army. They journeyed in motor-lorries to the Petone wharf,' where they boarded the .lani.e Scddon and were conveyed to Somes Island on a iishiiig expedition. Refreshments were served on the island, and tho party relumed to l'etono about six o'clock after mi enjoyable outing. Melbourne drapers in a large way of business are reported to bo obtaining supplies of white sugar to sell to their customers. Colonel Oldershaw, Sugar Controller, commenting on this, stated that if such were the ease the Government was not to blame. He added that if drapers asked for sugar they would not get it, but it was impossible to control ail movements of the eomnioditv alter it passed out of tho Government's hnnds. It might he' that sonic drapers could pick up ood lots, but the Government could nut prevent that. The first annual competition for tho Wellinginn Surf Association's Challenge Shield will take placo at Lyall Bay on Saturday afternoon. Six clubs have cnie.red representative teams, and a spectacular and interesting display is anticipated. Tho association lias commenced a (ampaign to popularise open 6en bathing, and to provide the proper, safe"iiTirtU in the form of efficient life-saving clubs. "Nurserymen are not business men," emphatically declared Mr. T. Iforl.on (Hastings) at the Nurserymen's Conference yesterday. "Haven't you found it out yourself when you've dealt, with another nurseryman? Ninety per cent, of them won't give you a prompt reply." "I have found out that if there is any money in tho proposal they will reply quick and lively!" answered Mr. Hasmusson (Wangamti), amidst laraghtor.

"That this conference urges the Government to grunt legal protection lo misers of new plants and to establish as soon as possible a pamulogical irard." was Hie text of a remit adopted at Hie Nurserymen's Conference yesterday. I At (ho Nurserymen's Conference yestcr- ' day a remit urging the continuation of the system of sending Horticultural Divi--Ision instructors overseas for further ex- . perionce in their particular branch of i horticulture was carried unanimously. At Ihe Nurserymen's Conference yesterday, Dr. C. .1. lleakos (Diroctor-lion- ! oral of Agriculture), in answering a | question with regard lo apple stocks, staled that the work being done at the Departmental farm in Hawke's Hay was i being extended, and the experience gainj od would be of great value lo the industry. He and Mr. Kirk (Director of lloi- ! ticultuiv) wore going into the mutter to i sec if it was not possible to extend ! operations further. ! _ "We arc all crazy," said hulye Alden, ; in the course of his chautuuqua lecture ;on "The Powder and the Match," in I Duuedin. "Eu.ryone is butty. We of | tho Chautauqua liiovcmeiit are mad; • I'm crazy, ami 1 know it. I'm a crank; ■we re all cranks. Everyone who has fought for the establishment of a wider ; homon, even one who has battled for an ideal was a crank Columbus was a crank, ami IVauklin. The Wright brothers, when liny were perfecting their first aeroplane, were looked, upon as i cranks. FiUeon yars ago in England i 111 grca'.est .statesman in the world lu- * day-Lloyd Cico.go—was derided r.s a crank. Hut," concluded Judge Alden, . "you can't stint anything without a \ crank!" ! At the annual conference of the Industrial Coiporniion of New Zealand, lo lie held in lJuntdin, delegates will bring forward'* a .remit simjkv to (he resolution passed recently by the New Zoa-land_E-inplo.vc.is' federation at its meeting in Wellington. The resolution was : as follows:-"Tiiut in the opinion of this I federation flit iimo has now arrived | wnen The employers of this Dominion j must recognise that a now order of rej lationship between individual cmplovcrs ind their workers must lie established; I and to this end it is advisable that each eentre elect icpresentatives lo consti- ! 'uto a commiltec to Unborntc n scheme which will have' lor its object the promotion of industrial petce in this Dc 7 minion." Tho intention is that the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand shall adopt this remit and Hint a start be made in the direction of establishing Jicnce and good will as between employer mid employee. Another remit from Chrislcliurch is: "That the time has now arrived when tiie Customs tariff should bo reorganised by experienced business ivnd manufacturing interests, so that it fil"ill bo mnde.llie medium for the development of existing industries', and a help in the starting of new channels of industrial wealth." -Liia biiuv oi a man named Martin Joseph Murphy. 41 years of age. whose homo was at Miramnr, was found floating in tho harbour yesterday, and was re moved to the morgue. An inquest will bo held. Murphy had left home earlv ill the morning without tho knowledge of tho oceuDants of the house. At the meeting of the Wellington Education Hoard on Wednesdaw it was mentioned that there are still 37 vacancies for probationer teachers. Anyone who is the holder of a senior free place or a pass in the intermediate or Civil Service entrance examinations is eligible for appointment. The period of probationership is two years, and the applicant, if qualified, will then be eligible for admission to the Training College. The scale of payment for probationers has been increased to per annum for the first year, and £i:t for the second yenr, with an additional .£25 if the appointee is obliged to live away from home. The rate of payment as Training College student is i'Bs per annum, together with lodging allowance of .£25 if the student" is obliged to live away from home. Tho harbour ferry steamer Duchess came to a slop half-way between 'Wellington and Honn, Bay on tho run from town at about G o'clock last evening. In resnonse to distress calls the Cobar, bound from the Hay to town, left her usual course, and ranged up alongside the Duchess, which it was found had stomierf because of a heated bearing. Lines were made fast in readiness for towing operations, but to the relief oall concerned the word wont forth that

the Duchess could proceed without assistance.