LOCAL AND GENERAI

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 122, 17 February 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAI

Cabled information received by the Chief Postmaster from San Prnncisco states Hint the Tofun sidled from that port on l'Vbninry 9 for Wellington. She carries I&'IS bags of mail for New Zealmiil, including 1777 parcel receptacles. The vessel is expected to arrive- in A\ ellington about February 27.

Customs revenuo collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to os. 8(1., which amount is a New Zealand record for a one-day's Inking. The previous best tot.il was collected at Wellington on September 25. 1919, when .£19,795 6s. 7d. was paid as duties.

In view of a difficulty which was experienced by the Petone Borough Council in recovering rates on workers'dwellings, which were paid by the tenants to tho Department in their rent, the treasurer was authorised to take steps to recover the rates outstanding, and it was decided to place these properties on the tame footing as others in respect of tho collection of rates after tho end of tho year.

The. Master Hairdressers and Tobacconists' Association last week unanimously decided on an increased scalo of prices to tho public. Haircutting is raised from Is. to Is. Gd.; ladies and girls' haircut ting, 2s. 6d.; boys' haircutting, machine Is., ordinary Is. Gd.; shampoo, Is.; singe, Is.; massage, Is. Other prices hove been raised accordingly, but. shaving remains at Gd. Any extras, however, will bo charged; thus a shave and brush-up will bo ffcl. Tho new scalo is to come into operation on March 1.

Tho man Richard Fenby, who was admitted to tho hospital early on (ho morning of February 7, sufToring from a bullet wound in tho head, died at the institution nt a quarter to eix Inst evening. An inquest will lie held at the courthouse at 4 p.m. to-day. Tenby was a wooden bedstead manufacturer, and resided at 39 Cambridge Terrace. MessTS. Vivian and Eric Riddiford hare t'.vt-n an nie\ ot land at Karori, corntiming trom ten to twelve acres, for the erection ot a Diocesan School. The silo Is close to the residence of Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M. A glimpse of the "edginess" of the artistic temperament was obtained during tho course of the final concert by the New South Wales Orchestra at the Drill Hall. Duncdin (says tho "Stnr"). M. Albert Goosscns had sung Alfred Hill's "Taniri" magnificently, and tho audience, in the manner of concert audiences, indicated their desire for an encore number. The applause was hearty and prolonged. M. Goossens bowed, and Air. Verbrueghen raised his'arms on high as a 6icnal for the orchestra to begin tho next item. But the applause continued, and tho conductor put down his arms, shot his baton into the socket at the side of the music stand, and waited. Twice was this performance repeated, and then Mr. Vcrbrugghen turned and shred at the audience, who, however, continued to ask for aiore. At length Mr. Vcrbrugghen literally bounded out of his 'box. and, with a decided touch of asperity, said; "Ladies and gentlemen, if this is a ioke. Ido not take it." Ho went on to remark that if they cared to remain till 11 o'clock they could have their encores; if not, ho would be glad if Ihev would kindly allow the programme to go on. The insistent portion of the audience saw they had unw'ittinglv offender the conductor, and nt onco desisted. The orchestral item was then nroceeded with.

The To Awamuhi Chamber of '. ommerco has resolved to make representations to the. Government to raise Hie basis of exemption from ordinary income lax from .£3OO to Jtm to meet the increased cost of living, and the low value of the. bovereign. A sitting of the Mount Cook Police Court yesterday was presided oyer by Mr. K. D. Hnnlon, J.P. Arthur Ldwurd Tonks was brought up on remand on a charge of helpless drunkenness, and was ordered to pay 17s. (id. medical expenses. One first offender who failed to appear was fined 10b., in default 24 hours imprisonment, for insobriety. Valentine's Day fell on Saturday, but (says the "New Zealand Herald ) the observance of the occasion belongs to a past generation. It was on February U that in former times in England, Scotland, and some parts Of Europe .ench young bachelor and maid was assigned by lot a member of the opposite sex as a "valentine" for the year. This was a form of mock betrothal which frequently led to «al engagements and marriages. In later years the valentine custom degenerated into a habit among young people of exchanging sentimental caricatures or "valentines." Probably it was the abiise of the custom that led to its fall from popular favour. The Petone Borough Council last night received a communication from the Minister of Railways, regretting that after consideration ho could not accede to the council's reauest to 6top the afternoon train from Wellington to Masterton at Petone. He found that the morning train on tho northward journey stopped at. Petone. and on the south-bound journey the evening train also stopped to set down passengers from stations north of Upper Hutt. and this reasonably met the Dosition e.s regarded long-distance pasfieneers. while the suburban requirements were catered for by local trains. The cxDress trains in question were primarily to serve the convenience of .the Wairarana passengers, and complaints were freauently received respecting the loss of time resulting from the number of stations at which the trains already stopped.-It was decided to renew the reouest that the up express stop at Petone, nointine out that Petone is the biggest town on the line, and that the train stopBed at smaller places like Melling.

Particulars have reached New Zealand ot the arrangements made for the Imperial Press Conference, to be held in Canada in August next. The Canadian Press, under the chairmanship of Lord Atliolstan, have sent the Council of the Empire Press Union a request to arrange for the selection of delegates, to represent all narts of the British Lmmre. Wtei the conference has finished its business it is proposed by the Canadian Committee, with the active support of the great railway corporations, to take the delegates on an extended tour through Canada under the auspices of the Canadian Government. The number of New Zealand delegates has been fixed at seven, and tho Canadian Government has expressed a desire that the P.ress of tho Dominion shall be well represented. The delegates, who are to 'be chosen from the proprietoH and editors of the papers, will be the gtiesb of the Canadian Press from the tmi. of sailing, and the. visit including conretentes Mid tour) is expetted to occupy, seven weeks. A deputation from the Motor Ambulance Committee waited on the Petone Borough Council last night to ask that th« council enlarge tho building, which was used to house the old horse nmbnWe. so that the -new motor ambulance mieht be accommodated there. Air. W. B. Goueh (secretary) acted as spokesman, and pointed out in support of the renuest. that the committee had relieved tho council of responsibility in connection with the van. They were going to snend .£l2O on renovating it, and hart no place to house it, as the space promised in tlie fire brigade station had been devoted to some other purpose The council indulged in a considerable amount of discussion regarding the best wav to dispose of tho request, and it was finally decided to ask the Fire Board to provide accommodation at the lire station for tho van.

A letter was received by the Petone Boroutrh Council last night from the Prime Minister, stating that owing to tho pxtrcmo tircssuro of business it had not been nossible for him to receive a deputation from the council on the question of coal supplies. He had, however, taken note of tho request, and would communicate again as soon as a convenient time could be fixed for the interview. Councillor Anderson moved that the council insist on seeing tho Prime. Minister, as winter was coming on, ami the peoplo had to have coal. He pointed out that the council had nineteen tons Inst month, and had sold it in hundredweiirhls—not in bulk, as had been done bv the other dealers. Councillor Cox thotieh that there should be less talk in connection with tho coal shortage, and ncrced with tho previous speaker that somethimr should be done. The motion wafl carried.

At n meeting of the Chrislchnreh Uiy Council (states a Press. Association telegram) the following motion was earned mmnimoiisly:-"Tlmt in view, of the decisions of the Arbitration Court to adjust the remuneration of workers to the riso and fall in the cost of living, tho various council committees concerned bo requested to give, tho question careful consideration, in so far ns it affects tuo council's workmen."

Tho Petono Borough Council Inst night received notico from the Health Inspector that M cases of influenza had been reported in Hie district. The borough inspector, in his report, stated that, with few exceptions, they wore of a mild nature, and there were no pneumonic cases. Tho local doctors, ho said, assured him (hero was no causo for alarm.

The Petono yacht Nautilas broke away from her moorings early yesterday morning, and drifted down the harbour. Sho waa subsequently taken in tow by some fishermen at Bona Bay, and is now lying at anchor there.

The Pctone Borough Council Inst night eraiitwl the Petono Rowing Club permission to bold opcu-air concerts, and also to t&ko ur» utrcet collections to augment the funds of tho club,

The new "victory" stamps are oa yftt being sought after principally by the collector and the curious, says tine "New Zealand Herald." Inquiry nt (he Chief Post Office at Auckland showed that there has been little demand for the new stamps save in sets of six. To a great extent this may be accounted for by tho fact that tho business man, when asking for "a penny ha'penny stamp," not specifying the "victory" issue, is supplied with a stamp of the old, less ornate, stylo.

Cases of infectious disease reported in Uie Wellington public health district during the week ended February 1C totalled 570, as compared with 9G5 in tho previous week. The decrease was duo principally to a big declino in the number of influenza notifications. _ Following are details of the cases notified t—lnfluenza, 513; pneumonia, S; diphtheria, 1G; scarlet fever, 3; tuberculosis, 1; measles, 2 The hospital districts in which (ho diseases occurred wore:—Wnipnwn: Inltutinza, 10; pneumonia, 1. Tarnnaki: Scarlet fever, 1; diphtheria, 1; influenza, 5. Stratford: Influenza. 8; measles 1. Hawera: Influenza, 3G; pneumonia, 1; measles, 1. Paten: Influenza, 1; pneumonia, 1. Waiiganui: Diphtheria. 1; influenza, 52. Palnierston North: Diphtheria. 4; influenza, 34. Wellington: Scarlet fever, 1; diphtheria, 1; influenza, 110; pneumonia, 2. Wairarapa: Scarlet fever, 1; tuberculosis, 1; influenza, 3G. Wairani Iniluenza. 23. Picton: Influenza',' 13. Nelson: Diphtheria, G; influenza, 215.

The civil action of C. Cox v..M. Hock, which was set down for hearing in the Supreme Court yesterday, was not called, ii settlement having been reached by the plaintiff obtaining a full discharge of his claim. The examinations of Territorial officers for nromotion in the New Zealand Defence forces will commence in tho various centres of the Dominion to-day. Non-commissioned officers of the Senior Cadets and Temtorial? desiring to ounlifv for first appointment to commissioned rank will also sit for their examinations at the same time. The Wellington candidates will bo examined at Trenthanl camp. The seventeen New Zealand cadets from Duntroon Military College, who have been spending their vacation in (he Dominion, will return to Australia by tho Manuka, which is fixed to leave Wellington to-morrow. Four candidates who recentlv qualified for admission to tho college will also sail by the Manuka. Their names are: F. C. Gentry. Wellington: A. L. Young, Wellington; 11. F. Allan, Collingwood; and A. H. h. bugdon. Christchnreh.

A complimentary social, at which a presentation will be made to Mr. h. i. Rishworth, the Keform candidate for the Hutt in the recent election, will be now in the Lyceum Hall to-morrow night. Leave and liquor led Gilbert Pollock, an ex-stoker of the Navy, into troublo at tho Lower Hutt during the week-end, and into a prominent place before Messrs. G. H. Chapman and J. Pearce, J P.'s, at the local Court yesterday morning to answer charges of being drunk and disorderly, using obscene language, resisting the police, and doing damage to a cell It appeared that accused (who was undergoing treatment.for neurasthenia at Treutham Military Hospital) had been granted leave, and while in Wellington consumed a . quantity « spirits. He boarded a train evidently with the intention of returning, but its destination was Lover Hutt. and here he had to alight. He approached the act-ing-stationmastcr requesting something he could not get, and then proceeded, to use abusive language, hnally threatening the stntionmaster with a chair, tonstable Holmes was called, and after a struggle managed to handcuff Pollock and tie him on to a motor-van, on winch ho was taken to the police station. When he had been there for n while he commenced to break things with a Military can, which was eventually taken from him after he had exhausted h>mselflo such an extent that medical aid had to be procured. He was.sentenced to two months' imprisonment, the Bene pointing out that the offence he had ■committed was a serious one and he wa liable to a penalty of 12 month*. He was ordered to pay expenses and clamwea amounting to £i Is. Owing to the heavy depletion in staff of the head nfliro department of the New /leand Railways, during the war period the annual outingof the staff had to. e abandoned, but it is the intention ths year to enable the available staff to fraternise as hitherto;. At a meeting of representatives of the various. Derailment* held on Saturday morning, pre sid?doverbyMr..H. J.AVynne(si B nal and electrical engineer), a motion prof.ecrefary(Mr.H.M'Keowen) was carried to the effect that the committee places on record its regret at the loss sustained in the ,tragic deaths of three valued members of previous executive, viz.. Messrs. J, P. kelly, "• "• Weir, and P. J. M'Govern. t An inquest was held by Mr W. G. Piddell S.M., at the courthouse yesterday concerning tho death of old child named Elizabeth Marie Walsh, who died at the residence of her mint at midday on Saturday. ■ Dr. Fylfe, who conducted a post-mortem examination, stated that death was caused by the pleasure of an abscess on the brain. A verdict was returned accordingly. Keplvins recently in the House of Commons to Mr. Grattan, Doyle, who asked the Secretary of State for War it ho would state what steps have been taken to establish a battalion of overseas euards to consist of contingents from each of the self-governing dominions and whether the Governments concerned hart expressed any opinion or wishes on tho matter. Mr. Churchill said the dominionGoVernmenh had been consult .but no decision had been reached. Further consideration of the matter must -tand over until the future organisation ot tlie Army had been completed. Tho Auckland Acclimat'sation Society recently passed on to the Minister of Agricuit«ve certai.i f C.oniplaints.that name mrds were being killed by poisoned polledlaicl for rabbit,. At «* of the society's council, a reply *asie reived from the Minister. . who stated hat the destruction of rabbits was commlsorv under the Babbit Nuisance Act Snd tliat the Department being onh™Jed with tho enforcement of thei Act. conw not see its wnv to interfere vitli the. mVthSda used by fame rsto comp y w ih retirements. The Department tia not S» recommend the laying of mallS of poisoned food thoiigh on acclimatisation society had ac unll\ »u vocited tlrs niethod.-Auckland Star. Whilst surveying the scene of a recent r,rl the ci v the Superintendent of the. V e BrigadW- n - Tait) extraordinary evidence of the manner in located a factor, the windows of which had, a Esrc^xr^^ t e contents of tho building -were of an Jflammable character the results would have been serious. How people- id.msnranco companies-can be f.o careless of tS interests passes, the comprehension of Superintendent Tnit. "Motor Cyclist" states that lie is fur ; prised to note that though ho stall line for tramcars has been laid and used, tho Tramway Department is still stalling cars at the foot of Kent Terrace, oppomlo the end of Courtemiy Place. . His practice," ho writes, "has been held o be a menace to life, as it obscures tho approach of cars from pedestrians crossing from Mnjoribnnks Street to Court,nay Plnco and vice versa, and should not now be necessary with tho new waiting lino ready for uso."