LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 133, 1 March 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Secretary, G.P.0., advises that during the present interruption of the Pacific calile the Eastern route will ho heavily taxed, and messages will lie sti>k ject to ser'ous delay. Cable users aro requested to confine their messages to urgent matters. This <loes not refer to traffic to Australia. When the matter of the recent conference in Wellington dealing with the meat and wool question was brought forward at the meeting of tho executive of thfc Canterbury Sheepowners' Union last week, a striking tribute to the energy and interest shown by Mr. Masncy in matters affecting tho primary producers was made by one of the members of the committee. Mr. Westenra said that at the conference just ended three resolutions dealing with the disposal of produce were carried, with tho proviso that the Government forward them to the Imperial authorities. But it was found that Mr. Massey had some lime previously already disoatched n much more strongly-ivoTded communication to the Imperial authorities 011 the samo three questions, thus showing that nil that was hummly possible under the prevailing abnormal condition? was being done in (he interests of the producers of tho Dominion by tho Government. A married man named William John Solomon. 55 years of age, was found dead in n stable at the roar of his houss in Adelaide Road yesterday morning. About half-past 9 on Saturday night deceased went to,the stable to feed hi? horse, and in the meantime his wife retired. On waking about 5.00 yesterday morning Mrs. Solomon discovered that her husband was missing so she went to tho stable to investigate, and thtro found Ins desd bodv. Death is .believed to be due to natural causes, but an inquest will bo held at tiie Magistrate's Court at D.30this morning The following eases of influenza were reported between noon on Monday Inst and noon on Thursday:—North Auckland: 10 mild, I severe. Auckland: 40 mild, '1 severe. Hawke's Bay: 47 mild, 4 severe. Wellington: 22.5 mild, 2 pneumonic, 3 severe. Cantermiry: 4G mild, 1 pneumonic. Otago: 155 mild, 3 pneumonic, 1 Totals: 532 mild, G pneumonic, 13 severe; grand total, 551. The annual picnic and snorts gathering of tho Railway Department head office staff will bo held at Trentham on Wednesday. The executive of the Dominion Rifle Association meeting, which opens at Trentham on Thursday, has included a special cadet championship match, which will bo tired on Saturday. The match is arranged for the special encouragement of cadets, who can go to Trentham by the 12.15 p.m. train on Saturday, and return the same evening. Railway warrants will be issued to those eligible if application is made to the group commander. Entries for this match close on March 4, aud the promoters hope to have the best cadet shots in the district competing. Officers of the Wellington Infantry Regiment have been invited to a reunion dinner which is to be held at Palmerston North on the evening of April 24 in connection with the Anzac Day celebrations. On tho following day (Anwic Day) a church paTade will be held, at which the regimental colours presented by H.M. the. King will be consecrated. During tlie week-end, Messrs. H. Scott and G. R. Little's vawl White Heather left on a cruise to the Sounds. The crew comprises the owners and Messrs. T. Rao and N. Wichson, and tho partv expects to be away for about a fortnight. | The general prosperity of the Wellington district is reflected in the fact Dint during the 'month of February no bankruptcies were recorded in tho city. As a matter of fact, the last petition in bankruptcy relating to Wellington was filed on November 1-1 last. At the annual meeting of the Wellington Accountant Students' Society last week, a proposal to liokl short meetings of commercial men in the lunch hour, to discuss subjects of engrossing interest to business men, was favoura'lily iccc'ved. Meetings along this line have been held for some time past, with a large amount of success, in Sydney, as wel! as in London, and the society, acting in conjunction with the New Zealand Society of Accountants, hopes to conduct similar meetings in Wellington with great usefulness The fire brigade was summoned to 48 Herald Street at nineteen minutes past 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon to suppress a fire in the kitchen of a house occupied by Mr. Thomas Edward Balmforth, and owned by Mr. John Wright, who is at present absent from Wellington. The outbreak was due to a defective chimney, but, being very slight, was quickly extingir'shed, and very little damage was done. About 110 applications from returned soldiers for land were placed before the Wellington Land Board at its last meeting. The demand for land is exceeding the supply, but many of the men aro being placed on sections. Tho reports that have readied the board show that most of the soldier Peltiers are doing well in spite of the high price of !.ho Innd on which they have been placed. Almost without exception men who have worked hard and intelligently have succeeded. It is stated that all tho selectors on the Kopane estate, near Feilding. have done well. The eoldieis aro tackling all types of farming, and they havo been assisted by the maintenance of high prices for. prodnca.

The Postal authorities advice that tho mails which left New Zealand on January 12 arrived in London on February 2-1. Tho amount of criminal work dealt with bv the .Auckland Police Court fiincc tho Now l'enr hns been the subject of comment. Up till "Friday 1202 criminal eases had been dealt with—about OM) i" essess of the figure for tho corresponding period last year. A striking feature of tho record to date is the number of indictable offences. Far more cases requiring Supreme Court jurisdiction have passed through the Lower Court during theso two months than during the corresponding months for any time throughout the war period. Koran frank admissions concerning his business affairs were made by a bookmaker who was one of the defendants in a "two-lip" prosecution heard in the Auckland Police Court on Friday. Under cross-examination by Chief-Detective M'Mahon he admitted that he had given up painting five vqnrs ago, and set up in the more profitable business of bookmakinir. Counting the odd money in his nockoh he found that he had about <£100. Ho was "not exactly worth thousands, he said, but was by no means "broke.*': "And I've been paying for the upkeep of the police forte pretty consistently, loo," ho added. "Four or five times I've paid my fines like a gentleman, and painting wouldn't have pain for them," lie coneluded amid genera! laughter. When Dr. Thacker was elected to Parliament in 1915, he communicated with the Prime minister, pointing out that northern members of the Parliament can travel all the way to Wellington on their free railway passes, while southern members have to pay their fares on the fen-v service, and,' therefore, are at a d : sadvaiitage. Last week he received a letter from Sir William Fruser, stating that Mr. Ma«soy made suggestion* to tho Union Steam Ship Company that members of botli Houses of Parliament should be encouraged to visit all parts of the Dominion and should travel between Wellington and Lyttelton free on production of their passes, and that the company has agreed to this. The Prime Minister expresses a hope that members will avail themselves of tho company 3 generosity, "The belief in fairies," said Professor Macintyre in the course of a lcnturn on Highland folklore at Dunediu, "we relegate to the nursery, and before long, by tho aid of elaborate educational systems and the mad rush to put old heads on young shoulders, fairy tale books will be banished from our nurseries as improper literature. I pity the poor child of tho next generation, and I am glad that t was reared in an atmosphere of tho primitive love of nature rather than in tho stifling atmosphere of a picture show." At the meeting of tho executive of the Shcepoivners' Union on Wednesday, that portion of Mr. Massey's letter stating that the present arrangements by which the woollen companies obtained their wool for manufacturing purposes would only apply to such, quantities of wool as are equal to the average purchases of each mill during the.two seasons previous to the arrangement being made, was considered to be of very great importance just now, as bearing on the allegations that have been made that tho woollenmills of tho country have been allowed to purchase abnormal quantities of wool, which haw liewi exported at a rvcat profit after minimum treatment at the mills. One of the members present, when speaking in connection with this matter, drew attention to the acute shortage of blankets in Canterbury at present, and 1 the feeling of the meeting seemed to be that it was desirable that some remedial measure was necessary m view of tho great shortage of coal and tho near approach of cokler weather. The shortage of sugar lias md been remedied by the Board of Trade's arrangements for distribution among the retailers. Several grocers in (he city and suburbs were without sugar on Saturday, and others were forced to dole ii out in small quantities. People who ordered bags.of sugar many weeks ago lor jam-making are still awaiting delivery, ami in tho meantime they aro missing the soft fruits. The first monthly "stop-work" meeting of the Seamen's Union \vill be held to-morrow morning. Provision was made in the recently-concluded agreement with the employers for this meeting, subject •o a stipulation that tho departure of vessels sha!i not be delayed. Both the seamen and the waterside workers have chosen to hold their regular "stopwork" meetings in the morning which usually is the busiest pait <yi the dav. Owing to the diversion of coal supplies the Auckland Gas Company announces that from to-day the gas supplv will be reduced each evening about S o'clock to a point "which will prevent consumption."—Press Assn. At an inquiry into (lie sudden death of Nathan Wood, aged ten years, the mother 6la ted that the child had never ailed excepting with a bad attack of influenza (reports a Press Association message from Invcrcargill). Throe of her children had died suddenly—one, aged H, dropped dead on the voadl another expired at school, and the third fell dead off a pony. Ilor husband had also died suddenly. A doctor testified that the cause of death was cardiac syncope. A verdict wns returned accordingly. Tho ruling of Mr. Crniekshnnk, S.M., at Invercargill, that bicycle and motor dealers in selling seccnd-hnnd machine are proceeding illegally unless proving! with a second-hand dealer's license has created a good deal of speculation in the trade locally. A Dominion reporter, incmiring into the position, was informed that there were very few motor-eyela shops that did not do a bit of dealing in second-hand machines, and one only had to read the advertisements in the papers to seo how common the practice of deal, ing in second-hand cars was with many of'the city garages. It was quite an cycles and cars to take over a secondeveryday business for dealers in mo-.or-hand machine, in part payment for a new one. and then trade off the old machine. If the judgment of Mr. Cruiekshanks were upheld it would mean that nearly all the'people in the trade would have Jo take out licenses, and the Dominion informant could not see how that was so-, ing to help or hinder anyone. It would, he added, be interesting to see if the local police authorities thought it worrh while to aqt on the Invercar;:ill judtf ment. Tho matter of church union was referred to by the president of the Mctho-< dist conference, tho Rev. E. Drake, in the course of his inaugural oddiess at Auckland on Thursday evening. He said the hopes raised by the visit of a deputfition from tho General Assembly of tho Presbyterian Church at the last Methodist conference had not reached fruition. ! Because of tho activities of a vigorous minority the last Presbyterian Assembly decided'to reappoint tl/J committee dealin" with the matte/, and to continue to'seek to foster the spirit of union. Mr, Drake said he was assured by loading Presbyterians that such a decision was a very hopeful sign, and tlinf possibly in two years' time union will bo con. Ruminated. Prolonged negotiations and discussions had a tendency to beoomo embittered and to put off the end It was possible to stumble over matters of property, over non-essentinls in doctrine, and even over hjstorical traditions, and to miss the pri/A Whatever proposals in the direction of evangelical church union were made in the ; future, they would receive the careful and sympathetic consideration of tho Methodist Church of New Zealand. At a ceremony held in St. Plod's Schoolroom, Papanui, on Thursday evenin » for the purpose of presenting medals to"returned men and the next-of-kin of fallen soldiers of the district, the Mayor of Christchurch (Dr. Thacker, M.P.) slated that ho intended to urge tho Government to assist tho nearest relatives to visit the graves of the fallen in Gallipoli, France and elsewhere. Ho considered it was tho bouuden duty of ' the Government to do this, also to seo lhat the graves were properly attended ro. 1 Although tlie recent outbreak of in- ■ duViiKi is n " the wane, and comparatively few serious cases have occurred i | a t e iv, innnv AuclilaiidefS are suffering i n' malady which, although mild, and imncconipa'nied by any high temperature <ir : d'Ui"ermio complications, is exceedingly i enervating and unpleasant (says the "llen-'d"). The symptoms are pains in i the eyes and head, accompanied by ex--1 (rcmo soreness and feeling of weariness and heaviness in the limbs. One doc- ■ tor stated thnt he had heard of downs ' of cases within the last few weeks, and considered it to be a muscular affection, i which was Teally a now and mild form •] of influenza.

The Salvation Army Silver Baud played a programme of music at tho hospital j grounds yesterday afternoon. Tho selec- £ lions were much enjoyed and a collec- j tion taken up produced tho sum of JM. Tho circular letter recently issued by the Prime .Minister regarding the action of certain woolgrowci-s holding back their wool under tho impression that the Imperial requisition would be lifted, on Juue u'O ha.s been the subject of a protest by Mr. W. D. Lysnar, M.P. "As j a woolgrowcr who is advisedly withhold- . ing liij wool," Mr. Lysnar, in a letter to Mr. Massey, says: "As you officiary | say I am committing an offence 1, in- ? vite you and your fciovernraent to take ( immediate action against 1110, t as 1 liavo 110 desire to intentionally disregard or , break the law in connection with this | 'commandeer,' and at present, as far as [ 1 can learn, and am legally advised, I ; am not breaking any law, but on tho f contrary your Government and tho 1m- j perial authorities have been breaking j both tho terms of the original contract ( and disregarding the law your Govern- ( ment has placed on the Statute Book, and I ask you to immediately put mo right by taking action against me." j With the high prices now ruling for t metals there is an inclination for renewed enterprise in opening up areas in , tho Hauraki Peninsula, but it is stated . that operations are serioiu.ly impeded by the fact of various properties having been ; "shepherded' in view of future develop- . ments (says the Auckland "Star"). On , many of these properties no work is being done. In one instance a man who took up a mining area of 100 acres found that, on two prospecting areas adjoin- • ing 110 work hod been done for fully six years. For this and somewhat similar reasons several projects for development of mining properties have recently bsen abandoned. At the recent meeting of the Australian Methodist Board of Missions held in Sydney it was decided to grant the New Zealand conference the Solomon Islands as a separate field from 1922. That year the centenary of the Methodist Church of New Zealand is to take place. The New Zealand Conference is to be allowed the right to draw on Tonga and Samoa for the native teachers in the Solomon Islands. White missionaries will probably bo appealed for at tho meeting of the conference this _ week. Nineteen aro required for work in the Pacific, and so far only six suitable ones aro known to bo available. Dr. J. K. Brown, Balclutha, says ho wonders why the Health Department does not go in more for inoculation as a preventive of influenza (states the "Free Pi ess"). His experience as a surgeon in Egvpt and 011 transport proved tho efficacy of the vaccine treatment with large bodies of men. The_ transport .011 which lie camo back to New Zealand carried ISOO soldiers, who were inoculated several times before reaching isouthern seas, and 011 arrival at Fremantle they were given shore leave through some misunderstanding, although the "flu was still raging in the town. The men 1 were out for' a good time, and _ went | everywhere—"they were looking lor influenza'" —yet when the whole contingent was collectcd and got 011 board there was not a single case of "flu.' They were alio given a run ashore at Sydney and Newcastle, with the same happy results. The treatment is comparatively simple, involving no ill-effects, and tho doctor has inoculated several in. tialclutha during tho present epidemic. A new textile fabric which, it is claimed will tend to lower the present high cost of men's clothing, is being placed 011 tlie market by a l'udsley (Yorkshire) manufacturer. The London agents or the manufacturer state that the new cloth is made entirely of silk noil (or short fibres), and that while superior in wearing properties to a pure worsted, it can be sold at the price of shoddy cloth, or one-fourth the price of tho best wool fabrics. It is said to be strong and almost untoarable, .very §uitablo tor hard wear, and can be obtained in grevs, browns and blacks. The new fabric is claimed to be a British discovery, and is at present manufactured only by 0110 firm. M. Clcmenceau's lovo of pets once involved him in trouble with h:s .neighbours. Twelve years ago, during Ins first term as Premier, he had a number ot peacocks sun] storks, installed in the gallons attached to tho Ministry of tho JuVerier. There are no trees m those "aniens, only lawns and flower neds, which in M. "Clcmenceau's opinion lack animation—hence the peacocks. But otwr people living in the Place Beauvan complained that theso birds were too animated, their cries being so persistent as to render sleep impossible. Things leached such a pass that the Prefect of Police was asked to indict his official superior for disturbing the peace of his neighbours, who were all the more indignant because M. Clemcnceau went home evei'v night to sloon at his flal in the Hue Franklin, far out of tlie range of the peacocks' cries. However, a scandal was averted by the Premier allowing a slight operation to peiiormcd on the vocal chords of his pets, which, without otherwise injuring them, rendered them incapable of squawking. Considerable amusement wns caused at tho Auckland Supreme Court 011 Thursday morning bv a remark made by His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman, while summing up the evidence in a caso for the jury. According to statements made, plaintiff had been struck by defendant, a man over six feet in height, to plaintiff's iive feet fivo inches or thereabouts, ami had gone for assistance. .His Honour remarked that the fight was an inartistic one. "It is hot my place to advise in the matter, but I think had I been in plaintiff's place I should havo endeavoured to get under the elbow. It mav be that I express that opinion because I had the advantage of an early training under Jem Mace." In reply to representations made by tho Tnilnino Returned Soldiers' Association regarding a released German internee starting business at Maiigaweka in opposition to a returned soldier, the following letter has been receiv.cn by the secretary of the association f,rom tho 1 Minister of Interiuil. Affairs: Germans interned were not necessarily dangerous in times of pence. It would not be practicable to deport all such Germans, many of whom are married to English women; nor would it be consistent with the terms of nonce with Germany that tho Government should prefent the. Germans who remain from carrying on trade." Tho coal mining industry is. booming " in ICaitangata district at present (says the Bruce "Herald"), there being 110 fower than eleven pits at work, employimr about 420 persons, not including a larso number engaged in carting irom the various smaller pits. The supplying of these people means that another lnrse number of persons are kept busy. There is a briskness about the district that, is very welcome. A shipment of 25,00(1 narcissus bulb?, which arrived at Auckland last week from Holland, via England, was condemned on arrival owing fo the whole shipment being infested by the narcissus llv. Tlie flv had hatched out 011 the voyage, and some wcro found to bo alivo on arrival.