LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 149, 19 March 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Citv Council decided last evening that no tram service will be run on Good Friday. A curtailed service is to be maintained on Faster Snlnr'lev and* Sunday, and the full service will be run on the Monday.

An Order-in-Council was gazetted yesterday prohibiting the importation mto New Zealand of Sinn Fein Irish Republic Brotherhood badges, and portraits of Edward or Eamon De Valera. "President of the so-called Irish Kepublic."

A fear that the high prices at present biiinir realised for New Zealand produce would not. continue for many years was voiced bv tho Hon. A. M. Myers, M.P., when speaking to a gathering of commercial travellers at the Commercial Travellers' Club yesterday. The country, he said, was enjoying a large measure of prosperity because of extended credit and hiiru,prices, but he wanted to found a. note or warning. The high prices were not likely to continue for a number of voars. but the people seemed inclined to be extravagant. When production was not commensurate with the obligations entered'into as a result of the wni ho thought it time that tho inclination to extravagance should be reduced.

Tho tieadmasters of four Jsapior schools have advised their pupils to attend school without boots and stockings as a protest against the cost of living (reports the Press Association). . "Ml manufacturers' prices withdrawn" 'U the text of a cable message received by a local drapery house from its English buyers on Wednesday. This, according to one leading indent ngent, nrobablv means (another 20 or 25 per cent rise in cotton and woollen manufactured eoods from England, and. 1 such mav be anticipated in New Zealand. Such are tho conditions existing at the present time here that indontors arc unable to mention prices at nil. They can onlv exhibit their samples, and the retailor selects what he requires, and submits his order, leaving the ■price quite open to the manufacturers; but such is the reliance placed in the latter that all retailers are aware that no rio« i» made without justification, and so,order as frcelv without quoted prices as with them. There is no option to do otherwise if they would maintain stocks.

Mr. T. A. Hunter, who wae recently nuuointed chief dental officer under tlw Education Department, has indicated a wish to resign owing to some complaints that have been made concerning his apnointinnnt.. Mr. Hunter was head of the Dental Corps in the Expeditionary Force, with the rank of, colonel, and his experience of organisation during the war was the chief reason for his appointment. Other dentists have protested that ho is near tho retiring ago, and that they had been prevented from applying by an official statement that a young man' was required. Mr. Hunter does not wish to havo any suggestion of unfairness connected with his appointment, but the educational authorities, it is stated, desire him to retain his position.

The Consul for Belgium at Wellington has received advice from Brussels that persons-wishing to visit Belgium, and whose requests must bo submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs at Brussels, must givo particulars and detailed reasons for their, journey. Such reasons as business or family affairs, health, parent or relation sick, are not sufficient, and in future no notice will be taken of requests giving merely any of the above reasons. It is understood this also applies to all requests for entering tho occupied part of Germany, and no notice will be taken unless the requests aro accompanied by papers justifying, to tho satiifnetion of the Department, the necessity for tho voyage. All persons, therefore, in their own interests, should give the most complete reasons for their proposed journey.

It was mentioned at the meeting of the Athletic Football Club last evening that during the forty-two years the club had been in existence it had only two presidents. The first president was in office for 20 years, and Mr. G. F. C. Campbell, who succeeded to the position, had been president ever since. He was re-elected to the position last evening.

The official reopening of Lancaster Park, Christohnreh, ,which, thanks to the efforts of tha local commercial traveller?, lias been secured .free of debt for amateur sports, will take place on Saturday week, jtnd tho occasion will be marked bv a revival of the Canterbury Athletic Championship Meeting. A big programme of championship, open, relay, schools', and Highland events has been arranged, and a feature of the meeting will be an open tug-of-war, for which substantial prizes will be given. Mr. G. A. U. Tapper, manager of the Bank of Kew Zealand, lias informed the Mayor of Christchnrch that the Bank of New Zealand proposes to erect a four or five-storied building on the present site, but extending further east in Ifcrcfoul Street than the present boundary. The Mayor suggested that the question of widening Colombo Street at tho bank corner should be (revived, and he 'has written to the Minister'of Finance on the subject. He intends to suggest to the bank authorities that rounded corners' should 1)0 provided for.

The Post and Telegraph Department has secured a central site in Dowling. Street. Dunedin. for the purposes of a control aqtoihatic telephone exchange The site is a,t present occupied by two residences on' the flat at the top 1 of the bank opposite the Excelsior Hotel. To assist the officers in the selection of a 6itefor the exchange a graph was prepared showing by- dots the location of every tolcphono "in Dunedin city, and Dowling 'Street proved to be the centre. The following railway transfers a} 9 announced:—Mr. H. A. Penn, traffic inspector at Christchurch, has been promoted to traffic inspector at Auckland, His place will bo taken by Mr. A. C. Trunin',* at present assistant-relieving officer at Chrifitohurch. Mr. H. R. Bush, clerk at Lyttqlton, will be stntionniastcr at Taihape, his place being taken by Mr. JI. C. Guinness, stationmaster at Kaiapoi. Mr. J. B. Campbell, stationmaster at Palmerston South, will go to .Kaiapoi! Mr. J. E. Carter, at present stationmaster at Lecston, will take up his duties as clerk at Asliburton. Mr. H. M'Dougall, etationmnster, is leaving Itangiora for Eakaia. Mr. A. R. Tajlor. clerk in tho good* department at Oarislcliurch, will bo chief clerk at Tiniaru; and Mr. C. E. Lancaster, stationmaster at Waimate, is promoted to the position 'jf relieving officer at Invercargill.

Reserved iudg'ment was delivered yesterday morning by Mr. W. G. Hiddell, K.M.. in tho case of Thomas Forbes Johnston v. Douglas Gordon Jack. The plaintiff, a surveyor, stated that he entrusted lo the defendant, a draughtsman in the employ of the Public Works Dewinnuuit. a theodolite and tripod for adjustment and repair. It was stated that the theodolite, was returned in due time, but it was not till after about twelve months that tho tripod was returned. It was allesred that through lack of proper annaratus nlaintiff lost work estimated to be worth £24. and had also lost a sum of ,ClO. on account of oilier work which had proved unsatisfactory, becauso of the inferiority of tho apparatus ho had borrowed. The Magistrate remarked that them had been no contract between the parties, and although tho plaintiff had "tillered somo damage it was largely due io the manner in which ho had carried out his work and to the fact that ho had fniicd to obtain another tripod which could have ken purchased at a small Judgment was given for 'defendant.' who was allowed .CI 3s. (id. costs.

■V rather peculiar position lias arisen in"tho boot trade since the price of hides lumped up so suddenly alter the Government declared an open market, says an Auckland paper. It is now possible to import sulo leather from Lugland at a (rillo under the cost of the local article, and several Auokhuul retailers havo sent orders Home. A merchant speaking of tho great rise in tho price of footwear abroad instanced n lino of American goods which iveiif qiiblwl at 12 dollars a pair in America, to which would luive to be added ISO per cent before they could bo lufmllod in Auckland.. J his would nuiko tho price over «Ca a pair whioh, of course, was prohibitive, and tho, order had to be oancolloil.

Two sums of .£5 each have been forwarded to the Government as "conscience money." One was received by the Eaiiwn.v Department, and the other bv the Prisons Department.

lieccntly the Defence authorities announced that bona fide members of rifle clubs might purchase for £1 each a number of part-worn long Lee-Enfield rifles. It is now notified that riflemen may also purchase small Lee-Enfields, part worn, the price fixed being S3. 10s. each.

A sad fatality occurred at. the Oraana sports social on Wednesday evening, when Mrs. Hedley Keane, wife of the crack rifle shot, fainted whilst dancing, and expired. Deceased leaves a husband and three little children.—Press Assn.

Through the will of the late Mrs. Datiro, of Mnwheraiti, a lady who was brought up in the. Dutch Reformed Church, and attended Presbyterian services on the Ikamatua Mission and in Heefton and Nelson parishes, legacies have been left to church work. The Heefton Presbyterian Church and the To. tara Plat Mission both expect to 'benefit to the extent of £IW. The money is loft without any conditions. 60 can be used cither to renew properties or to endow the stipend funds, or as is deemed fit.

A aliost story comes from Banks, a fishing village near Snuthport, England. In the. earlv hours of the morning persons proceeding to work saw n white apparition near the village church. They declared that the mysterious object had claws and assumed n crouching position as if roadv to pounce upon them. Soma f-tatcd it. was headless, and all took to their heels. The story spread, and men al first sccnticnl became credulous when (he mvsterinus intruder pnid repeated vigils. Children were kept indoors after dark, men armed themselves with thick cudgels, and it is said that one man, aonarent'.y believing that spooks aro not bullet-proof, carried a Run. The excitement continued for a week before the snectre was laid. It was then discovered that the supposed ghost was a member of the Southport Harriers' Club, who. clad in white flannels and pumps, look daily sprints between Southport and Itonks. Ho was discovered when sheltorini from the rain in the porch of St. Stephen's Church on a dark winter's morning.

, The following notice of motion signed bv the four Labour City Councillors, Messrs. J. Glover, C. H. Chapman, J. Hutchinson, and P. Fraser, has been handed to the City Council. That in tho oninion of this council the time has arrived for taking into serious consideration the early instituting of a municipal bakerv. a thorough system of bread delivery throughout the city and suburbs, and that a snecial committee be immediately appointed to draft a scheme embodvim: nrovisionS for tho most modern and efficient building, plant, machinery, methods, and means of distribution available for such an enterprise, and report same to council."

An extensive scheme for keeping school premises clean has been recommended for tho consideration' of the Auckland Education Board by the Education Department. Tho scheme was briefly outlined at the last meeting of tho board. It contains suggestions as follow.—l. The board to issue circulars to teachers, strongly impressing the importance of a high standard of cleanliness. 2. Delegation of duties to school children. In addition, the scheme provides the holding of organised school lunches, and tooth-brush drill after lunch. Consideration of tho scheme was deferred to permit of members assimilating the same.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. E. Page, S.M., delivered reserved judgment.in the case brought by the police against J. J; Firth, licensee of the Albion Hotel. It was allezed luminal Firth that he had permit, ted drunkenness on the hotel premises. The Maeistrate said that the evidence was not sufficient to warrant a conviction, as tho drunken man had been ordered out of the hotel, but had only walked as far as the door, and then took refuge in a recess, where ho wa6 found bv tho nolice. There was no reason to doubt the statement that the man had been ordered off tho premises. The information was dismissed.

\ party composed of a number of Wellington business men will leave for Picton to-day for the purpose of touring the province'of Marlborough. The visit is bein" made at the invitation of the Marlborough Chiimlx-r of Commerce, the members of which feel that there is every possibility of building'up a considerable amount of trade between Wellington and their district once the district is better known. All expenses of the, trip are'being paid by the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce.' Upon their arrivnl at Ficton to-day the visitors will be met by their hosts and taken to Blenheim. * The party will return to Wellington by Tuesday's boat. Among those making the trip arc the following:—Wellington Central Chanibe- of Commerce, Messrs. H. W. fMan. H. F. Hart. W. •Cotton, IT. Cook, E. ,T. H. Shaw. F. G. Moore, T. Clendon, and W. S. Wilson; Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr. M. A. Carr; AVellington Central Progress League, Mr. G. Mitchell. A cannon ball, about four inches in diameter, and weighing about ten pounds, was recently unearthed by Mr. Joseph Wood in ■his garden at Halifax Street, Nelson. It was found three feet beneath the surface, and was much roded with rust. Similar, ennnon balls have been found at Wangarooa, and at Cable Bay, and it m surmised that they were fired from French wavshins, under the command of Captain d'Urville, when lie was exploring New Zealand in 1770.

A small lake, two mil's from Kai'ioi, and eight miles from Ohakune, in the direction of Buapelm. has developed thermal activity during the last few months, says the Auckland "Herald." Formorlv it was an exceptionally cold lake, bivt it has now become warm, and the water, formerly quite, clear, has become cloudy, evidently ns a result of thormal_ activity \nglers who have heen in the habit of fishing- for trout apparently were the first to discover the change. Tho lake, which is a fmy miles from the last of the crater lakes, is oval in shape, with a width of about a quarter of a mile, and is exceedingly beautiful, being wooded to the edges.