LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 225, 17 June 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The City Council sat in committee from 8.5 until 11.30 o'clock last night, and dealt with several matters. A schedule of increased salaries payable to mombers of tho municipal staff was placed before the council by the Finance Com■mittce, and was adopted without amendment. The details were not available last night.

The executive of the United Fire Brigrades' Association is at present in Wellington for the purpose of conferring with the Fire Underwriters' Council on matters concerning the welfare of the 14fl brigados belonging to the association. A deputation from the association will wait on tho Minister of Intornal Affairs on Saturday morning. The president and secretary are staying at tlie New Commercial Hotel.

Thanks to the foresight of a former Hospital' Board, in the provision of a new hospital on the (op of tho till (access to which may bo gained through the Town Belt from the top of Constable Street), the hospital authorities have had more room at their disposal this winter than for many years past. Though there is not much scarlet fever about, that ailment never quite disappears frftm the city, and at present 6uch cases are teing treated in tho now hospital, whilst the old fever hospital is being altered to meet the requirements of consumptives, who have not been too luxuriously housed in what are known as tho Seddon shelters. When the fever hospital has been altered, tho patients now in the shelters, or cubicles, wiU be removed there, and it may be that the shelters will only be held in reserve against contingencies in the future.

As the civic farewell to His Excellency the Governor-General and the Countess of Liverpool has been fixed for Thursday evening of next week, the next meeting of the • City Council has bison postponed until Monday ovening, June 28.

It is understood that preliminary work has been commenced in connection with the setting-up of a camp for the 00-operativo workers who are to bqro the Orongorongo tunnol, under arrangement with the City Council. The work consists of boring a 7ft. 7in. tunnol through the mountain rango immediately to the east of the Morton Dam at Wainui, commencing at a point at the head of tho George stream (which flows into the Morton Dam). The terms on which this work is to be done have not yet been mado public,

At a meeting of wholesale dairymen in Christchurch yesterday, a-resolution was adopted that the price of milk fixed by the dairymen, namely, Is. Gd.' per gallon wholesale, should continuß until tho end of September. The meeting pledged itself not to supply any mlllc for the city supply under that price, and stated that it Tagretted unwarranted interference of the Board of Trade with one of the worst paid industries without full inquiry into the cost of production.—Press Assn.

As a result of the high velocity of the south-west gale in Christchurch recently, a remarkable sight was seen on Marshland Road. A row of 25 giant trees was levelled to tto ground, the up-ended roots and earth forming a solid wall some Bft. high.

During the visit of members of Parliament to the Cook Islands at the tinio of the Samoan trip more than passing interest was taken in the schools in the group, and the work each was doing. It was found at some of the schools visited (particularly at Mangaia) that a muchneeded' requirement was an organ or piano to assist the children in their singing and in tho concerts held. The members considered that the praiseworthy efforts-of the teachers to make their pupils proficient in all directions deserved recognition, and they appointed a committee, consisting of tho Hon. Sir E. Hea'ton Rhodes, Hon. W. Triggs, and Mr. L. M. Isitt, to collect funds towards the cost of purchasing an organ, and other special equipment, for, tho Mangaia and other Cook Islands schools. The sum of £57 was raised on tho Mokoia, which amount being hardly sufficient for the purposo for which it was to be devoted, the question of the Government subsidising tho fund was referred for tho consideration of Cabinet by the Hon, Mr. loe. Cabinet decided that a sum equal to the nmouut of tho members' donations be granted, and thus tho Government's contribution will enablo tho object which the members had in view, to be achieved,

At a sitting of the Juvenile Court at Petone yesterday, a lad, aged 13 years, appeared on a oharge of having stolen two bicyoles and sundry accessories. After hearing tho evidence, Mr. E. Page, S.M., adjourned the case for six months, during whioh period the boy is to be under the supervision of the probation officer.

The Council of Education oat again In Wellington yesterday, the Director of Education (Dr. Anderson) presiding. Tho Minister of Education addressed tho council in' tho morning, and subsequently the members discussed the treatmont of backward children and dealt with eomo other business. The afternoon iwas devoted , Ito committee worfi". Tha council will meet again at 10 a.m. to-day.

The committee consisting of Colonels J J Esso-i. C.M.G., and J. W. Hutchori, C.M.G., and Mr. R. J. F. Aldrioh secretary of the Wellington Returned Soldicr/ Afsociation. set up to consider tho matter of anomalies in the payment of war gratuities, completed its sitting yesterday. Between 80 nnd 90 individunl cases wero dealt with, and several recommendations were framed whiefi will bo placed before the Minister of Defenea.

At Christchurch yesterday, in a charge of theft against a man who was a victim of drugs and drink, tho evidence showed that ho had been in. an inebriates' home for six months. Mr. Day, S.M., remarked that it was useless to send such a man to a home for less than two years. Ho added: "It is becoming useless, in my opinion, to send people to Roto Roa, as they are let out too soon. If relatives Iwther the authorities the lino of least re6istanco is to lot the patient out. Medical testimony shows that two years is the minimum time Tequircd to rid the system of drink."—Press Assn.

The last meeting of the Wellington District Repatriation Board was presided over by Mr. M. J. Reardon. Twenty-three applications for loans for the purchase of furniture were granted, as well as seven applications for assistance in the establishment of businesses. In seven instances it was resolved to subsidise the wages of disabled t men undergoing training in new vocations, and nine applications for the payment of training allowances and instruction fees were approved.

board. At Tuesday's meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, a. communication was received from tho British Imperial Council of Commerco forwarding the official programme for the ninth annual congress of cnambere of commerce of the British Empire, which is to be held in Toronto during the week beginning September 14. It was left in the bands of the president" and the secretary to keep in touch with any members-of tho chamber who are likely to be in Canada at that time so that they might b« appointed delegates.

A short sitting of the Magistrate s Court was held yesterday, morning, Mr. W. (I. Riddell, S.M.. being on the bench. Edward James Cushion was before the' Court : on Monday and Tuesday and again yesterday, each time for drunkenness. He was fined 4As., in default seven days' imprisonment. Leslie Kenneth Taylor, for failing to comply with a maintenance order, tho arrears amounting to Xl 2 75., was sentenced tt a month's imprisonment, tho warrant to be suspended so long as ho pays M ss. per week in reduction or the amount. •He was also ordered to report once a week to the police. In pursuance of its declared policy to raise tho status of the banking profession, the New Zealand Bank Officers Guild has applied to we University for that body'to conduct examinations m banking and cognate subjects, to enable bank officers to obtain the .University s diploma in banking. In furtherance of this object a meeting was held on luesday, between the Education Committeo of the guild and the subcommittee appointed by the University. Professor 1. A. Hunter and Mr. H. F. von Haast. Very satisfactory progress was made, in order to give every encouragement and assistance to bank men, and especial y those situated in the country, the guild has decided to institute a correspondence course of tuition. As time develops t is honed that the guild wil enlarge it. educational work. ThrouglV the practical interest taken by Professor Murphy in tho educational side of the guild, a class in economics has been established at Victoria College, and there are some (0 bank officers attending the class.

The Terrace School' Committee have unanimously nominated Mr.. Georgß MacMorran, late headmaster of that school, as a candidate for election to tho Wellington Education Board. At a special meeting of the Petono Borough Council last evening a ■ letter was received from the Masberton Borough, Council, suggesting that a conference of tho local bodies interested be held to consider the question of improving the coal supplies for gas-making purposes. The council agreed to the suggestion, and appointed the Mayor (Mr. J W. M'Ewan) and the gas manager (Mr. H, Appleyard) as delegates. A luncheon_whioh the New Zealand Association of British Manufacturers and Agents is tendering to H.M. Trade Commissioner, Mr. E, W. Dalton, will taka place to-day. A protest against the number of subjects put before local bodies for an opin. ion was voiced by the Mayor of Mount Eden, Mr. C. Hudson, at the Borough Council meeting this week. A letter from tho Hawera Borough Council asking fot support in urging the Government to remit tho duts on children s footwear was under consideration, and a discussion arose whether the letter should merely be received or whether action should be taken. Mr. Hudson said tho duty of the council was the care of the roads and other works in the borough, and the administration of the ratepayers' money. If all these outside subjects were to be discussed by the counoil, it would become- a sort of Soviet. If they were to consider all these subjects which properly belonged to the Legislature, why were they paying members of Parliament? The Mayor's views found the endorsement of the council, and the letter was Teceived. The Registrar of the University of New Zoaland has received information that the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland offers a pnzo of 300 guineas for tho best "Survey of AngloAmerican History," the author to be a graduate of .any of tho Scottish universities who on January 1, 1921, is not of over ton years' standing from tho tlato of his first graduation. The award will be mado only where the essay is judged worthy of publication. The essays must be lodged on or before April 15, 1921, with the secretary of the Trust. In a preliminary search necessary for the investigation of tho estate of a Christchurch ladv, whio died recently, a 6um of about .£3O in threepenny pieces (something like 3000 coins) was discovered wrapped up in cloth. A sum of nearly .£2OO was also found in tho house, in notes and gold, together with a considerable quantity of jewellery. The whole property is estimated to bo worthl over .£2OOO, and the beneficiaries are understood to be cousins living in Dunediu, in England, and in America. A fine response was mado "by Auckland citizens on Saturday to the Commercial Travellers' Association's appeal on liehalf, of the poor of tho city. Betwech ten and twelve tons of clothing, valued at about iiIOOO, was collected in the "big drive," and over i!G00 received in cash donations. Tho decision to inoludo all social organisations in the scope of the appeal undoubtedly met with the approval of tho public ttfid stimulated the response. It was (says the "New Zealand Herald") tho greatest effort ever made on behalf of the poor and needy, and the result will bring happiness and comfort to scores of homes.

The accidental blowing-out of a pin in a foil? gun at Fort Bastion during gun practice on Saturday afternoon resulted in Corporal Victor Hugh Townsend, ol the Auckland Garrison Artillery Division, sustaining injuries to the upper part of his body (says the "New Zealand ferald"). The accident occurred during the big gun practice of tte No. 1 and No. 7 companies of the Garrison Arti - lery when 11 rounds had been fired. Corporal Townsend, who is a married man, was admitted to tho Auckland Hospital for treatment. His injuries, though painful, are not considered serious. Advices received in privatn letters from Japan state that tho cost of living has advanced there probably more than in any other part of the world, which is probably the reason for much of the internal strife which has been experienced thoro during tho present year, of which bho outer world has been permitted to learn next to nothing. "What is known through people who havo recently visited tho land of the Mikado 19 that living for a European staying at hotels common to tho tourist class. costs anything from £i to .£5 a day, and ovdi at such rates the .Tapanoso Government was not oncouraging visitors from out-

In the possession of a sense of humour General Birdwood is equipped with ono of the chief graces of a public speaker, and it ran like a thread of gold through his address at tho Art Gallery (Dunedin) on Saturday afternoon (says tho Otago "Times"). In describing tho difficulties with which ho was faced when mon came' up to him and said: "Don't you remember me?" ho recount-' ed an incident which_ occurred in tho north, where a man said to him: "Don't you romemher ono night when you wero going round the trenches at Quinn'a l'ost, you came along and trod right in' the middle of my stomach ?". "I could only say," added tho General, "that 1 was very sorry that I did not remember him, but under tho circumstances I must have made a much greater impression on him titan ho diiS on me,". '

About two yeaTS and three months hence—to bo more exact, in September, 1922—an eclipse of tho sun will occur. In parts of Australia it will bo seen as a total eclipse, and Mr. Walter" Gale, F.R.A.S., of Sydney, has stated that the total phaso will enter this continent about tho latitude of Broome. Western Australia, and travel across it in a, direct lino lo Casino, in New South Wales, At Broome, tho period of totalitv '.rill last between four and five minutes, whilst at Casino it will be between three and four minutes in duration. English and American astronomers will proceed to Western Australia to observe the phenomenon, and it is probable, that other men from overseas will also visit New South Wales to take observation?, us tho promulgation of the Eineteiii theory has raised a stir in astronomical circles. There will, however, bo plenty of. room for all who can possibly come, because tho zone of totality will ba a strip of country between 80 and 90 miles wide, extending across Australia. Professor W. E. Coolce, tho Government Astronomer, who is now in Queensland, is, it is understood, making a preliminary survey of suitable sites for establishing astronomical camp 3, as it can easily be understood that ouo part of Australia may bo cloudy at the all-important time, while' other parts may have clear skies.—"Sydney Morning Herald." There were many hearty laughs at His Majesty's Theatre (Dunetlin) as General Bramwell Booth described to a packed audience what manner of man his father, tho founder of the Salvation Army, was. But probably the heartiest laugh of. all (says the Otago "Timo3") was raised at tho expense of tho Genoral's good friend, the Mayor (Mr. W. Begg). The General was speaking of his father's wonderful powers as a boggar, and regretting his own alleged inability in that direction. "Why," he said, turnine to Mr, Begg, wno was presiding, "Mr.': Mayor, you cannot form any idea of the struggle I have to get .£SO out of some of my chairmen!"

The rejiewal of fhe New South Wales State's contract with Mr. Henri Vcrbrugghen, Director of the Conservatorium of Music, was further discussed bv the State Cabinet on June 9, and authority to conclude an agreement was given tho Premier and tho Minister of Education. Something in the nature v of a deadlock (says the "Sydney Morning Herald") appears to have occurred in this matter. The extont to which the # Government is prepared to eo, it is believed, is to increase Mr. Verbrugghen's salary as Director of the Conservatorium from ,£1250 to .£ISOO, and also to .allow him to retain up to £2000 per annum from the profits of entertainments given by the Stato Orchestra, with no liability against tho Government in the case of a loss being incurred. This would make it possible for Mr. Verbrugghen to earn up to ,£3500 per annum.

Among the exhibits made by soldier hospital patients for the forthcoming Palmerston North winter show will be a quantity of tweed woven at the King George V. Military Hospital, Rotorua. The cloth is the work of Privates Burton and Dickenson, who have becomo very proficient in this work, and intend taking it up permanently on. their discharge from hospital. Private Burton !s unable to curry on his pre-war occupation through contracting paralysis m tho legs as tho result of a gunshot wound in the head. Thanks to the efforts of the vocational training branch, of tho Defence Department such men ns these are being provided with interesting and profitable means of earning their living. The returned soldiers' stall at the Wliangarei winter show created much interest, and the articles showed what excellent work is being done. All the exhibits were mado by patients in military hospitals. Though the competition was keen, all the prizes were won by entries from the Auckland and Narrow Neck military hospitals, and the Kamo Convalescent Home. An exhibit which was specially commented upon was tlie first prize music case in the leather-work class, by Sergeant Wagstaff, a permanently disabled patient at. Narrow Neck. Under tho instruction of Miss Ayling he has . beconia very expert at this sort of work. Mrs. Pope's prize of three guineas, presented for the best exhibit from the ICamo Home, was carried off by Private Hoptroff, with n. ehesb made in the carpenlry workshop—a fine, piece of work. —Auckland "Star."