LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 305, 18 September 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Many Wellington housewives have suffered, during the last day or two by tho lack of sugar for cooking. Supplies aro very short, and in some of the (suburban groceries the sign "No sugar" is prominent. City grocers have stocks of brown sugar, and one merchant, speaking to a Dominion reporter yesterday, said that probably supplies of raw sugar would come to Land soon. It. is a difficult task for purchasers to obtain refined sugar. Judging from appearances, however, resttturuants seem to possess fair slocks, although 'brown sugar is in evidence at s;me establishments. A provider suggested to tho reporter that peojito should follow the war-time habit in England by using treacle with their tea!

Comment' Was made in the Town Hall corridors yesterday on the- shortage of staff in the rates office. At times tho little office—which is all too small for the purpose—was quite crowded, and people wishing to pay in money had to wait ten minutes or more ,in order to got their business attended to. Tho reason for the shortage was on account of n number of the officers being detailed for returning officer duty at the polling booths', and in justification of such a procedure is quoted tho promptitude with which the returns came to hand both on Wednesday and last evening.

That tie house shortage in Masterton is worse now than ever was the opinion expressed by Mr, Sanderson, of the Labour Department, during the hearing of a tenement case in the Masterton Magistrate's Court this week. There were already G3 applications for the tS workers' dwellings recently allocated to the town. Inferring to the batch of eight workers' dwellings in High Street, the erection of which was commenced as far back .as last January, Mr. Sanderson said that it would be at least two months before the first dwelling was ready for occupation— thus a period of nine months would have elapsed before' the contract was even partly completed. Four of the houses were being pushed on with so that they would be :cndy in the time stated. Supplies - v 0"? coming to hand fairly regularly'. Tli- main trouble to be contended with at nresent was drainage, and until the work on the borough septic tank was completed it was impossible to connect up the houses, but temporary arrangements wero being made.

A returned soldiers' band is about to be formed in Wellington, and the secretary (Mr. E. A. Blnckbce) states that a full set of Boosey instruments is being obtained on loan from the Defence Department. In n circular, which he is issuing to former bandsmen of the N.Z.KF., residing in Wellington, Mr. Blaokbee says: ''As the local public have almost forgotten thai the returned soldier is the man who performed the groat deeds read about during tho.Great War, we wish to bring a new aspect before the public, and by good music stiii retain their memory and sympathy."

The secretary of the Wellington School Committeos' Association has forwarded to tho Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) a letter protesting against the penal cltuiso for parents in tho proposed legislation dealing, with tho medical inspection of school children. Tho clause, it is contended, is most unfair to parents, and the association protests against its enforcement until such time as the State is prepared to provide the necessary treatment tree to all that require it. "It might be said that medical treatmont can 1)0 obtained free at the hospital," the letter continues, "but this means that one has to pleid poverty—a course of notion that tho average man has a very strong objection to. In regard to dental treatment, it has been'proved that it is only in very extreme cases that free treatment can'be obtained at the dental department of the_ hospital. A recent case was cited in which the dental work ordered by the 6ckol medical officer was estimated to cost .815. This was absolutely beyond tho parents' ability, tho consequences being that the child had to do without attention. Yet, if tin penal clause is to be put into effect it would mean the appearance in court of the parents." ,

la tho Magistrate's Court at Mastertou yesterday, a ycmng Maori, named Jack Albert, was fined .£lO, in default 21 days' imprisonment, for neglecting to supply sufficient food and water to the cattle on his farm.

A special meeting of' the Wellington Harbour Board to consider the adoption of additional by-laws will precede tho ordinary board meeting on Wednesday evening next. ,

The following have been elected members to the Upper Hutfc Town Board:Messrs. T. Quinn, E. B. Elliott, W. Greig, W. G. Goss, L. Darotis, J. Greenwcod, and G. H. Guthrie.

Owing to the lack of enthusiasm evinced by Petono citizens in the forthcoming Labour Day celebration, at no fewer ihan three meetings convened by the Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) for the purpose of forming working committees, three persons, on an average, attending, it has been definitely decided to postpone any further efforts in that direction.

During the past season the ten cheese factories in tho South Wairarapa' manufactured jv total of 2823 tons of cheese, of a gross value of ,£25G,791.

Veterans of the South African War resident in Auckland aro desirous that the Government should provide artificial' limbs and repairs for life to men who lost limbs during that war. At a meeting of the association on Wednesday evening, it was stated that though, the South African War,was fought twenty years ago, incapacitated men still had to furnish their own artificial limbs and effect repairs from their own resources. The opinion was expressed that these men wero equally deserving of tho privileges that the' Government was extending to soldiers who fought in tho Great War. It was decided to forward a remit on the subject to the Dominion- conference of the association to bo held at Wellington next Wednesday.

The more general use of sails on launches to take advantage of a favourable wind, and so economise benzine was advocated at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Power-boat Association at Auckland.

The following have been elected members of the Mnrtinborough Town Board: -Messrs. John Martin, Maurice Smith, J. Saunders, W. Jtoper, G. W. Cobb, A. I? Wilton, and M. H. Morton.

A young man gave a pint of blood to savo'the life of a young woman who was n, passenger on the Shaw, Savill steamer sthenic, which brought a large number of immigrants to Auckland. It happened just before the ship reached the Panama Canal. The young woman was very ill, suffering from homorrhijge, anil the ship's surgeon decided that alio must have some blood in order to »avo Jvtc. Volunteers were called for, and a nne healthy young fellow was « «st«l «' the surgeon. About a pint of blood was taken from tho volunteers arm and transfused into the patients arm, with happy results. The patient pot rapidly better, and by tho end of the voyage was quite all right again. Tho following are the awards.of the judges of the students' competition hold in connection wifth tho annual exhibition of the New Zealand Academy of line Arts, to be opened by the Bt. Hon. the Prime- Minister, in the Art Gallery, Whitmoro Street, this evening (members private view night) -.-Class 1-Head from "Life; Evelyn Dobson, Christchurch, prize; Alice Poison.■Christchurch, highly commended; Marjorie Wilson, Wellington, highly commended. Class 11— Figure from Life: Mabel Still, Wellington, prize; E. P. Hutchison, Christchurch, highly commended. Class 11lHead from Antihuo: *V. E. J. Cook, Christchurch, prize. Class IV-*feure from Antique: Marjorie Wilson, Wemmrtoii, prize; E. P. Hutchison, Ghristchurcli. highly commended. Class V— Still Life: Ilico Poison, Christchurch, prize; Ithona Haszard, Christchurci, hifehlv commended; Myrtle Hawkins, Christchurch, highly commended. _ Class VI-Landscapo Painting: Alice Poison Christchurch, prize. Class VII-M«I««-od Head from Life: Harry Coleman, Wellington, prize; Vera Nisbet, Wc-lling-f-on. very highly commended. Cass VIIMNo entry). Class IX-Modclled Head from Antique: Jean Montcatu, Wellington, prize. Class X-(No entry). Class Xl-Jowellory or Metal work: Hazel .Tulihn. Wellington, prize; E. Bowron, Christchurch, high!; commended. .Class XH-LcatliDr Work: F«nny Kutner. Wellington, prize; Kita Fwr.. Welling- j ton, highly comm»nd*J.

It is intended that Dominion Dny, Sunday, September 26, shall be colebrated in a fitting'manner in all churches and places of worship. Special reference will bo made to fho work of the pioneer nettlers and the dny observed as one of general thanksgiving.

"Indentured Boy Labour in New Zealand: Tho Master and Approntica Bill Explained and Criticised," will bo the title of an. address to be delivered by Vfr. tf. -E. Holland,, M.P., at tho Alexandra Hall on Sunday evenijy at 8

There was further mention before His Honour Mr. Justice Edwards yesterday of the undefended divorce suit, Jossio Lowrio r. Herbert Lowrie. Tho grounds of the petition were desertion and failure to maintain. After hearing concluding argument, His Honour granted a decreo nisi, to be moved absolute at the expiration of threo months. Custody of tho children of the marriage was granted petitioner. A.t the hearing Mr. G. G. Watson appeared for Mrs. lowrie

The following are tho results of the plumbers'registration examinations, held at the Technical School, Mastcrton, in July last:—Walter Eetterscn, passed theory and final; Eo'bert Copeland, passed practice and .final; William Porter, paused practice; Robert Wallace, passed theory.

The annual Competitions Festival will commence at the Grand Opera House on Tuesday morning. Three sessions will 1» held daily, the classes being heard in tho daytime and the three best performers in each class will again appear in the evening for final judging. These competitions are solely of an educational character, inducing a study of elocution and music which cannot fail to be of nink'i'ial benefit to the student. During the season lending amateurs from uli paiU of the Dominion will be heard in music, song, and story, and a successful reason is assured. Programmes are now obtainable from Bcgg and Co., Bristol riii.no Co., F. .1. Pinny, and A. Williams, Ctmrtcuay Place.

The objections made in the Houso of representatives to the use of the plirase "British or Irish birth or parentage" in the Immigration Restriction Bill us originally presented, were fully met by.a change that was effected in tho Committee stage. Several members had argued that the words "or Irish" were unnecessary. The Prime Minister agreed to the deletion of these words, and moved also that "and" be inserted in place of - 'cr" between "birth" and "parentage." Both amendments were adopted.

A new discovery in the storing of fruit without tho U6O of refrigerating machinery and ice chambers, so that it may be preserved in its original condition for many months, has recently been made in Melbourne, where testa are being carvied out, states tho "Age." It consists of wrapping the fruit in specially prepared and treated fibre, rolled out nml teased from the bark of certain varieties of eucalypt. The medicinal properties of eucalyptus oil are well known. Used internally or externally or as an inhalant it has 'proved curative and beneficial for 'colds and kindred complaints. It is held tliiat these antiseptic virtues prevent the multiplication of tho micro-organisms which cause fruit to degenerate and decay, and arrest the development of rot, which, of course, is just what cold storage does. Tests of the value of eucalypt bark fibre for preserving apples have been made, and it is asserted thlal. by its means apples have been kept m good condition for many months, including the hot weather, in a small iron-roofed shingle shed. Experiments are to be made with pears, oranges and lemons, and tomatoes and prepared fruit will also be sent overseas to subject the now meftod to the severe test of tropical shipboard conditions,