LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 311, 25 September 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho out-patients' department of the Wellington Hospital will bo closcd on Monday (Dominion Day). Urgent cases will bo treated at tho main hospital.

It is interesting to note that Viscount Jellicoe will bo (lie fourth naval officer who has occupied the position of Governor of New Zealand. Tlio first naval Governor was Captain Hobson, tho first Govornor of New Zealand; tho second was Captain Fitzroy, known to science as the inventor of tlio" Fitzroy barometer; the third was the lata Earl of Glasgow; and the fourth is Lord Jollicoe, Admiral of tho Fleet. 1

"I smashed Up ono motor-car in my position as Mayor," ifr. Luke tokl tho ilouse of Representatives last night. "I told the City Council I would not smash another," he continued. "I should have liked them to givo rno a .£IOOO car, but they got me one that coat or ,£500." "They were very generous," interjected Mr. P. Fraser. When I am finished with it thero will not be very much left for mv friends over there,' rejoined Mr. Luke, referring, presumably, to the not very imminent prospect of Mr. Eraser's elevation to tho Mayoral chair.

Tho following is a note on the history of a China punch bowl and pot presented to the Dominion Museum by the late Mrs. M. A. Seed.—Some time in the early part of . the last century,. between 1814 and 182G tho old-establishod firm of Messrs. liatcliff and Allen, of Deal, Kent, England, boatbuilders, built for the then Governor of China a boat named th« Gipsy, which won every race she was in. The Governor was so pleased and proud of her victory that he Bent to each of tho partners a punch bowl, which was made in the Emperor of China's own Royal factory at Peking, to commemorate the event. For several years the .boat carried everything beforo her. _ and after eyerT win more valuable cnina was sent —other bowls and pots and a pair of largo vases, one of which is tho property of Mr. T. W. Allen, of Deal. Then, finally, when she was beaten, the Governor' sent her back to the firm, and after repairs she was raced for several years in the Deal regattas, and was always successful. The partners divided the chin/l, and in time tlio punch bowl and pot came to New Zealand, to tho late Mr. George Allen, eldest son of one of tho partners, and ho in turn left it to Mrs. Seed, his eldest child.

. "If all the mines were State mines, we should have a general strike of miners throughout New Zealand over these two men," en id Mr, It. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs), referring to the action taken by one body of miners because two blacksmiths would not pay the "Broken Hill levy." .

The city of Wellington "Year Book" for 1920-21, just issued by the City Council, is a complete compendium of the ISmpiro City as far as its municipal activities arc concerned. In this compact little volume one may gain almost at a. glance a. brief history of ..the, municipality and trace its growth up' to the present day. s Not only are the names of past and. present Mayors and councillors set out, but tho namcß of members of other lucnl bodieß are given; a list of all the cities and boroughs- of New Zealand, names of the consuls; a. list of the city's loans; tramway and electric lightins statistics; a brief summary of Wellington's war Ifunds (totalling <£58,914 12s. 10(1.); and much valuable information anent city reserves, parks, gardens, etc. A feature of the Year Book is the wealth of illustrations, which are belter than ever. These include views of tho parks, gardens, baths, tunnel entrances, tramways, "Zoo," -watering places, fire brigade stations, and Town Hall. , The view of the new fire station at Constable Street gives it the appearance of a fine old battlcmented cattle, whilst that of the entrance to the Ivilbimie tunnol shows the recent beautifying work to advantage.

The adjourned inquost into the cause of death of Robert Filewood, a singlo man. U years of age, who died in tlio hospital shortly after midnight on Sunday last, was concluded yesterday afternoon before Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M. On September 4, Filewood fell off a tramcar, but'was apparently not injured, for ho went to hia home in Evelyn Place. On the following day he complained of feeling ill, and a doctor was called in, who advised Filewood to enter tho hospital for treatment. Ho gradually got worse nnd_ died. Dr. Park, of the hospital staff, had stated in evidence that death wns duo to acute Bright's .disease. Evidence was called yesterday to show how Filewood foil off the tramcar. It. ap-" peared that lie and his broth'er-itt-law boarded a car in Kent Terrace bound for Athletic Park. As there was no seating room inside the car, they stood, up between tho seats of the open'compartment. At the intersection of Riddiford and Kintbul Streets, Filewood, who was near tho entranco of the car, appeared to lose his balance, and fell off the tram, which was then' travelling at about seven or eicrht miles per hour. After hearing the evidence, the Coroner found ' that death was duo to Bright's disease, as stated in tho medical evidence.

The motion passed by tho Eastern Suburbs League in regard to the resignations of. ex-councillors L. M'Kenzie and J. O, Shorland has been endorsed by the Te Aro Advancement Association. Tho Island Bay Municipal Electors' Association has also endorsed the action of tho two councillors in resigning, and express the hope that they will be returned unopposed at the by-election.

Messrs. Campbell and Burke have made a start with tho erection of the new brick school at Miramar (near the golf-house) for tho Education Board.

The secretary of the Onslow Progressive Association, Mr, P. Fraser Hodgson, has received word from the City Council' that the association's representations in regard to the removal of household refuse havo been favourably considered, and that the City Engineer has been granted authority to mako all necessary arrangements for that purpose, and also for tho institution of a sanitary service.

During tho financial year 1920-21 tho allowance payable to New Zealand cadets attending the Duntroon Military Collogo will bo at the rate of 7s. 6d. per diem. . This rate will be reviewed •at the expiration of that period. The cost of rail and steanior lares incurred by cadets returning to their homes on annual vacation will Jje admitted a charge- against the public funds.

Mr. H. E, Holland, M.P., will deliver an address on "The Marriage Law Amendment Bill" at the Alexandra Hall, Abel Smith Street, on Sunday ovening at 8. .

•<r i? correspondent of the r Lyttelton Times" states-that the lambing season so far has ken'one of tho test ever experienced in the district ■the ewes are in remarkably good condition. It is hard to estimate at the present what tho percentage of lambs will out with reasonable weather from cent °« U lt: 8 f rom HO to 125 per

'Thte-practice 'by a number of discharged soldiers of transferring house property to other men at a substantial advanco upon tho original price wag tho subject of disapproving comment at the i? i mc J# ns of tllo Canterbury land Board, three or four applications for transfers in this connection are made'to the board each meeting, and several were received at the last meeting. In cases, the vendor had been in occupation; only a few months, and asked up to .KIOO upon his purchnso price, In such cases tbie transfer was not considered by tho board unless the applicant coula show that permanent improvements had been made to the property to justify tho increase. Mr. If. D. M. Hazard, Commissioner of Crown Lands, stated that he considered .that a discharged soldier who had bseii repatriated, and desired for snino reason to leave tho, district should bo content to got out of his properly at the prico at which ho had been assisted to acquire it. There were genuine eases in which men had Ifcon takm from tho district by their employers, and such casus were considered on their merits.— "Lyttelton Times." . •

Tho tendency of children to chooeo dialect excerpts for recitation was the subject of caustic comment by Mr. Stanley Warwick, tho judge of elocution, at last night's performances under the auspices ofi the Wellington Competitions Society. Mr. Warwick tool; exception to this tendency, remarking that it was as much of a slight to givo a dialect verse where it was not desired as it was to play "ia7.7." music to a judge of good music. Ho wished to warn young competitors against.this fault, which,did not tend to teach them true elocution,

Remarkable circumstances surround the loss and subit;<iuent recovery of a parcel of diamond rings valued at £85, which were reported to tlio Criminal Investigation Department a few days ago, as missing from thoir 6afe by Messrs. 11. and A, Schultz, manufacturing jewellers, of Melbourne (says the Melbourne "Ago"). Mr. H. Schultz's story of the mysterious disappearance of a new apron from the office a few days pre.viou.sly led to a search of a rathole, from which not only the missing apron (in a gnawed condition), but also several brooch pins were recovered. On a detective's suggestion, the flooring boards were raised, and the ground 'beneath dragged with a piece of hoop iron. Pins and other picces of jewellery were thus brought to light, and finally tliie missing parcel of rings. The rats had apparently fcmoved tho package from the open safe and dragged it into their hole.

At (Tie Orange Hall, l'etone, on Thursday evening, a large gathering of Foresters, representative of Court") F.puni, Primrose, and Bloomfield, met to pav a tribute to tjieir brethren who had fallen during the war. Tho occasion being the annual visit of tho district officers, a largo number of Wellington members wore presejit. Before making tho district report, the D.C.R., Bro. Jackson 1 , unveiled the lioll of Honour, and in 60 doing paid a tribute to those who had fallen. He also gave tho members present instruction in "Forestry" duties to those who had returned with their health impaired through active service. Reports given by the district officers showed that Court Epuni was numerically the largest court in Wellington district. Among those present was Bro. Murray, who.-de-spite his 80 years of ago, was still taking an activo part in lodge matters. .Refreshments were handed round by the lady members.

The whole of the City Council offices will 1)0 closed for holiday on Monday (Dominion Day).

Mr. T. Forsyth, chairman of the Education Board, and Mr. G. L. Stewart, secretary, hscej returned from a brict visit to the schools of the Marlborough district. Tho trip was dono to schedule time by motor, and all .tho schools between Blenheim and Havelock were visited, for the latter part of the time in company with the Minister of Education (the Hou. C. J. Parr). One of tho most interesting schools im the district is the Havelock School, which has turned out a good many men who havo won distinction in the outer world, including Sir Ernest Rutherford, tho eminent scientist, and tablets round the wall of tho school constantly remind pupils of the honours tho world holds fyr those who try. On Monday evening deputations were, received up till a late hour. Mr. Forsyth will report on the tour at tho next meeting of the board. _ . A man named William Price, a greaser on the s.s. Wcstmeath, fell off the Glasgow Wharf last evening, and was admitted to the Hospital at 8.30.,

Ono of the boiling mud pools on the shore of tho lake at the back of tlio Governmont gardens at Rotorua, gave an eruption on Monday afternoon, throwing up scalding mud to a height estimated at 20ft. Very few peoplo witnessed the "shot." which lasted only a moment. A testimonial to Sub-Inspector H. C. Hills, of the Fijian Constabulary, who captured the notorious German naval raider. Comit v<ui Luckner, 011 September 25. 1917, at Wakaya Island, in the Fiji Group, was submitted to the signatories for approval at the Auckland .Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday nf.temoon. . The chairman of the Harbour Board. Mr. H. D. Heather, who presided. said that' Mr. Hills had captured tho commander, who sank over' .£3,000,000 worth of British and allied shipping, and ho had not received any written official'recognition of his pluokv deed. Mr, H. E. Partridge, of Auckland, liad taken great trouble to collect evidence, and a testimonial, signed by _ representative shipping, insurance, banking, and commercial interests in Now Zealand and tho Islands, had been prepared. Tlfe testimonial, an illuminated address, bound in red leather, expressed warm appreciation of what was described as the pluckiest incident in tho Pacific during the war, when Mr. Hills, with but a handful of unarmed lintive constabulary, captured a well-armed and disciplined enemy force, commanded by Count von Luckner.' The testimonial was approved, and will be Bent to Mr. Hills, who is at present in England. Tho meeting passed a resolution expressing its sur"rise that no official recognition of his deed had been made, and respectfully asking the Imperial authorities to taka steps to make public recognition of tho daring capture. A copy of this resolution is to be sent to Mr. Massey, with n request that it be forwarded to tho Imperial authorities.