LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 32, 2 November 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Postal authorities advise l-lml- l-lm malls which left Wellington ™ Septeui' bar 1< per It.M.S. lol'ua, via San Francisco, arrived in London on October 30. A brilliant blue motpor was Keen in the north-western sky at about 8.45 p.m. yesterday. The meteor fell a considerable distance, being followed by a fainter blue nebulous trail. This was ono of the most remarkable astronomio phenomena seen in M ellington for somo time, Die sight being very impressive. Owing to tho death of the King of Cueeee, the Greek flag.was flown at halfinnst yesterday over Messrs. Levin and Co. s premises on Customhouse Quay, in which building Mv Frank Dyer, the viceconsul for Greece for the Dominion, has his office. A remit sent from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to the Associated Chambers Conference reads as follows:— "That the Government be recommended to suggest to the High Commissioner that ha should have associated with him a representing importers from and exporters to New Zealand ill connection with the Dominion representation on the Imperial Shipping Commirten." A featuro of tho opening of the criminal sessions in the Supreme Court yesterday was the-number of women present. Tlk- women's gallery was continually filled with interested onlookers, young and old. "That the Government be urged to outer into negotiations with ilhe Commonwealth authorities with tho object of arranging a reciprocal Customs tariff between New Zealand and Australia" is a ramiii to ho submitted to tho confereuofl of the Associated Chambers of Commerce to bo held Inter In the month At yesterday's meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the president (Mr. M. A, Carr) said that, tfiio chamber could congratulate itself on the fast ..that at least some of its suggestions had been given effect to by the Government when unloading tho latest Taxation Bill. It was, ho said, a matter of regret that two matters recommended did not reeeivo the consilient lion they thought was duo Those were the taxing of limited liability companies and the accumulated land tax, both of which were going to press sorely fin the commercial community. Mr. G. V. Hudson, of ICarori, reports that a large sunspot appeared on the 'eastern vim of the sun on Sunday afternoon. It will be favourably placed for observation this week and during the naily part of next week. • The Tirnaru Y.M.C.A, has purchased fov .£SOOO tho assembly rooms opposite tho post office, and part of tho adjoining section. The uwo-story brick 'building catr cnsily be converted to the- association's use, and a gymnasium will be added. A section bought some time ago can lie sold at a profit. Tho Y.M.C.A. will need to raise .tfiftOO more than it has in hand, in order to complete.the proposals.—Pres9

Amendments to the enginedriyersaward fov tlie YvolliiiKtou district have been filed in the Arbitration Court. Tlie minimum rates tor -drivers in charge of any boiler within tho meaning of tho Inspection of Machinery Act, 190S, are fixed af, follow :-(a) Where the worn re-C[tiii'4-s the holding ot' a first-class certificate l'or stationary engines, lis. a day, (b) second-class certificate, lGs. a day; (c) traction or locomotive engineers, 17s. a day; (d) firemen and greasers, 15s. Gel. a day. Where any workef is required to get up steam, or to bank fires outside ordinary working hours, Is. an hour extra is to bo paid. Wages for youths engaged in firing or assisting are as follow: -18 and under 19 years' of age, 9Jd. an hour; 19 to 20 years of age, llsd. an hour; in each case plus Id. an hour as bonus.

Stephen Harris, a labourer, it is . alleged, attacked his wife ivith a hammer at Wanganui on Sunday, afterwards inflicting a bad gash on her throat with a razor. The man then, it is said, attempt' ed to commit siiicido by cutting his own throat, severing the windpipe. Harris was taken to the hospital. His wife s injuries are loss seiiotts. It is not thought that there will bo' fatal results in either case'. Both are progressing favourably."—Press Assn. '

During tho hearing of a case in tho Supreme Court yesterday, a witness emphasised tho fact that although he had had several drinks on one occasion he had remained sober. Evidence then showed that although witness, quite a youth, had only had four or live drinks, the drinks had been varied, being rum, whisky, and gin. Despite this, witness still .protested his sobriety, and counsel, nonplussed, said, "Well, 1 can't understand how a young man like yourself could mix so many drinks and yet remain sober!" Witness left the box still protesting his sobriety.

Three prisoners who had pleaded "not guilty" to various charges in the Lower Court, withdrew their picas on appearance in the Supreme Court yesterday. Of the empanelled jurors, only three applied for exemption, which was granted.

The dispute filed by the Wellington Gardeners' Employees' Industrial Union of Workers was again before tho Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. W. Newton) yesterday at a sitting of tho Conciliation Council. The only employers' assesses present wei'e representatives of the City Corporation—-Mr. J. M'Kewsie, and Councillors C. and W.J. Thompson. The union was represented by Meosrs. T. Healy, H. 11. Dawson, and D. Steptoe, with Mr. A. Collins as agent. At tho outset the question of exemption of custodians of reserves was raised, and Mr. Collins stated that this matter had been discussed at a meeting of the union, and it had been decided to meet tho Keserves Committee, although there was no agreement as to exemption. It was agreed to hold over the conditions relating to custodians pending a meeting with the Reserves Committee. Tile dispute regarding gardeners' and gardeners' labourers was then discussed in committee. It was subsequently announced by tho Commissioner that <i satisfactory agreement hnd been completed insofar as gardeners' labourers were concerned. This Vns on tho lines of tho Auckland award. Present conditions obtaining iii the City Council service concerning ; the employment of gardeners' labourers aro to continue, this meaning that extra concessions now being made will not be interfered with.

Tho new direct steamer services between Wellington and llcton nnd Wellington and'.Nelson are no? welcomed by at least soma of tlho commercial community. Speaking on tho question at tho meeting of tho 'council of tho Chamber of Commerce yesterday, the president (Mr. IU. A. Carr) said that tho dividing of the services was a "distinct: disadvantage to commercial travellers. Formerly a traveller, with his samples, could work Blenheim nnd then pick up a boat at Picton for Nelson. With a divided servico ho would have (o send his samples to Wellington, in order to gov. Iliem transftippecl 011 to Nelson. It would be an advantage if thoro was at least 0110 tlirough trip made per week. It was decided to approach the Union Siftun Ship Company, asking it some measure of i'Olinf could bo afforded in the direction iudieated.

His Excellency the Governor-General [Viscount Jellieoe) has ulaced an order .11 Auckland for a small yacht, which 10 intends to sail himself in races 011 lie Auckland harbour.—Press Associa:ion.

A Press Association message from Tanranga states that at a sitting of the Magistrate's Oourt yesterday Alfred Stewart was charged with stealing a cow and a calf, valued at <£12, the property of a Native at Papamoa. After an •all-

(lay hearing accused pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the next sitting of tho Supreme Court at Auckland. Bail was allowed, eelf in the sum of ,£2OO, and two sureties of ifilOO each, or one of ,£2OO. The Dominion Analyst, in his annual report, states that at the request of the Wellington city milk depot an investigation was made on the effect that a clnriCcir which it was proposed to install would have on the' purity 1 of tho milk supply. Samples of clarffied milk wore taken ovor a period l of five days, and compared with santples of the «iino milk not clarified. Tno results indicated that clarification merely romoved visible dirt, without affecting oaiy improvement in the bacterial content or i keeping properties of the milk. In some cases tliQ tested milk was worse

from a bacterial standpoint, ' due no doubt to stimulation of activity of the buotorja by breaking up of clumps of bftrteria by the machine.

A sitting of (lie Conciliation Council was held in Wellington j'oslerday for llio pin-poso of hearing tUie Wellington country journalists' disputo. Tho palsies arrived at; a complete agreement, mid n vofo of thanks wag accorded the commissioner (iMr. W. Newlon) for the wuy in which ho coniiucted the proceedings.

A meeting of tho West port branch of tho Mine Managers' Association was held during tho week-end for tho purpose of discussing the amendments aild additions to the coal mines' regulations. After nil' exhaustive discussion it wna resolved to send a representative to Wellington. This step has heen taken in conjunction with the Greymouth, Ologo, and Auckland branches.—Press Assn.

Tho Officer in Chnrge of War Funds, in his annual report, statej: The total funds raised by 'patriotic effort during tho war period accounted for by this office approximate .C' 5,700,000, an average of about ,£4 18s. per capita; <£1,A58,803 of this amount was remitted for overseas fundS. Gift goods shipped by the Internal Affairs Depnrtme.nt for the cqmfort. of New Zealand troops and for New Zealand hospitals abroad weroi valued at X057.03G. There remains in Hie hands of the iliqrh Commissioner for New Zeaiand at "March 31, 1920, an amount of iffli.CSJ, which is ill excess of tlm overseas needs for which the money was raised,' and arrangements have been made with a view to having the sum returned to the Dominion, to be administered for the benefit of relief and assistance to soldiers and their dependants.