LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 160, 2 April 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities have received advice from Sait Francisco that the R-M.S. Manama left that port for AVcllington on March 29. She has on board for New Zealand 951 bags of mail, 323 of which contain parcels. A man’s leather purse, apparently well filled with coin, lying on the wood blocks at. the Courtenay Place tram stop was well fingered yesterday morning, but all attempts to pick it up proved in vain. As each successive tramcar let down its load of passengers there was immediately a blind rush to annex the "find,” and it was not until the fact was revealed that the purse was nailed to the roadway, that the unwary "treasure-hunters” were awake to the fact that they were the victims of a newspaper runner’s April Fool’s Day hoax. At the beginning of last month, notices were posted on all Government buildings, courthouses, and places of worship in the AA’ellington jury district, stating that the jury list would be open for inspection during March. AVhen the list was being revised by Justices of the Peace yesterday, Inspector AV. 8.. Al'llvenoy stated that, notwithstanding ihe notices, not one person had called at his office during the month to examine the list. In view of the unusual number of fires in the business area of AA’ellington during the past few weeks, it is understood that underwriters aro considering the position, with a view to lessening their risks' in respect to certain classes of business.

Bound apprentices cannot be held after they have rcadhed the age of 19, according to- Mr. 11. Gapes, who, says a Christchurch paper, told the master painters’ conference that a legal opinion obtained in Wellington had been to that effect. The Auckland Prices Investigation Tribunal on Wednesday dealt with a number of complaints. A country doctor who charged - a patient residing eight miles from his consulting rooms a fee of .£3 10s. for visiting (him during the night , was ordered to make a refund of 155., this amount representing a special night fee which, in the opinion of the tribunal, should not have been charged. Included in the balance of the account was .£1 10s. for motor hire. Complaints regarding the charges made by two country storekeepers for boots and tobacco were dismissed, the prices asked in each instance being on a par with Auckland prices. Complaints have been received by the tribunal against other country storekeepers in respect to the charges made for cocoa, dates, bacon, butter, and glaxo. and these with a. number of other cases, arc being investigated.

An indication of what can be- done in the way of soil improvement by a single individual, is afforded by a returned soldier, xvho has by no means fully recovered from the effects of poison gas at I’asschendacle, says the "New Zealand Herald.” Using a four-horse team on his land -at Tokoroa during the past twelve months he ploughed, harrowed, disced, and drilled 100 acres for turnips, disced, harrowed, and drilled ICO acres for grass, and ploughed, disced, harrowed, and drilled 20 acres for oats. He feel and looked after his own horses, superintended a certain amount of stock, did his own cooking and housework, and then found time to attend a. few lectures on agriculture, and to visit some of iho agricultural demonstration plots in the Waikato.

“We have now in New Zealand a Parliament of really earnest men," said Mr. E. J. Howard, ALP , at a social held at Spreydon on Wednesday niglh-t to celebrate the entering of Spreydon into the city. "TM spirit in Parliament, to-day is so good that, while we may dill er, there is not snob in the. House. Though we way differ on the floor of the House, those differences are not carried into the lobby. Much as I may differ sn opinion from the rest of the House. I can safely say that the men in Parliament now are .absolutely clean men. Wo have as clean a Parliament as can be found, in any part of the world to-day.”

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has received the resignation from the City Council of Mr. S. M. Stone (late Mayor of Miramar), who has taken this step as the firm he is concerned with (Messrs. Booth and Co.) has entered into a Contract to supply timber for a municipal work (the Orongorongo tunnel). At Tuesday’s meeting the Mayor voiced the council’s regret at the resignation of so sbls a member cf the council. The motion accepting the resignation was formally carried.

The directors and staff of Hope Gibbons, Lid., met together on Tuesday to do honour io Mr. Hope B. Gibbons, one of the directors, who is leaving for England ami America by the Tahiti. On behalf of the staff, AIT. MacGregor, in a very happy speech, made reference to the unique pioneering work of Mr. Gibbons as director of the company, and expressed the appreciation of the staff in the successful business established as the result of his efforts—especially during the war period, when Air. 11. B. Gibbons was tho only director of the company left at AA’ellington. A handsome rug was presented to Mr. Gibbons, as a token of the esteem in which ho is held by all members of the staff. In reply. Mr. Gibbons expressed his pleasure at the large number of the staff assembled, who had been with the firm for many years. Although a pessimistic view might be taken of the present financial position. Mr. Gibbons stated that already the "silver lining” was visible to those at the helm of the company.

A Press Association message from Reefton slaltf that a lad named Pascoe, five years of age, was shot dead while play ing with a revolver at midday on Thursday. Messrs. John Lysaglit, Ltd., the wellknown AVest of England and South Wales steel workers, recently issued the following notice at St. A’incent’s Iron Works. Silverthorn Lane, Bristol:—"Thu management much regret that, owing to the continued lack of orders for galvanised sheets in all parts of the world, it will not be possible to continue even the present short-time system of working beyond this month (January), and the works will tlien nave to be closed until such time as it. is found possible to restart.” It was the export department which was temporarily closed, and the police affected 1000 men. In connection with the foregoing announcement it is understood that large shocks of galvanised iron aro held in New Zealand at the present time.

A meeting of Justices of the Peace was held at the -Magistrate’s Court yesterday for the purpose of revising the jury list for the AVellington district. On behalf of the Harbour Board an application was made by Mr. J. F. B. Stevenson to have the names of seventy-five of tho board’s employees removed from tho list, on the ground that they had been sworn in as special constables under the Harbours Act. Mr. Stevenson mentioned that these men had, been appointed special constables in order to cope with the pillaging trouble. Inspector AA T . B. M'Hveney, who represented the police, appeared to regard Mr. Stevenson’s observation as a reflection on the'eivil police, and remarked that he did not know of any prosecutions having been initiated by 'the special constables. "Nor have we received much assistance from this large body of special constables in so far as pillaging is concerned,” declared the inspector. Mr. M'llveney stated that the board’s signalmen, had been appointed special constables, but he did not know whether this included the signalman on Mount A r ictoria. “If so,” added the inspector, "I fail to §ee how he can detect much pillaging in the holds of vessels when lie is employed up there!” Tho meeting was adjourned until Monday, in order that tho inspector might look into the matter as affecting the Harbour Board’s staff.

A new railway carriage and wagon factory has been established by a large British engineering and shipbuilding firm. This factory was originally erected during the war for the production of shells and guns, and it will now be used for the manufacture of all-steel railway carl riages and wagons. Orders have already been received from many parts of the world. It is interesting to note that tho first all-steel cars ever put on a railway Were designed and built in Great Britain by British engineers. No- time is to bo lost in the establishment of the community club in connection with the Territorials in AA’ellington. According to the secretary . (Air. E. Muir) the club will most probably bo established in one of the Defence stores in Buckle Street, which, are now being evacuated in favour of Trentham. AVith the amount in hand (approximately A-'IOGO) the alteration of the premises and furnishing of same will be met, still leaving a balance to carry on the club with. Any further donations to this most worthy object will be welcomed by the committee, which does not intend to relax its efforts to' place the club on a sound financial foot-, ing for all time. The Army Council at Home has decided that after a certain date swords will once again bo worn by all officers of the Regular Army under the conditions obtaining before the war. AA'e rejoice, says the "Army and Navy Gazette,” that the Army Council has decided to restore to the officer what has from the earliest times been recognised as The insignia of leadership, and it would, we hold, have been matter for regret if we alone among the armies of the world had decided that the officer should no longer have his sword because the actual use of it as a weapon of offence had disappeared .in modern war. The colours of regiment no longer servo as a rallying point in battle, but we have not scrapped them, and their significance has not disappeared. For the naval office the sword is perhaps even a more useless weapon in war than for the military officer, but wo do not hear any suggestion for its abolition by the senior service, where its raison d’etre is doubtless fully appreciated

A largo totara jog has been discovered in the lower reaches of the Hutt River. The length of the log is not known, as only a portion has been salvaged. Out of a sura'll portion of the piece salvaged 442 excellent posts, valued at over £5O, have been cut, and the portion left is expected to yield a good revenue. The dircumference of the log was 21 feet. The log has come to light as a result of the lowering of the bed of the stream, presumably as a. result qf the steady removal of shingle which has proceeded during the last, few years. It is impossible to say how long the leg has been in its present position,, but the period must have been at least twenty years. Mr. Laing Meason reports that there has been' a steady lowering of the channel of the river during the last seven or eight years. Whereas the tide once | reached only to the head of Gear Island if. now comes right up to the Hutt Bridge.

The Tramways Band will play at Island Bay at 3 o’clock to-morrow afternoon.

AVe are informed 1 that the statemen.', that a conference between the master builders and architects resulted in <in agreement on the 2s. 9d. per hour maximum wage for carpenters is not correct. All that has happened is that the master builders have received an assurance from the Institute of Architects that it will do all it can to assist in stabilising the rates of pay to carpenters. A remarkable performance was put up at the Wanganui Collegiate School sports this week by F. AV. Berry, son of Mr. F. E. Berry, of who, jumping brilliantly,gifted the record for the high jump, under 16. from sft. Ilin, to sft. Mil., creating a school record for even the ’senior jump. Berry also won the long jump, tinder 15. with 16ft. 10in. He, was remarkably successful throughout tho day, Grey House (Berry, Bayley, Bailey, and M’Kay) winning the relay race. He was second in the open long jump, the open high jump, the 120yds. hurdles open, tho 120yds. hurdles handicap, and-third in (he 440yds. (under 15). Ills brother won the high jump under 15 (4ft. 9in.). AnoChor AAmirarapa bov, A. AA 7 . Jury, was- second in the 100yds. uivJ'-r 14. Tho success of F. AV. Perry follows that of his brothers and other members of tho Berry family, who all lowered records at the school. The long jump record has remained with the Berry family and their relatives since 1911.

A slight earthquake shock was felt in the city about 1.10 p.m. yesterday. -

Sir James Carroll 'has received an invitation to attend the Pan-Pacific Educational Conference, which is to be held nt Honolulu from August 11 to 21. The conference will bo attended by representative delegates of all the Pacific peoples (reports a Gisborne Press Association message).

Dr. Gibb acknowledges the . following contributions to the China Famine Fund: Already acknowledged, JMBlBs. fid.; Airs. Paul, 10s.; "R.G.,” 10s.; “Anonymous," 55.; P. Gill, 10s; "Anonymous,” ss; "Anonymous,” 55.;, Jil; C. Dlrake, 10s.; "Relief,” XI; "Anonymous," 2s. fid.; Misses Hurley, ,£2 10s.

Some difference of opinion, has arisen between the Wellington Tramway Employees’ Union and the management of tho tramways regarding the interpretation of certain clauses in the agreement under which the members of the union are The Conciliation Commissioner (Air. AV. Newton) is adjudicating in the matter, and yesterday he presided at a conference which was attended by Messrs. AV. 11. Alorton, Al. Cable, and M'Gillivray (representing the Oily Council), and Messrs. A. L. Monteith, Hobbs, and O’Donohue (representing the union). It is understood that the questions at issue are not serious, but Mr. Newton stated yesterday evening that he was not in a position to make any announcement regarding the subject. The agreement between the union and the City Council will expire next month. In administering the Arms Act the police have come across what seems to have been an oversight on the part of ou r legislators, states the Auckland “Star.” The only persons entitled to licenses to retain.an automatic pistol are ex-members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. In the general delivery of arms dozens of ex-members of other Brittelli forces—Australians,. Canadians, and Imperial men—have appeared with such weapons, and have expressed a desire to hold them as souvenirs. The weapons have been take.n in hand, and applications to retain them have been noted, awaiting an expression of the pleasure of the Minister or of Parliament on the subject.

Sir Theo. Cooper made his last appearance 71 as a Judge of the Supreme Court to-day under somewhat novel circumstances, the only one other than two court officers being the riqiresentative (says the Auckland Star of Thursday’s date). His Honour’s retirement was due to take place to-day, and ns Sir Theo, had two considered judgments still to deliver an endeavour was made to communicnm with ths counsel concerned in the cases. Tlie sitting was delayed for an hour to enable them to attend, but the fact that the legal offices are still on vacation prevented any of the barristers being present. His Honour said he regretted counsel were not present, but as his resignation as a Judge took effect as from March 31, he had to deliver the two judgments, otherwise there would be no judgments at all, as he would have no jurisdiction to deliver them. The house-fly peril formed tho subject of a lecture given by Dr. A. C. Thompson at a meeting of the Christchurch Ambulance Division. The house-fly, 110 said was, by reason of its anatomy and rapid development, a most potent diseasecarrier. It could not breed except under special conditions, which existed mainly where decayed refuse of any kind was left to stagnate. The fly took seven days to develop from the pupa to tho adult stime, and the female insect was then capable of laving from 120 to 150 eggs five different'times during summer. In seven days from 500,000 to 750.000 flies could generate from a single batch of e ,7 "s depending on the heat of the weather. The germs of certain epidemics and even of consumption could very easily be carried around by tho fly, and there was good reason to believe that it also carried the spaerillae of infantile paralysis and infantile diarrhoea. Dustbins and rubbish heaps were potent breeding grounds for the- larvae, and it was therefore necessary to attend to these at least twice weekly. To speak of the honse-fly as "hannness.” said tbe lec ' tiiTCr. was a dangerous fallacy. _ lherc should Im a more vigorous extermination. He mentioned several methods, but the best of all he said, was simply to follow up the old slogan. "Swat that fly!’

About half-past 11 last night a woman was found Iving unconscious near the tramline at the corner of Nairn Street and Upper AVillis Street. The ambulance was sent for. and she was removed to thohospital, but no particulars are available as to the woman’s identity, nor I K)W --ho was rendered unconscious. was not: cut about the body, and no bones were broken.

Appealing for greater loyalty to the Motherland, Mr. H. Holland, of t hristchurch. at a meeting of the JusticeS of the Peace Association, said that the Old Country was a great power for good, and was ever the first to send aid to otheis whenever famine, pestilence, or other distress visited them. He had a passionate love for the old land, and it hurt him to hear it spoken disrespectfully of. (Hear, hear.) Recently he had declined a valuable agency for foreignmade machinery, because he considered the Motherland could supply all this country’s needs. Some of the distress in the old Country was caused by money b-iim sent to other lands. About 33 1-3rd per cent, on iho total cost was lost in exchange when doing business with America. and e.H should make it a -point to >’tve all the trade they could to the Mother- Country, which had done so much for them during the Great War. “Your licensing laws in New Zealand seem badly framed.” said Mr. Alexander Jamieson. Chief Magistrate of Dnrvel -Ayrshire, during an interview at Christchurch. "Tn Scotland, liquor can be sold between tho hours of 12 and 2.30. p.m.. and 6 and 9 p.m. Hotels in New Zealand open at 9 a.m. Surely 11 o clock would be earlv enough. In the evening .the bars should he open from, say, a o clock until 9 o’clock. The rule that all sales must stop at six o’clock only means that men rush in and drink more than is „ ond for them in a very short space of time. Our system m be.ter.

Ten firemen employed on board the Federal Line steamer Suffolk, which tefc Wellington on December 10, and which is now Iving in the Victoria Docks were charged 'this week (says a, Lond °” c “U | e ) ’ spondent, writing on February 10), with being concerned in stealing and receiving 52 quart bottles of cider, 96 pint bottles of cider, seven bottles of lc‘nwn--de two bottles of tonic water, 101 b. sugar, 31b. of tea, 37 tins of fruit, ami 90 tins of milk. Lord Erleigh, who /roreeuted. sai-.? that- when the vessel was one dav out from Wellington the second steward found that the padlock of tho storeroom had been broken and the place entered. A search of the firepan’s quarers resided in tho discovery of •! large number of empty bottles and quantities of sugar, tinned fruit, and irilk Later tho prisoners signed a st'ntVment admittMng that’ they had taken the stores. The men were eac.i lined .£5.

Having occasion to visit Ireland on his recent visit to Britain. Professor J. C. Johnson, of the Auckland University Colleo-e. found conditions deplorable, althoiigh't, not without; their incidental humour. Between the extremists the bulk of the people showed remarkable endurance and philosophical adaptation to what were practically war conditions. Every attempt was made to carry on business as in normal periods. While he was there the Cork amateur operatic society had the enterprise to produce "The Gondoliers.” The performance lie--mn at 6.30 p.m., so that the audience could "<’t home before curfew. The professor was in Cork during the fire which caused damage estimated at £3,000,009, when tho Citv Hall, with its concert chamber and fine organ, the public library and the principal business quarters were destroyed.—" New Zealand Heraid."