LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 162, 5 April 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities have received advice from Sydney that tho s.s. Whangape sailed from Newcastle on April 1 for Wellington. She carries a small Australian mail for New Zealand, includling on© bag from the East. The main roll for the municipal elections has been printed, and is nowavailable. It contains 34,112 names. The supplementary roll is not likely to be available before next week.

“What is a Latour extremist?” asked one elector at Mr. R. A. Wright’s meeting in Newtown last night. "I 'believe that a Labour extremist is a, man who adopts tho policy of the 1.W.W., that is, a policy of ultimate revolution,” replied Mr. Wright. "I gather that from the statements that have been made by some of the leading members of the extreme Labour Party. The I.W.W. policy is a policy of continual irritating strikes, of trouble among the workers in every direction when there is no need for trouble, in order to weary tho employers until they are so disgusted that they will give up their businesses, ships, and everything else; then the workers will run them for themselves. That is what I understand by a Labour extremist.”

A waterside worker named Hieran Bergin, single, 39 years of age, was struck between the shoulders by a bale of wool while working on the wharf yesterday morning. He received slight injuries, but it was deemed advisable io remove him to the hospital for treatment. A handsome donation las been made to the funds for tho extension of the work of the Presbyterian Church. On Friday a lady called upon the Rev. George Budd, cf Auckland, superintendent of tho homo missions for the Presbyterian Church o£ New Zealand, and left a cheque for £5OO to be used for tho salary cf a minister in a designated home mission district in the Auckland province where work has not yet been undertaken by the Presbyterian Church.

An increase of 10 per cent, on tho freights to tho Eastern / and Western Pacific 'lslands is .announced by ithe Union Steam Ship Company. The pew scale to Suva, Levufta, Nukualofa, ami Vavau is now 555. per ton of 44) cubic, feet. To Haapai the new rate is G 4«. 6d.; Apia, 655. Rarotonga, 605.; and Tahiti, 555. The charges to Haapai. Apia, and Rarotonga include Ss. a ton for lightering. Mr. D. Carter, manager for tho Union Company at Auckland, stated on Friday that the’raising of the freights had been found necessary owing to tho increased cost of running the steamers, including coal, wages, provisions and delays. He added that unless the cost of working of the vessels was materially reduced, there was every like li'hood of the freights being further increased in other trades.

An elector who wished to know if it was true that a corner of one of the municipal houses had fallen off had the floor form few' moments at Mr. Wright’s meeting in' Newtown last night. "Is it actually true that the concrete has been put in without reinforcement?” he asked in severe tones. He sat down when the chairman mentioned that the municipal houses were constructed of wood.

The monthly meeting of the Wellington District Council of the Workers’ Educational Association was held last week. There was a full attendance of Relegates, and the chief business dscussei* was the consideration of opening classes in tho suburbs of Wellington and district. A meeting is to bo held at Newtown shortly with a view of inducing tlm younc people of that part of the city to form a class in some branch of study under the auspices of the W.E.A. Tho meeting will be addressed by Mr. Moses Ayrton. Other districts which will receive the attention of the association are Miramar, Lyall Bay, Pctone, Lower Hutt, and Johnsonville.

The Chief Justice (Sir Retort Stout) delivered reserved judgment in the Supremo Court yesterday in the case of Mary Ann Maisey (Mr. O. R. Beerc) against IV. F. Eggers, land agent (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop)/ The plaintiff claimed to I’ecover £l5O damages on the ground that the defendant .had sold to her a property in Kent Terrace*witliout disclosing to her the fact that there was <i lease for a period of five years, with right of renewal for a further five years, in respect of th© premises, and that in consequence, when she sold th© property, she suffered damage through the existence of the lease to tho extent of £l5O. Defendant alleged that plaintiff had been advised that the leas© existed at the time she purchased the property. Plaintiff also claimed £l5O moneys alleged to he held by defendant on her behalf. Tho defendant counter-claimed for £133. After reviewing the evidence. His Honour gave judgment for plaintiff for £l5O in respect io tilie first cause of action, and reduced the amount of the coiinter-ctaim by the sum of £53.

Mr. James, Muir, an ex-member of the Miramar Borough Council, intends to stand as a candidate for the Wellington City Council.

During the week-end five pairs of new tramway rails’were laid down in Courtenay Place between His Majesty’s Theatre and Tory Street. The gang is now preparing another section still further eastward by/removing the wood blocks between and*on either side of Hie tracks, and a further advance will bo mail- by tho week-end. After the Courtenay Place tracks have been renewed, ihe work of putting down new itracks round libo Basin Reserve will be commenced. It will bo remembered that some five or six years ago a section was taken from the reserve for the widening of Buckle, Dufferin, and Rugby Streets, with the double object of making a wider road for the increased trallic and for easing the tramway (racks round the curves. The war prevented tho relaying of the tracks at the. time, but now a now line nltomether has been planned which will make the curves between Kent Termer on the one side and Adelaide Rond on H le other more gradual, an improvement much to bo desired from an gineering point of view. With the growth of motor traffic in Wellington the duties of motor inspector aro becoming increasingly onerous. The inspector (Mr. L. S. Drake). occupies the tiniest office within an office in a brick shed abutting on to the back yard ot tho Town Hall. Yesterday Councilor McKenzie drew attention to the diiliculty anvone had in even reaching the inspector's office, when the small outer ollice was invaded by half a dozen people, and eucrested that the office might be extended four or five feet out to Mercer Street, which would give •increased accommodation generally, ami provide » separate entrance to the inspector - fico . Yesterday over thirty annual motor drivers’ licenses were issued irorn office mentioned.

One saloon passenger by the Tahiti confessed to being somewhat disappointed at a lire at sea being so devoid of anything sensational. Ou rising at 7 a.m. on Sunday ho was told that tho vessel was on fire, but as far as ho could see I here was nothing to lead to such a conclusion. They were not even able to perceive any smoke. At breakfast there was a good deal of joking about the business, and when one or two people came on deck with’ lifebelts they were laughed into discarding them. Some ot tho third-class passengers got a scare because they could smell tho fir© ;n their quarters. One even declared that he bad smelt fire when he entered his berth on leaving port on Saturday afternoon. At least one lady passenger was glad to return to Wellington. Before leaving port die had lost her hand-bag containing her steamer ticket. The situation was explained to the Union Company s officials, who agreed to allow her to .go on, provided she paid her fare if her ticket 'fid not turn up. On returning to Wellington she was overjoyed to learn that her ba" with tho ticket and some mow), had been found on Talavera Terrace, and returned to her relatives. Bishop John Manwaring Steward is the fifth Bishop of Melanesia. He was consecrated bishop in 1919, after many years of missionary experience in the islands. During the year, with a party of Melanesians, he travelled 500 miles in a whale boat, visiting the schools in the' Solomons, probably the longest boat journey ever undertaken in those islands.

When the Auckland Racing Club installed the electric totalisator at Ellerslie, some few years back, it was thought that it would serve for a considerable period. But though the machine at prosent in use performs wonderful work, it is recognised that if Ellerslie is to bo quite up to date in controlling tho totalisator business in a thoroughly satisfactory manner, no time should be lost m securing a machine of the latest type, and the A.R.C. committee on Friday practically decided on making a contract with the Automatic Totalisator Company of New South Warts for (he construction of a machine at Ellersliitf equipped with all tho latest improvements (says the "Herald”). Tho new- instrument, which, of course, will he electrically driven, provides for three totalisator©. which will bo at different pointe, and in separate enclosures. One machine will be in the grandstand enclosure, and part of the Leger reserve, ami another will bo for the Leger enclosure and for those on the outside or Derby enclosure. Possibly another machine will be installed on the hill near the old mile post. All the totalizators will work in unison, each machine shelving exactly the same face, representing tho total Investments on each race at any moment. Ono of tho great advantages of the separate machines will bo that the, congestion which is now so marked where all the business has to be conducted at one machine will be largely, if not completely, removed. Tho work’of constructing the new machine is expected to occupy over twelve months, and a period of eighteen months may elapse before the new Instrument is in working order. Patrons of the Queenstown ferry service in tho custom of enjoying an appetising “nip” before proceeding to tho dining saloon will henceforth have to content themselves with something with less bite, in it that has hitherto been obtainable at the bar of the Earnslaw or tho Mountaineer (says the Southland “Tinies”). It appears that the contract of tho provider© expired on March 31, ami it is evidently the Government’s intention to do away with the bars and place a woman in charge cf the commissariat department.

Lord Novar, formerly Governor-General of Australia, has criticised the Commonwealth Government for its neglect of the question of reafforestation, and, in a recent speech in England he spoke of the Clanger Australia faced through the rapid denuding of its timber areas. He also referred to the absence of any effort to turn Papua to profitable account in this direction. The Minister of Home and Territories (Air. Poynton) pointed out in reply that some time ago the Government had made arrangements to employ an expert in afforestation who has had experience in Nigeria, and that £2OOO was provided on the estimates for this purpose. The officer through illness was unable to accept tho offer. Efforts subsequently made to obtain the services of other experts had failed, and nothing since had been done. ’ Replying to the contention of Lord Novar that Australia was neglecting tho question, the Minister showed that some attention had been given the matter though the efforts made up the present undoubtedly had been exceedingly feeble. The Commonwealth subscribed portion of tho expenses of sending two delegates lo the recent Empire Forestry Conference, and undertook to contribute one-sixth of the cost of the establishment of tho proposed college of forestry at Gosford.

Evidence accumulates with almost every mail to the United Kingdom that whatever the terms ot the contract about to bo negotiated between the Commonwealth Government and the Orient S.N. Company for the carriage of overseas mails, it is essential that there shall be a strict insistence upon regular dispatch and prompt delivery at the other end (says the Melbourne "Age”). Mails arriving at Toulon by the Ormonde were unreasonably delayed, and business men in England again found that owing to this delay they were unable to deal with Australian correspondence in time to dispatch replies by the next outward mail. This has been a source of irritation and loss both in England and Australia ever since the war disturbed the weekly services previously provided, but the reasons for such occurrences nowadays are difficult to discover. For a comparatively small outlay Australia could dispatch her mails to the United Kingdom at poundage rates by every steamer sailing, but heavy-guarantees .are given and yearly payments made in order to ensure Hint there will be regularity of service, and that the dates of sailing and arrival can he scheduled and depended upon. Tn entering into a new contract with the Orient company, which will probably entail nn oullnv of something like £250.000 a year, the Government must protect the interests of the communitv by making such arrangements as will guarantee a return to th© snip© regularity, if not the same frequency of service, as was prorided in the days before Ihe war.

.Most of the divisional and Ijrigade commanders and other senior officers of tho A.I.F. have been absorbed in the new divisional organisation of the re--constructed Australian Army. A .large number of brigade and battalion commanders and other officers of various ranks with ihe A.I.F. have been included in the provisional appointments to the establishments, which are subject to revision by the divisional commanders. When - tho citizen appointments have been completed, to supplement the staff and administrative appointment?, the actual formation and training of ihe divisions will be undertaken. The ap pointments are expected to be announced shortfly- Amongst permanent and citizen officers, either already appointed or whose A.I.F. experience entitles them to expect appointments, and who are anxious to proceed with the work, thr announcement is regarded as overdue. Active training under the new organisation in the circumstances will probably not commence till July 1, the beginning of the new training year.

The regulations controlling Government officials prohibit their acceptance of presentations or gifts At a recent meeting of officers in Dunedin (says the "Star”), at which Colonel J. L. Sleeman was farewelled, a surprise presentation was macle to that popular officer who, being unwilling to break the harmony of the evening, foreboro to mention the difficulty at Ihe moment, but wrote next morning regretting his inability to accept the gilt, while expressing the pleasure thnt the good wishes of Iris brother officers and the well-intentioned act afforded him.

Dr. Gibb acknowledges the following donations to the China Famine Fund:— Already -acknowledged, £56 65.; Anonymous, £1; Anonymous, £1; Anonymous, 10s.; China, 10s.; Anonymous, 55.; Anonymous, 2s. lid.; China, 10 s.: Chinese ReJef, £4 75.; lan, £1; Win. and MrsHorning, £5 55.; R elief, 14s. (id. Mendicants and nomads with no fixed place of abode have always been a source of worry to the census-taking authorities. It is naturally the aim during a national counting of heads to record every single one, and the man who sleeps under a tree or bridge is from one point of view a nuisance. Strenuous efforts are to be made by the Australian Census Bureau during the taking of the census this year to count in all mendicants and wanderers who work, states the "Age.” On census night the police all over Australia will be on the look-out for open-air sleepers. Parks and gardens will be combed, and the occupants recorded on census cards. Out in the back country where rabbit trappers and others move from place to place, and "fold up their tents like the Arabs,” special precautions have been taken to secure records. When the counting of cards takes -place few people /if any, will have been missed. The claims for an industrial agreement, filed by the Wellington Brick, Tile, and Pottery Workers’ Union, will be heard by n Council of Conciliation on April 12. A wage of 2s. 6d. an hour is being asked for skilled, workers, and 2s. 3d. for unskilled men.

The following incident is a 'sign of the times (says the Christchurch "Press”): A Rakaia farmer employing five men and a cook called his employees together and announced that he must make a reduction in expenses. The men have been receiving £2 10s. per week and found. He offered them the choice of taking £2 and found or £2 10s and provide their own meals. The men considered the interests of the cook, and agreed to accept the reduction of ten shillings. The Christchurch-Ashburton-Timaru air mail service, which has been carried on by the Canterbury Aviation Co., Ltd., since January 31, will cease on Thursday next. It is understood, however, (says the "Sun”) that a passenger and mail service between Christchurch and Blenheim will be inaugurated soon. The Timaru mail service was arranged by the Government for experimental purposes, to test the reliability of airplanes for mail purposes in this country', and it was not intended to bo a permanency. The results have been most satisfactory. Fifty' return trips had been made by the end of March, and, despite bad weather at times, not a single trip was missed. Occasional delays were caused by engine trouble, but, when such occurred, a relief machine was always available to take the mail. Tho distance covered was. 9500 mites, and 104 passengers ■were carried. The Blenheim mail service, which will be carried on .by D.H.9 three-passonger machines, more powerful than the two-passenger Avros used hitherto, is expected to be more directly useful than the Timaru service. At present it takes at least two days to convey mail's and passengers between Christchurch and Blenheim, .eith«r overland or via Wellington. By air, the journey will take bnly, a matter ot hours. No announcement _ has been made as to when it will be inaugurated. "The world is not a big Jilace a.f ter all ” said a visitor to the Stanfcy Bay (Auckland) bowling green last -week to a lady whowas servng out afternoon tea to the bowlers, "for by pure chance we met at dinner in a New York hotel jus a ■ the war, and here we meet again under verv similar circumstances and yet so far - away from the throbbing life of the American city." The Queensland Home Secretary (“to M'Corniack) has a scheme in hand which aims at giving the curable criminal a chance. The scheme provides for trie division of criminals into passes by means of systematic grading, so that first timers shall not associate with those serving long sentences.. A general system of prison, reform is also said to ne in hand, and it is hoped to better prepare men to earn a living after discharge.