NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8339, 28 January 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The annual meeting of the Board ot ovornors of the New Zealand In- . Auto will ho held in tho Dominion aiseuui Library to-morrow.

Tho High Commissioner, the lion. ’. MacKenzie, is advertising in Kng.,ud for twenty-five trained mutes lor aeutal hospitals in Now Zealand.

Although the artesian wells from which the Lower Hutt borough water..apply is obtained, are very low, all ine wafer required is being secured ay direct suction. The grit drawn ip oy the pumps is exceptionally smai'. Most of the wells in the valley are o» the same stratum, and during the daj when tho borough pumps aro working -thcr wells may be affected.

To-day members of the Waterside Workers’ Union are to hold their annual picnic and sports carnival at Day’s day. In consequence, very little work will be done on tho wharves. Those men who aro required to work will rccoiva double pay. Tho union has secured the sole use of tho Berry Company’s grounds for the day, and the company this morning notifies its regular patrons of this fact. Should tho Watersiders’ sports bo abandoned owing to tho weather being unsuitable, a white flag will ho hoisted at tho Town Hail.

There is a large flourishing elm tree on tho Parliament building grounds, just at tho corner of Bowen street and Lambton quay, and in tho scheme of disposing the grounds, it is not intended to cut this tree down. When tho work is completed, the dm will stand just outside tho low brick wall near the main gates. Tho operations in lawn-grass seeding, improving the soil, and laying-out flower beds, grave? paths, ole., will take a considerablo time. No interference is likely to be caused by the onilding operations, as tho contractors will probably bring materials from the Charlotte street and Sydney street sides, and thr is abundant yard space near the library building. Work on tho foundations to tho westward of tho tunnel is still proceeding. The inquiry instituted by tho Gov*eminent into the shortage of labour experienced in the manufacturing industries during the past year is now well under way. It is not restricted, as has been erroneously stated to manufacturers alone, as the Government has given instructions that secretaries of labour unions in the trades concerned am to ho consulted as well ns tho leading manufacturers. By this means it is hoped to secure absolutely reliable data.- The investigation is now being carried out in Wellington by moans of personal interviews by the officer charged with tho work, Mr J. W. Collins, of the Labour Department, and before long ho will Lave to proceed to other centres for tho same purpose. Though tho present inquiry is limited to manufacturing industries, it is understood that other branches of industry, such as agriculture, will ha dealt with later and separately.

A deputation representing the Waimate Workers’ Union waited on the Minister of Justice (Hon. A. L. Herdman) yesterday afternoon with a request for certain amendments in the Hospital and Charitable Aid Acb Mr S. Boroham (Dunedin Trawlers’ Union) pointed out that the Waimato Union was registered, and that its objects were to protect its members politically, morally, and socially. In its corporate capacity as a union it carried a resolution to tho effect that members protested against tho action of the medical superintendent of tho Waimato Hospital in refusing admission to one H. W. Hunt. The union requested the Government to amend the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act in such a manner as to prevent a medical superintendent having solo control of a public institution, and at tho same time owning and controlling a private hospital in tho same town. At tho time of tho incident, the deputation stated, there were only eight patients in tho hospital, which had capacity for twenty-sovon. Tho Minister said he would obtain all papers in connection with the matter and give the subject his careful consideration.

In a report which Dr. Leboeuf, the Government Medical Officer at Noumea, recently presorted to the Administrative Council of the island, ho lays stress on the fact that leprosy is increasing with startling rapidity in New Caledonia, and the Loyalty Islands, both amongst the white population and the natives. In one district, the report states, the percentage of lepers is nearly 2 per cent., and of this number 25 are living in the native villages without any restriction at all on their movements. In the district of Mouli, the proportion of persons suffering from the disease is ■i'i per cent., but in this instance some attempt at segregation has been made. The total proportion of lepers for the whole of the island is almost 3 por cent. Ur. Leboeuf has made several suggestions to the Council, by which the spread of the disease may bo checked. One of these is that the lepers should bo taxed at the rate of two-and-six per month, and this money should be used to create a kind of sanitary police, whoso duty it would be to seo that the lepers kept within the boundaries assigned to them. The medical officer also recommends establishing a lazaretto on one of the islands some distance from the coast.

Plans have been prepared for a now Boys’ Home to be erected on the Salvation Army’s property at Island Bay. i'iiis building will have provision for forty boys, and will bo quite distinct from the present home in the same locality, where ten boys are now aco.uniodated. The new institution wxl' be constructed on modern lines, in wood, and will cost about £3OOO. Thera have been several matters relating to the Army’s social reform work which have had to take procedure, otherwise a commencement would have been made with the Island Bay home before this. “Small as it is, the present building is serving a very useful pur■oie,” remarked Brigadier Bray to a “Times” reporter yesterday, “but in view of the urgent claims upon ua to receive orphan boys wo find that the accommodation is far too limited. Hence the now building. A fine new maternity hospital for the Salvation Irmy’s work is now in course of ereo‘ion at Grey Lynn, Auckland, which will provide for twenty-five inmates, this hospital is being constructed in accordance with the requirements of ie Hospital Department, and will be thoroughly up-to-date. We are also completing extensive additions to the Inebriates’ Home on Rotoroa Island, hich will give us much more convenient accommodation. A new laundry is being erected in the Rescue Lome, Auckland, and we have also made extensive • alterations to the Rescue Home in Wellington. The same is to be done to the Children’s Home iu this city.”-

A 440 yards test race, held by th< Wellington Swimming Centre at T. Aro Baths last evening to determine who should represent Wellington in the distance events at the New Zealand championships, was won by K. Heuly.

A number of casual labourers were discharged from the Pct-ono Railway Workshops on Saturday, the reason being that their time had expired. Ii is expected that a number of tbo men ■will be taken on again within a lorlnigbt.

A conference of the West Coast Maoris is to take place at V.'aitara on Friihty next, when the lion. Hr Pom arcwill lx- present. The Maori.-. aro (says the. Taranaki “Nov/?;”} anxious to acuro sorne of 'the West Coast leases tout are falling in, and tins and the question of obtaining, the necessary finance to work tbo farms -.rr7l term the obici subjects for discussion. A Press Association message from Christchurch states that Mr «.F. Notify Meadows, the local representative for the forthcoming Auckland Exhibition, is taking stops to secure tho representation of Christchurch at tho exhibition. The Industrial Association and tho (Mayor have been approached, and it is probable that a public meeting will bo held shortly to consider tho matter. A party of members of tho Citv Council, headed by tho Mayor, will go up to Pahiatua by this morning’? train in order to visit tho city’s endowment at Mangahao. Tho tenants of tho endowment aro seeking to convert their leases into freeholds, and tho trip is being undertaken so that members of tho City Council may make themselves personally acquainted with tho land. To-morrow evening the party will return to Wellington. In most departments work has practically ceased at tho Gear Company’s works, 'Pctone. Heavy consignments of potted meats, for local consumption, leave tho works at tho rate of eight tons a day, but beyond the few hands required for this class of work tho preserving department is at a standstill. In tho fellmongery a few hands are employed haling wool and treating pelts, but the end is in sight. A number of men aro engaged making additions to the. fellmongery department, and extra labour-saving appliances aro being installed in tho preserving department. The manure department and engineering staff are fully employed.

Shortly before the Main Trunk train left Wellington for Auckland last evening Detectives Lewis, Rawle, and Andrews took into custody two men on a charge of conspiring to defraud George Carson of £4. A few days ago, when on the way to catch the Auckland express, Carson was accosted by a man who introduced a friend. Tho three walked some distance together, when one of tho strangers askfd Carson for the loan of £4 so that ho could pay a hotel account. Tho money was given, and the man went into a hotel, but failed to show himself again. Aitor some minutes had elapsed the other “friend” asked to be excused for a Pew moments. Dike bis accomplice he did not return. It is alleged that tho men who were arrested last night are the two who mot Carson. • They will ho brought before the police court to-day. A meeting of ladies interested m Hospital Saturday and Sunday, convened by Mesdamos Trevor and Godbor was held in a committee room ot the’ Town Hall yesterday afternoon. Mrs Godber presided. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Mosdames T. M. Wilford, W. E. Moore, and G. Hylands. A comprehensive committee was set np, including tho foregoing ladies and Mesdames J. P. Luke, W. H. P. Barber, Cbas. Duke, R. Fletcher, L. H. Fox, Gray, Hoaro, Penifold, Sinclair, Bold, Misses Gray (2), W. Ash, and B. Luke, with power to add to their number. Messrs Trevor and Godber, chairmen of tho Hospital Board and Hospital Committee respectively, spoke of the pressing need for funds, and the desirableness of building a verandah or balcony On wards Nos. 5 and 6 was emphasised, this serving the purposes of a convalescent ward to relievo tho present congestion. It was decided to make S house to house canvass in order to give ovoryono an opportunity of contributing. A matron is to bo placed in charge of each of tho main stations. A further meeting of tho ladies' committee will ho hold next Monday.

A Melbourne lady has been placed in on uncomfortable plight through being caught in a thief-preventing device at the Melbourne General Post Office. The Melbourne “Herald” states that on Now Year’s Eve a lady wished to post a bundle of letters at the General Post Office. They jambed in the letter-box, and she gave them a forcible push. Her hand passed right through the combs, which are intended to prevent thieves from abstracting letters from the boxes. In a second she was caught, and her embarrassment at once caused a crowd to collect. With the best intentions, they appeared likely to do the lady serious injury. Some advised a long pull and strong pull, and pull all together. Others, more astute, suggested enlarging the already largo letter-slit with a crowbar so that the lady could go right through and emerge from the inside of the post office. Others counselled trying a sideways pull, but agaiust this tho lady herself protested. After a very long time, and the gathering of a crowd that threatened to block the traffic at tho junction of Bourko and Elizabeth streets, it occurred to someone to get tho help of the officials inside, and in a little time tho lady, tearful and a little dishevelled, but unhurt, was sot free.

If a man gets intoxicated and subsequently goes to sleep on somebody’s promises is bo a rogue and a vagabond P was a question for Dr. McArthur's decision at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, in a case in which Thomas Lavin nuts charged with being a rogue and a vagabond having been found without lawful excuse in tho building of Frank Shaw, Willis street, on Saturday morning. It appeared that Lavin, while under tho influence of liquor, wandered on to tho promises during the night, and went to sleep on top of the landing. Shortly after 4.30 a.m. on Saturday, ho was found by a policeman, to whom he stated that ho did not know where ho had got to. Nothing in the place was touched. Mr H. J. O’Leary, who appeared for Lavin, contended that this was a class of case which tho section of the Act under which tho man was charged was not intended to doiil with. Accused was a married man, his wife kept a store, and he sometimes worked for her, and on other occasions followed the occupation of a cook. Drink was his trouble. It was no offence to go on promises it was merely a civil trespass. Sub-In-spector Sheehan: Ho was there without lawful excuse. Mr O’Leary said tho Act was framed for tho purpose of dealing .with those persons who entered premises for tho purpose of doing something wrong. Accused had no such intention. His .Worship dischargedjjaym.

The steamers UHraaroa, Victoria, Ma-hc-no, Mooraki, Moana, Tofua, and i’alnti should bo within wireless range of Wellington to-night. A number of vehicles plying for hire in ’the Hutt borough having been reported on hv tho borough inspector ;s being in a’ had condition, the cuun„il refused to grant them further licenses. Councillor Hoot.-, 1 suggested that a concession should he olfered a \vndicate to instal a motor ’bus service in tho district.

George Marvin, residing at 14, fioulcott street, was admitted to tho hospital last evening suffering from a •.round over the right ear, winch he is reported to have received by being .struck with a tumbler outside a hotel in tho citv. Tho cut was a very bad one and Marvin lost a good deal of blood.

At last night’s meeting of tho Wellington Centro of tho Royal Info Saving Sociotv, it was decided to approach the City Council urging that greater facilities in swimming ho extended to children up to fifteen years of age, and suggesting that they be admitted free to tho baths for one hour in tho mornings.

In view of tho fact that Petone proposes to erect a town clock, and some statements, have been made in regard to it which aro not quite correct, Councillor List induced tho Mayor to mako a statement concerning tho mattor at a meeting of the Borough Council last evening. Tho Mayor said the tower had been inspected by two exports, and it rvas suitable in every respect, not only for tho clock the council had ordered, but for one of a much different style than had been agreed on. Tho tender, £4B-1, included tho erection of tho clock, and there would be no extra expense, and approximately thero would bo a surplus of £IOO out of tho loan. He hoped they would not only be able to erect the clock but to put some paint on as well. If they were going to increase the height of the tower the estimate of £SOO would not bo far out, for it would have to bo much stronger to carry the extra weight and stand tho extra wind pressure. To raise it from 12 feet to 20 feet would practically involve a new tower, and this was never contemplated. Tho ratepayers carried tho loan on the second occasion, and tho clock should bo installed for less than the amount voted.