NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10275, 9 May 1919, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

A wireless message received last night irom the steamer Northumberland, with returning draft No. 213, from England, reported that the vessel' will arrive in the stream at Wellington at 2 p.m. “’to-day. In addition to the troops, the vessel has general cargo for Wellington. From this port the Northumberland will go to Australian ports to complete discharging.

Arguments of cases in tho Appeal Court have now been completed. The Court will sit at 11 a.m to-day for the delivery of some judgments.

This year tho King’s Birthday will he celebrated on June 3rd 'and Empire Day-, -which used to be on May 24th, will be observed on the same day. This announcement was made by the Hon. G. IV. Russell yesterday.

It nas stated yesterday on good authority that the Japanese Training Squadron will not visit Now; Zealand. The squadron, • which recently lett Frerrancle for Colombo, was expected to arrive in New Zealand in June, but tho visit has since been cancelled. The Act'«g-Ministcr for Finance acknowledges the receipt of tho followjing?,amounts, received’from persons tinikiiown’ as ’ coh’science-raouej - : —£s forwarded to the Treasury to be credited to tho Education Department; £l6 10s forwarded to tho Land and Income Tax Department.

In connection with the Anzao Day celebrations at Westport, trouble has apparently occurred over the conduct of certain returned men on parade.. ; .-VopoKi i ing | , j ;,to r , J,.f' cetvpd ; _ in; iCfluus'tchurcliy 7thwT,exeqiitiY.q ’l'pt". 1 the,' Westport Association, in consequence, resigned as a protest.

The trouble which has arisen in connection with the Green Island mine strike has not yet been settled (states, the Otago “Daily Times”), but matters seem to bo taking .on something df a now phase as a result of the disbanding of the employers. It is understood that: one or/-.t.wq.'.o|i;the. tnjne,qavnqrs,hay,p. again taking back* ’their , former employees if they will go back, and a protracted meeting of the men has been held to discuss’the new position.

The case was continued in the Appeal Court yesterday of J. Rod and Co. v. tho City Corporation. The appeal, was by the corporation against a de- r cision of tho Chief Justice awarding Hod- .and> Go. £304 - IsYdj witlr..£3F iiSs .costs; ■ inff duo .to butchers who used the city abattoirs. It was urged on behalf of the corporation that in 1918 a refund was made to payers of meat export slaughterhouse fees, in accordance with the balance of profits shown in the accounts. In the three subsequent years no refunds' were made, and no protest was made until November, 1916. , During- the three,, years, -from 1913 to'i9lo the corporation expended,-, at’ the request of the -Butchers’ Association, £1359 18s 6d in improvements and additions to the abattoirs. While denying liability in the case, the Corporaton paid into the Supreme Court £lB5 2s 5d and £4 4s costs. Sir Robert Stout, in giving his judgment, said that tho abattoirs account on March 31st, 1917, showed a credit, of £1743 17s sd, and the fact that the Butchers’ Association had applied for, improvements did not debar Rod and Company ’ from obtaining their quota of refunds due under the by-laws, which fixed the liability of the butchers at 5 per cent, on tho amount ot expenditure. Argument having been completed in the matter yesterday, judgment was reserved. On the Bench were Mr Justice Chapman, Mr Justice Sim, and Mr Justice Hosking. Mr J. O’Shea appeared for the appellant corporation, arid ‘Mr T. Young for the respondents.

The Auckland "Star” has authority for stating that one of the biggest estates, of the north, namely, a block of 43,500 acres, has been offered for sale to the Government for a returned soldiers’ settlement, and that on account of its alleged unsuitability the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association has warned the owners and the Government that should this land be taken up they will advise all returned soldiers to have nothing to do with it. It is contended that though the block may be suitable for farming under certain' conditions, it is absolutely unsuitable for'subdivision as a returned soldiers’ settlement. According to information received from • the Returned Soldiers’ Association, after the owners had offered the block to the- Lands Department the: Wellington Soldiers’ Club was approached with a view to getting its support for the project, and the Wellington organisation referred the vendors to the Auckland Association, 'in whose district the land is. located. The vendors stated that tho price asked was the exceptionally low figure of £1 17s 6d per acre. ■ In the course of subsequent correspondence tho area offered was reduced to 39,148 acres, and the price to £1 10s an acre. The vendors suggested that three or four members of tho association should visit tho property and make an inspection. The officer-in-chargo of the R.S.A. Property Bureau replied, informing the vendors that a careful inspection and valuation of tho property was made some time ago by the writer _ (Mr Eadie). The valuation was similar to tho present Government valuation. Three reports had been received from competent agriculturists regarding the proposed set-, tlement of soldiers on the block, and <he.se bore out the report pf the writer. Tho letter added that a resolution had been sent by tho association to the Minister for Lands that the' ‘ A.R.S.A. would use its influence to prevent any soldier from settling on the land if the blpck .were purchased'

Before the war it cost, about £IO6O to build a tramcar in Wellington; now the price is about £2000..

■' The Tauherenikau camp site is to be made available for instruction in pastoral and agricultural work to soldiers who need an open-air hie.

Wellington has been running rather close to the danger line where its water reserve is concerned, and the Mayor yesterday appealed -tor economy hi all who draw on the city supply.

The official recount ot the votes cast in the City Council election is proceeding It is likely to conclude on Saturday, and the first meeting of the new council may take place on-Wednesday.

The Mavor of the city stated yesterday that tho coal shortage was still causing heads of the corporation services a good deal of anxiety. Several times there had been narrow escapes of breakdown for want of coal.

■ The annual meeting of the Wellington Centre of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John will be held next Wednesday. It is expected that. General Richardson will bo present.

With two exceptionally long service men of the City Council this year— Messrs W. H. I'. Barber and J. Godber —Councillors G. Frost and A R. Atkinson are the senior councillors. Councillor Atkinson entered tho council in 1909. Councillor Frost’s continuous service dates from the same time, but he had served a term of four years prior to 1909 —from 1903 to 1907.

It is notified in last night s Gazette” that the Minister for Customs has granted general permission for the exportation of kauri gum to. the Dm ted States of America. No permit will be required in future unless this general permit is withdrawn. Declaration of the ultimate "destination must, however, be produced to the Collector of Customs before shipment.

Since tho opening of the season there have been an unusually large number of sportsmen m quest of feathered game throughout Central Otago. Some fine ba<*s are recorded, one of the best being that obtained by a small party in the Poolbnrn Gorge—72 grey ducks in two davs. The Lakes district has been well patronised, and the sport there has bc6ii good. Xfc sGonis thnt tai© ducks are more plentiful than they have been for years.

- Ari official statement,J»as. been made •to the effect that in the case ot intended wives of New Zealand soldiers, the Immigration Department accepts nominations for their assisted Passage, and makes a contribution of £l3 towards the cost of - either second or third-class passages. Applications for assisted passages should be made to the tiecretary, Immigration Department; or (if the applicant is. in EngIjaSitt)’ 16 V'the-'■■lmmigration Depart-ment-of’’the-High Commissioner.

A smart capture of a supposed thief was made yesterday afternoon by Constable J. Isbistcr, of the n’-iarf policeIt is alleged that a man entered a shop in Ellis street and took 37s 6d from the till. The shopkeeper noticed the intrusion and gave the alarm. The man ran away, pursued by a passer-by. Constable (.isbister; who -was, off. .duty, hap* J) js.,bic.y.cle, ana gave chase, capturing • the' accused m Vivian street. The accused will ' appear before tho court to-day.'

During a deputation to Sir James Allen at Christchurch, Dr Thacker,M.P., asked the Minister whether anything could be done to meet the case of soldiers who were etjjl undergoing treatment-aty the .hospital as outpajueais.a nd„.who..had .not been discharged,’but'had tb’.keep their wives and children in boarding-houses at considerable - expense. “1 do not understand why they cannot live in their own homes,” Sir" James Allen replied, but there was a chorused assurance that there were no houses available in Christchurch. Sir Janies Allen promised to look into the matter.

• U the hast meeting, of; the Brooklyn branch of the Labour Party, the following motion was passed at the instance of Mr R. Semple, M.P. :—. In new of the threatened coal famine, this branch calls upon the Government to nationalise at once the coal supply of Now Zealand, and would point out to the Government and people or New Zealand that the coal shortage is not due to the scarcity of coal, as there are milKoriS’of tons of coal yet to be won from the bowels of the earth, but that the shortage is entirely due to the ineptitude and indifference of the Government.” A strong protest was also made against the proposal to grant the freehold to the present leaseholders in Rotorua.

A "Gazette” notice fixes the maximum wholesale and retail prices of rice in Now Zealand. Tho maximum price of rice when sold wholesale ex-store is to bo thirty shillings per hundredweight. When sold wholesale otherwise, then the maximum price shall ho' a_ price equivalent as regards the seller to the maximum price mentioned. The maximum retail priqe of rico shall be Xpur* pence per pound. In any case in wmch by reason of tho remoteness of the premises of the retailer from tho source of supply, or .by reason of any other special circumstances, tho Board of Trade is satisfied that the maximum retail price may reasonably be increased by any retailer,, the. Board of Trade may authorise that retailer to exceed tho maximum price by such amount as the board thinks reasonable, and any such authority may be at any time withdrawn.

Official announcements of interest to returned soldiers desiring to settle on the land were made yesterday. Before applying for assistance to buy land, returned soldiers hitherto have been required to secure an option of three months on the properties they desired to obtain. Owing to the length or the option required, soldiers desiring to purchase found difficulty in securing it. It is now officially stated that in the case of town or suburban properties, or rural land readily accessible, it is desirable that the period of option he not less than four weeks. Tn the case of land situated in isolated'localities the option period should bo two •months, in order that sufficient time may be given for special inspection, valuation, etc. The announcement is one that will be received with satisfaction. ‘Formerly the Minister for Lands has only been able to grant up to £750 to soldiers owning freehold or lessees of land for clearing, fencing, draining, purchase of stock and building a house, etc. The amount of assistance which may be granted in the case of hush lands has now been increased to £1250. Soldier-settlers under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act are entitled to the same rebate of rent on prompt payment, as are ordinary Crgtjß .tenant

Tlie fireman who war brought ashore from I**lß Koniata at ■ Wellington on Wednesday has definitely been pronounced to he an influenza case.- Tile vessel lias been thoroughly fumigated alongside the Clyde quay wharf, where she is now berthed. No fresh cases' are reported on her. '

Rice, which has hitherto figured prominently in the housewife’s list of useful if not essential articles of diet, is likely to become less familiar on the bill-of-fare, for merchants have been advised of a world shortage of this cereal (states an exchange). The shortage is caused by the Governments of the big rice-growing countries forbidding its export, the whole of the output being required for home consumption 1. This will naturally have the effect of raising the price of other commodities, such as starch.

A peculiar incident occurred at Lyttelton recently. A young lady who had been on a visit to the port, where ohe was staying with friends for a time, lost a j+old locket and cliait, a present sent to her by her soldier Brother. Diligent searches were made for days, but without result. Subsequently, the soldier brother, after returning homo from the front, went to Lyttelton to visit his sister, and while walking up Canterbury street, picked up in the water-channel the missing article of jewellery, which was almost obscured from view by road-dust.

An interesting matrimonial experience, related in connection with the arrival of soldiers’ wives by the Remuorn, was that of one New Zealander who brought back a bride from Switzerland. This soldier was wounded and taken prisoner by the Germans. He was treated by German doctors, and the Now Zealanders’ treatment, he said, although very rough, was the same as that given the enemy’s own wounded. The effects of war conditions were evidenced in shortage of proper hospital equipment; for instance, paper bandages were in common use, 'other material not being obtainable. After six months’ imprisonment in Germany, he was sent to Leysin, near Lake Leman, in Switzerland, arrangements having been made with the British Government for the exchange of 500 sick prisoners,' While at Leysin, he met Ins' futurebride. There were only about 18 New Zealanders in Switzerland, he stated, but all who were sent there benefited greatly by the exchange. ■