NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10283, 19 May 1919, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Hon. G. TV. Russell, Minister for Public Health, intends to make a personal visit of inspection to Somes Island this morning, with a view to speeding up as much as possible the work required for putting the quarantine station in a fit and proper condition to accommodate tho passengers and crew of any vessels that may have to he quarantined. The Minister will be- accompanied by Dr Frengley, Deputy-Chief Health Officer, and Dr Watt, District Health Officer.

The finding of a district court-mar-tial, held at Featherston military camp, having been confirmed by the Commandant of tho New Zealand Forces, is now promulgated. Private G. V. H. Sandiford, Details F.M.U., who was found guilty of deserting His Majesty’s service and losing, by neglect, bis clothing and regimental necessaries, was sentenced to sixty days’ detention, and is also to suffer the stoppage of pay until he has made good the sum of £8 7s. XOd.

Tho earlv days of the war were recalled by the appearance among the ■bandsmen at General Russell’s reception on Saturday of several members of the old Trentham Camp Band and the Trumpet Band. Several were in uniform, and others in “civvies,” but tho fact that they were “on deck” when their services were particularly welcome showed that tho proper spirit was there, and reminded many of tho strenuous days when camp life was a very serious affair. They acquitted themselves well, and the soldiers were glad to see them.

After a long, dry- spell rain fell in Wellington from early yesterday morning, and continued all day’. In' the evening the clouds cleared away, however, and the moon shone out on a cold, clear night. Tho downpour was particularly welcome, and as the rain during the earlier part of the day was fairlv heavy, the reservoirs upon which the city supply depends should have benefited. Messages from Auckland and Whangarei state that, heavy rain was falling there during- the week-end. No word was received yesterday as to whether the Hawkers Bay district, which is suffering severelyfrom the effects of tho drought, has been favoured similarly with rain.

Sir E. J. Howard, speaking at tho Alexandra Hall last evening, referred to the position of the Press at the mootings of the Rcnatrialion Boards. He said that the Canterbury Repatriation Board was the ’’ 1 v board, so far as he knew, where meetings were open to tho public aim tho Press. This was a most desirable thing, both from tho public and the returned soldiers’ point of view. He urged all representatives of Labour on these boards to see that the board meetings were open to the public and ttbe Press. He, as Labour’s .representative on the Canterbury Board’ bad assisted in bringing about this most desirable system so far as the Canterbury Board was concerned.

In the Supreme Court on Saturday, Charles Edward Rossiter Ruddick appeared to answer a charge of theft of a fivo-scatcr Ford motor-car, the propcrtv of Mr'E. S. Baldwin, and valued at £2OO. Mr P. S. K. Macasscy appeared for the Crown, and the accused was not represented by counsel. Mr F. Blackburn was foreman of the jury. The facts brought forward by the prosecution, and not denied on oath by the prisoner, were that on March lith, at 9 a.m., Mr Baldwin loft his car on the stand in Hunter street, and on going for the car about 6 p.m. ho found it had disappeared. It was ascertained that the accused took the car away on IMarcli 24th, representing himself as an agent, and sold the car for £IOO, and received a crossed cheque. Ho informed the buyer, Mr J. A. Ryan, that his principal was out of town, and as ho could not get the cheque cashed he was given cash. He said the name of his principal was Bysouth. The car changed hands twice after Ryan purchased it, and the number was also altered. Tho jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced to three years’ reformative treatment at tho Borstal institution.

In the course of an interview with on Auckland “Star” reporter, Mr R. McCallum, M.P. for Wairau, said he did not think for a moment there was any intention on the part of the great majority of Liberals to break away from tho truce until the return in July of tho two leaders. In his opinion the informal conference of Liberals to he held in Wellington could do no more than pass a resolution of continued confidence in Sir Joseph Ward as leader, affirming the of those present to stick to a sane Liberal and Labour progressive policy as against Red Fed. and Bolshevik doctrines, to put down lawlessness and sedition* with a strong hand, and generally pursue a policy calculated to repair tho wreckage caused hy tho war, and increase production absolutely necessary to meet tho increased expenditure in interest, pensions, etc., as well as wiping off the balance of the war debt during the next dozen years or so. He saw no reason why members of the Reform and Liberal parties should not make preliminary arrangements for the inauguration of their campaigns after tho return of the two loaders, but to plot for their downfall during their absence on the other side of the world on important and necessary .State business would not, he thought, bo countenanced hy fair-minded people in a>SB wt the Dominion.

A man named Murray, while engaged in clearing n window or. Saturday morning fell off die sill and injured cue of bis ankles. He was admitted to* the hospital at nocn. A resolution was passed by the Wellington branch of the Engineers, i'uemeu, and Cleaners' Association expressing “’disgust at the action o* the Minister for Railways in vetoing tae unanimous decision of the Railway Appeal Boqrd in the Longton appeal case.”

The liner Arawa, which arrived at Wellington on Saturday morning from London via Panama and Lyttelton, brought 92 first-class passengers, and in tho steerage 79 soldiers’ wives, 46 children, and four civilians. The troops comprised 63 sergeants and -100 privates.

The waterside workers will hold a stop-work meeting in the Harbour Board X store at 8 o’clock this morning to consider the report of their delegates who attended the recent conference with the employers. Hie question to he dealt with is that of a proposed increase in wages.

In respect to the outbreak of theria in Dunedin, a Press Association message states : t —The District Health Officer visited the Otekaike School for backward children, where a number of diphtheria cases had been reported. He found no fresh developments, xno situation is well in hand.

The turbine steamer Maori is still eight men short of her full stokehold complement, but it is expected tna the vancancies will be filled to-day. Failing that, the Monowai, which returned’ to Wellington yesterday trom Lyttelton, will probably continue m the ferry service until further notice.

On , Saturday morning the military inquiry into the disappearance from the steamer Mararoa in October last of Rifleman John Rrussell was William John McLeod, formerly ser-geant-major, N.Z.M.P., and Thomas Finney steward on the Mararoa, garc evidence, and the inquiry was furthei adjourned until to-morrow.

The heads of the Railway Department were advised on Saturday that the work of clearing the Main Trunk line of tho wreckage of the runaway goods train between Ngaurukohu and Mataroa was proceeding with the greatest expedition, and it was hoped to have the whole of the obstruction removed on Saturday night or yesterday at latest.

As a result of the breaking of windows in a Chinese shop, two boys appeared before Mr D. G. -A. Cooper, S.M., on Saturday morning. . When questioned, tho hoys said a third lad was responsible for the damage, and in order that he might attend, the case was adjourned for a week. Act-ing-Senior Sergeant N FVado said the third boy had been ordered to attend the court, and had not obeyed the subpoena. The magistrate said the court would deal with the father !f his son did not attend.

Official advice has been received that H.M.S. New Zealand, now at Albany, is to arrive in New Zealand waters about the middle of next month, probably making Wellington her first port of call. She will leave. Lord Jellicoe in Australia, and will "return for him later, arriving back in New Zealand with. Lord Jellicpe upon, his first official visit, to! tfio:, Dominion,' ,about , August 18th! The executive ’ of . the Navy League has appointed a cojnmittee to take preliminary steps for the fitting reception and entertainment of the officers and crew of the warship.

New regulations, which are to come into force to-day, are designed to prevent the overcrowding of the trnmears. against which the Wellington TTaniwaymen’s Union recently protested. iTio regulations referred to, issued by r D. McGillivray (traffic manager), provide that —(C Under no circumstances must passengers he carried on tho front platform; (2) passengers must not bo ca-rrried on front or rear platforms of palace cars; (3) no more than eight passsengers must he carried on centre platform of palace cars. This number onlv applies to rush-hour traffic. In ordinary loading centre platform should be kept as clear as possible. (4) During rush hours four passengers may be carried cm tho rear Mat-forms of air-braked and combination cars. It must bo clearly understood that v this rulo ’applies only during rush hours or special occasions. W-eii there is room, inside passengers must not be carried on the platform at any time. No more than eight standing passengers must he carried on top dock of small decker cars,! and the rear ilatform must be kept clear.

Sister M. B. Calders (of Wanganui), of the British Bed Cross, who returned on the oth of this month, after three years’ service, writes to say that when calling at tho headquarters, S 3, Pall Mall, to say good-bye, some of tho heads, including Dame Swift, tho matron-in-ehief, and Lady Mackenzie, asked her to convey their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to tho people of New Zealand for the substantial and unfailing help they had given during the war. Tho sister adds tho expression of her own gratitude to the Hon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, K.C.M.G., and his staff for tho wonderful help and protection afforded her during three years and four months in England, and she was one of very many; and also to tho ‘.Swaniters’ Club,” Wanganui, whoso gracious help camo at-a critical time when a kindly stimulus was required. The sister also desires to recognise gratefully tho generosity of Sir Harold and Lady Boulton, who were the means of getting the beautiful Queen Mary’s Hostels for war-worn nurses to rest in between hospital duties. Sho adds that Mrs Ksrr-Lawson and the other ladies in those hostels have earned the sisters’ life-long gratitude.

The situation of the Westport-Stock-ton Company’s Colliery is quite different from the current idea of a coal mining township. Most of the employees live in a township on a plateau some hundreds of feet above sea level within easy walking distance of typical bush scenery. They are convoyed to and from their work hy electric locomotive. There arc no deep shafts to descend, hut tho coal is reached through tunnels in the hillside on an easy walking grade. The company has built a number of hopscs for the men, and is building more ns opportunity.offers, from plans prepared hy a townplanning expert. Those houses are sold or rented to the employees on very easy terms. .No reasonable effort is spared to make tho living conditions as pleasant and convenient ds possible. The company having n great demand for Its pToduot, is considerably extending its plant, and no doubt will ho able to absorb ns many returned men who are lit. to undertake this class of work. 184