NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10290, 27 May 1919, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Christchurch City Council last night directed tho reserves committee to submit a comprehensive report upon the providing of municipal bowling greens, tennis courts, croquet lawns, golf links, etc. —Press Association.

A plough-van which was in use on the Picton to Mittagong deviation (N.S.W.) recently was detached from a train and placed on tho lino near Mittagong with the wheels spragged. In shunting operations another truck struck this van, the sprags were broken, and it broke away and* travelled 13 miles on the new deviation towards Picton in 15 minutes, when it struck tho engine of an empty material train, which was homeward hound with some workmen on board. Nobody was seriously hurt, but some damage was sustained by the locomotive and hy the plough-van.

Tho following motion in regard to tho “Ne Temcro” decree was carried at the annual conference,of the Protstant Political Association: “That whereas the ‘No Teniero’ decree defies the laws of this Dominion and affronts Protestants by declaring Protestant and civil marriage invalid and concubinage, and whereas it is tho intrusion of a foreigner into the domestic legislation and affairs of this country, this council demands aa amendment to tho legislation, '.-.instituting it an offence for any person to question or impugn the, validity or the sanctity of such a marriage either publicly or privately, and, further, urges upon all Protestants the extreme undesirability of contracting mixed marriages.’’

fixtures for civil cases to be heard at the current session of the Supreme Court in Wellington have been made as follow : —Hay 27th, undefended divorce cases; Hay 28th, undefended divorce cases; Hay 29th, Ha,gnus Sanderson and Co. v. HcEntee and others.

Constables Burrell and Fahey, at Pahiatua on Sunday, arrested Ernest Arnshaw, Edward Eriksen, and Gecrgo Welch in connection with the alleged burglary at Levy’s shop on Saturday last. Host of the missing goods, valued at between £7O to £3O, have been recovered. The men came before the court at Pahiatua yesterday.

As one of the competitors did not strictly with the conditions laid down for photographs shown at the ■ Townplanning Exhibition, a re-judging has resulted in the gold medal being awarded to Hr J. J. Johnston, Majoribanks street, Wellington, and the bronze medal to Mr G. J. Startup, Wellington. A gold medal has also been awarded to Mr Horace C. Cottrell for a collection of lantern slides showing improvements in Napier.

“It is no wonder that many people refrain from having families when the maternity ntrse's fees amount to eighteen guineas,” said Air F. V. Frazer, S.M., yesterday during tho hearing of an affiliation case. The complainant, a woman of twenty-five years, had been called upon to pay over twenty-six guineas in connection with the birth of her child. It was pointed out that the woman had undergone two operations, which accounted for the fees being so high.

Dr. Thacker, M.P., Mayor of Christchurch, informed a .“Press” reporter that Mr George Forbes. M.P. for Hunimii, had approached him and solicited his assistance in gottting the Minister for Public'Works to build a safe fishing boat harbon? at Ivaikoura, which is in Mr Forbes’s electorate. Dr. Thacker said the fishermen wanted such a harbour in order to protect their motorboats. Mr L. P. .Ayson, Inspector of hcries, had reported favourably upon the proposal.

Several splendid examples of tho photographer’s art aro being shown in the window of the Kodak retail establishment, at tho corner of Lambton quay and Willis street. These comprise a collection of large panoramic views of Wellington and suburbs, the work of Mr John Aston, of this city. Tho photographs, which combine both beauty and interest, include pictures of Oriental Bay, Day’s Bay, Lyall Bay, and Island Bay, also of tho sources of the city water supply-—Ka-rori and Wainui reservoirs- and tho Morton dam. Kecent building development is graphically shown in views of Hataitai and the Glen. Kelburn. Kot only photographers, but all citizens, will find these pictures worthy of inspection.

At its concluding meeting, tho Protestant Political Association Conference passed the following resolutions in regard to the subject of. national education: (1) This council, affirming its appreciation of and devotion tc the present system of free, compulsory, and undenominational education, calls upon the Government to safeguard its schools by providing that the concessions already made to sectarian schools be withdrawn, and no further concessions made; and that tho Government support the national system of education by providing for the pupils of the State schools their Kir proportion of Civil Service appointments. (2) That an adequate vote (live millions) be provided for tlie development of the education system upon modern lines, to enable proper provision to be made for the children and adequate remuneration to the teachers in keeping with the value and dignity of their calling. (3) This council urges upon parents the undesirability of sending their children to. denominational schools.

War marriages do - not appear to have particularly happy results, judging by the number of cases for maintenance that are heard before tho Magistrate’s Court each week. Yesterday a weeping bride of eight months’ duration sought a separation, with maintenance from her husband. The applicant complained that her husband had brought her out to the Dominion to live with Ids people in a email house under unhappy conditions, and eventually she went to the Salvation Army to ''seek a refuge. > With tears streaming down her cheeks, she said she would have been happier in England and did. not think tho law ought to allow a man to bring a girl 16,000 miles unless he could provide a homo for her. Mr Frazer, S.M., said tho law was all right, but young couples should make more allowance for each other and determine to pull together. The differences between tho plaintiff and defendant were not serious, and he hoped they would overlook each other’s shortcomings ana come together again. Mr P. J. O’Regan, who appeared for the defendant in another maintenance case, said: “This is another of those unfortunate cases arising out of the war.” yHe had hoard that tho war had an effect ■on most men’s temperament, and it was known that they were more irritable uponiroturning to the Dominion.

Tile shooting of a whale with a ma-chine-gun by an American aviator from his aeroplane, off the Pacific Coast, near San Diego, California, opens up a now field of possibility in the whaling industry (states an exchange). It suggests whaling ships of the future cruising forth with an equipment of aeroplanes and a complement of aviators and skilled gunners to scout lor and bag these monsters of the deep. Tho first use of an aeroplane by a New York business establishment for commercial purposes was made by the firm of Lord and Taylor, which sent a load of household goods by air from a substation in Garden City, Long Island, to Mount Vernon. New York State. The experiment was a success, in the opinion of the firm. The consignment consisted of flour, a lamp, a carpet-sweeper, a fireless cooker, and linens. The first aeroplane ambulance flew to New York recently, bringing Lieutenant David Gray, shot in both legs, from Itockaway tof St Luke’s Hospital. Major Helen Baa tedo. of the Woman’s Motor Corps, ac oompanied the pilot—Lieutenant Ste yens, of the R-ockaway Naval Station —on tho trip, which was made in forty-nine minutes. Dispatches from Montreal state that aeroplanes will almost certainly bo added to tho equipment of tho North-West Mounted Police, for its far northern patrols. Naval non-rigid dirigible airships will be utilised by the United States Army in patrolling the Mexican border. Arrangements have been made under which the navy will turn over several dirigibles for this work, A military border patrol has been maintained since the original Madero insurrection against tho late President Dial.

The postal authorities advise that the mails which left New Zealand on April 19th arrived in London on the 24th instant.

The following vessels will be wireless range of Wellington to-t-Ji'ht; —Maori, Mararoa, Pnteena, Mokoia, Manuka, Rimutaka. Moana and Tofua.

The annual conference of the Wellington Provincial Farmers’ Union opens this morning in Wellington at the Dominion Farmers’ Institute. In the evening the delegates wi!l_ attend a dinner as the guests of the directors of the Non - Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Distributing Company, Ltd.

The annual balance-sheet of the tramways and electricity department of the Aapier Borough Council shows a net profit of £IOO 8s Id. The.manager estimates that, on account of the increased wages now being paid, there will be a debit balance at the end of the present year.

The hon. treasurers of the Wellington Navy League Ring George’s Fund (Mrs Hall-Thompsoii and Mr R. Darvoch) acknowledge witii sincere thanks the receipt of £147 7s 6d from the Martinborough Liverpool Equipment and Red Cross Fund for the benefit of the men of the Royal Navy and mercantile marine.

When the Industries Committee eat at Carterton on Saturday, witnesses strongly expressed the ■ opinion that the Wairarapa badly needed a muchimproved railway service. The committee visited a' number of places in the district, including the stations of Messrs W. E. Bidwill and A. Matthews. Several fruit farms' were inspected, among them that of the Greytown Association.

The Government (it is stated by an exchange) contemplates closing the special school for the education of mentally defective children at Otekaike, sending some inmates to mental hospitals, some out to work, and others to their homes. The. institution, with the addition of some acres from a neighnouring estate, will then be used as an experimental farm for North Otago. At present, work at the school is at a standstill, owing to an outbreak of diphtheria.

At the annual meeting of the Kindergarten Association last night Air W. Ferguson drew comparisons between the state of kindergartens in Auckland and Wellington, much to the detriment, of the latter. In Auckland they had recently had a children’s playground donated and a superintendent appointed to teach the children concerted play. Airs Gill remarked that the council intended to wait on the Alayor to ask for a grant of land in Newtown Park for such a playground, for Wellington.

“There will be a rush for the position of councillors if the Government agrees to this proposal,’’ said Councillor Anderson, when a resolution from Waihi, asking for support in an endeavour/ to prcvaillupohrthdT’Minister for Internal Affairs to alter the Aluuicipal Corporations Act, was before the Petone Borough Council last night. The proposal was that the Act be altered so as to provide for councillors being paid a guinea a day when engaged on council business. The support asked for was not given.

Several of the Indian colonists of Fiji have, under the auspices of, thklndian Imperial Association of Fiji; sent a petition to the Secretary of State for the Colonies protesting against the proposal to annex Fiji with either New Zealand or Australia. It is urged in the petition that Fiji should be connected with India, as the Indian population exceeds that of the whites. Failing this, the Indians prefer that Fiji should remain under the British Crown, but as a last resource they prefer annexation with New Zealand rather than with Australia.

In connection with the statement made in a paragraph in the “New Zealand “hues” yesterday as to the nondelivery of telegrams addressed to the men aboard the returning transport Paparoa, the Telegraph Department states that 500 telegrams and between 000 and 700 letters were taken on board the vessel in question, and only one telegram was returned. As to the statement that very-few.men received their messages in the bustle of disembarkation, it is stated that possibly the telegrams referred to ajrived after the ship’s postman had, left for the ship and telegraph messengers would naturally try to deliver those messages which arrived late. The number of these, in' any case, was very few. The department takes every possible means to effect delivery, both of correspondence and messages.

The delegates to the annual council of the Protestant Political Association, held in Wellington last week, expressed strong disapproval of the prohibition of the importation into the Dominion of certain Protestant literature. The ■ following resolution was passed: “This council emphatically protests against the undemocratic and unjust action of the Hon. the Minister for Customs and the Hon. the Attorney-Ueneral in prohibiting and continuing to prohibit the entry into New Zealand of contain Protestant literature. It reiterates its denial that the literature was imported by the association or that the prohibition is justifiable on moral or any other grounds. The attention of the Cabi net is again directed to the differentiation in its treatment of Protestants and Romanists, wholly to the advantage of Rome, and calls upon the Cabinet to immediately release such literature and to revert fb the principle of equal rights for all and special privileges to none in its treatment ot the Protestant people of this country.”

When n seafarer was before tlio Magistrate’s Court yesterday on. a charge of drunkenness, Mr F. V. Frazer. S.M., said he desired to draw attention to tho number of sailors seen daily in a drunken condition outside a certain hotel in the city. Ho suggested to the police that the licensee’s attention be drawn to the law, as bis servants evidently did not recognise their responsibilities. Tho law did not allow tho licensee of a hotel or his servants to fill a man up and then turn him loose, but when a man showed signs that ho had enough liquor ho should not be served with any more. Tho corner where this hotel stood was becoming a’ disgrace to Wellington. Tho court knew that it was difficult to deal with drunken sailors, ana on that account licensees should take greater precautions. Mr Frazer added that while be was passing by the hotel in question- on Saturday night a drunken man came out of a side door and fell heavily to the pavement. He was placed on his feet again with the help of a tramway inspector. Of course tho drunken man got the liquor at thei Government Buildings, or some place other than a hotel!

One death from influenza in North Canterbury health district was reported last week, states a Press Association message Irom Christchurch.

Owing to delays on the run down, from New Plymouth, the express which evis due at’Wellington at 7.10 p.m. did not arrive last night until 6 minute* to 9.

Rain fell steadily at Christchurch all day yesterday, but cleared last evening (reports the Press Association). Akaroa, Lake Coleridge, and other country districts report falls of snow. The weather at present is bitterly cold.

Frederick Charles Siddle, aged bO year's, a married man, residing at 133, Thorndon, quay, a carpenter by occupation, was found about 5.30 o'clock last evening hanging in Ilia wash-house witft a rope round his neck. Ho was immediately cut down and sent to tho hospital, where he was admitted at 7 50 p.m. It was found that Siddle ’rad suffered injuries to tho ligaments of his neck, but Ins condition was not serious.

, Mr A. Campbell, chief of the Wellington Caledonian Society, on receipt of the news of the knighthood recently conferred on Harry Lauder, the famous Scottish comedian forwarded to him the society’s congratulations. 'Mr Campbell has now received the following reply from Sir Harry:—“Chief Campbell and my dear brother Scots.—Please let mo say how much I appreciate your cabled ‘ congratulations. Looking forward to seeing you all soon—Tours sincerely, Harry Lauder.’’

A Masterton soldier who was all through the Gallipoli campaign gave an illustration of the methods of the Hun even towards his allies. During the fighting at Gallipoli the soldier was on a vessel in the bay, and the Turks were shelling it. One shell burst above the steamer. In ordinary circumstance.® probably thirty or forty men would have been killed. The shell, however, contained nothing but rubbish of a harmless character, including decomposed potato peels. Pieces of similar shells secured later from other Turkish artillerying efforts showed that the shells had been sold by Germany tr Turkey some years before the war.