Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3273, 19 July 1911, Page 4

Local and General.

StafF-Sergt. Major Bishop will leave Gisborne on the 31st inst. for Wairoa, and on August Ist lie will supervise the medical examination of the members of ;tbe iHuramua Mounted-Rifles, officially known as the C. Equadron, 9th Regiment Wellington Mounted Rifles. As inany of the newly registered as it is possible to deal with! will be medically examined at the same time.

The desirability of celebrating Arbor Day was mentioned by Mr J. R. Kirk at the meeting of the High School Board of Governors yesterday. Mr Kirk pointed out that to-day was Arbor Day, and asked if it was to bo celebrated as such at the High School. After a brief discussion it was agreed that it »vu* then too late to make provision for honoring the occasion, but it was suggested that a half holiday should bo given and devoted to tree planting when the shrubs from the State Nursery came to hand. When a grandfather clock at the Ship Hotel Welbridge, Surrey, was opened the other day, it was found to contain a comokite skeleton of a cat. It is though that the animal must have been* shut in tlie clock, which has not been opened for many years. Dr. T. J. SchoUiek, who has T>een a medical practitioner in Guildford (England) for nearly fifty years, has decided to emigrate to Canada. He is 75 years of age, and was for 23 years borough coroner for Guildford. Judge Smyly, in reserving judgment at Bow (England) County Court, in a test action arising out of the compulsory liquidation of the Twentieth Century Equitable Society, said he understood that there were 40,000 cases involved. The action was by the liquidator, Mr. Harold Sully, against a former member for 6s 2d in respect of balance of a levy, fines, etc. The levy was in order to repay money borrowed. The late secretary admitted in crossexamination that, strictly in law, the society was not entitled to make the levy. ‘ Owing to a misunderstanding the rink was advertised incorrectly as being open to-night. There will be no skating to-night on account of a special Mounted Rifles parade. 11 ie hockey matches and finals set down for to-night will take place tomorrow night, and the ladies’ hockey match will be played on Monday next.

It is announced that Mr D. N. McMillan, of Wellington, has been appointed assistant road engineer for the Gisborne district. The medical examination of. those at present serving in the local units of the Defence Forces was continued last evening at the Garrison Hall, when about thirty-five of the Senior Cadets passed through the liands of Surgeon-Captain Williams. Up to the present some ninety men have been inspected. and of these none have been rejected. Four men, however, have been found unfit- to enter the ranks of the service, and they will, it- is understood, be posted to a non-combatant unit such as an ambulance corps. The next men to be submitted to the medical examination will be those who have enrolled, but who are not at present serving. The officers comprising the MilitaryPosting Board for this area are expected to arrive in Gisborne at an early date. They will commence operations directly the medical examination of the men is completed. A few days ago attention was called to, the practice of drivers of certain vehicles backing their carts across the footpaths in the side streets and thereby making it necessary for pedestrians to wade in the mud and slush of the roads in order to pass them. The trouble appears to be as prevalent as ever. Not only were carts seen yesterday blocking the footpaths, but in one instance a four-wheeled waggon was to be observed backed up to a doorway with its team of four horses stretching a good distance out on to the road. It is generally held that the by-law dealing with this matter should be more rigorously enforced. Lord Islington lias intimated to the Manawatu A. and P. Association that lie will Tie present at the Spring Show, but wishes neither to make or hear speeches. He has. he intimates, sent himself against speeches at summer show s.—Press Association telegram.

“The Bill giving a Constitution to Alsace-Lorraine has passed its third rcadino; in. the Reichstag. Alsace-Lor-raine is given a Chamber elected bv universal suffrage, and three votes in the. Federal Council which may count against but net in favor of Prussia,'” says the “Daily News.” “The conquered provinces will therefore enjoy as liberal a Constitution as any GermanState, and pass front subjection to practically full partnership with the other States in the Empire. She differs from the other States only in the fact that the Emperor can appoint and remove the Governor: but it was hardly to be expected that she would be conceded tb.e right to choose her own ruler.” “There is another way out of our troubles with the revolving brushes in the streets of Manchester and Salford,” says the “Manchester Guardian.” “Though something lias been done in that direction, it is not yet the general practice of our local authorities to apply water before they apply the brushes. The brushes still operate in dry weather as dust and germ distributors of high efficiency. Is there no hope of the application of the vacuum principle to street-cleaning? The vacuum cleaner is in use in several cities, and an American doctor is trying to induce New York to use it. Dr Prudden, this reformer, recommends motor suction cleaners. The motor provides the power to work the suction apparatus as well as to drive the vehicle. Revolving brushes loosen the dirt, the suction pipe collects it and pours it into a closed bin, and the vehicle carries it off. The whole process is complete.” A series of Cabinet meetings is being held this week in anticipation of the assembling of Parliament on Thursday, July 27th. Appropriations were taken last session until July 31st, so tuat it will be necessary to pass an Imprest Supply Bill the day after Parliament meets. Sir Joseph Ward and Sir John Findlay arc expected to reach Wellington oh August 24th, when Parliament may be expected to be still occupied in deflating the Address in Repiy. If this debate does not consume so long, there will be a number of Government measures ready for consideration. The leadership of the Legislative Council during Sir John Findlay’s absence will, (the “New Zealand Times” understands) be taken by the Hon. James McGowan, formerly Minister of Justice and Minister of Mines. Messrs Baldwin and Ray ward, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. x-eport that amongst the many applications for patents they have just filed are:—J. Clapham, Palmerston N., imrpoveinents in devices for preventing horses from running away with a vehicle when unattended ; the Chilton Flusher Co., Ltd., Auckland, improvements in flushers for water, closets; Messrs Cuthbert and Fiddy, Gisborne, device for preventing entry through drain traps of substances likely to cause obstructions insewer pipes.*