LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2257, 17 September 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Prime Minister, in reply to an inquiry last evening .regarding Dir. Scliultz, the ex-Governor of Samoa, who bccame a prisoner of war after the surrender of Apia, and who is arriving at Auckland from .Fiji stated that the Government had had accommodation for Dr. Schultz and his staff, and nativo : servant, prepared for tho time being on tho island of Motuihi, in the Auckland Harbour, where they would bo made as comfortable as possible. Mr. Massoy said that he was unable -to say any nioro than this at present. Arrangements- are being made by the Labour Department to send a further 30 men to road work in the Pahiatua district. This will make 130-men sent 'luring the past two months. Twenty men are also to'be 6ent to the RaotihiOhakune railway works. Fraternity was expressed in a joint assembly of the Jewish and Federal Social Clubs in the rooms of tho latter institution last evening. Inter-club matches in billiard?, snooker, and bridgo wore playod, resulting ilia win for the Federal Ciub by six points to four. The evening waa an exceptionally enjoyable one. Mr. L. M. A. Reardcn, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, yesterday received a cablegram from Mr. Andrew Fisher, expressing heartfelt nympathy for the bereaved in tho terrible disaster at Huntly. Tho telegram has boon forwarded to-the Huntly Miners' Tmion.

The matter of making the-'National Provident Fund applicable to the needs of those local bodies wishing to use it for the purposes 0 f a superannuation scheme is not being lost sight of in tlio turmoil caused by the war. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) stated yesterday that ho, as president of tho Municipal Association of Now Zealand, : had communicated with tho association's legal adviser (Mr. T. F. Martin),. asking him to suggest 6uch amendments to the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher's National Provident Fund Amendment Bill as he deemed nccessary to adapt it to the requirements of the various local bodies who may desire to use it Mr. Martin, who attended the last Municipal Association Conference, and all subsequent meetings of the Executive Committee, was well posted up in tho Bill, and the amendments necessary to make it workable, and as no Parliamentary Committee had been s6t up to consider it he would have the advantage of dealing direct with the Minister. Mr. Luke is of the opinion' that the fund (which makes tho State a' contributor) would be accepted by some of the larger local bodies as 'a , means of establishing a g&tem of superannuation, but did raja think it likely that tho smaller •' botues would be inclined to favour it, Personally ho was wholly in favour of its adoption by the Wellington City Council. A further account of his investigations into the physiographica-1 evidence ia support of Darwin's theory of coral reefs was giv.en at Victoria College yesterday afternoon by Professor W. M. Dans, of Harvard University. Professor Davis dealt mainly with the coasts of New Caledonia and declared himself more strongly convinced than ever of' the correctness of Darwin's theory. ,incidentally he described a tilted atoll in the Loyalty. Island, a type of geological structure which has never before been recognised. He also described in graphic language the desolation of the site formerly occupied by the New Zealand mission station at Ambrym in the Now Hebrides. The Prime Minister states that the Government has made arrangements which will tide the kauri gjum industry over the present crisis arising out of the war. As far as possible employ'ment will be' afforded to men on the gumfields in need of work, and if there are no buyers for the gum the Government will make advances of a proportion of the vhlue and store the gum until matters return to thoir normal position. As the Eastbourne Ferry Company's steamer Cobar was endeavouring to berth at the Ferry Wharf, inwardbound from Day's Bay at about 8 a.m. yesterday, she collided with the hulk Gertie, tho Wool Wharf, and subsequently the Ferry Wharf. At tho time mentioned tho vessel was laden with the usual number of Eastbourne passengers, who were coming to t6wn. Some of the passengers became alarmed, and several of them endeavoured to jump off the Cobar on to the Ferry Wharf. The others were successfully to by the constable on duty to remain on board. The result of tho collision was that two piles were carried away at the Ferry Wharf and the C-obnr's stern was damaged. The injuries sustained did not prevent the vessel from resuming running in the ferry service. The gravity of the S.M. Court was broken down yesterday by tho quaint expressions and mannerisms of a witness who was tendering evidence about a man concerned in a case before the Court. Broad grins- travelled round the Court as the witness, pointing to the prisoner in the dock, told his little story. "When I mot him," he said, confidingly, "I '.says to him, 'You're not looking well, old man, come into the hotel.' I ordered a drink and he took tlie glass"'iff his' hind and down it wont, ono gulp! I said to myself, 'My word' you are not too bad.' " Hero tho voluble person in the witness-box paused impressively,"Then," he resumed, "I ordered another drink. He took the glass-in his bond aaid —— down it went, 0110 gulp! Then he said to me, 'You've saved my life!' "' Tlie recital was not exactly attuned to tho solemnity of Court, proceedings, hut, told with simple, earnestness and engaging candour, it. proved irresistible, and everyone was sorry when tho narrator wont away. A meeting of the residents of Roseneath and Oriental Bay was held on Monday night to inako arrangements for a patriotic concert to bo held 011 September 20. It was announced at the meeting that the • programme will include items by tho \ ery best talent in the city. Great enthusiasm is being manifested in connetcion with the event, and it is anticipated that between £50 and £100 will.be added to the fund as a result of the concert.' 1 Tlie four days' international fair which was opened last week by the Mayor in the Vivian Street Salvation ,Army Citadel realised the sum of £170. Considering the many demands being made upon the public, this result in considered highly gratifying. Adjutant Bladen, who is in charge of the citadel and city corps, worked hard to bring about this excellent result. Australia, according to the statistics of the Commonwealth Statistician, Mr. G. H. Knibbsj is particularly unfortunate in having a high rate of infantile mortality. In his annual bulletin. just issued, Mr. E nibbs shows'that tho death-rate of infants under ono year during 1913 was 72.21_ per 1000 of tho births registered. "This is an advance 011 the death-rates for 1911 and 1912, which were respectively 68.49 ,and 71.74. Nevertheless it is a great improvement on the rate for 1903, which reached the astoundingly high mark of 111.36. Despite this fact, however,- it opens up again the great question whether the Australian mother is sufficiently careful in handling-her offspring. Last year there was much discussion on this point among the members of various women's societies, and it was strongly urged that a scheme to provide education for mothers should "be launched. Colonel W. E. Gordon, who was killed in the fighting near Mons, has relatives in Auckland, states the Auckland "Star." It will be' remembered that tho cable message stated that a regiment of Gordon Highlanders, marching along a narrow road, and believing they were approachino; tho French. lines, heard shots fired on the left. Colonel Gordon ordered his men to the right, and went along the other side, calling out "Anglais." Meanwhile the other party, who were Germans, worked round to the rear. The Germans fired at close quarters from all sides. Dawn disclosod groups of dead everywhere. Tlie colonel lay dead apart from his comrades. On July 11, nino years ago, at Krugersdorp, Colonel Gordon, then a captain, won the V.C. He went out to rescue a gun under heavy fire, and with the/ greatest coolness fastened a dragrope to it. Captain Younger and threo men assisting wore hit. Colonel Gordon then assisted tho rest of the party under cover, and having seen the wounded safely away, himself retired. His conduct, under a particularly heavy and accurate fire, at only 850 yards "was most admirable, and his manner of handling his men most masterly."