LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2310, 18 November 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho Telegraph Office advise that week end cable messages for Europe, except Germany, Prance, Holland, Belgium, and Austria are now accepted for transmission, via Pacific, subject to their being posted from London. All messages must bear full mailing 'address, and will be delivered by registered post. A mailing fee of fivepence must be prepaid on all such messages.'' Of the hundred and fifty steerage pas-' sengers to arrive from Sydney by the Manuka yesterday a proportion of the men were shearers and, slaughtermen, who have been working in New South Wales and Queensland during the past two months, and who have now come to look for work in New Zealand. On account of the drought things in the country on the other side are described as none too bright, and one man who roturned yesterday Baid he would not be at all surprised' to see a good many farming hands coming across to look for work on this side. Tho Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister, arrived'in Ckristohurch yesterday _ morning from bis northern tour. Referring to the suggestion that another Force should be sent from New Zealand to the front, Mr. Massey said that it must not be forgotten that tbore was first of all the duty to keep up the present Force to its full strength. It was very important that additional soldiers sent should be thoroughly trained, and he felt sure that the men' who were going forward in duo course would add to the efficiency of tho present Force. At the present time he could not definitely state that a fresh Force outdde of reinforcements would be sent, but if there was an urgent call he was satisfied that New Zealanders would do their full duty.—Press Association. At tho wool sale in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall to-day a departure from the ■ usual business routime is to be made, as wool will not be the only article offered for sale. Those attending will have an opportunity of helping the Lady Liverpool Expeditionary Force Fund by competing for a nugget, ohain and breast-pin, which will be submitted to auction. The nuggets of gold in these articles were gathered by a Ross miner who, anxious to help the fund, insisted upon making the gift. At the same time there will be; sold one of tho first English Treasury, one-pound notes issued during tho present war, an issue which will become rare, as it has been recalled. The pro-, cecds of tho latter sale will go to the Gift Tobacco Fund of .our Expeditionary Force. Bids for these articles will not bo restricted to wool-buyers, but may also be made by any of the general public present.

The libel action, the "New Zealand! Times" v. fra; Dominion, has been settled. We regret the differences which led to this action, and we recognise that the attitude or the two juries which have already heard this case shows that our article complained of_ is in the opinion of many open to an interpretation injurious to the reputation of the. "New Zealand Times." IL'he Dominion desires to emphasise the fact that whatever words were used in the article complained of it was not intended to impute to the "New Zealand Times" any bad faith or any intention of favouring anarchism. To the extent to which our article conveys that impression we desire to express regret, and as an. earnest of our sincerity in expressing this regret we have agreed to pay the sum of £100 as costs tothe "New Zealand Times."-

At a meeting of the Roaaneath and Oriental Bay Municipal Association last night, oorrespciiiaenoe was read from the City Council advising that tho council would accede to the requests of the association to improve the road at the back of the plantation in Oriental Bay, and to cut a traok through the Town Belt from the top of Hay Street. There was a discussion on the schemes for the improvement of Oriental Bay. and it was decided to circularise all bodies and societies likely to be interested urging them to support Mr._ Mor* ton's scheme for the beautification of the bay. ' It was also decided to organise a monster deputation to the council on the subject, the speakers to be citizens not resident in the vioinity of ther bay. As a- result of a successful concert; which was held on board the Union' Company's Manuka during the run across from' Sydney to Wellington, the Belgian Relief Fund has benefited to, the extent of £9 10s. -, During last evening's heavy nortJ/ westerly gale the hulk Prince of Wa\ss broke away from her moorings, r jai drifted across the harbour in the (Affection of Evans Bay. The tug E/iaka went to the hulk's assistance, ai.d suc-i cessfully brought her to anchor-. Last week a .young man nailed Lawrence M'Carthy appeared in the Magistrate's Court charged with drunkenness, it being explained incidentally that he had threatened to shoot certain people. He was remanded for medical treatment, the police stating that application would probably be mado to have M'Carthy bound over to keep the peace. M'Carthy accordingly appeared in Court yesterday after a week s curative treatment. Mr. J. H. Brandon, one of M'Carthy's prospective victims, explained that accused appeared to have an imaginary grievance against him. Ho believed drink was the cause. Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon appeared for M'Carthy, and explained thaVaccused had been brooding over financial matters. As drink was the cause, he suggested that a prohibition order might meet the case. The Magistrate (Mr. D. Gf. A. Cooper) said ho would order accused to pay medical expenses and to enter into a bond of £25 to keep the peace for twelve months. The strange part of the affair is that Mr. Brandon has guaranteed tho £25.

The period of dry weather whioh thd Whangarei district is passing through is causing the farming community great anxiety. A prominent settler has expressed tho opinion that 75 per ceut. of tho crops of meadow hay had failed, also 90 per cent, of the oat crops. The latter aro now running to seed, although on an average the- stalks nave not reached a greater height than 9in, Many settlerß are turning cattle into the standing oats to feed them off, as it is 'realised that there aro no prospecte of the crops being cut for chaff. There is still a good deal of feed for stock, as of late the pastures have been refreshed with heavy dews at night, but there has not been sufficient penetration of moisture to help root crops. Tho hilly .country, however, is beginning to.display the unmistakable brown tint which be. tokens prolonged dry weather, and the state of affairs is reflected in the fact that cream returns aro falling oft. At present many settlers are carting water for both stock and household needs. The Rcdemptorist Order of Roman Catholic priests is well represented in the Allies' firing lino, and in Belgium. The Order has 500 Fathers m Belgium, and has monasteries in Liege, Brussels, Antwerp, and Jlons. In France there are at present 150 priests and studentß of the Order in the firing line.

The Mayor (Mr. 1 J. P. Luke) acknowledges £3 10s, 6d. in the following further donations to the Belgian Children's Relief Fund.;—Maranui School, further instalment, £2 6s. 6d.; Wellington Boys' Institute, £1; and Te Mama School, Upper Hutt, fis.

Amongst the passengers by the Niagara from Vancouver, says the Auckland "Herald," were two German subpots who are returning to Australia. 4he couple, a man and woman, left Sydney by the Niagara on October 2 for {Vancouver, with' the intention of proceeding on to the United States. On arrival at the Canadian port they were prevented from landing by the Canadian authorities owing to a certain clause in the immigration ■ restrictions affecting foreigners. They were forced to remain on board the vessel, and have not landed since leaving Australia. The couple, who are being sent back at the expense of tho Union Company, were not allowed to leave the ship at Auckland, and have since proceeded to Sydney.

Preaohing at St. Patrick's Cathedral, 'Auckland, on Sunday evening, the Rev. Father O'Sullivan said that the Bel? i gians had a speoial claim upon all ; Catholics, but. their claim upon Irish I Catholios and their descendants was of ;\i peculiar charaoter, for, when Ireland !Wa aff lioted, the Belgians befriended ; her. He expressed his admiration ! and gratitude for a generous response ' made that day in the cathedral.

The news of the destruction of the ; German cruiser Emden' by the Australian cruiser Sydney was received with ! great enthusiasm on board the Niagara, which an-ived at Auckland from Vancouver on Sunday. Information of the event-was obtained by wireless about three days before the Niagara's arrival. •The passengers sang the National Anthem, and patriotio airs, and cheers .were given for tho Sydney, and for the Hefence forces of Australia.

Belgium week in Christchurch last week resulted in £734 being obtained by means of collections and two concerts by the Christchurch Orchestral Society.—Press Association.

'A hotel licensee, Wm. Hannafin, was proceeded against by the Labour Department in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning for failing to give two employees the full day's holiday in the week'. Mr. Hy. Marton, appear-: ing for the Labour Department, explained that defendant had given hi 3 two employees two half-days in' the week instead of one whole day. Mr. H. F. O'Leary, on defendant's behalf, admitted that a breach of awardthough only a slight one—had been committed, and asked that the penalty be light accordingly.- The Magistrate (Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) imposed a fine of 20s.

"The Fire Board system," declared Mr. T. Hugo, Inspeotor of Fire Brigades; in Auckland, on Saturday; "is producing very remarkable results in all Fire Board districts where the'brigades have been equipped in an up-to-date manner. Notwithstanding an increase ,in the number of fires the average losses have been very considerably reduced. This clearly shows that the greater efficiency of .the brigades is having its effect. The system has been in operation for seven years, but for the first five I did not expect to 6ee results in such a groat undertaking. I am veTy pleased with the results of the working of the fire brigade in Auckland during the last twelve months," he added. "The losses, which amounted to £6000, are remarkably small. The city is growing a3 a result of the amalgamation -with • adioining iboroughs. and the situation calls for Still further equipment of the brigade." Some person with a peculiar idea of a practical joke placed two detonators on the tramway track in a street in WaTiganui'on''a ! recent- The detonators were' exploded by a passing car and a piece of road metal was thrown up and hit a woman just above the eye." The Tvounid'was so severe that medical attention had to be sought and several stitches inserted.

The Government has decided to pay for railage of all goods other than frozen mutton from local committees throughout the Dominion consigned to central committees, for the poor of Great Britain, Ireland, and Belgium. While it is understood that central committees have made satisfactory ' arrangements with the shipping companies for the shipment of cased goods to England, tho Government desires it to be known that space will be reserved in the next transports to leave New, Zealand, for as many cases of olothing as possible that the central committee may wish to forward by these ships. No , perishable goods can be accepted for transportation by the troopships as there is no insulated space available. Central, committees throughout the Dominion have 'been informed so that they may take advantage of the offer "to, forward the 'Clothing by these transports.

A party of members of- the Oity accompanied by the City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) inspected •' the district between Happy Valley (to the south of Brooklyn) and Vogeltown v yesterday to. get an idea of the' proposed route of the road that it is intended to be constructed, between the two places when ttbe requisite money is available. The engineer has skilfully mapped out a road of easy gradients (that may one day carry an extension dif the Brooklyn tramway), whioh opens l np an area of very desirable building .land, presenting some fine panoramas •to thei view on all sides. It may he ■ practicable one day to extend tftiis road' right along the ridge (to the east of .Happy Valley) to Island Bay, which .' .would make an elevated drive of very jpecial scenic features. The proverbial worm-catching "early fn'rd" (says the "Fiji Times" of October i) is not more alert in his'methods than the really business-like Btamp-collector. $.Ny stamps-collector can see that there ire potential fortunes in Samoa stamps bearing the surcharge of the New Zealand Military Government. As much as £50 or £60 is now being. refused for complete sets of Samoa stamps, and £15 has been refused for a shilling stamp alone. Precautions are being taken by the authorities to see that collectors ido not buy up the small remaining supply for the purpose cf philatelio profit, and now stamps cannot be obtained at 'Apia unless the letters to which they are to bo affixed are produced. According to a Press Association telegram the Prime Minister spent an hour or two in Timaru yesterday afternoon, and attended a meeting of the Reform Committee before going to Temuka to give an address. Some' very unpleasant experiences Kvere encountered on the Continent by Mr. H. B. Partridge, of Auckland, his wife, and two daughters, after the war ■broke out. For 14 days they were unable to leave Berne, Switzerland, owing to. the train services being monopolised by the military of that country. When they did manage to get away it took them-65 hours to reach London, a journey which, under normal conditions, only occupies 16 hours. All through France they witnessed many pathetic sights. They had practically nothing to cat or drink excepting a little bread and a bottle of wine. In Switzerland they were nearly stranded owing to the fact that they could not readily get money. The banks would not make (advances. It has been brought under our ("Otago Daily Times'') notice that there is a suspicion that in one or two instances persons who have been taking round collection boxes for tho purpose of securing money to be allegedly devoted to the various patriotic fluids now in existence are acting without authority and diverting the money to their owii use. Under tho circunistiiices those who out of their generosity aro answor--1 nig the call for money for patriotic and relief funds should make sure that ■their donations aro finding their way to i ..tho proper quarter.