LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2321, 1 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise that the Niagara, which left Sydney on November 26 for Auckland, has on board an English and Australian mail, which is due here at 6.26. this morning, per Main Trunk express.' ' The last meeting of the Education Board for the year will be held on Tuesday next at 2 p.m. Several Wellington citizens and' the members of the Countess of Liverpool Fund bave decided that the reinforcements now in camp at Treutliam shall he given their Christinas dinner, next Saturday. An appeal is being made to residents of the city and to country people for contributions in the way of poultry, hams, bacon, meat, vegetables, fruits, plum puddings, and pies, anything, in '<fact, that will help to supply a worthy Christmas dinner to the men in camp, who fully deserve that the occasion should carry with it pleasant recollections of hospitality and good cheer. Donors of all goods, both in town and the country, should send them to the Town Hall, Wellington, no later than Friday morning at noon, as they have to bo sent out to Trentnam that' evening. Arrangements are being made whereby the men having all the conveniences available will cook . their dinners in oamp. If the day is fine it is hoped to have long rows of tables erected so that all the men will be ablo to sit down together in one big happyparty. If it 'is wet the dinner will be served in tho picture theatre and tho two large marquees run in the camp by the Church of England and the Salvation Army. Mr. Joseph Joseph, of Grant' Road, has presented a piano to the Defence authorities to be placed on board one of the transports with'the reinforcements of the New 2ealand Expeditionary, Force, for tho use of the troopers. At about half past nine last night a large crowd was to bo observed gathered round a seat in tho reserve in Kent Terrace. ■ The object of their attention was a middle-aged woman, whose closed eyes and lolling head, indicated that something was amiss. In vain members of the crowd, endeavoured to find out what was the matter; they received no answer to repeated questions and so tho crowd just watched. Then a feian of businesslike appearance pushed his way through the crowd, he lifted tho ■woman's head, repeated the query "What's the matter," but of course received no _ reply. . "Why the woman may bo dying," he said, "someone hold her head while I run for the doctor." for ten minutes the' crowd waited for the doctor and watched his prospectivo patient. Then, a'man arrived who settled all. doubts. The newcomer was a constable and ho took in the situation at a glanco. Ten minutes later the object of all the attention was safely undor lock and key at tlio Lnmbton Quay police station. She will be charged with drunkenness in the Magistrate's Court this morning. A message has been'received from To Awaito, the 6cene of the accident by which three men from tho stoamer Kahu lost their lives, stating that the surf-boat had been washed ashore with tho engine missing and her stern smashed. At the time the message was dispatched thero were no signs of the bodies. 'Die steamer Ripple, .whicli arrived at, Wellington yesterday afternoon, was unable to call at To Awaite on account of the. heavy south-easterly, sea which Was running. The Collector of Customs at Wellington will hold a preliminary'inquiry into tho circumstances of tlfo acoident, and the evidence' will be forwarded to the Marine Department i'or further consideration.

In the contest for the chairmanship of the Ohura County Council' Mr. John ~ Lyon was elected, heating Mr. Charles Hope. The Imperial Government has notified the Defence authorities hero that they will provide passages to and from Europe for all ex-Imperial Regular und ex-Imperial and Territorial officers who will rejoin their old units. Allowances of £30 ivill be made for provision of uniform and £7 10s. for camp-kit. All officers coming in under this offer must be between the ages of 25 aind 40 years, and must bo certified as medically fit for temporary commissions during the nreseut war. Applications should bo made without delay to the AdjutantGeneral, Wellington, and should show rank, unit, and age. On receipt of implications, arrangements for medical examination will be made. ' "The military police are doing excellent work in tho city, work that I cannot commend too highly " remarked Inspector Hendrey in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when certain charges against troopers were being heard. '

Word has been received in Wellington stating that,the whole of the steamer Kent's cargo of frozen meat, shipped at Australian and New Zealand porta for Boston and New York, lias been sent to the United Kingdom. The Kent left Wellington for the American ports on July 22, and arrived at her destination on September 22. She left for Home ports on v October 7.

Bona Bay is becoming ous for tho depredations caused in the poultry yards by irresponsible canines, bovoral residents late sustained losses of the kind, and one very, much respected settler awoke last Friday morning to find that no fewer than thirty-two fowls and ten ducks had been worried to death by some marauding animal. There is now some talk at the bay of ehot-guns and night-watche3, and the local constable is to be rewarded on tracing the culprit and dealing with same. ~ . " ' The Valuation; Commission left for Auckland yesterday. It sits at Otahuhu to-day, and will probably open in Auckland to-morrow.

The Government offices, banks, insurance, and legal offices wero closed yes- ' terday (St. Andrew's Day), the holiday, being very quietly observed in the City. . Practically nothing more exciting than the Civil Service bowling tournament happened. Here and there the" red rampant lion of Scotland on its field of gold undulated in' the sharp-set southerly breeze, aYid last evening the anniversary of Scotland's patron saint's natal day served as an excuse for a ; Caledonian concert uncompromising in its character as the plaids of the fling- : dancers. '

Additions are, to be made shortly to . two of the over-crowded schools on the , northern fringe of tlic city. At Wadestown, where the present school buildiug is quite inadequate for requirements, , two new rooms are to 'be built,_ as a .commencement towards the erection of n complete new school building. ; The Department has agreed also to find_ the necessary funds to provide for. additional i accommodation to relieve the congestion ■ at the Northland School.

The last of the officers and noncommissioned officers for the second, draft of reinforcements to the New Zea- ; land Expeditionary Force should be in' camp to-day at Trentham. The bulk of them have been in the camp for some time undergoing instruction. The. next draft will consist of 3000 officers * and men, and the Hon. J. 'Allen, Minister of Defence, informed a reporter yesterday that lie did not anticipate the slightest difficulty about finding the men _ to £0. ' |

About four or five hundred people were present at 'the Garrison Hall, Buckle Street, last night to witnessthe section competition among Wellington Senior Cadet Corps for physical and squad drill and rifle exercise. The com-, petflig companies in each case put up oxcellent performances, and were warmly congratulated by Major Hume, who judged the contests. Several corps were presented 'for competition, No. . 3 section ' being successful in winning the champion prize cup for rifle drill. No. 1 section being a very close second. The, latter section was successful in physical drill competition. Colonel Campbell presented the prizes to tie successful sections.