LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2359, 15 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Telegraph Office advise that on and after to-day cable messages in authorised editions of AUG, Liobor's, Scott's, and Western Union codes only (nay bo exchanged with British or Allied territory, wlierever situated, or neutral territory, oil the extra European telegraph system. No code messages are permitted to or from neutral territory on the European' system except tho.so exchanged between the Government, and tho Head Diplomatic Mission as now. Until further notico, tho use of the .Meyer'» Atlantic Cotton Code, Bontley's 'Complete Phrase Code, Broomhall's Imperial Combination Code is permitted with the United Kingdom only. The name of the code used must appear in the service instructions, and aonders aro fo supply a translation when the telegram is handed" in. Cableprams for and originating, at places other than the United Kingdom are to be decoded and censorcd. Tlie use of numerical equivalents published in the f.odo'books is not permitted.

■ The next criminal sessions of the Supreme Court in Wellington will open on February 1. The following persons will stand their trial '.—Joseph Nohra, alleged forgery and uttering (two charges):' Jack Dillimore, alleged assault and causing actual. bodily, harm; Alexander Mitchell, alleged . theft of cattle (two charges); Frederick Jackson, alleged theft from dwelling (three charges); Arthur Leonard Anssel, alleged assault and indecent assault: Albert William Foote, alleged theft; Allan George Smith, alleged receiving stolen property. .

A Press Association, telegram from Gisbome says that Tokomaru Bay reports tihat three slight shooks of earthquake were felt yesterday morning. No damage was done.

The Remuera, on har voyage from 'Cape Town to Wellington, steered what is probably the most southern oourse taken by any steamer for some years. So far south did she go. that she passed within close view of little-known Hoard Island, a small island lying about 200 miles to the south-east of Kerguelen, and perhaps half that distance from M'Donald Island, which islands lie in the fiftieth parallel. So little is known of Heard Island that it is marked on few maps and a mention of it is included in few Gazetteers, whilst Emerald Island, which appears in every Atlas a' little to the south of Macquarie Island, has no existence at all. Mariners have sailed over the spot where it is supposed to be, and have found no trace of land. In the case of Heard Island the land is of a volcanic nature, and very mountainous. When passed by the. Romuera the mountains were covered with snow and some of the passengers declare that there are some targe, glaciers moving seaward in declivities between the' mountain ridges. The sight was an extremely interesting one to all on board. .

A motor-car accident, happily not attended with any loss ,of life, occurred in Rangitikei a short time ago. A resident purchased a car, and had learn•ejl lhe rudiments of driving, and thought he would impart what knowlodge he possessed to one of hie daughters. The party got seated all right, and set things moving for a start, wiien tlie car started rather suddenly, and headed for the creek. The juvenile driver did not know exactly what to do, but both tho owner of the car and his daughter managed to -get out the car plunged over a 12ft. embankment into about Bft. 'of water.

The collie's name was Bludier and the bulldog's Kitchener. They met on the Queen's; Wharf, and had a difference over some more or less obscure international point, which culminated in "Kitch" taking a firm hold of the throat of Blucher. Bystanders attempted to mediate, but an American visitor deemed it best to remain strictly neutral. One of tho board's officials grabbed "Kitch's" hinder parjjS in an endeavour to release the Gorman territory, but "Kitch" was not to be diverted. At length a bright inspiration struck someone, and both dogs, lockod together, were hurled into thewater. This sudden immersion into tho flooded trench brought about the much desired armistice. Blucher was pulled out half-way to a more peacoable world, and was given the "first aid" treatmeht exactly as explained oil the Harbour Board's posters. In a „quarfer of an hour he gave signs of returning animation, and subsequently limped away to send a message about the latest British atrocity. In the meantime a grapple-hook was secured in "Kitch's".collar, .and he was hauled safely up to the wharf, dripping, but smiling sardonically at the memory of his reoent encounter.

Some months ago it was announced that difficulty had been experienced in procuring marble "from the quarries in the Nelson ' district in blocks large enough and sound enough for use in the'now Parliament Buildings. '-There never has been any trouble about the smaller blocks, but the Public Works Department lefused to pass any "of the larger blocks received by the contractors. The suppliers of the stone, who are sub-contractors to the builders, have been assisted by the Department. An overseer and four men of the Public Works staff are on the, ground now experimenting nnd exploring the present workings, and in the land adjoining. Tlie Minister of Public Works (the Hon. W. Fraser) stated yesterday that the overseer reported that some of tno big blocks of stone on the property adjoining the quarry seemed to be very sound and that' even in the quarry now. being worked the lower levels of tho atone showed much better quality. "We are doing our best to help the contractors," said Mr. Fraser, "but wo take ,no responsibility for finding stone for them."

Trooper David Gtnm Leckie, who was seriously injured 6ame time ago lvhilo attempting to escape from the Mount Cook barracks, was reported from thp .Hospital last night to be not so well as he was a few days ago.

In a letter to tlio Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke), Mr. Norman Kirkcaldie, of Levin, saj's: —"I am enclosing a cheque-for £5 towards the Mayor's Fund for tho purchaso of any articles -or luxuries that will make tho stay of tho reinforcements of tho Expeditionary. Force in camp at Trentliam more agreeable. A similar* contribution will bo mado each month during the coutinuanco of the war."

Dates for tho various military encampments aro now being drawn up and submitted to District Headquarters for authorisation. It has been decided to hold the camp of the sth (Wellington) Regiment at Miramar, from February 5 to February 13, inclusive, Tho regimental "casuals' " camp will bo held at a later date. Last year the regiment participated in the big divisional camp at Takapau. '<

The sympathetic gravity wliicli usually characterises inquest proceedings was broken by a burst of sudden laughter Iho other day when the Coronor Was holding an inquiry concerning tho death of n man who had committed suicide in an Auckland hotel (says tho "S'iar"). A nervous youth who had discovered the btfdy was telling tho Coronor about tho discovery. Getting no reply to a knock at the bedroom door, he' lmd climbed through tlio bedroom window, and it was apparent from his manner of evidence that the sight of tho blood-stained figuxo sprawling on tlio floor had jolted his nerves so much that ho had at olico dashed for tho door, unlocked 'it, and got room with burning haste. "Was the man dead?" asked tho Coroner. "1 didn t asf; hint," promptly replied tho flustered witness, who hurriedly explained, when the irrepressible laughter came from those at the inquest, that whai he meant was that he didn't wait to look at the man,

The ~'aipa Collieries lias now a dail. output of about 400 tons of coal (sayl the Auckland "Star")- This will shortly be increased by anothor 160 ton; per day when, development works,, now ill progress, are completed, by opening ai)-now faces from ivliich to break out coal. For tlie last throe or four months a dip has been driven at the heading in order to enable other faces to be opened up. About half the output is coming; to Auckland, the,balance being sent down the line as far as; Wellington.

Referring to the difficulty experienced! by Now Zealand consignees in obtaining delivery of their cargo shipped by the German steamer Wifiiiar, Mr. Morrell, local manager for Nestlo's, informed an "Otago Daily Times" reporter that his firm bad a large consignment of their goods held up through the internment of the Wismar at Java, and promptly took the case before the Dutch courts. The latter gave, judgment for the plain* tiffs, with the result that their oar§o was forwarded to Auckland, where, it was landed a fortnight ago. .Mr, Morrell is .of opinion that if similar action; were taken by other shippers they would be equally successful in getting prompt delivery of their goods.

An endeavour is to be made this vrintor to ensure that, in axioordance with the provisions of legislation on the sub' jeefc, shops in Cbristehuroh where assistants are employed, shall be adei quately heated. The following Ifl tho text of a circular issued by the officer in charge of the local branoh of the Department of Labour: "You aro n<l doubt aware that during the session oi 1913 a clause was added to tho Shop( and Offices Act providing that suitable heating appliances .to tne satisfaction of the inspector should be provided ui all shops. Under the regulations 61' degrees Fahr. has beon fixed ofi a sonable standard at which the temperature of shops should be maintained,. If you have not already made provision for adequately heating your premises, t trust you will make every endeavour to do so before the next winter sets in. An inspection of all shops will be made early in the winter for the purpose of ascertaining whether tho. provisions, of the Act have been- satisfactorily earned out. This, circular has been issued witto the object of giving you an opportunity of making, any necessary, arrangements during the summer months. Bv the will of the late James Crawford {Tie Featherston Town Board will benefit as residuary legatee to the extent of about £9000,, says our Featherjjtoii correspondent. One of the leatnorston hotels is included in the bequest. ■ ' A notice in the "Gazette published last night states that the Governor has ■ revolted tho* appointment of Charley M'Beath Dawson as medical officer tor tho island of Nine. - During the month of November the following stock was slaughtered at the municipal abattoirs: 117 c°ws, bul* locks, 14 bulls, 4765 sheep 909 lambs, ]69 calves, and 9 pigs. The total fees received amounted to £440 3s. 5d., being , £30 6s; Oid. less than the previous month, and £32 16s. 9d less than the cori.esponding month of last year, lhe reoord for December was 160 cows, 456 bullocks, 22 bulls, 4347 sheep, 2131 lambs, 234 calves, - and 22 pip.. T*a fees amounted to £482 2s. 9d., being £11 19s. .43. in excess of those or cue previous month and £6 7s. llid. less than those received for December, 19U. ' Taxi-car No. 996 had , a shade « Fortune's favour yesterday morning. 11s driver, had received a call to JWge Hill for a passenger, and the aboard, the chauffeur, had started to hack out of the Mount Victoria slope MiWe-sac when disaster overtook him. At the comer Of Edge Hill, where the descent is made into Kent Terrace, th clutch of the motor-car failed to act with due accuracy, and the big car •Ciireered backwardsl with great velocity down the steep gradient, over the channiilling, .bumped on to the footpath, and crashed into tho solid bo.yd fencmg,, •which was completely for ■ many yards and rooted up for nearly: a chain. At the impact the passengermade a hurried departure.from his seat, and landed in the gutter in an imdignt-| fied manner, but the driver stuck man-, fully to his steering-Wheel, and despite j ■the fact that the rear part of the car, was 'then hanging over an en ! b^!;T" to residential premises fifteen feet below ,; slmt off his engine heforo alighting. & Munt-Cottrell motor wagon was pressed! into tlie seryice to extate the taxi-, car from its perilous position, and this accomplished it was found that no further damage had been ttan bent splash-board and a splintered platform step. . The Mounted Rifles of the 3rd and 4th Reinforcements at Trentham were organised into eight companies yester'day, and commanders appointed as follow Third Reinforcement: A Squadron, Captain D.Munro; B Squadron, Maior A H. Herbert; C Squadron, Lieutenant J. M'Callum; D Squadron, Captain A. Wayte. . ,4th Reinforcements : A Squadron, Lieutenant D. G. Moore; B Squadron, Captain C. fc. Clinton; C Squadron, M a J or Bowie; D Squadron, Major P. R. Ford« fiam. As in the case of the reorgan-. Tsation of the infantry, the.officers com. manding. squadrons nave been; granted the powers of an .officer commanding!) squadron under King s Re™latioM, wi i Seal direct, with Camp Headquarters, and will be responsible to. the Camp Commandant for the training, discipline and organisation of their squad, rons. Special instructions have been issued regarding the arrangement and airing of bedding in fine weather. •'We have Wttle or no difficulty in: finding employment for navvies or other ordinary workers " said the Minis er o Public Works (the Hon. W. * rß | or 2 ves { e rday. "Our difficulty is to find 'work for artisans, chiefly carpenters and painters, of whom there are a good number seeking employment now because building operations ate not so brisk as they were. Unfortunately w< have, little or no employment to give « workers in these trades.

The West Coast lias recently sufferefl severely by floods. Income dtsmctS there have been three in the last tow .weeks, two of them very heavy ones, and the last, not so heavv, only a lew days ago, Tho damage has been considerable as a matter of course. Xho Minister of Public Works (t-hfc Hon. Frasor) has taken steps to restore comlull locations, and to have flood dam "2® made good. The District Engineer ha( forwarded reports for certain d'stnets, and for others he. has still to rcp°rt a« to the nature and extent of the ace. 'Where bridges have been can riod away ferries have bee f. ®f^ bhs wliore necessary and practic > , everything has been done to allow r dinary traffic to go on. .?• i-wj all other flood damages. j

V"1" . • - In consequence of complaints, passes for men coming to town from the Trentham Military Camp in the eveningß have been reduced to the following ercentages: Mondays to Fridays (inclusive), not exceeding 15 per cent, of any squadron, company, eto.; Saturdays and Sundays, not exceeding 30 per cent, of any squadron, company, eto.

Advice has been received that the Empire Day Challenge Cup Competition, fired annually between the De--1 fence Foroes of the Empire, has this year Been abandoned by 'the National Rile Association. No New Zealand teams competed last. year.

At about 4 o'clock yesterday morning Constable Dickson had his suspicions aroused on his beat by observing one of the, doors of the Dominion Motor •\ehiclo 'Company to be half-open. He went inside, and searched the ground floor without result, but he had not proceeded far on his search upstairs when the rays of his "bull's-eye" alight-, ed on tie form of a man crouching behind a, bos. The constable arrested the man, and brought him to the police station, first allowing him to replace his boots on his feet. : The fi man, whose name was William Harrison, appeared before Mr. D. G. 'A. Cooper, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, charged with being a rogue and a vagabond. / Harrison submitted to the a rather impossible story. An, acquaintance, he said, had shown him Info the premises, and left him' there. ;"So aa ,to rest my feet," said Harrison. ■"I toolr my boots off, and laid down. "You must think me very, innocent to believe a story like that," remarked the Magistrate. Sentence was deferred for a week, however, so that . inquiries might be made about accused's previous history..

Under, instructions from Mr. A. D,

Kennedy, of Wellington, plans have been prepared by Mr. J. W. Dawson for the .complete rebuilding of the Phoenix Hotel, at the corner, of Kin& and Rangiiikei _ Streets, Palmerston North. The building, which'is to be of brick, will Se stories high. The main enTrance will be from Rangitikei Street, and a brick wall and fire-proof doors will divide the building into two secflbns, as a precaution against fire. The . main bar, to be handsomely appointed, will be a large and airy apartment, 26ft. square; there will be forty bedrooms, and ample sitting-room accommodation. On the King Street side there' will be two shops, the windows of which will be shaded by a suspended verandah.

For several years a German preparation named lysol has been on the New I Zealand market. Since the outbreak of the war, however, the German, disinfectant has gradually disappeared and is now practically off the local market. The Lawes Chemical Company have taken advantage of the demand for British goods and have placed on the market, a disinfectant-which is said to be : much stronger and better than, the German article. The name of the new pre; paration is "lawesesoe," and it gives a good, clear emulsion. . '

■m m 6 general meeting of the Wellington Commercial Travellers' and .Warehousemen's Association was held on Wednesday. Mr. W. G. Duthie, the retiring president, occupied the chair, and, in moving the adoption of the retire and balance-sheet, congratulated The members on the satisfactory position of the finances and of the association generally. The following officebearers were .elected:—President, Mr. ; ««o. £jrie; vice-presidents,, Messrs. W. ! J. Bridson and F. W. Manton; hon. ' treasurer, Mr. Ales. Scott; auditor,.Mr. C.' B. -Robertson; trustees, Messrs". C. A.Briggs,_W. Clayton, W. B. Lees, G. Pirie;. solicitors, Messrs. Bell, Gully, Bell, and Myers; committee, Messrs. P. Pye-Smith,' R. F l . Steele, T A. Turnbull, A: W. Vennell, A. H. Uoss, A. B. Williams, J. B. Brinsden, H. C. Cambridge A. M. Samuel, T. W. •Witt, 8. Campbell,"W. IVCuthbertson, K. B. Pownall, and R. A; Scott. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court at Tv'anganui, at which Arthur Hdttmann, .the young German, will be indicted on threo charges of murder at . Ruahine, have been fixed for Tuesday, February 9.

; , The number of interments made in : the Karon Cemetery during the year !1914 was 865, as against 768 in 1913. The number of cremations in 1914 was 16. and for the year 1913 22. ' . _ A refresher district course (two weeks) lor ofecers and N.C.O.'s of the Territonal Force, and officers, colour-ser-grants and sergeants of the Senior .Cadets will be • held at Wanganui from Monday next, Janu- : 18 ' to Saturday, January 30. inclusive. The course is purely a voluntary one, and as showing the, interest manifested in it, .there .is evory assurance that a very large number will attend, iree rations, lodging, and travelling expenses will be provided by the Depart-' .ment, but no pay will be granted. During the last six days of the camp a voluntary course of instruction for officers of Territorials and' Senior Cadets, preparatory to fche February examination for promotion,'will be held. .The officers .and N.C.O.'s attending from' \\ ellmgton city and suburbs will leave by the..New Plymouth express on.Monday morning. / ; At the conclusion of the performance of Monsieur Beaucaire" at the Grand . Opera House last night—the end of the ; Julius_Knight season—there was ■ con- ; siderable enthusiasm, and the large . audienoe oontinned to ..vigorously applaud until Mr. Julius Knight came forward. In. the course of a fow wellchosen remarks, Mr. Knight expressed his thanks for the kind demonstrations .of approval and stated that if he never came back this way he would always <J a ™ ploasant recollections of the tour. It had been his intention to go to London, but, on account of the present unsettled state of. affairs, it was just pos- : sible that he might be seen in -the Dominion again. ,If if, so happened, ,he hoped they would not mind his coming ' back,

The Karon Rifle Club will continue ®" am P'°nship • series of. trophy , matches at Trentham on Saturday, over ranges 900 and 1000 yards. Tho quos- ; toon of cancelling last Saturday's shoot ; owing to so few members competing! mil be decided on the train journey

Miss Mina Caldow, supported by Mr. u j Gilchrist (violinist), and Miss Audrey Gibson, of Christchuroh (accompanist), will give a series of song recitals through the South Island, commencing •in Christcliurch during the first week of February. Mr. W. E. Caldow -will act as, business manager. ;