LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2371, 29 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A proposal is afoot to form a Public Service Defence Rifle Club in Wellington. Our Masterton correspondent telegraphed last evening that tliG fire on Te Parae Station was revived by the heavy wind on Wednesday night, and spread with great rapidity and hundreds' of acres have been swept. The fire is still raging. Yesterday afternoon the bridge over the Tauerti llivor at Weraiti was in danger, and the Masterton Fire Brigade went out to endeavour to save it. Carrier-pigeons liberated at Napier at 4 a.m. on Saturday arrived at Invercargill at 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon.

The i\ew Zealand Expeditionary Force (third, fourth, fifth, and Sanioan reinforcements) extend to 'tho public in another column an invitation to attend the Camp Sports which are to be held at tho Trcntham Racecourso to-morrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. A first-class programme of oveuts has been arranged, including squad drill competitions, bayonet fighting, and tent-pitching competitions, relay race, tug-of-war, and a varied list of field events. A very large entry has been received. Afternoon tea will be provided for visitors, and train arrangements will be announced in tomorrow's issue.

A member of the Samoan Relief Force, who some years ago had Imperial service for upwards of six years, 6aw a reporter yesterday aud specially requested that his remarks about tie Trenthain Military Camp should be published for general information. He stated that the treatment accorded tho men under canvas is absolutely the fairest that could be devised. "If anyone really wants a square deal," he said, "it's to be had there, and every man receives a chance of promotion. Some who may have had previous experience —say aG sergeant, or sergeant-major-go out expecting to be made sergeants Straight away. I was ono who went to Trentham under the impression that I would bo given tho rank of N.C.0., hut the Camp Commandant (Colonel Potter) told me, as he tells every other man below commissioned rank, that I must start at the foot of the ladder, and if I improved mysolf I would not be overlooked." Our informant added that he found that tho recruit had nothing to fear from starting in the ranks. Tho men were "tried out" on tho parade ground, and were 6peedily promoted when they were found to be fit for promotion. In his own case he had been promoted four steps in a brief period. The food in camp, he declared, was splendid—of an excellent quality and well cooked. He had never seen any thing to approach it in the Imperial Service.

Mr. A. M. Samuel's Petona supporters intend to entertain him at a complimentary social shortly. Ah enthusiastic ' meeting was held last evening for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements.

The Carterton Borough Council has fixed upon Thursday as the day for the statutory weekly half-holiday. Councillor J. Godber has given notice to move at the next ordinary meeting of the City Council: "That in order to relieve the dangerous congestion of traffic in Willis Street, the General Manager of Tramways be requested to take into consideration the desirability of diverting some of the trams via Mercer Street, Victoria Street, and Taranaki Street, or Lower Cuba Street to meet rush traffic and other special' circumstances."

The ' principal rabbit exporters of Dnnedm are of opinion that in viow of the present condition of the meat market and the increased demands for-' foodstuffs generally, regulations regarding the destruction of rabbits might be temporarily suspended in all places whore rabbits can bo obtained for frcezing purposes. They have accordingly, sent a -telegram to tho Eight Hon. W. F. Massey asking that in viow of Britain's food scarcity through the war and tho necessity for conserving supplies rabbits should not this year be destroyed as vermin, and that the inspectors should be instructed accordingly.—Press Association. A well-attended public meeting at Taradale has pledged itself to support' a privately-owned electric tramway giving them tram communication with Napier. Mr. C. P. Eden, who is promoting tho company, expects to have the trams running within twelve months.

According to the Mayor of Napier, Mr. J. Vigor Brown, M.P., the Napier Borough Council is going to disclaim any liability in connection with the cost of constructing the proposed new West Shore Bridge, over which the East Coast railway will pass. The Town Clerk leaves Napier for Wellington on Monday for tho purpose of consulting Mr. T. E. Martin, solicitor to the Municipal Corporations' Association, regard-, ing the matter. • ' Tho big White Star liner Athenic (formerly H.M.N.Z.T. No. 11), which got back from Egypt last Friday, is being transformed at Auckland into the smart-looking merchantman that she was before the war. The _ regulation dull grey paint is rapidly giving place to the blaok, white and buff so familiar to all who take an interest in big oversea traders. A largo gang of carpenters is at work demolishing the horseboxes, exercise decks, and innumerable other fittings required for the carriage of troops. The Athenic's berth at the King's Wharf is a very busy spot just now, and thera is so much work to be done that the local carpenters and painters are likely to find it a source of revenue till the end of the week. The Athenic will then come south to load produce for the United Kingdom. "We are a sporting nation and fond of our games, but our one thought at the present time should be how can we assist in bringing the war to a speedy and successful conclusion, said Colonel J: E. Hume, at Auckland, on Friday night, when addressing the members of the National Reserve. "I regret to say," he added, "that the crowds which congregate round a news board are often larger when the result of some race meeting is posted up than when some item of European war news is published." Between Port Waikato and Raglan, run short, broken stretcher of beach. On Sunday last, while travelling on one of these near Pukerewa, Captain A.. Subritzky picked up a black pint bottle, tightly corked, and covaied with bar-, nacles. On looking at it closely he discovered that it contained a mosßage,. which was plainly discernible, reading aB follows, viz.:—"Best wishes from the West Coast Contingent.—A. Walsh, Jiumara. Twc days out from Wellington, October 11, 1914." The message is written on the back of a Three Castles packet. The date is a trifle blurred. Captain Subritzky has written to Kumara, stating that if Walsh's relations would like tie bottle as a relic, he will only be too pleased to post it on. it had only been washed up that tide, ana had taken three months to travel a very short distance.

The war does not appear to have affected the motor-car business m Auckland to the slightest extant, says the "Herald." An Auckland proprietor went so far as to say that he had done preatly increased business since the outbreak of hostilities. "I .cannot give any particular reason for it, ho responded when questioned, "but there is one peculiarity worthy of notice. Before the war people used to walk into the shop and purchase, say, a £350 car, with' a deposit of £200, the balance tobe paid in twelve months, or so ; today buyers we prepared to pay cash. Perhaps they have made np tueir minds a year ago to have a car, ano. would not let the war stop them. 1 notice this difference, ho.vever. The higher priced cars are not Fellmp'so well. It is the Rood average kind that is in demand.' It is evident that people have every confidence m the future.