LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2393, 24 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The men of the Second Australiaa Contingent have proved to be extraordinarily prolific letter-writers. The correspondent of the "Argus" mentions the formidable task confronting the censor when the force arrived at Aden. One mail consisted cf 100,000 letters, of which 99 per cent, were addressed to women. It seeiqs a pity, though it is a necessity, that the censor' should have to scrutinise the sacred text; but it is one of the disabilities of war.

Prime Minister, by the mail that arrived from England yesterday, received the following letter from the editor of the "Daily Chronicle": "I beg to tender _ my sincere thanks for your' courtesy in permitting me to convey, your New Year message to the British.' public through the medium of the 'Daily Chronicle.' The sentiments of the loyal devotion expressed by you and other leaders in the Dominions beyond the seas attracted our attention and greatly touched the people at Home, by whom this fresh proof of the •indissoluble bond that united the Empire was warmly welcomed."

In chatting over conditions existing in London a few weeks ago an officer of the Ruahine which arrived from the Old Country yesterday morning, said: "If it wasn't for the newspapers and the men in kliaki about the streets .you would not know there ivas any. war on. The city is not quite so gay of an evening owing to the dimming of the lights, but of'a day-time the aspect of the streets, the crowds, the traffic, and the shops is much the same as it always is. The passage down the English Channel was quite uneventful and we had little indication of the fact that England was engaged in a life and death struggle with' another great nation." The Lyall Bay section of the National Reserve spent about two hours- at an enthusiastic and largely attended drill at the new park, Lyall Bay, last evening. -

Large strips of sticking plaster ornamented the head of a first offending inebriate in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Inspector Hendrey explained that the binding was brought about through accused attempting to mount a • moving express. At ordinary times such an, act is accompanied by some little risk, but in this case the risk was accentuated by the fact that the ex-press-boarder was drunk. His head came in violent contact with Mother Earth. He received medical attention and he was ordered to pay 21s. medical expenses. ■ . During a discussion of the subject .of teachers' residences, at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board, Mr. A. W. Hogg voiced the opinion that small residences should certainly be provided in country districts, where teachers found difficulty in getting accommodation with the farmers. The ceueral complaint was that the teachers could not get accommodation m the homes of farmers, as fanners did not want to be troubled with teachers. ' Although hardest operations in Canterbury are slackening off now. the "Press" states that there is still a good demand for farm labour, of which there is any, amount offering, A Press Association telegram from Auckland states "that a contest for the city Mayoralty is now assured, Mr. 8.Tudehope, a member of the present' council, having agreed to contest the office against Mr. J. H. Gunson, chair* mail of the Harbour Board. A meeting of the Wellington master bakers was held last night, when it was decided 'to advance the price of the 21b. loaf to 5d., a 6 from Monday next. At the conclusion of the meeting the secretary (Mr. H. F. Allen) saia . that the master bakers regretted taking this step, but with flour costing • £18 per ton, and a' shortage at that 6um, they had no alternative but to advance the price.

A tribute to the efficiency of the Home Forces ivas made by Dr. T. H. A. VaJia. tine,. Inspector-General of Hospitals, who arrived in Auckland on Sunday by the steamer Matatua, after visiting the Old Country. Dr. Valintino declared that he had always thought it a privilege to be British, but he had never felt so proud of his nationality as recently. He continued: "I paid two visits to Salisbury Plain and three to Aldershot, and was ' tremendously ■ impressed, not only with tlie type of men of which Kitchener's army is composed, but of the marvellous rapidity with ' which the men are picking up their drill. They are determined to make, themselves as good soldiers as possible." Their spirit is such that never a grumble is heard, in spite of living under conditions that Would strike us'as rather rigorous ,to say nothiug of the inclement weather. I saw a good many officers who had been fighting, and all expressed their B'lgTiost admiration for tlie gallantry of tlie troop's. ' '