LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2400, 4 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A motor-car collision, occurred on. the Hutt Road near Kaiwarra yesterday morning. A car containing Messrs. E. T. Taylor, Haydon, and Cohen, bound for the Hutt, collided with another, Containing Dr. Mason, jourreying to the City. There was a fairly big smash, in whioh Mr. Cohen sustained a slight cut on the forehead, being thrown on to the other car. Mr. Haydon injnred his knee slightly, while Dr. Mason and Mr. E. T. Taylor were unhurt. Both tars were somewhat damaged. A case of bag-snatching ha 6 been reported to the police, an elderly wqman being the victim. She was going along Pirie Street when a man snatched her bag. The woman cajled out for the return of keys, and, strange to say, the thief paused and dropped them on the ground. 'The purse oontained" about 32a. . The elderly woman. Mary M'CtiHy, who was admitted to the Hospital on Tuesday night suffering from a wound in her neck, alleged to have been inflicted- with a knife, was reported from that institution last uight to bo progressinjg favourably. A stowaway from off the Manuka was arrested by the police yesterday. He will appear in court this morning.

At the oonolnsion of the auction sale of lost and unclaimed luggage, sold on behalf of the New Zealand Railways by Messrs. Gualter, Dykes, and Co., a parcel of books which liad originally realised the sum of ninepence was resold at the purchaser's request in aid of the Belgium Fund. After spirited bidding the books were knocked down to Mr. K. B. Grange and Mr. J. Dykes (the auctioneer), jointly, for the sum of.£l 10s., on being resold they fetched another 2s. 6d. The only other incident of note was when an old bag was knocked down at a nominal sum and was found to contain, on opening, two one-pound Union Bank notes. The saje is advertised to be ' continued this morning, commencing at 11 o'clock.'

| A start has been .-made with the demolition of the Club _ Hotel (formerly the Oxford Hotel), which stands on the corner of Johnston Street and Lambton Quay. The ground landlord is the Wellington City Corporation, and the lessee (Mr. Dwyer) holds the property subject to a building clause, which is at length to be exercised. The clerk of the court had just sat down at the Magistrate's -Court yesterday, after reading a rather lengthy charge to an old man. "I never heard a word of what you said," replied the accused quite concerned. The court orderly came along and started to read the charge, bawling into the aocnsed's ear, but realising that it might be a pure waste of time, he shouted at the prisoner, "Can you read?" "Of course 1 oau," replied tho old man, who interestingly scanned the charge. "I'll b'e guilty," ■he said at length. The police report about the accused was that he had not worked for some considerable time, and lodged nightly on some, sacks under a tree down Thorndon way. The Magistrate sentenced him to six months' imprisonment.

The City Engineer (Mr. W. H. 'Morton.) has received a letter from,the secretary of the General Labourers' Union (Mr. M. J. Reardon) soliciting tetter conditions for the destructor hands. He also asks for another Is. per day and twelve days' holiday annually on full pay, with a preference clause. _It is understood that the "request" is not likely to be acceded to. The destructor hands concerned now work eight hours a day and receive 10s. per day for unskilled work all the year round, which iB a far better average wage than many skilled tradesmen (who are not always in work, and are when in work subject to the vagaries of the weather).

A Wellington draper, who had just pei-used his English mail, talked interestingly yesterday on the effect of war on materials that 'he deals in. He understood that thick tweeds were in great demand at Home. The Artny had experienced difficulty ill securing all the blankets that were needed, and "had bought up vast quantities of thick tweed to bo cut up into lengths for uso as blankets by the troops. Hie fallingoff of certain lines that usually came from France, Belgium, and Germany was, of courso, very marked, and there was an imminent possibility of a shorts age of velvets, velveteens, and plush, ibe last-named material particularly which was largely a French product. There was oertain to be a shortage in some classes of lace, formerly the product of Belgium and Franco, and prices were likely to increase for such materials. Nottingham produced a large quantity of lace, but compared with what some of the Continental cities turned out, it was a flea-bite. With the large stocks that have been held at IJome, the pinoh was hardly felt for t'he first few months of the war,'but at present laces wero a diminishing quantity.

As the number of persons nominated for the Hutt Licensing District Licensing Committee election doos not excecd the number required no election was neoesßary. Thoso elected to the committee are: Messrs. John Cot£on, John Cudby, John William M;Ewan, Henry Edmund Ryder, and ilaurice Whitewood Welch. The cargo steamer Maresfield arrived at Auckland on Sunday afternoon from New. York. The vessel came by way of the Panama Canal, and occupied 42 days on the passage, which is somewhat longer than usual by this route. She entered t'fie canal on the Atlantic side oh January 29, and anchored for some hours in one of the locks, iii order to allow other ships to pass through. On entering the Gulebra Cut, it was seen that several heavy slips had occurred a few days previously. The channel was being constantly dredged, and all vessels passing through had to steam very slowly, assisted by tugs. In the opinion of tho_ officers. of the MarcsEeld, the authorities will -have to contend with continual slips for years to come, as the wholo hillside is moving into the canal. The Maresfield's. crow includes four Belgians— two sailors and two firemen. _ One of-thoso, the ship's carpenter, is said to have been formerly in business in Antwerp, and cecapeil in a barge by floating down the canal just before the German forces entered the city.—Auckland "Herald."

On Wednesday evening, at the Hokio Beach, near Lovin, a three-roomed house belonging to Messrs. 0. K. Douglas and F. W. Pink, of Lovin, was totally de-

■ The Stewart Island oyster season opened on Monday (states the Christr church "Press"), and the first consignment of bivalves this season shouldreach Christchurch at the end of the: week. As far as the Auckland rock variety is concerned, the season does not open uutil May 1. The prospects in the North are considered to be ex-' collent this year. Mr. G. Allport, secretary of the Marine Department, said that he and Mr. Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, had personally inspected the beds in the Biuraki Gulf and the Bay of Islands, and were confident that they would be able to supply all requirements. The oysters appeared to be doing very well indeed.

The reports of tile serious nature of the hurricane experienced at the island ; of -N luafou,' situated in the Friendly ■ Group, 400 miles north of Nukualofa,.! were confirmed' by news brought to Auckland on Sunday night by the steamer Atua (reports the "Herald"). It would appear that the island has been devastated, buildings and vegetation alike being levelled to the ground. Thirteen out of the fourteen mission ■ houses on the island were wrecked, while ' m the village of Anghala only four buildings were left standing. Four other . villages were swept away. During the * hurricane the natives were compelled to ; take refuge in the craters of extinct volcanoes, and in caves, while some - of them even burrowed into the ground. Captain. A. Wallis, master of the Atua, * stated that in all lis experience in the i Island trade he had never before seen so much damage done by a hurricane. ■ According to Mr. A. Millar, of Auckland, who returned from the Islands on Sunday, the hurricane did"not affect ,' Tonga except as far as Vavau was concerned, where only slight damage was done.

A youth in uniform strolled into the . reoruiting-room in the Drill Shed at Aaoklandf the, other day (states the "Star"), and in a nonchalant manner asked for "a pass back to Trentham." The astonished sergeant-major inquired how the young man happened tote in Auckland, when he was supposed to be at Trentham. "I got leave from 5 o'clock until 10 last night, so I thought I'd come to Auckland" wa6 the reply, '■ delivered in an utterly-bored manner. The sergeant-major thereupon explained 5 to the youth that he was practically a. deserter, and would have to pay his own ' fare back to camp. "Oh, well, suppose I'll have to part up, and do a few days ' C.1i.," returned tho delinquent, as he walked from the office in. a born-tired-1 fashion. Another youth followed a few • minutes later with a similar request for a passage back to camp." In this case a discharge for medical unfitness formed t tho explanation, but tho young man assured tho sergeant-major that he "was quite better now." He went away ! when it was pointed out to him thathe could not return to camp while"• medically unfit.- Subsequent happen- . •ings, however, showed that he boarded a train at Auckland, and . got back to Trentham in spite of this assurance, ■ and without paying his fare < into ■ the bargain.

Residents of Paekakariki have Been asking fora new post office. The present building, which stands alongside tile hotel,. is said to be far too small and cramped for the growing business of < the place. Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., re-, cently made representations to the Postal Department on the matter, and - has received a reply from the Post- -, master-General to the effect that the ' question will receive consideration when the Estimates for the ensuing year are v being prepared. It is understood that a central site on the Beach Road is likely • to bo secured. When the war commenced the Masterton Borough' Council had in contempla- | t-ion the taking of a poll on the proposal to raise a loan for drainage extension. The council, has now decided .that the time is not opportune for taking such a poll. The water extension loan of £15,000 and the municipal building loan of £10,000, both of which were sanctioned by the ratepayers, are now being expended. The Trades and Labour Connoil haa written to the City Council requesting that steps be taken at once to set np ' a .oommission for the purpose of inquiring into the whole system of city leaseholds, their terms, the methods of arbitration followed in arranging rents and renewals of leases. It is probable that reference will be made to the letter at this evening's meeting of the City Council.

A desire has been expressed by settlers in the Auckland district to add to the Dominion's acreage of wheat for the next season. They nave suggested that the Government should be approached with a request to. assist m the, purchase of seed, or, more plainly stated, to buy the seed, and take repayment when the crop" matures. It is pointed out that some years ago quite a lot of wheat waa grown in the Auckland district by the Maoris and settlers; also that it secured a good name among millers. As dairying and grazing became more popular this cropping of wheat gradually decreased until in recent years the acreage ha 6 been comparatively insignifioant as' compared with the output of the South Island. The suggestion may at least be worthy of submission to the Government, more especially as the Prime Minister has emphasised the wisdom of increasing the wheat acreage in New Zealand as much as possible in order to minimise the shortage which has occurred since the outbreak of war.—Auckland "Star." The oat crops have been a general failure in the Auckland'district, owing to tire continual dry weather throughout spring and summer . (states the "Star"). As a rule chaff goes up to its maximum price' about Christmas time, because the old crop is ' then getting scarce, but it then recedes as tho new ohaff comes forward. The failure of the oat crop has oaused the price of chaff to remain high right up to the present —as high as from £8 10s. to £9. At this time of year it i 6 usually half- that price.

Between 400 and 500 people availed themselves of the opportunity of a trip round the harbour on. the ferry steamer Duchess last evening. Tho weather wag fine'and the night clear, and a- most enioyable evening was spent. The vessel left tho wharf at about 8 p.m., and made a call at Day's Bay for about three-quarters of an hour. Tho Central Mission Silver Band was -in attendance and rendered selections. The proceeds of the excursion will bo given to the Belgian Relief Fund. •

Mr, H, H. Rayward is leaving for Eiustralia, via Auckland, within the next few days, to act on behalf of the Australian Manufacturing and Importing Company, Ltd., in proceedings instituted for the revocation of certain German patents and trade marks. The war ■has considerably disorganised tho business of many firms which depended upon German agencies, and the revocation of the patents in question will permit the manufacture of the goods to be-carried ,on in Australia. - If the proceedings in Australia are sucoessful, • Mr. Rayward will go on to England with-a similar object. . .