LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2436, 15 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is estimated that the 'capacity of the insulated ships to leave New Zealand during May will, be 477,000 frejght carcasses, and in June 720,000 freight carcasses. .The ships to leave during the remaining weeks of April will be the Kumara, lonic, Hawke's Bay, Pakelia, and Muritai. This should give considerable relief at those works where there is now a blockage, and where stocks are still offering for' ex- I port.

"Give us a coin, mister?" "Got any coins, sergeant?" These were the queries levelled at the troops from Samoa by a crowd of jjiveniles who-had a desire to collect specimens of Gorman coinage circulating until recently in the late German possessions. Some of the troopers had'stores of 5 pfennige pieces (value between id- and Jd.), a white metal coin larger than a threepenny piece, which they freely disbursed among the 1 youngsters. Otherß had trophies from the land of eternal sunshine in the form of native mats, war clubs, and camphor-wood boxes, the price of which advanced 100 per cent, whilst the men were in Samoa. Others came back with mementoes in the form of sores that would not heal, and sadly impoverished blood. Samoa is rather a pleasant place-to. spend a week or two in during the, winter—those who have worked hard through a torrid summer hardly regard the group in the same light as tho compilers of the guide books. Commenting on the report of the Valuation of Land Commission yesterday, th 6 Prime Minister said: "I consider it is a most valuable report, and it will be my duty to ask Parliament to give effect by legislation to some of the suggestions that have been made with a view of placing the operation of the law affecting valuations on a more satisfactory basis." By Gazette notice published last night it is announced that the shoot- | ing season for imported and native game in the Wellington acclimatisation district opens on May 1. The native came that may be killed are grey duck, black swan, and teal, and the maximum bag for one gun is twenty-five head in all. The notice also prescribes areas in which imported and native game may not be killed. The licenso fee for the shooting of imported game is one pound. The hon. secretary of tho Welling-

ton branch of the Navy League returned from New Plymouth last evening, where he has forme<l two branches of the league. The branches were formed in the Boys' and the Girls' District High Schools. At its next meeting the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board will consider a by-law entitling anyone to be treated at the Hospital provided they pay the ordinary fees, also the question of raising a loan and completing the wliole of the Hospital buildings, which would entail au expenditure of £12,000 or thereabouts. The work of duplicating a portion of the Island Bay tramway track wliicli traverses tlie Parade lias been delayed owing to -certain steel bonds not being available. These will arrive this week and a start will bo made next wecli with tho work. Last evening Mr. E. Little ivas elected the Wellington llugby Union's representative on the Wellington Keferees' Appointment Board, Througii being the union's representative, Mr. Little will be the cliairman of the hoard. 'Mr. Edgar W.ylio will represent the Referees' Association on the body, and the players' representative ha 6 yet ha sleeted. '

It has been decided by the Governmeiit that the erection of the hutments at Trenthum shall be carried out bj the Public Works Department. Th» hutments,, some thirty-five in number, will provide accommodation for 4000 oncers and men, and will cost about £14,000. When the ease against Phillip Ben--011 information of Nellie Nightmgaje with failing to aocount for ,613 los., the property of informant, was called in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, accused failed to an. pear. Mr. H. F. O'Leary, appearing on his behalf, said that as Bennington had called in at his office that morning, he could not account for his nonappearance. The Magistrate (Mr. W G. Riddell, S.M.) ordered a warrant to be issued for Bennington's arrest. Subsequeiit to the monthly meeting of tho Onslow Borough Council—the concluding one of tho year—last night, councillors and the couucil staff were entertained by tho Mayor, Mr. C. C. Crump. In thanking councillors for the loyal manner in which it had helped him in tho work of the council, Mr. Crump said that they had been able to do exactly what tho previous Mavor hoped they would. The actual debt of the borough was £150. The speaker hoped that the,next oouncil would be able to put through the borough water scheme. The Mayor added that he had just received word that Messrs. E. C. Alderson, J. G. Smith, and H. E. Anderson were candidates for Khandal* lah for the water scheme. Other councillors also spoke.

aF- aB heon Quite' satisfao Mln ' 6t " of Defence informed SW 1,1 have not got on? thi l etal ! s . of registrations through, out the Dominion,'' Tie said, "hut lam pretty sure , that the whole of the oeventh Reinforcements are already: registered, and probably some of tie Eighth. W can tell tliose likely to join that if tliey don't hurry up they may have to wait 'or a very late con, tingent. I have not yet had to take the platform for the purpose of stimu* lating recruiting, but if I am called upon I shall do so. I am very grateful to , the various recruiting committees which have kept the thing going so splendidly., I would much rather leave the work in their hands. They are do. mg it very efficiently; no one can do. better."

People may sometimes wonder ■ if gifts of clothing and other goods sent Home are appreciated. Tho following letter from Scotland received by a Dunedm resident will therefore be read with mterest:—"Having received a u a reel of clothing this morning for mv baby, I beg to let you know that I have foi'nd your note, also the money, which I am getting attached to a chain for her to .wear round her neck. She is five months of age, and she was born six weeks after her daddy was called to rejoin his regiment, and six weeks later he was killed. I have two other children. The eldest (a boy) was five years last December, and the other (a girl) will be four in May next. The baby is also a girl, I have only been in Scotland about two years, and as I am going back again to my own veoplein Ireland in a few days' time, I am giving you baby's future address. With many thanks to you and all those who ate do-' mg so much for us, 1 remain, yours faithfully." The letter was dated February 2, and was written from a mining town in Fifeshire. The reference to money ie explained by the fact that some coins were sewn into the baby's clothing. ■

• Owing to the death of his daughter, Miss Edna Smeeton, iu Sydney (savs the Auckland "Herald"), Mr. E. M.'Smee. ton desired to proceed to Sydney with the least possible delay, and he haa therefore gone to Newcastle as a membar of the crew pf the collier Koromiko. fiaviug received advice on Thursday morning of his daughters death, Mr. Smeeton left by the midday express train with the object of catching the Sydney steamer at Wellington, but ha had completed only a portion of the journey when he learned that the ilokoia would be dispatched on Thursday evening. He therefore returned to Auckland. In view of the circumstances of his request the" local officers of tho Union Steam Ship Company granted Mr. Smeeton permission to travel by the Ivoromiko to Newcastle, but in order to comply with the requirements of the Shipping and Seamen's Act he was required to sign the ship's articles as a member of the crew., The collier left Auckland, on Friday evening, and-will reach Newcastle probably i.u-day, and Mr. Smeeton will thus be able to reaoh Sydney at least two days earlier than- if he haa waited for the fiiverina.

• An interesting case was before the S.M. Court (Mr. L. G. He'd) yesterday morning, says' our Greytown correspondent. Mr. S. Haigh, as trustee of the. local .Recreation Ground sued Messrs. Gray Bros, for £10 10s., tie alleged value of grass destroyed on tie said ground by defendants' sheep being on the ground. It was_ shown in evidence that the local Cricket Club had leased the ground in October for the season's play. The grass being too high for their purpose., and not being able to get a man to cut it, the Messrs. Gray were asked to turn tneir sheep on the ground to eat the grass down. Mi;. Haigh claimed that tin club had no right to give grazing permissioil, and ,the hay destroyed, no claimed, was worth £10 10s. After evidence on berth «ides, the Magistrate gave judgment for £7 and-, costs, saying the right to play did not give 'the right to graze sheep. The Wellington Rugby Union was asked by the Saturday Half-holiday Association last evening' to support the Saturday half-holiday movement. . The argument advanced to the union was that a Saturday half-holiday would vastly increase the revenue of the .un. ion, through swelling the crowds pass* ing thp turnstiles at Athletic Park. One statement was that .5000 shop as- ' sistants would be released from duty to be able to attend the matches if they cared to* Also, it was stated that in Christchurch the Saturday half-holi-day had greatly benefited the Canterbury Rugoy Union's exchequer. The union subsequently 'passed the following resolution"That the Wellington Rugby Union iB in favour of the Saturday half-holiday as a moans of furthering tho interests of sport in Wellington," The art union arranged by Mr. W. Withers in aid of the Mayorjs Patriotic Fund will be drawn in the Mayor's room at 3 p.m. on Monday. The prizes consist of twenty water-colours from the brush of Mr. Withers, of Wadestown.

THE STUDEBAICEP. DELIVERY VAN-. TWO ATTRACTIVE PROPOSITIONS. In the 25 h.p. Studebafcer delivery van, equipped with electric self-starter and full electric lighting set, we olaim to offer tho best value in commercial vehicles now offered in this Dominion. It is n big, handsome van. beautifully finished. Tin; engine is powerful, siraplo, and absolutely reliable. The «ilf-stnrter never fails.- The electric lamps are brilliant and great savers of time and money. The capacity of .tne van is about 15cvt„ and Rood? and driver are given complete protection against wind and wot weather. The wheels are fitted with Michelin detachable rims and Michelin tyres, and there is a spare rim and tyre. The van sells complete for -C.145, and will give first-rate service over any roads under any conditions. We are also offering very cheap, in order to clear, a 20-h.p. "Flanders'" delivery van, usual price i 295. This van is slightly shop-soiled, having bee*, used for demonstration purnosea, but Is as good as new. It is a little smaller than the 25 h.p., van, and is not fitted with self-starter or electric lamps. It has full road equipment,.affords complete protection to driver and goods, .is absolately reliable and efficient, and is offer fit at a .£SO reduction below usual price Photographs and full description on application. Adams, Ltd., New Zealand Importers of Studebaker Motors, Christchurch. Tirnaru. Wanganui t and Palmer•ton North.—Advt,

The District- Coroner decided that an inquest was not necessary yesterday in respect to the death of a ohild which occurred at the home of its parents in Martin Square. A mcdical certificate as to the cause of death had not at first been forthcoming. A number of pcoplo in New Zealand and elsewhere, writes a correspondent, were under the impression that General de la Rey, who was fatally shot in Sop tomb or while proceeding in a motorcar from Johannesburg to Potchcfstroom, a South African military station, was involved in the rcccnt rebellion. But Mr. Smuts (tho Minister of Defence) made a statement in tho Union Parliament on March 1 which ontirely clears tho General of complicity. Ho said: "We all agreed, tho General with us, that tho movement ivas not only bound to come to a failure, but would bring disgrace on the Boer nation. ... I knew GoHeral de la Rey as well as any mar. in thia country. We were friends for many years. Wo were almost brothers beforo tho war, during the war, and afc-er tho war. I can say with absolute sincerity that I have never come across any man if higher moral character or a raau less likely to have taken money for doing cortain things. He departed this life under tragio circumstances, and without a stain on his character. However athor names may bo forgotten, his name will remain in our history 4s the name 5f a groat warrior, a noble patriot, and i groat man." Tho writer adds' the fallowing interesting paragraph During the Anplo-Boer war a tow New Zcalanders joined the Cape ' irregular troops. Part of their operations consisted in driving Colonel Brand and his commando out of the mountainous country of Colvinia. This officer was ono of those who remained faithful to Botha , in tho la to rebellion, and took an activo part in fighting the rebels. As showing tho dangerous condition th# country was in last September, our informant states that in one town in tho Transvaal 800 burghers.enlisted for active service for Genoral Botha, t but no sooner had they been provided with rifles and ammunition than they forthwith refused to fight', and joined tlie rebel forces.