LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2490, 17 June 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

On board the Manuka, which arrived from Sydney yesterday, were three members of tho Expeditionary Force who have beon invalided back from Egypt. They wore Privates Muqrtiy and Brown, Canterbury Infantry, and "Trooper Tussock, Wellington Mounted Rilles. Trooper Kissock, who was operated 011 for appendicitis in Egypt, states that there were a good number of men down with appendicitis, and many operations wero performed by Surgeon-Major Holmes, late of Wellington. When the invalided men left Egypt the wounded from the Dardanelles wero just beginning to arrive. The worst cases wero detained at Alexandria, and the mora lightly wounded went up to Heliopolis. Trooper Kissock spoke highly of the_ attention the sick New Zealanders received in the hospitals at Heliopolis and elsewhere. The preparation of annual returns for Parliament is just now giving many Government Departments a "rent doal of additional work,_ and Civil aro putting in a fair amount of overtime. Tho work has been made the heavier this year by the absence with tho Expeditionary Force of a number of tho more experienced clcrks. Their places have mostly been filled by junior men, and the work has been thus made moro difficult to do. Civil Servants, hewever, aro not complaining, as they recognise that they should do extra work to mako up for the absence of those who are in the firing line. The following candidates havo passed in the subjects specified out of tho thirty-eight who sat for the special accountancy professional examination held by the University of New Zealand in May last Hubert E. Fairweathor, mercantile law, trustees (elem.), bankruptcy; John Jolly, bookkeeping (adv.), auditiug (adv.), bankruptcy; Reginald C... Piesse, bookkeeping (adv.), bankruptcy ; William R. Robson, bookkeeping (elem.), auditing (elem.), companies ; Arthur J. Arnold, mercantile law, bookkeeping (adv.), trustees (adv.); Ernest E. Luttrell, bookkeeping (adv.); Daniel M. Eckhoff, bookkeeping (adv.); James F. Quinn, bookkeeping (adv.); auditing (adv.), trustees (adv.), companies. The Miramar Borough Council in this issue gives notice of its intention to levy for tho current year tho same rates as last year, namely, a {general rate of 2Jd., a hospital and charitable aid rato of }d., and a special interest rate of 3id. in the £ 011 the unimproved value. Carriers' licenses were due for renewal on April 1 last. As an unusual number of carriers have omitted to renew their licenses and pay the necessary fees, the City Inspector (Mr. James Doyle) is becoming active in the matter, and already a number of informations have been laid against carriers who havo neglected to comply with the City regulations. Others who are culpable might save time, trouble, and expense by taking the hint to call at the Town Hall forthwith. Patriotic women workers in Wellington, as well as all over the Empire, have dono a great deal in tho way of making garments for tho troops suice war broko out. and their efforts have received recognition in a popular comic song to the offect that "Sister Susie's Sawing Shirts for Sailors." If the Germans koe'p up tlieir use of noxious gases at the front-, a new outlet for Susie's activities will be found, for she may be employed in "Rolling Respirators for Regiments'." Ono of tho imported articles of commerce likely to be hit severely in the near future by the war is ladies' gloves. France has been a large manufacturer of these in tlie past, and with supplies largely cut off from that source it is expected that there will be a shortage in the local markets. Wool for knitting purposes is also in very short supply in Wellington at present, owing to the large quantity that is being employed in making balaclavas, socks, and _ comforters for the troops. A boat is expected in a few days with a supply to relievo tho short-age. Dr. Prendergast Knight, Mr. A. T. Ngata, M.P.. and Mr. Walter Nathan returned to Wellington by the Manuka from Sydney yesterday. To Aro School Committee has protested to the Wellington Education Board against tho proposal to appoint a fomalo teacher to the school. The following motion was carried unanimously at tho meeting of tho committee last evening: "That this committee cannot make any recommendation in the choice of the two female applicants whose names have been submitted to ns by your board to fill the vacancy in the Willis Street School staff. Further, this committee is strongly of opinion that tho vacancy should bo" filled by a malo teachor, aware as wo aro that there is too great a preponderant of females already on tho staff, to the serious detriment of,sports and athletics for our boys, and wo should hope that your board fully recognise the great necessity for firm discipline arid tho developing .of the physical as well as tho mental fwsrers of our youths," The following message has been addressed by Mr. C. Parat-a, M.P., to tho Natives of New Zealand: —VA special message from the War Couucil in England to His Excellency Lord "Liverpool has been received asking for reinforcements to our contingent. Five hundred men are required in tho Maori training camp at Avondalo, Auckland, within the next month —Juno 30. After four months' training they will bo dispatched in batches of 3-10 with tho other reinforcements." In an appeal to the Maoris to enlist, Mr. Parata adds: "Rise, brothers to this great occasion, and prove to the Empire that on our part that sorap of paper is as good noiv as 011 the day it was signed, and wo are not goiflK to have it said against us, the Maoris of this Dominion, that that Treaty is only for times of peace and not for times of war." Mr. Donald M'Lcan, of Wellington, has forwarded to tho Mayor a cheque for £200 for the Wounded Soldiers' and Sailors' Fund. Messrs. G. 11. Scales and Co. have forwarded a cheque for £250 to the Mayor for tho samo fund. Half-a-dozen Rugby youths who have beon playing in grades from which tliey are said "to have been dobarred by tlieir ages will appear before the Rugby Union next week, and their CO6CS will be inquired into. A suggestion has been made (says our Masterton correspondent) that Sunday railway excursions should be run once a month from Masterton (0 the Trenthara camp. It- is probable that representations will be made to the General Manager of Railways on the subject. There are thousands of people in this district who havo not yet had an opportunity of seeing tho camp. Recruits and others who have business with the Wellington Recruiting Office ire asked to note that the telephono number of the office has beon altered to 907 A. Mr. W. J. M'Donald, of the Eaupokonui Co-op. Dairy Company, Ims just received word that his brother "Jim" was killed in action in the Dardanelles 011 May 2; says the Hawera and Normanby "Star." He was well known in the district. At Rireftlale ho worked for a. season in the'cheese factory, and al- Ellham he was employed as manager of one of tho EHln'.m Company's branch faotorieß. «

The troopers segregated at the Levin / Hospital, Kaiwarra, arc to be provided in iho course of the next few days with a full-sized billiard table to help make their period of confinement a little less distasteful. The tablo is being supplied by ■ the generosity of Messrs. Alcoc-k and Co. ; Ltd., who will also furnish the hospital with an ample supply of. billiard accessories. A fancy-dross ball, promoted by the Hisses Neazor, Mitten, and Hodgilis in' aid of the wilospital Ship, was held at the Lower ilutt Drill Hall last evening, and was attended by upwards of 200 poisons. Tlio building was artistically . decorated, and tho imisio was supplied by Mr. Cowley's orchestra. Tho Minister of Defence gave to a Dominion reporter yesterday a memorandum on tho complaint recently made by a candidate for enlistment that ho had been rejected for defective eyesight in the face of a recommendation by the examining medical officer that asrf ho was otherwise very ii: lie might be employed at clerical work or m tliu Army Service Corps. The Minister stated that tho examining officer had apparently not realised the purport of the regulations, which' were that for any military service with the Expeditionary Force an applicant must bo able to read certain typu at certain distances without glasses. In this caso the candidate could not pass this test, and was therefore uniiv This test must be applied for all branches of tho ser--vice in terms of the regulations. The Oddfellows' Hall, Upper Hutt, was on Tuesday night crowded with friends to bid farewell to the Rev. J. H. Sykes, who is leaving Upper Hutt to take charge ,of tho parish at 3i.ilbirnie. Besides Anglicans there were present many members of other churches to show their esteem for a broad-minded, kindly clergyman. Mr. F. W. Connell voiced the feelings of parishiouors, and tho Rev. F'. J. Usher spoke for other residents. On behalf of the people of the district Mr. J. Kemp presented the guest of the evening iwith a purse well tilled with sovereigns. Mr. Sykes thanked one and all for the kindness and appreciation shown, and the remainder of the ovening.was devoted to musio, and refreshments were kindly provided by the ladies of the district. The funeral of the late Mrs. James Smith took place yesterday afternoon, tho remains being followed to the' Sydney Street Cemetery by a very large circlo of old friends. The service at the licuso and at tho graveside was conducted by tho Rev. Drs. Gibb and Elliott, and the Rev. James Paterson.' The pall-jiearers were: Mr. W. Nichol, representing James Smith, Limited Mr. F. H. Mather, representing Georg and Kersley, Limited; Messrs. J. anD. M f Keuzie, nephews of deceased Mr. A. E. Kellow, and Mr. Arthii Dixon. Representatives' of a nuinbe of business firms attended and wreaths wore sent by tho stall's of James Smith, Ltd., tho International Correspondence Schools', George and Kerslev, Ltd., the Drapers' and Clothiers' Association, and by the remaining employees of tho old firm of Turjibull, Smith and Co. After Mr. Masscy's meeting at Uronui, a number of settlers were assembled on the platform at tho Hall talkjng over matters with tho Prime Minister, when (says tho "Waitara j Mail") a small hoy, with nmcli assurance and self-importance, walked into the building., straight up to the Prime Minister, and said: "Please, Your | Worship, will you make a road to our .woolshed?" "His Worship," much amused at the incident, told his secretary to take a note of the fact that there was yet another applicant for a. road grant. v At Petono Railway Workshops yesterday, Mr. S. P. Evans, locomotive engineer, presented ill'. G. E. Richardson, locomotive engineer, with a solid silver aftornoon tea service, on behalf of the officers and staff of the locomotive branch of the North Island Main Line and branches, as a mark of esteem on his- transfer on promotion to be locomotive engineer at Addington. Mr. Evans, who succeeds Mr. Richardson, and Mr! Bargh, workshops manager, spoke of the able maimer in which Mr. Richardson had carried out his duties, and the good feeling existing between him and his staff. Tho Featherston Town Board held a special' meeting on Tuesday evening to consider the report of Messrs. H. F. Toogood, C.E., and J. B. Templin. M.E., on a hydro-electric lighting and power scheme for tho town. Their estimate of the cost of a turbiue-driven plant supplied by tho Tauherinikau River, with transmission line and reticulation of township, including street lights, is £7000. Tho annual working expenses, to cover 5 per cent, interest > on capital cost, are set down as £830. An extension of the scheme to supply power and lighting throughout the neighbouring district oyer an area of about forty square miles would cost an additional £11,000. Before going any further it was decided to obtain a legal opinion from Mr. T. F. Martin in regard to the feasibility of combined control of the larger scheme by the board and a properly constituted body to represent the outside district. On the completion of tho patriotic tour of the Plimmer-Hall Comedy Company (which yielded approximately £3500), the following letter was receiv ed by the management from the Prin ! Minister: —"Dear Sir, —I have to a< knowledge the receipt of your letter o June 1 forwarding a further chequc for £762 lis. 3d. towards the Belgian Relief Fund. I desire to take this op-, port-unity of again congratulating you upjn the cohtinued success of your tour and the substantial assistance that you have been able to render to the various local patriotic and philanthropic funds. I ;noto that the tour will conclude on the Bth instant, and I hope that before vou leave New Zealand 1 shall have an opportunity of personally expressing the Government's appreciation of the generous efforts of the company and the successful realisation of the'objeDt for which the tour was promoted. —Yours faithfully. W. F. Massoy. Wellington, June 7." A young German reservist, named Blinn, who hod been working as a porter at the People's Palace, Christchurch, for about- _ three weeks, was arrested by the police on Saturday for failing to comply with the War Regulations Act in not registering as an alien He was handed over to the military authorities, and taken up to Somes 'Island uuder military escort.