LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2494, 22 June 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

I The Maitai brought no flour from San Francisco on her present trip, but a fairly large quantity of Canadian flour will arrive by tho Waimarino in about three weeks' time. Tho price is still £18 os. and £18 10s. per ton, according to the grade. A mishap to the clectrical power plant in our printing department was responsible for the delay in the publication of a portion of yesterday's issuo of The Dominion - . Tho many patriotic ladies of Wellington and elsewhere in New Zealand who havo used up all tho available supply of wool in the country in knitting balaclavas and comforters for tho troops will bo pleased to learn that New Zealand factories are shortly going to turn their attention to making the required wool. At last night's meeting of tho Wellington Industrial Association tho secretary reported that he had rung up the woollen companies to know if they were not manufacturing this wool, It seemed that they had been manufactur-, ing knitting wool in the past, but it was not quite of the sort wanted for balaclavas, caps, etc. They had a lot of that wool on hand, and nobody seemed to want it. They now intended to turn their attention to the particular kind of wool wanted, and in a short time there would be plenty of New Zealand knitting wool available. He thought that it was satisfactory to know it was to bo spun bere. Owing to the risk of attacks from German submarines, no passengers were allowed to join the Remuera at the liondon docks The steamer was escorted down Channol by a British destroyer. All the passengers joined the steamer at Plymouth, and after leaving that port the Remuera was escorted for some miles by a destroyer, whilst the sharpest of look-out was kept_ for tho appearance of the ominous periscope. Tho efficacy of affording special facilities for bringing out from England relatives of those already established in the Dominion through the agency of the Immigration Department was proved by a striking instance in the case of thoso who arrived by tho Remuera yesterday. Some time ago a young English girl came eut from England, and accepted service on a farm in the Rangitikei district. She Baved what money sho could, and that, in addition to what tho family had been able to save, enablod her father and mother, and her ten brothers and sisters to arrive here yesterday. The parents and eight of the chifdron have been accommodated on a farm in one part of the country, and the two eldest boys on another farm. The father of the family was a miner at Home, and is pleased' to exchange i tho conditions existing in the mining districts of England for the prospects ahead of him and his family in the Dominion. As to what Wellington will do as a city towards providing Hospital accommodation for wounded soldiers will form matter for debate' at Thursday's meeting of tho City Council. At that mooting tho letter from the Boys' Institute offering the use of its fine new building near tho Basin Reserve conditionally on the Cit.y Corporation co-operating with the institute in the fitting up of tho building for hospital purposes. _ Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) is of opinion that the offer is a very good ono, and states that the money would be better spent in helping to outfit the new institute for hospital purposes than to erect a temporary hospital, which may havo to come down a year hence. At present the Government scarcely know what accommodation will bo necessary for the wounded, but he was sure that splendid accommodation could be provided for between 80 and 100 patients in the new institute building.The weekly report by the Labour Department upon tho state of unemployment shows that in Wellington, for tho week ended June 19, 91 applications for work were received by tho Department. The number placed was 67, 21 in Government and 46 in private employment. Of the 24 men still on the books of tho Department, 21 are general labourers. It is expected that work will be available for these men shortly on roads in tho Marlborough district. There are vory few tradesmen applying for work. A sum of £3 3s. 6d., being tho amount collected from business men to obtain a legal opinion on bills of lading, and not used, was handed over to the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday by Mr. A. Leigh Hunt. Mr. Hunt explained that that amount, over-collected, bad been in his hands for 6ome years, and he handed it on to the Central Chamber, as he recon:nised they were tho only body iikely to take aiiy action with regard to bills of lading. In thanking Mr. Hunt far his action, the President (Mr. C. M. Luke) said that it reminded him of the epitaph to "an honest lawyer." A member: "I move that we start a roll of honour for honest members of our bod v. Apparently Mr. Hunt is tho only one." Mr. Luke: "I alwfivs presnmo yon are all honest, but I like tangible ovidenco now and again." (Laughter.) The Pony,iron Chamber of Commnce recently requested from the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce ajist of firms in Wellington whose capital or principals are Austrian or German. At the meeting of tho latter body yesterday tho secretary reported that ho had replied that no such list was possible at the present juncture. Tlie following staff has been appointod for the Maori Reinforcements Camp, which will be opened at Narrow Ncck, TakapuHa, on July 1 next:—Camp Commandant, Captain 11. Peacock, N.Z.S.C.; camp adjutant, Captain A. Main, 15th (North Auckland) Regiment; quai termastor, Lieutenant L. G. Asliton, unattached list; instructors, Staff-Sergta.-Major J. Barlow, A. C. Jamieson, G. Walker, and D. F. Hopkins. The information forwarded by cable last week . that tho French arc throwing hot metal on the enemy, as a roply (o tho use of eas. recalled to & resident of Auckland the fact that whoa ho worked at Woolwich, fifty-t.ro years ago, a man named Martin oarno from Carlisle one day, and laid before tho authorities an invention which enabled molten metal to bo fired at an enemv. Tho invention was tried suooos6fullv on an imitation side of a ship orcctod for the purpose. In a ahjrt time the whole craft was a maas of. flames, but the authorities would havo nothing further \a do with the id«, I Holdiatt that it was too barßarous for Uie in civilised waifara,

Tho award of the Arbitration Court in tho Palmcrston North section of the Wellington Hotel Workers' dispute has been filed with tho Clerk of Awards (Mr. G. S. Clark). Tho award ombedies, without alteration, tho recommendation of tho Council Conciliation, which the parties agreed to accept. Following upon the practical joke of persons filling in enlistment cards for other people and forwarding them to the Defence Department comes another stupid practice which is causing much annoyance to men who liavo enlisted antl failed to pasH tho doctor. The following ease was brought under notice yesterdayA young man, well known in tho City, had enlisted, but lie waa rejected as being medically unfit. A few days later he received the following anonymous communication, headed "Call'to Arms": "Tho Empire needs your services at front. If you hayo a spark of manliness in you, show it, and enlist. Every man is required for this gigantic war. You are strong and hcalthr and have no ties. It is only cowards who do not answer the call." If the perpetrators of these foolish jokes could be found out they might bo made to realise in some way tho sorrow and pain caused to men who would willingly give their sendees to tlie Empire if they were only allowed to go. At the Lower Hutt Court yesterday, before Mr. AVallace E. James, J.P., a first offender was convicted and fined 10s. for being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and cart. At the Stratford Magistrate's Court Mr. Kenrick, S.M., stated that the oountry was paying £150,000 every year to maintain children Who wcro neglectod by parents. As an example < f how faithfully English contracts have keen kept, Mr. A. Bchmitt, provincial secretary of the Auckland Farmers' Union, mentioned to a reporter that firms in Great Britain were now fulfilling orders taken ten or twelvo months ago at the quotations whicli were given before tho outbreak of war. This applied to goods that had risen in price from SO to 120 per cent. One item he had in mind was canvas. It had gone up to the extent indicated, yet English houses were now delivering at tho prices booked twelve months ago, f.0.b., English ports. This, he thought, was a splendid illustration of - British commercial integrity and of tho advantage of patronising British firms. Tho postmaster at Rarenga, near tho North Cape, has telegraphed the secretary of the General Post Office (Mr. W. R. Morris) as follows:—"It is reported that at 10 o'clock Friday night four residents of Tom Bowling's Bay saw four rockets fired out at sea. Ten minties between each. Some distance off tho land." In connection with the above, the opinion is lield in shipping circles in Wellington that the residents of Tom Bowling's Bay had seen the display of the Aurora Australia on Friday evening, and mistaken it for rockets. The Government offices throughout tho Dominion will not be closed to-mor-row, the Prince of Wales's Birthday. Tlie secretary of the Wellington Education Board advises that tlie schools in the Wellington Education diptrict will not be closed. A recent ease of a loading firm at Feilding being fined 10s. and costs for not stamping a receipt liad its 6equel in tha Foilding Court last week (says an exchange). Mr. James Donald, of Stratford, recently sent a sum of money to Messrs. Ongloy and Kelly in payment of interest due on a mortgage from a friendly society. The legal firm replied in a letter pointing out that the sum sent was insufficient, and asking for further money. This letter was held to be a receipt, and as it was not stamped Mr. Donald handed it to tlie police, and a prosecution resulted in tho fino. They have appealed against the Magistrate's decision. Subsequently Mr, Donald sent a further_ letter .to Mcssts. Ongloy anil Kelly instructing them to hand over to another all mogpys held by them on his behalf, _ This letter, wriic'h constitutes a bill of exchange, wits not stamped, and a second police prosecution resulted in Donald being fined 75., and costs (95.). Defendant's solicitor said a conviction must follow, but he suggested thn,t no fine should be imposed, as tho general public were not aware of the law. Tho Magistrate said the best way to educate the public was to imposo a fine. Speaking at the annual social of the staff of Messrs. J. B. Clarkson and Co., Ltd., on Saturday evening, the chairman of directors (Mr. Hope Gibbons) said that the company had decided to denato £501) to the National Fund for Wounded Soldiers, and in tho course of a patriotic speech said that while the firm had need of every man in its employ, and did not desiro to lose any ono of them, yet tho Empire had a greater Deed, and the directors were prepared to make many sacrifices to help the Allies to win and to end this teiriblo war. The director knew that there were many of the firm's employees who would enlist, and he was prcud to say some had already enlisted, but the thought of making provision for those dependent upon those who wished to enlist probably fitocd in the way. The directgrs assured all thoso who enlisted that they need not have any fear that they would lose hy serving t'hoir country, for the firm would meet the difference betweon- esich employee's soldier's pay and the salary he "was receiving at the time of enlistment. In tlie case of men with dependents, the amounts would be regulaily handed to the dependents during the absence of the employee, and in tlie case of no dependents the amounts would bo banked and handed over in a lump sum upon the soldier's return. Further, the firm would guarantee to reinstate every employee who was sent to the front into his old position, if not a better one, on his return. Ha realised that tho firm ifossessed a loyal and capable staff, and the directors appreciated every man's services j but if any man felt it his duty to go to the front, the firm appreciated his loyalty and assured him that, as far as could bo done, he would not lose wnile he WS6 away or upon his return. Tlie Rev. Thomas Spurgeon (who was for several years pastor of tho Auckland Baptist Tabernacle) has been very seriously ill with haemorrhago from tho head —lasting livo days—followed by gastric influenza and tonsilitis, and his condition caused great anxiety to his friends. Before the last mail left England the doctor had pronounced him out of danger and he was progressing satisfactorily.

THE B.S.A.—FAVOURITE WITH MILITARY DISPATCH KIDEKS-AND WHT. It lias sometimes been said, with muoh truth, that the business test is the best test of any motor. War is the grimmest business of mankind, and the military motor-cyclist stakes his life, very often, upon the reliability of liis mount. Here is what Sergeant It. E. Schofield, R.E.. senior instructor of the Motor-cycle Section at Aldersliot, has to say:— Nearly every dispatch rider that has gone to the front has passed through my handa, and I am therefore in a position to judge how the different makes of machine aro in favour. The B.S.A. is by far away the favourite, and it has yet to happen that a B.S.A. has failed to act up u; its well-earned repute. ... I may stato that RO per cent, of the machines here are B.S.A.'s." A .motor-cyclist with the Second Cavalry Division, British Expeditionary Vorce. ivrites in a private letter: "The roads are hellish. . . • My B.S.A. is the goods. I never have to touch it. They aro the bikes, my boy. They knock the — aU( j any oilier make you like, to mention into a cocked hat." There aro plenty of other letters from the front, all to tha same effect. We are landing 20 of tha latest model B.S.A.'s ex s.s. Marlborough this week, and can rivo immediate delivery. They are ideal machine for either eolo or side-car service, and their reliability is fatnous. The li.p. is 4J, and the three-speed countershaft gear is foolmaf and wouderfully efficient. Adams, Christchurch, Wanganui, Palmerston North; Sutherland and Rankine, Wellington; Tourist Motor Co., Hastings, Ajents for B.S.A, Motors.—Adrt.