LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 17 July 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

—3 The National Cabinet proposal was further considered at an Opposition caucus yesterday, but after a long Bitting the meeting decided to adjourn until Wednesday next, The matter therefore remains still undecided. Sir Joseph Ward stated last evening that some of tho members of the party were not present, and that it was desired to secure a full attendance before coining to a decision on tho subject. , The Financial Statement will be probably delivered on Tuesday nest. The Union Company's steamer Willoclira, which conveyed the New Zealand wounded soldiers from the Dardanelles to Wellington, was to have left here for Lyttelton last evening with tho .South Island section of the wounded. At 9,20 p.m. the vessel drew out from the Glasgow Wharf into the stream and came to anchor thero. Subsequent inquiries elicited the information that the whole of the Willoclu-.a's crew had signed off at Wellington yesterday, as the ship's'articles had expired.. When the new articles '• were opened it was found that several of the 1 vessel's complement, expressed a desire to Temain ashore. The vessel sailed from-the stream at 1.15 a.m. .

& meeting of tho Government Party was held last night, at which detail matters of interest to the party and to Parliament were discussed.

An. invitation was recently .extended to the Hon. Sir Francis Bell, K.C.M.G., •to bo tho cliicf guest and speaker at one of the New Zealand Club's luncheons, but Sir Francis Bell has written to the secretary of tho club . as under, liis reasons for not being a.ble to accept tho invitation: "Dear Sir, — I appreciate and value the honour proposed to me by the New Zealand Club that I sliouM bo their guest. But I trust they will oxcuso my acceptance for the reason that the distinction conferred on me lately is of local concern and interest; and I do not like tho idea, at this time, of making any such matter one of public note. I put this view, also, to uiy brother members of the legal profession, who had kindly proposed to mo a similar honour, and also to another body which I had been associated with; and I hope the club will agreo with me. Perhaps in happier times, later, they may consider me still worthy of the opportunity now proposed, and if so I shall be glad to avail myself of tho chance of so addressing my fellow-members and fellow-sub-jects."-

The soldiers returned from the front have been invited to attend tlio porformanco which is being given at tlio Grand Opera Eonso this evening by the Plim-mer-Hall Company.

Mr. Richard Howoll has received a reply to a potition made by him to tho Queen of tho Carnival, praying that copies of his verses "The Call of _ the limpiro," might be ordered.lor distribution among tho troops in camp. Her Mil.)#,sty hus bqßu pkusatl to ardor five

A. collision occurred between a bolting horso attached to an express and Mr. W. H. I'. Barber's motor-car at Stewart Dawson's Corner on Thursday afternoon, whilst the motor procession was proceeding past that point en route to tho Town Hall. Tho horso dashed up Customhouse Quay, and collided violently with the side of Mr. Barber's car, tearing away tilie side-step and the lamp, and cannoned off 011 to a lorry in the vicinity, which brought the runaway to a'standstill. The impact threw Mr. Barber over into the back seat, from which ho bounced back on to tho front one again, but other than a slight rick in tho back, which was still painful yesterday, ho sustained 110 injuries. Had not Mr. Barber's car acted as a buffer, tho horso would havo bolted right into tho dense pack of people that was assembled at the streot junction.

The following is an extract from a letter written on June 3 and just received from the Hon. Huia Onslow by the Hon. Dr. Collins:—"I must write you another letter of thanks for tho wonderful success of our appeal. I havo more respect and admiration for my- fellow-countrymen than over. It is too splendid. I have now over £1000 to tho credit of tho fund from New Zealand alone, and I have just sent a large consignment of drugs to tho Value of £106 to France, and we aro making every endeavour to help any hospital in which New Zealandera are likely to bo treated. I assure you that you and tho New Zealand contributors have tho deepest gratitude of' all the committee."

A conference of the local bodies concerned in the oontrol of the Hutt Road was held at the Town Hall, yesterday. It was agreed that the Hutt Road should be vested in a board of control comprising the Mayors of Wellington, Lower Hutt, Petono, the Chairman of the Makara County Council, and one other member to be elected by, the other contributing bodies.

The Educational Institute _ resolved yosterday: "That the executive take such measures as seem to it best calculated to safeguard the interests of teachers volunteering for service in the armies of [tho Empire; in particular, their position should be kept open for them, and where promotion schemes are in existence, they should be advanced in grade as if they were still teaching."

, A collision which was narrowly averted between a locomotive' and a . motorcar recently at the Davis Street crossing was the subjcct of proceedings in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. Alfred Rolph, the driver of tho motor iii question; and who had driven his car over tho crossing despite alleged persistent signals from the crossing-keeper, was charged with going over tho crossing at faster than a walking pace., • Tho Magistrate characterised the breach as "a very dangerous practice," and fined Rolph 205., with Court costs 7s.

■ A medting of creditors in. respect to the bankrupt estate of W. K. and J. Council,- hotelkeepers, was called .for Thursday at the office of the Official Assignee, but was adjourned, pending the result'of an appeal lodged in tho Supreme Court against the adjudication. The Acting Official Assigneo (Mr. S. Tansley) informed-the-creditors present that a statement of Councils' position had been asked for, but had not been supplied within the prescribed time. 'A manager had'been placed in tho Royal Hotel in the meantime, and things were progressing satisfactorily, Vi inventory taken- showed the contents of tha hotel to be worth £323.

, Tho New Zealand High . Commissioner (Hon. Thos. Mackenzie) recently received the following letter from the City of Birmingham' Education Committee,. Rookery Road School"The staff and .children" of this school—the largest primary school in Birmingham— 'keeping , Empire Day,' respectfully saluto the Sigh Commissioner of New Zealand, and ask to be allowed to express to him their thankful pride in the glorious help'given the Motherland by the gallant sons of the Dominions across the broad, seas. We havo 'crowned' - and saluted your flag to-day, in tho happy assurance that the Empire is safe as long as tho spirit which-caused your rulers to send and your men to come is still alive iri the hearts of the race. And may God bless their service." Mr. Mackenzie Teplied: "On behalf of the Dominion of New Zealand and myself, I sincerely , thank the staff and children of the Rookery Road School, Birmingham, for saluting the Dominion on Empire Say, and it will give mo pleasure -to inform my Government of .the. outstanding tribute paid to our country. I. cannot myself feel other than pride at the splendid, work'done by Now Zealanders, in common with Australians and Canadians during this great war. I am' sure that tlie Overseas peoples but required the opportunity to show that ;they are worthy'of tho race from which ;they, sprang; and this war will do much to bind still more firmly together every part of our widespread.Em-, pire."

The latest Gazette notifies that correspondence with "A. Cnrl Norstrand, Copenhagen," is prohibited.

Writing to his sister in Wollongong (N.S.W.), P. Pickering, who is employed in a trawler engaged in mine-sweep-ing the North Sea, says:. "We had a terrible experience in submarine warfare; Wo were steaming along with tho large oil-tank ship Gulf Light, when she ■was torpedoed by a German submarine right alongside our trawler, and the shock of. the explosion nearly lifted us out of the engine-room. We took off 32 of the crew, but some were drowned, and tho oaptain died shortly after being taken aboard our boat from injuries received. Singular to relate he was a German, as were also three more of the crew rescued by us. Tho same day four boats were torpedoed in the same vicinity."

An -exciting whaling adventure befell a Tory Channel party. Two motor-boats (Belinda and Crescent) chased two whales into Cook Strait. Both wero harpooned; and the Belinda towed her prize in to the shore. The Crescent's whale, however, got. underneath the boat and lifted it out of the water. The craft immediately began to swamp, water covering tho engine. The whale was cut adrift, and the party put up a sail and began bailing the water out with kerosene tins. They wero six miles out at this time, and when just about swamped another motor-boat went out to the rescue. The Crescent's crew had a vory narrow 'escape. The boat was considerably knocked about, and tlie engino ruined. The party has secured fifteen whales in the last two months, the oil of which is valued at about £3000.

■ Letters received from soldiers in Egypt complain of great irregularity in the delivery of mails (says a Christchurch. paper). In one instance, it is stated, mails that should have been delivered at the base in Egypt were taken to the Dardanelles and there thrown ashore and left. Relatives and friends of the soldiers who have been sending papers vegularlv from Canterburjvare receiving word that they have not reached their destination. A trooper in hospital at the base-received twelve weekly papers in one bundle, although a copy was dispatched every week from Ohristcirarch.

An. instance of self-sacrifice, illustrating what even the youngest can do, has occurred at Someirfield School, Spreydon,'where the children in Standards I and 11, and the infant rooms have devoted their pennies, usually spent in sweets, to a Soldiers' Fund. In four weeks £3 was raised, which has been expended on chocolate, to bo forwarded to tho Dardanelles.

An interesting arrival from America is due in the Canostata 011 the !>6th inst. This boat is bringing for tho Dominion Motor Veliioles, Ltd., a shipmont of. oightcylinder King cars, wihich combine tho latest refinements known to tho engineering world. Upon arrival one will be exhibited—for a short time only—in New Zealand's largest Garage—the D.M.Y.— rituuted iust off the Courtenay Plaoo

It was decided at the annual meeting of the Rose nud Carnation Club that a paper 011 "Hobo Growing for Amateurs," contributed by "Kowhai," bs printed and conies distributed among tli'o members.

"Just study tho matter for one moment. Take into consideration the present position. When Germany is driven, out of Belgium and France the war will then only ho commencing. What will , bo tlio state of things even tlien? If the •war bo continued to its bitter end, what will be the state of Europe then, with this terrific depletion of wealth and resources? Will there bo sufficient strength left to compel Germany to change her dynasty or give up militarism, or will thero simply be a recurrence of the whole trouble? In the case of England alone, what will bo the effect of tho interference in industry, finance, und commerce generally? Will it modify individualism? What of the social aspect? _ India's national _ aspects? Everything, everywhere, is going into the melting pot, you ask me the effect. It would be easier to tell yon all about tho future life I".—M. W. M'Callum, Professor of Modern Languages at tho Sydney University, on tho eifeots of tho war.

Tho conference of New Zealand operative butchers, which was being held in. Wellington, has concluded its business. Rules and a constitution, which were drawn up, are to be referred '/j tho unions which sent delegates to the conference, and the delegates will meet in Wellington again in September to deal with tho union's suggestions on this and other subjects. ■

For th'e purpose of raising funds to provide tobacco, and cigarettes for the Now Zealand soldiers at the Dardanelles, Tozart, "tho vagabond artist,"now appearing at His Majesty's Theatre, will give pavement sketches in the city streets this morning. Tozart is the official collector for the London "Weekly Dispatch" Tobacco and Cigarette Fund, and all the money collected in New Zoaland goes to the New Zealand Soldiers.

Tlie work of examining tho ■ soldierfl who returned by the Willochra and: arranging for their dispatch to their Tarious destinations was completed yesterday. Private H. M. Foster is to be sent to the Auckland Hospital after a week's leave. _ Of the other hospital cases, ton are going to Dunedin, eight to Christchurch, fivo to Invercargill, four to South Canterbury, and one each to Grey* month,. Oamaru, Gore, and Napier. Eighty South Islanders have been declared fit to send to thei,- own homes.

An inquiry was made in the House of Representatives by Mr. Ell as to whether tho Government would undertake the distribution of newspapers among the wounded soldiers in base hospitals in * Egypt or elsewhere if private citizens hero found the newspapers and tho postage. Mr. Ell was informed by the Defence Minister that if a person wished to send newspapers ho could obtain all the information lie needed on application to nuy post office in the country.

Tho Dargaville correspondent of the ''New Zealand Herald" states that although the conditions of gumdiggers have boon radically affected, by the flump in kauri gum owing to the war, the industry in the Northern Wairoa district still retains a large degree'of importance. Some '500 diggers are engaged in the winning and handling of tho commercial resin, and these necessitate a-weekly turnover of £1000. Pourfifths of the men are .Croatians, and are located on the peninsula which extends from Maunganui Bluff to the Kaipara entrance, a distance of fifty miles. Tha remaining fifth embraces Britishers and Maoris. When the price of gum fell to its present value the more enterprise ing of the Croatians sought work in other channels, and .about one hundred secured employment on the. Kaihul railway extension works, on roading contracts, and as farm labourers.V Those left on the gumfields, however, find it possible to make fair livings, .despite the fact that war conditions nave lowered prices. In years gone by the short spear was an indispensable implement of the digger's kit, • whereas nowadays it is seldom seen, and has been superseded by the swamp ground lance of a 12ft. length. On the high lands tha spade alono is used, 'and the success of workers rests upon the area of land turned over. In the gullies and swamps, extensive draining schemes obtain, and the ground is excavated to a depth of 10ft; and 15ft. in order to obtain the deepest deposits. Diggers state that in the territory under review thoy find three layers _of gum, each of a different variety, which points to the fact that three successive forests clothed, that portion of .the island.

' A curious/story is published in the New York "Tribune" from- the pen of its Paris correspondent, who attributes . his information to the diplomatic representative of a neutral Power, concerning 'the cause of the serious illness from which King Constantino of Greeco is suffering. It is duo, according to this source, to a wound inflicted upon tho King during an angry discussion by his consort, Queen Sophia; _ who is a; sister of the German. Kaiser; Notwithstanding her conversion to thei Orthodox Greek Church, Queen Sophia remains passionately devoted t-o the policies of her Imperial brother and to. the cause of. Germany. _ A very animated conversation, it is stated, tooE place in the King's library one evening in April, which developed into a violent quawel, during which tho Queen, whose occasional outbursts of impetuous terat per are well known to all about her, seized a sharp-pointed metallic paper knife, and, scarcely realising what 6he was about to. do, being carried away by her hot temper, .plunged the paper-" cutter at her husband's side. The Queen, so tho account proceeds, instantly expressed the deepest sorrow at the consequences of her impetuosity, but the King, naturally viewing the episode on its serious side, earnestly.. desired that tho Queen return to her own, family. The truth was hushed up, and the King, as he would have done in any case, gallantly attributed to influenza the pleurisy that sot in owing Jo tho wound. The latest reports from Athens report the King's condition as far from satisfactory. Several opera* tions havo been performed upon him, one of them for the removal of part of his tenth rib. It is believed he is suffering from pleurisy with purulent offusion, the treatment of which consists of the removal of one or more, ribs and drainage.