LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2518, 20 July 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities advise that the s.s. Riverina, which sailed from Sydney for Auckland on July 15, is bringing Australian mails and also an English mail, via Suez. The Wellington portion is due per Main Trunk express this morning.

Tho reinforcement camp that has been located on the Solway Showground for the past week was lifted on Sunday, and the men proceeded to Tauherinikau. About thirty men, suffering from various forms of sickness, are remaining behind for 'hospital treatment.

When a certain maintenance case was callod in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, counsel for defendant stood up and said that his client was under the impression that complainant (his wife) was dead. Apparently, said counsel, defendant could not be blamed for this, as he had received a memorial card and other notices referring to his wife's death. True enough, the wife mado no appearanco, but as to whether this was due to counsel's suggestion, the Cgurt was not informed. The case was struck cut.

William Jl'Donald 1 Robertson, carrier, of fN'Huioi'i lias IW ft I'stitleu in baalv

The eight Australian nurses who cared for Now Zealand wounded oil tlio trip across from Suez to Dunedin are euro to be given a great welcome on reaching their own country. 'Providing they leave here for Sydney oil Thursday nest, as originally intended, tlioy will reach Sydney on Monday next—just in time for the great Australia Day, a nation-wide celebration in aid of funds for the prosecution of lied Cross work among the wounded Australian soldiers, with which work the Sisters have been so closely allied.

Fixtures for tho Court of Arbitration are announced as follow:—-New Plymouth, Friday, July 23, at 10 a.im: Wonganui. Monday, July 26, 10 n.m • Napier, Thursday, July 29, 10 am • Gisborne, Saturday, July 31 10.30 a in • Palmerston North, Thursday, August C, 3.30 p.m.

A deputation, consisting of Messrs. J. Gastlo and T. Fathers, representing the Wellington Zoological Society, halted on tho Reserves Committee yesteiday nith the information that tho Government Tourist. Department was prepared to hand over to the Zoo on loan an interesting collection of thirty birds and animals from the Rotorua Zoo. llio committee has decided to rcconimend the council to accept the loan, subject to certain conditions respecting the safety of the exhibit.

Asked yesterday as to whothor ho had heard anything further in regard to the City Council's offer of the Kelbum Tea Kiosk for the purpose® of a convalescent home, tho Mayor 'Mr. J. P. Luke) stated that no further word had been received from the Director of Military Hospitals respecting the matter.

llie promotion of means to protect British trade interests is a subject which will, no doubt, come before the Conference of Chambers of Commerce next month. The Wellington Central Chamber will advocate tlie adoption of the following remit:—"That this conference take whatever steps are considered necessary to promote (1) trading within the Empire; . (2) preferential tariff m favour of our present Allies, or, if advisable, neutrals, making the preference such that a 11-goods coming in the future from our present enemies will cost more landed in New Zealand than will goods of a similar quality from other sources."

From July 1 to 14, the receipts of the Zoo amounted to £19 19s. 3d., as against £16 Cs. 3d. for tho corresponding period of last year.

'J'lio good position won by New Zealand at the Panama Exposition was relerred to at yesterday's meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce. The president of the (Mr. C. M. Luke) said that 500 prizes were a it-on-derhil record for a country of a little oyer a million people. When the war was over wo would have a market on the Pacific, Coast of America, and our succoss at the Exposition must help us considerably! in Lli'a securing ■ of that market. New Zealand should have a permanent trade representative on tho West Coast of America. It spoke volumes for the Dominion that it could send such an exhibit while engaged in a war.

The sittings of the Court of 'Appeal will be resumed this morning at 10 o clock, when reserved judgment will bo delivered in the case of the Public Trustee v. the Hutt River Board.

As tho new Constable Street-Kilbir-mo South extension of the Wellington tramways system provides for a double track, tho suspended overhead wire system is being supplanted by tho span wire method, which will clear tlio street of centre-poles, that are always a menace. moro or loss, to ordinary traffic, as well as an inconvenience and danger to tho public that usos tho cars.

The Officer' Commanding the Trentham' Regiment (Earl- of Liverpool's Own) writes 'from Rangiotu Camp, under date July 19, as under: —"Ishould be pleased if you would kindly express in .your columns my thanks to the Wellington Patriotic Society for their generosity and kindness in supplying the men of my regiment with-tobacco and, cigarettes."

The payment of weekly wages not later than Friday afternoon will bo urged by the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce at next month's conference of Chambers.

Bills of lading may come under dis. cussion at tho forthcoming conference of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce. The Wellington Central Chamber will advocate the setting up of a special committee -by the conference to • consider several matters arising out of the terms and conditions of bills of lading, and to obtain and circulate among Chambers a full and clear statement of the law relating thereto, the committee to roport particularly oil "uniform conditions, and ability of the shipping companies .to contract themselves out of practically all liability, the actual legal value of bills of lading, tlio extent to which New Zealand legislation applies to ■ shipping companies trading to, but not registered in. the Dominion," and other legal points concerning bills of lading.

After the dispersal from Trentham things were very unsettled at the Waikanae camp. The Salvation Army authorities, however, provided a large marquee, which was soon erected and took the place of the large institute now standing idle at Trentham. The men are very appreciative of the _ interest shown in their welfare, and rallied splendidly to the Sunday services, which were conducted by Stiff Captain Walls.'Reading and writing materials are arranged for, and the most is being don 9 to make the men comfortable.

' The following letter, signed "Broken, hearted," has been received by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Lnko): "I am very sorry to havo to write and) ask for Help, but I am placed in a bad position. My husband is away at the front, and I am left with four young children, and I just now have got twins, and I am to be turned out of the rooms that I am in in twenty-four hours unless I can pay tho mouth's rent due. I have had a big expense with twins, and am on the verge of starvation, barely getting sufficient for my children, let alone myself. I cannot give you any address at my rooms, as I may be turned out by tho timo you reply, but hoping you will send help at your earliest convenience.— P.9.—Please send me help as soon as possible. ■ If you could send me £2 to pay for my rooms and to get some food for my children I shall bo very grateful, as altogether I owe £5." The Mayor had inquiries mado at the Te Aro Post Office to see if the correspondent (who has signed a surname at the bottom of the letter) had called there for a reply, but no one had done . so. To guard against any attempted imposition, therefore, he has decided to do nothing further in the matter.

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) desires to acknowledge with thanks the offer of two dozen Box. tins of "Virol" for the use of military convalescents in Wellington from Messrs. W. arid G. Tumbull and Co.