LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2534, 7 August 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Telegraph Office advises that •plain language cable messages written m the Italian language may be accepted for transmission to Italy, Libya, Erythrea, and Italian, Somaliland. • It is probable the Trentham Camp Commission will conclude the bearing of evidence to-day. To-morrow will bo observed in tlio ochurohes as a day of intercession in connection with the war. Archbishop Redwood will bo the preacher at tha Roman Catholic Basilica, in Hill Street, in the evening. Bishop Sprott will occupy tho pulpit at tho evening service in St. Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Mulgravo Street. _ At St. John's Presbyterian Church in the morning a memorial service for the men who iiavo fallen will be held. A united service of commemoration and intercession under the auspices of the Ministers' Association will be held in the Town Hall iii the evening commencing at 8.30 o'clock. It is understood, says a Press Association telegram from Dimedin, that Mr. E. F. Duthie has resigned his position as'representative of tho employers on tlio Arbitration Court. The roll of honour at Wellington College of old boys in the King's armies now contains somo 5-50 names, including those of thirteen killed, one missing, arid twenty-five wounded. Lieutenant (now Major) B. C. Freyberg has gained the D.5.0., Sapper J. P. H. Fear tho D.C.IL, and Lieutenant J. L. H. Turner has been mentioned in dispatches. . Mr. 15. J. Wackrill, secretary of tlio Now Zealand Koninoy Sheep-breeders' Association, has received official notification that the association has been awarded the medal of honour for a collective exhibit of Romney wool sent to the Panama Exhibition, San Francisco. The exhibit was collected from a numbor of Romney breeders in different parts of tho Dominion, and was forwarded in a handsome caso made of New Zealand native woods.—(Press Association.) . . J. J. Firth, proprietor of the 'Albion Hotel, was admitted to the Wellington Hospital last night suffering from injuries to the head. Shortly after 8 o'clock he was knocked down by a motor-oar in Courtenay. Place, and was badly hurt. It is some months now since the Wellington Gas Company ceased to manufacture at their old works in Courtenay Place, which have in the meantime been dismantled, and are noiv a mere skeleton of what they were. One of the final acts in the closing of these works was performed on Thursday,' when a gang of men were employed plugging up tho big 18-inch.main that formerly lea into the City from the Wellington gasometers. The m ain was opened up Mow the footpath opposite the company's works in Courtenay Place, and after being broken vfas trimmed off, and a massive cast-irqn cap was plugged on with lead, making tnat section of the plain a blind end. Tho whole of the (4as Company's-gas manufacturing plant is now and has for some timo past been located on the flat at Miramar. Messrs. F. Cooper and Son, seedsmen and nurserymen, of Willis Street, have presented the City Council with a fine collection of native shrubs that are to be planted within the' tramway loop opposite the Zoo gates at Newtown. Tbis is a largo circular area of land round which the cars travel at the'Newtown terminus instead of reversing the trolly-pole. The ground has been well prepared, and a well-attended shrubbery will shortly mark the approach to tho Zoo. . , This afternoon some enthusiastic members of the Rose'and Carnation Club, including Messrs. Geo. Remington, H. A. Fox, and E. Pearce, aro to take in hand tho planting with roses of a specially-prepared area of ground in tho Zoo reserve at Newtown Park. Somo time ago the club offered to do certain work, which would havo greatly im-proved-and beautified tho entrance to i the Zoo, but the cost was thought to be rather heavy for the times, and-the. offer remained in abeyance. It was not, however, possible to check the good intentions of tho members of the club, who arranged with the Reserves Committee to oommence the task of beautifying tho Zoo by tlio creation of a rosery at the southern end of the grounds—in that sheltered valley which has been allowed to have become overgrown with willows. These have for a considerable area been rooted out, and the ground prepared, and to-day a splendid lot of roses will bo planted, including fifty prize ones presented to the Reserves Committee by Mr. Hortori, nurseryman, of Hastings. The annual smoko concert in cooneotion with the Pctono Municipal Board was held last evening, the Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) presiding over a largo gathering. Tlio usual toasts were honoured, and a bright musical progranuno was much appreciated. The chairman intimated during the oveiling that, In rcforence to the appointment of a conductor, tho committee had recommended Bandsman Farrar to tho position. Messrs. Harvey and Eades supported the committee's decision, and tho members unanimously agreed to adopt the recommendation. Lady motorists will welcome the ladies' boudoir and special catering provided by the Dominion Motor Vehicles, Ltd., in their fino new garage—the. largest in the Dominion—just off the Courtenay Place wood-blocking in 'Tory Street. Special ladies' runabouts—electric self-starting and lighting, of course—arrive in three weeks Catalogues and photographs mailed on request. Garago hours—7 a.m. to midnight: 7 to 10 a.ia.i 6 to 11 p,m, Sundays,

The Wellington Ministers' Association lias completed arrangements for al united servico of commemoration and intercession, in connection with the war, at the Town Hall at 8.30 o'clock- tomorrow evening. The president will givo a brief address, and other ministers will also take part in the meeting. Tho AYadestown Municipal Electors' Association has been legally advised that tho City Council's present, method of dealing with the Wadestown tramways is unlawful, and lias decided to recommend ratepayers not to pay tho special tram rato until tho question has been settled. Formal representations have been mado to the council by the association's logal advisers, and it is hoped that the matter will be satisfactorily adjusted without the necessity of Court proceedings. Tho issue of the new series of post ago stamps, hoaring the portrait of! King George, began at the various post ofliccs in New Zealand on Wednesday. The old series, with tho portrait of tho late King Edward, will continue to be used -until the supply has been exhausted. Following are,the denominations and colours (approximately) of the new stamps: Halfpenny,• light green; lid., slate grey; 2d.', violet; 2}d., saxe blue; 3d., mauve; 43., orange; 4}d., sea' green ;.6d,, carmine; 7Jd., sepia; 9d., sage green; Is., reddish green. This is' tho first occasion on_which.4Jd. and 7}d. stamps havo been issued in New Zealand, tho reason being that the revised parcel post rates require the issue of these stamps. The ljd. value has been, out of issue for some time, and has been' revived for the same purpose, while, tho sd. and Bd. values havo been dropped' out. The stamps are all of the same design, the only distinctive feature being the colours, but in some cases the colours aro very similar, and may lead to confusion. This is particularly ■ the caso with the lid. and 4Jd. stamps. Well-intentioned people in Wellington aro once more instituting the chainprayer, nuisance. After the prayer the intimation reads—"This was sent from' Russia to ho sent round the world. Please send copy to nine persons; send one each day commencing from tho day you receive this, o.nd on the ninth day, you will meet with some great joy." The Government Advances Board has advised the Castlepoint- County Council that a sum of £1000 has been granted for metalling tho Tinui-Annedale Road. At a social and dance held 'on the Opaki Racecourse on Thursday evening,' in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, a flag (presented by Mr. J. Campbell, jun.) was sold for £500. Tho flag was ultimately purchased by tho Masterton Racing Club for £100. The following resolution was passed at the Conforenco of tho New Zealand Moderate League yesterday—"That this conference of delegates of the New Zealand Moderate League expresses its appreciation of tho action of the two great political parties in coming togotlier for national well-being and Empiro defence, and congratulates tho Primo Minister and the Leader of the Opposition on tho successful conclusion: of their negotiations.'' The Reserves Committee of tlie > City Council is moving, through its chairman (Mr. Geo. Frost), to havo the cottaso at the top of Duncan Street (Soutli Kilbimie) transferred to tho Newtown Park Zoo grounds as a home for the caretaker (Mr. j Langridge). The cottago in question stands on a section of land which is being acquired under tho Public Works Act for the purposes of widening Crawford Road, which' thoroughfare the now double tramway track is to traverse: At present the Zoo superintendent dwells away_ from _ tho grounds, but the committee is of opinion that, now they have such a valuable collection, provision should bo made for him to reside within tho confines of tho 1 Zoo. A map which' should prove of great interest to our readers is advertised ini our columns by the well-known importing firm of Downs Bros., Wellington. Tho reversible principle on which this has been printed has enabled the publishers to work to a large scale and introduce an enormous amouut of detail, which, through lack of space, is generally omitted. Tho printing-and colouring, aro exceptionally good. Large numbers of tho man have been subscribed for.The advertisement is intended principall.v for the convenience of in tho country districts,, which are too scattered for the firm's salesmen to travel. Intending purchasers aro urged to make prompt application to avoid disappointment. ' A gathering of members, of the staff of The Dominion took place last evening for the purposo of saying farewell to Mr. A. C. Wheatley, who has been associated with the paper from its inception.. and is leaving to take up the duties of accountant to tho Now Plymouth Borough Council. On behalf of tho staff the' manager, Mr. A. Sando, presented a valuable rug and case of cutlery to Mr. Wheatley. Sir Joseph Ward will leave for Christchurch to-night on private business, returning to Wellington on Wednesday. ■ Tho Hon. G. W. Russeil and the Hon.J. A. Hanan went south last night, tho former for Christchurch and the latter, for Invercargill. Detective-Sergeant Cox, of Christchurch, and Defeetivo Carney, of Lyttelton, havo been transferred to this City, while Detectivo Quartermain is going from Auckland to Lytteltou. A- motion of regrot at the death of Mr. A. G. Beer, an old member of the New Zealand Institute, of Surveyors, was passed at the monthly meeting of tho council of the institute yesterday. Constable Dickson, of the Mount Cook Police Station, who has been transferred to Larnbton Police was the recipient of a presentation from his comrades at Mount- Cook on Thursday evening. Constable O'Connor mado the presentation, and Constables Dunn and Wilson echoed the remarks made by him as to the excellent qualities of Constable Dickson. Constable Dickson suitably responded. Owing to having contracted a cold and sore throat, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) did not attend at the Town Hall yesterday. Among the passengers who left for Sydney by tho Olimaroa on Thursday, night .were Captain Thorpe, harbourmaster at Lyttelton, Captain Colonna, Lloyd's Survoyor there, and . Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Friedlander, of Asliburton.

THE B.S.A-FAVOURITE WITH MILITARY DISPATCH MDEBS-AND WHY. v ' It has sometimes been said, with muck' 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 his mount. Here is what Sergeant R. E. Schofield, 8.E., senior instructor of the Motor-cycle Section at Aldershot, has to say:—"Nearly every dispatch rider that has gone to the front has passed through, my hands, 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 to its well-earned repute. ... I may state that 50 por cent, of tho machines here aro B.S.A.'s." A .motor-cyclist with, the Second Cavalry Division, British Expeditionary Force, writes in a private letter: "Th# roads aro hellish. ... My B.S.A. is th» goods. I nevor have to touch it. They are the bikes, my boy. They knock th« and any other mako you like to mention into a cocked hat." There are plentj of other letters from the front, all to th« same effect. We are landing 20 of th« latest model B.S.A.'s ex e.s. Marlborough this week, and can give immediate delivery. They are ideal machines for either solo or side-car service, and their reliability is famous. The h.p. is i\, and the three-speed countershaft gear is foolproof and wonderfully efficient. Adams, Ltd., Christchuroh, Waneanui, Palmer#ton North; Sutherland and Rankine, Wellington; Tourist Motor Co., Hastings, .Agents for B.S.A, Motorp,—Adrt,