LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2574, 23 September 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

His Excellency the Governor announces that pillowslips for the Hospital Ship should be twenty inches by thirty inches, which, His Excellency is informed, is a stock size, instead of the dimensions previously given, and that the size of tho pillows should be reduced accordingly.

The Minister of. Defence has received a telegram from H.M.S. Philomel advisj !ing him that gifts of mufflers, socks, and other comforts dispatched on August 3 had been duly received. The officers and men of the.ship ask the Defence Minister to convey their thanks to tho New Zealand people.'

Whilst experiments! were being conducted in the manufacture of coal-gas at the Petone Technical School yesterday, an explosion took place, causing a slight injury to Mr. J. Lynskey, and minor injunos to two of the pupils. The local celebration of Trafalgar Day ,vill take the form- of an evening demonstration in the Town Hall oil October 21, which is being arranged by the Navy League's local branch.- On that evening the prizes will be presented to the winners of the school-boys' essay competition. Full particulars will be published later. . The banks will be closed for holiday on Monday in celebration of Dominion Day. Applications for pensions from twelve soldiers and sixteen dependents were hefore the War Pensions Board at its meeting this week. Pensions of ail aggregate amount of £851 were granted and a number of applications were held over for further consideration, in some cases pending further reports from the Medical Board, while in others it was deemed advisable that the applicants should appear personally. One soldier was granted a pension of £91 per annum (the full pension for total disablement), and four applications by soldiers were rejected. In the case of applications by dependents the widow of an officer was granted a pension of £104 a year; the widow of a-private with three children, £91 a year; the- widowed mother of a 6oldier killed in action, on her own behalf and that of four children, £84 a year; and the widow of a private, with two children, £78 a year. Two mothers of deceased soldiers were awarded respectively £26 and £18 a year, in addition to the old age pension, lie father of a soldier killed was-granted £8 a s'ear. Three pensions of £65 a year were granted to the mother of a private, a widowswithout ohildren, and the'mother of two sons killed in action. Amounts of £52 a year were granted to a widow without ohildren, the father of a lieutenant, and the father of a private. One application by a dependent was adjourned, and two were declined. One of these was made by the widow of a soldier who died prior to his intended departure from New Zealand. The other, made by the mother of a deceased soldier, was rejected on account of her husband's means. 1

pendence for their safety and for the prestige of the British name upon the maintenance of British seapower in co-operation with the seapower of our Allies in this war." The Wellington Branch has sent, on behalf of | the joint branches of the league in New Zealand, a frozen wreath of native foliage and flowers in a large block of ice to be placed at the haso of l the Column, - At a meeting of heads of the Publio Service and representatives of the executive of the Public Service Association at Government Buildings on Monday, relative to the question of the disposal of tlie contributions that havo been made by the Public Service to the relief of wounded soldiers and their dependent's, aud to meet special cases of distress arising from tho war, it was brought under tho notice of those present that certain cases had arisen which could not be helped at present by funds received from the public for that purpose. It would appear that in many cases the various organisations that have collected these moneys have not yet formulated a scheme for the disbursement of their funds, and the meeting felt that, considering ( the length of tune that lias transpired since the fluids were raised, and 111 view of the large amount in hand collected from tlio public, t-lio time had arrived when some definite move should be made in placing the administration of these moneys on some satisfactory basis, so that distress may bn met adequately immediately and Without waste or overlapping. In order that pronipt assistance miftht he given m several urgent oases which were brought under review, ilie meeting placed at the disposal of the Hon. Mr. Russell and the Hon. Mr. Herdman, to meet immediate necessities, a sum of monev from the contributions raised by, tho Publio Service of tho Dominion.

Our Mastcrtoii correspondent reports that a large sum of money running into over £700 was collected in Mnsterton yesterday in aid of tlio fund for tho erection "of a subsidiary hospital at Trentham Camp, as proposed by Major Andrew.

As the Wellington Amateur Operatio Socioty is contributing the whole of its net profits to the Wounded ■ Soldier's Fund, the band of the New Zealand Natives' Association (under Lieutenant T. Herd) has consented to play a programme of music on the balcony of the Grand Opera House between 7.15 p.m. ami 8 p.m. on Saturday next —the opening night.

At a general meeting of the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union last evening, it was decided to pay three halfyearly instalments off the band instrument fund. A motion that the band be reorganised was lost. The union decided to spend the sum of £10 on industrial literature. Consideration of other business was postponed.

A report was presented to Parliament yesterday from the committee wliich considered tho petition of. 3300 persons praying for a reduction of the sentence passed on Louis Fosbender for manslaughter. Fosbender, an Invercargill resident, was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude on a change of manslaughter arising out of a fatal motor accident at Invercargill. The committee roo.ommended tliat tno petition should be referred to tho Government for immediate atid favourable consideration. 'J'licy also pointed out that the case showed the groat necessity for the right of appeal in criminal cases similar to the English criminal appeal law. The accident was between the ■ motor-car driven by Fosbender and a dray carrying only ono light, tho driver of which was kilied. The committee had evidence before them, which was not produced at the trial, in accused's behalf.

A meeting of the Vogeltown and Mornington Municipal Electors'. Association was held in the Masonic Hall, Brooltlyn, last evening," Mr. 0. W. Tanner presiding. ■ The meeting ; was called to consider the proposed construction of tho new road between Brooklyn and Vogeltown. It was stated that the City Council proposed to construct the road, and it was decided that a deputation iof tho association attend on the City Council in reference to the matter, and urge the early construction of the road. The change of the name of Vogeltown was also discussed on account of its German origin, and it was decided to put this matter before the City Council at an early opportunity.

A dangerous-looking piece of concrete, weighing about was produced in evidence against a man named Frederick George Thurston, charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday with assaulting a wharf labourer named Edmond Hot])cram, -so as to cause him actual bodily harm. Witnesses of assault stated that they saw accused' come out of the Forrester's Arms Hotel and ask a boy whore ho could get a brick. Rotheram came out of the hotel shortly after, and accused, who had secured the lump of concrete from behind a coffee stall, approached him, and asked Itotlioram if he wanted to fight. A few moments later he heaved the concrete at Rotheram, who fell like a log. . Shortly after a constable came on the sceno, and Thurston took to his heels, being eventually caught some distance down Vivian Street. Rotheram, who could ascribe no reason for the assault, had to be attended by a doctor. Accuscd, .who pleaded not guilty, was committed to tho Supreme Court for trial.

A statement concerning a soldier who left for. the front with the advance party of. the' Trentham Regiment was made by Mr. G. Witty in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. Witty informed the Minister of Defence that this man joined the Forces on June 14. He had had six or seven weeks' absence on sick leave, and a week before he left he was in hospital suffering from Briglit's disease. ; This , man had had practically no training. _ Sir. . Witty said that ho _had had this, information from the.'soldier'ssmother.:' *The Minister of Defence said he knew nothing of tho case, but he would have inquiries made.

Two matters of some importance to tho comfort of the soldiers at Trentham were brought under the notice of tho Minister for Defcnce in the House yesterday by Mr. 0. A. Wilkinson. Bo asked the Minister, of Defenco when the baths at Trentham Camp would be completed. At present there were only fiv shower-baths in the camp for some thousands of men; and if men wished to wash they had. to bathe in the river. He also asked the Minister to .isve the regulation relaxed which compelled soldiers in uniform' to travel between Wellington and Trentham by speci.U trains. Soldiers were not allowed to travel by ordinary trains even if they pail tbeir Own fares, which many men vere quite able and willing to do. The lion: J. Allen said he was sorry about the.-delay in the fitting up of the baths, but he was informed that two hundred would bo ready this week. They had been ordered months ago, but there had been difficulty about procuring the hot-water appliances. Concerning tho regulation about soldiers travelling on trains he would have to consult the Minister of Railways. He would suggest to the honourable .member, however, that it was not a proper thing to discriminate between the man \yho could pay and the man who could not. Thore were reasons/why it was desirable that soldiers should travel by special trains.

A telegram which Mr. J. Anstey (Waitaki) read in the House of Representatives yesterday indicated that the drought which has prevailed _in North Otago for some montns is attaining serious proportions. Tho telegram, said Mr. Anstey, was sent on behalf., of about thirty residents of Ngapara, who asked that tho Government grant free carriage of water on the railway from Oamaru. The settlers would provide tanks, and do any carting to and from the railway. This water was required for, domestic purposes, and this: showed the serious nature of the drought which was pretty general throughout North Otago. The; Prime Minister said ho was very sorry indeed to hear of the position in North Otago, It was probably the first-' time in the history of New Zealand that an'appeal for assistance of this kind had been made at this'period, of tlife year. He could not give a definite reply to the request at that but he would at onco consult the Minister of Railways about tho matter.

Tho following- is an extract from a circular letter re Trafalgar Day, October 21, from tTie Headquarters of the Navy League to the local branch secretary:—"lt lias teen arranged that tho Nelson Column, in Trafalgar Square, sliiill.be decorated as in previous years with appropriate wreaths commemorative of the gallant deeds of tho British Navy, to which , will be added appropriate floral tributes to our chivalrous enemies of a former time who are now. our comrades in arms. Wreaths will also 1)0 placed upon the Column to tho memory of tho officers and men of each ship lost in the present war.- Everything possible will ho done to make the anniversary one which will stimulate patriotio effort, and. whioh will bring inore' closely to the hearts and the thoughts our people their entire de-

Tile secretary of the Nelson 'Advancement Society has, says a Press Association telegram, written to the Sick and Wounded Fund Executive urging that the National Conference and tho Government should consider tho provision of orchards for returned soldiers in tho Nelson district, pointing out the great results possihlo from a comparatively small expenditure of capital.

"If you could just realise how hard an animal man is to kill you would think no more of my being hit than if I was working in New Zealand." Thus writes Private H. Whisliaw, in a letter from Gallipoli, to his mother in Featherston. "I guess it takos about a ton of war material to a man, and it would be cheaper and quicker to catcli tlio man first and drop it cn him, wouldn't it?" The writer, who was then on sniping duty, mentioned that Turks, like rabbits, are moro likely to peep from tlieir burrows early iti the mornings and in tha ovenings, adding, "they are a jolly sight .harder to hit, though, than any Tabbit I ever saw.**

11l the annual report of the Hataitai Battling Club, to be presented at the meeting next week, congratulatory references are made to tlie number of members that have joined the forces for service at Gallipoli. Owing to the rough weather experienced last season, the club did not have as successful a year as could be wished. Mention is made of the good serrices performed by the late president, Mr. R. M. Isaacs, prior to his transfer to Invercargill. The club has a. substantial credit balance, and no liabilities.