LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2584, 5 October 1915, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A proposal that officers of .the Public "rust should bo available to assist soldiers in camp in drawing t-heit' wills was mado to the Finance Minister in the House yesterday by Mr. G. Witty. Sir Joseph Ward said ho would give this matter consideration. He was.not sure that there were enough solicitors on the' staff of the Public Trust to.deal with such a large number -'-.'of- inert,'l especially by visiting tho camp to do the work there. Tbere was also to be' considered the fact that many of tho soldiers who were well-to-do had their own-lawyers. • . A petition to the Government for a pension for the aged parents of tho late Captain Frandi. who was killed on Gallipoli, _ was mentioned to the Patriotic Society last evening; and the society decided to support the petition.

The New Zealand Surveyors'■ Board has just concluded the September examination of candidates for surveyors' licenses. Twenty-one ontered for them, of whom Mr. S. L. Esam, of Auckland, passed the full examination, and Messrs. J. H. Adams (of the Thames), S. Mace (of Napier), Mi Burrows (of Auckland), and A- Tj. H. Hay (of Dunedin) completed their examination and also passed. This examination is conducted by New Zosland Board in conjunction iwi{£ tho Federated Boards of Australasia. '-V

"\Vill the Prime Minister before the session ends introduce legislation to provide for a Criminal Court of Appeal for New Zealand on the . lines of the institution ?." was a question asked in tlie House yesterday by Mr. J. Payne. Mr. Massey said that the matter would be considered during the recess, and if desirable the necessary legislation would be introduced during next session. It-would not be possible to deal with the matter by legislation this session. .

It is not anticipated l that any difficulty (says our Masterton correspondent) will be experienced in the Wairarapa in respect to shearers. Most cf the boards are already filled. Shearing operations will commence in the course .or a week or two.

At yesterday's meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, a Mr. J. C. Lewis, writing from Shanghai,. China, inquired as to tho conditions for aeroplane exhibition flights fini Wellington. The inquirer, supplied the information that his party •consisted of himself, wife, sister, and two mechanics, and that ha was a graduate of tlie Curtis-Avia-tion School, of Los Angeles, California. He was quite willing: to contribute a reasonable percentage/of the proceeds towards some local war fund.

The Wellington Tramway "Union, which is represented on Gallipoli by, thirty 'of its members, met on, Sunday and decided to at onco send fifty Cliristmais boxes-to the men at the _ front. Every member of the union will have a parcel addressed to liim, and the other .parcels will'lie available for men who fail to receive presents. Tlie parcels contain a cake in a tin, two tins of tobacco, pipe, and a writing pad.

An application by Palmerston North for £50 for band instruments for use at the camp there wits reecived,.bv the Patriotic Society last evening, aVid was deferred. \ .

. "Did you say we would get away by Saturday?" asked Mr. Homsby, jokingly, of the Prime Minister in the House of, Representatives last night, at a' time when business was not going through very briskly. "I am prepared to stay here until Christmas, if thore are any more of these threats—make no mistake about that," said Mr. Massey. 1

The Castlepoint County Council has heartily approved the scheme promoted by the Board of Agriculture i for the galihering of grass seeds from the roadsides by school children.

A correspondent writes .complaining of the'short notice given some of the men in camp of late of the due date of their final leave. This means that number* of them are debarred from making tho use of their last free days : they would have desired. There is no doubt that the Defence authorities' would be conferring a great boon on the men by giving them. as full l'.oticc as possiblo of the date of their leave.

Moving pictures brought happiness to the heart of one, mother in Auckland this week. The good lady's only boy went away from New Zealand with tho Main Expeditionary Force. Letters were . frequently received, up till the time when the New' Zealanders went to Gallipoli. Then weary weeks - and months passed, with never, a word from the soldier son. The mother could get no news of him through official channels,\ and she has for soma time been in a * state of despair. Then, this week a friend approached her with tho joyful intelligence that her con. figured amongst groups of wounded men whose pictures were being shown at a Queen Street continuous'picture theatre. For three days the mother has spent long hours-in tho theatre, waiting for-tho film to como round again, in order that she may' feast her eyes on the sight of the missing boy. He has ovidently been badly battered, for when the 'picture was taken he was still swathed in bandages—but he was there, and alive, and that to the mother is precious news indeed. - The picture finished on Saturday, but the manager (Mr. J. F. MacMahon) kindly cut the film, taking out that portion which conveys the picture so dear to the mother's heart, and this has been presented to her. " ■ In connection with the triple burglary committed in Roxburgh Street on Saturday evening, a lady's handbag, stolen from Mrs. 0. Lewis's residence, was discovered hanging oh a fence about a hundred yards away from the_ scene of the burglary on Sunday morning, and yesterday a receipted bill from the bag was found in an adjacent garden. The bag, which had contained several little trinkets, was the property of Mrs. Little, who resides.with Mrs. Lewis. Aeroplane Engines—The most perfect made—have shown tho world (hot to obtain the greatest possible power from an engine it is necessary to use overhead valves, similar to those used on tlip fain--OU3 Chevrolet cars.. You will readily understand the reason for this if you, communicate with the Dominion Motor Vehicles, Ltd,. 65 Courtenav Place, ivho will be pitted to wjlttla fully thU feature,'Aiirti

-Tho Minister of Agriculture stated in die Houso, yesterday that the Government had under consideration proposals for the manufacture' from wasto products of alcohol suitable for use as a motive power.

• , , Living Bill, notice of tho introduction of whicn was given in tho House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of Finance, provides for the setting up of a board which will have the power of dealing with abnormal pnees of foodstuffs. In the past there were some difficulties in the way of the Government bringing a direct charge of exploitation, against any person or combine. It is now proposed to alter the system inaugurated by the Commercial trusts Act of last session and provide •lii a PP°'"tment of a board which will have the power at any time to call /upon merchants to show that the price t.liey are charging for any particular commodity is fair and justifiable. , The scope of the present Act will be considerably extended in . regard to the classes of goods to be dealt with. '

When the Kauri Gum Industry Bill was under discussion in the House last night Dr. Thacker (Christchurch East), \ referring generally to the northern gum diggers, said that many of tho men were subjects of Austria, and instead of being allowed to enlist in the New Zealand forces, where they were a potential danger, they should be kept ill an internment camp until the conclusion of the war. The Prime Minister 6tated emphatically in reply that this reflection upon the loyalty of the diggers'was not justified. The attitude taken up by these Austrian diggers had surprised him and many others. They were not really Austrians, but were mostly Croatians mid Dalmatians, and their sympathies were entirely with Britain and Russia. A meeting of diggers at Dargaville had telegraphed offeriug him 200 men for service abroad. They had also contributed money most generously. They had subscribed, he thought, about £3000, and he'had repeatedly received money for the war funds from one or other of them. Dr. Thacker's statement was unfair and unjustified.

On'Satufday, Mr. R. Darrock and the hon. local secretary of the Navy League (Mr. C. W. Palmer) waited on the Wellington Headmasters' Association, to explain the attitudo of the league in connection with 'the recognition of Trafalgar Day. It was pointed out that the spirit of such deeds as the Battle of Trafalgar meant tradition and'prestige to the Empire—that glorious something which was bequeathed to us by our- gallant forbears, and helped to make the British nation what it is to-day. Because we were fighting side by side with France, there was no reason why Nelson should, not be honoured. The 1 league's point of view was accepted as a reasonable one by tlio association, and the arrangements in connection with the Trafalgar Day entertainment are to go forward. A capital'programme is being arranged, including vocal numbers by Messrs. E. J. Hill, Frank Charlton, and others. ; During the evening the prizes will bo awarded to the winners of the Navy League's essay (competed for under supervision in the schools), entitled "Wliat Naval Disaster would mean to the British Nation." Tlie^ entertainment' will be free to the public, but seats will be reserved in the gallery for members of the league. '

ill operative butchers' unions, save Auckland, have affiliated with the New Zealand Federated Butchers' Association. At the conference held in Wellington an instruction was given to the executive to take steps to bring about Auckland's affiliation also. Officers were appointed as follow: President, Mr. A. E. Riach (Dunedin); vice-president, Mr. S, Wilkinson , (Wellington); secretary, Mr. R. Breen (Dunedin); committee, Messr'ij. H. Sharp '(Invercargill), A. Murray (North Canterbury), and G. R. Prico .• (Wanganui).- Headquarters ,for the first twelve months will be in Dunedin. Mr. A. H. Cooper was appointed to appear before the Arbitration Court as agent for the Federation . ill all butchers' disputes coming under its jurisdiction, that is from all parts _of the Dominion, except Auckland. An instruction was 'given the executive hot to affiliate with any outside body' unless the proposal has been approved of by the whole of the individual members of tha Federation. , Probably few people have realised just what a comprehensive system of telephones has to be maintained in connection with the war. ' Here, for instance, are some particulars from "Engineering"_ as to the way one of the German armies—that of the Crown Prince of Bavaria—is served in this regard: "The; main exchange i 6 installed in a private house, wliicli, besides several large rooms, contains a number, of smaller ones,' which are used as telephone boxes. The exchange was completed :in tho course of three weeks by 300 engineerssoldiers —and has 95 direct linos, of an aggregate length of 1200 km. It was no easy task, as most of the material used was French, and had to be brought together from different towns and adjust ed to German requirements. From the exchange, five direct lines proceed to each army corps, and from the exchange of each army _ corps at least two lines go to each division, and from here again lines proceed to the brigades and the regiments. The final. lines lead to the trenches, where each battalion, and, in many cases, each company, has its own telephone. In addition there are special lines between the artillery positions, and from these to the posts of observation. From the main exchange these further proceed in direct lines to the armies, positioned on the sides, and two lines to the headquarters, apart from direct telephone connection from the one army corps to the other. Other lines at the back are connected with the national telephone system. The main exchange alone lias to get through about 5000 conversations, per day." . :

An affecting story of the: death of a bravo soldier—Sergeant Cottinghom, late , of Fiji—is told by Trooper T. V. Roberts, in a letter from Gallipoli, to his sister, Miss JI. E. Robertas,'of North Sydnej\ "We have just had our first loss among the litflo band of Fiji beys with us," Trooper Roberts, who himself lived in Fiji for some time, writes, "One out of six is marvellous luck, considering the percentage of losses liere. Dick Cottingham died at 4 o'clock this morning. He had dono some wonderful scouting work. Ho was observing with field glasses, while'onebf his nates was firing at a sniper ,6ome distance away. He was bead and shoulders above the trench,'and as he turned to speak to his mate a sniper at close range fired, and the bullet hti him on the neck. He lived, for sixteen hours, and was conscious nearly all the. time. When I arrived he was beyond hope. He greeted me in Fijian, and talked quite , a lot. 'I'm not afraid to die;' he said. Then lie added, referring to a communion service held just before we landed, 'It is never too late to make peace with our Maker, is it, Tom?' Most of the officers who had fought with him in South Africa came to have a last word, and spoke of his bravery here and in. Africa. The General Commanding paid him a high tribute by coming the whole length of the field—about seven miles—; to speak to him. When the General expressed his regret, Dick said: 'Oh, it's all in the game, sir.' The General told him he had been promoted to the rank of sergeant, and that the gazettal would be made that day! Dick thanked him,-and said he was pleased for his folks' 6ake. We had to wait until dark to bring iiim oil, as wo were under fire. The journey weakened him, and lie said faintly to me, 'It does take a long time to die.' We buried him oil a spot he liked so much—iu a coffee field near the sea. Wo all prayed j that God might "rant us as game an end. If I should go like that; there, need ho 110 tears." Our CollaT and Tie Department is stocked full with the now season's ties and collar*. Evnrything smart and new. Gen. Ifcfflds, Ltd,, Manners Street,-Adrt, ,

All people intending to visit Egypt, or, indeed, any countries in Europe, would bo well advised to secure pass-' s ports before they leave Now Zealand. In the case of Egypt it is necessary for tho traveller to be so provided. Passports are being issued to bona-fide New - Zealand travellers by ■ the Minister of Internal Affairs.

In the prcsencc of Sir Koland MunroFergusoiij Governor-General of Australia/and Sir Gerald Strickland,.Governor of New South Wales, a number of naval, military, and Parliamentary leaders, ana a big and enthusiastic crowd, the cruiser Brisbane, a sister ship to the Sydney, was launched from Cockatoo Dock, saya the latest Australian news by mail. As the cruiser took the water launches occupied by souvenir hunters got in the way and were almost run down. To avoid a collision the Brisbane's anchors were not dropped, and she drifted a6tern and 'struck the mud. The services of three tugs were required to drag her off! She was not damaged. Hie Brisbane is the largest vessel ever launched in the Southern Hemisphere. She is the first cruiser built in any of the British dependencies. She'is a sister ship to the Melbourne >nd Sydney—that is to say, of _the, light cruiser class. "It is something to have built a vessel of this claso in Australia (says the "Age"); but at • the same time it is necessary to bear in mind how the tiling has been done, and at what cost. Oh the economio side, of the question we have the following:— Cruiser Sydney cost £385,000; cruiser Melbourne, £405,000; cruiser Brisbane (estimate), £610,000. The Sydney and Melbourne were built in Great. Britain. The cost of having the Brisbane built here, instead of importing- her from 'a British dockyard, represents in roiw' figures a sum of £250,000." ' . • / ;