LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2585, 6 October 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The War Pensions Board met yesterday and considered 31 cases, including '10 disabled members who have come back to New Zealand and 21 dependents of deceased and missing (wives and' sisters). Of the 10 returned soldiers, two! were granted £1 a week for life, one at 30s. per week, and one at los. per week; subject to review at a given period. Five applications were adjourned for a special medical report, and one was declined. Of the 21 dependents (including six wives with children), one was granted £208 per annum, one £143 per annum, one £122 per annum, one £119 per annum, one £91 per annum, and one £86 per annum. Eight-parents were granted £26 per annum, and three applications were postponed for. further information, and four declined.. Tho total moneys granted to all dependents and applicants amounted to £1198 per annum, averaging £66 per annum.

The Government has purchased for settlement 1500 acres of reclaimed swamp land, and part of the Monavale Estate, near Cambridge, from Mr. Richard Reynolds. The land is suitable for subdivision into small areas for dairy farms.

The lack of an adequate supply of warm 1 baths for .soldiers at Trentham Camp has been referred to more than once recently in the House. These baths were ordered long ago, and should have been erected long ago, hut owing, it is alleged, to the difficulty of obtaining certain of the material, there has been long delay. l In the House yesterday Dr. Newman asked the Minister when the baths, "which" were so urgently necessary, would be ready for use. Mr. Allen said that so far as he knew there were many of them in use at present. Dr. Newman: Tlipre aro only five for tour thousand men.

* Thero is an urgent call for carpenters for Tauherinikau Military Camp. Tho Wellington branch of the Labour Department has been given authority to eugagft competent tradesman. ' .

Those anglers who do not care to wander far afield in pursuit of their quarry will ho pleased to learn that there, is very good fishing to be had in th 6 Hutt River almost anywhere above the town. One enthusiastic disciple of Isaak Walton was successful in taking half a dozen nice trout in splendid condition on Saturday evening last, and comments favourably on their fighting qualities. The ,water in the Wainui Stream is said to be low for so early in the season, and needs a good rain-storm from the south to deepen the water. Rains from tho north are not so effective "as from the south in building up the little ■stream, which at the upper end of the valley, supplies the wherewithal for our water-taps.

Referring to. the Police Force in the House yesterday, Mr. P. C. Webb read the following, which lie said was an extract from recent instructions to police j superintendents:—"lt is known that Sample and other Federationists have been reorganising Labour malcontents I for some time back, and it is believed that he and those associated with him [are watching and waiting for a suitable [opportunity to cause trouble. Every effort should be made to find out what is going. on in tho Wharf Labourers' and tho Seamen's Unions, and other Labour unions in and around your own city. It should also be ascertained through country constables whether thero is any movement among those engaged in dairying and .agricultural work.". Mr. Webb objected to the Police being given any suoh instructions. He did not believe that slr. Hcrdman was responsible for tho circular.

- Of the 214 members of the First l New Zealand Contingent for South Africa, 80 are at present serving with the British Forces in France, •" Gallipoli, or •Egypt, besides which some seventy-have held or are holding commissions. The aunual re-union of the Contingent is to be held on Trafalgar Day (October 21).

A request for railway concessions to relatives anxious to bid farewell to soldiers leaving with drafts of Reinforcements was made to the Minister of Railways by Mr. R. Fletcher in tho House yesterday. Mr. Herries replied that tho granting of concessions was a matter for the Defence Department, and that the Railways would have to bo paid for services rendered.. Mr. Allen said that he could not see his wayto authorise the payment by the Defence Department of any part of the fares of relatives. Soldiers were given kng leave on the eve of their departure, in which to visit their homes, and the Defence authorities could not do more.

Tho Minister of Defence was again asked in the House yesterday whether it was possible for the yachtsmen's organisation to be utilised in connection with the defence of the Dominion. The question was asked by Mr. Glover, who said that ho was speaking on behalf of the Auckland yachtsmen. The Minister said that he could only Tcply aB he had replied to this question before—the yaclitsmen at present might ' join the National Reserve or the Motor Boat Reserve. However, if the yachtsmen would leave the matter over in the meantime he would consult tho Dominion Naval Advisor, and would see if it was possible to include the yachtsmen in the naval training scheme.

It was announced in the House yesterday by Mr. Glover that ho had received letters from Rarotonga stating the facts that the natives of the Cook Islands had contributed £700 to. tho War Funds up to the end of August, and they woro prepared to send to New Zealand as recruits all the men tliey could spare.

Entirely fresh application forms are being prepared for permits for raffles for patriotic purposes; and these new application forms .will be ready for use within a day or two, as soon as the Bill lately passed by both Houses has been signed by Hifi Excellenoy. Hitherto permits have been applied for arid granted by letter, but now proper forms of permit have been prepared, under instructions bv the Minister of Internal ■Affairs, and they will bo used in every case. Conditions under which raffles may be held are set forth in the permit, and _ the Minister may insist upon special conditions for special cases. It is understood that under no circumstances will raffles of gifts of money, gold bars, or things of this sort be permitted.

The War League has undertaken to assist in the conduct of the additional recruiting offices which the Defence Department intends to open, in the city. ■The suggestion is that a rota shall be formed of reliable volunteers to ' take charge of the offices for stated periods. Any men who have the time at their disposal, and are willing to assist the league are invited to communicate with the acting-secretary, Mr. S. A. 'Atkinson, Bos 246, G.P.0., or the actingchairman, Mr. H. F. Von Haast, care Meek and Von Haast, Brandon Street). Box 669, G.P.O. Telephone 1178. .

A signal service has been done'for those people who, have work to perform at the beach end of Happv Valley. Owing to the existence of what is coloquially termed Run-around Rock, a tp the south of the southern horn ® ® a 3'» communication between' that bay and the beach beyond, which is one of the approaches to Terawhiti, has only been practicable at low water. An arrangement was entered into recently between the City Council' and the Happy Valley Estate Company whereby each party should contribute the sum of £75 for the blasting away of the sai4 rock, and the'formation of a road ore* the spot where it ; stood. This work.has taken fivo or six weeks to accomplish, but the end in view has been reached,, and to-day there is aroad between- Ohiro Bay and the long beach beyond. The improvement is of distinct value to the City Corporation, which obtains a great deal of fine shingle from the beach beyond the spot where Run-around Rock reared its uelv head.

At a meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League last night Mr. C. W. Palmer, secretary of the Wellington branch, wrote drawing attention to a message from Christcliurch'to the effect that the City Council had decided that no celebration of Trafalgar Day would be held this year. 1 ' Mr. Palmer stated that publication of. the message was doing a lot of injury in other, parts of New Zealand. The meeting resolved that the Canterbury branch of the Navy League will celebrate Trafalgar Day on October 21. It was resolved that the Christchurch City Council does not control the actions of the Navy League.

Of late a number of farmers have been applying to the Wellington branch of trie Labour Department for farm workers, and up to:the present the branch has been able to keep pace fairly well with the demand. Now, however, the source of supply has been restricted through applicants informing 'the branch that they - do not .wish to engage men who are eligible for military service. This; some point out, would merely be < employing men fit for service, in the places of their sons aiid assistants wlib have gone to the front. The men < 'icy seek, therefore, are tlioso ineligible or-, unfit for active service. • . /

A.-return was presented to Parliament yosterday showing', the railway passenger traffic from Wellingtonto Troiitham and back from January 1, 1015,. to June 30 last. In all 85.616 tickets were issued from Wellington to Trentham, and 38,877 from Trentham to Wellington during that period, , and the total revenue received; was £9857 3s. Gd. The bookings' from Wellington tr the races at Trentham, included in the above figures, amounted to 20,052.

■ Tho M to Z Committoo of t,He House of reported to Parliament yesterday on the petition of the Victoria University College, praying that no legislation he passed which will have the effect of interfering with the freo exercise by the petitioner of its functions under tho Victoria Cojleae Act, 1905, and amending Acts. 'The report of the Committee was_ that in their opinion the question raised was one of publio policy, and they therefore had no recommendation to malce. Tho. report was not discussed in the House.

By a clause in the ' "Washing-up" Bill'it is proposed that the Commissioner of State Forests, or any of his officers, may sell .tree from any State forest nursery.

A pleasant surprise to the boys attending the Taita School was given on Monday, when Mrs. H. A. W. M'Kenzio presented the school with two exercising horses and spring-board. Mrs. M'Keuzio mentioned that the elder boys had been taken to Wellington to' witness the various exercises for which the horses were used, and she had no doubt that those boys would, now they, had the opportunity, become quito expert, and in, their, turn teach the younger lads. Mr. Phillips, the headmaster, on behalf of the : school. thanked Mrs. and Mr. M'Keuzio for their kindness, -and said the school was already indebted to them for practical and thoughtful interest, ' which was much appreciated. Three'hearty .cheers wore then given for Mr. and Mrs. M'Kohzie.

Last week's Labour reports for the tour chief centres of New Zealand are to hand. Wellington had eighty-five applications for work, and placed rortyseven of the' weii. Of the other thirty, eight, thirty-six are labourers for whom work can be found. Most of them will go to the military camp at Taunerimkau. There were seventy-two applicants in Christchurch, and twenty, nine of them were placed. The majority of those on the books there are general labourers. Dunedin'-had'thirty, nme applicants, and found employmentfor twenty-nine of them. In Auckland there were sixty-four applicants, twenty-one of whom were placed. Most of those applying were labourers. Tho Auckland lyanch has vacancies for thirty men, including twenty for bushmen in the Raglan district. There sre veiy few tradesmen idle. '

At last evening's meeting of the Wellington. Presbytery, Dr. Gibb submitted a report on behalf of the committee appointed to consider the establishment of a Presbyterian. Boys' College. The following resolution : was adopted:—"That the Presbytery approves generally of the proposals submitted to them by the committee oil a secondary boys' school in Wellington, expresses gratification that, the proposal promises to mature so favourably, and empowers the committee to take all necessary steps to bring the project to a satisfactory conclusion."

At the annual meeting of the Tara* tahi-Oatterton Racing Club tho following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, Sir Walter Buchanan, M.L.C.; president, Mr. H. R. Bunny; vice-presidents, Messrs. H. Judd andW. Howard Booth; treasurer, Mr. S. C« Skelly; W C. Deller, A. 0. Feast, A. Daysh, J. 6. Oates, C< Reid, F. T. Playle; auditors, Me6srß. ,J« Moucrieff am} R. J. Chapman; h6n, judge, Mr. J. W. Card; timekeeper, Mr. It. 6. Kemble; clerk of scales, Mr, H. M'Phee; handicapper, Mr. J. E. Henrys; starter, Mr. R. E. Harley. Five new members were elected.

Files of tie "Times" to hand contain the messages forwarded to the Imperial Government by Ministers of the Allies and the Dominions on the anniversary of the outbreak of war: The message of the Prime Minister of New Zealand is given soma prominence. Messages appear in the following sequence \from 3VI. Sazonoff, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, M.' Krivoschein, Russian Minister for Agriculture, M. Xugagneur, French Minister for Marine, Mr, Sfassey, Mr. Andrew Fisher.

On Monday evening next a social and dance is to bo held by the West Taratahi residents as a send-off to four young men of the district, Messrs.-J. Blake, B. Sewell, Alf. D&ysh, and Leo. Wallace, who have volunteered for tH front.