LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2586, 7 October 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Questions were asked in the Houso yesterday about the increased rates charged under certain' circumstances on tourist tickets and other season- itckefcs issued by the Railway Department. Mr. J. V. Brown asked the Minister of it was a proper thing that tourist tickets sisued before - the railway fares were raised recently should now be subject to a charge of £2 for extension, instead of £110s.as formerly. He urged that the same rate ought to be charged as was chargeable at the time the ticket was purchased. The Minister of Railways said thai the increases in the cost of tourist tickets had been made by way of war tax. He would give consideration to the question of whether the purchaser of a ticket with a right of renewal ought to bo charged war taxation on his renewal charge or not. Mr. 0. H. Poole asked whether, annual tickets would be subject to extra charges. Mr. Herries said that any seasoiv ticket-already in force would not carry war tax, but if any' alteration was to be made in the conditions, of any ticket tho case'would have to be considered. There might be such an alteration ill the terms of the contract as to create a fresh contract,' and in sucli cases extra rates • might"' be charged'. ... . j

A legal difficulty that has cropped up in connection with the wills of soldiers who are under 21 years of age was brought under the notice of the Defence Minister in the House yesterday. Mr. Allen said that he Lad not previously .heard of the''difficulty,, but he agreed that it was proper that soldiers who are not yet 21 years of age should, Be able to make valid wills. -'He would consult with the' Attorney-General as to the possibility or the propriety of introducing legislation this session to validate 6uch wills., Reporting under date October 4 on the health of> the : garrison at Samoa,Colonel Logan states that Sergeant J. M. Clark and Private E.. R. Blake are suffering from lymphingitis, and LanceCorporal E.'J. Smith, cyst. All are doing well. ~"

The following remarks regarding the young men who stay at home are contained in a letter written by a Dunedin soldier, who has siucp been killed in action: —"You should stir up a fow of the single men at the,; shop who havo not enlisted'yet. I do not know how they can stay behind and see all their mates going, and not try\ to go, too. It doesn't say much for them. We. can do with thein all. . . . Give my regards to —- and other married men at the'shop. Single ones who stay'behind, who have no one depending on them, and won't come, are no friends of mine."

A suggestion th.it oyster teds might be planted at suitable places in the Marlborough. Sounds was n.ade to the Minister of Marine in the House yesterday. Dr. M'Nab said that the matter was in progress under his predecessor's administration, and during the past fewdays arrangements had been made for establishing Foveaux Strait oyßtors and also Auckland rock oysters in Marlborough Sounds. Deports of experts seemed tof indicate that oysters could be successfully planted there, and an effort would very soon bo made to have it done.

Difficulties have occurred in. connection with tho holding of powers of attorney in New Zealand by men who now wished to leave New Zealand oh active service. Mr. Wilford stated in tho House yesterday that he know of two such cases, and tha men concerned had 110 legal right to delegate their power of attorney. He suggested that legislation might-be introduced to permit men so situated to delegate their powers of attorney, which might be liela for persons in England, to the Public Trustee. The Prime Minister said 'he would consult with the Attorney-General on the question.

At a meeting of the Management Coinmitteo' of tho 'Wellington Football Association last evening, it was decided that all matches sliould bo postponed on Saturday on account of the parade of troops. ,

Up to the present nearly £10,000 has beon subscribed at Hastings towards the Wounded Soldiers' Fund.

A request was mado of the Defence Minister in tho House yesterday that lie should publish in the newspapers tho names of the 13 men who camo back in the transport Aparima as military police' and as Red Gross -men. The Minister said lie would liave pleasure in acceding to tho request.

Replying to a question in Parliament yesterday the Primo Minister stated that if evidence of the formation of a sawmillers' ring in restraint of fair trading in timber is submitted to the Government, the matter will lie dealt with in the; Commercial Trusts Ast Amondment 1 Bill now being prepared. ,

The Minister of Defenco, in reply to a question by the jnomber for Nelson, stated yesterday: (1) Tho Defence Department docs consider 'binoculars a ncccssary part of nil ofliccr's equipment; (2) binoculars will bo supplied in, Egypt and 61sewhero when possible; (3) I will inquire as to the practice in Britain in regard to the supply of binoculars to non-commissioned officers; and (4) thero is, in my opinion, a difficulty iu supplying binoculars in New Zealand, and it is not an economical process. In a footnote to his question, Mr. Field stated: "A gentleman who has interostcdhimselfin this matter'informs mo that ho has had numerous advices, both verbally and by letter, that tho Imperial authorities' do not supply New Zealand officers and non-commksioiied officers with glasses on their arrival in; Egypt. They may supply each battery with a pair of binoculars, but that is all."

A cottage of-four rooms, erected on a section m Knigge's Avenue 29ft. by 62ft., in tho cstato of the late Mr. J. 'I'. P. Morshead, was sold at auction yesterday afternoon by Messrs. J. H. Bothune and Co. for £575,. the purchaser being Mrs. M. A. Skilton.

' The difference between a "tio" and a "draw" was the subject of a brief discussion at )the meeting of the- Canterbury Cricket Association,, and' one speaker quoted Webster's dictionary in support of his contention that in awarding points , a higher number should be given for a tio than for s. draw. "In the bright lexicon" of cricket, however, as understood by tho meeting, there'exists no difference, and the umpire gave "Webster bowled, middle 6tump!—Exchange. .

Tho recent successful test of handijronades manufactured in Auckland by the Sabulite Company, a branch of the Colonial Ammunition Company, was referred to by Mr. Parr in Parliament yesterday. Ho pointed out that tho grenade had become a weapon of great importance in the war, and many men of . the Now Zealand forccs were now being given special training at the front' in handling this Weapon. Ho asked 'whether the local authorities could not go on with'the manufacture of these grenades, and -whether men could not be trained in the use -of them beforo they leave New Zealand. The Minister in Charge of Military Supplies (the Hon. A. AI. Myers) said ■that ho had been advised that the tests on the wholo were satisfactory, and communications with regard, to the manufacture of the grenades were now passing between the War Office and'the Government. No statement about the matter could be made until a definite reply was' received from London.

Mr. D'. Bebenton, secretary of the Wairarapa Relief Committee, proceeded to the Trentham Camp on Wednesday, in 'company with several members of tho Lady Liverpool Equipment Committee, and presented each Wairarapa member' of the Seventh Reinforcements wjth a useful parcel. -

Out of eleven applicants, Mr. J. K, Blinkliorne has been appointed custodian of the Masterton municipal swim, baths.-

. Tohungaism is still widely practised, says the Auckland District Health Officer. in his annual report, and often greatly hampers the work .of the Department. Two cases were dealt with, both offenders being Europeans.; One had. for years practised exclusively among Maoris, and .as a result certain cases of typhoid had not received proper at/fcentioij. She was prosecuted under the Tohunga Suppression Act; and sentenced to six months' imprisonment.' Tho other case was that of a man who practised among the Natives in the Rotorua district, and gave much troublo during the typhoid epidemic. He was prosecuted for representing himself to bo a medical practitioner, and was lined' £25,, in default?' -i'throe months' imprisonment. '' '

. In a letter to a friend in Christclmrch, Liiutenant-Cslonel A. E. Loach, writing on August' 11 from 13 Lewes Crescent, Brighton, Susses, says:—"l suppose you hjlve heard of my-bad luck, My wound is quite healed, but the infernal- bullet that struck me .cut:one of the main nerves leading to the foot, and this phrfc of my anatomy waggles about of its.own sweet will, and not mine. In the course of a week or two my surgeon proposes to get a cat or a dog, or it may bo some other animal, and. take-from either of these animals a piece o'f. nerve, and endeavour to patch. mine up with it. Whether it will be successful remains to be seen. This, of course, means that I have to return to New Zealand, and, as I hope to be in good bodily health, I intend to. apply for a job either in relieving some of the'staff corps or in the. training of reinforcement officers. . . . As I will be home shortly I will reserve anything I •have to say concerning the battalion till then, ay lien I hope to interest you with an account of its doings." 8

Cabinet has approved of the separation allowance of. Is. a day being paid to those who have-tho care of the hiotherless children of members of the Expeditionary Force: •

Minister in charge of the Returned Soldiers' Department (the Hon.' A. L. Herdman) stated yesterday that it has been recognised that a certain number of soldiers returning wounded to the Dominion will be suffering from affections of the eyes involving partial or total blindness. The question" of making provision/ to teach them such handicrafts as tlicy are capable of learning is receiving careful consideration. "

A reply was given'in Parliament yesterday by the Prime Minister to, the question asked by Mr. Veitcli (Wanganul), namely,-whether tlie Government would take the opinion of the Crown Law Office as to t-lie legality of the Hon. A. L. Herdman (Attorney-Geh-eral) remaining in charge of; the Police Force, seeing that the Police Forco Act, 1913, provides" that the Force shall be under the control of the Minister of Justice. Mr. Massoy said that tho Acts Interpretation Act,. 1908, provides that words in any Act directing or empowering a responsible Minister .of the Crown to do 'any act or thing include any other responsible-Minister of the Ciowji acting for that Miniater. There is no legal objection, therefore, to the* Hon. Mr. Herdman remaining in charge of tho Police Force.

Tlio special case in the General Assembly Library reserved for rare and valuable books lias recently had placed _ iii it ivn autograph copy of tiho late Lord Robert's book, "Forty-Olio Years in India." The book has been'present--ed.hy Mr. W. F. Inder, solicitor, Gore, who purchased tho volume in an auction hold iu connection with the Southland Queen Carnival^ 'i-'jio need for assistance for New Zealand s . sick and wounded soldiers has been recognised in, tho Chatham Islands, tho population is a little over 250, something.of a laudable character has been dor.e. A southern exchange states.: —At present there are about eight artisans (carpenters and bricklayers) from the mainland engaged under Sir. G. H. Hill, ovorseer,' Public Norks Department, in erecting the Magistrate's residence, courthouse, and P® oiiico, and these, in. conjunction w'th tho residents of tho islands, recently held, a- patriotic social and queen voting competition. Mr. Hill, who was chairman'' of the committee which organised the affair, remits £171 ss. 9d„ tho proceeds of tho Public. Works Patriotic, Social, and Queen Voting Competition, for payment into tho Sick and founded Soldiers' Relief Fund ■ adds that there are a few smallamounts outstanding that will be forwarded later.

"He's a regular 'sundowner,' " was the description Senior Sergeant Cassells gave of a- man named Jack'Harrison, who appeared before the Hamilton Court on a charge of wandering abroad to ueg. It appears that tho accused, a short man, with a shock head and bushy beard, called at a Eureka settler s house _on Monday, and on being I >ro y p wed with lunch informed his host' that JNew Zealand was in for. a bad time. Asked his reason for such a statement, Harrison replied, with a secretive air, "Why, all the murders that are^ going on on the East Coast.":; Ths, settler remarked that he had seen nothing about them mtlie papers,whereupon accused stated that they were be-' ing kept secret, and asked the settler to say nothing to the police about his presence in ■ district. Harrison's strange appearance and eccentric manner, and the fact that ho was carry" ing round with him a small tent, with J tomahawk strapped to trio side, gavi the settler some misgivings as to his mental condition, and he rang'up the police.' Later tho sumo day accused was arrested. When charged with wandering abroad to beg, Harrison declared that he was one .of tho most decent chaps in'the country. The Bench sentenced him to one month's imprisonment, m order that his case might ha inquired into by the gaol physician. A "great panoramic sea drama in four acts," which depicts with realistio detail g, fictitious German naval vie-, tory, is stated to be going the rounds oi the picture palaces in Germany. It is entitled "Under Naval Gun Eire," and shows tho destruction of . a powerful British cruiser belonging to the imaginary "German foreign squadron off the coast of German East Africa." The story is told in tho programme in the following breathless fashion"Night falls. On board all is darkness; every .light is out. Low words, of command are uttered and the engines begin to beat and through the waves. Then up flashes a searchlight. Hie Enomy! A loud command! Load the guiis, fire! 'A hellish uproar begins. Like a ghostly shadow the black giant looms up out of the dark night. A hail of. shells rains. over the enemy. And suddenly a jubilant veil, a thun-jdc-ring hurrah call! The enemy cruiser has received a weH-aimed shot, and, wrapped in an, enormous fiery smoke cloud, it bursts asunder with a crash. Victory is ours! Germany's sons hav« dene what the Fatherland expects from them, as their duty. Proudly waves tlie Black-White Bed flag."

A question lias lately cropped up in Australia as to whether men who (inlisted' in Array Medical-or'-Army ..Service units, were not looking for soft, easy, jobs,' witl) a minimum .of risk attaclicdr "In myopinion," said a staff officer, whoso statement has been . publislied in Sydney, "the auswer is decidedly in tho negative. Kirst and foremost, the work of theso two units' is not only hard, but is nover-ondiug. Tlie Army Service Man is, in addition, one of the most abused of beings.; His dif J Acuities are many, but his master, the combatant, seldom appreciates thom. With regard to risks a wounded man is generally first attended to under fire, and unless able to walk is carried back through and'out of the fire zone by stretcher-bearers for-removal to regimental aid post, or iield ambulance. And the present war has, unfortunately, shown that the ■ lied Cross is no longer a safety badge. Both ambulance and Army Service wagons fonn big targets, and neither can defend itself. Quite recently in France an Army Service motor lorry was carrying ammunition to the front at niglit; the roads, were soft, and tho lorry, sank, and had to be dug out. Time was lost, t and dawn overtook tlie lorry on the road. jlt became a. target for shell firo, and tlio top was actually.-, shot off without a single man of its complement being hurt. But the danger 'was there all tho samo While tlie excitement and glory of battle may perhaps be absent from the life of tho ambulance or transport man, the hard work, , and the lisle are certainly there. But thov are cheerfully accepted -is-part of the .day's task.".

. Something iirthe nature of a sensation was created outside the Bank of New Zealand on Thursday afternoon, just about 3 o'clock, says the Auckland "Star." It was the last day of the bank's half-year, and the-, bank was crowded with customers, mostly "paying in." Just prior to the hour mentioned a dozen or more burly policemen entered the bank together, and were shortly afterwards followed by a number of others. The passers-by were quick to notice this forward movement of .the men in blue, and a crowd quickly gathered to await developments, and excitement ran high.. Dark hints of "bombs" and "German spies" .filled the air. and still the crowd grow, waiting with bated breath for the denouement. After nearly half an hour, when excitement was at fever-boat, the end came; Tlio members of the force emerged in twos and threes without any prisoners, their faces wearing a satisfied look. It'was tjio end of the month, andAtlieir pay-day. They had all been'in t£ cash their cheques!

The Minister of Defence, in leply to ji question, informed th 6 House yesterday thait the censor at Samoa is, a British subject. He was born in Now Zealand and held a commission in the sth (Wellington) Regiment since 1912;

r Another comfort has been added to tho equipment of the .Soldiers' Club, Sy'dnoy Streot.' An; installation of. six hot showers is much appreciated by the men from Trcntham, bathing facilities are: still far below the need. This generous gift, was made by Messrs. iA. and T. Burt, Ltd: ■'

The Minister (.of .Defence stated Yesterday, in .reply'to Mr. G. Hunter, that it is- regretted that arrangements cannot bo, made to permit men to spend the last Sunday in -thoir' own- district, as such a: course woitld involve breaking intoHhreo weeks'' training instead of two weeks as under the present system;

The burial withiii the Roman Catholic Cathedral 1 at Christchurch of the body of the late. Bishop Grimes. is declared by a clause in the .Reseh-es. and Other Lands' and Publio Bodies Empowering Hill, to have been lawfully made. Before the burial application was made to the Minister of Internal Affairs to permit' the burial' to take place within the Cathedral. ' The' then Minister of Internal Affairs:..(Sir Francis Bell) replied that ho had' no legal power to give any such permission, but acting, it is understood, on his advice, tho Cathe- . dral authorities proceeded with the -interment as ; if permission had been granted.' The burial took place accordingly, -. and. the' effect; of the clause in the Bill will bo to take it out of tho power of any common informer to initiate proceedings against, those who carried out tho burial coutrary to law. The funeral of Major T. C. Ravage is referred to in a letter received from ;• Colonel W.. H. Parkes; who went to -Egypt, in command of ]\o.2' Stationary Hospital, and ,is liow ill charge of the New Zealand: General Hospital, at Pont du Koubbeh. ''I hoped to ' have had more' time for writing," says Colonel .Parkes, ."but the death of' my dear ■frieiid Major Savage lias so upset, every one of us that everything else has had .■ to go to tho wall. It became evident on Thursday, August 12, that his heart' was failing, and in spite of every possible treatment the. hdart simply tired, and he passed away just . before midnight on' Friday. Like all military funerals; a good deal of formality must be ' observed, but it is all most solemn and impressive. The body, covered by the Union Jack, , was carried on a, gun carriage. Some short distance from the cemetery entrance it .was met by.'the fir'ing party of about 100 men, who, 1 am told, belonged to an Auckldnd regiment in camp. ; Jfr;'Little, eenior chaplain of V the Church of England, met the body; at the entrance and led tho way to the "grave reciting-the . prayers for, the dead. The hospital chaplain, tho Rev. M'Donald, of, Waipu/ North Auckland, assist-ed-in the service! . After the. benediction, the firing' party,:concealed behind /an avenue of shrubs, fired three volleys. • The bugler gave the 'Last Post,' and the baiid played 'Lead', Kindly Light.' The strain of the' illness," the" suspense, losing the'help of my right-hand officer so ■ soon, and his ultimate death so far from , home, upset mo greatly,'for Major Savago is not only an irreparable loss' to our hospital,'hut to the whole Dominion." . :...