LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2603, 27 October 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise that the 5.6. Manuka, from Wellington, carrying Australian and English mails, arrived at Sydney on Monday afternoon. Owing to the number of men wbo , bavo either gone to the front or have enlisted, it is anticipated that thero will be a serious shortage of labour for ihe grass-seed harvesting this summer, and the suggestion has been thrown out that the children of the country schools might profitably and pleasurably employ their holiday-time in gathering grassseed — cocksfoot—and so render the State a seirice and improve the state of their finances. The idea is to be pursued. At yesterday's meeting of the Education Board the secretary (Mr. G. L. Stewart) read communications from the Akitio, Wairarapa South, and Mauriceville County Councils, giving permission for school children to gather grass-seed along tlio county roads. Messrs. Stewart and Fleming are to consult with the Agricultural Department and Farmers' Union about making arrangements for the cleaning, sorting, and disposal of the 6eed so gathered. During the discussion Mi-. W. H. Field stated that tens of thousands of pounds worth of good seed was lost every year by the burning-off operations _ of the Railway Department at seed timo.

A Solemn Requiem Mass for deceased soldiers will be celebrated at St. Mary Of the Angels' Church ,_Boulcott Street, at 9 o'clock tiiis morning. Archbishop O'Shea will preside and address tlio congregation.

A Press Association telogrnm from Auckland states that a prominent official of the New .Zealand Freedom League Society having its hcadquartors in Auckland will appear in the Police Court to-day to answer a chargo under tlio War Regulations of 191-1. Defendant is Egorton Gill, secretary of the league, aiul lie 'will be ohnrged with publishing matter cnlculatcd to prejudice recruiting in tlio Dominion. In the pass list of the Royal 'Academy of Music practical examinations, publishe'd yesterday, tlio name "Winifred Williams" was substituted in error for ''Winifred Williamson." Miss Williamson ,was placed third in tho higher division, distinction list (school examinations), with 131 marks. Full marks were 150, and the highest-placed candidate was awarded 133.

■Well-finished, high-grade, ready-to-wear Suits am waiting for your inspection at Geo, ITowlds, Ltd.. Manners Street, 705., 755., 80a. Suits thai bring return custom,—Adv.ti '

The directors of the Masterton Dairy Company have decided to donate two boxes of butter per month to the Belgian Food Fund. Subsequent upon the Pirmoa Scliool being accidentally burnt down during the last recess through the firing of a kerosene heater, the Education Board, at its meeting iyesterday, instructed the secretary to issue a circular calling attention to tho dangef of allowing anyone to use the schools during recess, and, at the chairman's suggestion, there was added a warning to cut the grass short round tho school in the late summer and autumn, when the grass becomes very dry. Since the Wellington District Institute set up a. committee to organise tho work of school children for national service, tho children of the higher standards have been at work malsing useful everyday articles. At yesterday's meeting of tho Wellington Education Board Mr. G. L. Stewart reported that the whole of the articles for the Hospital Ship were practically ready. It was proposed to hold an exhibition of the work so done in a room in the Town Hall within a week. The chairman (the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken) stated that tho Mayor (Mr. Luke) liad consented to tho use of' a room. The board approved tho suggestion.

Tho Carpenters' Union's fine exhibit in tho Labour Day procession, a liandsomely;designed and solidly-made motorcar shod, was sold at auction by Mr. James Dykes, on tho section opposite the Central Free Public Library, at noon yesterday. The shed, which is built of red pine and asbestos sheets, was still 011 the lorry ready to be transferred to wherever the purchaser might wish to place it. The bidding commenced at £25, and advanced slowly to £45, when it was knocked down to Mr. D.- JackRon (as agent). The money is to be paid into tli© Mayor's Distress Fund. Tenders were accepted for various works by tho Wellington Education Board at yesterday's meeting as follow: Mauriceville West (scliool and residence), H. K. Walton; Island Bay (additions), Wakelin and Hill; South Wellington (renewals), J. Thomson; Petone District High School (plumbing), T. Thomson; Tawa Flat (repairs, painting, etc.), E. Turner; Eketahuna (concrete work), F. Peterson; Parkvale (tanks and stands), E. A. King. A conference of the Coachworkers' Federation opened in the Trades Hall • yesterday morning, the following delegates being present:—Messrs. C. Israelson and S. Pentecost (Canterbury), D. Stansfield and T. Fletcher (Otago), G. Wale and C. C. Carter (Wellington), H. G. Menzies and M. Madden (Auckland). Mr. Israelson was elected president, and, Mr. Pentecost, secretary, to tho conference. Matters of general interest to the trade are being discussc-d.

A survey plan has been made by the City Engineer of the Day's Bay Bush which will be under the control of the Scenic Reserves Board of the City Council Reserves 'Committee. The plan will shortly, be submitted to the City Council. It is not only a survey of the property, however, which was essential before the Government's contribution towards the purchase of the reserve could bo received, but it also furnishes details for use when the provisions to be made for a water supply and drainage system for the immediate locality is under consideration. The City Council will confer with the Hutt County Council—the local authority—with respect to the water and drainage for residences at Day's Bay. At the Napier Magistrate's Court jesterday a soldier named David Victor Smith, alias Barrett, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for stealing a purse containing Smith had previous convictions against him.

• A ium'of about £300 will be Taised as the result of the Friendly Society Carnival held at Masterton on Monday, in.aid of tlie Wounded Soldiers' Fund.

Although the rate at which men are to be dispatched from Now Zealand is no\£ accelerated to more than double the rate existing a- year ago, the Minister for Supplies (the lion. A.' M. Myers) does not anticipate any serious difficulty in providing the necessary uniforms. Interviewed ,on the subject yesterday Mr. Myers said that two experts, who had been sent round the Dominion by him last week, had returned with a report which, on the whole, was satisfactory in regard to the capacity of the mills to manufacture whatever supply was necessary up to the end of the year. He was calling a conference of the woolleu mill owners towards the end of this week with a view of making arrangements for further supplies covering the whole period of next year. This would enable the mills to make the necessary purchases at the ensuing wool sales, and relievo the possibility of there being any shortage in this connection. A brief meeting of the Karori Borough Council was held last evening the Mayor (Mr. B. G. H. Burn) presiding. Unimportant business was discussed and the meeting closed before 1) p.m. '

Visitors to the Carterton Show will bo afforded' an. excellent opportunity of contributing to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, while at the same timo procuring a return in the shape of.one of the latest and most popular patriotic songs, "The Grand Old Flag," now being published by the Wellington Publishing Co., Ltd. The song has been sung with great success by Mr. V. "Farmer" Daysh in many parts of the country, and has elicited spontaneous and liberal financial contributions to the deserving cause of the wounded men from the firing line. The whole proceeds from the sale are to bo devoted to the patriotic fund mentioned. The reserve prico is low, but no limit has been sot to the amount to be offered. Fuller particulars will be given in Thursday's issue.

An exciting '.'hase was connected with the capture of tho prisoner John Daniel Black, who escaped from custody on September 23, while awaiting trial on a serious charge. It »PP ear ® that on Friday last Constable Coppell was informed that a man answering Black's description was working on a farm at Paerau. He immediately went over to make inquiries, and, oil finding that the man was Black, arrested him and detained him at the Paerau Hotel during the night. A start was made for Duncdin on the following morning, and all went well until the tram was nearing Hyde, when Black pleaded an oxcuso to visit tho lavatory. He .preceded tho coristablo along tho cariiajio, and before tho latter could prevent liini ho jumped clean through the glass of tho window, just as the train was proceeding round a curve at- a moderate pace. He was practically-unhurt by his fall, and set off at a good pace across country. His escapoliad been observed by tllfijo m charge of the train, which wasMrallec up m a short space of time. Constable Coppoll and a passenger from the tram ran their miarrv to earth in the space of a quarter of a mile or so. Black once aeaiti nrovod himself p^sos* o " of considerable resourcefulness, for, when discovered he had attempted concealment in a deep hole in a creek with only his head showing. The remainder of, the journey was accomplished without incident. . What is claimcd to be an improvement upon tho standard rifle periscope has been designed by Mr. Ernest Moss, of Oliristchuroh, inventor of the lxistal franking machine. Mr. Moss's adaptation provided for tho mirror being used ! v both eyes, and the contrivonco is much lighter than the one now in usie. Mr -Moss is presenting his adaptation to the New Zealand Government. A demonstration lias .been given before officer's of the Defenco Department (says a Christchurch paper), and another will iio given at Bedcliffs rifle rango this , week.