LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2604, 28 October 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Representatives of the various woolleu mills throughout the Dominion will meet the Minister of Munitions and Supplies (the Hon. A. M. Myers) at a conference to be held at 11 a.m. today, for the purpose of discussing with him the position regarding present and future supplies for the military authorities. Practical patriotism is shown in the act of two brothers, Messrs. John and Robert Carter, farmers at Saddle Hill, near Dunedin. They enclosed two tenpound notes in a letter to the l'rime Minister, and asked that tho money be used to assist in war expenses. Ono of the brothers, who is a clever horsemaii, offers to help with the horses at camp if required, but points out that he is subject to muscular rheumatism, and unlit for campaigning. "Only British iirms need apply" was the effect of a decision arrived at by the Wellington Harbour Board last night concerning a contract for freezing machinery for tho cheese store., It was resolved that no American tender, or any other tender from a firm outside of Britain would be entertained. The date for the closing of tenders was extended to December 22. Oil Saturday weok the daughter of that noble beast King Dick, residentat tho municipal Zoo, gave birth to four cubs, to the great joy of those who take an immediate interest in the affairs of the civic menagerie. Since then, however, one of t'ho baby eubs has died, through being overlain (it is thought) by the mother. The father of .the cubs was lent to the city by Mr. J. J. Boyd, of Wellington, who has a Zoo at Onehunga, on the understanding that- ho was to receive half the number of cubs given birth to; but if there were only three he was to obtain one, and the city was to retain the two. Barring accident, this latter arrangement will hold good. With the advance of finer and'warmer weather, the attendances at the Zoo are steadily increasing, and with tho advent of these additions to the lion family a further fillip has been given to the Zoo,' as an attraction not to be missed.

At last evening's meeting of the Lower Hutt Council the Town Clerk statedlthat the sum of £4732 had been collected in rates, but the amount, outstanding was £10,900. Some correspondence indicative of something like indignation lias appeared in a local newspaper regarding tho alleged appointment of ouo Mr. Schmitt as a recruiting agent in tho Auckland district. The Prime Minister said yesterday that Mr. Schmitt had not been appointed a recruiting agent. "Mr. Sclmntt is secretary of the Auckland Farmers' Union," said Mr. Massoy. ''As a lot of others have done, ho offered his services to the Government to assist in the recruiting movement, and his offer of assistance was accepted. He is to do this work in conjunction with his office as secretary of the Farmers'Nnion. Tho work is purely honorary." Mr. Massey added that. Mr. Schmitt was a native of Auckland district, and that his father before him was .a very well-known resident of Auckland city. Mr. H. S. Alpe, champion walker of New Zealand, is going to do an exhibition walk from Hawarden to Christchurch to-morrow, under tho auspices of tho Veterans' Association. With Mr. Simpson as an observer—in a ear— Mr. Alpe will start from Hawarden at 8 o'clock on Friday morning, and, with short stops at Amberloy and lvaiapoi for refreshments, will endeavour to lower-liis record of twelve hours for this distance. With luck, ho should reach Cathedral Square about 8.20 p.m., or possibly a little earlier. In all the townships through which ho will pass committees of ladies have been formed, who will collect for tho sick and wounded soldiers, and it is hoped that a considerable sum of money will be raised. > Up till the present thirty-two mcni-i tiers of the permanent staff of the Wellington Harbour Board have been accepted for active service, and a number of others have volunteered for service. Aeroplano Engines—Tho most perfect made— have shown the world that to obtain the greatest possible power front an engine it is necessary to use overhead valves, similar to those ujed on the famous Chevrolet ears. \ou will readily understand the reason -for this if you'eom-n-iiinicale'with tho Dominion Motor Vehicle.', Ltd., CO Courtenay Place, who will b? pleased to oiplttiu fully this feature,~ A dvt»

In tho Court of Appeal yestorday, argument was continued in tho ease of JJnrpor and another v. Johlin, a claim for specific performance. The ease had

been removed irom the Supremo Court a(. Wang-mni for argument. Finality had not been reached last night, and tho hearing will ho resumed this morning.

The patriotic eong "The Grand Old Hag," relerred to in our issue of "Wednesday, has heon £Tio moans oi" securing a valuable addition to the Wounded Soldiers' Kund, througli donations ivhirh have been made after each rendering of Mr. V. (Farmer) Daysb," of Carterton. Iho words were written at the time of tho Boer War by .Mr. Vincent Tyke, and have been newly set to music by .Mr. T. A. J'awcott, a Carterton composer. The air has a rhythm and suing that are bound to ensure popularity, and the words are particularly appropriate at the present time, with commendable enthusiasm .Mr. Daysli intends to render the song at the Carterton Show, and later gatherings, antl the whole of the proceeds aro to lie devoted to tho Abounded Soldiers' Fund. Four more men—Messrs. J. C. Cartel-, J. W. Longhurst, C. W. Jones, and J. C. Newton—went into camp at .1 rentham yesterday to join the ranks ol tho non-cqinniissionod officers at present in training for the lltli Reinforcements. Tho Commandant of the Trentham Camp, Liout.-Colonel H. R. Totter, lias expressed his satisfaction at the excellent behaviour shown by tho troops (hiring the recent race meeting at J rentham. In a noto l/i that effect in yesterday's Itoutino Orders, it was alxo stated that no case of misconduct or over-staying leave has to bs tv/i:<]<■']. Improvements continue to be mark to tho .Mount Hector Tourist Track, ar.ri further expenditure was authorise! at the meeting of the committer; held at, Grey town on Tuesday. Somo irriprovr:lrents are to be mado at Bull Mound Siding and also at the ford at Tauhcrenikau. A zigzag :s to be mado up Rocky Point, and other minor improvements were agreed to, the total cost amounting to about £20.

"Many of you," sakl Mr. T. J. Alpors, of Christchurcli, during a recent recruiting speech, "have made excuses to .yourselves for not going. You Lave your prospects, your careers, or you havo taken a wife, or vou are about to take a wife. Yon want'to he the fathers of a new generation without fighting for the old ; But whatever your excuse is, seo to it that it is honest, because if not you will one day see the falsity of it. There will come a day in your life, perhaps twenty or thirty years henco, lvlien your son wijl'say to "you, 'Father, why didn't you •go?' and the falsity of your excuse will become real in the white light of th(! naked truth, and you will say, 'Mv bo\\ I funked it, I funked it.' But there are others here who would go and cannot. God forbid tlmt any word of mine should add to the sorrow of their incapacity or infirmity. We must not say, therefore, '\Yhy_ does lie not go?' It must be a question between himself and his own conscience; and if,you stand acquitted in your own conscience, then bear boldly the jeers of the scoffer; there's plenty of work left behind. Put in every ounce of your energy to Bed Cross work, making bandages, helping to raise money, as we old stagers liave had to console ourselves witli doincJ'

The-Bth Infantry Reinforcements will move from Tauli'erenikau Camp to-day by route march'over theßimutakas to Treutham Camp. Motorists who have no urgent business to take them over the Eimutaka Inclino will therefore be well-advised to avoid the road from this morning until Saturday afternoon. The way is~very narrow in many parts, with insufficient room for the troops and transport marching from Tauherenikau to Treiittfani to pass vehicles bound in the opposite direction. Motorists using the road whon the big body of troops is oil t)iO i way will not only cause inconvenience to the soldiers, but will be subject to considerable delay themselvos.

A concert was given in St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, last evening by the "Purple Courtiers," in aid of the South Wellington Senior Cadet Drum und Fifo Band. , Notwithstanding the inclement weather, the hall was well filled, and an excellent programme was presented. A substantial sum .of money is Assured, but more is required to purchase new instruments. The band wants 30 new members, and those boys desirous of joining are requested to communicate with the Bandmaster, 153 Itiddiford Street, Newtown. The following • provided last evening's entertainment:— Misses Alice M'Keon, Zelnu Hugo, Elvira, Lenzini, M. Bouttell, and Messrs. George Peek, Arthur Nees, Will M'Keon, and John Bryant. A Trenfhara Camp order issued states: "It lias been brought to notice tliat in claims for separation allowanco in some cases wives have paid the fee-of 2s. fid. for fresh marriage certificates. If the certificate has been lost, and the marriage lias taken place, within New Zealand, particulars of date and place of marriage, together with the full names of tlie parties, should be supplied to Camp Headquarters, where, by arrangement with tlio Registrar-General, the particulars Can be checked. .There is therefore 110 necessity t for persons in poor circumstances being put to any expense." 'Hie Minister of Munitions (Hon. A. M. Myers) has accepted an offer made by Mr. M. P. Cameron, tlie Customs expert, to give his services gratuitously in; connection with tlifo purchase of hardware and cutlery for the trooj)ships. Mr. Myers his gratification at the patrictic spirit shown by Mr. Cameron, who will carry out his new duties without interfering with liis work in tlie Customs Department. Mr. A. C. Nottingham, the now Zealand manager of Jcyes' Sanitary Cos:; pany, has received advices from London that his firm have been instructed by the Authorities to supply the War Ofiice with 5000 gallons Jcyes Fluid daily as long as tlie war lasts. A branch of the Commercial Bank of Australia, Limited, will be opened at No. 30 Victoria Avenue, Wnngaimi, oil October 20. This is the fifth branch the bank has opened in the Dominion, and there are also 239 branches and receiving offices of the bank ill Australia and at London. Tlie hank renentlv purchased freehold properties. m Wellington and Auckland,