LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2609, 3 November 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Major Mackesy, of Auckland, who returned to New Zealand by the Willoonra, was wounded in the right arm, neck, and left shoulder on August 27. He stresses one point in regard to men accepted for service abroad—that they must be perfectly sound in wind, limb, and mind, as the man who is not so only hampers his comrades in the hazardous work that has to be undertaken. The Australasian troops were eminently adapted for the class of warfare engaged upon, and if they have suffered heavily it must bo remembered tliat tho Turks had suffered still more heavily. Every since May 18 the enemy had been on tho defensive.

It was intended to recommissiou the I'ateena at Wellington yesterday, in order tliat she might .take up the running in tho Wellington-Picton-Nelson servico. When tho stokehold crew came to sign on, however, they demanded that three extra firemen should be carriedinstead of the usual complement of six firemen and trimmers, lip till last Avening the deadlock still existed, and it is probable that the vessel will not commence running to-day unless tho men agree to the Union Company's terms of agreement in forco prior to tho Pateena, leaving New_ Zealand to relievo the Loongana in tho 'J'asmanian trade. If tho vessel does not happen to get away other arrangements will lie made to run the service.

. Officers/of the Department of Agriculture have been consulted by tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, who is in charge of the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department, in regard to the tuition of returned s<.kliers who may talco up small areas of land near the cities. The Department's officers will arrange to give, instruction to men occupying these small lots in fruit-farming and! poultryfarming. It will bo possiblo also for men who wish to learn farming to have tuition on 6omo of tho experimental farms.

An exhibit of topical interest at the Dominion Museum consists of a small case of insects from Gallipoli, collected by Trooper H. E. Brown,"6th Wellington Mounted Billes, and Lance-Corporal W. T. Henry, New Zealand Medical Corps. The collection consists of two rather " damaged ;moths, : a number of beotles, "including a-'fine spccimon of tho sacred scarab of Egypt, a pair of mantids shaped and coloured 1 protectively to represent tho leaf and stem of a plant, and a specimen of tho notorious fly that has proved such a pest. - Altogether they give a fair idea of tho kind of insect life, to be met with at Gallipoli during the summer.

Dr. Edith Huntley, who gave one of her St. Bernard dogs to tho Wellington Queen Carnival, has generously donated another named "Hero" to the Auckland Wounded Soldiers' Fund in connection with tho Queen Carnival in tho northorn city. "Horo" was given a free passage to Auckland by the Union Company's Monowai, wliioh sailed last evening.

The hon. secretary of the Garibaldi Club/ Mr'. M. Basso, writes taking strong exception to the announcement of the Commercial Travellers' Club that a, patriotic Italian with organ and monkey would collect subscriptions in connection with thoir recent Flower Carnival. The Garibaldi Club, Mr. Basso states, regards this as an insult to Italians, their view being that the or-gau-grinder-and monkey were meant to syinholiso Italy. •• Wo have made inquiries into tho matter, and find that those who organised tho carnival greatly regret that thoir action should have beeu so interpreted. "Notliiug was further from their thoughts than to cast any reflection 011 Italian residents here or 011 Italy. The idea originated in tho South Island, where a well-known resident, with a boy dressed as a monkey, collected quite a lot of money for patriotic purposes. Tho members of tho Garibaldi Club can rest assured that 110 reflection was intended 011 their nation, which has wou world-wide admiration by its magnificent efforts in alliance with Britain and the other Entente Powers iu the great- struggle in Europe.

A breakdown has occurred on board tho Union Company's stoamer Kara, which left hero for Westport at 5.30 p.m. 011 Monday. The Mapourika, which arrived early this morning from Nelson and Picton, reported having sighted the Karu this of the French Pass yesterday morning. The Karu signalled that her feed pumps were not working satisfactorily,- and she was making for Wellington.

Referring to tlio Arbitration Act the report of the New Zealand Federated Master Builders and Contractors' Association, presented at tho annual meeting yesterday, stated that an important alteration sought was tho increase to fivo years as the period for which tho Court may make awards. This amendment was of special importance to master buildors and contractors, as the making, of short-period awards meant that employers wore no sooner through with one dispute than another was upon them. The executive might bo relied upon to urge upon Parliament tho passing of this amendment whenever opportunity offered. "Continual annoyance and friction have resulted from the tardy issue of copies of new. awards, and this was recently emphasised 111 the case of t>ho Hawke's Hay carpenters' award, when two months elapsed before the awards were supplied. Application to the Court to have the date of tho award altered was unsuccessful, but His Honour Mr. Justice Stringer promised he would recommend to the Labour Department that amendment of the Act be secured to provide that an award should not begin to operate until the expiry of a limited period of time after employers lm<l roceivod their copies of award. It is hoped His Honour s recommendation will be acted upon, as it is certain it will remove an injustice and savo a large amount of friction and trouble."

The Commander of the Wellington Military Group (Major Corrigan) stated yesterday that he hopes to have a recruiting oflico open at Newtown by the end of this week. The next office contemplated is at Lower Hutt.

Sixteen of the First Maori Contingent arrived back among tho Willoehra's men. Most of them that were questioned expressed their determination to go back and "see it through" after tliey have had a bit of a spell.

The Acting Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department lias advised tho Wairarapa South County Council that no money will be available for expenditure out of new loans until tho Government could mako financial arrangements.

A thank-offering day, on the lines originated in the East London Baptist Tabernacle.over forty years ago, at the instigation of the Rev. Archibald G. Brown, who is at present "supplying" at the Vivian Street Church, was held at the latter church on Monday. Tho Rev. A. G. Brown presided, and at the close of the day ho was able to announce that the satisfactory sum of £140 had been-don-ated by members and friends of tho church.

In praising the Y.M.C.A. work in Egypt, Major-General Sir Alexander Godley wrote: "Your efforts to provide shelter, refreshments, facilities for correspondence, literature, etc., have been wonderfully successful, and I am very glad to express how mucli wo are all indebted to you and your association for mailing our stay here such a pleasant ono." In order that this valuable work among New Zealand's soldiers at homo and abroad may be extended, the Wellington Y.M.C.A. is organising a "Roso Day," to bo held on nnd 13. To ensure the success of this effort large quantities of flowers will be required, something like 60,000 roses and 10,000 carnations being the aim of tho committee. These flowers will not •be wanted before November 11, but in the meantime intendina donors are asked to inform Mr. A. Varney, general secretary, Y.M.C.A., of their willingness to assist.

Witll a view to tho further advancement of Salvation Army work in the North Island, Commissioner Hodder has decided upon a re-arrangement of the divisional boundaries. What has been known as the Wellington division will in future bo called the Central (north) division, and will comprise tho following corpsApiti, Ashhurst, Carterton, Dannevirke, Eltlutni, Fcilding, Foston, Hawera, Hastings, Inglewood,_ Levin, Martoii, Masterton, Napier, New Plymouth, Norsewood South, Pahiatua, Palraerston North, Patca, Stratford, raihape, Waipawa, Wanganui, and Woodville. Major Toomer will continuo to direct its operations as divisional commander, with his headquarters at Palmerston North. The Training College division will now be known as the Wellington division, and will comprise the following corps:—Blenheim, Brooklyn, Kilbirnie, Lower Hutt, Motueka, Nelson, Petone, Wellington City •Wellington South. Brigadier Gist, the Training College principal, will continue as the commander for the division, with his headquarters at the Training College, Wellington.

An offer of tho use of his Labour Bureau 111 obtaining employment for returned soldiers, who are suitable ror farm or station work; was recently made to tho Government by Mr. J. D. Cruickshank. In acknowledging the offer, the Hon. A. L. Herdman thanked Mr. Cruickshank for tho offer, and stated that he had been pleased to transmit it to the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department for record.

Captain A. ,1- Crocs, late assistant master at Wellington College, whose lotters from the front have been among the most interesting rrceivcd m Wellington, was among, those-to arnve by, the Monowai. When lie loft the Peninsula oarlv in August, only threo out of the original 3G officers in his company remained, - and it was for than reason that he had to remain so long in the trenches—four mouths at Quinii s Po(st. At last his health began to give out, and he has come to Now Zealand to recuperate. .Captain Cross has in his letters frequently analysed tlio ways of bomb-fighting and bomb-tnrow-ors, and as one is apt to becomo obsessed with that ever-present danger, ho speaks with authority on the subject 1 . He states that it was not- very Ion" after they had become established at Quinn's Post, that means were taken to render the bombs of the' enemy as harmless as possible. One safeguard was the erection of a wire-netting RUfuxi about three feet high in front of the trench, which catches thei greater number of the bombs thrown, and allows them to explode where they are harmless. Occasionally they were thrown deftly enough to lob over into, the trench, but if a man kept cool and acted promptly, tho risk of trouble w as not so great as might be lnmguied. Every here and there along the trenches there was an old overcoat, and if that were thrown over the intruding bomb, and a quick warning was shouted to all near to fall flat upon the ground, little harm was done. As the bombs were charged with a very high explosive, that burst upwards and outwards, the level of the ground was, generally spoalcmg, a place of safety. They usuallv managed to give the Turks an offective reply when bombing was the pastimo. For two months before he left, tha Turks had not attacked; thoy were con. tent to restrict themselves to shelling, maohine-guu fire, and bombs. The bravest act that came under the. notice of Captain Cross was that performed bj Private Pedersen, who was under hit. command. Pedersen had been hurling bombs throughout the day, andhis arm was tired. One bomb that he threw failed to clear tho wire-netting guard, and rolled hack into the trench. Giving a veil of dismay he picked it up and hurled it out of, the trench, and ram©, dintelv after it left. Ins hand it explodod, and wounded him in the arm and face. In Captain Cross's opinion that prompt action aaved two or threo lives, and he considers that Pedersen, whom ho mentioned m his report, most assuredly deserves tho Distinguished Conduct Medal.