LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2618, 13 November 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise, that the s.s. Ufimaroa is due on Monday with Australian mails only.' The B.M.S. Makura. duo at Auckland from Suva, brings American and English mails, via Vancouver, the Wellington portion of which is due per Main Trunk express on Tuesday morning.

Tho Minister of Marine (the Hon. Dr. M'Nab) has decided to make a visit of inspection to the site of tho proposed settlement' for fishermen at the month of tho Wnik'anao' Hivcr, for which Mr. W. H. Field has bom pressing for some time. Mr. T. Ward, civil engineer, who was instructed by tho Government to make a roport on tho schemo, has forwarded his report, with plan attached, to tho Minister.

Two littlo cliildron, Lorinicr arid Kero Thompson, attending Awatoa Privato School, Jolinsoiivillo, collected ss. for tho Belgian Children's Fund.

Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., are offering some of tho most comfortable fitting, newest shapes; in English Hoots, at 2is. Gd. to 575. <w. An inspecliou is invited, that jriU soat you notniiw..—Advt^

Mrs. Preston, at the St. John Ambulance and Red Cross Society depot in Nathan's Buildings, has received letters from the relatives of two Australian soldiers, who were fighting with J'ho New Zealand Reinforcoments at tlie Dardanelles, asking if- any information can possibly be given by soldiers who may havo been aware of what was happening to thorn during the fighting. Ono of tho two, Private Augustus rover, No. 10/1621, was fighting with the 3rd Reinforcements from Now Zear land, and was killed on August 7. His mother is very anxious to' find soma soldier who could give her information as to-the manner of his death. The other soldier was Private Benjamin. Greig,: who went with the Hawke's Bay contingent of tho 3rd Reinforcements, Infantry. Battalion, and was wounded and taken prisoner. His sister is seeking for information concerning him. Mrs. Preston would bo very glad if any soldiers possessions any knowledge of tho above-mentioned privates would communisato witih her at Nathan's Buildings.

Writing from H.M.S. Philomel, under date Octobcr J, to the Defence Minister, Captain Hall Thompson states that the gifts of butter and eheeps' tongues sent to the ship by thougntful .lirma ;n New Zealand were then'just about finished, haring lasted two months. Captain Hall Thompson expresses appreciation of tho gift in this sentence: "They have been a very great joy in this place, where suoh things are unprocurable, and again I thank you on behalf of all for sending them." Tho half-ton of butter;to which he refers was the gift of dairy comphifies in the Auckland district, and tho shipment of sheeps' -tongues wan tho gift of tho Wellington Meat Export Company. Another half-ton of butter, also the gift of Auckland firms, is at present on its way "to tlio skip, and, as is well known, an effort is being made to send a plentiful supply of tinned fruits and vegetables ,to tho Philomel for Christmas cheer.

The next of the route marches that have been inaugurated for the purpose of enabling men to get themselves into training so as to he prepared for eventualities will take place tomorrow morning at 9.30. '■ The party will meet at the foot of Boulcott Street ajid march to Kliandallah, returning before lunch. The aim of the promoters is to attempt only what is well within the 'powers of tlio man who is not in training,, and a cordial invitation is extended to all men, whether they can enlist or not, to come in and help recruiting by their example of submitting.themselves,to .the discipline of getting into training.

The Wellington Technical College will break up for the summer vacation oil December 8, and on the three succeeding days an interesting exhibition of work will, bo held at the school. A feature or'the display will bo a fine exhibition of the t-Mty viands prepared by the cookery class, which will there and then bo sold to the public for the benefit of,'thc patriotic funds. The college will resume work on Monday, February 7.

Five pairs of binoculars have been sent in to the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) in response to the appeal for these valuable adjuncts to an officer's equipment. Three pairs have been forwarded by Mr', and Mrs. Gilpin, of Featherston, one pair by "Betsileo," and a pair per Mr. C. R. Smith. # In connection with the Magisterial inquiry ou -Monday next concerning the mishap to the steamer, Mapourika, the Marine Department advises that' Mr. W. G. Biddell,' S.M., will preside. The nautical assessors will bo Captain Felix Black, coastal pilot, of Wellington, and Captain W. J. Grey, retired master mariner, also of Wellington.

Lieutenant J. A. Duffy, Technical College Cadets,--.-writ.es:- "We have received, ~on behalf of tho 'Lieutenanta Hugo and Voyce Moniorial Fund,' the sum of £3 l'ls. Gd. from the Old Navals Rifle Club. The memorial'stone' is in the hands of the sculptor, who expects to have it completed at'an early date."

Two prisoners of war appealed for , their release yesterday to Mr., J. W. Poyntou, S.M., one of the Commissioners appointed under the Aliens Act. One stated that lie arrived in New Zealand when two years of ago, and that he had been' in the Dominion ever since, his ago being now 41 years. The other man, for whom Mr. J. M. Dale appeared, was born in Germany, but his father was a British subject, and it was claimed that appellant was not a German subject, and never had been one. Mr. Poynton reserved decision, in order that he might consult his fellow Commissioners. Meantime the prisoners havo been granted parole.

His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) will sit at 10 a.m. to-day for the purpose of making fixtures for hearing the civil oases on the Supreme Court list'before a Judge alone. Owing to the criminal cases running into 'next week, the civil jury oases may not bo reached before November 22. A oheery note, describing his experiences at Trentham camp, and his improssions of camp life, has recently been received by Mr. W. J. Wheeler, Inspector of Surveys in Auckland, from_ his son, who is in the company of Engineers with the Ninth Reinforcements. The following oxtracts are taken from Sapper Wheeler's letter: —"This is the best camp I have ever been in, and.as for anyone kicking against the traces here, well —I'C ought to the boost out of it right away., This is a "grand Jife for any ohap, and it is the making of him. We havo very good tucker, plain, but it'is grand, and plenty of it. Our crowd are a very decent lot of fellows. There is one. good thing about the Engineers, and that is that tho officers will do almost anything for ono."

The filter which is going to he used in connection with tho tepid swimming hath in Tasman Street_ is due to arrive in Wellington some timo next week. Immediately on the arrival of tho filter it will bo installed in tho bath with tho least possible delay.

The quarterly meeting of the Public Service Superannuation Board was held on Thursday, Mr. J. H. Richardson presiding. . Allowances on retirement by reason of age or length of service were granted to 25 contributors, for a total of £3962 12s. per annum; three contri--butors, retired medicaly . unfit, were granted allowances aggregating £207 Is. per annum; 16 widows and 24 children of deceased contributors or pensioners were granted the statutory allowances, totalling £600 per annum. The total amount of compensation acorued, on account of those of the above officers who were appointed under. the Civil Service Act, 1866, is £7722, which amount would havo been payablo out of tho Consolidated Fund, had not the Superannuation Fund been established. A committee consisting of three members of tho board was appointed with power to act in matters concerning the future investment of the fund, i in terms of the amending Act of last ( session. ' Councillor Cox, of the Petone Borough Council, has handed in the\ following notice of motion for the next meeting of tho council: "That, as an aid to recruiting, the Government be urged to amend the Soldiers' Pensions Act, stating clearly and definitely the amount payable to all soldiers' dependents in the event of death on active Bervico; such moneys not to be subject to reduction or variation by the Pensions Board." Tho Japanese steamer K wan to Mam, whioh is discharging oa.rgo at Port Chalmers, was decorated on Wednesday in honour of the-coronation of the Mikado.-. The loyalty of the Japanese .(remarks a southern paper] 'is reverential as well as demonstrative, and the jEmperor is evidently regarded with deep affection by his subjects. The Japanese sailor'man, whose ~ knowledge of .the •English language is limited, and tliere•foro hampers Ms expression of loyalty, proudly informs his questioner that the ; Mikado "is a very fino young fellow." The description ,is uttered with' an expression or mingled pride and affection. A man of excellent physique. and hardened by life in the back country, called at tlie Wanganui "Chronicle" office on Wednesday to mention a difficulty ho had met with when he endeavoured to oifor his services as a soldier to his country. He travelled all the way from Otairi station, near Hunterville, to find at Wanganui 'that, although ho could put his name in as a prospective soldier, this step could'not be immedinteljr followed by' the liecessary medical examination. Ajs the prospective rccruit could not wait about Wanganiii until tho doctor favoured him with an interview he went back to Otairi. Incidentally he mentioned that there are a number of good men in tho Hunterville district who -were forced to take up contract work again owing to the past taethods which did not allow of men who enlisted being immediately sent into the camp. The "Chronicle's" visitor throw out a recruiting suggestion which might have something to commend it.. "What should, be"done," he. said, "is to send out'a recruiting officer and a doctor into the back country. A man could be eulisted and medically examined on _ the spot. And they could "then tell him on ;what date to present himself at the nearest railway station in order to proceed to camp." He added: "Don't- think I have a : grievance j all I want to do is to save another man the same jaunt as I'ije'bad." With a view to augmenting the funds for supplying tobacco, and sweets to tlie troops at the Dardanelles and Samoa the Wellington Lawn' Tennis Club have " decided to hold a-combined handicap tournament, commencing on Saturday, i November 20. " The entrance fee is fixed at Is., and members not competing may 'send their entrance fee to- the. secretary, -as the total' receipts ' will b'e devoted ■ to this purpose.

': We are informed by the local representative of the Southland art' union that owing to Tattersall's holding the drawing of the art union, no definite date as to the result is yet available. This will be. made known per medium of the newspapers iiij approximately, three weeks.