LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2632, 1 December 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Newii has been received of the Eighth Reinforcements, now at sea, on their •way to tlio front. Hie transports encountered very rough weather shortly after leaving the New Zealand coast.

The new beer duties imposed under the Finance Aot of last session will be collected from to-day onwards.

Infomuitioiv reaohed Wellington on Monday-night that the P. and 0. liner Soootri. had gone ashore near Start Point, on tho South. Coast of England. The Socotra is a steel twin-screw steame:: of 6009 tons gross, and was built b.V Palmer's Company, Ltd., at Nowoas-tlo, in 1897. According to latest advices tho Socotra loaded at Brisbane on September 18, Sydney September 27, Melbourne October 2, and Adelaide on October 7, for London.

Theni were no bankruptcies recorded in tho Wairarapa during last month.

' The Land and Income Tax Department has extended the time within which the returns of income which farmers are required to provide may bo jilled m and returned. Tho Prime Minister informed a reporter yesterday that at the request of farmers' organisations in different parts of tho country the time for the returns of the forms had been extended from November 4 to November 18. ■ »

Iho wives and daughters of farmers are, says our Masterton correspondent) assisting in rolling and pressing in somo of tho shearing sheds of tho Wairarapa.

Tho Prime Minister will open the Johnsonville Horticultural and Industrial Society's Summer Show at 2.30 p.m. to-day. The show will last for two days, and the net proceeds are to bo devoted to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund.

The Associated Banks of Victoria hava decided to fall into line with the schemo for financing and handling the harvest which was recently adopted by the Commonwealth and States. Tho scheme provides for tho banks advancing money to farmers on a basis of 3s. a bushel at the principal shipping ports. Now that the Victorian bankers have agreed to participate in the scheme, it is expected that banks in tho other States will soon fall into line. The interest on these advances' is to he paid out of the pooled receipts from the sale of tho wheat, but the Tate has not yet been disclosed.

Captain D. Munro, who was one of the commission appointed to inquire into the riot and disturbance at Cairo somo time ago, and who was acting as 'Adjutant at Cairo, will speak at a -New Zealand Club luncheon on Friday.

At a special meeting of the Board of Managers of the Masterton Technical School, it was decided that a.domestio science course, ue established at the school, at a salary commenting' at £150 a year' for full time service. It was also decided to appoint, a local drawing teacher at a remuneration of .£SO per year.

The Masterton Commercial and Farmers' Club lias decided to issue visitors' tickets to all undischarged returned soldiers and to recruits who have been accepted for military service.

The chairman of the Wellington Education Board (the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken) said at yesterday's meeting of the board that the body was willing to have wounded soldiers taught in the ,Technical School, and that a programme for such a purpose had been drawn up and submitted to the Government.

Country children are at present suffering certain educational disadvantages(as compared with town children), according to Mr. Moss, who touched on the subject at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Education Board. "Yoti say: 'Keep the population in the country,'" remarked Mr. Moss, "but there are men who have found it advisable to sell, their farms and come to town because of the handicap on their children." '

A large quantity of splints of various kinds were oh view at the Wellington Education Board officcs yesterday afternoon, when the,board met. It was stated that the splints had been made by the boys of the woodwork classes of the Technical School, and that they comprised riiore than a' complete equipment for No. 2 Hospital Ship. Tho members of the board highly praised the work, and it was reported that SurgeonGeneral Henderson, the Minister of Education (the Hon, J. A. Hanan), and Dr. Cook (of the Hospital Ship) had spoken in terms of great praise of the articles. The board resolved: "That this board highly appreciates the work done by the_ boys and the girls (under the supervision of the Organising Committee) in the interests, of the men at the front, and expresses a fervent hope that theso appliances will very seldom be required." '

A trooper writing from Gallipoli to a friend in Wanganui gives some particulars of tho death of the late SergeantMajor Pye-Smith, of Wellington.' It appears that he was killed by rifle fire while leading ~ a charge l tho Turks, and but for his brave action the whole regiment would have been annihilated. From all accounts the regiment Sergeant Pye-Smitli belonged . to was very hard pushed, and had to retire or die fighting, so Sergeant-Major PyeSriiith took his men out, charged the enemy, and lot the rest get back to safety.. The writer concludes by saying .that lie did not know of any man, young or old, who was so fearless of danger on the battlefield, and so willing to assist anybody in trouble.

A man, evidently a seaman, .off one of the steamers in port, was observed sitting on the side .of the wharf near the coastal steamer Opawa shortly after 10 o'clock last evening. Suddenly he overbalanced, and fell between the vessel and the wharf. In falling, his head struck the -woodwork, and he became unconscious.. Had it not been for the prompt action of the Harbour Board nightwatchman and some others Who happened to be in the vicinity at the fime, the man would undoubtedly have been drowned. As it was. it took about an hour's hard work'to brihg him round, and subsequently he was removed to the Hospital, whore, on, inquiry later in the evening, he was reported to bo pr<>> gressing favourably. A wounded soldier, in a letter to the Prime Minister, writes as follows about his treatment in England. "I am adding this (postscript) to let you know what a snlendid reception our men have received since landing in England, and how the efforts of the people 'of New Zealand are appreciated _bv all classes. Since landing I have visited a .number of different _ places, and have everywhere been received wtfch kindness and sympathy,, everything being dona to make my stay a pleasant one. I will always entertain ail affectionate regard for this grand old countrv until the end of my nfe. From the point of view of a wounded soldier it makes me feel that my sacrifice has not been in vain when my efforts have been so well appreciated bv all with whom I have come in contact."

The employees of "the Gear Meat Company will hold t'heir annual, picnic today, and the proceeds aro to be devoted to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The' Now Zealand Hospital Ship Maraina left Port Chalmers' at noou yesterday for Wellington, and is due iu port either this afteriioon or- early tomorrow morning. .

The employment of Zulus for the war is being mooted iin the Press hero (writes a South African correspondent from Pietermaritzburg). They aro horn soldiers,-and it is maintained that Lalf a million of them could be , got, and that they-could be easily drilled, and made otherwise fit by the old Zululand native police, commonly called Hansel's Nongqai Corps. Long-winded and looselimbedj it is urged that Zulus would be splendidly adapted for bayonot charges. AVe are told that some of them, are .asking: • "What wrong have we done that we are not allowed to fight for our King?" Of course, the colour bar has been broken by the employment of Indians and the acceptance of Cape coloured men. The policy has always been; with the large preponderance of natives in South Africa, not to give them firearms, and the Zulu native police has been one of the few. exceptions to this rule. The Germans have a large, well-armed and useful ■ native force in East Africa now fighting for them,-and, if it is thought advisable to employ Zulus, that should be their ground, of course, and not Europe. The Army Council lias gladly accepted the offer of the Union Government to raise ail infantry battalion .of Cape coloured men, and two bear&r companies of Indians resident in South Africa.

A special meeting of t"be members ofthe French Club Was held last night, in response to a letter received from the French Consul at Auckland, appealing to the club an effort to-raise money in aid of the French Red Cross Society, which, on account of the extent of the great and noble work.which it has undertaken, is sorely in need if'funds. It was further, pointed out that France was in a different position from England .with regard to money to .carry on "work of tjiis riatuTe, in so, much that nsarlv the entire male population is in the 'firing line. It was resolved that the French Club give, as a preliminary moans of 'inaugurating . the; fund'in Wellington, a patriotic concert in the Concert Chamber next Friday evening, when a'little French comedy, in French, will be given, supported by a very strong programme. A. sub-com-mitte'e was then set up to consider what steps should be taken hi order to further augment, the fund. Mile' du Bosson reported that she had received a donation of £5 from Mr. J. P, Firth.