LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2648, 20 December 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An English, via Suez, and an 'Australian mail will arrive in Wellington from Sydney by the. Manuka at 6 p.m. to-day. The postal authorities advise that a small Australian mail should arrive per Main Trunk express to-mor-row, ex the Riverina, at Auckland.

About 200 men employed oil a large vessel lyiug at Auckland stmck on Saturday morning for =in extra two shillings per day all round, claiming that as the vessel was to carry cortain troops she was virtually a transport, and they wore entitled to transport rates. The strike continued till the afternoon, causing much inconvenience, and then it ended by the shipping company concerned' agreeing to comply with the men's demands. —Press Association.

Immigrants to the number of 116 arrived in New Zealand from London yesterday by the Corinthic, and all of them are described as ''separated relatives." Included in the number were 40 domestic servants under Matron _F. Coker and Assistant Matron A. Lorimer.

The sufferings of our troops in Egypt from the fly-pesti were referred to by Professor Kirk in his lecture at the Town Hall on Friday night. The lecturer stated that in his opinion (the opinion, indeed, of a man that had not seen the camp but that had seen the Egyptian flies, and know that i'hey could be killed like other flies), these sufferings , were needless. The fly pest could be largely controlled in Egypt, and to a less ©stent could probably bo controlled even on Gallipoli. At present all suffer discomfort; probably many aro attacked by disease,' and some die, from a cause that wo regard with complacency. It was not an occasion for criticism of the Government, but for New Zealand to awaken to the fact that our fine lads, who have to endure so much of necessity, are enduring a great deal from no necessity at all. It was open to New Zealand to show by a well-directed and well-sustained effort that it valued the life and health and even the comfort of its men. Such a demonstration would in a few years lead to more lives being saved .throughout the civilised world than have been lost even on Gallipoli. The Huddart-Parker steamer Werribee, which arrived on Saturday after-, uoon from Fan Francisco and other Paoiflc Slope ports, has brought down the largest shipment of paper carried in ono bottom to Australian .ports. Altogether ' the vessel loaded 3200 tons of paper at the Powell lUver paper mills. The officers of the Werribco 6tate that those people who should be in a position to know, told them that the Werribee's cargo of paper was the-largest ever ' slapped in one bottom from the mills. Tho vessel is under charter to Messrs. Carmicliael and Co., paper merchants, of Sydney, and she has freight on board for several New Zealand as well as Australian ports. One-reel of paper would cover a space tlireo miles long. Each reel weighs a quarter of a ton, and as there are 3200 tons of paper on hoard, there should be 12,800 reels of. paper in the vessel's holds. The above quantity would cover a length of about 38,400 miles. I The Petoue Municipal Band played carols yesterday through the Lower Hutt district. The bandsmen were hospitably entertained by Mrs. E. B. Swaysland. In spite of a vigilant search, no traoo has been found of the boy _ Reginald Dick, who somowhat mysteriously disappeared from his home ■at 10 Sydney Street, Petone, yesterday week. A Maori 1 child was reported missing on Saturday at Petone, but turned up late in tho evening. At Lower Hutt a visiting child was reported lost, but the local police restored the wanderer to its home. On November 10, when the A. and A. Line's chartered steamer Parattah was about 500 miles south-east of St. Helena, en route from Now York to Lyttelton, smoke in huge volumes was seen. Tho vessel's course was altered, and it was then seen that the Bteamer Indian Monarch, which left New York on October 3 for Australian and Now Zealand ports, was on fire. The Parattah steered close up to ' tho Indian Monarch, to see if tlioro were any signs of lifo aboard, but tho vessel had- heon abandoned some days previously. When tho Parattah left, tho Indian Monarch was burning furiously in tho fore hatches, forward of tho en-gine-room bulkhead. Silk HanHlserckiefs, Dainty Ties, Hair Fine Belts, Brief 'Bags, Collar Boxes, SniJ Cases, and many othw suitable Xmas Presents ave stacked best- and cheapest at Geo. FowWs, Ltd., Manners jjtraat.—.Julri,

Tie Minister of Defence states (bo- , cording to a Press Association telegram from Auckland) tliafc tho second halfton of butter donated by tie farmers of tlo Auckland provinco lias been most gratefully received by the crew of H.M.S. Philomel. Tho Hon. Dr. M'Nab, Minister in! Charge of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, lias received advice of the successful ascent of Mount Cook by Mrs. Peter Graham, accompanied by Guides Graham and Milne on one rone, and Guides Lippe, Young, and: Murrcll on tho second rope, on December 13. The ascent was made by Green's route from Haast Bivouac. The ascent And descent occupied 16J hours. Mrs. Giaham has the honour of being tho first New Zealand lady to reach' the summit of Aorangi.

In an interview with the Hon. A. L/ Hordman, published on Saturday dealing with apple culture in Nelson, the Minister is credited with having said in referring to land for discharged soldiers "that the 'cultivation of apple land is not quite a suitable* occupation for tlio married man.'" The word "married" should have been "maimed."

Trooper F. J. G. Moore, eldest son of Mr. F. T. Moore, of Johnsonville, writes from Malta on November 13 as follows: —"I was discharged from hospital yesterday quite well again. I will be very glad wheu I get back to Gallipoli, for I am full up of hospitals and; convalescent camps. 'When wo got tired of tho cramped fighting in tho trenches on the peninsula I hope to be sent to Salonika' for some open lighting, where we can. tiso our horses. Having survived two severe ordeals on Turkish soil, I was offered a Staff appointment. But this is no good to me. When I am not fit for activo service tliey can fire mo altogether. I hope to do a little more fighting in different parts of the world bo fore this happens."

Tho Anglican Bishop of Wellington: (Dr. Sprott) held an ordination at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral yesterday morning, when the Rov.s. T. Gardiner (SW Peter's), G. P. Neligan (Wanganni), C. W. Solomon (Feilding), and W. T.' Weller (Ohakune) were ordained priests, and Messrs. R. Godfrey, K. J. Macfarland, J. R. Hervey, and P. M. Komi* thorne wore ordained deacons.' Archdeacon Fanconrt presented the ordinands, and the Rev. A. M. Johnston (vicar of St. Paul's) read the Litany. The 'sermon was preached, by the Rev< W. Fancourt.