LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2668, 13 January 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

t> {J 1 ® Postal authorities advise that the R.M S. Maitai, which left San Francisco on January 7 for Wellington, is due on January; 29, bringing American and ■Lnglish mails by San Francisco, Tahiti, and liarotonga. The postal ■ authorities advise that Austra lan and English mails, via Sue?, which left Wellington per s.s. MoeraH on January 6, arrived at Sydney on Monday morning. The date of the departure of the hospital ship Maheno from New Zealand has not yet been fixed, but it is probablo that the final port will be Wellington. J.i , pontoon, one of two captured by the Now Zealauders at the fight the ouez Canal long ago, has been sent to tlie Minister, and is now in Wellington. The latest additions to the Welling-' I ton Zooare two Australian parrots. presented by Miss Corrich, of Caroline btreet; and three harrier hawks, given by Mr. E. Leppien, of Greytown. Until a permanent secretary can be found for the Recruiting Board, a Parliamentary officor will be asked to do the work. It is expected that the alphabetical lists being prepared will be ready next week, and tnen the recruiting organisations will be able to commence work. There is no difficulty in obtaining work for _able-bodied men in the country districts, the Labour Department reports _ At the meeting held at Invercargill connection with the administration of the Queen Carnival Funds, Mr. W. A. Cox, president of the Southland Farmers Union, made a strong appeal in tho direction of maintaining a continuous effort. He said they knew that thousands of people wero starving while we wero living in luxury, and he felt very strongly that something should be dbno promptly in regard to the various relief funds; something should be done that day. The wool sales were coming on, and he suggested that each of the farmers should donate, say, 5 per cent, of tho amount they would receive for their clips towards the war 'funds. Mr. Cox's remarks (states the "Southland

■f Times") wore greeted with loud apIS plause. 0 At Friday night's meeting of the .. Acclimatisation Society (states the a "North Otago Times"), a letter was a read from the secretary of the Otago Acclimatisation Society regarding the ■ feasibility of introducing the swallow from Australia into New Zealand. The time was inopportune for asking the c Government to move in the mutter, but " if twenty societies were to put in £5 ' each, or even less, a trial shipment - could be ordered through the New Zear laud Acclimatisation Societies, and the 3 birds, on arrival, be sent to various t parts of the Dominion. In that way 1 tlio question as to whether the birds would m,ako their homes in Now Zealand would be given a fair trial and the . cost to the societies would be compara- ! tively small. It was decided to defer ■ consideration of the matter to a future meeting. > The Labour Department states that lust week's reports show that the position of employment was satisfactory in Wellington. During the week forty-two applications for work wero received. Thirty-one of the applicants were placed, eight are general labourers for whom work is available, and tlireo registered for harvesting. In Christchurch 56 men asked for work, and six were accommodated. Twenty-four applied at Dunedin, and eight wero found employment. At Greymouth, Oamaru, Palmorston North, New Plymouth, and Timaru no unemployment was reported. At its last meeting, the War Pensions Board granted to members 10 pensions and 22 allowances, threo applications being declined, and a firo adiourned; to dependents, 29 pensions and one allowance, four being declined , and ono ad- I journed. A total of 39 pensions and 23 ■ allowances wore granted, seven applica- ' tions were declined and six adjourned. ! XJp to dato 444 pensions, representing ( an annual value of £20,277, have been ( granted. Of these 63 wore granted to i soldiers, 93 to wives, including children, c and 28S to other dependents. "The aver- i age pensions are as follow:—Soldiers, r £56; wives, including children, £S8; 1 other dependents, £29. Eighty-eight al- J lowances have been granted to date, re- t presenting £2193 15s. y Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners Street, carry I a splendid ranse in hats, harH felt, soft A felt, or straw. Tko prices are moderate j pud the firm Kuaranteca a fit for every a ..head.—A<m. t.

Last week there was a special call on tlio Labour Department for forty painters for Feathereton Camp. The bulk of the men wore obtained from Cliristchurch, and all are now at work at tho new training ground to be. Mr. C. H. Hewlett, of Christclmrch, has advised tho Hon. A. Mvers, Minister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies that lie is forwarding tho first consignment of pull-throughs, numbering 2500, which have been made by himself and his patriotic band of workers. Some time ago Mr. Hewlett undertook to organise and train some 200 men who would be prepared, in their spare time, to givo their services in the interests of the country, and, provided the Government supplied tho material, offered to make 30,000 pull-throughs for tho Defence Department. These. Mr. Hewlett stated, would now coino forward at tho rate of 2500 per week —in fact, they were being turned out faster than the cord, could be supplied by tlie mills. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), Councillor Frost (the chairman of the Reserves and Public Gardens Committee), and tho Town Clerk (Mr. J. R, Palmer) paw a visit to Day's Bay on Monday, liieir object, was to note what has already been done, and what further stops should be taken to <xdd to the natural attractions of Day's Bay - as a '?' ac( L of residence and a holiday reS • „° Mayor, tho chairman of the Hntt County Council, and the City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) some time ago discussed together the questions of water supply and drainage at Day s Bay. Since then surveys have been made and a survey plan has been prepared by tlio City. Engineer, settiu** out the area which' will be affected! This will form tho basis of a further plan showing tlio water and drainage requirements. The area is within the boundaries and under the jurisdiction of tho Hutt County Council. There was, remarked the Mayor yesterday, no doubt that it would bo necessary to intioduce a system of water supply and drainage which would effect a considerable improvement on existing conditions. He would have, a communication to make on the matter at the next meeting of the City Council. The Labour Department reported yesterday that Mr. William Scott, of Dunedin, had been elected the employers' representative on tlie Arbitration Court, vice Mr. K. F. Duthie, resigued. The other candidates were: Messrs. Malcolm Stevenson (Dunedin) and Isaac Clark (Auckland). Mr. Scott had a large majority. His appointment dates from February 1. The Mayor (Mr. J P. Luke) stated yesterday that the City Council was now supplying power for the running of the tramcars over the 'Miramar Borough Council's lines at Is. per car per mile. With regard to tho 6upply. of electric light to the borough, a new agreement" had been drawn up,' which embodied some slight modifications of the previous agreement. It had been approved by tho City Council, but had not yot been considered by the Miramar Council. His Worship remarked that the linking, up of the suburban boroughs with the City in the matter of various municipal services had much to recommend it. The idea of establishing separate undertakings with the prospect of only limited requirements to provide for was not sound economically, and tlie ideal system was one of actual co-operation between tho authorities.

On Saturday morning at tie Timarii Post Officc, while one of the staff was sorting letters into the private boxes he noticed that a card stuck in a crack in one of tho lower. boxes. Thinking that this crack might allow letters to fall through,. he informed the post-' master, who directed that the floorboards around tho lower boxes bo taken away. This was done,- and to the astonishment of the staff several letters and postcards were found underneath. Ono card was dated ISB2, which is the year after the'post office was opened, while some of the correspondence is addressed to persons who are now dead. The floor boards of the boxes had evidently been made of green wood which had shrunk, making an aperture between the wall and tho edge of the box. ' , ' ! For the twelve months ended December 31 last, tho following bililding permits were issued from the office of the Wellington City Engineer City, 200; Melrose, 310; Wadestown, 16; Northland,' 12. The value of the buildings in the four districts to which these permits applied was: City, £141,094; Melrose, £148,550; Wadestown, £9425; Northland, £3665. Apart from the City, the permits were given mainly for dwelling-houses, and of these 235 were issued for Melroso alone, the balance being for additions to existing buildings, etc. In tho City building enterprise during the year took tho form of new stores, shops,- and warehouses. Other important- contracts wore for two picture theatres—one in Marion Street for the Queen's Theatre Company, and the other in Molesworth Street for, the Crown Theatre Company —a hostel in Glen Eoad, Kelburn, for the Society of Friends, the new Club Hotel on Lambton Quay, car barns for tho Wellington City Corporation, and an orphanage in Morton Street for tha trustees of the Presbyterian Church. We have to acknowledge receipt of Stone's Otago and Southland Directory, for 1916. The directory, which is now in its thirty-third year of publication, contains numerous additions and im. provements, and is full of useful general and statistical information. Copies may bo had of all booksellers.

A decidedly -precocious young criminal, in the person of a Maori lad lianiod Jimmy Ngoungou, appeared before Mr. R. \Y. Dyer, S.M., at the Rotorua Magistrate's Court on Saturday (says the New Zealand "Herald"), to answer three chargos of theft. He had, a month previously, been convicted of theft at Whakataue. The present charges were for stealing moneys and a field-glass from one Thomas Thome Seccombe, at Poroporo, clothing and money l'rom the house of H. J. Hyde at the same place, and a double-barrelled sun and cartridges from Nepia Hona. at Whakataue. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Cunimiiigs stated that the thefts had beon daringly carried out. Tho accused had ridden 16 miles, taken an axe, and broken in a door and ransacked the house, stealing those things that he considered useful, besides money. Ho had taken to the bush and swamps when tho polico were after him, and evaded capture for a. fortnight. Eventually he was found in a dug-uut oi; die banks of a river. Ho resisted capture and had to be dragged out. tlo utilised the field-glasses to watch for the police, and had them in his possession when captured. The accused was becoming a dangerous criminal, and he (the sergeant) had nothing to say in mitigation of any penalty. The lad was sentenced to a period of reformative treatment not exceeding throe years. - None of the legacies bequeathed to church and" philanthropic institutions under the will of the late Mr. J: CI. Maoky, of the firm of Macky, Logan, Caldwell, Ltd!, who lost' his life in the Lusitania disaster last year, has yet been paid over, states an Auckland paper. It is understood, however, that some of the lesser amounts will reach tho hands of the beneficiaries almost immediately. Other bequests will be met as funds accumulate in the realisation of the deceased gentleman's estate. The distribution of the £20,000 whioh Mr. Macky willed to the employees of his firm is left at tho discretion of the executors,, who are his four oldest sons, subject to an injunction that they shall deal firstly with all persons who were actually in tho employment of Macky, Logan, Caldwell, Ltd., *t tho time of his death, also those who had left the firm's by reason of old ago, infirmity, ill-health, otf accident. It 33: understood that the executors are preparing a plan of division under which all who come within this description shall participate equitably, in due proportion to their salaries, and length of service, and tho responsibility of the positions they have occupied. , '

A .vigorous assault at arms was inado against the Dunedin Police Station about 6.30 on Saturday evening, says the "Otago Daily Times." Equipped witli the primitive armament of. our early ancestors, an elderly man sought to force a violent entry, with the object, apparently, of bearding the lions in their den. Ho opened the assault with a long-range, bombardment of road metal, several pieces of which found their billet in' Sub-Inspector Broberg's rcom through the window, which was badly shattered as a result; Pushing Lome the attack, he charged wildly into tho watch-house, and attempted to stab Constable Fallon with' a large sheath-knife. It was now a case of two strong men coming face to face, and tho struggle that ensued would lave been worthy of a gladiatorial arena. Eventually Constable Fallon—doubtless recalling an old schoolboy trick—got his assailant's head under one arm and also gained control over, tho hand that held the knife. At this moment Detective Hammerly _ ontered the watchhouse, and with, his advent tie struggle was over. The bellicose one was at once placed in a padded cell, in tho peaceful atmosphere of which he would have ample opportunity for reflection upon, the strange 'series of' incidents that lad landed him tlere 1 On being searched he was found to have in his possession a sheath-knife and a spare •blade, a large pocket-knife with, the bl&de open, and seven or eight stones. Ho states that lie Tecently came from 'Amberley, in North Canterbury, and in explanation of lis conduct le alleges 'that the police have followed him about from place to place, and lave even ■frequented tho house at which le boarded.

Chaplain-Major Dutton, who returned with tli6 hospital ship Malieno, gave an address in the Caversham Presbyterian Clnirch on tihework of the Red Cross Society and similar organisations in war time. In concluding his remarks Mr. Dutton said: "I do thank God with all my heart that our boys are no longer at Aazac. You can call it defeat, or failure, or what .you like, I tell yon that those hillsides are consecrated with their blood, and that their exploits there were marvellous beyond the power of expression.- I thank God, too, for the work of the Red Cross Society, the St. John Ambulance Association, and the Volunteer Aid Society. AH these organisations aro supplementing .the work of the ■ Army Medical Corps to a degree that seems almost fabulous, and when the history of these departments comes to be written up it' will be a glorious record of unselfish sacrifice and splendid heroism on behalf of others." ~ One result of America's part in making munitions for the Allies is the almost magical way shares in manufacturing concerns have risen. Mr. G. H. Blakemore, an- Australian metallurgist who is returning by the Makura, told a pressman that on the outbreak of war shares, in the Electric Motorboat Co. were quoted at 6s. As he came through .New. York recently those shares had risen to £108. Two years ago Bethlehem Steel Company shares stood at £8, but when Mr. Blakemore left London theywere worth £120. "There is hardly a railway company in the United States," said the visitor, "whose shares have not appreciated by about 20 per cent., and the shares of every individual organisation in have increased jn proportion. Those in woollen and boot factories havo risen most remarkably." During a visit to a large metal works in the United States Mr. Blakemore learned that a considerable portion of tho _ output—ilia total is 4000 tons a day—is being used for the manufacture of shrapnel shells. Largo steamers are leaving with 52,000 and 15,000 tons of munitions for the Allies. The total output would probably be 100,000 tons per week. Tho Australian visitor was also informed that America was turning out 40 aeroplanes a week to the order of the Allies. "From all that I learnt," lie said, "I believe that tho United States is doing us a greater service while remaining neutral than she would even if derlared war against, our enemies." Regarding the possibility of the latter course being adopted, Mr. Blakemore expressed the opinion that President was waiting until such time as the "Hvphenate'd-Americans" showed au inclination in favour of intervention. When this occurred he did_ not think that the President would hesitate to declare war.

Suspicions respecting the possession of a soldier's pay-book by a young civilian led to his being chaeed by a number of returned soldiers in Auckland on Thursday afternoon. The civilian in question had made various assertions in a hotel bar regarding liis alleged doings in Gallipoli, but when questioned he was ■unable to offer satisfactory answers. Some of the soldiers, becoming suspicious as to how he camo to be in' possession of the pay-book, taxed him with not being the original owner. The man then bolted. The chase commenced in Vulcan Lane, and was continued some distance up Chancery Lane, where the man was stopped by several workmen. He came in for a rough handling, but did not show any inclination to fight. The pay-book was taken from him, and on a crowd assembling, the man slipped away. The book was left at the Soldiers' Club, in order to give the rightful owner an opportunity of recovering it. The namo inside is that of Private Henry Simpson.