LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2672, 19 January 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Prims Minister stated in Christ" church yesterday that Parliament might sit sooner than many thought, but he could say no more.—(Press Association.) Hails for America and United. Kingdom via Rarotonga, Tahiti, and Smi Francisco will not be dispatched on February 3, as indicated in the timetable. This trip by the Maitai lias been abandoned. . The hospital ship Maheno will come up to Wellington from Port Chalmers in the co'urso of a few days. Wellington will be the final port of departure. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) will extend a civic reception at 9.31) tliis morn< ing to the delegates to tlie Nursery men's Conference, Which opens at thi Chamber of Commerce to-day. A Press Association message • fron Auckland states that Sir. T. F: Cheeso man has resignod his position as Metes orological Observer at Auckland aftei 33 years' service, and that Mr. F. A. F. Burett, of the Telegraph Department, has been appointed to .fill the vacancy. Records nave been taken continuously during 63 years. The Mayor (Mi. J. P. Luke) has received the following letter from Sir Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand:—"l have received your letter of October forwarding a cheque for £392 2s. 5d., being the final amount collected for the rouof of the children in Belgium in continuation of the movement originated by "Uncle Tom" in November, 1914. Will you allow me to express my appreciation of your efforts on behalf of tie unfortunate, children of our Allies. I. shall bo happy to attend to the distribution as desired." . The cheque, it may be explained, represents accretions to the fund after the collections for tho / specific period in question had formally closed. The question of the ownership of the historic island of Mokoia is occupying the attention of the Native Land Court at Rotorua. There are many claimants, and it is expected that a decision will not be reachcd for at least two months. An interesting account of his experiences in Egypt and at Gallipoli was given at the Sacred Heart Church, • l'onsonby, on Sunday evening "by the Rev. Father M'Manemin, of Potone, who ■ went to the front as Roman Catholic chaplain with the first Reinforcements, and who returned about two months ago. The story related by Father M'Manemin dated"*from tho time tlie troopship left tho Dominion, and took in a period of five months' fighting on the peninsula. Ho paid glowing tribute to the courage and bravery of the colonial troops. There was a largo congregation, the church being filled to the doors.

Instructions have been received by the Imperial Russian Consul for NowSouth Wales that all Russians in Australia of military ago must take their part in the war.; I'llcy are given the option of either joining the Russian forces in their own country or else enlisting with the Australian Expeditionary Forces. The consul states that there are ahout 20,000 Russians, nearly all of tho working class, in Australia. Most of them are in Queensland, but they are of migratory habits, and move . from State to State. There aro a fair immbor in. New South Wales, especially in mining centres like Cobar. Russian regulations make imperative obedience to military commands. Shirkers aro re- ' garded as deserters, and dealt with by martial law. Ho feels assured, however, that the : Russians will realise the manner in. which Australians hare answered the call, and will respond with alacrity. The Russian Imperial authorities, when issuing this new order, notified that military service in Australian units will bo recognised as equivalent to sen-ice in their 01™ country. "I had to go on business to the gaol, and they havo .1 habit of detaining people there," was the felicitous manner in which Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., framed an apology to those concerned when -he came along somewhat behind time to officiate at the Auckland Police Court oh Monday morning. During the past 12 months the Napier Harbour Board's revenue has shown a decrease of £4940. Despite this fact, however, the revenue for the year, exclusive of rates, waa £45,692 10s. Id., and was the second largest revenue year the board has had. The representatives of the parties to the boot trade dispute met in Wellington yesterday and sat from 10.30 ajn. i till 9 p.m. All matters in dispute were agreed upon, except the question of wages, which will be referred to the Court of Arbitration. Regarding wages, the workers are asking for an increase. Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, presided at the conference, and the assessors were: Messrs. J. A- Frostick, J. B. Frame, and B. Mapplebeck (for the employers), and M-ossrs. J. Hutchison, C. A. Watts, and F. M. Robson (for the employees). The dispute is nominally a local one, but it has been agreed to havo a Dominion award based on it.