LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2678, 26 January 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Hospital Ejhip Maheno, which is to sail for the Mediterranean to-da.v, was inspected yesterday by His Excellency the Governor (Lord Liverpool), the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen), and Brigadier-General Robin, Officer Commanding the Forces. A drowning accident was narrowly averted at Lyall Bay yesterday afternoon. A young woman who was indulging in the pastime of surf-bathing got out of her depth. She appears then to have fainted. Police Constable Roche, who fortunately witnessed' tho accident, hastened to the rescue and succeeded, not without difficulty, in conveying the bather to safety. Efforts to restore respiration were successful, and soon the hather appeared none the worse for her unpleasant experience. A report received yesterday from Colonel Patterson, Samoa, states that the health of the troops is good, and there are no sick. A meeting of the Relief Committee of the War Relief Association of Wellington was held on Monday. There were present: Messrs. 'William Ferguson (chairman), Messrs. C. M. Luke, A. It. Atkinson, E. J. Colley, J. Lewis, and L. 0. H. Tripp. Apologies for absence were received from His Worship the Mayor and Messrs. L. M. A. Rearden and J. Hutcheson. Twenty-two applications for relief were handled, and grants were made in most cases.

A critical examination of the air of London is being conducted, and some astonishing results are the outcome of the monthly analysis. A large rain gauge is placed on the roof of the city mortuary, and tho rain water from a known surface area is collected monthly and analysed. Similar observations aro being taken by the London County Council on the Thames embankment. Dr. Howarth, the city medical officer, stated that in December, 1915, alone, the amount of deposit registered as falling in the city alone amounted to 54} tons. Of that mass 34 tons were soluble,; and included chlorides and sulphates of ammonia. The remaining 20} tons were insoluble, and consisted of tar, carbon, and grit. The results from a dense fog have not yet been obtained. Such figures must gladden tho hearts of the laundry proprietors, if no one else.

The Scottish Society and the Pipe Band of Wellington held a Burns Anniversary Celebration in the rooms of the society in Cuba 'Street last mailt. Mr. C. Foster (Chief)_ presided over a fair attendance. An interesting programme of songs, instrumental selections, and Highland dancing was contributed to by Mrs. Beveriage (song), Miss Glavin (bagpipes), Mr. A. Mackie (S0113), M''- J. Wright (violin), Mr. T. Newton (song), and other members of the society.

At the Pefcone Court yesterday, bofore Messrs. J. W. M'Ewan and J. Piper, J.P.'s, Joseph Nevil Bell was charged with being illegally on premises situated in Jackson Street, and was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.-

"One hears a lot of complaints about tho administration of the Defence Department," remarked tho Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) yesterday in introducing another view of tho picture. The Minister thereupon handed over for perusal by the reporter a letter expressing not a grievance but gratitude to the Department. The lettor said: "I am in receipt of your telegram giving details of my brother, an' enteric patient in England. The High Commissioner's cablegram clears up the position, and I am sure when I communicate the news to my parents they will be very grateful to you for tho troublo taken. Apparently our boys are receiving better attention than some people would make us believe, and in future I will not worry so much but will leave things to those in authority, whom I now believe are doing all that is possible. Thank you for your prompt and courteous attention to my inquiries." The Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) paid a visit to Somes Island on Monday. Speaking to a reporter yesterday Mr. Allen said that the interned aliens 6eemed quite comfortablo in tho quarters allotted to them. Any gifts of literaturo, the Minister remarked, would ho highly appreciated on the island. His visit, 110 added, was more especially to see the quarters provided for the Department's staff. It was proposed to <?ivo them more suitable accommodation than tents, and n building would prob'ably be erected. Tho residents on the island certainly had tho advantage of a fine healthy situation.

Tfio Maoris have a peculiar way of doing tilings, as a story, vouched for by a well-known local settler, discloses (says the '"Poverty Bay Herald"). Recently a collection was taken up to defray the opening of a church in tho Wairoa district, and the settler in quesI tion was approached by a Native for a cheque 011 account of his contract. The document was given, and on second thoughts the Maori asked for another cheque for tho balance. After assurances had been given, tho second cheque was forthcoming, with a promise that it would bo returned in a few days. Sure enough, a few days later, tho settlor was returned ine of the cheques (for £50), and on making inquiries ascertained that a certain liapu liad promised so much for tho church, and their neighbours felt that they should not ho outdore; hence the loan of the second cheque.

Tho following is the text of a message received by the Swiss Consul (says an Auckland _ paper) from tho Federal Government,in Switzerland:—"ln consequent of arrangements made with the Allied Governments, shipping companies may embark without special authorisation merchandise intended for Switzerland if consigned to aud bills of lading made out to the order of "Societe Suisse Surveillance.' After Marcli this provision will be superseded by more definite procedure."

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It is not usual for two members of a' public body to celebrate their silver wedding simultaneously (says the Duncilin "Star"). On Christmas Day last Councillors J. 13. Shacklock and Hayward had each boon married 25 years. In the City Council they have been associated for some time on the 6ame committees.

The Minister of Defence (the Hon. J, •l , V. tat ?r y eat e r da.v that the Hobpifcal Ship Marama had loft Alexandria for Mgland with wounded soldiers. The Marama, remarked the Minister, had been handed over to the Imperial Government to be used whero she would bo of most servico. At present when tliero appeared to bo a lull in the fighting it was quite likely that in the judgment of those who controlled her movements tho best service tlic Marama could render would bo to bring back tho cot cases to New Zealand to relieve the hospitals in Egypt and England, and onable them to make provision for future requirements. The Maheno, remarked the Minister, came back at the beginning of a period of comparative inactivity. The departure of the Westralia for Lyttelton last evening was delayed for an hour and a half waiting for a fireman. of the incidents on board tho hospital ship Maheno as narrated bv Corporal-fospenser Donaldson, who is visiting Gore, states the Mataura "Ensign, was the spectacle of a Gurkha and a Maori seated on the deck endeavouring to teach cacli other their respective languages. The method adopted was to N touch different parts of the body and pronounco the name thereof, the mispronunciations of the Maori creating muoh amusement on the part of the Ghurkas, while similar slips of the Gurkha elicited equal merriment iroin the Maoris. A striking similarityof the language was noticeable. ■Both men took keen interest in this task, and were induced to leave it ivith difficulty even to partake of food. , striking photographs are exhibited m Mr. C. E. Darnell's windows (says tho "Wairarapa Times"); One shows tho 1908 Wellington College first fifteen. Attached is a card, reading: "A good example; two of these w i? re . re i ecte d on account of ill-health: all others with the forces—one killed, three wounded." The'other photograph shows tho 1808 Wellington. College cricket eleven, and tlie attached card states: "All in the forces, one killed." Of the rejects in the football' team, one is an invalid who has been confined to his bed for man,' months, and the other suffers from a broken kneo.

The Palmerston Chamber of Commerce has received a letter from tlio General Manager of Railways with regard to warning bells at' the railway crossings in the Square, stating , that owing to the expenses the Government had to meet at the present time, it could not considor putting in the bells. Mr. J. M. Johnston said it was essential in the interests and safety of the public to carry out the work at once. Mr. A. Hannay said that the bells were installed at Levin, and there was not half as much traffic over the crossings there as over the crossings at Palmerston. It was decided to reply that tho bells had been promised: definitely for some years past, and it was essential in the interests of the public to instil the system at once,

Mr. A. Seifert, at Monday night's meeting Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, attacked the existing railway time-table, describing it as too bulky and inconvenient. It also cost too much. The price and the size were absurd. Mr. J. M. Johnston said tho time-table should be printed on the same lines as the Bradshaw. _ One had to look up several different lines, Auckland, New Plymouth, and Napier, before one could discover the lines of trains reaching Palmerston North. It was made too bulky by advertisements. For his part he always cut the advertisements out and rebound tho book. Mr. Seifert said the public wanted a time-table and nothing eke. Further discussion on the subject was held over till the next meeting.

Speaking at a recruiting meeting held in Christchurch, the Rev. P.N. Knight made a fervent appeal on behalf of the soldiers when peace allows tliem to return home. He said that after the Boer War many ' Australian soldiers were forgotten and neglected, some, within a year of their return from active service, being reduced to actual want. They found their billets taken by stay-at-hoines, and after the first receptions the Australian peoplo seemed to forget the sacrifices made by the volunteers. Mr. Knight added that he hoped that scandal would not recur either here or in Australia after the present great struggle ended. The ohildren. and dependents of the men must be looked after, and the Patriotic Fund should be subscribed to as generously as possible/ During the past few days (states the Roxburgh correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times") there has been a spell of exceptional heat, which has had the offoct of bringing fruit on very fast. Immenso loads have been going forward daily, upwards of 60 tons leaving Beaumont 011 Monday, and though the lorries have been running double trips, much ?ias had to be left, small growers being unable to get their little. lots away. Orchardists have been _ busy from daylight to dark, endeavouring to cope with the rush, and though fully staffed for a busy season, they have been quite unable to harvest everything. Fortunately there was a welcome change in the weather on Wednesday afternoon, heavy rain setting in and continuing till next morning.