LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2691, 10 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Prime Minister, the Eight Hon. i \ Massey, expressed satisfaction yesterday with the progress that lias so lar been made with tho scheme, of enlistment organised by the Recruiting Board, of which lis is chairman. Replies, he said, were coming with every mail from the local bodies whose fcooperation had been invited in the work of recruitment. Speaking generally, lie said that they had taken the matter up with enthusiasm, and were manifesting a desire to render every assistance to the Government. The Government Printing Office was still busily at work on the task of completing the 312 local rolls, giving the name "of every man of military age in each district. These rolls were for the guidance of the local governing' bodies in carrying out their work under the scheme.

In reference to a question raised by a correspondent, "Dum Spiro Spero," in a letter published in The Dominion of October 1G last, as to the reason why 6ome parcels from foreign countries by ivay of London have been received in New Zealand without stamps being affixed, the Secretary, General Post Office, has received from the London Post Office the explanation, which is to the effect that in the parcel post service between the United Kingdom and most foreign countries dispatch notes accompany tho parcels, that in some countries the postage stamps are affixed not to the parcels, hut to the relative dispatch notes, and that in tho case of parcels sent to New Zealand by way of London tho dispatch notes are retained in London.

An Auckland tram conductor was considerably surprised recently to find that a sleeping baby had been left in his ear. It is stated that a Indy went to Onehungii, and that when her baby fell asleep she laid it on the seat and tlion forcot to take it with her when sho reached her destination. The conductor took the baby to the tramway depot ni Auckland, but was advised to keep it until lie reached Ounehunga again. He did so, but the mother was not there to meet it, as was anticipated. The baby had a second trip to Auckkeep it until lie reached Onehunga Then, much to the conductor's relief, it was claimed by its mother, who stated that sho had quite forgotten it until the friend sho was visiting; at Onehunga inquired after its health.

Las-t week the State Labour Bureau in Wellington received 48 applications for work. Forty-six of the applicants were placed, 38 privately and 8 in State employment. There is awaiting the other two. The .provincial towns renort a hielily satisfactory state nf affairs, n«d New Plymouth. 0-amnru, Timaru, Nelson, Palmerston North, and Tnvercareilt received no applications during the week. Auckland had a record week, only 10 men being left out of work. Twenty-five applied, and 15 wore placed.

The matter of conferring the freedom of the Cifcv trams on returned soldiers (as nrfied bv Captain Donald was before the Tramways Commit,too of tlie City Council on Monday. Yesterday the Mayor (Mr. .T T. Luke) conferred with Captain Simson on the subi"ct. A statement may he made the matter at th" emincil meeting this evening. One difficulty will be the work inmosed on Hie conductor in discriminating between the man in khaki who has been to the front, and he who is going. f Something like a range in money belts for soldiers, 2s. llcl., 3=. Gd., ss". 6d., 6s. lid.; snake or bucklo fasteners, Goo. Fowlds, Ltd.—Advt

An interesting curio in the shape of a Maori mere was dredged l up in the Inner Harbour at Napier a day or two ago. It is 12 inches Jong, and weighs about ™j.

During a thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon (says the "Herald"), a Hash of lightning struck the mainsail, near the top, of the yaclit Decima, which was racing off North Head, Auckland. A hole was burnt in the sail, and the metal eyelet rings in the edge of the sail above-wcre melted, whilst a shower of sparks fell on to the deck. Members of the crew were momentarily dazed, whilst some returned soldiers who were on board liken the report and the flash to the bursting of a bomb.

The extension of existing factories in Great Britain to meet the new demands now and after the war is being seriously considered by the Home manufacturers. So stated Mr. 11.' W. Dalton, who arrived in Auckland by the Niagara, en route for Wellington, to take up the appointment of British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand. "Previous to the commencement of the war," eaid Mr. Dalton, "the British manufacturers produced only comparatively small quantities of goods of a high quality for a small market. They now understand that if they aro going to take the German trade they must develop their works to produce large quantities for a wide market, and they are disposed to do this, even if it means a heavy capita] outlaw"

"I found Honolulu to be a fine holiday resort," said Mr. Martin Kennedy, of Wellington, who returned from a six weeks' holiday spent at the capital of the Hawaiian Islands. "It is a pleasant place. The climate is good, and the sea-bathing was well patronised. There wore many New Zealand and American tourists holiday-making wliile I was there."—Auckland "Herald."

Expressions of gratitude for gifts received from New Zealand are contained in a letter received by a Wellington resident from a seaman on board H.M.S. Philomel. - The writer says: "I must tell you that we received the-organ, and thank all for their kindness. We also received a gramophone, about half a ton of butler, and some apples. The words passed oil receipt of tho butter would, I think, have touched the hardest of hearts. We were indeed thankful for it. Tho organ is used for church service on Sundays, and' it helps tho singing immensely."

Without wishing to pose as a prophet or even to emphasise an opinion, Mr. C. M. Luke, president of the Central Chamber of Commerce, said at yesterday's meeting that he believed that there was only one issue possible in the war —Britain and her Allies must gain tho victory. There were various indications that the Allies' were getting a strangle-liold on the Germanic Powers, and he had an idea that the end of the coming European summer would see the end of the war.

A chase after a large sting-ray—call-ed by the Maoris weku—in Tauranga Harbour recently was attended with lather disastrous results for a valuable dog owned by a Native resident of MatapLhi, says the "Bay of Plenty Times." A number of Natives, Armed with threepronged forks, -were wading in shallow water in a portion of tine harbour between Warcroa and Matapihi iu quest of fish, when they sighted tho weku and pursued it. 'JVo dogs were accompanying tho party, and one of them got too close to the sting-ray, which succeeded in driving its sting through a foreleg and then into the body of the dog, the sting penetrating several inches in the vicinity of the heart. The weku made off and! the dog was taken ashore, where the sting was extracted. The poor animal lost a great quantity of blood and eventually collapsed, the possibility of its recovery being very remote. Subsequently the Maoris secured a boat and iesumcd tho pursuit of the weku, which they succeeded in killing. The sting-ray measured about oft. across.

At Geraldine recently several small boys went out bird-nesting. Some time later, while they were returning quite unconcernedly—minus one of tlieir number—thoy were questioned by a gentleman who thought he had heard a splash. On a search being made, the missing lad was discovered hanging over a barbed-wire fence, with his head immersed in a week. Fortunately he :was discovered in the nick of time, for when rescued he was all but drowned.

The question of opening the -To Aro swimming baths on Sundays the same as on week days was brought under the notice of the Baths Committee of the City Coancil yesterday by a deputation representing 600 petitioners. The deputation consisted of Messrs G.' Hill and A. N. Farnell, 1111.1 apologised for the absence from the interview of Dr Hislop. It was pointed ''tit that at present the baths were only open in the morning on Sunday and there were many people t<> whom an afternoon swim would bo a boon, as they could not pay a visit at any other time. During the present hot weather the baths were crowded en Sunday mornings and the proposition from a re\enuo ]Kiint cf view was a- good one. From the Sabbatarian aspect ,there could be little objection to such a healthful exe-oise, and with the extra income derlvod there should be 110 trouble about providing for the additional caretaking attendance involved. The committee thanked the deputation and promised to give the matter every consideration.