LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2697, 17 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Prime Minister (the Right. Hon. W. F. Massey) informed a reporter yesterday that a communication bad been received from the Imperial Government requesting the New Zealand Government to prevent any crossbred woolb from being shipped to neutral countries, as it is urgently required for Britain, and especially for the British Army. A reply lias been forwarded notifying compliance with the request. Tlio postal authorities aefviso that the s.s. Riverina, which left Wellington on February 10, carrying English and American mails, arrived at Sydney on the morning of February 14.

The Wellington Health Authorities report that there have been no fresh cases of infantile paralysis notified in the City or. district. They emphasise, however, the importance of continuing the observance of the precautions al< ready suggested.

The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey), who is chairman of the Recruiting Board, expressed his satisfaction yesterday with the response that is generally being made to the appeal to the local governing bodies to cooperate in the new enlistment scheme. For every one who had declined to help, there were at least nine local authorities who bad determined to do everything possible to secure the success of the scheme.

The business transacted in the Parcels Post Branch of the Post Office, Grey Street, after 6.30 p.m., is so slight, that after that time and up till 8 p.m., the Department has decided parcels are to be posted at and delivered from the delivery counter in the main oliioe in Featherston Street. The new arrangement will commence ou February 21.

Many people in New Zealand have reeeived cablegrams from their soldier relatives in England, most of them with the request to cable Home certain sums of money "care of Deputy." Failing to understand who "Deputy" might be,' doubt has been sown in some minds as to whether fraud is not being practised on New Zealand people. It may relieve such to learn that the word "Deputy" used in bank cables to London in connection with our soldiers _ simply means "Care High Commissioner j lor New Zealand," where all precautions are taken to prevent fraudulent practices. The banks do not charge exchange for remitting such money, but make a little on the cable charge, which is paid for by the sender in plain words, but is forwarded in code, as is explained by the use of the word "Deputy" for "High Commissioner New Zealand."

The Vice-Consul for France in Wellington (Mr. James Macintosh) has written as follows to the Mayor of AVellington (Mr. J. P. Luke):—"Sir,— In connection with the jecent visit to this port of' the Tahitian soldiers, I am directed by the Consul at Auckland (M. Rigoreau) to express to you his very sincere thanks for all that you and your helpers did for the men in the way of entertainment, etc. I desire to tako this opportunity, also, of conveying my own warmest thanks, and in this connection desire to specially mention the great assistance rendered to me by Councillors Frost and Hutchcson— I have the honour to be, sir, _ your obedient servant, Jamas Macintosh, Consular Agent for France."

The trawling operations carried on from Auckland during the last few months (comments - tbo ' 'New Zealand Herald") have made evident a curious fact as to the habits of schnapper, viz., that the largest fisb are generally found in the shallower waters, and, only comparatively small ones in the greater depths. The usual experience of Messrs. Banford's trawlers is that large fish are found mostly on banks with a depth of 20 fathoms and less. Beyond that depth, the catch generally consists of smaller fish, as though the schnapper spawned in tho deep sea, and came towards the shoro as it grew. It is understood, too, that when trawling expeditions were carried on somo years ngo by Mr. L. F. Ayson, the Government fishery export, in the Nora Nivon, observations to somewhat similar effect were made while exploring tho Day of Floaty.

The following letter of appreciation has been received from tho secretary of tho New Zealand Nurserymen's Association bj the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke): —"I. am directed by my executive to thank you for the kindnesses extended to our members when in Wellington on tho occasion of our late conference. The observation car triu especially was greatly appreciated, about thirty delegates availing themselves of the trip. Many and flattering were tho remarks members, 6ome of whom, for the first time, had tlin opportunity of seeing the extent and varied beauty spots of the capital city.—Vourn faithfully, Geo. A. Green, hon. secretary."

Something like a range in moncv Twits for soldiers, 2s. llcK, 3s. Bd., ss. fkl.. ss. Ud.i snako or buckle fasteners. Geo, IWlds, Ltd.—Advt.

A gentleman who knows his Europe, and is now paying a flying visit to Dmicdiu after journeying through tho East, and up as far as Vladivostock, has no doubl as to the result of tho war. He told an "Otago Daily Times" reporter that lie was simply amazed at what ho saw at Vladivostock in tho landing of munitions from Japan. This material is passing in practically an endless train across Siberia to the Russian front. The trans-Siberian lino has been greatly added to since the war, and tho work which has been done on the Petrogrcul-Archaiigel line should also Lave a very real effect in enabling munitions to be carried speedily from the northern port to the Eastern part. The visitor stated that in Singapore conscription had been introduced, and that in several other towns in the East compulsory service was in vogue.

A partner in a Scottish distillery firm which lias a world-wide reputation has l>eeii spending two or three days in Dunedin, :.nd has given a representative of the "Otago Daily Times" an account .of an interesting incident which, he stated, occurred on a steamer on the voyage out from England ta Australia. Before reaching Malta tlie captain assembled the passengers and informed tlicm that no photographs were to be taken of any place in this important strategic island. NotwithHtanding this explicit instruction, a passenger with an American-German name surreptitiously used a camera, hut though lie was shrewd enough to take the photographs without being seen, ho was not shrewd enough to keep his achievement to himself. He wrote to his sister, in England, and told her of tho fine selection of photographs he had scoured. The work of the British Intelligence Department must now be of a very searching character, as this letter was intercepted and opened. The captain of the Mjlwa was then communicated with by wireless end instructed to destroy the photographs. He paraded all the passengers, and told them that despite his specificinstructions a passenger had taken photographs at Malta. .Would that passenger hold up his hand? Needless to say, no hond was stretched aloft. Then the captain /Ml »n'h)s fine work. Uo named the man with the American-Ger-man name, and a search was at once made of this individual's cabin. His camera went through the porthole with a swish, all his photographs followed suit, and on 1 caching; Colombo ho was arrested and Bent back to England. "You won't see Australia this .trip," was tho parting comfort he 'received from the gallant skipper.

Forty of the employees of the Wellington Gas Company volunteered for active military service (either in New Zealand or abroad), of wliom two (Messrs. Perry and Faulknor) lost their lives. During the year, stated the chairman at the annual meeting of the company, the, company paid the sum of £1222 on behalf of men on military eervice, and at the present time is contributing at the_ rate of £2268 per mmum. In addition to this expenditure tho company contributed the sum of £230 to the .patriotic funds.

Last October the withdrawal of a child from the Sumner School for Deaf Mutes at Christckurch, following upou complaints by the parents of the child, led to proceedings by the Education Department to compel the attendance of tho child at tho institution. It is now announced that the matter has been settled by the parents, voluntarily agreeing to the return of the child to the school.

At the request of the South Australian Football League the secretary of the Australasian Football Council has forwarded to the various State Leagues a copy of the following resolution, which was unanimously carried at a meeting of the South Australian League on January 17:—"That , this league arrange no football programme for IMb', unless the war should terminate before or during tho football season." The New SJouth Wales League unanimously agreed to fall into line. The annual meeting of the league will be held towards the end of March, and ill the meantime consideration will he given to the amendment of its constitution and rules.

Carl Leschen, manager of the State Savings Bank at Perth, has been granted indefinite leave of absence. The Premier of Western Australia, Mr. Scaddan, says although he found on investigation that certain accusations and rumours in circulation regarding Mi-. Leschen's loyalty were groundless, he recognised that the action of a section of the public in agitating for the withdrawal of deposits from the bank while Mr. Leschen remained, in c!iar"q-was injuring the bank, and damaging the State, and in the intersts of the State, and of the bank, the Government had adopted tho course mentioned. Mr. Scaddan stated that whether Mr. Leschen was being retained in the employ of the State at tho same salary was not a matter for public concern.

After a voyage to the little-known but interesting Kermadec Islands, the Government training ship Amokura arrived at Auckland on Saturday morning. Tho visit to the' Kermadecs was the usual one of inspection. The whole group was visited, but there were no signs of any castaways at any of the islands. Landings were made at all the islands except one. All the food depots were inspected, and their contents found to be in good order, there apparently having been no interference with'them since the vessel's last visit IS months ago. There are at present 58 boys undergoing training on the vessel, and all appear well and happy. They were lauded at Sunday Island, and found plenty of fruit, the remains of an orchard planted by former settlers on the island. It is now upwards of two years since anybody resided there, the last settlers being some members of the Bell family, who lived there for over twenty years. Fish were plentiful, and the boys thoroughly enjoyed their visit. Commander Hooper is of the opinion that a hurricane has visited the islands, as since the vessel was there 12 months ago some of the branches of the trees have been broken off short. The Amokura leaves for the south to-day.

The remarkable rise that lias taken place iu the price of drugs' since the ■war broke out was the subject of comment by the Commonwealth Minister for Customs (Mr. Tudor) recently. Mr. Tudor stftted that it had recently been brought under his notice -that some drugs had increased iu price as much as 6000 per cent. The reason of this, he said, was that many of the drugs had been produced almost exclusively in Germany before the war, and that owing to the closing of that source of suppfy the price was vising all over the world. He mentioned that soon after the war a cargo of aniline dyes had fallen into the kinds of the Commonwealth Government, and had realised 800 per cent, more than the invoiced price in the open market. St.me of tho drugs which had been imported from Germany formerly were being made in Australia to-day, and he hoped that others would be made also as tho result of the early establishment of the Scientific Research Laboratory. It would be a great thing for Australia, Mr. Tudor added, if the manufacture of drugs could bo started there, for the raw materials for almost everything were obtainable in tho Comniomvcaltb at the present time. Millions of pounds weight of lanoline, for instance, was flowing down all the rivers of Australia from , the wr-ol-scotiring sheds. All of that might ho saved, and he believed that a demist was at work at present endeavouring to utilise part at' least of what had hitherto been wasted.

A colonel's daughter and a captain's wife are serving as conductors on the Portsmouth Corporation tramcars, to release two men for Army duty, and are handing their pay to charitable institu-