LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2699, 19 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Postal authorities advise that the cj.s. Manuka, which sailed from Sydney ■it 3 jj.in. on February 17 for Wellington, is bringing Australian mails only, und is due here on Monday.

The Defence Minister yesterday received cabled advice that the hospital ship Maheno had arrived at Colombo on tho 14th, all on board being well. Word has also comc that the Rifle Brigade Reinforcements .and other troops, who left with them, are proceeding on their way all well. A similar report has been received in regard to the men who left witlv a cargo of remounts about four weeks ago.

The following is an extract from a Home letter received by a Wellington resident: —"We have just engaged a nurse, a charming Scotch lady, Miss , who has done some nursing at tho front, and is glad of a rest. She says that hor superintendent nuxso was shot by a German officer (Because she 'refused to turn out British and French wounded, and to nurce for them. This seems'an even mere cold-blooded murder than that of poor Nurse CaveH, and I hear that several French sisters were also shot! Those horrors did not get into the papers."

The usual routo march will take place to-morrow morning, leaving the corner of Boulcott Street and Willis Street at 9.30 sharp. Tho ronto taken will be by Aro Street, through Polhill Gully, tc Wilton's Bush, and via Wadestown home. Should tho weather be favourable a diversion will bo made across the Tinakori Hills, past the wireless station.

Faintly, chalking registered numbers on motor-bicycles is likely to prove expensive. Two young men were fined in the Magistrate's Court yesterday for failure to have their numbers distinctly marked up, and the police stated that it 'must be thoroughly understood that drivers of speed vohicles must have tho numbers clearly shown.

"Every licensee must, in his own interest, take more precaution than this man did," observed Mr. i). G. A. Cooper, S.M., yesterday, when Percy Mills, the licensee of the R-oyal Hotel, was charged with having employed an unregistered barmaid. It was said that Mills had only recently gone in for hotel-keeping, and taken over the Royal, and that the barmaid was there wlien he took possession. Moreover, the barmaid had told him that she was registered. The police stated that Mills had sought to couceal nothing, and the Magistrate fined hiin Is., with costs 7s. The barmaid (Annie Maud Phillips), who was said to be the cause of the trouble, was not dealt with so leniently, but was lined £1, with costs 75., which His Worship remarked was a light penalty. '

Striking evidence of enconomy in domestic administration is afforded by the returns of butter delivered for local consumption from the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's cool stores (says the "Herald"). During the period from July 1, 1915, to February 12, 1916, the quantity has been 15,022 boxes of £611). each, "though during the equivalent period of 19M-15, the quantity _ was 15),655 boxes. A portion of the City's requirements is met by supplies received through private stores, but the figures given afford a reliable indication of the quantity of factory butter consumed. The shortage has been met to some extent by an increased use of the cheaper "farmers' butter."

A somewhat ludicrous _ and absurd spectacle "was witnessed in Gladstone Road, Gisborne, on Thursday (says art exchange), while the thunderstorm was at its height. The rain was lashing the surface of the road, .and washing down into the gutters in muddy streams, when, plodding along in tlio middle of the road, driver muffled up in a great oilskin, and water flying from the pipes, came the borough -watering cart I

Messrs. Baldwin and Rayward, Patent Attorneys, of 215 Lambton Quay, Wellington, report that they have filed the following applications. for letters patent of New Zealand recently:—H. 0 Boggs and C. 15. Frost, Athens, U.S., inflatable tube; N. V. Harris, Palmerston Nortli, motor cycle side-car ; N. J. Daysh, Carterton, milking machine; if. Walker, Melbourne, electrical hot water installation;' J- J. Stanton, Christehurcli, grading and separating material of irregular sizes; W. M'Leod, Wanganui; roofing-tile; G, Nelson, Wellington, air and gas compressor valve; Marconi's Wireless Telegraphy Co., Ltd., London, aerial for wireless signalling; G. Constantinescu and W. Haddon, London, wave transmission of power through_ liquids ; W. _M'L«od, Wanganui, "building construction; W. A. M'Kay, Wellington, bin; A. I. Senior and A. I. Manoy, Motueka, suction gas engine starting apparatus.