LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2701, 22 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"The War Funds Council," said the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. G. W. Eussoll, yesterday, "will bo called together at' an early date for tho purpose of developing a line of action. If the Patriotic Funds on tho West Coast are handed over to the War Funds Council for administration in terms of my proposal, local advisory committees will lie set up at Westport, Greymouth, Hokitikrt, aiul Runangn for the purpose of dealing with all cases of soldiers in these districts, and the council will assume entire responsibility in tliesc places, provided my proposals arc supported by the taaujiaiL'i

Reporting on the health of the troops at Samoa, Colonel Logan states, under date February 21:—"Private W. Bowles, vcsicnl fistula; W. Fuller, colitis; W. Marshall, ruptured vein; W. C'hisnall, ruptured biceps. Tile sitting of the Foxton Harbour Board Commission has been postponed for six weeks. At a special meeting of the Wangauui Lawn Tennis Association on Friday evening it was decided to abandon the aunual Easter Tennis Tournament. Speaking at the drawing of the M'Hardy section at l'almerston, Mr. P. A. M'Hardy gave a striking testimony to the value of advertising. He remarked that at first he was inclined to be disappointed at the response, but Mr. Sutherland, of Wellington, had advised the committee to commence an advertising campaign. They did so with immediate success. Before '.In: advertising was commenced money I'nr tickets was coming in at the rate of £5 or £G ner day. After a week's advertising the daily receiuts had increased to from £10 to £20. The receipts steadily increased then until during the last week thoy had come in at the rate of £300 or .£4OO per day. The total receipts were in the neighbourhood of £10,000. Mr. M'Hardy added that this was a striking illustration of the truth of the saying that "to make mdney you must spend money." , At a meeting of the Napier Waterside Workers yesterday it was resolved to ratify the agreement made at the Dominion Conference of Employers aud Waterside Workers on February 8. —Press Association. A Press Association message from Napier states that Sydney Nettlefold was fined £50 for booking bets at tho Potane races, The Wellington Automo'bile Club has decided to give 'an outing to ,10 returned soldiers by driving them out to Mr. J. Barton's residence at Trentham, and entertaining them to afternoon tea next Saturday _ afternoon. The arrangements decided upon are that -the cars assemble at Post Office Square at 1.30 p.m., and that cacli car owner (if a three-seater or more), with the assistance of liis wife or a friend, act as host for the entertainment of his own party, and also make provision for afternoon tea, with tho exception of milk awl hot water, which will be supplied on the grounds.

News lias been received by the relatives of Mr. ltedncy Heath, a member of the Australian Davis Cup tennis team, of liib success in the aviation corns in England. Heath left Melbourne in July last, and was accepted in the Royal Flying Corps 111 August. He obtained a pilot's certificate iii October, and was gazetted second-lieutcn-ant early in November. The cablegram hist received states that he got his "wings" last month, and was stationed_ at Gosport Aerodrome, teaching aviation, but expected to leave shortly for the front.

The supplies went to the camp in eases branded "N.I. Beer" (non-intoxi-cating beer), and the liquor itself proved highly popular with the rank and file. Disorder was quelled, discontent was allayed, and the demand for "N.I. Beer" became prodigious. Federal Premier Hugheii and the Defence Minister soon afterwards visited the camp. Of, course, the solution of the canteen difficulty was brought under their notice. Thoy were curious to see and taste the "N.I. Beer" that had won everybody's good opinion. A sergeant-major brought in bottles and glasses and proceeded to help the Cabinet Ministers.

"But why is it called N.I. beer?" asked Premier Hughes. "What does the name signify?" "Well, sir," said the sorgeant-major, "the Tommies found 110 difficulty in interpreting the name. You see it takes a precious lot of it to make you feel funny, and so they call it the 'Nearly-It Beer.' They can't get drunk on -it,- but by- taking enough they can manage to get into the suburbs of intoxication."

At St. Matthew's (Anglican') Church, Brooklyn, on . Sunday evening, : the Bishop of Wellington (the Right Rev. Dr. Sprott) dedicated a font which has been presented by'the Sunday School children. Tho font is of Caen stono and of handsome design. The service was conducted by the fiev. R. H. Hobday, and the Bishop preachod an instructive sermon nn the characteristics of the Kingdom of God —righteousness, peace, and joy. There ivas a large .congregation.

The Mayor of 'Wellington lias received the first instalment (£lOl 15s-. 7Jd.} of the proceeds of the patriotic, bazaar held in St. Thomas's Schoolroom by residents of Hiropi Street and others. The amount is to so to the Mayor's Patriotic Committee's Fund, and will be uswi for the benefit of tlie men at the front. It is the wish of the Bazaar Committee that a considerable. proportion of the money should be handed over to the Committee of Chaplains on the hospital ships, to disburse as they think best. The Otago Patriotic Committee lias sent the Mayor of Wellington a donation of £100 to the special'tobacco fund in connection with the soldiers' Christmas dinner given at Trentham arid May Morn. The Mayor has . also received £5 from the New Zealand Chess 'Association, being onefifth of the money which the association saved through not holding its annual championship congress.

Office-bearers of tho Lyall Rav Surf Club waited on tho members of tho Baths and Beaches Committee of tho City Council in regard to the club's shed on the beach at Lyall Day.' The matter will bo reported on to the council on Thursday evening. 1

The annual conference of the Methodist Churcli of New Zealand- com mcnces in Auckland on Thursday evening next. Local districts will be tc presented as follows:—Taraniki Street, Rev. G. S. Chapman, Messrs. G. Tiller, and W. E. Redstone; Wellington South, Rev. J. Richards and. Messrs. C. Swinev and W. H. Potts; Thorn don, Rev. G. S. Cook and Mr. H. Hart; Central -Mission, Rev. Knowles Smith. Most of the Wellington delegates will leave for Auckland to-morrow.

During the pilst , tliroo weeks the main ■' strength of tho Government Printing Ollico ha.? been' concentrated on the work of printing the rolls connected with the new recruiting system. Tho \Vork. which is iiow practically _ completed, has been one of the biggest tasks ever undertaken by the Government establishment. While it wns being carried out other ordinary work had to stand aside, includim; the printing of various Departmental periodicals issued by the Office.

Messrs. Harcourt and Co. report the sale of sections 12 and 14 in the Graca Estate, tlaivkest-ono Street, at the upset prices of £14 and £15 per foot respcc; tivcly. There now remains of tho Vacant sections No. 8 only, the price of which is £12 per foot, The residenco with the two sections of land, of over j acre, subject to a lease, are still tor sale.

The tenth annual "social" of the Mail Room Pastimes Club was held in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott Street, on Saturday night. Various toasts_ wero honoured, and an excellent musical programme made the evening a most enjoyable one. Items , were rendered hv Messrs. T. Tl. tones, F. Thompson, H. F. Woods, J. Hutcheson, E. I/uks, W. Goudie, ' H. Bringezu, and A. Hoy.