LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2726, 22 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Moeraki, which left Wellington oil Thursday, March 16, carrying mails for Australia, and United Kingdom, via Suez, arrived at Sydney on the morning of March 20.

A reason why ministers in German churches have made tho • astounding statements attributed to them regarding the war was mentioned by the Horn J. G. W. Aitken at the Miramar recruiting rally last evening. "The German Government pays their _ salaries, finds thetti their money, and dictates to them what they havo got to preach to the people," ho said, and ho asked the audience to think how they would like to have their churches run that way.

It is anticipated that the ferry steamer Maori will obtain her complement of 'firemen in time to sail for Lyttelton to-night. Some_ signed on yesterday, and there are indications that the remainder will be found to-day without much difficulty. ,

Speakiug at the recruiting rally at Miramar last evening,' Mr. 11. A. Wright, M.P., told a rather interesting little story. Briefly, it was,that a young man complained to him that he had been treated badly by the Victoria College Council. "It's easy to see the reason," said Mr. Wright to the man— "you're a German." The man denied it, and repeated his denial again and again. "It's no use denying it," Mr. Wright told him. "I know you are a German." The man at length <said that he was "a naturalised British subject." Mr. Wright made it plain that tho time when that statement carried' weight had gone by; so many such people were spies. The'M.P. and tho ".naturalised British subject" got to high words, and''the latter wound up by breaking down • and bursting into tears at tho mention of the word "spy," although ho was not accused by Mr. Wright of being one of the fraternity. Two days later the man was arrested. Now he resides on Somes Island.

A fisherman at Menzies' Bay, Lyttelton, found an ouormoiis shark entangled in his nets. The monster was landed, and it took tlirco hours to kill him. The measured length of the shark was 25ft., and the -widest part of the girth was 15ft. The jaws showed two imposing sets of teeth, and, extended comfortably, fitted round an averagesized man', so some idea of the fish's sizo may he gauged. Tho tail measured 3ft. 6iu. from tip to tip. The fish was groy in colour, and was one of tho largest over caught in Lyttelton.

The following cablegram has been received from Melbourne by tho Dunlop Rubber Company:—"Boyd Edkins, on Vauxhall motor-car, fitted with Dunlops, lowered Melbourne-Sydney car record by two hours seven minutes. Five sixty-five miles in sixteen hours fifty-five 'minutes, beat express train by fifteen minutes."'

"Looking at the matter from every standpoint, it seems to me that we in Now Zealand do not realise lhat thero is a war on," observed Mr. It. A. Wright, M.P.. in an address at.Mira-: mar last evening.

Every Housewife would useVNo Rubbing Laundry Hblp" for washing clothes if she" ouiy ■ knew. Wellington Grocers.— Advt.

You ran gel a well-made Glace or Box CMr Boot lit 225. Qti, to 2R3„ from Goo. Fowlds. Ltd.. Manners Street.—Adv*--

The conference of patriotic societies and committees within tho Wellington district, convened by the Hon. G. W. Russell, is to be held in Palmerston North, at noon on Friday of this week.

During the month of February the fees received for slaughtering at the Municipal Abattoir amounted to £109 12s. 5Jd. for stock, and £96i 12*. 2d. from the Wellington Meat Export Company. The sale of offal and runners realised £182 14s. lid., and-tripe-clean-ing brought in £39 18s. 6d., making the total revenue £518 18s. OJd.; an increase of £61 7s. lljd. on the amount received for the corresponding month last year.

Tho new Board of Trade is being provided with a suite of offices 1 in the Union Bank Chambers on Lambton Quay.

In answer to a question, the Hon. W. R. Miller, Public Works Minister in Fiji, now in Wellington, said that thero was no native unrest in Fiji as cabled yesterday. As a matter of fact, the natives had offered 1000 of their number as a contingent in the present war, and if more were desired, they had offered to supply them. So far, howover, no reply of acceptance had been received from the Home Office. Tho Injians were a fine race physically and should make excellent soldiers. Fiji certainly had her coolie problems, but a commission had recently sat on this question, and its report had just been made available, suggesting certain reforms. | ■

How the men of the Ist Battalion, N.Z. Rifle Brigade, recovered ike body of a comrade who fell in the fighting against the Senussi on Christmas Day, is told in a letter received in Wellington from an officer of the battalion. Almost every man of the officer's platoon offered to join the expedition, but as some were still knocked up after the Christmas fighting only those- who were quite fit were taken. The expedition comprised a squadron of cavalry, the riflemen, and two motor-cars, one with a machine-gun, and one with stretchers. Fortunately no enemy was ■met with.' After a solid fivo hours' march (over 15 miles) the body was recovered. Tho return journey was accomplished in 4} hours in order that the burial might take place in daylight. "The officers and a lot of men were t waiting at the'graveside and we buried him straightaway, decently and impressively. It really was an .impressive sight. On one side were 100 men of the battalion, looking clean and smartly dressed; opposite them our officers; then .came my dirty, travel-worn, weary men, and the light was waning all the time."

It is understood that a large sum of money has been subscribed by a number of settlers of tho Wairarapa for the purpose of building a'Soldiers' and Settlers'' Club in "eatherston. A site has been secured, anil the erection of the club should be commenced at an early date.

Inconsequence of the large Increase in. population that has taken place in Featherston recently the" demand for lodgings and houses cannot be met, arid tents have been resorted to by some of the_ new _ arrivals. Several families are living in this way in the Domain, and in various parts of the township.

"VPIiaE must be a record in family. patriotism was disclosed at the Palmerston North Recruiting "Office the other day, when a young man named William Laison; 22 years of age, offered himself for active service, states the "Manawafu Daily Times." It transpired that he was the last of seven sons, sis of whom had gono to tho front. Five of these had returned wounded, and there was one still at the front. Mr.. Laison, who comes from Fordell, is a widower with one child. ,

Yesterday invitations were issued by the Hon. J. A. Hanan for a conference of Friendly Societies in Wellington on April 13.. The representation at the conference is to be based a-s far as possible on the membership of the several Orders, and tho Orders will be represented as'such. The Minister found it impracticable to allot direct representation to every society and district in the Dominion. The head officials of the loading Orders have been asked to 'arrange for representation of their Orders, including. all district branches, whether affiliated or unaffiliated to the New Zealand governing bodv. The Minister, referring to the conference yesterday, said he felt sure the selection made by the Orders would result in the best opinions and advice from the societies on the important matters to be discussed:

The training, of the Main Body of New Zealand troops was completed in Egypt in exceptional heat, and Mr. Martin, a returned soldier, 'stated at Miramar last evening that the percentage of New Zealanders who fell sick on that account'was ,very small, and the number of Imperial men was much greater. The Homo men had not the strength and stamina of the Australasian men. The Masterton Homing Pigeon Club flew a race from Blenheim, which was won by Mr. W. Gourlay's Mignon. Petrol motor traction,is advancing by leaps and bounds throughout the Dominion, and the forward orders for English, motor vehicles -.at present in the hands of the local Dominion Motor Vehicles, Ltd., nTO piled up, and now represent a capital value of many thousands of pounds. The difficulty of deliveries is a most serious factor, and while we thank our many customers for their patience and willingness to wait, we recognise that business must go on. We have therefore, secured Control of absolutely tiie finest Standard American Motor Lorry, and have now on show a 2/'3-ton vehicle, with every possible equipment, and designed for-hcayy roads -and rough work. Wp invite inspection by all our present clients and intending purchasers. The Dominion Motor Vehicles, Ltd., 65 Courtenay Place, -Advt. . . .