LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2747, 15 April 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities advise 'that the B.s. Manuka, which sailed from Sydney at 2 p.m. on April 13 for Wellington, is bringing mails from the, Australian States and _ a 'small English mail via Suez. She is due here next Monday. Owing to the Easter holidays, which begin on Friday next (Good Friday), the ordinary fortnightly meeting pi the Wellington City Council will be held oil Tuesday evening nes b instead of Thursday. The meetings of the Tramways and Finance Committees will both bo held on Monday afternoon next. Eleven members of tjie New South Wales Stale Assembly have enlisted for active service, this number forming a good proportion out of a total of 90 members. It has been stated from time to time that the old style of long seats and desks in the public .schools has, to some extent, been responsible for cases of -spinal curvaturo discovered in pupils. The Hon. .1. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, said yesterday that a number of the education boards havo shown praiseworthy zeal in introducing an 'improved type of seat and desk, while others again have made no attempt in this direction; ,The ne\v style of seats vary, to some extent, in design, and the Minister is now considering whether it will be possible to introduce a suitable standard seat and desk for all public schools, and is obtaining a report as to the most economical means of procuring a State supply with a view to issuing them to the boards at cost price. The Mayor and members of the Mayor's Patriotic Committco will interview the Minister of Dcfonce (Hon. James Allen) at 2.30 p.m. on Monday on the question of tho v cost of officers' equipment. The worm drive'now seems to be-uni-versal in the better class Petrol 'Motor Lorries. A splendid example of fino workmanship and design can be witnessed by an examination of tho Petrol Vehiclo now on show at The Dominion Motor Vehicles, Ltd. Garage, 65 Courtcnay Place. This machine, apart from its perfect finish, has many accomplishment'! which must appeal to users, and intending Purchasers will.be well repaid for anv time they may give to a personal inspection.—Advt.

In several of the Auckland schools roils of honour are being compiled, recording the names of old scholars who are now with the colours. The response to tlio call lias been excellent. Tlio Dcvonport School has 250 old boys 'at Uio front, and tlio roll of honour with their names inscribed was unveiled on December 6 of last year. Some 47 extnembers of the Ellerslie School liavo joined the forces, of whom four havo been killed. The Ponsonby School Committeo proposes to erect an honours board at on early date.

A resident of Stowart Island lias in his possession (says an exchange') a fino sample of molybdenite, a steel-harden-ing ininoral, which was recently ; discovered on the island. The specimen

was found in Stewart Island quartz, and the same sample returned on assay somo ooz. of silver to the ton. Molybdenite lias the dull appearance of lead.

A Press Association telegram from Tailiape states that at a meeting o| liis croditors yesterday it was unanimously resolved to prosecuto Henry Barr Duncan for broaches of the Bankruptcy Act.

A memorial, service is to be held in the' public park at Masterton on Anzac Day. A collection is to be taken- up in aid of a fund for the erection of a permanent memorial to those who have gone to the front and those who have fallen.

A remarkable story comes from Echuca, Victoria, of an attempt to conceal the origin of enemy-made articles by the superimposition of bearing the imprint of neutral countries. A Customs officer called at a drapery establishment in that town, and purchased some dome fasteners which bore a label testifying that they were "Made in IlollF.nd." With the. aid of a little water, however, the ofiicer was able to remove this label, and underneath a second label was disclosed marked "Sonomor Placket Fasteners, Germany." The whole stock of fasteners in

tho shop was seized. The Commercial Bank of Australia, Limited, will be opening a branch at Timaru early ia May. This is tho sixth branch to be opened since the bank established itself in Neiv Zealand a little over three years ago. Notice of intention to open is given in the New Zealand Gazette of Thursday.

Instructions have been given that where a. unit is short of officers for the training camp, officers from other units, tho Reserve, or List (b), who volunteer to <lo so, nuiy attend for duty with the unit having'tho shortage. Officers commanding districts must, however, keep such postings down to a minimum to give the best li.c.o.'s of tho unit a chance to lead platoons as far as possible. Officers so employed may draw Territorial pay and allowances and rail passes for such camps and the O.C. tho district may detail.

At the eight branches throughout New Zealand of the firm of Messrs. Macky, Logan, and Caldwell, Ltd., there took place simultaneously last evening an unveiling of memorial tab< lets erectcd at tho firm's various houses in memory of the late Mr. J. C. Macky (head of the firm) and Mrs. Macky, who met their untimely end in tho sinking of the Liwitania last year. Mr. C. H. 'Young, manager of the Wellington warehouse, explained that the tablet in the Wellington building was a replica of the original being unveiled at that minute at the Auckland house by the chairmiin of directors, Mr. D R. Caldwell. The staff of the company, be said, had caused the tablet to bo erected to 'keep alive the memory of their late principal, one of tho found* ers of the business. The late . Mr Macky, he said, was a broad-minded, unselfish, and considerate man, most deeply respected by all who knew him He was an undoubted influence for good in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland. Mr. Young also spoke feelingly of the late Mrs. i\l?.cky, who, bo knew, was beloved by all wlio'knew her.

Master Arthur Radford is (says the annual report of the Roseiieath School Committee) deserving of mention for his bravery in attempting the rescue of several children who had ventured out for a, sail in a flat-bottomed boats The task was rather more than he could accomplish, and his effort was supplemented by Captain Jelley, of Oriental Bay, and a possible catastrophe was averted.

An interesting reference to the medically educative value _ of - post-mortem examinations is contained in. the annual report of the Adelaide Hospital just issued. It is 'stated that physicians have more than once pointed out that difficulties are constantly arising in connection with and objections being raised to ,the holding of post-mortem examinations. "We must bring the authorities and the public," concluded the. report, "to the realisation that tlio interests of the living, as well as those of tho physician and medical students, i wlio are to be our future doctors, aro identical.' The idea that-the autopsy is held to satisfy \tlie interests of tho pathologist only is wrong—it is an absolute necessity. This has been demonstrated on many occasions by tho knowledge gained in the pathological departments." An example of neighbourly loudness by residents of Waipahi and Wairuna district lias como under the notice of the "Otago Daily Times." A week or two/ ago a well-known resident contracted a malady .which required his ' removal to a private hospitjl in Dunedin, where he lay at death's door until skilful medical attention and a robust constitution pulled him through tho crisis. The leading in of his crop was just in progress, and the mill was due almost immediately. "With rare comrade's spirit tlio Neighbours gathered together, finished the garnering of his crop, saw to tho milling, and dipped the sheep of their invalided neighbour. A splendid example was given to eligible recruits at the recruiting meeting held in Boulcott Streot last evening. When a returned soldier had finished a stirring appeal for, recruits, a greyhaired old man stepped forward and offered his services. He was tho first one in the crowd to do so, and although ho was not accepted, his action brought nine others forward. Quartermaster-Sergeant -Dent, a returned soldier, speaking at tho recruiting meeting held in Boulcott Street last evening, gave an example of what ha considered was a "shirker" of the_ worst type. A man well set up; and in tho pink of condition, went to Buckle Street to enlist. He filled in his papers, and on examination it was found that, although the man. know that infantry recruits wero wanted badly, ho stated in his papers that ho was prepared to go into camp with the Army Service. Pay Department with tho Twenty-third Reinforcements. A Gazette Extraordinary, issued yesterday, states that it is desirable thai distinctive badges should be issued to the officers and crows employed on transports or other vessels that have been, or may be, chartered by, or aro otherwise under tho control of the New Zealand . Government for any purposes in connection with the present war The badge, which Jias yet to bo a]>. proved, may be in 'such different forms as the Minister of Defence thinks fit. Throe of the Masterton soldiers who arrived by. the Maheno reached home at midday oil Friday. They wero met at the railway station by members of the Patriotic Association, and driven to tho Municipal Buildings, ..where they were welcomed by the Deputy-Mayor in the presence of a large number of citizens. The returned men wero vigorously checred. Winter is here. You can get what you desire in overcoats from S2s. Cd. to 905.; Raincoats, 15s. to 90s. At Geo. Fowlds, Ltd.,- Manners Street.—Advt, Who says "No Rubbing Laundry Help" washes all- garments perfectly clean without rubbing or injury? ,! We all do." WftUinuton HouMwiveo.—Advf*

About two years ago the attention of Australian cattle-men was first drawn to the intention of the Queensland Government to make available-to selection large tracts of first-rate cattlo country situated north and south of Charters Towers. Somo of. the portions have now been surveyed, and are open to selection in areas ranging up to 26,000 acres, rental ljd. to 2d. per acre. The average carrying capacity of this country is nearly 32 ibeasts to the square mile, but will stand a great deal of improvement by ring-barking. During the nino months ended March 31 last the Commonwealth Treasury disbursed £503,035 in maternity allow* ances, representing 101,007 ' claims.