LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2748, 17 April 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A small English mail via Suez and an Australian mail are coming by the Manuka from Sydney, duo to arrive here at 11 o'clock this morning..

In connection with the annual school committee elections to-night, secretaries of committees in suburban and outlying districts which it -will he'-impossible for our staff to visit will greatly oblige by sendng in or telephoning the results after the meetings for publication in tomorrow's issue. ■• If committees and headmastera' reports can be sent in during the day, so much the better.

"I have been informed by an officer of the Agricultural Department of a rumour to the effect that a portion of the cheese which the New Zealand Government contracted with the Imperial authorities to supply for the troops is being utilised for commercial purposes." f.nid the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Masscy) to a reporter on Saturday. "I wish to deny the rumour. The whole of the cheese is being used for the troops and in no other way."

To,show how New Zealand men faced danger without fear, and tried to do their "bit" in the present war, the Minister of Defence (the Hon. Jas. Allen) told of the following incident on Saturday evening :—An officer of the artillery called for volunteers to carry ammunition across a fire-swept zone to distant guns. Four groups of 18 men each set out, and in the first attempt half were laid low. A second attempt was made, arfd again death took its toll. There were only • two left, and these two brave fellows were successful in carrying the ammunition across, and they received the highest awards for their services.

A Press Association telegram from Taumarunui states that a meeting of ratepayers on Friday night passed a resolution calling on the Mayor and councillors to resign, owing to dissatisfaction re finances and the division in the council.

Commencing with' the dispatch on April 27, correspondence for members of the Expeditionary Foroe abroad, dispatched by the steamers for Sydney direct on Thursdays, will close as follows: Articles by parcels post, at 8 p.m.; and bcoks, packets, and newspapers, at 10 p.m. on Wednesdays; letters and articles for registration on Thursdays at noon:

A supplement Jo the New Zealand Gazette, just published, gives particulars as to the shooting 6eason for native and imported game in various acclimatisation districts.

A second donation of jy.ooo has been given by'the Hon. 0. Samuelto the "Tarnnaki Herald's" Belgian Relief Fund (states a New Plymouth Press Association telegram).

In a letter to Mr. H. F. Alien, of Wellington, Major (Dr.) H. Kington Fyffo writes from London:—"l am to have two months more leave, lam fairly well, bnt not picking np in weight as I would desire. The Rev. C. C. Harper, formerly Archdeacon of St. Peter's, Wellington, is to be inducted as Vicar of Kemiington, London. His parish is known as Southwark. It is a huge parish, and has a huge church. 'I am told it possesses a fine organ. Miss Harper told mo that the choir is good, but not better than St. Peter's." Major Fyffe represented New Zealand at the funeral recently of Sir George Clement Martin, M.V.0., Mus. Doc., late organist of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. In a letter to a friend in Wellington, he says:—"lt was a most impressive service, and tho singing of the choir was simply beautiful. They rendered Sir George Martin's anthem, 'Whoso Dwelleth,' and also sang a lovely..Russian chant. The boys' voices were heavenly. I sat between Sir W. Parratt and. Mr. Mason, the latter late organist of Sydney Town Hall, being Australia's representative. Canada was also represented. I occasionally hear some gorgeous music hi London* The standard, of orchestral playing is higher than it used to bo."

The burlesquo football match arranged to take place on the Athletic Park on Saturday could not be playod on account of tho continuous and heavy rain. The function has been postponed ■until Saturday next.

The Prime Minister stated on Saturday that, in order to make reforms to wliich lie lias already referred as being desirable in the retail sale of liquor, especially in localities where soldiers are congregated, it would not bo necessary to amend tlie licensing laws. Rather the Government would ask Parliament to increase their powers under the- War Regulations Act.

Some inconvenience was caused yesterday to Lower Hjitt residents' through a leak occurring in the water main, necessitating the_ turning off of '■ the water whilst repairs were effected. Tho packing of one of the valves becoming removed was the cause.of tho temporary hold-up.

The 2/3-ton Truck now on show at the Dominion Motor Vehicles, Limited, Garage, G5 Courtenay Place,, is one of the best American vehicles that has been imported to this country. This "lorry combines all tho best features of the highgrade English makes, and has 'many accomplishments which are rarely seen on its best competitors. Inspection is invited, and it is really an excellent opportunity for buyers to secure a very high-oj-adn Inrrv at nxidwato «wt.—JUvfc.

A Press Association telegram re- v . ceived from Waimate on Saturday states that Waimate has had the biggest fall of rain since October,' 1912, the gauge showing 1.85 inches. The novelty of the situation created by the decision of the Auckland Farmers' Union to. invite representatives of all recognised trades unions to attend the provincial conference has excited some attention. It is explained that the feeling of the farmers' representatives is that a fuller knowledge by the rural and the industrial unions of each other's aims and objects would bring about a better understanding, which would tend to the benefit of the whole community. In short, says the Auckland "Herald," the resolution means the holding out of an olive branch as between organisations which have not always found their views to coincide. A letter • read at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce last week stated that a great deal of dissatisfaction existed among Auckland merchants in regard to railway weighing methods. It was pointed out that a truck of chaff weighing 5 tons 19 cwt in Hawke's Bay showed only 5 tons 14 cwt. on its arrival in Auckland. The loss of 5 cwt. on a truck of chafi took away all the profit on the transaction. Members of the council remarked that the weighing of consignments at Auckland was a perennial source of complaints, and it was decided to send the letter to the Railway Department, with a request for an explanation and an inquiry as to the frequency with Which the Department's scales were tested. The Wellington Provincial Branch of the Dominion Belgian Relief Fund acknowledges the following donations: — v : Already acknowledged, .£20,845 18s. sd.| Eketahuna Belief Fund, .£SO; A.JI.P. Industrial Department, 17th instalment, £1; J. H. M'Alister, monthly contribution, 10s.; Eketahuna Belief Fund, monthly contribution, ,£SO; Nekon Poultry Association, .£10; Miss Hibbert, monthly contribution, for March, April, May, and June,'.£l;. J. H. Jl'AHster, monthly contribution, 10s.; A.M.P. Industrial Department, 18th instalment, £\ is.; total, J!20,960 2s. sd. A man named Hans Neilsen died by hanging, presumably by his own act. at Lower Hutt yesterday afternoon. The , body was found hanging at 5.p.m., and the man was then quite dead. Ho was' last seen alive at 1 P-m. Deceased, who was a Dane, was 35 years of age, and a man of quiet, sober habits. He was employed by Mr. John O'Keefe to do general work about his house at Lower Hutt and had been working there for about 15 months. Mr. O'Keefe and his family were absent from home when the sad happening took place. An inquest will be held.