LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2753, 24 April 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An English mail,' via Suez, and. an Australian mail will arrive inWellington from Sydney by the Moeraki at 2.30 p.m. to-day. <

Tpcday (Easter Monday) 'the' Telegraph Office will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p..m.i, and from 7- p.m. to midnight. The Telephone Exchange will be open continuously.

Under the heading "Pensions by Right" an article appeared in our issue, of Saturday setting forth the views of',

the War League on this subject. The introductory paragraph suggested that the statement had been prepared by Mr, James Macintosh, whereas he had, in fact, merely signed it in his capacity as vice-president of the league. Mr. Macintosh; desires that .this should be made quite clear. /

A new organisation of the Salvation Army, as. far as New Zealand is concerned, has just been brought into existence—a body known as tho. Life. Saving Scouts, whose of training is to be in the rescue of the drowning and ambulance work. Simi. lar institutions connected with the Army have existed in England for soma time past. •

The break in the mail and trade service to the Island of Nine caused bj the lire that-occurred at tho end o(

January on tho ketch Kereru, by which it was formerly carried on, was closed on Friday (says the "New Zealand Herald") by the departure to the island of the schooner Awanui. Mr. W. F. Utting, who owned the Kereru, and also owns tho Awanui, refcently renewed for two years his) contract with tho New Zealand Government, undor which he undertakes to make six trips to tho island in each twelve months.

The general Dominion Confcrenco of the Church of Christ, attended by delegates from all parts of New Zealand, is to coiinncuce to-morrow morning in the new llintoul Stredt Church.

The noiv police station in Lower Tnralialci Street is to be officially occupied-to-day. A full description of the now promises appeared in these column* a tortnig'ht ago. • The . old premises in Manners Street ivill bo vacated at an early' date, enabling the City Council to proceed with the"demolition of those ancient and unsightly premises between the police station and the .Royal Oak Hotel.

Tho tugboat Cowan, purchased _by the Auckland City Council for trawling, had a stormy voyage from Sydney (states a Press Association message from Auckland). For six days she battled against the gale, water pouring over the vessel. For some days it was impossible to light a galley fire or use the forecastle. Captain House s]opt in a box on the bridge covered with a 'sail, and'the crow slept in tho engiueroom. Last Sunday the vessel was swept tyy a lingo wave. She righted herself just in timo to avert a disaster.

Tho worm drive now seems to t>e universal in the better class Petrol Motor Lorries. A splendid example of fino workmanship and design can be witnessed by an examination of the Petrol Vehicle now on 6how at The Dominion Motor Vehicles, Ltd. Garage, G5 Courtenay Place. This machine, apart from its perfect finish, has many accomplishments which must appeal to users, and intending Purchasers- will 1» well repaid for any time they may give to a persona!' inspection.—Advt.

The Wellington amateurs commenced a four nights' season /of "Cliarloy's Aunt" at the Theatre Eoyal, 'Christchurch, on Saturday evening. The cast was the* same as in Wellington last Miontlt,

Evideuce of the number of married men ivho are enlisting in Auckland may be gauged from the fact that of tho 122 men who enlisted at the Victoria Street recruiting station for the week ended on 'Wednesday night, 48—or over one-third—arc married. Many marlied men placed their positions before the officer in charge of tho recruiting station before they enlist, and in numerous instances that officer exercises his discretion,' and advises them that, in view of their domestic responsibilities, their duty at present lies in remaining in New Zealand and caring for their families. The replication of a school teacher with nine children for permission to enlist was refused. In another instance a woman with eight children asked the recruiting officer, to prevent her husband • from ' leaving with the Reinforcements. In this instance, also, the man's family call was deemed to be greater than that of his country, and the wife's application was granted.

An instance of rapid promotion has come under notice in connection with a young man who enlisted some mouths ago (says the "Otago Daily Times"). Mr. W. Maben, accountant in the Timaru Borough Council office, enlisted as a private in the Ambulance Division, and has since been promoted to corporal, sergeant, and sergeant-major. He is now adjutant-quartermaster, with the rank of lieutenant, and is attached to the staff of the hospital ship lfa< lieno/ on which he recently returned from Egypt. Lieutenant Maben is at present,in Dunedin.

A Press Association telegram from Napier states that a tender has been accepted for a building for the new Soldiers' Club; costing £2700. The olub is to be erected on the Marine Parade. . With reference to the recent increase of £5 in the outfit grant payable to officers of the Expeditionary Force, payment to officers of the Main Body "and Reinforcements who , have • returned from the front, and who since January, I, 1916, have reported in camp for the Purpose of rejoining their regiments, has been approved.

.The "Bourse Gazette," Petrogradi gives an interesting account of a seri' ous mutiny of Germau troops at th( village of Zhirmuiid, in the proving of Viliia, where portions of the Twelfth German Army are stationed in reserve for a period of rest and recruitment. ■The Gorman commandant of Zhirmund, a cavalry officer named Voh Haabe, was killed. _ The affair arose out of a debauch in which a number of German officers were indulging, according, it- is • alleged, to their regular habit during periods of witbdrafal to the rear. So-called "dance evenings," in which •women regularly took part, were held by the officers in the local church, tha regimental band playing-.while soenes of riot and orgy wero in progress. The commandant, who had been specially appointed to check these disgraceful scenes, arrived with a guard, and was insulted' by soma drunken officers. Fighting followed, and the disorder • spread. No. fewer than 40 officers haves, been court-martialled, and a number of > men have already been shot.