LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2777, 23 May 1916, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities .advise that the s.s. Wimmera, which sailed from Meloourne on Hay 20 for Wellington, is carrying Australian mails only, and is due here 011 Thursday.

Reporting from Samoa under date May 22, Colonel Logan states tliat Corporal Marshall is suffering from colitis, and Trooper lieeves from vertigo.

Men who huve been discharged as unfit after having been in camp have been in some doubt as to which badge they were entitled to wear. The Recruiting Board has decidcd that such men, wlio have been honourably discharged, but who have not been on active, service, shall receive the klinki armlet. It may be explained that tlio period of active service dates from the time when orders for embarkation are issued. Men sent back and honourably discharged after having been away from New Zealand arc entitled to wear the red badge.

The Wellington Education Board lias erected a roll of honour to its offices in the entrance corridor. So far tlio list contains Gt names of men wli{> have left for the front.' Four of the men have given their lives for King and country. ■ The Fire Brigade received a call shortly after i o'clock yesterday afternoon to a lionse at Hadfield Terrace, ICelburn, the chimney of which was discovered to be in ilauies. Tlio outbreak was quickly extinguished without any further dainago resulting.

On inquiry at the Hospital last night it was stated that Miss Lynch, who together with Miss M. Elisor was 'knocked down by a motor-car in Lambtou Quay on Sunday evening, was still*unconscious. Miss Elisor was reported, to bo progressing r'av. ourably.

In connection with Empire Day celebrations, it.was decided at last night's meetin" of the Wellington briyieh of tlio New Zealand Patriotic Society, to hold a church parade on Sunday, Juno 4. It was decided 'to ask the ministers and the military to tako part, and a collection will bo taken up in aid of the patriotic funds. If tbe weather is unfavourable for the nso of Newtown Park, the affair will be held in 'the Town BV'

Messrs. \V. G. .Tamieson, of Christchurcli, and \V, H. George,' of Wellington, who arrived here from Egypt yesterday, travelled to Australia by the steamer Morea. On board thoy were advised by the- officers of a narrow oscape tho big liner hud from submarined is she steamed down tho Channel. About three hours before the Morea reached the spot wliero tho Maloja was sent to tho hottorn, her officers were advised by wireless from tho Admiralty that a German submarino, evidently lying in wait, had been fished up from the bottom, probably preventing "a double event."

Whitmore Streot Art Gallery is closed bi tho public, and tho valuable collection, including the nucleus of tho National Art Gallory, lias been removed to a place of safety. Tho gallery is now about to undergo extension. It will be right out to .the street line, and the mnin entrance will be in the centre, with rooms and officcs ou cither side. The upper floor will ho a water-colour Toom, and probably the Chevalier Collection will find a homo in tho gallery. The main gallery will be as it is, the light coming from abovo. The contract price of the work is .£1152, nnd Mr. X. de J. Olere is tho architect. It may bo recalled tha" the Govormunnt promised JCGOO towards the work. This sum the council of the Academy of Fino Arts declined to tnko up for the present, as tho war broke out soon after tho grant was promised. However, gentlemen have guaranteed tho money, so that tho work will be proceeded with at once. The council hopes tbat the reconstructed gallery will bo ready for tlio Academy Exhibition some timo in September. , "Thcro are still a lot of vory sick men tn the hospitals of Egypt," said Mr. W. G. Jamieson, chairman of tho National Council of tho Y.M.C.A., who returned from Egypt yesterday. "Wo visited many of tho hospitals and found them all pretty full, though they are beginning to thin out a little. When we arrived, the New Zealand Hospital at Pont-de-Koubbeh was quite jfull. and in addition, there were pationte accommodated in marquees in the grounds. Some of them arc still very bad, but as thoy get strong enough to stand tho journey they aro being shipped away to a more bracing climate."

The members of the Technical College Cadets intend at a Inter' dato to erect a V «T handsomo memorial tablet to tbo ex-ofljcors of tho cadets, an<l old students of tli-o college who have faHca at the front. Tho form tbo tablet is to taie w "a slab of Portland stone, divided into three vertical panels, file whole being 6ft. Oil), in width, and about, 4ft. in height. 'J.ho central panel will be capped ly a mansolenm-liko pediment, underneath v.'hic'h will be carved the arms o? tlio college, and below tlmt ajjain, in traditional Itornan lettering, will appear the followiug inscription:—"This tamct was erected by tho officers and men of the Wellington Technical College Cadet Oorpa in memory of former officers and. students who gave their lives for King and country. 'Bed milites so. pro country'." Tho panels on each side aro ,to bo reserved for the names of the fallen. How many ex-stu-den'ts have lost their lives at the! front is not at present known, but it is hoped by Mr. W. S. La Trobo to get a fairly accurate list later on. Two oftioors of the cadets who are known io have been killed aro Lieuts. Hugo and Voyco.

A recent visitor to Rotorua (says an o.vcliange) came in contact with a returned soldier at 'tho convalescent home who is charged with a rather sorrowful duty. He has in his possession two metal discs of two brothers who fell at Gallipoli, and when he recovers sufficiently he intends to deliver the discs to the mother of the two soldiers. Tho convalescent in question said lie had written to the mother, but refused to send 'the discs through tho post lest anything should happen to them. "I have carried them Fhis , far, and they shall not leave mo until I personally hand them to the safekeeping of the mother of the boys from whom I took them. .This is the story:

"Wo were in the thickest part of the firing-lino, tho brothers on either side of me, when suddenly my comrade to the left fell back, exclaiming, 'It's all np,' and it was, for lie died in three minutes, having beon shot through" the heart. There lie lay for hours in the muddy trench, and wlira night came on, under the cover of darkiiess, his own brother and I dug a rude grave and laid him to rest. Sad to relate, the sun was scarcely over our heads the next morning when {lie brother on the right of me fell at my feet, and in a few inimites joined his brother, who had preceeded him by less than 24 hours." A recruit at the Rivertoii office for enlistment, last week lias been through three wars, and is 'the father of a family. Ho was passed on to the doctor for medical examination,

A Nuliaka correspondent of the Gishorne "Times" states that a number of small whales have been washed up on Opoutnma beach lately, making a great harvest for'the'Maoris.

Tliero are at present a record number of patients in the Auckland .Hospital, and the authorities are har<i-pressccl to find sufficient accommodation. The previous record number for the hospital was 4!)5. The overcrowding is at- its worst in the children's wards, where there have been as many as thrco little patienta in onebed. Arrangements for the erection of the children's hospital are now under way—Auckland ".Star," ■ \

Finances, and financial obligations, were discussed at . length "at a meeting of tlio Wellington branch of the New Zealand Patriotic Society last evening. Mr. E. J. (lolley brought the subject up by stating that tho society had committed itself to an expenditure of .£SO in connection with the supply of band, instruments to the Twelfth Reinforcements. Since then, however, the bill had been increased to .£ll2. ■He wanted to know how the bill would bo met. A suggestion was put forward that another collection should be taken up. Subsequently a member said that tho timo had arrived when tho society should ascertain the amount of its liabilities, and also 'the amount of money it had been committed to. He urged reorganisation, and said that tho society should be placed on a clearly defined business basis. It . was finally resolved that a complete financial Statement should ho brought down, am' Uie future of tho society he discussed at a meeting which will be held on Monday evening, June a.

The latest newspapors to reduce their tjize owing to the great difficulty of obtaining paper are the "Waikato limes (Hamilton), the "Grey , River Argus (Greymouth), the "Oainaru Mail,* and the '"North Otago Times."'

. At a meeting held in Pahiatua oil Saturday, under the auspices of the 'U'airarapa branch of. the Teachers' Institute, it was decided, that a branch of the institute be formed at Pahiatua, provided that the services of a suitable secretary are obtainable.

A Mastorton resident recently received n letter from a British prisoner m a prison camp in Germany, the name of which is "Kriegsgefangcrriasluduag.

The annual meeting ox the Wairarapa Caledonian. Society was held on Saturday last. Mr. T. S. Arcus, of Carterton, was elected president for the ensuing year. A. resolution vft®* passed. thnt tuo s financial year close on November 30 in each year, and that the amiual meeting be held 011 the third Friday in February. Five new members were elected, mid six honorary pipers were elected to the Pipe Bant.. The P. and 0. linor by which Itr W. H George travelled from Port Said to Svdi'ev, called in at Bombay en route, and there Mr. George received a cable from Cairo stating that the balance of the comforts provided by the Comforts Fund, which had been delayed in arrival and was originally intended to have been the last lot to have been sent to Gallipoli, had been distributed amongst the Mounted Infantry (New Zealand) on their return from active service 011 the tana 1 stone front. At Bombay, •■Mr. George found that the university building had been converted into a hospital for British troops from Mesopotamia, and the Museum into a hospital for native soltl'ers There also they were informed by tlie T.M.C.A. National Council for. India that the association had 25 secretaries at work among the troops in Mesopotamia. and IS in East Africa, and in each case the military authorities had reouoste:l the Y.M.C.A. to take charge of the canteen arrangements—which was a fine tribute to the capacity of the Y.M.C.A.'s officials in those fields of military activity. 1

To tho credit of commercial travellers he it said. "No Rubbing Laundry, .Help" is selling fast, Is. paeltnee sufficient seven' weeks' washing. Contains nothing injuriotis: JCIO guarantee. All grocers.—Advt.

Every city worker can be protected against Winter's showers. We are showing 25-inch frame, horn, crook handle, silver-mount, gloria cover Umbrellas at lis. 6d. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd.—Advt.

Mr. P. J. Henuessy, chairman of tile Foxton Harbour Board, gave some interesting information to the Harbour Commission regarding the cost of timber in the Foxton district in. the late 70's and early 80's. The best of totara could be purchased at 7s. 6d. per 100 feet, and rimu even up to fifteen years later was procurable at 7s. per 100 feet. The timber was delivered at these prices. The district was abundantly wooded with these timbers in the early days, und the timber was sold cheaply, mainly for the purpose of clearing the land.

A prominent Hastings shopkeeper, who either by force of habit or else was in a Rip Van Winkle state of mind, opened his premises on Sunday (says the "Tribune"). He was standing at his shop door as usual waiting for customers, when a man in blue happened along. The shopkeeper, on being asked if lie knew what day it was, said he didn't know, but on being told it was the Sabbath day he woke up, rubbed his eyes, took off his apron, and made a rush to close his shop. It is said he has since been studying the calendar to find out how long his lapse has been. "Something should be done with these infernal noisy brutes," said Councillor Kemp at the meeting of the Mastertou Borough Council during a discussion regarding noisy motor-cycles and motorcars. "You just »et the kid to sleepafter having wasted half an hour in getting him to sleep—when along comes one of. these noisy individuals and wakes up tho kid. These noisy machines jar the life out of you, and the hooting and tooting are not good for children. This sort of thing is not good enough, and something should be done in regard to noisy motorists." "This man certainly had a bottle of. whiskv in his pockfit, but the fact that tho glass he had was a long-beer glass shows that lie did not intend to sell the whisky in -'nips,'" said Mr. Noble in the Ifasterton Police Court recently, wlien defending a taxi-driver charged with keeping liquor for sale in a No-Li-conso district. Mr. Noblo explained to tho Court that tho usual "lighthouse" carried a bottle and a small whisky glass for tho use of clients. "Then a person who carries a long-boer glass t 'would not bo a 'lighthouse/" said His Worship. "I suppose he . would be classed as a reservoir !" Yesterday, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) received, through the Minister of. Internal Affairs (the Hon. Ci. W. Russell), a communication from Colonel Obed_ Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Emigration in Canada, dealing with the work of the Canadian clubs in tho large cities of the big Dominion. Colonel Smith states that the clubs are essentially Imperialistic and patriotic in their object. ""Their invariable practice is to 6ecure the consent of any distinguished visitor from overseas to talk for hnlf-an-hour at a business men's lunch. In Winnipeg the lunch is often attended by 800 men. These ciubs realise that gentlemen of distinction and prominence from New Zealand frequently pass through Canada, end they extend an invitation to all such to address the Canadian clubs on matters of public interest and importance. The clubs are anxious to set into early touch with any intending' visitor. In handing the communication to a Dominion reporter; tho Mayor stated that the Nctt Zealand Club in Wellington was doing excellent work, and had more than warranted its existence.