LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2793, 10 June 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities advise that th« s.s. • Niagara, which sailed from. Sydney at 3 p.m. on June 8 for Auckland, ia bringing Australian mails . only. The Wellington portion is duo by the Main Trunk express on Tuesday.

Surgeon-General Henderson stated yesterday that there were eight cases of scar, let fever at Featherston Camp. The pa. ' tients appear to be men who had ju6t been away or their final leave • and had developed' scarlet fever on their return. All tontacts were being isolated and full precautions were being taken.'

One of the two remaining cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis at Featherstoa Camp died on Wednesday night. This was Pte. Alton George Ogle, of. E Coy., Uth Reinforcements. He. was 20 years of age. The remaining man, recording to latest advices, was reported to be still holding his own.

Captain Simson, who has interested hinu self in recruiting and returned soldiers since coming to New-Zealand, lias just signed for a three years' lease' of three floors over Fletcher's, chemist, on Lambton Quay, for a Eeturned Soldiers' Club. Gapt. Simeon has already received".£looo for furnishing, three billiard tables in gift, and the contractors are fitting the rooms, up free of cost. ' ■ "How far weak and vacillating states-; nianship has contributed to the prolongation of hostilities will never be known," Mr. Harold Beaucliamp remarked ■ when addressing tlio. Bank of New Zealand shareholders yesterday. "It is to bf> feared, however, that a heavy responßil bility rests at' its door. It is little shojf of humiliating to read of the Cabiw) crises," which are constantly recurring, over one subject or another.' Such bickerings are most unpatriotic, and should.be resolutely repressed in this time of the Empire's danger. Politicians should unite to give effect to the unanimous determination of the Empire to win the war, and concentrate every eifort upon it and upon it alone, regardless of faction or the views of any particular section of the community."

During the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court yesterday, a witness was asked how he knew a certain year was 1378. ■ "Wei]," said the witness, "my mother was ill for about 6ii mbnths before Christmas of that year, and a young ■man was living in the liouse at the time." He devoured all the dainties prepared for the Christmas dinner, and from that dayto this they had called him "gotgo mouth." And that was how.he knew the year was 1878!

Mr. It.. Fletcher has given notice to ask the Prime Minister: Can he explain why, with wheat at practically the same price as it was in August, when bran was at 60s. per ton, pollard 100s. per ton; to-day, bran is 1003. per ton/and pollard 160s. per ton? Why should Aus« tralian be 115s. per ton, as against ours at 160s;?"

Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., writes:—"ln one of your excellent, but needfully extremely' condensed, reports, it is stated that I said the wealthy were' shirkers< I have always said that all classes alike, in eriual proportion, have gone to battle. I did say that some wealthy persons had bought - farms and placed their 6ons on them; and urged them to marry-—so that they might' dodge the; Compulsory Service "Act. These men should be. made, to go."

"Tour name?" said oounsel to a witness as lie entered the box at tho Supreme Court yesterday. "Joseph Heard," said the "Do you spell it with an 'e'?" askecTHis Honour. "Yes," said the witness. "My name'is tlie past tense of the verb to hear," and the Court laughed, for it was certainly a new way of mating his name heard. A recruit attended at tho Headquarters Kecruiting Office of the No. 5 Group yesterday and filled in his papers in the usual way. The man, who is a cook by trade, and is 24 years of age, was sent along to the medical examiner on duty. tTp till that time he had not said that he would not 1)0 examined, but when he entered the Medical Board Room he stated that his "eyesight was , bad. , He was asked to undergo the usual examination, but point blank refused; His exit from the room was of a. particularly hurried ■nature. The following is a copy of a letter received by the Wellington Branch of the Navy League from Lord- Charles Boresford, chairman of the'_ N.L. Emergency Committee for the administration of funds raised for the sailors: "Will you kindly convey to the head teachers of schools, and the many children who havo 60 generously subscribed towards tho_ fund for providing comforts and necessaries for the men of the Fleet in the North Sea, my thanks on the part of tho Ladies' Emergency Committee of tho Navy League* My committee are most touched by, the kindly and sympathetic action of the chil-* dren and their teachers. It is evident that in New Zealand the splendid service that had been; carried out by our . 6ilent Navy ia thoroughly appreciated'. Upon the efficiency and sufficiency .of the Navy will depend the rlsnlt of our life-and-death' struggle. Tho officers and men of tho Fleet will be most grateful for 'he sympathy shown them, more particularly as it comes from tho children of that Dominion which has produced encH .'splendid men whoso brilliant and heroic actions in this war aro second to none."

Councillor D. M'Kenzie will move at Monday's meeting of the Petono Borough Council: "That owing to unscrupulous persons charging , exceedingly high Tents and thereby unjustly imposing on the people,_ the Government 1 be requested to bring in legislation bearing ott tne situation. and put on the Statute Book during tho present session of Parliament the necessary machinery for tho working.of a Fair Kent Bill/'

At the conclusion of the Milk Conference at tho Town Hall on Thursday evening tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) announced that another committeo had beot set up to further consider tho position, and he hoped that as the result of its deliberations some measure of relief in regard to the high cost of milk would result. The committee consists of the Mayor, Councillors J. Godber and Jim. Tuller, Messrs. Ryder, Strand, 1 Judd, and Ward (secretary), representing tho Dairy Farmers' Association; Messrs. Williams, Munro, Osborne, and Petheriek (secretary), representing the Milk Vendors' Association; and Mr. Tarr, representing the suburban suppliers.