LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2815, 5 July 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise that the mails which left New Zealnml on May l!(i arrived in London on July 1.

The number of reoriiHs registered at tho Town Hall Recruiting Offico turned tho 4000 mark yesterday. This represents an avorago ol about -150 rocrmts por month. , •

<1 return nhoiring tho number of alien enomy prisoners of war interned in New Zealand as'at Juno !!2, together ivitli the cost-of rationing such prisoners, was presented to the House yesterday by tho Minister of Defenco. Thero were 271 prisoners at Somes Island, fia nt Motuihi, ami 11 at the Devonport detention barracks. Tho cost of rationing at Somes Island is given as Is. ljii. per head per day, at Motuihi and Devonport the cost is 2s. 10|d.,for first-class and Is. 5Jd. for second-class prisoners.

Many local' authorities have been desirous of contributing . to the Navy League's North Sea Relief Fund, but us thisi fund has not been approved under the War Contributions Validation A at, 1911, they lmve not been able legally to pay contributions thereto. In view of tho deserving nature of tho object, the Foil. G. "W. Russell states that all contffjtttions' voted by local bodies 'through tho Navy League to the North Sea Relief Fund will be duly validated by tiTe Government. .

An election for the purpose of electing a councillor, in place of Councillor J. W. List, will be ( field at Petono on Thursday, July 27. Nominations close on July 20. . •

A new union of Brush and Broom Workers has been formed 'in Christchurch, and it has been decided to organise tho employees in the trade throughout the Dominion with tho object of getting a uniform scale of prices. —Press Association.

Plain-clothes Constable Burnett arrested a man at Ngaio last evening on a charge of having stolen n portmanteau and contents valued at .£5 10s. Tho theft is alleged to have been committed from a railway carriage at Ngaio.

At a public meeting in Christchurch yesterday, at which the Mayor presided, and Bishop Julius was one of the speakers, tho following resolution was carried: "That in the event of the Government being unable to 'give effect to tho request of a previous resolution by Act of Parliament, we demand that a referendum of tho people be taken at tho earliest dato possible." Tho previous resolution was: "That this meeting of Christchurch citizens calls upon tho Government to givo effect to the repeatedly expressed opinion of largo numbers of electors through : public meetings arid petitions containing over 100,000 signatures, that the facilities for obtaining intoxicating liquor.be curtailed, and'hotel bars ho closed from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. duriiig the war, and for six months after peace is declared.—Press' Association.

The boiler-room of Millar's. West Australian Hardwoods Company, 85 Tarn? naln Street, necessitated a call by tho Fire Brigade at G. 5 p.m. yesterday. That tho damage was slight was the only information ■ iivnilablo last evening.

His Worship tho Mayor (Sir.. .T. P. Luke) lias recoived an interesting lettor from Frances M. Woolcott, tho honorary organiser, of Hie Commonwealth Button Fund in Melbourne, giving Interesting particulars as to tho manner in which patriotic funds havo been raised throughout Yiotoria by tho silo of patriotic buttons. Between, April 21, 1915, and June 21 of this year, an amount approximating .£'70,000 has been' raised through tlio sale of theso buttons in the State for war relief of all kinds, which, money had been distributed among the rarioua funds requiring assistance. Tlio suggestion, is made that a similar appeal might7)e successful in. Wellington. Samples of tho buttons were also sent fa the Mayor, tho designing and colour schemes of wliich are certainly most attractive. One is branded "King George's Day," and has a likeness of His Majesty in the centre; another is "Anssac. Ambulanco Day," and another "Fighting Men First." A striking button is that tor Hod Cross Day, tlio picture of a nurse in the centre of a taroad red cross, and in tho quarters appears the words, "Our Day, Nation, and Honour." "Anzac, April 25, 1915/' surrounded by a wreath of laurel, is the significant device on another button, and still another 13 devoted to a bunched replica of tlio (lags of the Allies.

The Mayor of Khandallah (Mr. C. C. Crump) and Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., have pointed out to the Minister, of Railways that the petrol-driven engine now in use on the Manawatu line is frequently overtaxed, and suggested' that tho Department will utilise tlie new engine, which is reputed to be very much more powerful. Tho following reply has been received from the Minister of Bailways' (the lion. W. H. Herries):—"lhave your letter requesting that the petrol, driven engine recently imported by the Railway Department be placed' on the Johnsonville run. Your representations in the matter aro noted, and will havo consideration."

One of the Martinborough mail coaches was destroyed by fire a few days ago through the engine back-firing and setting fire to the carburetter, and tile oil tank exploding. The mishap hapgened iii Bidwill's Cutting,

The next session of tho council of tho Federated Seamen's Union of New Zealand is to be held in Auckland in August next. The main business, (says the Auckland "Herald") is to draw up demands for a now agreement—coastal and otherwise—as tho present agreement expires lit tlie end of this year. A movement is afoot to ondeavoOr to bring one sot of working conditions to apply to Australian and New Zealand vessels, comprising intercolonial, Australian, in-ter-State, South Pacific, Eastern, Canadian, and American traders. Separate agreements, however, will bo mado for tho coastal vessels of each Stato. Tho council recently decided to ask tho Government to amend the law to allow tho seamen to register olio union in New Zealand, and to empower the Arbitration Court to make one award for seamen in tho Dominion. For your Boys—Wo are showing two good linos in boys' and youths' Boots. Cln'ome, too and heel plate, fits. 6d.;box calf, 14s. Gd. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners Street.—A dvt. The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company, of Akron, U.S.A., has become the largest and most successful tyre company in the world, solely by its policy of making only the highest class of tyres. Sevonty per cont. of tho now Motor-cars now imported into this country, especially tho better class carß, aro fitted with Goodyear Tyres. Motorists should make euro that tlioy buy tho genuine Goodyear Tyre. Particulars and price lists can bo obtained froni The Dominion Motor Vehicles, limited, (51 Courtenay Place, Wellington, Controlling Agents for Wellington, Gisborne, Hawke'e Bay, Marlborough, and Noleon.—Advt,

Mr. Arthur Gill, of Redwood's Valley, Nelson, has for some little time been experimenting with a view to determining tho best method of launching bombs with precision from aeroplanes. Ho has hit upon what appears to be a good solution of tho problem, and recently submitted the result of his experiments to the Inventions Board in England. Ho has received' word that his method lias been closely examined, and bas received the' thanks'of the Admiralty for his communications.

The Sydney "Daily Telegraph" states that while Travel's Morrison, a young telegraph messenger, was clearing up the litter in the receiving office a few days ago, ho picked up a torn envelope, which ho was about to throw into the waste-paper basket, when something peculiar about it attracted his attention. Tho envelope seemed unaccountably heavy and thick, and the boy examined it. 110 found that it. contained bank notes, and he at once handed it to n responsible officer, who took charge of it, whilo inquiries were made to discover tho owner. On being counted, the notes were found to total 454. Later it was found that tho money was tho property of a city firm. It had been dropped in tho telegraph offico by a clerk in tho firm's employ, who did not notice Jiis loss for somo little time, and would have been unablo to say definitely whero ho had lost it. To show their appreciation of the boy's honesty the firm asked him to accept a present, but Morrison replied that ho did not want anything. By judicious questioning, however, the tirm*?) representatives learned that the boy had not a bicyclo, and that possession of ono woulu give him much pi ensure. • .Accordingly arrangements wore mado to givo him a' bicycle, and, in response to the. firm's representations, the Deputy-Postinaster-General consented to make tho presentation. Wo have to acknowledge receipt of a .cheque for .£1 Is. from Mr. Charles Haines towards tho funds of tho Sydney Street Soldiers' Club, also .£5 ss. to- * wards the Navy League British Sailors'Vund. In forwarding tho cheques, Mr. Haines says: "It has been satisfactory to obscrvo that your newspaper has been of particular service in tho collection of contributions from the public for soldiers' comforts and entertainment and for war relief." > The fact that some 50 members of tho Petone Junior Club have gone on activo servico for tho Empiro, has so materially affected tho progress of that institution, that a special meeting was hold last evening, to considor ways aud means of. carrying on tho club. Mr. W. G. Eraser presided, and tho Mayor of Petono (Mr. J: \V. M'Ewan) alsojittonded tlio meeting. On the suggestion of ~ir. M'Ewan (who offered" to keep ono f the absentees financial for 12 months) it was decided to form.a "boosting committee" of 10 members, who will put forth a special effort to obtain new niomuersi Messrs. Turner and R. Croft each also offered to keep one member finan;nl for a year. Messrs. F. and G, London donated ,£5 to the funds, anil dur- 4 ;; the evening 10 new members woro nominated. It is considered that the setting up of the "boosting" committee should place the club'c affairs on a satisfactory footing.,