LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2821, 12 July 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Not Ion;* ajjo General Bird wood was telling an English colonel of the real old English ramrod type how difficult .it was to make the Australians understand that they must saluto their officers. "In fact," ho said, "they rarely take any notice of us, and show no reverence to officers." The colonel was righteously indignant, and muttered something about "teaching the beggars a lesson if ho had them." General Birdwood smiled, and went on to relate a littlo story. He was going tlio round of the trenches, when he came upon a big Queenslander, who was doing sentry duty, who,' beyond a casual slance, took no notice of tho general. Presently, however, ho saw a shell coming, and yelled, "Duck your head, Birdie!" "And *hafc did you do?" gasped tho horrified colonel, who evidently expected to hear of a court-martial. "Do?" said the General, with a twinkle in his eye. "Why, I did as Twas told. 1 ducked my head!" A collision between a taxi-car and a motor bread van took place near tho Kaiwarra Post Office shortly after eleven o'clock yesterday morning. The car was driven by Frederick Street, while the van was driven by James Booth, and is the property of tho Automatic Bread Co. Both vehicles were considerably damaged, more especially tho taxi, but no one was hurt. The subject of the operations, or the supposed operations, of a Meat Trust in New Zealand was touched on in a report submitted to the Council of Agriculture's Conference yesterday by the 'Board of Agriculture. The report ran: "In connection with tho Meat Trust, we tad several conferences of a very confidential nature on tho subject with Dr. Reakes, and much information was supplied, which cannot bo dealt with in this report, being of such a confidontial nature. The board is not losing sight of this important matter." Rear-Admiral Matsumura and 100 officers and cadets, from the Japanese training ships, accompanied by the Hons. G. W. Bussell and A. M. Myers, visited Eotorua yesterday. Tho party was met by a Reception Committee and by officials, and a guard of honour of returned soldiers and Boy Scouts. The visitors wore driven to Whakarowarewa and various othor places, and a Maori reception was given at tho Model Fa—Press Association. It is rnulorstood that a conference wlft bo held upon Hie question of tho early closing of hotels during war time betweon representatives of tho contending parties. The supporters of early closing will bo represented l>y M&ssrs. Craigie, Wilkinson, and Anderson, M.P.'s, whilst the other parties will l>o represented by Messrs. W. H. Fiold, Statham, and Wilford, M.P.'s. Emorsoi) says: "If you want friends you must show yourself friendly." It's the same with "No Subbing Laundry Help." Bb friendly to it and it will befriend you. Think it over, dear madam,. —Arlvt,

Writing, from Auckland, under dato July 18, Eear-Admiral Matsumura, who is in command of the Japanese Training Squadron, says:—"Will you spare me a little space in your valuable paper to convey to people ol' New Zealand, through your courtesy, tho hearty thanks both, of myself and of the officers and men under my command for the cordial welcome and generous hospitality accorded u.s by tho authorities and people in •'this country with whom it lins been our privilege to como in contact during our visit to these waters? I need hardly add that such kindness on the part of so great a number of our Allies has not merely given us a very pleasant experience, but will also be highly appreciated by the whole of our .nation." Private advice lias been received in Auckland (stales , a Press Association telegram) that the strike at the li'iji sugar works has ended, and tho men engaged in Auckland to take the place of the dissatisfied engine-drivers will not be required. A couple of motor-ears came into fairly violent contact shortly after seven o'clock last evening at the intersection of Hunter Street and Customhouse Quay. Both cars were considerably bent about, but tho occupants sustained no injuries. Shipping in war time was referred to by ilr. W. Perry in his presidential address to tho Agricultural Council's Conference yesterday. He said: "One of the serious problems our National Government has' bad to face since tlie war began has been to secure adequate shipping to carry the produce, and considering tlie number of ships which have been commandeered for other purposes, producers should, on the whole, be well satisfied with tho results of the Government's action." "Tho Christchurch Presbytery resolved yesterday that while it upholds the principle of national military service, it will appeal to tho Government to make provision for giving conscientious objcctors treatment along the lines provided in the Imperial Act.—Press Association. A. single man named Thomas Bennett met with an accident resulting in painful injuries at the Palmerston North railway station yesterday morning. Ho came down by train from Hunterville, arriving at "11.18, and got off the train at the station. While attempting to rejoin it as the train was moving lie fell between the carriages and was in imminent risk of losing his life. Fortunately a porter notced his plight, and jumped into the guard's van and applied the emergency brake, pulling the train up quickly. Bennett was got out from under the wheels. Medical aid was immediately procured, and it was found that lie had sustained a fractured pelvis, and other less injuries. He was removed to the Hospital. A conference of delegates of all trade unions throughout New Zealand, convened by the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union, was held yesterday to consider the Military Service Bill. There were about 60 delegates present, and as many written opinions were received from unions unable to send delegates. Certain decisions were arrived at, but nothing was conveyed to the Press. A man, who is wanted in Auckland in connection with a wife maintenance case, was arrested at Palmerston yesterday by Plain-clothes Constablo Calloty. Immediately the man was asked to go to the Police. Station he drew a bottle of a strong disinfectant from his pocket and endeavoured to drink it. He swallowed a little before'the constable could intervene. A scufflo.then ensued, the man throwing tho remaining liquid in the constable's face, part of it going into the left eye and causing very painful 1 juries. Constable Culloty pluckily stuck to his man, and single-handed took him to the Police Station. On arrival there a doctor was called, and an emetic was administered to the arrested man, and the effects of the poison were .quickly nullified and tho man was soon out of danger. A return submitted to the delegates, attending the New Zealund Trotting Conference yesterday showed that 37 trottjng meotings had beon held during tlie 1915-16 season. There wero 59 racing days, with ■ICI races. Stakes amounting to J1G5,335 were paid out last season, as against .£03,225 the previous season.

"Commandeering and fixing the prico of meat has worked .very satisfactorily," remarked the retiring prosidont of tho Council of Agriculture (Mr. W. Perry) yesterday. "Tho same cannot be saia with regard to jvhoat aud chaff, and I have heard tho action of the Government very loudly condemned. Now, the Government aro guided by the figures supplied to them oy the Statistician, and he gets liis figures' from tho farmers and merchants. If those figures are ivrong, who is to blame? It has shown how risky it is to interfere with trade." The Board of Agriculture has frequently urged upon the Minister of Agriculture the question of the thorough reorganisation of the Department, but so far with somewhat disappointing results, 6tated a report (furnished by Sir James Wilson) read to the Council of Agriculture yesterday. During a brief discussion on a proposed amendment in connection with ai rule dealing with the Provident Fund, it was mentioned at yesterday's meeting'of delegates to the New Zealand Trotting Conference that that fund had' amounted to .£2700,, and it was steadily increasing. Good interest was being obtained from the money on fixed deposit. V "Whatever wo/produce- in tho way of horses should be tho beat," said tho Hon. W. D. S.' Mac Donald, Minister of Agriculture, when opening tho Council of Agriculture's Conference yesterday. "There are thousands of useless horses all over New Zealand, doing nothing better than eating up good grass. I have been at many agricultural shows, and liave seen a good many poor quality animals there." "One of the biggest problems in front of this country, is to absorb into the most fitting occupations the men who are away fighting for us, and I hope to see this conference, before it show that it is strongly in sympathy with securing land, and good land at that, for every returned soldier who .is capable of working it/' remarked Mr._ W. Perry, retiring president of the Agricultural Council yesterday. Friday next will be the 127 th anniversary of the' fall of the Bastile. The day is U3uallv n. French national fete day, but owing to tho war tho usual rejoicing will be dispensed with this year. The French flag will, however, bo flown at the office of tho French Consul in Wellington (Mr. James Macintosh, if Wright, Stephenson, and Co.). "The soil in Mesopotamia, which is silted up\bv the Euphrates River and the Tigris River, contains 15 per cent, of lime, and that is one of tho richest patches of land 111 the woild, and will, X hope, soon be open to British sons to occupy," observed Mr. Reynolds, of Canibniigo, at yesterday's Conference o! the Council of Agriculture.

Touching 'the death of Private John Ross, who died on board the steamer Manuka, from Sydney, an inquest was 'held at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon by Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, District Coroner. After hcarinsr the -testimony Of Harold Charles Wilson, chief steward, the inquiry was adjourned till Friday to allow of a post mortem examination being made. An expression of opinion was asked for at vestorday's meeting of the Trotting Conference as to whetner tho trustees ot tho Provident Fund could pay up 'to .CSOO to an owner if one of Ins employees had tho misfortune to meet with an accident resulting in his death. It was resolved, after discussion, to recommend tho trustees lo seo that tho fund is built up to such an amount that if compensation is required to bo given io owners, on behalf of their employees in future, the fund will ho ablo to stand it. It was announced at yesterday's sitting of the Anglican Synod that a legacy of ,£IOOO had been left to the Anglican Boys' Home Society. A notice is gazetted under the War Regulations declaring the Aktio Bolaget l,u>- (bus Light Company), Stockholm, to be an enemy company. The Goodyear Tyro and Rubber Company, of Akron, U.S.A., has become the largest and most successful tyro company in the world, soleljr by its policy of making only the highest class o'f lyres. Seventy per cent, of the new Motor-cars now imported into this country, especially tho l>etter class cars, are fitted with Goodyear Tyres. Motorists should make sure that they buy the genuine Goodyear Tyre. Particulars and price lists can be obtained froni The Dominion Motor Vehicles, Limited, 65 Courtenay Place, Wellington, Controlling Agents for Wellington, Gisborne,. Eawto'a Bay, Marlborough, and Nelv ,60H. —Advti •

After a lone discussion, in private, the Diocesan Anglican Synod, -which is nou' sitting in Wellington, resolved in favour of early closing of liquor bars, and live forbidding of shouting." The young girl, Bertha Grovcr, of Palmerston North, who disappeared on Wednesday last, has been, found. At a meeting of the Karori Borough Council last evening, the matter of the overcrowded Karori oars was brought up. It was stated that the Karori people had in many case not been able to get a place on the cars oil account of people for Tinalcori Road and Botanical Gardens crowding oil the Karori cars, and by the time the cars reached Karori, they were empty. The matter of the first Sunday car being made to leave earlier iu order to connect with the 10.30 p.m. train to Trentkam was also brought up, and both matters were referred to the Tramway Committee for early attention. With a view to inducing as many men as possible to enlist the New Zealand Trotting Association, through its Licensing Committee (said Mr. Gore, ohai-rman of tho Trotting Conference, yesterday), had resolved not to grant licenses to men who were eligible for service. Up till the ttme of the passing of the Military Service Bill, the etep which had been taken must have gone' a long way to assist recruiting, said Mr. Gore. An interesting result of the afforestation work going on in;'the Rotorua district is the way in which both native and English birds are being attracted to the reserves. Formerly the.areas now planted were silent and desolate, with no sign or sound of life, whereas they are nonfilled with song of birds. The eucalyptus plantation at Whakarewarejya, in particular, has attracted to the district a large number of tui9, who come for the honey in the blossoms. Thrushes, blackbirds, chaffinches, as well as fantaiis, and other small birds, oil make the groves of pine and larch their homo, and at sunset the songs of these birds echo across tie valley. Those interested in the subject of treeplanting are promised an interesting hour in the Chamber of Commerce this evening. Recently, on the suggestion of Sir James Wilson, a Forestiy Association was, started, and this is the preliminary meeting. It is hoped there will be a large attendance to hear Mr. D. E. Hulchins, F.8.G.5., late Director of forestry in South Africa, who has consented to give an address on the snbject of "Forestry."