LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2831, 24 July 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An Australian, mail only will arriro from Sydney by tho Riverina, dno in purt s\t fi o'clock, this morning. Tho Niagara, arriving at Auckland to-day, has an English and American mail, via Vancouver, which should arrive in Wellington early on Tuesday morning.

Tho Minister of Internal Affairs, tho Hon. Cr. W. Russell, has received, from Mr. C. Iloldsworth, managing director of tho Union Steam Ship Company, a cheque for <£2005 ds. Sd., as a contribution to tho National War Fund, to bo used on behalf of tho wounded soldiers. An inquest on tho body of Harry Bydcr, who was knocked down by a trai?i 'in the ,Lanibton Station yard on Thursday evening, and who died in tho Hospital tho following evening, will be. held this (afternoon by the Cbroner, Mr. D. G. A. Cooper.

All outdoor sports were postponed on Satuiday on account of tho wet weather. Tho need of a' more suitable solection of Scripture lessons to he read at tho Sunday services was strongly insisted upon by the Rov. A. M. Johnson in his nerman at fit. Paul's Anglican pro-Cathe-dral yesterday morning. Ho bad read for tho first iesson tho fifteenth chaptei of tho first Book of Samuel, in which Saul it told to extonminate the Amalekitos, by slaughtering man and woman, infant arid 1 suckling, ox and slieep. Mr. Johnson said that this chapter was so irreconcilably at varianco with tho moral standards of tho New Testament that ho hoped he would never haTO to read W again in church. Tho General Synod had requested the Bishops to draw wp an alternative scheme of lessons. Ho hoped that this would bo done without any unnecessary delay. It was quite imposriblo, said Mr. Johnson, to make tho othical teaching ofctlio first lesson Tead that morning squarb with Clmistian ethics. And yet tho chapter referred to contains Samuel's gTcat dictum that to obey' is hotter than and to hearken than tho fat of rams.''

Tho transports from Australia andi Isew Zealand aro being supplied with jwmer. our little wooden rafts roado of Oregon pine, the lightest of timbers available for the purpose, which rafts will be kept in convenient places about the deck, for instant liberation, should they be needed. Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., has received the following letter from the Minister of Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan)' Referring to the remarks you made during tho discussion on tho Estimates with respect 'to tho necessity for additional school accommodation at Ohariu, I have to say that I looked into tho matter, and find that, as there are 123 square feet ot ttoor-spaco per pupil in average attendance and much more urgent cases aro before the Department, I have been compelled to postpone consideration at tno present juncture. When tho. amount of tho appropriations for school buildings is ascertained, tho Matter will rcceive further consideration."

Tho scheme organised by Mr. Duncan Rutherford for sending hares to the lied Cross hospitals in England which, are dealing with onr wounded, (says a southern exchange); lias been most successful this season owing to tho keenness displayed by the different districts. At the presont time there are in tho various freezing works 10,821 hares and, 592 rabbits, as follow:—Pukeuri, 674 hares; Fairfield, 19GS hares; Islington, 1512 harasi, 132 rabbits; Belfast, 184-2 hares, 320 raftbits; Pareroa, 1927 hares, G rabbits; Smithfield, 2921 hares, 131 rabbits. Two hundred and fifty-two crates have already beon shipped to "England.

"I have been profoundly impressed by wlmt I havo seen during my tour throngh France," stated Mr. Hughes, Australian Primo Minister, ill Pans. "Tho ; spectacle,' of France in this great crisis is to mo at once glorious niul inspiring. Tho indomitable spirit. of its people filled me with admiration. As T travelled through this 'greon and sunny land of France,' over which tho dark shadow of death and suffering hife hovered for nearly two years, I saw everywhere ■women, old men, and children calmly and efliciently tloing tho work of their country while their men fought her battles. I felt my blood leap in my veins at tho sight. What women! Fitting mothers and wives of tho heroes of Verdun, at whose glorious valour and amazing endurance ' all the world wonders, and fitting mothers of new France that is to be after victory has crowned the arms of tho Allies.. The men of France aro splendid. What else could tho progeny and consorts of snch women be? To the women of Franco I pay my humble tribute. Whilo France has snch women she can never be defeated. To tho bravo soldiers of France I tender on behalf of the Australian Commonwealth and our Australian soldiers tho right hand of friendship, and declare on their behalf that wo will fight by their side until w(> have 'driven tho last of tho invaders off French soil."

Ono of tho most dramatic episodes of the fighting round Dead Man's Hill occurred to tho west of that position, where a French regiment was face to facs with a Pomeranian brigade. During tho hottest moment of tho ongageihent a major commanding the third battalion ot' the French regiment disappeared. His won, who worshipped liini, became vei'y anxious, for his safety. It was at first reported that he had been killed, then that he was a prisoner; but liis mon refused to belicvo that, as they knew he would fight to tho old rather than surrender. Suddenly they heard bis wellknown voice shouting: "Bravo, boys! Give it them!" and the major came into view, his uniform torn to pieces, his faco covered with bloe-'l, and his left arm hanging limp.' Ho had been cut off with a handful of men, and at thenhead had fought his way through tho onomy ranks until sent to the ground with a terrible blow from a rillo butt which smashed his loft shoulder. Drawing liimsolf 011 his hands and knees for a mile, ho had eventually rejoined his liioni and liis first thought was to load them once moro into action, Tho 'French were successful in Vlrivinj tho Germans back, but. tho gallant major received a second dangerous wound in tho chest and had to be conveyod to the rear. So exasperating .was the pain lie suffered that while boing operated on tho major, to avoid groaning sang tho "Marseillaise' at the top of his voice. A few minnt«s later, tlio general commanding the unit arrived at the hospital, and, taking tho Cross of the ■Legion of Honour, from liis own uniform, ninned it on tlio breast of the brave officer.

Writing from ail aviation school in England to his parents in Dnnedin, a New Zenlander who is graduating in' the art of flying conveys some interest itig information. His experience so fai' hac been brief, but lie states that ho has already seen two "crashes." In the first the man mado a bad landing, nml struck tlto front skids in the ground. The machine somersaulted, arid ended Upside-down. The aviator was unhurt, but tl<o luachino was wrecked. The other accident was nioro serious. In landing, the pilot misjudged the distance of a. feaoe am] at the last minute trie<l to rise again. Hu knocked tho fence over and smashed the luachino to pieces, but wasn't badly hurt. "It is astonishing," comments the writer, "what can happen to the machine without the man being hurt." The writer goes on to utter a word of warning. ' "Don't believe tin? thrilling accounts of new . .aeromotors, etc.. you got out in New Zea. Iniid. They aro generally inventions. Vast improvements liave been made, but nothing new (to my knowledge) has boon evolved sincp tho war." The conclu-sion-.of the lottei' is also of interest Tho writer says: "The. daylight savin', 1 business .seems very strange. It isn't dark now (ill lfl.SO p.m. However, from a. national point of view, it must be a- great savins;, especially in coal, so otie doesn't mind." Tho Proprietors of "Desert Gold" Tea do not claim that "Desert Gold" Family Blond at Is. !)d. is equal to "Desert Gold" 2s. grade, but guarantee it to be tho Best Value at Is. fld. in Now: Zealand.—Advt. Wo Relieve in supporting New Zealand industries, hen,co our enthusiasm fpr "No Rubbing Laundry Help"; Is. carton contains sufficient for sove.i weekly washings. W.F.C.A., Ltd.—Advt.

Somo comment lias been heard on what has been, interpreted as t'lie abnormal amount of pleasure being iu ilulged in in tho Homeland during, tho present troublous times, says an exchange. A Duncrlin officer in the Mcdt cal Corps, who is now in England recuperating after strenuous work ut Gallipoli during many months of tho campaign, li/is written to his parents, pointing out that tho people of tho British Isles aro wholc-hoartodiy engaged in war work. It is true that tho theatre and other amusement attractions tire well patronised, but he points out that, if these shows' aro titiibflfled and watched for tho purpose of .ascertaining who tho patrons are, it found that they aro chiefly soldiers on leave from the trenches in Inriiico who go, and aro taken to all the principal attractions by their relatives and friends. Khaki is the colour seen in-Impel proportions in all the audiences.

Letters received from tho soldiers at tho Western front go to show that the censor there is far stricter than those at Gallipoli. Tho censor in Flandors is not content with tho ordinary bluo pencil, but uses a pair of scissors instead, as tho mutilated condition, pf several letters shows.

A number of property owners who hold that their interests are being unjustly interfered with by tho proposals to place legislative restriction on rents, met on Saturday morning to discuss the matter. Tho opinion was expressed that the rents in Wellington were due to tho commercial prosperity of the city rather than to any war conditions. Property owners, it was held by some of those present, should bo allowed at least a return equal to that obtained by money out at interest. After a general discussion, it was resolved to hold a further meeting in tho Chamber of Commerce this evening.

Some of the straight stretches of railway in tho South Island aro dwarfed beside the records in this respect -wliich are being mado on the Australian Transcontinental Kailway (says the "Now Zealand Kailway Review")- For a long time Cobar to Lyngan lield the record for tho longest pieoe of straight railway in Australia—a 60-milo stretch. There is a straight run of 40 miles whore tho lino leaves Southern Cross for Coolgardie, but the Trans-contineijtal line beats all records with a. length of 340 miles without a curyo.

Tho fact that tho Waipu district still retains a numerous following of the original settlors from the Highlands of Scotland,was amply illustrated the other day in a list of donations forwarded to the committee of the Naval Belief Fund. Out of 106 contributors, tho name of no fewer than 78 commenced with "Mac." The MacKay clan, headed the . list with 25 contributors, the M'Leans with 14, the MacKenzies 6, M'Leods and M'Lennans 5 each. Of tho remaining contributors only about 25 bore names of other nationality than the Highlands. The lead taken by tho MacKays was further illustrated when a cheque was receivcd_from the Waipu Dairy Company, which was made payable to 'Mr. W. R. MaoKay, signedby Mr. George MacKay, us diroctor of the company, and .countersigned by the - accountant, Mr. John MacKay. By a coincidence, the treasurer of the Navy League Pund is Mr. A. P. MacKay.

At the last meeting of the Petone District High School Committee, a reply was received from the Minister of Education, in reference to the Education Board's decision respecting the liability for accidents +a. sohool children. The communication stated that apart from the question of expense it was well nigh impossible to deal with cases of accidents to school children, as it would be extremely difficulty to determine whether such accidents wore due to a boy's recklessness or not. It was resolved to forward a copv of "the reply to {he Berhampore School! Committee, who had asked for information on the subject.