LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2840, 3 August 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise that the mails which, left New Zealand on June 23 arrived in London on July 31. The Defence authorities are being bombarded with inquiries from next-of-kin as to names of tho hospitals in which their men are lying sick or wounded. It is not always possible to give this information, and where it is possible it is invariably given, Thoro aro objections on the part of tho military in tho hold to giving tho names of hospitals in France. There is a wrong impression that it is necessary to havo the namo of the hospital in which a man is lying to bo able to communicate with him. This is not so. Tho best cablo address for any solder is: Care "Vanquisher," London. The official number of tho man and the surname should bo given. The allowance mado to children of soldiers on active sovvico was increased from (id. per day to ss. per week. This was found to bo nil inconvenient amount, and for book-keeping reasons the ullowanco has been raised to ss. 3d. per week, or •Jd. per day. Tho Government is making telegraphic inquiry as to whether the wheat weevil lias got into much »E the wheat stored in Australia, and will take such action as may lie necessary to prevent the introduction of the weevil into Nov,- Zealand. ' A report issued from the Base Records OIUco yesterday states that tho following Xcir Zealanders embarked on tho Nuvua at Albany (the Navua is due at Port Chalmers shortly) :-10/2M R. J. Barker, 12/121 T. Bryant, 11/216 J. Burt, 21/622 J. B. B. Lyons.

Tho Hatailai-Kilbirnic National Sorvico Club is organising motor-car drives for tho convalescent soldiers at tho Wellington Hospital. Tho drives will tako place on Wednesdays, Saturdays, or Sundays, and the lion, secretary, Mr. H. W. Tolan, would bo pleased to have the names of any motor-car owners who would occasionally offer their services. The scries of petitions asking for official recognition for tho New Zealand Railway Tradesmen Association were reported upon by the .Railways Conimittes in tho House yesterday. Tho report was that' tho committee had no recommendation to make. : In nn assault ease at the Christchurch Supreme Court on Monday, the prisoner reminded Mr. Justice Dcnnislon that ho had made application for the assistance of counsel. His Honour said the case was a very simple one, and not likely to cause the jury any difficulty. It was competent for a .Tudgo to see that an accused person's interests wero safeguarded. It was not a matter of rightthat nu accused person should be given the assistance of counsel, but only wliero tho circumstances made H desirable. "There is no magic in a lawyer," remarked His Honour, "a man's own story is his best appeal to a jury." Eventually His Honour asked a solicitor who happened to bo in Court, to watch prisoner's interests, and tho solicitor consented.— The "Press." "There is always n funny side," writes Private A. B. Kidson, of' Nelson, from Prance. "The day after the . Paylkht Saving Bill canifi into force in England a nolo was thrown over by Fritz asking: 'What's the right time, Anzai-s?' " The total number of swans ready for shipment to England for food for. the Belgians, as the result of the recent swan drive-on Lake Ellesmere, is 1744. They will be shipped during this month. Advice has been received in Auckland that the balance,of. the parcel.mail has been recovered from tho steamer Itangatira, .which was stranded on Eobiu island, near Capo Town, in March last. The mail will reach New Zealand in the course of a few weeks. Masterton soldier has written from France, enclosing a tag taken from a leg of mutton which had been served as rations. Tho tag boro tho inscription "Taratalii, N.Z." According to reports read in the House yesterday by tho Minister of Defence, the health of tho troops in both Tronlluini and Feathcrston Camps Is good. In Trentham tho P.M.O. regards the' health of tho camp as "normal for this time of tho year." The influenza epidemic has abated, and the measles visitation is less serious. Referring to cerebrospinal meningitis, -the P.M.O. states: "Two or throo cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis havo arisen, but immediate and sufficient isolation of contacts has evidently lessened all fear.of a serious outbreak, but it is only to be expected that isolated cases will ariso both here and at Feathcrston, owing to the impossibility of preventing 'carriers' entering tho camp." In Fcatherst.on, the health of the camp is described as "remarkably good." In Bpite of tho] bad weather, sickness has actually diminished. The numbers of cases of measles havo been less than expected at this time of the year, and- most of tho cases are very mild. Replying to questions, of which notice had been given by Messrs. C. H. Poolo and E. Fletcher, in tho House yesterday, tho Hon. G. W. Hussell, Minister of Public Health, stated: ."Tho Government is aware of tho dispute that has arisen between the Wellington Branch of the British Medical Association and tho friendly 6ocieties of that city, but is not proposing legislation this session to deal with tho matter." Replying yesterday to Mr. E. Fletcher's question in tho i House regarding the audit of patriotic funds, tho Hon. G. W. Russoll stated: "By Section 19 of tho War Funds Act, 1915, it is provided that all expenses in connection with the audit of a war fund including the feo, if payable, shall bo paid by the fund. Tho Government are, liowover, considering tho desirability of amending tho law and providing for audit without cxpenso to tho societies. A large number of war funds have been patriotically audited-by certificated accountants free of charge. Tho large cost of auditing the Whakatane Patriotic Fund was caused •by there being -no certificated accountant availablo in tho district; hence an accountant had to bo sent from Eotorua, entailing considerable time and expense." To-morrow, the second anniversary of tho declaration of war, special'patriotic meetings will bo held throughout the Empire. In Wellington City tho Town Hall will be tho thocting-place, and tho residents of Karori and Lower Hiitt will meet 'at the Council Chambers of their respective boroughs. About a month ago tho Advisory Board of the Federated Patriotic Societies _ brought under the notice of the Minister cases where returned' soldiers travelling homo to tho West Coast bad had to pay their own coach fare over Arthur's Pass. Tho Defonco Minister, in. his latest letter to tho board, says:— "In further reply to your letter of tho 27th ultimo, I havo to'state that returned soldiers ,who proceed 'to their homes after arrival in New Zealand nro proAided by my Department with all necessary travelling warrants. I shall bo glad if you will let mo havo specific instances whero returned soldiers havo had to pay their own fares, and my Department will then fully investigate tho matter." "Our society (Auckland) has decided not to make those advances to returned soldiers," said Mr. V. Lamer, Auckland, member of .tho Patriotic Societies' Advisory _ Board, held yesterday. "Wo don't intend to bo a loan company. AVo'vo got a, lot of mon. coming back later on, and wo want to havo something to giyb them." Mr. E. H. Williams: "Don't you make any advances at all?" Mr. Larnor: "Wo did mnko a few, but they wero all disastrous!" The secretary of St. John Ambulance Association reports that in response to his appeal the committee of the Wairarapa Patriotic Assoeiatiou has donated the sum of for a. motor ambulance and six months' upkeep, to be called the "Wairarapa Ambulance," for work in France, and that Sir W. C. Buchanan, a membor of tho executive, handed in a. cheque for £100 for the further upkeep of this ambulance. ' Mr. W. G. Griffin, of Dunedin, was tho successful applicant for tho position of town clerk for the Carterton Borough Council. A. licarty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. J. W. M'Ewan,' Mayor of Petone, by the oxeoul'ive of the Wellington War Relief Society yesterday for his offer to Irandlo all grants made by tho association to I'ctone applicants. . Mr. M'Ewan will, in future, pay the applicants each week at the Petone Borough Council Chambers, from the local patriotic funds, and will render an account to the association each, month. Tho arrangement took effect on August 1. It was stated that the Mayor of Petone had already rendered excellent assistance to the association in numerous directions, and Mr. J. Piper had also proved himself a very, vigorous and willing helper. On the motion of Mr. Grimmond (Westport) it was decided at tho meeting of the Advisory Board of the Federated Patriotic Societies, held yesterday, that in the case of West Coast soldiers returning home for final leave, the Government should pay tho coach fare (12s. Gd. eacn way) between the two rail-heads. Miss Gladys Campbell and thoso associated with her in tho recent performance of "Sunset Land" havo been requested by Mrs. J. P. Luke to repeat tho performance in aid of the Countess of Liverpool Fund. The management is considering the request,, and will prpbably accedo to it if suitable dates can bo secured at the Grand Opera House. ■ "Thero are irregularities creeping in that should not be," said Mr. J. Gilkison (Southland), in roforring to military pensions at the mooting of tho Advisory Board of tho Federated Patriotic Societies yesterday. "What do you mean?" asked a member. "I mean to say that people arc receiving- Tensions who should not bo getting them—who can afford to do without tlie.m—solely through the lack of local knowleilgo on tho part of tho Pensions Board." I

Tho Prime Minister stated, in Toply to a question in tho House yesterday, that an arrangement has been made by which the term of office of tho High Commissioner hns been extended. Mr. Lionel Curtis, ono of tho founders of "The Hound Table" movement, and (ho author of "Tho Problem of the Commonwealth," published in New Zealand at tho beginning of this week, has conseuted to givo a public lecture entitled "Tho Price of Peace" in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Monday next, at S p'.iri. His Worship the Mayor will tako the chair. Mr. Curtis had a great deal to do wicli the founding of the Soulli African Union, and his studies on the .problem now presented by the Biinsh Empiro should entitle him to the earnest attention of all citizens who are thinking of the futuro development of the self-governing Dominions, tho dependencies, and tho Mother Country. Tho lecture is to he given under Ilia auspices of such widely-different: bodies us "The Round Table," the Chambers of Commerce, and tho Workers' Education Association. At the close of the lecture, Mr. Curtis will answer questions. The public is cordially invited 'by the bodies Milder whose auspices the lecture is given. When the case against John Dome, charged with indecent assault, was called in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, Chief-Detective Boddnm informed the Court that tho information was laid by the lato Constable Maifoney, who met his death in tho explosion which occurred at the Upper Jlutt. The information was not signed by Mahoney, and the Chief-Detcctivo asked loavo to put in a fresh information, signed by Detective Mason. Tho Court had the power to permit this,, and tho .permission 'was 'granted. There was a heavy fall of snow in Canterbury yesterday." Christchurch was white during the morning, but the snow I soon thawed under bright sunshine.— I Press Association. The provision of free technical education for the children of soldiers who do not return is a matter that is to bo referred to tho Prime Minister by tho Advison- Board of tho Patriotic Societies. Mr. .1. Gilkisou (Southland), who brought up the subject, said that such children were placed at. a considerable disadvantage owing to tho loss of their fathers, as against thoso whoso fathers did not go to the war. This matter had been Brought under his notice by the director of a technical school, who thought that it was one of great importance.