LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2850, 15 August 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Postal authorities adviso that tho e.s. Wimmora, which sailed from Melbourne on August 12 for Wellington direct-, is bringing Australian mails only, and is due bore on Thursday next.

American and English mails arrived by the Moana from San I'Vancisco, via ports, yesterday morning. Tho Riverina, duo early to-day from Sydney, has on board an English mail, via Suez, also an Australian mail.

Trontliam Camp will not bo open to visitors to-day, but tho canvas camp at Heretaunga, ill which tho Sixteenth Reinforcements will bo camped, may be visited. Tho neareet station to this camp is Heretaunga.

Over two inches of raiu was registered ill Masterton during tho twentyfour hours ended 9 o'clock yesterday morning. The rainfall registered during tho past fortnight is 5.67 inches. The rivers in tho district aro again in high flood.

• Niue islanders aro fatalists. Thoro were fivo deaths among the party on the voyage of tho Corinthic from England. Captain Hart 6aid that ono poor fellow died from pneumonia, and the morning after the man's brother said that he had dreamed that- hia _ dead brother had come to him, 'and laid his hands on his head, which meant that ho was to die. Tho next day tho man was dead. The latter had also stated that tho first man to die had "laid hands" on tho heads of his own children, and thoy would die, too. Pneumonia was the causo of tho deaths on tho Corintliic. Everything was done for the islanders, but _ evidently they could not hold out against tho sudden changes in temperature experienced during their adventure abroad.

"The fact that he is drunk does not excuse a man who usos obsceno language," observed Mr. L. G. Roid, S.M., in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. "The languago is just as offensive to those who hoar it whether tho user is drunk or sober."

Tho Prime Minister statod in Auckland last night that after the visit to Christchurch the Board of Trado will investigate the increase in. the. price of buttor in Auckland. —(Press Association.)

The latest review of tho number of enrolments .in the various Reinforcements up to date from the National Reserve units throughout tho districts of the Dominion now excecds six thousand.

The Hon. J. Allen has notified tho Federation. of the New Zealand Patriotic War Relief Societies' Advisory Board that Cabinet lias decided to extend the provision with respect to the widowed mother whose unmarried son is her sole support to include a married son. /

When sentencing a State omployee, yesterday, the Chief Justice said he could, not understand why men in. the service of tho State were allowed to go drinking. In America they would be instantly dismissed if seen going into a, hotel.

The quarterly meeting of the Public Service Superannuation Board was held on Thursday last, the Hon. 6. W. Russell presiding. Allowances aggregating £2120 6s. per annum were granted to contributors retiring by reason of age or length of service; three contributors, retired as medically unfit : for duty, were granted allowances, totalling £204 lis. per annum, a,nd the statutory allowances, amounting to a total of £383 per annum, were granted to 23 widows and children. The chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr. J. H. Richardson) reported that the investment of the fund by the board was producing satisfactory results, and that it is not considered-that there will be any culty in keeping the fund closely invested.

Tho Masterton Post and Telegraph Office Committee on, Saturday cabled £50 for the provision of comforts for the Wireless Corps in Mesopotamia.

The Public Health Department, which cares for returned _ sick and wounded soldiers, has established another home 1 at Devonport, Auckland, where sick men for whom the hot water baths treatment at Roto ma is not suitable may take salt water baths. The hospital is situated on the harbour front, aud there is a bath on tho shore on which the property fronts. This institution is now in occupation, having been established already a few . weeks.

Seven prisoners were before the Supreme Court for sentence yesterday morning, and the Chief Justice remarked that drink was the trouble in no fewer than six of the cases.

A special meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon in the Council Chamber, the Mayor (Mr, J. P. Luke) presiding. The business of the meeting, which was held in committee, concerned the salaries of several officers of the City Corporation. A few week 3 ago the council, without consulting the ratepayers, granted certain of its employees a 10 per cent, increase in their salaries as a war bonus._ This action had the effect of creating certain anomalies, which were referred to the finance committee for consideration. This' committee drew up a report, which, after being discussed in camera yesterday, was adopted. The effect of the adoption of the report will bo to remove the anomalies said to exist.

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has received a letter from Sir Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for Nevr Zealand, in response to one forwarded to him, requesting his good offices in respect to tho delivery of a Parsons turbine engine and electric generator. The High Commissioner writes that it is very difficult to get work done at present owing to the factories concentrating on tho output of ammunition and warlike stores, bnt he promised to do his best for the city in the matter. In the courso of his letter Sir Thomas Mackenzie states that he recently visited Sheffield, where the output of munitions is enormous.

Yesterday the Hawke's Bay County Council decided to increase tho wages of its roadmen from 9s. to 10s. a day till tho'war ends, the chairman pointing out that this was to be regarded in the aiatareof a war bonus.

• Mr. G. A. Hurley has resigned his appointment as financial organiser _to tho Boy Scouts after motor cycling about 10,000 miles in many parts of tho Dominion oil behalf of tho movement. Mr. Hurley Kays that tho Scouts movement now numbers closo upon 20,000 members and 1000 officers in this Dominion, and boars a larger proportion to the population than in any part of the world. He found great enthusiasm amongst Scouts everywhere, and tho movement is held in tho highest esteem.

Tho Postmaster-General ha 6 advised tho Federation of tho New Zealand Patriotic War Relief Societies' Advisory Board that tho Financo Act, 1916, Section 49 (c), provides for exemption from duty on receipts given by, or to, or on behalf of the trustees or.trustee of any war fund within the meaning of the War Fund Act, 1915, in respect of moneys paid to or out of that fund. Discharges from bankruptcy were granted at tho Supremo Court yesterday to Lewis James Foster, taxi-car proprietor, Wellington, and A. W. Organ, news vendor, Wellington. The Proprietors of Desert Gold Tea in. form ns that tho Camels Competition just closed has been enormously successful. Tho bundles of coupons aro now boii\? counted, and prize-winners will bo announced as 'quickly as possible.—Advt. No need to bo shabby even though your money may be short. Good Suits reduced to 275. 6d., 37«. 6d., and 455.. at Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Mannere Street.— Advt.

A special meeting of the Lower Hutt Council was held la6t evening to pass a resolution' by way of special order amonding the Miscellaneous By-law No. 3, 1891, providing against the driving of loose horses along tho streets between the hours of 7 a.m. and 12 midnight, and allowing stock of any kind to loiter on tho streets, and providing for tho carrying through tho streets any refuse, manure, etc., in properly constructed or covered vehicles. Tho council also decidcd that the age limit for persons driving vehicles should bo 14 years.

In an interview with Mr. Broome P. Smith, a missionary from Equatorial aiid West Africa, several interesting subjects were touched upon, states the Christchurch "Press." Mr. Smith ins been eighteen years in the Dark Continent, and has a first-hand acquaintance with Africa and its people. He knows five African languages, and has travelled through East as well as "West and Equatorial Africa. Tlie population of the interior of Africa is 10,000,000, and to convert these people there are twelve missionaries. Mr. Smith said that to mako matters worse, these ten million people were cannibals. Ho had himself seen men taken to market to be decapitated, and their flesh sold as food. He could not do anything, he was entirely helpless. In overy house were signs of the revolting practice, and the skulls of the slaughtered men were placed in trees outside the villages. Mr. Smith gave a most graphio description of the manners and customs of these people. He also stated that few realised tho enormous spread of Mohammedanism among the negroes of Africa. Tho British were generally liked and trusted throughout Africa. Tho Germans, on the contrary, were hated. Ho had once to take a German captain to a native tribe in the Cameroons. Though nominally the Cameroons were German territory—they have since been captured by tho British—the natives' gave Mr. Smith the seat of chair carved out of ivory with a solid ivory footstool. To sit in. this was considered the greatest honour that could bo shown, to a visitor. The German captain was given a common mat to sit on, and, needless to say, was furious over the insult to his Empire. A tribe in Togoland, when the Germans were all driven out, sent tho British general commanding £200 as a thanksoffering. All through Africa the Germans are hated and feared.

In ■ discussing with a- representative of the Auckland "Horald" the statement of tho Ministor of Defonce in regard to tho position of volunteers for the motor-boat patrol, Captain Whitney said he was anxious to act in accord with the wishes of the New Zealand Government. In the meantime no action had been taken by him, except to prepare for the Admiralty Committee, which would leave British Columbia about August 20. Those in the Dominion who had volunteered for service had been registered, and other necessary details secured, and this would savo a great deal of the committee's time on its arrival in New Zealand. "I received a telegram on Friday," said Captain Whitney, "from the Prime Minister, in which ho states that the Government is in communication with tho Imperial Government,' and that the New Zealand Government intends to take whatever steps may be necessary to carry out the wishes of the Imporial authorities. This is very Satisfactory, and Mr. Massoy is to be heartily congratulated on the step he is taking, to deal with the standing request for recognition of, and the offer of service from, the merchant navy men and yachtsmen of New Zealand. Tho.services of these men, if accepted, wouid, of course, be utilised in the Royal Navy Reserve and the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve." Captain Whitney added that already he had received advice of the registration _of four hundred yachtsmen, representing yacht and motor-boat clubs throughout New Zealand. In addition there were seventy-four master mariners and engineers. Arrangements had been made in Auckland for the training of some of .the men. Between thirty and forty were already receiving instruction twice weekly from certificated in navigation and other branches of the service. In the course of a few days a publication ■ would be issued dealing with the Naval Volunteer Reserve Force of New Zealand.

The resolution passed at the recent Economic. Conference at Paris, providing that all the natural products of the Allied countries should bo consumed by the Allies, was referred to by Captain F: Colbeck at last Peek's meeting of the Auckland F#cmors' Union Executive. t He said the resolution in effect meant that if colonial produce was exported to any country which did not belong to the Allies an. export tax would be imposed on it. A recent example of this "had occurred on the west coast of Africa; where palm oil, etc., bad been taxed under these circumstances. This had caused hardship, in that the chief demand for palm oil ivas from nations other than the Allies, while the Allies themselves consumed but a small portiomof the output of this commodity. Such a tax imposed on New Zealand produce would practically limit the markets for it to those of the countries of the Allies, who would thus have more or less of a monopoly, which would prevent the producers of the Dominion from realising the highest prices for their exports. Mr. A. A. Ross said tho principle of confining trade in this manner had been tried and abandoned by civilised countries a century ago. Mr. J. E. Makgill pointed out tliat if, after the war, Siberia and the South of France, which were both butter-producing countries, were to ' export their surplus quantities of butter to Britain, it was possible that they would capture tho Home'markets, which would thus bo practically closed to supplies of this commodity from New Zealand and other British Dominions. The position would then becomo acute, as the principal market for colonial butter would bo closed, and the application of tho resolution would seriously limit the scope of operations for the opening up of now markets. It was ultimately; decided to request the Standing Committee to obtain information on the subject and report to tho executive. The damage caused by the recent floods in the Hawke's Bay County is estimated by the county engineer (Mr. C. D. Kennedy) at £4000.

Commenting on tlic influence of the ivar on trade, Mr. E. A. Craig, retiring president of the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association, declared that tho war was a most terrible calamity, but if, as its corollary, notwithstanding all its misery, it in any mcasuro resulted 111 bringing the industrial world to a state of better mutual understanding, and especially up to that liigTier pitch of efficiency -which was so easily, and without great effort, possible, then he would say that it was a war which liad not been fought in Vain.

The cream of the grocery trade, both wholesale and retail, throughout New Zealand are the most ardent supporters of "No .Hubbing Laundry Help," whicn washes clothes clean without rubbing.— Advt.

The public will have an opportunity of attending a free carnival, at which lifo-saving demonstrations, swimming raccs, and diving events will form part of a first-class programme to be conducted by tho Hoyal Life Saving Society (local branch) at the Tepid Baths, Tasman Street, to-morrow evening. His Excellency the Governor lias accorded his patronage, and there are largo entries for evonts from colleges, public, schools, and boy scont-s. A feature of tho carnival will be demonstrations by specially trained women and men in life-saving work.