LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2853, 18 August 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

To moot tlio convenience of tlio public who aro unable to attend during ordinary business hours, tho Postal Depart* mont has arranged for tho money-order offico at Wellington and at all other offices to reopen from 7 to 8.30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, August 18 and 19, for tho purpose of selling war cortificates and issuing application forms for investment in war bonds.

Tlio Minister of Defence, the ITon. James Allen, istated in Dunedin that tho Now Zealand Tunnelling Coips is doing excellent work at the Western front. Tlio members aro very well. Thoy believe they aro equal, if_ not better, than the Germans. ''And, marked Mr. Allen, "I quite believe it." j So far they have not lost any lives.

Four prisoners in the Terraco Gaol by a concerted movement on Saturday last mado a bold bid for freedom. They roughly handled one of the warders, took possession of his koys, and made their, way through several doors. Another waTder happened upon the_ scene, gavo the alarm, and the four prisoners were quickly secured. They will appear in the Magistrate's Court this morning.

A curious record of money—a bag of 100 sovereigns—being buried in tho ground and forgotten, is given in tho account of the death of Miss Eleanor Jones, of Aramolio. Tlio two Misses Jones (one died, a few months ago) were orchardists, and lived oil tlio same property for sixty years. Some years ago they built a now house, and during the romoval operations tho bag of sovereigns was found. Ono of the sisters had put it away and quito forgotten the circumstanco.

For tho salco of Ron a, tho Great Dane mascot of the Auckland Mounted Rifles, one of tho most inflexible rules of tlio Fourth London General Hospital lias been relaxed under remarkable circumstances. Among .tho-. patients in tho hospital is a man of tho Mountod Rifles to whom the dog had become greatly attached. 1 Missing her friend from the regiment, Rona became inconsolable, and for _ three days re[usc<l food, although, dainties of many descriptions were pressed upon lier by her anxious soldier comrades. The man himsolf, on learning of llona's unhappiness,,was greatly concerned, and in tho interestsof both man and dog the hospital authorities consented that tho dog should be brought to tlio hospital,, where there was a pathetic meeting between the friends. Rona is now staying at tho hospital, and hopes soon to escort her recovered comrade back to tho regiment. Rona came into tho possession of the Mounted Rifles under somow'hat unusual circumstances. _ A detachment of tho Rifles was waiting at Victoria Station when tho dog, which, with its civilian owner, was also waiting for a train, came among the men and began to "make a fuss" of them. The men, who are naturally excellent judges or horses and dogs, admired the splendid creature, which at that time was.littlo mote than a puppy. Its owner was so struck by tho sudden friendship that had sprung up between his pot and the New. Zealanders that he presented Rona to tho regiment on the spot, and the dog accompanied the men to their depot! Rona is now "on tho strength," and wears an official identification disc carried on a silver chain, subscribed for by her comrades.

Mirth and music were much in evidence last evening on the Queen's Wharf, immediately before the Hud-dart-Parker steamer Riverina left < for Sydney. About 80 members of J. C. Williamson's Pantomime Company were travelling by the vessel, and scores of their friends had assejnbled to bid them au revoir. Cheers were exchanged.at frequent intervals, and as tho Riverina pulled out from the wharf tho r.cise was almost deafening. Streamers connected friends on the wharf with those on board the steamer, and as the vessel moved off these were broken and final good-byes were 6honted.

1 On August 12 was published a statement from the Town Hall Recruiting Ofiice drawing attention to the rather peculiar, circumstance that of the last 107 registrations for service immediately previous to that date, 67 were single and 40 married men—ail unreasonable proportion of benedicts. Since Monday last thirty men have enlisted at •the Town Hall office, of which number 27 are single and only three married, which is, in'the opinion of Captain Barclay, something like a reasonable proportion.

No decision as to a site for the new Auckland University has yet been arrived at by the Cabinet (say's the Auckland "Herald"). Seen on the subject prior to his return to Wellington, the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. "\V. F. Massey) said he iad_ little fo add to what he had already said in the House regarding the matter. -.He had inspected Government House, where an outbreak of fire occurred recently. "Though I do not want to encourage any controversy," said Mr. Massey, "I will say ; this—that the' damage to Government House is not nearly so great as I thought it was."

The thief is always with us. Of late the officials of the Tramways Department have been exercised in' .nir.d over the loss of electric bulbs from standing cars at Clyde Quay. It is necessary to keep certain cars in reserve there, sometimes for hours at a stretch, and during such times boys nvo believed to have taken the bulbs out of their sockets and used them as "bombs" in mimic trench warfare. Apart from the danger of' such a practice, bulbs are expensive, and it is intended to make an example of the first person found guilty .of stealing 'tliem from the cars.

Amended regulations under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act aro gazetted. Tho changes relate to details of proceduro in relation to disputes.

With a view to testing a theory that tobacco smokers are immune to meningitis, the Commonwealth Defence Department has (says the "Age") arranged to investigate the history of the various meningitis cases that have occurred in military camps. Dr. Cuiupston, Director of Quarantine, is to conduct the investigations, and he will at the same time endeavour to ascertain whether alcohol is a friend or an enemy of the disease. It is considered that Dr. Cumpston may be able to secure data on these two points which may prove of great value in fighting meningitis. Tho mascot of tho Fourth Battalion of New Zealand Reinforcements, a massive bulldog named Caesar, met his death by a German bullot near the trenchcs in Trance (says an exchange). Tho Turakina Dairy Company has donated a quarter of a ton of cheese to tho Belgian Relief Fund. • Mr. J. Farrell, who lias piloted several of J. C. Williamson's companies through Now Zealand, severed his connection with tho Pantomime Company at Wellington yesterday, after having bcon associated with them for the past three months. Prior to leaving for Sydney by the Riverina last evening, tho whole company assembled on the wharf aiid presented Mr. Farrell with a set of gold studs and sleeve links as a token of esteem. Tho presentation was mado with musical honours, the large crowd on tho wharf thoroughly enjoying tho fun. Mr. Farrell has remained in Now Zealand to manage the production of J. C. Williamson's pieturo "The Birth of the Nation."

Tho Labour Representation Committoo wrote to tho Wellington Hospital Board recently, protesting against the fact that tho highest unsuccessful candidate at tho last Hospital Board election, was not appointed to fill the vacancy which occurred on the hoard a few weeks ago. Tho hoard"'has replied that tho Act provides that the contributory local authority shall appoint a representative when a vacancy occurs.

Tho Tutanokai completed repairs to tho broken Oterangi Bay cable at 5 p.m. yesterday.

Recently the Minister of Internal Affairs received six copies of a book, published in England, called "Belgium's Gratitude," in which was expressed full appreciation of the assistance given to the Belgian nation by the peoples in different countries. Special reference was mado to tho magnificent contributions of the people of .New Zealand in money and goods. One of these copies was handed over to tho Prime Minister, one was retained by the Minister of Internal Affairs, and tho other four copies were sent to the Mayors of the four cities, as representing tho people of the Dominion. Mr. Justico Hodges decided in tho Banco Court at Melbourne last week that a man with a wooden leg was not an infirm worker within tho meaning of the Workers' Compensation Act, as contended by tho Ocean Accident Guarantee Corporation, Limited, aiid gave judgment against tha corporation for £312; .the amount claimed, with costs, in an action brought by Carl Axel Nobelius. Nobelins, owner of tfco Gembrook Nurseries, Emorald, had ii'surcd 60 of his employees, and one of those, Sydney Hams, was killed by a trio falling on him. Tho widow cf Harris sued Nobelius, who paid £312 into cctirt. In turn, Nobelius claimed £312 from tho company, which offored £50, refusing full payment on tho ground, as alleged, that it had not Jicen disclosed to the company that Hams had awooden leg. Furthor, the. company contended that Hams should have b«eil described as an infirm worker; Mr. Justice Hodges stated that tho employer was under no lbligxtion to describe Hams as an infirm worker.