LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2910, 24 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Fira Brigade was called out at 8.40 last evening to a fire in an eightroomed house; occupied by Mrs. Alice Mears, in Devon Street, and owned by Mr. William Adams. The dwelling was totally 3estroyed. The house was insured for £500 in the Phoenix Office.

' Writing from Bulford (Salisbury Plains, England), a Wellingtgn soldier says that the inarch over the Rimutaka fronrFcatherston to Trentham is child's play compared with what the men have to do in England in the ('hardening off" procesß; before leaving for the front. As it is necessary that every man shall be as j'hard as nails," they send out companies on fifteen-mile route marches, each man with 641b. on his back, but instead of keeping to the nice, smooth roads, the column has to tramp over ploughed fields, ditches, etc., to get used to the broken co'un* try in the. Western theatre of war. "After one of these tramps," says a writer, "everyone feels ready for bed, hut the exhiliration of perfect fitness on waking at 4.30 the next morning is compensation for it all. These days of tramcars, motors, and bikes have been making a soft nation of us ailnow we are getting back to that kind of man that made England what she is—and always will be."

According to their usual custom, the Sailors' Friend Society arranged for an all-day picnic'for the seamen in port. The party journeyed to the bush by special train. Hore lunch and tea were provided, and sports were entered into with zest: The men were loud in their praises of the beauty of the New Zealand bush, and frequently expressed their thanks to thoso who made it possible that sucli pleasures should be arranged for those so far from home. The committee and Mr. Moore (Missioner) desire to thank those who contributed towards the day's pleasures. At dusk the party returned to the institute, where a demonstration was given by Miss Stairmaid's pupils. als, etc., filled up a delightful evening, and a truly happy day was ended by cheers by the tired but happy men of the sea. The prize-winners were: Messrs. Brooks, Doughty, Phillips, Fuliuan, Foster, Lamb, Velawa, Partridge, Stubbings, Arnell, Jasper, Daniell, and Butcher.

At the close of an address at Kingsland, Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., was asked whether he could, as the result of bis visit to the New Zealand soldiers at the front, give any information as to the most suitable gifts to send to them. "Plenty of socks, light woollen underclothing, and cigarettes," were mentioned by Mr. Parr as the articles that the men said they were most in need of. He did not' think there was much need to send anything to eat, as the men were well supplied with good, wholesome food.

A decision important to motorists regarding the rule of the road was contained in a judgment delivered by Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court, Auckland, in a claim arising out of a motor-car accident which occurred in May last in Dominion Road. Referring to evidenco given in the case, from which it appeared that it is customary for motorists to pass moving or stationary tramcars on the left-hand side, in accordance with certain local bodies' by-laws, the Magistrate said he doubted whether any local body could make a by-law which was repugnant to any statutory law. In regard to the rule of the road, it was laid down in the statutory law, as expressed in the Public Works Act, Municipal Corporalions Act, and the Police Offences Act, that all vehicles, when passing other vehicles, either moving or stationary, must pass on the right-hand side. A vehicle, by reason of a recent King's Bench decision, included tramcars. In 'his opinion, to 'alter the rule of tho road in Now Zealand in this respect, it would be necessary to give local bodies statutory powers to make by-laws to deal with the question, or it would be necessary to amend the statutory law. Moreover, continued the Magistrate, there was a clause inJJie By-laws Act, 1010, under whioh local bodies could not make by-laws which were inconsistent with statutory law; so that in New Zealand the rule of the road in regard to motor-cars was that they must pass a tramcar on the right-hand side, even if the tramcar was stationary, unless it was obviously unsafe or impossible to 'do so. He did not say that this ,was a hard-and-fast rule, but the circumstances surrounding a breach of the law must be peculiar and special.

Speaking at a dinner given by the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce, the Hon. G.. W. Russell said that when tho National Cabinet was formed ho had become at once actively associated with Mr. Massey, who represented Pukekoho in the House. Although in tho past he had been politically opposed to Mr. Massey, he great deal of admiration for him and could testify that he had done, and was still accomplishing, great things for the Dominion.

Ono effect of tho provision mado by the Government for the registration of all "orchards," however small, is (says an Auckland paper) that largo numbers of in and around Auckland are destroying the two or three odd trees that happen to bo growing in their gardens, rather than go to tha trouble of registering. On tho part of tho Department it is considered that this action serves tho purpose in view, which isHnainly the prevention of tho spread of fruit-tree diseases, through their being developed in small orchards that aro not under official supervision.

The London Gazette recently issued new and raosti important regulations under the Defence of the Ilealm Act to meet somo of the evils of dear food. They include: Power to stop all withholding of goods from the market to the prejudice of the national interests —all "corners" are barred. Powor to enter premises and to inspect books to prevent any goods reaching the enemy. Power to prevent any stock of goods being held in excess of tho normal requirements of the trade of the owner. The new provision under tho Defence of the Realm Act which authorises tho Board of Trade to inquire whether goods are being unreasonably withheld and to dispose of them is the most-import-ant step that has been taken to deal with tho food prices scandal, says a. London newspaper. If the powors aro drastically used the grip of tho Beef Trust will be seriously broken.

Sonne fooling has been raised ill parts of the Tauniarunui electorate owing; to the frequency of German-made articles beiug obtained. Two instances bavo (says an exchange) been brought under th(* notice of Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., and present a ludicrous aspect, wero the matter not serious. At a patriotio gathering in one place there was a "patriotic troe." Purchasers were asfounded to find the toys, etc., were all branded "Made in Germany." A mother had a son killed in the Sommo fighting, and a letter of condolence was sent to her from a patriotio society in which was a memorial card, in the earner of which was, in antique type, "Printed in Germany."

Referring to the settlement and development of New Zealand in the course of his speech at the annual dinner of the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce, the Hon. G. W. Russell said New Zealand had an area of 103,000 square miles only, yet it stood .tenth among the countries of the world so far as the number of its sheep was concerned. New Zealand carried on an average 241 sheep to the square mile, including waste lands, lakes, and mountains, yet we had hardly begun to develop or cultivate the land. In New: Zealand, especially the North Island, the settlement of land must be the first consideration of the Government of the day.