LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2913, 27 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Minister of Public Hoalti, (the Hon. G. W. Russell) has given instructions that a circular be sent from the irubJio Health Department to local authorities, drawing their attention to the necessity in view of the approaching hot-weather season, of insisting upon the cleaning up of places likely to harbour infectious disease germs.

It is understood, says a Press Association telegram from Dune-din, that the transport which arrived at Port Chalmers yesterday, had a perilous experience during the voyage from a European port to a landing station in the Near East. About 1500 troops were aboard, and tho vessel was convoyed by a small escort. The convoy had steamed a short distance ahead when oil was noticed 011 tlio surface of the water. The back of a torpedo was noticed almost immediately, but tho captain .seized the ivheel and swung the vessel sharply round, the 'torpedo passing a considerable distance astern. Nothing more was seen of the submarine.

During the week ended Tuesday, October 24, butter to the valuo of £112,111, and cheese to the valuo of £63,974 were exported from New Zealand. 'Wellington exported £655 worth of butter and £23,758 worth of cheese.

Tlie Government have received information that the Japanese Government is sending Government officers to the different British Dominions, including Australia and New Zealand, to discover what market offers for Japanese merchandise. Tho officer to visit Australia ■ and New Zealand is Mr. Yoshio TJdo, an expert in agriculture and oommerce. He was to have left Yokohama on September 2, so that he is probably in Australia now.

A cablegram received by His .Majesty's Trado Commissioner in New Zealand states that the exportation of the following articles from tho United Kingdom has been prohibited: Basic slag, phosphates, copper wire, cables containing copper, silk threads. The importanco of strict attention to tho rules regarding saluting is emphasised in orders which have been issued to the New Zealand troops at the front and the men now in training in this country.. Tho salute is to bo given in accordance with the regulations laid down in the official training manuals, aud no laxity is to bo permitted. Officers commanding npiis are enjoined to deal severely with men who may he Te]»rtod to them for, failing to salute in the propor fashion. "On arrival 1 at the front," adds tho order, "a careful study should be made of the uniform and rank distinctions worn by tho Allied armies, aud the necessity of observing the obvious courties of saluting and returning salutes must be impressed upon all ranks. Quito irrespective of rank, it is to be an accepted rule that no officer or soldier passes or is passed by any officer or soldior of the Allied armies without somo act of recognition. When foreign officers or soldiers salute British officers all tho officers so saluted will' tho compliment, irrespective of who is the senior."

The attention directed recently to the question of apprenticeship is bearing fruit. Tho Labour Department has been_ maGng inquiries concerning tho conditions of apprenticeship, and in consequence some informations have been laid against Wellington employers for alleged breaches of tho law. Ono of the charges is that apprenticed youths have been employed as labourer's, a state of affairs not'contemplated by tho law.

At tlio. meeting of the Wellington Land Board .yesterday the Commissioner reported that the six discharged soldiers who had been allotted sections on September 28 now cannot see their way to retain them, and it was, therefore, resolved to cancel their applications.

At the invitation of the management of the J. C. Williamson Comedy Co., something like 100 returned soldiers will he present at to-night's performance of "The Boomerang."

By an arrangement made with the Department of Internal Affairs, the City Council will become, through the fish market, purveyors to the. public of Taupo trout—fresh and smoked. A letter confirming the arrangement that all such trout shall be disposed of through the market has been received, and for 'the rest of tlio season the public may anticipate, a -steady supply of trout.

A collision hotween a motor-car and a fruit cart occurred at Greytown on Wednesday night, says our correspondent. The cart was wrecked, a.nd its owner (Mr. Boss) is in the local hospital rather badly hurt. The car has a light and the wind-screen broken and sustained other slight damage.

Details of the Field Service Fund inaugurated by the New Zealand Catholic Federation were laid before the meeting of the Dominion Council on Wednesday night. The fund was started some twolve_ months ago for the purpose of supplying Catholic chaplains at the front with funds for providing comforts for the men -under their charge. The object was and has sinoe received the full approval and sympathy of the Hierarchy, and has met with a generous response from the various parishes throughout New Zealand. The Dunedin Executive has now decided to remit the sum of £150 to ChaplainCaptain M'Menamin, Senior Catholic Chaplain of the New Zealand Forces in London* as the nucleus of a fund' for disbursement among his colleagues on the various fronts; that sum will augmented by instalments as contributions come along;. Already most encouraging activities have been exhibited in Tarauaki, Hawke's Bay, and Manawatu in the forwarding of the scheme. Marlborough lias been particularly successful, having remitted £100; and it is anticipated that the dioceses of Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin will substantially supplement the fund. The fund is being administered by the federation practically free of cost.

The imports admitted to the port of Wellington during the quarter ended September 30, 1916, were valued at £2,649,172, as compared with £2,146,518 for the corresponding quarter of last year. The chief countries of origin were:—United Kingdom, £1,425,250; Canada, £108,496; Australia, £476,253; United States of America, £421,225. Goods to tho value of £1660 came from Germany, presumably part of consignments from interned ships. ■

A list of articles that are not permitted to be imported into the United Kingdom is published in this week's "Gazette." ■ Canned, bottled, dried, and preserved vegetables, and also pickles are included in the list, but a note explains that these articles will be admitted into the United Kingdom if they are the produot of British Dominions, and are accompanied by proper certificates.

Last ovening, in the Oddfellows' Hall, Lambton Quay, a friendly cribbage tournament was played between representatives of tho Oddfellows' and Foresters' Lodgas for the -MadeleyIbbotson shield. About sixty members took' part, and after a close and interesting contest the Oddfellows were declared tho winners by 50 games to 46. Bro. G. T. Keys, P.D.C.R., handed over the shield, on behalf of. tho Foresters, to Bro. A. Kcrrin, P.P.G.M., of the Oddfellows.

A North Auckland family has contributed soven sons towards tho war. The father of the family is Mr. J. H. Saies, a timber worker, of Whangaro%i and tho bovs who "have left for the front are James 7 Frederick, Bert, Joseph. Arthur, Edward, and Alfred. Alfred "has been killed in action, and two of the others are wounded. There_ are still three other sons in this patriotic family, and it is posjible that the list will be added to shortly.