LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2930, 16 November 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Owing to the uncertainty of the present position in regard to steamer timetables, caused by the conl strike at Newcastle, the Union Co. and the Huddart-Parker Co. have decided toissue single tickets to persona visiting the Commonwealth. This arrangement will continue until a- settlement of the dispute is reached. 1 The influx of tourists for the .holiday season has begun, and' the Tourist Department states that the prospects for the season look fairly good. Mr. Justice Edwards, in addressing the jury yesterday in the case for damages in a' motor accident, commented strongly on tho excessive speed at which motor vehicles were driven through the streets of the city, and remarked that those employed in clearing His Majesty's mails were the _ worst offenders. "The traffic regulations of the city sadly needed attention;" commented His Honour. An accident of an unusual character occurred in the. City last evening at about 8.30 o'clock. A. man named William Willan, recontly arrived in Wellington from the country, was standing on tho footpatli as a tram approachcd. When .the tram was close he was noticed to run on to thetrack, throw up his arms, and come into violent collision with the front of the car. One observer said that Willan appeared to "butt the tram." The man was thrown to the ground, but tfie car _ stopped smartly. When Willan was picked up lie was found to he Buffering from a broken nose and a torn ear, with some minor abraisons about the head and fnce. He was admitted to tho hospital.

The Myers KincTergarten, standing in Myers Park, Auckland, both of which liavo'becn prosentetfto the city by the Hon. A. M. Myers, was officially opened by tho Governor yesterday, in the presence of a large gathering. The speakers included tha Governor, Hon. A. M. Myers, ami the Mayor of Auckland (Mr J. H. Gunson).—Press Asso--1 ciation.

Half-a-year ahead of the event, the Wellington Labour Representation Committee is preparing for the municipal elections. It Ims been decided to contest eight seats on the City Council, four on the Hnrbour Board, and all 011 the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Unions are to be invited also to forward to the committee nominations for a candidate for tho Mayoralty.

Now Zealand as a holiday land for tourists is highly spoken of. The visitors' book at the Wellington Tourist Bureau contains many compliments to the Dominion. The following from the space reserved for "remarks ) is a fair sample: "Spent a most delightful holiday in this most beautiful country."

Herbert Nalder. sheepfarmer, aged 39, from Lake Tekapo, Fairlie district, who was a passonger _ from Lyttelton by the s.s. Maori y es * terday, died oil boa-rd that vessel before she reached Wellington. It seemn that Nalder, who was accompanied by his sister, had been suffering from tuberculosis for the past twelve months, and was ou his way to Auckland. He. had fits of coughing during the night, and early in the morning, ui response to a ring from the cabin occupied bv Nalder, a steward went there and found the unfortunate man standing near the doorway in a stare of collapse. He fell forward and was caught by the steward, and died almost immediately. The ship's doctor was called in. but could 'only pronounce the man dead. As the doctor at Fair he who had b'een attending Nalder will give a certificate, no inquest will be held.

The executive of the "Appeal Day" of the Returned Soldiers' Club met yesterday to appoint sub-committees. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided. A Finance Committee was set up, consisting of Messrs. J. P. I/uke, A. Gray, and J. Macintosh, with power to appoint a treasurer. Trustees elected were: —Messrs. C. P. Smith, E. D. Bell, and A. S. Biss. Other committees set up were: —Tho "Direct" Appeal, street stalls,, procession and entertainment, and Press and advertising. Mr. iH. J- Stott was appointed secretary. It was decided 1 to ask Mrs. Lnko to call a meeting! of ladies who will be willing to assist. Further arrangements will be discussed on Friday at 5.15 p.m.'

The secretary of the United Federation of Labour (Mr. Hiram_ Hunter) wrote last week to the Acting-Pnme Minister (the Hon. J. Allen), submitting "For the consideration of the Government a request, on behalf of organised labour in New that before the provisions of the Military Service Act are put into operation, a ballot should be taken for the purpose of ascertaining whether the electors are in favour of the conscription of tho manhood of the Dominion?'' Tho Federation contended that Parliament had no mandate from tho people to place a Conscription Act upon the Statute Book. "This cjuestion," says the Minister in reply, "was very fully discussed bv Parliament, and the mind of tho peopto ovidontly was so well known that only a fow members of Parliament ventured to vote against the Military Service Act being placed upon tlie Statute Book. I regret that I cannot comply with your leqiiest. The safety of the Empire and of our country of New Zealand is of tho most supreme importance, and tliat safety cannot be assured unless the Empire and the Allies provide a .steady now of reinforcements ~Eo make up for tlie losses that may occur in the. fighting line during this frightful war. A very large proportion of the manhood of the, country has already volunteered. No doubt thero are many men of military age who are willing to enlist, but who have found it difficult to judge whether their turn Has come. It seems that the fairest plan in such cases is to allow the baHot to decide for tKem. The matter has been very carefully considered in all its aspects by_ the Parliament oi the country, and it is tho duty of the' Government to carry out its wishes."

"Householders whoso residonces stand 6ome distance back from the street or road have repeatedly been asked to provide suitable letter-boxes at their gates. Yours is such a case, and I have now to intimate that unless a letter-box is provided at ' your gate within four weeks from date, the delivery of mail matter at your residence will be discontinued. The pressure on the time of letter-carriers, due to the' conditions brought about by the war, has made it necessary for the Department to take this step, and I hope you will see your w'ay to comply with the request now-made without delay. _ About 1300 householders are "being notified in similar terms." The above is the text of a circular received by a resident of Emerson Street, Berhampore, from the Chief Postmaster, Wellington. Speaking to a Dominion reporter on the subject, the resident said that his residence is a step from the front gate, and he suggests that the Department, if it wishes to economise, should, make on© delivery only per day. Ho states that this would be acceptable to the residents generally. Failing this course being adopted, householders should be instructed that after a certain date correspondence would be left for them at the Berhampore Post Office.

The opinions of many New Zealanders regarding the new. sensation on the Western front, His Majesty's landships, commonly known a3 "tanks," were obtained first-hand by Mr. H. M. Smeeton, of Auckland, during a recent visit to the Walton-on-Thames Hospital. "They laughed over the impression the tanks produced on the Germans at the Battlo of Flers," writes Mr. Smeeton. ''The Germans first ran away, then paused and looked back, then went oil running again, but were quite undecided what to' do or where to riin to escape this new terror. One man said that lie saw 20 of them in his see tor, and tho uncanny way in

which tlie "Caterpillars," as our men call them—"tanks" being the German name for them—which are over 30ft. Ions;, squatted across wide trenches and enfiladed the occupants from both sides, would have heen amusing if not so horrible. They climb down a bank and up the other ' side, and keep on their steady way, six to eight miles an hour; quite indifferent to rifle or machinegun bullets, iwhich spatter them all over. Their own guns, meanwhile? deal out death to the German gunners,, and spread terror on every hand. They do not appear to try to smash the German gun, but to kill or disable the gunners."

Fair progress, it is understood, is being made by the five victims of tho sulphuric acid explosion on the MOllO- - who are still in hospital (says the, Auckland i "Herald"). In the case of C. Falkner, waterside worker, who received severe injuries to the face, both arms, and the left leg, it is problematic as to whether or not lie will regain his sight. His face is disfigured from the severe burns. H. Barnes, waterside worker, who received injuries to the face and both eyes, can now distinguish light from darkness. _J. Coutts, waterside worker, who received severe injuries to the face and both arms, is disfigured, and, in his case, too, it is questionable as to whether he will be able to see again. George Jones, waterside worker, who sustained injuries to the face, one eye, both arms, back, thigh, and right leg, is understood to be unablo to close one eye owing to contraction caused by one of tho burns. G. Mitchell, sailor, was burnt on the right leg. Ho has been able to walk for some days. J. Anderson and 3. Jones, waterside workers, who both received injuries to the face, are outpatients. All arc men of middle-ago, and, with the exception of Coufcts, MitohelL. and, <J.. .tnMriacL