LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2946, 5 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association message' from Adelaide last evening stated that in tho municipal elections, in almost every district, the Liberals swept the polls.

Authority has been received by the secretary of the Slaughtermen's Union (Mr. M. J. lleardou) from the Minister of Defence (Hon. J. Allen) to apply for exemption of slaughtermen drawn in tho military service ballot. Tho secretary of the Agricultural ; and Pastoral Workers' Union (Mr. C. Grayndler) will take similar action on behalf of shearers desiring exemption. \

A shark six feet long, containing twenty-six young ones, was caught in tho inner harbour at Napier on Sunday.

The bulletin of patients in the various military hospitals yesterday gave a total in hospital of 816. The serious cases were two cases of measles and ono of cerebro-spinal meningitis at Trentham, one case of cerebro-spinal meningitis and one case of measles at Featherston, and one case of cerebrospinal meningitis at Timaru.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Education Institute .is to be opened in Wellington on' January 3, and will probably continue'for three days. A congress is being organised for January 5 on post-war education. The arrangements are well in hand, and the principal speakers will be Sir Eobert Stout, Sir Jas. Wilson, and Professor Easterfield.

As the result of the efforts- of the Tokomaru Bay Amateur Operatic Company the Wounded Soldiers and Dependants' Fund has benefited to the extent of £100, a cheque for which was received by post at The Dominion Office yesterday. Gilbert and Sullivan's "Trial by Jusy" was played at Tokomaru, Bay, Tologa Bay, and Tupuroa, and the above sum represents.a donation "on account" from the proceeds. This is an excellent result for the people of these distant parts.

At yesterday's meeting of the Hawke's Bay War. Relief Association mention was made of the fact that the funds collected in Hawke's Bay for Belgian relief exceeded tho amount immediately required, and that the sum of £5000 was held up at Napier •because it would not yet go forward if handed to tho Government, as only a certain amount was' sent each month. It was further stated that this money (£5000) was hold up becauso if sent direct at once it would not earn the Government subsidy. Tho fact that the Salvation Army is making a special canvass for Belgian distress funds was also remarked upon, and opinions wore expressed that the " Salvation Army Commission would not appeal for funds unless they were urgently required. It was decided to bring the matter before tho Advisory Board, with' a. view to ultimately referring it to tho Government.

A deputation from Plimmerton waited on tho Gonoral _ Manager of Railways recently, asking that additional trains should bo provided for the suburban service, especially during tlie summer montlis, and that an effort should be made to speed up the prosent time-tablo trains, which were subject to long waits at the various stations. Mr. Hiley replied that the railway servico had been so depleted by tho volunteering of men for the war that it was impossible to add to the number of trains. It was as much as he could do to keep tho long-distance trains running. The delay of suburban trains at the stations was owing to, tho necessity of arranging for through trains crossing, always a. difficult matter on a single line. He would, however, inako inquiries, and see if it was possible to reduco tho waiting time.

A meeting of St. Andrew's Presbyterian congregation was held in Christchurch last evening to discuss a. proposal to establish a Scots College for tho children of Presbyterians in Christchurcli, on tho present sito of St. Andrew's manso and schoolroom. Tho Rev. Thompson, piinistor of_ tho congregation, said it was_ considered that life time had now arrived for facilities to be given for tho education of Presbyterian children, and the St. Andrew's site seemed eminently suitable for that of a South Island Presbyterian College. It was eventually decided that tho congregation favoured the proposal to initiate a Presbyterian Boys' College in Christchurch, and would willingly give tho site with the manso and Sunday school buildings for such a. purpose, the Presbytery to decide the necessary details.—Press Association.

• A. summary of War Loan Certificates sold to November 30 is as undor:— Auckland, £142,085 165.; Blenheim, £19,226 Ss.; Christchurch, £156,211 45.; Duuedin, £154,783 45.; Oisborno, £22,596 165.; Greymouth, £18,021 125.; Hokitika, £8356 165.; Invorcargill, £61,604 Bs.; Napier, £59,386 Bs.; Nelson, £36,353 Bs.; Now Plymouth, £48,813 4a.; Oamaru, £15,943 45.; Thames, £16,753 125.; Timaru, £41,072 165.; Wanganui, £53,016 165.; Wellington, £267,912 65.; Wcstport, £11,790 Ss. T0ta1—£1,133,958 6s.

The outstanding feature of tho business at the London Stock Exchange on Saturday (states a "Times"-Pross Association message last night) is the activity and strength of certain shinping shares, including the Union S.B. Co. of Now Zealand.

Writing from the trenches in I'rance to Mrs. A. 8.. Schock, of Boulcott Street, concerning; tho death of her son at the front. Lieut. C. E. Reid, the battalion signal officer, says: —Long beforo you receive this note you will havo received official notification of the death of your son, J. B. Schock, from wounds recoived in action. It is with deep feeling—how deep 1 sannot express—that I pen these lines to express my heartfelt sympathy, and to give you what particulars I can c£ your late son. i should havo written beforo now,-but as we have been, in action and on the move during tho last month 1 havo been unable to do so. Your son went into action with the battalion at Flers on the morning of September 16, and was wounded about one o'clock on the 18th. Ho had just been round the lino on duty, and had returned to Headquarters, which was situated in a deep Gorman dugout in the village of Mers. He had just arrived in ths entranco of this placo when a shell exploded there, and ho was badly wounded in both legs, and also hit in the arm and face. Although we knew he was badly hit,- no one thought that his wounds would prove fatal. However, .we received the. sad news later that he had died on the 28th at St.. John Ambulance Brigade Hospital at Ktaples. He was buried tho same day at the military cemotery at that place. . ."'. A cross is always erected by the authorities giving all particulars. No n'ords of mine "Can.possibly make the/ awful blow that has fallen any lighter, but you will he proud to know that your son gave up his life in tho execution of his duty. He was a good soldier, cheerful, and very popular with his comrades. Ho has been under my command since May last, and I cannot speak too highly of his work. During our period of trend] warfare he did good work, but at the Somree he was splendid. During the period September 16-18 we wore continuously under lire ■—at times very heavy. Jack was engaged on the maintenance of telephone wires—a very important part of our work—and it was no easy task. But your sou workod like a Trojan, and displayed tho greatest devotion to duty and an utter disregard for danger. AVo who arc left in the section will always remember him, and will always think of him as a brave soldier. In conclusion, please accent the deep sympathy of tho Signal Section - and myself in .your great loss, AYe hope that in the midst oF your'grief you will he consoled in tho thought that your son lived his life as God had ordained, and died bravely in' tho execution of that duty for which so many have given up their lives. . . .