LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2950, 9 December 1916, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities advise- that the mails which left Now Zealand on October 31, via Vancouver, arrived in London on December 5.

Tho Postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Moeraki, which sailed from Sydney at noon .on December 7 for Wellington, is carrying Australian mails only, and, is duo here on Monday.

In connection with tho daylight saving scheme the Labour Department lias advised-that it will place no obstacles in the way.- of tlio Gisborne proposal to bring the scheme ■ into operation on. January_ 1. 'Hie -Gisborne Borough Council is advertising -its intention to do so, and calls for objections. • There have been none so far.— Press Association.

Tho Post .and Telegraph Department has received advice from the Pacific Cable Board that the acceptance of deferred cable messages for transmission froiii the "United States to New Zealand has been suspended. Deferred messages from Canada, or to the United. States and, Canada from' Now Zealand are not affected.

"Do you wish to ask this man any questions?" Mr. L. G.'Eei-i, S.M., asked yesterday of an indignant woman. "No, thank von. I don't want to speak to him," was tho decisive reply.

The lecture given, by Sir Ernest Shackleton on his- experiences on. his last trip to the. Antarctic, delivered at the Concert Chamber on Monday evening, in aid of the Returned Soldiers' Club Fund, realised £16S 4s. Gel. gross. Tho disbursements were £18 13s. 3d., leaving a net balance to credit of £149 lis. 3d. This is considered an excellent return, as it was only -known on thp Wednesday preceding tho Monday that Sir .Ernest Shackleton would agree to the proposal. The lecture- committoo were Messrs. L. 0. li. Tripp,' J. H; Helliwell, and W. E. Fuller (secretary). '

At yesterday's Hawke's "Bay "Land* Board meeting tlio following applications "by discharged soldiers for land at Maungaharuru were approved: Charles Scott, Scction 5, Block 15, 474 acres; William Sydney Wardell, Section 3, Block 15, 1020 acres; Ahepe to Koari Jiohepa, Section 1, Block 15, 1250 acres; Charles Roland Standlield, Seclion 2, Block 16, 578 acrcs.

At tho Magistrate's Court at Taihapo yesterday, W. Denness and AV. Milne, bakers, were each fined £15 for selling light-weight bread.—Press Association.

The whole of the proceeds of the lirst night of "Our Theatre," Newtown, which is to be opened on Monday next, will be donated to the Returned Soldiers Club Appeal Fund. Tho opening will ho under the patronage of the Mayor and Councillors of AVellington.

A charge of commencing a lottery wag brought in the Magistrate's Court yesterday against Sottley mid - Curie, pork butchers, Manners Street. Tho defendants,'having just opened a. now business, published the following notice: —"War loan certificates free. To commemorate the opening of our new' premises we are giving away a war loan certificate to every one-hundredth customer recorded by the cash register." . The police considered that this constituted the commencement of a lottery. Defendants were represented by Mr, H. F. o'Leary,.who quoted cases to support a contention that a lottery had not been commenced. He added • that the element of chance in this instance could have been totally ' eliminated,, because anyone been on obtaining a prize «ould have watched through the window, and counted thepurchases beiiig rung up on the cash register. Mr. L. G.~ Reid,... S.M., heard the case, and reserved his decision.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., opened an inquiry into the' matter of the death of "William Gason, a telegraph' messenger, -sixteen years of age, wlio was the victim of..a fatal accident which occurred in. Clyde Quay early last Sunday morning. ' Ijeceased was cycling homo to Newtown'at the time, and collided with -a motor-car driven by Joseph Briiton. In evidence, Bruton, who was represented by Mr. T. M. Wilford, • said he was travelling 'at. about twelve miles an hour, and had the "dimmer" on his headlights,-'which, thereforo, were not powerful. He stated that the boy cycled rouiid the corner of Wakefield Street into Clyde-Quay with his head down, and on the' wrong side of the road. • Tlio boy disappeared from the line of tlio car's lights, but later ~reappcared in front of the car. There was a collision; and, the boy, badly injured, was subsequently taken to tlio Hospital. Two men who were standr ing on' the corner of. Clyde Quay and Majoribanks Street when the accident occurrcd also gave evidence. One said the o»r lights were -"very brilliant," and the other said they were not- very bright. _ The' inquiry stands adjourned till this morning!

Thomas James Lariigan, of St. Joseph's Convent School, ■ Thames (according to a Press Association telegram from Auckland), won the Sacred Heart Collcgo scholarship, value 40 guineas'a year, tenable for two .years.

A little before 1 p.m. yesterday, the City Fire Brigade was called to 7 Ghuzness Street,-where a, fire had broken out- _ The premises were occupied by William Thomas and James Sievers as an upholstery establishment, and somo damage was done to the. building and a -stock of flax. -The contents .of the premises were insured i'or £200 with the South British Company. The building Mr. J. H. Meyer, of Marion Street.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Johu Sidney Death was fined £1, with costs, for having suffered bitumen to ue used to block a'hole in a milk-can, such material-being"liable-to contaminate the milk.' -

A singular position' was . disclosed at a'-meeting of the Auckland Licensing Gommittee in regard to the license of the Grosvcnor Hotel, Hobson Street, hitherto held by Harry Keane. An application was before tlie committee, on the part of the owners of; the house, that authority should be given, to . Richard J. Paltridge to carry on the business, the licensee having deserted the premises. The report of the 'inspector of licensed houses stated that on November 23 it was found that the premises had been vacated by the licensee—that he had deserte'd liis licensed house. Mr. 11. M'Veagh, who appeared in/support of the application, said the licensee had left the premises and nobody knew where he was. Palmission had been given to Mr. Paltridge to carry on the business until the quarterly meeting, and it was now asked that he should have • leave to carry it on for the residue ' of tho period of the license. No objection was raised by the police, and the" applica-' tion was. granted.

A few days ago tlie big steam roller and'metal disturber got to work on that stretch of macadam, on the northern side of the plantation at the eastern end cf Co'urtenay Place. When tho juggernaut commenced to rip' tip tho metal, the adjacent shopkeepers smiled, under the impression that at last tho City Council were going /to commence the long-promised woodblocking of that piece of roadway, But tho next day the roller came by agaiii and pressed the metal flat again, flattening the spirits of the tradesmen at the same time. Referring to this matter, the Mayor • states that tho blocks for that work have been on order a loiig time, and as soon as they come to hand a start will-be made to lay down the permanent' surface. ' In the' meantime that picce of roadway hud become so bad that it had to be temporarily repaired, hence the attentions of the steam-roller.

Mrs. P. G. Talbutj of Hiropi Street, Newtown, has received details of the maimer in which her son, Sergt. Percy 'L'albut, died on the field in France oil September 16. A comrade thus describes the circumstances:—"On one portion of tho sector which our chaps were attacking, some pretty stubborn opposition w r as encountered, and wo were ordered out , to . • support.' tho charge. Percy and 1 were together, and jnsfc before wo reached the enemy troncn, which was being saptured with great vim, a bullet struck hiiu, and he fell. I went to his assistance,.but there was nothing to do. His end was peaceful and without pain; with a, smile on his face he entered into bis well-earned rest. We buried him with comrades on the. outskirts of the little -village, which you will ■so • often have seen coupled with .the -New Zealandors' name, and the plot will ever ho kept sacred to their names. . . .He was my friend from tho first day wo met iu camp, and 1 can never express-my appreciation of all his manly qualities. His very nature seemed to exude cheerfulness, and in sunshine or shower he was always the first to. lead, cheer, and encourage all who were fortunate enough to bo Associated - with him. From tho freshest recruit up to his officer ha was admired, trusted, and respected, and all unite in mourning his early death. Ho died a soldier's death, and his name- will ever ! live among his companions:" '

"Soma seven returned New'- Zealand soldiers, who arrived in Auckland by the Ruahine camo down by yesterday afternoon's express, and were met by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) aud Mr. Browneir (secretary of tho Y.M.C.A.). After the Mayor had briefly welcomed the men back to their native shore, and expressed the hope ' that they would soon recover their health, they were placed in-taxi-cabs and driven to the Y.M.C.A. Hostel, whero they were entertained at afternoon tea. Six of the seven men concerned went south by last evening's steamer.

A telegram from Dunedin, published .yesterday, stated that the ship Aurora, proceeding to tho: relief of the explorers at present on Ross Island,- would leave. Port Chalmers on December 16.' It is understood that this date is nob settled finally. Tho experience, of previous expeditions, suggests.that a ,ship proceeding. to the Ross Sea will not gain. much advantage by. leaving.New Zealand before, the. .end of .December, since the. ice-belt- that closes the'.Ross Sea during the winter does not-normally open until very: early, in January. .The .Terra Nova, in 1904, got into the Ross Sea at the. end of December, but 7 .that experience was exceptional...'

"The ladies must • learn-, to do witlu out their,silk blouses and-their costly .underclothing," said the 'military, re.presentativo,.Captain Orr Walker,.during. tho. hearing of. -a', case before -tha AVellington Military Service Board yesterday,. . The reservist appealins stated that ho was the. only whole-* sale, manufacturer of.'.'white goods'.':in. .Wellington. He'had been picked .u'p.in the ballot, and "he asked for'time to.fill his place in'the factory before.he .en; tered camp. .He was' allowed three months' suspension on the understand; ing that he would have to don. khaki at "the.'end of. that, period. . . .

Inquiries thai have readied the- Defence authorities suegest- that there, is some misunderstanding regarding the issue of armlets. The khaki armlets are still being issued to all volunteers, whether they are accepted for.service or not-. Evefr man who has'offered his services to the country is entitled to an armlet and a card, authorising him to wear it. Men who are : ' sumphoned for service under the compulsory clauses" of the Military Service Act do not. 'get armlets; The familiar khaki hands, it may he noted, should be worn iipon the right arm, piidway between the elbow and the-• shoulder. .They should not be placed on the left arm.- ' : • . .

A Press Aesociation telegram from' Gisborne states that the four Government wool valuers have completed their work ill the, district, v and left yesterday for Napier by motor.

'Councillor M'Kenzie mil move a* under at Monday's meeting of the Petone Borough Council"That ifc ,be_ a recommendation from the council; to the Government to increase the pay of all New Zealanders who are'serving tho Empiro on land br'sea from os. "to 10s.' per day. As the people ure overburdened with levies and taxation, and increasing war prices and expenditure on one' thing and another, the National Government should be representative of the people's will, and make, it impossible for anyone, to mako money out of the war, and as the Government has already 'conscripted men by force, we ask the Government to conscript the wealth of the wealthy and prevent the 'exploiters from amassing such hugo fortunes f;;om war profits, and that the Government take possession from the beginning of the war of the excessive profits above pre-war rates. In-com-mon justice to the people, the principle of-'equality of sacrifice should' be carried out, and The commandeering of-all profits should. be taken and controlled so as to give and provide the necessary revenue to finance decently the men and their dependants, who are making the great sacrifice." --. ' At the Empire Hotel on Thursday a luncheon was given to their New Zealand staff by the directors of the Vacuum Oil" Company Proprietary, Limited. Mr. A. G. Cate, manager for New' Zealand, presided .oyer' a' company of forty-one. Later there was held a conference' at which matters relating to the company's business were discussed. Good fellowship prevailed, and both functions were greatly appreciated by those present. The evening was spent at Fullers. . Yesterday tlie conference was resumed, and an interesting agenda was gone through. .

Messrs; ■ Baldwin and Rayitard, patent attorneys and consulting engineers, of 215 Lambton Quay, report that recently tliey acted as .agents in filing'Hhe following applications for letters patent of New Zealand:—-W. F. Leitz, Auckland, tea-pot; W. B. D. Poningliouse, 'Wellington, waslier; W. Reid, Auckland, barrel; T. J. Watson, Aucldand, window; curtain; 11. Leigh, WaAganui," wood joiner; E. B. Hawkins, .Auckland, folding prop; J. -E. Balsillie, Melbourne, moisture formation; A. Hart,, Sydney, fence dropper; S. Kanner, New York, razor sharpener; Hon. Parsons, Newcastle, turbines; A. Masefield, Auckland, spraying; "E. H. Martin, KiiiEslandj ourtain attachment; S. Dowds, jEUerslie, knock-down box.