LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2953, 13 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Post and Telegraph Department notifies that a new trunk line, providing continuous telephone connection between AVellington and AVanganui, has been completed, and is open for traffic.

Reporting on the health of tlio garrison at Samoa, under date.'December 8, Colonel Logan says:—"l 9/100 PHvato Mills, phlebitis; 33/325 Private Shackel, bronchitis; 25/3-12 Private Neild, not yet diagnosed."

The Commonwealth Government has offered Great Britain half of Australia's output of stoel and iron for munition purposes. —Press Association.

"It is a remarkablo fact, but it in true, that Now Zealand already has sent to tho front double the number of men that, the Duke of Wellington had under his command at Waterloo," said tho Hon. G. W. Rimsell, at Tuakau, at the unveiling of the obelisk tn men who fell in the Maori War. "Wellington had under his control only some 23,000 men, but New Zealand, after being sottlod for only seventy years, has been able to send over 60,000 men. It is an achievement of which the country might well he proud," added tho Minister.

Tho Christohureh Presbytery yesterday decided (according to a Press Association telegram} to establish a Presbyterian College for boys in Christciiurch, and a Board of Governors was* appointed. Presbyterians are to bo asked to find £5000 to cover the expenses of the firet year or two.

Goneral Sir Alexander Godley, Officer Commanding tho. New Zoaland Expeditionary Forces, in a letter to Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, Coast Dcfenco Commander, says: "Our artillery has boon doing excellont work on tho Sommo. Tho casualties havo been heavy, and young Davies is a great loss. He was a capital fellow. I should bo glad if you will make puhlic, in your capacity as commander of the Wellington Garrison, how very much wo all regret and deploro not only tho loss of Dnrics, but also Fleming floss, formerly of tho sth "Regiment, and Dr. Martin, of Ptilnicrslon North. They were all three men, excellent officers, and T havo the highest opinion of their capacity and tho services they have rendered. _ T. think that tho public of tho Dominion should know about their citizen army, and their TCxpoditionary Force at tho front, and the more they know annul, them tho hotter. I only wish I could find time tn write moro freouently. Tho New Zealand Dominion has earned golden opinions on tho fkunmc, and I hear from the army and several corps commanders most excellent accounts of their work and fighting. Their casualties have been heavy, hut, T am glad to say that sll of tho hrigndipi-s and commanding officers aro all rie:ht this time." The letter emnhflsises the vcrv cr°at imnortnnee in the nresont system of warfare of ample means of communication and the necessity for them in real operations.

It is not often that a constable is called on to prosecute himself. At tho monthly sitting of tho Kaitangata, Magistrate Court on Friday, Henry Martin (police constable) pleaded guilty to a charge laid by himself of cycling at night without lights at Stirling on September. 16 last. Defendant explained that lie was on urgent police business at _ Inch-Clutha, and on his way to Stirling his bicycle-chain hroke and caused him'considerable delay. Tt was about 6.40 p.m., and quite light at- the time, though after sunset.. Tt was really a technical breach. Defendant was convicted and discharged.

As an evidence of the acute scarcity of suitable farm hands, a wellknown dairyman informed a Wanganui reporter that he had 'difficulty in filling the position of milker at £4 ss. a. week, free house, and other perquisites. The hours were no longer than the ordinary labourer's; in fact, there was a good deal of freedom to be enjoyed between milking hours, which covered a period from 5 to 6.45 in the morning, and 2 to 3.30 in the afternoon. There was, of course, clearing up to do after that. Asked if these wages applied to a. man and his family, a replv in the negative was received. The amount represented the wages paid to the man only.

The Society of Musicians has handed to the Maj'or a cheque for the sum of £55 10s. 9d., being the groBS proceeds of the recent concert at the Town Hall in aid of the dependents of navy men.

The last meeting of the City Council this year will be held on Monday next, instead of to-morrow evening. The Finance and Tramways Committee's meetings have been postponed until next Friday afternoon.

The Auckland quota for the TwentyfifthJßcinforccmcnts has, says a Press Association telegram,'been filled under the voluntary system.

When the Makura was at Honolulu several firemen and trimmers were taken back to the vessel by the native police. This, says a Press Association telegram from : Auckland, led to trouble, and the firemen pelted the police with'fruit'after having been, forcibly placed on board. As the <• ship moved away an American soldier on the wharf fired his revolver, and the firemen retaliated with a shower of bottles. Fortunately, nobody was injured, and it was seen by those aboard that the soldier on the wharf who had fired the revolver had been arrested by the police.

At yesterday's meeting of the Hutt County Council a letter was received from ■ the Wellington City Council, pointing out that recently a Judge of the Supreme Court had passed some very strong remarks on the easy manner in which some drivers of vehicles obtained licenses, and stating that in future the City Council intended referring all applications to the police, and licenses would be dealt with on the recommendation of the police. The Hutt County Council decided to approve, of the decision.

The Wanganui Borough Council has decided to instruct Mr. Edward Anscombe, _ architect, Dunodin, successful competitor in the recent design competition for the Sargeant Art Gallery, to prepare contract plans and call for tenders. —Press Association. \

A largely-attended meeting of the Auckland United Flourmill Employees' Union unanimously resolved:—"That an emphatic protest be entered in regard to the action of the Government in removing the duty on flour, as the object intended will not be accomplished, and the result will be disastrous to the milling industry of tho Dominion." —Press Association.

The Government's inflexible determination not to issue passports out of the Dominion was embodied in a speech made by the Hon. G. AV. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, at Tuakau on Saturday. He said that the responsibility of issuing passports was on his shoulders, and that recently all his ordinary work had to be suspended, so numerous wore the applications for passports. In some instances the male annlieants were accompanied by their wives. "Thero is not to he an exemption. There's a clenched f . first that holds that door and tho.y will never got out of it." lie said. He further stated that while tho Defence Department is in charge, no application other than a death in a family or such like would he considered, and that there would be 710 alteration to the present system until after the war. •

"Oh. no, I won't ho sworn.. I must think of my reputation." remarked a woman who was charged at the Masistrnte's Court in f!l'risMiurp.h with bavins cycled at niVht without a light. A constable stated nositivly that she was tho offender, which sho just as emplwticnllv denied. "T do not wish to make tliis gentleman out 'to ho a. liar." sho informed tho Court, indicating the constable, "but he must have made a mistake. Tt was not me." As she continued to consider h"r ronntatiin and declined to enter the witness-box to mnke a sworn statement, she was fined IDs. and costs. 'Smiline; sweetly on the Ponch sho ami in remarked. "It was not me," and left the court.