LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2969, 5 January 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"Essential industries" are mounting up. Mr. A. Parian© appeared before the Military Service Board yesterday and claimed that express drivinp; was an essential industry. Ho added that drivers were difficult to obtain, and recent efforts to secure men had failed. The work of drivers _ was transport work, which, he submitted, was equally essential with shearing, slaughtering, and seafaring.

Tho following is a copy of a cable which tjio Trade Commissioner (Mr. R. Dalton) has received from the Board of Trade in London: "Exportation of Strontium compounds and mixtures prohibited from the United Kingdom as from December 19; various fibres and jute piece goods, threads, yarns, twist, wemiing, no longer prohibited."

"I can't get men at all now, and 1 those I do get are no good," was a "bull" perpetrated by a business man at the Military Scrrice Board yesterin spite of tho holidays which have intervened, the work of building tho new hospital at Trentham camp continues steadily, and the buildings aro approaching completion. It is possible now to see something of the general design of tho wards, verandahs, and other portions, and the idea of roominess and comfort is conveyed. Tho other new building's in the oamp are also making progress, the additions to the dental hospital being nearly completed. Tho Military Service Board reckons' on finishing in Wellington City (for the time being) this evening. The board ivll leave for Masterton to-morrow, and commence a sitting covering three or four days there on Monday. They will then go to Palmerston North, Daunevirke, Wairoa, and Gisborne. Tho hoard will return to Wellington, on January 27.

Recently an engineer's approntiro wrote to tho Secretary of Marine, asking whether, if he had to go into camp for military service before TiTs apprenticeship as an engineer expired, it would be necessary for him afterwards to complete a full five years before he could sit for a certificate, of competency as a third-class engineer. Tho reply was that tho question as_ to promoting legislation to make provision for snch cases would be dealt with during next session of Parliament.

The effect of tho war on the building trade in the Greater Auckland area is reflected in the number of building permits issued by ' the City- Council. Last year the permits issued totalled 1647 for buildings estimated to cost £255,937, showing a decrease of 294 permits and £52,316 in cost when compared with the previous year.—(Press Association.)

At tho invitation of Messrs. J. C. Williamson, Ltd., 100 returned soldiers will witness this opening's production at the Opera House of "Tho Girl in the Train." * Tickets may bo obtained from the manager of tho Returned Soldiers' Club.

This is the season of happy home gatherings of families and friends, and hostesses who wish . to delight their guosts with tho most delicious beverage should serve Desert Gold Tea. Its tempting aroma, and rich, refreshing flavour are superior to any other. Only tho choicest young growths from the nnost Ceylon gardens are used for Desert Gold Tea. As every ounce is pure and fullflavoured, it is very economical in use. The 2s, grade ia most popular.—Advt.

A middle-aged married woman, named O'SulLivan, dropped dead, suddenly in Lorno, Street Inst evening. Deceased resided at No. 10 Pen nysou Street.

The iinnunl session of the ScLialo of tho University of Now Zealand will bo opened 111 Auckland on Wednesday Januarv 17. The Clianccllor (Sir Robbo rt Stout) will preside, 'l'lio proceedings 3ro oxpeefced to occupy «i week or ten days.

This afternoon (he members of J. C. Williamson's musical comedy company will giro a concert at tho \Yellington Hosmtal to entortain Uio inmates of tho children's portion, the returned wounded soldiers, and those ju 'ho General Hospital.

A raid- was mado by tho policc upon Llio outsido refreshment booth at tho Taiiheiciiikaii races on Tuesday., /bey had suspicions that alcoholic Imuor was being sold. They seized a. small quantity of whiskv, and took tho names of all in the boo tl). l ufiber proceedings are to follow.

Evidenco purporting Ifl explain a reference to badges in a case agamst Maurice Hope for allegedly publishing a. disloyal utteranco was heard in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday morning bv Mr. S. 15. M'Carthy. S.M. The witness, called for the defence by Mr. E. jr. Sladden, was a seaman, Charles Hayes, recently paid off as a member of tho crew of the Moeraki. Hayes s evidence took its significance from the fact that when Hopo first came befoie the Court ho was stated by the polico to have been soaring a blue Australian anti-cflnscripfcion badge, with No upon it, at the time at which he was alleged to ha.ve made a disloyal utterance. Hayes said that he_ saw Hopo and a man named Haynes in the Central Hotel. He had in his possession two badges, one hearing the name of President Wilson and tho other the inscription "No. Asked for them, lie gave tlie first to Hope and tlie second to Haynes. Neither ot these badges, said Hayes, had any reference to conscription. B 0 " 1 -1 j been issued at the time of tho United States Presidential election, with its contemporaneous licensing pO'l I''° motto "No" indicated opposition to the No-License movement in California., and both badges had- come into the witness's possession in Sail Francisco. At this stage another adjournment, to Monday, January 8. was granted, on the application of Mr. Sladden. The accused was released on the same bail as before.

No. 158 Tinakori Road, an unoccupied house of five rooms, owned by Mrs. Margaret Saunders, was severely damby fire between 11 «nd 12 o clock ou Wednesday evening. The fire appears to have started amongst some rubbish stored ' underneath the back portion of the house. The State office has a risk" of £300 on the building, j

The continuance of the long spell of dry weather is causing anxiety at Karori, Eastbourne, and . elsewhere where householders are dependent upon tanks and streams for their supply ot water. Some Karori residents are being compelled to buy water. The city supply is holding out fairly we 1, but citizens are warned not to waste water in any way under present conditions, lne threatened break in the weather should remove all cause for anxiety, but-until, the rain begins there will bo need foi economy. , Some people who show up at the Military Service Board got the questions put to them fairly straight. Instances: (1) "Where do you reckon appellant is most useful, working for jou or fighting for his country? (2) Do you consider it right for you to do nothing; and allow your brother to fight at the front and keep the home as well [a) How much beer can you get outside ot in a day?"

About 200. of the members of the Wellington Drivers' Union haive enlisted, according to a statement Mr. A. Parlano, union secretary, made to the Military Service Board yesterday. •

The fine -weather of the past f?rtnight, while contributing in the higheat degree to the "enjoyment, of the holidays, had, an_ element of anxiety for those localities, in which the water supply is dependent on the rainfall. The residents in such places are under the necessity of husbanding their supplies, wMcif- in turn involves the refusal to give freely to campers, picnickers, or even neighbours. In view of the experience of past seasons, the Plimmerton Progressive Association approached Messrs. _Moor© and Troup j and secured permission to tap a spring on their property adjoining the settlement: and at a convenient spot in Plimmerton Extension the Hutt County Council has crected a storage tank of suitable design and constructed in concrete. This supply has proved a. boon not onlv to campers and piontckers, but to the large number of residents whose cottages have been erected since the last rajny, spell, and the Progressive Association is now urging tho, County Council to install similar tanks at other points.

The vital statistics for Napier last month, as compared with tho corresponding period of 1915, are as tinder, tho latter figuTes being shown in parentheses •.-Births, 30 (28); deaths, 17 (13); marriages, li (28). n ?£jr e year thero were 519 births, 20-/ deaths, and 157 marriages.

"I am now forty-nine, and I never told a lie intentionally in my life, announced William M'Elwain, m tho Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. M'Elwain was charged with insobriety aud begging in Willis Street. _ The information alleged that he was idle and disorderly, and the police evidence showed that ho had accosted several people in the street with Tequests tor money. M'Elwain, however, gavo himself an excellent character. 1 considor 1 am one of the best patriotic men it is possible for a colonial to be " ho said to His Worship. c father died recently at tho ago ot ninety. He never had a fire, he never owed a shilling, and he reared sixteen of a family. . I consider this a very unjust charge." In order to giro _ tho polico an opportunity to inquire into tho truth of M'Elwain's statements regarding his financial status, tho case was adjourned till 2 p.m. In Mo afternoon, Inspector Hondrcy reported that tho accused had been found to possess a post office savings bank account with a crcdit of £70. He had been convictcd of drunkenness at Masterton thrco times in ono week, and had been sentenced on the,third occasion to soven days' imprisonment in Wellington gaol. He-had been released on December 29, and had since gono about begging money for drink. The Magistrate convicted the accused on each of the charges against him, and on that of begging sentenced him to three months' imprisonment with haTd labour.

The-following fish story comes from Akaroa.:—'"Last Sunday night the hydro-electric lighting plant which serves the borough of Akaroa stopped for half an hour, and the cause of the stoppage was a mystery. The following day an investigation was made, without result, hut an hour after power was turned on the machinery again stopped. A more searching investigation followed, and the cause of tho mysterious stoppages was elucidated. A largo col had inserted itself into tho machinery by way of the pipe supplying tho turbine. The local theory is that the . eel got through the intake screens as a spawn and grew to great dimensions in the -oipc."

■\ybnn -washing with "No Rubbing Laundry Help" all you have to do. is to boil your white clothes and soak colouredl clothes, woollens, etc., rinse well, blue and Tii'-np out. When dry they will be enow white. W.F.C^l.—Advt.

The officers and crow of a steamer which arrived &t Port Chalmers oil Sunday, witnessed 0110 ol 'lio many diabolical acts committed liy cucriiy snrimariii-.« in Homo waters. When off Lizard Ilc.i.i, those on board slighted a. largo cargo steamer, and when within ;i few hundred yards thoy noticed a torpedo tired from an enemy submarine. The missile struck tho vessel midships. SOlllO assert that there wero ttvo I submarines. A British destroyer, which. accompanied tho Now Zealand steamer, hastened to the other vessel b assistance and promptly rescued tho officers and crew. When nothing further coulrl be dono, tho New Zealand steamer and her convoy proceeded on their course, but, they subsequently learned through mossages received from another vessel, that it was quit© two hours beforo blio cargo steamer oibappeared, going down by llio low. Needless to say tho submarines quickly disappeared, but not before the destroyer had opened fire on them. It is now generally understood that tho enemy submarines traversing Hoir.o waters hunt ill pairs.

Commenting 011 a. statement at the sitting of the Military Service Board at. Ashburton, that there was plenty of labour available if farmers paid the wages, a farmer in the Ashburton Comity said that he had been applying for men for somo time to man his thrashing machine at Is. Od. an hour, Only the" driver liad been procured. He further stated that it was almost certain that, owing to the shortage of labour each farmer would havo to find the men for liis own thrashing.

.Reports wero received by "she Ttailways _ Doparfcment 111 Auckland that, as the result of heavy Tainfall 011 Tuesday, a. washout occurred on the Kaipara railway line near Ahuroa, 54 miles north of Auckland. The express train from Ranganui to Auckland was delayed for three hours, until necessary repairs were effected, and did not reach the r.itv until 9.4 p.m., instead'of at the scheduled time. 7.8 p.m. About 2.45 p.m. another washout occurred near Hoteo, 64 miles -north of Auckland. The line , was cleared shortly before 9 p.m.

The directors nf the Vacuum Oil Co. Proprietarv, Ltd., have given every member on the par-roll throughout Australasia, a month's salary as a Christmas present. The total amount of the payment is approximately £10,000. This is in addition t6 the usual increases.