LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2980, 18 January 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise i that the s.s. Rivorina, which sailed from Wellington on Thursday, January 11, carrying Australian mails, arrived in Sydney on the aftornoon of January 15. In a case at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, it was stated by the police that the claims for pillaged cargo during the past 12 months exceeded £1000.

Tho Twenty-first Reinforcements will make their first public appearance in Wellington to-morrow afternoon, when they will parado on Waterloo Quay at 2 p.m.

Recently the Minister of 'Defence (Hou. J. Allen) invited men who had previously enlisted and been rejeoted on medical grounds to re-enlist in order that they might bo medically examined under the now system. Their names could then be removed from the roll of the Reserve if it were shown that they were unfit for service. ' Mr. Allen stated yesterday that his appeal had produoed some response, though ho had not received oompleto figures bearing on the point. .Many of the rejected mon were very glad of an opportunity to have their status defined; if they could now join tho Forces, they were all the better pleased.

A summary of the Allies' reply to President Wilson's peaco Note has been cabled to tho Now Zealand Government by tho Colonial Secretary. The summary is practically identical in wording with messages already published here.

The tramways delegates who mot tho Minister of Publio Works on Tuesday in order to discuss tho shortage of motormen, havo dispersed to their homes. The Minister will inform them of his decision regarding the suggested relaxation of regulations after he has placed the matter before Cabinet.

A soldier who was admitted to the Featherston Hospital on Sunday suffering from coma has been found to have sustained an attack of sunstroke. His condition is reported to be improving. The health of the men in camp generally is excellent. The.new drafts ftre having their first taste of camp life under favourable weather conditions.

The chairman of ths Leaseholders* Commission stated yosterday that tho commission will visit Auckland in the course of its inquiry.

A meeting of the Victoria College Council was held last evening. Mr. 0 G. Watson presided. It was resolved: "That tho action of the treasurer and registrar in investing the sum of £750 of tho S. A. Rhodes Trust, and in re-investing tho sum of £1500 of the same trust bo approved." Mattors couoorning staff salaries were dealt with in committee. It is stated in Routine Orders that the public will not be admitted to Trenthara Camp on the days of the racos.

Several anti-shouting cases were heard in the Auokland Police Court yosterday. One man who Bhouted for another was fined £7, tho man for whom he shouted, £5, the barman .£7, and tho licensee £25. In anothor case a man who offered to shout, and tried to porsuado the barmaid to let Mm do so was fined £10.

The council of tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society resolved last evening to include pigeons in its application to the Minister of Internal. Affairs regarding tho shooting of native game. "At last evening's moeting of the council of tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society illegal duck shooting was reported to be going on extensively at Mnrtinborongh.

The annual question of game licenses cropped up at tho meeting of Iho Acclimatisation Society's council last evening, when it was decided to make representations to tho Government once more for permission Jo issue licenses in respect both of native and imported game. The charges nroposerl were, respectively lis. and £1. A Wasforloii wounded man had an unitnic experience while on furlough in England. He was walking through tho streets of Bristol, when ho was accosted by an elderly lady, who, after remarking, "God bless you, lad!" endeavoured to Hi'rust a ten shilling note into - liis hand. Almost immediately afterward a well-dressed "gent." addressed him as follows:—"What is a hardy-lookim: Follow like you doing in ICngiiinrl? Your place is in I l 'ranee, and not on homo service."

"A barrage, of fire, which you so often read ahout, consists of about '10(10 shells to every hundred yards," writes a New Zealand soldier who look part in the Sommo offensive.

l'or wear in tho home, an alpaca, co.it is a rou.l boon for comfort and coolness; 7e. 6d. right to 215., at Goo. Fotvlde, Ltd., Manners Street.—Adrt.

As evidence of tlio patriotic way in which somo men aro helping in the present crisis, it was mentioned sit tho last meeting of the- Mackenzie CountyCouncil that a farmer in tho Albury district who is nearly eighty years of ago, who had been practically retired for somo years, and whose only son is at tho war, is now doing the whole of tho work on a 600-acro farm singlehanded.

After inquiring into a complaint that tho wife- of a railway employee at Packakariki was competing with a local dairyman in supplying milk to various customers, tho Hon. AY. H. Herries has written as follows to tho complainants: —"It appears abundantly evident that a considerable number of tho residents in Packakariki aro not in sympathy with the attempt that is being mado to eurtuil tho liberty of Mrs. Foley by implying that her husband. is neglecting h!s duties as "a- railwayman and competing in railway time with outsiders. I have already made it quite clear in another similar caso < that tho Railway Department cannot interfere in tho domestic arrangements of its omployecs, and so long as railwaymen dovoto themselves to their duties in railway time there is uo' Teason why they should nob supplement their earnings in their own time. AVhere. as in this instance, the wife and family of a man in tho lower ranks of tho servico have tho energy and ability _to assist tho breadwinner, I am of opinion that they should be loft to do so, even if not encouraged."

The Secretary of Stale for tho Colonies has sont the following message to His Excellency tho Governor of New Zealand:—"Tho Government of Japan has sent tho following reply to New ATear's greetings: 'His Majesty the Emperor was gratified by Your Excellency's message of New Year greetings, and returns his sincere wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the "Dominion of New Zealand, and for all success of its magnificent troops cooperating to secure complete victory and lasting peace. The friendly hospitality accorded in New Zealand last year to His Majesty's ships is a source of very pleasant recollections.—(Signed) Long.' "

Margaret Parker, with previous convictions for sly grog-selling, was sentenced at Dunedin yesterday to three months' imprisonment, the Magistrate remarking that defendant was evidently a woman of means, to whom a fine of £100 would he no deterrent.—Press Association.

The cheery way in which Now Zealand soldiers 'who have returned homo permanently disabled face the loss of a limb has become proverbial. Last evening there was a three-legged theatre party at tho Theatre Royal (says the Christchurch "Press")- Tho members of the party were three young New Zealand officers, each of whom had lost a leg on active service. In London, by tho way. siicb reunions are quite common, and one annual gathering of officers has become an established fixture. Tho mon, all of whom havo suffered some form of disablement in the war, gather at one or other of tho big hotels, and ovor a jolly dinner discuss the old days in tho trenches and fight their battles o'er again.