LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2991, 31 January 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

fhe Minister, of Defence has received advice that tho Nineteenth Reinforcements have safely reached their destination.

His Excellency tho Governor arid the Minister of Defence (Hon. J. Men) will inspect tho Twenty-second Reinforcements at Trentham Camp to-day. The draft will leave by road for Taiiherenikau to-morrow.

To-day's sitting of toe Third Wellington Militai? Appeal Board is to. bo devoted chiefly to the heaj-ing of appeals by seafaring men.

A Press Association telegram from Palmerston states that whole hillsides are covered with fires, and Palmerston is surrounded by a- dense haze of smoke. Fierce litcs are raging in the swamp area, Mr. G. Seifert having now lost over 200 acres of flax. Men from all over the flax urea are assisting in fipchtiiiK tho flames, which threaten to wipe out the whole swamp.

There wore.two small grass fires in tho eity yestordar, which kept tho brigade busy. In the morning a portion of the hillside at the top of Hayjltreet, Oriental Bay, wag ablaze, and in tho afternoon the grass and filirubs near the Meteorological Observatory, on tho Thomdon Esplanade, were burned.

A. male inmate of the Porirua, Mental Hospital escaped from tho institution at about 6 p.m. yesterday. His name is Robert Bi.be, and at the-time of his escape lie was wearing a blue serce suit and check shirt, and a. soft felt hat.

At a. meeting of tho Taranaki Method-ist-Ministers' Council, the Rev. T. G. Hammond, chairman of tho TaranakiWauganui district, stated that the operations of the ballot had boon carefully considered by the leaders of the Church. It was felt that in the present crisis it was not the Church's duty to malto an appeal for exemption in tho caso of such of her ministers as may bo called in tho ballot except amdor extraordinary circumstances until an irreducible minimum is reached in the staffing of tho circuits. —Press Association.

Motorists who hare just arrived in Napier from Auckland describe the roads all the way as fairly good, with nothing to impede tho progress of ordinary touring cars, says our Napier corresnondent.

Among the returned Soldiers under treatment in Now Zealand hospitals at tho present time are five, neurasthenic patients, who are- accommodated in tho Karatane Homo, Dunedin. Thoso men require treatment of a. special character.

Tlie British Trade Cojntnisiiioncr, Mr. E. W. Dalton, returned from tlio north on Monday evening, and will leavo for tho south on tho ferry steamer this evening.. Ho proposes to spend tho next fow woeks making a comprehensive tour of the South Island, meoting business men at the various centres, and discussing with them matters of Imperial trade. Starting from Christchurch, he will proceed southwards as far as Invercargill. Then he will roturn to Canterbury, cross to tho West Coast, and proceed to Nolson via Grcymoutli, .Westport, and Blenheim.

The appeal For funds made by the Hawko's Buy Children's Home is meeting with a ready response. So far £300 has been sent in, including £100 from Mr. "William Nelson. On February 10 a collection is to bo made throughout tho Hawke's Buy district, telegraphs our correspondent.

The Hon. G. "\JT- Kussell (Minister of Internal Affairs) has recoived an application from residents of the district of Shannon to have it constituted a borough under tho Municipal Corporations Act. Tho Minister, is taking tho customary stops to ascertain whether there are any objections to the proposal.

Tho Recreation Club of the Central Fire Brigade has received a donation of £10 10s. from Kodak (Australasia), Ltd., for the good work which the brigade did at the firo in their storeroom in Cooper's Building recently.

At the Magistrate's Court, Hokitika, a man gavo as Ilia excuse for being on licensed promises that lie had "just Jookod in to see the new baby, and to buy cigarettes." The Magistrate: This seems.to'me such a mis up of babios and cigarettes that I will fine you 10s.

The Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce has decided to ask the local Patriotio.Society to write to Mr. Leslie M'Hardyj asking him to placo at tho disposal of the Government for soldiers' hoinns an area of 600 acres which it was understood ho intended cutting up, in tho vicinity of Pafinerston. Mr. Jolinston, in moving the motion, said ho had had this 500 acres in his eyo for some time, tliinEing it would make an ideal site for an agricultural college. * Tho war had dissipated this idea, but as he had heard that day that Mr. M'HardyVproposcd to cut up tho land he thought an effort should be made, to secure it for the soldiers. Tho land fronted Milson's Line and tho Kairanga-Bnnn.v-thorpo road, and was central hoth to Palmerston and Fcilding. In an action hoard by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., yesterday, Robert Collins claimed from J. Grecco £8 for work alleged to have been done to a marine- engine. Tho defendant coun-ter-claimed £20' damages for delay in delivery of tho samo machine. His Worship nonsuited each party in respect of his claim, ono guinea costs being allowed in each instance. Mr/ H. E. Anderson appeared for'tit* plaintiff and Mr. P. H. Putnam for tho defendant. The Wellington Education Board will meet at 10 o'clock this morning, but it is intended to immediately adjourn (without transacting business) till 11 a.m. on Friday. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., gavo his reserved judgment yesterday in the case in which tho Inspector of Awards claimed £20 from Mrs. Black (proprietress of the Bristol Private Hotel) for alleged breaches of the Private Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Award. Plaintiff alleged that defendant had obtained tho services of a worker without first making application to tho union, and, further, that defendant had failed to post tho time-sheet in a conspicuous place. The breaches were admitted, but it was contcn3ed by Mr. H. F. O'Leary, who appeared for defendant, that clauses 8 and 10 (b)_of the award were beyond the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court.. • His Worship took a different view, and gavo judgment for plaintiff for the sum of £1. In the course of his address to a Christchurch congregation, the Jewish Reader, Mr. D. Schloss, referred to tho cable message received from Lord Rothschild, urgently requesting help for tho Jewish refugees of Russia and Rumania. In consequence of tho German invasion of Poland and Rumania, said Mr. Schloss, it was estimated that over two million Jews were practically ■destitute, and at times such as these, when frequent calls are being made upon tho generosity of the people for various other funds, one was apt to overlook the great part that Jews are playing in this war. Not only are they represented in the armies of the belligerent nations in greater proportion to their non-Jewish brethren, but Jew is fighting against Jew. That, however, has not deterred the Jew from entering tho-contest and laying down his life for tho cause he knew to be just, as daily casualty lists proved only too well. ' "We over hero, living in security, can have no idea of the misery and destitution in which these wretched beings, victims of Prussian oppression, are passing their lives," continued Mr. Sehlose, "and, grateful for our freedom, wo should be prepared to make great sacrifices in order to somewhat alleviate . their sufferings, and help them to "keep body and soul together."

Tho timber industry along the Main Trunk is reported to be slackening dowai somewhat, says tho Auckland "Star." The conscription of men has reduced the number of builders very considerably, and the scarcity of tradesmen, combined with the hoavy increases in ouilding material, has had the effect of causing moneyed men to slow dowa in the building of houses for speculative purposes. The mills have been, very active during the past year owing to erection of new freezing works, and big extensions to others, including Taihape and Feilding. Tho only new works in oourse of erection now are those being constructed at Kakariki, near Marton, for the Wellington Meat Export Company. Under the circumstances, therefore, adduced output is forecasted.

There is a. curious industry carried on at Matakana, North Auckland, whero shark oil is refined (reports an exchange). Tho fine grade of oil protluoed from shark livers so closely, rosembles tho cod liver oil that it raises the suspicion whether the cod liver oil of commerce is not really shaTk oil. Tho bodies of the sharks are converted into manure, and tho tail tips and fins are exported to China, where they fetch a high, price. In many upper-class Chinese houses the shark fin soup is of New Zealand origin.

A Maori woman, 70 years of ago and not very strong, set an excellent'example of practical patriotism at tho Military Service Appeal Board (says Thursday's Gisborne "Times"). She had appealed on behalf of her adopted son, and in the course of her evidence said that she had sent her manager off front two years ago. In discussing her position with the Board, she said that her son was tho ouly help' she had on tlio station, but sho was quite willing that ho should go after the rush of work was over. She thought she could get assistance from the Maoris then, mid sho expressed her willingness to'give what assistance she could on the farm. Sho said that as old as she was she could ride a horse and would be able to help in the mustering if her health permitted, and she could supervise tho work. It camo out in tho course of her evidence that she had given valuable assistance to tho pnkohas at the iimo of the Hauhau troubles, although most of her tribe turned Hanhaus, and her lands were confiscated by the Natives in consequonco. Sho cheerfully undertook to do the best she could under tho present war conditions, and regretted that she had not a dozen sons so that eho could send them to the war. Captain Walker wished her every success, and complimented her upon her decision. He wished everyono was like her,, and said that she sot an excellent example to the white people. "I como from a fighTTrig race," she proudly answered.

During the discussion at tho Petono Borough Council meeting on Monday concerning the recent motor-bus purchase, the representative of' the firm who sold ihe machine remarked that ho was concerned with his reputation, and 'absolutely protested against' the statement of the Mayor. Ho had made a straightforward offer to sell afc £850, and the council had accepted witi its eyes open. Taking the price at which tho Auckland firm offered to supply the machine, viz., £684, on indent, ho did not think the difference in price between that and; £850 was an undue profit to ask considering he had imported tho maohine for himself. Tho profit was only a reasonable one. Ho criticised strongly the action of certain people, who had, he alleged, desired4o sell machinos of their own, and thus had belittled lus and given information to the Mayor. The machine, he added, had not been offered to anyone olse in New Zealand. A motion by Councillor Brocklebank, "that the discussion of the matter cease," was carried. Wellington merchants, once again we Tiavo to warn you not to let your stocks of "No Rubbing" laundry Help run too low before ordering. The factory is running at highoet pressure trying, to satisfy everybody, so please remember that a few days' notice will bo much appreciated by the manufacturers.—Advt. Tho soldiers' nrxils in Tollable khaki shirts, Us. tld., Gs. 6d., 7s. 6d., 7s. lid., at Cleo. IVwlds, Ltd., Manners Streetyr* Advt. . . . ■,

The only town dock at Napier is the ono in the Post Office (telegraphs ow correspondent), and despite the fact that it has been, indicating the time for; a quarter of a century it has never, been lighted tip at night-time. Now one of the councillors, backed up by, several citizens, is asking the Borough' Couucil to havo tho clock lighted. In a caBO recently heard in the Mag-! istrato's Court by Mr. W. G. itiddcll, j S.M., Thomaß J. Ladd applied under'' tho War legislation Amendment Act ■ to havo his rbnt fixed by tho Court') on the capital valuo of tho premises hoj ocpupiod. It was shown that Ladd ; occupied-a houso in Lindurn Terrace, •] for which ho paid 255. a week to "Winder, Mills, and Pearson, as trustees.-;' Ladd received notice that 3iis rent ,, would bo raised to 325. (id., hut waßi later advised that in consideration of,! the fact that ho was a good tenant it' would bo reduced to 30s. Ladd pro-l tested against the ss. increase. Evi-; dence was given that tho Government valuation in 1913 was £500, wliilo the ■ plaintiff produced a witness who valued] the propertv at between £600 and l ' £700. Tho defendants clalniea that! tho property was worth over £1000. j Owing to tho difference in values, the 1 Magistrate appointed an independent! valuer, who valued the house and land" at £700. Meantime defendants decided not to proceed further) and the caso was discontinued on tho understanding that the rout was to remain' at 255. per week: The Magistrate (Tvlr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) allowed costs (£3 7s. 6d.) against the defendants. At the bearing* Mr. D. R. Hoggard appeared for Ladd and Mr. T. W. Hislop for tho defendants. Wo have received from the publishers, Messrs. George Newnes, Ltd., a, copy of the first part of "The "Western Front," a series of drawings of scenes on tho British front in Franco and Inlanders, published by authority of the War Office. Tho artist 'is Mr. Muirhead Bone, and Sir Douglas Haig remarks in an introduction that Mr* ■Bone's drawinge illustrate admirably,' . the daily life of'the troops under his command. A noteworthy item' amongst the twenty drawings reproduced in the first part of "The West Front"' is a spirited study of "tanks" lumbering into action. Tho artist has found other subjects in the -battle country of the Somrue, the ruined cities and villages of Flanders', and various interesting scenes and features of life along the British front. The first drawing is a portrait of Sir Douglas Haig. In general, the sketches touch a high level of artistic excellence, and - it. hardly needs to be pointed out that the series to which they belong is of considerable valuo and importance as a historical record. ' Special prominence is given in the December Trade Supplement of the London "Times" to the subject of the British .rubber industry. In a long Eeries of artioles the industry is_ surveyed from many points o fview, and most informatively.- The British Empire produces ninety per cenjE. -of the whole supply of rubber, but it is emphasised by the "Times" as a startling fact that a very largo proportion of the rubber produced in British possessions is Bent away to be manufactured in .other countries.. There is no reason, it adds, why this unsatisfactory state of things should continue; the present 'position is mainly due to tho lack of proper organisation of our manufacturing and financial resources. Great' Britain is just as competent to carry: on the industry as any other country,' if only our producers and manufacturers can find a basis of co-operation for joint and effective effort. . The Sutk plement contains a great body of evi-: der.ee led in support of these contentions. Other articles deal interestingly with the taxation of co-operative trade—a burning question just now m Groat Britain—and with various aspects of Imperial trade and development.