LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3019, 5 March 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Government Statistician will commence the ballot - for the shortage in the Twenty-ninth Ruinforcement today, at 10.30 a.m. In a reference in our columns to the probable candidates for the coming Harbour Board elections, it was stated that Mr. C. W. Jones had not yet decided whether he would seek re-election. This was incorrect. Mr. Jones early in .February intimated to his constituents the Payers of Dues, who ho has represented oii the board for nine years, that he would bo glad to he reliovcd of the duty. The Feathcrston Camp Trumpet and Drum Band, under Sergt.-Major Chegwin, played a most acceptable programme of music at the hospital grounds yesterday afternoon. The sum collected was £10 2s. 6d. 'Hie annual school committee elections for the Wellington district, inclusive ui Marlborough, will be held on. April SO. Two constables havc_ been added to Wellington's water police, making the staff seven in all, including Sergeant M. Murphy. The Auckland City quota for the Twenty-ninth Reinforcements is 77 men short.—Press Assn. Wellington praters delighting thirlfy wives, giving the famous "Thinker" jiotobook" free with- every Is. package "NoEubbiug" Laundry; Help.—Adrt,

Mr. F. L. Garland, of Oriental Bay, lias received hows that his son, Lieut. E. H. Garland, of tho Iloyal Flying Corps, who left Wellington for England last October, has broken one of his legs while playing football at Oxford.

Tho censorship of picture films came up for consideration at the Methodist Conference on Saturday, and after a short discussion tho following recommendation, submitted by a speoialcoinmittee, was adopted:—"That this conference regards with satisfaction tho appointment of a Government censor of picture iilms, but regrets that photo plays containing suggestive and vulgar scenes continue to be screened at many of our picture theatres, to the moral detriment of the community, the evil being intensified in many instanccs i by the screened announcements preceding the various parts of the films: this conference urges not only a stricter censorship in these respects, but also respectfully brings xinder tho notice of the Government the necessity for extending the powers of the censorship so that all newspaper and poster advertisements of picture and other plays shall come within its scope."

Friday's "Southland Times" says: 'The oyster fleet did not got away from <■ Bluff yesterday owing to bad weather, until 8.30 a.m. But for' its being the lirst day of the season, the fleet would not have veutured out at all, as dredging on the beds was a matter of extreme difficulty and risk, and the boats wero driven into harbour by .had weather early in the day, reaching the wharves at 2.30 p.m. Only sufficient oysters were obtained to supply the immediate markets, but if the weather tekes up the- boats should bring in a big supply to-night. The oysters are in splendid condition, and it would seem as if the Fovcaux have increased-in size and condition as the years roll by.

In view of the repeated recommendationa by grand Junes that severe sentences should be passed on mcit convicted of assaults on young girls, tho annual meeting of the Auckland Women's Political Lcaguo decided to urge upon the Attorney-General once more tfic necessity for an amendment in the law, so that upon this' class of criminals a moro drastic form of punishment may, bo inflicted. It was also agreed to continue the agitations for tho appointment of women as police, justices »if tho peace, and jnrors, and also for the raising of the ago of consent.

I A seaman named Nicholas Donnelly I suffered painful injuries by being asj saulted by another seafaring man early yesterday morning, and lib now lies in ' tho hospital. The affair took place ! aboiut 1.45 a.m. yesterday. It is alleged | that Donnelly was in his bunk on a. • steamer at the wharf, and that an ! assailant belaboured him heavily about j the head with a.piece of timber. Don- ! nelly was attended to by Dr. Young, and sent to the hospital apparently .badly hurt. Last evening, however, it Was reported that his injuries wero not so serious as were at first supposed. A man is in the custody of the police, unci'he will .be charged to-day with "assault, causing actual bodily harm." 'A. remand may he necessary in order that tho injured man may bo ablo to appear to tender evidence. Am a result of tho sale of tho sledges, stores, and equipment of tho expedition to the Antarctica led by. Sir Ernest Shackle-ton, approximately £-100 was realised. Tho puppies born amid the snows wero in great -demand, aad the prices paid for them ranged from £'5 to £b'. The/ six sledges realised £2 os. each, Mr. Joyce, a member of tho expedition, purchasing two of them. Tin boxes of matches, which wero cached, by Sir Ernest Sliaiiklolon in 1904 in ciiso they were required by subsequent explorers, .and which were dug up from under eight foot of ice, realised as much as ss. apiece. A large mounted penguin, was bought for £11), whilo tho unmounted specimens realised from £1 to £o each. Tho Harbour Board- gavo tho free use of its ehed for tho purposes of tho tsulc, and Messrs. Campbell and Co. and Geo. Thomas and Co. rendered their services free. Mr. Arthur Jacobs auctioned tno articles, and was assisted by. Mr. Carlton, secretary of tho Commercial Travellers' Association. The proceeds go towards the expenses of tho expedition In connection with the discussion of the subject of the enlistment of clergymen at the Methodist Conference, on Friday afternoon, tho eligible ministers attending conferenco withdraw when the voto was taken. At au informal meeting, of tho eligibles on the previous evening, they pledged thorasolves to loyally accept whatever - doeisiou conferenco arrived at.

Complaints havo been made about the action of tho Railway Department in erecting points boxes in the centre of Waterloo Quuyiin the vicinity of tho railway yards. This is now, and has been for some timo, a public-street that is being used increasingly as the traffic grows in' that locality, and to have those boxes in the centre of the road is considered to be a menace to life and limb. Quito, recently one of tho G.P.O. mail motor-wagons ran into one of thoso structures, and sustained considerable damage. ' ,

Recently Mr..Rutherford, "the littlel cobbler oi ; Featherston," forwarded a copy of. bis published souvenir, to t'lio Countess of Liverpool. In acknowledging its receipt, tho Countess of Liverpool forwarded to Mr.' Rutherford a pair of socks of national significance (in colour), with the following letter:— "Dear Mr. Rutherford,—Thank you very much for sending mo tho souvenir. I have been interested in reading the papers of your wonderful march. lam sending you a pair of patriotic socks which I Tiave .knitted for you, ancl hope you will wear them when next time you cross the hill."

A fire which eventually destroyed some 300 acres of green flax broke ijnt at Rangitano ou Friday afternoon, says the ."Manawatu Standard." Tho outbreak .commenced in somo bush along Gibbs's tram-line, near the Manawatu River and assisted by a strong easterly wind soon got a good hold of tho grass.and flax on Mr. Gibbs's prqperfcy, and sweeping on reached Mr. H. Seifort's. The men from the mills in the vicinity were soon, on the scene, but the fire spread and raged fiercely, and tho fire-fighters had a hard task set them. Thoy stuck to their work with grim determination, however, and after a strenuous night had the satisfaction of breaking the fiery onslaught about 2.30 .on Saturday morning, and they had it completely in cheek at 4.30, the conditions then being rendered quite safe. The property on which the fire occurred is owned'by Mr. H. Akers, the bulk being leased to Mr. S.' Gibbs and a large acreage to Mr. H. Seifert. Mr. Gibbs lost about 200 acres of green flax and Mr. Seifert about 100 acres. The lire is considered the fiercest that has yet taken piace in tho swamps, the flames reaching to a tremendous height in the air, the reflection* in the sky in tho evening causing considerable speculation in Palmerstou. The present year is the worst so far as fires are concerned in tho experience- of the flax industry since tho swamps have been brought wider control for fibro production,' no fewer than twelve fires having taken placo to date this season.