LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3022, 8 March 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Citizens are warned! to be careful in the use of water. The water in the Morion. Dam/ is at present lower than it-has heen during the whole of the summer, and is falling a little daily. It is not anticipated that a shortage will be experienced,, but those who study the Lost interests of the community as a whole mil practise economy "until the weather breaks."

As-showing how the new War Regulations are already affecting prices of English motor-cars, it is related that a little over a year ago a Wellington resident gave £250 for a second-hand English runabout. Recently he sold the car again for what he gave for it, and within a' week the party*to whom he sold it disposed of it again, for £280.

Among the articles brought from tho Antarctic by tho Aurora was a bottle of ale with a history. The Challenger Expedition of'lß7/5 carried with it into tho Arctic regions some r.le specialty bottled for the use of tho explorers. The expedition returned to England with a few of the bottles still- unopen»<l, and one of them at least has bt:en ••etained as a souvenir ever since. , , The Owner wished the bott'e to complete its travels by visiting the South Polar regions, and ho therefore entrusted it to the members of Sir Ernest Shackleton's expedition. His faith was not misplaced, and the bottle returned to Wellington with the cork still undrawn.

Mr. J. E. Jenkinsou haa been asked by the Rosenoath Ratepayers' Association to staud for one'of the City Council seats at the election next month. Mr. Jenkinsoii has informed the association that ho will tako part in the contest.

The Miraniar Borough Council has borrowed from tho Wellington City Council ono of the motor buses over which there was a good deal of litigation, and the new vehicle is now running between the tramway terminus and Kanvka Bay, in placo of thehorsotfrawti bus, whivli recently broke down. The neir motor bus is a lino commodious vehiole, with plenty of power, and makes the trip between the tram stop at Soitoun and the Karaka Bay wharf in about a qunrtor of the time occupied by the old-timo bus. 'j'lus new service is experimental, but it is hoped that as Hie result a> motor servico of soino kind wiii be maintained.

In tho Arbitration Court yesterday niurniiig, when thn case, of tho biograph operators was called, Mr. M. J. Boardon appeared and asked for an adjotinißwn,.. He stated that t!io parties to tliG dispute had held a mooting tho ■previous day, and a further, meeting was to Ik. held that <3uy. and there were hopes of arriving :it a settlement. IV. adjounim'enttoFridays requested ■was'granted.

An echo of the case in which Edward Foreman was sentenced, to six years' imprisonment was heard in the Magistrate's Court on Tuesday afternoon, before Jlr. L. 6. Heid, S.M. Foreman, it ■ will be remembered, had a fairly successful run as a burglar in Wellington and other parts of New Zealand, and tho object of the proceedings was to enable the polieo to return certain goods recovered '(chiefly jewellery) to the owners. Evidence of identification was called, and the majority of the articles were returned to tho various claimants. _ Tho Magistrate ordered certain articles which were not identified to remain with the Public Trustee on behalf of the Cotterill Estate, a quantity of tho'jewellery having been sold to Cotterill, a manufacturing joweller.

. A very short sitting of the Supreme Court was held at Blenheim, and Mr. Justice Chapman, who went south to preside, returned to Wellington on Tuesday night.

Tho method of ascertaining the horsepower of a steamer camo up itt the Arbitration Court yesterday, ivhen the Marine Engineers' dispute was being heard. Mr, T. It. Wallace, secretary of the Institute of Marino Engineers, stated that the horse-power was ascertained by dividing tho sum of the squares of tho steam engine cylinders in the engine-room by 30.

One of, tho soldiers who came ]iae' by tho hospital ship which put ijito port yesterday had a curious experience when' ho was hit. When tho bullet struck him bo put bntli hi.s hands up k> liis head, under tho impression iliat ' that, was where \w had received tho ouemy's lead. However, ;:•• '-v,ii<i nothing amiss there, but soon discovered thai; ho had been shot through both legs.

The Hon. Arthur M. Myers, Miiiix-toi-in-Oha.rge of Munitions and Buytplies, with the Coal Trade Committee, met a number of representatives of tho' coal importers of-the Dominion Testerday. Several important questions were discussed with reference to tho proposed regulations;'and also with vogard to tho distribution of coal generally. The conference will probably submit certain suggestions to the Minister, with a. view to facilitating tho operations of tho Department in connection with'this important industry..

Three Maslorlon. gentlemen, Messrs. "Whatman, C. Bennett, and.A. Jl'Doiiald, have presented a Ford motor-car to tho P.1J.0. lit Featherskm eainp, Major [Robert-sou, i'o.r tho use of himself and staff.

The following fenders have been accepted by tho "Wellington Fxhication Board: —Scarborough, residence improvements, AV. N. Munns and Co., Pahiatiw, ITeatherston, residence, improvements, AV. Tinney, Keathorston ; Carluko school, sanitary service, AVard and Co.. Blenheim; Hutt D.H.S., con-, veniencc's, (i. h. Wakelin. AVellington ; Island Bay, grading and excavating, Sergeant and Elton, Kilbirnie.

The- presentation of an armoured color "tank" to the Imperial Government, to bo placed at tho disposal of the Commander-iu-Chief of tho British Forces, is a proposition which is being considered by thu ' Victoria League, in New Zealand. At the annual meeting of t.hn Auckland branch of the league last week, Mr. AV. -T. Nspier, tho newly-elected president, stated that ho had received a letter from-'a southern branch inviting consideration of the proposal. It was estimated that the cost of the armoured car would ho about £4700. Southern branches had agreed to contribute, quotas of the sum named, and it was suggested that the Auckland branch might raise £1000 as its share. Mr. Napier said lie thought there would be no difficulty in obtaining'that sum locally. It was computed that tho "tanks" lind saved 25,000 lives to tho Allies. Tho matter was referred to the executive, with power to act, and a meeting will be held to deal with the proposal in about a week.

A Press Association telegram from AYanganui statos that a conference of local bodies on the AA r est Coast yesterday approved tho Government's decision to develop tho Mangahao and other suitable hydro-electric power sources in the North Island. ■

In a recent issue Mr. John Castle, in his "Zoo Notes ,, asked if any reader of flic notes had a canary or any other small bird that can talk! Replying to this question, Mr. "David N. Grant, of Nelson, writes:—"l see in your paper a. request aski'iipc if anyone could state if they knew of a canary that could articulate English words. The writer had a canary about 45 years ago that could say "Pretty Dickio" as plain as I could. It also chuckled to my hens, and whistled on my dog, just as I did. The bird was reared/by my wife, who always had it on' tho table when by herself. Sho was in the habit of saying to it "Pretty Dickie" and "Pretty Boy," and it could sav both. It lived for 12 years, and when it was very poorly and* its -little head was down, if we spoke to it, it would raise its head and look at us."

Mention has been made of the fact that after leaving England on her voyage to New Zealand the hospital .ship now in port picked up a drifting boat containing members of tho crew of a vessel that had been sunk by a German submarine sis' days previously. Returned soldiers who reached Wellington yesterday stated that when rescued the occupants of the boat were in the last stage of exhaustion and privation. They could not stand upon their feet on the deck of the hospital ship, and it was , clear that another day or two in tho boat would aavo meant the death of tho whole party. She submarine had ordered tho crew into the boats, sunk tho ship, and aono its way.

Tho non-commissioned officers that could legitimately claim that they were real 'Anz'acs," who happened to bo in Sling Camp at Bulfonl, England, st Christmas, foregathered on Christmas Day round the festive board to exchange reminiscences of that notable campaign (writes an English correspondent). They all dined together at breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper, and a glance at tho menu does not disclose any privations due to -snbmarino activity. Those present wero as followB':— Staff Sergeant-Majors C. H. Gauntlet and K. M. Little, Coy. Sqrgt.-Maiors A. Raper, G. Wishart, G. W. Rutherford, P. E. Hurlbutt. Reg. Quarter-maater-Sergfc. W. VeitcS, Coy. Quar-Vrmaster-Sergt. W. Martin, Staff Sergeants C. J. Aitkcn, G. E. Cartwriglit, H. 0. Cavalier, E..M. T. English, M. 1 , . Naughton, W. J. Patterson, Rose, Bergts. T. G. Aitken, C. Barling, C. 1 , . Crowthcr, H. N. Cooko, P. Cunningham, Dawson, V. L. Daniels, L. ■) Evans, J. H. Fuller, B. 0. Fowler 1, V. Kay, S. S. Laing, D. M'Laren" 0. Micliaelson, E. Marriott, L. S. Smith, J. H. Straw, R. Seymour, C. Tavlot, S. Thompson, U. Wilkinson. H.M. Postal Department: Messrs. A. i'cel, l< , . Bolls, and H. Worth.

An officer, writing from Sling Camp, Bulfordj Salisbury Plains, forwards to a Wellington friend a menu of tho Christmas dinner at. Sling Camp, ana, incidentally, writes: "I tbink I told you that war bread (i.e., standard bread) is now on sale only, instead of tho varieties of other fancy loavtis tbat wcro purchaseable up to a few weeks ago. Sugar'is at a premium, and its sale is vory restricted. Wedding oaken can only bo made on production of a license, which now has to bo paid for. king on cakes and chocohito coating is prohibited, aud sweets urn being sold at prohibitive prices. So that you will see that whilst England kcnps its cheory face it is putting up with a good deal to appease the hungry ?od of war."

When one of tho last troopships arrived, the quartermaster informed the chairman ol : tho National Committee that on tho journey homo the Y.M.O.A. secretary (Mr. Robt. Blair) had done such a tremendous lot for tho boys and spared himself in nothing that they might be kept fit and well, that the E Company, who had bought a piano for their use, presented the instrument to Mr. Blair for the use of tho Y.M.O.A As the Customs in England wanted £10, tho quartermaster had tho iiistrument put on board again, aiffl he handed it to the National Committee upon his return to New Zealand: Tho piano has been forwarded to tho Y.M.C.A. Institute at Papawai Camp. -

The secretaries of the Durban and Cape Town Youug Men's Christian Association have written asking the local associations in New Zealand to forward any illustrated papers and magazines that would ho useful for the New Zealand soldiers, who spend a good deal of their timo at tho T.M.C.A. building uhilo in these two towns. Mr. Halliday wrote saying that these- two associations entertain our 'soldiers right royally during. their stay there. 3lr. B. C. Brownell, national secretary of the 7.M.C.A., asks that parcels bo sent to the National Office, Baiter's Buildings, FoatheY-stori Street, AVellington. Books and magazines for the troopships will, he adds, be very acceptable.

Mr. AVilliam Foster made a report to tho last meeting of the Navy .League as to tho steps taken by- a sub-commit-tee to promote tho Navy League amongst tho schools. A number of suggestions had been ruado to the Headmasters' Association, which expressed its willingness to assist in any movement tho schools promoted by tho league. Names of several gentlemen were- mentioned, who would ho willing to give suitable addresses at the schools. The report was adopted, and it wns lefl. to the sub-comiuitleo to carry info effect tho recommendations mado by them.

A resorvist who sought exemption at tho sitting of the Auckland Military Service Board produced a pinco of paper as proof that lie was over age. He .said if. was an extract from the family Bible, and when told that it would be necessary to produce tho Bible itself he said it-was too heavy. Mr.-G. Elliot said perhaps two men could carry it, and the ease was adjourned for the production of tho book. In the afternoon l.ho reservist again appeared, bub without the. Bible, lie produced a sheet of paper, which he said had been taken out of the Bible. This waa not regarded as sufficient proof of age, and ho was then interrogated ' us to when he came to New Zealand. None of the members of tho board could grasp the name of the vessel which he said h«l brought him to thoso shores. Finally success was so far achieved that appellant, spelled out the word "Euphhelp." No ono had ever heard of a ship of that name, so the case was adjourned for tho purpose of making in-, quiries. Three New Zealnnders who returned from England in the hospital ship are able to state that they themselves were responsible for the actual making of tho artificial legs which they are now compelled: to wear as a result of the fortune of war. The men wero employed for a. lengthy pnriod in theworkshops of artificial limb makers ah tho Roohampton Hospital, -. England, and woro iu'slructcd in all branches of iho work.

Contrasting hia experiences on the Western front with conditions in Gallipoli, a gunner who returned oil the hospital ship said:—-"In Franceywhen you are shelled you are shelled with a vengeance, but once you get out of it there comes a complete rest, with nothing to do but eat and sleep and perhaps take- a little exercise. If we had been able to get the samo spell on the Peninsula instead of the everlasting fatigues under shell fire, it would have uiado all tho difference in the world."

In tho list of names of tho 27th Mounted Rifles published yesterday, the name of C. C. 'F. Engstead apr pearod. The name should have , read C. 0. F. 'Rugstead, who volunteered Jmmeaiately ho turned 20.

Messrs. J. H. Bethune and Co., at their auction rooms yesterday, under instructions from the Public Trustee, in the estate of W. A. Sly, sold a freehold property in Owen Street, 31ft; 3in. x 99ft. 6in., with four-roomed dwelling, No. 136, thereon.' The_ purchaser was Mrs. Elizabeth J. Ericsson, and the price £460.