LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3024, 10 March 1917, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Th§ Secretary, General Post Office, has been advised by the International Bureau of the Telegraph Union that from March. 1 to October 31, legal time in Continental Portugal, Azores, Tadre, arid/ Cape Verde has been, -put forward one Lour.

Whilst walking along Lambtou Quay at 9.45 last night a man foil down suddently on the road opposite the Bank of New Zealand. A large crowd quickly gathered, and closed in upon the prostrate man, until a clearance was itado by the police. The 6ufferer was eventually carried into Barrett's Hotel, and the police, on searching the man's pockets, found that ho was a returned soldier who had seen service at tho front. An officer who was staying at the hotel pronounced the man to be in a fit, and said that such cases were unfortunately not.infrcquent among returned men, particularly those who bad been affected by shell shock.

Some trouble, has been experienced in connection with the repairs to the liner damaged in collision with tho Arahura, says a Press Association telegram from Auckland. The boilermakers refused to work overtime until' certain demands previously made in connection with an increase of wages had been granted. The refusal occurred ou Wednesday and Thursday, but overtime was worked last night.

The Teachers' Instituto discussed for a few minutes last night tho wisdom or otherwiso of promoting amongst school children, swimming races for such a long distance as 440 yards. The discussion had reference to the recent schoola championships, held under the auspices of the Swimming Association, in ;which there was such a race for boys. It was urged that while it might be good to encourage- boys to swim even much longer distances, races over such a long course wore not good. Indeed, doubt was expressed as to the wisdom of encouraging competitive swimming at all among boys and girls. As there were other factors involved besides those of mere health, it was decided to set un a committee to report at a later meeting on Hie general question of the advisability of. swimming sports under outside- control for school children.

Whilst the owner of a section with a frontage to the Wadestown Road was burning off yesterday morning, the fire got out of hand and burnt down a number of trees that were not listed for destruction, and also fired the grass in an adjoining section. Fortunately no very serious damage was done. The only exception was the loss of a bicycle that had been Itft against a hedge which caught fire. The bicycle was reduced to so much scrap iron by the fire. A considerable area of grass on the western faco of Mount Victoria was also burnt at about noon yesterday.'

The cricket season in Wellington is; noaring its close. The championship is now at a. most interesting stage. Today, what might be termed tlie semifinals will bo commenced, and tho teams arc so closo_ in championship points that "anything may happen." The East, North, Old Boys, and Potono teams will be seen out at tho Basin .Reserve, and the cricket should be interesting.

Mr. George Allport (Secretary for Marine) reports/that it .had be'eu decided to hold a. Magisterial inquiry at Wellington into the recent stranding at Turakirao Point of tho Union Company's steanier Mararoa during a fog. No date has been fixed as yet, a'nd tho nautical assessors have yot Ho beselected.

"The Army believes that cleanliness is next to Godliness, and"as they Jiavo sonio difficulty in achieving the one they strive- very hard to attain tho other," says Major AVaito who lectured on Gallipoli last evening.

A letter has been received by Mr. 11. W. Shallcrass,. secretary of the Doniiniou Belgian llelief Fund, and tho Navy League, from Mr. A. 11. I'earce, of Messrs. Levin and Co., Ltd., forwarding a cheque for £100. Mr. Pearce states that the amount has been donated by ;i client of his firm (who does not wish his name disclosed). Fifty pounds of tho Eiini is to be devoted to the Belgian Belief Fund and £50 to the Sailors'- Dependants' Fund. The paragraph which appeared in yesterday's Dominion relating to the deer-stalking season in the AVellingtou Acclimatisation District only referred to Sambur deer, which may be stalked from June 1 to July 31. The red deer season opens, on April 2 and closes on May 31. "

The Boy Scouts of Wellington North are holding a sports gathering on Kelburn Park this afternoon, tho first race being fixed for 2 o'clock. A lengthy programme has been arranged, most of the events being of such a nature that tho' small boys have an equal chance with tho bigger scouts. The troops Iconcemed aro likely to make heavy entries, and an interesting and amusing afternoon is expected.

The lied Cross literary competition, open to children under 16 years of age, was won by Pearl Byrne, of Gisborne. Her appeal will be found on Pago 11 of this issue. ■■■'■■;■•■•

Mr. S. H. Manning, an indent agent, on charges of trading with an enemy firm' through one Inanrure, in Japan, was fined £25 at Christchurcli on each , of two informations. —Press Association.

.Referring to the question of wages iu tie Biograph Operators' dispute, in the Arbitration Court yesterday, Mr. M. J. Reardon regretted that in New Zealand a low standard of value was placed.on skilled labour. The result was that.such men had to leave the country to better themselves.

■ An intercessory service: for the war is to be held in the Congregational Church, the' Terrace, on Monday evening, when the Rev. S\ Warner will deliver an address. '-.-■"

Reference was. made, by Sir James Allen in Auckland (states the "Star") to the complaint made by Mr. J. Anstey, M.P., at Timaru, that tho agricultural districts were not being fairly treated in the- ballot as compared with the cities, and that was the worst-sinner of the lot in this, respect. Mr.Anstey, said the-Minister, of Defence, was labouring under an entire misunderstanding of the whole .situation. The reason that such a comparatively small number- of.' men had been- balloted for in Auckland was 'due to the fact tbat the voluntary 'enlistments had been s.o verj, satisfactory. "We only ballot," he said, "wher.e there is shortage of men, and in some districts there has actually been no necessity for a ballot at all. It is to Auckland's credit that it has only been found necessary to ballot for .a small number of men.", - -

At the- Railway Rolling Stock Commission, at Ghristchurcn, yesterday, says a .tress. telegram, Mr. Myers stated that lie intended to recall John Valentine who thought that he was the officer that ; was "indicated as having supplied-the uifoi-asation'to Mr. T. M. M.J?., which led to Mr. Wilford making his statements in the House on the subject being inquired into.. Valentine desired to clear up the matter.

The Tramways Military Band will play at Lyall Bay to-morrow afternoon.

..Henry Crisp 'was fintd £20 in Auckland yesterday for betting at the Otahuhu trotting meeting. Alfred Ernest Middleton, who actett as a clerk, was fined similarly.—Press Assn. -r

'The hospital ship called.at Timaru yesterday.- to land tivonty- Timaru men, and. remained all day.. The vessel was thrown- open to the public. A big crowd assembled on the wharf (says a Press message), and for a time , an unseemly crush prevailed, many females fainting.

"One of the reasons why they,, have men in the Army is that men don't have so much gear to cany about," remarked Major Waite in his Gallipoli lecture. < '.

The prosecutions arising out of recent trouble on the Wellington water front were mentioned again in the Magistrate's Court, yesterday, when Mr. H. F. O'Leary, counsel for some of the defendants, secured a further adjournment of the hearing for a week.

.The Twenty-third Reinforcements are to have their own band, which will be under the baton of Bandmaster "Wicks, who has been in charge of the Featherston Camp Military. Band for ,ttie past eighteen months. Tho new band will consist of 16 instruments, while a kazoo band of a greater immerical strength is also being formed. Sergeant Watson, is at present in charge of the Foatlierstoii- Camp- Band.

Says the Dunedin "Star":—"From private advices dated January 15 we ieanrtliat Colonel Eugene ;o'Neill, D.5.0., is in. excellent heaKE, and is now in command of the New' Zealand stationary hospital in France."

Messrs. Baldwin and Rayward, patent attorneys and consulting engineers, of 215* Lambton Quay, Wellington, report that recently they acted as agents in filing the following applications for letters patent of New Zealand:—Phillips and Roller, Sydney, ieleasing rafts; W. E. ; Leeson, Christ-, ohurch, aerated, warar formation; J. Rea, Auckland, tin holder; F.' Ross, Hastings, skyKght; E. M. Swanson, Auckland, mat fastener; .T. Sutherland, Ghristchurch, making, barrels; W. Lewis, Wellington, teaching swimming; E. J. Cornish, Auckland, number lamp; J. Stanford, Wellington, cookinn; range; Bennet and Reid, Dunedin, roller blind: G. Craw, Wellington, flux stripper; J. A. Mawston, Auckland, milking machines; A. Hollobon, Christcliurch, flushing cistern. Yesterday afternoon, at their rooms, Messrs. Havcourt and Co. submitted by auction a freehold business site in Victoria Street, with a frontage of 41ft. and lOSft; to Customhouse Street, by a depth of 138 ft., but tho-reserve was. not reached, and tho property is now in the hands o£ 'the auctioneers for sale by privato treaty. The Wellington Labour -Representation Committee have arranged tho following meetings in- connection with ..t'iiu luimicipal elections campaign:— Open-air meeting, to-night at 8, at tho corner of Ghuznee Street; a mass meeting.in tho. Alexandra Hali ; Abel Smith Street, on Sunday night,-at 8; and an open-air meeting in the. Post Office Square on Monday, midday. At tho. meeting of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, I held in committee on Thursday, it fas decided to accept surrendor of Mrs. George's, lease of board property at Kelburn. It was njso decided that Mr. F. de 3. Clere" be instructed to proceed with- the preparation of the pians and specifications- and the calling for tenders for the eye, ear, and nose wards, tho consent of the Minister having' beon obtained. ?