LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3026, 13 March 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

, i The Defence Minister has received advice that the remaining portion of the Twentieth Reinforcements, who have not yet reached their destination, are in good health. Advice has also been received that the Wellington men' who left here some weeks ago to join the Motor Boat Patrol have arrived Homo safely, and report "All well." An article published 1 iu our issue of Saturday List was devoted to a description of the exploits of a resident of the city of some 25 or 30 rears ago, hearing tho nickname of "iho Whiffler," whoso occasional amusing ■eccentricities were in those days a topic of ■voiy general interest, Wo regret to learn that the article in question has occasioned pain and distress to relatives .of the gentleman tho subject of the article. Wo were not aware that Mr. Harris, who died many years ago, had relatives in New Zealand', and certainly had we been aware of tho fact' tho article in question would not have appeared in our columns. At a meeting of iho Dnnedin Patriotic Association yesterday (says a Press Association telegram) tho question of sending medically dofcctlvo men to camp was discussed at length, tb« opinion being expressed that Uio incdical examination was inadequate. Numerous instances were quoted of men after being only a few weeks in camp breaking up and 1 being discharged, and returning to Dunedin and becoming a burden ou tho patriotic fund which . the association has in hand for assist- j ing returned men. Tho Government j were criticised for repudiating all re- I sponsibility in regard to raon discharged from camp, and a committee was appointed to go thoroughly into t'lio matter and also into tho question of increased allowances for soldiers' dependants i and report at tho next meeting. • - ' The Minister of lulorrial Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell) stated yesterday that an appeal had heen lodged against the censoring of a kirinma lilm by tho Official Censor (Mr. W. Joliffo). In accordance with the regulations, therefore, an Appeal Board had been set up, consisting of Messrs. IT. M. Goro (president pf the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts), Mr. AV. Bowring, and' Mr. J. B. Speed. The last-named will represent the film proprietors. It is undorsioodl that tlio Board of Trado lias ngrood .to an increase in tho prico of millc for consumption in Ibe cTty during the winter months. TJir wholesale price will be JOJd. per gallon, and the ventloiy aro being asked not lo Ist tho retail price rise abov ojd. per quart, which is a halfpenny less than tho; price ruling during last winter. Tb "train of fire" which was observed belching out showers of sparks near tho Upper Hutt on Sunday afternoon is said to have been similarly ill-be-haved Alien leaving the Lower Hutt station at about 2 p.m. Tho sparks the engine was throwing out were so thick and the danger from them was so great that people's attention was drawn to it. Some alighted in the beautiful grounds of Mr. C. H. Treadwell, on the hillside above tho Lower Ilutt station, and started a firo that wiped out two acres of shrubbery and native bush, which had been tho owner's caro and pride for years past. Mr. Trcadwell is naturally very perturbed over his loss, particularly tho native bush, which it is practically impossible to replace. Tlio motor-hog appears to be a. serious nicnaco at present to the townspeople of Lower Hutt. Last evening's meeting of tho Borough Council gave the matter of speeding within tho borough considerable attention, and •members were unanimously of opinion that measures must quickly bo taken to suppress tho nuisance. It was mentioned ill tho course of tho discussion that only en tiio previous night a motorist had knocked a hoy down, broken his arm and leg, and go no on without stopping. The question of what is to bo done "will ho the subject of a commitlco report at the next meeting of the council. The Napier Hospital Board decided yesterday to charge the Friendly Socie;ies' Council for tlio treatment in tho Napier Hospital • of its members an imounfc estimated on the basis of 6s. 3d. per annum for each member entitled to the benefits of such lodges. .4 tribute to the ability and patience >f tho Conciliation Commissioner (Hr. IV. H. .H agger) was paid by Mr. I<\ 'irani, one of the parties to a dispute satisfactorily settled iu the Arbitra;ion Court yesterday. Mr. Pirani siad that Mr. Haggor had shown the < jreatest industry in his endeavours to ' ;ecure settlements of tho several dis- ' nitcs in which ho (Mr. Pirani) bad i ieru concerned as representing tho em- I . iloyors, and they wished hini to record I ;heir thinks. His Honour Mr. .lus- ) t •ice Stringer (President of the Court) |c aid that such remarks must be very ;t atisfaotor.v to a iccontly-appoinled 1 I /'oniiiiiscioiicr. lie bail known Mr. j t lagger for many years, and he was 11' lot at all surprised to hear tlmt Mr. 1 1 lagger ivas proving a success as Con- t iliation Commissioner. , 1 The Wellington sittings of the Arbi- , c ration Court have concluded. The t lourl will sit at Palmerston North oil 'bursday, March 15, at Wanganui on larch 19, New Plymouth on March 21, nd ut"Auckland on March 26. 0 Once foot tlio thrill of tho oightylindor Kiiiir supp.riority, and there Tviil >0 little satisfaction for you iu other a.rs. Liphfcninj; "set-away"; from a 1) ret-p to a raoiii'* speed at (he movement tl I' a finder: hills or "hixh": sileuro; ti cononiy. these are p few reasons for c< ting Bight success. Send for a cata- ii igna to the Dominion Motor Vehicles B limitedj 65 Place,—Adrt, If

| Nineteen rases of infectious diseases were reported in the Napier Hospital district during February, fifteen of which were diphtheria eases. Two deaths occurred. Sir. L. G. Re id, S.M., yesterday delrrorod his reserved judgment upon a charge against one Rupert Kcllow, of failing to comply with a by-law relating to level railway crossings. Bylaw 38, under which tho information was laid, said His Worship, had been repealed. It required that any person driving a vehicle or animal over a level railway crossing should do so at a walking pace, and should, before crossing, stop and look out for the engine. Tho new by-law that had replaced the one repealed was the same, but for tho fact that in it motor vehicles were exempted. Referring to the clause requiring drivers to stop and look out for tho engine, His Worship concludcd: "This objfctionablo feature of tha original by-law is still oxistent. I must hold that the by-law is unreasonable, and the information must be dismissed." The, Northern Timber Company's mill at Taupiri was the scene of a destructive fire on Saturday evening (states a Press Association telegram trom Auckland). It is. understood that the building and plant were destroyed, but that the stock of timber was saved. The building and plant were valued at £7000; the only insurance was £1750 in the Now Zealand Co. office. The company's mill was. destroyed by fire about six years ago. The property now lost was praotically new.

.The Third Wellington Military Service Board will sit again to-day, and henoeforward every day for some time. Among the cases set down for to-day are appeals for tho exemption by some of the clergy. Those firms wishing to import, now or after the waf, French goods in lieu of those of Gorman or Austrian origin, should, according to advice received by Mr. James Macintosh, Consular Agent for France, apply to tho "Office National du Commerce Exterieur," No. 3 Rue Feydeau, Paris, which office would put them in relation (free of charge) with Frenoh manufacturers and producers. Importers should state cleaT--I.V tho articles required. "Reliable agents, with good references; wishing to represent in New Zealand, French goods and articles should also apply to the Office National du Commcrco Exterieur."

Some of the brightest exjimplos of patriotism and self-denial can be placed to the credit of school children, and tlio following incident is reported by our Feathorston correspondent'—The Kaliutara school children (South Wairarapa) held their annual picnic on Friday last on the banks of the RuanmIranga .Hirer. Tlirongli their "spokesman," Miss Phyllis Pouhiki, the scholars asked the committee for permission to forego their prizes, and apply tho sum collected, viz., £7 45., towards comforts for tho soldiers in hospital at the Featherston camp. Tho committee acceded to their request, but the spectators wero so pleased with the spirit of generosity and patriotism shown that they subscribed! sufficient to give tho children substantial prizes after all. Tho Board of Trado is to visit Mastertbn shortly to investigate complaints that havo been made regarding the price of meat in tho retail shops there. A suggestion is made that State shops should be established in Masterton, as in Auckland and Gisbome, in both of whjch towns the opening of the Government shops is reported to have cheapened the. cost of meat to consumers.

| The following resolution has l'ceu j passed by the Exucutivo Committee of ! tho Wellington Returned Soldiors'_ Association: —''"That ' this committee strongly protests against the statement made by the Hon. Geo. Fowlds at the Congregational Union ro Returned Soldiers' Clubs and returned soldiers' organisations, and are of opinion that if the Hon. Geo. Fowlds had been conversant with tho work and objects of these clubs and organisations ho would not have seen fit to make such statements." Nurse Lily Burke, 22/.16, of tho N.Z.A.N.S., 'at tho front, was reported to bo ill in hospital yesterday. The ease was stated to bo "not severe." Nurse Burke's next-of-kin resides at Mount Albert, Auokland. There was (says the'"Samoa Times") a thrilling interruption to the pictures entertainment, at the Market -Hall, on February .'I, when the entire audience, alarmed by au accident behind tho screen, stampeded from tho building iu a frenzy of terror. Happdy, the panic spent itself without serious consequences, much to tho relief of all concerned. The incident occurred about 20 minutes aftor the show bogan. Tho first film was put through in fine stylo, but tha second film had been in progress only a. few miitutes when a loud noise proceeding from behind tho curtain was heard. A moment later the lantern failed, tho lights bollind ih» scenes were extinguished, and th« place was plunged in darkness. . . . Then, in the darkness, tho flywheel of tho engine was heard "racing," and it was realised that the hand had broken. Tho tension of feeling becaino acute. Nevertheless the crowd would liavo kept their seats, but two or three injudicious—or fearful—individuals on the floor of tho bouse rose and made for the sido doors. This; started the stampede. The whole audience bolted, the frenzy of fear upon them. In au instant the occupants of the gallery had leaped to the floor, which became a scene of wild confusion. Chairs were overturned, and women and children screamed, and some went down in the struggle for the open air and safety. Realising the seriousness of the situation the attendants and the police at the doors tried their utmost to allay the panic, but without avail. The point of gravest danger was, of course, inside the main door at tho front of the building, ajtirl hero tho Native police performed splendid service iu rescuinp: the women aud children, several of whom wero borne to the ground and' in imminent danger of being trampled under the feet of the struggling mass, j Fortunately tho hall is well provided with exits; otherwise' there is not tbo least doubt that the panic would have ended in disaster. As it was, the plsce was cleared in a couple of minutes, with apparently no one much the worse for the sensational experience. A large number of business people and residents in both Hutt and Pctono presented a petition to last evening's meeting of the Petor.e Borough Council asking for tho weekly half-holiday to be held on Wednesday, and that a poll of tho electors be taken in the combined districts of Hutt and Petone. The j Mayor recommended that the pry 1 ! shouldl bo taken as provided by tho Act. ' I

I In his speech dfc the Queen's Wharf I entrance at noon yesterday one of the | candidates in tho Labour interests for j the City Council said that Mr. Tom Mann was the first one to draw attention to tho housing problem in Wellington. As the result of his agitation a commission was sot up, of which the Rev. W. A. Evans was chairman. The inquiries of the commission resulted in tho recommendation thai three hundred houses should be condomned. Ho said that some of those houses were destroyed, but his hearers would be surprised to learn that others wero occupied to-day.