LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3039, 28 March 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Twenty-fifth Reinforcements began their extended leave yesterday. Special trains will carry them from Featberston. camp 1o their various destinations during the next-few days.

Amending regulations under tho "War Regulations Act relating to the delegation of powers by attorneys and others were published in a "Gazette Extraordinary" last night. They provide for the delegation' of powers by an attorney, agent, trustee, or executor who is absent from New Zealand on His Majesty's service. . •

A man named Joseph Griffiths, who was arrested on Monday and lodged in the police cells, and who was to have appeared in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday on a charge of being an incorrigible rogue, in that he had insufficient means of support, died in the cells between 3 and 4 o'clock yesterday morning. A telegram has been received by the Department of Agrioulture from the British Government, advising that the matter of prohibiting the importation of fruit to tho United Kingdom is still under consideration, but that it has been decided in tho meanwhile to allow the importation of fruit from oversea for the Navy, including gifts from the British Dominions overseas.

Brigadier-General O. S. Richardson, in a letter to the Hon. Sir James Allsn (Minister of Defence), states, in reference to his visit to Rouen to invostigftte the cause of the delay iirclearinE up untracod casualties, that he is of opinion that tho delay is due chiefly to the units concerned and not to the records system. The fact that some units cleared up their casualties much quick'or than others showed that the # delay could bo minimised to a considerable extent.

Tho Order-in-Council of February 15, 1917, fixing the maxinnim price of buttor did not apply originally to butter exported as "ship's stores." An amending regulation gazetted last night extends the Order to cover butter shipped on vessels engaged excluEivelr in the Now Zealand coastal Bcr- . .wee. . . ■

A telegram lias been received by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) from the Wangamii Patriotic Society, stating that it hae been decided to purchase a billiard table for tho new Soldiers' Club at Trentham.

In the Juvenile Court yesterday, before Mr. L. 6. Reid, S.M., two boys, aged 12 and ]5 years respectively, wero charged with stealing a quantity of grapes. It was stated that the fruit had been stolen and sold to a Chinaman for 7s. Both lads had been, previously convicted, one of them on three occasions. The Magistrate warned the boys that if they came before him again thov would be committed to an. industrial school. Each of the nccueed was ordered to receive twelve strokes of the birch.

Tho Makara County Council notifies thai, on Thursday tho Ngahauranga Gorge Eoad will be olosed to all traffio from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., during dismantling of the bridge at the head of tho Gprgo near Jonnsonvjlle. Traffic may pass through Newlnnds or Johnsonville.

Mr. Studholmo, of Taihape, has contributed £250 to tho Wellington Diocesan Church Schools Board.

A notice published in the "Gazette" states that in futuro all goods imported into- New Zealand from Hayti must be accompanied by "certificates of interest" as well as by "certificates of origin." The Third Wellington Military Service Board will eit in the oity this morning, and again on Friday morning. Many appeals are awaiting its attention. A draft of recruits from Group 5 (Wellington City and Suburbs) will go into camp this, morning. The men will mobilise at the Buckle Street barracks, and will march through tho city on their way to Lambton Station. Another batch of recruits is due fro.mthe south by the ferry steamer to-day. The drafts include both volunteers and balloted men. An agency of the Discharged Soldiers' Information Bureau has been established in Masterton. Of 112 reservists examined by the Military Medical Board' in Masterton last week (says our correspondent) only 38 passed the more recent test as fit for active service. The price of milk is being increased to sd. per quart in Masterton from April 2. .. ' According to the Dunedin "Star," the price of coal as supplied by most of the Otago collieries was inoreased by 2s. a ton ,as from Monday, March 26. In one baso tho increaso is Bs. per ton. Tho causes of these increases, it is stated, are a decreased output (50 per cent, in some cases) owing to the enlistment of hewers, and a considerable increase in on-cost charges—tho working cost.

At a public meeting held in Ohristohurch last night it was decided to obBorvc Anzao Day on April 25 to avoid clashing -with the local body elections. —Press Assn.

The Mayor and councillors of the Karori Borough have been cordially thanked for their kindness in connection with the recent training oamp of the sth Wellington Regiment, held at Karori Park. "The many courtesies of your council," wrote Lieut.Colonel M'Donald, "were largely responsible for making the oamp especially enjoyable, and, more important still, useful for the purpose for which it was held."

At last night's meeting of the Karori Borough Council a resolution was passedi_on the motion of Councillor J. W. Henderson, expressing confidence in the Mayor (Mr. B. G. H. Burn), and requesting him to again, allow himself tol>e nominated for the Mayoral chair. Mr. Burn thanked councillors for their vote of confidence, and hoped that the majority of the present council would be returned.

A circular from the Minister of Munitions, drawing attention to the shortage of coal, and urging the utmost economy in its use, was received by the Waihi Borough Council at its last meeting ( states the "New Zealand Herald"). The council decided to reply that if supplies for_ municipal lighting purposes and the mining industry were reduced, it would be a serious matter for the town, more particularly in connection with raining, as any stoppage •of, operations would throw a largo number of men out of work.

The fine spirit of patriotism displayed by men who had appeared before the board was remarked by Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., at the dose of the Wellington Military Service Board's sitting In Tatunarunui on Saturday (states an exchange). He said the men had asked for a little time to put their affairs in order, so that they might do their duty at the front, and it was very refreshing to find men so cheerful in tho circumstances. Another member of the board, Mr. D. M'Laren, said he had been doing recruiting work from the North Cape to the Bluff, and at timce had heard it said in the cities and large towns that the men in the back-blocks weTe not doing their share. But the board's experience proved that the people of the Taumarunui district were undoubtedly alive to their responsibilities. .. ' .

Ten bankruptoiee have been recorded in Napier during the past threo months.

The following is quoted from a soldier's letter:—" 'They are equipping tin all terribly well, aren't they P 1 That was ;the last remark I heard from a man liefore I dropped off to deep last night. He was not talking to me, and he is a man who is not as a rule very keen on giving the army a. great deal of praise or credit." An effort is being made (says the Dnnedin "Star") to place the ministers' widows and orphans f fund of the Presbyterian Church on a better footing. Already over £5000 have heen promised towards the £15,000 which the actuary states is required to supplement the oapital fund in order to enable increased grants to he made with Becurity; The Deacons' Courts of the city and suburbs have the matter under consideration, and similar action is, it is understood, to be takon throughout the Dominion.

Tho Arbitration Court yesterday commenced the hearing of tlie Carpenters and Joiners' dispute at Auckland (says a Press Association telegram). Tho president intimated that the Court might consider it advisable to hear evidence at other centres, with, a view to making a Dominion , award.

■William Reid, a fisherman at Flat Island, Hauraki Gulf, pleaded not guilty iat Auckland yesterday to a ohargeof killing a sheep with intent to steal the caroass, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.—Press Association. ... ■ The Tramway Military Band will play a programme of nrosic atrseirtowu Park at 8 o'clock this evening.

At the Auckland Supreme Court, Arthur. George Holmes, charged with indecent assault on a girl aged five and a half years, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Ho pleaded guilty.—Press Assn. On Saturday, March 31, a man will traverse tho principal streets of this city and present a half-sovereign to each percon who,. on Tequest T>y him, enn produco a Eed Cross art union tiofcet.