LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3041, 30 March 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sir James Allen received word last night that the third) portion of the Twentieth Reinforcements and tho whole of the Twenty-first Reinforcements have reaohed their destination. —Press Association.

A correspondent writes complaining in strong terms of tho disgusting spectacle presented by.two women who paraded' tho Paromata railway station platform - in . tightrfitting and vory scanty bathing attire a couple of days aco, while the Napier train was at .the station. The train passengers, tho correspondent states, expressed very strong indignation at "the Bhamcless 'way the women paraded from one end of the station platform to tho other," and expressed resect that a policeman was not present. .

The meeting of tho executive of tho New Zealand Trotting Conference will be held in Christchurch next week to consider tho urgent question of_ carrying on the sport of trotting durinp; the currency of tho wan—(Press Association.)

Owing to the increased price of labour and materials required for the production of gas, the price is to be raised from the middle of next month. Tho iiresent price of Kas is 7s. 6d. tier 1.000 ft.. less 2s. fid. discpunt for prompt payment. The- price is to be increased by 6d. per 1000 ft.

Tlio Secretary, General Post Office, lias boon advised by''tho Tnte'riational Bureau of Telegraph Union thai legal time is advanced ono hour in Franco and Algeria from March 2-1 to October 7, and in Italy from April 1 to September 30. "As' far as uniforms go, the New Zealand troops are tho least smartly dressed of all tins British drafts taking part in the war," said an officer who recently returned from England and Franco to Now Zealand. A firo at Levin last night completely destroyed a grain storo on the Heathorloa Estate (M'Donald's), containing oaten chaff from a ninety aero farm, implements, lorries, and harness. Tho damage amounts to hundreds of pounds. The insurances are not available. —Press Aesn. Owing 'to the scarcity. of labour in tho Paeroa district,. high wages aro being offered (says the Auckland "Herald"). Twolvo shillings a day aro offered at Ne'therton for digging out rushes. Good tradesmen are offered their own price. "Brown boots and slouch bats turned'up on tho left side is tho sign manual of tho Australian soldier," said a returned officer from England, '"lho turncd-up slouch adds a touch of rakish smartness to a young fellow's appearance,' and many New Zealanders lit Home copied the Australian stylo until it was forbidden them to do so. About a year ago a whole lot of New Zenlanders in London furbished up their kits to such a deerce that it was almost impossible to tell a private from an officer. They went in for all kinds or fancy riding breeches, and shiny leggings, and cut no end of a dash. It was nil actainst the regulations, and finally that had to bo made very clear. At the last meeting of the Presbytery of Auckland tlio following resolution, proposed by tbe Bor. Isaac Jolly, and seconded by the Rev. J. M. Saunders, was agreed.to:—"Tho Proabytery of Auckland resolves that to secure equality of treatment for tho different churches under the ballot it. is necesI'sary that the home'missionaries .ok the Presbyterian Church should • not ; he treated as laymen ; that ourhom? mis T sionaries givo their.whole time to the work of tho Church, and aro. paid for it: that they receive a training for their work, and most of them aro set :'aside' by ordination for'.' thoir. work, and aro really the ministers of many of our country districts. , From this it is clear that they are- an minortarit part of the ministry of tho. Churcb, and should be put on the same level, for the purposes of tho Military Service Act, as the curates of the.' Anglican Church and the officers of the Salvation Army." : ' . / In the Juvenile Court-yesterday, before Mr. L. 6. Koid, S.M.,a boy _of eight years of age was charged with throwing a stick in a public place in ; Xthandallali on March 7, to the danger of a little girl" who was actually struck in the eye and "had to receive treatment. Tho lad said he was first struck by. the. girl, and he then, threw tho stick at> her. .Tho Magistrate cautioned the lad and pointed out to him the seriousness of his foolish action; which might easily have had very, serious conSequences'. ' Although Fea-theratou Military Camp has been in operation only a little ovei twelve months, much has' been done to beautify the grounds surrounding the main entrances, the Hospital and the Dental Hospital, and tho flbwor beds already put down. have had tho effect of adding greatly to the general appearance of the camp. The nisin difficulty in tho past' has been in procuring tho necessary bulbs and plants for tho extension of tho scheme,'but gifts have reached the camp from time to time,' and the Camp Commanda.it thanks Messrs. Cooper ar.d Sons, nurseryman, for a generous donation, comprising many, thousands of anemono, ranunculus, narcissus, and sweet pea, plants, and bulbs. Those aro now being planted l , and it is expected tbattho camp garden's will present a fine sight in tlo coming season. "•.■-.''■■•'■'

"It is estimated that some tiro thousand pf our members have gone to tho front," said Mr. F. T. Evans, chairman of the Canterbury Rugby Union at the annual meeting of that body on Tuesday night. ' ~ \

At least one of the West Coast papers is not'to be "extinguished" oii account of the shortage of news paper. A recent issue of the "Murchison Standard" was printed on bright green jobbing paper. .

New Zealand soldiers who are suffering from paralytio troubles (say b the Auckland "Star") are benefiting by tho services of a medioal man in Sydney, who ds of German birth, and is understood to have been interned) by the New South Wales authorities early in the war, but to have been released owing to the value of his services as a specialist, and his willingness to employ his talents for the benefit of British soldiers. One Auckland man, who was sent to Sydney some time ago, has already derived ■ material advantago from' the Bpecial treatment administered by this dootor, and at Tuesday's meeting of the Olaims Eoard of the Auckland Patriotic ' Association arrangements, were made to grant a passage to another soldier who requires similar attention.

The following statement with reference to the destruction of a munitions factory in the East End of London on January 19 was published in the London Press on February I:—"German papers have announced the destruction of Woolwich Arsenal at the time of the recent explosion in the East -End! of London. It is officially announced that this statement is pure invention. . The explosion occurred i at the works of a private firm, and ether factories damaged wore private establishments. No ■Government factory was in any_ way and the output of munitions has beon praotioally> unaffeoted." A special meeting of the Auckland, Presbytery was held on Tuesday night (states the Auckland "Star") to consider a call from the Mount Edeh congregation to the Rev. J. W. Shaw, M.A. ' Three commissioners appointed by the congregation to support the call stated that 106 members out of a communion roll of. 114 and 36 adherents' had signed tho call. The Piesbytory resolved that the' call be sustained 1 and placed in Mr. Shaw's hands. Tho latter intimated by letter that he would nocopt tho call. The induotion will take place at Mount Eden Church on Thursday, April 12. A vory massive piece, of forged steel construction work is at present being carried out for a Wellington firm by Messrs. Stevenson and Cook, of Port Chalmers (states the Otago "Times"). This consists of a 1 Jargo ■ hydlrauhc press of 640 tons capacity, and having a working pressure of 40001b. to the. squaro inch. The completo machine, with pumps and intengifier, will weigh some 20 tons. All tho castings and the ram are of solid 6teel, and the boring of these involves the use of very modern machinery, and also of considerable engineering skill. The press.is similar in many respects to that used for forging shells, and though the makers do not know the purpose for which it is intended, it is conjectured that it is for uso in connection with the manufacture of roofing tiles. On Saturday, March 31, a man will travoree the principal strocta of this oity and present a half-sovereign to each porcon who. on request by hiin, can produce a. Ked Cross art union ticket.* Wellington merchants deserve, a. -word of good ohoer for thoir untiring efforts to keep all grocers well supplied with tho famous "No Rubbing 1 ' LaundryHelp, popularly known as the abolisher of waii-hoard slavery; 6doz. Thinker Note Books free with orory mm of tho genuine "No EuVbing.'.VAdvt. First 'duality Linen Collars at pro-war prices, Od. each,.or 43. 3d. the half-dozen, I Geo, iWlds, Ltd., Maaneia Street*-Advi, I

A now regulation under tho Post and Telegraph Act deals' with the forwarding by telephono of wiroless massages. Tho regulation provides that if the address of tho radio-telegram contains the telephone number of the addressee tho message may bo transmitted to him, by telephone at any timo when tho exchange is open. Amended regulations for tho inspection and'the syllabus of instruction m public schools are gajreKed. : Tho Melbourne "Argus" • states that tho striko mania affected another section of employees a few days ago, when about 150 waitresses employed at the five city restaurants of Sargents Ltd. coased work at noon. No intimation of their intention to strike was given' to the managoment, and the hour -chosen was apparently selected as tho timo when most inconvenience would bo caused to the public; and thogreatest loss to tho firm. According to tho daily practico, tho firm had catored for about 2000 patrons, and, although the food was not _ actually wasted, boing given to various charitable' institutions, the action of tho waitresses involved a loss to tho firm.. At the Swanston Street and Elizabeth' Street establishments tho waitresses crowded tlvo doorways and Prevented; hundreds 0* people from, getting inside. Largo crowds quickly- gathered, and linwit-' tingjy assisted tho waitresses in achieving their objoct. : Inside the cafes' the situation was soon understood "by customers, who. decided ' to "wail" upon themselves, and many novel sights were seen. Eventually police assistance had to be obtained to disperse the curious onlookers—a crowd of whom extended to the middle of the road in Elizabeth Street—

At (last ovoning's meeting (of the Miramar Borough Council a letter was received from tho Education Board asking*whethor the building known as tho Town Hall, Miramar, was available for lease. Owing to tne number of children attending tho Worser Bay School having very much increased, tho board desired to provide additional accommodationwithout delay. The building would bo required except on Saturdays, Sundays, "andl weak nights. Tho council decided to reply to the board fixing, the rent at £78 per annum, provided tho hoard would hold itself responsible for' all unfair' wear to the building and grounds.: . '

In referring to the enlistment of the ! Director of the Boys' Institute (Mr. F. Ross) at the annual meeting last evening, Mr. Geo. Troup said that In patriotism he gave place to no man in Wellington. He had probably been the means of dozens of young meir enlisting, and when it came to his. 'own: boy's turn ho would do his duty, -but he didl think that the Government 1 was making a mistake, and the nation was making a mistake, in taking away men, who Were of great'economic value, tpv send them away to tho firing line. Ho. thought that the work Mr. Ross was doing so well in training and equipping the boys who came to the Institute was more important work for tho nation than his services would he at the front fighting our battles. Ho. §till had hopes that the Appeal Board would say "No," that the work he was doing was 1 too valuable to the State for him to go. There were enly certain men fitted to db that' class of work. He (the speaker),had been- connected with it tor over 30 years-35 years ago he was engaged in that class of work in Dunedin himself-and he knew' how extremely difficult tho work. was. Lne man had to have a big loving hcartroally a -woman's heart-yet he must be a man of action and.-decision, and one who could enforce discipline, have untiring patience, and .never loso Jus temper? Such a man they had in-. Mr.. Ross, and how they were going to replace him' he did notknow. ' : From 1 the beginningWf ' Apriltho Free Art Gallery, in Whitmore Street, will be open to r tho public on all week days (except Mondays) from 10 a.m. to Z p.m., and on Sundays from. '2 pm. to 4 P-m ; " Vbh new -arrange-, ment has been made by the Academy of Fine Arts, in response to a generally expressed wish that the gallery should be open during the forenoon as well as the afternoon. The difficulty which in the past has been mainly one of finance has been overcome by _tno Hon. the Minister of Internal.Affairs agreeing on "behalf of the; Government to defray the small additional expense entailed. "• ■■.'•/. '..'•