LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3047, 7 April 1917, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The-wateiv. problem; is still giving great anxiety'to the municipal-author-ities,' and His Worship the Mayor' (Mr. J. P. Luke) personally called at <he office of The. Dominion, last evening to stress, the' need, for; special care on the part of. oitizens in the use.of water. Mr. Luke said he had to ask citizens to .seriously assist in economising with water, and his appeal was-to the public using water for domestio purposes and to those using it for other purposes. The lone spell of dry weather had had a very serious effect on supplies, and inspite of one recent heavy downpour the reservoirs had not benefited to any appreciable extent, a rise of only 4ft. being recorded at Wainui. The eround being so dry had absorbed the lighter rains. "We have got into a position," said Mr. Luke, "when it is. absolutely necessary, that all should unite to make the available.supply last as lone.as possible."

Asked at Duriedin if there was any likelihood of Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward returning .to. New Zealand in time for the sitting of Parliament, Sir James Allen said that, so far as he know, they' would, bo back,; Ho had.-- no direct: .-information from them; all depended t on. the. : length of the War Council proceedings, but he had no doubt they would return in time for the sitting of Parliament in Juno.'!",- ''■:'.''.■ '.. : :' '.'':'.'■ . •:.' '. ' The Railway Department mado a start on Thursday with the employment of women as carriage cleaners. Two have beon engaged, and more will bo taken on as required. They are.provided with a comfortable retiring room at the Thdrndon station. Their work consists of cleaning the interiors of carriages, and they are.reported to be carrying out' their duties in a satisfactory manner. s One .of tho now "hands" is a railwayman's widow, and tho other is the wife of a soldier who has been at tho front for two years.

Voluntary : recruiting for the Thirtieth Reinforcements closed on ■Thursday evening, and tho extent of tho shortago is now being computed. The military districts have done fairly Well in providing voluntary recruits for /this draft, but there will be a sub'stantial shortage, toi be covered by means of. a ballot. Probably about 3000 names will 'require to be drawn. The ballot is to bo'taken on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Regulations are gazetted relating to Hie appointment, of Soldiers' Property Boards of Trustees, bodies which are being set tip under the national efficiency scheme. The Minister of Defence is empowered, to appoint any number of these Boards to manage the affairs of members of the Expeditionary- Force. .-.-Every' board must ■ con-sist'o"f-four niembers, oneof whom is to be a member of the National Efficiency Board, hut tins' member of tho. central may appoint as his proxy another member of the board of trustees, who shall bo approved by the Ministor. No board may take control of the affairs of any soldier without a written power of attorney executed by tho soldier, but the hoard mav act on a power of attorney executed by a minor. The regulations define in some detail the powerfl of. the boards, which appear to be those ordinarily exercised by trustees.

On Thursday morning the dead- body of a new-born infant was found lying in.the Thomdon. tramway,.shelter-shed, wrapped in. -some, clothing._ A girl has been arrested 1 , and is said to have admitted being tho mother of tho child. An innuest will be held to-day, and tho girl will probablv bo charged with "concealment of birth."'

Janson Bros, has always a good word for "No Rubbing" Laundry Help, because it has justly earned its popular reputation as. the abolisher of washboard slavery, and also because .the fam-, bus Thinker.- Note Boole is riven _ free, with every is. packet of "No Rubbing.'" -Advt.

'AmenSed War Regulations are gazetted relating to the publication of shipping intelligence concerning ships in tho New Zealand trade. Suoh a prohibition lias existed for some time, and tho effect of the new regulations is simply to make the restriction more close. It is now made nn offenco to publish without the consent of a military authority any statement or indication as to "the movements, whereabouts, cargo, or employment (whether past, present, or future) of, any sea-going ship other than one' exclusively engaged in the coastal trade of New Zealand." Tho only exceptions to the rule are that matter may be reprinted from a British newspaper, 1 published in the United Kingdom, that', it is lawful to print news- received through a recognised Press agency in the United Kingdom, that information may be published about the loss, of a ship, and that matter may be publish-, ed relating to events whioh have happened more than four months before

the date of publication. A_ further clause in the regulations provides that it shall be no defence to a charge of' a'breach of She regulations that the' published, _ statement does not' name or otherwise identify.the parfioular ship to which it relates.

The method of appointment of mem-/ bers of Trustee Boards was sharply criticised at a meeting of the Opotiki "County Council, on Thursday (says aPress telegram).. ...The' opinion was expressed that the council, should have been consulted. The coun-cil-resolved that the Minister in charge be informed that jt is the opinion of the counoil that Trustee.Boards should have' been elected. / At a special meeting of the Otago Land Board, held recently, the. question of the claims of soldiers, on active service to consideration in the matter of acquiring land was. again discussed (says the Otago The board had on a previous occasion, suggested that the conditions for the. disposal of land to soldiers should apply equally to discharged men and men on active service. As a result of the discussion the

following resolution was passed 1 : "That the. board, is strongly of the opinion that soldiers' on*' active service should be placed on the same footing as discharged soldiers, both, with regard to making applications for land and as to financial .'assistance from the Government;" / .

.-.• Mr. H. A. W. M'Kenzie has informed the ratepayers who .requested that he' should allow himself to" be nominat-. ■Ed" for a seat on the Eastbourne Borough Council that he is,unable to do. so at the present' time.

At the request of householders in the Te Aro School-District,'.the whole of the present committee, of which Mn tj. A. W. M'Kenzie is chairman and Mr. A. W. W. Curti's secretary, have consented to seek re-election-.afrthe poll to be taken on April 30.in.the "Willis Street School. ' ."■ ' ~ - , ;

It .was mentioned by Councillor Appleton at the meeting of the Onslow Borough Council on Thursday that tree lucerne,-planted-near gorse, smothers the latter,- and as there is some gorse in the catchment area' lie suggested that the incoming council bo recommended to make an -experiment in this direction.

The Featherston. Trumpet Band, under' Trumpeter-Major Chegwin, willplay on the lawn at Tauherenikau races on Monday.

A good deal of* building work has been carried out lately at Tauherenikau Camp, which has been in' occupation by troops for some time past. Cookhouses and other buildings capable of providing for large numbers _of men are being erected, and it is understood that Tauherenikau' }s,'likely to be used as- a "permanent temporary oamp to a considerable extent jn the near, future As in the past, it will be a subsidiary camp to the main camp, at Featherston. _'; - "irrthe course : of a letter to friends in Wellington, a New Zealand gunner relates that a new gas helmet is *<* ing .served- out to all 'the -forces.- on the British front. Before anyone is allowed to go up to the front-line trenches they are served with these helmets, and undergo six hours ..drill with them, ruitil they-are proficient enough to adjust the helmet from a slung position in the space of six seconds. After attaining the necessary speed (which is needed where the trenches of the opposing armies are close- together, enabling gas clouds to be liberated from a position fifty yards away), the men are put into huts and "gassed" with tear gas ; (the most -penetrating and irritating but not moßt dangerous of the gases used), after which their eyes are examined. It they are found to be running as the Tesult of the gas, the helmetis at once discarded, and another is served out and similarly tested. To-day Mr. H. J. Banger will make an attempt to lower the motor-car record from Christchurch to Dunedin and back (says the Christchurch. "Sun"). -He. will set-out at 2. a.m.. in a Chevrolot'car, from"'his"garage in Gloucester Street, and expects tp arrive back in Christchurch between 8 and 9 p'-ro..- ,; .- ~,-.■.::■;': •■: - The Presbyterian Synod-of. Otago and Southland on Wednesday heartily endorsed the fallowing motion put beforeit by the Rev. R.R..M. Sutherland,, "That the Synod earnestly urge upon the Government the advisability,'inthe present circumstances, of closing hotels throughout the Dominion at.6 o'clock during the continuation of tho ■war and for six months thereafter."

A writ for £2000 damages against the Palmerston North Borough Council has been issued by Mr. P. J. O'Regan,. on behalf of Christine Forbes and Eva Forbes, aged eight and six years respectively, the children of -William Forbes, who was killed in a motor-car accident at Palmerston North on November 3. Writs are also being issued on behalf of Miss Sullivan and Miss Catherine Sullivan, of Waimate, who were injured in the same accident. A motor-ear in which Mr. Forbes arid the Misses Sullivan wore riding was precipitated over the embankment of the road into the Manawatu River, and it is alleged.that the accident was due to the'negligciic© of tho. .dofendant borough.

"New Zealand does , hot appear' to possess very many "shirkers," but there are a few young men who put, themselves to quite a lot of trouble 'to avoid receiving the official notices that they have been selected under the compulsory clauses of tho Military Service Act. 'Apparently they have an ldcf that if they do not receive, tho noticfs thoy will not become liable for service--Tho truth is' that the issue .of those notices is purely an act of-grace.on We part of the Defcnco Department. The essential notification, under the Act. is tho publication of the name - in. tlio Gazette, and iio reservist can-exraso himself by claiming that; ho did;not receive a special communication tram the Defence Department.- It -is tlie duty'of each man to ascertain whether or not his name .-.-appears m tuo gazetted lists. The Onslow Borough Council, mindful of the grass fives whiclv caused so much anxiotv in the borough recently, has obtained six dozen fire heaters, which havo been distributed throughout the borough. ■'; , I

' Tho annual conference Coach and Motor Trado Association o/ Employers will open in Wellington tfday, and will continue, ou. Monday aid •Tuesday. .■■•.. , Special "services for tho day (Giod. Friday) were held in tho city chur/hes yesterday. / ' . Warmer pyjamas. for the colder rights. —Splendid line' at 7s.'6d. just opened at Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., \Sfaaner6 Street.— Advt. ;; /' : - :

The luck o( No. 131 '• Private William' * A. Mncnalv Otago Company, Seventh Reinforcements, went into camp at Trentham /on June 13, 1915 (6ays the Otago "Times"). He arrived' in Egypt on November 13; 1915, his twenty-Brat birthday, and joined the 13th platoon, of the/14th (South Otago).,Company. Ho: was later transferred to the 18th (North .Canterbury and Westland) Company \ and went into the firing tine for the. first time on May 13, 1916. When woundqd, he found on returning, to consciousness that his bed at the clearirig'.station.was No. 13. He left England to. return to New Zealahd'.on November 13, 1918, his tweivfcyr*econo* birthday, and arrived in .Wellington on March 13,' 1917, having been left in the Cape Town Hospital for two mohthb. By the vessel on.which he returned 13 men* were brought back to N«w Zealand. Private Macnab was wounded in the Somme battle ori'September 15 of last-year, and though his wounds did not total 13, they ware i getting on that'way, numbering eight in all. ' ' ;..•'-'■.

':'''&. large and representative deputation of Eastbourne residents waitedon Councillor Levi on Thursday evening, for the purpose of asking him to allow himself to" be nominated for the Mayoralty, of Eastbourne: Councillor-'Levi has decided to accede to'the request.;

So far the holiday' passenger traffic

has been exceedingly brisk between here and Lyttelton, and'the ferry boats , which" have. b?en"-assisted :by two or, three other vessels,- : have 'been-Tjractic-ally 'unable to cope with the number desiring to make the trip. - '- On Thursday evening- the' numbers who'could not eet "passages.and who. were left on

the,'wharf were' large.'. Many-were the attempts to gain passages, whether the authorities were agreeable or not, and many were' successful in so doing... On one boat which left here'late on Thursday evening for Lyttelton, much.excitement prevailed. The crowds; waht-

ing' passages were not to be deniedi A crowd, consisting mostly of civilians, but with, some khaki element, formed up and practically charged tho ship, sweeping aside policemea and ticket collectors with only one idea and-that

to get on hoard. at any cost. Scenes of a similar nature were witnessed at' the side of the Maori, which left here

for Lyttelton last .night.. The Maori stands too' high for a deliberate charge up '.the gang-way, but not ■ foo high, apparently, for. a. large number to. attempt getting over the side; on. to "the vessel. The police were'for some time

kept: strenuously- busy hauling, wouldbe..nassengers,.back to ..the. wharf.^..principally' b'T,".the. legs.'','. Quite: at -number .successfully accomplished, the feaV of setting-aboard, -however, in. spite of

■the active performance..put: vro.hy.the police.- -Nevertheless., '.on hofch .Thursday and Friday evenings,'the numhers who did not .gain access to. the ships •vreTß-larae.

;TheWairaraj)a Branch of the.'British' Red Cross' Has voted:'£iooo,.to"be.forwarded to the London Committee through Wellington, also £50 for comforts for the men in Egypt, and £25

for tho men in 'Mesopotamia. Arrangements are now well in hand for the equipment of tho Otaki Sanatorium as a consumptive hospital for returned soldiers. 'JL'he Minister ofPublic Health (tho Hon. G. W. Russell). Visited the institution on his return

from the north lately, and he found there a number of soldiers already in residence. The Otaki Patriotic Committee has raised sufficient money- to provide two billiard tables, one of which has been installed in the present recreation room, but a proper- recreation room is to be erected by the Government. This will have, accommodation.for two tables, and wijl, also'provide facilities for all manner of gatherings that, may ..be held; The intention is to develop the Sanatorium oh. the lines of the.Government institution at Cambridge, so that, every .opportunity) may. be: afforded.,for.:the. restoration to health of,4h©: soldiers^.-"...V j^-'-_ v . . ;AprU./14,';.\His';Bxcelilency -the; at Auckland, ■ the"ceremony■ of : laying''file foundation stone" of the. new Children's Hospital, which is in course of erection, on the grounds adjacent to. the main building, of the. Public Hospital- The personages invited to deliver addresses at. the ceremony include the ActingPrime Minister (Sir James Allen), the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Publio Health; Sir Alfred Robin, 'Officer hi Command of the New Zealand Defence Forces, and Surgeon-General R. S. E. Henderson, 'Director-General of Medical Services. ' Lieut. C. C. Brinsley,'who has been officer in charge of the sick and wounded soldiers' branch of the Canterbury, Military District Office for some, time, has. been transferred to a similar position in the Wellington district, with headquarters at Palmerstou North (says the Christchurch "Sun"). He has been succeeded in Christchurch by Lieut. S. G: Bowron, who has latterly been at-, .testation officer to the Third Canterbury Medical Board. : ■ A strange, case of loss of memory is reported from the Featherston, Military Camp • '(says.. the .' 'Wairara'pa . Daily. Times"). A young ' riian.',,of .-igootf pbysiue had been, undergoing tho usual training. On? morning, ho was •missing from his- usual • place, and was • later! found roaming about. His mind was an absolute blank,'and he had no.recollection of r what, had happened. Hehas-noti ■yet recovered his memory. The reduction of railway services atJ the beginning.of next month is expect-ed-to have.an important effectin giving the training camps their full quotas of recruits. The shortage thai! has been carried forward from month to month since. last year has .been diminished to some extent since the compulsory system came into operation, but it has not been wiped l out! completely, owing to the_ delays thatJ have taken place in getting the compulsorily enlisted men into camp. Thei temporary exemption granted to a very lar»e body of whose names have appeared in ballot lists, has been) factor in this respect, and the release of these men for service with the forces will be welcomed by the training staff. The released! lailwaymer. ought to b<* available for mobilisation very soon after the end o? this month, since they havo' already, had ample time to-arrange, their'private affairs in anticipation of the! Wmination of their oxemption.

■'-.■'Mr. Thomas Spain, an Indian mutiny, veteran, Las died at his home in Hamilton, at the 1 ace of 87/ Mr. "Spain/had served in .the British Army for '21 vears, was present at the relief o? Luclmow, and had received two medals, one for long service and the other obtained fo.r.special service. Discharged with honour from the Army, the ship Queen of the Aee broucKt him to Now Zealand in the year 1874.' Since that" time Mr. Spain has resided continuously in Hamilton. He leaves a widow 1 and descendants of three generations.

Tie Tramways Military Band will play'' selections at the, r Botanical Gardens to-morrow at 3 o'clock.