LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3052, 13 April 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Secretary, General Post Office, lias been advised that legal time in Great Britain has been advanced one hour from April 8.

The Postmaster-General announces that no telegraphic inquiry by means of the free cable messages (W.S'.M.) will be accepted at any post office within seven days of the date stamped 911 the telegram from the Hon. the Minister of Defence .announcing the casualty, and that 110 second or third message will be accepted until at least fourteen days have elapsed since tho acceptance of the previous message. This is to save unnecessary telegraphing. Under the system now in force of progress re-, ports a great ,uiany of tho free messages will be found to be unnecessary with this time limit in operation.

The Twenty-Fifth Infantry Reinforcements who have been in training at Featherston Camp, and have just returned from etxended leave, will be transferred to Trentliam by special train on Saturday. The Twenty-Eighth Reinforcements, who are mobilising at Trentliam, will move on to Featherston as soon as tliey have been fully equipped.

. During tlie month of March 2115 persons arrived in New Zealand from abroad and 2581 persons left tlie country. These figures do not include members of the Expeditionary Force. Fourteen Chinese entered the country during the month and 41 departed, , A suggestion that the State should acquire Colliers was one of many ambitious Socialistic schemes propounded by a- deputation of timber workers who waited on the Acting-Prime Minister yesterday. "We have a State coal mine." said Sir. James Allen, "and judging by recent experiences a State collier would not be of very much use to us. "We can't get _ any State coal now. If State industries are goin? to be subject to these strikes, then they are not going to be much more use to us tlian private industries. If we bad colliers we might have the men on the colliers striking. I don't see how we are going to have any security unless there is going to be some better understanding between labour anJ capital and the Government, all agreeing to work together for the iinod of the whole community. This seems to me to be the •only'wav in which efficiency can be ■produced." v \ • A rather unusual case came before Mr- L- G- Reid,. S.M'., in the Juvenile Court yesterday, brought under the Indecent Publication's Act. The defendant was a lad wlio, at the tinie of the offence, was engaged in. a city office, and the charges brought against him wero that he caused ■ letters of an indecent character to two youn" girls employed in the Game office. It was-stated that when approached by the police: tlie accused admitted the offence, but in Court yesterday lie pleaded not guilty, and stated that he made the admission on the condition that nothing more would be. heard of the matter. _ After examining, "specimens of handwriting, the Magistrate decided that the lad was guilty, and fined him £5. Respecting tlie copious downpour of rain on Tuesday night the Mayor (Mr. •f. P. Luke) says that whilst the inllow into the dam at Waiiiui has improved, and the water has risen in consequence, there is still 110: justification, to let up on the restrictions whicli have been imposed on householders. As a matter of fact tlio reservoirs have never been so low as they are at present at this time of the year, and it behoves all users of water to bo as. careful as possible, as another briet dry spell—not now very likely, but still possible—would cause considerable anxiety. As an earnest of a surer source of supply for the future, a. gang of three men are now encamped on the Orongorougo Stream, opposite "Wainui, taking preliminary surveys! and making suitable headquarters for those who will later on ho engaged, in boring the tunnel through tlie mountain that is to conduct the waters of .the Orongorongo into the Morton dam.

; One of tlie requests that a deputation< of tlie,Timber Workers' Federation yesterday asked of the Government was to-acquire the liquor traffic. The Acting-Prime Minister did not favour the idea, and he said so, but he was careful to say that he was., expressing his own views, and not the views of the Cabinet. _ "My own. personal opinion," lie said, "is that it would be disastrous for the Government to take over control of the liquor traffic. I know of 110 machine that could be used and abused more for political and other purposes than this of State control of the liquor traffic." His Excellency tlie Governor has received the following telegram from tho Secretary of State for the Colonies: "Please accept my hearty congratulations on the laurels won by gallant New Zealanders at Gaza." 'A' notice in* the Gazette prohibits the forwarding of money orders or postal correspondence to the National Institute of Sciences, London. The Mayor of Miramar (Mr. P. Townsend) stated yesterday that it was hoped that the new motor-Tnis for the Karaka Bav-Seatoun service would be ready for use by the 28th of this month. The Otago. and Southland draft of the Twenty-eighth Reinforcements left fpr Wellington yesterday. The Dunedin, Milton, and Invercargill groups contributed 357 men.—Press Assn. The annual report of the Wellington Rugby Union says:—"We desire to place on record that our clubs have been almost entirely depleted of players of military age, and of these, we regret to report', a largo number have made their last appearance on our playing fields, but~your committee feel that it will appeal to all supporters of our game that the names of those who have laid down their lives should not be forgotten, but that later on some memorial should be erected in memory of those who played our national game in peace times, but who went forth to tho grimmer game of war when the Empire called."

It is announced in tho Gazette that the limit placed on the amount of in-terest-bearing deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank will not apply to a deposit made by tho governing body of any secondary school within the meaniii£C of the Education Act, 1914.

A supplementary list of persons and periodicals that have been placed under the ban by the New Zealand Government is contained in this week's Gazette. No postal packet or telegram may bo dispatched from this country to "William Randolph Hearst, New York, or elsewhere." The list includes a number of American magazines'. A new regulation under the Labour Disputes Act, 1913, provides that the chairman of_ any labour disputes committee appointed under the Act shall be entitled to receive a fee of two guineas for every day or part of a day in which he is actually engaged in the investigation of a dispute under that Act, or in travelling to or from the meeting place of the committee. A Press Association telegram states that tho Auckland Racing Club has voted £500 to tho Y.M.C.A. War Work Fund. A young man, a native of Australia, nanied Frank Kelly, a ship's cook, who was called in the ballot, appealed before the First Auckland Military Service Board yesterday on the grounds of occupation. . He had filled in an enrolment form at a New Zealand pore on arrival. He said his ship was under sealed orders, and he did not know he was coming to New Zealand. 'He iiad been liero since early in March, and was unable to leave with any vessel owing to being called up. He had enlisted twice in Australia, where seamen were exempt, but he found .him-, self, as an Australian subject, a Now ■Zealand conscript. The board granted exemption, provided he remained in his present occupation, and gave liim a certificate to that effect.—Press Assn. A _ very creditable performance was attained by St. James's No. 26 Company Senior Cadets 'at the Caledonian Sports held at Palmerston North on Monday last, this_ newly-formed team, under Sergeant-Major Davis, securing a win in squad drill over the many older and better-known teams that participated in the events.

At yesterday's meeting of the executive of the Wellington War Relief Association the following contributions, received since tho previous meeting, were acknowledged:—Hon. W. F. Pennefather, £10; A. Leiph Hunt, £1; and C. B. Linklater, 10s.

A letter was deceived by yesterdav's meeting of the Wellington War Relief Association's Executive from Trooper Clutha Mackenzie, who is at present editing .in London the "Chronicles of tho N.Z.E.F." The writer thanked tho association for a report supplied, and also expressed deep gratitude to the association for its assistance to the paper. "Your report,"' the letter concluded, "makes us realise that our people at home are. not going to see any of our soldiers or their dependants in trouble as long as it can be helned."

When he was asked what he thought of the Mayor's forgotten municipal bakery scheme at last evening's meeting, Mr. J. 0. Shorlaud said that he was not responsible for what tho Mayor had forgotten. He was of opinion that the Mayor should face the electors before election flay, and answer such questions himself. At 3.30 this afternoon Mr. Robert Greig, Miss Beatrice Holloway, and other members of J. C. Williamson's Comedy Company, at present" appearing at the Opera House, will.present a programme of songs and other forms of amusement to the inmates of the Wellington General Hospital.

As illustrating the wear and tear of the sea upon even heavy chains, the following item from the Teport of the engineer to the Lvttelton Harbour Board may be cited:—"The lighted and whistling buoy at the harbour entrance was brought in for . cleaning and painting, and was replaced with filled gas cylinders on March 3. As the mooring chain showed signs of wear at the noint where it leaves the ground and chafes on itself by tile rise and fall of the waves, 20 feet of the chain was cut out and replaced.v This.chamjwas-originally. 13 inches in diameter in Jifne, 1914) and it had been reduced to three-quarters of an inch in thickness in two years and nine months.

Asked his. opinion on the question of Sunday golf'at his meeting at Berlianipore last evening, Mr.. J. O. Shorlaud, who is standing for the City Council, said that the matter was ' now before the Court. _ "But I'll tell you What. I don't think, that a man will go to hell who plays golf oil Sunday." (Laughter and applause.)

Some time'ago the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society applied to" the Minister of Internal Affairs for permission to collect swans' eggs round about Lake Ellesmere,, and to sell them for certain named objects. 'Mr. , Russell gave the permission) and during tho season a rich harvest has been gathered. . The net profit on the collection and sale of the eggs was about £130. Of this sum the society .retains half and the other half, which was handed over to the Minister, has been appropriated to assist-the sick aud wounded soldiers in the Queen Mary Hospital at Hanmer. *■ The Ashburton "Guardian" state? that #;number of local residents who visited the mouth of the Ashburton River on Easter Monday were surprised to notice a stag iu the vicinity which had apparently travelled down tho Rakaia River from, the Gorge, and then followed the coast along to the Ashburton River. The animal took fright at seeing a number of people, and, instead of crossing the river, headed straight out to sea, and swam for miles until it was, lost to sight.

Tho Auckland police have received information, says the "New- Zealand Herald" that a stowaway was found on board one of the inter-colonial steamers' after she had left Auckland recently. Constable G. NeaJ, of the Newton force, has been sent "to Sydney to bring back the man, who will be charged with having left New Zealand without a permit.

Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., delivered judgment yesterday.in ,the case in which Mrs. E. M. Price, executrix of the late Isaac Price, sought- to. recovcr £5 13s. 6d. from Thomas G. Cox, of Wellington, being .the amount due as interest on £94 55., tTie ■oalance said to be owing in respect tp the purchase of a piece of land at Lower Hutt. The facts of the case were that defendant bought the land in 1907 from tho lato Isaac Price, the defendant at that time being a minor. The defendant claimed infancy at the time of the purchase, and contended that he was therefore not legally liable, and that the coiltract was accordingly void. The Mac:isthite said he was unable to distinguish the case from that of the caso in which it was held by the Supreme Court that repudiation must take place within reasonable time after the minor becamo of age. Judgment was accordiiialv given for plaintiff for the full amount claimed, with costs £1 10s.

The only question which gave rise to any feeling at Mr. J. 0. Shorland's election meeting last evening was that' referring to the letting of tho Town Hall to the Labour bodies. Sir. Shorland said that hp would approve of what tho majority of tho council did. One speaker said that was 110 answer to the question. Another elector explained that in the case in point the hall was wanted for anti-conscription purposes, whereupon Mr. Shnrland said ho would vote against the Town Hall being used for anything he considered to be against the true interests of the commonweal. (Applause.)

_ At yesterday's meeting of tliG tive of the Wellington War Relief Association applications ■were received from tlio Salvation Army and the Y.M.C.A. for contributions towards tha field work of those bodies. It was decided to obtain legal advice upon, the question of whether tho association was empowered to contribute to such institutions.

11l response to the request of the council, the City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) lias prepared an' exhaustive report dealing with the work which may ho dono in Wellington in connection with securing national efficiency for the war period. The report reviews the municipal services fully, and when supplemented by a report from the Town Clerk, concerning the city departments under his control, will he" circulated to members of the council in order that they may make themselves fully acquainted with the subject matter. The Mayor (Mr. J. V. Luke) stated yesterday that he hoped to have the reports circulated in readiness for discussion by the council at its next meeting.

A wonderful change has been effected in the suburbs by tho recent night of rain. It would seem as though a fairy had waved her magic wand and sent the green pigment of life coursing through the scorched grass, for where there were paddocks of sun-burnt turf, in dusty soil are now areas of the. greenest verdure to gladden the eye. Gardens which looked past first or any other aid have taken a new interest in life, and lawns that were parched and brown have come ,back most astonishingly to the surprise'of their owners. No music heard in Wellington lias been more pleasant than thfc steady swish of the rain on Tuesday night and Wednesday, morning.

Mr. Patrick Joseph O'Callaghan, who was knocked down at Lyall Bay on Tuesday night by a motor-van, and seriously injured, died in the Hospital on Wednesday night. The deceased, who was 52 years of age, and a widower, was an engine-driver. A son of the deceased is working for the Railway Department at the Upper Hutt. •'

When a recent nor'-west gale was at its height a large window in a store at Hakaia, was blown in . (says the Christchurch "Press"). . The sliop was thronged with' customers, many of whom had narrow escapes from the flying splinters, which were driven with force right across the; shop.

The experimentof converting Wanganui College into a "barracks" for four days, and putting the boys attending through a course of military instruction for that period, which was so successful in 1913, was repeated yesterday, when Major J. L. Sleeman, 1.G.5., Director of Military, Training, assumed the duties of commandant at tho request of the collegiate authorities. The "barracks" will be continued until Sunday. The programme of training will consist of instructional exercises.and manoeuvres, particular importance, being attached to. individual training and a high standard of discipline; • The scholars will pass into the hands of the military authorities at 6.30 a.m. each day, and be under; . rigid military discipline _ until 9.30 • p.m., when they will again, pass under the command of the school authorities/ Similar "barracks" will be held, at the Waitaki Boys' High School, Oamaru, from April 23 to 27, and it is hoped that other big secondary scliools in the Dominion will be able to follow suit during the present training year.

The Greymouth Borough Council has, says an exchange, decided to take a, referendum on the question of allowing picture shows to open on Sundays. There has been a controversy for some years past as to whether the majority of the people of Greymouth favoured Sunday pictures or .not, and feeling has at times been high. The Government Meteorologist's summary for the month of February, 1917, statos that with the exception of some places along the northern portion of Cook Strait and a few scattered stations in the South Island, the total rainfall was everywhere above the average, the greatest excess being ,in the northern and southernmost districts. The two chief causes of excessive rains were hoth extra-tropical cyclones. One which ruled during the first few days of the month moved from the northwest down towards the West Coast of the South Island, and passed in tho south on the oth. The other passed in the northern district on tho 21st, and' was'followed by a "sueondary" centre, which was effective'until the 25th. The lattor disturbance was responsible for extremely heavy rain and flooded rivers in the northern and East Coast di&. tricts of the North Island. Some oj tho northern stations recorded over; 5 inches on thrao consecutive days, viz., 21st. 22nd. and 23rd. About the 16th a small anti-cyclone prevailed, and on the 21st and 22nd anti-cyclonic pressure ruled in and southwards of Cook Strait; otherwise atmospheric pressure was generally below normal, and in consequence dull skies were the rule.

' The Wellington section of the Twenty* eighth Reinforcements will enter camp t<i-day. The recruits from group' 5 (Wellington City and Suburbs) are to mobilise at the Buckle Street " Barracks this morning, and will march through the city, headed, by a band, to Lambton &tation. • ' .

When the resolutions _of tlio Waipara County Council with respect to the necessity for the growing .of potatoes and vegetables came before the Karori Borough Council last evening the Mayor (Mr. B. G. H. Burn) stated l that the council was in favour of the scheme was proved by the fact that Councillor T. Lowers during the past season secured the loan of.a quarteracre paddock and planted it in potatoes. He obtained a good crop, the proceeds of which were devoted to the Bed Cross Fund.

When the deputation regarding the curtailment of the train service waited upon the Hon. W. H. Hemes at Auckland, Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., remarked' that one-eighth of the population o! New Zealand was in Auckland district. In this connection (says an Auckland, paper) it is interesting to recall that in l 1841 the "Colonial Gazette,'! then pubIshed in Wellington, had a paragraph referring sneeringly to Governor Hyson's choice of Auckland as "the 6it<j for the capital of New Zealand. The article stated. "It is a desert spot on aj small peninsula, forming the' northern! extremity of New Zealand. The land' is sterile and the harbour indifferent. No immigrants from England .think ofr going there, the only settlors, are persons attracted by the Government expenditure." "Hobson's choice" has sine# been fully justified by the progress of Auckland.

The decision of the conference of tha Now 'Zealand Federation 'of Painters and Decorators to seek legislation prohibiting the use of white lead in paints was referred to' by the president of tjie conference, Mr. J. H. Hall, of Gis.borne (says our WaJiganui correspondent). Mr. Hal] said there had been numerous eases of lead-poisoning among workmen, one of their number dying last year from that cause. The use or white lead, lie said, was not essential,; as' adequate! substitutes could be obtained. In France, in 1910, legislation was passed prohibiting the use of whito lead in paints, and tho period of allowed expired in 1915. In other Con-; tinental countries there was partial prohibition and tho matter was now under discussion in the "United States and Australia.