LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3072, 7 May 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Court of Appeal will sit at 10.30 to-morrow, when several judgments will be delivered.

Invitations have been issued by the Mayor of Wellington and his committee for tho opening of the new Soldiers' Club at Trentham Camp this afternoon. The visitors are to leave Lambton Station by tho 1.30 p.m. train, and are to return by a train leaving Trentham at 4.47 p.m. The opening ceremony is to ho performed by the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen).

Owing to the state of the weather, on Saturday, all football fixtures had to be declared "off."

Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., presided over a short sitting of the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning. Andrew Logan Hope was fined 20s. for insobriety.

In a foreword to the "Gum Tree, the official journal of tho Australian Forest League, Sir Honald Ferguson, the Governor-General of Australia, observes that timber is being imported on a large scale, when it could be produced on Australian soil. To combine the two policies of creating forests of the exotic species and preserving native woodlands, he adds, a coherent afforestation policy and systematic management are _ required. Giveu these, Australia might Become, within half a century an ( exporter, and the sylvan beauty of its rural scenery wonwJ bo restored. "The mission, of tho 'Gum Tree,' " the editorial states, "is to arouse in 'Australians an appreciation of the danger that threatens their vanishing forests. Trees have too long—and especially in Australia —been taken for granted; Parliament need not worry its addled head overmuch (Concerning tho details of forest management. The first thing is to reserve as forests sufficient areas to meet the future needs of this State,; to place these areas in the control of men competent to manage them to the best advantage, and to provide these men with authority and funds so that the forests may he rescued from wantonness and neglect, and developed on proper lines."

The rapid development of the farm tractor in the United Kingdom, in consequence of tho demand of the Imperial authorities for a machine capable of assisting in the breaking up of large areas of park, grazing and common land, is likely to be of considerable importance to New Zealand. Inquiries are being made from this country already regarding the new tractors, which havo been ordered in large numbers by the Department that is working under the direction of the Food Controller. Several big British factories are producing light, cheap tractors, with petrol or kerosene motors, that can be used to draw a double or triple furrow plough faster than a horse ; could walk. These tactors are cheap to run, they are easily handled, and they will continue to work 24 hours a day if required without complaining. In fact, night ploughing has been proceeding in some parts of tha United Kingdom, with the assistance of acetylene lamps.

A shortago of shearers next season is stated to be likely. Many shearers have enlisted and otheis have been drawn in the ballot._ The Military Service Boards have given exemption,. in oases where appeal was made, to men regularly engaged in the industry, but some of the men have preferred not to appeal. The ballot has had the further effect of taking into the military comps many farm workers who did a certain amount of shearing. A conference between representatives of the sheepowners and the organised shearers is to he held at the end of this month for the purpose of considering conditions of employment.

• The mobilisation of the drafts for tho 23th .Reinforcements has been completed. The recruits have gone into camp undor full strength, and additional men will he sent forward weekly by tho military districts, as has been the practice in recent months!

A contingent of sick and wounded soldiers, numbering 368 of all ranks, with ton nurses, arrived at Auckland yesterday, states a Press Association message." Included in the number are twenty-one cot cases and several "severely wounded." A formal welcome was extended to them yesterday afternoon, speeches being given by His Excellency the Governor' (the Earl of Liverpool) and the Mayor.

On Thursday last Reginald Charles Heed, of Blue Spur (Ota'go) was arrested at bis home as a deserter on a warrant from the Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, Wellington, by Sergeant Kidd and Constable Gregg, of Lawrence. He was forwarded, in custody, by Captain Stevens (Group Commander at Milton) to detention barracks at Dunedin. It is alleged that Hoed offered resistance to the police, and was guilty of disloyal remarks en route, and probably more will be beard of these if the authorities decido to try the offender by court-martial.

A tin of fat which had been placed on the stove in the cook's galley of the Government steamer Janie Seddon boiled over at about five o'clock last evening, with the result that the galley and its contents were burnt. Very little damage was done.

. Four members of the Twenty-seventh Infantry Reinforcements at Trentham were tried by District Court-martial on April 27 on charges of disobeying a lawful command given by their superior officer. The finding of the court-martial in each case has now been promulgated. Each of the four accused has been found guilty and sentenced to 84 days' imprisonment with hard labour. Ono man. belonged to C Company, and the three others to H Company. i

The Government Censor (Mr. \V. Joliffe) placed a condition on the public exhibition of the cinema film "Where Are My Children?" to the effect'that no person under eighteen years of age should bo permitted to witness it. 'lhis restriction gave the management of the King's Theatre on Saturday afternoon and evening some lively work, and many young people of both sexes had to be refused admission. In gome instances the greatest indignation was expressed *ty those who were denied admission, and the rather peculiar spectacle was witnessed now and again by girls "with their hair down" protesting that thev were well over the prescribed age, rather an uncommon claim with the fair sex. "He tells me I'm not eishteen," said one girl, who certainlv did not look that age. "Not eighteen!" said her more elderly friend, "that's :ill risht; you'll be able to have another birthday you didn't count on!"

Mr. "\Y. ff. Riddell. S.M., delivered reserved judgment in the Magistrate's Court on Saturday in the case of Thomas Bush v. Albert Lawrence Knowslev, a claim for £46 10s., arising out of dealings between the parties in fheir relation of landlord and tenant. His Worship fiavfi judgment for plaintiff for £14 17s. 6d., as the equivalent of seven weeks' rent at £2 2s. fid. per week. Plaintiff was also awarded £4 ss. arrears of rent, making the total amount of the iudgment upon the claim £19 2s. 0d" Defendant was ordered to pay costs £2 18s. At the hearing, Mr. D. Jackson represented the nlaintiff and Mr. H. V. O'Uiry the defendant.