LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3116, 21 June 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The mobilisation of the Thirty-first Reinforcements will take place next week. The draft is expected to enter camp over strength, the surplus of recruits going to reduce tho shortage of men in training that las been carried forward since last year.

The Minister of Commerce (tho Hon. W. D. S. MaeDonald) stated yesterday that tho whole of tho first shipment of wheat from Australia, about 54,000 sacks in all, has been disposed of to tho millers of tho South Island. Arrangements had been mado for a. further shipment to Auckland. Mi-. MaeDonald said also that as tho system of shipment m Sydney in tho first instance had been unsatisfactory, it was proposed that Mr. J. B. Hart, of the Board of Trade, should go to Australia to arrange for a better method of loading'and grading for future shipments.

The thirteenth addition to tho "black list" is made by a Gazette Extraordinary issued last night. Many firms doing business in South America, Liberia, Morocco, Netherlands, Dutch East Indies, Norway, Persia, and Spain are added to tho list of "enemy firms," with whom British subjects may not trails. Certain firms are removed from the list and changes of address and other particulars are mado in some cases.

To-morrow morning in the Supreme Court Mr. Justice Stringer will pass sentence on the following prisoners:— Bertie Kaiti Wiig, bigamy, Wellington; Charles Henry Walton, theft, Wellington; Jesse James Coombes, ■ forgery, Wanganui.

During the last fortnight Mr, 'I'. Hampton president of the Associated Society of Bailway Servants, has visited various centres in tho North Island for tho purposo of explaining to tho Tailwaynien tho balloting method adopted by the Bailway Department for the selection of men to bo released for service in tho Expeditionary Foroe. Mi-. Hampton watched the ballot on behalf of tho railway servants, and he has assured the members of the society that ho is prepared to vouch for its fairness. He lias visited Palmerston North, Taihape, Ohakune, Tauinarunui, Te Kuiti, Now Plymouth, Stratford, Hawera, and Wanganui. Mr. .Hampton told a Dominion reporter yesterday that after ho had addressed them the railwaymen generally had expressed themselves as satisfied that tho best method had been adopted in' tho selection of men for service. Ho had explained that if thero was no ballot the heads of-departments would have to undertaketho duty of saying- which men could bo spared, and that this would bo undesirable from several points of view. Tho To Kuiti railwaymen had carried a motion strongly condemning the Department's ballot, but after hearing Mr. Hampton they reversed their decision and resolved that the system adopted was tho best under the circumstances.

In consequenco oF roports that have como to him through ono of tlie guides at liotonia of increased thermal activity in tho neighbourhood of Waimangu, tho Minister in Charge of Tourist Resorts (Mr. Mac Donald) arranged for tho Gorernment tourist officer at Itotorua to visit tho scono. Mr. Hill went to tho locality, and while lie was there ho witnessed several medium shots in tho corner of Frying Van Flat nearest to Waimangu House. Mr. Hill has reported that it would bo mere speculation to attempt to forecast probable fresh outbreaks. Tho present activity may mean anything or nothing, and he does not consider tho indications alarming.

A returned Native soldier named Joe Governor mot with a painful accident at To Ore Ore, Masterkm, on Tuesday. Ho went out with the object of shooting rabbits, when ho slipped and fell. ; Tho gun discharged, and tho contents shatter, ed his arm. Ho was admitted to tho hospital.

The residents of Makara with other friends have obtained from Messrs. Smith and Smith, Dunedin, a stained glass window, representing St. George, whioh has been placed in St. Matthias's Church to the memory of tho lato Trooper John Howard Jen-is, who sailed with the Main Expeditionary Forco and was killed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli. The Bishop of Wellington will hold a servico in tho church at Makara on Saturday next to dedicate tho window. When tho s.s. Penguin was wrecked in 1909 .Tervis, then only a youth, was at Terawhiti station, and when tho first survivors arrived at tho homestead lio caught his liorso and in tho face of a 'blinding storm rods over the mountain track with the news, reaching Makara Valley as day was breaking.

In the course of a letter apologising for liis unavoidable absence from Tuesday's meotitig of tho Wellington Patriotic Society, the Mayor (Mr. J. I\ Luke) said: "In considering proposals to strengthen the finances of the War Relief Association, I would like to state that I esteem very much the result of the campaign carried out some timo ago by the Wellington branch of tlio New Zealand Patriotic Society. Credit must bo accorded to the members of that society for their enterprise, the success of which was largely duo to the energetic public services rendered by the secretary, Mr. ,7. Jiewis. ... I am of tho opinion that, if possible, the War Relief Association sliould have its powers enlarged to enable it to make tho direct appeal to [ tho peoplo either by circular, or circular and personal canvass. ... I urn convinced tho public need only be well informed of tho necessity of building up finance to enable tlio War Relief Association to continue its important work for the soldiers and sailors' dependants." In the Juvonilo Court yesterday morning, before Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., a fifteen-year-old boy who had a record of four previous convictions since 1010 was charged with stealing ;£2i> from tho pocket of a coat; hanging in the American Lonngo in Willis : Street. It was shown that in 1010 tho lad had been committed to tho Woraroa Institution, anil tho Magistrate decided to scud him back thore. i

A story of a most despicable theft comes from .Sprevilon, a. suburb of Christchurch. An old'lady who has threosons at tho front (one it prisoner of war in Germany) had, out of the allowances left by her sons, saved Up a sum of .Eli), which, sho kept in n. Ix>x in her loom, having mi old-fashioned prejudice aifiiiiist banks and safe deposits. On May 18 this nioiioy was stolon. By June 18 sho had managed, to save another £13, »nd, failing to .benefit by experience, kept the money in tho house, and tho mean thief, evidently aware of tho dato on which she drew tho money, again purloined tho lot. T 'ie matter has been placed iu tho hand: ;if tho police

Tho hearing of the case brought by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., -represented by Mr. M, Myers, who claimed from the HucklartParkor Co., for whom Mr. A. W. Blair appeared, the sum of £% 10s. Id., being the value of GO sacks of nitrato of soda shipped by one of the company's vessels for delivery at Wellington, and alleged not to have been delivered, was concluded yesterday before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M. Tho Magistrate reserved his decision.

Tile Wellington, Patriotic Socioty's Band has generously offered to give an open-air performance in Newtown Park on Sunday afternoon next iu aid of tho widow and family of tho late Mr. W. P. Fitzgerald, who was killed by a fall of earth at Rosenoath. during tho rainstorm on Saturday evening last. Mr. Tingey, by whom Mr. Fitzgerald was employed for many years, states that ho was one of tho best men he ever had in his employ, and Mr. Tingey is working hard to raise a little money that will help the widow and her large family to tide over this crisis in their affairs. Mr. Tingey will bo" glad to acknowledge tho receipt of any money in aid of Mrs. Fitzgerald and her seven little ones, Mr. Tingey has received the following sums to date:—R. and B. Tingey and Co., Ltd., and employees (part), £12 12s. 6d.; Richard Massey, .£1; Land and Iricomo and State Advances, per Mr. Mundy (part), ,£2 155.; Miss M. A. Lambert, Parkin Bros. H.G-.8.8., Mrs. Kingston, Thomas Sutherland, Mrs. H. B. Redstone, J.Y.8., Sympathy, 10s. each; Thomas A. Wells, £1; Te Aro House, £2 25.; Mrs. Belle Bradlee, Titahi Bay, XI Is.; Ales. Graham, 10s.; D.-S. Patrick and Co., £2 25.; Veitch and Allan. £2 25.; R. Pearson and Co., .£2: Major Tatum, 10s.; Wellington South Corps, Salvation Army, £1 Is.; Sympathiser, 10s.; Jany S. Hot, £3 35.; Bristol Piano Company. £lls.; George and Kcrsley. £1 25.; D.I.C. Wellington emplovees, £7 75.; small sundry donations'(to Juno 20), .£l2 155.; total. £59 13s. Gd.

A Press Association telegram from Dnnedin states that the police were advised last night that a 15-roomed house, the old Havelock Hotel, had been burned down at Waitahuna. The building was valued at £000 and the furniture at .£2OO. Tho insurances are: Building £300 and furniture £100.

The last meeting of the present Victoria College Council was held last night. At uext meeting the new members will take thoir seats. The only business of importance before tho meeting last night was the resignation from the council of Professor Bankine Brown, who has been for some tinio seriously ill.

Mr. \V. 'J'. Young, secretary of tho New Zealand Seamen's Federation, said at yesterday's sitting of tho Military Service Board that an impression seemed to prevail that he was not prepared to prove • more than twelve months* seaservice by tho seamen for whom he appealed. That was incorrect, ho said; he was prepared to prove all the sea-servico that any of Ihe men possessed. Tho ojilv mention lie had made of a period of 'twelve months was when discussing the date from which the minimum service required of appellants was counted back. He had been under tho impression that a. man must have served twelve mouths to the date of his being called up, but the board had informed him that service was to be reckoned back from the passing of the Military Service Act.

A Wellington resident who has a brother a prisoner of war in Germany has been notißed by letter of tho very perfect organisation which exists at Homo in respect to helping people to communicate with vincl send parcels to prisoners of war in Germany, Austria, and Turkey. In order that no one sliall be overlooked a committee has been set up in connection with every British regiment, 1 and it is the duty of that committoo to ascertain by the best means possible all about the condition of health, locality, means, etc., of every prisoner secured by tho onemy; to keep lists of >. thoir names, and dates of their capture; to report tho same to their relatives; and to help tho latter to assist tho prisoner as far as it is possible. One great advantage of the scheme is that relatives in any part of tho world may communicate with tho Regimental Prisoners' Committee; forwarding money to bo spent as directed, and tho coinmitteo will not only do that more economically and better than individuals, but will send a receipt for tho money, with a complete list of the articles they have purchased withi it.