LOCAL 'AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3126, 3 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL 'AND GENERAL

The Postmaster-Gonoral has received notification of tho opening of tho followin" information bureaux for prisoners ot war:-Spain, Secretary's Ofnce of His Majesty tho King; Paris, Swiss Legation, 15 bis, rue de Marignan; Christiania, Comite special de socours, pourles prisonniers de guerre a l'etranger, Akersgaten 41 Any correspondence despatched lor any of the bureaux will be too of postage. . '~ It is stated, says a Press Association telegram from Christchurch, that there is a very pronounced shortage of coal in Christchuroh, and that it is likely to continue for some time. The cause is the shortage of shipping.

In the course of the last week or so a small number of youths liavo called at the Wellington office of the State Lalxmr Bureau and stated that they are willing to take up work on farms. .None of the young men "have had experience Of farm work, and so far none of | them have been engaged. There are, also on the books a few experienced farm nancta, most of them married.

Second-Lieutenant Alec. W. Lafferty,of Wellington, who went forward witlitno ■Hst Reinforcements, writing to a fncnd from Codford Camp, states that a fourth. New Zealand Brigade liad been formed, with headquarters at Codford, and he had been posted to it. General Herbert Hart is the brigadier. "By tho way, writes Lieutenant Lafterty, "what do you think of 'Tiny' Froyberfe latest rise to brigadier-general? I think it is simply marvellous, and Wellington should be proud of him. General lan Hamilton 'told us tho other day that » meteoric career like TinyV has never been known in the history of tho British Army. TalkinK to a German prisoner tho other daV-i bright, intelligent follo«-he assured mo that hie countrymen were only starting to wake up now, and ho got quite hot when telling/as tho yarns the German military leaders had beon pitching to their commands. Of course, it is quite possible oiir Hun may have been acting, but, if so, I never saw anybody at like it. Talcing it all round, I think the Roche realises that the game is up, and he is now in the last stages of despair" Since this letter was written Lieutenant Lalterty has ten wounded.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Wellington Industrial Association, is making arrangements for Mr. Lawrence Birfa to wad a paper before- tho members of thoso bodies on tho Lake Colombo hydro-elec-tric scheme, with an added reference to the scheme uroposed for Wellington by Mr. Kv'nn Pany. , During Hie last four months no fewer than 11 325 boys have passed under the control of the Boys' Institute. These figures are made up from the numbers who pass through the instituto; that is to say, tlio nightly attendances range , from 120 to 180 boys,

There is to be a meeting of the executive of tho Associated Chambers of. CWnmerco in Wellington to-morrow, commencing at 10 a.m. Thore will be represonta'tives present from all tho chief centres.

Tho War Relief Association of Wellington acknowledge tho receipt from Mrs, S. S.Downes, of 188 Willis Street, Wol-

lington, of iMO towards tho Soldiers' War Belief .Fund.

Julius Neucnborg, of 102 Adelaide Road, was admitted to the Hospital yesterday suffering from a fractured skull. Tho Newtown Polico wero informed that Neuenberg fell from a moving tramcar in Adelaide Road at about 5.30 p.m. He is a. married man, and last evening his condition was reported to bo serious.

The following letter received from a New Zealan 1 soldier "somewhere in Mesopotamia," and addressed to tho War Holier Association of Wellington, sneaks for itself:—"Just a note to thank you for your kindness, towards my wife and family during my absenco. I am sure that I cannot express how much more satisfied I feel now that she is getting better. I havo lain awake night after night and could not get her out of my mind, but now that she is convalescent and' having a change owing to your kindness, I feel that we left friends in New Zealaud like no other country in tho world, Rnd all my mates say tho same. Excuse my short noto, as the flies are' worrying tho lifo out of mo. They are hero in millions, and there are dust storms day after day without ceasing."

A special meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce is to be held shortly to discuss the income tax question.

It was recently noted by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce that certain firms, which are at present under the control of. the Public Trustee owing to their connection with enemy countries, were still roceiving trade cataloknies, together with information regarding trade discounts, supplied to them by British firms. It was decided to write to H.M. Trade Commissioner asking him to delete the names of such firms from the lists of persons to whom trade literature should be sent. In i'eply, the Commissioner (Mr. R. Dalton) wrote-:—"T have from time to time called the attention of the Board of Trade to notices in tho Gazette regnrding firms which have been placed -under the control of thfe Public Trustee. I have no. doubt tliat the names of these firms liavo been noted by the Board in their lists, and that duo'account has been taken of their position in supplying names to inquirers. I will bring your letter to tho notice of tlio Board, however, and I havo no doubt that they vrill give the most careful consideration to tho points Taised." , According to members of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce the public may secure' sleeping berths and buy tickets at tho Railway Department's bureau in Willis Street, but if they wish reserve a seat (a ticket for which has been purchased) they are tunable to do so without visiting the Thorndon Station—a trip which, would occupy at least forty minutes. This appeared to members to be absurd, and it was decided to bring the matter before tho General Manager for Railways (Mr, E. H. Hiley).

A stir was caused in Tirentham Camp during the week-end when a recruit from Invercavgill ran amok. It appears that the soldier, ,who had only gone into camp on Friday, toused himself nt 1 a.m. on Saturday, and having lost his reason proceoded to attack those sleeping next -him in the hutment. Ho struck one man on the temple with a bayonet before a.hut mate closed with him, and got the maniac down. A desperate struggle ensued, the madman, a big, powerful fellow, using his bayonet freely. He endeavoured to stab his opponent from behind, and succeeded in inflicting a number of wounds , before he was finally overpowered by other men in the hutment. The lunatic was placed under guard, and later in the day wae sent into Wellington for oommital to the mental hospital: The injured men were removed to hospital, where it was found that neither had been dangerously wounded. The man who grappled with ■ the lunatic had five wounds, in the' back, which will require stitching.

The Crippled Soldiers' Hostel Art Union acknowledges receipt of. the following donations:—lt. M. D. Fell, Nikau Bay, £1 17s. Gd.; H. Beetham, Brancepeth, Masterton, £o; H. Banish, Wairarapa, £2, 103.; Jno. 0. Bidririll, Pihautea, Featherston, £2 10s.; C. J. Bennett, Otahuao, Masterton, £2 10s.; C J. Bennetfs employees, .£2 10s.; A. J. Reynolds, Carterton, £2;. R. Liverton, Kewanui, Masterton, £2 103.; R. Smith, Waihiuga, Jlartinborough, .62 103.; A. Nelson, Pori, Pahiatua, £2 10.?.; Te Whaiti Iraia, sen., Pirinoa, Featherston, J35; Carterton eooial, per Mr. BeaTd, ,£2O 10e.: Greytown Soldiers' Dance Committee, per B. Wehden, .£SO; Hansen and Haycock, MaTtinborough, &> 10sTho ne»v' regulations for religious objectors under the Military Service Act woro considered by the general meeting of the Society of Friends for jNew Zealand yesterday morning. A manifesto was drawn up pointing out that the undertaking required from those accepting non-combatant service wouia not free' them from military control. A deputation of Seventh Day Adventists asked tor the co-operation of Friends m an appeal to Parliament to exempt all conscientious objectors irrespective of the official tenets of their church. The meeting decided to support the petition, and appointed a committee to co-oporato with other bodies for such an extension of the exemption clauses. Mr. William Cooper, of Sydney',- gave an address on tho Friends in Australia, and Miss M. England gave an address on Education, The congestion of the traffic on the wharves, which ocours - -with great frequency, was a subject that was discussed bv the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at yesterday's meeting of the. council. Members said it was quite a common eight to see a long line of carts and expresses waiting, sometimes for an hour or more, to unload cargo of some description at a vessel's side. A report furnished by the Harbour Board-made lt.appmr that these delays in unloading, and the congestion caused thereby, were tho result of the Union Steam Ship Company stampinir all boat-notes, irrespective of whether there was spaco for the cargo they repreBented or not. It was quite, Possible, therefore, for 'them to accept 500 tons of cargo when there was only space for 200 tons, and in that 'case the carte irero kept waiting until it was found impossible to take any further cargo, when the drivers were informed of the position, had to return to the stores _ and warehouses, and there unload aeain. _ It was pointed out by members that in some, instances half a day was sometimes lost in this manner. It was decuWl thnt the council should approach «£ ,on i ; t^" l Ship Company and the Huddart-Pnrker Company to see if stop* could not he taken to organise the traffic in some way to insure a minimum loss nf time on Hie part of thoso engaged in tho wort.

During the week ended Juno 29 eight married and twenty-five single men apTilied for employment at the btate Labour Bureau in Wellington. Six married applicants and nineteen single applicants were, nlaced at work. Government work provided places for four and private work for -twenty-one. Tho annual report of the N.Z. Football Association states:-"Tho game is now well established in primary ecliools, and tho association is now receiving » good deal of assistance from various schoolmasters in this direotion, but it feels now that a strong effort should l>o made in the near future to introduce the (Tamo into the secondary schools-in tho Dominion. Repeated efforts hare been made, but the opposition has hitherto proved too formidable. It is a woll-known fact that a number of boys attending tho various colleges are playing the game Tegularlyj and are desirous of representing their schools on the field, hut are prevented by tho authorities from so doing. The association ,cousiders that where there are Wee numbers of boys attending a school there is ample room ■foi- all forms of sport to be fostered without prejudice. Unfortunately, just _«t the present time the ranks of active workers in tho game are being steadily reduced owing to military service, but when times n become normal again tha association should use every effort to pfomoto schools football in every direction."

Tho adjourned meeting of the Wellington District Licensing Committee was held yesterday morning. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., presided, and with him wore Messrs. R, Fletcher, J. Smith, W. J. Helyer, G. J. I'ethcrick, arid 6. Tiller. The only matter before the committee was the license of the New Zealander Hotel, in respect to which objections were raised by the police on the grounds of the alleged drunken habits of the licensee and tho improper conduct of the hotel in that drunkenness wns permittod therein. The chairman stated that the committee had fully considered tho evidence, and had decided to adjourn tho application for a renowal of tho license to the next quarterly meeting on September 3.

Tho National Headquarters of the Y.M.C.A., Featherston Street, acknowledges the following contributions .to its war fund:—Mrs. Mirams, Kelburn, £1; Messrs. Saxby Bros., Opotiki,- ,£10; Mr. E. E. Stuckey, Mangaweka, .£5 os. Bd.; Misses Mowbrny and Govan, Palmerston North (monthly contribution), £X; .Mrs. Leslie, Ahuriri Flat, .£2; Corporal J. V. Macky, 7s. od.; 29th Reinforcement N.C.OVsi Cs. Cd.; Government Life Insiiraneo Employees, .£2.

The net result from Hie Ilnrowhenua Horticultural and Industrial Society's Show at Otaki last year was JEIS 15s. 6d., which was duly paid over to tho Otaki Patriotic Society. This year tho society again intend to devote tho proceeds to patriotic funds.

The Wellington Patriotic Society has received a chequo for £2 2s from a. Manawatu resident, who expresses pleasure at the society's decision not to hold carnivals, raffles, etc., in raising funds for patriotic purposes.