LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3178, 31 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

During the week (Jided August 24 fifteen married and seventeen single men applied at tho State Labour Bureau in Wellington for cuiploymont. Higlit married and eleven single were assisted, leaving a surplus of fourteen, who lisivo since been provided with work. Tho bureau can etill place men in tho city and the country.

"There is not a single villngo in New Zealand that anyono would call a thing of beauty," said Mr. S. Hurst-Seagar in the courso of his lecture on town-plan-ning in tho Concert Chamber last evening.

Under date June 12. the New Zealand official war correspondent' (Mr. Malcolm Ross) writes: "Thero is a young Wellington lieutenant whom I remember just before tho war as a boy at school, who displayed great gallantry and splendid devotion to his duty on tho day of the attaok on Messines. Ho led his platoon to its objective and immediately proceeded to take oommnad of another plattoon that was dotailed for the final objective, bat which had lost its officer. He led this platoon, captured tlie objective, reorganised, and supervised the consolidation under heavy snell fire. Whilst engaged in this work he was wounded. Meantime his company commander was killed in notion, and the young Wellingtonian, being tie only officer assumed command. He then sent a situation report to battalion headquarters, and did not relinquish his command until relieved and ordered out by another officer detailed to take command and relieve lim. By his energy, his disregard of personal safety, and his devotion to duty he undoubtedly 6et a splendid example to his men, and contributed in no small measure towards the success of the operation in which he was concerned."

Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) lias given notice to ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce: "(1) Whether tho foodpnekers of New Zealand—for instance, those wlio put pepper, coffee, spice, etc., into packets—have a monopoly of the 12oz. pound, this being apparently equal to a tax of 25 per cent, on all purchases of such goods; and whether the English packer is obliged to place tho full IGoz. in each paoket? (2) If tho position is as above described, would it not be well for the Board of Trade to give their attention to this matter and generally to tlie increase in the cost of living due to inordinate increases of prices of goods sojd in tho towns and cities, instead of confining their energies chiefly to the profits! alleged to bo accruing to the dairy formers and other producers of tho Dominion?"

The high prices offering in. England for stock are commented oil in a letter dated June 21, mitten by a young New Zoaland soldier, D. Cottle, to liis grandfather, Mr. Cottle, of Cotileville Terraco; Tho writer, who was at Codford at the time, says: —"They had a sale here a few days ago, and fat lambs brought 98g. I have seen just as eood sold in New Zealand for 18s. 6d. Cows we would consider worth JEIO brought .£4O to m"

The Superintendent of Polieo has been advised that a man named David THoinaa Dick was found dead on Tuesday night between \Vhangamoana and Whaterangi Station, about twonty-eight miles from Martinboi'ough.

Tho Duncdin Presbyteiy, at am induction meeting in St. Stephen's Church, passed tho following motion:—"That this Presbytery resolve to rendor all assistance possible to the Government in connection with the loan for war purposes now being raised, and will heartily bring , its claims before the _ people and urge them to support it, believing that it is as essential to raise money as to send mon. But the Presbytery would at tho same timo protest to the Government because of their inaction in face of tho fact that millions are boing worso than wasted on the liquor traffio every year, and the efficiency of our Army and our Dominion is' being greatly impaired 'thereby, as is borne out by the report of the Efficiency Board."

The Eastern Extension Cable Company, in ordor to uelebrate tho laying of tho new ocean cable between Australia and Now Zealand, which has its terminal in Wellington, will entortain Sir Joseph Ward (Postmaster-General) and a number of G.P.O. officials at luncheon at the Grand Hotel to-day.

At tlie Inst meeting of the New Zealand. Pharmacy Board, a motion was passed affirming" "that a School of Pharmacy bo established in Wellington as early as possible." Messrs. P. M. Maokay and Jefferson, the Auckland representatives of the board, informed tlio Auckland "Star" that the motion was adopted by a majority of one vote only, after a Christohurch delegate, -who. was opposed to it, had left Wellington. The other motions, providing details or the scheme, inoluding compulsory attendance for six months in Wellington, were not proceeded with, <uid the Auckland members -are confident 'that no further steps will be taken at present to put the proposal in operation, an assurance to that effect having been given by the Wellington executive. The purchase of the site waß authorised as an investment for tho board's funds, and- the building has been let as a night pharmacy. They are oonvinced that a majority of the Pharmacy Board will oppose centralisation.

Corporal C. Bichardson, of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, Eighth Eeinforoements, who is a prisoner of war in Germany, hos written to his sister in Christchurch from Cassel, Hesse Nassau, to the effect that he is well and doing: a little woifc. This consists cf digging and planting potatoes. Tho'work is not hard, but the hours are long, from 7 to 7. He speaks well of his treatment, and acknowledges receipt of parcels of biscuits, cake, tongues, and 60 on from relatives in' New Zealand. "I wul be able to open a new cookery hook," he says, "when I got home, and will probably call it "the Gefaugenea's soups, stews, and puddings.' Have made 6omo great mixturos or concoctions, and have kept an account of them all, so that you will be able to have some new dishes."

A letter received from a soldier at the front (states the "Oamaru Mail") incidentally mentions the number of callow youths the Germans have in their fighting lines on the West front. In one of the recent' great battles tho New Zealanders, on charging up a hill, were confronted by a number of youths whoso ages ranged from about 14 years upwards. So boyish wero they that the New Zealanders could not bring themselves to treat them as fighting men, and many of these boys had their lives spared to them because of their almost infantile appearance.'

The Commissioner of Crown Lands reported to the Wellington Land- Board yesterday respecting the purchase of Mr. Hook's property of 573 acres, near Wanganui, for settlement by discharged soldiers. The Commissioner submitted proposals for subdivision, and the board resolved that tho Commissioner should be empowered to approve the scheme.

I In the course of his lecture on the heautiiication of cities, Mr. S. HurstSeagor last evening: mada an attack on the manner in -which udvertising hoardings and devices were-allowed io mar tho beauty and dignity of a city. To illustrate the difference between municipal beauty and municipal barbarity ho showed views of the delightfully picturesque old inns of rural Englnnd, with their artistic wrought iron signs, as compared with some of the hotels in New Zealand, smothered in inartistic advertisements of this one's beer and that one's whisky. He showed a view of the magnificent railway station in Dunedin. besmirched by -elaring advertisements on hoardings i beside the building, which actually stood on rail.vay ground, and oite at tile Christchurch railway stntion, which proclaimed in letter* that stretched across the length of the facade the virtues of a certain brand of cigarettes. He also showed the views of hoardings, spinshed with vivid advertisements, to be seen from the Wellington Town TTnll .md Free Public Library, and argued that no city that approved of such decorations could ever have claims to cnic Van tv. TTis remarks were applauded ov oil. including several members of tho City Council wlie were present.

Shortage of shipping space is becoming an increasingly serious problemi and already it' has caused a rcnmrkablo shortage of ladies' stockings. Ilowever, provision h.ts been Jiifido to supply Indies with the famous Jaeger make in any size by Davis and Clater, 216 Lambton Quay.—Advt.

Squalls'for many days jet. Seo our special value in raincoats, 45a., 605., 03s. Goo. I'owlda Ltd.. Manners Street— Adyt.

It was stated at yesterday's meeting of tho Wellington Land Board that the Masterton County Council • had written calling upon the. board to removo willows which are obstructing tho flow of the Waipoua River in front of the Education Reserve. Tho board resolved to obtain a report from its ranger, and that instructions should be issued ion the willows in tho stream bed lo be removed.

The State schools of Wellington "break up" this afternoon for \ their second term holiday. Tho schools will resume on Monday week.

The disappearance ol' periodicals from tho reading-room of the Parliamentary Library was mentioned in both tho Legislative Council nnd the House of Representatives yesterday. Members of tho 1/ibrary Committee, in directing tho attention of their fellow-members 'o the subject, said that they did not accuse anybody of purloining the magazines, but it was an unpleasant fact that periodicals disappeared when the House was sitting, and that pictures and paragraphs were cut from books during the sessions.

The Public Petitions Committee reported to tho House of Representatives yesterday on the petition of Walter Rutherford, of Auckland, 'praying for a compassionate allowance for injuries sustained whilo on active ser.vice in tho Maori War. Tho committee recommended that the petition should be refoi*red to tho Government for favourable consideration, and that the Pension Act bo amended by permitting holders if tho Maori War pension to also hold the oldago pension.

Gratitude expressed in a practical way ia not often brought, before the notice of tho War Relief Association Committee, but an example of this occurred at its last meeting. A soldier on furlough from Samoa had occasion to borrow .£2 on his pay, owing to a difficulty with regard to <i Savings Bank account, and, when that was cleared up, ho came to tho War Relief Office to repay the loan nnd have it expunged from his pay-book. To show his gratitude for the loan ho made a donation of 255. to the war, relief funds—a very high rate of interest for the loan of £2 for ten days.

An Otuno soldier, referring to tho Battle of Jlessines, says:—"By this time the Now Zealand Division must be well hit' to leg in the, way of- casualties, as the Messines Eidge was a very unhealthy 6pot, and one could not expect to wipe out the Ypres salient without paying the price. I believe the casualties were much lighter than had been expected, but at best these over-the-top stunts are unholy orgies of murder and sudden death. There is this consolation—what we got was a joke beside the slaughter that, was served out to the Saxons and Bavarians and all tho rest of tho 'Kamerad' people. They strewed the ground and blocked up shell holes after we had passed."

Those Df the wounded soldiers at the Victoria Hospital who are sufficiently convalescent find great pleasuro in motor drives on fine afternoons. Tho Y.M.C.A. has been interesting itself in this matter and frequently takes some of the men out for a run round the bays in its own car or secures tho generous help of several owners of cars to arrange a brief outing on a somewhat larger scale.

A special adjourned meeting of members of the Dunedin Stock Exohnngowas held on Monday aftenoon.to consider the proposed taxation of joint stock companies (says tho "Otago- Times"). Three proposals were before the Exchange, also the resolutions carried by the executive of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerco at their meeting on August 24. After discussion it was resolved to recommend the Stock Exchange Association o'f New Zealand to support the No. 2 proposal forwarded by tho Wellington Chamber of Commerco, which reads as follows:—"li ift understood that the practioe in the Commonwealth in assessing tho Federal incomo tax is first to deduct tho dividend paid, a company paying tax on the undistributed profits only, and shareholders aro required to inolude in their incomo returns dividends received. The latter method is certainly more equitable than our present system.", The following resolution was also submitted to tho meeting and carried:—"That, in view of .the largely depreciated value of gold 6ince the declaration of war, and also having in mind tho increased cost of all plant and material required in its production, this Exchango suggest to the Government that this industry should. be free, from taxation."

Tho usual calm serenity of the Makarewa township was rudely disturbed on Sunday morning when it btecame known that tho locality had been the scene of the theft of a sum c-f several hundred pounds (states the "Southland Times"). Particulars are that about 3 p.m. on Saturday Mr. Alfred Pay, who is' an engineer in 'the Makarewa Freezing Works, left his home in the township, and, accompanied by his housekeeper, camo into town. On returning home at about 10 o'clock Mr. Pay fonnd a window smashed in, and discovered that a wooden trunk in liis bedroom had' been prized open (apparently with/ an axe), and that from it had been taken a large cash box which had oontained 52300, in gold, notes, and silver, beside life and property insurance policies and the title deeds of the property. The sad feature of the whole affair—and tho one which classes tbe theft as despicably mean—is that the bulk of the money represented the accumulated allotments of two of Mr. Pay's | eons who have proceeded on active service, one of whom, unfortunately, has I given his life thnt some other being, unworthy of a better term,'may stay hers in pence and safety and be free to rob, as it were, the grave • f one of his protectors. The other soldier Pay has been wounded lately, and it was the father's pride that, should this son coma safely home, he would have something to start with... Now that hope is shattered by the low-down action of tho tliief.

A new tramway time-table,. to come into operation to-morrow (September 1), has been issued by the Tramways Department.