LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3186, 10 September 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that a contingent of IH> sick and wounded soldiers arrived yesterday evening.

A Press Association telegram from 'I'aumarunui states that a milkman named W. Miles had an exciting experience on Friday night. When car-ying milk from a cow-bail to a dairy lightning struck tho milkcan and kuoeked Miles down. The man was dazed, but escajp-'d injury.

"It must bo distinctly understood by all ranks," says District Orders, "that brown boots, as laid down in regulations, means brown, not red, as has been noticed as worn by a few details. The latter are not uniform and can only be termed as most unsoldierly, and the practice must be discontinued."

Mr. Robert Gibson, of Eltham, has donated a handsome challenge silver roso bowl for a points prize in tho principal section of tho open class at tho Hult Valley Patriotic Spring Mower Show on September 12 and 13.

A Chinaman named Bang Chong was, saya ouv special correspondent, tiued wfi'iO, in default ono months imprisonment, at Masterton oil Pritlay, for Keeping liquor for sale ill a no-license area.

Interesting claims can bo made by a Christchurch blacksmith, Hi'. H. Greenbank, of Colombo Street, regarding the shoeing of cavalry liorses, he having, perfonned that necessary office for horses that were leaving England to take part in tho Zululand campaign in 1878, and also for horses going to participate in tne last South African AVar, and again, after his arrival in Christchurch, lie shod horses belonging -to the first Canterbury Contingent leaving for tho prosmt world struggle. Mr. GreeiiDunk, whose home was at Cranford, near Hounslow, was only nine years old when he commenced to work at his father's forge, and only four years older when lie shod twenty horses belonging to tho l!lth Hussars, then leaving for (ho Zululand campaign. His farrier's certificate won at tho Royal Agricultural Society's Jubilee Show, held at Windsor Great Park in 1889, was signed personally by the lato Queen Victoria. Tho horses of tlie late King Edward and King George, then Prince of Wales, were among those shod by 'Sir. Grconbank. One result of tho _ gift of a battlecruiser by tho Dominion to tho Motherland was that it decided Mr. Greenhank to emigrate to New Zealand, and during tho visits hero of the late Lord Kitchener and Captain It. P. Scott, and Mr. Will Crooks, Mr. Greenbank made sptcial presentation "lucky" horseshoes for the distinguished visitors, cordial letters of acknowledgment being received from each.

With tho increasing use of aeroplanes for pleasure flights an interesting point has been raised as La whether in case of a fatal accident life insurance companies would recognise any liability wider ordinary life insuranee_ policies. Persons regularly engaged in aviation are required to pay a rate abovo tho ordinary premium. The question as to whether the relatives of a person who went for one isolated pleasure flight in an aeroplane and who met his death as the result of an accident would be entitled to recover his life insurance was referred to the Auckland representatives of some of tho leading companies (says the "Herald"). With one exception it was stated that there was no doubt that the companh-s would recognise their liability and pay the insurance money. The branch manager of one old-established company, however, 6tated that after making inquiries at the head offico he was informed that in tho circumstances'mentioned tho company would not recognise any liability unless the extra rate payable by tlioso engaged in aviation was paid; or permission to take a pleasure flight was obtained boforeliand.

A boy named George Gell, twelve years of age, was admitted" to the Hospital on Saturday with a broken arm. Tho boy, who lives in Berhampore, had got his injury by falling from a see-saw.

A prominent Dunedin business man who has several times visited the Waitaki River and has obtained all tho information possible regarding the quiunat salmon which' have now becomo thoroughly acclimatised there, has great faith in tho future of a tinned salmon industry for tho Dominion (states tho "Ctago Daily Times"). Ho says that tho people of Dunedin have but a faint idea of the onormous numbers of salmon which every year travel up the Waitaki, and, presumably, other rivers, to spawn. He has also taken tho troublo to obtain all the data possible regarding tho habits of tho salmon which are caught in tho rivers of the west coast of Canada and tho United States, and has no doubt that the New Zealand salmon are _of tho sajno species as that which provides the basis of tho great Canadian and American tinned fish industry. Tho salmon in these great rivers of the northern hemisphere spawn only once, thon die, and float tail first, dead, battered, and emaciated, down the rivers. Onco a salmon of the American species enters a river to spawn, it never turns back. Escaping the perils of tho ocean, it enters tho river mouth on tho last journey Naturo requires from it. In the river it ceases to eat, but presses on towards the spawning grounds.- Some manage to ovade the traps, the nets, tho water-wheels, otc., which line the river banks, to surmount the rapids, and finally '.o reach their last destination. The Dunedin business man had the idea that, as the salmon in New Zealand have but a few miles to swim in tho rivers to Jeach the spawning grounds, as compared with the hundreds of miles in tho rivers of British Columbia and tho United Stales, they might not die as tho northern fish do, but return to tho ocean. From information which ho has received, however," ho has ascertained that fsh have been seen in the Waitaki, towards tho end of tho spawning season, floating tail first down tho river.

Representations have been made to tho Government by some of tho local millers that a special regulation should be introduced prohibiting tho use of wheat for feeding fowls (Gays tho "Otngo Daily Times ). This course lias been fi>rccil on millers by tho alleged iiction of a South Otngo farmer. This farmer has been holding over 1000 sacks of milling wheat for several months, with tho licpe that tho Government might permit an increase in tho prices fixed by regulation. At present tho highest price which put be received is ss. lOd. per bushel. This RopG, however, appears to bo doomed to disappointment. But tho Tanner has now gained his ends by other means. When the regulations were passed it was laid down that they should not cover any transaction under 50 bushels. Tho farmor therefore is simply selling his 1-300-odd sacks in 6mall lots of unclor 50 bushels, and lias received as lik'a as 6s. Gd. per bushel from buyers, who intend to use the wheat for feeding fowls. As regards utilising wheat for feeding fowls, it is Btated that at the Milton poultry farm no wheat is now used, and that highly satisfactory results are obtained from feeding oats, barley, and ryecorn, Y'itU plenty of greon fbod.

Sorgeant Hugh Fraser (who was fcr nomo time on tho IltaraTy staff of the ehristchurch "Press"), writing from "Somewhere in Tranoe" to a New Plymouth friend, says, in the course of hs letter: "That was really a great day lor New Zealand, for we captured Messtnes, a place the Allies had won beforo and <ou!d not hold, and whicK'liad practically been trtreraan stronghold for two years und a. Half. A row (toys before, certain troops, who recently won an equally airong position, wore laying the odds against New Zealand. These troops had won iless'ines, but had lost it, and tiiey said to our chaps, 'You will lake it, but you won't hold it.' Well, our cliaps did both. A few days beforo tho battle I had a splendid view of the villnp from our front line, and saw it to bo ifltlo but a crumpled ruin in brick On the top of a low rising hill, but in this iand of Hat country it is these ridges which mean so milch to tho army which holds tliem."

Tho reply of a judgment debtor in the Magistrate's Court the other day literally "took tlio wind" from tho sails of tho examining solicitor (says the Auckland "Star"). The man said his wages averaged J22 10s. per week, on which he supported a. wife and four children, after paying 18s. rent. "You have four children?" "Yes." "What nro their ages?" "Five years, four, and two." "Ah," remarked counsel, clutching at a straw, which quickly gavo way, "but yon told this Court just now that you had four children. What do you aeaji by saying that?" "I don't mean anything, except the truth. You see, we have twins."

A sum of nearly .£2500 has been raised in the Auckland Anglican Dioccse up to tho presont for the extension of the Church's work in training camps, In England and at the front. An effort to the samo end is being made throughout tho Dominion, and it is hoped to raise a total sum of .£IO,OOO. A remittance of i£2ooo has already been nado for work at Sling %mp. The fund is being administered by an Anglican committee, but will be used for the benefit of New Zealand soldiers of all denominations.

Mr. F. Mason. Feilding, will judge tho narcissi and Mr. 0. A. Chapman the general classes ;.t tho forthcoming Hutt Yallev Patriotic Spring Flower Show. Colonel Potter, C.M.G.. Camp Commandant, has consented to the Trentham Military Band being in attendance at the opening of the show.

At a meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association to be hold on September 17 Mr. .T. Orcliiston, Chief Electrical Engineer, is to read a paper on the prospects of obtaining nitrates from the air in New Zealand with the aid of hydro-electric power.