LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3195, 20 September 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Among the presentations to 1)9 made by His Excellency the Governor-Gonei'al at Wanganui this evening are two Jongservice medals awarded by the Order of St. John to Sergeant-Major Becconsall, N.Z.M.C, of the instructional staff, Awapuni, and Mr. S. Brine, officer in charge of the brigado in Wanganui. The medals are granted for 15 years' continuous and efficient service in tht St. John Ambulance Brigade. To Mr. Brine's medal is attached a. bar for five extra years' sorvice. Both men have had considerable experience in brigade work in England, and both already hold medals—the gifts of Royalty for special services rendered. A. question about home service men was asked of Sir Jamea Allen in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson. He asked what was the position of men who volunteered for active service and were subsequently classed fit for home service cnly. Were they to be retained for home sex - - vice or oould they return to civilian pursuits? Sir James Allen 6tated that if a man did not volunteer for home service he could go back to private employment. He was not discharged from the Forces, but was given indefinite leave without payit is understood that ono of the Union Company's smartest coastal vessels v ill be taken over shortly by th 9 (Jovernment for the carriage of frozen produce from Now Plymouth to Wellington. The Fire Brigade was last evening callod to an outbreak at a lodginghouse at No. 141 Upper Willis Street. The house consisted of eighteen rooms in two stories. The lire began in the rear portion of the building, and travelled to the second story, with the result that the place and its contents wore both severely damaged.. One lodger, an old maM named Hugh M'Clafferty, was badly burned about the arms and forehead, and lad to be removed to tho Hospital. The knant of the building was Mr. John Fox, and the owner Mr. Maurice O'Connor. The insurance on the contents was oE2OO in the Standard office. "Some people say wo should stop yacht racing while the war is on," said Mr. W. Duncan, who presided at Hie meeting of tho Port Nicliolson Yacht Club /last ovening. "If wc did stop it, the bovs ac the front would have to" start it iigain when they returned. I think it is cuiite right to race while the war is on, and I think we should try to no able to say to them when they come back that re havo a new boatshed for them." Charges of victimising the public by "fortune-telling" will be preferred against several women in tho Magistrate's Court to-day. A Press Association telegram from Pahialim states that two plain-clothes c'ty constables visited Pahiatua recently, with the result that eighteen anti"shouting" charges'' were heard before tho Magistrate, Mr. lioid, yesterday. The wives of two licensees, also an hotel employee, who servod liquor were each fined forty shillings, and tho other defendants were fined twenty shillings. The cases were the first of the kind in Pahiatun. Miss Ada Reeve, tho brilliant English actress, who has done so much for relumed soldiers everywhere sho goes, and whose name will ever be revered in Australia for the great work sho has done for tho Anzac Buffet in London, is still raising funds for the support of the only place in London that supplies free meal's to ouir boys. A telegraphic communication has been received from Auckland stating that the total collections in Auckland for the Anzac Buffet amounted to ■£2SO. Miss Peeve was accorded an ovalion at her farewell performance thero on Tuesday night, 'and tho Auckland returned soldiers made Miss Rcovo an honorary life member of their association. Among Hie men who enlisted in Wellington recently was ono who was quite a recent arrival in the Dominion. Not only had lie been in the country but two days when lie submitted himself for examination, but lie wanted to be sent to camp light away. The salvngo enso in which the Union Steam Ship Company pf Now Zealand, Ltd., will seek to recover the -sum of .£BOOO from the ownors of tho big sailing vessel which went oshoro near Poncarrow Head recently for the assistance given the vossol by' Iho tut; Toniwhiti will bo opened at tho Supreme Court in ils Admiralty jurisdiction at 10.30 a.m. 10-day, before the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout).

Summor in France—what a country!" writes a New Zealand soldier to a friend from bis rest billot. "To-day is abso-. lutely perfect, and to wander round the country, decked in its summor clothes, is just delightful. There is a big orchard on tho farm where wo rest, and we have enough cherries to last ns for ages. It is a bit early for the rest of the fruit, but there's a good time coming. There aro only about ten of us at this billet. Tho peoplo horo are extremely kind to vs. There are three girls, who do all our sewing and give us the use of the kitchen of an evening. All tho work in the fields hero is being done by the women n,nd old men, and they work from dawn till dark. In this country you never see a young man out of uniform, and when tho soldiers go homo on leave it is to help with the harvest. To such peoplo carrying bricks for eight hours a day would bo gontlo recreation. Great folk, these French I" "In the matter of voluntary enlistments in tho Expeditionary Forces the club has now reached tho oxcellent total of 58. This performance," says the annual leport of the Karori Riflo Cluib, "of a club whose strength at tho outbreak of war was not more than 60 or G5, is one of which wa miglit well bo proud, and one which stands second to none among the riflo clubs of the Dominion." "The large proportion of our members with the Forces has prompted the remark, attributed to the late General F. E. Johnston (a vice-president of the club), that the club might almost establish its headquarters in France."—Extract from the annual report of the Karori Rifle Club. The Napier Returned Soldiers' Association has issued a notice warning residents that men posing as returned soldiers aro going about soliciting help, and asking people to procure the names and regiment numbers of these men and obtain other proof of their identity before giving relief (telegraphs our special correspondent). The association greatly deprecates returned soldiers begging for assistance. Arrangements are well in 'hand for tho winter reunion of pioneers and their descendants, to be held at the Town Hall on Dominion Night. Monday, 21th. lho Early Settlors and Historical Association extend a hearty welcome to nil early settlers and those interested in the early settlement of New Zealand to attend. The function takes the form of a social gathering. Among the speakers who have promised to Rttond are the Prime Minister, Eight Hon. W. F. Massey, Hon. (s. W. Russell, Arohbishop Redwood, Kov. J. Peterson, and Sir Robert Stout. Several well-known singers will contribute oldtimo songs to bring back memories of early days to those attending. William Hart, aged 30 years, and residing on the Hutt Road at Kaiwarra, was yesterday knocked down by a motor-car while he was cycling. He was injured about tho shoulder, and had to bo taken to the Hospital. During a stoppage in the proceedings of tho Napier Borough Council on Friday, says an exchange, Councillor Creagh asked leave to make a few and on permission being granted he said:— "Since this council came into office I sea a very laTge number of the public present at every meeting. Now, If they came here as people interested in borough affairs I would be pleased to see them, but I know they don't. A member: I wonder what they come for? Councillor Creagh: I regret to sayjliat it is our being members of the 'City Council Vaudeville Company." It Is not dignified. Members: Of course It isn't. Counoillor Creagh: 1 want to say that when I nominated for a position on this council I did it in' all seriousness. 1 was elected by the people, and I felt I had a great honour conferred upon me. I thought they wanted me to use anv Brains I possessed in their interests and the interests of the town. I didn't come here as an actor. (Cries of "Hear, Hear," and stamping of feet amongst the.spectatora.) lAm hM* to carry out the Business o fthis council as I do my | own business. 1 do not. want to be judged by the public of Napier In any other way, nor do I want to be classed with these eomio actors. ' A two-storied dwelling in Park Road, Carterton, belonging to Miss Baggarley, and occupied by Mr. J. S'picer, was destroyed by fire on' Tuesday morning. The building, which was-a landmark of 35 years' standing, was not insured, and there was no policy on the contents. Mr. W. J. Dickie- has received a letter from the Prime Minister, in reply to one he addressed to him upon the subject of the discontinuance of Territorial camps: Mi. Massey states that he brought the matter before the Minister of Defence. His colleague, he says. points out that the camps do not commence again until February uext. The question of holdine or discontinuine them will depend on the conditions then existing in the Dominion, but in any case every consideration will be given to tho needs of the country. In all cases where unduo hardship is likely to occur exemntion from parades should be soueht from the nearest Defence' office, and in proved cases this will be readily granted. The "New Zealand Herald" states that the planting of the new potato crop in the Auckland Province has been considerably retarded by wet weather, and in consequence tho fitst of the early potatoes are not expected to be on the Auckland market before November, and the main crop not before January. There is reason to believe that fewer potatoes will bo planted in the Auckland Province this. year. Some growers have already planted areas twice over, but on account of the excessive' rain the results havo been very poor. The Claims Board of the Wairarap.i Patriotic Association met at. Masterte'j on Tuesday, Mr. H. Morrison presiding. Tho secretary of the Masterton Patriotic Shop intimated that October G and 20, and also the Saturday in show week, had been set aside for the benefit of tho Wairarapa hutment in France. The Department of Internal Affiars forwarded a statement of the funds of the various patriotic associations of tho Dominion up till March 31. Right of service grants were made to two Wairarapa men,' and to the dependants of one Wairarapa man killed in action. One returned soldier was granted a loan to assist in tho purchase of property, and temporary assistance was granted one applicant. A message to tho London "Daily ExPress," on August 1. stated:—Addressing a gathering of personal friends at Petrograd, M. Kerensky said: "I am suffering from an hereditary disease, and have not" long to livo. I must hurry up my work of liberating Russia. Peace now would mean that the Russians in futuro would be tho vassals of tho ICaiser, instead of the Tsar. This would be worse than ever." Edward Martin, who died at tho ■Veterans'' Home at Auckland, is another of tho men of tho old 65th Regiment. Ho enlisted in 1552 at Liverpool, and came to New Zealand with a draft of tho 58th Rcgimeut, to which ho was then attached. He was at tho Bay of Islands for two years, after which he returned to Auckland to the 65th Regiment. During tho war Mr. Martin took part in the various fights where tho 65th Regiment was engaged with the Maoris. In 1865 ho took his dischnrse and went on tho land. He entered the Veterans' Home in April, 191 G. In the Carterton Police Court on Tuesday, says our special correspondent, a man named Nicholas A. S. Gilchrist, who goes under a nickname of "Jack Stew, art," was convicted and ordered to come ui) for sentence when called upon on a charge or using a name other than that by which he was customarily known. A section under the Military Service Act for an offenco of this nalurc imposes a penally 'not exceeding three months' imprisonmont. or a fine of not nveerdiit" ,£s(l, upon any reservist, who without written consent assumes or uses, or continues to use, any name other'ilinn that by which ho was customarily known on NoVembm- 1. 1915. The Department stated that he had been known for a number of years ns ".Tack Stewart," and had onlisted three times and been turned down. The presiding Justices did not consider that tho case disclosed a wilfuil act requiring a penalty.