LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 3, 28 September 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

That mysterious motor-launch with tho party of touring foreigners on board, which is reported to Tiave visited the Cook Islands and caused a sensation there, was

tho subject of an inquiry in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. J. Vigor Brown. Mr. Jlassoy saiu that lie was not ill a position to make any official statement on the subject at present.

"Boforo we 6tart on the order paper will everyono rise and sing the National Anthem ?'" asked Mr. It. A. Armstrong, president of tho Second Division League Federation. "One moment, sir!" interjected Mr. J. Gilchrist (Gisborne), but the gathering commencod to sing the anthem and sang it with great heartiness. When tho final note died away Mr. Gilchrist sprang to Ms feot again and said: "I was going to say before you sang that song that it was said, on the upiiiion of gooc. authorities, that the song is German!" (Murmurs.) "We've sung (lie- National Anthem," said the president, "and I must not allow any discission upon it." (Applause and "Hear, hears") , !

The fishing season for troul. in ,tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society's district will open on Monday noit, October 1, and during tho past ten days a number of licences have bc-cn issued. From all parts of tho district good reports as to prospects have been received. There are said to be many fish, and there is plenty of water in the rivers and streams, and given good weather anglers expect to have a good time. TVjc Hntt, Rangitikei, Hautapu, Ruamaiianga, .11akuri, and many other streams are expected to provide sport of the btst. Heavy restocking has been carried out this fry senson in all suitable waters in order to keep up the standard for next season.

"You liave been previously convicted of drunkenness," remarked Inspector Marsack to a man charged with being drunk. "Yes," replied the man, "I was convicted on false evidence." Jnspecloi Marsack stated that thorn were Gil previous convictions against thii accused, and ho wanted to know if he was convicted on falso evidence on nil the 63 occasions. "Only on some of thorn," replied the man. Returned soldiers are supposed i-ot to be liable to be called up for military scrvice. Mr. J. Anatey montioned in the Houso of •Representatives yesterday the caso of a man in South Canterbury. This young man had gone to Samoa, and had taken his discharge on rotiirn. He was subsequently married, nnd ho appealed when called in the ballot. His case was adjourned sine die. Mr. Anslcy said that it appeared that retnrned soldiers were being called up in the ballot in spite of assurances to tho contrary. While walking through his property on Monday, Mr. David Smith, of Manaia, discovered two pot-holes, with exudations of mud, which had evidently been cnuscd by volcanic action. A. Gazette notice issued yesterday states that the following officers shall bo entitled to deck berths on steamers an'd sleeping berths on trains at ttfo "public expense:—Tho Commandant, tho Assist-ant-Military Secretary, heads of Departments and directors of 'tho Headquarters Staff, and officers commanding districts. Under special circumstances the Minister may grant an extension of the privilege conferred in tho preceding regulation to an officer other than the above. An eld ladv (about.seventy years of I age) named Mrs. Boulter, residing at 178 Tarannki Streot, yesterday tripped over tho mat at the back door of tho house, and foil, breaking her leg. She was removed to Ihe Hospital. Tt was stated by a shearer appellant at tho sitting of the Military Appeal Board in Masterton that last season l,e 'had shorn 4700 sliccp, his avorago being 150 per day. In discussing State assistance to the dependant-s of soldiers, at Yesterday's Second Division Conference. Mr. J. Gilchrist (Gisbonic) stated that in no wise had the Financial Assistance Board granted more than JJt per week. Ee knew of several very hard eases indeed

that could be quoted, bill' in no case had more than the <£1 per week been allowed, though tho board couM have grunted assistance up to »E3. There was too nnicli tnlk of generosity on the part of these boards. When it came to business it would bn found that they were very narrow in their ideas of assistance.

It hits been decided that the commercial travellers' crusade in the Wairarapa in; nid of the "Rod Ctoks T\mds be postponed until February of next year.

'Unerring accuracy and dynamic strength in organisation and manufacture give to tho CHEVROLET car that enduring life which power, accuracy, and strength in' the forge give lo the hundred's of important though unseen parts of the car.—Advt.

Up till August 31 last, says our Mastertoii correspondent, approximately 3000 men lind gono into camp from tho Wairarapa.

Now Zealand soldiers in the Old Country just now give promise of winning for their country a name in' tho cricket world. Through the kindness of the ground authorities concerned four cricket matches liavo recently been arranged for Now Zealand teams at Lords and tlio Oval. Needless to say nil theso cncountors havo been thoroughly onjoyed. In tho last game at Lords, of which mail noffg has como to hand, tho Now Zealand team at Sling defeated a crack Canadian eleven, which had won each of its numerous matches this season. Tho Canadians "declared" at tho toa interval, with eight wickets down for 178, to which Captain Saxon's team replied with 201 for three wickots, Quinu making 127 (retired). Theso matches have been arranged by the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. as part of tho work of its social sorviee department in London, liio association's representative lias also secured permission to tako Now Zealanders to play tennis or bowls at the grounds of a private club in Streatham.

Since tho right of service grant has been in operation in the \Y airarapa, payments of .£5 have been made to 171 returned soldiers, and to tho dependants or 63 jWairarapa men killed in action. Through the courtesy of Mr. Thomas,' the manager of the English Pierrots, that popular company will give ono of their entertainments to the soldiers at the Y.M.C.A. Hut, frentham Camp, this evening.

Tho ■ Wairarapa Patriotic Association Tins a sum of £17,200 invested on deposit, ,£42,500 in debentures, and .£24,000 on mortgage. Te interest derived up till June 30 last amounted to £3880.

The sum of £20 "conscience money" has been forwarded to tho Commissioner of Taxes. Acknowledgment of the same is made in the current Gazette.

Owing to the inclemont weather yesterday there were several earth slips. One of some extent rendered the Tond near Silverstream impassable, and as a result The Dominion motor-car. which daily carries the papers for Wairarapa readel's, was unable to got through, and the papers were forwarded by the mail tram at a Liter hour.

The Salvation Army is uniting for the citizens' service in the Town Hall in connection with the National Day or Prayer, and in addition Commissioner Hodder is conducting two supplicatory services, one in the Vivian Street Hall at 11 a.m., and the other in the Gml Opera House, in Manners Street, at t p.m. With a view to encouraging the progress of international studies m cue schools of the Empire, the Council ot the Eoyal Colonial Institute have revised the conditions of their essay competitions, and have decided fa London correspondent writes) to award silver and bronze medals and prizes of boots, instead of money .prizes, for the best essays sent'in by boys or girls!*]»« a ™.P ll ? L ' a at schools cither in the United Kingdom or in the outer Empire. There will be two classes—A and B. The subject for Class A (candidates over 11) y™ T ?,.V age) is "A Comparison of the British Umpire and the Empires of the Past, and tho subject for Class B (candidates above the age of 13 and under 16) The Work of David, Livingstone as an i.m-pire-Builder." The. essays are to be received at the Royal Colonid institute, Northumberland Avenue, W.C. before March 31, 1918, and the regulations can be obtained from tho secretary.

The depletion of the Post Office fllaff through enlistments lias to some extent been remedied lately by the emptoy®"" of returned soldiers (says the Auckland "Herald"). In speaking of the matter, Mr .T C. Williamson, Chief Postmaster, stated' that 4fl returned men wewjiow employed by the Department, including about 20 in\ the letter-carriers and messenger branch Wherever possible preference was given to -returned soldiers; some went buck to their former positions or to some work as near as possible to that done formerly, while .a number ot new men' have also been employed, in view of the fact that still heavier demands will bo made on the staff when the Second Division is called up, the return of the soldiers to their former occunation Has been most opportune , Private Thomas Dunford, of Anderson Bay, Duaedin, in the course c-f a letter from tho front, says-.— Early in the morning of »luno 23.1. got a smack from a shell, the result being a compound fracture of tho left thigh, Iwo lot my mates dragged mo to a 6^ e 4i: ?) 0 , and stuck to ine for a while, bat Fritz a are was so hot that they had-to leave me. Almost helpless I lay in" No Man s Land for two days and three nights, i with about a pint of water vn my bottle and not a bite to cat. On the morning of June 25 Fritz put up a heavy barrage over the ground where I was lying, and high explosive shells and Bhrap'jel were bursting all round me. I thought my time had come, but now I think Providenco must have been watching over mo. About an hour before daylight about 'six of our patrols were coking round, and bv the slightest chance, they noticed the top of my helmet. There was an officer amongst thom. They got round tho shell i'.ole and covered ran with their rifles, thinking I might be a Hun in disguise. After a couple of questions had been aslced they quickly brought a stretcher from our front line and got me out of it. Fritz caught sight of them carrying me away, and wo "were shollcd all the to tho dressing 'station—a . distance ; or about three miles, some parts of the journey being over very rough country. _T am now. doing well in a hospital in France, but 'as soon as Tam fit to tvavw I exoect to cross the Channel to Old Blighty."' ■