LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 53, 26 November 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The third draft of CI recruits, some 600 strong, entered camp nt Tauheronikau last week. The draft, in tho light of previous experience, is regarded as a good ono, and the training staff believes that- it will produce over 350 fit mon for tho reinforcement drafts during tho. next few months. Tho latest CI recruits havo tho advantage of a developed training system and an experienced staff, and they are reported to be taking to their work quite as cheerfully as the men who came bgfore them. Tho transfer of fit mei from the CI oamp to tho A camps has begun and will bo continued as tho training proceeds, and the recruits roach the necessary standard,of fitness. It is noticeable that even tho men who havo finally to be discharged on medical grounds are benefiting very greatly by tho training. They are allowed ono month's leave on full pay in order that they may have time to reinstate themselves in civil employment. Friday next will be St. Andrew's Day, and a Civil Service and bank holiday. Yesterdav was about as perfect a summer's day as anyone could desire. The sun blazed gloriously from the clear sky throughout the whole of the day, tho heat being tempered ly a light northerly breeze, almost too gentle at times to fill tho sails of tho yachts which moved lazily across the gleaming harbour. All the seaside places were well patronised, a very iargo crowd visiting Lyall Bay, either to bathe or to watch the bathers. There were attendances at the Te Aro Baths morning and afternoon.

The vagaries of war. One Wellington soldier (an officer) has a son three years old, whom he has not seen.

"Did you have any drink?" asked the magistrate on Saturday morning of a Dutchman who was appearing in the Magistrate's Court. "Yes," said tho man from Holland, "I shouted for some fellow."

Svdney Jones had the misfortune to slip" on 'the steel steps of the engineroom of an overseas steamer in port on Saturday afternoon. He fell a distance of about 30ft., and sustained injuries to the head and shoulder which are believed not to be very serious.

At tho last meeting of the Tliorndon branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the following resolution was carried:—That tho branch protests against the action of _ the Government in upt including single men in the bonus, recently granted to lailwaymen, in view of the statement of tho Minister of Finance, that the Government's hand was forced owing to tho numerous resignations from the service.

The following resolution was passed at the annual reunion of the Masterton branch of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association l—This Bection of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association fully endorses the emphatic protest of the president and executive committeo against robbing the Public Servants of their statutory right to reclassification. It calls upon tho executive to use every means in its power to enlighten the public as to the conditions prevailing in the Department, and the low rate of pay and slow progress of the majority of officers. We consider that every efficient officer is entitled to £3 per week in his sixth year of service, with a reasonable prospeot of a career to encourage officers to give their best service to the Department.

An elderly woman was picked up in Evans. Bay on Friday in a condition of inebriety. The police took her in charge, and sho appeared in tho Magistrate's Court on Saturday. It was stated that she had been walking along the Evans Bay Road under tho influence of liquor, and had fallen into tho water. Her friends usually, looked after her well, and she was a very respectable old lady. The magistrate convicted and discharged her.

"Can vou speak English P" asked Mr. S. E. McCarthy, S.M., of a Dutchman in the Court on Saturday. "No, sir," was the 'replv, in excellent English. "Both the Chinese and tho Maoris have tried that," said His Worship.

Under the Cook Island Council reputations no dogs are permitted on the Island of Aitutnki, and the importation of horses is under a landing levy of £5 for each animal, with a further tax of £1 per annum after. This was done to restrict tho wholesale importation of horses, which do much damage to the bread-fruit trees and other products. Thore aro no fences there.

Owing to tho scarcity of turkeys in New Zealand markets, Australia has recently been drawn upon, and (according to an oxchange) between two and threo tons weight of frozen _ turkoys recently came into tho Dominion, presumably for the Christmas trade.

Last Thursday night a severe frost was experienced in North Canterbury, the temperature being low enough to form ice on tho water. A good doal of damage was done to potato crops and tender garden plants.

An employee of the Publio 'Works Department, named Hugh Newman, met his death in an aoeident at Omoana on Tuesday last (reports the "Argus"). Decoased was employed on tho Whenuakura road removing a log or stump which had slipped from the bank on to the road. The log weighed some four or five tons, and deceased was last seen alive on_ Tuesday morning, when be was making an effort to removo the log with a jack. About 6ix o'clock on Tuesday evening Newman was found lying dead under the log. Death must have been instantaneous. An inquest was oponed on Wednesday and adjourned /until to-morrow, in order to obtain further evidence. Newman, who was about 60 years of age, had been in the_ Omoana district several years, having been employed there for some considerable time by the County Council. As far as can be ascertained he has no relatives in the district. Mr. E. H. Hiley, Goneral Manager of Railways, arrived in New Plymouth' on Wednesday ovening last on a tour of inspection. Mr. Hiley was mot by Mr. A. M'Hardy, president of the Chamber of Commerce, who mentioned that a deputation desired to wait upon him re an improved train service. Mr. Hiloy said it was quite impossible to do anything at the present time in the way of speeding vy> tho train arriving at New Plymouth during tho morning. He pointed out that a lot of dairy produce was picked up on the way, and this took some considerable time, eo much so, in fact, that at this time of the year tho train was frequently late. A mooting to consider the udvisableness of forming a Food Reform Loaguo in Wellington is to bo held in tho Terrace Congregational Church to-morrow evening. . Ladies' Silk Sports Coals continue to grow in popularity. Tlicy are ideal wear for the summer months. The best liouso for the most fnshionable and beautiful designs in Sports Coals is tho well-known Lambton Quay firm, Dai is and Clator.—Adrt,

The Wellington Zoological Socioty's animal fund benefited to the extent of £8 13s. 4d. as the result of a collection taken up at tho "Zoo" yesterday afternoon.

The Christchurch "Sun" reports that a number of grocers' lines of factory butter have been retailed in the- city at Is. 7d. per lb., as against tbo article produced by the- local factorios at Is. Bd. per lb. Factories reduced prices to correspond. The ruling price for factory lines is now Is. 7d. per lb. retail, and Is. sd. net wholesale. Whether or not thesq values will remain settled for a space is uncertain. They appear at present to be based on local conditions, rather than to correspond with the price of the overseas purchase. The action of the factories is bound to prove welcome in tiio grocery trade, as it lias been obvious that the undercutting which has been going on has resulted in several feeling the pinch. The local supply of all grades of butter is plentiful. In fact, the season is really an abnormal one in this respect. In consequence of this, and of the dectino in the values of the factory articlo, separator and dairy butter prices have also fallen by Id. to 2d. per lb. They arc now quoted wholesalo at Is. per lb. for dairy, and Is. Id. per lb. for separator.