LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 90, 9 January 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Merchant Service Guild has decided to ascertain what action can be taken with a view to obtaining compensation for the relatives of the crew of tho Wairuna, which while on a trip to San Francisco from Auckland in June of last year disappeared, and has not sinco been heard of.

The Wellington Cricket Association last evening decided that the proceeds from the Canterbury-Wellington cricket match aro to bo banded to tho Mayor's Patriotic Fund.

A street nuisance tlmtwas banished some time ago has made its appearance again in the form of the b''cycle syren. The startling wail of these whistles is most disturbing to weak nerves. The use of syrens except on fire engines is prohibited in most of the cities of the world.

The desiro to avoid military service is still strong with some "eligibles," who will take almost any risk to attain their ends. One such, named Harry Lewis, stowed sway on a steamer hound for an Australian port without first obtaining a permit from the Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs. He was, however, not permitted to land in Australia, and was brought back to New Zealand. Yesterday ho appeared in tho Magistrate's G'ouri, before Mr. W. 6. Riddell, S.M., and was fined £10, in default one month's imprisonment, for leaving tho Dominion without a permit.

Five bank niptcies were registered in tho Wairarapa during 1917. as compared with thirteen for 1916. In a.circular letter issued to Masons by Mr. Oliver Nicholson, Grand Master of the Masonic fraternity, an appeal is made for the maintenance of one or more hutments in Franco for the soldiers. This movement originated in Palmerston North and Wanganui. The hutments will bo managed and administered by tho Y.M.C.A. organisation on hehalf of the Masonic institution, at an estimated cost of £500 per annum for each hutment, which will bo named individually the Masonic Clieer-0 Hutment."

It transpired at the Masterton Magistrate's Court on Monday (says tho Wainirapa "Age") that two yomig men and two young girls consumed a dozen bottles of beer while indulging in a picnic party on the banks of the Wnipoim River tin Sunday afternoon.

A lad, aged thirteen years, who was found sleeping on a wool puck on the wharf at midnight on Monday, told tho polico that ho ran away from his homo in the Wairarapa, and came to Wellington on a bicycle to look for work. He appeared in tho Juvenile Court yesterday before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., and was remanded until to-day, to enahlo tlie police to make further inquiries.

An application has been filed in the Arbitration Court by both parties to tho Manawatu flaxmilling award to navo tho clause relating to tho boarding of workers struck out. 'This is Clause ', which reads as follows;—" Where board is provided for workers, the board shalrho sufficient in quantity and ,good quality, and the charge therefor, whether board shall •bo provided directly by tho employer or by aiy person under contract with him, shall not exceed 17s. 6d. per week; nor shall any additional charge be made by way of rent for \ise of buildings, payment for use of cooking utensils, or otherwise whatsoever."

It is 130 years this month since New South Wales was founded. Tho first fleet arrived in Botany Bay on January 18, 1788. Four days later Sydney Cove was discovered and named, and four days after that New South Wales was founded.

In view of the decision to hold a New Zealand appeal in aid of the service of the Y.M.C.A. to New Zealand soldiers, an expression of admiration of the work of the association by Brigadier-General' Of. S. Richardson, Commander of the New Zealand Forces in the United Kingdom, which was received recently from Eugland, is of. particular interest. On Octuber, 24. a fine three-storied New Zealand Y.M.C.A. centre was opened nt Torquay, and Brigadier-General Richardson, on' behalf of the soldiers, expressed his appreciation of the enterprise "The brain-power and imagination at the top of tho Y.M.C.A.," he said, "had expanded their activities beyond every pre-war idea. Tho Y.M.C.A. was helping to build np fine, clean, young men." The New Zealand Y.M.C.A., with the help of the public, has alreadv ' allocated £100,000, for the benefit of the New Zealanders at tho front.

Speaking at a meeting of the Auckland Presbytery last evpning the Rev. J. \Y. Shaw said that there were 200 Presbyterian charges iii the Dominion and only 150 ministers. The latter number was likely to bo reduced as the balloting for the Second Division proceeded, and as no recruits to the ranks of the ministry were coming forward he suggested that adjoining charges should be amalgamated where such arrangement was suitable. A committee was appoiuted to report on the proposal.—Press Assn.