LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 95, 15 January 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Stato Labour Bureau in Wellington recently booked up a number of men for harvesting work. Yesterday thnro wore oleven harvesters left on tlio books, and no work obtainable for them. It wna explained that a telegram had , been received from Canterbury to tho effect that no more harvesters were required. Councillor M'Kenzie brought forward a motion at last night's meeting of the Petono Borough Council urging the Government to grant to soldiers on leave and to sailors of the Navy on leave the right «>F free travel upon the New Zealand railways, and upon steam ferry boats. Tho motion suggested that, if necessary, the question be decided by vote of Parliament. Councillor M'Kenzio said that no revenue should be made out of the soldier, and that the soldier should be able lo travel free cf charge to any place lie wished to visit. The council supported the proposal. "How long do they keep a man in the CI camp?" asked the chairman of tho Military Service Board yesterday.

"Wo have just had an instance of a man's remaining in it seven and n half weeks before being transferred to tho military camp," replied Captain .Baldwin. "1 suppose many are thrown out in less than three weeks," observed the chairman. "Somo arc, said Captain Baldwin, "hut the camp has proved extraordinarily successful."

Tho ltight Hon. W. 1 ,, . Mnssey and Mrs. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward and J.ady Ward, and Mr. J. V. Luke, C.M.G., and Mrs. Luke have consented to net as patrons of tho Scottish Women's Hospitals for War Service Fund.

Eleven married and twenty-seven single men applied for work to the State Labour Bureau in Wellington. Seven married and seventeen single men were- placed.

Tho Commissioner of Stamps has advised the Masterton. A. and P. Association that tho amusement tax is payable on all members' subscriptions. It has been decided to consult a solicitor upon the subject.

lioading is a problem that has not been solved in manv parts of New Zealand, but people who travel about the Dominion frequently express the opinion that Wellington has reduced the puzzle to this extent at least, that it is the best roaded city in the country. Speaking to a Dominion reporter on the subject of the best kind of streets to lay down, the Mayor said that he was quite convinced that for the streets carrying heavy traffic the wood-blocking stood out by itself.' It was the most durable, and in the long run was the most economical.

A Press Association' telegram from Christchurch states that Mr. L\ F. Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, says he proposes to prospect for quiiinat salmon along tho .coast from Oamaru to north of the llangitata. If the results are favourable, tho Department next season may 'have the sea exploited in order to place supplies on the market.

The Fahiatua Methodist Quarter Board has considered the proposal lvhicli emanated in Wellington last year to reduce tho size of the annual church conference, and the question is to he introduced again, in the shape of a report by a special committee at the Dunedin Conference in February. Tho meeting in Fahiatua strongly objected to any proposal to reduce the sizo of the conference, it being considered a retrograde- and undemocratic step, and prejudicial to the representation of co.untry circuits.

Tlie Pahiatua Methodists, at their recent quarterly meeting, held n ballot, when Mr. 0. Johnson was elected conference representative, and Mr. A. J. Patchett substitute delegate. The former was reappointed senior steward and circuit reporter. Mr. J. J. Boagey was re-elected junior steward, Mrs. Groves and Mrs. Sinclair Home and Foreign Mission agents; and the Rev. H. Cottom M.T. agent. Gratification was expressed at tho sums collected for missions and orphanage, increases being shown on previous years. It ivas resolved to hold a harvest thanksgiving fete and gift stock salo, similar to last yp- . Mrs. Groves and Mrs. Sinclair, Synod delegates, presented their report. Sympathy was extended to 11--Lawrence (AVoodvillc), Mr. and Mrs. v. Cressn r>ll (Reliance), and the Rev. L. H. Fpnn. in their bereavement, and to Mr. R. Holdaway in family illness. Signaller Groves, of Makomako, invalided soldier, was congratulated on his return home. Votes of thanks were nassed to Woodville Bible Class, Mr. AY. Webster (Gift Sunday collector), the Synod delegates. Gift Sunday donors, Mrs. Sinclair (H.M. collector}, and to the circuit stewards. A credit balance was reported on the quarter's working. The Synod's recommendation regarding increased stipend was deferred till next meeting.

Record flights have been made in Cliristchurch this month. JSarly Inst Monday morning iUr. C. M. fctifl took Mrs. H. 1\ W'igrsm up to an a.ltitude of 3000 ft.—the highest yet accomplished with a passenger—in the ]00 h.p. instructional biplane in use at the flying school. Circling from the aerodrome to a height of 1500 ft, the machine gradually widened out in larger circles ui-.fcil at 3000 ft. Mr. Hill entered the clouds, remaining for two or three niinuces, finally taking a stiaight glide, without the engine, into the five miles distant. The following morning this record was beaten by Mr. Hill, v.ith Lieutenant-Colonul Sie&man as passenger, when a height of 4000 ft. was attained. Colonel Sleoman was engaged in taking photographs for experimental purposes. At the highest altitude it was possible to seo over the Cashmere Hills to the sea beyond, and also to see a hundred miles across country. Tho flight was concluded with a. spiral descent, cleverly fxecuted, and a volplane, which Colonel Sleeman declared was brilliant.

A Christchurch correspondent states:—The German prisoners who are to bo placed on Ripa Island are Count von Lucknor and Lieutenant Kirscheiss, and another, who will bo orderly to the two officers. So far as is known at present, no othor prisoners of war will be placed on Uipa Island, the object of tho new scheme being to separato the leadeTS of the party which encaped from Motuihi from anyone who could give them assistanco in further attempts to escape. The measures ';aken for the guarding of the prisoners include the erection of a stockade, and the establishment on the island of an armed guard of Kiifficient strength to enable the prisoners to be guarded night and day. At tho samo time the preparations will ensuro adequate comfort for the prisoners, without relaxation of (lie precautions. Captain C. V. Lecniing, M.C., of Christchurch, has been appointed commander of the internment camp at Ripa luland. Captain Leeming is a well-known Field Artillery officer, who left with the Main Body, and served in Gallipoli and France, where he won the Military Cross. After his return from tho front, as a result of being seriously wounded, hu was appointed adjutant to the Canterbury Field Artillery Brigade.

Fishing off the wharves is to be prohibited in Auckland.

Referring to the announcement that the Railway Department is about to tako over another section of the Strat-ford-Main Trunk Railway, the Taranaki "Daily News" states that it is nearly 17 years since this lino was commenced. It was on March 28, 1901, that tho first sod was turned at Stratford by the Hon. (now Sir) William Hall-Jones. Tho Minister undertook to have the line complotcd as far as Toko by tho following Christinas, six milee iii nine months, and optimists forecasted the compietion of the Auckland line in periods varying from five to ten years. Seventeen years liavo passod, and the lino is now to be opened to Kohuratani, 45 miles from Stratford, and considerably less than half-way to tho junction with the Main Trunk line. A further threo miles or so are nearly finished at tho Stratford end, and a considerable amount of work has been done at tho eaetern end, but in view of the lioavy work involved between Tahora and Tatu it can scarcely be said that the fine is much moro than half constructed. Seventeen years liavo passed since the Australian Commonwealth was founded. Of the seventy-five nienibere of the first House of Representatives only fifteen are in the present House. Sir John Forrest is the only member of the first Ministry who is still iu active politics. Four members of the original Senate have sat continuously for the seventeen years. All who eat in the first Houso of Representatives have held offico of some kind, with tho exception of Mr. Manfold, who was out of tho House for ten years, and Mr. Bruce Smith. The changes in tho

House have not been more striking (tho "Argue" remarks) than the upheavals which liiive taken place in party relations. It was tho boast of the old Labour Party for many years that it had not lost ono of tho men in the Hous« of Representatives who composed the Cabinet of which Mr. J. C. Watson was tho leader. There nro only four ol those- men remaining to pay allegiance to Caucus principles, whilo tliero are five under the Nationalist banner.

Recently (says an exchange) a deepwater steamer loaded nt one of the Australian ports. While the job was ill progress an armed guard was on the pier night and day, no British being allowed to como near without .1 permit. Now —take a deep hienth! The wharfinger's name was Keinhamer, and his assistant's Bismarck.

The farming population of Northern France is gradually trickling back to its native Boil as the Germans arts forced from it by the repeated '■pushes" of the British and French Armies. It. is estimated that about 25,400 persona have returned to their holdings since the Germans began to retreat.

A very sad story concerning the return of a soldier has been told to tho Eltham paper. Ho arrived recently, and was surprised and disappointed at there being no friends or ;elatives to meet him. On the way up to Wanganui in the train he learned that during hie absence his father and mother had both died, also a brother, and that tho homo had now changed hands.