LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 124, 12 February 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Court of Inquiry that is investigating matters connected with the recent escape of German prisoners from Motuihi island will sit in Wellington to-day. Important witnesses are to be examined bore. . A notice in General Orders states that separation allowunce for members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is payablo from April 6, 1917. to wives who are residing in the United States of America. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that tho Defence Expenditure Commission, opened its proceedings yesterday. So far Vhe proceedings have been formal. Some time ago it was suggested that toll gates should be erected on the Tβ Auto Road, Hawke's Bay, it being considered that motorists from Wellington, Palmerston North, and other centres, who use this road when passing through to Napier and Gisborne, would thereby contribute towards its upkeep. Yesterday the County Council .oamo to the conclusion that unlimited complications ivould arise from the toll-gato system, and it definitely rejected the proposal.

The Military Service Board will sit in Wellington to-day. What immense power can be exerted by swelling timber may bo witnessed along the northern side of Courtenay Place, where for over two hundred yards or more the concrete- pavingstones have been buckled up to a height in places of six inches. This rather curious sight lias been eausßcl by tlio expansion of the wood-blocks, which have been laid too close together, or rather without enough swelliup-space at the side channel. Tho result is that enormous pressure has been exerted, the lower parts of the solid concrete herhiiig blocks have been canted inwards at the hottom, and, as the result, the paving slabs' luve sprung. 1 he defect is being remedied by nllowing four or five inches of swelling space between the outpr edge of tho channel and the wood-blocked road'.

. Mr. E. A. Eva olb'ckvily took over his position of manager in Australia of the Commonwealth Line of Steamships a few days ago. This position has been filled by Coionel Oldershaw since the purchaso of lifteen . vessels, which constitute the line, .by Mr 1 . Hughee in England, about eighteen months ago. Mr. Larkin, general manager of the line, who has bee,n visitinw Australia, will leave for America shortly. He will probably_ take the i opportunity when in America to inspect vessels which are, being built there to the order of the Commonwealth, and when launched will be incorporated in the line.

A regulation issued by General Headquarters provides an' "establishment of typewriters" for the military districts throughout New Zealand. The total number of machines is to be 101, and the .hiring of machines is to be discontinued at once, requisitions being made for machines to replace hired ones. Business people may bu rather Burprißcd to road the following instructions;—" Any necossary orders will be given by tho Officer Commanding District, wihch will ensure that machines aru used fyr work that must be typewritten. It is suggested, for example, that all short minutes and matter of which copios are not required, might be written by hand, and that tho practice of submitting overy communication in duplicate or triplicate should be exercised with discretion, and reserved for important matters and enclosures only. This and othor economics with a view to convolving typewriter power, should he in-pressed on all concerned." The instruction adds that the local purchase or hire of typewriters will not' bo allowed, nntl that the number of typewriters laid down in tho establishment will not bo increased. ATJR YOU INVENTIVE? If so, there rto many opportunities wheroby you can mako a fortune. Send for splendid free Book, "Advice to lnyoiitors." It tells jou tho articles or improvements that are most needed. Write to Henry Hughee, Ltd., Feathereton Street, Wellington,—Advt.

A quarrel between neighbours was vontilatod in the Magistrate's Court yestordaybeforo Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., whon Henry William Hunt proceeded against William Lock for assault. Tho plaintiff's and defendant's backyard's adjoin each other, and a nephew of Lock's jumped Hunt's fonce. To this exception was taken. Hunt and Lock came- to words ovor the mattor, and Lock, it was alleged, struck Hunt several blows. The defendant admitted striking the complainant. Tho incident took placo on Decemher 29. After hearing the evidence, tho Magistrate convicted tho defendant, and imposed a fine of £1 and costs.

The Secretary of Marino (Mr. G. Allport) has returnod from an extended visit of inspection to the northern jighthouses. Tho latest light is ono in tho Hokianga Harbour, at a placo called "Tho Narrows," between Raweno and Kohukolra. It is an automatic light, similar to the ono on Karori Rock. Mr. Allport also wont over some of tho oyster beds in Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Islands. They are all in good condition, and promising well for next year. Planting is proceeding in tho Bay of Islands, and arrangements are also being made to remove the oysters abovo high-water mark in the loose- at once to below low-water mark. It has been found that oysters above high-water mark never increase in size, but that when removed to the water they quickly grow, and Inrgo quantities have boon shifted as .1 commercial proposition. Speaking further as to the lights, Mr. Allport said that Mr. Fraser, the Department's light expert, was landed at East Cape to instal the incandescent light which had been working there for some time in place of the paraffin light that has beon in use hitherto. Afterwards he would go to Portland Island to instal a similar light there. Also tho steamer took up material for erecting a beacon on Flat Rock, in the Haurnki Gulf, on which thoro would bo ah automatic light. Arrangements had been made with tho Public Works partmont to erect a beacon. There had beon a beacon there for many years, but no light, and it was found that that was not a suitablo structure, and it was to bo enlarged. Tho proposed Parliamentary hip to Waikaronioaua in connection with the hydro-electric scheme was yesterday condemned by the county chairman (Mr. T. E. Cross), suys our Napier correspondent. At the Uawke's Bay County Council meeting he stated that the deputation to the Minister had received a very favourable reply, guaranteeing that the scheme would r.ot be neglected, and it would be unwise for the local bodies to spend about £200 on such a scheme. So far.£3454 has been donated towards tho cost of the erection of a soldiers' ward at the Napier Hospital. It is desired to raise £4400. Fourteen cases of diphtheria vero reported at Napier last month. General Orders contain an extract from a routine order of the British Second Army, in which the Army Commander records his appreciation of the services of the Rev. C; Lacroix, one of the New Zealand chaplains. The incident is described as follows: —"On October 14, about 7.30 p.m.,, a collision occurred between a French passenger train travelling from Boulogne to St. Omer and a freight train. The force of the impact wrecked the three foremost carnages, overturned both engines on the wreckage, and telescoped the middle of the train. The Rev. C. Lacroix escaped injury, though the carriage was damaged, and at once set to work by the few lights available to free the injured, thirty of whom were removed and attended to by Sister Black and a Canadian medical officer (name unknown). By this time the forepart of the train was in flames, and three of tho party, leaving the rescue work, endeavoured to prevent the fire from spreading by breaking the burning' carriages down. About 11 p.m. a French engine removed the rear undamaged parts of the train, and, returning an hour later, was coupled, by the direction of the party, to the shattered part, with the object of moving it sufficiently to enable the rescue or the remainder of the injured before the fire reached them. In this way the killed and injured were removed. Great assistance was given throughout bv a Scotch officer, and later by a Canadian cavalry officer and n.c.0., whose names are not known."

"It's the stable connection that is working the mischief," said Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., in the Auckland Police Court, when two lads were impugned with deliberate theft. It appeared that each of the. boys was apprentice in a different racing stable, but while the one -was conducted well, and _ the atmosphere there was not definitely harmful to the apprentices, yet of the other there were very bad reports. His Worship held that there was too much company detrimental to young hoys about most racing stables, and said he would far sooner break the apprentice contract of the lad (15) than allow the young fellow to 'ruin his life.

At a sitting of the Military Service Appeal Board at Te Aroha, David Jackson, dairy farmer, Te Aroha AVest, was recalled, his case .having beon temporarily deferred 'throe months ago. The chairman said that at the previous hearing Jackson had been advised to pay nioro attention to his fnrming work, and less to horse-racing. It appeared he had done so, and tho board decided to go further into the case. Appellant denied that he was spending much time away from the farm. He had attended the Takapuna races recently, but was only concerned in ane racehorse. It was untrue that he had a large amount of betting on his horse and another local horse. The running of his horse, Poi, hnd been questioned by the Takapuna stewards. He denied that he had said at the previous sitting that he was interested in another horse trained locally. The chairman quoted from the. previous evidence, but appellant continued his denial, explaining that what he meant to say was that the same boy looked after the two horses. The board said that farrners who were attendin gstrictly to their work received a certain amount of exomption, but those who 1 devoted valuablo time to horse-racing were not entitled to consideration. Jack6on said he could not be expected to slave away at home and taku no pleasure. He denied the imputation that he was concerned in a big betting coup. The chairman, commented at length on appellant's position in the Takapuna inquiry, and appellant suggested that tho board's decision should be deferred until the result of the inquiry is known. The case was adjourned to tho March sitting.

Two pawnbrokers had their licences renewed for a year by Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at tho Auckland Polico Court. His Worship took occasion to ask one of them hot to make a practice of buying pawn-tickets, as this had tho offect of interfering considerably with the course of justice. The dealer'promised to bear this in mind, mid tho Court continued that thougli this system was not illegal, it would do no harm to make it so, for by pawning a stolon article and selling the ticket to another doiiler anybody, could make it extremely difficult for tho police to trace the stolen property His Worship concluded by saying it would bo a good thing if this practice wore discountenanced. Scionco ie much in evidence nowadays. But it hasn't succeeded in reducing baggngo to tabloid form vet. Meamvnilo 6ave trouble handling by getting the New Zealand Express Co. to check it. They collect, cheok on frail, sea, or both), delivor on arrival. Reliable. Eeaeonable. 87-91 Customhouse Quay,— Advt.