LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 145, 8 March 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Defence Department has been advised by the Imperial Government that the age limit for cadets for tho Royal Flying Corps has been raised from 25 to 30 years. This meana that cadets may be rceepted if they have not attained their thirtieth birthday before reaching the United Kingdom.

The Government has received a communication from the Imperial authorities advising that the Russian Government has denounced the Anglo-Russian Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of January 12, 1859.

A curious error occurs in the latest (1918) issue.of that popular work of reference "Who's WhoP" Under tho heading "Steel Maitland, Sir Arthur Herbert Drummond Rameey," it is stated that this gentleman, tho first baronet of that name, is "Governor of New Zealand since 1917." His two addresses are given respectively as "Sauchieburn, Stirling, N. 8., and Government House, Wellington, New Zealand."

In j connection with the military canteen at Featherston, it is stated that since its inception the saying effected to the soldiers is over 30 per cont., while the quality of the goods supplied has not fallen off, but rather improved. The" range of articles is not so large as formerly, 'but no complaints on this score have been received.

A notice in the Gazette revokes the naturalisation of Godfried Albert Pitrowski. The letters of naturalisation woro issued in 3882.

Regulations governing the promotion of officers of the New Zealand Forces Motor Service Corps (Motor-Boat Section) are published in tho Gazette.

It is notified thnt ■unclaimed property in tho hands of the police at the various police stations, if not claimed beforo Saturday, March 80, will be sold by public auction.

The question of using members of the polico force for collecting debts due by returned soldiers to tho Defence Department was mentioned at yesterday's meeting of the Advisory Board of the Patriotic Societies, and it was resolved :—"That tho Advisory Board is of opinion that under no circumstances should the civil polico force be used to collect moneys owing to tho Defence Department by returned soldiers, and respectfully requests the Defence Minister to stop the practice."

When the betting charge against Henry Martindale was being heard in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr. M. Myers, who appeared for Martindale, protested against his client having been arrested on warrant. He stated that the Supremo Court Judges had held over and over again that it was wrong that warrants should be issued for summary offences against persons who can he readily found. They should bo proceeded against by way of summons. Ho warmly protested against the police arresting Martindale on warrant. He was a well-known man, and could have been readily brought before the Court on summons. He protested not merely on behalf of a bookmaker client, but also as a matter affecting tho general public, because in the administration of justice a bookmaker was entitled to the same treatment as nny other citizen—neither any better nor any worse.

Motorists complain that tho mooring of tramcare not in uso on the line between the foot of Majoribanks Street and tho northern end of Kont Terrace, taken in conjunction with tho traffio by-laws referring to the rule of the road at the end of Courtenay Place, constitutes an obstruction which might be done away with. Cars proceeding southward have to keep to the northern side of Courtenay Place (as farns Cording's corner), and then swing over to tho eastern side of Kent Terrace, a driving feat that takes some little ingenuity, when there are cars in waiting at the "mooring ground. It is suggosted that waiting cars might be "stalled" at Clyde Quay rather than where they aro at present-

Nominations closed yesterday for the vacancy in the Karori Borough Council caused by the resignation of Councillor Flanagan. There was only one candidate, Mr. Robert/Thomas Pell, nominated by C. F. Spiers and M. Sedgwiok, and he has therefore been declared duly elected.

The Inspector of Factories in Wellington, who assists in the administration of war rent legislation, has, since charged with this duty, and up to February 25, dealt with 170 inquiries from tenants. There have been .83 applications for action to bo taken. In twenty cases a reduction of rent has been arranged for without appeal to the Magistrate, and, in five cases the Magistrate has fixed a capital valuation entailing a reduction. Eight cases taken to Court have been dismissed, and in twenty-eight others, the Labour Department's ' investigations have shown no ground for action. About twenty other applications were under ■consideration when the report was made. Wellington is the only centre in which any extensive use has been made of the'legislation, except that at Trentham and Featherston m the vicinity of the military camps some advantage has been taken of the law_ to secure a reduction in the very high rents that were being charged in soma rapes. Few sports programmes provide a race for father. Married women and girls and bachelors and married men aro provided for at most picnic sports, but the idea of a race for father is new However, there is one on the programme of the Red Triangle gala at Island Bay to-morrow. As might be oxpected, the fun is for the family, not for father. Father, on his hands and knees, is the horse, and his jockeva_for there may be two of them— are boys or girls. Whips rre allowed, but no spurs, in case father bucks. Even if this occurs and a jockey lalls ha or she may remount, after turning tho old horse around twice, as a punishment. There will be three prizes for jockeys, and the other riders in the raco will receive gifts, lather will recoivo some "chaff" \ it says so in tho programme. For this race a great number of horses have been nominated by youthful proprietors. Accopt;nnces will be recoived at the post, or half an hour boforo the race starts. Tho dietanoe ie described as uncertain. \

A man named "William Bruce, aged 49 years, residing at 7 Victoria Street, was working at the Patent Slip when a plank fell on his head. Ho was taken to the Hospital, and found to be Mtfformg from a s«wlp wound.

1 Before his oxmition in Christchurcli Frederick William Aggers, t\ie Bui.'iinga murderer, gave directions as to tlio disposal of hm effects. He had previously stated that £500 of the money found with him was his own property, and this he repeated, directing that it should be given to Mrs. M'Muhon. He emphatically denied that lie had been guilty of tho murder of C'oulthard, stating that it had been done by another man, who had been paid £500 for the deed. "I am not guilty. I have not had justice done to me," he was heard to say in a louder tone, and he proceeded to express his appreciation of the way in which he had been treated by the gaol officials. He could not, ho added, say tllu snme for the police. "In my last f«vo minutes, as I stand before my Maker," he concluded, "I did not shoot John Coulthard. That is all, sir."