LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In discussing the terms of the new loan, Sir Joseph Ward .intimated at. Christclnirch yesterday that tho compulsory clauses would be put into operation if' necessary. Ho hoped that it would not bo necessary to do so, but there were financial shirkers as well as military shirkers, and everyone was expected to do his duty.—Press Association.

It is notified by Gazette Extraordinary that Parliament will meet on April !). Tho session must bo a short one. Mr. Massey has already announced that Sir Joseph Ward and himself must leave this country about the end of April. .No business will be submitted to tho, House except the Governor's Speech, and the motions for Supply for tho Government for a, period long enough to ensuro that tho delegates to the Imperial Conference will be back in this country again before it expires. Accompanying the resolutions will bo a statement from the Finance Minister on the finances of the country.

The Primo Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) has receiyed tho following oablo message) fi'om Sir Robert Bordcn, Primo Minister of Canada, acknowledging New Zealand's gift of £10,000 in nid of the sufferers by the recent disaster at Halifax:—"The Government of Canada is deeply grateful for the very wibstantisil gift made by the_ Government of New Zealand for relief of Halifax. This splendid expression of sympathy will be warmly appreciated by the people both of Halifax and of tho whole Dominion."

A Press Association message from Auckland states:—Sir James Allen states that men returning on furlough without pay who have applied for extended leave will be granted threo weeks' pay.

Owing to shortage of men and of coal it was impossible, submitted the Minister of Railways in a letter to the Pelono Borough Council last night, to run special trains for race meetings, or in other words restore tho service to its old activity. Already 7000 men had boon released from the railways for active service, and at the present time the Department was 'WOO short of its normal complement. The council received the letter, and ono of its members remarked at tho same time that there was more labour employed last raco day in conveying tho public to the course, per motor-bus and automobiles, than would suffice to run dozens of trains.

Tho Mayor, with half a dozen members of tho City Council, will leave for Niipior' by train thin morning for the purpose of- visiting Lake Waiknremoana, in connection with tho proposed liydro-clectrifi scheme for the lower half of tho North Island, From Napier they will proceed to tho lake hy way of AVairoa by motor-car. It is not expected that they will return for tho end of tho week If tho weather proves unkind tho trip might even extend into next woek.

Big fish are very plentiful at tho present timo in Faliiser Bay. Fishing from a launch on Sunday Mr. S. Silver and a party from Karaka Bay, secured in less than four hours twentyfour big hapuka, half a dozen trumpeter, and groper, a number of blue cod, and a shark eight feet long. Somo of tho hapuka weighed over sixty pounds,' and ono big fellow scaled nearly eighty pounds in weight. ■ Tho fish were generously distributed among the residents of tho bay.

The Thirty-sixth Infantry will begin their march from Featliorston to Trentham Camp to-day, and, after bivouacking at Kaitolce, will reach tho latter camp to-morrow afternoon.

A peculiar feature of the recent tremendous surf running at the AVaihi beach, says tho Auckland "Star," was that tho weather remained perfectly line, there being no storm or rain. Tho surf surged up at high water at intervals like a series of tidal waves, carrying everything before it, and lifting and crushing the first lino of small cottages which were on the level cand. Huge rollers with white tops were noticed far out at sea, and' tho spray from the breakers # on tho t adjacent headlands shot up in the air to a great height, presenting' a magnificent spectacle.

A species of false pretence practised by certain individuals is to secure a position in the country through a labour agency, obtain the fare to the country district, and then forget to proceed to the job. An offender in this respect, named Charles William Groves, wae, charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., with obtaining 13s. under false pretence. He was convicted and sentenced to three- months' imprisonment. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states:—Colonel Patterson has resumed command of t'.ie Auckland Military District 'the arrangement foi him temporarily relieving Colonel Logan at Samoa having been cancelled owing to Colonel Logan, who is on furlough, having desired, for personal reasons, to return there.

Under the will of the late Mr. W. L. Philp, of St. Ckir, THmodin, several In'cal institutions will henolit. Aftov leaving numerous legacies to relativeo find friends, the will goes on to direct that amounts bo pa'd to the followins: —Dunedin Y.M.C.A.; Dunedin Salvation Army Little Sisters of the Poor, Anderson Bay; St. Clair Presbyterian Church; South Dunrdin Poman Catholic Church; nnd the Patients' j«id Prisoners' Aid Society.

At a meeting of tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce last week a letter was received from the Prime Minister acknowledging the resolution from the Chamber in reference to the retention of Samoa after tho war. Mr. Massey stated that ho had taken considerable interest in tho development that was going on in tho Pacific and tho possibilities with regard to Samoa. The Chamber could rest assured, he said, that nothing he could do would ho left undone to keep the islands in the Pacific, which were formo'.-ly German, under tho British flag.

The public sittings in Wellington of tho Arbitration Court were concluded yesterday afternoon. Members of the Court will bo detained in Wellington on other business until Friday evening when they will leave for tho south.

Tan Boots or Shoes are certainly smart looking for summer wear. See our tan shoes, puj toee, 325. 6d.; heavy Boles, tan willow boots, 38s. 6d. Goo. Fowlds, Ltd.,' Manners Street,—Advt,

Mr. P. C. Webb, M.P., is reported to have entered Trentham Camp yesterday afternoon as a member of the Thirtyninth Reinforcements. Ho did not mobilise with his draft last week, but ho subsequently informed the Defence authorities of his willingness to enter camp voluntarily yesterday. If he bad failed to do this he would have become liablo to arrest as a deserter.

Tho question of firo escapes in a number of schools was discussed at last evening's meeting of the School Committees' Association, and it was decided to write to "Uie Education Board asking for better provision in this respect, and that the children be instructed in fire drill.

Speaking at a meeting of tho Accli« matisation Society Council last week, Major Whitney said that a strong effort should be mado to induce the Government to assist in importing Atlantic salmon for liberation in New Zealand rivers. Ho said that the Atlantic salmon was immeasurably superior to tho Pacific salmon, besides being tho finest fish food procurable. He did not think there could be found a more suitable habitat for the Atlantic snlmon than tho Waikato and Wanganui Kivors. Ho said there had been an effort to import a shipment of Atlantic salmon ova some years ago, but the effort had failed through the lack of ice. Major Whitney suggested that the eels in the rivers should bo utilised as a source of revenue for the society, and he quoted from the "Fisherman's Gazette' , tho statement that at tho Italian town of Comacchio, on the Venetian, side of tho Adriatic, in a Rood year there were turned out over two million pounds of eels. It was stated by a moniber of the council that New Zealand smoked eel sold in London at 2s. a. pound.

Tho Prime Minister stated yesterday that '18 applications had been received from retail butchers in connection with ] the scheme for tho supply of meat from j tho different freezing works for Palo i to tho public. Of tho permits asked ! for 42 have been granted, and tho others will be granted as soon as tho necessary inquiries have been made. \ Under this schemo either fresh meat or frozen may bo supplied. Jn the or- i dinary course of events fresh meat will i bo asked for, and it will bo supplied except during the "off" season, whcn ; the works will not ho receiving stock. In this time only frozen meat will be ■available. Tho applications or permits bavo como from Auckland, Hawko's Bay, Wellington, Wanganui, Southland, Otago, Taranaki, and Gisbovne.

Tho following telegram has been forwarded to tho Minister of Defence by the Arawa tribe of Maoris, Itotorun :— "In view of the reported opposition from tho North Auckland, the Wnikato, and tho South Island Maoris to conscription, we desire to iuform you that the men of the Arawa tribe are registering with onthusiasm, being determined to carry out tho wishes of thfi National Government in maintaining tho maximum effort in reinforcing tho men who have shed, and are still shedding, thoir sacred blood for the cause of freedom and humanity."

Tho construction and maintenance of tho main roads throughout the Dominion formed the subject of a lengthy letter from tho Auckland Automobile Association to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. It was stated that tho position with regard to the construction and maintenance of the main roads of the Dominion was felt on nil Bides to bo unsatisfactory. The association had collected information with regard to the system adopted in Victoria, and later in South Australia, and it was believed that this system applied to Now Zealand would solvo tho problem of bad ronds. The Victorian Government had established a Government .TCoads Department, and had voted £2,000,000 for the construction and maintenance of roads which in the opinion of the hoard should he taken over and classified as main roads, tile expenditure, to bo spread over a period of five years at £400,000 per year. The State was to provide 50 per cent, of the capital cost and to lend tho local bodies, through whoso districts the roads wcro constructed, tho balance on 33 years' sinking fund terms, Mr. M. M. M'CalJnm stated that he had just returned from a trip down south, and ho was convinced that tho best roads in Auckland vero worse than tho worst roads anywhere else. The Auckland roads were simply disgraceful. Ho believed that if tho Government would tax every motor-car at tho rato of £10 per year it would go a long way towards mooting the financial difficulties, and tho amount would be gladly paid by owners of cars. It was resolved that Messrs. M'Callum, Martin, Longuet, Burns, J. B. Maefarlanc, and E: Anderson bo appointed a committee to go into the quostion.

To mark its first anniversary, the Deep Sea Tally Clerks' Club held an enjoyable smoke concert in Godber's rooms, Cuba Street, ou Saturday night. Captain W. J. M. Tato prosided, and there was a largo attendance of members and tbeir friends. An excellent musical programme was contributed to by Messrs. Briitain, Green, Corncy, Stark, Bryant, Fern, and Musso. The accompaniments were played by Mr. Harrison. Altogether, the entertainment was an entirely successful one.

The question of providing suitable light employment for disabled soldiers was touched upon hy the Minister of Justice (the Hon. T. M. Wilford) in a letter to the Petone Borough Council last night in asking that body's opinion of the advisableness of establishing a horticultural school for this purpose in the Hutt Valley. The Minister stated that four sites suggested were Mason's Gardens, Taita; Waugh's Nurseries and Coop°r's Nurseries, Lower Hutt; and Bellevuo Gardens, Lower Hutt, one of which might bo suitable. The council decided to defer the matter for full consideration, tlio Mayor remarking that the proposal was a very commendable one, but the question of a site would require maturo consideration.. Councillors concurred in tins, one member drawing attention to Percy's Gardens, which lie within the Petono borough.

AVitli overy soldier supplied with an effective gas-mask and drilled _ thoroughly in its use, it may bo. difficult for many to understand how it comes about that so many of our men havo been reported "gassed" lately. Tho explanation lies in the variouß ways the enemy has of disseminating gas at the front. It is usually easy to detect the oncoming of tho deadly, green-ish-yellow clouds of heavy reservoir gas,.which sinks into every hollow, shell-hole, and dug-out, seeking its victims, no matter how deep down _in the earth they may be. Tho action of the gas is dependent largely upon the meteorological conditions prevailing, and these are carefully considered before a gas attack, as waste means inefficiency. Gas would hardly bo liberated when half a gale is blowing, as it would quickly loso its dense formation. It requires a light, steady breeze from tho right quarter to bo most deadly. That form of gas can bo combated by wearing the masks, but in the caso of the gas-emitting shell, no man knows when it will come and where it will hit, so when the masks are not worn trouble often enHies. A typical inetanoe is that, of Corporal AV. L. Green, of Worser Bay, who was gassed by a shell when sleeping iu a Gorman pill-box on October 12 last. Tired out, he and four otliors had sunk exhausted in the "pill-box," omitting to don thoir gas-masks, when a German sholl crashed into tho structure, gassed them all pretty badly, nnd burnt four of tho men severely.

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A young man named John Halcome, who deserted from an oversea vessel at Lyttelton on December 17 last, was yesterday convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The easo was heard by Sir. S. B. M'Carthy, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court. The charge preferred against defendant was that of landing without a passport, contrary to the War Regulations. It was explained on his behalf that ho had enlisted and was about to proceed to eamp.

The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Minister of Agriculture, left Wellington last night with the members of the Board of Trade to meet the. Flourmillers' Committee in Christchurch regarding the price that is to ho allowed for flour milled from tho wheat crop just harvested. It is expected that tho price will have to be £15 lfls. per ton. It is not anticipated that tho increase of 10s. per ton in the prico of flour will necessarily moan an increase in the prico of bread. Tho millers claim that lately the bakers have had rather the best position, as middlemen between the millers and the consumers.

Tlio vexed question of fixing a speed limit for motor vehicles traversing its streets was again discussed by the Petone Borough Council last night. The (orincr by-law was declared to Tie invalid by a judgment in the Supreme Court. In commenting on this judgment the borough solicitor (Mr. ft. C. Kirk) said it would be inadvisable to fix tlio maximum rate of speed for cars in tlio principal streets at so low » rate as 12 miles an hour. The council's own bus service to be nf any use to the ratepayers must travel at a rate exceeding 12 miles an hour, otherwiso the council would have the spectacle of one of its buses trundling along at 12 miles an hour in the rnar of a horse-drawn vehicle. "I have frequently," remarked Mr. Kirk, "ridden on my own bicycle behind one of your buses at 15 miles an hour, and liavo been unable to keep pace with it, and it is a matter of common knowledge that over a part of the run to the station the buses, quite justifiably from the safety point of view, run up to nearly 20 miles an hour." If councillors had any doubt about this, Mr. Kirk recommended them to take a ride in one of their own light buses. Mr. Kirk suggested a maximum of 15 miles an hour for the principal streets. After considerable discussion the council gmdcinglv decided to make a new bylaw limiting the sneed to 15 miles in certain .streets and 20 miles an hour in others more favourably situated in the matter of traffic.