LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 162, 28 March 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Private P. 0. Webb, who was recently sentenced to two years' imprisonment for disobeying the command of a superior officer, has been sent to the Kamgaroa afforestation camp in tho Rotorua district. A Press Association telegram from Rotorua states that Webb travelled first-class on the railway to Rotorua. Hβ stated that the Government will have to take him to Wellington to attend the session of Parliament.

•The Secretary of the General VonOffice has been advised that legal timo will be advanced by one hour in the United Kingdom from March 24 to September 30, and in Austria from April 1 to Soptember 29.

Garnet B. Holmos, motor garage owner, yesterday filed a .petition in bankruptcy.

The State schools of the "Wellington education district, winch "break up" for tho Easter vacation this afternoon, will not resume until Tuesday morning, April 9—a week from next Tuesday. The Catholic schools of tho city broke up for their Easter holidays yesterday.

Another fine body of troops paraded through the streets of the city yesterday morning, hended by the Trentha'n Brass Band. Tho troops were addressed by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. W. P. Massey) and the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), who complimented them on their fine appearance. The draft included a unit of motor cyclists, who looked very smart in their allleather peaked caps and loggings.

Tho Easter passenger traffic on steamers and trains is not unusually heavy this year. The Maori. brought some six hundred passengers from Lytteltou yesterday morning, and on the return trip was a full Rhip. All the accommodation in the Mnrnroti, sailing for Lyttolton to-night has boon booked. The Pateona, which sailed yesterday afternoon for Picton and Nelson took her limited number of passengers. The Anchor Company's steamers Kaitoa and Nikau have been booked up to Wednesday night next by travellers tn Nelson direct. A large number of hop-pickers in Nelson will not ho able to return to Wellington before Easter, as they bnd desired, nn account of (hero not being any nvnilable berths, until Tuesday or AVedncsday next.

A. number of city people aro going inland for the. Easter holidays, and the trains are being well filled. Yesterday a cjueue formed outside the railway booking office in Willis Street, and the officers were busily engaged.

Mr. F. Knsey, who has been actively associated with various patriotic movements, and who triidered sucji valuable assistance to the Y.M.C.A. I?ed Trianglo appeal, has undertaken the duties of organiser for the Salvation Army Citizens' Red Jersey Appeal.

A largo deputation representing Canlorburr and tbo AVest Coast waited on tho Minister of Public Works yesterday to urge tho speedy completion of (ho Arthur's Pass tunnel. The Minister was sympathetic. Hβ said the tunnel must bo completed, but it was largely a question of oxpert labour and finance.—-Press Abbh,

It is notified in Featherston camp orders for general information that children's allowances payable on account of soldiers employed in actual homo service will bo strictly limited to three children. In cases whoro children's allowances have been paid on account of more than three children tho men affected will be given the option of continuing at the uniform rate or of returning to their civil avocations on ono month's notice.

;V Press Association telegram from Palmerston North states ibat in con» nection with the final battle campaign to rai?e money for the sick and wounded funds, a public demonstration was he'd .Yesterday, when it <vas announced tl..i,t. £31,508 had come in. It is anticipated *liat. at least another £2000 will be raised.

During the Easter holidays, when tlio nien from the camps will have leave, a soldiers' information bureau is to be established at tho Y.M.C.A. hut inLambton Quay. The Y.M.C.A. authorities havo granted the use free of a suitable room at the hut, nnd two officers, one from each of the two camps, will be in attendance to give information to those who require it. Orders are to bo issued at the camps, instructing all ranks that such an metitution is heinz established, and thnt men should apply there ■ for information from their own representative officers, and should not make application elsewhere.

In answering the communication of a correspondent who wished to know whether .exchange was payable on cheques being forwarded for- investment in War Loan Bonds, we stated that no instructions had been given to country post offices to chorge exchango on cheques made out for War Loan purposes. The General Post Office authorities advise that our statement was incorrect, and that all cheques so deposited must bear exchange.

The inclusion in the last contingent of returned men of a large percentage of Main Body soldiers who nre visiting New Zealand on leave raised the suggestion that the authorities at tiie front, while unable to accept publicly a policy of general furlough for, these veterans, were willing to' carry out quietly the principle by degrees. 'When the Minister of Defence was asked if this is the case, he said no general furlough was contemplated. As he had promised, men with urgent reasons for temporary return had been givrm leave, but only in cases whpre it could ho.proved that refusal would result in hardship.

Some time a«o the "American Exporter" stated that a great American firm had performed the «xtraordinary feat of turning out 500 submarine chasers in a little under 500 days. Mr. AV. Lock, who had occasion to make a business inquiry from this firm (says the Nelson "Kvening Mail"), took the opportunity of congratnlathio; them on its splendid achievement. The firm is evidently a bit "Scotcfi," for the replv of the manager is-as follows:— "Many thanks for your personal congratulations on our 'doing our b't' in connection with Hippjyinj; and equipping submarine chasers. ]f the Scotchmen in America had had their way thrco years ago this country would have been hearing its share of the burden in making the world safe for democracy. New Zealand has donehrarely—'Watch tho American boys I Yours for the right, Jas. Hossaek, of Aberdeen, Scotland." The following was printed at the foot of another letter received from Chicago-.—"Let us all do our part to help win the war; let us bear patiently and patriotically the added taxes and contribute generously to the cause in nny way we can. And if we think the Government makes a mistake in their management now and then, in place of railing at those in authority let us first examine ourselves, and we will find that neither are infallible."

The Sydney "Daily Telegraph" publishes the following extracts from a letter received from General Sir W. R. Birdwood, dated Ist Anzac Corps, France, December U, 1917:—"As you will possibly realise, with the small number of reinforcements coining forward, our training establishments at the base arc being maintained at an absolute minimum. Such positions are, however, not held permanently, but are filled by a constant interchange of officers from tho line at periods of six mouths, each brigade in the field having to maintain i ts own -training staff. In this way we aro able to provide additional rest for a certain number of officers and non-commissioned officers, who are suitable as instructors. For the same reason our policy during tho progress of the war lias been to replace- all fit men, wherever it is possible, in our establishments at the base by men who have been declared unfit for further service in the line, thougb[ these are periodically re-examined as fresh combings-out are made. Indeed, every available man is sent forward, ■for tho reinforcements at present coming from Australia are -not sufficient to replace casualties, and unless more men are forthcoming tho question of disbanding some of our magnificent Australian units will liave to be considered. I have great hopes that this will not bo necessary, but I mention it only to assure you that men are not retained in England i«iftcr they have completed their trailing, when their services are so badly wanted at the front."

The Christchurch City Council has received acknowledgments from the Parliamentary leaders of its resolution urging tho retention in British hands of the captured portion of German Samoa. Mr. Massey, in thanking the council for its resolution, wrote: — "You may rest assuved that I shall lose no opportunity of impressing upon tho Imperial authorities the views of tho people- of New Zealand in regard to this important question!" Sir Joseph Ward, writing also in acknowledgment of tlio resolution, said:— "Everything in oiu - power must be done to prevent the return of Samoa to so dangerous and unscrupulous aa enemy as Germany. It has been a great menace in. the Pacific for years, and in thr '.ight of our experiences of Germany's inhuman methods in this great war, our duty is to fight strenuously to prevent its. return to tho enemy, wliich would bs a British calamity." The letters were received.

A returned officer, Second Lieutenant "William Thorn, at present attached to the Canterbury District Hendqunrters Staff as assistant to the A.Q.M.G.. met with an accident last week. Ho was riding a high-powered motor-cycle along- Oxford Terrace, Christchnrch, when ho lost control of his machino and collided with a tramway post. Lieutenant Thorn was thrown heavily to tho ground, and suffered a douWe fracture of tho left leg, above and bolow the hiee, and also a fracture of the left arm and outs about tho face. His machines was badly smashed.

Messrs. A. L. Wilson and Co. notify thoso who intended attending the sain atHolines's motor garago to-day that tho sale will not take place.

Tho Final Battle Art "Union Committee, wTioso announcement of a postponement of tho drawing date has already appeared in this paper, have " replace advertisement in this issue. Mr. M'Hardy now gives his personal assurance that definite arrangements 'nave been made to stop all the sales of tickets on April 2(1. Arrangements liavo also been made with the Press Association to publish the winning numbers in all tho principal papers published in thn Wellington district.

Unerring accuracy and dynamic strength in organisation and n.nnnfachire givo to the CHEVROLET car that enduring lifo which power, accuracy, and streugth in. the force- givo to the hundreds of important though uneoen parts of the cur,—Advt,

Among the matters dealt with bjj the Minister of Justice (the Hon. T. M.I Wilford) on his recent visit to the. south was the question of reclaiming by prison labour of tho Invercargilf estuary, an area of 2025 acres. Satisfactory conferences were held between the Minister and tho Borough. Council of the town, but tho matter is still iiii progress.

To dato over £100 has b«ui forward--0(1 from Featherstoirtowards the Baetilii Firo Relief Fund, and additional donations aro coming to hand steadily.

It is understood (says the Dunediit "Star") that if Private Webb, SI.P., resigns, Mr. J. Arbuckle will contest the seat in the interests of Labour. He is the secretary of the New Zealand Federation of' Cool Miners.

The block system of milk delivery; came under, the notice of the Christchurch. City Council on Monday nighty when a committee reported that after carefully considering the question of introducing it, it had decided to rccom-* mend the council not to take any f ur J lher action in tho matter for the prosont. This decision was. arrived at after a conference with the dairymen, and in view of the fact that 105 outl of a total of 130 dairymen and luillc vendors had lodged a protest against! tho system boing introduced, and thab < a large number of householders also appeared to be against the proposal. Tltfd recommendation was adopted.