LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 166, 3 April 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The mobilisation of the Fortieth Reinforcements will begin at Treaitham Camp to-day, when men from the Canterbury Military District will go into camp. Otago's quota will reach Trentham to-morrow, and the Wellington draft will go into camp on Friday. The Auckland men are expected on Saturday. For some time past there has been a good deal of speculation in the. camps as to whether a fortieth draft would be required, but all doubts on that point are now sot at rest. When the Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister of Justice, was in Dunedin recently he was waited upon bv a deputation from the Licensed Victuallers' Association, which complained of a remark made by Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., chairman of the First Canterbury Military Service Board, that "wo don't merely look upon hotelkeepers as nonessential, but as moro or less of .an evil at the present time." Tho Minister has now (says a Press Association telogramifrom Christchurch) received a letter in'which Mr. Evans says he was misreported, and tho remark 'had reference to the liquor business, and not to hotelkeepers 1 personally. Tho Secretary, General Post Office, has been advised that legal time lias been advanced by one hour in tho United States of America from 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 31. A North Auckland message states: "Two ladies, members of the numerous parties campion tho West Coast, discovered on Friday morning 25 whales which had come aslioro close to Bayly's reserve. Twenty-three of the whales wore lying close together, while a short distance away were the other two. Tho length of tho whales ranged from 22ft. to 4oft. Subsequently two malo campers also discovered tho school, and at once cut their brand on each carcass. Many of the whales wero then alive. The male discoverers at once took steps to realise on their asset, and it is stated that the.v refused tempting offers made by woUld-be purchasers. They have arranged for tho necessary plant for boiling down the blubber, but it is stated that the original lady discoverers have sinco put in a claim as owners of the whales. Hundreds of peoplo from Dargaville and other river towns have journeyed to the scene. Closo to whero tho whales came ashore is a summer camping ground, whereon are erected numerous bungalows, which are tenanted'during the greater portion of tho year, and the owners are now faced with tho possibility of being forced to terminate their camping season owjng to the odour which already is arising from the stranded whales." Several prisoners will appear in the Supremo Court this morning for sentence. "My attention has been drawn," ran a'lotter received at the OddfelloW Oonferenco yesterday from Mr. R. E. Hayes, Registrar of Friendly Sociotios, "to a paragraph in this morning s Dominion to the effect that tho following statement was made at tho oonferenco yesterday: 'That tho Registrar bad been working with a depleted stall; and had lost some of his trained men owing to their finding moro profitable employment with private firms than tho Department could offer them.' These statements are not in accordance with facts. The loss of any officers to this Department has not been due to the above cause, nor has there been any depletion of staff, as all .vacancies have been duly filled. I should be glad if you would have the matter corrected." In a goneral discussion which ensued, various delegates pointed out that in tho light of the .Registrar's statement they at a loss to account for tlio delay in supplying the actuary's quinquennial valuation ol the society. The return was now over two years late, and it was felt that it W as high time it had come to hand. The conference carried the following resolution: "That this society is pleased to learn from the Registrar that his office staff is not suffering through war conditions, and such being the case there appears no excuse for delay in producing the valuations of this society. Wo .therefore request the Registrar to at once complete the valuations to enable us to carry on our business in a satisfactory manner. Wo are pleased to learn that the statement made at the conference and reported is incorrect."

Four offenders for insobriety appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Messrs. J. TV. Ellison and TV. H. Coy, Justices of the Peace. Lilian Jukes, 'who was arrested the previous evening, ivhen lodged in the cell commenced to break up everything /breakable within her reach, and made so much noise as to disturb everyone at. the station, and she kept up her noisy serenade until removed to another cell, where she quietened down. Slio tore two blankets to pieces and did damage to Government property to the value of 255. On the charge of drunkenness, she was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, and a like penalty was imposed 011 her for wilfully damaging Government property, this terms to be concurrent. Thomas Rimmer, against whom there were four previous convictions during the past six months, was sentenced to a, month's imprisonment, and Evelyn Barr, with three previous convictions, was fined 405., with the option of a month's imprisonment. Ono first offender was convicted and discharged.

"The public should recognise it is a serious matter to disregard the instruction of tho military guard at the. wharf," remarked Sub-Inspector TVohlniann at Auckland, when commenting on the action of a seaman. Tho guard, tho sub-inspector pointed out, was an armed guard, with full authority to shoot down or to bayonet any person who disregarded instructions in tho matter of going oil or off the wharf. That was something .which tho public would be to remember, in view of the possibility of some member of tho guard deciding to use his_ authority and bayonet instead of his discretion.

Rotorua experienced its mostrcrowded Easter this year. The people streamed in hundreds into the pretty little town on the shores of Lake Rotorua every day last week, and Good Friday found every hotel and boardinghouse in tho place packed. Wellington people who had not had the forethought to telegraph for accommodation early in tho week had tho untoward experience 011 Good Friday of having to tramp round from house to house seeking a place whereon to lay their weary heads, and had eventually to beg for shakedowns until the strain lessened. In this way the War Regulations, which restrict travelling beyond the Dominion to some extent, have proved a boon to theboardinghouse-keepers of Rotorua. It is suggested that statistics of the number of people who have visited the unique and beautiful thermal resort for the last three years, compared with the three years prior to the war, would be interesting.

The responsibility of friendly societies to returned soldier members was brought up at the Foresters' annual meeting in Dunedin on Saturday'by a letter from the Registrar of Friendly Societies. The registrar's letter was in reply to a communication from the friendly societies of Dunedin in reference to—(1) The grave possibility of an undue strain being placed on the sick and funeral' funds of friendly societies by members returning from active service, and being discharged after fulfilling their duty to the country and before they are able to follow any occupation. The present contribution scales were not designed to meet such a contingency. As these members had been incapacitated by serving the Empire the friendly societies would be glad to have the registrar's opinion as to what steps should be taken to approach the Government with a view to getting the required assistance. (2) The friendly societies would also like to have the registrar's opinion in respect to lodge doctors objecting to replacing returned soldier members on their medical lists. Several medical officers declined _ to place those members back on the lists. This was very serious indeed. When the reply from tho registrar to the above was read to the Foresters' delegates thoir chairman pointed out how non-committal the reply was. _ The. !■ meeting decided to instruct their executive to deal further with the matter. No bankruptcies were recorded _ in Napior last month, while ten petitions were filed in March, 1917. The vital statistics recorded in Napier during March compared with the corresponding period o'f last year were as follow, the latter being shown in parentheses:—Births, 46 (39); deaths, 11 (13); marriages, 9 (10). The figures for tho marriages are the'lowest since 1914. The Khandallah honours board is to bo unveiled on Friday evening. The speakers will include tho Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir James Allen, and Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P. On six days of every ordinary week in the year tho Miramar 'Borough Council's motor bus, which connects Karaka Bay people with the tramway terminus at Seatoun, plios conveniently at morning, midday, and evening. When, however, the weeks are broken, as at Christmas and Easter, the 'bus does not run, and tho people who are accommodated on work days have to walk the two miles to the tramway if they wish to go to town, and those who wish to visit the Bay on a holiday must mako their own arrangements to cover the distance botween Seatoun and Karaka Bay. The argument of members of the council when approached is that tho bus only serves people who engago in business and live at the Bay. It is understood that an attempt is to be made to bring tho council to a more reasonable frame of mind in regard to tho running of the motorbus, which, it is claimed, if in commission on holidays would probably do more business than on ordinary working days.

To tho strains of tha National Anthem, the Oddfellows' Conference yesterday unanimously passed the following resolution of loyalty: "That tho New i Zealand branch of the M.U., 1.0.0. F., in conference assombled, records its unswerving devotion' and loyalty to His Jlajesty the King's throne and person, and in this hour of the Empire's trial and anxiety pledges its continued support in the struggle for freedom. It also extends ,to its members on sorvice who are so worthily upholding tho honour of tho Empire and Order its fraternal greetings, and prays that the day is not far distant when they will bo restored to thoir former plaoes in our assemblies."

A peculiar assault caso has (says the Auckland "Star") beon reported to the Epsom police. It appears that at about 7.30 p.m. on Saturday a soldier's widow, who has lately come to Auckland from the south, was walking along Epsom Avenuo towards Mount Eden on her way to visit friends in,galley Road. It was bright moonlight, arid the woman discerned a man approaching her from the opposite direction, but took no particular notico of him. When the man drew level with the woman he suddenly grasped her by the back of the head. She screamed loudly, and her assailant thrust his hand violently over her mouth, saying: "Be quiet, you fool." He threw her to the ground, but the woman's Boreanv attracted the notico of a resident in the vicinity, who ran towards the sceno of the disturbance. The assailant fled, and the woman was assisted to the house of tho man who had come to her assistance. The>'woman was found to bo injured on the face, as a result of the violent thrust made by her assailant when he covered her mouth. It is not thought that the man used any weapon in making the assault. The woman can assign no reason for the attack, as .she is a stranger in Auckland, and has no malo acquaintances in the city.

Tlio disappearance of goods from various auction rooms about Auckland of late weeks caused complaint to the police, and inquiries by Detective Cummings (says tho "Star") resulted in tho arrest of a, married inan, who came before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M. There were unusual features about the case iu that the accused had takeh all manner of useless things, and had left them lying about his house, without any effort at concealment, or of making use of or selling the things for profit, though, in the aggregate the goods wcro valued at about £60. Tho man had been treated for mental trouble some months ago, and there were many indications that the trouble had recently recurred to such extent that it ivas questionable if he.wore responsible for his acts. Ho entered a plea of guilty, but His Worship, believing that the man was not normal, exorcised his power under the Mental Defectives Act to refuse the ijlea, and, after hearing evidence, committed him for trial at the Supremo Court. j

An inquest was held yesterday mornng by Mr. Si E. M'Carth.y, S.M., touching tho death of Frederick 1 nitlips Hawthorn, who died suddenly at 8 Girton Terrace on April .1. Deceased, who was a married mail) 36 years or ago, was working in his garden on Sunday apparently in his usual_ state, of health, but complained, later m the day, of pains around his heart, fclo went to bed about 6 p.m., still complaining of the pain's, and about a o'clock the following morning he displayed serious symptoms, and medical advice was sought. Dr. Couzens was called in, and reached the house about a quarter to four o'clock, but the man was then dead. The doctor stated that from what ho had been told and the appearance of the deceased ho was or opinion that death was due to heart failure. Ho was unable to give a certificate, not having seen the man prior to death. At this stage the inquest was adjourned until to-day to enable a postmortem examination to be made,

Stephen James Hall was one of the many driven out of the fire-swept rrea on the Main Trunk line, and on reaching Itaetilii he was arrested by a constable, who thought lie saw in Hall a strong likeness to a man wanted in Sydney for theft. Yesterday morning Hall appeared in tho Magistrate's Court, before Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., charged with tho theft on February 22, 1915, at Sydney, of £725 from the Commonwealth Brass and Metal Foundries, Ltd. On the application of Inspector Marsack a remand for a week was granted. On account of yesterday being a semi-public holiday, the annual meetings of the trustees of tho Levin Convalescent Home, the Young Ladies' Christian Association, and the Home for Aged Needy have been postponed until next Tuesday afternoon.

A Dominion Conference of Drivers' Unions will open in Wellington on April 11. Owing to war conditions it is three years since a similar conference was held. On this, occasion the conference will consider the formulation of now demands to be placed before employers at the expiration of the present award in October next. The question of affirming affiliation with the Transport Workers' Advisory Board will also be considered. Another remit proposes that the Government should be approached with the object of securing an amendment of the Arbitration Act in the direction of allowing the formation of Dominion unions. An Indian was arrested at Wellington yesterday by Plainclothes Constable Black on a charge of stealing jewellery at Patea. He will appear in the Magistrate's Court this morning. The combined butcher's shop and dwelling at No. 22 Moxham Avenue, Kilbirme, owned and occupied by Mr. James L. Cheeseman, was ablaze shortly after one. o'clock yesterday morning. The Fire Brigade was called, but before the flames were put out the wall of the dining-room, the roof, and a staircase were considerably damaged, and the contents of the rooms suffered badly. The occupants are at present away on holiday, but tho fire was traced to a cupboard underneath the stairs. It is supposed that the Haze was started by rats or mice nibbling at matches.