LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 189, 30 April 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A eiroulnr issued from the administra. tive headquarters of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in London sets out the conditions on which officers in tlio Force may iivail themselves of the offer of a special course of instruction at Oxford University. One of the conditions is that no officer may apply unless he is likely to bo .unfit for military dutv jjor a period of at least four months. Preference is to bo given to men whose incapacity is iikely to extend to six. months, and especially lo those who may eventually read for a degree. Officers selected will reside in one or other of the colleges of the University, and will ho amenable to university find college rules and discipline. The oost of residence and foes. will be about .£'so, and this cost will be borne by the officer himself.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell) was present at the opening of the Merchant Service Guild conference yesterday. Ho ' unveiled the guild's honours board, which contains tlio names of M members who have served in various capacities during the present war. Tlio Minister said that of the men whoso names were recorded on tlio honours board, four had been killed and six had been wounded. The mdn of tlio merchant servico had been undaunted in tlio face of danger during tho present war. Thev had been subjected to tho murderous "and shameful attacks of tlio enemy's submarines, and they had paid ft heavy toll of lifo for their adherence to duty. But they had maintained tlio best traditions of the British merchant service, and be was proud to join the members of tho guild in doing honour io these bravo men. Tho Minister mentioned the provision made by the Government for tho dependants of officers and seamen who had fallen during the war, or lind become prisoners in tho hands of tho onemy, and assured tho guild of the Government's continued eympathstic attention to tho interests of the mercantile marina.

A requisition is being prepared for tho summoning of an extraordinary general meeting of tho Returned Soldiers' 1 Association. Tho special business has to do with tho TOivluot of some of tho men attending tho dinner held on Anzao Day, and it is understood that there may be some hard things 6aid at the meeting. It may not be possible for tho association to do "much regarding the affair, becauso the dinner was '-pen to all returned soldiers. and many were present who were not members of tho association.

In a report concerning diphtheria the Wellington District Health Officer states: "During March 255 easc-s were notified, as compared with IS2 cases for the preceding month. Tliero is every indication that the experience of last winter will bo repeated, and that thore will again be a widespread epidemic of this disease. For tho quarter-year just ended 578 cases liavo been notified in tho Wellington health district, as compared with 351 oases for tho corresponding period of last year/'

"Now Zealand Law Reports" and "Halsbury" aro frequently roferrcd to by counsel in Courts of Law, but an unusual authority was quoted in the Magistrate's Court last week (says tho Auckland "Herald"). Mr. R. Vr 1 . M'Connell, counsel for tho plaintiif in an action in which it was alleged that, as a result of a light with a neighbours bull, tho plaintiff's bull was damaged, quoted from tho Book of Exodus in support of his contention that defendant's bull, having made tho holo in thol fence and fought, tho other bull, and that defendant was liable. Counsel load versos 38 and 34 of chapter 21: "And if a mail shall, dig a pit and not cover it, and an uss or an ox fell therein; tho ownor of the pit shall make it good; ho 6hall give money nnto the owner oC them, and the dead beast shall ho his." Mr. Baxter, for tho defendant, however, was equal to tho occasion, and told llr. Jl'Coujigll to read, verses 28 and 21). "If an ox goro a mail or woman that they die, thou tho ox shall bo surely stoned, and his' flesh shall not bo eaten; bill: tho owner of tho ox shall bo quit. But if tho ox wero wont to push with his horn in timo past and it hath boon testified to his owner, and ho hath not kept hinif in, but that ho hath killed a man or woman, tho ox shall bo. stoned and his owner also shall be put to death." Tho Magistrate, Mr. !'>■ I). Moslcy, smiled at tho quotation, and asked if counsel Higgestcd that defendant "shall be put to death." Mr. M'Connell's client was successful.

Tho executive committee of tho Island Bay Surf and Life-saving Club held tlioir final meeting Inst week, for the purpose of recoiving and adopting tho report and accounts in connection with tho club's effort on behalf of tho Red Trianglo fund. Mr. C. C. Odlin (president) presided over a full attendance. The club's olfort realised the sum of £1205 Bs. Bd., which amount has now been handed over to the treasurer of tho .Red Trianglo fund, a full statement of accounts being published in this issue. The chairman extended the thanks of the club for tho very enthusiastic way the effort was taken up by thoso ladies and gentlemen who worked so strenuously to achieve such a fino result.

Tho Petono Borough Council last, night discussed its waterworks system with ft view to augmenting the supply upon receipt of a compreliensivo report from the Borough Engineer (Mr. Alexander Cowie). Mr. Cowie raid that there were three, methods which might be . considered: (1) By enlarging the 6torago capacity, (a) by raising tho level of the present dam, and (b) by building an additional storage reservoir higher up the stream; (2) by sinking artesian wells and pumping into the mains; (3) by inserting hatchboxes in the present main ana thoroughly scraping the pipes. No definite decision was arrived at as to which scheme should be adopted.

A bulletin, for tho month ended March 31, 191S, shows that tho number of notifications of infectious diseases received by the Health Department during that period was 702, an increase of 84 compared with the previous month, and a decrease of IC2 compared with the corresponding month last vear. During March—the return .overs the whole Dominion—there were 134 casas of scarlet fever, 419 cases of diphtheria (increase of 70 compared with the previous month), 79 cases of tuberculosis, 51 of enteric fever, and three of i-erebro-spinal meningitis. Tho notifications in the Wellington Hospital district wero: Scarlet fever 10, diphtheria 40, tuberculosis G, and two other cases.

•''On rl'.e aftornoon of Anzac Day I saw more drunken men about than'l have seen for years past," commented Mr. P. V. Frazer, S.M., on Friday, when adjudicating at the Auckland Police Court on several drunkenness cases (says the "Star''). His Worship remarked that personally ho was not in tho habit of taking a harsh or extreme >iew of the liquor business, but that what ho had seen on Anzac Day had disgusted him. Ho felt sure that 09 per oont. of the drunken men had got drunk in the bars. It seemed to him that so long as a man could stagger to a bar and muster u,p sufficient energy to hold himself in a vortical position to order- a drink ho was served by many licensees. Tho legal position was that a man who showed the slightest signs of intoxication was not to be supplied with liquor, and if hotolkoepers could not restrain their desire for profit to comply with that view of tho law they were merely prompting a stricter legal prohibition. While on the subjent Jlis Worship added that he thought it would be a good thing if the Defenco authorities would nut all hotels out of bounds for Maori r.oldiers.

An interesting indication of tho chango ivhicli the war, with its burdens of taxation, is bringing to Old England given in a recent issuo of the London "Times," wherein estates totalling 28,830 acres of tlio most, historic lands of England aro to bo offered for ealo by auction. Theso include, the famous Eaton estate ofl the Duko of Westminster, comprising 7703 acres in Cheshire, fifty of the beat dairy farms, over 150 model cottages, and acres of woods and plantations. Another historic estate is that of Hucknell Manor in Oxfordshire, which not only has a park with residence, but includes practically the whole village. In Yorkshire, Viscount Furness offers for sale Cumlall Manor, of 1300 acres, and tho Marquess of Anglesey advertises that ho will sell thirty-six farms in Staffordshire and Derbyshire, whilo tho Earl of Stradbroko offers ]3ruisyard Manor in Suffolk of 1200 acres. These aro but a few of the many instances in which '?ie historic homes of England and their estates aro falling beneath tho burdens of war and social taxation.

PERSONAL ITEMS

A Press Association telegram from Gisborne slates thai; Mr. John Townley was yesterday re-elected chairman ot the Karlxmr Board for the twenty-seventh time in succession. Mr. Townley was Slot elected in 1890.

Information has been received by Mr. W. J'. Morgan, of the Rilie Range, Penrose (eays tho Auckland "Herald"), that his eon, Sergeant-Trumpeter Jack Morgan, has been awardba the Military Medal for gallantry in the field. Ser-geant-Trumpeter Morgan ; eft with the Main Body, and served on Gallipoli. He was a keen rifle shot holding the champion belt of New Zealand, at the age of If. The following year ho went to England, at tho invitation of Lord Roberts, to compete at tho Bisley Rifle Mooting, where he finished second. Ho also competed at Canada with the English cadets, again finishing second.

The death is announced of Captain James It. R. Leys from wounds received in France. Tho lata Captain Leys, who was tho eldest son '.■! Staff-Sergeant R. R. Leys, of Dcfence Headquarters, left with the Main liody in the Signalling Divisional Corps, and took part in the landing at Anzas Cove. Shortly after tho lauding ho received an appointment on the Staff, and remained on Gallipoh till Soptember, 1913,' when ho was invalided to Egypt. After same montli6 of Stall work ho was recommended for his commission, and was amongst the first to return to New Zealand for that purpose, arriving in June, 3016. He returned to active servico with the Twenty-first Reinforcements, with tho rank of second lieutenant, and whilst in England was promoted first lieutenant. With his brigade he 'took pari: in all tho operations, and sinco November last had acted as officer commanding his company. The deceased officer, who was only twenty-two years of age, was educated at the Thorndon Normal School, and Wellington College, and had a highly successful school career. Prior to enlisting he was on tho head office staff of tho Bank of Now Zealand. Ho was a keen athlete and a prominent member of the College Old Boys first cricket eleven and also a member of tno Athletio Football Club. Deceased was a grandson, of the late Captain James Leys, who was well known in. 6luppmg oircles.

The officers of the Lands and Survey Department met yesterday afternoon and presented Mr. I l '. 'I'. O'Neill, lato Assist-ant-Undor-Socretary, with tokens of thoir esteem. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, in sn appropriate speech, made the presentation, and spoke in laudatory terms of Mr. 0 Neill s past services, which extended over 45 years, The Hon. Sir Francis Bell was also present, and spoke, appreciatively, whilst tho Under-Secretary (ATv. T. Is. Brodnck)i the s"rve (Mr. E. H. Wilmot), and former heads of tlie Department m the persons of Messrs. .Tohiij Strauchon, 1.5.0., and James Mackenzie, Lo.U., added their tribute of esteem, as did reprcsentatives of tho clerical and draughting staffs. Mr. O'Neill feelingly responded, and gave a few reminiscences of past events in the historyl of the Lands Department, and tho gathering closed vnth cheers for the latest member of tho Department to retire oil superannuation. Private Maurice My, youngest son of }lr. William My, of ilasterton, who eft with the Seventh Reinforcements, has been awarded tho Military Medal. \ resolution of sympathy was passed last night by tho Petone Borough Council with tho relatives of Private Gordon Wood, Private Symes,. and Invate lox,. threo woll-known Petone boys who wero recently killed at the front. News has neon received in Wellington ihat Sergeant Len. Allen (second son ot J!r. H. F. Allen, secretary of the Industrial Association), who left with the Ninth Reinforcements, and nfter serving in E",vpt went to France, has been recommended for o. commission, And is now studying in England. For some timo past ho has been acting as ser-geant-major. He was seriously wounncrt ?n tho battle of Messines. His only brother (Private A. Allen), of tho Jhirtccxith Reinforcements, was killed on. tuo Soinmc.