LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 200, 13 May 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An earth tremor lasting several seconds was experienced at about 0110 o'clock yesterday morning.

Jlio finding of a district court-martial held at Featherston Military Camp on April 27, 1918, having been confirmed by the Coinniandaut of: tho Now Zealand Military Forces, has boon promulgated as follows:—Private ,1. .Bolton (Featherston Details), found guilty of deserting His Majesty's fiorvico and losing by neglect his clothes and regimental necessities, was sentenced to undergo twentyeight days' detention, and to Iμ piit under stoppages of pay until ho lias mado good tho sum of £1 Is. !)d. in respect of kit deficiencies.

The majority of thoso who attend the Sunday evening concerts of the Wollincton Professional Orchestra do so to lieton to tho music. There are, unfortunately, a few who are under the impression that beautiful music is merely a screen for inane conversation, spoken loudlj- enough to distract the attention of thoso near them. ]?or euch people there n.re wido streets and pleasant walks enough in Wellington. Why, demands a. music-lover whoso.nerves wero frayed by tho incessant clatter in his vicinity nfc the orchestral concert, last evening, should they cloud their words behind a. screen of music?

Full civil and political rights for twenty-year-old men in respect of war service is tho tonor of a notice of motion which Councillor M'Kenzie is to bring before the Pelone Borough this evening. It reads as follows:—"Having conscripted the manhood of New Zealand at , twenty years of age, we aek that the Government draft legislation end bring before Parliament an. urgent epecial Hill conferring full civil and political rights upon all men and women on attaining twenty years of age, and that it bo passed and be givon effect to during the coming session of Parliament so ita to come into force on January- 1, 1919. If our youths are men enough to fight for the Empire's existence in this great* war, surely they aro men enough fit to havo the vote and the franchise as n ricflit conferred upon them, thereby enabling them to participate in tho governing of our civil institutions nnd the shaping and moulding of our politica-1 laws."

Somo of the local bread bakers are cutting out door-to-door deliveries in certain parts of tho city, notably in hilly suburbs, whore delivery is difficult and the demand comparatively small. Tho reason for this action lies in tho difference of Jd. per loaf in tho prico paid over tho counter and tho price delivered. A great number of consumers have taken advantage of the difference in price by sending out for their bread whenever they can, with the result that tho Iwker's driver may have to toil a long way for a small return. Another reason was tho increasing difficulty in getting suitable labour, ft difficulty that was likely to bo intensified with tho colling up of the Second Division men.

Messrs. J. Nathan and Co. have donated tho 6uni of £2 2s. to the Municipal Fire Brigado in recognition of its prompt responso on the occasion of the recent outbreak of firo in the firm's building at tho corner of Grey nnd Fenthei-ston Streets.

A reservist of New Zealand was found guilty of murder, was sentenced to death, and was hanged. The Director of Eecruiting telegraphed to the Group Commander in the district where tho man had lived: "Tho above-named reservist is reported as 'lost.' His file transferred to Director of Personal Service for further action. Ninoteeu days after the man was hanged the Group Commander was asked what had become of the man. and he replied that tho man had been executed for the crime of murder. Nearly a month later the Director of Recruiting and the Direc. tor of Personal Services wrote to the Group Commander advising him that the reservist might "now be entered on your records us deceased." Prom two places canio this instruction six weeks after the man was hanged I

At tho Alexandra Hall last night, under tho auspices of the Wellington Social Democratic Party, Mr. E. M'Donnell delivered an address on a by St. John G. Ervino, entitled "Mixed Marriage," which was first produced in Dublin iiliout seven yeaTs ngo. The lecturer said he chose this particular play bocauso it showed how the introduction of religion into labour matters caused dissension amongst tho workors, and in this particular gave an instance of tragedy following on sectarian interference. Several passages wcro read from the play by way of illustration. An order waa issued in Auckland on Thursday announcing that all hotels In tho city and vicinity would be out of bounds to all troops in uniform the noxt day. Civilians woro notilied that the supplying of liquor to soldiers would make them liable to prosecution under the War Regulations. Any soldiers in uniform found in hotel bars would be arrested by tho military police. .In a circular to hotel proprietors, tho officer commanding tho district asked for assistance and cc-oneration in this mattor. "It is regretted,'- , " hu stated, "that eucli a step is necessary, but previous experience has shown that returned soldiers have caused considerable trouble, both to tho authorities and themselves, by obtaining too much liquor. It has bcon found necessary lo issuo this order because the southern quota disembarking on Friday morning will be granted leave in Auckland until 7.15 p.m."

Tho movement by the lied Cross Society in Dunedin to obtain donations of JilOO towards the endowment of beds in the Convalescent Military Hospital-each gift of JBIOO endows one bed-is proving very successful. Additional gifts of -CtOO have been received from tho following s—St. Andrew's Church congregation (per the Eov. Dr. Wnddoll), Tnien Women's Patriotic. Association, Union Steam Ship Company, proprietors Gladbrook Estate, Green Island Nursing Division. Late on Friday "Anonymous created a stir in tho rooms of tho society by sending in JC2OO.