LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 202, 15 May 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The vessel carrying returned draft of soldiers 159 is expeoted to berSi "at Wellington at ten o'clock on Thursday morning.

Ono of tho remits adopted at the meeting of tho Second Division Leaguo in Wellington .last night was that leave from wunp should be granted, to Second Division soldiers after they had been one week in uniform instead of three weeks. The meeting approved this proposal, but it buried in laughter a further proposal that the league should demand for Second Division soldiers leave from camp from Friday night until Monday morning.

Last week No. 1 cable across Cook Strait (whicli stretohes from Oterangi Bay, near Terawhiti, on this side to White's Bay) parted. Tests have been made hy Mr. E. A. Shrimpton, telegraph engineer in Wellington, which detected'tho break to be only some 300 yards £rom the 6hore in Oterangi Bay,. in only five fathoms of water, A suitable opportunity will bo seized to repair tho broken cablo twTiich chafed through on a known ridge of rocks) by means of a surf boat. It is not expected to bo a difficult job in fair weather.

A suggestion that periodical meotings of tho wives of soldiers should be hold was mado at last nighfs meetiug of the Second Division League. Tho member who brought this proposal forward said that such meetings • would reveal cases of hardship that otherwise would remain unknown. Tho presidont of the league promised that tho matter should receive attention.

Those numerous articles that aro 'lost, stolen, or strayod," and which usually find their way into the polico station, wero tho motivo for an auction sale held by Williams ar.d Co. yesterday afternoon. Tlioy wore sold under ordinary conditions, plus tho provisos that nothing was guaranteed, and all purchasers had to give their names and addrosses in onse tho goods they bought aro required to be traced for any reason. Thoro were a dozen bicycles (sold from a few shillings up to 15s oaoli), umbrellas, watches, jewejlory, overcoats, purses, etc. In one bundle of coloured blankets, grandiloquently described by tho auctioneer as ' good New Zealand rugs," was wrapped a, large assortment of now carving forks and blacksmith's knives, a queor combination which looked liko the paok of Borne itinerant dealer. There was a sailor b kit-bng sold for a shilling (found to contain a lot of decent clothing), and a pair of golf shoes (well broken in) and a gold ring wero secured for 145., and a rush dressing-bag, bulging with clothes, was scoured for 3s. Gd. Occasionally excellent bargains would be secured, but thero wero those v»ho paid too much for their lots, and had to grin and bear it.

Ono of tho members of tho Second Division League became eloquent last night over tho wrong done the married men when their first reinforcement was marchod through tho streets of Wellington to the railway station in the ' vc ]*y early morning before the general public was awake. Ho did not see why the married men should be smuggled into camp. Another member suggested that probably the authorities wore well advised not to placo any extra strain on the feelings of the wives and children. The president of tho league remarked that probably tho military authorities would not think it necessary to adopt the same course again. The executivo would make some inquiries on the point.

"He may bo wrong, but ho has ideas. And it is bo seldom that we come across people with ideas-even batl ideas!" said Sir Eobert Anderson yesterday, defending the evidence of a witness before tho Defonco Expenditure Commission, which evidence was being criticised by a later witness.

Owing to tho inability of somo of tho Ministers to bo in Wellington on Monday next, tho meeting of Cabinet to deal with tho petitions for tho remission of tho sentences on the persons now in prison for having uttered r,edition in Christchurch recently will not be held until the following- day (Tuesday).

"I could take you to a placo in Wellington where there are fourteen dwellings on about 120 feet squaro," said a speaker at the annual meeting of the Wellington Town-Planning Association last evening. "I doubt if they can beat that in England. _ This question is very Rcuto in our cities."

The Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) said yesterday that nothing had yet beon dono towards the putting into operation of the legislation providing for a, measure of national non-combatant servico within this country. Tho matter would l>e considered at the meeting of Cabinet to be held on Tuesday. The meeting of creditors in the bankrupt ostate of John Lnidlaw Walling, called for yesterday, lapsed for want of a quorum, only two creditors being present. In a letter to Sergeant H. C. D. Wade, station-sergeant at tho Central Police Offices, ex-Constable W. Fitzgerald mentions that there has been a leathering, of some of the tamer members of ike Lumbton Quay Police Force at the Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital, for at the time of writing, March 7, Robert Thompson, "Jack" Thompson, and Edwin W. Strattpn wore in tho institution. W. Fitzgerald was suffering from a septic foot and frost-bitten fingers and R. Thompson from a wound in lus leg, but both wero thou convalescent, and are now probably back in tho firing-lino. E. W. Stratton was also suffering from a wound to the log, and had to undergo an iteration for appendicitis, which will keep him on tho sick list for some time. Jack" Thompson's condition was reported oa bad but ho was expected tojnako a good recovery. Ho was for fomo timo, prior to enlisting, orderly at the Magistrates Court, whero ho established hiwsoli ft general favourite by his courteous and obliging disposition.

The question of "smokc-o" morning and aftornoon for tha roadmen employed by the Hutt County Council exercised the minds of the 'councillors at their meeting yesterday. Councillor Galloway saw no reason why men who left their homes at half-past six or seven o'clock in tho morning should not have a spell for a. few minutes, and maintained that tho men would work all the better for it. The chairman (Councillor Whiteman) objected strongly to the principle, and he was supported in his view by Councillor Howell, who held that tlw men worked short hours (about 46 per week), that they were well paid, and should give a fair return by working well. It was eventually decided thai the inspector of works (Mr. J. W. Cudb> should circularise ult road foremen, notifying them that the men were required to work Slirs. 10m. per day for five days and five hours on Saturday. This leaves no time for the "6moke-o" spoil.

The Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's increased levy continues to bo discussed by local bodies, and the matter cropped up at the meeting of tho Hutt County Conncil yesterday through a letter from the Onslow Borough Couucil asking that representatives be appointed to attend a confcrenco of delegates from local bodies to discuss tho question fully. Councillors Cooper and) Welch were of the opinion that the levy was excessive, and wore in favour of a severance from the boprd and the erection of a cottage hospital at Upper Hutt. This suggestion found no favour with Councillors Howell and Galloway, who said that tho Wellington Hospital was recognised os one of the most efficient in the Dominion, and tho levy was not excessive considering the great increase in the prices of drugs snd rll necessaries. Councillors Cooper and Galloway were authorised to attend the conference.

The Second Wellington Military Service Board left Wellington yesterday on an East Coast trip. Tt is to nit in Masterfcon to-day, and then goes on to Da_nnevirke, Waipuk'urau, Napier, and Gisborne.

It is not as well known as it might bo that a metallic oircuit for telephonic purposes exists between Wellington and Wanganui. That means that it is possible for any person speaking from hi? own private or business telephone to communicate with anyone cennectwl wit'the Wanganui Exchange at any time of the day or night. Tho few who know of tho existence of this wire make good use of it, but the Department doubts if the existence of a telsphono_ wiro (as apart from telegraph wires) is_ as well known to tho general public as it should be. | It is a Departmental dream—to bo realised when things Vcome normal again—to institute a double metollio circuit twtween Valmorston North and Hamilton, to enablo practically the whole of tho North Island to be in telephonic communication, without being at all dependent on the telegraph wires.

Mr. C. Branigan, Government Fields Inspector at Ashburton. on Saturday located seeds of Califomiau thistle in some chart with which ho was feeding his horse. He at once referred tho matter to the firm from which ho purchased the chaff, and found that tho chaff wns full of the ■ noxious weed. The whole consignment will now he returned to tho farmer who grew and sold the chaff.

There is a movement in the; City Council to-make changes in connection with tho city reserves, according to City Councillor \V. H. Bennett, who spoke at Inst ovoning's meeting of tho Wellington Town-Planning Association. "At pre sent," said Councillor Bennett, "there are many experts and 1:0 head." He believed that in the near future they would bo "consolidated in ono head."

Tho potato crop in tho eastern distrrf of Southland is not turning out nearly up to expectations, most of the crops dug showing signs of blight, and yielding much below the average. One buyer who canvassed tho district last week secured ono line at £1 on trucks; but Gore merchants say that no farmers are offering any quantity, and present indications point to a shortage in this district.

A witness in a case before the Military Servico Board at Auckland, who has been employed as a farmer for a number of vears, was, according to tho Herald, asked by Major Conlan, military representative, whether lie would bo willing to take over the lease of the farm from ins employer, n single man, who had been called up. Tho witness, who is in' Class B of the Second Division, and who recently received a legacy of .£ISOO, stated that'if he was classed C 2 he intended to buy a farm of his own, and he would not think of taking over appellant's farm. Major Conlan stated that any man classified C 2 is liable to bo called up and sent to camp to <10 homo service at. soldier's pny. The only reason why reservists clftssod 02.wore iiofc thus dcfili with was because thcro was no work for them to do. It was open to him to recommend that any rejected reservist should bo ordered to do sorao service, and, in view of the disinclination of witness to assist so as to release a single fit man for active service, ho would,_ if witness were rejected, consider making an application to have him scat to camp to work at ss. a day.

"At present you oann.it got milk in Wellington under 36 liours old," said City Councillor C. B. Norwood at last even jug's meeting of the Wellington TownPlanning Association.

A deputation from tlie Feathorston Second Division League waited upon the local Patriotic Committeo on Monday night and brought under Its notice tlio desirability of tho Patriotic Association carrying out a maternity and medical benefit scheme {or soldiers' dependents, pending special provision by_ tho State for mothers who could not visit tho St. Helens Homes, and consideration of the league's Tequest for special allowances for chronic invalids. Messrs. J. H. Field, house, A. C. llolmß, and B. Tait (chairman of tho Patriotic Committee) supported the proposal, and it was decided tlmt the league submit a working scheme. Tho Feathorston Patriotic Committee passed a resolution opposing tho principle involved in drawing upon the Wounded Soldiers' Fund for other than the purpose for which it was created. .

The memory, cf Carbine, the_ famous racehorse, who Was bred at Sylvia Pax » and who died in England in 1911, will appropriately be kept green m Auckland by two interesting mementoes home time ago, Carbine's owner, the Duke of Portland, forwarded the skin as ft gilto the Auckland Racing Club. Ihe committee o£ tho club, in view of the great interest attaching to Carbine andln great feats in tho Taowg world, decided tli at such portion of the gift as.wasi sui - able for publio exhibition should bo preto the Auckland Museum. 1 * skin was found to be unsuitable for full mounting in tho and it was decided to present the and neck portion to the museum. Ihts lad bee successfully mounted by Mi. GiiHm. we taxidermist at the museum Oh? nto noting relic will be placed on a snitaDie shield, and will shortly be ori exhib t on iii the museum. An plate, containing a r s cord of Carb™ « club into a chair f°? Gr ji 0 f portit has been set up. ___