LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 213, 28 May 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Acting-Postmaster-General, announces that ho has notice that the Commercial Pacific Company, which is the company owning the telegraph cables that give communication with Honolulu, advises that it does not give transmission to social messages. At 1.5 p.m. yesterday the fire brigado received a call to Crescent Road, Roseneath, to a houso owned aud occupied by Mr. W. C. S. T tieha.r(lson. Before tho fire was extinguished tho kitchen and contents wore badly damnged. The cause of the fire was a defective chimney. Tho building was insured in the Phoenix Office for MOO and the contents in the Atlas Office for .£2OO.

Seas of rain-water that fell last week have submerged all the lower levels of tho flax country iu the Manawatu. In many places on both sides of the railroad, the post and wire fences arc out of sight or just level with the dead water. The Toads between Palmerston and Shannon and Foxton and Levin were under about two feet of water for stretches of a chain or two on Sunday night, blocking practically all traffic. Tho Manawatu River rose at tho worst part' of the storm about six or eight feet, but yesterday had subsided a good deal. It is likely that tho millers will have to bear the loss of n large Quantity of flax fibro that was drying on the ground and fences at the hour the rain set it, and now has been shaking for a week or more.

Gunner G. W. A. Gwilliani, who lias been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on the field, is a son of Mr. G. W. A. Gwilliam, of Ponsonby, Auckland. Although only 21 yeare of age, ho has been on active service ever since the proclamation of the outbreak oE war in August. IBM, when, as a member of tho Garrison Artillery, he was called out for service at one of the forts. He was then only 17i years of age. A few months later he" went into camp at Trenthnm, and he left New Zealand with the divisional ammunition column iu the Seventh Reinforcements. Gunner Gwilliam remained a few months in Ezypt, and afterwards went to France, where he has served for over two years. Wlmn war broke out he was employed in the locomotive branch of the Railway Department. "We are being rationed wisely," writes :i resident of Norfolk, England, "but there is nothing liko famine or severe want. In fact. lam not sure if these restrictions, taken on the whole, are not beneficial. Food is dear. Butter is 2s. Od. per lb., egps tkl. each, beef and bacon Is. lOd. io 2s. per lb., but bread is nlcntifu!, and vegetables pretty cheap. I ran get good opples here at 3d. and Id. per lb., and potatoes are Is. 2d. per stone. I rave any amount, and so havs all tho people about here. So the submarines won't starve us."

The well-known Uotorua guide Pipi died last week, aged 55 years, and a tnngi was held at Whakarownrewa. Deceased was a ohieftainess of the Toheuntngi Hapu of the Arawa tribe, and mother of 'Sergeant Toala, who has been at the front, and, having returned, is now on the permanent staff at Narrow Neck Camp. Auckland. Another son died of meningitis while in camp; training for active service. Poala, the husband of Pini, died somo years ago. There aro loin' daughters, one named Tatiana was a. member of the Maori troop that visited London on the occasion of the. Coronation of King George. Tho planet Mercury is now favourably situated for observation as a morning star, having reached an elongation of 25 degrees west of the sun. At present it rises slightly to the north of due cast about 5 a.m., or two hours before the sun. Venus, somewhat higher in the sky, is also conspicuous as a morning star. During the year ended March 31 tho Wanganui municipal trams (including Gonville) travelled 407,094 car miles, carried 8.217.555 passengers (as against 2,922,78-1 tho previous year), and took .627,840 Is. -od. in revenue, (as compared with ..£21,700 12s. 7d. last year). Exemption from fttendance on the jury nt tho orcsont civil sittings of the Supreme' Court vas gi anted t.y Mr. Justice Edwards yesterday to a man who stated that ho was a dairy farmer. Plus man stated that he had fourteen cows to milk, and ihe only assistance he had was that of his twelve-year-old eon.

James M'Anuliy, aged 61, a- prisoner serving threo months' imprisonment for vagrancv committeed at Petonc, died at tho Terraco Gaol yesterday at 1 p.m.. somewhat suddenly, while having his dinner. It is believed that he was choked By a piece of meat. . Shortlv after tho express for Wellington left'Pahiatua on Saturday, and when about a mile from Mangatainoka, tho driving rod of the engine oroke and toll between the rails, cutting about thirty sleepers 'ike a knifo and also spreading Iho rails. The car just behind the engine was derailed, and a wheel of iho engine was almost off tho .line. The express was travelling fast at a zig-zag point in the line not far from a culvert It was brought promptly to a standstill. Iho passengers included many soldiers. The occupants of the derailed car were considerably shaken by tho jolt. The service was disorganised on Saturday, and tho north and south trains were very late.— Press Assn.

At tho Chrisbhurch Military Service Board yesterday a.sine die adjournment was granted in -espect to tho New Zealand Shipping Company s appeal on behalf of James Neville Barns, its acting accountant in Wellington, who was _ a voluntary recruit slates a Press Association telegram. It was stated that tho company's Wellington accountant had enlisted', and Jlanis was .-.cting in his place, lie had been in the service for twenty ve'irs iuid was well qualified to fill important positions. About half the company's staff had u>ne, the company haviii" "ivcii its men !»avo nf absence with haVpav when they enlisted and it was urged that any Hirther dep etion ql the cvpcricn-cd men would interfere seriously with tho quick dispatch of steamers. It was not a matter of profit to the company, as Iho company's steamers wero all requisitioned by the Imperial Government, which pays all expenses and takes all tno earnings,

Empire Day services were held in St. Matthoiv'fl Church, Mastertoft, on Sunday, and wero largely attended, our special correspondent telegraphs. Tho Peumo Borough Council decided Inst night to donate JEIO to the funds o; tho lied Jersey Appeal. Mr. T. Wilson, one of Iho members of the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board, has been appointed deputy-chairman, in order that some relief may be provided for tho chairman, Mr. T. S. flonaldson. The work of tho board is growing rapidly, and tho six members have been hard pressed to keep pace with it without neglecting'completely their,other duties. They have been working on a rota, three members constituting a quorum, but this meant a heavy strain on Mr. Ronaldson, who had to attend all meetings. The appointment of a deputy-chairman will enable the board to maintain tho relay system without overtaxing the chairman. The name of Clifford John Charles liowry, kincmatograph operator, of U Victoria Street. Petone, was entered in error in tho. list of missing reservists which was published yesterday. C. J. C. Lowry vohmtered for service some time ago,' but was rejected as being medically unfit tor active service.

At last night's meeting of the Petono Borough. Council a letter was receive! from tho Ohinomuri County Council, asking tho Petone Council to support action being taken in asking the (iovciiment to take over tho whole of the iiiu ; :i arterial roads in tho North Island., Sev oral councillors spoke in support of the request contained in the letter, but contended that the upkeep of the roads in the South Island should also bo borne by the Government, After discussion, the council resolved to support the request of the Ohinemuri County Council. . The. question of denominational schools was referred to -t last night's meeting of the Petone Borough Council, following upon a letter received from the -Minister of Education pointing out that the practice of allowing national scholarships to bo held at denominational schools was -stablished before he came into office. Tho Minister stated that the mattor was recently submitted to Cabinet for consideration, when it was decided that the presont practice was to continue, in the meantime, but that the question may again bo considered before next session. Councillor Churohhouse said ho supported the ; national system ot education. Although ihore were people who believed in denominational education, ho held that such a system tended only to "snobbery." The people of the British nation should seo that education was kept up to the highest standard, and the only way in which that could be dono was by 'maintaining the national system of education such as was in operation in New Zealand. He moved that the council report to the Minister that ike matter was ono which should be again considered bv Cabinet. Councillor J. M Dougull seconded the motion, which was carried without further discussion.