LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 215, 30 May 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of J'nleriml Alfairß, luus received advice from tho Commonwealth authorilicd that before leaving Australia holders of pa.-s----ports issued by nimthc: . Government are iiow rci|iiirei| to make application I'm endorsement of the document on u proKcribed form, copies nf which are obtainable, uu application to the Customs authorities, lliroiialiout ( the Commonwealth. The form of application for vise of pas-port must be lodged at least seven days prior lo Iho date of departure, accompanied by ;i lee of '.'s. and a photograph of the applicant.. The pea-rifle question was mentioned aguin at last night's meeting of the Acclim itisiition Society. Members stated that the use of pea-rifles by unlicensed "sportsmen" was a very serious evil from the point of view of those who wished to see native and imported game preserved in a reasonable way. The rangers found it; very clillicult lo delect, poachers who were .shouting with pea-riiles, owing lo the liliithl. noise made by these light (iiv.irius. Tho nncdy, it was urged, tras Ihe adoption of a. strict gun-licenso system unci Urn imposition of severe penallies mi persons 'found transgressing tho rules.

Sunn" <if Ihe violet farms at Olaki are rnrrii'il <m by Maoris. A recent visitor iu I.lm district was informed by one Nalivo thai, he had MOD plants in, and was pulling in more next season, lie said ho had I lint morning sent 1500 blooms to Welliiigluii, ;ind would be sending that miuil.HM- daily. Ho had an order standing for Will!) blooms a week, wlvil? another linn wiinled -101)0. Tho visitor was told the Natives wera doing very"well out of violel culture. AVriling lo relatives in Hawera, Private 1. Willi a, u prisoner of war in Murder, Germany, sends quite a cheerful letter with reference to his experiences at dlirislmil:? (line. He says: "The men in tho camp had a good time on Christmas Kve. Tho lights were kept on till twelve o'clock, and we had all kinds of dancing and songs. There are a fine, jolly lot of fellows in this camp. We have all kinds of instruments, from mouth organs lo violin, and several accordeons, so "you can imagine we had plenty of music. 'Ihorp are some good singer.? here, 100. The Christmas dinner was a good ont>, finishing up with a plum pudding. AVe went for a trail; afterwards for ~ftvs or .six miles. The weather lias been very mild up lo time of writing. There bus been nothing like tho snow thai, we had at the camp that 1 was.at this time last year. Wo have plenty of snowballing at times." The secretary of the Reii Cross Society in London, writing with reference lo Private Watts, mentions that the last letter she received from him stated that he was receiving his parcels quite regularly. When tho appeal of Walter Woods, labourer, Ashhurst, was being heard beforo the jTppo.il Board, at Palmerston North, Jlr. Cooper, who appeared for this reservist, stated there was somo doubt as to whether he was tho Walter Woods drawn in the ballot. He had volunteered for service with an early reinforcement, anil returning to New Zealand was given his discharge. He was not in New Zealand when the enrolment was made, and did not enrol after his return; nor had he ever resided in Southland at the address given in the ballot. Tho chairman paid he understood tho Government Statistician could nut a man on the roll if ho had knowledge of him. Captain M'Donnellsaid a "friend" sent in a returned soldier's minis. Tho appeal was adjourned sine die.

Tho reappearance of tuis in tho W.iikaimo district was mentioned by Mr. W. 11. Field at last night's meeting of tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society. Ho said that many tuis had been seen thero lately, and if tho pea-rides could l>o kept away tho birds might be expected to increase.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon by Jlr. W. G Kid'deh, S.M., into tho cause «>f death of James M'Amilty, aged M, wlio died at the Terrace Gaol, on Monday last somewhat suddenly. Dr. Kington i'yu"e> who made the post-mor-tem examination, expressed the opinion that death wae due to ehoik, resulting from a foreign body (n piece of meat) passing into the larynx. Gleorge H. T. Cooke, gaoler, staled that M'Auulty was committed at Pelone to three months' imprisonment fur vagrancy. He came originally from Ireland and had no relatives in New Zealand. Formal evidence was given by two warders. The Coroner returned a verdict that M'A unity died from shock, caused by being choked with ii pieco of meat when having dinner. Tho police authorities in Wellington received a telegram from Christchurch yesterday stating that a man named John James Kitson had died there from tho effects of a cut in tho throat. Tho message did not say how the wound was inflicted, but mentioned that the. mother of tho deceased lived at Khandallah. Inquiries were mado by tho local police to ascertain whether anyone named l?ii> son resided at Khandallah, but no person of that name could be traced. The quinnat salmon, which appeared it 1917 to l>c firmly established in some of the southern-rivers, has not appeared in the expected numbers this year. Tho chairman of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society (Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp) stated last night that in tho early part of the season practically no quinnat salmon had appeared in the Waitaki. There hud been a run of the fish later. No salmon had been got in the Eangitata. Tho information (hat has reached Wellington on the subject is not complete, but it seems certain that, tho run of the quinnat this season is not fulfilling the promise of last year's run, which was thought to indicate the rapid increase of the fish. Prior to the departure of tho Main Trunk train from Thorndon station yesterday, ii young woman was arrested by Detective-Sergeant Scott and Dotectivo Torrancc on .charges of theft, false pretences, and forgery. The accused, who is believed to have arrived in New Zealand from the Old Country about a year ago, will bo brought before the Magistrate's Court this morning, when a remand will be asked for.

Mr. W. J. Burk, sen., of Petone, writes: "I notice in your issue of May 27 that my son, \V. J. Burk, jun., watchmakei:, Bli Sydney Street, Petono, lias been included in tho list of names of missing reservists to whom final warning has been given. I beg to state that he voluntarily enlisted, and was examined by Dr. Ross, of Potone, and declared medically unfit owing to being practically blind in tho right eye. Since then he has kept the Defence Department supplied with his address, and has never received notiop again to report himself for medical examination. He has been in the employ of the New Zealand railways on the sigluil erection staff for the past 20 months. 'J'-ie week war was declared he entered the Central Battery, Duncdin, in the coastal defence, and remained there fnr two years, hence the occupation (cook) attached to his namo arose, thai; being tho duty allotted to him. I think when one has' done his best for his country it is hard, through the. carelessness of someone, they should have such a etisuia put upon them."

A Press Association telegram from Oiiiikuup slates. Wat at a gathering in honour of Main Body men returned on duty furlough n resolution was passed deprecating the calling of such men back to service af':cr only being on three weeks' leave in New Zealand. It was contended that they should be given at least tlireo months in New Zealand to recuperate, after nearly four years of service.' Tho resolution was intended to apply to members Body Eeinforcements up to the Fifth. ■ Some timo ago the Marine Engineers' Institute, llifi Merchant Service Guild, the Federated Seamen's Union, and the. Cooks and Stewards' Union comnijied, with a. vietf to urging that full wages be paid to the members of thoso bodies who are interned in enemy countries. It is probable that representatives of the various bodies concerned will be given an opportunity to wait on Sir James Allon (Acting-Prinn , Minister) and the Hon. T. M. AVilford (Minister of Marine) on the return of tho latter from Christclutrch. The Rev. E. Palgrave Davy is still eugiged conducting united missions for young people. Since the mission in Newiotvn, Mr. Davy has had an extended tour in the South Island. In the eight towro 102 meetings! were held, with an usjjrcgatc attendance of about 24,501). Nest week Mr. Davy is returning to Auckland, but he contemplates coming back to Wellington, after a foiv days, for two or three weeks.

f In tho Divorce Court ynslorday, before Ills Honour Air. Justice" Hosking. Nellio Wickhiim, for whom Mr. IT. 1 , . O'Leary appeared, applied for «' dissolution of i.er iiinrriiißo with Richard Wiekham. who failed to appear, on the grounds of habitual drunkenness, habitual cruelly, find failure to maintain. The parties v.Tro married in I!HU and separated in 1015. It was alleged that respondent: beat his wife till she was bruised i'rnm head to fool, and, further, that he tried to choke, her and to out her throat. Evidence was given by neighbours as to the cruelty. A decree nisi wns granted, which may be made, absolute in three months, and the respondent was ordered to pay M"t eosls, aleo disbursements.

The decision of the Military Service Hoard which heard the case of Lieutenant B. W. Millier, chief cleric of the Marino Department, for whom the Government appealed, has .been made public, the board slating that it adheres to its former decisieon" to make no recommendation for leave of absence Lieutenant Millier, who enlisted voluntarily in 19.1.5, hud eight months' unbroken service in the Sonime sector in France. Re was sent back (n Kew Zealand as a Reinforcement officer, and whilst in camp here wns withdrawn by dirertion of the Government in order to lake over responsible duties in tlu- Marine Denart;lnent, where he wns unjpnlly ventured, liemling fho rO ?nH of .ipnenl lo Hip lionrd. As the Government cannot override the final decision of ;i military service board. Lieutenant Millier wili have to be released for service, and he will return to military duty within a. day or two.

The provisional pensiouc grunted to soldiers immediately upon their return tn New Zealand were referred to at tho Relumed Soldiers' Conference at Auckland by Mr. J. D. Harper, who is treasurer of the association, and also a member of tho Pensions Board. It had been decided, lie said, to grant, all men recommended by the Provisional Pensions Board an allowance of £& 10s. a. month until the fl'nai pension could be fixed. If the Pensions Board decided , to give the man a higher pension, it would bo made up. but if a lower rate were, fixed no refund would be asked for.

Mr. H. Baldwin, chairman ol' the Wellington Hospital Board, denieu the accuracy of the following statement attributed to the Mayoi of Petone (Mr. J. W. M'Ev.-an), who is also a member of the board, viz.:—"That the military auIhorities paid the whole of the cos,t of Ihe Victoria Hospital, which had been taken over by them. They also paid tho full .£2 2s. per week for patients treated ir the general hospital." Mr. Baldwin points out that the Hospital Board runs the whole- of its institutions itself; and tho Government does not in any way provide for the maintenance- of the Victoria Hospital for invalided soldiers. The maintenance, staffing, provisions, and medicines are supplied by the hoard, the Government providing for tho salary of the medical officer in charge (Colonel Moricc) and one or two orderlies. Neither does the Government nay ,4'2 lis, a week for soldiers in the'general hospital. The charge to the Government for soldiers in tho hospitals is 375.; fid. per week, and only those who aro recommended by the Defence Department for treatment: are paid for by the Government. Estimating that tho cost per bed for 1916-17 was .€lls per lied, tho charges made by the board at 375. 6d. per week per patient 6how a loss of Cs. Cd. per bed.