LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 227, 13 June 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

o The .Minister of Defence lias received information that another port lias been readied safely by a troopship carrying the Thirty-eighth Artillery and Engineers and certain Tnfantry Details. Another troopship, with the Thirty-seventh Specialists and D Company of the Thirtyseventh Reinforcements and a few details has arrived at a port of call.

Tho mobilisation of the Forty-third Reinforcement will take place next week. Tho men from Group 5 (Wellington Ciiy and Suburbs) are to concentrate at tho Buckle Street barracks on Tuesday afternoon, and will enter camp on Wednesday morning. The drafts in camp at the end of next week will he tho Thirtyninth, Fortieth, Forty-first, Forty-second, and Forty-third Reinforcements.

"Do you believe, that the issue of hank notes in New Zealand is approaching the point of danger?" was a question put to Mr. 1). I'l. Murphy, M.A., B.C'oin., last night. "Yes, I do," replied Mr. Murphy.

The ]>iise-ficltl reported by the Naval Adviser to have been discovered north of Cape Maria van Dienien is believed to have been laid about the same time as the mine-field previously located oil' Cape Farewell. There is no reason at present to believe that a second raider -lias visited New Zealand waters. The existence of the northern field ha 6 been suspected for some time past, and precautions have been taken \o provent shipping being endangered.

There lias, according to a local merchant, been a considerable ndvaiice in tho price of potatoes during the past few days, and supplies held are reported lo Ijo very small. For early deliveries there has been an advance of J2 ss. per ton in the last few days, and for later delivery, say up to August, an advance of as much as .£3 ss.

The condition of John Stevens, a fireman of an overseas steamer, who was admitted w> the Hospital on Tuesday .night suffering from injuries to the head causcd by a grating of a hatchway falling upon him, was reported last' night to have greatly improved.

The stock phrases of amateur economists wore the subject of sarcastic reference by Mr. li. E. Murphy in the course of his lecture lust night. It was not true, lie said, that "trade follows the das-". Trade did nothing of Iho sort. "Capitalism produces wars" was a common assertion. Capitalism did not produce war. I t might do so under certain conditions, but its tendencies were not in 1 li.it direction. Then thero. was the old reference to "tho harmony of Capital anil Labour." Thero was no harmony.

That war conditions have not deprived aliens resident in New Zealand of their rights to take proceedings in the law courts of the. Dominion was emphasised in the Auckland Supremo Court on Monday, when a native of Germany, though now interned at Motuihi, obtained judgment against n. British-born citizen for debt. As a matter of fact, the interests of aliens are distinctly protected by one of tho earliest proclamations issued by tho Government in connection with tho war. Under date August !), 1!)U, His Excellency the Governor-General ' proclaimed that all enemy aliens peaceably resident in the Dominion were "within the peace and protection of His Majesty in the same manner as if they were subjects of His Majesty," and expressly declared that they were entitled to sun and l<> plead accordingly in the courts of justice.

Tho clerk reported lo the Hospital Board (says a South Canterbury paper) (hat recently an old man from another district asked for help, and was given an order and told to go to ;i certain local Ijoardinghouse. When tho old man reached these premises he was refused admission, or even a cup of tel. Another boardinghouso proprietor, who was luoro charitably disposed, look tho old man in. Tho board subsequently gave the old ma.n' ,E5 to buy blankets and innderclothinc.

Tho Waiknremoaaa Hydro-Electric Leaguo wroto to the Hawke's Bay A. and P. Society recently, pointing out the importance of the scheme being gono on with, and suggesting that a remit 1» eent to tho Agricultural Conference pointing out the necessity of the work being gone on with immediately. It was decided that such a. remit bo sent.

All inquiry is being held in regard to thefts of parcels at the Hastings -Post Office. Tho extent of tho depredation is not yet known. .A few days ago_ tho drain became blocked 011 'wo and an investigation showed- the causo of the trouble to bo a number of wrappers, addressed principally to soldiers, blocking the pipes. Tho parcels bad evidently been posted in tho posting-boxes and had not been received over the ' ountcr. The contents arc believed to bo nrincipally socks and sweets, and-it is said the thief disposed of a number of the former locally. The culprit is said to be a youth who has owned.up to tho thefts.

Tho Australian cruiser Adelaido will lie launched in Sydnev on July 27. It is probable that Lady Helen Munro Ferguson will bo invited to perform tho ceremony.

A plea of not guilty was entered by George Hunter, a young man, at the Magistrate's Court yesterday to a charge of having stolen a tte-piii valued at £Yl, tho property of Oliver Whitton Clayton. Evidence was adduced to the effect that 011 May 4 last accused accosted Clayton at the Alhambra Hotel, and said he was a returned 1 soldier looking for quarters. Suddenly he snatched the tie-pin fromClayton and mado off with it. Later nn he attempted to dispose of tho pin at a second-hand dealer's, but the dealer refused to take it. At the time he was ill the shop a youth was there disposing of a rifle. Tho accused followed the youth out and told him that he had not had 0 squaro meal for some time, and asked him to buy the pin. The youth had some money in his hand. Accused took 9s. 6d., and gave hiui the pin. On the next day the youth sold tho pin for Gs. at the same second-hand shop at which accused had tried to dispose of it, but 011 this occasion the sale was effected to the dealer's wife. "I am a returned soldier, and I had been drinking, Your Worship," said tho 'accused. "I wont to return to the war and soldier 011. I will never break the law again." "You will have nn opportunity of joining tho Army 1 again," remarked Mr. Hiddell. "after you have served the sentence I intend to impose upon you." It was shown that there were thirty-four pievious convictions a»ainst tho accused. Hunter was sentenced to tlirc-o mouths' imprisonment.

A complete transformation has been going on for some -months at, Te Aro Eailwav Station. The station itself has 'been entirely roofed in, forming a huge shed capable of storing an immense quantity of goods. The space between tho platforms forms a natural cart-way through the building, and tho floors on either side arc just the right height for handling goods off and on lorries and carts. The building is being used nt present by the Returned Effects Distribution Branch of the Defence Department. As it is hardly likely that the property will revert back to the Railway Department for some years to come at the least, a gang of men are at present employed in removing from tho station yard tho signalling plant and interlocking gear, for which use will be found elsewhere.

A young Aucklsinder, Mr. Arthur Evans, of Mount Eden, was an engineer on the steamer Kenilworth Castle, which collided with another vessel at night 011 lier voyage ifrom South Africa to an English port. Tho Kenilworth Castle was badly damaged, but eventually -reached port. At tho time of the collision, according to a.cablegram, some of the passengers jumped overboard, and One boat that was launched capsized, involving some loss of life. Mr. F,vans has mado inquiry by cable as to the safety of his son, but so far has not received any relily.

A linnd of roughs known as the "Yarra mob" ran amuck in Victoria Street, Abbotsford (Melbourne), on June 1, after a dispute arising at a football match, and attacked a number of persons with bottles, which were still used as. weapons when they were broker.. William Lancaster. aged IS years, who was passing with his father in a jinker, intervened to try to persuade the roughs to return another young man's hat. He was struck with broken bottles, knocked down, and kicked unmercifully while 011 the ground. An artery was severed in- his forehead, and twelve stitches had to be inserted. An aged man was also brutally kicked. No arrests were made.

A walersido worker was yesterday arrested by Constable Cleverly, of the wharf police, on a cliargo of theft of four packets of dried peaches from a wharf shed.

The Ciisborno Borough Council has accepted an offer by Mr. \V. D. Lysnar, an ex-Mayor of the borough, for the extension of tho tramways system to the suburbs. The storage battery tramway system installed five years ago has resulted in a substantial loss to the' Borough Council, which has been considering the matter of discarding the system. The track at present, runs a little over two miles along the main road—until recently its length was much less—and tho supporters of the storage battery system contend that if the tract were extended to the suburbs the tramway would prove n payable concern. Mr. Lysnar's proposal is to complete the system to the .suburbs, on lines laid down by him when Mayor, within seven months, at a cost of ,£27,000. Mr. Lysnar also offered to pay any difference between tho revenuo and tho expenses, excluding interest and sinking fund, tho profits, if any. to become tho property of the council. • Mr. Lysnar's scheme includes tho placing in commission of three new cars and necessary plant, to bo procured from America within the seven months.

A dfjmtation. which waited upon the Minister of Lands at I'aeroa, urged that the Government :liould take over all arterial roads. The Minister said this matter had occupied the Government's attention for some time, but the. principle had not been adopted yet. A new Countv Bill, which was on tile stocks, might be launched at any time, and this matter Alight be included in it. He pointed out that southern people were averse to such a proposal. It was a very contentious matter and not likely to be discussed at tho present lime, but many members of Parliament were pledged to support the proposal, so it wns not likely to be forgotten.

The Commonwealth Minister of Defence (Senator Pcarce) said on May .10 that while tho Government; had not been able to arrange for tho return of large numbers at a time of members of tho A.I.F. who had been on service continuously since 1911, General Sir William Birdwood had now arranged to utilise, when occasion; offered, tlio services of a limited number of such members on transports proceeding to Australia. The period of leave had beou fixed at two months in Australia on full pay. Preference was being given to those whose family affairs were in such circumstances as to be tho cause of distress or hardship. Other circumstances being equal, preference was given to married men.

At the .Appeal Board at Napier yesterday the lion. G. W. Russell appealed for 4 lie sine die exemption of his fifth son, vho is tho manager of a farm. Three sons are at the front, p.nd the other litis returned. The appeal was granted, and tho Minister stated that, his son would enlist when tho necessary arrangements could be made.—Press Assn.

A new double-lift bridge is to be thrown across the River Yarra at Melbourne to connect the foot of Spencer Street with Clarondon Street, South Melbourne.

A fireman's calling is not- distinctively a merry one, and ho may be excused if he rejoices, somewhat exuberantly .when the occasion presents itself, says tho Dunciliu "Star," as at a wedding. Little hoys "tin-can" tho loppy pair. Tho exact reason for such a practice has not been fully ascertained. Hut it Ims the authority of usage. And, if this bo regarded as a legitimate form of congratulation, thero is no reason why in tho ciso of a fireman's wedding a hosingdown of the happy homo should be considered out of place. , With or without reason that is the way that the members of a. suburban brigade 'expressed their felicitations after a ceremony of the kind ;i. few nights ago. They went to the. house in a body, and poured a continuous cascade over roofs and walls, incidentally breaking some of the windows. If was a great bit of fun, and they laughed and sang as they watered the house to their hearts' content. But they did not seo the real point of tho joke till Iho next morning, when, sending a depufation on the sly to see the effect of their labours, they found they had hosed the wrong houso!

Ex-Councillor G. H. Green, of Fitzroy (Melbourne), who was captured on the s.s. Matunga in August by the German raider Wolf, has written to his brother, Mr. .'f. W. Green, stating that lie is a prisoner at a civil camp at Guslrow, in Northern Germany. He was at 6ea from August until February 20, when ho was landed at the Austrian port of I'oln, on the Adriatic.

. The "Daily Telegraph," London, quotes as Itiio a stpry concerning apples from the Antipodes. Last year a certain astulo buyer secured a quantity of Tas;manian Stnrmcr Pippins at lis. a wise. Guided by prophetic instinct ho placed them in cold storage, where they remained for several monlliß. Recently these apples were sold in small quantities 011 tlio market at the rate of £') a >ase. This is a wonderful achievement. Tim apples, which must have been slithered in I'cbruary or March of last year, had kept well for a twelve-month or more. Consumers were glad of the apples, tlospilo the high price, 011 which subject and that of the net profit 011 the -transaction "tho rest is silence.'

Balloted men who liavo been set down for afternoon examination by tho ■Wellington Medical Board are now instructed to attend at 1.30 p.m. instead of 2 p.m. The alteration will save some time for business men,