LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 260, 22 July 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Two companies of the Forty-fourth Reinforcements, mobilised last week, will consist of First Division men transferred from the Cl camp. Other men from this camp have been transferred lately to the Mounted Rifles, tho Medical' Corps, and other branches. Tho Cl camp will be able to provide many hundreds of fit recruits for later reinforcements this year.

His Grace Archbishop Redwood has prohibited the holding of Sunday evening concerts in public halls for the benefit of the building fund of St. Mary of the Angels Church in Boulcott Street. This will not deter thoso concerned from arranging entertainments in aid of i the fund on week . nights. A monster | effort is to be made in the Town Hall obuut mid-September, when a bazaar will bo held .that is to last a week. I'or some time past there has been a rumour going the rounds that it was possible that the long-proposed Roman Catholic Cathedral might; be erected on the site of St. Mary of the Angels, owing to its central position, but: that is not the case. 'I'liei sito overlooking the Basin Reserve is still tho cathedral reserve.and as the trend of the population of Wellington is all to the south-east, it is not likely to bo altered. No definite steps will bo taken respecting the rebuilding of St. Mary's until after the bazaar in Sopteniber; At tho Magistrate's Court, _ Christchurch. on Saturday Harry Caliill was charged under the Military Service Act with failing to enrol. For the defendant it was urged that it was doubtful whether ho was bound to enrol, as he was a full-blooded Australian aboriginal. Tho Magistrate held that defendant was a natural-born British subject and liable under the Act. Defendant was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called on, tho warrant to bo suspended provided ho enrolled—Press Assn.

High rates of pay for bushmen prevail in Southland. In the Tuatapcrc districtas high as 265. Bd. a day is being paid for good men, some of the leading bushmen's pay amounting to <£25 a month. Post-splitters arc making from 2")s. Io 30s. daily. Even at these high rates, it is reported, a great scarcity of labour

exists, 'J'lio educational progress in the Auckland district during Ihe last ten years was referred to by Hie lion. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, at the official opening of a new infant school at Newmarket. During the period from ISC* to 1017, sai(J the Minister, the number of primary schools in the district had increased from -IS!) to 638, district li'gli schools from nine to ten, high schools from three to six, and an up-to-date Icc.hnical school was now creeled where none existed 10 years ago. Vigurcs for IM7 aud 1017 relating to the increases in attendances were ns follow, those for 1017 being in parentheses:—Average attendance at primary schools. 25.057 (45,7-13); number of pupils at high schools, (>S3 (1869); pupils at technical high schools, nono (535): students at other leehiiinl classes, none CWt. in 1916). 'I'lie Minister added that the number of certificated and uncertificated teachers had increased' from 70S to 1226. Applications fur grants from the Auckland district alone under consideration on .lune 1 this year were*. Primarv schools, r Gls,97fi; secondary schools, .£17.-111: manual and technical schools, .£019.'): universities, ,£30,000. The spirit, of the fighting man is illustrated in the following extract from a letter written by a well-known Auckland business man, now serving at Ihe fior.t ■ "\s a nation, we are up against, it, and it is high lime that folks at home refused to be associated with labour troubles and other disturbances, which embarrass the Government ill its enoit> to solve the greatest, difficulties that men have ever had to face. The call for help is Pennine—wo can't, have too many soldiers,'and the good spirits at present 1 in Franco are heartily sick of standing ui) to the odds that are against them. Main- of our men have been in this outfit for nearly four years, and surely it is time that those who have so far done • nothing 'downed tools' and gave smno of t.h"so poor devils a spell. AY hat docs it matter if a few homes are broken up and a few businesses wrecked? Jt we lose this war, wo shall probably be skinned' of everything, and the way things are going on. wo slial. for the want of more men, have to stand tli.s Germm hammering for many, many months. . Tho value of tlio work of tho foreign missionary was the subject of «ai m commendation by Mr. A. A. lnslo "> Consul-General for the Liu ed States at a, welcome given at Auckland to the Rev J. AY 7 . Burton, of Melbourne, by the Methodist Laymen's Committee. Mr. YVinslow said he had been stationed fot 12 years at places that como within the spliero of foreign missionaries, and had observed the salutary effects ot then work, and how they strained every nerve to enlighten and civilise. His own duties had been lightened because of their enternrise. Sounding the note of the true home life in a lecture at Christchurch, oil Thursday evening, Captain 1 ettit, N.Z.M.C., stressed its vital importance to tho child. "No eßort of the State, ho said, "no effort of the school, no effort of any religious organisation can ever absolve us from. tho responsibility upon us, if our children are to bo brought up under influences that are of the highest and best." Later on in Ins address, ■ Captain Pettit mado the following observation: "I am amazed at the evidences of insubordination and disobedience oven in children of voars." The speaker was remarking that a training in the curbing of temper, appetite, and desire in early childhood was invaluable as a help toward?' withstanding' tho volcanic manifestations ot the passions of young manhood and young womanhood. It was a, cruel injustice to a child. to deny it that early training, by allowing it too much of iw own way. 4.n explanation of tho working of tho new mufti allowance to returned soldiers is given in a letter received by Mr. C. AA T . Green, secretary of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association, from Mr. D. ,T. B. Seymour, Dominion secretary of the association. Mr. Seymour, in his letter, says: I ha\o been in touch with tho Director of Stores and Ordnance, who states that arrangements lmvo been mado by which, for the present the 30s. allowance will bo made, but'will cease from operation from August 1. The warrants for tho .£5 ss. allowance are now being printed, and those men who have arrived in New Zealand and had i)ot been discharged by Tune 30 last will mako application to the Director, of Base Records for the balance." Dented houses are difficult to obtain in Christclmrch. The manager of a largo land and house agency states that never sinco his firm commenced, operations m 1870 has the difficulty been so acute. To erect a dwelling now costs 30 per cent, more than in 101 J, As a result. builders and others who were in the habit ot building houses for letting purposes have discontinued their efforts, and building generally lias dwindled to very email proportions. A very rainy and very cold season, indeed. And Ihero is more cold weather promised. AVhat about that new Overcoat, Jlr. Man? Wo invito you to inspect a special display of warm-lined coats for present wear at 05s. each. There is a high-grade Rainproof Coat, very stylish and smart, at 81s, AVo havo others besides. It is worth your while to come and see just what wo can offer in the way of ooats. Davis and Clater, 216 Lumbton Quay, Wellington.—Advt.

At the inquest at Christchurch on Saturday on Onirics Jiegg, who was killed in a motor-cycle collision on Wednesday night, the Coroner, Mr. H. A\. Bishop, alter hearing .tho evidence, said that all lie coidd do was to record a verdict that deceased was killed by a collision with another motor-cyclist. Speaking generally Mr. Bishop remarked that the pace at which motor-cyclists rode about, the streets of Christcliurcli was a disgrace. lie had himself seen inotor-cy-clists Hying around corners at a rate approaching forty miles an hour. It was a state of nffairs there was great difficulty in checking. Sen or Sergeant Cmnming interjected that ill!' police did all in their yower to bring offenders to justice.—Press Assn. Recently, tlui Board of Directors of I lie Bank of New Zealand voted the sum of .€1001) to the Red Cross Fund (Copper Trail) to be apportioned equally between Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington. On Friday, the board decided to donate .£2OO to the French Bay. Tho bank has also contributed generously to the Italian Fund in Sydney, and tho French Fund in Melbourne. At a mass meeting of members of tho A.S.R.S. hold at Petono a resolution was passed strongly protesting against tho action of tho Government in repudiating the solemn contract entered into by them with tho railwaymen when they joined the Superannuation Fund.

"Of what uso are you to your wife apd family?" asked Mr. S. K. M'Carthy, S.M.,'of a man who was charged at tho Magistrate's" Court on Saturday with drunkenness and with having broken tho conditions of his prohibition order, ft was stated that accused was married and had five children. Against him there were 22 previous convictions. Accused a*ked for leniency, stating that although lip worked on tli'o waterside if given another chance ho would go away to uic, country. "Then why have you not gono before." inquired His Worship, "instead of sticking about the town getting drunk? Why don't you think of your wife and fa in iI v and trv to make their lot. a happy one?" Just think of it. You are no good at all. You are just pouring the grog down vour throat and not thinking of them at all." His Worship said ihut really lie ought to send the accused to gaol, but llii* time he would fine him !t'i for tlio breach of the order, in default seven days, and convict nnd order him to come up for sentence when called upon on the charge of drunkenness.

"Many technical buildings of this country* liiivc been erected on land which does not permit of additions being made thereto." was tho remark of the Hon. ,1. A. Hunan at Newmarket. To provide the 1 necessary increased accommodation was a problem involving the abandonment; of certain buildings, and making provision tor a very large expenditure on new sites and buildings. Mr. E. Haimiug (secretary of tho Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association) has received the following nominations for officers and members of tho council for the year .l!)18-l!lPresident, Mr. Jr. M. M'Calluni (Auekland)i vice, president, .Mr. K. Summers (Christchurch); lion, treasurer, Mr. Hugh 11. Fraser (Auckland); members of council for North Island, Messrs. A. Coutts, J. Kilgour, Maxwell Walker (Auckland), A. K. Smart. (New Plymouth), Colonel Colins, V. Dimock, S. 11. Underwood (We - lington); members of council for South Island, Messrs. A. S. Bruce, M. 1\ Harnett (Christchurch), J. J. Alarlov, \Y. Nicolson (.Dunedin), and .f. Allan (ot Dunedin, representing Invercargill). Mr. 11. J?\ Al. Merccr, who was nominated by tho Dunndin Centre, litis withdrawn in favour of Mr. Allan. Seven gentlemen bavin* been nominated as members of the council for tho North Island, a ballot will bo taken for the election of five ol tho number. No ballot will be nccce&uv in tho ease of the South Island representatives. The annual meeting ot tho council of the association will bo held in Dunedin on September 12.

His Honour Mr. .luslice Stringer, president of the Arbitration Court, in a memorandum on tho award filed in connection with the industrial dispute between tho Canterbury Hotel and Restaurant Employees] Union and employer- says; "The Court has luid somo difficulty in deciding as to tho class of privalo hotels which should be brought under tho award. Tho Court has been compelled io draw an arbitral* and perhaps illogical lino between cstab islimcnls which should and thoso which should not be covered by the award, but tho onlv alternative would lia\e been to include all establishments and this the Court felt would operate unfanlv and oppressively in establishments m which tho tantf » tow." Private hotelkcepcrs an on bound under tho award so far as ceitaiu 1 specified establishments are concerned.