LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 269, 2 August 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The General Post Office has rpcoived Hio following wireless message .from tho fllmthnm Mauds:-"Steamcr Hiiiiilansi loft Wnitangi 10 p.m. Sunday for Kainßaron, and struck Jfonau Keel' at 1.30 a.m. on Monday, in squally noith-wpstrrly weather. Vessel now fast on rocks, badly hnlod. Hatches wnshod off, find vp«spl full of water in .U'l-.ks. Considered total low, but no immediate prospect of breaking up. Master and crew at Waihui;;i." An amending n-suliition issued last ui.'ht provides that the maximum retail price of Class A petrol, containing not less than S 1-!) K allons, shall be Is. more Ihan the maximum price of fuch petrol per enso of not less thivn 8 gallons. Thero appears to be an epidemic of diphtheria in Maslerhm at the present time, says our special correspondent. Five dues were admitted to the hospital ycolcrday.

Tho importance of New Zealand's exports was illustrated ]>y Mr. D. H. Gutlirio (Minister of Land's) at tho ITarin-c-rs. Union Conference yesterday. Mr. Gulhrio wondered if' it was generally realised how important tho exports of Now Zealand were to the community of tho Dominion. A few years ago wo thought we wore on the verge of ruin when wo had to raiso .£1,000,000, but in tho four years of the war we had raised v18,000,0n0. How had that been possible? Tho explanation was that while the was being raised the exports were realising .£69,000,000. Bishop Julius, during his fifty-ninth visit to the West Coast this month, was impressed most by the remarkable change in transport metbode. On his first visit, about thirty years ago, he had to travel a h 'r(.'at part of tho southern journey on horseback. Later came the trap. This year ho wont all tho way from tfokitika to tho glacier in a motor-car, and he states that tho roads, oven down below Ross, aro as good as any motorist reasonably ca i oxpoct. Bishop Julius, in an interview, said that after tho war there would be a motor sorvico from Holcitika to the glaciers. There were only two large rivers to bridge, and when thoy wero dealt with the remaining difficulties would bo very small. To show the easo with which people can travol on tho coast in these times, he eaid that on returning he went from tho glacier to Hokitika in a day. A sentence- of nino months' imprisonment, without hard labour, was passed by the coirt-martiaT on Egerlon Gill, a reservist, who was found guilty at Auckland Inst week of refusing to submit to medical examination.—Press Aesn. Those travellers who make the journey between Wellington and Auckland and vice versa, by train and steamer are informed that the eteamer time-table has had to be revised to fit iu with the request of tho Mv.il Adviser that ships navigating Cook Strait should do so as far as possible, between sunrise and sunset. Tho new arrangements, which aro now in force, do not, it is regretted, allow for a connection between train and steamer to be mado at New Plymouth either coming or going. Tho detailed time-table is published in our shipping columns. Dctcotivo Torrance and Plain-clottos Constable Burnett arrested a man yesterday on a warrant issued from Timaru, and charged him with the theft of funds belonging to the Returned Soldiers' Association. The accused will appear beforo tho Magistrate's Court this morning. A defect in. the hearth was responsible for an outbreak of fire in "a shop and dwelling in Tamnaki Street shortly after 9 a.m. yesterday. Tho premises nre occupied by Mr. Moses Davies, and nre owned by a resident of Auckland. _ The fire was suppressed by the Firo Brigade beforo anything but slight damage uns done. The contents aro insured in tho Commercial Union Offico for JJIGO. Tho Order-in-Council fixing the maximum prices of clovw seed and grass eeed has boon revoked.. "Thero is no hopo hero that the war will bo over shortly," writes an American business man in the course of a letter to a friend in Wellington Instead," he said, "it is figured that it may last for several years. After wo have three to fivo million men in 1 ranee we look for things to change, and I can nssuro you that tho Germans will know that tho Americans arc ill France beforo tho next spring passes." What perfection in women's fancy work convalescent soldiers may achieve is very strikingly illustrated by tho arrival 'in Wellington of. a beautifullyworked cushion cover in rich. Bilk embroidery. This has been received by Miss Mackay (of tho stuff of tho "Mercantile Gazette") from her brother, Signaller Donald Mackay, who. left Wellington with tho Thirteenth Reinforcements, and who was stricken down in Franco with trench fever last Boxing Day. Ho was takon to the New Zealand Military Hospital at Hornchurch, and during his conynleseencq lie was taught how (o embroider in silk. Tho design ho selected was the badge of his own corps-crossed signal flags (in their proper colours), in the centre oneirclod by green laurel leaves, beautifully worked, and outside this again was tho wording on the badge—"New Zealand Signal Company-Soldales Parati"—tho whole being surmounted by tho Imperial Crown. Tho work is executed on a base of grey linen, and is a fino example of tho embroider's art. lfl a letter to his sistor, Signaller Mackay refers to an exhibition of soldiers' work of the kind which had attracted marked attention, and hinted that his work was not so good as much of that exhibited by British "Tommies." Tho Second Division of tho Court of Appeal will sit at 10 a.m. to-day, to deliver judgment iu tho case of Scott Bros., Ltd., v. Hepburn and Son. Tho following apiiointmenls have been made i bv tho Wellington Education Board:—Rongoruai, solo teacher, Miss .T. A. Coiilson; Kaitawa, solo teacher, Miss M. J. White; Tablelands, solo teacher (temporary appointment), Miss M. Usshor; Picton, first assistant, Miss 1. Macalistcr; Piclon, second assistant, Miss M, M. Harris; Ncwtown, assistant, Mrs. L. 1). Massey; Worser Bay, assistant, Misa L. M. Eainsay; Te Wharau, sole teacher (temporary appointment), Mr. H. W. Clodo; Porir.ua, assistaut, Miss E. Nutsford. An Ainorican business man, writing to a friond in Wellington, under date Juno 21, stales that the spring weathei. has been quite favourable i'or crops, and in. dications woro that there would bo an immense acreage, and yield of wheat and oats, Kay crops nko were good. Primo beef and cattle on the Chicago market in the middle of Juno brought 18c. per lb. live weight, tho highest prico beef had ever made. Pigs were selling at about 17c. live weight. Cream, based on butterfat contents, brought 41c. per lb. In a letter which Mr. M. Cable, assistant manager and olectrioal engineer of the Wellington City Tramways, has received from his brother, who has been serving with No. 3 Field Ambulance in Franco since April, 1916, tho writer says:—"You would be very sorry to near of tho death of Chaplain Allen, which occurred on tho 18th instant. A shell hit the aid post up at the front, and also killed Captain Tolhurst, medical officer, and a man belonging to our .No. i Ambulance. Captain Tolhurst had been attached to our ambulance- for somo months, but just aa wo were removed to this'sector, two months ago, ho was detached to No. -1 Battalion, N.Z.R.B. He was of a very genial nature, and an attribute that tho men of tho unit very much admired was that he possessed the essence of a true gentleman. Prior to the big advance of the Germans wo had a month away back in the rest area, retraining and reorganising, and during that period we had somo very fino medical lectures and demonstrations, which were most explanatory, from Captain Tolhurst, who proved one of tho best medical officers wo hud associated with our units, and was held in high esteem. 1. was unfortunately unablo to attend tho funeral of that officer, which took place to-day, May 10. Special arrangomonts wero made, and I am informed tho service was very impressive." In the Supremo Court to-morrow morriinsr the following prisoners will conin up for sentence:—Violet Rose Hopkins, false declaration; Percy John Olarrad Hopkins, causing falso statements to bo made, •AVillinni Joseph Wynne, failing In account for moneys received; and Thomas Rilcy, theft. The question of tho appointment of a representative of tho North Auckland Maoris to tho Legislative Council was discussed nt a meeting of members of tho Ngapuhi tribo who are now in camp at Narrow Neck. A resolution favouring the appointment of Mr. A. Itnpone, of Hokianga, was carried unanimously, jitr. ltupenc, who is a discharged 'returned soldier, served in France as a. member of the Maori contingent. "No one is permitted to use puro wheal; Hour for baking bread. Bakeries and housewives must use ceieal substitutes In tho amount of 30 per cent. While there is plenty of wheat iu (his country, it is necessary for Allied troops abroad, and so we arc shipping wheal: away, t\ml what we are keeping nl home we mv mixing with cornmeal and oilier ccreaU for our own usp."—Extract from a lutler from an American business man lo a Wellington resident, Two men wero arrested by Detective. Sergeant Rawlc and Detective Torranco yesterday on a charge of stealing and receiving respectively goods to tho value of about .EGO. They will bo brought before tho Magistrates' Court to-day.

The New Zealand Tribute to Franco Fund now totals J30;)!l Us. 3d., latest, donations including;— Mrs. 11. A. Williams, .£100; additional amount collected on France's Day, £13 25.; E. W. Hills and Co., ,£25; Miss Fanny Dalrymple, .£l2; SI. J. Kilgoifr, £i; T. J. Blake, .fii As.; St. Pclcv'a Anglican Church, Waverley,' ■£.') Is. Id. Wliilo walking in his sleep yesterday morning, Seitfcant Stanislaus, of the Defence Hendqufirters' Staff, fell from a balcony ;i; the rear of the Caledonian Hotel and received a severe injury to his head. Ho was admitted to tho Hospital. An Ordcr-in-Cbunoil redefining the Jlawke's Itay and Kotorua Accliinalisation districts is published in ;his week's Gazette. An amending regulation relating to the secondary departments' of district high schools is issued in this week's Gazette, It reads as follow:—"If the yearly average attendance exceeds 210, but is less than 230, the salary of tho first and second assistant 'teachers shall he that for an assistant of Grade 7 and Grade- 5 respectively; and if the yearly nvorngo attendance exceeds 235, the salary of the iirst assistant teacher shall bo that for a headmaster of Grade 5, but without house allowance, and the salary of tho second assistant teacher shall be that for an assistant of. Grade 5; and for each increase of 25 or part of 25 in tho yearly average attendance above 210, en .assistant with a salarv of Grado 3 shall be added to tho stall , ." A number of articles, comprising deck chairs, silver-hooped barrel, and a number of kegs, presumed to be from tho wreck of the Wimmera, have been washed ashore at Waitolara. Such articles would hardly Du found on any vessel other than a passenger boat, and as the only pa.«enger steamer lost round the coast recently was tho Wimmera, it is thought that the articles must have washed up on tho beach from her. The story in the cablegram relating how captured Germans wero under the impression that the Nea- Zealanders were cannibals, and that they ran a big risk of being ealun, may easily be explained, states the "Otago Daily Times, The average New Zealand soldier Lus a keen sense of the humorous, and is fond of a practical joke. Eeturued soldiers toll of one of tho jokes they used to practice on the English "Tommies." When our soldiers heard that a Maori contingent would bo coning into their camp, they would tell their British soldier-comrades wild and weird stories of the eavagene-ss of the Maori—how he would make a meal of a white stranger 6oldier on the slightest provocation, and how they must not go near 'the Maoris. The Maoris would be let into the joke, and would fully carry out their part of the little stunt—rolling their eyes, pushing on't their tongues, dancing hakas, and in other ways evincing a spirit of frightfulness. As a result, till the British soldiers got bolter acquainted with their dusky comrades, they wero frightened of them. No doubt accounts of some of these littlo affairs have percolated through to the German lines, and have been used by 'the German officers to instil n desperate courage into their men, so that they would not readily five themselves up as prisoners. Tho Germans, apparently, while fully prepared to execute a campaign of I'rishtfulncss asa-inst their enemies, are terrified when there is any suggestion that a plan of frightfulness is to be introduced aarninst them. Speaking of the Maori soldiers, one badly wounded returned soldier elated on Tuesday tlint ijfc was recognised at the front that when it eamo to "dig-ging-in" tho Maori was equal to two white men.