LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 276, 10 August 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

I The AcUnp-Tostmaster-Genoral announces- that Iho dispatch of parcels to prisoners of war in Turkey, Ihe suspension of which was notified in March lust, has been resumed. I'arcels niuy, not bo posted from New Zealand to prisoners of war in enemy or neutral countries. Arrangements to I hat end may lie nindo willi Uio Fijh Commissioner for Now Zealand in London, ' - The Hon. T. M. Wilfonl (Minister of Marine) stated at Auckland that the report of the Waterside Commission, with its recommendations, had been concluded, and had been passed by Cabinet. Jts contents would, however, not be published until .ho had written' his report, which would accompany, the recommendations. He stated that some sweeping changes could bo looked fbr in the present system of waterside work.

I "By jove, I hoy nre pretty mean!" remarked Jlr. H.'W. Bisnop, chairman of" the Second Canterbury Military Service Hoard, in referring (o the Defence authorities. A Muin llody soldier on lenvu of absence without pay said ho conld not KFeu himself without such. Ho was recommended for fourteen days' extra leave with pny. . Many people may remember that some time ago a man developed a curious kink, which gave the Post and Telegraph Department a Rood deal of trouble. Ho was in the habit of visiting public telephone bureaux it: the city at a .Into hour of the nifihS: and cutting off the receivers by the simple method of severing the corded wirn which connects the receiver with the instrument. Deter-, mined to discover the offender, the electricians of the Department devised a trap, whereby the act of severing the wire rang an alarm at central and at the same time phot a bolt 'in the telephono bureau sloop .where the offence wns committed. In this wny was the. guilty parly, securely "coralled, ,, and subsequently convicted and fined. The sequel to this ncculinr form of crime wns that a bundle of Inn or twelve telephone receivers has since been picked tin nn ftto bnttom of tV hnrboiir, dose to Iho whii«ve«. liy the Wellington Harbour Board's diver. "These are cases arising'out of tho hnld-nn of the. steamer Pateenn," said Mr. H. P. O'leary r.t the Magistrate's Court yesterday, in n Tifo in which throe firemen, limned Sydney John Welsh, Thninns Williams, nnd'DavM Thomson, were charged'with liavine taken nart in .\ sodiHoun strike on .Tuite-.i. Mr. O'T.enry. in p'llorim? a plea of guilty on behalf of (he accused, stated tb.il: since iho proceeding had been commenced the wen hud left New Zealand as members nf the crews of different ships. Those, filets had. been made known to Mr. Mno.nwey, of the Crown Law. Office, who *ntrgest«d Hint with the Court's concur,.p.,pp the defendants enuld Ik> eonvHod nnri ordered to come vxi for sentence when nailed niinii. Hi* Worsl»n agreed jo Hi is course, and the mutter was disposed of. ■■'•■' ■. ~ , Initial steps are being taken .to adopt n Mhemc of physical training for Territcrials and Cadets, on the lines suggested by Colonel Sleoman, Director rf liifan-li-y Training, but/detailed arrangements have still to be made. The crux of the matter is . the willingness of Iho young men concoi'ued to voluntarily accept training that camiot'be included fully .in the syllabus of compulsory-- work owing to tiie shortness of the time allowed tor military training mulev the Defence Act.. It is anticipated that youths who are keen about their work and anxious to qualify themselves'■ for servisa ,;vith the Expeditionary Force will be ready to givo the necessary time. The instruction will come primarily from the military training camps, On the information- of James Henry, inspector for the S.P.C.A., Harry ILecderwick was before Jlr. L. «• neid,.S.M., at the . Magistrate s< v oiirt yesterday with having cruelly 111-trea cd a dog. " Mr. E. H.' Webb appeared lor the informant, and slr. B. M. Beechey for the defendant. Evidence was Riven that defendant was seen holding the ammal by the throat, and that it was bleeding from tie mouth. It was also stated that as a result of the treatment it had received tho dog; was not able, to jal k. For the defendant it was stated that thu do» hftd been a nuisance at night time, and tbnt Hcdderwick. who was a-return-ed soldier not in full recovery of- us health, could not nut up with balk-, in- any longer. He went into his neighbour's ynrd to loose the aiiimnl,. l>lll it Hew .it him, and lie kicked it in sotprotection. ' Defendant denied_that he intentionally hurt the dog H.s Worship said he was satisfied that the dog had been ill-treated. Defendant was fined '205., with, costs ,X 2 Is. ' The quarterly meeting, of Ihe Public Service Superannuation B.oard was held ,it .the board-room /pn. Thursday, the Hon. Minister or Internal Affairs presidiiiK. Twenb--threc con-; triliutdra. retired under bection 35 ot the -tet by. reason of age or length or service, wero granted allowances totalling mti 12s. per annum,- and on? 'contributor, retired as medically unnt foi duty, was granted an annual allowance of J3 ss. Sine widows and fifteen children were- granted the statutory allowances, amounting to .£357 per aiinuin. The board declined to grant a retiring allowance to one contributor vhom it was eou"ht to have retired as medically unlitIt was resolved to continuo payment ot retirin" allowances to four contributors after medical re-examination. In consequence of retirements under Section 35 of the Act accrued compensation to .10 amount of J3987-1 bcramo a liability of tho Superannuation I'uud and a corresponding relief to tho Consolidated Fund. At a meeting of tho Mt. Cook School Committee, held on Wednesday evening, it was reported that -the total Toll number is 1073, with an average attendance, of 057 daily; nearly 90 per cent. The average is-lower than usual, owing to the attendance in the infant . department being reduced through the colli weather. The school is very free from sickness. One case of diphtheria .was reported; every room is sprayed daily with, a disinfectant. Dr. Ada ' Patterson 'and Nurses Willis v and Buckley medical.lv examined the boys of.Standards I amF II; tho chief complaint appears to be defective teeth. ' The boys gave 10s. (a third instalment) towards the Copper Trail Fund. The members of. the. infant-school wore enthusiastic'in the endeavour to collect money in aid .'of tha Soldiers' Christmas Puddings Fujid, and .their effort resulted in .£3.105. being handed to. the treasurer. A second.very, fine .honours board has been erected in the. boys , ,, school. This was presented and H.ted by Mr. Coniiiui.

•V rami named James Wilkinson was proceeded against before Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., at tlie Magistrate's Court yesterday on informations of having used insulting language to a guard on a. train, with refusing..to produce a ticket, nn<l n'itli having obstructed the -gnnnl.' -Defendant,. pleaded gnilty-. ■ Evidence was Riven that defendant wns under f, m influence of liquor at tli<' tinip. For 'ising insulting language defendant was fined 205., v:ith cosl-s ite.. for obstruction lie. was mulct»d in i> penally of ids., with !)*. costs, and on the o'hev information lie was convicted and discharged. : A milk vendor 1 named Adam Vnglcish was prosecuted before Mi'.' L. G. Reid, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, on an information of liavinir sold on Juno 13 milk which contained water. Mr. P.. J. O'Regan, who appeared for defendant, staled that Dngloish had assured him that he put nothing in the milk. However, Iho statute nlnced an absolute liability on the vendor,' ami in the eireuinslances there was nothing to-do but enter apW of guiltv. f'onnsel asked that defendant be dealt with as leniently as .uossible. A fine cf ■Cα. with M Ss. pn=ls. wiiF imnosed. Before Mr. L. rt. Tieid. S.M.. at the Mngistraffl's Court ycslerday, \V. B. Lepner, of Iho firm of Jfacavthv and Co., brewers, was proceeded ' against lw tlio police- on five informations of havin? sent liquor into a no-license district without an order. Mr.- A. W. Blair, who appeared for defendant, explained that ttw liquor had been'sent to Nowtown. but the whole thing- was purelv a technical breach of the statute. Defendant was fined -10s. A. similar case aprainft Snmnel Mason, n cartel , , nrising out of the same matter, was* on the application of defendant, adjourned until August 16During, the-last financial year the City Council contributed the sunrofvC-Hl7_fn make up Hie difference between H"5 military nay and Ihe amonht earned prior to enlistment, by tramway,, men who had left the service at 'their country's, call. On n charge of the Iheft of a small quanlity of zinc two men were arrested by Plain-clothes Constable Black yesterday, and are. to appear before the Magistrate's Court this -iriorningi It was decided at the annual meetins; of the congresTatioii of Rt; Andrew's .Presbyterian Church (o purchase part of the nroperly for many years occupied bV th« late Mr. W. H. Quick, on the south side of the church, for-the nnrpose of future church extension, The present building has lately become quite innde.qiiale for the iucreasinj needs of Hie church, and it has been considered wise, to make provision for the, future. Hence (he determination come to nt the meeting.

A cabman named "William Carey, was charged before Mr. L. G. Ueid, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday with having charged a passenger more than the maximum fare. "'Mr. J. O'Sheu, city solicitor, said the defendant bore a good record, and had been in business for many years. Defendant was fined 10s. ( ivith costs 9s,

At a mceitng of the Navy League Loan Exhibition Committee held last week it was decided, in view of the ■'diiiicultios connected with the safeg'iardih? of the exhibits ami the inability of the committee to obtain insurance against loss or damage' other than by fire, and tho reluctance of the owners of valuables to take the risks connected with a public inhibition, that the exhibition should take the form of an exhibition or exhibitions on a smaller scale, to be held at a later date in private houses, under the auspices of the Women's Auxiliary Branch of the Navy League. Before the' meeting terminated Mr. ICecsing expressed the appreciation of the committee of the Navy League for tho splendid work that had been done by the members of the Exhibition Committee in the various appeals to the public A special vole of thanks was passed to the secretary of tho committee, Mrs. C. Earle, upon whom the bulk of the work of organisation had fallen. Members of the cimnnitlcf slated that the' "rally" had disclosed the readiness of the piiblie to respond to apni'als on behalf of the Navy, whose claims had not been sufficiently pressed in tho. past. . ~ Messrs. S.- George Nathan and Co. offered at public auction in tlie Chamber of Commerce on Thursday a two-roomed dwelling in Alma Lane, oil Ton- Street. It was sold to Mr. Kllis for X"JIS. A section at the corner of Francis Place and Tory Street, with four dwellings, was passed in, the reserve rot being reached. The recent prohibition by the New Zealand Minister .of Customs of- J' o books "The Papal Conrmest" and "The Eoinan Catholic Church in Italy,' by Dr. Hobertson, the eminent Presbyterian minister, of Venice, and ''Homo and Ger- , many," by "Watchnvin," was discussed on Thursday by the Dominion Executiveof the Protestant Political Association, which passed a motion on the subject. The resolution points out that the books mentioned have been approved and quoted bv leading men and publicists throughout the Empire, and the King of. Italy and Ms Prime Minister have ex-, pressed appreciation of Dr Robertsons works, and since those patriotic works deal in a scholarly and distinguished style with the political intrigu.es of Home in world politics and in the present crisis, and enjoy free circulation in all parts of the British Emnire at the present time, the Dominion Executive of.tho P P \ views with alarm the attitude ot tlio "Government towards (he Protestant community, and records its concern ioy the liberty of Protestants under its administration. The resolution also criticises the recent issue of War Herniations relating to the Press and publications, and expresses the opinion that such action will destroy confidence in the juslice and capacity of the Government. Instructions were given to '«ue c«pi<« of the resolution to the Minister of Customs and the Press. The Supreina Court gave a judgment Ibis week in the ease arising from the conviction by court-martial, of a desertiiiK soldier, one of the officers sitting on the court-martial beinj discovered subsequently to bo ineligible. Defence Headquarters points out that a eeitain amount of misapprehension has beci caused by the way in which this case was presented to the public. The has been mado that the soldier who was convicted bv this court-martial suffered an injustice It has been said, among oilier things, that he was induced to plead guilty and then punished with unnecessary severity The man, as a matter ot fact, pleaded guilty "hen ..brought before the Court. He withdrew this plea and substituted "not guilty , at t.ie siigßcslion of the president ot the Court. J. he evidence showed that the man had. tailed ■knowing to comply with. Jus obligations under the Military Service Act. ho motion raised later was not the jiu, ice of the conviction, but its technical validity owing to the fact that cue member ot tlfe courlinartii'.! was .in officer on the. Iletiral List. ■V claim that he had'always deducted eMit years from his age was made, by Harrv'Askin, of Parnell, when-appealing, before the First Auckland, MiWary.bervice Board on the ground that he was over military age. Askm staged that \w had no certificates in New-Zealand relating to his birth. He was, be. said, 13 years of "age, and was christened at Swinton, \orkshire, in 18<0, but could not find tho certificate. He had always. "taken eight years off his age. H'*. mi £ riage certificate showed him .to be voungcr than he was. The chairman: "You deceived your wife, then? -.Appellant: "No. sir, 1 couldn't deceive her! fuill sir, biting eight years oft . never made any difference-it never caused, trouble!" The chairman: "It seems to iro it's got you into trouble now! Alter considerable' discussion the case was adjourned for four weeks, during which time appellant will be medically examined. Advice has leen received from me British Post Office that private telegrams for Russia wiiL not be accepted for transmission. Telegrams, however, may be accepted for Vladivostok yia Eastern, Tho Government has given notice-to-all-the fit men employed on the camp stalls at Trentham and Veatherston to ho d themselves in readiness .to proceedtothe front. It is not anticipated that tlicio will bo a general'clearance at once, but it is -thought to ,be the intention to put as many returned men into the training branches as possible. What the. chairman of the'board considered came perilously near the conscription of labour was tho appeal, betore llio Second Canterbury Military bervice Board, of the Little Akaloa Dairy factory Co. on behalf of its factory - man.airer, Charles M'Donald. It was stated ♦that the man was a voluntary recruit, ■and that the company had appealed on his behalf without consulting him. It had, moreover, no contract with him tor his services. The chairman (Mr. H. \\, Bishop) stated that M'Donald having volWtecred for service, apparently wanted to go, and the company had no hold o\er hiiii' Jt. wns finally decided to grant M'Donald leave to go into ™ m P.«j; tember !) instead of August 12, though It was pointed out that ho could not he restrained from going in on the earlier date if he chose. ■.