LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 278, 13 August 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Chief Postmaster noiifies that the New Zealand mails for tho United Kingdom, which wore dispatched from the Dominion 011 June 15, liuvo arrived nt their destination safely. Tho mobilisation of the Forty-fifth Reinforcement will take place this week. .Over 1100 men have been ordered to enter camp with the draft. The Wellington recruits are to parado at the Buckle Street barracks 10-morroiv afternoon, and will go to Trcntham 011 Thursday morning. Bunting was flown from several buildings in town and vessels in port yesterday, in honour of tho successful push tho Allies have made against the enemy on the Western front. Tho Press 'Association, in a message from Christchurch. reported Sir James Allen as having said in reply lo a telegram from a coal miners' union, that the matter of tho taking over of the coal mines by the Government had been under consideration by Che Government, and especially by the Minister of Mines, for some time, and that the request then made for this step would receive "every consideration" at tho hands, of the Government. 1 This was not specifically stated 111 tho message, but tho reply of tho Minister us published seemed -to mean this. Sir James Allen said that the report as it had been published might have given the impression that the Government had been considering the taking over of 'tho coal mines. This had not been in his mind when he had made the reply on which the message had been based, Ho liad referred only to the' possible help that the Goverumout might render in trying to arrange a conference between the unions and tho mino owners. • Soiuc of the problems that have to be faced by the country school teacher were mentioned by Mr. I'\ L. Combs last night in tho course of a lecture before tho School Committees Association. One of the chief .difficulties, he said, was the finding or- suitable accommodation. Teachers who went from the towns to take charge of country schools found often that their surroundings were far from congenial. Tho country people were kind enough, but they had their own interests aiid their own' circles, and !ho teacher did not readily find a place even in the family in which he or slw was boarding. The married teacher sometimes encountered a difficulty of another kind. Tho farmers killed their own meat, made their own butter, and milked their own cows. They did not care to bj bothered selling. small quantities, of produce to the teacher, and tho teacher did not want to ask favours. It happened, consequently, that tho teacher found difficulty in getting supplies while lie was living in the midst of plenty. Referring to two of the recommendations in the report of tho Defence Expenditure Commission—those referring to the establishment of an audit in London, and to the pay and' allowances of officers—Sir James Allen said yesterday that these two matters had had the consideration of the Department for some timo past, beforo the report of the Commission appeared. With regard to the London audit, instructions had been authorised, and had no doubt gone forward, for having a regular audit made in London. The question of pay and/ allowances had been under the consideration of a special board at General Headquarters for some tjine, Wit the determinations of the board had been held back in waiting for the Teport of tho Commis : sion. He had not yet received tho final recommendations of the report, but he expected them in a day or two.

An increase in the Iwrough rates lias been made at Petone. Tho Mayor staled at the Borough Council meeting .last' evening that among'tho causes of the in crenso were an additional amount of X4S6 for upkeep of tho Hutt Eoad and on additional <£500 hospital levy. An increase in tho price of gas also had to be made to enable improvements to Tbe made in street lighting. Altogether was needed to meet extra expenditure. Through the sale of property l o the Government some years ago, Petone was now losing about *,£7OO per year in rates. Further, it had never been contemplated that Petone would bo called on to pay ,£I2OO or JBIIOO in interest respecting th" Hutt IJoad.

In tho Supremo Court at Christchurch yesterday (says a Press Association telegram) judgment was given in sn appeal heard by Mr. Justice Chapman. Mr. Justice Stringer, and Mr. Justice Herdman ill the case in which Buscli, the rider of a mofor-cycle, was awarded =£800 damages and hospital expenses against Bates, driver of a motor-car, in connection with a collision. The judgment declared that the verdict of the jury was unreasonable in face of the evidence, and must bo set aside. A now trial was ordered.

"This man is a soldier, and I don't know why it is that ho is dressed in plain clothes," remarked Inspector Marsack iit the Magistrate's Court yesterday, in a caso in which a young man, a first offender, pleaded guilty to 'having been found in a drunken condition 011 Saturday. On tho application of the Inspector tho defendant was ordered by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., to bo handed over to tho military authorities. 1

Tho next sitting of the Bankruptcy Court will bo held on Friday, November 29.

In the Supreme Court in Bankruptcy yesterday, before His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), Tasman John Chamberlain Gurr. of Wellington, manufacturers' agent, for whom Mr. H. E. Evans appeared, applied for an immediate order of discharge from bankruptoy. There being 110 opposition Ilis Honour granted tho discharge,

A circular issued by the Department of Internal Affairs stiitest that the fund recently approved by the Minister for the National Association of French War Orphans will be closed 011 August 15. "The Minister's approval of- this fund was granted for a special appeal, and not for a permanent war fund," it is explained. "This appeal has been successful in raising a considerable sum, and, in further view of the heavy demands likely to bo made on behalf of the British Red Cross, it has been decided to close tho fund 011 tho ab?vo date. Will you kindly noto that 1:0 further permits should bo issued to collect for this fund, and that any outstanding permits should be recalled by tho dato specified?"

Portion of a ship's lifeboat, bearing tho letter* "mmora" on it, was reported a few days ago to have been found 011 tho beack at Kakattimea, near L'atea. At tho time it was thought that in all probability it was part of the lifeboat ' that was smashed when being launched from the Wimmera. Mr. ti. .i)!pr,rf-, secretary to the Marino Department, however, has received from Mr. W. A. Tayler the piece of woodwork referred 10, and it is very doubtful if it was part of a lifeboat such as was carried 011 tho Wimmcra, for the timber is not a hardwood, whilo tko lettering upon 'it is very large and iras apparently done irilli an interior paint. Tho timber is 2ft. •l-iin.. long, 4iu. broad and Hiu. thick, and is broken at one cml. Mr. Tuyler says that it iras io\n\& on J\\W Is, mu\ \s ttvottgto, \n shipping circles unlikely that wreckage from ilie Wimmera would be washed nip 011 the West Const as far south as Paten.

Tho confusion which frequently arises in commercial circles by the uso of the word "Australasia" by American manufacturers having business relations with New Zenland was recently brought under tho notice of the American ConsulGencral by tho Auckland Chamber ol Commerce. In a reply received from Mr. A. A. Winslow at the Chambor of Commerce meeting on Friday, lio stated that ho hud already placed the matter beforo his Government, and would do so again, as he realised that the practice worked lo the disadvantage both of the American manufacturer and exporter as well as to the New Zealand exporter. A similar communication was received from tho Canadian Trade Commissioner, "Mr. W. A. Beddoe, who said he had asked his Government to treat Australia and New Zealand as two distinct countries. He promised to make further representations in connection with the complaint.

Ivirkcakli'o and Stains', Ltd.. Great Winter Sale. See window display of new smart American Model Frocks in Navy Serges, Tartan, and Navy, Brown, or Black Channeuse. Usual prices, ,£6 19s. Gd. to 13 guineas. To clear at half.price. —Advt,