LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 304, 12 September 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The hospital ship which is to arrive ill Now Zealand about, the entl of the month is reported fruni a port of call "All well." A soldier who is doing compulsory home servico in Trenthaiu Camp nppealot to tho Second Military Service Beard yesterday on the ground that he was a shearer. "We eanrot t«ko men out of camp to do shearing," was the chairman's brief comment. "No recommendation." ■the Right Hon. AY. F. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward were the guests of the Australian and New Zealand Luncheon Club at the Savoy Hotel early in July. ,Speaking as an agriculturist, Mr. Massey said he. was of opinion that the crops in France were magnificent, and unless something abnormal as regarded the weather occurred the whole of the harvest —probably the best. France ever grew—would be saved. Not a yard of land was being wasted, not a minute of time was being wasted, and the Daylight Saving Law, which was in operation, was utilised to ei> able the men and women to begin work an hour earlier in the morning, and also to continue working as late as ever in tile evening., There would he cereal 'food to spare in France, not only for the Army, but for the civil population. Having seen the wheat fields in Canada, in the United States, in Franco, and in England, ho was of opinion that the. general outlook was very good indeed. "There is not in this city sufficient correlation between the economies department of the university and the business men," said Mr. B. E. Murphy last night. Mr. Murphy was recently appointed lecturer in economics at Victoria College. He added that he hoped tho time would come when business men would consult the department 011 economic questions, 1 just as they would consult lawyers about legal points. He indicated bis intention to arrange classes in order that business men might study some of the problems of economics, such as currency, taxation-, and banking. The foundry-owner who can find iron nowadays is counted lucky. The Dllll- - "Star" states that one' who belongs to Otago managed recently, after much cabling, to get on to the track of fifty tons in England, and arango for its shipment, but before his smile had reached tho autumn stage he was informed that they were very sorry they could send only twenty-five tons. "Bad luclc for you," remarked the 'friend' to whom he confided the news. "I'm not looking at it! that way," was the answer. "I reckon I'm lucky to get any;" And this from a man who could comfortably take a thousand tons I A young farm assistant named Harold Thomas Dalziell Robertson was charged before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., nt tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, with having 011 April 5, 1918, at Te Aro, fraudulently fixed upon a postal packngo a postage stamp Which had been removed from another postal package or other material. Accused pleaded not guilty. It appeared that accused had written a letter to a soldier in France, and that when it was ueing sorted tho stamp 011 the envelope was found to be marked, "T.R., April 7." Defendant stated that lie could not remember stamping the lettor. He usually gave letters to his father to post- when the latter came to Wellington. Ho had never previously used a cancelled _ stamp, and could offer no explanation as to how tho stamp in question came to be on the letter. He himself had not posted a letter in Wellington for six months. In reply to His Worship, defendant said tho. initials 011 the stamp might bo in liis father's handwriting, but he could not swear to that. Mr. M. J. Crombie, who appeared for the accused, stated that the latter was tho reputable son of a reputable farmer at Tawa Flat, and was nineteen years of age. A peculiar thing in connection with the matter was that the initials "T.R." 011 the stamp were those of tho accused's father. If tho stamp' had been previously placed 011 a receipt given by the father it could not possibly bo in the father's possession, as the receipt would bo handed to somebody else. The marking was so obviously clear that a person desirous of defrauding tho revenue would be hardly likely to use the stamp. It was impossible to say how the stamp came to be affixed to the envelope. His Worship agreed with Mr. Crombie, and said it was doubtful whether a conviction could be obtained against accuscd. The information was dismisssed. The Second Wellington Military Service Board, which concluded its Wellington session yesterday, is to leave for Masterton on Monday to hold sittings as follow: —Masterton, September 17; I'abiatua, September 18; Woodvillo, September 19; Dannevirkc, September 20; Waipukurau, September 21; Napier, September 23 and 2'l. "The business man considers himself entitled to got as much as possible for his goods," sakj Mr. B. 'E. Murphy last night. "The workers aro entitled to take tho same view, and bargain for as largo a share of wealth as they can get. I believe that if we had stronger unions 011 both sides we would get an improved condition of tilings. If Labour were better organised it would be more responsible." Mr. Murphy added that Russia was providing a very good illustration tfr what happened when an ignorant and ]joor),vorgaiMsed proletariat got possession of the political machine. A young man named Ernest Henry M'.Kay appeared before Sir. W. G. ltiddell, S.M., ' at tho Magistrates Court yesterday 011 a charge of having committed bigamy. It was alleged that on September J last, at Ciiristchurch, ho married Pearl Catlierino Ohidgey, when his wife, Ivy Alice M'Jvay, was still alive. Evidence was given that- on April 12, 1913, accused married a young woman named Ivy AJieo Lafitfce at Auckland. Ho lived with his wife for about twelve months, and there was one child of the marriage. Tho second marriage was'solcmuised at the house of G. 11. Chidgcy, at St. Albans, Christcliwrch, on September 1, 1917. Plainclothes Constable Potter, of Auckland, who arrested accused, stated that when on his way to tho watcbhouse at the Auckland Police Station, M'lvay said that his arrest placed him in a "funny position," as (10 had not seen his first wife for about threo years, and thought she had divorced him. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. A man named William King, employed bj< Messrs. Fletcher Bros., was admitted to the hospital yesterday suffering from minor injuries to his right hand, caused through coming in contact with a circular saw. Many a 0110 with a son or relative at tho front finds it difficult to dccide whether or not to send tobacco, but knowing how valuab'io "tho weed" is to the soldier in the trenches, _ they usually conclude that 110 more suitable gift could bo sent. According to a letter received by a Fendalton lady ■from her officer son, it is not the most economical thing to send tobacco from the Dominion. In fact, the soldier referred to strongly urges his mother not to send tobacco, as ho is able to get it from the Y.M.C.A. canteen, almost right up at the firing-line, for about half tho price that has to be paid for it in New Zealand. He refers to one brand the cost of 11 plug of which ii'. tho Dominion is Is. Id., and which he can buy at the canteen for 7d. Consequently, ho would be able to buy alnivt double the quantity for tho same money ns is paid in tho Dominion for it

At a meeting held in the Dominion Museum on Tuesday, an historical section ol' the Wellington Philosophical Society was formed. It was resolved that tho objects of tho section should .be (1) the advancement of tho knowledge of the history, economics, and ethnology of New Zealand and adjacent regions; (2) tho study of history and economics in general: (3) the promotion of the/claims of history, economics. and etlinology in education; (4) the affording of assistance to the Science and Art Board in tho collection of historical material. The following officers of the section were elected Chairman, Mr.'Elsdon Best; vicechairman, Colonel Porter: hou. secretary, Mr. Johannes C. Andersen; committee, Dr. C. I'rendergast Knight. Mr. F. P. Wilson, Rev. Father Gilbert, Mr. Charles Wilson. Mr. W. A. Edwards. Tho committeo was instructed to draw up a sot of rules, etc.; and report to a future meeting, the third Tuesday in the month being decided on for the general meetings of the section. Tuesday was the 76th anniversary of the death of Captain liobson, the first Governor of New Zealand. Captain Hobson, who selected the site of Auckland in September, 1840, died on September 10, 1842, at the age of 49. His remains lie in the Symonds Street Cemetery,- Auckland. The following communication from a French business man to an Auckland firm is of interest, shows the spirit of tho people of Franco towards tho British:—"lf you have at the front in' France a relation or friend to whom a French home will be a shadow of his home in a far country, please give him my address. Ho will receive a _ warm welcome from me. 1 find it. difficult to write English, but we all speak it, though badly; still well enough to understand and love each other." - Life in a rest camp in.France is described in- a letter received by an Auckland resident from a New Zealand soldier serving on the West front. "It is a 'rest' camp in eveiy sense," says ihe writer, "wo having to parade only once, on the morning of our arrival, to hear standing orders. From then on wo were practically free to go wherever we felt inclined. We had good meals. The Y.M.C.A., as usual, did a lot to make the time pass happily, organising concerts, etc. Their secretary was one of tho most entertaining chaps ono could wish to meet, and (wherever one met him be had a smile on his face and a joke to crack. His staff of lady workers wero also very good, and even though wo pulled out of camp at 2.30 a.m. for our return to our different units, they ,were up to bid us good-bye and to fill our water-bottles with hot tea. This is no small undertaking when you consider from 1200 to 1800 men passing through every fortnight," yet they are as keen on their work now as when tlie.v started. The samo kindly spirit is shown in all other huts, particularly in the Scottish Churches hut, run by a few real Scotch ladies. They have as great a liking for the New Zealand-, ers as we ha\'e for the 'Jocks,' and that is no small amount." Tho exhibition of. war pictures by French and Allied artists will bo officially. opened on Saturday by His Excellency the Governor-General. Variour Ministers of the Crown and Hi'; Worship the Mayor will also be present.