LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 23, 22 October 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Draft ISG of returned soldiers will arrive at Wellington at 1 p.m. to-day, and will disembark at tho Glasgow Wharf.

The Seoretary of the General Post Office advises thai "deferred traffic 'via Eastem' has been suspended. Full-rate traffic to Great Britain and Europo is to bo diverted to the Pacific route until further notice."

It is announced in Army Orders that retired officers, ex-officers, discharged soldiers, and others, who, while serving in tho forces, were entitled to wear the goldbraid wound distinction on their uniforms, may at their own option wear the braid on plain clothes after leaving the service. They will not be provided with braid by the Government.

Advice has been received from flie Defence authorities, Dunedin, that 15/452 a Private Archibald William Thomson, a returned discharged soldier, died at the Dunedin Hospital on October 11 from tuberculosis. Deceased was 23 years of age and his next-of-kin was his father (Mr. D. Thomson), Walton Street, Dunedin.

it 11 8 a.m. vesfordav the Fire Brigade received a call to 186 Abel Smith Street, where a fire had broken out. Tho house, a ■four-roomed dwelling, is occupied by Mr. W. N. Cliilman, and owned by Mr' Hopkins, of Aro Street. Sparks from tho copper fire set alight to a corner o f the house, doing some damage to the kitchen and the roof. The contents, which were damaged by water, wero insured for £125 i« the Ocean office the insurance on the building is not known.

\ Press Association telegram from Auckland states that (lie third death amonT the influenza patients from the recently arrived steamer occurred yoster (lav, the victim being H. Goulton.. aged ik steward, and a native of Adelaide.

The Defence Denartwehf; lias decided definitely to take'over the canteen at Trentham Camp at the end of this month The canteen will bo vw\. by tho Department on the lines that have alrnndv proved highly successful at Foather'lon Camn, the price!.- being sent low and (he profits applied to the service of the soldiers. ' ~,_,,. A fireman was arrested by DetectiveSergeant Cox and Detective Mason yesterday on a charge of attempting to pillare goods from tho hold of the vessel to which Tie belonged. He will be brought l«fore the Magistrates Court to-tbiy. ' ~.,-,. Tho left-hand salute was abolished in the Imperial Forces some time ago, and it is announced in General Orders that in future the salute will be siren by nit ranks of the New Zealnnd Forces with A,- right hand. The old rnle was tha the salute should bo given with the hnncl furthest away from the person saluted. The recommendations of the First National Efficiency Board in regard (a the liquor question were referred to by Bishop' Averill in his charge to the Auckland Anglican Synod on l'riday. "Tha Prohibition question, which lias f ten ),pon before us," said tho bishop, "now assumes new aspects, inasmuch as (he war has declared liquor to bo an mom - within the gabs to be muzzled ~11,1 destroyed. Efficiency is almost a "need word at the present time, because il means so much in Ihe successful pro,o,„Hon ot I his _ terrible war. and it is cteirlv the desire and duty of every patriot (o 'cut ■out* whatever hinders efficiency. It can no longer bo regarded ns a personal matter, but as a national one, ami if we are satisfied that liquor is a hindrance to efficiency, we ought to put country before self. The members of the Arbitration Court _v r Justice Stringer and Messrs. W. Scott'aiid J. A. M'CuUoiigh-loavo for the West Coast: to-day, and will hold a Court in Reefton.

"Opium smoking must bo stopped, not onh- amongst Europeans, but more especially amongst Chinese," said Mr. F. V. Tracer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, in an opium-smoking case. Joe Doong was charged with having permitted opium to be smoked at bis premises, 22 Haining Street, and Joe John Chow was accused of having 6inokbd the drug. Both accused pleaded guilty. The case arose as the result, of a visit paid to the premises by Senior-Sergeant Crean and Sergeant Butler on Sunday afternoon. Only a very 6mall quantity of opium was found, being really in the nature of opium "seconds,-" that is, opium that has been used already. "If the Chinese smoko opium in an unrestricted manner," remarked Mr. Frazer, "thero is a danger that the habit may spread to Europeans, perhaps with disastrous results." Each accused was fined ,£5, in default one month's imprisonment.

The Wellington Returned Soldiers' Clubhouse Society acknowledge the fob lowin" subscriptions :-Bell, Gully, Bell, and Myers, .£ls; Busy Bee Club, £1; employees Bristol Piano Co., Ltd., ,£2; C. Fitzgerald, £1 10s.; Ceo. Gore, £2 25.; •V Gray, .£5; V. Eiddiford, .£10; Smith and Smith, Ltd., £3 Is. Also the following donations --Wellington Savage Club, .£3O; "Evening Post/' .£25; Gear Meat Companv, w£2s; li. W. Mills, Ltd., £20; D.1.C., Ltd., .£lO 10s.; Miss Dalrvmple, .£lO 10s.; Surgeon-General E. S. F Henderson, .£10; Old Naval Rifles. JE9 Us. 6d.; Bryant, May, Bfll and Co., Ltd., .£5 si; W. Ferguson, £5 ss;; H P. F. Blundell, ,£5; D. G. A. Cooper. £5; "J.H.H.," .£5; -LieutenantColonel J. M. Mason. £3 35.; J. W. .Tack, £3 35.; Dr. Kemp, £3 35.; O. Haines, .£2 25.; Kodak Australasia, Ltd., £1 Is.

The Wellington City lied Cross "Our Day" appeal Committee acknowledge with thanks the following further donations --JGeorge and Kersley, .£100; I. Cooper, Ltd., £25; United Insurance Co., £'i 25.. bringing tho total to date up to" £1296.

"It is time you fellows knew the regulations, and that you must not board a foreign-goin* vessel without a written consent from tho military authorities, or some other competent person. These remarks were addressed by Mr. I. \. Frnzer SM., to two sailors, named Archibald Olsen and Eric Holtberg, who were charged at the Magistrates Court yesterday .with having boarded an overseas vessel without authority on Saturday last. Acting-Sub-Inepector Emerson stated that when the guard on duty on the vessel requested the two men to leave the ship they refused to do so. the accused said-they had been invited on board the vessel by some of the crew. Thev had anticipated joining the vessel. His Worship said the circumstances of tho case were not serious, as the accused had no ulterior motive, but still the regulations must be observed. Each man was fined 10s., with 2s. 6d. costs.

It the annual meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce last evening Mr. \V. Cotton raised the point, of the disabilities placed on local travellers and traders in not being able to break their journey on the trip between Wellington and Upper Sutt, and vice versa. The present regulations prevented the breaking of the journey on any trip less than twenty-five miles in length, and it was a. sore point with business people in the 'Hutt Valley and Wellington that they should not be allowed to do so on the ono ticket.

One of the stories told by Sir Joseph Ward at the Navy Leaguo gathering last night related to a certain titled lady, whose war work consisted in driving an official car used by a very dignified and important member of the British Ministry. On one occasion the lady driver had a dinner engagement, and the Minister was late in leaving his office. She waited as long as her impatience would permit. Then she handed the porter a shilling, and told him to give it to the Minister, with a suggestion that ho should take a taxi home, since she herself had to hurry away to dress. Sir Joseph Ward 6nid he thought it was very considerate of her, under the circumstances, , to leave the shilling.

4n inquest was conducted by the Coroner (Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M.), yesterday, touching the death of William Thomas Waters, a carpenter, whoso body was found floating in the harbour, near,the Thorndon breastwork, about 11 o'clock on Saturday morning. Evidence was given to the effect that the deceased was 40 years of age, and was single. He had been working at Kaitoko for about Ibree months, and was last seen alive in Wellington on the day after the Wellinulon Central election. He was a man addicted to liquor. When last seen in town deceased had exnressed the intention of returning to work, but gave no indication that he wanted to do an injury to himself. As far as was known he had no worry of any kind, and no reason could be given as to how he got into the water. ' Ho was sober when last seen alivor Constable J. M. O'Connor, of tlm Waterfront Polioe. who removed tl>e bodv from the harhour, stated that the body appeared to have been in' the water for some time. Amongst the deceased's effects there was found 3'd. in money. The.Coroner said the only verdict that could be returned was that deceased was found drowned, there 'eing no evidenco to show how ho got into tho water.

When addressing the members of the Navy League Inst night, Sir Joseoh Ward told a story in illustration or tho strict discipline maintained aboard Atlantic liners in the danger zono. He said it w a rule that all passengers must wear their lifebelts. Thero was one. riassenPer who disregarded this rulo, and after more than one warning he was mnrched to the ship's guardroom, and asked to irive an explanation of his conduct. He was released after he had promised not to offend aeain. "We brought him back with us safe and sound to this country, where he does not require to use a lifebelt." ndcted Sir Joseph Ward amid laughter. The annual athletic sports of St. Patrick's College are to be held on Wednesday.

As' next Monday is a public holiday (Labour Lay), ft? mcetin of the Finance and Tramwavs Committees of tho wty Council will bo held on Tuesday afternoon instead of on tho Monday.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce last evening on tho subject of tho fate of the German possessions in tho Pacific. Mr. L. M. Luke (president) said that tho chamber tonk the same view as their Imperial Conference delegates, namely, that no effort should bo spared to prevent those colonies, and particularly Samoa, ever falling into German hands again. On this subject the annual veport said: —"The council has been insistent, on the importance to this Dominion that tho German colonics in the Pacific shall not revert after tho war to Germany. The attitude of the. Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. W. P. Massey) has been most sympathetic and encouraging. His determination to do his utmost to impress on tho Imperial authorities the wish of tho people of New Zealand regarding this question gives us hope that when the terms of peace are under consideration the menace of a Gorman baso for naval operations in the Pacific will not be lost sight of."

Work is to bo begun shortly on tho consumptive sanatorium that is to bo erected for tho Dofonce Department at Ilatuina, near Waipukurau, in the Hawke's Bay district. The main block of buildings' will be 300 feet lone, and will contain one, two, and three-bed wards for soldier patients who require constant attention. Thero will be wide verandahs and corridors, with separate storage accommodation for kits, linen rooms, bathrooms, and lavatories. _ Tho kitchen and dining blocks, Tunning at right angles to the centre of tho main blinding, comprise separate diningrooras for officers, patients, and orderlies, and separate, serving and washing-un rooms. Ample provision is mado for fresh nir i"i<l for the separnio storage of oatienK' dishes. Tn the kitchen (hero is mp*Tjpnt storage and modern cooking .applianees. Thero is also an ndiniuistralive bnilding in the form of a detached win? of the main building. It comprises offices, laboratory, visitors' waiting-room, olc. On tho corresponding wing are the sleeping quarters of (he n.c.0.'6 and orderlies. Connected by verandahs with the main building aro sunny two-bed shelters, and dotted about tho grounds aro the Ringle-bed shelters for patients who require l p « attention than those in .the wards. The site of tho new sanatorium is a sunnv. sheltered knoll, surrounded by about 350 acres of pleasant undulating country.

The conditions governing the. issue, repair, and renewal of artificial limbs, eyes, and surgical appliances used by men invalided from the Expeditionary Force are stated in General Orders.

It is? notified in General Orders that recommendations for entry to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, must reach the War Office, for entry in February, not later than October 15 previously, and for entry in August not later than April 15 previously. It will be necessary that Now Zealand applications should reach Defence Headquarters two months before tho above dates.

The military hospital at Rotorua is tobe known in future as "King George V Orthopaedic Hospital."