LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 117, 11 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The small draft of New Zealand troops returning from Egypt by the Nestor are at last on their way again to their own country. They were held up in Australia by tho Quarantine restrictions, but they are now on board the Maniari, having -embarked in Melbourne, where ■they were encamped for a little time. The Jlnmari is now in Sydney. She will leave for Newcastle on February 13, leave Newcastle for Auckland on Febru-. arv 15, and is due in Auckland on February 20. The postal authorities advise that the mails which left New Zealand on December 8 far the United Kingdom arrived at London on January 30. The civil sittings of the Supreme Court will begin this morning with the case of M.'Kearuey v. Hunt, Cottrell and Co., claim .£461 damages for accident. A sitting of the Arbitration Court will be held in Wellington on February 24. One of the National Bank of New Zealand £\ notes, stolen from the Ruahine, was in circulation in Auckland for' a few hours during the latter end of last week. It was successfully passed into the cash of a fancy goods dealer, who included it in his lodgment slip at the Bank of New Zealand. On being presented along with the other money it was immediately discerned by the teller as one of the missing notes.—Press Assn. The chief officer of the Forestry Department, while giving evidence before the Industries Committee of Parliament yesterday, was asked by Mr. Veitch for what special object the Government forests were planted. Was the principal object to get timber, to affect climatic conditions, or to provide shelter? Mr. Phillips-Turner replied that the great purpose of the Government in planting trees was the production of timber. To plant trees on a large scale for climatic purposes would bo very expensive, but so far as planting for shelter was concerned he could say that it was the practice of his Department to issue trees to farmers, practically at cost price, to plant for shelter. Oven' 300,000 trees had been issued to farmers in this way. A fire destroyed the residence of Mr. Walter Nicholas, on the South Road, some three miles from Hawera, early on Sunday evening. The house belonged to Mr. L. G. L. Nicholas, of Levin. Tho family was busy milking at the time of the outbreak, the cause of which is unknown. Only a, few blankets were saved. ■ It is understood that the insurance on tho house and furniture totals ,£OOO. A dairyman sought exemption when called for duty as a juryman ut the Supreme Court yesterday morning on the ground that if he were 1 compelled to serve nobody would bo left on the farm to milk the cows. "If only out of con--sidoration for the cows, you are excused,-' remarked Mr. Justice Fdwards. The Wellington Cenfrnl Chambor of Commerce has received an autographed group photograph of the members of tho French Mission. After being framed it will be hung in the meeting-room of the chamber.

When the French Mission visited Wellington, the members discussed with local business men the desirability of promoting trade between New Zealand and France. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, president of the Wellington Central Chamber ofComlverce, mentioned at yesterday's meeting of that body that in the conversations with the members of the mission it.--as pointed out that until there was a direct line of steamers running between the two countries commercial relations coulil never be established upon an efficient basis. The existing transhipment arrangements, added Mr. Hunt, possessed many disadvantages, particularly in respect to losses and breakages on the voyage. If a bad receipt were given ly a shipping company at the time, of transhipment, no claim could afterwards be mado for the loss entailed. A movement is on foot in Foxton to-re-establish a chamber of commerce. At yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce a letter was received from those interested in the Foxton project, asking for liifoxmation which would be of value in carrying out the endeavour, and it was decided to. supply all particulars necessary to that end. The shortage of houses in Auckland is causing serious inconvenience to wouldbe tenants, and owing to the slackness in the building trade no improvement is expected in the near future.—Press Assn. ■ One of the witnesses before the Industries Committee on Saturday (Mr. C. H. Wood, as representative of a local hrm of paint manufacturers) made a rather startling allegation with regard to tho varnishing work done during the erection of "the police headquarters in Johnson Street.' He said that, the place was done throughout with u certain varnish which was inade in America by a German firm with German capital and German labour, anci was introduced into the New Zealand market by a German. When a local naint manufacturer, who had a son fighting.at the front protested against tho use of the Gorman article (said the witness) the only reply he recieved from the' Government people was 'that the varnish was specified, and that it was to be used, Councillor J. W. F. M'Dougall has given notice of his intention to move at the next meeting of the Lower Hutt Bor* ough Council: "That.a Teturn be presented to the council showing: (1) Iho names of the members of the staff who have bad repairs mado to bicycles used by such members; (2) the nature of such repairs (if possible); and (3) the total cast of such repairs paid by the borough." The return to cover the twelve mouths ending January 31, 1919.

Following up a district court-martial held at Trentham military camp No. 61,359 Private J. M'C'olgan, Details, Trentham, was found guilty of,desertin"- His Majesty's service, and losing by neglect his clothing and regimental necessaries, and was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for twelve months, and to be placed under stoppage of pay until hell as made good the sum of 53. lid. "I am glad to be able to again compliment the tramway men :n assisting the police," commented Mr. F._ V. Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrates L.ourt yesterday. Two instances where offenders had resisted the arresting constables were cited, and the Magistrate was pleased to note that the tramway men came to the rescue of the police, who would otherwise have suffered at the .hands of the offenders. The Lower Hutt Borough Council decided at its meeting 'last evening • not | to make any further gas connections unless conditions regarding. the supply of gas alter. It was pointed out that tho general shortage of fuel was the cause of the increasing number of applications for gas supply. In connection with the epk'.omic amongst the men of tho Fortieth .Heinforeeinents it is mentioned in general orders that the names ofqtlie following were brought to tho notice of the Genera! Oflieer Commanding the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the United Kingdom for specially °ood work:—Lieutenant-Colonel It. C •Vlleu, D.5.0., Captain A. L. Anthony, It-UI.C, Captain W. L. Simpson, N.Vi.M.C, Captain S. H. Straiiichoii, N.Z.D.C, Sister B. Maxfield, Stall Nurse m' .T. Cameron, Staff Nurse K. Evans, Staff Nurse B. P. Kuowles. Staff Nurse \V 15. Lancaster, Stuff Nur.-;e C. Macl'arlane, Staff Nurse C. L. MncKenzie, Staff Nurse XI. 11. P. M'llwraith, Staff Nurse I. M'Lennan, Sister B. Robincon (Q.A.1.M.N.5.) (attached;, and Sister B. Tudehope (Q.A.1.M.N.5.) (attached),

Tho common belief that forests tend to increase the rainfall of a district is not part of the creed of the chief officer of the Forestry Department. When the matter was mentioned at yesterday's session of the Industrial Committee of Parliament, Mr. Phillips-Turner observed: "I have heard people say that, but I must suy that as far as scientific investigation goes it has not been proved that the trees do increase precipitation of. rain."

Complaint that passengers on the Riverina were ordered ashore at 8.45 o'clock on Saturday night for the purpose of having their permits examined by the police, was made in yesterday's Dominion in a letter signed "L. \V. Fowler, Hastings." When tho matted' was brought to the notice of the police they denied that they had given instructions for anyone to leave the vessel. The custom in regard to permits, it was explained, is that they are scrutinised shortly before a vessel is due to sail, but the police do not order passengers to go to the wharf for the.purpose of making the examination there. Swarms of bees' occasioned no little inconvenience to - members of the Fifth (Wellington) Regiment who were going through their annual musketry course at Treutham on Saturday. Twenty-five targets should have been available on the range, but owing to the presence of bees in several parts of the trench and in the telephone box, more than half of them were left unused. Several of the markers were stung by the little winged tyrants. A military department has been established by the Salvation Army' with the idea of helping soldiers in their dealings with the Defence Department, repatriation, officers, etc. An office for this purpose has 'been opened in Auckland under Adjutant E. L. Garner, who was • for four years a chaplain with the New Zealand Forces. A second office is to he opened at Wellington. It has been found that many returned me", when in difficulties! do not know exactly what steps to take to get over their troubles, and it is this class of military advice that the new department of the Salvation Army will give. Civilians who require information regarding soldiers will also be helped.' All incoming troopships will be met by a representative 'if tho department, arid a series of concerts will be arranged for the hospital and ether institutions.

Latest information concerning the strike "vvhieh has taken place nt Paerua among, tlie .Tugo-Slavs employed under the Public. Works Department indicates that the men are still obdurate in their intention to defv the law. The strike was the aftermath of the arrest and internment, of two Dalmatians for breaking the regulations forbidding the men living away from the works and otherwise inciting dissatisfaction. There are 26 men on strike, and they are adopting a most autocratic attitude, r.s indicated by the following telegram dispatched to Mr. Culleri, the Jugo-Slav Commissioner:—"T.wo men arrested without reason. We want them back and will cease work. Can you come and arrange settlement f" It is understood that if the men do not. obey the Department's injunction to resume work more drastic measures will be adopted. Bather telling comment was made on the state of the Auckland roads during the bearing of the motor mechanics' dispute at the Arbitration Court at Auckland last week. It was stated that in Christchurch, which is considered the hub of the motor world in the Dominion, there are Jess workshops and_ repairing garages than "in Auckland, which is virtually a maze of such conveniences. The inference drawn was that the highways of the Auckland province are much more detrimental to the cars' welfare titan those elsewhere. The difficulties of motor-mechanic employers with regard to apprentices were emphasised by a witness during the hearing of a dispute at the Arbitration Court at Auckland on Friday. "A large number of boys taken on es apprentices only stay a year or two," he stated. "They learn to drive, and become infatuatedwith it. As taxi-drivers or chauffeurs they can then earn more money than they can in the shops, and although indentured, make up their minds not to complete their term. The idea of staying on and becoming competent- mechanics does not appeal to them nearly so much' as tearing round in a car. Tf'their master objects, they can spoil their work to such an extent that he is glad to get rid of them-"

Although a second reduction was made in freights from Great Britain to New Zealand in January, no corresponding reduction has been made in freights from New Zealand to Britain. Tins fact is pointed out in a letter forwarded by the president of the Auckland Chamber cf Commerce, Mr. Robert Burns, to the Acting-Prime Minister, with a requestthat the mntter should be taken up with the Controller of Shipping in London. Freights to a«d from Great Britain were reduced by 25 per cent, in Deceitiber last. In January a second ai.d greater reduction was made, the amount per ton being reduced from £1 10s. to JB3.' Mr. Bums states that as no corresponding reduction 'has been 'made in Homeward freights, producers in Neir Zealand are handicapped by having to pay freights out of all proportion for th 6 goods they export, and on which they depend for their livelihood. "This matter it so serious from the point of view of tho producer," he says, "that wo would ask you to put the position fully before the Home Government, so that the Homeward freight mn; be made more consistent with the freight charged on outward cargo. We would point out that there has been a very severe fall in the London market on such lines as hemp, tow, tallow, copra, etc., and the present rates which are being charged are pressing VOry hardly upon tho supplier, and are entirely unjustified from the profit-earning position of the steamers, as jt cannot bo contended that these excessive freights are necessary." Mr; Burns suggests that Mr. Massey might be made acquainted of the matter.

A notice to mariners, issued by the Admiralty in connection with mine-in-fested waters, states (concerning the New Zealand coast), that masters of vessels whose voyages lie wholly or in part through certain areas must continue to obtain route instructions from the usual source before entering them. The. area defined contains tho whole of the North Island and that part of the Smith Island as far south as about halfway between Kailtoura and Lyttelton on the east, and about 15 miles south of Hoss on the west. The northern limit is in about the 6ame latitude as the Kermadec Islands; the eastern a very few miles beyond the track of shipping passing East .Cape, and the western four degrees directly out from New Plymouth.

A very successful concert was given in aid of the Mnranui School Ground Fund bv Mr. and Mrs. Cnlford Bell at the Mnranui Church Hall Inst evening. The entertainment, which had been postponed from November last on account of the epidemic, included four charming children's plavs, performed by Mr. and Mrs. Cnlford 'Bell's pupils, and two musical monologues by Miss Doris Stephens. At the conclusion the entertainers were heartily thanked for their efforts on behalf of the school.

A meeting of the local Chautauqua Committee was held in the Mayor's Uoom yesterday morning, when it was decided to call upon the guarantors (32; for til? 6um (£5 each) guaranteed, in order to establish a fund to meet preliminary expenses. This jyiuney will be returned on the sale of the ,£3OO worth of tickets. Only season tickets if or the week commencing March 1) will bo sold by the local committee, ahd they will be obtainable at the Bristol Piano Company. The seats in tht> big tent, which holds 2550 people, will not be reserved. Each season ticket, may be used at each and every session (afternoon and evening), either by the original purchaser or anyone to whom ho may care to transfer it, si that the ticket is always at work. None but season tickets will be available up till the opening day.

Desert Gold and Gloaming, who aro to meet in tho Eguiont Stakes on Wednesday, arrived at Hnwera yesterday afternoon. Both are looking in the best of condition. The weather has been glorious during the last few days. If it holds there is/ every prospect of a great race between the 'champions. Tho courso is reported to be in first-class order—Press Assn. '