LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 134, 1 March 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It is announced in General Orders, that, in accordance, with the instructions of the Wnr Office, officers holding temporary commissions 'and other riinks serving., on duration-of-ivar engagement granted, leavo to New. Zealand from theUnited' ilvingilom or' - an .. 'expeditionaryforce niav be granted extension of leave,, if desired, pending demobilisation, so as. to avoid return tp'tlio' TJuited! Kingdom, Officers holding permanent Commissions, 'and other ranks serving "under .normalengagements, with certain , exceptions, should be sent Home. Other ranks serving on' normal 'engagement'whoso, period Iras already expired, or' is due to expire withiil ttfb month's from that date,, may be" granted extension of leave pending discharge or transfer., to the reserve, without returuins: to tho United 'Kingdom.

His 'Worship tho Mayor,*-.who Us at present in the south, has telegraphed to the Town Clerk stating that lie will be back in' Wellington in time to tendersuitable reception' to the Main Body men who are returning on the llororata. The.question' k of extending (i-weK colnb to tho returning .Main Body n.eh was discussed at' last night's. meeting .of tho Educational Institute. ; Mi'.\l!. A. Parkinson thought it. would, be a .good ;dea .if a.gathering .of children could he arranged lit .the wharf to give, tlie,men a warm reception. "Tlicy were the' first men to take up arms,''.'ho' said, '-'and they deserve something special in ,-tho way of ii'-'cheero)' and a- .w.ave of - th'e. flag.'.' .Mr; W. W-. Rowntreo moved-that « "social" bo' arranged, for the teachers who" might form - part. of the,returning draft on a date' to be fixed by the. managemerit 'committee. The resolution was carried. It was also-decided that thoinstitute should be v represented at any function which might bo held to welcome homo the returning Main Body men. A severe thunderstorm was experienced in the Bathurst (N.S.W.) district... Two men wero struck dead by lightning.—. Press'-Assn.; It is stated that wo forged pink enshilling notes, purporting to have- been issued by the Bank of New Zealand; were yesterday presented for paymeut Both notes boJlre "the number 555,179.:' .- Colonel Collins, the! executive officer - in' connection with the proposed Dominion' Kifle meeting, was asked yesterday whe'-'-'ther any definite decision had yet been arrived at as to whether the meeting should be held or not. Colonel Collins said that he was not yet able . to 6ay positively what would be done, but ho hoped'to be able to answer the question at the beginning of. next week. ; , . •; "As long as I am Magistrate hero I am determined to put down drunkenness in railway trains," declared Mr. ]?. V. Frazer, at the Magistrate's Court yesterday; in a c'aso in which'L.; Gestro was charged with having failed to pay his fare between Ngaio and Thorndon on January 31, and with having abused and obstructed Guard M. Lee-in tho execution of his duty. It was,stated that Gestro subsequently made' good tho amount bf ihe> fare. "' In regaVd'.tq" the other charges; which related, to ,another occasion. Guard Leo Said that defendant \vas making 1 a nuisance of himself in' the carriage, and lie told him to sit down. Defendant then made use of 'abusive language, and obstructed witness'by putting his arm aroiind him. Acting-Sub-inspector •Emerson'-Btated i that the ,l?ail-. way Department' complnincd that; defendant was in tho-habit, of making himself objectionable ' Oil tlio- train's of an evening, and that be was frequently .under the influence of liquor. Defendant admitted-that he had been before, tlioCourt , before for causing trouble on trains. He said that'on tho present occasion he had • been ' provoked by an objectionable remark made to him by another passenger. . "Them is nothing more objectionable in a railway'earrings than a drunken man," said Mr. Frazer, "and as long'as I ■ am Magistrato here lam determined'to put down drunkenness on railway trains. I shall -inflict on you a fine that will remain in your memory for a long time to come. If it were liot . for the. fact that you are a married man I would send you to gaol." Gestro was fined £~. withcosls .Gs. A correspondent, "Rosemary," .writes: -"As so many .-people-, are -suffering- from loss of .hair after influenza, it might, be worth while to publish the following oldfashioned remedy r-Put about it dozen sprigs of rosemary' in a basin with a pint, of cold water, cover with a plate, and stand it in a warm oven ■ for about two hours-to draw. When coltl, pour off the liquid, and bottle for use. Moisten, a sponge or flannel with tho -infective, and. rub-lightly tho roots of the hair onco or twice daily. The treatment if continued for a few weeks will, judging W my'own experience; bo foundsatisfactory, and- the cost is little or nothing."

"What was described: as being the first' case of its kind heard in New, Zealand came before Mr. P. V. Frazer, S.M., at tlie Magistrate's Court yesterday, when ■Übert John Challenger was charged tliat 011 December 19, 1918, lie attempted by, means of a false representation to obtain a •permit to leave'the Dominion. Defendant pleaded gnijty. Acting-Sub-In-spcelor Emerson said defendant had been verv anxious, to proceed to Tasmania. Last October lie made-an application in his own name fdfc a permit, but owing to the unsatisfactory 'nature of a report concerning him tho permit was not "ranted. Later 011 lie made another application in tho iiamo of George Lawkin. 1 notaries were made,, and it transpired that a' man named .Lawkin resided at Hamilton, and lie,' too, had made application for a permit, but had been refused. Defendant called on the chief cleric of the Passport Ollice, and admitted thai, he had borrowed' some of Lawkin's papers. The Department did not press for a heavy penalty, but it wished il to be understood that such practices could not be indulged in with impunity. Defendant informed the.' Court that' ho had desired to go to Tasmania because 1,, I, at l received a cablegram from his wife statins: tliat his mother-was seriously ill. He was lined .C 2.

Tho Government Repatriation Board at a meeting hel.l yesterday decided to cali •V cont'orcnco oi' chairmen of district' boards' and of the lo.nl committees at Iho chief'centres, where' the Hepatization Department lias established offices and wild stalls. Tho conference, which probably will ho held 011 March 12, is for the ('iscussipn '(if repatriation problems with a .view to 'the the preparation of definite-line's' W policy.

"i'hfi case. in- which . Patrick Kmuiett O'Sheli. and \Louis'Mitchell O'Slinl wero charged. with leaving wilfully damaged a motor-car, belonging to .I'VA. Vaughan, was again mentioned at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. When tho matter was first brought on llr. O'Lear.v entered a plea pi' guilty on behalf of the two defendants, who, it was stated, had removed tlic enr (o Makara beach, in order to "pay buck*-* Vaiighan for some grievance .which they entertained against him. The nuestioirof-penalty-was-held over in order tlmt an estimate, of tho damage done to the ear might be submitted to the Court. Yesterday, Vaiighan produced a bill for .t27 is., but as Mr. OXeary desired to. have • the car examined by an expert, in order to see whether the estimate was a fair one and cov-. ered the damage 'done liv' tho defend-ants.-the case was adjourned for''a furi.ther week; ; . . , ,

.A :Cre'ss Association message states, that at tlie Mayor's instance the Thames. Borough Council has decided to protest to the Minister of Justice asking for the return' of a resident • magistrate 'and •warden.- The warden is the only one in tho North'lsland, and itjisfelt that he should bo a man who understands, mining conditions. There has been no resj : dent magistrate for four years, and- it is felt" "that the-continuous changed in the. warden.ship—there have.been four, just recently—cannot have a- good effect .011 the mining, industry! . Befo.'e the war fort-' nightly courts .were .held. The magistrate now. is .supposed to. pay a'.visit monthly, but . twice; recently one did not come for ,iv,o. months. . ..... . ! , ,

"The "following statement regarding'the treatment of'soldiers' dependants'in public hospital? appears in general orders:— -The Department of Public Healtht Hospital*, and Charitable*. Aid provides' free hospital treatment. for ' the wive? and children of soldiers on active service;' and tho wives ami children of-returned soldiers who are still undischarged. It'also provides'free -treatment' for' .the ■ parents; sisters, o! - brothers of. soldiers on itotivo service,' and also returned undischarged soldiers, if such I'ela.tives arc solely dependent tipon tho soldier for -support.All cases not covered by the above" nra dealt with oir their merits by hospital boards," which have full "power, to give free treatment,...or. .treatment at reduced, rates,- -frr those -who are nnable to pay the ordinary, .-maintenance fees.

:■ lieturned: soldiers who may wish to obtain .assistance-in establishing .themselves, in .business should, remember that, applications, .to- the 1 repatriation . boards must, be accompanied by exact .particulars of. •tha.proposals. .'.The District. Itepatriation Officer' (Mr.-C; W. ■ .Batten)'',.'mentioned this point yesterday in conversation with a Dominion reporter.. Spmo 'men appear to have an. idea that-.they can borrow, tho money first -and' arrange; the details of tho'business later.' As a matter, of fact, applicants for assistance .are required to put their scheme'before the board. They must bo ready t.o : supply the, sort, of in-, formation.. that tho. manager of a bank would. require before lie'.:would consent, to make an advance..on business security^

The Government offices throughout New: Zealand will l>.e clfised for'holiday on St. Patrick's 'Day. (March 17). . : 'A-. yoiiiig.-iiiaiu- named Arthur' Ivawrifl Whllhco was• charged ■ before"llr: - T; 'V. l'"raV.ei' t -S.lt., at tlie' Magistrate's Court yesterday with-having, 011 October 28^last,' travelled- : oii the '.Wellingtqii-Woodvillfi train'without having previously 'purchased- a railway ticket.' Defendant s ex-planation-was that' lie had bought a ticket, but when approached by- tlio inspector found that ho had lost-it. He ■subsequently bought another, ticket; oil 'tlio' ira-iii; 'A'-fino of'HOs;, iritlrlOs.-costs, was imp'Oied. A.- similar-charge-was. pre-' fpp're'd'-' -'agrtinst'-'Mrs: * Olive -'- .Catherine Thomas', who, it 'was stated, paid the faro •to'the guard of-the train, as well (is tho sixpence :fine...when requested so'to do'by .the -guard'.' His 'Worship.'dismissed tho iufoimation "on payment-of ss. witnesses''. expenses::,Mr..\Q. .t\. Mazcngarb appeared for Mrs. Thomas. -' ' 'lM\e Arbitration . Court is to -hear' evidence on Monday regarding the claims of the bookbinders' and lithographic • and letterpress machinist?. On Thursday evening Mr. "I\ Pirani conferred with Messrs.' Martin ''and M'lniiarney, of 'Auckland," ! but according to the "latter tlie interview was quite Unofficial and no. decision -wa£ reached on the questions "at- issue. ' ' : , "...The.. Methodist at. Cliristcliur.cii' received a deputation,', yesterday''from' the. Presbyterian Assemblyoh 'the 'subject'bf 'Church unity; . The Speakers urged practical viction- for tho purpose of uniting the two Churches into one great' body—Press Assn. .

Many parents will /rejoice, to learn that tlio book in question ill the State schools is being givenconsideration. It has been frequently pointed out that for many years" past''(here-has been little or no uniformity in tluy.bo.oks used in our State schools.' A child with one set of bootts (arithmetic, geography, grammar, reader, etc.) would find, on being sent ''to another school (same standard), that the books being used were entirely different to those he possessed, with the result that.n call wns made on the fam.ily, pnrso for no , strong reason, other titan : the one represented" Ky fho'lean-.-'tags, or' idiosyncracies of ..tlio ieadmnsters. .An attempt .was, made.: to -unify' in- one direction: by eliimmitjiig. the. Header, and replacing if with the Sctiqol Journal, but there are instances , where ' the Sender is still, favoured. "Quite recently li conference'.was held between the . Chief. Inspector .(Mr. Bnkevell) and ..the headmasters of the Wellington schools, with the result that the. :bmk .bill' for the future is likoJy-to be' considerably curtailed. , y,.' .. . " Selections will be played by the Wellington Patriotic Society's Band at New'town Park to-morrow at 3 p.m. _ :At last' night's meeting (if the lington Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute it was decided that the institute should bo represented at the TOiwn-Planning Conference, to bo held in Wellington during May. . A Press. Association message from Auckland states that in reply to.a depu-ti-tion the Mayor of .Auckland, Mr. J. JH. Gunson, consented to become a candidate for the new ltoskill sent at the { next election. The Dunedin Supreme Court was engaged on Thursday and yesterday in 'hearing, a claim for J!826 damages 'brought''by Alexander'Syme, farmer at Otanomomo, against' the King.- The 'action was - based' on the alleged 'action, ol' the' Railway Department in making an embankment near the railway line during a flood in iieptember, 1917, with, the re-' suit that' plaintiff's land was During the' hearing it was, stated that thousands of pounds depended oA the result of tliis- case, which has been adjourned till' March '18 to enable the plaintiff to formally apply for judgment, and the case will then, be transferred to the Court of,Appeal.—Press Assn.' A Press' Association; message from Christchureh states that the Chamber of ''Commerce has..passed a. lesolution recommending that a special committee of 'experts be'formed with, a view to.comsuggesting a system pf. scientific ■ taxation (or consideration of \ho council of the chamber, and Infer on for consideration of tlio chamber!' ' ■ . . A Press- Association message from Christehurch states tlmt at a meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce 'yesterday the following motion was carried: "That in view of the great importance of the' East' and' West' Coast railway, both, from an economic and financial 'standpoint, the Minister of Public Works be requested to divert- ln.bour from other obviously less impbrt•M works, so that the Otirn tunnel, with its 'connecting power system, may be more rapidly pushed forward to'completion" Mr. Holland,- the Mayor of Christehurch, who seconded the- motion, •said that, considering the amount of money lying idle in connection with tir.! Olira tunnel it was scandalous that the work was not pushed on ,to completion. lie \)-as satisfied that they had to take the gloves oil' and use almost physical force in securing Canterbury's rights.

I Tho extra expense io Ihe Xow 'Zealand University: occasioned by the ii'jhienzii epidemic and the. •;onsequent rearranp.Imehl. of the examinations, is estimated by-tho '.registrar at r.nproximatcly'..£'lso. Speaking to the vcport of the .■ Finance 1 Coinmitteo at. Wednesday's sittings of the University Senate,' Air.- -IT. F-von Uaast said that thin was a "very approximate" ■'estimate, and the committee recommended lhat'the Senate; as soon as the amount could be mort* exactly -ascertained, should '. iiplily- to the Goveraent,' foi'-'-ah' additional " grunt (if that sum. ' Tlift /Senate decided j to. a.ccept that course.' '

' "She came up to the. hous&.with .several drinks in her, anil rs'ed foul' language at me, and I retaliated," asserted a female witness in a Supreme Court divorfe suit |at Christchurch. "How did you retaliate?" 'inquired His Honour Mr. Justice Hcrdnian. "I hit her on the head," responded the witness'. "Aiul sho hit mo back, and then she went to the hfttel and. brought, up another lady and two gentlemen—her husband and her brother." Witness added that Iho genlwnon did not | come to blows—only the ladies were lijilting each other. Another witness in ; the same case informed the Court lliat 'she had hit her next door neighbour-.! | gentleman—'with a brick. "It seenvs to lie a-lively neighbourhood," oommented I His Honour'.

Tuesday night -was tho experienced in CliristchurcU for some time, aiul anticipations of a frost were, borne out, !2.8-degrees.being recorded before momling-

Whether members cf the Repatriation Board'should-bo allowed to 'personally, visit the homes of'iplumed soldiers who applied to the board for assistance'lor. the purchase of furniture -was discussed at a meeting of tho toard in . Christ-, church, when Mr. E. ,T. Howard .not'y-disputed-the right, of any. of the members to-do so. The .question arose iii the course of a discussion regarding u soldier's right toi borrow JioO fc»r the purchase of furniture, and it. was stated.. "during the. course of a renort from, the Sustenance and Furniture Committee that the inspection of the house of'tlie soldier was necessary in order to ensure thai furniture was actually required and tliat tho case was genuine. ' "The timo will cc.mo,' said Mr. -Howard, "whan I shall have to withdraw from the board. The principle is wrong and should not be tolerated;. It should not be necessary, he added, tor sitcli visits to' be made. "If every returned man has done the Government, for JCSO he has not done Ihe Government; for much," lie stated. ■' ■

' Ojie .of the things which.inf.uriated the Nov Zealand'prisoners of war at Lille, according'to Private .A. I. Westlake, oiin of their number, who lias Just returned to New Zealand, was tho'conduct of the Germans towards the women;- and children. These unfortunates, for the mosttrilling offences, such as being out' of ■dotirs ti few minutes after the statutory, time, would be convicted and sent;to prison-, with guards standing oyer thohvwitli fixed bayonets,'and'acting in away-that. only a Hun could' act. Tho New Zealand ers' -blood used to boil, but-they were impotent to act.

"'A Press' Association'-message from Cliristchurch states -in connection : with tlio repudiation of the' Rev. - Father Cvonin by Bishop, Brodie, that tho former, savs the Bishop's procedure seems to him an abuse, of power. "The important inference."'.said Father. Cronin, "that I draw is that His Lordshiji is as much opposed to. tho Prohibition movement as I am tq tho drink traffic. ■ My sdlo offence 'is that' I have : thought fit to. espouse publicly what I am convinced,is. a good and righteous- cause;' ;On in;{ a Catholic priest I did not sacrificemy civil rights. . In ' working for - the Temperance movement I ani convinced; tlmt I. am doing the best possible work ill which I could be engaged under- tlio present circumstances.. In'.-'doing this work I am neglecting no ecclesiasticalduly, and surely Bishop Brodie, : who disclaims authority over me,- would uot, question that fact."-,

The following telegram was'received last'evening from Mr. John I. I'ox, until recently manager of tho Wellington Heturned Soldiers' Club, and who is leaving from Port Chalmers; on a visit to England'.—"On the eyo of my departure' I wish to thank all returned soldiers and their friends, who havctloyally supported me in the work I was privileged to do. May the spirit of Anzac be perpetuated; amongst all tlujse who, took part' in this great war. and I hopo that the people of.this Dominion will realise their duty towards their defenders."

.. It is reported that some of, tho 'Southland'flax mills are closing down .'owing to the.low.price of hemp and the high cost of production.—Press Assn..;..'

I "I think the general public, is. not. badly treated if .it'ean -get a feed;.up 'to 10' o'clock at night," . remarked Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, during the hearing of a case in which the management of a restaurant was prosecuted for having em- ' ployed a.number of after 10.30 p.m., ■without, having, "obtained the • necessary 'permission" to do so from tlie. Labour ' 'Department. "If it wants a feed after' that, hour it should go home, as the rest of .us do.' Surely no reasonable human, being finds.it absolutely, necessary to sit down at half-pnst ten to gorge ice cream,, or some other- rubbish. I tbink wa ought to have some consideration for the girls I .who work in thes'o places," ; Most people, His Worship added, could get supper •after they went home from a theatre. "Not people who live in boarding-houses and lodging-houses," remarked Mr:' P. W. Jackson, who appeared for 'the dq--1 fendants, "Surely they can arrange, for that," replied Mr.. Frazer. "They can get permission to put the kettle on. I could .when I was boarding.". Mr.It. T. Bailey, the Inspector of, Awards, said tlio difficulty could be overcome by the proprietors of restaurants employing male .waiters.. ."That might detract from the attractiveness of-* the restaurant," declared Mr. Frazer,. amidst-laugh-ter, "and make the place moro expensive to run." ' ;•.«■ '

A favourite use the Germans had for tlieir prisoners of War 'iff the zone; of fire was to utilise them "as Beasts of burden. Private- A. J.' Westliike,; who was a prisoner of war,' and has just returned' to '. New Zealand, informed a Christcliurch' "Press" representative. that two teams of twenty men each would be utilised for a conveyance'. . Oiie team would be harnessed up, whilst the,other would run alongside. lAfter-the first team had been pulling for'a'considerable period, they would be relieved -by the strand team. . „.. :

The meeting of the Wellington branvh of the New Zealand Educational Institute last night was attended by Mr, Earl C. Miller, one. of : -tho.U'o'prescntatives of the Chautauqua movement,-who delivered an address, on "What,- Chautauqua Means to a, Community.", -Mr. Miller Stated that President Wilson: had once remarked that, next to munitions, Chautauquas were the most important element in winning tlipwar,' In the United States over 15,000 towns ran their annual Chautauqua. A; large ■ amount of the .propaganda • work in. connection with arousing enthusiasm foivth'e war was done on.,tln> Chaut-auqiui, platform, The movement did not exist for people who did not work. Chautauqiias were for men and women who wanted to do things in the-community, who 'wanted to make tho community a bigaer, a better, -and a happier place ill which to live; They had not hesitated under ; the • Chautauqua system to go to any country in the world to find speakers. 1 Tho movement was non-political, anil noli-scctarian—it was a free, open;''; for'uhr for the discussion of any question. ' and- problem that might coinc up on the Chautauqua platform. A hearty votfl of thanks-was accorded Mr. Miller for his addrass. No trace has yet. been found of Mrs. Blacklock, who has\been missing from her home, (i<) Tinakori lioad, since Monday morning. '

Action was ;taken by the Inspector of Awards, Mr. R. T. Bailey, at.tlie.'Magistrate's Court yesterday against the Rialto, Ltd., for employing a mimljeiv of assistants after 10.30 p.m. without having obtained permission to do .so. 11l one case the offence was committed 011 January 17,. ami in the other the breach of the Act.took placo on the following night. Mr. I'.. W. Jackson said' tho difficulty was that tho placo, becamo patronised by theatre-goers at about half-past 10, nnd it wasdifficult to avoid an inflection of the law. In all cases ; where overtime was worked it was paid for. by the manasjemeiU. It was explained, that in the first case' merely a technical -oflenco had been, committed, for a permit;... had been obtained for one woman to work, hut i;lie took ill' suddenly and a substitute had to be obtained at hurried notice. On this information Ifiv F. V. Frnwr, S.M., merely entered a conviction, and in the remaining eleven cases n fine of Jit, with 9s. costs, was imposed in each instance. Mr. Jaekeon raiseil tho point that, tho infliction of costs in each, case made tho penalty somewhat "excessive. "These people- know the law and look the risk. and. surely, .when, they aro caught they should not howl." replied Mr. TVazer. "Wo have to protect these girls." ■ ...' . _ .. • A . Press ' Association .'cablegram, •f.rom (Australia states a proclamation;lirobilnls tho importation of- other - tlion British-made dyes. -.'