LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 213, 3 June 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An indent agent called on an Invercargill fancy goods firm last week and solicited orders for German goods which lie said were awaiting shipment when shipping was available. Tho local firm, astounded at the offer, simply laughed. The indentor did not -visit any otliei firms.. The attention of the Mayor of Invereargill was drawn to the matter. Ho said that it was astounding that such thiugs should go on. Hostilities had not officially ccased, and the agent's efforts amounted to trading with the enemy.— I'ress Assn.

Our Hawke's Bay correspondent writes: General Russell is enjoying a quiet rest tit his home in Hawke's Bay after his strenuous four years of was. Jt is understood that considerable pressure from many quarters and from representatives of various shades of political feeling is being exerted to induce the General to he a candidate for Parliament at next election. It is felt that it would bo all to the public good that a man .who has shown such force of .char ncter and ability for organisation and handling of men during the campaigns oi war should take a leading part in the great work of ; reconstruction and repatriation rendered necessary by the war It is thought that General Russell will, probably accede to the very general desire that ho should enter political life, although, no definite decision will bo mado by him for a few weeks yet.

Two married women, one with five children and one an elderly woman with no children, both residents of Woodville, wero yesterday sentenced to one month's •imprisonment, each on four charges oi shop-lifting. Both .accused had worked on a systematic plan, visiting several shops. They pleaded guilty, anticipating probation. There was a scene when the acoused were sentenced, the women making a piteous appeal for mercy. Olio fainted and the other had to be helped from the court.—Press Assn.

It is the very natural desire of relatives of soldiers killed in batfclo in France and Flanders to visit the graves of theii\ men. _ Among numbers of them the idea prevails that tho Government is offering concessions or assisted passages to relatives wishing to visit graves of soldiers, but this is not so. So also there seems to lie some idea that the Government is assisting widows and other dependants of soldiers killed in action to go Home to bo instructed in massage. This idea also is mistaken. ,

Recently tho Christchurch Tramways Union announced that it would not man the trams during the peaco celebrations if it were not granted the Wellington conditions, namely, full service 011 the three days, the men to bo paid ttino and a half, and have threo days added to their annual holidays. The board offered double pay for the men required to work on the second and third days of the celebrations, but at a meeting held- yesterday a lotter was read from the union rejecting tho offer, and adhering to its original demands. Tho board decided to concede tho domands, tho chairman pointing out that the men would have been hotter off financially had they accepted the board's offer.— Press Assn.

Writing to his parents from Mullieim, Germany, Private D. Scott (formerly of the city engineer's staff) stated (on March 23) that they expected to leavo Germany in two days' time, but might liavo to stay longer owing to the strikes in England. He said he might just as well stay in Mullieim as bo in camp in Blighty as they wero being allowed more freedom. They had struck a "cushy" job, guarding a New Zealand Y.M.C.'A. hall until it was tafojn over by the British Y.M.C.A., and all they had to do was to make morning and afternoon tea and attend meals. It was snowijig, as he -wrote, and lie was surprised to find that although snow was on the ground it was not nearly so cold as "tho southerlies of old Wellington." Thevq had not been any fighting in Muiheim, and tho .people were just as keen on eniny'iig iilu as ev.r, and a circus which had come to town was doing , roaring business. After leaving Germany he hoped to spend his embarkation leavo in visiting lloiien, Paris, and places of interest in England and Scotland.

Ono of the machines belonging to the N.Z. Flying School made a trip to' Russell on Saturday morning. Mr. A. B. Williams, of Waipiro Bay, who arrived in Auckland, being anxious to visit Itussoll, dccided to take the trip by air. He accordingly arranged with the N.Z. Flying School at Kohimaroma, and left at 11 a.m. for Russell in a 125-h.p. seapiano, Mr, Gcorgo Ball being pilot. Tho distance, 145 miles, was covored in a little undor two hcrare. It should bo explained that the sea route was followed to Russelli

At the Hamilton Police Court yesterday a man. named Bold. Aidrcd wis fined 'jiaO oil a charge of impersonating a soldier 011 active scrvicn in the recent licensing poll. Aldred voted liimself in the morning and returned in the afternoon and asked for a voting paper us .Tolm Duck, a soldier. He was challenged by thfs returning officer, but denied that he was the man who previously voted.—Press Assn.

It is not generally known that tho bulk of the glass now being imported into New Zealand' comes from Pittsburg, U.S.A. Formerly Belgium was the world's biggest supplier of glass, but the Huns ruthlessly destroyed the great furnaces and works, and the restricted supplies which were allowed to be exported from Belgium during the German occupation wore from stocks held in that country, and were allowed to pas 3 out of the /country in return for goods which the Germans wanted. A local glass merchant, who quotes plate-glass at 4s. 3d. per square foot, ventures tho belief that tlie Belgian manufacturers will soon restore their works,. when a fall in nrioo may be expected. A Press Association telegram from Palmerston North states that a conference of local bodies, set up a committee yesterday to report 011 the feasibility of arranging for shipping to Foxtail port or in tho alternative purchasing a steamer. Tho Gilbert Howe Memorial Trophy for 1918-19 has been awarded by the Wellington Cricket Association to H. Lambert, captain of the ■Wellington College Old Boys' Cricket Club, last; season's champions. Tt will bo remembered that ■the trophy (which will bo awarded annually for at least five years) was presented last year to the Wellington Cricket Association by Mrs. E. nowo in memory of lier son, the late Lieutenant Gilbert Howo in action), who was a prominonf, Wellington, representative and a keen supporter of the game, and, according to the desire expressed by Mrs. Howe, is awarded to the player who is adjudged tho most improved all-round player for the season in senior grade matches. The Wellington Retail Grocers' Assistants' Union has decided, by ballot, to ask for a minimum wage of <£3 15s. a week, with an inorcass of one-third for workers receiving more than the minimum. The claim will be taken to the Arbitration Court. Corroborative evidence was given in the Divorce Court yesterday in tho case (adjourned from-Saturday)'of Ellen Alborla Day v. William David Day, by Henry J. Thompson, a cousin of. tho petitioner. His Honour tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert -Stout) granted_a decree nisi, to be made absolute in three months, with costs against tho respondent. Mr. J. Scott appeared for tho petitioner.

A painful accideirt befell Cajitain H. Bingess, master of tlio Melanesiau Mission steamer Southern Cross, at Auckland on Friday. The anchor was being lowered by a stopper, and ak tbo ropo took the weight it slipped off the windlass end. Captain Burgess inadvertently stepped <into the bight of the ropo and was dragged to tho hawse pipe, where his ankle jammed. When ho was released it was seen,that the limb was badly lacerated, and lie was sent to tho hospital in the ambulance. Mr. J. Campbell, tho chief officer, was also injured. ]u trying to save the captain lie was struck by the chain as it was running out, his hand being lacerated and his. leg badly bruised. He was taken to hia homo.

Accommodation in tho Auckland liolcto and boardinghouses lias been severely taxed during tho last, few days, and visi-\ tors arriving in the city on Friday who had failed to arrange for lodgings some days ago experienced considerable difficulty in securing sleeping apartments. Tho position, which is unusual at this period of tho year, is attributed lo the Farmers' Union Conference and tho King's Birthday holiday, which have attracted a very largo number of visitors. Passengers by the Niagara were put to considerable 'trouble to secure accommodation; indeed many of them, who decider to sleep ashore were forced to romain on the vessel overnight, Late on Friday night proprietors of hotels, privato hotels, boardinghouses, and even of private houses were still -being besieged by travellers, who expressed their willingness to sleep almost anywhere.

A correspondent writes to ask what has become of the moneys raised anion" tho Maoris for the recoption of Maori soldiers. at Wangamii. Inquiries made at tlie War Funds Office show that nobody had any right under ihe law to collect moneys for this purpose except under a permit issued under tho War Funds Act. The records, which are' up to 'recent date, show that no permit was issued by the Mayor of Wangamii, the chairman of the Wanganui-Waitotara Patriotic Society. or Mr. Here Nicholson (representing the committee of the West Coast Maori Patriotic Society), and these, are the only persons in tho district authorised to'issue permits. It would appear that if moneys have been collected, some person or persons, no doubt in l ignorance of the law, lias contravened the provisions of the War Funds Act. The proper course for interested parties to take, if they wish to have the matter investigated, is to refer it to the War Funds Office. Wellington, giving as many facts as possible.