LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 248, 14 July 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In tho course of a lecture at Christchurch, tho Hon. G. W. Russell said lie 'sincerely hoped that no military-caste would be established in New Zealand, and that tho forces would not bo kept from demobilising a day longer than was absolutely necessary.—Press Assn. The through steamer service between Wellington and Onchunga which is to 'bo inaugurated ' to-tlay will enable the General Post Office to give a quick dispatch to all second-class mail matter, such as news* papers, books, parcels, etc., which, since tho railway cut, h'avo had to take their chance of creeping either way by tho slow trains.

Speaking at Stratford of a lecture to Imperial men in Syria and Palestine, Major J. B. Hine, M.P., 6aid regarding tho soldiers' ideas, when he urged a policy of emigration to Now Zealand, that without exception what they wanted to know was what would be the position of the man without money. His reply was that New Zealand was a paradise for Hie working man so long as ho would work and had good health. The major said lie believed a lot" of men would come to Hie Dominion in the future. A peculiar feature of the soldier was that, as a rule, a few months following his discharge he wanted to join up again, as he got restless. Tho panacea for the soldicy spirit was work. Speakin? for himself, he was so full of work at his home now that hedid not want to go away, at anyrate to war.

A unique presentation was made in the Dunedin City Council Chambers on Wednesday night, when two Chinese residents waited on the Mayor and asked ihis acceptance of a Chinese flag on behalf of tho citizens of Duuedin (says the "Otago Times"). Mr. Simcpck, who acted as spokesman, apologised for the absence of the' Rev. A. Don. The speaker savn that tho Chinese residents in Dunedin wished to present their national flag to the citizens of the town, and he. hoped that on Peace Day the flag would bo flown in a prominent pla.ee on the Town Hall. During tho war period there had been no more loyal citizens than the Chinese, who had never turned down a request for'assistance. They had gone to a great deal of trouble to prepare a suitable display on Peaco Day, and the result of thDir effort would.bo seen in wie procession during tho celebrations. The Chinese felt that it was an honour to live under a flag which stood for the freedom of all peoples. Tho Mayor, in accepting the (lag—a handsome silk one—on behalf of the citizens, warmly thanked the Chinese for their generosity, stating that Hie assistance given by the Chinese .during the late war, both on the field of battle and in a monetary way, was fully recognised. Ho assured flioin that tho flag would be flown in a prominent place, on Peace Day.

A suggestion that Admiral Jellicoe be invited to unveil a memorial tablet erected in tho school at Takapuna in honour of tho late Lieutenant-Commander W. E. Sanders, V.C., was made the other day by Mr. H. S. W. King, Mayor of .Dev«iiiport. Sir. King said the Takapuna School Committee had already taken up the matter, and wished to know if theße.leption Committco wculd support the idea. It was most appropriate, said Mr. King, .that such a ceremony should bo performed by Admiral Jellicoe, who had taken-a keen interest in the exploits of Lieutenant-Commander Sanders, and he would probably be very willing thus to pay .a tribute of honour to tho dead hero's memory. Members of tho committco expressed hearty concurrence with the. idea, and a resolution was passed that,tho executive be authorised,, in discussing details, to slate that the committee would be very pleased if arrangements could bo made for Admiral Jellicoe lo pcifori.'.: ti'.e oeremoi-.y.-"New /"e:viand Herald."

Mr. B. G. Poinlon, a buildor, who lives in Cuba Street, Pclone.met with a nciv ous accident on Friday, He was working on ii ladder, about HOi't. from tho ground, in premises in Jockron Street, when tho Inddur collapsed. Mr. Pointon fel on his head in a concrete yard, and sustained injuries to his 'back and slight'concussion. He was removed to his home, and is reported to be progressing as well as can bo expected.

the Teachers' Appeal Board has concluded its Auckland sittings and proceeds Lo Napier.—Press Assn,

A young man named Frank Thomas, son of Mr. 11. Thomas, of Brooklyn, fractured his right leg while playing football flt Miramar on Saturday, 'lie was admitted to the hospital.

A donation of £3 3s. has been made to the Fire Brigade's Recreation Fund by Messrs. M'Leod, Weir, and Hopkirk, in recognition of the prompt suppression by the brigade of an outbreak in the, firm's stack of timber un Pipitea Point, about 8 o'clock on Friday night. Very little damage was done.

Mr. T. Raphael, of Christehureh, who came up lo Wellington on Saturday especially* to attend the ''Indies-* night" of the Wellington Savage Club, was the organiser in Christchurch of concert parties throughout the war, which yielded the magnificent sum of .£10,375 for patriotic purposes. Jn all 1!I2 concerts were given, not only in CliristclnircU, but in the provincial towns of Canterbury.

A man was arrested at Pel one on Saturday night by Sergeant Bird and Constable Canning -m a charge of having committed a serious assault on a- little girl aged 9 years. The accused was kept at Petoiie un Saturday night, anil *;as brought inr<- die city yesterday and lodged in Iho cells at the Central Police Station. Be ■will appear before the Magistrnto this morning, when a remand for eight days will be asked for.

Plain-Clothes Ccm'lnblo Black arrested a man on Saturday morning on a charge of the theft of two ladies' rings. Ho will appear in court this morning.

At the half-yearly meeting of the Wellington Letterpress Printers, Lithographers, and Paper-Cutters' Union held oh Saturday last, after discussion of (lie Board of Management's report, the action of the Wellington watersiders in refusing to laid coal while an acute shortage existed in tho city was considered. The members were unanimous in the opinion that the action of life watersiders was to be commended. The members complained of the very great difficulty most of Ibem had experienced in getting coal, while several stated they favoured drastic action in order to emphasise tho necessity of the authorities making coal available lo citizens. The meeting decided to invito Mr. C. If. Chapman to act as their secretary.

Two grants by tho New Zealand Institute for research work have come to Olago (says the Dunedin "Star"). Professor Malcolm is to take up the subject of tho food value of New Zealand fishes, pud Mf, G. S. Thomson is to inquire into the economic value of whale-feed. In making these announcements ut the Otago Institute meeting tho Hon. G. M. Thomson mentioned as a curious fact that whale-feed, which in ovdinary years is so abundant in our waters, and generally present in Otago waters for nine or ton months of the year, disappeared absolutely last year from January 1 to about tlio middle of November, not one having been seen' in Otago Harbour during that period. In March of this year it disappeared again, and has not been seen since. It was important to study not only tho migration of fishes, but the migration of fish food.

There is at present a great shortage of 'blankets, which are very difficult to procure in Invercargill. "I do not think that there are many pairs in any warehouse in the town.'' was tho startling statement made by a man in a position to judgo on Tuesday. Tho restrictions on tho carriage of goods have considerably accentuated tho position.

The letters which havo recently been sent out to civic bodies in regard to the better care of our cemeteries havo much to commend them (says the Auckland "Star"). The tombs of men who have been somo of the city's finest philanthropies, are in many cases in a sad state of disrepair, and each winter they get worse, verging sometimes almost on a state of, absolute collapse. Graves of people who have not been dead a decade, and who were, not far back in the city's history, prominent men in many public ways, havo been evidently left' to look after themselves, with no provision whatever for.their upkeep. All this may mean very little or it may mean a great deal, but people from overseas who visit our shores and accustomed to seeing wellIcept graveyards, very often judge the inhabitants, and sometimes tho country .itself, by tlio way the people attend to the institutions which deal with tho memories and surroundings of those who have gone before.

The hon.'treasurers of the H.M.S. New Zealand Entertainment Fund acknowledge the receipt of the undermentioned amounts: Previously acknowledged, .£371 195.; Dalgoty and Co., J!25; Kirkcaldie and Stains, ltd., .£lO 10s.; Barber .and Co., £5 55.; W. D. Stewart, £"o 55.; Richardson, M'Cabo. and Co., £3 35.; Tp. Aro House, .t'3 35.; Wairarapa Farmers' Coop. Association. Ltd., £3 35.; Mrs. M. and A. Kane, £2. Total, .C 429 Bs.

A conference of county councils and road boards decided to refuse the requests of surfacemen and teamsters loi an increaso of pay, says a Press Association telegram from Timaru. Tho former now get lis. per day.

"It's too much to expect a man to visit Wellington in this weather, spending ttfo or threo days going there, and the same getting back," remarked the Mayor of Mount .Eden when tho .council was invited to *>erid a representative to tho forthcoming conference of tlie Municipal Association. Tho council decided to request the association to postpone the conference until the railway difficulty .had been adjusted.

A pretty war story full of pathos was told by Major J. B. Hine, M.P., at tho unveiling ceremony at Huivoa recently (says tho Stratford "Post"). Hassam Mahomet is a little Egyptian boy whose parents were killed in the war, and in return for tho kindness extended to him by the Now Zealanders he used to do odd jobs in camp. -He was such an Obliging chap that in time the regiment became much, attached to him,' and when the war was over and ho was told that ho would have to go back to his native place, Beirouth, ho wept until his little heart nigh broke. Tho officers; could not bring themselves to enforce, tho decree, and it was decided if possible to bring him out to New Zealand. • "So boys and girls," said tho Major, "some, day you may meet Hassam Mahomet, and you will remember that by his industry as a sign of gratitude he was an examplo to all, even though an Egvnlian boy!" The interest of the children was reflected in the expression in tlieir eyes.