LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 265, 5 August 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Ministers now in Wellington have been informed that Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward are expected to reach /luckland this morning. It is anticipated that they will leave Onehunga on the Pateena to-morrow and will reach Wellington on Thursday.

The Hon. Arthur St. Myers, Minister of Customs, has furnished tho following figures relating to tho Customs revenue and exciso. beer duty collected throughout tho Dominion last month. Tho Customs revenue collected amounted J629G.5G7 4s. Id., and compared with that received during July of last year siiows an increase ol' .£14,459 os. 2d. Excise beer duty collected during July, 11119, amounted to .£27,898 14s 4d., and this also shows an increase, namely lis. 4d., over tho amount received for the luonth of July, l'JlB.

At about 9 o'clock last night, John Edwiard, residing at 21 Manners Street, fell 12 or li feet while stacking paper in B shed at the wharves, and suffered flight concussion. He was taken to the Hospital in tho Harbour Board Ambulance.

The returned soldiers of the Nelson district were entertained at ainuer yesterday by the Lady Liverpool Fund Commi'ttee, about 750 soldiers and friends boing present. Brigadier-Goneral > Richardson was present, and wa.s the principal speaker— Press Assn.

At the annual meeting of tho Dannavirke branch of tho Hawke's Bay War Relief Association (telegraphs our special correspondent), Mr. E. A. Hanson was re-elected chairman for the ensuing year. Mr. Covvper referred to the association's activities during the year snd the large amount of money raised in the district, which ho thought was very satisfactory. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. An executive, comprising Messrs. Ranson, Cowper, T. 11. Webb, E. S. Chadwick, 11. Chote, G. Thorburn, and H. S. M. Quigley, was appointed. Mr. Thorburn, auditor and secretary, reported that the administration expenses of the branch amounted to only 2J- per cent, of its disbursements.

The secretary of St. John Ambulance Association lias received a special letter of thanks from the War Office and Admiralty for services rendered during tho war by the association and the St. John Ambulance Brigade Oversoas New Zealand.

"Pelorus Jack," a brindled bulldog, has been the mascot and wardroom pet on H.M.S. New Zealand for some four years past. He served through tho Battlo of Jutlaud. He knows what ia happening so well that when "stations" is sounded ho seeks refuge, and vhon the guns begin to roar he has a rest down below. •

One remit on the order paper of the Farmers and Settlers' Association of NewSouth Wales, which sat on July 14, concerned tho proposal, "That the Qovern-. ment should permit railways to bo built by private enterprise."

To associate an artist of talent with a programme of pictures is becoming a universal practice. In Australia . Mr. Peter Dawson, Miss Ella Caspers, and Mr. Barry I.upino aro appearing with picture shows with great success. A meeting of the Taranaki Scl/00l Com. mittees' Association last night decided to urge tho Taranaki Jockey Club not to grant licenses to trainers employing Ixiys undor fourteen unless they hold a certificate of proficiency or competency.-Press Assn.

Tho first annual report and balancesheet of tile Island Buy Cottage Garden Society discloses a very encouraging state of affairs. Prompted by tho success achieved at the first shoif of tae society in March the executive have decided to arrange for spring, summer and autumn shows during the year. The first of these will take placo in September, and an enjoyable and instructive exhibition is looked forward to. The membership now exceeds one hundred and thirty, and it is felt that tho society is filling a useful purposo and long-felt want. At the election of officers lor the forthcoming year Mr. E. J. Colley was ro-electod president, and Messrs. Dixon and Sloman lion, secretary and hou. i treasurer respectively.

On Saturday evening the theft of a seven-seater motor-car, tho property of Mr. D. S. Patrick, was reported to tho police. About. 1 p.m. yesterday a lx>y of fourteen informed the Taranaki Street police that a car bearing tho registration number of tho stolen one was standing

in Maurice Terrace, off Jl'Donald Crescent. Mr. Patrick was notified, and he identified the car as his. It had two tyres ruined, and had suffered other minor damage. Apparently it had been used for the purposes of a "joy-ride.

For 17 vears Judge Woodfall has allowed solicitors to dispense with gowns at Westminster County Court, but Sir Alfred Tobin, the newly-appointed Judge recently issued a notice that lie desired any solicitor appearing before him to he gowned.

The New Plymouth Borough Council has decided to'take steps to raise a loan of ,£IO,OOO for the erection of houses for employees.—Press Assn.

The origin of the expression "French leave" was explained by -Mr. Justice M'C'ardie recently in London. He said the expression did not arise out oi the former great wars, nor from the escape of French prisoners. It arose in the early part of the eighteenth century in the salons of France. Certain guests, not aware of the higher acts < of courtesy, were in the habit of leaving without saying good-bye to the host or hostesses, and it became a practico. Unfortunately that practice was adopted in certain English society about the sr.nie time, and, therefore, if a man left without saving good-bye to his host, it was said tfiat he took "French leave, following the practice in France. The curious fact is that in France the corresponding expression is "tiler a IJAnglaise"—tol JAnglaise"—to slip away in the English style.

. A rather good illustration of the vagaries of the Defence Office was detailed (and wo are assured that it is perfectly correct) at a social gathering the otiVr night (says the Clutha "i.eader"). A J hite-haired old gentleman, travelling in the express,' told the storj; himself. He is within three years of the allotted span and was called in the ballot. He duly presented himself for examination, antl was told by ono of those "wcel strappit" fellows to '"get out of it,' which he did, not annoyed a little bit. J3ut he is annoyed to find his name in the gazetted list, of deserters, and at having to fco through thb legal form to secure its removal from the "black list.

Great consternation prevailed at Wanganui East recently, when it was discovered that four littlo children, all under 6chool age, were missing. The frantic parents enlisted the aid of the police,, while Boy Scouts and residents joined in tho search. After somo time had been spent in searching every conceivable nook and corner, the young adventurers wevo found about 35 miles along the River Bank Road. They expressed the intention of making, for Auckland, ami one had taken his little wooden hcrse to assist them on tho way. When found one child was foot-sore and lamo, two were crying and wanted something to oat, while the fourth, although iess demonstrative, looked greatly pleased when lifted into a motor-car, at the prospect of a ride home.