LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 14, 11 October 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A magisterial inquiry into I lie? grounding of the const al slealiier Wairaii on the .Beef Barrels recently will be opened at Wellington next Thursday, before Mr. K. I'age, S'.M. .Nautical assessors have yet to be appointed. In the Magistrate's Court; aI. To Kuiti yesterday, before Mr. Burton, 8.M., Charles Ackermaii was fined J!. r ifl, with, costs, for keeping liquor for side ill a proclaimed urea.—Press Assn. Mr. J, A. Nash, M.P., is asking IJie Minister of Education whether ho will favourably consider tho granting of annual leave accrued lo school teachers who have been on aclivo service, I.lie same as is dono in other Departments of iho Civil Service? In the House of Hepresenlalives yesterday Mr. Talbot. (Te'niuka) gave notice l-o ask flip Prime Minister' whether he will inquire itifo tho rumour thai, woollen companies are shipping locally-manufac-tured tweed and other woollen goods, securing full market rates on the Home market, while,.buying wool in the Dominion at commandeer rates? Merchants and tailors complain, stales, Mr. Talbot, tbut I hey cannot. procure sufficient supplies of Wally-niii.nuf.iclurcd tweed, or rllier woollens, anil there is a strong su'spiciou that, over-exportation is taking place for the purpose, of securing tempting prices in Great Britain, while wool-grmvi'i's in Iho Dominion are still compelled lo"sell their p/nduct at fixed prices, willini the Dominion' There, has lieen heavy polling in. Wellington during the past Iv'o days in the waterside workers' national ballot regal (1ing the control of the work oi and unloading boats. Jim poll will-not be counted till all the returns from- tho idliliutod unions are in. •\ press Association, message / ro . m Whakatane states that,, in the Magistrate's Court Sam Karaka. a Nat.it taii driver, pleaded guilty to a furthei charge of-robbing a mail bag of tw.o registered letters in February last. Accused when arrested on other charges had confessed that, he found the mail oag lying oil the road. He rifled it, and left the contents exposed to tlie weather. •On bepteinber 12 he assisted a policeman to recover the bag. He was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence. ■ . The annual meeting of the Zealand Employers' Federation will-be held in Wellington on Thursday, October 29. It will be" preceded by'the annual meet; ing of the New Zealand Mine Owners Federation on October 15. and the New Zealand Ship Owners' Federation on October 28. Among New Zealanders returning on tho troonshin Ueniuera is lieutenant John Gflroy Grant,. V.C.. of Hawera. Lieutenant Grant received his distinction while .servin'g as a sergeant-near the village of Banconrt, on -September 1, 1018, when lie commanded a platoon forming part of the leading waves of a battalion attacking the high ground to Hie east of Banconrt. On reaching tho ercst it was discovered that a line of live enemy ma-chine-guns was holding up the advance. The company, however, advanced under pifint-blank fire, and when twenty yards from the posts, Sergeant ■ Grant rushed forward at the head of his platoon'and entered the centre post, demoralising its garrison, and enabling the. position to be "mopped up." In the samo manner tlifi remainder of the posts were occupied. In the citation accompanying tho award of his Y.G., Sergeant Grant, is stated to have-displayed the greatest coolness and determination and valour of Hie highest order, setting a fino example to all ranks.

The findings of a District C'onrt-mar-tial held at Trentham Military Camp on September 26,. haying been confirmed by tho Commandant of ..the New Zealand Forces, are promulgated as follow:—(1) No. 8+202 Private lumber, Sidney, Details, Trentham Camp, "sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for twelve months for deserting Ilis Majesty's service." (2) No. 7070(1 I'rivato Corbett, J. T., Details, Trentham Camp, "sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for twelvo months for deserting His . Majesty's .service, and losing by neglect his equipment, clCthing, and; regimentalnecessaries"; also to bo,put under stoppage of pay until ho has made good the stun of i's 183...2 d. for kit deficiencies. '. "Of course, it is annoying to people attending a picture show to have the electric current cut off suddenly, ami even if it is only for five minutes it upsets them," said Mr. H. Holland, of Christchureh, in reference to the recent breakdown in tho Lake Coleridge supply. The fact was that tlie stoppages had been caused by trivialities, and the mishaps appeared to be exaggerated as tliev went round. He was afraid that the insulators (to which tho wires were attached on the poles) were not made to contend with snowfalls. Every precaution had been taken in the tlesign - to prevent rain-becoming the cause of a short circuit. In that regain tlie insulators wore perfect, but they were formed in such a way as to hold the 6iiow. and that on rare occasions had caused short circuits. Another cause of trouble had been the long strips of bluegum bark being blown up in the air by the gale, and lying across both lined when the latter were wet, and so' setting up a short circuit. This had proved such a nuisance that some owners of property along the track of the wires had befn ordered to fell their gum trees, and did not like, it a vit. However, it would be seen that the cause of the occasional breakdowns in the- current were not very serious.

The Labour Party will -hold a meeting in the Artcraft Theatre, Molesworth Street, on Sunday, October-12 at 8 p.m., to furl her the. interests of the party's candidate for tho Wellington North seat. The sneakers include tho candidate. Mr. John Head. M". H. E. Holland, M.P., Hon. ,r. T, Paul. M.L.C.. Mr. I!. Semnle, M.P., Mr. P. Eraser, M.P., and Mrs. Snow, member of. the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The chairman will be Air. George Ward. Mr. .T. A. Nash gave notice in tiio House of Representatives yesterday to ask the Minister of Public Health: Whether he will favourably consider granting an annual subsidy lo committees, carrying on the work of district nursing and place them upon the same footing as Plunket Committees, who • reccivo a subsidy of .£SO per annum! The following have beeu elected unopposed as officers of the Waterside AVorkers' Sick and Accident Benefit Club: —President, Mr. B. J. Seal; vice-presi-dent. Mr. N. J. Reynolds; trustees, Messrs. •!. Laurenson, .T. G. Bruce, and j C. Frew; treasurer, Mr. A. Glass. For secretary, four nominations—Messrs. A Garrod L. Treinayne, L. Hennossey, and W. Bevan—have been received, end a ballot will bo taken on Thursday and Friday next. Mr. A, .Agnew will lie reluming officer, and Messrs. W, T. Bassett and T. Bales scrutineer?.

"That the Presbytery recommends tlie General Asspmbly that it: take into consideration the advisability of recommending to the Government that there be an amendment, to the Bating Act, so that all eliureh property should Ve rat'ed " was n motion proposed by the Itev. E.' W. Walker, at a meeting of the Cjiristchitrcli Presbytery. In pointing out the used for such an amendment, Mr. Walker said the Homan Catholic Church whs given concessions in the matter of rules that were not given to other churches. He considered that the Roman Catholic Church was becoming .too powerful in this country, and it threatened to eat. into the very vitals of the country's life. He thought nil churches should' l>e put; on the same, fewting with regard to rates, and this could he done if all church property were., rated. However, the Rev. .T. Paterson, Who presided. I'll,led that the motion was-out' of order, because .Mr. Wnlkor liarl not given notice of tho suggestion that, the mat.; lev be referred to the General Assembly. Mr. Walker accordingly gave notice of motion.

The Chnstchui'ch "Press" has the following:—Sensing. perhaps, in some subtle, canino way that such a gathering formed a link with his dead master, mi Irish terrier found his way into a meeting of the. North Beach Tennis Club on Wednesday afternoon. A member rose to put tho intruder out, but on glancing at the dog's collar found that it was a pet of tho late cTianipion tennis player, Anthony Wilding. Members gathered round, and a suggestion that the dog be elected an honorafv ijiember of the club was agreed to by acclamation. The dog wns nloiie, and came into the office in which the meeting was being held quite of its own accord.

The Secretary of the l'ost ami Telegraph Department lias been advised that legal limit wns reverted to in Uelgium, l-Vancc, iind Italy on October 5. A famous championship was won nt Olympia this week, by Captain G. H. Bru ntou, of (liiV New Zealand Kille Brigade, who succeeded in securing tho | massive silver trophy for epeo versus epee, writes "Chibiiinii" in Hie "Pall Mall Gazette" of July fl. Tile epee is, ii species of foil, ami is very much heller known in France and Italvlhiin il is in England; in fptiriny circles it is chielly known as I lie weapon with which really serious duels are fought mid life-Ions; scars inflicted. . Captain Bruntou's win wns unexpected, in Unit lie is n young colonial .'officer,' and lias only taken up fencing recently, unci lift was competing against ninny old unci experienced hands. But that he is a born fencer was proved by the fncl Unit lie won eleven out of thirteen fights, and throughout the championship disiilnycd remarkable coolness. Through inadvertence it was made to appear Unit Their Excellencies the Gov-ernor-General and., Lady Liveryool attended Thursday' 1 night's representation of "De Luxe Annie." They wen- in fact members of the audience that witnessed last, night's performance. .A man was arrested yesterdav bv Delective Black and Plain-clothes Constable Holmes on n charge of theft of a qnanit,v of carpenter's tools, of the value of (Is. He' will appear before the .Magistrate s, Court this morning. At a silting of the Mount Cook Police Court yesterday, before Mr. J.'B Peas<lft!e. J.P., cme first offender for drunkenness was lined 10s. pl h i° llingil ? n T> »t--ioiic Society's Band will render selections at Island •Bay to-morrow, comniencing at 3 p.m. Keferring (o the difference of opinion on the question whether the, proposed new n d.m or the new tunnel KESS- - Orongorongo) at Wainui. shou-M bo gone on with first, the Mayor (Mr. J J>U;ke) said ye.stenky that to his niind tlie issue was a very grave one, but the council: would not be asked to discuss \rr"f« f '• tl i e ® n "' nPel "s return. '/Hi 1 °u n i ue arrive back in New Zealand-about the end of next month,. - . : The Australian team of League foot-' bailers left last night for Sydney on thru- return, home after a tour of'some eight ueeks. -1 hough the tour was not a success from a financial point of view,, he- results should prove of great value lo tho future of the game.- An impression has gamed ground .that the aim-of-tan .League- code -is for professionalism and profit?,, but. such should be dispelled by. the figures supplied below as to tho extent.pat.notic funds.and charity have' been assisted in Sydney during tlie iva>period: Last year the League raised by bpecial efforts the sum of .£747 17s. 3d. for. various charities,, making a grand total ot 45256 12s. Gd. raised for patriotic purposes . since the commencement of the war, a. suui which should be greatlv aujanented by this year's niatelicp. The hnal matchps for the various- competitions are specially ear-marked' for this purpose. The persistent-Hasting of a ship's siren at o.do a.m. yesterday .caused a great deal ot speculation as to the reason for such a nose. From-inquiries wade subsequent V-', , lras found tllafc tho centre of tho disturbance was the siren on the steamer rort Hacking, the lanyard of which had by. some unknown. meari9 become caught, tiius Televising tho steam. The Mayor of M'hakatane has received information from Wellington that' tho Minister for Health lias finally dce'ded that the new hospital shall be erected m Y\ hakatane borough.—Press Assn.

Tho popular belief that tho mines which were so profusely laid oft' tho New Zealand coasts by the German raider were 0! a-typo intended to float on tlio surfaeo of the water, and thus bring merchant-men--to their destruction, is objected to by Mr. Duncan E. Baucliop, <1 New Zenander who recently returned from England, where ho occupied during the war' 11 posit.oiv as adviser to the Admiralty ™ tho subject of siibmarino mining, "lhere is no such thing as n floating mine," said Mr. Baucliop. "It would be too ridiculous a thing, for it would bo seen on the surface and avoided." Mr. Bauchop, went 011 to explain that the mines washed up. on the beaches. a"ong lliq coast wore, of the moored-mino type, but they had broken awav from their anchorage. The .British lnino of tho same variety, in accordance with tlio terms of The Hague Convention, is onl'y effective so'long as it is moored, and a» soon as it 'breaks adrift it becomes liiTiuless. It was only another instance of the consistency of the German in breaking compacts, said Mr. Bauehop, that in laying his mines lie ensured that they-should break loose and still retain their destructive powers. Special missionary services are' to be held in the Congregational Churches tomorrow. Dr. E. J. Stuckev, this year's deputation 011 behalf of th 6 London Missionary Society, is advertised to speak. Dr. Stuckey, who in a medical missionary in Peking, was, during the war, attached to the Chinese Labour Battalion in France. In to-day's issue citizens are invited to join the Navy League, the oldest voluntary- organisation, it is stated, in the British Empire. The Navv League inculcates in the people the real meaning and value of sea-power, and supports anoverwhelmingly strong navy as tho best guarantee of peace. In order to continue and extend its highly important educational work, a very large adult membership is necessary. It is hoped to secure a membership of 5000 adult members. The leaguo already has 5000 juvenile members. In spite of the threat of punishment contained in the new Police Offences Amendment Bill now before Parliament sneak thieves are still "borrowing" mo-tor-cars. The other night a prominent Wellington barrister, wiien he went get Ilia car to drive to his suburban home, found that his ear had disappeared. Ho hired a taxi to drivo home, and on tho Hutt Road he saw-a derelict car by the roadside. The headlights of the taxi showed the number of the derelict— and it was the number of his own car. Complaint was made by a member of the Wellington .Returned Soldiers' Association at last night's meeting that fur-' niture being offered to returned soldiers was "shoddy." Ho said that although the .Repatriation Board made grants 01' ,£SO to returned soldiers for (he purchase of furniture, the men were only able to buy articles of inferior quality. "You cannot buy good stuff," ho said. Air. C. W. Batten stated that it was a fact that "tlio stuff' was being run up for sale to tho soldier." The Repatriation Department, however, was Irving to obtain tho services of nil expert from the trade who would bo instructed to inspect all furniture for the purchase of which grants were advanced by tho board. It was hoped that by this means the difficulty would be overcome. It is not generally known (says an exchange) lliat the Union Company's Wahine, which some years ago was in ilie. Wclliiigton-Lyttelton ferry run, has during; the war been employed by the Admiralty as a mine-layer, In tliis special work tho steamer did good service. Hor grunt advantage to the naval authorities was the fact that she could' slow away a very large number of mines, but her sndtd was rather adrawback, as a.mine-layer is required to do about 25 knots.