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Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1918, Page 2

Four probationers are required uu Westland Hospital. Apply at once to Matron Little.

Aii important mooting of membois of the local Druids’ Lodge will be held on Thursday evening next. All members ate urgently requested to attend. On Wednesday 25th December, Thursday, 26th THecember, Friday, 27th. December, Saturday 28tli December, 1918; and Wednesday Ist January, and Thursday, 2nd January, 1919, th c Government offices throughout New Zealand will be closed. ,

i The Minister of Defence has advised the Hon. Secretary of the Westland Patriotic Society that it has now i been arranged to refer all applications for return of soldiers from active service to thc National Efficiency Board for investigation before any recommendation is cabled to England. 1 The marriage was celebrated at Grcy- ! mouth yesterday at “Fernhill” the rc- ! si deuce of the bride’s parents of Miss i Alice Castle, youngest daughter of Air j 11. Castle, and Air Alexander W. MacDon noil, sou of the late Inspector AlaeDonnell’ formerly in charge of the Greymouth and Napier police districts. Ihe ! nuptial knot was tied -by the Rc\. G. ! y Crossman. Their numerous friends will wish the happy couple a prosperous wedded future.

It has been stated freely that portions of the report of the Defence Expenditure Commission were excised by the Government before the publication of the report. Sir James Allen made • bis statement on the subject on Friday. * ‘Two portions of the original repoit were excised by the Commission on the advice of the Solicitor-General, as being bevond the order of reference. The report as submitted to Parliament is the final report of the Commission-. Tlur right hand branch traffic bridge i.n the Kanieri river, Lake Kanieri road, was discovered on fire on Sunday evening. Some children had fired the scrub in the vicinity and the fire had travelled up river and attacked the bridge which was ablaze underneath, and the fire was approaching the Borough watermain which is carried across on the structure. The fire was seen by a resident dwelling near-by and he summoned help and the fire was put out, and the bridge made secure. Some small repairs will he necessary to the structure to make it support traffic. The Bowling Green during the past week has come along splendidly anu the success of the re-sowing last autumn is fully borne out. The grass has coino along well and has filled out excellently with the result that the sward is very good. The green is looking real well and is now receiving finishing touches to make it ready for play. The caretaker is now daily at work rolling and cutting, and if the I'm,, weather continues the green will be open for play on Saturday afternoon. The thanks of the Club arc due to a thc energetic secretary) for the great amount of work they have put into thc green during the past few weeks, work that is now having such a practical result.

There was a savour of humour in the indignation expressed by a Maori member of the House of Representatives, Mr. W. Urn, about the treatment meted out to .some of his people recently by. the Health authorities. The burden of his complaint- was that in the neighbourhood of Christchurch Maoris had not I ice n allowed to travel on the trains without a permit. He understood that there was some, objection to the holding of tangis, but he asked, “Why not bar all Irishmen from going on the trains? How do you know they are not going to a wake?” The Minister of Public Health, (Air. Russell) said that the question took him completely by surprise. No instructions liad been given to interfere in any way with the travelling of -Maoris for business or other purposes, but tangis had bene prohibited nil over the Dominion. He would take steps immediately to inquire ns to the action taken by the District Hep’ Officer in Christchurch. At McGruer and Co’s, great clearing sale, 2 doz. only 30 x 30 white hemstitched embroidery, and drawn thread supper cloths, sale price 2s lid; 2 doz. only 18 x 54 white deep point lace drawn thread, union centres, side-hoard covers, sale price 2s lid ; men’s natural Merino singlet and pants usually 2s lid and 3s lid, non- Is lid and 2s lid; special sock value, 10 doz only, black wool and cot-ton Cashmere socks, good dye, good-wearing, sale price 2 pairs for 2s lid; men’s all wool plain and ribbed 9ocks, now 2. pairs for 3s lid.— Great sale of men’s wear at McGruer and Go’s., Greymouth.—Advt. .

Mrs J. Curtain and family inr.ort notices of thanks in this issue. Messrs M. Houston notify their postponed Arahura Store Cattle Sale has now been fixed for Wednesday of next week.

The I’aeroa is having a very hud run at pro°ent. Having to engage a temporary fireman for the run from Westport to Greymouth and back she could not keep him for that; short time but had to put him into hospital at. Greymouth and wait for another from Hokitika .

As the Federal Government is now taxing prizes won in Tattersall’s “consultations,” the suggestion- was made by Mr Bamford in the House of Representatives recently, (reports the Melbourne “Age”) that consideration should be given to the advisability of removing the embargo against letters addressed to Tattersall’s or any known agent of the concern. Mr. Watt replied that the Government did not approve of the suggestion, and was not prepared to authorise the removal of the postal embargo. Mr J. S. Evans,,S.M., Chairman of the Military Service Board, visited Hokitika yesterday, and held a brief sitting in chambers, to hear application on behalf of soldiers on active service, for every repatriation. There are only two formal applications lodged. Mr Sellers appearing on behalf of one and Mr Bruce in the second instance. Mr D. J. Evans, hon secretary of the Westland Patriotic Committee mentioned three other cases in which applications had gone in, and friends of the soldiers were heard on behalf of the applications made, the Chairman recording the statements given. Before the sitting closed Mr. J. A. Murdoch on behalf of numerous clients took occasion to thank Mr Evans, S.M., for his courtesy and consideration shown at all times to the cases of appellants. In that connection, Mr. Murdoch desired .also, to associate Mr. Evans’ colleagues on the Appeal Board, as well as Captain Pilkington of the Defence Department. Mr Murdoch went on to-say that Mr. Evans had been most patient, and the thoroughness with which the cases had been gone into showed to appellants that their position was fully consider.nl,. and this satisfaction reconciled them better than anything else to the operations of the Military Service Act, and avoided friction which would otherwise have gone on. Mr Evans said he wt s grateful to Mr Murdoch for the kindly remarks and would convey them to his colleagues. They had endeavoured to sift each case on its merits, and a v < ry. full record had been kept of the circumstances of each appeal. That information was most useful now in dealing with applications for repatriation, as with the information already in hand a decision could be reached without the necessity of further enquiry. He mentioned that with his colleagues the work had proceeded most- amicably and very agreeably and there had not been any differences of opinion. In concluding Mr. Evans said the present would probably be his last visit to the district, and be had.-to thank all friends for Heir courtesy and kindness shown to the Board, while visiting on the local circuit.