The Chronicle LEVIN. SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1917. LOCAL & GENERAL.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 14 July 1917, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1917. LOCAL & GENERAL.

For transit of a road roller from Canterbury to Levin, the 'Horowhenua County Council lias had to pay a total of £'80. Over £30 of this was charged by the Union S.S. Co. for water freight to Wellington. The charges were reckoned to br exorbitant wlien the council discussed the matter today, and Councillor Ryder commented "that the Union Company's charge was an outrageous one.

Private Hapi, of Levin, is reported in to J day's casualty list, as having been wounded.

Another local patriotic concert and send-off is in view for the men of the 30th lieinforcements, who are due to leave here on the 2oth. A definite date for this concert has not been fixed yet, as it is necessary to fit in with the performers, most of whom arc coming from a distance, but it is almost certain to be next Fridny night in the usual location—the Oentuiy Hall. A .strong party] of performers aco expected from Fox ton, also a talented artist from Palmerston North, and also an endeavour is being made to secure oho or two good Wellington performers. A very enjoyable Church "at heme" was given by Mesdnmes Mdlntyre, Chaplin and H. J. Jones a4> the English Church schoolroom on Thursday last. The sunshine of the afternoon tempted upwards of seventy ladies to put in an nppearnnee. Tile room had been tastily decorated and a pleasant afternoon was spent 'by the l iguests. Miss Ivy Pink presided at the piano, and songs were sung by Mesdames, Gardener, Gapper, and Heslop and Misses Clark, Eggleton, Bartholomew, and Nicholas. Mrs !R. Freclitling was successful in winning the competitions of the afternoon. Rev. G. B. Stephenson thanked the hostesses for the trouble they had undergone, and the guests for their attendance, each combining to make.th® "at home" a. huge .success.

A cablegram from .London received to-day statues that Oaptiain O. S. Humphries, of the Highland {Light Infantry, has been awarded the 'Military Cross. Captain Humphries is a native of Christ church. New Zealand.

Interest and hospital charges, with current accounts, necessitated payments of £2745 .being made by the iHorowlionua County Council at its meeting to-day. These will necessitate the council having an overdraft at the bank. Commenting upon this the chairman of the counoil (Councillor Monk) remarked' th«t the overdraft probably would continue for some months, to come; but, he added, it was at anyrate a sour«e of satisfaction that the council had done without an overdraft for the last four months. Mr H. E. iLodge, formerly County Clerk for Horowhenua County, is at present on a visit to Levin. Mr Lodge had the misfortune to lose an arm while on active service, and is now permanently returned jt»o Xow Zealand. He is now on his last three weeks' leave as a> member of the Expeditionary iForea. Mr :Lodgo is about to take up residence in Asfiburton. A send-off is to be given at Ohnu (next Monday evening) to Corporal Rangi Royal, who is about to proceed to" the military camp, preparatory to going to the front. A vocal program will be contributed and a dance will be held. Details are set out by advertisement.

Amongst the latest list of wounded appears tlio name of Private A. A. ("Tim") Close, of Levin. Shareholders in the Levin 00-oper-ative Dairy Company, Limited, will 'find the annual meeting of the Company advertised in our columns. The meeting promises to he interesting as there ere three directors to be elected. A question put to the Minister of Defence in the House of Representatives this week, by Dr. Thacker, was whether the Minister would consider the advisableness of bringing home on furlough the members of our Main Body now on active service. The fence Minister replied that the suggestion. to bring home 011 leave to Xe\v .Zealand members of the Main Body now on service was not practicable. Such action would undoubtedly result in deterioration of efficiency of our forces in the field." A sacred recital is to be given at St. Mary's Church. Levin, on "Wednesday next, in aid l of the choir funds. [Details are advertised on page 3.

From the Parliamentary "Questions and Answers" paper of the House of Representatives: —Mr. AV. .H. Field (Otaki) to ask the Minister of Defence whether lie will without delay bring down an amendment of tiie Military Service Act, 1916, to provide for the right of appeal to a. Supreme Court Judge from tlie decisions of Military Service Boards on questions of law? At present, said Mr Field, the Military Service Boards appear to be a law unto themselves, and tlioir decisions in some cases appear to fee contrary to law, and grave injustices are being dene and are likely to be done in consequence. In replying, the lion. Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, said it was not intended to amend the Military Service Act in the direction suggested. The Chairman of each Military Board was either an experienced Stipendiary Magistrate or a barrister of the Supreme Court, and therefore well qualified to decide 011 tall questions of law.

Speaking at a reception at Wairoa, Judge Gilfedder, (president of tlip 1 aii awliiti Al;iori lifind Board, said lie would keep a tight rein on improvident reckless natives who were in the liobit of selling their lands and squandering the profits. It was difficult to protect the Maori against himself, <md it was an irksome and unpopular policy to adopt, that of preventing needy «r wasteful natives from selling iand checking speculation and traffic in Maori lands. T3ie boards were instituted for the purpose qf safeguarding the interests «f the natives and preventing them from -becoming penniless and a burden o* the State.

The Council of Birmingham University has accepted the resignation of Dr Karl Wichmann, professor of German language and literature. . At their last meeting Jlie City Council resolved tli«t no part of the grant to the University of £13,000 should be paid so long as the University retained thp services of any pue-war unnaturalized' German professor on the salaried staff. T|ie brought about fl>r Wiclimann's resignation.