General News.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 4 December 1917, Page 1

General News.

Private E. L. G. Hardy (died of wounds) held a unique position, as he was the son of the first New Zealandborn boy to leave New Zealand for servicc abroad, viz., the 18S5 Egyptian campaign. He was the only son of Mr A. Hardy, of Auckland, formerly of Christcliurch.

A cable message announces the death of Sir Leandcr Starr Jameson, who camc into unfavourable prominence in connection with the raid on Boer territory in 1895, and who was subsequently Premier of Cape Colony from 190-1 to 1908.

The Rev. R. B. S. Hammond, of Sydney, who lias been investigating the results of prohibition in certain parts of America and Canada, has arrived in Auckland.

"I am still wondering how my cousin, General Maude, died," said Mr Cyril Maude, the actor, in a speech at AVellington. He had heard in Sydney that there were suspicions of poisoning. Tho death was certainly strange and unexpected. Only a few days before the speaker, in reply to a congratulatory cablegram, had received a cable from tho General: "All well; come back this way." "Wliich pleased me," said Mr Maude, "though how I was to get Vrack by way of Bagdad goodness only knows."

A contributor to tho London "Daily News," of September 14, In describing his impressions of the crowds in the streets of London, writes: "But there was one type that began to emerge more distinct, more definite, than any other. It was the New Zealander. I was struck alike by the constancy of that type and by its attractiveness. It seemed to me the pick of the basket. The neat, trim figure, rather on the short side, the aquiline nose, firm mouth, small chin, wide-set eyes, full of intelligence, were such unvarying characteristics of tho New Zealander that I began to get excited. Here, I thought, is tho most thoroughly and unvaryingly English type I have seen, and it comes from the remotest habitable spot on the globe. If ever the war ends, and I have £200 to spare (which is extremely unlikely) I'll spend it not on that pearl, but on a visit to the land that is raising these clean-limbcd, civilised, gal-lant-featured young Englishmen on the other side of the world."

A Masterton soldier, writing to his parents by the last mail, says: "I am not permitted to say much about what is happening here, but you can take it from me that I will be home for Christmas in 1918."

The chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board received a telegram last night to say that the question of compensating the Board for the loss of tho "Round Bush," the part of the Board's reserve taken by tho Government as a scenic reserve, was now before tho Prime Minister. On present indications many grocers in Christcliurch, it is stated, appear to be at loggerheads, and considerable undercutting of prices is in progress. This warfare, which commenced with butter lines, has spread, and as a result the public are temporarily benefiting. Cheaper sugar, for instance, is now available. It is asserted, however, that this state of affairs will not last long, as goods in certain instances are being retailed at cost price. A further increase in the retail p»c« of drinks sold in Auckland hotels is notified by the Licensed Victuallers Association, the new prices to eonie into force on December 1. All glasses of spirits of not more than a quarter gill measure are to be sold at 9d, and an all-round increase in spirits by tho bottle is to bo made. No increase is to bo made in beer sold by the pint or glass, but "square riggers'' are to bo sold at 8d and 9d, an increase of Id each.

"It may be news to some of you I worked under Sir Joseph AVard for about seven years when lie started in Gore,' remarked Mr David McDougall, Mayor of tliat borough, to the company assembled at the banquet to the Minister of Financo at Invercargill. "And let me tell you," continued Mr McDougall, "that although I have served under some very hard taskmasters here and at Home, the hardest earned money I ever received was earned under Sir Joseph AVard." "That," spoke out Gore's Mayor over the general laughter, "is why I am so healthy and strong to-day."

The carriers of Palmcrston North and other parts of New Zealand arc sending emphatic protests to the Minister of Railways against a now regulation which is being brought into effect providing that consignees shall pay a

double rate on all goods forwarded for distribution. The local carriers say: "If this regulation is to be carried out, it will mean a great deal of 'inconvenience to the general public, as well as keeping us out of that line of business. No iirm can be expected to work for nothing, and the Government has already hit us badly by competition in post parcels, cutting us out of that business.''

Reporting to tlic Wellington Harbour Board, the engineer, Mr Marchbanks, said: "AVith regard to the advisability of the Board now providing generating plant to produce tho currcnt required, conditions have altered since the original rccommcndation was made, inasmuch as the Government lias now decided to establish a liydro-electric power station near Shannon, whence current will be available in Wellington at a comparatively low rate. The probability is that power from this station will be procurable within the next five years. I therefore would not now recommend the Board to establish its own lighting and power plant, but that it should obtain what currcnt is required from the City Corporation until the Government supply is available."

The Chambers of Commerce Conference yesterday discussed the question of taxation. It was urged that the present system of treating companies as individual taxpayers, and of taxing the incomes of companies on the graduated scale, is inflicting injustice on many shareholders, and, if continued, must restrict the investment of capital in commercial and industrial enterprises; that if graduated, or progressive taxation on incomes is continued, the tax should be levied on incomes from all wui'ccs of taxpayers, as individuals, including their interest as shareholders in the profits of companies; that the Government be requested to consent to the association with officers of the Land and Income Tax Department, of two or three business men, expert in Unancial matters and in the affairs of companies, with the object in view of the commission <"> constituted investigating the

system of land and income taxation in Now Zealand, and recommending a more equitable system. This and other remits on the same subject were adopted by the conference.

An interesting bit of amateur detective work on the lines of - Sherlock Holmes was instanced at tho Supreme Court at Wauganui during the hearing of a divorce caso. The petitioner said lie had reason to believe that his wifo was staying with another man at aji hotel in Palmcrston North. The petitioner said he searched tho hotel register, but without success. At Co'clock the following morning lie returned to the hotel and started a tour of the passages upstairs, with the result that ho found footgear, including his wife's boots, which were of striking pattern, outside a bedroom door. The petitioner noted the number on the door, and, returning to the hotel register, found tho room was occupied by a "Mr and Mrs Roberts." Petitioner then returned to a convenient spot near the "Roberts' " apartment, and when the housemaid with the morning tea knocked and obtained admission, lie also wont in, and greeted the occupants with the cheering remark, "Good morning, Mr and Mrs Roberts!'' —'' Chronicle.''

Judgment in a claim brought by A. M. Paton, Clevedon, against B. Oliver, horse-trainer, for £100 damages in respect of alleged negligence in the training and treatment of the racehorse Blue and Black, was delivered by Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., at the Auckland Magistrate's Court. The circumstances under which the claim was brought were that the defendant agreed to take the horse, race it at several meetings near Palmcrston North, and bring it back to tho plaintiff by June 0. Tho horse was returned to Papakura unattended some weeks after the due date in a very poor condition. The Magistrate said the claim for damages in respect of races which the- horse might have won was too remote. In regard to that part of the claim dealing with a sum of money alleged to have been overpaid to the defendant, he would give judgment for £0, being the amount claimed for the training of the horse after June 0. In regard to general damages, he was of opinion that the plaintiff had proved that the horse had been ill-treated and was returned to him in a very low state. The horse may have suffered permanent injury, and he would give judgment for the plaintiff for £30 and costs.

At the last meeting of the Ashburton Hospital Board Mr Hugo Friedlander and Mr AA r . J. Dickie tied for the position of chairman, and tho position was decided by lot, Mr Dickie proving successful. Mr Nicoll, who had nominated Mr Dickie, said that it was not desirable to have anybody of German origin in the chair. Mr Friedlander, in reply, said that he had three sons at the front, and his brothers had similar records. His opponents would, if they could, belittle his patriotic work, but hi 3 best recommendation was that they had not succeeded in doing so.

"AVhile I was in America, the secret service men were undertaking a thorough clean-up of German-born traitors, of whom there are many thousands, and their work is so complete that it will not be long before the nation is free from the enemy which shelters inside," said Mr Harry Iloyle, late Minister for Railways in New South AVales, who recently returned to Sydney from the United States. Speaking of America's preparedness for war, Mr Ifoyle said that no one who has not been through the States can realise to what extent tho people have gone into the question of war. "At: every factory, shipyard, aeroplane factory, and, in fact, works of every description. 24 hours a day are occupied in the turning out of material to supply the needs of the American soldiers and those of the Allies," he said. "The construction and assom-. bling of aeroplanes has developed to a phenomenal degree. I saw flying machines put together in 20 minutes, and though that is easily a record, I was assured that within a few months machines will be assembled ready for the air in five minutes. Thousands of young men are being trained to fight in the air, and it will not be long before an army of 3000 aviators is ready for action. Oncc that army is ready, the organisation will have been perfected to such all extent that 3000 men and machines will be turned out ready for servicc every seven days." Mr Hoyle also stated that ship-building and shiprepairing were proceeding at record pace. Engineers were doing in a month work which the enemy estimated would require a year. Trooper James G. Cornfoot, eldest aon of Mrs Cornfoot, of AA'est Street, Feilding, was reported dangerously wounded in the leg a week ago, and on Sunday came word of his death. He left New Zealand with the 13th Reinforcements, and joined up with the mounted men in Palestine after training in England. It was in the latest advance against the Turks that he met with the fatal wound, and djed in the 45th stationary hospital at El Arish. Prior to becoming a soldier, the deceased was on the staff of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. Trooper Claude Muckic, of A\ oodville, writing home before the news camc of the stopping of the proposed furlough in New Zealand, says: There is to bo from twenty to thirty per cent, leave granted to the Main Body and up to the Sixth Reinforcements, to go to New Zealand. Some of tho moil here arc completely "fed up," and I don't wonder at it either. There is not a shadow of doubt that those men who came out hero early in the campaign have been through far more than anybody but themselves know. There is no questioning the fact that tho lighting has been far more severe hero than the average man in the street in New Zealand imagines, and by all accounts the New Zealand Mounted Brigade have had a particutieularly rough time of it during the last two years. Most of the old hands now down in tiie camp look very care-

Tlic liev. A. Cameron's appeal to the Presbyterian Assembly, to 1 ry to do something towards raising the salaries of underpaid ministers, was backed up by an unexpected disclosure (says the Du nod in "Star''). Towards Ihe end of the meeting the Moderator announced that t he acting si at ion mast er wished to know how many members would be travelling to their homes the next morning, and the request was made that those who were going should hold up their hands. Twenty responded. Then, after a suggestion from the clerk, the Moderator said:""We had better say how many first class. Hands up for first class." Not a. single hand appeared. "Show now for second class," cried the Moderator, and up went the whole 20 —four for the south, 3(i for the north. The elect were signalling,

not the bJoct. EitUor from clioiec or from necessity the disciples of 10.17 were following" up in modified form the injunction to the disciples of A.D. 30 (or thereabouts): "Provide neither gold nor silver nor brass in your purses.'' The question us to whether picture theatres in Auckland should bo allowed to give entertainments on Christmas Day was briefly discussed by the Auckland City Council last week. Mr l'hil A. Ilayward wrote applying for permission to open the Strand, Everybody's, Lyric, Grand, Globe, and Palace Theatres on Christmas Day, the entertainment not to be commenced before 2 p.m. If deemed desirable the programme would be submitted to the Council for approval. In connection with the application, the Auckland "Musicians' Union wrote expressing the hope that the request would be refused. Members of the union were playing every night through the year, with the exception of Sundays, and they would like Christmas Day and Good Friday to be kept sacred. In terms of the Council's policy decided when a similar application was.before it last year, the Mayor moved that Mr Ilayward's application be granted. It was decided to inform the Musicians' Union that its request in, respect to Good Friday would receive due consideration when application was made by picture-theatre proprietors to give entertainments on that' day. "Can -anyone give us an idea when the price of material will come down after the war?" asked Mr Staples at a meeting of the Sehvyn Plantation Board at Christchurch. "I can," said Mr George Scott. the well-known ironfouniU'r, of the firm of Scott P.ros., who proceeded to relate an incident whit-Is he considered typical of what would happen after the war. On the day that the recent advance was made on the western front he received a number of American quotations by cablegram for material for his iirm. The first was £70 a ton. yet by live o'clock the price had fallen to £.10 aton. "I said at the time," said Mr Scott, "that I was sure that something was happening at the front, and the Americans had heard of it before we did."