NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9794, 18 October 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Mrs Ida Duthio, a visitor from Dunedin, while walking along Ingestro street last evening, was seized with a fainting fit, and on falling struck her head on the kerb, which inflicted a. severe cut on tho back of her scalp. The injured woman was picked up in a semi-conscious condition and removed to tho hospital, where she was admitted. for treatment at 8 p.m.

Arthur Lanchlan, aged eleven years, son of Mr George Lauchlan, of the Wellington city electrical department, was knocked down by a tramcar in Kilbirnie yesterday morning and received severe cuts about the face. Th* boy crossed behind a stationary car and failed to observe another oar iog in the opposite direction. After resting for a few hours at a neighbouring house, the boy was able to go to his home.

Mr W. A. Veitcb, M.P. for Wanganui, inquired in Parliament yesterday what was the practice with respect to German prisoners travelling on the New Zealand railways. A statement had been made to him by telegram that German prisoners were provided with first-class accommodation ana sleepers on the train from Wellington to Auckland. Sir James Allen: air.' really sorry that I cannot answer the bon. gentleman. If be will put the question on the Order Paper J will get an answer for him.’

The M to Z Public Petitions Committee reported to the .House of Representatives yesterday that it had no recommendation to make in respect to the petition of G. W. Stephenson of Wellington, praying for relief on his compulsory retirement from the Post and Telegraph Department. The A to L Committee of the House reported it had no recommendation to make in regard to the petition of C. Hartridge, of “Wellington, praying for an inquiry into his retirement from the position nf correspondence clerk in the Base Records office.

He had just received a telegram stating that permits had been issued to foreigners to work on two overseas steamers at Lyttelton, while Rritons were walking about the port looking for work i and he would like the AttorneyGeneral to tell him what reply he could send to it, stated Dr Thacker, M.P. for Christchurch East, in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Hon. A. L. Herdman said that if the hon. member would put the question on the Order Paper, be would inquire into the matter. It was impossible, however, to do the work altogether without foreigners. Dr Thacker: “1 wish yon would write a reply for me.” (Laughter.) A member: ‘'Six and eight. (More laughter.)

The following telegram received by the Governor-General from the Governor of New Caledonia was read in the House of Representatives yesterday by Sir James Allen:—‘‘The French Consul at Auckland informs mo that the Now Caledonian returned soldiers have been the recipients of numerous and touching attentions while at Wellington on the part of Your Excellency, and also on the part of the civil and military authorities of that city. I pray that Your Excellency will accept my thanks and convey to the Hon. Sir James Allen, Minister for Defence, and the Mayor and the councillors of the citv of Wellington, an expression of my sincere gratitude. I am happy at the same time to hear from the French Consul that the good behaviour of our soldiers was particularly remarked upon by the Now Zealand authorities.’’

“A state of things is in existence on the Wairarapa line ■which ought to be remedied at once,” declared Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P. for Wairarapa, in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. When soldiers were returning from leave, especially from their annual leave, the trains were crowded to an extent that, to say the least, was not creditable. The soldiers had to stand on the platforms, and passengers were put to great inconvenience, ladies having to go into the smoking carriages for lack of seats elsewhere. He suggested that the Railway Department should provide special trains so that the men could travel in comfort and decency. The Hon. W. H. Henries said that his department would be most pleased to provide special trains if the Defence Department would give them notice when they required the trains. They could have a special train at any time they liked; but the department could not provide the accommodation unless they knew it was wanted.

Experienced tunnel workers ore still required for the Cffira tunnel - , also labourers for the Culverden-AVaiau railway-

Owing to the great scarcity of onions now existing in Wellington, Messrs Laerj - and Co., Ltd., sold at then market, Allen street, yesterday rooming, onions at Is 3d per lb. J.’ 1s ,s a record price for this commodity Jn tho Non- Zealand market.

When giving evidence in a case at tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Louis S. Drake, motor inspector to the City Council, said that 3250 motor-driv-en vehicles, including motor-bicycles, had been registered in Wellington. For some time he had been advocating tho education of childien to avoid motor traffic in the streets.

There are 238 warranto taken out against military service defaulters. Acting under section 44 of tho Military Service Act the Wellington police shortly will take drastic action to discover those who have failed to register or changed their addresses without notice Reservists are warned, therefore, to carry their military registration certificates to be produced when requested by the police.

It is not usual for Hutt dairy farmers to produce champions at the agricultural shows. This year, however, is an exception, for at the Hawke s Bay Show now being held the Cluny Friesian Farm Co., of Trenthair, exhibited a Friesian imported _ bull, “Woodcrost Hongevveld Meckhildo, which lias won the championship. In addition a yearling bull from tho same farm took second prize and two yearling heifers first and second respectively. A yearling bull from Brentwood Farm took first prize in its class. Competent breeders declare that for breeding pedigree stock the Upper Hutt and Mangaroa districts are hard to heat.

A report on tar products was made by the Industries Committee of the House of Representatives to the IHouse yesterday. The committee recommended that tar preparations manufactured in New Zealand when required by local bodies exclusively for road-making purposes shall be carried at reduced rates under the class known as N, also that the Government be urged to consider favourably the advisableness of assisting the tar distilling industry by giving the resultant products a. reasonable protection through the Customs. Further, the committee was strongly of the opinion the Government should give a decided preference to goods manufactured in the Dominion from tar and the by-products thereof providing the price and quality are satisfactory.

Mr G. Nation, acting-assistant secrotary of tho Wellington local branchy of the Seamen’s Union, informed a “Now Zealand Times” representative yesterday that most of the seamen and tiremen of the coastal fleet that _is laid up owing to the difficulty with the men have taken up other employment. Ho said that if the dispute were ended to-day there would be considerable difficulty in manning the fleet owing to the prevailing scarcity of men. Several of the single men have Jo™cd larger vessels, and a number of the married men have taken snore jobs. The coastal fleet is manned most y by married men, who are thus able m the majority of the boats their homes every other day. no difficulty will be to replace the single men who have joined other boats. A return asked for by Mr G. J. Anderson (Mataura), in the House ot Representatives yesterday, was in respect to primary schools, and asked for the following details: ;(1) The, o a number engaged in teaching in January, 1914; (2) the total number who have entered camp since the outbreak of war; (3) the total number belonging to the First Division (a) who have been rejected for service, (b) who are considered to be eligible for service but who have, not yet entered camp; and (c) who are considered to prove unfit and likely to be rejected for service; (4) the total number belonging to the Second Division; and (5) the total number belonging to Classes A and B respectively of the Second Division who are likely to prove medically fit and otherwise eligible for service; also similar information in respect of technical schools, high schools, and university colleges.

German atrocities in war are caused by tho German diet of pork and beer, according to United States medical men at tho annual convention of the Now Jersey Osteopathic Association. It was held that science has proved that food not only keeps the body alive but affects the mind. It has also been proved that the mental characteristics of human or animal food produce cellular change, and that human beings have absorbed with that food tho characteristics of the animal consumed. Germans have always been partial to pigs’ knuckles and sausages. Their soldiers eat sausages daily. Dr Karl Helfferich declares that Germany is the largest consumer of beer and swine in the world. Alcohol is known to undermine the moral fibre. Its effect mentally tends to produce a bully. Germany is the largest consumer of this liquid, and has shown in her conduct its effect.

Rossini, the great Italian operatic composer, was once asked “What is worse than a flute?” and he replied “Two flutes.” In the legal sphere, if an ordinary practitioner were asked what was worse than one judge, he might reply, “Several.” In the case of the flute it occasionally obtrudes itself discordantly. In the case of the judge, he very often talks when he ought to listen. There is an old proverb that “in the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom.” It might be altered to “in the multitude of counsellors there is too much talfc.” For two days the Appeal Court has been swamped by a flood of talk oyer the case of barrister Lnndon on an affirmation by the law Society that he has been guilty of misconduct in his dealings with a client, and the argument is not over yet. The trouble about the Appeal Court is that each judge must have his say, and it not infrequently happens that several judges want to speak at the same rime. ill' Justice Chapman lost his patience yesterday when he was trying to abstract some information from Dr Fitchott, chief counsel for I/undon. He had put a question two or throe times to Dr Fitchett. who could not be hoard in the multitude of voices. These came from Bench, Bar, and witness. At last His Honour observed, “I am addressing a question to Dr FitoV.ett, and I want his reply, but 1 cannot hear him while three or four people are speaking at the same time.” Donnelly’s Hair Restorer.—A real Hair Tonic. Cures dandruff, stops hair falling. Chemists, stores, hairdressers: 2/6. Donnelly’s, 65, Vivian street. *

The dental department of the Wellington Hospital will he closed on Friday morning next owing to tho dental surgeon being unable to attend.

Twenty-eight men at Lyttelton will be affected by the War Regulations prohibiting aliens from being employed on overseas steamers.

Plain-clothes Constable Wallace arrested a man on warrant yesterday m Wellington on a charge of failing to maintain dependents.

A correspondent advises that Private J- Garrett, who was called up in tho last “Gazette,” enlisted voluntarily and loft with tho 17th Reinforcements. He was wounded at tho Battle of Messines on June Sth, and at present is in a convalescent depot m France.

Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., has been asked to repeat his war lecture, “The Coming German Collapse,” at Christchurch as soon as Parliament rises. He has agreed to do so, and the lecture will be given under tho auspices of either tho Lady Liverpool Fund or tho Red Cross Society, both of which have approached him on tho matter

Mr G. AYitty, M.P. for Riccarfon, inquired of the Minister for Railways when D3 —the return as to the classification of men in tho railway service —would be available. It was getting very late in the session, ho remarked. The Hon. W. H. Hemes said that ho hoped to lay the return on the table of the House this week.

Whether, in view of the instructions given to Military Service Boards regarding the last man on tho farm, tho Government will give similar guarantees to business firms that their staffs will not be absolutely depleted of essential trained workers? This question was put to the Defence Minister in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr Poland (Ohinemun).

“men is Professor Prince’s report on New Zealand fisheries likely to bo laid on the table of the House?” asked Mr J. Vigor Brown, member for Napier, in Parliament yesterday. The Hon. G. W. Russell replied that he was sorry to say that he had not received the report yet. He had cabled to Professor Prince early in the year asking him to have the report ready for Parliament this session, but he regretted it had not como to hand.