LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2390, 20 February 1915, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Postmaster-General notifies that it has be« 11 arranged with the Pacific Cable Board to reduce from April 1 nest the present rate of 3s. per word charged upon ordinary cable messages for England to 2s. Bd. per word. The deferred cable rate will bo reduced from the same date to Is. 4d. per word, aiid the weekend cable rate to a minimum of 18s. 4d. for 20 words and 3d. each additional word. . ■ A rather unusual excuse was advanced by a parent in the Magistrate's l/ourt yesterday, charged with failing to send his child to school regularly. 1 have no boots to send her in," declared the parent. "1 will be able to get nor a pair in a day or two," he Baaed. .

Perhaps few people realise that tomorrow JW Zealand celebrates a. very important centenary in the birth of the first European child (a boy) born in those islands (writes a correspondent), 10-morrow it is exactly 100 yYars ago aftto vt° Marsden's parfy at the Bay of Islands became the firet iappy parents in. Now Zealand. The John.King, a flax-dresser and twine and rope-maker, brought From England to help instruct the NaMav 28 m->V rt °, f , raakin S ropes. On nio I another centenary takes place that some people perhaps mil think more important than.the one just "ret liHl«' • m % !? irth of hret little girl m .Now Zealand; Again tne parents were members of Bishop Marsden- S party at .the Hay of Islands Ik™ ir n , f ? the F ? Dam « was Wil- ! a s'upwnght, brought from England m the same party. It is worthy of rwird for those interested to state that the first white child born m tlio: South Island is still hale and hearty. He is (Japtain John Guard, the veteran whaler, of Port Underwood ' iusr a t> i°, Awaiti, Tory Channel, in 1831. But to the North Island belongs the glory of having the first little boy and girl in New Zealand." .i'S® a ® 40 why. the' nurses of the Wellington Hospitaf should of all the staff be 1 singled out for free dental treatment was raised by Mr. F. Castle at the meeting of the Hospital and ~uaritable Aid Board on Tuesday. Mr. D. MTjaren explained'that it was to the advantage of the board that the nurses should be- taken care of. If it were' only in the interests of the patients they should be kept healthy, and sound teeth was an important factor in anyone's health. The board approved Mr. M'Laren's sentiments, and the recommendation was j passed unanimously. Between 5 and 6 o'clock last evening three cyclists wero proceeding along the Hutt Road near to Railway Avenue at Lower Hutt, When a motor-car turned the corner, and owing to the cyclists being on the wrong side of the road there was a general scatter. A man named Thomas Burke, a mechanic residing at Taita, dismounted and got mixed up with the car, his head going clean through the wind-shield. The car, getting out of hand, ran over the roadside between two houses, and crashed into a fence. The injured cyclist sustained a severe shaking and a cut on the head. He was attended by Dr. M'Donald, and was then taken to his home. The occupants of the car, including some ladie3, escaped injury, as was the case with the injured man's two companions. The existence of a thriving "two-up" school at Kaiwarra has been suspected for some time past, but its members through the agency, it is believed, of a well-organised system of snouts, have escaped arrest. On January 10 last, however, two mounted • policemen wero informed of. the whereabouts of the school by a resident of Kaiwarra. They sighted the school in a secluded spot in the township, and made haste'to the. scene. The scouts' cry of "Johns," however, quickly scattered the players. The police made one arrest, however, John Blair', who appeared in the Mag- ' istrate's Court yesterday charged with playing "two-up" within'view of paes-erft-by. /Mr. H. F. O'Leary defended him, and after hearing the evidence submitted ; that the evidence was too frail to convict accused, who had not even been seen taking part in the game. v The Magistrate agreed and dismissed the information.' The following temporary appointments df non-commissioned ofiieers to the sth Reinforcements have been approved by the camp commandant at Trentham

(JUeut.-Colonei H. It.- Potter): —0.-Squadron—Sergeant-major, Private Hay-. huißt; quartermaster-sergeant,_ Private K. J. M'Kenzie; sergeants, Privates J. W Sealey, K. A. English, H. A. Lockington; oorporals, Privates E. G. Tem« pie, W. Pole. D Squadron-Sergeant-major, Private W. Orj-; quartermaster, sergeant, Private R. H. Turtonj sergeants, Privates S. W. Fearn, C. J.Ingall, A. T. Field, H. Horrocks. A! Squadron—Sergeant-major, Private W« H Ooates; quartermaster-sergeant, Private C. Chignall; sergeants, Privates S. R. Clark, G. Paton; corporal, Private T. Moses. B Squadron—Sergeant-major, Private A. 0. de Latour; quartermaster, sergeant, Private H. B. Bennett; ser. ceants, Privates C. G. Davis, J. B. Dalton, C. E. Edwards, S. W. Sustace; corporal, Private J. Chadwick. In tha Army Service Corps, Drivers J. F. Wilkinson and \V. Angus have been promoted to be lance-corporals.

'Jlie Salvation Army's War Relief Fund now amounts to £8000. Latest donations include: Dingwold (Remuera), £100; F. Armstrong (Dannevirke) £100, Misses Keir (Auckland), £50, F. J.Knight (Dannevirke) £50, Casual Railway Union of Workers £33. "Anglican" (Lyttelton) £20, Oamaru Woollen Mills £25, J. M'Kelvie ■ (Feilding) £25, P. A. M'Hardy £50, Sir. and Mrs. Ramsden (Woodville), £30, M. Fountain (Wood-, viile) £50, J. G. Johnston (Palmerston North) £50; additional sum 6 from Salvation Army corps, £54. Yesterday afternoon was particularly interesting at Trentham military campi on account of the bayonet' instruction given by Captain Maolaglan to a large sqtiad of recruits." Captain Maclaglan has just come over from Australia, and is soon to go on to Canada. At times he takes as many as 300 pupils in. a class. The ( Now Zealand recruit is said to be exceptionally quick at picking up. the idea of bayonet manipulation. A special meeting of the Wellington: City Council is to be hold at 4 n.rn. on Tuesday next to consider tenders for tho setting back of certain shop fronts in Willis Street to the new alignment; the erection of public conveniences at the Botanical Gardens; and the supply, of watt meters for tho Electrical Department. There are also a number of resolutions that have been on the order paper for some time ■ past. but have not been reached at an hour to permit of thoir consideration, and which it is hoped will be disposed of The chief of these is Councillor M. F. Luckie's motion asking that a poll of the ratepayers be takert at tho earliest possible date to decide whether or not tho council shall rovcrt to the principle of rating on the annual values in lieu of tho present system of rating'on tho nnim- [ proved value. The Otago Expansion League is in; receipt ol the following communication from the league's Glasgow representatives:—"lll regard to tho immigration of Belgian women and girls for domes-

tic work in New Zealand, wo Lave taken fliis matter up with the authorities Acre, and have read an official finding in connection with tlie matter in respect of a similar application made by the'State'of Nova Scotia, Canada, and from whiolr it appears that the Belgian Government lias intimated that : jt wishes to discourage . such gmitrration of its subjects to different paHs of our colonies. It bopes to repatriate them at an early date.. Under these eircurtjstanes, wo ponsjder it would hi inadvisable to go any further iu tha maU tar. . . •

Ail Australian correspondent of the Christchurch "Sun" says:—"Among the recruits accepted at' Victoria Barracks last was ,a young Belgian soldier. Before the war he .was in business in New York as a dia-mond-cutter. When, war was declared he returned to Antwerp, his nativo town..and joined his regiment. _ With. ,'the_ Belgian Army, and later with tlie 'Ailies. he was in every battle, up to the fall of Antwerp, when ho' was woundod and sent to hospital at Chelsea, Eiinland. He was afterWards discharge)}, and left England in some .obscure employment1 011 board the liner Osterloy. His idea, he says,'was to get ar far awav from the thunder of the guns as he oquld. His nerve was shattered for th» time being. Kio long voyage, however, set him up in health, and he hogan to long to. go to Belgium's aid once more. As soon as he reached Sydney, ho went to the recruiting office and showed his papers; These consisted of on ambulance certificate of proficiency,' and his discharge from the-' Belgian 'Army. On each was hiß photograph, So there was no doubt as to his ness. The enrolling officer treated the little Belgian with respect, r and yet could not efarol him until he procured ' his discharge from.service onVfche Osterlev. - But this was only a , temporary 'delay, and the Belgian is now in camp at Liverpool,- and, no doubt, tho idol of his company, as he was of the barracks' during the day of his enlistment. In-, fact, it was - with, difficulty. that Le could get awaj to go down to 'Circular Qnay and get his discharge from " the ship." A Belgian, who was through romo of the trouble in Antwerp and is now in camp in Australia relates his impressions of war as follows: —"Tho worst of all is.the noise," he said. "Oh! the guns, and the bursting shells I 't m terrific—far worse than the rifle fire or the' bayonet charge, for we cannot silence the noise.- Thousands of men have lost their reason in the war, just < because of. the infernal, never-ending din Myself, I had bad head for many weeks, and I had but four months m battle. Now I feel it sometimes, iuet a little. Still, I could here where it is quiet and peaceful, as I. thought I could. No, I have th;ee brothers fighting in Belgium, and -here I must go, though I had never Ireamed of having the honour to fight under the .flag of; Britain—the friend of Belgium. Tho Germans?.. I think the Germans are very brave as well as cruel. They, have been : sent to death by their - efficers ir thousands, and .they-, are still '4oin2.it. Once I was with a' machine-.. Kim section We were entrenched on a hill, and the Germans were ordered to take i'= ai all costs. • It was as '-.hough tho earth moved on that hill-side. The Gfliwsi's blotted out tne' l earth 11 their gro7, rccvint ranks. And our guns jui-' swunu to and fro,' spitting Jeath at, tliPDi. It war like a scythe mowihg down corn; tb?y fell in : swathes-— tfic.usauds o; them, ; yet the others still oanm on." .

' The Government are inviting the people of New Zealand to submit designs of a badge for the nurses to go to the front from the Dominion shortly. -The badge will bo the permarent device to bo worn by the Now Zealand Army' Nursing Service. The size of the badge must not bo larger than a florin, it must have _on .it the letters •"N;Z.'A.N.S.," it should be in silver or soma other metal as tho designer may suggest, and the cost of manufacture

-must not exceed ss. eaoh, or : £25 -a hun- , dred.' , Suggested designs must . reach Miss; Maclean, Matron-in-Chief -of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service. Health Department, Wellington, riot later than March 1. For the seventh year £a succession the Raglari (/ounty Council has collected all rates du§ by its .European ratepayers (says the.Auckland' "Herald"); For the ; present year, 1914-15, the total of all; rates due by ivas'.£Bll9> for ■ which,, rate demands were posted on Ju1y.;i',..1914, and;.tlie. last,'lot..of: rates was paid on February 11,'1915. As to the rates due on land- occupied and owned by Natives, for the same period , the.total rates amounted to < £1233, :, and of . this sum £96\105. 7d. only had been paid. Of the Native rates for the previous year, which amounted to £1186, a sum of only £175 has been paid to date, leaving the large' sum of £2148 9s. M.; outstanding on Native rates for tho last'two years. ■ For two years, the. •rates due by Natives amounted to £2419, and of this only £270 10s. 7d. bas been voluntarily paid. ' Even of this 'a. large sum has been paid by Europeans who have recently taken up Native lands. . . At' Thursday's meeting of the City Council,■ Councillor G. Frost inquired why. the amount placed on the.estimates for ,the improvement of Fairlie Terrace, at the southern end of Kelburn Parade, had not been expended. In doing so he stated that this work was ur- . gently required by .the residents of that locality. On receiving the assurance that, the amount of £250 had been placed on . the estimates/for the work, the'.Mayor'(Mr. J. P. Luke) said that he would go into the matter with the City Engineer. 'At a, meeting of Auckland _ business men' (6ays a Press Association telegram), it was resolved that users of automatio stamping machines- present bind themselves to stop the use of machines sooner than pay the deposit demanded by the Government. They will in future purchase all stamps required, from licensed agents, and not direct .from the Post Office. ■ The sum of £2 17s. 6d. was collected by "The Magpies" at His Majesty's Theatre last'evening for the British and Belgian Relief Fund. - In the Supreme Court at Christchurch yesterday, before Mr- Justice Denniston, Mr/F. W. Johnstone, on behalf of tho Canterbury Law Society, applied for an order ' suspending Robert - Thomas • Leathern from acting as a barrister and solicitor, pending the decision of the Court of Appeal to strike him off the roll, and also asked that the matter be referred to the Court of Appeal. His Honour made an order granting; the suspension, and referred the application to the Court of Appeal.—Press Association. It is a popular superstition (says an exchange) that the presence of a member of the cloth on shipboard is a. sure and certain omen of a calamitous or at least a rough trip. Imagine, therefore,'the feelings of nervous passengers on board the Iliverina when it was -found on leaving Sydney for Auckland that, there were exactly thirteen representatives of the clergy. On this occasion apprehension was borne out by an unusually rough trip, which made the vessel over twenty honrs late in krnving. The clerics accepted the inevitable banter good-naturedly.

A proposal for the establishment _of a New Zealand Board of Trade and In-' dustrics has been circulated by the Industrial Corporation of Now Zealand, of which Mr. J. B. Laurenson is president. It is set out in the circular that the objects of the'proposed board shall be: To stimulate and encourage those manufacturing industries already established, and. to create now trades, occupations, and employment. To establish , moro friendly relations between merchants, -traders, ..manufacturers, and every section of the great mmary producers in the Dominion. To establish direct relations with the Government of the day, so- that tlie best interests of all forms of enterprise and employment may be carefully safe-guarded, and the best and most economical methods provided for growth and expansion. To establish and maintain a bureau of information which shall collect and distribute statistics relating to British, foreign, .and Home-1 markets, _ latest market rates, and prices ruling in various parts of the world, for au primary products, also other items of value to th« producers, manufacturers, and merchants in the Dominion. To secure Government and financial support to the organisation which-snail entitle the Government to proper representation on the Bxec'ifcive Council. Tno organisation shall be in the fullest sense of the term, non-political.

The discovery of human remains has been made by workmen'engaged_ in excavating for a building on land just off Mountain Road, Mount Eden. About a week ago the skeleton of a woman was discovered in the same place. Last Saturday the workmen came across two skulls and leg and arm bones, apparently the remains of two men. The remains were found between two heavy rocks. The approach to_the_ rocks was hidden by sorub, and it is thought probable that the persons when alive must have crawled into the rocks for shelter, though how they met with their death there is no way of provinc. The bones were bleached and had evidently been lying' where, they were found for many yearß.

There are about 600-industrial unions in New Zealand which are concerned in the membership census now beinr taken by the Department of Labour. The returns should all have heen ''n hv January 31. bvt 70 are still outstanding. It is understood that in most cases the delav has been caused through secretaries being away on holiday. .

Commissioner Richards, formerly in charge of the Salvation Army in New Zealand,- and now in command in Canada, has made a great impression in that, country by his vigorous personality and ardent enthusiasm (writes p. correspondent). He recently paid his first visit to a Canadian prison, the Central, at Toronto, and . addressed several hundred men. According ,to the local Press'he "received a very hearty welcome from the 'boys.'" ,At Montreal, Frederricton, New Glasgow, Halifax, and other centres, the. Commissioner and Mrs. Richards have 6poken to crowded meetings.

-A line of fat cattle was trailed from the Weßt Coast of the South Island to Christchurch recent'y, but from all accounts the result of the transaction did not oome up to expectations as far as the . dealer was, concerned. The cattle were. a. prime lot, but the numerous tunnels on the railway and the passage 1 over the Otira Gorge militated against their arrival in' good condition in the City of the Plains. The'owner, besides reaching the Addington Yards with three head less. than he started with, was surprised to find that the bullocks did not realise the values anticipated,, and he is fiot disposed to again purchase ,fa.t cattle for. sale in outside markets. -

During the course of a discission at a meeting of the New Zealand Amateur -'Swimming Association last evening, a speaker, referring to the validity of the constitution of the centre, , made . certain chairges-respecting Mr. G. S.-. Hill's !position (l as| chairman. : The meeting went into committee; and on resuming announced that a resolution had been carried to the effect that the meeting has every.confidence.in Mr. G. S.'Hill. Notwithstanding this Mr. Hill tendered his resignation as chairman, but a motion was carried unanimously that the resignation be not accepted.

v Some months ago, says our Napier correspondents the Napier Borough Council, which a separate water supply for' the electrical powerhouse, mafo'unsuccessful attempts to obtain artesian water in-'the but after putting down a bore to a considerable depth, abandoned operations. Yesterday, acting on a-suggestion made by a reporter, Mr. C. H. Mills, water diviner, surveyed the locality, and discovered a running stream at a depth of 52ft. within about three chains or the power-' house. A.t .the next council meeting the Mayor .will ask the oouncil to sink a bore at the place indicated. Mr. Mills was taken over the route already tested and located water correctly each time.

The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) has received the following letter from the secretary'of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand:—"At a meeting of the executive of the National; Dairy Association 'of New Zealand, a resolution was passed expressing appreciation of the assistance given by you s and your Government in securing space for shipment of dairy produce during the present season. We feer certain that the opinion thus expressed the views of practically everyone interested in the dairy industry of the Dominion." A copy oftho' resolution was enolosed, reading as follows':—"That this meeting express its appreciation of the efforts put forth by the Prime Minister to secure refrigerated space - for tfce dairy produce of this Dominion, and whilst some unavoidable delay in shipments has occurred, are firmly of the opinion that, but for the action of the Government, the position would have been much more acute." The Prime Minister has also received a letter from the manager of_ the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, Christchurch, expressing appreciation of the efforts being made'by the Government to overcome the troubles now existent and stating that the local companies were meeting in conference with the object of assisting the Government as far as possible in the solution-of the problem. The letter expresses the hope that the persistent efforts of the Government will bear good fruit before long. '