LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2470, 25 May 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities advise that the s.s. Manuka, wnidh Is due from Svd,nay this morning, is hnnsing -iustrar lian mails only. The Prime Minister has bo'en notified tliSt the writ for a new election for tlf» Bay of 'Islands' seat can'iiow be issued 'as scrtin as the Governor's authority comes "to'iiand: ' This means that the writ-may now be issued at any ta-day or to-inorrow. Twelye shins all ins)jl>ft.pd sf» 011 their way to New Zealand to loaa meat for Army supplies. Following are tho vessels:—Rangatira, Paparoa, Kia Ora, Indrabarah, Athenic, La Blanca, Remuora, Opawa, Tongariro, Waiwera, Indrapura, and Somerset. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has received a communication from the Minister of Defence (the Hon. Jas. Allen) accepting with thanks the offer from tho city of a hospital, which offei' the Government will avail itself of if the demand warrants it. This means that the offer will remain' in abeyance pending definite news of the urgoncy for such extra hospital accommodation as tho city is prepared to provide. Reporting under date May 22, on •the health of tho troops at Samoa, Colonol Logan says the health of tho men is goad. Headquarters: Captain J. G. Roacho is convalescent. Infantry Battalion: Bugler H. J. Roberts has lymp'hranjitis; Privates T. G. Risk, colitis; G. F. Dunlop, ulcerated leg; W. Struthers, injury to back; and W. E. C. Ingram, tonsiiitis. All are doing well. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes has, says a Press Association telegram from Christchurch, received numerous offers from ladies willing to do household work in the hospitals, thus leaving tho staff froe to attend the nursing duties. He suggests that those wishing to volunteer should communicate with the matrons in the respective districts. Special praise was given to tho Riflo Club Reserve Corps after Sunday's parade, by Major Simm, officer commanding the Fifth Regiment. Major Simm remarked upon tho zeal which members of the corps had displayed in drilling, and preparing themselves for possible emergencies. Their parado that day, when 100 members attended, was ill greater strength than any other unit of the battalion. The military authorities appreciated very much the valuo of such a company as the Rifle Club Reserve. The corps expressed its appreciation of the services of the Pipe Band, which has turned out regularly to provide music for the marches. Cheers were given b,v the corps for the band, members cf which responded with cheers for the corps. The Coroner had intended to resume yesterday morning his inquiry into tho circumstances of the death of the five persons poisoned or asphyxiated by coal gas some weeks ago, but he was unable, owing to pressure of other business, to do so. The inquest has been, postponed until to-morrow morning. Says the annual report of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society:—"The Government has not yet issued any regulations to provide for the time when opossums can be killed, or the manner in which tliev may bo killed. We liavo urged the Government repeatedly to protect opossums in all non-fruitgrow-ing districts, and not to take off the protection until a humane way of killing is suggested. So far. nothing has been done; consequently, the opossums arc being slaughtered wholesale, and in many cases with greaty cruelty." There is no doubt (says the annual report of tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society) that many of the best heads are poached out of the stalking season, and that a steady traffic in mounted heads goes on, but owing to the many difficulties the society's ranger is unable to obtain conclusive evidence for a prosecution. At the first meeting of the newlvappointed Tramways Committee of tho City Council held yesterday afternoon the balance-sheet of the tramways and electric light- departments, with a special report attached by the auditor. Mr. A. T." Clarke, was submitted and it was decided that it should be printed. The finances for tho current year were considered carefully by the committee, and on this subject a report will be submitted to Thursday's meeting of the City Council. The receipts for the Zoo during April amounted to £127 7s. !Jii. (a record), as against £02 3s. 6d. for April of last year. From May 1 to May 18 the receipts amounted to £'.'!1 cw. il!; against CIO liis. !M. for the corresponding period of last yeav. Since April l sales amounting to li's. 9d. have been made. An inquest concerning the death of Mr. Geo. I'inuock, who "was killed in a lift, accident at tho Columbia. HoM en biturdaA' wil bnlfi ihis afternoon.

An interesting lecture on the early visits of the Rev. S. Marsden was delivered by the Key. fl. Hobday, of Brooklyn, to the members of the Wellington Branch of the Social Democratic Party last night. In concluding his remarks. the lecturer said the outstanding virtues of this pioneer were his great courage and common sense in handling so warlike a race as the Maoris were in those days. The annual conference of tho Executive Council of the Civil Service Association will be held during July. Recruits from section committees must be in the hands of the general secro tary by May 31. Umbrage being taken at what- wai deemed the unpatriotic wording of an advertisement of a Sunday evening lecture by tho Rev. Mr. Chappie at the Unitarian Church, saysa l'ress Associ-' ation telegram from Timaru, a largo hostile crowd assembled at tho hall. Acting on advice, the l'ev. Mr. Chappie did not appear, and the gates remained locked. Mr. Chappie is leaving to take up an American appointment shortly. A meeting of the representative citizens waited 011 Mr. John Roberts (Consular Agent for Italy) at Dunedin yesterday, and passed a resolution oxpressing great gratification and sincere appreciation at the decision of tho Italian nation in joining Great Britain and her Allies in the struggle for freedom of the world against German military despotism. On Saturday morning a meeting of the Red Cross Executive, consisting of three members representing St. John Ambulance and three tho Citizens' Military Hospital Guild, was held in tho Town Hall to consider matters in connection with the equipment of the Hospital Ship. There were present: The Mayoress, Mrs. J. P. Luko (convener), Lady Kelburn, Mrs. Preston, Mrs. Barltrop, Mrs. Moorhouso, and Miss Coat-en. It was decided that the Wellington Military Area should equip one hundred bods for the ship, tho work to comprise the furnishing of sheets, pillow-slips, blankets, quilts and rugs. For ttie patient's outfit there would he bed jackets (of different varieties to suit the different cases), pyjamas and bed socks. As soon as it is known what the full requirements will be, notices will be issued giving further particulars. An exceptional instance of patriotism has come to tho knowledge of tho Auckland "Star." It is that of Mr. Thomas Hunt, brother of Mrs. Watts, sour., of Morrinsville. Although seventy years of age, Mr. Hunt has left • for Sydney, 011 route /or England, with the intention of getting to tho front if possible. If he cannot get to the lighting line he will go to the ammunition works at Elswick, and try and get work there, so as to set free younger men for active service. Ho has relatives in Morpeth, which is not a great wav from Elswick. When war broke out in South Africa Mr. Hunt tried to enlist in New Zealand, but on account of advanced years —he was nearly sixty years then —he was not accepted; he therefore went to Sydney, and joined the "Sydney Bushmen." He served as doctor's orderly for a good -deal of the time, and was one of the party that was hemmed in by the Boers at Pands River. They were surprised by the enemy, and had to dig themselves in under fire; losing a number of their men and all their horses. For three weeks they were surrounded until relieved by the British, and during this time Mr. Hunt won the D.S.M. for hoisting a flag (improvised out of a red quilt) in the shelter they were using as a hospital, being exposed to the fire of tho enemy all the time. He was invalided homo during the war. but 011 recovery 110 again went to th©_ front, and joined a mounted corps. With the exception of being a little lamo, ho enjoys very good health, and is very keen in serving his country in tho present great crisis.

The formation of farmers' rifle club? continues, three applications for registration having been forwarded to the Farmers' Union executive since Thursday, says the Auckland "Star." There is a feeling, however, that- tho Defence Department is not as responsible as might bo tho case. Notifications of tho receipt of applications are extremely slow in coming forward, and it is probable that when he goes to Auckland' at an early date the Minister of Dofenco will be asked to receive a deputation on the matter. Tho farmers feel that their efforts to participate in preparations for home defence are deserving of a little more encouragement.

It is not generally known that when the two branches of the Empire's chief defenco forces are mentioned, the Navy should always precede the Army. The point cropped up at a conference of the New Zealand Veterans' Association when Colonel Stuart Newall drafted a resolution anent the present war (says tfo Auckland "Star"). He initially referred only to the Army and its Allies, then Captain Thomas Humphries pointed out that the Navy had been omitted. When the motion was read out again Major H. Lomax, of Wanganui, pointed out that tho Navy should precede tho Army, to which tho mover (Colonel Newall) at onco agreed. Another little known point alfeeting naval etiquette is that tho health ,of the King is always drunk sitting on'a British warship. This is said to be a. survival of the days of George IV, who, when dining on a man-o'-war, saw that tho 'tween deck space, "rcatlv lessened by the uso of huge oaken beams, was hardly sufficient for tho convenience of some of the taller members of the service, and then and tliero he decreed that tho health of tho Sovereign should be drunk sitting in tho Navy. A telegram received from Christcburch last night reads: —Mrs. Loach to-day received the following cablegram from Major Loach, from Cairo ing well. Received promotion." As Major Loach was under tho late Colonel jlacbean Stewart, Commander of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, Major Loach has no doubt been appointed to the command. ,