LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2693, 12 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The sickness which has occurred among the troops at Featherston Camp was mentioned by the Minister of Defence (the-Hon. J. Allen) yesterday. Tho matter, ho said, had been carefully examined, and neither with tho quality of the water nor the milk supply had anything wrong been found. The outbreak had fortunatly been a very mild one, a.nd out of perhaps 120 men who had been affected with the complaint 80 were about again in a day "or two. At the same time the medical authorities were adopting evary precaution in the matter.

A sitting of the Alien Enemies' Commission was held yesterday, Mr. J. \V. Poynton, S.M., presiding.- Twelve cases, which were referred to the commission by the Minister of Justice, wero dealt with, and a report thereon, together with a copy of tho evidence,' will be forwarded to the Minister.

A roturn compiled by the Official Assignee shows that tho number of bankruptcy petitions filed in the Wellington district by debtors durng 1915 was 99, compared wth 118 for 1914. The petitions filed by creditors numbered 10 and 17 respectively. Thirty-one discharges were granted last year, as against 2D in the previous twelve months. Tho assets realised by the assignee were:— 1915, £18,082; 1914, £25,455. The dividends paid were:—1015, £10,515; 1914, £10,(528. .

Being desirous of seeing tho whole of the Dominion represented at the War Fuittls Conference, to be held hero next week, tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has forwarded the following telegraphic message to the Mayor of Auckland: —"Regret exceedingly Auckland's intention not to be represented at War Funds Conference next week. Conference will be greatly strengthened and best interest of funds secured by attendance of yourself and other representatives from Auckland district. lour opinion that the Government are unnecessarily interfering with the funds can bo effectively, combatod by action or representatives froiii all parts of the Dominion.—Luke, Mayor."

While Mr. De Mey, of To Horo, has one son recuperating in England, after gcinfj through a trying ordeal in tho fighting line, his second son, Fabert, is in Cairo; at Hclmich camp. Writing in November to his parents, he says ho left Melbourno on September 27, arriving nt Suez exactly a. month later. Be, as a member of the Tenth Reinforcements (Australian), disembarked the following day, went on to Cairo by train, and then marched about eight miles to camp. Young De Moy states that lie has secured his bombardier's stripe.

At the monthly meeting of the Foatherstou County Council, Mr. H. F. Toogood, tho engineer engaged to report upon t.he bridge requirements on the Rinrataka road, advised that the seven bridges would cost* £4000. The council decided to tako steps to include road improvements in the proposals to preparo plans and estimates for submission to a Government commission.

Referring to tlio Mauricevillo lime deposits and the purchase of tlio limo works at Jlauriceville b.v the Farmers' Union, Mr. Nowman, M.P., speaking at Martoil yesterday, said that this was a

wise move, and if taken full advantage of by tlio farmers it would make a marvellous difference to tlieir crops. Ho was convinced, after his experiences at Dmisinanc, that nothing improved Rangitikci land for draining like limo, and lie put in a strong appeal for this now enterprise of tlio Farmers' Union — Spccial correspondent.

Something like a range in money belts for eoldicrs, 23. lid., 3s. Gd., ss. Od,, ss, IM.j «wke or buckle fasteners, Goo. FowkK Ltd.-Advt

Threo residents of Ngaio found on the Makara beach last Sunday a bottle containing the following message:— "11..M .N.Z.T. No. 37, January 9, 1016 — 100 miles out. Just losing sight of good old Maorilaiid, 6 p.m. To tho finder of this message: Please insert in N.Zv | papers, |Lady ' helps wanted badljf for five forlorn soldiers in 6tateroom 67. If not obtained within two days, we will get out and walk.' Good luck to you all—(Signed) Lance-CoVpl. W. Inder Marton-; Lance-Corpl. L. G. Emeus, Marton; Lance-Corpl. A. E. Dean, Yi'nipnkurau; Lance-Corpl. A. N. Tod, Stratford; Pto. 11. H. Rioharison, Nev< Plymouth. 10th Platoon, B Company, 9th Reinforcements." 'There were also enclosed threo notes from men on tho Maunganui to their friends and relatives. Five threepenny pieces and four stamps were sent to pay postage.

The sentiments of the Samonns who' were exiled by tho Germans and repalx l'iated by the Now Zealand Government have found! expression in the "Fetu Ao'* ("Morning Star"), a monthly paper tho Samoan language, printed in Apii by the Methodist Ohurcli in Samoa. Thtf Now Zealand Government agent in Sydney has forwarded to the Department? of Internal Affairs the following trans--, lation of a paragraph, from the "Fetu Ao" made by Dr. CJeoigo Brown, of' Gondon, Now South Wales: "I desire now to make known to all the people ol Samoa the great love of the Government of Nov; Zealand of our brethren (the' exiles). Not onlv have they brought theitf' back from tne land to which thej were exiled, but they lia\ e shown o great love to tliero. all the time thej *.'erc iu Sydney. Mr. Blow -(the New Zealand agent) has been very kind indeed. He it was who instructed Mr. Pratt, the Rev. Mr. Morley, of the London Missionary Society, and myself that wo should go and buv some clothes for the men, women, and children, for which the Government of New Zealand would pay." The article refers to further hospitalities, and concludes: Great thanks are due to all for the courtesy and love shown to our exiled brethren." It is stated that several of the chiefs died in exi'e. v

A personal inspection was recently made by tho Tramways Committee of tho City Council of the progress which is being made at the Newtown sheds with the construction of new tramcars. "Overcrowding has been much in evidence lately," said the Mayor at Thursday's meeting of the council, "mainly due to the perfect weather which baa prevailed. Tho committee found that new cars wero ready for the road, except for tho fact that tho air brakes,,ordered in England months ago, have not yet come to hand. The brakes should arrive soon, and then the cars will run immediately.' Now cars numbered 113 to 118 are being coiistruirtcd with all possible speed, but they ara being dekyed owing to the non-arrivaf of a special steel from the Old Country* This was also ordered months ago. So' the position is that eight new cars wili> be ready as soon, as the necessary ma/ terial arrives."

Mr. George Troup, president of the Boys' Institute, leceived a letter last evening from the Hon. G. W. Russol) (Minister of Public Health) with regard to his remarks regarding free hatha for soldiers at the institute at the opening ceremony last Tuesday evening, 'trie Minister proposes that a tally of the soldiers who visit tho baths during the hours for men be kept and forwarded to liim weekly. Incidentally the Minister mentions iu his letter'that he intended to see Mr. Wnt. Ferguson (tho chairman of the AVar Relief Asso< ciation) about the matter later. 1

The following appointments have been made by the Wellington Education Board:—Home scionce, Miss L. Wilson, Miss E. W. Thornton; Rongokokako, head Wacher, Mr. K, M'Kenzio; Newman, liead teacher, Mr. F. Howell j Fernridge, head teacher, Mr. F. L. Combs; Waikanae, head, teacher, Miss S. Letham (during war); Muhunoa East, solo teacher, Mrs. E. J. Arcus; Khandallah, assistant, -Miss 1). Hag" gett; Eastern Hutt, assistants, Miss D. Hurroll and Miss C. J. Doukin; Upper Hutt, assistant, Mr. M'Caw, on military service, promoted, and to re» lievo during Mr. M'Caw's absence, Misa Boyd; Upper Hutt, assistant, Miss C. Thompson; Pirinoa, sole teacher, Miss 0. Preece; Rosencath, assistant, Miss E. P. Hobday; Muritai, assistant, Miss V. Roughton; Porirua, assistant, Miss B. Waters; Worker Bay, assistant, Misa R Pettigrow; Greytown, assistant, Misa D Simpson; Brooklyn, assistant, Mr.' J. T. Linchan; Te Aro, assistant, Mrs.HarKroaves; Terraoe, assistant, Mr. A. A. Kirk; Levin, assistant, Mr. J. Connor; Levin, secondary assistant, Miss W. Cathie; Nireaha, head teacher, Mr. G. T. Hall.

At the Boys' Institute on Thursday Mr. Charles Lansdowne was presented with the Eoyal Humane Society's certificate for life-saving. This is the third certificate (as well as a medal) that Mr. Lansdowno has received from the society. He is reputed to have saved no fewer than twenty lives in England and New Zealand.

Leaving as qimrt-er-master-sergeani with No. 5 Company, N.Z.A.S.C., is the well-known Rugby player, Mr. G. Luoni, who lias represented the Athletic Football Club in its senior grade for the last few years, and also a member of the present Rugby Union Management Committee.

At the Lower Hutfc Court yesterday* before Messrs. W. 0. James and G. A. Chapman, J.P.'s. Frederick Butterworth, on two charges of stealing bicycles, was convicted: and. fined l 40s. on each charge, with 10s. witnesses' expenses, default being fixed at sevtf" , days' imprisonment. y