LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2733, 30 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A rumour has been current that some of New Zealand troops have been in action, and that some' units have suffered severely. In reply to an in-, t|uiry on the subject yesterday the Prime Minister said that the rumour was without foundation, and that no such news had come to the New Zealand Government.

The Otaumauri Settlement, 6887 acres, divided into fifteen sections, situated behind the Sherenden Estate in Hawke's Bay, has just been thrown open for selection. One hundred and three persons applied, including four discharged soldiers and six men on active service. All the sections were disposed of. Among the successful applicants were three members of the Expeditionary Force,

Passengers by the Maitai from Sydney yosterday included eight seamen who left New Zealand on the outbreak of war as members of the crew of H.M.S. Pyramus. The men, who joined tho vessel in Now Zealand, have been replaced by men from 'the imperial Navy, and have been paid! off. They have had some trying experiences on active service, but all have returned in good health.

TJie hell which hangs over the labourengagement office on tho Wellington wharves was the subject of brief mention at last evening's meoting of the Wellington Harbour Board. The chairman said that a young man had called oil him, and stated that he was the son of a former owper of the Coromandel, from which the bell was taken, and that he would like to have the bell, and was willing to replace it with one of equal value. On the motion of Mr. R. Fletcher, who considered the board would perform a gracious act by granting tho request, the young man's wish was acceded to. The chairman of the board (Mr. 0. E. Daniell) remarked that the Coromandel was 6unk in Wellington Harbour in 1896, and remained there for two years.

The Technical College will be closed until Monday next for the purposes of a thorough disinfection. This app'ies to the rooms in the Y.M.C.A. buildiug and those in Lower Cuba Street, as well as to tlie school premises in Mercer and Wakefield Streets.

Owing to tlie pa cade of tho Eleventh Reinforcements on Saturday, the Salvation Army has decided to abandon the procession which had been arranged in connection with its congress. As jsome six bands are in town for' this and the other festivals of the Army's Congress, Commissioner Hodder has offered them to the military authorities to participate in the military parade, and thus add to the brightness of the mafch. This has been gratefully accepted. The Salvation Army Hands participating will be: Christchurch, Feilding, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Wellington City, and Wellington South. .

Last evening the Wellington Harbour Board agreed to the proposed increases 'in the wages and salaries of its staff. A ballot extending over two days— Tuesday and yesterday— was taken by the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union, to elect three representatives to the Disputes Committee—a committee of workers'-and employers set up by the last conference to consider disputes. The ballot closed last evening, and the result was the election of Messrs. L. Glover, G. H. Gray, and James Roberts. Mr. H. H. Simmonds was elected emergency.

- The formation of i a New Zealand Division at the front has opened the way for promotion for a greater number of officers than would otherwise have been able to get higher rank. Speaking on the subject yesterday, the Defence Minister said that the creation of new commands had opened tho door to promotion for. certain of tlie higher officers. It would also probably mean more promotions to commissioned rank at the front, but it would not mean that more officers would be sent' forward from here. Tlie experienced officers now on service would be distributed through the division in the various new commands.

The Premier of South Australia has announced that it had bcc-n decided to issue a circular with reference to enemy subjects and employment in the Public Service, and it was similar to the Federal regulation. The new circular informed Ministers of the Crown and heads of Departments that no person cf enemy origin must be employed in the Public Service. The expression, "persons of enemy origin," Was "to cover a person who was now or had at any tinie been the subject of a State with which tho United Kingdom was at war, even if naturalised, and the wife of any such person,' but not a widow. The order was not' to be interpreted as requiring the dismissal of any person now employed. In the March examinations for professional land surveyor, conducted by the Federated Boards of Now Zealand and Australia, which has just concluded, ten -candidates presented themselves, of whom three passed, namely, Messrs. T. D. M'Lcan, of Greymouth, F. R. Smalo, of Hamilton, and S. A. Fendall, of Auckland. The Patent Slip question was again before the Harbour Board lnst'everfing, and it was decided to ask the ■ Slip Company to proceed with tho work of making a second Slip. Mr. Asluncad Bartlett will be the chief guest and speaker at the New Zealand Club's luncheon on Tuesday, April 11. Petrol motor traction is advancing ty leaps and, bounds-throughout tho Dominion, and tho forward orders for English motor vehicles at present in tho hnndj of the local Dominion Motor Vehicles, Ltd., are piled up, and now represent a capital valuo ot many thousands of pounds. The difficulty of deliveries is a most seri-' ous factor, and wliilo we thank our mauy customers for their patience and willingness to wait, we recognise that business iniist go on; Wo have, therefore, secured control of absolutely the finest Standard American Motor Lorry, and have new oil show a 2/3-ton vehicle, with every possible equipment, and designed for heavy roads and rough work. Wo invite innpecion by all our present clients and int6iidiilg purchasers. Tlie Puminiflii Motor Vehicles Ltd., 65 Courtenay Piace, Advt.

At tlie meeting of the • Lower Huti Improvement and Beautifying Society, held last evening, Mr. E. P. Bunny stated'that many, people were unawaro of the existence of motor buses at the Hutt, and were, also ignorant of the fact that the borough i'as provided with drainage, and had a water supply. , It was arranged yesterday that tho : Foxton Harbour Commission should hold its first business sitting at Foxton on May 19.' The inquiry will be open to the Press. The Commission consists nf the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), Mr. Cyrus "Williams (secretary of the Lyttelton Harbour Board), and Mr.W. i\l. Hannay (lafe manager of the Manawatu Railway Company). Mr. W. H. Cooker is the secretary. Chaplain Captain Angus Macdonald,who has lately returned from the front, and who goes out with the 11th Reinforcements, has been persuaded to givo a lecture on "The Stricken in War." Tho lecture will be given in tho COll- - cert Chamber of the Town Hall on Friday evening, Sir Wm. Hall-Jones being ill tho chair, and while no charge is being made for admission, a collection in aid of tho sick and wounded soldiers will be taken up. Chaplain Macdonald will only bo one night in Wellington, so that he will bo unable to repeat the lecture. Macdonald" is an old Imperial officer, and he has |jot> ■ spared himself in his devoted work Bmongst the New Zealand soldiers in the Cairo 'hospitals. The Wellington Harbour Board has received several compliments oh its latest year-book. Amongst these is from Sir Thos. Mackenzie, New Zealand's High Commissioner. In'acknowledging receipt of the book, Sir Thomas remarked that "Wellington is the finest, and best managed harbour with which I have ever had anything to do." _ Mr. Malcolm Fraser, State Statistician, wrote that the volume contained a wealth of information which lii£ office found very useful, and said that the information had been very clearly 6et out by the secretary. Mr. 31. Cohen 6aid that a friend of his in Shanghai had written in very complimentary terms of the compilation, and had remarked that he was surprised at the growth of trade at this port. Mr. J. Huxham (Assistant Home Secretary for Queensland) announced on March 21 that plans are now in course of preparation in respcot of the three State hotels proposed respecting- for Mount Cuthbort, Mount Johnston, and Babinda. The Minister said that the three hotels would cost something in the vicinity of £50,000. In justification for the apparently large expenditure, Mr. Huxham pointed out that the sale of liquor would be a very secondary mat- . ter, and that the main provision would be for accommodation. This will bo provided on as suitable lines as possible, both as regards board and lodging.. "At Babinda, for instance," said the Minister, "we will provide accommodation for 100 men."

Bernard Shaw.after listening .to the rendition of the Dead March in ' oaul, played by a Salvation Army Band, wrote to this effect: "I have this day listened with surprise and pleasure to an interpretation of the Dead March in 'Saul,' such as has not been given since it was conducted by Handel himself. The massed Salvation Array Bands are to play this .item on Sunday evening next at the memorial to fallen soldiers in the Town Hall.