LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2759, 1 May 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Australian mails-only are coming by the ltiverina, due at 9 o'clock this morning, from Sydney. By the Makura, duo at Auckland at daylight this morning, there is due an English and American mail, which, if the vessel arrives to time, should be in Wellington to-morrow morning. .

The Pacific Cable Board advises as under"Wcek-eml traffic to the United Kingdom is suspended for the prosent by the Atlantic Company. Messages can only be accepted as WW.P. and posted from Montreal. Will advise as to disposal of week-end traffic to date later."

It is stated in District Orders that from February 2, 1916, medical officers will be paid at Expeditionary Force rates of pay from tlie day they enter camp. A fi.ro caused considerable damage 111 a house in Majoribanks Street on Saturday evening. The house was a sevenroomed dwelling, owned and occupied by Mr. Joseph Cottrell, but the Firs Brigade confined tho outbreak to' one room, the contonts of which were badly damaged. Tho Standard Office lield a risk of £400 over the house. Tho fur. niture and. other effects were not insured.

"In such cases where accident or disease has caused a justifiable disability (the result of active service, military service, or climate, and due to causes beyond their own control), soldiers returning from active service will be certified to receive such dental treatment as may be deemed necessary to enable them to follow their ordinary civil avocations," state District Orders. The decision as to whether disability exists, and to what extent it should bo treated, rests with the Medical Board, acting in consultation with a dental surgeon appointed for that purpose. The dental surgeons so far appointed arc: "Mr. A. Hoby (Wellington), Mr. JR. G. Crawford (Gisborne), Dr. E.. H. Popo (Palnierston North), and Dr. Ziele (Napier). .

Regarding Cabinet's decision to grant tho wives of n.c.o.'s and men of tho Expeditionary Force an allowance or sixpence per day for each child' up to four, District Orders enumerates the following conditions: —(1) Children's allowance applies only to children of n.c.o.'s and privates of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force; (2), the rate is sixpence per day for each child under 16 years of a"e, with a maximum of 25.; (3) the allowance is retrospectivo to June 1, 1915, when separation (married) allowance' was granted, and is in addition thereto; (4) it covers married men who have been honourably discharged since that date; (5) also tho step-children of soldiers; (6) the allowance will bo paid to guardians of motherless children; (7) it is not payable for illegitimate children; (8) like tho saparation allowance, it is not payable beyond New Zealand, except to wives and children domiciled in New Zealand, but temporarily absent therefrom.

Sir. W. Fryday, of Ngahere, has received from the Commonwealth Defence Department the following letter referring to his son, Corporal J. Fryday, of the Australian Light Horse: — "I have much pleasure in 'forwarding the following extract from Army Corps Routino Orders, dated October 13, 1915, t issued by the General Officer Commanding Australian and New Zealand Army Corps: Complimentary— The Army Corps Commander has pleasure in publishing the name of the following n.c.o. which has been brought to his notice for good reconnaissance work —No. 413 Corpl. J. Fryday, 9tli Light Horse."

Owing to the wet weather last evening, the combined church parade of the Petono and the, Railway units of the National Reserve was abandoned.

During April, there were 36 births, 19 deaths, and 19 marriages, in Napier, as compared with 41 births, 13 deaths, and 22 marriages for the corresponding period of last year.

The taking over of the control of Fiji by New Zeajjind or Australia is favoured by many residents of the colony. A petition lias been circulated in Fiji advocating "annexation to Now Zealand or Australia as the considerations of Imperial and colonial policy in the Pacific may dictate." A public meeting was arranged for April 20, in the Town Hall, Suva, to further the objects of the petitioners.

Choose your hat fancy from best makes of British, Italian, and American manufacturers. Soft felt, smooth finish, at favourite prices, 7s. 6d., Bs. 6d., 9s. G(l., Ids. 6d„ to 25 s. Geo. Powlds, Ltd., Manners Street—Advt.

Wellington Grocers give ,£lO guarantee with eyery Is, - package, of No Rubbing

Recruiting at Napier and Hastings has, says our special correspondent, uliown a marked improvement during tho past two or three weeks, but it is understood that a large percentage of those who present themselves for medical examination are rejected. The percentage of medically lit is certainly less than it was some months ago.

The Hawke's Bay Amateur Boxing Association has decided that no exhibitions shall bo given during tho war, and, to suggest that members should (land their fees to some patriotic fund.

No bankruptcy has been reported in Wellington during the past month, There have been only four bankruptcies since the beginning of the present year.

It would hardly be expected that a packet sent at random for the comfort of any one of the millions of soldiers on tho several war fronts would roach a friend of tile seuder. This, however, is just what lias happened in regard to two Aucklanders (says the "Herald"). Some time ago Mr. T. E. Gooding, of. Messrs. Smith • and Caughey's staff, sent a sum of money to the Overseas Club for .its Tobacco Fund. In due course the corresponding number of packages of cigarettes were dispatched to tho fighting areas, with the name of the subscriber attached. It so happened that part of the consignment was assigned to SergeantMajor Leslie Hewitt, another member of Messrs. Smith and Caughey's staff now on activo service, who lias written to his old fellow-worker to inform him of the coincidence and thank him for his thoughtfulness.

During the nast four months fourteen bankruptcies were recorded in Napier, eight of tho bankrupts being Navives.

"There is a good deal being said here, and considerable dissatisfaction being caused owing to the manner in which commissions are now being granted in New Zealand," writes a member of the Expeditionary Force from the front to a friend in Auckland. "Out here there are men in the ranks who answered the nation's call at a time when they were supposed to be urgently required. They came. Now the laggards who waited back as long as they dare are having commissions made easy, and will come out liero to 'boss' these men. To say the very_least.it. hurts. Some fellows say it will be an honour to be a private soon. This is not an envious attack on anyone. It is the system we complain of. 'These young fellows are being granted' commissions, of which they .cannot be deprived without a court-martial, so generously that it has blocked the way to those men, who though as well educated and better equipped as a result of service, ardently k came away at the earliest opportunity in any capacity. Now they are rotibed of their chance of advancement by men who cannot have been very fervent. I can only hope I shall'have a chance of gaining other honour's than these so easily obtained and so .lightly bestowed."

Last year, for the first time, iron work was allowed as a subject for senior national scholarship examinations, but only five candidates in New Zealand took it, and those all hailed from Stratford. ■ Tlio marks they gained were very satisfactory, and arc well worth quoting: Burgess, 179; Muncly, 157; Henderson, 142; Deen, 142; Henry, 119 (120 marks constitute a pass). The boys wore trained by Mr. H. . Skolton. "f the Technical College, Now Plymouth.