LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2998, 8 February 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho Hon. J. Allen has received information that tho Twentieth and Twenty-first Reinforcements havo arrived safely at certain ports,—Press Association Tho following telegram, dated February % lias been received from tho Administrator, Samoa:—"l 9/39 Pte. Chamberlain is suffering from appendicitis; 19/395 l'tc. Cooney from debility; 19/83 Pto. Fitzgerald: from cellulitis. All are progressing favourably." The mobilisation of the Twenty-sixth Reinforeoments was continued -yesterday, and will proceed day by day during tho wnelc. Tho Auckland men reached camp yesterday, and tlio Canterbury men are duo to-day. Tho draft includes both volunteers and balloted men. The ballot for recruits to complete the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Reinforcements, duo to be mobilised in Maroh. and April, was completed on Tuesday evening. Tho names of the selected Reservists of the First Division will 1)0 issued in a special number of tho Gazette during the next few days, probably on Monday. Tlie Government Statistician recoiral on tho eve of the ballot many communications from men who wished their names to bo starred in the roll, in recognition of the fact that they had volunteered for service and had been rejected. It was impossible to deal with all the letters in the time available Volunteers who wish tlioir names to be starred, and wlui havo. not already forwarded tlioir proofs of enlistment to tho fiovornment Statistician, should solid them in at oTico. If they wait until another ballot is nearly duo they may be disappointod.

It wan announced yesterday that the Labour Department will take, action against tbo miners who went on strike recently at Blackball. The miners stopped work in connection with a demand ffcot bin boys should bo paid fot time'they bad lost through not being fully employed, while the company olaimed that the usual practice- was to pay only for actual time worked. During tho pony jumping competition at the .fc'eilding show yesterday a lad named Willio Baker was thrown from his pony when negotiating one of the jumps, and sustained concussion of tho brain. Hβ was taken to tho Palmerston Hospital. H is perhaps not generally known that each lemonade and soda water bottle imported iu:o tho Dominion costs, ojd. That may a.ppear to bo curious in view of tho fact, that they may be purchased for 2d. or yd. (as tho case may be) filled with aerated water. Tho fact remains that all such patent bottles (with the marble in the neck) now cost the aerated water manufacturer ss. (id. per dozen, and return of the bottles or tho cost of them, is henig enforced. Tho best bottles of the kind aro English. Makes of the kind from Germany, Japan, and elsewhero have been tried, but none of them come \ip to the English bottle when the pressure test is applied, v.-hich is a consoling tiling from lys viewpoint of national trade. There is money in bottles just now. Ordinary quart ale bottles can be sold for Is. 3d. per dozen, and pints for a little less, and the hawkers—Hindus most of them— who offor a trifle tu be allowed to lift all the "empties" off the premises must be reaping a harvest. From an American who was recently engaged in airship construction near London, and was in.'that city during several Zeppelin raids, the "Scientific American" has gathered the following particulars of the method by which one of the Zeppelins was destroyed. The attacking aeroplane carried suspended at a suitable distance below it a light grappling iron, for engaging and tearing tho envelope of the Zeppelin. On tho grappling iron was mounted an electrical ignition device connected bj cable with, a switch placed near the aeroplane pilot. In the case when this device was successfully used, London had amplo notice of the approach of the enemy, and tho aviators- had time to rise to sufficient height for a swooping attack on the dirigible. The exploding deviso was drawn successfully across the envelope, ripping it open so that the liberated gas could he ignited by the ssarlc. A Swiss farmer, and his man! took a bull into Manaia, Taranaki, last week for tho purpose of entering him in the saloyard. A piece of sacking had. been tied over the eyes of the animal, apparently with the intention of making the task of driving him the loss difficult. It had, however, an entirely different effect on the animal. Whilebeing driven through the stock routes, at tho rear of the saleyards, he became frenzied, smashed his way through a stout fence, broke through' into another section, a man who was working close to the fence heing knocked down and l badly gashed about the legs by barbed wire. After much labour ho was driven into the saleyard, hut at once rushed at a high boxthorn fence, and after hanging over tbo top of it for a second or two, frantically shook himself clear and rolled over into the next paddock, he raged and bellowod, and 1 was given tho field to himself. Further management of tho infuriated beast being hopeless, the owner was glad to accept a "fiver," tho offer of an enterprising dealer, which was considered about, a third of its value. Later in tho afternoon a'coupleof mounted men armed with stockwhips lot the animal loose with tho bamlttge off his eyes and - provided a kiiiili of Wild West show for those in tho vicinity of the salej'ards. Employers and employees in the typographical trado will meet in conference on Katurday, under the chairmanship of Mr. W. flaggar, Conciliation, Commissioner. Tho dispute has boon considered in tho various local centres, and tho conference will bo a contiuuanco of tho Dominion conference recommended by the Arbitration Court. It will considor recommendations and attempt to ficcuro a settlement on a Dominion basis. -Residents of Oriental Bay complain of an obnoxious smell caused by the stagnant water which accumulates within tbo outer wall of the band rotunda site, in combination with Urn* street sweepings that are being used to reclaim the area , mentioned. Those who reside- immediately opposite tlm locality say that on a warm day tho .stencfi ETint arises from tho s]x>t named is very offensive, and suggest that the corporation should lost ii« time in filling in tho rotunda site with tioau spoil. The public are given a further reminder that the municipal r=»]l to be used in Elx<. elections tint .ire k> take place in Wellington in April closes on February 15. Tho roll siiiiy now bo inspected in tho Town Ual'l, in special offices built under the eastern gallery. The members of iho liimyl of Trado will lcavo for Gisborno to-day to investigate conditions connected with tbo retail sale of incut in that centre. H has boon represented to them that Gisboriu: pcoplo cannot secure ' adequate supplies of meat at reasonable prices, and application has been inado for tho extension to tlm town of tho scheme recently adopted in. Auckland, whoro the sale of meat supplied from tho freezing works at Iniporial prices is being undertaken, under tho direction of the Board of Trade. Several centres in addition to Gisbomo are anxious fo secure supplies of meat on similar terms, and tho Board of Trade will consider their claims as time permits. Quite a pleasant atmosphere permeated tho sittings of tho Appeal Board, at Hawcm one <lay last week, A fine stamp of a young fellow was called, who had appealed! on all grounds. Ho cheerfully admitted in a brogue, that proclaimed his nationality that he did not object because he was not a reservist, nor because he was a religious objector. "Then, ,, remarked the chairman, "what aro the grounds of tho hardship?" "Ivo hardship at all," was tho astonishing reply. 'Tin ready to go to light any time I'm wanted." ''Then go to Major Cox," saict the chairman ; "you're tho man he wants." Appellant went gleefully to tho Major, who told.him to come up for medical examination on Tuesday, appellant remarking that /it would bo » day out. As he left the Court someone, volunteered the information that ho had eleven brothers at tho front. M'lio death of Mr. Martin Kennedy last year resulted in Mr. R. W. Kane being temporarily appointed by the Board of Direct-ore of the Bank of New Zealand to fill the vaoanoy as one of the shareholders' representatives. The appointment held good till such time as an appeal could be mado to tho shareholders at tho half-yearly meeting in June. In the meantime shareholders wore circularised, notifying them of tho appointment, and intimating that nominations to lill tho vacancy permanently had to be made, in accordance with tho Bank's Deed of Settlement, by January 31. As there has been no opposition to Mr. Kane's candidature he will continue to occupy the position tilj March 31, hut tho official declaration of his election cannot bo mado until the meeting of shareholders in Juno. We enjoy selling "No l?uM>ing" Laundry Help so much that wo have decided to givo the "Thinker's Notebook" free with ovory Is. package of tho genuine "No Rubbing." Wellington Grocers.— Adv-t. '

The Patent Slip Commission, consisting of Mr.. W. (■■. .Riddoll, S.M., and Mr. W. J. Roche, Jjoiver Hutt Borough "Engineer, held a short sitting yesterday in Mr. Riddell's room. Mr. M. Myers, representing the Patent Slip Company, Mr. J. O'Shea, representing tho City Corporation, and Mr. 'J'. S. Weston, representing tho the Harbour Board were present. It was explained that the parties were likely to conio ■Co some arrangement which would' simplify the work of tho Commission, and an adjournment of fbe sitting of tho rbmmission until February 15 was■ ar-i ranged. ■ Tho Taumarunui Borough Council on Monday night set up a committee to make inquiries regarding starting a municipal bakery; also to call on the Government to establish refrigerating stores at Te Awainutu, To Kuiti, and Taumarunui, to send meat and tisli by rail for country consumption, charging the local butchers Government prices; and to inquire about starting a municipal milk supply with a view to reuiicing the cost of living.—Press Association. A Press Association message.. from j'unedin states that 31 r. Crabtree, of niigland, has accepted the offer of the Fanciers' Club to judge dogs at their championship show in July. Speculation is already rife as to who will be the candidates for the Hawke's Bay .scat, so lately rendered vacant by the death of the Hon. Dr. ii' Nab (says the "Hawke's Bay Herald"). It is understood that Sir John Findlay has been asked on behalf of the Liberal League to consent to nomination, and is considering the position, while there aru some forming a not insignificant section of the party who consider that tho party choice should fall on a local candidate. Mr. A. E. Jull's name has also been mentioned, and it would appear that if ho consented to olfer himself lie would receive strong support. In view of- the compact between the party leaders when the National Government was formed it is not considered likely that there will bo an election, but it is impossible to forecast tho happenings of the next few days. A meeting of the Hawke's Bay Liberal League has been convened f-or Thursday evening next, when possibly there will bo some definite In the same connection the "Telegraph' states: We are requested by the chairman of ihc Reform League for. the Hawke's Bay electorate division to state that, on advice from tho ActingPrime Minister (the Hon. J. Allen) no steps will he taken regarding the selection of a candidate for the now vacant Hawke's Bay seat, until the Right Hon. Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have been consulted, and, further, that in view of the war, it is most desirable no party contests should take place. The Industrial Efficiency Board has presented its report to tho Hon. J. Allen, and it will come before Cabinet in a few days. The report deals in a very comprehensive manner with the organisation of industry and the iusiness att'airs of men going away, postwar problems, industry after the war, and other matters.—(Press Association.)