LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3091, 23 May 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

On January 1 of this year there wore 833,238 men in Australia between the a"es of 18 and 45, which constitute tho recruiting limit. Of that total 378,129 are single men and 455,109 are married. Queensland holds tho unique position of being the only State wherein single men are more numerous than married men. The totals of eligible men in the various States are: Queensland. 126,400; New South AVales, 320,948; Victoria, 217,711; South Australia, 08.235; Western' .Australia, [!5.428; and Tasmania, 32,516. Deducting the total of 20,000 enlistments for the period from January 1 'to April 29. there are still 813,000 men from whom reinforcements could be drawn.

An accident of an unusual nature occurred in a local picture theatre last evening. A lady in the audience was rising frnin lmr sea! 1 , when fhe found Hint a Dart of her clothing was caught, and on her trying to free herself she feli over the sent and fractured a small hone in her thigh, and received 'bruises on the Tibs. .The injured woman, Jlrs. Mitchell. ?, "Rpgenl Street. Newtown, was admitted to Hie Hospital.

In the Police Court at Christch'n'*" restevdnr. Daniel Stevens, licensee of the Jfarine FTofel at Sumner, was fined forty shillings and costs for refusing to supply meals to two carters from T.yttelton at <U(1 at night.-Press Assn.

The Australian military authorities have siisp»ndcd for the nresent vear the recent rule that a foreign language should be.one of the subjects for the entrance examination at- the fjoynl Military College, Diintrnnn. The suspension implies also to changes in other branches of the examination. The new syllabus will come into operation next year..

Two lads recently indulged iir the boyish Drank nf throwing mud at a shop window in Tory Street, and immediately endeavoured tn sernpe awny the mn<t. Tn doing so they tore n curtain, and in the .Tuverile Court yesterday. befor« Jfi\ L. 0. Reid, S.M.. they were'ehawd with were ruilioncd and disebarged. and 'Ikm> piii-nnl-' were nt-iW'-l to iviv fn. ca-h towards the cosl of Hie eni'l.iin.

Rome boys have a wonderful capac-ilv for devising new and dangerous tonus of mischief, as was disclosed in the Jilvnile Court yesterday, before Air. 1,, '0. Tfeid, S.M. The allegation was that three boys wilfully nut oil on the Wndestown tramrails, thereby endangering |1 10 |j vns 0 f persons travelling in the trams. Tt was slnted that the action nf the hoys almost caused n runaway on .April 18. As only one of the boys was nrcsent the c<ikc was adjourned until to-morrow. .

We must liave here Kew Zealand's champion pessimist," says an Auckland oßieer, writing from Sling Camp. "An officer the other day wan endeavouring to instruct a very clumsy soldier in the art of bayonet-fighting. As the recruit continued to manipulate his bayonet very gingerly, the officer, in desperation, said: My dear mau, if that is the best you can do, you bad better write home and tell_ your people they'll never see you again.*. '1 have already done so, sir!' was the mild but unexpected reply. At a lecture on aeroplanes n p e were told a rather good story," the writer of the lettor continues. " "Tho Germans, last spring, were using a new type of aeroplane, of which the British authorities were anxious to obtain a specimen. At last one was shot down behind our lines, but ou the UTrival of the authorities they found the soldiers had already carried off the valuable prize piecemeal for souvenirs. ' Worse than that, the pilot happening to have 11 wooden eg; they 'hud cut the leg off and split this -up also for souvenirs. .Sounds tall—doesn't it?—but we had it on excellent authority, and, after all, it is just the kind of thing a number of soldiers would do."

Discussing the question of soldiers' pensions in Auckland, Mr. V. J. Lamer, chairman of tho Claims Board of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Belief Association, made a plea for more liberal payments to the mothers of men lulled in the war. Ho said v the minimum pension of 10s. a week, which was the allowance granted in quite a. number of cases, was too often inadequate for the needs of the recipients. Frequently the Claims Board found it necessary to supplement the smaller pensions by giving an equal and sometimes n larger sum to the mothers, ninny of whom were widows. If there were any direction iii which the Government might bo disposed to be ore liberal as regards pensions it was, ho considered, toward these mothers. Another point emphasised by Mr. Lamer was that many returned invalided soldiers seemed to overlook the fact that, in addition to themselves, their wives, and, in Borne eases, even their fathers, were entitled to apply for pensions. In several instances pensions had been obtained by dependants who were in ignorance of their rights until informed by the association, on whose recommendation they had applied to the Pensions Board.

Advice has been received by Air. Leon Cohenl the local secretary for Trimty Collcge of Music, London, that the practical examinations in connection with the college will be conducted throughout the Dominion by Mr. Charles Schilsky, who will arrive in Auckland hi about two months' time. Mr. Schilsky will be remembered as a violinist of distinction, who gave a very, fine performance in AVellington of the Max Bruch concerto in conjunction with the Professional Orchestra on the occasion of his previous visit.

The Salvation Army has accepted the tender of Messrs. Fletcher Bros., of Dunedin, to erect additions to the People's Palace (Upper Cuba Street), which will provide another 60 rooms in a threestoried Mock that will extend from the rear'of the palace to Crawford Avenue. The plans were prepared by Mr. Gray Xoung, of Wellington. *

I "Many confiding wives of soldiers do not take tho necessary steps to procure official recognition of their rights to allotments from their husbands' military pay," remarked Mr. V. J. Lamer, chairman of tho Relief Committee of tho Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association. He also quoted the case of a soldier's wife whom the committee had found to be in abject poverty through not knowing that she was entitled to a separation allowance. He urged that those who knew the fact should let others know that wives of soldiers were entitled to Is. a day from tho time their husbands went into camp, besides a further allowance of M. a day for each child. Mr. Lamer added that wives of soldiers, when in doubt, had only to apply at the office of the Patriotic Association, and advice and assistance would gladly be given. Some peculiarly sad cases come before the Relief Committee. One such was detailed by Mr. Lamer. It was that of a woman whose son is at the front. S'ho herself is very delicate; her husband is in the hospital for .the second time since the soldier son went away; another son is in noor health and only able to earn a trifling wage on a farm; and a daughter suffers from chest trouble and cannot work. Mr. Lamer said the doctors to whom the committee had been in the habit of sendin? soldiers' wives and dependants requiring their services were overworked and really unable to find time to attend to many of the cases. The committee _ would welcome volunteers from the medical profession who would be willing to assist in this work.

Residents of Karori have at times been troubled by stock wandering on to their land, and tho suggestion has often been made'.that tho fences were not in good repair. I'esterday, in the Magistrate's Court, Mrs. Emily Campion proceeded against S. Disley, milkman, to recover the sum of .£1 175., for damages alleged to have been caused by the defendant's cow trespassing on plaintiff's land. For the defence it was stated that plaintiffa fences were not secure, and the cow wandered on to the land. After hearing evidence, the Magistrate gave judgment for plaintiff for 215., and costs 14s. - Mr. O. 0. Mazongarb appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. P. W. Jackson for defendant.

On May 31 the peoplo_ of Petono are to tender to Mr. J. \V. fi'Ewan a complimentary social, and to make him a presentation which will commemorate his occupancy of the Petone Mayoralty for ton years. Among the public men who are expected to speak on the occasion of the presentation are the Mayors of Wellington and suburban boroughs, the cTiatrman of the Harbour Board (Mr. ,C. E. Daniel!), and Mr. K. Fletcher. M.P.

At the Returned Soldiers' Club tonight the champion cueist, Mr. George Gray, will give an exhibition of billiards, snooker, and fancy shote.

Some lads have discovered that "finding" golf balls on the Municipal Golf Links is rather profitable. It appears that the lads snatch up the balls at the links, and later retail them at 6d. each. By way of making an example of these young tradesmen a. prominent golf player proceeded against a nine-year-ofd fad in 'the Juvenile Court yesterday, before Mi'. J,. G. lieid, S.M.. for the theft of golf balls. Tho Magistrate warned the lad not to continue the practice, and dismissed the information.

A big improvement was noticeable yesterday in tho condition of Mr. Robert Bidwill, ' who was injured when his motor-cycle* overturned on the main road in Upper Hutt on Monday. Mr. Bidwill has regained consciousness.

A girl six years of age, daughter s of Mr. B. Tracy, of Cuba Street, was knock, ed over by tho Hospital motor ambulance as she was crossing Upper Cuba Street early yesterday afternoon. The ambulance Was going along at tho rear of a stationary tramcar, and when the tram started the child ran across the road and was knocked over by the ambulance, one of the back wheels of which passed over her leg and fractured it. The ambulance was empty at the time of the accident, and tho girl was removed to the Hospital.

The sufferings of tho .lews in Palestine at the hands of the Turks has made pitiable reading during: the last few days, and the Jewish residents in Wellington were quick to prepare-to afford relief to the oppressed people. The r!ev. H. Van Staveren is collecting money for a relief fund, and yesterday his collections amounted to J-MSO. Contributions from persons willing to assist this wortliy eause will be readily received. Last vear the Jews of Wellington sent a sum of iitOOO to the Russian and Polish Relief Funds.

At the meeting of the Karori Borough Council lost evening the Town Clerk reported that be had received oomplainta from residents with respect to the action of certain conductors of tramcurs. It seems that some of the conductors on arriving at the Cemetery stopping-place in the evening immediately turn tho trolley-pole, throwing the car into darkness, much l« the inconvenience and danger of the passengers who have not already alighted. There was also n complaint that the guard•rails.iyul side-step were let down before reaching the destination, forcing passengers to alight on the wrong side. The Town Clerk wrote to the tramway officials on tho subject, and was informed that the action of the conductors was against tho regulations, and the Town Cleik was asked to report, if possible, specific cases of such breaches.

In connection with the openiug of the Wellington Racing Club's ward .it Trenthain Camp on Friday, the P. 51.0. (Liout.-Colonel Andrews) will throw the whole of the hospitals open for inspection by the public during the day.

The sudden acquisition of wealth does not disturb "the even tenor of the way" of some peoplo (says the "I'ovcrty Bay Herald"). A Maori woman in Gisborne a day or two ago had over .£IOOO in notes tied in a silk handkerchief fastened to her waist. Until a pakeha friend called her attention to it some .£2O notes could be seen bulging out from the "wad." Another Maori woman had over JJI7O concealed in her clothing, and others had greater or lesser sums in their possession.

In a letter, Captain S. CI. Stringer has received from his brother in Lugland mention is made, of the fact that he had received word from a man named Steele', who is at present a prisoner of war in Turkey, and has been since the Gallipoli lighting. This deals with a practice in vogue in England, of which very little is heard here, that of adopting soldiers who are prisoners of war in Germany or Turkey and sending them a hamper every month. Captain Stringer's brother, his wife, and mint have' .altogether five "adopted" soldiers, to whom they send. a hamper each month. Unfortunately Captain Stringer has mislaid the letter from his brother, and the initials and rank of tho soldiers are not available. He, however, remembers that the man's name was Steele, and it is thought that his relative* reside in "Wellington. In his letter to Mr. Stringer the soldier said that he had received all the bumpers that had been forwarded to him at Christmas time and at other times. He also remarked that he was in good health. •

The Mayoress (Mrs. Luke) deeply resents the criticism of "Loyalty" in yesterday's Dominion of the dances that are tendered to the Reinforcements, and cannot understand what description oi soyalty could impel anyone to write such a letter. The dance on Saturday evening was thoroughly enjoyed by hundreds of men and their friends, who would probably carry the memory of a very jolly and happy evening with them wherever they went. Mrs. Luke does not see how participating in such a dance, or beiug concerned with its management, impugns anyone's loyalty, ns Hie correspondent infers. "The men thoroughly appreciate the dances," she added, "and always attend them in good numbers, because it enables them to have a pleasant evening with their next-of-kin—perhaps the last for some time, if not for all time—and as we keep them at the hall'until it is time for I hem to catch the train, the camp authorities have expressed appreciation of the manner in which the men return to camp." As to the cost of the entertainment, about which point "Loyalty" seemed worried, Mrs. Luke said that the whole cost was borne by the Mayor's Entertainment Committee—a committee of from 20 to 2t ladies—and not a penny came out of any public fund. The only gifts weve the use of the hall from the council, the butter from Mr. David Nathan, and the milk from tho Dairy Farmers' Association. If they wished to do so they could raise hundreds of pounds for such a purpose, as there were plenty of people who would give 2s. 6d. or ss. for an invitation, but that was what they wished to avoid. They desired to niako the dances a happy rounion between the soldiers and their relatives and friends. Returned soldiers, wearing' a, badge, wcro also welcomed. ••'When 1 read that letter,'.' said Mrs. Luke, "and had in mind all that these women had done, I thought, 'Well, what s tho use?' " .

A largo number of people visited Messrs. Alcock and Co.'s show rooms last night to see V. D. Kean play J. Stevens, and 11. E. Hatch play W. Tucker, the present chumpio'n. The first, at tho tables were Messrs. Scan and Stevens, and the latter managed to win an evenly-contested gamo by compiling a neat U unfinished. Xn the game between Tucker (owes 275) and Hatch (rec. 50) some exceptionally fine play was seen. The champion made one break of 123, free from any flukes. His other breaks were: 61, 27, 29, 34, 20,-28, 28, 53, 3t. This completes the first round, all tho winners of which now play in "A" seclion, and the losers in "B" section on the sudden-deatn principle. No further games will be played until after next week.

On May 25 and 26, 435 will be' given away in Wellington and I'etone, and on June 2 4115 will be distributed i the Wairarapa in sums of ss. or 10s. to those who on request can produce a Crippled Soldiers' Hostel 'AH Union ticket, stamped "Suratura D."*