LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3115, 20 June 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho directors of tho Wellington Bowling Club, iu their annual report, state that they liavo purchased 22 feet frontago of land from the pavilion to Aro Street, at tho price of MQti, and also tho triangular piece of ground at the corner of Oliiro Road, for .£350. These purchases should (tho directors say) he very advantageous to tho future -welfare and prospority of tho club.

A full meeting of tbo Executive tommitteo of the Wellington branch, of the New Zoalaud Sports Protection League was held at tho league's office yestorday afternoon, Mr. C. P. Skcrrctt, IC.C, being in tho chair. The question of Sunday play on tho Municipal Golf Links was discussed, and tho following resolution adopted:—"That this branch actively oppose tho steps which the Wellington City Council propose to take of asking Parliament for statutory authority the object of which is to prohibit tho playing of golf on citizens' reserves on Sundays; and that this resolution bo 1 forwarded to tho Board of Control." The principle on which this resolution is based, is that it is unjust to -probib.it tho playing of golf on citizens' reserves on Suuday when tho gamo is played on other golf courses on that day, and that it is for tho individual citizen to judge Vhother lie ought or ought not to play golf on Sundays, and no public body ought to interfere with this reasonablo liberty of action.

During tho present year Departmental heads in tho Government • service have been so hard pressed for competent officers that many have appealed with success to retired officers to Teturn to work. Here and there, throughout the Departmental Buildings, faces which had been absent for some years may be seen over the desks, plodding once moro at the work which they had imagined they would never have to nndertako again. Indeed thero aTO cases on record where members of tho Publio Service, who have, .retired on superannuation whilst holding positions of responsibility, earned by their efficiency and experience, have accepted work in a much more humble capacity in. the same Department in which they were formerly highly placed.

Councillor M. I\ Luckie has given notice that ho will move at the next meeting of the City Council to rescind the motion passed at the last meeting, viz.: "That tho council take tho necessary steps to invoke Parliament to give them power to make by-laws giving them tho control of their reserves on Sundays." Referring to this notice of motion yesterday, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said that he could not imagine why any councillor should not desire the council to havo control of its reserves on Sundays as at all times. Tho motion, that was passed by • tho council laid down a broad principle that the reserves should bo controlled by the council on Sunday as on week days. At present it appeared from the judgment of the Court that anyone could go and play football or cricket on the Basin Reserve on Sunday without the permission of anyone, but few, he ventured to believe, would consider it right or proper for a football match to be played there whilst divine service was being held at St. Mark's and St. Joseph's Churches on a Sunday morning. There was no mention of golf in the motion passed by the council, and ho did not hold that gaining the power to make by-laws to control the reserves on Sunday need necessarily mean the prohibition of Sunday golf on the municipal links. It might mean the setting out of certain hours of the day during which golf could not be played, but that, he believed, would not be objected to even by those people who played golf on Sunday. However, it. would be seen how the council viewed the matter when Mr. Luckie's motion came before them at the next meeting. The rock oyster business has developed enormously since the Government took over control of the beds, and the picking from them of oysters in tho season. The Minister of Marine, whose Department has charge of this trading venture of the Government, stated yesterday that in the first six weeks of the season no fewer than 3G47 bags had been' sold by the Department in Auckland and the adjoining district, returning to the Department the sum of £2342 lf>s. Mr. Russell said that the demand had been so great that tho Department had most reluctantly to adopt' a go-slow policy for the re3t of the season, in order, not to deplete the beds unduly. The price of tho oysters would not, however, be raised.

The Commercial Travellers' Association lias collected from its members a sum of d&lfl in aid of the widow and family of the late Mr. Wm. P. Fitzgerald, who was killed through the falling of a brick wall on his property at Boseneath during the storm ou Saturday niglit.

Yesterday afternoon at the Magistrate's Court, Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M.,' continued the hearing of the case brought by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company,. Ltd., represented by Mr. M. Myers, against tho HuddartParker Company, for whom Mr. A. W. Blair appeared, claiming a sum of =£96 10s. Id., being the value of 60 sacks of nitrate of soda shipped by one of the company's vessels for delivery at Wellington, and alleged not to have been delivered. The case for the defence wa9 opened, and one- witness was called, when tliß case was further adjourned till this morning.

"Lack of efficient and adequate staff bas rendered it necessary for tho public servant at homo to shoulder the common burden of extra duties which is falling upon most business men in the Dominion," states'the annual report of the Public Service. Association, "and we are pleased that it has been clearly shown that public sen-ants hove been to tho foro in cheerfully accepting that burden as tho least they could do. Each month tlio tax on the man left behind will-be greater, and wo are satisfied that the honour of tho service will continuo to be upheld. The .Public Service Commissioner has undoubtedly had In exercise his utmost resource to supply stall to fill tho temporary vacancies, and it is considered that he has indeed done well. These stall changes have no doubt Tendered it difficult to effect reorganisations, extension of activities, and improvements which, may havo been in mind, and.consequently, with some minor exceptions, these matters have, of necessity, to await the return of normal conditions. It is difficult to see how it could be otherwise" •

Carry on! You will do your work more cheerfully and successfully if you drink an occasional cup of Desert Gold, the Queen of Teas! No other beverage 18 so delicious and refreshing-no other tea is so economical. Tho 29.. grade is. very rich and full-flavoured-it is the choice of ladies who seek Lost quality and value. Order from your grocer.—Advt.

AV.F.C.A. cannot he lxithored with inferior gunlily goods; only tho best find favour "with them( honco their enthusiasm for "No Rubbing" Laundry Help. Thinkor Note Book given free with every le. packet of "No Rubbing."—Advt.

At tho outcome ef an appeal by Mr ( (i. B. Smit'h-Bewse (British Consul in Tonga), a sum of nearly J3OAO has been collected from tho Tongans as a donation towards tho Lord Kitchener Memorial Fund. This appeal is still beforo the community, and it is certain that well over JC3OOO will ho handed in.

At the pedigree slock sale to ho held during the Palmerston North show tho Rongokokako Cheese Company, of Eketahunn, are selling a pedigree Ayrshire Bull, Netherton MacNeilage. This bull was donated to tkoTaetory by Messrs. Clements and Sons, of England, ahout fivo yeaTS ago, and conies from tho best strain of Scottisli stock. His dam, Glassock Nollio 11, as a quoy, gave 955 gallons of 3.5J- butter-fat. Her dam gained first prize at Fenwick show with a record of 1200 gallons of 3.92 per cent. Tho directors have decided to donate the net proceeds of the sale to the Y.M.C.A. Trench Comforts Fund.

Tho Public Service Appeal Board, consisting of Messrs. Peter Barr (chairman), ,T. H. Richardson, and H. L. Slyfield. (elected member), will bo sitting tho wholo of tho present week in tho Accountants' Chambers, .Tohnsfcoa Streot. At present thoy are hearing appeals against appointments in tho Post, and Telegraph Department.

Tho hardship entailed by tho ballot call being mado before any kipd of authoritative medical inspection is mads bears equally on members of tho First Division as it will later on on tho members of tho Second Division. A. case iiv point has been brought under our notice, doubtless one of many, that indicates tho ftbsenco of consideration for ' tho affaire of any man who is called up. Ono middle-aged man, with largo business interests in Wellington, was called up in the last ballot, and had to be prepared to go into camp next week. With little timo to mako his arrangements ho arranged for a man to come over from Sydney. That man, with his wife, arrived in time to, learn that tho man, whoso business interests ho was to at: tend to had been "turned down" by tho medical authorities. Now it is incumbent upon tho latter to find employment for tho man who camo from Sydney. Tho business man in question points out that had the members of the First Division been accordeti tho privilege of an early medical examination (which tho Second Division is now clamouring for) such a contretemps could not havo occurred.

There have arrived in Apia, Samoa, two distinguished young representatives of the University of Upsala—tho oldest institution of its kind in Sweden—in tho persons of Dr.Sixt.4 Beck and Dr. Christian Hossle, whose object is to make a comprehensive investigation of marine animal lifo in.the Pacific. They proposo to visit tho Ellico, Gilbert, and Phoenix Islands, and it is probable that, subsequently, they will direct their course, already long and serpentine in shapo since they left their homeland, for the Great Barrier Reef. Their mission carries with it tho imprimatur of tho museum authorities of Sweden, who havo lent them practical .is well as sympathetic aid.

Tho statement mado some -weeks ago by tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister in Charge of the Discharged Soldiers''lnformation 'Department, regarding tho measures to be taken by the Government to deal with tho problem of demobilisation at the conclusion of hostilities, has been reprinted by the Department for issue in pamphlet form. It is a booklet containing very much valuable information, which will be of use in the future.

Tho following temporary appointments have been approved by the Camp Commandant at Trenthnm:—Commandants Office: Ptes. C. Jordan, J. It. M. Burrell, M. H. Pennycuick, and J. R. Samson, to be corporals. A.S.C. (Supply Depot Establishment): Pte. A. H. Palmer, to be corporal. 33rd Reinforcements: Ptes. J. Burns, C. Chesnutt, N. G. Saunders, and T. H. Wilson, to be corporals.

A movement, started by His Worship I the Mayor, to provide. somo benefit for ' the widow and seven children of. the. lato Mr. W. P. Fitzgerald, who fas accidentally killed by a fall' of earth at Eoseneath during last Saturday's storm, lias been generously taken np by a strong local committee, who havo decided to hold a 'popular concert by tho leading local artists in the large Town Hall, on Tuesday next, at 8 p.m. The sub-com-mittees necessary for- the successful carrying out of this scheme were formed last ovening, under the joint-secretary-ship of Messrs. Carlton and PhippsWilliams, who intend distributing tho tickets for this very deserving case, to the various shopkeepers. The committee have unanimously resolved that the gross proceeds bo handed over, which will doubtless be an mcenfive Si the general public to accord, this concert their generous support.

"People seem to think that I said all the Church of England 'clergymen are •weeds/" remarked Mr. H. W. Bishop to a "Press" reporter on Saturday, referring to a remark he made to Bishop Julius during a- sitting of the Second Canterbury Military Service Board last week. "Nothing was further from my, mind. The remark was made jocularly, and I am sure tho Bishop took it so. The moral seems to be Dou't joke! always be serious'."

A statement was made to the Auckland Claims Board last week that some of the returned soldiers, before their departure from England, had been deprived of the private possessions {"rat they had kept with their military kits. When leaving Codford Camp they were ordered to stack kits for inspection, and when tho kits were subsequently returned to them such articles as razors and collections of coins and personal presents that they had received wero missing. It was stated that there were five or six men now in Auckland who could testify to similar treatment. The chairman of the board (Mr. V. J. Larner) intends to collate any corroborative evidence that may be made available to him, and submit the grievance of the men to the Minister of Defonce.

A private letter received in Auckland from a business man in the United States contains the following:—"Tho American people are taking hold of the new problems and responsibilities that have come to lis with great might. It required only a week or ten days to make up our minds to raise our army by conscription. . . . Germany evidently thought that our so-called GermanAmericans would cause us a lot of trouble. Well, they haven't. Tho past few weeks prove that there is no such thing as the German-American. It happens that Representative Kahn, who led the light for the Conscription Bill for President Wilson in the House of Representatives, was born in Germany. This is one bit of evidence of how onr <>ocalled German-Americans nave responded to Mr. Wilson's magnificent leadership."

Referring to the damago caused to roads and bridges by the heavy floods that have taken plaeo in various districts during the past few months, the Minister 'of Public Works, the Hon. W. I'raser, said at Auckland 011 Thursday, last that the demands on his Department for special grants as a result of the damage had been very great. Fortunately he had taken the precaution during tho past two years to set aside .£50,000 in each year as a special fund to meet Hood damage. During the first year for which this fund was availablo about .035,000 were expended, but for the second twclvo months the special grants required would amount to considerably more than ,£50,000. The Minister added that, as many local bodies woro seeking small grants for works that properly should tome under- tho heading of ordinary maintenance, it had been found necessary to decline to make grants for flood repairs in cases in which the cost would be under XSO. The Bilent flexibility of the Hudson Super Six is a thing to marvel at. Thin car is without exception the most siienfc car on the road. Correct balance and wciglit distribution, together with a coach-built body and an ideal springing system make the Hudson Super Six the easiest riding car ou N.Z. roads. Tho Dominion Motor Vehicles have the latest model on view at 65 Courtenay Place, and will bo pleased to demonstrate to vou if you will call, 'phono, or write thorn.—-Advt. A CLF,VER INVENTOR. Many clever inventors of to-day would havo remained unknown to the world had they not patented their inventions. Protect your brainwork from piracies and copyists. Come ar.d see us about your invention. Lot us have a talk—Henry Hughes, Ltd., 157 IVatherston Street, ■Wellington.—Advt.

i Otaki lias coino under tho spell o£ the Jccult (says an exchange). A. grccn-jtono-diviuer iu tho person of a Maori Vonion, Winnie. Kaika, who hails from pborohnnga, on the Main Trunk Hue, has been astounding 'the local Natives by her achievements. At a certain spot iu the bentro of tho Otaki township, Winnie Heclarcd that greenstone lay buried, and In tho presence of a number of Natives tho ground was turned up, and at a 'dopth of about thirteen, inches a layer t>£ big stones was reached. On removing tnese it was found that tho stones liad been placed in. a sort of casing iu tho centre of which was unearthed a Jargc lump of greenstone some 15 to 20 liounds in weight. At another place a jiroenstono ornament was found attached to a lock of human, hair, eighteen inches in length, Recently Winnie travelled to I'orangahuu (East 'Coast) and unearthed i\ specimen aliout a stone iu weight, and feho is credited with many similar discoveries in tho King Country and other iparts. , Writing of his visit to .Sydney and tho Liverpool Camp, an officor of .a recent reinforcement says:—"Tho Liverpool Camp is supposed to bo tho biggest In Australia, but it is nothing compared. to Featnerston or Trentham. I'm firmly (convinced of one thing, and that is that iwo've got nothing to learn from Australia in tho way of camp construction. Tho 'huts, roads, . institutes, dining halls, stores, etc.—all aro infinitely bettor in (New-Zealand. In fact, there's only one ■thing that wo have got to learn in that .line, and that is to steer clear of red tape, which fhey do very effectively over there. Not wishing to be unkind, tho only remark I will apply to tho disciplino :-Sn this part of the world is 'rough.' sßvorything seems to bo donb with tho |idca of conciliating tho men." Leave is pranted to all men on duty from i o'clock every evening—most of them returning 'Jo camp by the 11.33 (from town) train, ,'si nd also week-end leave from Saturday Jlnidday. Tho result is that the camp is nearly always empty, and undoubtedly it. Jnust have a bad offect on training." , Tales of strange meetings of old com- • rades aro always boimr told, and tho latest comes, from Flanders. On the ■wo'of an attack at the Sonuno five men were detailed from yarious regiments to I Jv certain post, and when tho quintet fore- ! gathered at tho appointed place, they proved to l>o all old friends, as tho wholo five had been members of tho same company in ono of tho later South African contingents. Needless to say, the reunion was a joyous ono. The writer "would like to finish the story by saying that they all got through the big engagement unscathed, but unfortunately that "was not so, as one was killed, another was gassed, while a third had a thigh badly 'shattered by shrapnel, and one was reported missing. Only one returned safely.