LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3131, 9 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The British Post Office authorities report that New Zealand letters and mails dispatched from London on May 31 li.V the P. and 0. Company, via Suez, have been lost at sea. The mails comprised letters on hand from Hay 1G to Way 31, and printed papers on hand from liny 1C io .May ISO. A tendency of the time? was observed at Saturday's sitting of the Military Service Board. A motor driver appealed, and the board dismissed the appeal, the chairman remarking that a girl could be got to do the work. Owing to the rain, all Saturday's sports fixtures were postponed. The Eev. H. S. Gray closed in a somewhat novel manner last night an address in the Vivian Street Baptist Church, in which lie strongly attacked the drink traffic. He concluded with a very warm invitation to any man or woman who believed the liquor traffic could be tiefended to meet him in. the schoolroom at the close of the service. "I do not want any man to say," he explained, "that the pulpit of this church was used as a coward's cnstle." To the considerable surprise of a few people who adjourned to the hall, one man did appear to discuss the matter with Mr. Gray. He declared himself a believer in the absolute prohibition of the manufacture of liquor, but he was opposed to the six o clock closing movement on the ground that it would work out unfairly as between the rioh- and poor. The whole matter was debated in keen and friendly mannerfor half an hour or so by Mr. Gray «ml others.

A. cable message to the Australian papers states that in the course of a lecture on the future of aviation, Mr. h: S. Monta"U MP (ex-Minister for Mirations), fiafd that the British Empiro had numerous harbours and coaling stations ire a favourable position for developing aviation. From London to Peshawar (India) in three days was possible, .and at tho rate of 1200* miles daily the voyage to ■Vustralia by aeroplane would save. -1 days. Aerial police would eoon be appointed to enforce traffic regulations. They would fly high, and would pounce upon malefactors and take their numbers, or compel them lo descend. "Religions objection" was the ground ur<red by an appellant at Saturday's sittins of "the Military Seivice 'Koard. He did not belong to any of the recognised conscientious objector sects, and said that for convenience sake his co-believers styled themselves the "Testament of The bourd told him his appeal could not be upheld, but that if he was willing to do non-combatant work . they would five him a chance of doing that. Tie declined the offer, and his appeal was dismissed. Some months ago statements appeared in various papers of the Dominion indicating that liquor was being served in certain Y.M.C.A. canteens by the authorities of the Y.M.C.A. The matter was referred to in'tho Vivian Street Baptwt Church last night by the Eev. E. S. Grav of Duuedin, who said he had the authority of the Y.M.C.A. to give the report a most emphatic denial. t say in their name," said Mr. Gray, that it is simply a. lie. The Trade had an office here in Wellington," he continued, "from which they send letters all over the Dominion, the same letters almost—tno same substance. You can pick them every time. They .wrote over, the signature 'A. Soldier ' that liquor was being served in Y.M.C.A.. canteens by the authorities of the Y.M.C.A." Mr. Gray added that up to the present the Association had not heen in a position officially to contradict tho allegation, but cablegram* had ;ust been received which he. proceeded to read. These stated on the authority of Genenl Itussell, in France, and General Richardson in Britain, that the statements regarding the sale of intoxicating liquor in YM C A huts were absolutely untrue. "No intoxicants whatever fold in British Association's huts or canteens anywhere, was the cabled statement.

In the Town Hall Concert Chamber Inst evening: Mr. Alfred Mace, evangelist, continued the series of addresses bv which he hopes to stimulate an increased Interest in plain Gospel truths. Mr. Mace is a powerful and interesting speaker, unmistakably in earnest aboiit liis work. Last evening he chose for his subject "Spendthrifts," and spoke in a fresli clear way about the- spendthrifts of the New Testament. Mr. Maces mission in Wellington will continue for some time.

An unusual position arose in a case involving the interpretation of a will in the Supreme Court at Christchurch, in which a party, in his dual-'capacity as a trustee and a beneficiary, was joined as both a plaintiff and a defendant.' "Surely a man can't eue and appear against himself," said His Honour Mr. Justice Denniston. "Does a man, as a trustee, brief a solicitor, ■ and then, as a defendant, go round to another solicitor and get him to do his best in the opposite direction? This man is only one of the trustees, but it is the same thing as if there .were only one trustee and he was suing himself." . His Honour quoted- authorities to show that it was irregular and inequitable in common law to make the same party both plaintiff and defendant. His Honour eventually decided to bear the argument m the enne without making any further pronouncement. / Inquiries mnde at all of the leading boot manufacturing firms in the Dominion go to shov; that as regards boots for soldiers there are plenty in stock at the present time, says the "Otagq Times. These boots are made principally by Wellington and Auckland firms. So far as New Zealand supplies ,of sole leather and chrome leather are concerned manufacturers here do not anticipate a short- ,1 age. but' certain classes of leather, each ns patents, willow calf, and box calf are already getting into small compass. The majority of makers, however, are holding large stocks of jrlnce kid, but thpse were purchased at high prices. Hides only are now imported by Britain from ]\ew Zealand, but tho tanners bere can buy all the hides they require from the New Zealand Government, which has commandeered the output on behnlf of the Imperial Government. Even without any importations from other countries it is confidently asserted that Dominion manufacturers en n cope with the demands mnde on them, though neople may have to -wear coarser tops. There is a rush for orders, however, and prices ore rising. The absence of imports of lifch-Rlase licht boots hns stimulated Nev: Zealand manufacturers to make such footwear, nnd they are turning out a very' fine article—one, indeed,' -which can hold its own with: any elnes of imported poods. It is said that as liieh as five cuinens is the price of certain very higWrnde Indies' boots on offer in Dunetfin. These, of course, have been imported.

On board the ferry steamer Maori yesterday wore liflO troops who were returning from final leave. ■

The matter of rough play formed the subject of n long discussion in committee at the meeting of the Canterbury Ilngbv Onion last week, and. it was event'uallj decided:—"That, in view of the rough and unsportsmanlike play ehovrn in two or three senior-games this season, the committee urges the referees to nee sterner methods, with .a. view to stopping rough piny .and unnecessary appealing."

A nurse in a, military hospital at Folkestone, England, writing to her brother in Christchurch, pays a high compliment to New Zealand soldiers. "A tremendous contingent of New Zealanders inarched through yesterday," she says. "I hare now a pretty good experience of all the colonials, and I can say that tho New Zealandors are out and away the best. They aro such fine men > —so clean and alert and strong." "Time after time we get cases of young men who hang on year after year on their father's farm, getting their board and lodging and an occasional few shillings to spend, just waiting for the old man to die, and then he leaves them nothing." said Mr. Justice Denmston nt the Christchnrch Supremo Court. 1 don't think that the Court has ever attached any weight to their action, lhcy stay on voluntarily, and if they choose to do so, then that is their own business." Mr. Hunter submitted that there was a moral obligation on n testator to make adequate provision ami maintenance for his wife and family, and quoted a well-known caso of "Allardyco v. Allnrdyce" in support of his contention. Oil, ves." remarked His Honour with a smile. ""Allardyce is a stone, weighted by the Privy Council, which is throwiyit every , Judge in 6uch onsea nowadays,"

The Sannevirke branch of the Hawlte's Bay War Eelicf Association o'n Saturday unanimously piiesed ft resolution' that strong representations should be made to (ho Government that in the opinion ot the meeting all reservists called up and failing to answer Ule v eall to the Empire s aid should be deprived of all civil rights, and that those owning property should have it confiscated and held for the use of returned soldiers. Mrs. Janet An"'". Peildiug fload, Ashhurst, writes;>*"Plcase grant me space in your t'olumns iff rectify an error in the Defence Department's list of possible deserters as pi/Wished" last week. Jiv son, Leonard Anain. of Ballance, sailed with the Twenty-fifth Beluforcemente as a volunteer. He was «»1W m tho ballot several weeks after he' Jind eniled tor the front, and is now branded through-' out the country as a deserter - unless ho parades for medical examination, which is impossible. I might mention also that two of my sons, Leonard and FW, enlisted and went into camp together in December, 1915. While in camp Leonard developed rupture, and, as he was under age, I decided to take him away until Hβ recovered. As soon as he became ot flge he again enlisted, although still snfiering from rupture, and remained in this state when lie sailed. His brother Fred tailed with the Eloventb Reinforcements, nnd has been in Trance ever since.

A deputation consisting of Messrs. Pagan (Inangtihua) and Jnde (W'aihi) waited upon the Minister of Mines on Saturday and asked that head rises in mines be limited to SOft.; that no miner be asked to work in a temperature over 83 degrees; that .larger powers should be given to workmen's representatives in the mines to declare -what grounds should bo a six hours' shift and what not, also that pensions allowed under the Mining Act for men suffering from miners' pythsis should be made to apply to widows and orphans of men who died of this disease before tho .passing of the Act. The Minister gave a sympathetic reply. Ho said he was favourable to all the requests except the one regarding tho suggested extension of the powers to mining representatives. He.would give the matters full consideration and bring them before Cabinet at an early date , .

The following letter of appreciation, which was signed by nineteen N.C.O.'ii and privates of the Twenty-seventh Reinforcements, has been received by Mr. K. C. Biwnell, Y.M.C.A. national secretary:— "We, the undersigned, who are all. members of the Twenty-seventh Rein-' forcements, New Zealand Medical Corps, now completing our training in ths Awapuni Camp, Palmereton North, wish to acquaint you of-our appreciation of the work your organisation id doing for tl.o men whilst being trained. "Wo wondered when we first came to camp what the Y.M.C.A. could do for the men before they left New Zealand, but now we know. For we usedio 'iiake for the Y.M. room immediately we had a spare moment, either to write" our letters or to havo a game of ping-pong, draughts, or billiards, etc. We went to the Y.M. secretary for advice on any problem that troubled us; we entrusted our money to him; we had his help in making out our wills. \\e went to the Y.M. for our' mid-week service of praise and worship; we enjoyed many a concert that the Y.M. secretary arranged, and when, wo were out on neid manoeuvres or route marches, there witli us, a sharer in our work as well as mir pleasures, was our Y.M. secretary. This has all meant very much to us, and we are anxious to express our very sincere gratitude. Aβ an institution., the Y.M.C.A. is doing a noble wore in our training camps, and this has been doubly so at Awapuui because its representative, Mr. Grainger, has commanded i'eenect nnd admiration of us all. Jn a lime of unexpected temptations we have found him a very true friend. There was a large' attendance of Public Servants at Dustin's Booms, AVangaliui, to hear Mr. C. H. Clinkard, of tho local Public Works Department, give an account of his stewardship as delegate at the annual conference of the Public Service Association held in Wellington. Mr. Clinkard gave n lucid and interesting resume of the work done by tlie conference, and at the conclusion of His address a hearty vote of thanks was accorded him for his comprehensive address, and for the efficient manner m wheih ho upheld tho interests of the Wauganui members. During the evenin" musical items were rendered by Misses Stewart, Johnston, Curran, nnd Johnston, Mrs. Clinkard, and Messrs. Philpot and Prichnrd. Mr. T. A. Saywell, president of the Wanganui section of the association, presided.

The Crippled Soldiers' Hostel art union acknowledge" receipt of the following donations:— Tramways Military Band (per A. J. Mills), proceeds Sunday concert Chas. T. Richardson, Wlutawhitii, Tinui), G. F. Knapp (Morrison's Bush, Greytown), C. Saver (Dalcfield), C. Smitli (Waihoi Valley), Pain and Sutherland (Martinborougli), .T. G. Gardner and J. Carmichael (Featherston), George M'Kay (Greenfields, Masterton), J. M'Leod (Whakapuni) and A. H.' Tinlcham (Mastorton), £2 10s. each; Master Bakers, Wellington, £2 55.; t>. M. Parsonson (Eketaliuna), and E. Thomas (Uaunui), £\. each. The National Committee of the Y.M.C.A. acknowledges the following further contributions to its funds for soldiers:—Hutt Patriotic Guild (monthly contribution), J!3; Messrs. Groves Bros., Mastcrton, .£10; Methodist Ladies' Guild, Eltham, £20 10s.; Mr. E, H. Tod, per Hawke's Bay War Belief Association, .£l6 13s. 4d.; North Otago Patriotic Fund, JJ100; Jlilton Y.M.C.A. ami Soldiers' Fund, .E46; ■ Scripture Gift Association, Auckland (for Testaments for troopships), i£°o; Mr. A. G. Bate, Wellington, .€5 55.;. per Wellington Y.M.C.A.. £W Is.: Invercargill Y.M.C.A. (nianthly contribution). J3176 Bs.; Mr. H. S. Hart, Wellington, .£2; Wangamii-Waitotara Patriotic Association, .£200.' Messrs. Fuller and Sous have taken a long lease of His Majesty's Theatre in Christchurch, and on .Tuly 21 are to transfer their permanent vaudeville from Hie Opera. House to that theatre. The Walter Johnson 'Revue Company will be one of tlie attractions at the opening of this fine theatre, which is being completely iefurnished for the occasion.