LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3176, 29 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The last draft of tho Thirty-third Infantry Reinforcements left Trenthani for Tauherenikau by special train ywcrday. On Tuesday next the Thirtieth Reinforcements will move from JTeat/herston to where they will complete their period of training.

George Spencer, a carter in tho employ, of Campbell and Burke,_ yesterday performed a very plucky action, which saved the life of a child. About 5.10 p.m. the alarm was given that Harry Sniytho, the three-year-old son of the hulk-keeper on the Adderly, had fallen into the harbour. Spencer ran about a chain and a half and plunged into the water, fully clothed. He succeeded in rescuing tho child, who, after receiving medical attention, appeared to be all right. "No returned soldier is discharged immediately on his arrival," said Sir James Allen in reply to a question asked by Mr. C. H. Poole in tho House of Representatives yesterday. "The returned man gets a week's leave at once, and then, if ho is to be discharged, ho gets a further throe weeks' leave on full pay. The soldier ie not discharged until he has l/4wi at loast a month in. New Zealand. We hiwo under consideration, the question of the time men. are kept on pay after their return," Tho Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Haori) suggested in the House of Representatives yesterday that the members of the Maori Main Body should bo returned as a. unit under tho furlough scheme. This arrangement would ho useful for recruiting purposes. He asked, also, if it would be possible to allow Major Buck to return with the furlongh men. The Minister of Dofence said the arrangements would have to be left in tho hands of tho 6.0.C. at the front. No section of tho forces could bo given preference. Ho would communicate with ! General Oiodley on the subject. About fifty Maoris left Wellington last night by the Nikau for Croixelles, French Pass, to attend a tangi. At tho Magistrate's Court yesterday Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., had before him one first offender foe insobriety, whom he convicted and discharged. Inspector Marsack laughingly suggested that the man should be fined the limit for breaking tho record. Tho excavation work on the eito. of tho proposed Maori Parliament House at Ngaruawahia, Waikato, ie being carried out by a gang of about twenty Natives, and the ground is rapidly assuming shipshape form. The plans provide for a structure 80ft. long. The interior will be. fashioned somewhat on the lines of European "houses of Parliament, with all necessary appointments. At the entrance it is proposed to erect two giant posts, whioh will be adorned with Maori carvings. Tho front elevation will, as near as possible, faco the monument erected to tho memory of King Potatau in the Octagon. Tho building is to cost about Oα Monday next a greatly-improved and more convenient tram Bervice will be inaugurated on tho Uarori line. From 7 a.m. to 1.42 p.m. the servico will be as at present; from 2.2 p.m. until V.2 p.m. there will bo' a ten minutes' service to Johnston Street (tho cemetery), a thirty minutes' service to the Counoil Chambers, and a sixty minutes' service to Karori Park. A special lunch-hour car will leavo Courtenay Place for Northlaud at 12.52 p.m., and depart from Northland at 1.42 p.m. After 7 p.m. the servico will be as at present. A suggestion that Saturday afternoon parades for Cadets, should be abandoned in tho country districts was made in tho House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. D. Buick (Palmerston); who said that the boys were very useful on the farms. Ho did not think any good purposo was being served by the parades under present conditions. Sir James Allon. said that lads oould secure exemption by applying to the group officers, and showing that thoy were required in industry. He behoved that some amended plan should be adopted in connection with the Territorial system. Hβ had never had much faith himself in evening drills. He hoped that in the future it would bo possible to increase substantially the amount of continuous training given at week-ends, or once a month, or perhaps once a year. The matter could not bo dealt with at the prwout time.

At a recent mcoting of the Wellington Branch .of the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association a resolution was passed urging the executive council to ask Parliament to set up a Royal Commission to inquire into the discontent prevailing in the. locomotive service, duo to conditions of work, rates of pay, methods of meting out punisti•iienl, ami many minor grievances. Ihe members are alarmed at; tho numerous resignations of men with long service ami e~nco, who iiro resigning or are intending to resign on account ot this discontent. They also consider it their duty lo their members who aro fighting in defence of the Empire td seo that their interests aro conserved in thenabsence.

deferring to the subject of man sacrifice, Mr. T. M. Wilford yesterday related a touching incident which he had culled from a Paris journal, l.eiierai Caslolnau.of the French Army, anil Ins aide-de-camp were passing along behind tho lines, when a young French soldier was carried past them on a stretcher. Seeing that the young man was tageroyed and quite fit to nuswer questions, tiio General' said, "Well, my child, aro v»n wounded?" Tho young r-nn n-plied, "MY life. General, T offered my life io France-she has only taken my hand!

Squalls for many days yet. Seo out special value in raincoats, 453., 605., Ws. Gco. Fowlds Ltd,. Manners Street—Advt.

At the Auckland Supremo Court yesterday John C. Ledel, who had pleaded guilty to tho theft of .£49 belonging to the Auckland City Council, was placed on probation for three years, and ordered to repay tho amount of the defalcations at the ruto of .62 a month.—Press Assn.

A question regarding the provision to bo inado for tho dependants of Second Division inon was asked in the Houso of Representatives yesterday by Mr. H. J. HV Okoy_ (Taranaki). Many of tho Second Division men, said Mr. Okey, would liko to contribute to the AVnr Loan, but tkoy did not caro to invest their money until they knew what provision the Government intended to make. Sir James Allen said he hoped to be able lo main a etatemeat on the subject within a week or ton days. Tho proposals had not yet been considered by Cabinet.