LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 44, 15 November 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The mobtlisation of tho 35th Reinforcements which wa9 begun at Tront'haro on Tuesday continues steadily. The South Island drafts, except West Coast, went into camp yesterday and Tuesday. Today the Wellington draft -will bo mobilised, and to-morrow tho Auckland men. The physique and tho general appeaianco of the new troops are excellent. Tho names of the Second Division for the wholo of New Zealand nro being- published in book form by the Government So far the first volume (up to (lie letter E) only has been issued. "I've told you nil that took place, and I can't toll von any more," eaid tho accused M'Williatns. -when Mr. Macassey was cross-examining him during the hearing of the betting caso yesterday.. "I must ask you a few more questions," replied Mr. Maoa3soy. "Then for Roodneee sake get it done ne quick as you can, bccßiifle I'm getting weak," said M'Williama despairingly. Witness later remarked: "I want this man Macassoy to let me out of this as soon as possible." Attempted theft of a orate of chceee from a troopship /will bo alleged against a man in tho Police Court this morning. Tho aqcused wag arrested yesterday by Detective Carney and Constable Cleverley. Mr. F. R. Gillingham, a member cf the Mackenzie County Council for thirty years, and chairman for twenty-one years, was put out in the riding election yesterday, says a Prose Association telegram from Timaru. Mr. -Wilford was yestewlay explaining to the Supreme Court certain considerations in the backing of horses. The Chief Justice observed that Mr. Yt'ilford hail better not address him "I r>.ay know more about it; than you think," said His Honour. "I trust Your Honour does," replied Mr. Wilford. His Honour became reminiscent. The last time he had been at a race meeting was in '88, when ho accompanied the Governor of Victoria to one. "That would be in the days of thp bookmakers—no totalisators. lam talking of tor days," remarked counsel.

Kn Ashburton resident who came to resids in Wellington, in tho courso of a letter to a. friend in Ashburton, _ gives an entertaining account of his experiences before eventually obtaining suitable lodgings. He states that furnished or unfurnished rooms are difficult to obtain, and it is not uncommon for owners to demand up to £1 per week for an or-dinary-sized unfurnished room, with an extra chargo for the use of tho kitchen tire. The writer, after tiring of living ij apartments, rented a house, only to find it infested with lodgers of a most disagreeable character. Eventually relief came in the form of an advertisement from a person offering £5 bonus for an empty house. A deal was promptly made, and with the £5 in pocket to compensate him for past troubles, the cxAshburtoni.'m has settled down to board in a private residence.

The children of tho sixth standard of Hie Clyde Quay School wero taken on a tour of inspection through the Gear Meat Company's ivorks at Petono yesterday afternoon. Tho educational value of such visits cannot bo under-rated, for it brings tho children faco to faco with jjreat industrial undertakings at a time in their lives when tho mind is plnstic and retentive.

The Mayor of Eastbourne (Ifr. P. Levi) eays thnt tho ferry service for tho current year (1917-18) will involve the borough in additional expenditure to the tune of over ,£2OOO, which fact hna already brought about an increase in faros to the casual visitor. The chief ciiiise of this heavy increase is the price of coal. Under tho old contract the borough paid 18s. per ton, lint now f 'ho price is 355. per ton—a rise of nearly 100 per cent.

During the hearing of the big betting case the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) has apparently learned about raping much that has saddened him. A little revelation of tin ways of some owners was mado by ono of the accused (M'WilHams) in tho witness-box "Tho horso was the best in the paddock if he was on tho job," said M'Williams. The expression "on tho job" required explanation. His Honour was not euro what it signified. "Some horees dig their ti.es In," volunteered Mr. T. M. Wilford, helpfully. "It is very 6ad," commented His Honour, "that t'hero should bo a eport in this Dominion which is connected with fraud."

Tho Chief of tho General Staff, Colonel Q, M. Gibbon, 1.G.5., addressed tho 31st and 32nd EeWforcements of Trontham Camp yesterday on their duties and btbaviour as soldiers.

Tho next meeting of tho Wellington Education Board will bo held on Wednesday next, November 21. The December meeting has been fixed for Wednesday, December 12.

Representatives of tho Anglican Church and of tho public waited upon Bishop Mules at his residence in Trafalgar Square, Nelson, on Monday, and congratulated him upon the jubilee of his ministry in tho dioceso of Nelson. Tho Bishop of Nelson (Right Roy. W. C. Saolier) said it was written in tho onnals of the diocese of Nelson that on November 12, 1807, a certain young clergyman was liconsed to, hold, office in tho dioceso That clergyman was now known to them as Bishop Mules, and their desire in making this call upon him was to express to him, on the occasion of his reselling the jubilee of his ministry, their heartiest congratulatons upon the long a>id distinguished sorvices which he mid rendered to the Church of tho Province of New Zealand. During hie minietry Bishop Mules had shown an cxamplo to the clergy in dovotion, and particularly in devotion to a principle. His lifo in Jinghtwator was ono of rho tenderest memories of tho diocese, ami they greeted him as the father of the Chmtian Church in the City of Nelson, loigehearted, charitably minded, and sympathetic. His religious outlook had been euck as to preserve peace amongst all Christians, and they recognised t?at the wonderful 6pirit of amity between all religious people here was traceable largely to hie example and to Wβ wisdom during the past years The Bishop presented to Bishop Mules a framed photographic group of the clergy of tho diocese. The pioture bore the following inscription :—"Presented to the Right Reverend C. 0. Mules, D.D., by the clergy of the diocese of Nelson as a token of their affection on tho 50th anniversary, of his ministry in the diocese of Nelson, November 12, 1917."

It is understood that the Timber Work, ere' Union intends tiling an application for a new award, and that tho demands will include proposals for increases in wages and reduction in hours of work.

The Mayor of Christclvurch, speaking to a reporter on the Canterbury Hall lire, eniil that the insurance money would, he thought, certainly be earmarked for the purchase of another organ for the city at somo subsequent date. The money in the meantime would be invested, and would bring in about .£2OO per annum, which would be added to tho capital for the same purpose. The organ, cost something over .03000 to land, but no duty was paidj on it, as it was bought by the Government. It would probably bo at least five years beforo tho city would bo in a position to properly house another organ, and by that time tho capital at its disposal would ljo about vEoOOO, so there would bo ample money to provide an organ at least as good, and probably better than, the one which had been destroyed, even though duty and tho cost of installation had to be paid by the council.

Beforo the war tho Dover Patrol did not exist. Now (in tho words of ViceAdiniral Bncon) it has its teeth well into tho German flanks, and forme a good stopper to the mouth of the Channol. The Admiral was distributing medals earned on his particular patrol area, and he eaid to the men: "We have not got to bo tired of the war. Wo havo got to help tight the war, and not to talk about it, especially now when the Germans are having a bad. time. Yes, a vory bad time, and, what is more, they aro going to have a woree one. For the last two years they havo been afraid to taoklo our Navy. Now is the time to throw ourselves into any work that good fortune may bring; our. way. Our merchant servicf men , have nobly gone on with their calling, in spite of tho mine and submarine. Tho whole country has shaken itself together in a way the Germans never boheyed possible. The Empire will go on disappointing them, and I hope we in tho Dover Patrol will havo a chance of disappointing them again, and furnish them with still ruder shocks." There are a good many New Zealanders serving in thi« section: of the Navy.

Writing from Edmonton, Alberta, a former resident of Christchurch, states:— "Wore it not for the letters and papers I receive by almost every mail I should fare very badly if I had to rely on tho meagre newa which our papers here publish. I havo been astonished at the absence of news on the part of our local papers from the 'Britain of the South.' I remember when I lived in N«vr Zealand that wo were often told that our little country was one of tho best known and best advertised on tho map. I regret to say that' such is not the wise, indeed, there aro very many in this We Dominion who know very little about it." Two youths of eoventeen years were charged at the Dunedin Police Court on Saturday with wilfully disturbing a band entertainment held at tho Botanio Gardens on a rocent Sunday. They pleaded guilty. The lads, stated Sub-Inspector Mathieson, had indulged in the foolish practice of annoying tho bandsmen while playing by means of mirrors, which were used to reflect tho sun's rays on tho instruments, and thus affected, thevision of the musicians. The concert, in consequence, was temporarily brought to ft standstill. These annoyances, said the sub-inspector, hnd been going on for somn time, but it could not be definitely Mated (hat tho defendant's wero responsible for the mischief on all occasions. His Worship, in imposing fines of 205., with costs 75.. observed that tho lads should show a, higher standard of intelligence—theirs was a practice that might be expected of a silly boy or girl of tender years. This foolish play would havo to be discontinued—it did not entitle defendants to any consideration.

Auckland is experiencing an acute scarcity of domestic servants. tho women preferring employment in offices and factories. It is also stated that many girls are now in receipt of soldiers' pay, this placing them beyond the actual need of work for the thno being. Many domeslie servants usually come to the Dominion from Australia for the summer months, says the Auckland "Herald," but for well-known reasons this migration has not taken place this year to the same extent as formerly. Conditions in hotels, restaurants, and the larger boardinghouses are now resulated by "U industrial, award, and it is assorted that a. pri'cat many domestics prefer to work in those establishments, whore the hours of work are fixed, and where thev have their evenings free, rather than in private hnusps. where definite hours of work aro not laid down, although the work it self may be less exacting and the conditions generally more pleasant. Although good wages are being offered, Ihero are very many vacant positions for domestic servants in private families.

At the annual meeting of the North Canterbury Threshing M'ill Owners' Association it was agreed to write to tlio Minister of Defence, through the Minister of Agriculture, requesting him to release troops from training camps to assist in gathering the harvest. The secretary (Mr. ]?. Lill) has received tho following reply from Sir James Allen:—"I have received your letter of October 2!) forwarding n resolution passed at tho annual meeting of your association urging that leave ehould be granted to men in camp for harvesting purposes during the coming season. I regret I am unable to interfere in the matter, as the Military Service Board is the only authority that has power to grant exemption from military service. It w;ill bo necessary, therefore, in every case for tlio soldier himself or for his employer on his behalf to send in an application to the camp commandant or to the commandant AG (2) Branch, Clorkson's Buildings, Wellington, respectively, in order that tho case may be.submitted to the Military Service Board for I would also suggest that each application should bo supported by a recommendation of the National Efficiency Board."