LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 141, 4 March 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

■ 9 The Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) has received the following cable message: —"Summary of work of New Zealand Division for February: Division remained in the line l on the samo front. Small raids were carried out, resulting in the capture of a few prisoners. The division is now out of the line training. There Is nothing further to report."

Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., C.M.G., continues to rccoiva sheaves of telegiams congratulating him on his return for Wellington North on Thursday last.

Instructions have recently been issued to tramway conductors in Wellington not to permit people to board cars before they reach their proper place of departure. It frequently happens in the case of cars turning back at Courtenay Place and the Post Office,' that people board cars before, or when obout to cross over on to another line, and, owing to the manipulation of the side-steps at such times, more than ono minor accident has occurred, making it imperative to prevent the public boarding cars at places other than tho point of departure.

Frost in February! Christ-church papers comment on the extraordinary fact that frost was experienced in parts of the district on the night of February 28. Although it was light, in some places where the ground is low-lying damage was done to the tomatoes' and vegetable marrows. It is the first occasion for very many years since frost has been experienced in Canterbury in February. Taken in conjunction with the extreme varieties of the weather in Wellington this summer, and the flood rains of the far north, the indications are that the season is not normal.

The laying of the memorial stone of the Old People's Home at North-East Valley took place on Saturday afternoon, says a Press Association telegram from Duuedin. This building is being erected by the Presbyterian Church mainly for the purpose of housing aged poor of the Church. The present contract for the administrative block will cost about £5000, and it will be finished, weather permitting, in Juno. To complete tho full plan £4000 or £5000 more will be required.

The cause of a kea attacking ita first skoep was tho subject of an interesting theory propounded to a Christchurch pressman by a. back-country station owner. The station owner stated that a common weed found on tho high country was known as tho vegetable sheep plant. It grew in clusters, and was a mass of tiny star-shaped flowers closely and strongly matted. Its appearance was a white and woolly one, and dotted over the hillside in small clumps, tho resemblance to a flock of sheep resting was a startling one. A main item of tho diet of tho kea was the roots of this plant, and to reach them the bird had to tear tho matted flower aside. Thus it was reasonable to suppose that tho bird might easily alight by mistake on a sheep lying down. It would certainly have no more difficulty in tearing aside tho wool than in the getting at the roots of the plant.

It has. been ascertained on inquiry at insurance offices that the insurances on the bull and cargo of the Wnirmia, which was sunk by a German raider in the Pacific, have been paid, says the "New Zealand Herald," the payments having been- made by tho companies holding the war risk and thoso holding tlie marine risk, the contributions being equal. Tho Court of Inquiry held in respoot of the vessel satisfied tho English and colonial offices interested in tho vessel's loss, and the payments were made en the' understanding that when a decision is arrived at as to whether the (•hip was destroyed as the result of an ordinary marine mishap or an act of war, an adjustmont should bo made. Jn regard to the Burns, Philp Company's steamer Matunga, which was 3 lso sunk, it is understood that no insurances have been! paid on this vessel or her cargo, as the Court of Inquiry set up to investigate her disappearance adjourned without coming to a decision. Life and workers' indemnity policies in respect of several officers and members of the crews of these vessels are held by New Zealand insurance offices, but as far as can be ascertained no paymonts have heen made.

A telegram from Fremantle to the Melbourne "Herald" on February 15 states: In the course of his last annual report to the Chief Protector of Aborigines the manager of the Moora Bulla and Violet Valley aboriginal stations stated that a now tribe recently visited Violet Valley.; It had evidently travelled a long distance, and was unknown to the other tribes who referred to the visitors as salt water blacks, thereby intimating that they had come from near the coast. The natives wore no clothing whatever, not even the usual loin cloth and could not understand English.

The question of the production and utilisation of alcohol for power pur]K>ses in Australia is being investigated by a special committee appointed by tho Commonwealth Advisory Council of Science and Industry, and a comprehensive and valuable report reviewing the whole situation, and giving the result of investigations so far made, has'been issued. As regards the production of power alcohol tho most suitable raw material is tho sugar molasses now wasted in Queensland. But if the total annual quantity of molasses wasted and used for purposes other than distillation (47,500 tons) were used for tho purpose in view it would only bo sufficient to manufacture about three and one-eighth million gallons of alcohol, whereas the annual petrol requirements of Queensland alone are nearly three and a half million gallons. Moreover, owing to freight charges and labour costs it does not seem feasible to regard molasses in some of Ihe outlying northern parts of Queensland as a profitable source of liquid fuel for use in parts of Australia far distant from that State. For thpse reasons it is necessary to consider whether some other profitable source of supply cannot be found.

Recent happenings seem to point to the conclusion that Napier is under the spell of a fire-raiser (says the "Hawko's Bay Herald"). Within the past two or three months some halfdozon mysterious outbreaks have occurred, and no explanation of their origin has been revealed. Following on the outbreak at the Congregational Church a week ago another incipient fire was discovered in an outhouse at another place of worship. This .was luckily noticed by tho caretaker, who was able to suppress it without the necessity of raising an alarm. Alongside where this outbreak occurred, it is stated that tho caretaker found a quantity of paper and inflammable refuse in a small cupboard, having apparently been deliberately placed therein to assist the spread of tho fire. Had the discovery not been made so opportunely a disastrous outbreak would probably have resulted. Tho frequency of these occurrences is causing a decided feeling of unrest and anxiety in tho community.

Herowini Wakarua, of Waitotara, son of Iwiora Wakarua, was killed on the French front about a month ago. When Herewini decided to go to the front (says the "Stratford Post") he and his father talked the matter over, and the latter said that as, in the ordinary course of events, he had fewer years to live than his son, and as tho son had just completed a very good education, it would be better for Iwiora to go. This proposal, however; was not acceptable to the son, who persuaded the father to let him go, tho father promising that if tho son were killed he would go to take his place. True to his word Iwiora left for camp last week, where he is now in training to take his place in the great fighb.

Private Sam Kennedy, who some years ago held the New Zealand championship for wood-sawing, and has been serving his country on the Western front, was wounded on October 4, and removed to hospital. When convalescent Private Kennedy was induced by the Y.M.C.A. officials to give an exhibition of sawing. He was subsequently fortunate enough to meet Private Perry, also an ex-New Zealand wood-sawing champion, and the pair joined in giving displays which have been a source of great entertainment to the Allied troops. They also cut down and prepared the Christmas tree for the Y.M.C.A., which was loaded with presents, and was a source of much joy to the troops. Private Kennedy is a son of Mrs. M. H. Struthers, of Lower Riccarton.

The military prisoner, George Caffery, who escaped from one of the forts on February 3, and was recaptured a few days later, again made his escape from military custody un Thursday afternoon. The missing man has been prominently before the publio oi late. In January the police were entrusted with the task of finding him, as he had over-siayed his leave from camp. On this charge he was arrested on February 2 in a house in Hobson Street by two plain-clothes constables. Ho had hidden himself up a chimney, but was discovered owing to his feet and legs being disclosed to tho searchers. On that occasion Caffery was taken to one of the forts. Next day he escaped by bending the stout iron bars outside the window of the cell in which lie had been confined. On February 9 he was again arrested, being found by one ol the same constables in the .Albion Hotel. Ho was once more handed over to the military authorities. On Thursday afternoon Caffery was brought over to the Police Court to give evidence in a case. After the proceedings at the Court he was taken by Wo members of the military police to see his mother in Ponsonby. So far as can be ascertained, he made some excuse to leave his guards, and was allowed to lcavo their sight. When they went to look for him he had disappeared. It is believed that ho made his way out by the back door.