LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 194, 6 May 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The examination of Class B reservists draw.n in the last ballot will proceed at tho Buckle Street Barracks this week. The men are being taken in alphabetical order, and a notice fixing tho date of examination is being sent to each resorvist. The Minister of Defence stated yesterday that ho had no knowledge of any strike among the prisoners nt Somes Island. A report has been published to tho effect that a strike did occur thero recently. A Press Association telegram from Greymouth states that public opinion has been aroused over the appointment of members of the Legislative Council for the West Coast in that two residents of the Westland electorate have been selected, while the Grey electorate has been overlooked. It is pointed out that the Grey district is larger in population us well as in industrial importance. The objection is not on personal grounds. A representation to the Public Works Department that Dog Island lighthouse needed examination led to a visit of inspection, when it was discovered that the lighthouse bad been structurally damaged by a, stroke of lightning some time ago. Mr. Mackenzie, district engineer, prepared a 6chome for building an outside casing of reinforced concrete tho entire height, nearly a hundred feet, and a difficult work is proceeding as expeditiously as possible Mrs. Sarah Floyd, residing at Nelson Street, l'etono, was admitted to the Hospital ait 11.30 p.m. on Saturday suffering from a scalp wound, paid to have been inflicted with an axe. Lato last night sho was reported to J» Join;* as well as could be expected. Tho police at Wellington have received no report on the matter. A short sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held on Saturday morning, Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., presiding. Cecilia Parkinson, charged with insobriety, and against whom there were two previous convictions, was remanded for a week for medical treatment. Henry Now, against whom there was one previous conviction, was fined JOs., with tho alternative of seven days' imprisonment. The Wellington Power-houso Employees' Union has filed an application to havo its dispute with the City Council in regard to a claim for higher rate of pHy and alterations to working conditions heard by the Arbitration Court. The parties have hold two conferences, and failed to agrco on tho points. Representatives of nil trades unions in Auckland at a meeting on Friday night resolved to urge the National Council of Labour to frame regulations respecting industrial conscription. The Second Wellington Military Service Board has decided, after full con. sideration, and after visiting boot factory of Hannah and Co., to dismiss the appeals lodged on behalf of various boot clickers. Leave was granted until July. The clickers appealed for were in the employ ft' Hannah 'and Co. and the Equitv Boot Factory. The board held that it would not embarrass tho boot industry by depriving them of flio reservists in question in order that they might fulfil their obligations under tho Military Service Act. The question of leave for American soldiers nt tho front has been dealt with in a VCl 'y practicul maimer. It will not be Paris leave. The plan is to keep the men away from Paris. Tho American Army proposes (says an American writer) to take over a city in tho South of Franco, to which soldiers may cro instead. That city will bo under American control for this [urposo. "Wo shall have theatres running, with stock companies playing in English; movio palaces, recreation grounds, baseball fields—about everything a man could wish for in tho way of nmu6oment. II; looks to bo a flrst-rato measure- for tho health and moral of tho men. 1 '

Hard things wero said about opossuuis aud rooks at tho Fruitgrowers' Conteronce, reports tbo "New Zealand Herald." Opossums, it was stated, made sovoro ravages in orchards, and it was decided to ask the Minister of Internal Affaire to withdraw tho protection order and to prohibit further liberation of tho animals. Tho attack against rooks was led by tho Hawko's Bay representatives, who suggested that power should bo asked for shooting parties to enter properties and destroy rooks at nesting: time. "In Hawke's Bay," said ono delegate, "tho rooks tako 75 per cent, of the walnuts. They can [trip acres of young potatoes—they can clear an acre of maize beforo breakfast. So far they have not touched apples." 'Let us declare war on rooks," said an Otago 'delegate. "They have not appeared in Olago, but we must stand by Hawke's Bay. What is to be said for the rook?" bo asked. "Is ho beautiful or useful " A Hawke's Bay man said that tho birds helped to keep down insects, but that hardly compensated him for having to plant his maize two or tlireo times. It was mentioned that in Australia '.hero were crow destruction boards, -vhich paid two shillings a head, for rooks. Professor Kirk said the question was: Did the rook earn his v;ages? If ho benefited tho farmer but lived on the horticulturist it was rather hard on tbe latter. It was finally decided to ask the Minister to remove protection over rooks.,

While cycling on Saturday a/tftioon John Johnson, who resides at Mersey Street, Island Bay, was thrown from his machine through it skidding. Ho was admitted to tbe Hospital, where it was found that ho bad sustained injuries to his head and back. Ho is progressing favourably. On Thursday morning, while Mrs. Fitzgerald, of 10 Marion Street, was preparing her other children for school, she left her infant son, aged U months, in charge of her daughter, *god seven years. Being a cold morning a firs was burning in the room. The little girl was combing her brother's hair when she let drop tho comb. The infant nicked it up and poked it in the lire. The comb instantly blazed up and set fire to the child's clothes, severely burning tho infant. Dr. Mackin was in attendance in a very short time, and after giving the child • attention ordered his removal to tho Hospital, where unfortunately death supervened on Friday. An ;nquest will bo held. A large number of different articles and commodities may bo imported into tho United States only by persons or firms licensed to do so. Now Zealand exporters wero warned early in April that tho import licenses held by their American consignees would 1» effective, unless renewed, only in respect to restricted goods shipped on or beforo March H, • and that the local Consul's endorsement on invoices was required to provo shipment Wore tan tinio limit expired. Mr. A A. Winslow, United States .ConsulGeneral for New Zealand, has just received further cabled instructions that on and after May 13 ho is to certify no invoices of restricted goods unless they bear the number of the license held by the consignee. This means that exporters will have to keep in touch with their clients in tho United States by cable in order to ascertain all renewals or alterations in their licenses. The rule, however, is a good safeguard in that it prevents tho shipment of goods which may bo refused a landing. Mr. Winslow has also been.notified that a general license has been issued for the importation ot all commodities, both restricted and unrestricted, from all countries into United States possessions, provided that such imports aro for local consumption and not for roshipment to the United States. So far as New Zealnnd is concerned this rule affects only exports to Hawaii and American Samoa. Tho original list of restricted imports has been amended to include a number of additional commodities, including furs and manufactures thereof. It is not clear at present whether rabbit-skins are classed as 'furs. In addition a second list of restricted imports has been issued, and in respect of goods included in it a period of grace extending to May 13 has been granted. This second list covers all dairy produce, meat products, tinned meats, and nl edible substances not specially 'provided for in tho United Stales tnrifl. Tho dining-car service on the TransAustralian Hail way is not paying its way, and tho railway authorities, m liou of reverting to refreshment rooms, as has been done in the Dominion, have decided upon what is an innovation in railway travelling in Australia. In future every passenger will bo charged for meals when he purchases his ticket, and meal tickets will bo issued with tho rail tickets. In tho past many passengers have taken hampers to cover tho, necessities of the trip Tho Department at tho same tmo was' under obligation to haul, a heavy dining-car supplied with provisions for the whole of the passengers. The dining, car servico is regarded as an essential part of the train, and in deciding upon tho general charge tho view was taken that the Eervico could bo rendered more ofiiciont and( at the same time self-sup-porting by an arrangment under wnvon its cost may bo more equally distributed. The new charges aio based upon an average of approximately 2s. Pd per meal for adults and Is. Bd. per meal for children between three and fourteen years of age, while those under threo are catered tor free of charge. Tho character of tho gamo of poker was learnedly discussed by counsel m the Victorian Full Court recently, on an order to review feays the Melbourne Argus ). The main question at issue was whether it is to bo considered a gamo of skill or of chance. For the appellant, a hotel licensee, who was in February fined ±i for having allowed poker to -bo played on his premises oil November 17 last, Mr. Schutt contended that the prosecution had failed to provo that it was an unlawful fame, and that it was, in fact, not an unlawful game within the meauin» of Section ?.0i of the Licensing Act. Ho assured the Court that if it said tho game was not a game of skill poker players would ba very much surprised. Mr. Stark, for tho respondent, on tho other hand, contended that it clearly camo within tho category of games ot chance and not of skill. Authorities ot Australia, Now Zealand , lingland, and America wore quoted to support the arguments, and members of the umrt looked into books of reference from ono o which Mr. Justice Hood'learned that it was an old Italian game, and that a good poker face is an essential, as the countenance should not betray the nature ot the hand. At tho close of argument tho Court reserved its decision.