GENERAL NEWS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 36, 11 August 1914, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS

Strong views regarding the wisdom of tho Government proclamation prohibiting the exportation of flour and other cereals from New Zealand were expressed by the executive council of the Southland League last evening. Mr. W. D. Hunt (president), Mr. John M'Queen, and others considered that the Government had made a mistake ; _ that from the point of view of patriotism it was wrong that all foodstuffs- should be locked up in this country when they would perhaps bo urgently needed in other parts of the Empirp. They maintained that the only way to increa-se the amount of grain being produced was to make it profitable for the farmers to grow it. The average farmer was compelled by commercial necessity to produce what paid him best, and the prohibition of the export of grain would not have the desirable beneficial effect upon the market. There were big surplus stocks, of oats in Canterbury and other parts of the Dominion. The speakers hoped the Government would yet see it would be wrong to prohibit export to Great Britain, and it was decided to make representations to the Cabinet to that effect. Judgment was given by Mr. W. G. Ridden, S.M., to-day in a claim for £39 4s lid made by J. B. M'Ewan and Co;, Ltd., against Charles E. Wildbore, a farmer at Pahangina. It was alleged that plaintiffs had delivered a windmill, and had been quite prepared to erect the same, but defendants had always postponed this operation through various causes. Finally plaintiffs agreed to the return of the mill, but defendant wa« so dilatory that subsequently the offer was withdrawn. Judgment" was given for plaintiffs foi £27 lite, with special damages totalling £6 Os lid, and general) expenses amounting to £10 11& 6d. i Mr. Henry Saint George, the examiner of Trinity College of" Music, is at present conducting examinations in the inland towns of the North Island ,; on his way to Wellington. The practical examination iv Wellington will be held on or about 15th September. A special meeting of the City Council will be held on Friday next at i p.m., to consider the estimates, and to strike rates for th©' present financial year. • No less than 43 students of Victoria College have joined ■ the- first party of the Expeditionary Force, which is leaving immediately. A very large meeting of professors and students was held at the College last night to bid them farewell and a safe return.- , Feeling speeches were made by Professors Adamson and Picken on behalf of the Professorial Board and by Mr. G. G. Wateon. as president of the Students' Association. A war fund was opened, to be primarily devoted to equipping and assisting these and subsequent student volunteers. Over £50 was promised in the room, including a donation of £30 from the Professorial Board. Mr. E. T. Norris, Registrar of the College, -was appointed treasurer of the fund, and he will be glad to receive donations from students and ex-students of the College. The women of .the College also promised to assist in the mat.ter of making clothings for._ the , force. Cheers for the Volunteers concluded the .meeting. Two members of the Seddon family have been, appointed to the Expeditionary. Force— Canon Bean,' of Christchurch (son-in-law), who goes as Senior Chaplain, and Mr. Stuart Seddon (youngest Son of the late Prime Minister). Mr. W. H. D. Bell, member for Wellington Suburbs, has been appointed to a commission in the Expeditionary Force. • ■ In reporting to the Lower Hutt Borough Council last evening, the engineer (Mr. W. H. Roche) stated : "The gas consumption for the gas year just closed was 10,173,000 cubic feet, so that for the coming year the borough is entitled to 3d reduction per 1000 feet. The 10,000,000 mark was reached early on the morning of 27th July. • Th© organisation of the Public Service Association will be used for 'the' purpose of collecting the voluntary contributions of public servants throughout ih& Dominion to the War Fund. The association does not propose to identify itself with the movement further than to utilise its m?chinery to ensure unifor- ! Mit/ of action. The amount collected by it will represent the contributions of the public servants other than those in I the Railway and Post and Telegraph Departments, which will act independently. Ail extraordinary vacancy" , has occurred on the Upper Hutt Town Board under unusual circumstance*. Some weeks ago Commissioner A. J. M'Curdy, wh6 is also editor of < th» Upper Hutt Independent newspaper, received a notification from the Audit Department asking him to show cause why he should not pay a. fine of £10 and also forfeit his seat on the board for receiving payment (7s buj for services rendered by him to the board as a printer. The j action was taken, by the Department under section 22 of the Town BoaTds Act, whicu provides that "if any member . . . accepts or holds any place of profit under the board, he shall immediately cease to be a member, and th© vacancy thereby 'created shall be deemed to be an extraordinary vacancy." At first Mr. ' M'Curdy disputed ownership of the newspaper, asnerting that he had sold his interests to another person or persons. No affidavit of sale was, however, filed in the Supreme Court and yesterday Mr,. M'Curdy paid the fine into the Audit Department. In accordance with the Act he is also disqualified" from- taking a seat on tue board. Colonel C. H. Turner upon his appointment to command the infantry in the advance guard of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, has been heartily congratulated by the Wellington branch of tho New Zealand Shipowners' Federation. The officers of tho branch', in a letter to Colonel Turner, state : — "Wo vri&h you and your gallant regiment every success in the work you have to undertake, and that you and they may return to our shores safe and sound after having successfully fulfilled your honourable engagements^ and feel assured that the good name of' the DominioD will be upheld by the regiment. Wishing you a successful campaign, God speed in your work, and a safe return." A man named Michael Halknran, 30 years of age, who came from Wanganui yesterday to work at the Petone workshops, was walking along the-, footpath at Petone last night when he slipped and broke his right leg below the knee. He was brought in to the Wei* lington Hospital this mottling. They sat upon tho gas-box there, He nursed her aching head, She coughed and, wheeled, and gasped anrl sneezed, She should have been in bed. He said. "Sweet ' Nell! you'll soon be well, I'll save your life I'm sure;" Then to the nearest chemist sped, For Woods' Great Pcpqurmiut Cure ! 1 — AdvW > > - - i