Page 6 Advertisements Column 3

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 124, 27 May 1915, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL I >♦ The Telegraph Office has been advised ! that deferred telegrams from or to Italy or in transit over Italian lines are no longer admitted. The results of the investigations by the Commonwealth Statistician (Mr. G. H. Knibba) as to variations in prices of food and groceries have been made available for the month of April, 1915. The aggregate result for the thirty towns covered by the investigation shows that prices were 13.2 per cent, higher in April of this year than in July last. The increa-se since the outbreak of war is greatest in Queensland (21.3 per cent.), followed by Victoria '(16.3), South Australia (14.5), Tasmania (14.1), and Western Australia (10.3). the increase being least in New South Wales (8.6 per cent.). The result of this is, of course, to reduce the relative cost of food and groceries hi Sydney compared with other towns. Thus in July the cost in Sydney was 4 per cent, greater than in Melbourne, but by April the cost was greater in Melbourne than in Sydney by 2£ per cent. Strong complaint was made by several members of the Acclimatisation Society last night of the action — or, rather, inaction — of some Magistrates in dealing with offences against the Act. Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., gave a case in point, A ranger spent four cold nights in the open watching for a poacher. He got him at last — aud the Magistrate fined the offender 10s, with 8s costs, and practically apologised for the indignity he had to put upon him. "If such people were fined £5, or even £25, there would soon be an end to the practice," said Mr. Field, and the meeting said "Hear, hear." with great unanimity. In the opinion of Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P., an ex-Minister for Defence, it is desirable that a register should forthwith be made throughout the Dominion of all men between the ages of 20 and 35 who are eligible to enlist and who are not barred by physical disabilities. These men should be called upon to undergo an immediate course of military training in order to make themselves efficient. This need not interfere with their ordinary avocations, which they could continue to follow until a later stage, ■when they might be called upon to enlist. "If we did this," eaid Mr. Myers, " it would mean that every able-bodied 1 man would be doing a duty to his country. It might not be necessary for them to be called upon, but should it become necessary much would have been done in preparation for such an eventuality. We must remember," he added, " that the present is a life and death struggle, and the position is too serious to be temporised with. From this time ■ forth an effort should be made in the direction I have indicated. By doing this we should be doing our best to make it possible to send away whatever quota of men the authorities desire the Dominion to provide." "I should, say from his conduct that the man in rather timid, and is anxious to get rid of the uniform he is now wearing," said Inspector Hendrey in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when John Wells, a member of the Reinforcements, j was charged with using obscene language amd also wilfully damaging a policeman's uniform to the extent of £4 1b lOd. Wells pleaded guilty. The Inspector stated that Wells, with some of his friends, went into a restaurant and had a meal, but they all tried to cheat the proprietress of payment. When tho latter insisted, Wells sent forth "a stream of filthy obscenity." When h© was arrested, he began to resist, and wilfully damaged the uniform. For the "language" he was fined £3, in default one month in gaol, and on the second charge lie was fined £2, and ordered to make good th*o damage. The alternative was fixed at 14 days in custody. Two first offending inebriates were convicted and discharged, Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., was on the bench. A testimony to the strength and enduring qualities of the ferro-concrete wharf structures of the Auckland Harbour Board was forthcoming at this week's meeting of the board (states the Herald). The engineer (Mr. W. H. Hamer) reported that it was found necessary last week to expose the steel bars in the reinforced concrete work done in 1903 and 1904. The bars so exposed had been found to be in as perfect a condition as the day they left the mil}. This particular work was the first of its kind carried out in New Zealand. Commenting on the engineer's report, Mr. W. E. Hutchison said he was sure the information would be received with gratification both by members of the board and by the public. Mr. W. B. Leyland, in urging publicity for the report, said it would do good, as many were under ' the impression that reinforced % ferroconcrete works were not a success. The 1 chairman (Mr. H. D. Heather) mentioned I that the engineer had informed him he had taken a nail out of a portion of the ferro-concrete, and had found it to be as bright and sound as when it waa taken from the keg. J Active steps are at present being taken by the Auckland Rugby Union with a view to making sure that all footballers under its auspices are doing their share in the war crisis, and the following cir-cula-r letter has been issued by the secretary of the union (Mr. C. V. Langsford) to all clubs which are under the jurisdiction of the union :—": — " Acting on the suggestion of Colonel Major, I shall be very glad if you will kindly let me have, as early as possible, the number of players in training in any of the following : (1) Senior Cadets ; (2) Territorials; (3) National Reserve. I need j hardly point out the necessity for all ! to do their utmost to become as efficient as possible, and, while we- have every reason to feel more than gratified with the ready response of our players to take their share in tho defence of our Empire, one cannot but help thinking that there are still numbers of us who, though not able, for various reasons, to go to the front, are not taking our share of the burden and fitting ourselves for the defence of our Dominion should the necessity arise. I. therefore, ask you to let me have as soon as pos- i sible the information asked for, so that, with that before us, we may then consider the position with a view to calling clubs together, and see in what way we can assist in this cause. I trust that you ' will make this request urgent, and let me have tbe information asked for as ; early as possible." i At a meeting of the Australasian Institute of Marine Engineers it was una- [ nimously decided to offer the Institute premises to the military authorities for 'use as a hospital for wounded soldiers and 6ailors. If the offer is accepted the engineers will undertake to have the building completely fitted up as a hospital. 'Tib decidedly "warm-pyjama-time," ! and wise housewives should certainly select some Ceylon pyjama material at Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd. Two foremost lines are Is 6d and 2s 3d yard. Call!— Advt. HospitaJ Ship requisites, bath-towels Is, sheeting 1» 6d, Horrockfies calico for pillows 63d yard, handkerchiefs 6d, sox Is 2£d. Samuel Pearson, 253, Upper Cuba -street. — Advt. In the country districts hotel-workers' ' dispute, which was before the Conciliation Council ycbterday, an agreement was arrived »t ou the lines of the settlement pr^oufily wade i& P&lmsrt^n^NofciJii. .