LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 97, 25 April 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), who was prevented from attending tlio opening of the proceedings of the New Zealand Educational Institute owing to His taking part in welcoming the returned wounded troopers on Saturday, attended tho conference to-day, and briefly addiessed the meeting. He alluded to the good work in. connection with education which was being done by the Institute. Touching on the war, Mr. Luke1 expressed regret that Great Britain had not taken adequate advantage of the asset it possessed in the discoveries of its scientific men ia their application to manufactures and commerce. He specially referred to Sir William Parker's work in relation to the utilisation of the by-products of coal-tar for the manufacture of dyes, which industry had so greatly developed in what was now an enemy country. "We are reaching that season now when we must expect unsettled weather," says the Government Meteorologist (Mr. D. C. Bates). That has been apparent already. The fine weather on Friday and Saturday last gave place on I Sunday to very inclement weather. The winds changed round to the south after | a dull afternoon, during which there was a drizzling rain. The wind continued in the south, but yesterday, for the holiday, it was fine, though cold. The barometer is now very high, and tho immediate prospect is for fair to cloudy weather. Fogs along tho coast are not unlikely. Another change is coming, and the wind will probably go by east to north. Ten bicycle ;thefts which occurred in the city during this month have all been traced to a young man named Andrew Boyd, who was arrested yesterday by Constable Wallace. Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day, Boyd pleaded guilty. In. spector Hendrey stated that in some cases the owners of the bicycles had been found, but several of the machines were still unclaimed. Boyd was remanded for sentence until 3rd May, in order that the police can make some enquiries into Ms history. Yesterday the Fire Brigade received a call to No. 65, Tiber-street, Island Bay, a seven-roomed house owned and occupied by Mr. John M'Menamin. When the brigade arrived the fire had a good grip on the building, but some portion of it was saved. The house and contents, however, were severely damaged. The cause of the outbreak could not be discovered. The house was insured in tho Phoenix Office for £700, and the contents were covered by a policy for £300 with the same company. The legal assistance fund of the New Zealand Educational Institute, states the annual report' of thai body, now stands at £1000. During the year more than twenty teachers have benefited by the assistance of the fund, either by way of legal advice or assistance in the courts. The cases dealt with included the prosecution of parents for threatening or insulting teachers,, defending teachers charged with assault, and a case in the Supreme Court against the Marlborough Board in defence of a teacher's rights under the law concerning appointments. The teachers were successful in all these cases but one. The attention of the institute's solicitors has also been engaged with the position o£ a number of t-eachets in normal schools which is still uncertain. At the present time the executive is supporting an appeal case in the Wanganul district. There are'several interesting features in the balance-sheet of the Auckland Savings Bank for the year just ended (comments the Star). The number of depositors at the end of the year was 56,500, .or, including depositors in the Penny Bank, - 71,000, a. very high proportion of the population of the city and suburbs. Indeed, when it is remembered that the Post Office Savings Bank also operates in the city, the figures are extraordinary. The increase in the number of depositors was less than in any of the last ten years, which is probably to be accounted for by the number of young men who have gone to the war, but the net increase in deposits, about £160,000, was the greatest during the same period. The purpose of the bank is to encourage thrift among the industrial classes, and how well if. serves that purpose, is indicated not only by the number of depositors, but by the number whose deposits are £20 and under. Of 71,000 depositors, 36,600 are in this class, 7400 have, between £20 and £30, 6000 between £50 and £100, and 6300 have over £100. The total to, the credit of depositors is £1,780,400, an increase of about three-quarters of a million in the last ten years. The surplus profit is now £145,000. All Germany's spies are not yet run down. But every week adds to "the list of suspects, and on occasions our detectives catch one red-handed (writes the London correspondent of the Sydney Sun). The flashing: of signals to aircraft remind us every time the Zeppelins or aeroplanes come at night time that there are German agents "in our midst, and those who go to a naval port, or any dockyard used for the shipment of troops, know how the ceaseless work of these underworld hidings of tho Kaiser have forced the authorities to all manner of expensive precautions. Great fences have been built, guards pace night and day along every approach, passes are difficult to get, even for prominentmen visiting thfi place on public business. . Some ports, such as Dover, are in complete possession of the War Office or Admiralty, and no one can enter the town without signed and counter-signed warrant. Recently the detectives ran down one of the handsomest and ingratiating of the many beautiful women Germany has employed. She had been in the country for five days. Every hour of every day her movements were accounted for; and on the fifth the secret service men had proof, and her arrest was ordered. Happily, she had been able to do no harm; but she had got far, and a step further would have meant a valuable secret transferred to Berlin. Germany does the spy work handsomely, but clumsily. The kaiser's agents employ lovely women, who have many accomplishments and can carry off delicate situations well. Every German spy, every German agent, even those working above ground in America, are clever and attractive, easy to get on with, and hard to offend. The spies are shipJDed J . J across from Scandinavia or the United States, and it is comparatively easy for them to enter the country. They communicate with Berlin through a neutral country, but as all letters to neutral countries are opened and scanned—a colossal work carried out at our British post offices — they require clever codes; The British authorities do not pretend that they pievent all spying. But they do claim when they speak of a subject that is best served by silence that there is no spy system to compare with our own. From personal observations I can say that there is much to support this claim. Our spy system is silent, there is no boasting or talking, no ostentation, no overdoing it by elaboration. One of the most notorious of German-American spies is a man wo used, and cast aside. Most spies ai'e internationals, men and women of no country, adventurers whom, cither side can buy.

Nearly all of yesterday was spent ))>• the New Zealand Educational Institute in committee, considering the proposed changes in the constitution of tlie Institute. The suggested changes which are well known to teachers, provide that smaller independent branches may be formed, connecting directly with the Institute, instead of, as at present, through the .District Institutes. The London Standard's special correspondent in Switzerland, in an article on German lying, makes the following interesting disclosure:—The Chancellor's famous admission, made -in 'the Reich stag on 4th August, 1914, that Germany was doing wrong in violating Belgian neutrality, has been expunged from the official report of the proceedings; hence it was never^ uttered,' and future British writers who 'make use of 'the admission will be traducers of Herr yon BethmannHolweg! 'At Kalgporlie recently provisional certificates of naturalisation were granted to about 140 Austrian slavs, and it is stated that some of these men have since obtained employment in the mines. The position was discussed at last meeting of the local Miners' Union, and the following resolution was passed:—That this union regards as enemy subjects all persons of enemy origin not naturalised before Ist February, 1916, and any. attempt to re-employ them under the guise of Russians or other Allies will be regarded by this union as a deliberate attempt to create industrial strife. '"The war hasn't touched America a bit," said Madame Melba to a Sydney interviewer. "What are the sympathies of the people? Intensely pro-Ally. Although there are some big cities, whose names I won't mention, where the sympathies lie'the other way, the great majority of the people are against Germany. But, of course, the country is faced with the impossible problem of the millions and millions of citizens of German birth of parentage who arescatvered everywhere. When I was in Boston I sang with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. What an orchestra it is! And why, why can't we get one in Melbourne? Well, this orchestra is run by Major Higginson; for twenty-five years it has cost that man £10,000 a year, and it is only just lately that it has begun to pay its way. , When war broke out he called his orchestra together. In it there were Englishmen, Germans,' Frenchmen,' Poles—performers of all nationalities. 'Now,' he said, 'we are in a neutral country here, and this orchestra is going to stay neutral. At the very first sign of bickering, I'll have it disbanded.' And there has been peace ever since 1" The introduction of compulsory military; service for single men will create some vacancies for a number of married professional men who found thoir means of livelihood vanish when the war broke out (writes a London correspondent). It was the professional men who were the first to feel the effects of the war, the classes hardest hit being architects, barristers, solicitors, lawyers' clerks, con suiting engineers, civil engineers, accountants, actors, artists, musicians; literary men, journalists, chemists, and commercial [travellers. At the Professional^ Classes Register Office, which was' established after the outbreak of war for the purpose of finding \work for proi fessional men, 12,000 applications for | work were received, and there are still | 7000 names on the books. Many of the I applicants .have accepted employment in munition works, but others are unable to bring themselves down to the level of manual labour, or even to clerkships. Six hundred enquiries were cent out to men on the register, asking them if they would be willing to accept clerical positions at 30s to 35s a week. Only 200 of these replied to the enquiry, and only |50 agreed to accept such work. It seems that many small boys •of Sydney share the belief that a reduction in the trading hours of hotels must lead to a great increase in the consumption of liquor outside of hotels (writes The Post's Sydney correspondent). We learn that since the coming into effect of the proclamation by the' Commonwealth authorities compelling licensed houses, which formerly did business up to 11 p.m. in Sydney, to cease trading at 8 pun., numerous gangs of boys have been organised for the gathering up and sale of bottles left in parks and reserves by persons who at 8 o'clock find their evening thirst still vigorous, ftnd purchase much liquor in bottles. The burden of full bott'es is, it seems, generally a pretty heavy one, | and the "bottle party" settles down to enjoy itself in the nearest reserve or park. The alert boys know all the favourite resting places, of the "bottle parties," and systematically watch and patrol these places, promptly, annexing each empty bottle as it is thrown aside. The hoys are "on the job" until about 11 p.m. It is said that an energetic party of them which works Hyde Parlc divides regularly considerable sums derived from the sale of empty bottlesi Competition is very'keen, and- there are frequent battles between rival parties, and policemen are at times appealed to by boys because of inroads upon their "vested interests." According .to-a London correspondent, it is quite clear that the official press apologists of Germany are hard put to it to make a German triumph out of the slaughter round Verdun. More and more in these recent days the first flagwavings over the great* offensive there are giving place to disquiet, and even fear. A significant sign of the times is a week-end article of Major Moraht in a leading enemy journal. ..That usually uncompromising upholder of German military methods seems to begin to .donbt the wisdom of the Verdun movement. Moreover, it was not his went to speak anything of the Trench, save disdain, but now we find him lamenting that "we must recognise fully the bravery of the enemy. . . A generation of warriors sinks into its grave before Verdun, or drags its way home in mutii j lated condition. That is what makes one shiver in watching this shedding of blood by two nations who hand in hand .could dominate the world, and could raise its culture to unknown heights. Instead, they are tearing themselves in pieces, and whilst they do so we remember that in neither country were there compelling motives to fall upon each other. . . I have often heard from the mouth of our young soldiers taking part in this bloody struggle with the French how they wish nothing more Intensely than that the bad word 'hereditary enemy' should disappear in the coming peace," This idea of a fraternal Germany and France, begotten of the fight for Verdun, will make nasty reading for the Berlin flag-wavers.

The Mararoa, from Lyttelton 10-day, was a "full ship" as far as passengers were concerned. She had on board no fewer than 512 passengers of all c:lasse3, including some 130 soldiers, mostly returning from leave. , ■ • The official opening of. the Returned Soldiers' Hostel at Newtown takes placu to-morrow afternoon. The home is well ventilated and well lighted, and the medical officers"who have visited it are greatly impressed with the building and its suitableness for the purpose for which it is used. The hostel is already full of returned soldieiv, and another building is required. Las^week there was a record number o£ patients ill Wellington, Hospital, Victoria Military Hospital, and the Fever Hospital, which .are all under Dr. Morice's control.'.1 No fewer than 408 persons were under ■ treatment. The number to-day is 380. In order to provide accommodation for so many patients it has been found necesary to place a number of stretchers in some o£ the wards. "You can't palm off a preserved egg for a new-laid on to the public," said Mr. J. B. Merreit, secretary, at the Poultry Conference to-day. "Can't you?" exclaimed several members. They also pointed out that preserved eggs were sold every day as new-laid. It was resolved : "That the New Zealand Poultry Association recommend all egg associations and circles to cool store as many dozen eggs is possible during the coming spring, with the object of blocking the importation of American and other eggs during the winter months.'' In the war news in to-night's Post is a paragraph stating that the steamer Feliciana has been sunk by a German submarine. > In the minds of some people reading this item the name Feliciana will be vaguely familiar, but most readers will have forgotten it entirely. Early in July, 1911, there crept into AVellington harbour one afternoon a big cargo tramp of some 4277 tons, maimed and crippled by a long fight with the. elements on'the long voyage from Talcahuano (Chili) to Newcastle (New South Wales). That vessel was the luvrness liner Feliciana, built two years previously in .the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company's yards. From the outset of the voyage the Feliciana had encountered tempestuous weather, and throughout the thousands of miles .between Chili and Wellington the vessel had been practically at the mercy of 'the waves. The propeller would not "grip," as the vessel was travelling light, and the stern had to be weighted down to make any headway.at all. To crown the misery of those on board, the engines developed a' serious fault, and it was only through the untiring efforts of the engine-room staff that the Feliciana made land ■at all. Those on board fully expected that the vessel would founder, and it was only by skilful navigation and a large amount of luck that Wellington was reached. The Feliciana was subsequently taken alongside the Railway Wiarf and "tipped." This operation, . which took considerable time and ran to much expense, was dene by Messrs. Cable and Co., of this city. After spending some time in undergoing the necessary repairs here, the Feliciana resumed her eventful voyage to Newcastle. The membership of the New Zealand Educational Institute this year is 3027, a slight increase on the previous year. In memory of Anzac Day the premises of the majority of fruiterers in the city and suburbs will be closed from 1 p.m. to-day until to-morrow mqr/iins. A notice appears in our advertising columns in reference to the Westlarid Arc Union. Privilege-holders in connection with the General. Assembly Library are requested to return all books on or before Friday, 28th April. Borrowers not complying with-this notice will not be. • granted library privileges next recess. ,