LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 40, 16 August 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The city water supply last summer gave the Mayor and the officers of the corporation considerable anxiety, and n was feared that there would be a shortage. In order that an additional supply might be obtained, the . Mayor and members of the council waited upon the Prime Minister with a suggestion that Cabinet should vest the watershed of Orongorongo in the city. Mr. Luke explained that the desire of the council was to cut a tunnel through the range that divides the Wainui-o-mata from the Orongorongo, and thus connect the Orongorongo Stream with the Morton Dam. The supply, by these means, would be increased by over 100 per cent., and the work could be carried out at a cost of £25,000. The Mayor has now received advice from the Prime Minister that Cabinet has granted the request. The area comprises 5263 acres, and will be gazetted and vested in trust to the city as a reserve for the preservation of timber and water supply purposes.

The attention of members of the various employers' associations is being called to clauses 40 and 41 of the Military Service Act, 1916. These clauses read : —"Employers not to employ reservists unless enrolled. Every person shall be guilty of an offence, punishable on summary convictions by a fine not less than £20 and not more than £100, who at any time after the enrolment of any division or class of the reserve has been proclaimed and directed employs in his service, or continues in such, employment for more than seven days any man who belongs to that division or class, and who is not enrolled therein, unless the defendant proves 'that he believed on reasonable grounds that the man so employed or retained in his service did not belong to that division or class, or was enrolled therein."

The manager of the- Union Steam Ship Company has forwarded to The Post a cheque for £5 15s collected by passengers on board the R.M.S. Moana on her voyage from San Francisco. The amount hae, by request, been applied to • the following funds: —£3 19s to the Belgian Fund and £1 16s to the Red Cross Fund.

In Featherston Camp orders the Commandant (Lieut.-Colonel N. P. Adams) expresses his extreme appreciation of the good spirit displayed by all ranks employed in the preparation of Tauherenikau Camp for occupation by the 19th Infantry Reinforcements, and of the willing energy displayed in working long hours in most trying weather, which enabled the camp to be occupied to time.

The rules of. the Wellington Rugby Union prohibit single men of military age, who have not enlisted, from taking part in matches under the union's jurisdiction. At last evening's meeting of the Management Committee a breach of this rule was dealt with. The decision of the committee was that the secretary write to the club concerned and ask for an explanation as to why the man was allowed to play.

The suspension bridge which Mr. Joseph Dawson, of Paliiatua, is to erect over the Manawa-iu River at Rangiotu, near Longburn, will be 450 ft long, or 90ft longer than the bridge at. Melling, Lower Hutt. The exceptionally high price of steel and iron will add to the cost, but Mr. Dawson believes it will be completed for about £3000. He means to make it the largest, finest, and strongest suspension bridge in New Zealand

Power lias been taken by the FederalDefence Department to establish a modified form of picture film censorship. A regulation issued recently under the War Precautions Act gave the Defence authorities power to require cinematograph films to be submitted for inspection before exhibition. It is stated that the principal object of the censorship is to ensure that no war pictures likely to expose the Allied forces to ridicule or contempt shall be exhibited.

There seems no probability of the price of butter being reduced for some time' to come (says the Taranaki Daily News). The Ingle-wood Dairy Company has just refused an offer of 17d f.o.b. trucks at railway station, for its next three months' butter. An offer "<sf 17id has been accepted for one month's butter. At the meeting of suppliers of the Lepperton' Dairy Company, the chairman stated that the company had sold its local butter at 17£ din New Plymouth.

Reference was made at last week's meeting of the Waipawa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to the death at Dannevirke Hospital of a discharged soldier riamed Perry. It was stated that if the military authorities had known no doubt Perry would have been given a military funeral. The chairman of the board explained that deceased had apparently met with his injuries in camp, but the camp authorities stated that such was not the case. Deceased had been in. Napier and Wellington Hospitals* and later had been admitted to the Dannevirka Hospital, having been taken ill on the train. Arrangements were being made for him to go home to his people, but about ten days ago he stated his intention of leavitlg the hospital. He was told tfcat he was not in a fit condition to leave, but he insisted, and had signed a paper to the effect that he was leaving of his own accord. He had got a taxi, was taken to the station, and. became so ill that he was returned posthaste to the hospital, where he died an hour or two after readmission. A postmortem examination had shown that deceased's heart was in a bad condition. Ho had no friends or money, arid it was owing to the arrangements made by the chairman that he had been/given a decent funeral. After discussion it was decided by the board that in the future when any person who had been in the Defence Forces died in the hospital the military authorities be informed of the fact.

According to a Hawkes Bay paper, the damage done to the Napier breakwater by the recent storm was milch greater than at first estitoaied. Repairs will probably run into a latfge sum. Apart from the rails that have .been left hanging over the side of the mole, 450 yards of rails have been washed clean away. This measurement does not include those rails washed away on previous occasions. The value of rails is now 9s 4d a yard. It was aleo stated thai the apron had sunk a few inches. 'Lac average sinking of the apfOn was over six feet, and much moTe in places. In four or five spots the apron is now lower than the main structure, and even a- light sea comes over. A'ifty or sixty blocks are required to bnild np the apron, and the cost of the blocks is approximately £20 each. Although they weigh thirty tons, the waves in some instances hurled them right over the main structure. . Dozens have been split and broken into smaller pieces and the apron is fully twelve feet wider than it was. The holes in the concrete are a minor matter, even though sleepers have been washed away. The biggest is 36 by 12 by 2 feet. Supporting blocks are required where the breakwater has been pushed out of alignment. There is also a big cra-ck a hundred, yards long in the main structure extending right down the centre. ■ l

Six o'clock closing in»Sydney appears to have produced some queer results, judging from the story told to a Post reporter by a well-known Wellington business mail who has just returned from New South Wales. Immediately the Act came into force all the exemptions previously enjoyed by residential clubs were withdrawn. The news came as a bombshell. No person residing in an hotel could get a drink after 6 p.m. unless he took the chance of breaking the law. A rather amusing incident happened in connection with the New South Wales Chamber of Commerce dinner. This is generally regarded as a most important function, at which the Premier and Cabinet Ministers and leading commercial men can generally bo relied upon to make statements of considerable importance. The dinner was to have been held, as usual> at Farmer's restaurant, a prominent establishment which possessed a colonial wino license. It was discovered, however, that no liquor could l>6 consumed on such premises, and at almost the last moment it was decided to transfer the scene of operations to the Sydney Town Hall., where, as there was no license, any amount of liquor could be consumed. Another result was that the Paris House, which held a colonial wine license, found that the privilege, was so fatal to its business that it abandoned it, procured any liquor required from an adjoining hotel and keeps things going as long, as it likes.

The Wairarapa Daily Times says it is reported that an inmate of the Solway Home, Masterton, has established his claim to a sum of £62,000, which has been lying in Chancery for many years..

An evidence of the mildness, reported in a local paper, of the season in Gisbome is the fact that a Kaiti resident is picking ripe strawberries from his garden.

The annual meeting of the Gas Companies' Association of New Zealand will be held in Wellington to-morrow. The Wellington Gas Company will be represented by Mr. D. J. Nathan and Dr. Prendergast Knight (directors), Mr. W. Ferguson (managing director), and Mr., A. Dougall (general manager).

Butter in cool store in the Dominion as on ISth August amounted to 20,309 boxes, as against 6806 boxes at the corresponding date of last year, or an. increase of 13,503 boxes.

Further evidence was heard before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., yesterday in the civil action wherein Ivo Selwyn Joyce, wholesale fruiterer, Wellington claimed £100 from Simon Edilson, fruit merchant, for alleged breach of contract in non-acceptance of a, consignment of fruit. A counter-claim for £50 for alleged breach of warranty was entered by defendant. The case occupied the Court for the greater part of the day, and further hearing was adjourned to Wednesday next. Mr. P. H. Putnam appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. D. Jackson fou defendant.

An interesting souvenir of enlistment for active service has been received by Mr. John Hiscock,, of Lower Hutt, from his son. Private V. H. Hiscock, of the 138 th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. It is a photograph of the recruit mounted on what may be described as an enlistment certificate. The design is a handsome one, with the flags of the Empire lithographed in colours on a background of Grecian, columns decorated with the crown, the beaver, and the maple-leaf, and bearing the_ superscription: " European. War, United Empire." Underneath the agreement is engrossed the name of the recruit, with the name of his unit and. the date and place of enlistment. Mr. Hiscock has two other sons who have volunteered for active service.

It is proposed by the South Australian (Labour) Government to tax amusements. Tho rate (states an exchange) will be about a farthing on a threepenny ticket, rising in an equal portion to the price of the dearest seats or tickets. Several of the picture show proprietors are opposed to the new tax, while others appear rather unconcerned. The tax is to be passed >«i. On this point a beautiful unanimity of opinion prevailed amongst the showmen. They all stated openly why the. public would have to pay. The Government expected to raise £30,000, and there is no doubt the Legislative Council will agree to it, especially since the showmen have made it perfectly clear that they won't pay, but the people will. Members of the Legislative Council have frequently railed about the attendances at the threepenny picture shows.

A collision between a motor-car and some stray cattle on 6th April last had its sequel in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when W. H. Trengrove, motorgarage proprietor, of Courtenay-place, sought to recover from Patrick Cavanagh dairyman, the sum of £50. Mr. H. Hill appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. E. M. Sladden for defendant. The plaintiff alleged that on 6th April, while travelling from Trentham to Wellington in his motor-car, the car collided with cattle belonging to the defendant, tho car being considerably damaged. ' It was submitted that the plaintiff in no way contributed to the accident, and he claimed £35, costs of repairing the damage, arid £15 as general, damages. Defendant counter-claimed for £22 10s for the loss of a cow, which it was alleged was due to the unskilful driving of the car by the plaintiff. The Magistrate (Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M.), gave judgment for plaintiff for £20, with costs (£4 7s) Defendant was nonsuited in the counterclaim.

It was recently stated by the Fiji correspondent of. the New Zealand Herald that the Legislative Council of Fiji had sought the permission of the Secretary, of State for the Colonies to offer "New Zealand two platoons for its Expeditionary Forces —' one of half-castes and one of Fijians. It was generally thought, says the correspondent in a further communication' just received, that the offer of a half-caste platoon would be acceptable, as men of the same stamp 3re constantly leaving Fiji and being accepted in New. Zealand and Australia. The Hon. H. Marks offered to pay the cost of transport. On Ist August, however, a cable was received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies expressing regret that the Army Council thought that the men would be unsuitable for service in Europe or Africa., and suggested that they should be used in home defence. This .means, says the Herald, that the New Zealand Government will not receive the offer of men from Fiji, and that many halfcastes will continue to come to the Dominion unofficially, as they have done in the past.

Mr. C. W. Palmer has resigned from the position of honorary" secretary of i-he Wellington branch of the Navy League, and at the meeting of the league Jast evening great regret was expressed at his retirement. It was mentioned' that when the London envoy of the league, Mr. Harold Wyatt, left Wellington in February, 1904, there were but eleven financial members enrolled in the new branch, and Mr. Palmer, who was one of the original executive, enrolled. 150 members within a few weeks. He then visited Nelson and Napier at his Own expense, and formed branches at each of those places, handing over the whole of the subscriptions collected by ■him to the local committees.. Later on he visited Marlborough, Wanganui, Gisbofixe, TaranaM, PalmeTston, Feilding, and other places, with the result that ■numerous school branches as well as fresh adult sub-branches "were formed. The total enrolments from personal canvas numbered over 700, and in the aggregate (including the Wellington, schools) over 3500 juvenile members were enrolled. He instigated the movement which eventually resulted' in New Zealand's naval subsidy being increased to £100,000, and. was instrumental in persuading Lieutenant Kiiox to come to Now Zealand in 1906 and deliver lectures here. As the result of that visit, New Zealand was aroused to such an extent that Sir Joseph Ward's offer of a Dreadnought was made practicable. Mr. Palmer has receivedi from all directions warm letters of congratulation on the work of the league, including communications from Lord Islington and Lord Plunket, from Lords of the Admiralty, 'and half a dozen other admirals, active and retired. It was resolved to have a minute drafted recording the league's appreciation of Mr. Palmer's, twelve years of continuous service.