LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 85, 10 April 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Enquiries ma/dc by the New Zealand Postal Department have elicited the gratifying information that the mail matter, consisting entirely of newspapers and parcels, principally fox the Expeditionary Forces, which was sent away by the steamer Eotorua (torpedoed), was landed at Plymouth before the vessel left for London.

Many curious finds are made by Captain Bollons, of the Government steamer Hinemoa, during the out-of-the-way cruises of that vessel on the coast of New Zealand. On a recent trip in the vicinity of North Cape, a very'old brass plate was found on the sand dunes at the site of a Maori settlement which was abandoned some seventy or eighty years ago. The plate measures about seven inches by five inches, and is slightly rounded, as though it had been attached to a' spar or something similar. On the centre are the letters "G.R.," surrounded by_ a band with the motto, " Honi soi gui mal y pense." There is also a lion in a natural standing attitude, with a crown on its head under the badge, and over it is a large crown. On each, side are several flags, and an old flint lock musket and lance. Some time ago he found at-the same place an English penny, dated 1797, also a Portuguese coin, dated 11.799. These relics must have been gathered by the Maoris and kept as curios. '. ■ ■

Lieut. Leslie Wallace (son of Mr. D. B. Wallace, of Hokianga, and nephew of Mr. T. R. Wallace, of Wellington, secretary of ihe ■ Marine Engineers' InBtitute), has been invalided to a French hospital suffering from gas poisoning. Lieut. Wallace has served with the artillery since the outbreak of the war, and this is the first mishap that has befallen' him. In a letter he states that the British airmen have such superiority over the German airmen that it is now no longer necessary ' for tha artillery to keep'their guns hidden. When the war broke out Lieut. Wallace was studying electricity at Glasgow University.

The important work of letting the Tarawera River out to the sea by a more direct route, which is part of the scheme for the drainage of the large swamp area at the back of Whakatane, is now nearly completed, states the Auckland Star. k The cut is near Matata, and it is expected the river will be in its new course next week. A pontoon bridge is now almost finished for the purpose of the ferry. It is expected that this cut at Matata, end of the Rangitaiki swamp will have the effect of effectively draining the large area between Te Toko and Whakataue. These swamp lands, where drained, have proved of great value for agricultural purposes, and as there are some eighty- thousand acres altogether, this work \s one of the greatest importance to the district.

According to a recent number of the Western Pacific Times (Suva) negotiations for the purchase of the Grand Pacific Hotel by iflie Government have been dropped 'owing to objections'raised by some elected members. This hotel, which cost over £50,000, has not paid its way, especially since the war. The building was offered to the Government for £10,000. The idea was that the building mij^ht be suitable for a boys' boarding school, which it is proposed to erect at Suva. The matter had been referred to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Who agreed to the; purchase provided payment would not be required for three years, interest to be paid in the meantime. As the matter has been dropped a site will now be purchased, on * which a school will in due couvue be erected.

Through a plague of. caterpillars Mr. Goulding, of Kikau, Westport, has had the misfortune to lose three, acres of oats (says the Westporfc News). , They, have eaten not only the oats, but also destroyed the stalks! Fowls, pigs, and duclcs turned into the field failed to combat the hordes of caterpillars, which have effectually destroyed the crop as if a fire had run through it. Mr. Goulding does not recollect anything so serious happening in Ms district before. He attributes tne jjlague to the unusually dry season experienced on the coast.

Picture shows were discussed for a few moments at the New Zealand Conference of Ccachbuilders to-day, when Mr. J. Lock (Gore) moved : —"That we are not in favour of closing up picture shows, as a certain, amount of relaxation is necessary to tho eflioiency of all who work. We are, however, of opinion, that many of the pictures shown are very I undesirable, and in exercising a/ much stricter censorship it might be insisted that a larger proportion o! educational pictures be shown." The motion was seconded By Mr. J. Scurr (Dnnedin), who spoke on general lines, favourable to the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Advice has been received by mail of the death at the front of Sergeant James Murphy, who was foreman for (the Public Works Department at Patutahi quarry prior to his enlistment in the Ist Engineers' Tunnelling Corps. It appears that Sergeant Murphy was very seriously wounded in tfa-e passage-way of his billet by a fragment of a German high explosive shell. He was at once conveyed by ambulance to a depot in the village of Aubigny, where he died. His loss was keenly felt by both officers and -men of his company, and the O.C. recorded his appreciation of Murphy's services in the orders of the day. Sergeant Murphy's parents reside in Wellington.

• Mrs. Margaret Jackson, of 32, Frank-lin-road, Ponsonby, Auckland, celebrated her lOlSt birthday on Tuesday last, when she was visited by a number of friends. The old lady, who still enjoys comparatively good health, is a native of Ireland, and came to New Zealand in 1872 with her-second husband, Cpl. John Jackson, a Mutiny veteran, who has been dead some thirty years. She has one surviving child, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. During the past twelve months Mrs. Jackson's health has shown a alight decline, and she has spent some weeks in bed, .but •on her birthday she was up and about. Apart from deafness, the old lady shows few signs of her great age.

A remarkable swimming feat -was accomplished at Island Bay yesterday -by members of the Island Bay Life-saving, Surf Club. A party of fifteen, including seven ladies, swam from the bay to the island and back, a fair distance. It ie also worth special mention that most of the ladies are first season swimmers, and only a, few weeks back were being instructed in the elementary rudiments of the art. ■; Their rapid' development speaks well for the completeness of the system adopted by, their instructress arid their own eagerness and daring. Tbs club has experienced a most successful season. Several of its fcembers are practising assiduously for their medallion ltest_ to take place shortly, and ft is hoped to make the presentation of trophies the occasion for a social gathering to mark the official close of the season. ' :

The matter of making young men of military age members of friendly societies was considered at the Foresters' annual meeting at Dunedin, says the Star. It was shown during the discussion that friendly societies are paying the contributions of members who are at the war. The point raised wag whether it was advisable to. initiate such new members at present, because it was possible that the paying of their contributions during their absence might constitute a heavy burden, which was not contemplated when the rates of contributions' and benefits were formulated. A proposition not to admit men of military age as members failed to find -, a seconder. Members recognised that burdens had to be borne in order to further the winning of the war, and the meeting, unanimously resolved that the matter of initiating new members'while the war is on be left to the'discretion-of individual courts. ''.''.' '

" Well, I don't you . have managed to deal with the dust nuisance here much better than we have done in Auckland," remarked an Auckland City Councillor recently, when on a visit to Wellington. The wood-blocking of streets, he said, had probably made an improvement, but the dust still seemed to' come in from side streets. Wellington. City Council has recognised this, and is now dealing gradually with all streets in the business quarter, substituting tarred macadam or tar and bitumen for the ordinary macadam surface. Where the traffic is heavy, wood-blocks are being used ; but th? difficulty of obtaining material prevents much ■ being done in this direction. A great improvement has been affected, however, at Courtenay-place, on the north side of the plantation. The diversion of all wheeled traffic rendered this necessary. The w«rk is practically completed.

Amongst recent arrivals in Wellington from Australia was Captain' M. N. Plante, who has been appointed to the comnland of a vessel in Auckland. Captain Plante was formerly an officer in the New Zealand Shipping Company's (service, but will be best remembered here as chief officer of the Fumess Line's s.s. FeEciana, whieih was. some weeks in Wellington haying her machinery repaired while on a voyage from Valparaiso to Sydney, and of which ship he was afterwards master. During the war between Russia.and Japan he was in charge of a steamer with cargo for Port Arthur. He succeeded in getting past the Japanese warships,'but before she could make the harbour his vessel struck a" mine laid by the Russians, and foundered alongside the forts. The captain and the other survivors were sent to St. Petersburg,by the.Siberian railway. Among his other cectifieateß,; Captain Plante holds one from the Government of Chili as a master pilot for the Straits of Magellan; his first certificate as second mate was issued in Wellington in 18.89, the examiner being the late Captan Edwin, and,'he was then appointed third mate of the" ship Wanganui, on which, he had 'been an apprentice. Captain Plante. left for Auckland to-day.

Detailed plans have been preparedfor the new Fire Brigade Station to be erected at the top of ' Constable-street and Crawford-road. A considerable amount of excavation has to be earned out on the site before the building can be proceeded with. It is intended to make the station a substantial one, capable'of serving Wellington > South (including Island Bay), Maranui,.Kilbirnie, and Hataita'i. The commanding situation will enable this to be done. When the new station is erected it is probable that the existing Newtown station at the corner of St. John-street and Adelaideroad will be closed.