LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 100, 27 April 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Owing to the serious illness of the mother of one of the principals, the " Watch Your Step V Company, now performing at the Grand Opera House, was unable to carry out its intention of parading the streets of the city this morning on behalf of the crippled soldiers' art union. The company will, however, make is"appearance in the open air to-morrow. Tne artistes will be driven through the main streets on lorries, and hope to put up % record in selling art union tickets. The fine motorcar (presented by Miss Anderson, of Kereru, Hawkes Bay, through the Hon. G. W. Russell), which is to be the first prize in the art union, will be in 'the procejftion, and will be decorated for the occasion. Mrs. Lowry, of Hawkes Bay, has collected 350 sheep for the prize fund.

The election of chairman of Ihe Wellington Harbour Board will take place at the annual meat-ing, to be held on Wednesday next.

Empire Day will be observed on 4th Tune. The King's Birthday, the anniversary of which falls on 3rd June, will also be observed on the 4th. The Government offices throughout the Dominion wilL be closed.

Lovers of oysters will be interested to learn that the season for Auckland rock -oysters will open on Tuesday next. A Post reporter who made enquiries at the Marine Department this morning concerning the prospects was informed that a very good season is expected.

It has been decided to erect a memorial stone in tho Featherston Military Cemetery in remembrance of the soldiers interred there. The names of the men ■will be recorded on the stone, and provision will be made for inscribing any additional name 3 which may be necessary in the future. Designs are being called for.

On several occasions Mr. L. G. Reid, 5.M.,: has drawn attention in the Magistrate's Court to the .fact that he will not hear cases in which there is no positive proof that the defendant has, been per-, sonally. served with a summons. This morning the City Solicitor (Mr. J. O'Shea) stated that if tins rule were rigidly observed in a city of the size of Wellington : serious difficulties' would arise. : It woukl mean additional trouble for the police,-who, already,'had considerable difficulty, -in!', finding • persons charged. Mr.' Reid :'• "I can't help- it, ■ Mr. O'Shea; that will be niy ruling in the future;" .■''.' .-•■..•■■..■;

The patriotic work of school children has been tho subject of much appreciation on the part of the authorities concerned, and in this direction the pupils of Berhampore, School have accomplished much good. *> The whole of the sewing time is now devoted to the making of soldiers' comforts, while contributions to different funds have resulted in large amounts being available for the relief of distressed ones. \ A children's carnival, says the headmaster's second annual report, is ■ being arranged in aid of patriotic funds, and the juveniles are enter ing with spirit into the preparations.

The London correspondent of The Post (writing on 13th March) tells us that Mr. Herbert Hoover, who has been administering the relief funds" in Belgium on beha 7f of America, describes the American contributions as having been " pitifully inadequate." He says the United States has made a clear profit of £6,000,000 out of supplying food, etc., for Belgium, but has subscribed only £1,800,000 to the Relief Fund. The subscriptions of the world amount to £50,000,000, of ■ which £30,000,000 has been spent in the States.. Tasmania has sent to Belgium 6.53 dollars par head of population, New Zealand 1.93 dollars, Australia 1.25 dollars, Canada 28 cents, Britain 18 cents, the United States under 9 cents per head.

It was stated at the annual meeting of the St. Mark's parishioners last night that seven of the men members of the chojr were at the front.

A committee consisting of Messrs. G. Matthews, A. Colling, and A. Agnew, was set up at a special meeting of the Waterside Workers' Union last evening, to consider the question of a benefit fund. Mr. L. Glover presided.

Mr. Goodman, of Kempton, Bedford, some years ago created a mild sensation by showing several pure white canaries, sent from New Zealand by Mrs. Martin. The London correspondent of The Post, writing on 27th February, mentions that Mr. Goodman has now received a second contingent from Mrs. Martin, consisting of twenty-five birds, sixteen of which are white and nine are dark. Cage Birds says : "The 'whites' are certainly a splendid lot of birds of the Yorkshire typo and a great improvement upon the first lot sent, which were more of the Border Fancy type. Their constitution must be very robust, for although upon arrival, after their journey of about. nine weeks, *they were a bit down in condition, Mr. Goodman soon pulled them round, got them well through the moult, and a few days ago they were in prime condition, the cocks singing lustily." So far as the nine dark birds aro concerned, Cage Birds says they, are very pretty and attractive, and it is to be hoped a forerunner of an entirely njew variety. The expert" writes : "To me the most remarkable thing is that they were _ all bred from white birds, the mating in the first instance being a white cock and a jonque cinnamon hen. The establishment of this new .variety is certainly a great credit to Mrs. Martin." Fanciers wish air success to this New-Zealand variety.

An Otaki racehorse owner, states that, although he is only in a: small _ way, racing has.cost him nearly £3000 in;nominations, acceptances, riding fees, travelling, etc., during the past three years.

. A new selection of famous "Gage" hats has arrived at Kirkcaldie's. Quite exclusive : some are in black velvet, -trimmed tailored style, droop shapes, and, other smart styles. Some are in white velvet, white hatters' plush; whito satin, and other materials, also trimmed in smart tailored styles. All the one price, 21s each. See' the window display.— Ad-vt.

Favourite. felts in many shades, 7s 6d, 8s 6d, 10s 6d, 12s €d, 13s 6d, to 255, and 32s 6d for' Stetsons. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd,, Manners-street.—Advt. . . ".'■."''.-."

Anzac Day was celebrated at Featherston by a memorial service in the Anzac Club, largely attended by soldiers and residents. The chairman of the Town Board (Mr. J. W. Card) presided, land a. stirring address was delivered bjj Rev. J. G. S. Bartlett. The "Last Post" was sounded by trumpeters, and a number of vocal and instrumental, items were also given.

The accounts in.connection with the fund inaugurated by Mr. T M. Wilford, M.P., chairman of the Wellington Patriotic Society, for the purchase of a piano, gramaphones, violins, and music for the use of the 24tn Reinforcements, . have been audited by Mr. H. B. Gray, F.P.A. The total amount collected was £91 15s. The amount expended was £89 ss, leaving a balance in hand of £2 10s, •which it is proposed to donate to some other patriotic object.

Plans for the building of a Returned Soldiers' Club at Masterton on land donated by Mr. W. G. Beard have been prepared, and the work of electing the structure will be commenced very shortly. Despite the attempt that was made, in a certain quarter to throw cold ■water on the scheme, says, tho Daily Times, it has been brought to a successful issuo mainly through the untiring efforts of that well-known " soldiers' friend," Mr. A. P. Whatman, whose record of patriotic service stands out boldly.

R«gret is expressed by the churchwardens and vestry of St. Alban's, Eastbourne, in their annual report, at the death of Mr. W. F. Shortt, who acted as organist at the morning and special week-day services. Mr. Shortt took a great interest in the work of the church in its earlier days, and Ms loss v/ill be keenly felt. Since the close of the year his sons, have-, presented to the churchthe organ- -which was used by their father during Divine service. The vestry thanks the donors for their generous gift.

A final dividend of 125 per cent., less income-tax (making 135 per cent, for the year), is recommended by Messrs. Robert Campbell and Sons, whose meeting for the voluntary winding up of the company is to be held in London at an early date. As the London correspondent of The Post, in his letter of 13th March, reminds us, the leases of the runs held under the Government of New Zealand expired in March, 1916. The whole of the company's assets in the Dominion have therefore been realised (with the exception of one small item of £1100, which is subject to a local .moratorium).

In the course of somejemarks on Wednesday last at ths returned soldiers' reunion in Masterton, Captain Furby men-,, tioned the names of two Masterton men who had come prominently under his notice at Gallipoli. One of these was Private Arthur Ward, a sniper, who was one of the best shots in the company. Private Ward was shot in the eye, and when in hospital declared that he would return to do better shooting with the aid of his remaining ©ye. He died at sea. The other was Corporal Cyril Sykes, who had deliberately marched in front of him (Captain Furby) in order that hs might not be ■wounded v second time. Corporal Sykss had met his death .on Gallipoli.

The outstanding feature of the local | municipal elections in Palmerston North ' (states the Man&wata Standard) was the ' success of the tramway ticket. The eight candidates--Messrs. Crabb, Broad, Bryant, o'K.eiliy, Rolfe, Spooner, Ben- ! nett, and Canton—who favoured this : policy .received the emphatic endorsement of the electors, while Mr. Clausen, though not on the tickef, expressed himself in favour of tramways in. principle. The selection of' such a, council should mean that no obstacles will be put in. the way of progress in the important question of street transit. The Mayor (Mr. J. A-. Nash) and Mrs. Gill'were re-elected members of the Hospital Board, and amongst the.new members are Dr. Whitaker and Mrs. Crabb.

The Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, in a recent address (writes The Post's London correspondent, under date 26th February), urged the necessity for greater production in the prairies, and advocated the New Zealand system of leasing Government lands, which gives the Government the power to control the conditions of residence and of cultivation. " In support of his argument he quoted figures to show that less than one-third of the arable land in the three prairie provinces which has been granted in freehold by the Canadian Government is under cultivation. Land companies and individuals who are tying up land for speculative purposes are likely to bo forced, under the pressure of increased taxation, to cultivate or else sell.

"In view of the possibility—under the Providence of God—of Peace, an honourable and lasting Peace after Victory, being declared before our next anmlal meeting," says the report of/ the churchwardens of St. Mary's: Churca, Karori, "it would be advisable to consider the erection of some permanent memorial of that glad and much-looked-forw_ard-to event such as filling tli6 eaist,window above the altar with stained glass re-, presentative of scenes in the life of the patronal saint. While this would be the duty of the parish as a whole, there are probably individual parishioners who would be willing to express the gladness of their hearts by donating a new font, or a stained glass window or make some other gift ac a thankoffering for peace or as a memorial of a loved one who had laid down his life in the great cause for which, aa an Empire. and a people, we have sacrificed so' much. The Makara parisßioners have ordered a memorial window representing St. George, the soldier saint."

Inspection of native at source or at port of export has been decided by the Nigerian. Government in favour of the latter, writes our London correspondent under date 13th ,■ March. Commenting on the subject, West Africa says: —"The point is. whether the onus should be laid upon the middleman or merchant or upon the producer. ' The Government has apparently followed the system adopted in OSew Zealand, of inspecting at the pert of export. Apart from any other reason against this course, under the conditions as to time and space which exist at any West African port, even in peace time, the Government cannot secure i-hat at which it aims—namely, the best result. The work of mau, "black or white, is conditioned by his climate, and it is useless Jo expect from native producers but emerging from the tribal state, and working under a-fierce sun, the standard of conduct we rightly look for in the European who has centuries of individualistic development behind Mm and works in the energising climate of New Zealand. It is clear that to leave the ,individual' native producer in Nigeria' free of the responsibility of bringing his produce up to the required standard is to postpone for ever tho day whei he will do what the New Zealand fanner does as a matter of everyday routine."

Ths circumstances, connected with the death of William Patrick Black, a labourer, whose dead body was f,ound in a doorway in Taranaki-strcet on Tuesday night, were enquired into by Mr. W. CJ. Riddell, S.M., yesterday afternoon. The evidence disclosed the fact that the deceased was of dissolute babite, descending even to the drinking of methylated spirits. A verdict was returned ia accordance with the medical evidence, which was to the effect that death was due to acute pneumonia, accelerated by alcoholism, and probably exposure.

The amount collected in various ways during 1816 by the school children in the Wellington Education District in aid of the Belgian Fund totalled £5006 17a 2d. ' ■

Motorists have now had ample warning that the police intend to take action under the regulations forbidding the use of dazzling lights. That this was no empty threat was evident from the charge preferred against Kenneth Sutherland in tho Magistrate's Court to-day. Sutherland was charged with having lights of dazzling brilliancy on his motorcar, and, through his counsej, he ad. mitted the offence. The Magistrate (Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M.) imposed a penalty of 10s, with costs. On a charge of allowing the registered number of his motortar to become not- easily distinguishable, the defendant was similarly penalised.

At the returned soldiers' gathering in Masterton on Wednesday night, says the Wairarapa Daily Times, Mr. A. P. Whatman, stated that a, section of land in Essex-street had been, 'donated by Mr. W. G. Beard upon' which to erect a returned soldiers' club. The section was 210 ft by 80ft.- The plans for a building had already been prepared, and the work of .erection, would shortly be proceeded with. It was intended to provide ft hutment in connection with the club, so that returned soldiers coming to town might have a place at which to sleep. Mr. Whatman claimed that a club_ would be of great value to the soldiersj as it would enable them to meet together and improve each other'/ prospects in life. The company presa gave three hearty cheer* for Mr. Whatman and for Mr. W. Or. Beard.

Indignation overspread the face of Walter Turner when lie was charged- in the Magistrate's Court to-day with furiously driving a horse Vehfcle in Jervoisquay. "'Why,' 1 eaid the defendant, openeyed, "that old horse can hardly walk, let alone go furiously. I've got him outside for your Worship to see. Why, his teeth are as long as that" (makiDg a sign with his fingers). Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M.: "You. see, its not the teeth, ita tho legs, in this case." The Magistrate did not accept the invitation to view the ancient "prad,'" but merely informed Turner that the penaliy ■would be 10s, with 30b costs.

Since the opening of the Britomartstreet School, Berhampore, on 2f:h June, 1914. 816' children have been almitted. The present roll number is 532, ,;he girls accounting for 284. For thek-st three weeks an average of 496 has bei-n maintained. In his second annual report the headmaster comments that a separate infant department would greatly facilitate the work of the whole school. A special meed of praise is given the staff, which, like many others, has been much ;jpset by enlistments. No fewer than ten relieving teachers have been sent during the year to fill vacancies. Messrs, Duggan and Young, two members of the staff, are on active service, and the present teaching staff consists of nino assistants and two probationers. The members have lent ever-ready assistance during tryi'.ig times.

■ The apple-growers of California have made a specialty of getting their wares up in a very attractive style, and instead of exporting their apples in plain wooden fruit-cases they cover the cases with brilliantly-coloured illustrations of sunny orchards and huge, luxurious apples. This method of business 1 creates a, very good impression on the buyer, and this is probably one >of the reasons that American apples' find any sale here at all. But it looks as if the growers of Nelson are taking a leaf out of the book of their CaJifornian rivals. Yesterday, whilst some fruit was being discharged from the Nelson boat, several (vises of app'es attracted particular attention. The ends of the cises were coveredywifch brightly got-up ilhisi/ations of a typical. Kelson orchard, and in one corner of t!he box was a, rAcbnte of two huge, rosily-fleajjwng appfcs, -whilst the nanw "Nelesn, Hew Zealand" was p.'ainly markesd. , . '

A veteran of the Indian Mutiny and the Maori wars died on Monday in the person of Mr. Soloman Raid, says the Auckland Star. Mr. Reid, who was born in Belfast 83 years ago, joined the Royal Engineers for service in India, and fought through the Mutiny campaign, being present at' the relief of Lucknow. After the trouble had been settled he went to Australia and assisted in the work of .laying out the City of Melbourne. Later he came to Now Zealand, and fought through the Waikato War. The gold fever then seized him, and he participated in the rushes to the 1 Thames and the West Coast. Subsequently he returned to Auckland and established a grain and produce business in Khyber Pass, retiring into privatelife some years ago. He was for many years spcretacv and president of the Imperial Association, and also took a keen interest in church work. He leaves three sons, Capt. W. Reid, now serving under the Admiralty in the war zone, Mr. J. T. Reid, of Inyercargill, and Mr. R. T. Reid, of Waikino, and three daughters. His wife predeceased him in 1910. Heart failure was tie cause of death, which came unexpectedly at Hclensville.

An unusual case cams before the Third Military Service Board at Masterton yesterday, when Charles Edwin Leach, farmer, Castle Hill, Alfredton, appealed. James Arthur Leach, another brother, also appealed. Charles Leach's appeal was taken first. Mr. Burridgc, who appeared for appellants, said thai Leach resided at Alfredton, and was 33 years of age. Ho was one of a family of five boys. One brother, who was drawn in the ballot, is in camp. Two other brothers who were drawn in the ballot are working on the' farm, having been declared-unfit for service abroad. Charles Leach was an expert shearer, and also helped his neighbours with their shearing.' Appellant was' quite willing to go ink' camp, provided the board agreed to jiljow one brother (\y. A. Leach) to remain on tins fv;m permanently, and not call lu'm into camp. Appellant wanted, a month to clear up his affairs. Cap-/ tain Baldwin:"""Here's a family of five sone. Not one of them, -volunteered. They have large properties- making enormous profits out of tho war." The case of James Arthur Leach was then taken. Mr. Burridge said the facts were similar to the last case. Appellant was 35 years of age. Captain Baldwin (to appellant): "You are one of five boj's, not one of whom thought it his duty to enlist to fight for his country?" "We were on the land, that's why we did not enlist." The board decided to dismiss the appeals of both* the Leaches, leave being granted till 50th June,

The tender of Messrs. Charles Hill and Sons, Wellington, has been accepted by the Railway Department for the supply of uniform caps. The prices are : Stationmasters'. summer cap 10s 3Ad. winter cap 10s 4d; drivers and firemen's 5s 4d.

'Ihe cup that cheers New Zealand is a cup of Desert Gold, tho Queen ot Teas. Best flavour, most economical. Orde2/- grade.—Advt. Wo pass entries, forward parcels, mo-, furniture, check baggage. The New Ze: land Express Co., Ltd., 87-91, Custom house-quay.—Advt.

C. Smith, Ltd., "Tho People's Store, 1' Cuba-street, Wellington, are now showing the new- winter stylos in men's, women's, and children's raincoats (the makes that keep out tho rain). ..Theso a.r© stocked with Bfl^lan sleeves and with step collar or button to neck. Men's reliable coats Tim from 65s to £6 6s; la-dius', woll-mado coats from 39s 6d to £5 15s; and children's raincoats from 16s 6d to 49s 6d. You should certainly see' tho values at this fctore—it will be to your advantage. -Advt.