LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 27, 1 August 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

'Xhe spectacular event of the session will take place in the House of Representatives . this evening, when the Financial Statement and Estimates will be brought down by Sir Joseph Ward, the Minister of Finance. Needless to say, crowded galleries may be expected. The Budget will be a sensational one — devoted, naturally, in the main to war administration. Millions will be spoken of in a manner which in pre-war diays would have staggered' the community. This afternoon's proceedings will be of little importance as compared with this evening's session.

In furtherance of a complaint made by a returned soldior at a meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association against the War Relief Association's refusal to' grant him relief* after the recent, fire at the Wellington Hotel, the committee of the Returned Soldiers' Association has thoroughly investigated tho matter, and has decided that the War Relief Association's attitude was justifiable. . ■ ..:

A serious charge under the War Regulations was preferred: against a man named Charles Edward Adams in the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., to-day. r Adams, was charged with interfering with the manning and despatch of a vessel by attempting to persuade seamen to absent themselves from the ship. The evidence given by the police was to the effect that a fireman on board the vessel threw a rope overboard and that the defendant secured it with the object of assisting the fireman to descend to ithe wharf. He was warned by the police, but later repeated the act. The Magistrate imposed a penalty of one month's imprisonment.

The /National Committee of the V.M.C.A. acknowledges the receipt of several dozen walking sticks sent from the Technical School for the use of returned soldiers in the Convalescent Homo at Kotorna* ' The sticks, which are stout, handsome, and serviceable,! are the work of the students of the college themselves, and the soldiers who receive them will be interested to find printed ■on each, stick -the name of the boy whoso work it is.

What wag probably New Zealand's first strike was referred to by Mr.^ Coleman Phillips at a convivial meeting of the Early Settlers' Association last evening. Had it taken place in these strenuous days it would have b§en a "seditious" strike, because it concerned the shipbuilding industry. On the shore of the Bay of Islands, away back in the year 1826, Mr. Henry Williams built a small schooner of about five and twenty tons. There were hundreds of Natives round about, to whom the launching of the big canoe was-a sacred happening, and they wondered how the pakeha was going to launch his comparatively big boat. However, they put their heads together, and decided that they would have nothing to do with the launching operations unless they received in return a whole keg of tobacco—about one hundredweight. Despite all pleadings they would not do the job for less, not even when pi^mised a stick of tobacco each. Then Mr. Williams became equally obdurate, and one fine morning lie himself knocked the chocks away, and the boat- slipped quietly oft' the ways, and was soon floating. Somewhat annoyed, the Natives went into the water after it, and began to spear it and and club it, but as they could make no serious impression upon the stout little vessel they finally gave in, and candidly admitted that the pakehas were cleverer men than themselves.

A New Zealand officer, writing from Palestine, says that the horses were browsing in green grass and young burley crops. Hn adds : "Poor beggars ! it, loathe flwt green stuff tbo Main B,ody horses hjive jean aiaso September, 1914.."

Attention was drawn by. Mr. Meadowcroft, at the Kelburn Ratepayers' Association meeting last ' night, to the danger ...to traffic at the junction of Mount-street and .Wellington-terrace. The streets were steep and the volume, of traffic was very great. Some time ago the suggestion had been mads that land should be acquired in each comer of Monnt-s'treet, so that approaching traffic might be seen. Nothing had been done. If things continued as at present there would be a very serious accident some (lay, and tihen action would be imperar tive. ,

There was a'somewhat unexpected development in the Magistrate's Court today, when a tall, respectably-dressed woman, a.ppeared to answer a charge of attempting to commit suicide. Evidence was given that on the afternoon of 17th July a constable was". called to IS, Church-street, and found the woman lying in an alley-way between two houses. She was helpless, and at first stated that, she was tired of life, and had jumped out of the window. Later she stated that she had been cleaning ai window, and fell out. Since then the woman, had received treatment in tho Hospital. At this stage two further witnesses, including the doctor, were called, but-failed to respond, and Mr. W. G. Riddel!, S.M., dismissed the information.

A little-known building of great historical interest is to be found near the Wallaceville Station, and only about one mile from Upper Hutt. It is a stockadereminiscent of days during which the Natives were extremely troublesome. At last night's meeting of the Early Settlers' Association attention wag drawn to the existence of the stockade, and an etching dona by Mr. W. P. Barraud was exhibited. In appearance the stockade, which stands in the centre of an open field, is like a two-storied house. It was built specially for the purpose to -which it was put. The material usedl was wood, and there are loopholes and long narrow windows. In between the lining and the outside wall there is gravel. The whole h in. an excellent state of preservation, but it is considered that something should be done to ensure that it should remain so.«. Of all the stockades erected during the 'Maori trouble few now remain. They played an important part in life during the days that have gone by.

What were the initial impressions of the first settlers' to arrive ia Port Nicholson? Apparently theso have n&ver been stated, for Mr. F. P. Wilson, M.A., who is an earnest student of the early days, said in an address at the Early Settlers' Association last night that he was very anxious to secure the information. He knew of somebody else, too, who was reaching in the same direction. "We have photographs and descriptions, of the- harbour some years after settlement started," said Mr. Wilson, "but the land had' considerably changed by then. What was the place like when the first boat arrived and made its way to the head of the harbour near Petone? What did the newcomers think when tha boat was surrounded by Maori canoes? What did they think of the boat coming down to the water's edge, with a Native clearing only here aiid there? I think their opinions must have been a bit mixed. Has not some member a letter from one of. the first-comers describing the scene and giving impressions? lam sure they ■would be very interesting."

How mustard was first introduced to the palate of the Maori was described by Mr. Coleman Phillips at a meeting of the Early Settlers' Association . last evening. In 1826 Mr.. Henry Williams had settled on the shores of the Bay of Islands, and one day when the famous chief -Honei HekeHvas walking .past his house Mr.'"Williams' - invite*d him to come inside'and have some kai. Hone accepted the invitation, and willingly partook of some beef, which was the principal it-em on the menu. There was mustard on.the table, but Mr. Williams did not invite the chief, or any of the chief's party, to try it, which led Hone: to remark that Mr. Williams was a curious man. Mr. Williams accordingly told Hone that he (Hone) was quite wel!come to the mustard, and the big chief very quickly scooped out a spoonful, and ate it. Tears rolled down Hone's cheek, but he suffered in silence. A fellow chief also helped himself to a spoonful of mustard, . and immediately after swallowing it began to dance around as though in great pain. He earned the wrath of Hone Heke for such undignified behaviour in the presence of a pakeha-. • . «.

For the year 1917, says the annual report of the Munitions, and Supplies.Department, an improved quality of Bhakiunifonn cloth has been secured. A better quality material for pantaloon cloth for mounted men has been manufactured in the Dominion, and a decided improvement in the cut of the pantaloons has been effected; the latter being the result of an observation made in Egypt by one of our New Zealand officers, which was duly referred to the experts ■ (Messrs. KirkcakMe and' Morrison). Overcoating cloth has similarly been improved, and is new subjected to a proofing process' which, while.not rendering; the overcoats waterproof, assists in tifrning the water. The pntties now being secured are all woven onps, and are much more popular among both the ' officers . and the men than the cloth putties issued under necessity during the year 1916. An effort has been made to adopt some . standard colour for all uniform cloths and overcoatings, but,'owing to the difficulties of the dye trade, the -woollen mills, while they, have been successful in approaching the standard* dhade required, have not in.aH instances been able to get as near, to the standard as could have been wished; but it will be observed that better results in this respect have been secured than during last year.

"I- don't think the people of ifae present day realise the conditions under which the old settlers of New. Zealand' lived," stated Sir Robert Stout at a meeting of the Early Settlers' Association last evening. "There are great outcries now against the price of food. Only the other day I found a document which shows the prices of. 'food when- I first arrived in New Zealand 53 years ago." A 41b loaf of bread cost Is to Is 6d, beef Is per lb, mutton lOd to Is, ham Is 6d to 2s, lamb 10s to 12s a quarter, pork Is to Is 3d per lb, bacon, (imported from Ireland) Is to Is 6d per lb, veal Is to Is 3d, milk 8d quart, butter 2s 3d to 2s 6d per lb ("there'was> no butter-fat then," commented Sir Hobert, amidst laughter), cheese (colonial) • Is 6d, eggs 3g od to 4s per dozen, fowls 10s to 12s per pair, potatoes 1-Ad lb, tea 2s 6d to 3s per lb. Sir Robert "said that it would be' seen that some of the articles were muchdearer then than they aro to-day, although the wages were lower. However, there were never any grumblings, and everything 1 w-ent along smoothly, and the people seemed extremely happy.

Members of the House of Representatives have evinced a keen desire to discuss the liquor question this, session, and a little dialogue that took place yesterday afternoon was of interest. It foli lowed the presentation of the first general report of the National Efficiency; Board (as apart from the report dealing with the proposed liquor legislation)* After the Hon. Sir James Allen hadi read excerpts from the report, and incidentally referred to the paragraph dealing with the proposed, liquor legislation, the question was-raised as to whether an opportunity would be given for a full discussion on . the whole subject. Mr* L. M. Isitt : "When the Bill is brought! down will you cairy out the board's recommendations?" Hon. Sir James Allen s! "I don't say that.''

"We had plenty of politics in those days/ said Sir Robert Stout, speaking of his arrival at Dunedin.s3 years ago, at the Early Settlers' Association last' night; "in fact, I belisve we had much more politics then than we have to-day.: No man ever hesitated to express hia political views, and nobody doubted but that he had a perfect right to do so. We had our entertainments, too. There 1 ' were two theatres' running at Dunedin, and three music halls, managed very much on the lines of a London hall.. Tha intellectual life was not neglected. The Mechanical Institute had quits a good, library, and there were regular lectures. Altogether, the feeling of kinship and' friendliness was admirable, and .the people did all they could to make New Zealand , great and wonderful." Sir Robert said he. was sorry that a little more of the latter' feeling did not exist to-day.

"Coming to this meeting," said Mr. Mainland at the Kelburn Ratepayers' Association, "I noticed a tree-guard all broken and splintered. I suppose the tree was gone too. If residents, living; round* our roads had any interest for' their suburb, and not for their own bare /selves only, they would go out with a. hammer and a few nails and attend tosuch little thingß as this. If the district is to be improved these must be co-operation from all residents." Later in the evening the secretary, Mr.Sievers, remarked that the Upland-road tree-planting scheme had not been a success. In many places guards had been damaged and in others there was little left of the trees to guard. Tha City Council had done its best to help with the scheme, but the .'Ratepayers'. Association, having amalgamated • with the Beautifying Society, would now bain a better position to help.

"At the 31st March last," says the annual report of the' Friendly and Trades Union presented in Parliament yesterday, "there ; were about seven thousand members of societies on active service; the cost of one year's contributions of these members to'theirsick and funeral funds is estimated at £10,500, and this sum represents what the members of the societies in one form or another have to make good to tha benefit funds at the present time on be. half of soldier members,, irrespective o£ fees for medical attendance and medi-. cines. In order" to lighten the burden some societies. have, adopted a method of spreading the liability over a long period, with small levies/a system that ensures the sick funds eventually receiving credit "for the whole of the contributions of the soldier members. If a sinking fund is established" for this -p.irpose on sound lives no exception can be taken to such a course, which will enable societies to conserve thsiv funds and at the same time continue their patriotic efforts behalf of the members at the front."- ■'■■■ ■■ :.■ ' v '-< ; •■ ■ -.-■ ..■

A.propo»of recent criticism in Parliament, of.the work of the New Zealand wain 1 correspondent, on the Western front, the following extract from a press letter fvonr Mr. Malcolm Ross, wider d&tq Belgium, sth June, is interesting :— " There comes a time in modem wa.p such as now has taken possession of the world when a war correspondent, with the limited. horizon of only cine, division before him, must keep his pen idle.. He is witness of stirring events, of vast _ prep; '.'ations, of marvellous organisation. At any time of the day or night he may see comedy and tragedy walk almost hand in hand upon the road beside him. By day he may make a pilgrimage into the front line and look over the parapet across No Man's Land fro the enemy lines. By night, in his tin-roofed hut, he can listen to the crumps of the German high explosive coming nearer and nearer, until he hears the crash through the barn roof tiles, and knows that for some of the headquarters men the worst has happened. It is only a few yards away, that barn, and men he sees every day are sleeping in it. By the time the shell has_ burst some of them are. sleeping their last sleep. Others are wounded, some lightly, some so badly that life-flickers for only a few hours and then goes out. Inside the barn the glow of the doctor 's electric torch reveals a grim and gruesome scene. There is a hole in the roof, another in tie floor where the shell, after goings half through a mail's body, has exploded, shattering great ' beams, making matchwood of the beds—in short, leaving death and destruction in its train. Into one corner of ths barn what was a man has been blown, and, with broken back and limbs, is standing on its head— a travesty, of his former self. But of all these things he cannot write at the time. If he did he would be giving information to the enemy of an impending offensive; inviting him to'shell the barn again. So for weeks and even months at a time it. becomes a question of to-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow. And the tomorrow of which he can write is often a long way .off. In the meantime he can let the relatives ,o£ the men wio have come so many thousand, miles to fight know only of unimportant raids, of horse shows, and of pierrot performances. The relatives may chafe at the paucity of news, but it is the army that decides the point, and the army is right."

■'Yesterday, in the Magistrate's Court Mr. W. G-. BiddelL S.M., heard further evidence in a. civil action in which the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Company: (Mr. A. Dunn) claimed £27 19s. 9d, the] amount alleged to be due in connection with an a.gency, from John ftPEvran (Mr. A. W. Blair). His Worship reserved his decision.

The rainfaJl in Auckland last month j was a record for any July, amounting'to; about 10m.. . I