LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 57, 5 September 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At the present time membership of the Returned Soldiers' Association is : restricted to men who have left New Zealand on active service. Thus men who have been discharged from camp in the Dominion are not eligible for membership. At the same time the association admits to membership men who have served in forces in other parts of the Empire, and an effort has been made to ensure that since home service men are not eligible in . New Zealand, home service iuen from other, parts of the Empire should also not be admitted to membership. At the recent executive meeting of the New .Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association a. clause governing membership was drafted, by which a man is eligible only if he has left the country of his enlistment on active service or has enlisted in a country which has been one of the theatres of war.

The "necessity of establishing openair gymnasia at the public schools was brought under the notice of the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, yesterday by a deputation of Dunedin members of, Parliament (Messrs. T. K. Sidey, 0. E. Statham, and A. Walker). The deputation acted on behalf of the Otago Expansion League. It was pointed out that the apparatus would not cost more than £20, and that the system enjoyed a great advantage over closed-in gymnasia, where accumulations of dust were stirred up. It was asked that the experiment ha tried m some of the (schools, with a, view to its universal adoption. The Minister sympathised witl> the deputation's request, but pointed, out that the whole question was the amount of money involved What he could do would depend upon the amount of money the Government would allot to the Education Department -for expenditure. Mr. Walker asked the Minister if it wouldi be possible for him to get sufficient money from Cabinet to supply an open-air gymnasium for one of the public schools in Dunedin as an experiment. Mr. Hanan said he would be very pleased to consider the matter when Cabinet dealt with the Supplementary Estimates.

.The Defence Department notifies that 2nd Lieut. Uatuku (New Zealand Maori Contingent) died in, the Te Waikato Sanatorium, Cambridge, on Friday last. The certified cause of death was tubercle of the lung.

"The Salvation Army is doing splendid work at the front," 6tated the Right Hon. W. F. Massey at the opening of the Salvation Army Fair last evening, "but I believe it is doing even better work in the big cities. It is in the cities, where soldiers on.leave are faced with great temptations, that the scope is wider. From what I saw, I believe that the Army's chief work lies in the; cities."

"If any soldiers in the world ever deserved a decisive victory followed by a permanent peace, they are the soldiers composing the British Army to-day. I saw them in all their misery and facing numerous hardships, but they were always cheerful—all bent upon doing their duty, and nothing more." —Right Hon. W. F. Massey at the Salvation Army Citadel last evening

Considerable interest is cure to be aroused by the relaunching from the Wellington Patent Slip to-morrow moming of the big sailing vessel which ran ashore at Wellington some weeks • ago,' and which has been on the Slip ever since. Thousands of people have already visited the vessel, and there will doubtless be many who will take the opportunity to-morrow of seeing her relaunched.

Smiling broadly, a nineteen-yeax-old Native named Joseph Collins, stepped into the dock at the Magistrate's Court to-day to answer a charge of stealing a pair of trousers and a singlet, valued at 14s, the property of James Gray. The articles were taken from a boardinghouse and sold to a second-hand dealer for a few shilling. In answer to Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., the accused, who looked the quintessence of good humour, said that his parents lived in Wanganui, and he had not. seen them for five months. The smiling one was convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, on condition that he refunded the amount lie received frbn? the secondhand dealer.

"If Councillor Castle's suggestion to plant a plot in the Wellington Zoo with rhododendrons is carried out," said Colonel R. Heatori Rhodes to a reporter, "it may possibly remind some people that there is a ridge on Gallipoli called Rhododendron Ridge, but I do not think it will convey anything beyond the name to the men who fought there. There are no rhododendrons on' Gallipoli, nor are/ there any plants that resemble rhododendrons. I was informed that tho officer who christened the ridge viewed it through his field glasses from a distance, and, not being a botanist, thought that the big leaves of an arbutus (with leaves like those of arbutus menziese) were the leaves of the rhododendron, or possibly that the -flowers of the eistus villorus were the flowers of the rhododendron ponticum. They are the samo colour. Possibly it was the combination of the flowers and leaves. The eistus is easily grown, and it hae already been flowered in New Zealand gardens from seed sent from Gallipoli."

A deputation from the newly-formed Canterbury Surf Association waited upon the Minister of Internal Affairs at Christchurch, with a request for protection of the association's costume. The association desired that the wearing of the costume should be legally restricted to men who had qualified, so that the public should know which were the competent life-savers. People who were not qualified life-savers often wore the surf club's costumes, and instances were cited in which this had led to much delay in securing the services of men qualified to resuscitate persons from drowning. The Hon. G. W. Russell commented that the power asked for was a wide one, and he did not know of any precedent for giving a society the sole right to wear a distinctive uniform. It appeared to him that the only way in which the association could get what it wanted was to ask the boroughs of New Brighton and Sumner to pass bylaws, under the Municipal Corporations Act, to make it illegal for any other persons to wear these costumes during the bathing season. Replying to a remark that what was wanted was one costume which would be recognised throughout New Zealand, Mr. Russell said they could not go as far as that. When they had one body for the whole of New Zealand, and all the surf societies were in the movement, they would have a much stronger case than they had now. The Government could not be expected to order the same costume for all the Dominion as Christchurch had. . ' ;

Buy Holeproof Hosiery from Kirkcadlie and Stains, Ltd. It requires no darning for from three to six months. A big new shipment has arrived and is selling rapidly. It looks just the same as ordinary hosiery, it Is beautifully woven, and well shapen. Boxes of six pairs are guaranteed. Prices 2s lid to 8s 6d pair.—Advfc.

Just arrived, the latest in soft felt hats from Tres6, Barsalino, Stetson. Call. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners-street. —Advt.

As the tea tax is the same on highclass- teas as oa inferior blends, it is moet economical to obtain the beet of tu»—Dewrt Gold.—Advt,.

In Christchurch on Monday last the Mayor of New Brighton (Mr. F. Kibblewhite), accompanied by Councillor B. Browning and the town clerk (Mr. J. Bosom worth), had a conference with the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, in connection with the establishment of the marine solai salt works. The Mayor asked the Minister to facilitate the granting of a special Order-in-Council in regard to the lease of the site, and to this request a sympathetic reply was given. .

"I would like to have the pleasure of putting the screw on some, or the land speculators in our capital city who are rolling in wealth—on the unearned increment for which tlie toilers have to sweat through inflated rente. As Christians, it is our bounden duty to set ourselves sternly against the social evils that "'grind the faces of the poor.'-" Rev. E. Evans, from his pulpit recently.

A rule of the Wellington Rugby Football Union says that a player, in order to play in the Fifth Class Grade, must not be over the age of 17 on the Ist of April in the-year he plays. In this connection a peculiar position has arisen here. A boy player was born on Ist April seventeen years ago, and the question now is whether he is under or over the Fifth Grade playing age.

A property comprising 100 acres of bush land, situated within.ten minutes' walk of Clevedon township, Hauraki Gulf, has been handed, free of cost, to the Crown by Mr. S. A. Browne for a scenic and water reserve. The scenery on the property, including nikau palms and tree ferns and numerous waterfalls, is very fine, and from the top of the peak a, magnificent view all ground the country is possible.

The Waihi Miners' Union has resolved to urge the Minister for. Mines that where children are left orphans through the death of their father from miners' phthisis they should be brought under the provision of the Act. It has also been resolved to urge on the Government the necessity for men suffering from miners' phthisis receiving the same benefits as those provided under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act.

The high prices offering in England for stock are commented on in a letter dated 21st June, written by a young New Zealand soldier, D. Cottle, to his grandfather, Mr. of Cottleville-terrace, Dunedin. The writer, who was at Codford at. the time, says: "They had a sale here a few'days ago, and fat lambs brought 98s. I have seen just as good sold in New Zealand at 18s 6d. Cow« we would consider worth £10 brought £40 or £50." ;

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, of Westminster Chapel,, the famous London preacher, lias been compelled to relinquish his plan of visiting Australia and occupying- for twelve months the 'pulpit of the Collins-street Congregational Ohurch in Melbourne. He has decided' instead to give his services to the British National Council of the V.M.C.A. for twelve months to assist in the establishment of their proposed scheme for making Mildmay a centre for Bible training. This new work promises to give full scope to Dr. (Morgan's powers and knowledge as a Jeader of Bible study. ■ *

A signaller of the 22nd Reinforcements writes to Auckland from billets in England congratulating the. New Zealand administrative authorities. He says the Australian troops, when they hear of the very generous rations allowance of the New Zealanders there, assert they would glady forego their extra shilling a day if they would be treated likewise. In spite of minor defects of organisation, he cays the: New Zealand administrative authorities should be congratulated on their management of the general military routine. It 'is working very smoothly, and is probably superioF to that- of any of the colonial troops.

Defence matters were referred to in the following notice of motion placed before the Prime Minister by Mr. R. Fletcher in Parliament yesterday afternoon:—"(a) Whetfoer.it is the intentionof the Government to place the Railway Department and- the CiviL staff of the Defence Department under military control. (b).-Is it a fact that tie scheme for the- Defence Department, with all necessary details, as to pay and promotion of the Civil staff when it,come under mili,tary control, ,is already drawn up and only waiting Ministerial approval, (c) Will the. Prime Minister give an hssutanco that the Government will see that members of the above Departments who refuse to come under military control will not be dispensed with under section 51 of the Public Service Act, 1912."

A movement' is on foot at Hamilton to erect a returned soldiers' memorial upon, a central site in the town. The idea is that a substantial building should be erected, consisting- of club room, hall, and museum, which would be available for all purposes connected with the military affairs of No. 4 group, and where trophies and regimental colours could be housed. About £10,000 will be required to erect the building, and provide a fund for its future maintenance, and it is proposed to raise the amount by public subscription in Waikato. It is hoped to erect a marble column on which would be inscribed the names of all men from No. 4 group who- lost their lives, and also a roll of honour of those who left the area for active service. It is also proposed that the Home authorities should be approached with the object of obtaining some cannon and other souvenirs from both Gallipoli and France.

A solid silver model of a German submarine is at present on view in Drinedin, says an exchange. The owner—Mr. R. G. Osmond, an ex-Royal Navy man, and a member of the Southampton Seamen's Union —was, in August,-1915, employed as a greaser on the oil tank San Melito, bound from Southampton to ' a Mexican port. Thirty-six hours' steam from Southampton a ship flying Dutch colours, and showingUistress signals was fallen in with. vessel proved to be a decoy, for it was shortly followed by the appearance of, a German submarine, which opened fire on tha^ San Melito, and kept the shells going for forty minutes. The ship had been built to steam only 11 knots. The engine staff, however, commenced to get 15 knots out of her, but not in quick enough time, arid in response to the order: "Abandon ship," all hands went on deck, excepting Osmond. He stuck to his post for six minutes longer, and got the ship full speed ahead, doing this contrary to orders. Then, with the assistance of a deck officer of the ship, he got the vessel out of range of the submarine fire. In -recognition of his remarkable coolness, the owners of the San Melito, at a luncheon in London, presented Mr. Osmond with a substantial cheque and the model of an enemy under-sea craft. The deck of the model, when opened, displays a cutglass ink bottle. Mr. Osmond is at present a member of the crew of a New .Zealand hospital ship.

The most satisfactory plan for selecting furniture for the hom,e is_ to visit Edward Collie, Limited's, splendid showrooms, Biddiford-street, Newtown. Thus good taste and economy will both be served.—Advt.

Thousands have singled us out as the best firm to do Customs, carrying, ,and forwarding work. That tells its own tale. The N.Z. Express Co., 87-91, Cus-tom-house-quay.—Advt.

Madam,—At. C. Smith, Ltd., Cubastreet, the very smartest now season's costumes await your early inspection. These include the latest cut garments in Lustres, Tuesores, Jap. Silk, Silk Poplins, Serges, and Gabardines; in fact, many of •the styles,represent the most fashionable models of the day. Spring fashions are well represented at "The People' 6 Store." —Advt.