LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 114, 10 November 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

After giving the question careful consideration, the Government has decided not to ask for the enforcement of the tines (unless the offence is repeated) imposed on the gas-stokers who were, in the Magistrate's Court, adjudged to be guilty, under a War Regulation, of-a seditious strike. Counsel for defendants Mr. P. J: O'Regan, wrote to the Minister of Justice, pointing out that the men were of good character, and they had given the- statutory notice prior to the issue of the War Regulation declaring the production and supply of gas to be an essential industry, and proclaiming cessation of work in connection therewith to be a seditious strike. He urged that the ends of justice would be served by remitting the fines' imposed. It is understood that' the course now decided upon was recommended by Mr M'Carthy, S.M. * '

As to the deductions to be made from the present eruption at Ngauruhoe. Professor Thomas, late Professor of Geology at the Auckland University College has stated that while -it is rash to make any prediction as to the probable action of any volcano, still, while Ngauruhoe shows a fairly free vent, as at present it may reasonably be regarded as a kind ot safety-value to the pent-up subterranean forces in its neighbourhood The present startling phenomena-imply "the existence of pent-up forces, and it is reassuring to know that a. vent is'provided for them, inasmuch as they are the less likely to accumulate such pressure as would lead to an explosion in some other direction.

The prompt action of the Fire Brigade was undoubtedly responsible for the saving of the plant and stacked timber of Brownlees, Ltd., at Kilbirnie early this morning. " At 5 a.m. the brigade received a call to the timber yard now known as Brownlees, but better known as Eassons, by whom it was sold some time ago to the present owners. , By. the time the brigade arrived on the scene the flames, assisted by a strong northerly, had secured a good hold, and it was found impossible to save the sash and door factory which was totally destroyed. After considerable trouble, the joinery and timber stacks were saved. The contents oi the sash and door factory and the building were insured in the Commercial Union Office for £500. The origin of the fire is a mystery.

A., correspondent forwards to The Tost an extract from an article on "Xhe Industrial outlook" contained in the leading British Engineering paper, The Engineer, and written by Mr. Haddrell, a native of New Zealand. The corresnondent states that Mr. Haddrell, after receiving training at the Addington railway workshops, and studying at the Canterbury Engineering College, proceeded to England and entered the works of Siemens Bios, Woolwich. He obtained a position in London afterwards, under Mr. Hobart, a recognised authority on dynamo design in England and America. After remaining for a time in London.he proceeded to America about mteen years ago, and owing largely to the ec-und training gained in New Zealand he experienced no difficulty in obtaining a position in a large electrical manufacturing concern at Pittsburg. Since then he has made rapid headway in his profession, and now holds a. prominent position in the works of the General Electric Company at Lynn, Mass. His article in The Engineer is deserving of careful consideration by all those interested in the development of science and engineering in the Dominion An editorial note to the article states that the author "has spent twenty-five, years in engineering and manufacturing in New Zealand, in England, and in the United States of America, so that he speaks from mature knowledge, not only of this country but of those that are late' comers in the industrial world." The concluding paragraph of the article is as follows: —"The war should be accepted by" the industrial interests of Great Britain as the most welcome, although unexpected, opportunity thoroughly to reorganise, for if it had not come Germany would have obtained complete control of all industries in a few years. It is- a remarkable thing that German business men were, unable to prevent their Government from starting a conflagration which must mean ruination to many of them, regardless of whether their country wins or loses, providing their competitors, and more especially their British competitors, are willing to accept the golden opportumtv." i

Magnus Sanderson and Co. were convicted and discharged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday on a charge of failing to notify the change of ownership of a motor-car.

A Masterton resident who has just! returned from the South Island states' that potatoes are being sold at 4s Gd ! per sack in Oamaru. The Age says ' there is something radically wrong when 1 the price paid- in Masterton is 16s per-! sack. The matter is one that should ' be investigated by the Boaid uf Trade. ! The' Government will surely not permit | potatoes to go to waste in the South! Island while they are in keen' demand I in the North. I

The hearing of the charge of a breach of the Official Secrets Act, preferred against a sailor named George Skone was concluded in the Sapreme Court yesterday afternoon. Skone was found not guilty, and the -jury. added a rider recommending that in future ships' "position" books should be kept locked up and not lying 'about in the chart room.

The Wanganui Acclimatisation Society has decided to stock up every available lake and stream in its district, ! and has this year already liberated some thousands of fry and yearling trout, while more will be liberated after Christmas. The fish arrived at their';• destination in splendid order, thanks to the care of the curator and officials, who saw that no time was wasted between the time of the removal of the fish from the hatcheries and their liberation. In one instance not one dead ..fish, out of 5000, was seen when the fish were liberated!

Mr. Finn Koren, who-somu time a»o was appointed His Norwegian Majesty's representative for the Commonwealth, and Madame Koren, have an*ived in Melbourne. Mr. Koren" is the first Norwegian Consul-General who has been sent out to Australia from Norway, which is due to a measure which the Government has takenin order to promote the commercial relations between . the two countries. Mr,' Koren previously; held a number of important posts in the Norwegian Foreign Service, and he now comes from Canada, where he represented the Norweigian Government for some yeare.

Unusual misfortune has dogged an order for aluminum ware placed in England by Messrs. Collinson and Son, of Palmerston North (says the Manawatn Standard). The first shipment went down in a steamer which was torpedoed, a second shipment met the same fate, so a third was despatched only to be lost at sea in a like manner. No details are available for publication, is the insurance company's only advice is contained in three words, "Lost at sea." Such losses are all the worse, in view of the fact that the 'export of aluminium from Great Britain is now, prohibited. •

Editorially, the Fanners' Union Advocate has this to say of the purchase of New Zealand butter and cheese by the Imperial Government: —"The fact that the produce is the property of the Imperial authorities will be a" constant reminder of the need for supplying ships, and from that point of view is a strong argument in favour of accepting the prices even if they are a long way below their true value. It is worthy of note that all through the war, the prices given for New Zealand cheese have not compared favourably with those given to Canada, for instance. It is not that we want to complain of the treatment meted out to us, but it is only fair to the producers that the public should know the facts, so that they may get a proper perspective of the position from the producers' standpoint. We believe the deal i s mutually advantageous; to the Dominion as much an to the parties directly interested, i.e., the Imperial Government and the dairy faumers"

The vagaries of the dairy cow were discussed in the New Plymouth Magistrate s Court this week during the hearing of an adulterated milg case' (states the Taranaki Herald). The defendant in the case claimed that a deficiency of .45 per cent, of butter-fat below the required standard was due to putting the cows on rank pasture, -and tb show how feaeible this' was his solicitor mentioned one or two other good instances of how the sensitive feelings of the cow govern her supply'of butter-fat. About a. year ago it was'proved in' a case in that Court that the mere dogging of the cows produced a variation, and a. learned' friend of the speaker's had just mentioned a case in England where a change o! pasture resulted in a serious butter-fat decrease, though these fact 6 were not taken into consideration by the Act. To drive home this point the solicitor mentioned that a milk-maid, who sings is rewarded by the cows giving down their, milk better, this last instance being decidedly "the other side of the question."

"The case is really a test case, and of great importance to the Spiritualistic Churches of the Dominion," stated counsel at the Waihi Magistrate's Court this week when defending Adolph Pickford, charged under Section,26l of the Crimes Act with undertaking to tell fortunes. Sergeant O'Grady, who prosecuted, stated that defendant, whilst in an alleged trance, purported to give information to friends of relatives at the front, etc., a charge _ of three shillings being made. The principal witness was Annie Mills, a single woman, who said defendant told her that, her brother would be wounded within fourteen days; in point of fact that came true. Witness placed three shillings on a plate, understanding this was a regular charge. Cross-examin-ed, witness said most of what accused told her came true. Accused did not mislead witness, nor ask for a fee. Mr. Clendon, counsel for 'the defence, submitted that what took place was not fortune telting, that accuse* was a licensed mis'sioner of the Spiritualist •Church, and the local society was duly registered. Acoused claimed his advice was given inspirationally. Counsel submitted that spiritualism" was a potential force, and that a number of the brightest intellects of the day believedin it. Counsel quoted authorities to show that for the prosecution to succeed, intention to deceive must be proved. The Magistrate, said in his opinion accused had brought himself within section 224 of tho Act; but Tie did not consider it a case for imprisonment. A fine of £5 and costs £2 7s> wag imposed.^

There is an epidemic of chicken-pox in Foxton. At a meeting of the State School Committee a motion was passed instructing the head teacher to exclude from school any child who has suspicious symptoms. Mosquitoes are "so numerous in some parts of the Wairarapa that, it has been found necessary, for the first time for many years, to resort to mosquito curtains.

The charge-sheet at the Magistrate's Court to-day contained the names of only two inebriates, one of whom was a first offender. Michael James Sullivan, who had to admit a long list of .offences, was' cent to gaol for three months.

The health of Mr. Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia, has lately been so indifferent as to cause his friends to seriously doubt whether he will be able to stand the strain of office much longer Mr. Hughes nowadays epends all JiU time at the seaside, and administration of some of the more important matters coming within the ambit of his Department has been transferred to colleagues.

Among the winners of the Military Medal during the recent fighting at Ypres was Pte. F. Leslie Cupples, of the Post and Telegraph Department. Pte. Cupples enlisted at Foxton, at the age of 17, and has already survived two campaigns in France, along with his brother, Gnr. 1 Errol T. Supples, who was wounded at Messines. They are the only sons of Mrs. T. H. Cupples, president of the branch of the Red Cross Association at Otautau, and are grandsons of the lat« Major Robert Acheson of Southland.

The library of Dr. G. Ernest Morrison, of PeKm, who wa? appointed political adviser to the.Chinese Republic in 1912 was purchased by Baron Iwasaki, the Japanese millionaire shipbuilder, banker mure and dockyard owner, for £35,000. It contains books on China in every language. The library will be transferred complete to Tokio, and will retain Dr Morrison'e name. Dr\ Morrison had begun this collection before the Boxer rising of 1900, and it was during a sortfe from the British Legation at Pefcin to cause a diversion, and incidentally to ccc if his house and' library had been damaged, that he got a bullet in the thigh He naturally claimed compensation for the damage done by the Boxers The library has been «ejecte*"with great owe, and, as is usual in nuch cases, Jia« been a good investment. Dr. Morrisc* is ft Kew Zealander.

The question' of 6 o'clock closing in New Zealand reached the battlefront through a request made to Mr T E V Seddon, M.P., to arrange for a pair in the event of a division being taken in the House on the issue. Mr. Seddon cabled through a friend to Sir Joseph Ward to get a pair for him with Mr. Downie Stewart, M.P., who is ill in Sydney. . In a letter \ written from somewhere in France to a friend on the West Coast Mr. Seddon says : " I cannot see how the closing of the hotels is going to affect the soldiers. A few used to get drunk and disturb us in the huts at Trent-ham, but the disturbances were generally mild, and rather amusing than anything else. It happened rarely. Has it taken until the 33rd Reinforcements to find out the pernicious influence of after 6 o'clock drinking on the.soldiers?"

The death has occurred in Dunedin at the age of 91, of Mr. J. R. Hooper, who had had an adventurous career. The late Mr. Hooper was born in London in 1826, and lived during five reigns. He received his first business training in the office of his father, who was at that time senior partner in the firm of Messrs. Willis, Gann, and Co which ran the first ships out to New Zealand, and which was really the nucleus of the present Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company. In 1848 he went to Mexico with his elder brother, and after being connected with mining operations -there for about a year he returned to England. .He arrived at Lyttelton by the Ship Duke of; Portland in 1851. After being in Japan for some time, he returned to New, Zealand in 1874, the voyage occupying nine months, and he remained in Dunedin until his death.

An entirely unexpected and greatlyappreciated addition to the afternoon's enjoyment of the crowds at.the Canterbury Metropolitan Show and the. trotting meeting in the adjoining ground was provided on Thursday (says the Christchurch Sun) by Mr. C. M. Hill, instructor at the Canterbury '; Aviation Company's School at Sockburn. In a dual-control Caudron biplane, which had been built at the school, Mr. Hill, flew across Addington to above the city, at a ■ height of from 2500 ft to 3000 ft. Above Cathedral Square He turned " cartwheels," and did another "stunt" or two for the benefit of the people in the city. Then he, returned to Addington, and gave the crowds there a very interesting display of aerial evolutions. One nose-dive, which he performed with fine control over his machine, caused quite a scatter of those, timid. people who imagined that the machine was coming right down.-on them. i ■ . ' '■'

For record war profits one must go to America. Since the war profits in a certain group of American industries have climbed -to a colossal height. A simple list of one hundred and four corporations shows that profits have increased four-fold, and represent, in the aggregate, a billion dollars since the war began. The American Locomotive Company has seen its profits increase from £400,000 in 1914 to over two million pounds sterling in 1916. The Baldwin Locomotive Works, which netted, a modest £70,000 three years ago, riow makes a profit of more than a million. In 1914 the Bethlehem Steel Corporation showed a margin of a million one hundred thousand pounds; it has now increased it to nearly eight and threequarter millions. .