LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 60, 11 March 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association message from Auckland states :—Sir James Allen states that men returning on furlough without pay who have applied for extended leave will be granted three weeks' pay.

Referring to a report that the rules governing the issue of passports to women have been relaxed, the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, states that as a matter of fact the rules were tighter than ever. The Imperial authorities have given instructions that women are not to be taken in ships crossing the danger zone except in cases of extreme urgency, owing to the fact that their presence is an embarrassment and a danger to the crews in the event of attack by the enemy. "The Canadian Government," said Mr. Bussell, "has now intimated that it will not issue passports to New (Zealand women to proceed to the clanger zone. It is holding up its own women, and it is not fair to grant permission to others. As an indication of the importance of the precautions, I may mention that the Rotorua left New Zealand at the beginning of last year with 176 passengers, of whom only 38 were men. The rest -were women and children. Fortunately, when the ship got to Plymouth, all the passengers were disembarked. The ship was torpedoed after she left for London. So far as men are concerned, only those over 60 years of age are allowed to leavsv and even in those cases permission may be refused if they are engaged in some essential or partially essential occupation. No man of military age can leave, except, of course, those who are birds of passage or here for temporary purposes, unless there are reasons of the gravest urgency, when the case is very carefully investigated."

Saturday was indeed a record day for Island Bay, in that never before ■was there such a huge crowd as that 'which attended the Red Triangle Gala. While large numbers of people journeyed out by motor-car, and many others from the Berhampore district walked out, the trams carried 8,500 people. There were no mishaps and an excellent service was maintained.

In respect to the motion .passed at a recent meeting of the Auckland City Council, advocating the retention of Samoa by Britain, a letter from the Right Hon.' W. F. Massey, Prime Minister, was read at the council meeting on Friday acknowledging receipt of the' resolution, and stating that when he and Sir Joseph Ward attended the Imperial Conference in London they would loss no opportunity of impressing the views of the people of New Zealand on the Imperial authorities. A letter from Sir Joseph Ward stated that everything in tha power of the Dominion must be done to prevent the return of Samoa to so dangerous and unscrupulous an enemy as Germany. Replies to the circular letter embodying the resolution which was sent to all the local bodies of the Dominion, were received from a large number of municipalities endorsing the resolution. .

The matter of payment of the amusement tax by art societies was considered by the council of the Auckland Society of Arts at its last monthly meeting. The Commissioner of Stamps 'wrote stating that he would probably take steps to modify part of the Act as regards art societies. It was decided to adopt measures to have the question dealt vriik in Parliament.

A picnic party had their Saturday's outing at Day's Bay marred by an unfortunate accident, which befell Frederick Wilkinson, 12 years or ags, whose parents reside in Nbrthlaud-ron.d, Karon. The boy was playing, with conic others, on the balcony on top of the old camera obscura, when the railing en which was leaning gave way, and as a result of the fall he sustained a fracture of the left wrist and slight abrasions to the forehead. He was admitted.to tha Hospital at 6.20 .p.m., and is now reported to be mailing good progress.

To mark its first anniversary, the Deep Sea Tally Clerks' Club held a most enjoyable smoke concert in Godber's rooms, Cuba-street, on Saturday night. Captain W. J. M. Tate presided, and there was a large attendance of members and their friends. An excellent musical programme was contributed to by Messrs. Brittain, Green, Corney, Stark, Bryant Fern, and Musso. The accompaniments were played by Mr. Harrison. Altogether, the entertainment was an entirely successful one, auguring well for the future of the club and reflecting credit on its management.

There is reason for congratulation that the number of cases of diphtheria notified in the Southland Health District should have fallen from over 100 in October last to 36 last month. Clearly the epidemic is on the wane. The oniy unfortunate thing about the present position is. states the. Southland Times, that the province. is again without the services of a bacteriologist to carry on the swabbing work, which lias probably been of assistance in subduing the epidemic.

Kirkcaldie and Stains, TAd., announce the arrival of a new shipment of coloured Lisle Hose in all the wanted shades for present wear. The price is 2« 6d a pair, and your inspection is invited.—Advt.

Particular about your children ! Then insist on them using Thinker brand School Writing- Tablets, Exercise Books, and Note Books; they appeal to the cultured. Baunaryne imrl Hunter, Ltd., Wholesale Agents for Thinker brand.— Adytj,

At Featherston Camp, temporary appointments of n.c.o.'s have been approved as follows:—A Company, 38th Reinforcements, to be sergeant, Corporal F. P. Cleary. Headquarters' Staff (Instructor CI. Camp), to be corporal, Prob.-Corporal J. Dempsey.

On the invitation of Mr. H. M. Hayward, president of the N.Z. Society of Dorset Men Beyond the Seas, a party of Dorsets left Wellington on Saturday afternoon by motor, for "Bata," White's Line, Lower Hutt. On reaching Lower Hutt other members joined it. On arrival at "Eata," Mr. Thomas Hayward welcomed them, and after showing the party over the grounds, a group photograph was taken on the lawn The company then adjourned to the house, where, in the spacious diningroom, refreshments were partaken of. Mr. John Hiscock (one of the vice-presidents), on behalf of the party, thanked the president and Mrs. Hayward for their kindness. The society, he said, had been in existence for seven years, and this was their first daylight gathering. He .hoped that in the future other such meetings would be held. The president suitably replied. Three hearty cheers were given for Mr., Mrs., and Miss Hayward, and the party left for the city, having spent a most enjoyable time

Stephen Jenkins, a member of the | crew of a vessel at present in port, was | sentenced by Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., § at the Magistrate's Court to-day to 14 | days' hard labour for being absent from | his ship without leave. Jenkins will be I lianded over to the master of his vessel 1 when application is made. A (similar I charge was brought against a young man j named John. ffoieome, who deserted hie vessel in Lyttelton in December last. As v | he intends to enlist at once, the Magic-' |: trate convicted accused and ordered him t to come up for sentence when called I npon. If Holcome goes into camp no- I thing farther will be heard of the mat- I ter. i

Commenting on the conviction of a f motorist at l'almerston North, under the f Lights on Vehicles Act, 1915, for using j lights of dazzling brilliancy. on his car, j the Mayor of Auckland stated that the statute law governing the use of motorcar lights was somewhat general in character, inasmuch as it required that the lights should not be o£ such brilliancy as to agent drivers ot approaching vehicles. ??he Ciij Council bylaw oi 1916 was somewhat more spcciflc, as it required that the brilliancy *o£ the lighr, should be controlled. The bylaw reouired I that the light should be placed in such a | position as to throw its . centre of bril- | liancy on to the road within a distance of | 40ft from the front of the car. ZCv. Gui;- | sou said that of course the statute law | over-ruled the bylaw, but thera was no p doubt that the Auckland bylaw, if coli- I plied with, as.it should 1 be, would obviate p the trouble of dazzling lights, as, "under | the provisions of the bylaw, a light, how- | ever brilliant, would nos be unduly | troublesome to those approaching it It i appeared to him to be much more eensibls I and useful to control the brilliant and | dazzling lights in this way than by the I method of dimming which in some centres I had been resorted to, but without success. I In entering a conviction, without fine or | costs, in the Palmerston North case, the I Magistrate said that those using brilliant | lights should see that they were dimmed, | or turned town, when other vehicles were ! approaching. , s

The question of enemy aliens in New I Zealand was discussed at a public meeting of district settlers at Turua on 2nd f March. The following motions were s carried unanimously :—(1) That no I enemy subjects be employed or allowed g in the district; (2) That the Govern- | inent expedite the organisation oi ail I aiien enemy subjects, and employ them, i where sufficient iabpur is not forthcom- | ing, in carrying ou public works and § preparing farms for returned soldiers, I at soldiers'.rates of pay; (3) that no I enemy alien subjects be employed by local bodies, or other employers, in the i. .■ district, and that local bodies be notified to this effect. A letter from the Prime Minister on the subject was read. It stated that the question of alien enemies was receiving the close attention of the Government. Alien labour was to be organised, with a view to being employed under proper supervision, and when the details of the scheme had been ssttled a further statement -would be made.

The- progress being made in the matter of ship_ propulsion was illustrated, in-the case of a Norwegian cargo-carrier which recently visited a colonial port. Her propelling machinery was of the Diesel engine type, and although she carried, about 4000 tons of cargo her "unloaded" draught was only 16zt aft and 13ft forward. Tile bunker capacity was, nevertheless, sufficient to enable her, if necessary, to proceed on a voyage to the colonies and back to Europe without replenishing her oil-fuel supply en route. ■In outward appearance the smailness of her funnel &3 compared to size of hull 1, was practically the only difference casually observable. Her type is proving so serviceable and economical that the Norwegians have aX present under construction a 20,0C0-ton passenger vessel to be similarly propelled by ths Die3el cl?.ss of engine. /

At the conclusion of a case s.i the Aehburton Magistrate's Court on Friday, in which a man was charged with, selling wine, the question arose as to what was to become of the stock held by the police, about 300 gallons. The Magistrate (Mr. V. G.. Bay, S.M.) j thought it was not fit to be given to the j hospital authorities. Senior-Sergeant Ryan said he thought the right thing would be to run it into the gutter. At this stage Mr. Acland, who appeared for defendant, pui' In a claim on hehaif of liis client for the'reiurn of the wine, but the Magistrate said that ii :i. man was convicted on a charge of selling liquor the stock must fes confiscated. Es ultimately made an order that ths wpa was to bo destroyed.

It is proposed to hold a. memorial set vice in the, Auckland Town Hall ou Anzac Day, and an application from the Returned Soldiers' Association, requesting assistance in organising the service, came before the City Council. _ On the motion of the Mayor, it was decided that the council co-operate with the associa- i tion. and a committea was appointed to | act with the representatives of the asso- | ciation in arranging a suitable service. | A millionaire's banquet that outrivailed the magnificence of Belshazzar's feast is one of the gorgeous scenes in "The Auction Block," the wonderful Rex Beach superfeature which marks the first screeningi of a Goldwyn photoplay at the King's on I Saturday next.—Advt. | Doctors' Cream o' Groats are always I fresh and pure. Get a, packet from yourf grocer to-day.—Advt. {.

Tan boots or shoes are certainly smart | looking for summer wear. See our tan| shoes, pug toes, 32s 6d; heavy soles, tan I willow boots, 38s Gd. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd.,| Manners-street.—Advt. i

Experienced Traveller: "Always check your baggage through the New! Zealand Express Co. They do every-] thing—collect, check, deliver on ar-j rival." 87-91, Customhouse-quay.— '- Advt.

There is no need for any woman, or girl to give way to gloom. On the contrary, it is actually wrong to wear a. downcast expression or communicate sadness to others at any time. ConooutTate your! attention on brighter things. When, in] town take a. walk to Cuba-street, aiidj view the ?mart fashions now showing: inj' Ihe up-to-dato windows of "The People's^ Store." Everything is right up to the moment, and will gladden the heart of. any woman. At C. Smith's, I/td., you will always .fin* <fche..-{pices riglit.-*Adjrtj )■