LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 12, 13 July 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The 39th Reinforcements have reached a port of call, in good health.

On 14th July, 1789, people of France stormed the Bastille and thus gave the signal for the destruction of t}'ranny within that country. On 14th July, this year, the French will be celebrating their National Festival in a bravo continuation of the fight against Prussian tyranny which, as many millions know, is in> measurably more cruel and vicious than the regime o* the Bourbons. The Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, requests that citizens will fly flags to-morrow and on Monday in honour of France.

Consideration is still being given by the City Council to applications for the position of superintendent of parks and reserves. Some difficulty has been experienced in making an appointment, owing to the fact that the other cities, fearing the loss of their superintendents, have raised the salaries to the Wellington standard. Messrs B. Hill.(city forester) and L. Brewer (superintendent of Parks and Reserves) have both been classed "Fit A," and will go into camp very shortly.

Since the first draft of Maoris left the Dominion in February, 1915, a total of 27 additional drafts had. gone to the front, stated Sis James Allen at Dargaville. The total number of Maoris who had left the Dominion on service to date was 2134. • Other Native soldiers in the New Zealand Forces included 148 Niue Islanders and 308 Rarotongans. About 25 Gilbert Islanders were now on their way to New Zealand to undergo training for active service, and 1 a platoon of halfcaste Fijians would arrive in New Zealand shortly for the same purpose. In addition there were at present in camp 134 Maoris and 90 Rarotongans. This was a splendid record of loyalty on the part of the Maoris and other native races.

"I am not going to pay more than 11s a day," said the Minister of Public Works (Sir William Fraser), when a depu.tationiet remarked that more men might be available if the wages were raised. Mr. .Jennings enquired whether the Minister would grant an extension of the war bonus of Is a day conceded recently to workers in the Otira Tunnel. Sir William i-eplied that this increase was conceded to only the men who worked in the wet parts of the tunnel. They were in a constant shower-bath, and the water lay over the top of the truck rails. The conditions caused much wear and tear of oilskins and other articles for which the men had to pay, and the extra shilling was just about enough to meet this cost. The. bonus could be allowed to men working in similar places elsewhere, but not to others.

Mr. Edgar Warwick (according to a letter received by a friend in Wellington) may tour Mesopotamia with, a bright company, by arrangement with the Indian Government, which opened negotiations with him gome time back for a Eeason of four or five months during the cool weather. "This would be the first show of any kind in Mesopotamia. It sounds funny—a season in Bagdad," writes Mr. Warwick. He was in camp at Awapuni for four months, but was discharged as unfit. Every member of the company has been in khaki.

A peculiar preference is enjoyed by "the true sardine" in New Zealand's tariff. The sardine has been defined as the young of a certain species of pilchard, a large genus, which inclndes the herring. However, if herrings, in the. sprat stage, are prepared and packed in the sardine manner they have to pay a higher duty here than their cousins, the young pilchards. To make sure that the alleged "poor relation" will be properly penalised by the extra duty, the Customs officers send sample tins to the Dominion Museum for an identification of the beheaded sprats. It is thought that this preference for the higher-priced " true sardine " is a sequel to the big law case, the trial of strength between the North Sea and the Channel fisheries. The Channel won, and secured pride of place for the "true sardine."

"The French, with their characteristic intense enthusiasm that is so .proudly sweet, have gone into this war counting all things else but loss, not doubting or cavilling, withholding nothing. They have seen great tracts of their beloved country reduced to smoking desolation, and a smother of red ruin. The foul hand of the invader has not spared their most precious and sacred monuments. Their material resources have been dissipated. Their women have been tortured. Their manhood has been- depleted. They have seen the faces of their children stained with tears and blood. But they have not doubted or whimpered. France does not fear. She remains unconquerably great. And through all the desolated country, right up to the fighting front, such French peasants and artisans as are unable to bear arms go cheerfully about the normal tasks of this perilons day, and with them are the tens of thousands of French women and girls, French grandmothers, and little tender children, who have lived these years in hell, and lived them bravely. The French in the war zone are rendering us service uncalculable; and of their staunch and ready kindness our own soldiers have spoken in numberless cases." With these words- and others, which give only an outline of the sacrifice .of Grance for civilisation, the local ■committee appealed to the public to give to the Tribute Fund yesterday.

"I was very drunk and very annoyed because someone had stolen a bottle of whisky from my pocket," said a soldier in uniform, who was charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday with having used obscene language in Mjm-ners-street. " You had no right to have liquor in your possession at all while you wers in uniform. You had better say nothing further about that or you will be getting into further trouble," remarked Mr. F.ttf. Frazer, S.M.

Writing under date of 22nd May last, Captain W. J. Rodger,' Ist Canterbury Coy., 2nd N.Z. Entrenching Batt., gives the following particulars concerning the death of the late Captain J. R. R. Leys, of Wellington :—"Poor Jim was badly wounded on or about the 16th of April during a very hot engagement at Meteren. He was in command of the Ist Otago Coy., and my company was on his left. Ho went out with, a party to capture a machine-gun which, was giving us a lot of trouble. He succeeded in despatching most of the gun's crew when another gun was turned on him, winch severely wounded him in the stomach and wrist. He endeavoured to regain our lino, but fell before reaching it. His men got him in, and carried Mm down to tho dressing station, and,, unfortunately, ho died shortly afterwards. His very gallant action was brought under the notice of his superiors, and we are hoping that some decoration will be sent out to his parents."

At the sitting of the First Canterbury Military Service Board at Rangiom yesterday the adjourned appeal of Ernest Frederick Ward, farmer, of Waipai-a, was dismissed, and the chairman, Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., ordered that the appellant bo prosecuted on a. charge of perjury, in that he (said Mr. Evans) had deliberately misled tho board.

"I consider that if I had retained men who were fit to go to the front in order to run trains for non-essential services, I should have been a traitor to my country, and would, have deserved to be shot like Bolo," states the Minister for Railways (the Hon. W. H. Herries), in defence .of the "cuts" in the services, particularly race trains.

Tlie Maori Military Service Board will commence its first sittings next week, but so far the itinerary has not been fixed. The board which will hear appeals in jthe Waikato and Thames districts, the only areas in which the Military Service Act has been applied to Maoris, comprising Judge M'Cormack, of the Native. Land Court (Chairman), Mr. John Ormsby, of Otorohanga, and Mr. Pitiera Taipua, of Otaki, Four hundred Maoris have been called up in. the First Division, and 49 appeals have been lodged.

Many old-age pensioners in hospitals and other institutions ■will rejoice if the controlling authorities act in accordance with a recommendation of the Minister for Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell). "Since Parliament passed' the 5s per week additional for the old-age pensioners, there has been some question raised as to whether a portion of that should' not be set aside for the pensioners who are in. hospitals, old people's homes, and similar institutions." The Minister states: "The matter has come before me several times, and I have given instructions that a circular shall be issued to all hospital boards and controllers of old people's homes to the effect that in my opinion the sum of 2s a week should be allowed to each pensioner for his or her pereonal use, in addition to the tobacco or other allowance that is now provided."

The District Health. Inspector reported to the Palmerston Hospital Board that during the month of June 59 cases of infectious diseases were notified and received attention. In the health district for tho corresponding month in 1917 there were 58 cases, Horowhenua not then being included. The distribution of cases was as follows:—Palmerston, diphtheria, 24; Peilding, diphtheria 7 ; Foxton, diphtheria 1, which proved fatal; Levin, diphtheria 4; Shannon, diphtheria 2; Otaki Town Board, enteric 1; Rongotea Town Board, hydatid 1; Kai-i-anga, diphtheria 4, scarlet fever 4; Oroua, diphtheria 4; Kiwitea, diphtheria 4; Pohangina, tuberculosis 1; Manawatu being entirely free of all cases. Of the cases mentioned 13 were children under school age or not attending school, 14 cases were adults, and tho remaining 32 were among school children.

W. R. Robinson writes :—To-day is the eleventh anniversary of the 1907 New Zealand Rugby football team attracting an attendance of 52,000 to witness the first match of the tour at the Cricket Ground, Sydney. The gate receipts for the afternoon amounted to £2583. The Maorilanders won by 11 points to 3. During the first spell the New South Wales players repeatedly, knocked the ball forward, .but the visitors' appeals for this breach were ignored by the referee. In the second half of the game these tactics were considerably reduced by J. D. Hunter, the New Zealand captain, issuing instructions to "play close." At the conference of inter-State referees at Brisbane Mr. J. M. Robb learned that the Australians were_ two years behind the time in connection with this rule, which accounted for the laxity shown by the referee on the 13th July, 1907. Mr. J. M. Robb is at present in Wellington on a business visit from the Far North. The 1907 combination returned with the world's champion sculler in the person of W. Webb, of Wanganui, who arrived in Wellington on Thursday, 15th August. The days and dates of 1901 and 1907 correspond with those of; 1918.

Two charges arising out of alleged breaches of the Licensing Act were considered by Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon. A large amount of evidence was taken in the case in which Arthur M'Donald was charged with permitting drunkenness on the licensed premises of the Central Hotel. The Magistrate said that he was satisfied that an offence had taken place, but the Court would take into consideration the fact that the police had said the house was well conducted. Although a licensee was responsible for the act of his servant, he (the Magistrate) did not desire to punish the licensee unduly, and he would not order the license to be endorsed. A fine of £2, with 7s costs, was inflicted. Catherine O'Brien, barmaid at the Victoria Hotel, was charged with supplying a youth under twenty-one years of age with liquor, and a further information was laid against Bridget O'Brien, licensee of the hotel. The police, in the course of their evidence, said that the hotel was very well conducted, and gave no trouble. The Magistrate, after seeing Martin J. Eyles, the youth who had been served, said that no doubt he might be taken to be older than he really was, and dismissed the informations.

Stocks of wheat ~in Canterbury are nearing theiv end, and very little is offering. Shortly there will be none to be bought there except odd lines of seed wheat left over by farmers. All the Southern wheat (says the Dunedin Star) is now out of the farmers' hands, except probably 4000 or 5000 bags in Central Otago. None of the Dunedin millers hold heavy stocks. Unless a supply soon reaches us from Australia some of our mills will have to run short time or shut down for lack of a mixture. They may have wheat, but it is necessary to_ have such varieties as will serve for mixing, otherwise the flour would not be of the quality made in districts where a ■ good mixture can ibe had, and our trade would suffer. Some of the Otago millers have been bringing the .position before the Government, but so far there is no information as to what the Government are doing in the matter of importing. It is . pointed out that, whilst there is no word of bringing over wheat for milling-, space could be found on one recently-arrived vessel for 4,500 sacks of barley for brewing. The millers in the South are willing to pay ordinary rates of freight if the Government will import wheat from Australia, but it is necessary that the import duty be taken off, otherwise this wheat could not be manufactured except at a loss. This is a simple proposition. According to the Government regulations the price of wheat increases by jd- per bushel per month, and it is now 6s Ojd, as compared with 5s lid in April, whilst the price of flour is fixed at £15 10s. So, with a filed price for flouv, and an advancing price for wheat, and the manufacturing margin already slight, it is only a matter of a little while when under such conditions the manufacturing must cease to pay. That is tho view of the case put forward by tho milling trade, and it is the argument for the removal of the import duty.

The Cup presented by the Camp Commandant, Featherston, for the best kept huts and lines has been awarded to the 47th Specialist Company for the week ■ending Saturday, 13th July.

The neatest fastening for smart footwear—Flat leather Shoe Ties with buckle, in black, brown, and patent. Price, Is 9d a pair. Kirkcaldie's Footwear Section. Call and see them. — Adyt..

Regulations as to the importation, sale, and distribution of patrol have been Gazetted/ The \ principal details were given in The Post of 9th July. The retail prices at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin will be :— Class A : Petrol, motor-spirit, benzine, naphtha, and gasolene, 27s 6d per case of not less than 8 gallons; 13s 9d per tin of not less than 4 gallons; 3s 6d per gallon for quantities less than 4 gallons. iClass B : Distillate and naphthalate, 22s od per case; 11s 3d per tin; 3s a gallon for less quantities than 4 gallons.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Forestry League will be held in the new Conference Hall, in the Dominion Farmers' Institute (now in course of erection, corner of Featherston and Ballance-streets), on Wednesday evening next.

The Ngaio branch of the Second Division League is in line with other branches in supporting "the principle of the minimum clear income—for the soldier's wife of £2 2s per week, with children's allowances extra." The branch also upholds the opinion that a district Financial Assistance Board should be set up in each military district.

Mr. Harry Lauder will shortly visit Australia to lecture on the war. He wants no profit. The task is self-imposed. He will describe the Empire's war work. Mr. Lauder has just returned to London from America, where his intimate war talks proved an unqualified success. He has informed Mr. Fisher (High Commissioner for Australia) that as regards the tour to Australia it is likely to be useful as a means of vivifying Australia's knowledge of the war. Therefore he gladly undertakes the- duty.

Two discharged soldiers who applied at this week's meeting of the Otago Land Board for a section in. the Clifton Settlement, near Balclutha, were examined as to their qualifications for farm life. One had had some experience on a farm, but the other was town-bred, and it was admitted that neither had inspected the section they desired to occupy. After considering the circumstances the board decided to refuse the application on account of the inexperience and want of capital of ■ the applicants.

The working of the telegraph lino from Kaikoura to Culverden has continued uncertain during the past week, a. result of the recent snowstorm, and, in order to cope with the daily telegraphic work between Wellington and the South, the Department has had to forward numbers of telegrams to Christchurch by steamer each evening, but the number so sent has not been as great as was the case last week. Still, the average has been well over one thousand each way. The departmental staff has had a very busy and trying fortnight.

During their journey Home, the 34th Reinforcements, in common with aE the later bodies to leave New Zealand, conducted a journal, and a prize of 10s was offered for the best name suggested, for it. The winning idea, that of Private Tarr, was a very original one. His suggestion was that the paper, which was intended to be a link between the members of the reinforcements and those at home, ehould be called The Link, and he also submitted a cleverly thought out cover design appropriate to the name. The three pictures on the cover are enclosed by three links of a chain, so arranged that they form the number of the troopship, "100." The first naturally looks like the figure I. In the centre one is a photograph, of the troopship, and in the third is a snapshot of the scene on Wellington wharf as the ship is leaving, the link between the men's future and their loved ones. The idea is certainly an artistic and a novel one, and the >book is decidedly well named.

Action was taken by the police at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon against Frederick Bennett, who, it was alleged, had carried on the business of a land agent without a license. Inspector Marsack said that the defendant had inserted advertisements in various papers" relative to his business, but when questioned by Plain-clothes Constable Wallace said he was merely acting as agent for Lomax and Co., and admitted having received commissions for sales which had been put through on behalf of the latter firm. The Inspector held that at the time the advertisements were inserted the defendant was not a registered land agent within the meaning of the Act. Mr. C. B. Morison, X.0., who appeared for the defendant, submitted that the Land Agents Act dealt only with principals. The defendant had received all his instructions through his principals, Messrs. Lomax and Co. He had at no time acted as a principal. Inspector Marsack held that the Act laid down, that the business of a land agent should be carried on in a registered office. His Worship said that in his opinion a licensed land agent could carry on busi* ness anywhere and have his office situated in any town he liked. Apparently Bennett was a bona fide agent of a registered land agent. He was satisfied that the information should be dismissed.

An English Gazette published last month announced the award of eleven new Victoria Crosses, all to English, County regiments, except one to a Cana^dian. The stories of the -winning of tho Cross record, as usual, super-bravery, mostly in attack, but perhaps the most remarkable story is that of the deeds of Private Beesley (Rifle Brigade^. AU officers and' non-coms, had been killed in. an attack, whereupon 'Beesley took command of tho company, led the assault, and captured, single-handed, the enemy post. He killed two of the enemy at a machine-gun. Then he shot dead an officer who tried to take their place. Three more officers rushed out from a dugout. Beesley shot one who attempted to destroy a map. Beesley seized it, and made prisoners of the other two officers. Four more officers came out. These Beesley also disarmed and sent back as prisoners. A comrade brought up a Lewis gun, which Beesley used to great effect against the retreating enemy. Beesley was now alone, with, the exception of one comrade, but they held on. to the position for four hours under a, heavy' fire, and then the enemy advanced to the ' counter-attack. Beesley and his companion were wounded. Nevertheless, Beesley, with the Lewis gun, kept back the enemy till long after the posts on his right and left had been wiped out. When darkness came Beesley moved back to the original line, bringing his wounded companion and a gun. He then mounted the gun and kept it_ going against the enemy till things quietened down. The Gazette says his indomitable pluck, skilful shooting, and good judgment in economising ammunition stamp this incident as one of the most brilliant actions of recent operations.

Ask for Desert Gold Tea, and see that yon get it. The cup that cheers will surely cheer if it is Desert Gold 2s 4d blend—tho tea with the reputation. The 2s 2<i blend is good also,—Advt.

No Rubbing Laundry Help does the washing while you rest! Is 3d large packet. No Rubbing has banished washboard slavery. G. Raines and Sons, Karori.—Advt.

Got to move? Well, engage the New Zealiind Express Co.'s special motor. Quick. And it's saving. Storage if required—the best —so safe and clean, 87-91. Oustomhouse-quay.—Advt.

For the coming races C. Smith, Ltd., Cuba-street, have just opened the latest fashions. <■■< These include smart Navy Coating Costumes, in the newest winter styles, at £5 15s to £8 fe: also stylish Fawn Gabardine Costumes at £6 15s to £9 Gs. For suitablo Gloves. Hosiery, Neckwear, try "Tho People's Store-." Always somethingl new to be seen.—Advi.