LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 17, 19 July 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

_ The list of names of men in the Wellington, Ma-nawatu, and Wairarapa Recruiting Districts drawn in the last ballot of Class C, also accretions toother classes, will be published in The Post on Wednesday next, 24th July.

A new function of the Munitions and Supplies Department is the control and distribution of petrol. The Minister (the Hon. A. M. Myers) says that the flexibleness of the regulations will enable him to meet varying requirements.

Local bodies in some parts of New Zealand are hoping that the Government will agree to pay rates for the maintenance of public roads which pass through or near &enic reserves. A deputation yesterday mentioned that several miles of road in North Taranaki were flanked by scenic reserves, from which the local body received no revenue.

Special regulations are gazetted enabling the secretary of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society to authorise the killing of red deer of either sex or age which in his opinion should be destroyed, either by reason of age, deformity, or other physical imperfection.

"As surely as you don't provide good roads for the small settlers you will drive them out, and the land will go back into big holdings," said Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P.,. who introduced 1 a deputation to Sir William Fraser yesterday, in request of the Government's help to metal the Awakino-road, North Taranaki. Mr. Jennings said that some settlers in this district, disheartened by the hardships, had thrown up their sections and had drifted back to town. The Minister replied that his sympathy was with all settlers who were labouring under the disadvantage of unsatisfactory means of communication. He gave the deputation' an assurance that he would assist as soon as possible with the improvement of the road;

Tramway inefficiency and,the importation of spirits were discussed at a meeting of the Kataitai Municipal Electors' Association held last night. The following motion was carried unanimously: — "In view of the inconvenience caused to the residents of this district by the inefficiency of the tram service, stated, by the civic authorities ti> be due to the want of machinery awaiting shipment in England for eighteen months past., this association protests against the large shipments of liquor recently, landed- in the Dominion, which as an article of commerce is absolutely non-essential, and urges the City Council to make nil emphatic protest to the Minister for Munitions respecting the exclusion of necessary machinery urgently required for the efficient working of the electric light and tramway systems of the city; and further, that it bo represented to the Mayor that tho manifest of the s.s. alone contained a total of 72,507 gallons of liquor."

The Council of Agriculture has decided, if the amount can be spared, to invest £200 in W« Bonds.

Before the Second Canterbury Military Service Board on Tuesday, Dr. Erwin appealed on behalf of Rev. A. C. W. Standage, Presbyterian minister, Fairlie, formerly of Wellington. Dr. Erwin said the Presbyterian Church had ■ 48 ministerial charges for which there were ho ministers. Fourteen home missionaries were partly filling the breach, but the other 34 charges were working in various ways. Standage, who had been classed Cl, conducted services in five places in the Fairlie district, and also conducted services in Mackenzie County.' Dr. Erwin stressed the lack of ministers in the church, and pointed out that there were nostudents coming forward. A sine die adjournment was granted.

Movements of troops from Featherston camp for the week ending Saturday, 27th July, are as follow : Saturday, 20th July, A, B, C, D, and E Companies, 43rd Infantry Reinforcements move from Tauherenikau M.C. to Featherston Main Camp. Tuesday, 23rd July, Details for Mounted Rifles, Field Artillery and Specialist Company selected from 44th. Recruit Draft in Trantham Camp will move to Featherston Camp by train. The 44th Infantry Reinforcements will arrive from Trenthain by train and proceed to Tauherenikau M.C. The Details selected from fit Cl men for service in ■Hie Medical Corps will move to Awapuni M.C.

The members of the Wellington Sunday . School Union met last evening. There was a large attendance. The secretary reported, receiving great encouragement financially for the scheme of a Sunday School backblocks organiser, and a Selection Committee was formed. Subject to. their approval, three gentlemen were appointed trustees for the fund. It was decided to heartily support the competitions in November, and to get as many Sunday schools as possible to enter. Levin Methodist and two Sunday schools at Featherston were received into the union. ' It was decided to ask the Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, io present the prizes for the Sunday School Union examination.

America is dealing firmly with the question of German influence in civil life. A correspondent has forwarded to the Evening Post the following resolutioas passed by the New York Athletic Club: "That the use of the German language for any purpose by members or their guests in either the city club-house or the club-house at Trave'rs Island or' on the .grounds thereof ia prohibited during the period of the war. Violation of this rule by a member or his guests will be deemed sufficient reason for the expulsion of the member." "That any member who introduces an enemy alien, whether man or woman, to the privileges of the city club-house or the club-house at Travel's Island during the period of the war shall be expelled from the club."

The Education Board has. (states a ; Press Association telegram from Dunedin) N received a communication from the Department .of Education to the effect that swimming classes in connection with the •Christian Brothers' School, held at the Municipal Baths, are not to be recognised for capitation, unless the Education Board has agreed to act as controlling authority under the Act. The board passed a motion to the effect that it did not think the Department should ask it to become the controlling authority in respect of private schools, over which it had no control, but as the classes were started this year on the assumption that capitation would be granted, the board consents to act as controlling authority for this year,' and is applying for capitation, as far as it goes, to meet the liabilities incurred in connection with the classes.

A" yo-urig married man named Alfred Cruse pleaded guilty at the Magistrate's Court to-day to a charge of stealing'two pairs of boots, valued at £2 13s 6d, the property of Hannah, and Company. Inspector Marsack said that the case was one of ordinary shop-lifting. An assistant working inside the window saw Cruse t?,ke a couple of pairs of boots from a stand outside the shop, slip them under his coat, and 1 hurry away. The assistant followed and caught the man, later handing him over to the police. Cruse, the Inspector said, took 'rather too much'drink! Mr. B. E. M'Carthy, S.M., suggested that a prohibition order should bo taken out against the accused, and to this Cruse agreed. On the charge of theft he was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and was also ordered to report once a month to the Prohation Officer for a period of one year, and to pay witnesses' expenses amounting to 18s.

Lieutenant A. G. Jackson, vvho left New Zealand with the Motor Patrol in November, 1916, writes stating that he took part in the raids at Ostend and Zeebrugge. ■ Referring to this, he says : "I was in the big stunts at Ostend. I can tell you the Dover patrol boats are doing their bit. The night of the big raid several motor launches were knocked out. The heat from our own guns burnt my face, and I was deaf for,three days; otherwise I got through well. It was a wonderful sight. Would not have missed it on any account—the blockships going into the harbour and sinking themselves. Our work was to go in and rescue the brave men off them, and the word brave is not enough for those men; they were great. We were under gun fire, and the bullets were dropping like rain. Six New Zealand boys tqok part in the raid. The three Wellington chaps were Tommy Turnbull,*Bill Jones, and myself." Lieutenant Jackson states he is nearly always at sea now, and' at time of writing was commanding officer of his own boat at Dunkirk. He states air raids are numerous, and one night in May he saw over one hundred machines making for London. Seven %of them were brought down, one falling about two miles from his boat. It was a great sight.' Lieutenant Jackson is well known in rowing circles _in New Zealand., and was one of the New Zea-* land 'Champion Fours in 1911, and also rowed'for Wellington, Picton, and Blenheim. He is a son of Mr. James Jackson,~ Te Awaite, Tory Channel. The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts decided last evening to resume the giving of prizes to students. The custom has been suspended since the war began. Mr. T. Shatter Weston has given £5 for prizes. A vote of thanks was accorded him for the donation. I ■

At the last meeting of the council of the Now Zealand Academy of Fine Arts a motion of J sympathy was paeeed in connection with the death of Mr. A. H. Turnbull, who was one of the oldest members of the academy, and a great lover of art.

For the current year the estimated value of supplies for New Zealand's military purposes is £1,300,000. The value of orders placed to date is £789,000, leaving a, balance of £511,000 for any purchases that may be required. The' allocation of expenditure so far is — Auckland, £144,820; Wellington, £363----225; Canterbury, £124,293; Otago, £156,662. "Speaking generally," states thet Hon. A. M. Myers, "the conditions still prevail which make it impossible for advantageous purchases to be made by the tender system in all cases. As a result of this, the Department has compiled a complete register of suppliers-of various lines, and of necessity is purchasing direct from primary sources of eupply where possible."

"As the war is prolonged the business in respect to priority permits continues to increase in volume and importance," said the Hon, A.. M. Myers yesterday. "It is now found necessary for the Minister, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, to make representations to Canada, United States, India, and Australia, in the same way as wa9 done last year in respect of New Zealand orders placed in the United Kingdom. The Department has spared no effort to assist New Zealand importers in making good their shortages in essential lines, but :' will be appreciated that it 3 action is frequently taken in the light of confidential information. This occasionally precludes insistent representations being made."

Mr. J. A. Betts, who has been representative of the Stock Department of the Wawarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association, Ltd., at Pahiatua for some time past, has been appointed general manager of the Association's auctioneering business in the AVairarapa.

A ferry service has been recently established on the main road between Te Kuiti and Pio Pio, owing to the excessive rainfall during the past month, states the Taumarunui Press. This has been caused by the Mokau River overflowing and inundating the level country, including the metalled road. Passengers by coach and motor services have to transfer into a boat,' and are rowed across a hundred yards of newly-formed lagoon. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald and Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., had this experience on going to Aria to officially open the post office. The -whole cause .of the trouble is the choking up of the Mokau Hiver by willow trees near Pic Pio, where the stream is very narrow.

Employers throughout New Zealand are being reminded by the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department that their help will be appreciated in the suitable placing of returned men. "During the past few months," states a circular letter, " a very large number of soldiers have returned to the Dominion, many of whom were wounded- in the country's service and are capable of performing only 'light work/ We are, therefore, approaching you in the hope that you may have, or know of, a vac. ancy for which it may be possible for us to nominate a, suitable returned soldier. We especially desire to obtain offers of employment for clerks, storemen, messengers, packers, lift attr lants, and also light labouring woidj, and should be much obliged if you wsuld kindly communicate with us, if yon are able Ho thus assist in again settling our soldiers in the civil life of the community." - ■

The suni of £6 15s has been forwarded to the Superintendent, Telegraph Office, Christchurch, by some unknown personIt was described by the sender as "Conscience money:: telephone." 1.';:-

As the streams in the Waimarino district were depleted of trout by the recent bush fires, a consignment of 2000 yearling rainbow trout is being despatched from the Masterton fishponds.'"-