LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 42, 17 August 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Fifty years ago yesterday the steamer Taranaki, owned by the New_ Zealand Steam Navigation Co., Wellington, and commanded by the late Captain Francis, struck a rock while entering Tory Channel in daylight, and sank in Bowden's Bay, to which she had been towod by her own boats. The Wreck Recovery Company undertook a contract to refloat her. Mr. Charles Seagar, of Wellington, who is now living at Silverstream, was in charge of the operations, which proved entirely successful. The vessel was towed to Wellington and repaired, and- was in commission again for some years afterward. The mishap was caused through a strong tide carrying her on to the rock, owing to the hand-steering gear failing to respnd to the call made upon it at a critical moment. After she was brought back to Wellington, the Taranaki became the property of the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company, and eventually passed into the hands of the Union Company, by which she was owned when she was wreck. .1 on the East Coast. Amongst the passenger* on board when she met with the accident in Tory Channel was the late Bishop Selwyn, a fine oarsman, who cheerfully went into one of the boats and assisted in the work of towing the steamer into shallow water. Mr. G. Mayo Kebbell, a resident of Wellington for many years past, was purser of the vessel.

Mention was made by Mr. H. F. yon Haast. at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts last evening that the Italian Bed Cross Society is to hold an art union in connection with the Italian Red Cross appeal on 20th September. Two i.aintings by Mr. Datillo Rubbo, the well-known- artist of Sydney—valued at 100 guineas and 50 .guineas—are being sent over to New Zealand as the first and second prizes. It was hoped that New Zealand artists would donate prizes for the same object. It may be mentioned that a painting • by Mr. Datillo Rubbo was presented to the .Academy of, Fine Arts by the, late Mr. John Newton, which picture is now in the art gallery in Whitmore-street.

"One respect in which I have had to revise"my ideas/- said Colonel Gardner at the Officers' Institute last night, "is regarding the effect of artillery fire." In the war they had heard of some surprising- escapes. He mentioned the case of an officer in a dugout who was unharmed though a large shell burst within eighteen inches of his head and wrecked ■ the dugout. The effect on buildings was also astonishing at times. Very little damage had been done in some cases by 5-inch high-explosive shellc striking buildings. He had' thought that such a thing as a chimney hit by a big shell was bound to collapse, but he had seen chimneys standing with one or two shell-holes right through them, and. one he^ remembered with three holes and a chip out of the side.

The mystery surrounding Mr. Frank Walker's disappearance from Otaki on 19th July was partially solved by the discovery of the body in the Waitohu Stream yesterday. Mr. W. Giddens, sen., while walking to his home from the beach near the stream, discovered the body floating head downwards some two or three hundred yards below the bridge leading to Mrs. Simeox's summer cottage. Constable Satherley was at once informed, and the body was secured. It is thought that the deceased attempted to cross the bridge, which is barred by a locked gate, and that in negotiating the obstacle, Mr. Walker fell and was drowned, the water being deep at the spot. The body had evidently been caught by one of the snags in the stream and had lately become released. An inquest will be held.

Further particulars in regard to the doath of Private Frederick A. E. Swiney, who was killed in action in France on Bth May, have been received. In a letter to the mother of the deceased soldier, Mrs. E. Swiney, of 91, Pirie-street, 2nd Lieutenant A. Owen, of the Ist Company, Ist Canterbury Infantry Battalion, writes: —"As I am the officer in charge of the platoon in which he was, I ifeel it my duty to give you full particulars of the fead event. He was one of a. party holding a Lewis-gun position in the village of Hebuterne. At about 5 a.m. they were shelled, and your son was killed instantaneously by tho second shell. The corporal in charge was also killed by the same shell. They were buried together in the village, and tho padre conducted the service. 1 myself supervised tho removal of his botfy to the Field Ambulance station. His comrades carved a stone which was erected over the grave. I can only send you, Mrs. Swiney, and all his relations, the deepest sympathy of all of us in your great sorrow, and may you find consolation in the fact that his death was a glorious one—in the service of his country. Your son, unfortunately, was only a short time with us, but I found him willing and cheerful, and at all times prepared to do his duty. His death is a real loss to the company." The late Private Swiney was 21 years of age, and enlisted with" tho 32nd Rein-

When a, witness at the Supreme Court, at Palmerston, was asked what a certain person thought, his Honour Mr. Justice Chapman asked how it was possible for witness to know what another person thought, adding, "The Privy Council has solemnly laid it down that not even the devil knows what is in the mind of man."

Cable advice dated 6th August, 1918, has been received from London by New Zealand Base Records stating that Corporal R. Scott, who is a New Zealander at present attached to the Royal Engineers, has. been awarded a Military Medal for gallantry in the field ot action. As this soldier is not a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force his next-of-kin is not known at Base Records.

.A recent meeting of the Christchurch Tramwaymen's Union received the board's letter declining the union's request for alO per cent, war bonus. It was resolved to make further .representations to the board for consideration of the case of employees whose hours of work had been reduced since the new agreement came into operation, and whose aarning capacity was thereby reduced to less than under the old agreement. \ " The Maori as a Voyager, Explorer, and Coloniser" will be the subject of an address to be delivered by Mr. Elsdon Best at the next meeting of the Early Settlers' and Historical Association, to be held at Godber's Rooms, Courtenay-place, on Tuesday next. As Mr. Best is a recognised authority on Maori history and customs the address should be of particular interest-.. It is expected that there will be a very large attendance.

The Auckland Education Board, being desirous of encouraging the senior pupils of its schools to take an active interest in school gardens and agricultural science work, has decided to assist the A. and P. Association by making a contribution towards prize-moneys awarded at their annual shows for school garden classes. A circular compiled by the Technical Supervisor (Mr. 3. P. Kalaugher) embodies the scheme, which provides for eight suitable classes, the board to deal with each application ssparately, and make a reasonable contribution if considered desirable.

A young man named James l'roctor appeared before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., in The Magistrate's Court yesterday, on a charge of having driven a motor car at -an excessive rate of speed on the Hutt-road. The offence was alleged to have been committed on the second day of the laet Wellington race meeting, and two constables expressed the opinion that defendant went about 40 miles an hour, passing everything on the road. Defendant, on oathi said he took about an hour and ten minutes to come in from Trentham, with feevem passengers. . Defendant, for whom Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared, was convicted and; fined 20s, with 7s costs.

An interesting reference in Colonel M. M. Gardners lecture to the Wellington Officers' Institute last night was to the seemingly increased human endurance displayed in the war. Before the war they had been taught that a. unit which had been decimated—had lost 10 per cent, in casualties—was practically useless and must, be put on one side, as its morale was bound to be affected; but in this war there had been mnch greater casualties, and tha units had been able to continue. In physical endurance there had been some surprising results. Men had had to stay in wate^up to (heir waists for days and endure very trying conditions, particularly when attacking and on the move.

"There is one tliin.se .in this that I don't agree with," said.- the Mayor of Spreydon (Mr. W. H. Vvinsor) at last meeting of the Borough Council, when an appeal by the Canterbury branch of the Navy League was being considered. He referred to a clause in the letter which stated that "for many years after the war a gTeat number of widows and orphans will need far more help than can be granted by the Imperial Government." "Fancy a few individuals undertaking to do more than the Imperial Government can do for these men's dependents !" continued the Mayor. He said that they paid their taxes to the Government as citizens, and if it could not look after the widows and orphans, who could? He agreed that the fund was most worthy of support, as there was no doubt that the men of the Navy had saved the Empire, but he suggested that the matter be held over until the Copper Trail Fund had been disposed of. The Mayor's suggestion was acted upon.

The l'ecent prosecution of a motorist for an infringement of a city by-law by failing to sound his horn was referred to at a meeting of the committee of the Auckland Automobile Association. The Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, it was stated, had remarked that in order to strictly comply with the by-law it was apparently necessary for a motorist to always sound his horn when overtaking a vehicle or passing a street intersection, and he had asked -tins;-Sub-Inspector M'Namara whether nothing was left to a motorist's discretion. In some cases, the Magistrate had mentioned, the sounding of a-motor horn behind a restive horse might have undesirable effects. The Act-ing-Sub-Insipector had replied that the by-law allowed no discretion in the matter. The opinion was .expressed by those present at the meeting that the by-law was reasonable, but that some discretion should be observed in its administration. It was decided that the president and vice-president of the association should interview the Acting-Superintendent of Police upon the subject.

In the course of an address at First Church, Dunedin, Chaplain Burridge, in speaking of the bright side of war conditions, referred to the inspiring response that Britain "had made to the trumpet blasts that the war had addressed to the soul of the nation, and prophesied that out of the furnace there would' emerge a better and a purified people. He believed that very much of the good that would result in individual character was because the men had been, consciously or unconsciously, fighting for a cauee outside themselves, and that the Church might learn a lesson for the future from that fact. The war had also taught us the need to close our ranks more, and, if possible, heal the breaches between the denominations. There was need 'also, he thought, for a closer spirit of comradeship between the men of the Churches ; and the speaker referred ap* preciatively in this connection to the aims of the Presbyterian Men's League. Chaplain Burridge enumerated the causes that he believed were instrumental chiefly in enabling men to carry on under such conditions, specially mentioning the prevailing gift of humour, the soldier's fatalism, the splendid supply of comforts of all kinds sent from the Dominion, and often a definite" religious faith.

Mr. H. A. C. Golding, of Wadestownwas very successful at the Auckland Dog Show, now being held. iftr. Golding sent a brace of Airedale terriers, and he received word yesterday stating that he had won six firsts and two specials, including special for best Airedale in the show.

New potatoes are at present being dug in Otaki.

The committee of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association proposes to make provision in its constitution for the admission to free honorary membership of returned nurses of the colonial and Imperial Forces. The matter was considered at a recent meeting of the committee, and, along with several other proposed alterations to the rules, will be brought before a general meeting of members at an early date._ If the proposal is adopted the nurses will be supplied free, by the association,. with a. special distinctive badge.

Did the old-time Maoris use a kind of money? Mr, Etadon Best remarks in the current issue of the Journal of Science:— "A number of flakes of obsidian were found at Paekakariki, evidence of a system of barter among Native tribes in former times, for this useful material, flakes of which were used as knives, must have been conveyed hither from northern' regions. Flakes of a form of chert of a pinkish colour were also found, probably the refuse of some imple-ment-maker. This kind of stone is called' mamitea by Taranaki Natives, who fashioned adzes from it."

For the position of advisory inspector to the Auckland Education Board, rendered vacant through the appointment of Mr. Purdie (ex-advisory inspector), as secretary of the board, 23 applications have been received. Of these 11 arc from head masters and three from directors. With the exception of one, all the applicants are connected with the profession. The matter came' up for consideration at the meeting of the board on Wednesday, when it was referred, on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, to a committee consisting of the Chairman, Messrs. Banks, Boddie, and Murray, and Dr. Reekie, to report at next meeting.

Before his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) in the Supreme Court yestearday afternoon, James Sheppard, represented by Mr. J. A. Scott, sought a dissolution of his marriage with Annie Sheppard, a man named Mackintosh being named as co-respondent. The parties were married in 1896 in Invercargill, and there wera two children of the union. Petitioner some time later accused his wife of infidelity, and they separated. She applied for maintenance, but failed to get an order. About 1901 she commenced to live with the co-re-spondent, and had continued to do so. Corroborative evidence was given, and his Honour granted a decree nisi with costs against the co-respondent.

The suggestion has been made to the Christchurch City Council by Superintendent Warner, of Fire Brigade in that city, that a by-law should be passed making it compulsory "that occupiers of premises wherein oxygen, nitrous oxide gas, and ammonia cylinders are kept, either for purposes of sale or used in connection with any business or profession, to store them (in the interest of public safety) in a suitable part of the building, easily accessible in the event of fire, as may be approved by the superintendent of the Christchurch Fire Brigade " The Superintendent added : "There are many premises within the city where these cylinders are kept, especially so in dentists' rooms, where (in the absence of any regulations) they are' laid about' indiscriminately, in some cases kept in the surgery, others in the waiting rooms and workshops: in fact, placed anywhere about the building, so much.so that they become a menace to life and property in the event of an outbreak of fire, particularly to members of the brigade in attendance."

"Fire Hazard 'of Electrical Installations" is discussed in No. 4 issue of the Journal of Science by Mr. I<\ H. Khapherd,. electrical inspector for the Fire Underwriters' Association of Nuw Ke;tland. He gives a variety of good advice to minimise the rial: uf zicsidents. "The fires attributed to electrical causes in the Dominion are remarkably few when it is considered that at the end of 1916 there were fifty-eight supplystations in operation or under construction, with a total of 45,000 connections (approximately), showing a rapid increase during the past four years, considering that in December, 19i2, the total was only 17..095 connections. I attribute the small number of fires to the good standard of work maintained by contractors, and the system of rigid inspections carried out by the authorities. No matter how good the standard may be, once' inspections are dropped laxity is bound to creep in, and there can only be one result—a big waste by fire." He stresses the importance of good materials and careful workmanship. The current is quick to take toll for carelessness. Persons who forget the switch after using an electric iron invite trouble.

Cases under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act were dealt with by Sir. W. '». Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court! yesterday. Frederick Henry Hawkins, charged with selling milk adulterated with water, pleaded not guilty. He was defended by Mr. W. F. Ward and Mr. J. Prendeville appeared for the Crown Defendant said he was a farmer, living at Makara, and had been carrying on the milk business for twenty years. He had never had a complaint, and had never added water to the milk. He had no control over the cans after they left his farm. He could not account for tho condition of the milk discovered by analysis; the weather conditions might have something to do with it. He did not apply auy test before he sent tho milk away. His Worship: "Then he took the risk. If he had used a lactometer he could have found out the condition of the milk for himself." Defendant said that as a result of these proceedings he would go out of business. His Worship: "There is no need to do that. All you want to do is to use a lactometer." After hearing further evidence, his Worship said the analysis showecPthe presence of 14 per cent, of added water. The regulations prescribed a certain standard when the milk was offered for sale, and if it did not reach that standard it lay upon the defendant to show that he took all reasonable precautions to see that the standard was reached. If a vendor did not take precautions he must accept, the penalty. He imposed a fine of £5, with £2 2s costs. On two charges of having sold adulterated milk without informing the P"'-'----chaser $at it was adulterated, defendant was convicted and ordered to pay Court costs 7s.

"It is interesting to note," said Colonel Gardner, D.5.0., at the Wellington Officers' Institute 'last niffht, "that the first British brigade that went to France was commanded by a New Zealander." Colonel Gardner was referring to the late Major-General Davies.