LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 149, 21 December 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Original stories and articles specially written for the number will appear in the Christmas edition of The Post, to be ■ published on Friday next. A irtory entitled " The General's Christmas Goose" will be found to sustain the interest of the reader to the end. It also contains gkilfully-applied local colour of Palestine under modern war conditions, and at Christmas time, when the New Zealanders, in common with other members of the Imperial force*, were engaged in business rather more pressing than holiday keeping. Dc«psea fishing is one of New Zealand's principal \ Christmas pleasures, and those "' who love nothing better than a boat, a line, and reasonable luck, will find their tastes fully provided for. The number will also contain other selected matter of seasonable interest.

The Prime Minister has received from Sir Neville Pearson the following telegram :—"Lady Pearson and myself are deeply grateful for your kind message of condolence. From tl»e bottom of our hearts we thank you for it. (Signed) Neville Pearson."

"There are probably many people besides myself who travelled by the .4.30 p.m. train from Thorndon Station last Christmas Eve, who retain a vivid remembrance of the extreme discomfort experienced. Some, like myself, went down about half an hour early, hoping to get peacefully to a seat on the train," writes "Traveller" to The Post. "We found all gates and doors shut and barred. Some train from the north was late, and .as time went on hundreds gathered outside the closed gates and stood for an hour and twenty minutes. (Time taken at the moment.) It was one of the sweltering afternoons when the sun has come out after rain, and the crush and heat made the waiting a perfect misery. Is it going to _be the policy of the Railway authorities this season to keep people out of the railway stations till the last moment, so that late and early comers have practically an even chance of getting seats? For delicate people, and mothers and children, it simply means that they are thrust aside py the stronger ones, and have no chance of comfort after having stood in a hot crush till nearly exhausted." .

Some little time ago the police set a "trap" for motorists at the intersection of Tory-street and Courtenay-place, and H. F. Marsh was one of those who drove into it. Marsh was charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon with having exceeded the speed limit. ' It was stated that the limit at the inter- ■ seciion was eight miles per hour, whereas defendant was travelling at the rate of twenty-two per hour. A fine of 10s, with 7s costs, was imposed.

Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., heard two maintenance cases at " the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon. Alfred John Meager was ordered to pay 20s weekly towards the support of his mother, and Richard Climo was ordered to pay 30s per week towards the support of his wife. Mrs. Climo stated she was 21 years of age, her husband 19, and that they were married last May. Other evidence was given to the effect that Climo had been "carrying on" with a girl to whom he had posed as a single man.

Notice hag been given in the House of llepresentatives by Mr. W. T. Jennings (Waitomo) to ask the Minister of Lands, whether, in connection with the proposed Forestry Department, a Dominion agrostologist will be appointed to deal with the drifting sands in many places, and so avert the further destruction of one-time valuable lands, which are now rapidly becoming sand-dunes. Mr. Jennings states 'that from ManuKau Heads righ* through to Kawhia, Mokau, on to many parts of Taranaki, drifting sands are a menace that need the full attention of the Forestry Department.

To stand on the platform of a tramcar aftei the conductor has requested a passenger to move inside is a breach of the tramway bylaws. Before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, Henry Wright was charged with, standing on the platform of a traracar. Defendant was ' represented ty Mr. Moynah, and Mr. J. Imlay appeared foi the Corporation. Evidence was given that defendant had been requested to move off the back platform of a tramcar, and complied. Afterwards he cams out of the inside of the car, and when asked a second time to go inside, did not do so. His Worship, took the view that on account of defendant's deafness the request of the conductor might not have been heard. The information was dis- ' missed.

The hearing of evidence regarding the petition inado by Abraham Walley Mahomed Salaman for an order under tlio provisions of the Habeas Corpus Act giving him the custody of his half-caste child was not concluded when the Supreme Court rose yesterday afternoon, and Mr. Justice Hosking accordingly adjourned further consideration of the vii till after the Cbristraw vacation. ■

No lew than 73 decrees niti and orders for restitution of conjugal rights in matrimonial cases were granted at th» Auokland Supreme Court during tha session which concluded last week. 4u total of 80 matrimonial cases came before the: Court, this being an increase of about a. score on the previous record.

"A mining strike is good for business." This.'Tather surprising statement was made by a Greymoutb grocer. He explained that strike talk among the miners set their wives to the task of stocking the family cupboard with foodstuffs and every penny available ivas devoted to this purpose, with a consequent temporary improvement in the grocery business; "One day recently," he aaid, "I received no lets than £100 worth of orders from Blackball alone. The business done so far this month (to 17th December) equals that for the whole of December last year."

The branch of the Labour Bureau in Auckland which deals with unemployed men is having little difficulty at present in placing experienced farm" hands, for wliom there is a good demand, but there is practically no, demand for unskilled labour in the city (says the Herald). Very little reduction in the number of unskilled workers awaiting employment has been made during the past two months, although a fair number are being placed on Government works, where they are usually employed on the contract system.

Tuesday was the sixth anniversary of the completion of the evacuation of" the Anzac and Suvla positions at Gallipoli by the British forces. The announcement of the withdrawal was made in the House of Commons on 21st December, 1915, by Mr. Asquith, Prime Minister, who said: "It was here where our gallant kinsmen from Australia and New Zealand won undying honour." The total losses in withdrawing were four men wounded and the destruction of six guns and a quantity of stores. The landing at Gallipoli by tb.e' Anzacs 'was effected on 25th April, 1915. .

Very severe displeasure wag expressed by Mr. Justice Hosking yesterday afternoon at the untruthfulness of one or other of the two principals in a civil action before the Court. One had sent in an affidavit, and the other, in the witness-box, flatly contradicted a simple statement of fact contained in the affidavit. It was plain that one of thn parties was lying, said his Honour, and it would be necessary for witness to make a further affidavit upon the point. "I warn you to take care with this mat ter," said hi* Honour, "for one or other of you may have laid himself open to a charge of perjury."

The Mayoral election at Lovrer Hn'.t to-day is cresting great interest; an.i polling during the day has been heavy, both sides bang very active. Mr. T»>*. T. Strand had 3 packed andieß&s fa ih> Town Hall, Lower Hait, lajt eveaizaz. and received 3 msat entfenafsstitc rKeption- At the dose o£ tke rasating. Mr. Pasco*, a rapparfei: of 3iir- BEsS^ractn:, attempted to sddrear the cuawtf. from; t'\%Town Hall bdeaay. Tsai- mas: "cnnsieif out." In stepping kadfc h& fell truwnafr a skylight, and namrwly' escaped. jenb'isinjury, being ssvsd: from fall Trig- 6c? tsfce pavement by fcstnz eaeste en a gaapfp^He was able to refam to Ms foaise later in th« ereniug.

Members of the National Executive of the Self-Determination for Ireland I.€&g«ie of New Zealand last evening passed a vote of condolence to the wife and family of the late Mr. Henry Stead. The president, Mr. P. J. O'Eegan, eulogised the deceased as a man who had peculiarly strong cj^iins on the gratitude of Irishmen the world over. As a journalist and man of letters, Mr. Stead had enjoyed a powerful influence, and it was to his lasting honour that he had always used it in the cause of justice. ' His review had deservedly won a high and distinctive place in colonial journalism, and in connection with the cause of Ireland its late editor had ever proved him- ■ self a man whose heart was in the right place. A letter will be sent conveying the league's sympathy and condolence.

Th« inquest touching the death of Wil-; liam Henry Wall was concluded in Ashburton yesterday. The evidence of several witnesses (states a Press Association report) showed that Wall had been drinking heavily the day of the accident. The Coroner, Mr. James Cow, returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally killed by ; falling from a trap while under the influence of liquor. A rider was added that /the whole circumstances showed callou«ness and great want of thought by, those connected with the case. Instead of being put into- a coach deceased was helped into a trap driven by a schoolboy, and both were thrown out, Wall's spine being broken. According to the evidence, Andrew Stearfc Mactier, the coachman, then lifted de ceased into the. bottom of the coaqh. and he was allowed to remain there for three hours. After that *ie was taken into the house, and placed on a »fa, but was not attended to during, the night. In all, nineteen hours were permitted to elapse before medical attention was secured. The Coroner concluded by stating that it was fortunate for those" concerned that the medical evidence was that immediate medical attention would not have altered the result, but this did not excuse the^ conduct of those connected with the ca«e.

To every boy and girl who lives at home Christinas is a happy time, happier in some homes than in^ others, but.happier in all than the average happy day. To the children who have lost their parents and are cared for in institutions the day and the season must likewise be made happy, and so one finds w*ork-a-day and quite seriously-minded bodies and societies dropping their heavy considerations for the time being and helping on the kiddies who need, cheerful help most. Yesterday afternoon members of tho ■Rotary Club spread a table with very good and desirable things for sixty or so children from the Salvation Army Home at Island Bay and the Presbyterian Orphanage, and enjoyed themselves just as well as the children—some enjoyment, if one may use the American term. The club members have another treat in store for another 6et of children for personally addressed parcels are being prepared for the seventy odd children at the Trentham Hospital, all sufferers from infantile paralysis. A Christmas spread has also been arranged by the club for patients and staff at the Trentham Military Hospital. A turkey is decidedly a rara avis nowadays, but there is a rumour that several of them are awaiting.crates addressed to the cook and carver at the Military Hospital,