LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 203, 12 August 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A sharp earthquake shock was felt at Eltham at 12.40 last night. William John Sandford, dariy farmer, of Havelock North, has filed a petition in bankruptev. There are persistent rumours being circulated in Napier to the effect, that a warship has been seen out at sea on two occasions.

J. C. Williamson’s orchestra, which arrived in Napier yesterday, played patriotic airs all the way up the line, and crowds cheered them at the small railway stations en route.

The Hawke’s Bay division of the British Medical Association has decided io medically treat all the dependants of the men who are serving in the Expeditionary Force. A ballot for three sections in the Porangahau district and one in the Tautane district will fake place At the. Napier Lands Department on Friday.

A football team from Danuevirke will be the guests of the Mormon College Students at a social in the Oddfellows’ Hail, Hastings, on Frida)' evening.

A fine entertainment is .being prepared for the benefit concert to be given by the Hastings Orphans’ Club in conjunction with the Princess Pictures on Friday evening and a bumper house is expected.

To avoid clashing with the patriotic concert on Friday night, Mr. L. W. Fowler, a candidate lor the vacant seat on the Hastings Borough Council, has postponed his meeting in St. Matthew’s Hall until the following Monday, the night before the election.

The counting of votes in connection with'the election of a representative for the North Ward on the Hawke’s Bay Education Board was completed yesterday, and resulted in Mr C. H. Bridge defeating Mr. G. T. Wildish (the sitting member) by 99 votes to 87.

In the Legislative Council last night Mr- Bell said he hoped to go on with non-contentious measures in the Council if the House concurred, and he would ask the Council to sit at night, as it was physically impossible for him to deal with committee work in the mornings.

A first offending inebriate who appeared before Dr. de Lisle, J.P., at the Hastings Court this morning, pleaded that one of his sons had left Hastings yesterday for the front, and in the excitement he had one or two too many. Lnder the circumstances he was convicted and discharged.

Nominations for the vacancy on the Hastings Borough Council cans ed by the resignation of Mr. B. t. McCormick closed at noon toMaj. The Returning Officer (Mr. T. Morgan) has received the following nominations: Fowler, J. A. Gallagher, W. T. Kilford, and S. Martell.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that the Chancellor of the University Senate has conferred the following degrees:— Baciu lor of Engineering (electrical), Percy George Bamford ; Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Edward K. Eddie, James A. Marshall, Samuel L. Serpell and illiam Watt.

The Y.M.C.A. Boy Scouts met last night to consider whether they should offer their services to the Mavov and citizens to act as messengers or collectors in connection with the military preparations. The boys unanimously decided to offer their services and expressed the wish to undertake anv duty that may be allotted to them which will enable them to help the Empire in her hour of need. Another meeting will be held on Thursday when the patrol will be organised and made ready for service.

The rumour regarding the sinking of H.M.S. New Zealand is still being persistenil.y circulated and it is high time that sane minded peoiile ceased to attach any credence to irresponsible statements of this kind. The latest embellishment of the story is that Air. G. P. Donnelly has received r. private cablegram advising him of the sinking of .\ew Zealand s gilt ship. Mr. Donnelly telephoned us this afternoon and informed us that the statement is without foundation and characterises the canard as being as evil as it is ridiculous. The secretary of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce has received the following letter from Mr. E. H. Hiley, General Manager of Railways:—“With reference to your letter of the 14th ultimo requesting that the public be restricted from entering the railway station at Hastings on the, arrival of mail trains, 1 have the honour to inform you that this would involve considerable expense on fencing which would probably bo valueless when the station accommodation is ro-arranged, and in view of the many mor® urgent and important works at present in hand, or awaiting funds, I regret that I cannot see my way to authorise any expenditure in tne direction desired.’’