Local and General.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 219, 17 August 1918, Page 4

Local and General.

A message has been received by the Defence Minister that a hospital ship its way out to the Dominion has reached a port of call, all well.

. The ballot In Dunedin for the election of five non-official members of the Council of the N.Z. Bowling Association representing the North Island, resulted in the return of Messrs J. Kilgour. Auckland ; Maxwell Walker, Auckland ; Colonel Collins, Wellington ; A. K. Smart, New Plymouth ; A. Coutts, Auckland. The Soldiers’ Children’s Committee are asking those who have war trophies to loan them for exhibition purposes. The secretary wishes it understood that all trophies will be quite safe and will be returned in the same order as accepted. Anyone willing to help a good cause should communicate with Mr. E. Pratt, or ring ’jrlione 555. During an interval in the Hastings Orchestral Society’s concert hist night, the conductor, Mr. P. W. Tombs, in thanking the audience for the appreciation t.iey had shown of the Society’s efforts, referred particularly to the great interest displayed in the Society’s work by the energetic secretary, Mr. F. W. Thomas.

At a meeting of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union (Hawke’s Bay Provincial District). held at Hastings this morning, Mr. J. O’Neil, one of the delegates to the recent Conference, in reporting on the decision come to by the Conference re the Imperial wool purchase, said the agitation made by Mr. Lysnar, was invaluable to farmers, and he paid a high tribute to the services rendered by Mr Lysnar, who spoke out fearlessly in their interests.

“If I am still in charge of hospitals after the war,” said the Hon. G. W. Russell at the laying of the foundation stone of the new Fever Hospital yesterday, “I will have a progressive programme to put before the people.” He wanted to see the work of the late Mr. Seddon in connection with the establishment of maternity homes extended. Such .homes had been established at Invercargill, Napier, Blenheim, and other places. They should be used as training institutions for nurses, so that they could be sent into the backblocks to attend to maternity cases.

The fine body of tone, from the ’cellos was an outstanding feature in the orchestral numbers at last night’s concert. The Society is fortunate in having the assistance in this department of Miss J. Scott and her pupils from Woodford House. The’playiiig of the girls, and the enthusiastic manner in which they entered into the spirit of the work reflected great credit on t.heir teacher. The orchestra is also fortunate in possessing a capable horn player, rather a rareity even in large towns ; this player’s work was also distinctly valuable especially in the “Hayden Symphony.” In connection with the copper trail contest arranged between Hastings and Napier, a meeting was held at the latter town yesterday, Mr. A. C. Matheson presiding. He reported that the challenge had been accepted with minor alterations. It was pointed out that the effort would not end in the three weeks anil it was probable that further sums would come in for the cause. A very large map has been prepared and will be exhibited showing the progress each day. The matter was left in the hands of the organisers to make arrangements for exhibition, the organisation of schemes to raise money being also left in their hands.

A steamer has arrived in Dunedin with a cargo of about 23.00(1 sacks of Victorian-grown wheat, this line comprising portion of the first 2.000,0(i0 bushels of wheat recently purchased by tho Government on be’uilf of the millers of the Dominion. The allotment of the wheat amongst tho vario.us local mills has been made bv the Wheat Controller (Mr. W. G. M-Donald), and the sampling and distributing arrangements are in the hands of Mr. Arnold Smith, the chief local Government grader. The quality of the wheat, the “Otago Daily Times” states, is not quite so good as that of the last, shipment of Australian wheat, which arrived in Dunedin, some of it being rather thin.

Yesterday Sir Robert Stout delivered reserved judgment in the case arising out of the bankruptcy of the Klastings firm of builders of Duncan and Abbott, who were adjudicated bankrupts before the completion of their contract for the erection of premises for the Bank ol New Zealand nt Featherston. The point at ifsue ciwi-rned the validity of one of the various liens lodgi d. that of Arthur Wade, Hastings,’for C32S. for plumbing and eleel.rleal vork done. The decision of the court was sought v hether the claimant lost his lien, by taking promissory notes at. the time the proceedings were commenced, <md dishonoured before notice of the lien, and outsfar.ding in the •hands of third parties. In his judg'•ment the Chief Justice traversed the Circumstances of the ease, and .the •legal position and held that Wade '•was entitled to his lien.

I Twenty thousand people fought their way into the trains to and from the Grunewald Racecourse, Berlin, on Ascension Dav, 9lh. May (says an exchangei. The newspaper:; declare that the ser.'iuih'e not oniy for places in the train-, but also for admission to the course, and t.ie queues leading’ to tin- betting machines .can onlv be described as a ‘’bloody battle.” Those who succeeded in forcing their way into the trains reached there bruised ami lii-hev e!'/ d. Othei waited for hours’. The newspapers bl.tteiu.v crit iei'-od the i.-iilvvay authorities, awen as the Jockey Club, asserting that, as long as racing is permitted accommodation somehow must be provided. Some <>i' the wildest, haud-to-hand fighti. £ need round the race-card seihi- t t number of cards available lnen about cue to every ten p-.i-m . en the ccnri<.

Owing to the steamer bringingth« J.C. Williamson Company from Sydney arriving at Wellington a day late, the company will only be able to hold a one-night season at Hastings. The company arrives here on Thursday next, and will stage the great drama "Bomance.”

The National Council oS New Zealand representing all branches of the licensed trade, in view of tihe statements of Mr. Massey and Sir. J. G. Ward last year that the proper solution of the licensing question must bo found, and also the demands of the Prohibitionists, Moderate Ueague, and the Labour Party, as well as the Efficiency Board’s reoommendation, has passed resolutions to the effect that no adequate solution could be found without an altered ballot paper, which must be 'revised to remove existing disabilities. With that object the council had drawn up a petition to Parliament asking for a single ballot paper with the following issues:—National Continuance, National Ownership., or National Prohibition, a hare majority to decide, at the next general election. jjgsjßßS