LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, 2 August 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"I am quite certain," said Mr Massey, alter reading the telegram to the House, "that everyone in the Dominion will support the Imperial Government in its resolve to see that such crimes as the murders of Captain Fryatt and Nurse Cavell will not go unpunished." (Hear, hear).

The annual meeting of the Nelson branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, which was adjourned from the 29th tiltimo on account of. the bad weather will be held in the Girls' Central School on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock

The Prime Minister in the House of Representatives last evening announced that the Military Service Bill has ieceived Royal assent, and is now the law of the land.

A grand concert (vocal and instrumenal) will he given in the Nelson School of Music on Monday, August 7th, by senior students of the N.S.M., assisted, hy Mr J. Bird (tenor). An excellent an<j varied programme has been prepared, selected from important works by. some of the great composers, and including duets, trios, etc., both vocal and instrumental, which, it 'is confidently expected, will ensure a large audience to reward the efforts of the performers. The nett pr<_» ceeds will be given to the Red Gi'ois funds. > ; .'■

Indications of one of the mildest winters ever, experienced in. this district are quite apparent in many ways (says the "Lake Wakatrp Mail). Skating, which is usually at its height a't this time, is right off. Instead, of Where being inches of ice on our, lagoons, there .is nothing but clear water. The snowfall has been exceedingly light. Sheepowners depend upon the snow to keep their flocks down on the low country, but practically no such barrier is .afforded! this year. Another sure indication of the mildness of the -winter ,is the early blossoming of the kowhai trees in our park. Springgrowth is everywhere wonderfully forward.

The heaviest S.E. gale that has been experienced hero for some time is-blow-* ins to-dav. The Maungatapu is fringed with snow, and the weather is bitterly\ cold. .Snow is also low down on the western -ranges.

In the House of Representatives yes terday the Hon.. J. Allen announced that the 13th reinforcements have arrived safely at their destination.

A patriotic concert by the inmates of the Boys' Training Farm, will be giv?n in the' Stoke Hall on Friday, the 4th inst. It will be seen from the _ programme, which is printed in this issue, that "the entertainment will be specially attractive.

Several blocks of land' mostly suitable for settlement of returned soldiers, havs been purchased on 'behalf oi the Government by the Laud Purchase Board. Some particulars of the areas were by the Prime Minister, says, our correspondent. One block, which is situated near Mar ton, consists ot 1056 acre? of level agricultural ' land. Another block near Palmerstou North contains 1020 acres suitable for cutting up .into nine or ten holdings. A third block of 730 acres is in Southland. Negotiations hav-e also 'been completed for the purchase of 7000 acres of sheep country in Marlborough.

The Cinematograph Films 'Gensorsh'p Bill was put through all its stages. An amendment was made providing" lor right of appeal from .tho decision of che censor. Mr Payne asked amendment should be made, providing that only new films "should be imported. The Minister saidi he would make enquiri3s from experts into the matter, and if advised that it was desirable, provision would be made in that direction.

The duty of .having the produce t'f New Zealand adequately advertised at Home was stressed' by Major Norton, in a short address he gave to, the Farmers' Conference. The present, he said, was a. most opportune time. The produce should be got right into the shops. Two years ago there were not a dozen shops'in England where New Zealand honey could lie procured. There were now 5000 places where it could be had. This was due to shop-window displays. As the result of Major Norton's address, it was resolved that a deputation, 'comprising the president (Sir James Wilson), Messrs Boddie and Moss, wait upon the Prime Minister, and urge upon him th© needi for having New Zealand produce properly displayed and advertised in Lhe Old Country.

Th<z mail? which left New Zealand on Mie 'Jovd June arrived in London on the ■slst ult. .

Everything has advanced. in price, since the war—especially the price of leather. Notwithstanding this fact many people will be able to save .money, in footwear by taking advantage of sale now proceding at Smith's Shoe Store. Particulars of sale enclosed with your oapcr tu-night.*

The members of Mr Tait's choir arp sked ir> note that the practice' to-night s for the'soloists only. Next full practice Monday at' 7: pO.

Vital statistics for July, are as folio <v —Marriages, 2; birth, 21; deaths, 15.

It is notified by advertisement in this issue that the firm of J. Porter Harris and Son, land, commission, and insurance agents, will be carried on as heretofore in their office-, Il.a Jy-street, Nelson.

Up -to June 30, 6,054,0610z of gold,, valued at £24,043,054, had been exported from the West Coast of New Zealand For the six months ended June 30, 31,2060z, valued at £116,764, were exported.

The number of births, deaths, and marriages in Wellington for the past seven months has shown an increase over those for the corresponding period of last year-

The Railway Department has installed giutooiatic warning bells at six level crossings, and the work for 50 more is in hand.

It is stated that the recent dec : sions of Mr H- W. Bishop, S.M., in Christchurch, imposing a fine for alleged bettin"- iii a railway train, will form the subject of an appeal to the Supreme Court.

It was announced on Wednesday by the Prme Minister (says the New Zealand Times) that the question of the consolidation of the land laws of the Dominion is not being lost sight of, -but the Crown. Law Office is very busy just now. The matter will be taken in hand at the first opportunity.

Ghaplain-Caiptain King, speaking at lus lecture in the Oddfellows' OHall at Balclutha on Wednesday night, said (reports the Leader) that to most people Egypt was svnonymous with sand and deserts. Tb/s, however, was not the case, as Egypt as a country was worth holding for its own. sake. . In .New. Zealand we heard of men giving such, high prices as £6O and £7O an acre torland, but' alongside the railway line, between Alexandria and Cairo the land could not be bought oinder £2OO am acre. The reason for ihrs was obvious. land could raise three or four crops; a "year the cotton crop alone berner worth from £35 to £45 rpor acre* according to the year under review. At -present this land was supporting 11,000.000 people, but with drainage the delta-could j be made to support three times as many, j

Writing from, Concepeion. Chili, on Am-il -25,"t0 a friend in Hawke's'Bay. n British resident states:—"We have just had a very 'kennesse'. and baza air here in order to collect funds . for the Allies' E«d Cross Fund. All helord well, and the net pofits, about £4OOO, show well for onlv two days' collecting and selling. The" Germans hi the town also had a 3 bazaar a short time aeo, but their efforts realised not quite £IOOO. and they are thoroughlv. distrusted with the- success which the Allies, have had. The majority of the Chilian people are sympathisers with the Allies, more especially the French.' The army, probably owing to its Teutonic instructors, is pro-Ger-man, whilst the navy favours the British."-

"Afv recent visit to Britain and America was partly for the purpose of matin"" inquiries into the methods of killing and,the distribution of meat," said the Hon. Frederick Flowers, M.I/.C. CP^ 1 " dent of the legislative -Council of ISew South Wales), who arrived ia Auckland on Mondav 'by the Niagara on the return iourney ito'S'vdney after a four-months visit to (Britain, and Arnica .(says the Herald). .Mr Mowers, who also president of the Meat Board of New South Wales, stated that as a result of his investigations, he was convinced that there i, s .nothLng to learn in either England or America in regard to methods of killing and of meat.

The Otorohanga correspondent of the N<ew Zealand Herald states that a railway clerk, named Edward Carroll, wis passing Mr John Ormsby's office shortU ■after midnight on Sunday week when he noticed a. light and heard a safe doar rattle. Carroll happened to be carrying his. revolver, and he called out, Hands up " The jna-n, inside replied, iiaruio up vourself," at the .same time pointing 'an object at him. The man then male off, followed by Carroll firing the revolver round about, though not actually nt, the ..-would-be robber. Another man joined in- the pursuit, and overtook Ca.roll just as the latter captured the man. The ; sequel was the appearance of J»m p j t*nith, a slightly-built man, described as a navvy, with several abases, at the ■Magistrate's Court on Monday morning •before Messrs Seymour and Benner Justices of the Peace, charged with benny a rogue andi a vagabond, and. with bein"- found on. Ormsby's premises at He was convicted and sentenced to" six months' imprisonment in the 'Auckland Gaol. Smith had several previous convictions proved against him, including one of breaking into the ie Kuiti lodkun. The Bench complimented Carroll on his plucky capture.

Reporting to the Auckland City Council on the Nihotupu reservoir works She city engineer stated that excavations for foundations are proceeding satisfactorily and the quantity taken out to July s'was 18,400 cubic yards in tie main excavation and 300 cubic yards for the curtain wall. The measurements on April 5 last were 15.700 cubic yards of main excavation and 195 cubic yards for the curtain wall. This represents an additional 15,000 cubic yards of main excavation. The Mayor stated that ss far as could bo seen the new estimate of the cost of the dam was £152,000. The satisfactory condition of' the foundation work .made this estimato possible. The position was that 3000 cubic yards was provided, for in the estimates. Already 18.000 cubic yards had been taken out, and probably' another 8000 cubic yards would require to be excavated, making a total of 26,000 cubic yards, or 23,000 cubic yards over the estimate.

Intercession.' Service's Avill be .held 1 .in St. "Barnabas's, 'Stoke, this evening and in Hoffiy Trinity Church, .Richmond, Friday.

Clifford Brain, aged 14. died at Auckland to~d<ay from the effects of a bullet wound received at Onehunga on Sunday last. A brother of deceased picked -Jf a revolver and pointed it at deceased, and said jokiriglv he would shoot. Not knowing the weapon was loaded he pulled the trigger and the bullet struck his •brother in the forehead.—Press Association.

A flannel dance will be held in the Port Rowing shed to-morrow night in aid of the Widow's Fund; Full particulars aijpeao; on page 1 of this issue.

The Francis Robertson sued in the Magistrate's Court yesterday was not Mr°Francis G. Robertsou, of Blightwater.

The evening concert by Mr Tait's Choir, which was postponed o naccount of the Silver Bullet Cannonade, is announced to take place in: the Druid'.--' Hall, Collingwood'-street, on Wednesday, centenary performance. ,jfcf Sterndale Bennett's cantata, "The May Queen " the soloists being Mrs Hesseltine, Miss Burrough, Mr A. E. Jackson, and Mr J. A. Salkeld. Part 11. will include excerpts from three of Shakespeare's' best known plays, by a party of ladies. The net proceeds are to be given to the committe's to provide extra- comforts for soldiers in Nelson Hospital.

There is a heav fall of snow in Canterbury to-day. Christchurch was white this morning, but the weather is now fine.—Press Association.

The Government is introducing a 'Bill providing for the extension of the' the present Parliament by one year. The session will probably end on Saturday.— Own Correspondent. ■

The Lyttelton Harbour Board at today's meeting decided to pay a. 'bonus of 8d a. day to employees .during- the warIt also passed a motion asking the Prime Minister to forward) Home an expression of the Dominion's appreciation of .Mr Asquith's words about the German atrocities. —Press Association.