LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, 26 March 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The infant daughter of Mr and Mrs Henry Better, Masterton, was severely scalded a few days ago. Meningitis supervened, and ihe child died in a private hospital a few nights later.

A man who is trying to escape taxation is making a rod fox his own back," said a member during an informal discussion on taxation at the monthly..meet-jug of the Hawera branch of the farmers' Union on Saturday (savs the Hawera Star).

Considerable amusement was caused in the Petone Court, says the Times, during a civil action, in which the plaintiff claimed damages from a neighbour for the trespass of fowls and a goat. Plaintiff, when asked' the sex of the goat in question, replied that it was a darkcoloured one. Cross-examined by counsel, ho admitted saying that ho would shoot a boy if he found him destroying his property.. At another point during his evidence ho said he told a boy's father that lie would mark him so that his father would know he .had been caught on plaintiff's land. Discovering boys jumping on a- tank and ..pulling at some #iipes -lie dabbed one lad on the face With a tar brush so that his father should know that he had been caught.

"xY Mother." writing to-The Times, suggests that a suitable and patriotic manner for parents to make a memorial for their fions who have fallen in the war, is by presenting scholarships' or prizes to their sons' schools. The writer says: "I am offering prizes for ; history to my two sons' respective schools —-one in. New Zealand and one in Scotland—because I believe this subject is very inadequately taught at- present, and in the words of a speaker at the recent meeting of the Historical Association, 'Historical knowledge is an essential part of a liberal education, and absolutely necessary as a preparation for citizenship.' "

11 is announced in the Gazette that the rates of postage to some of the re-cently-acquired islands an the Pacific which formerly belonged to Germany have been -altered to make them the same as those for British possessions. The names of the islands are: _ NewGuinea (except Dutch- New Guinea), Nauru, Bismarck Archipelago (including New Britain. New Ireland!, New Hanover. Admiralty Island), Solomon Islands (including Bougainville and Buka).

At St. "Mary's Church yesterday morning. Father MeGrath made some remarks apropos of the attitude ota member of a Military Service Board who, he said, had given utterance to certain views on the conscription of the clergy as "the only Roman Catholic member of the board." The speaker said he was not aware that there were such members. The term was at- least ambiguous. At 'best, one in such a position coiild only truly describe himself as a members of the board, "who happened to he a-Gatholic." Father MeGrath added thai a. Catholic who expressed opinions contrary to the, demands of the hierarchy was representative of no Catholic party. Bishops were declared by-the Vatican Council to be the divinely appointed rulers of the flocks assigned them. The Catholic system aimed at unity, and there were means of ensuring it. * There were excommunications' against- members who made decrees against the liberty and rightsi of the Church, and against those impeding directly or indirectly the Church's jurisdiction by counsel,"help or favour. Members of Appeal Boards therefore, before speaking as Roman \ Catholics, might do , well to examine their consciences.

In this week's Gazette, the Hon A. M. Myers (Minister in' charge of the Public Trust Office) calls attention to the appointment of a French Commission to deal with the private interests of ,the Allies in enemy and enemy-occupied ritory. The Commission's objects ,are :. —(1). To furnish . parties interested,, through the medium, of competent- neutral Ambassadors, particulars regarding their property situated in enemy or enemy-occupied territory (these particulars are sought' only when the applicant formally expresses his desire therefor..; (2) to prepare records of claims which it would be possible to value .subsequently. For further, information application, should be made to the French Yice-Con-sul at Auckland, who -will furnish ; interested parties with the necessary directions for the formulation of their claims.

A-distinctly original ground of appeal was put. 'before-the No. 1 Military, Service Board at Alexandra., on Thursday bv Jeremiah Joseph IMcElligott (Kawarau Gorge), says the Dnnedin Stat. The only written ground of appeal which he vouchsafed the Board was • the oracular statement:—"l dp hot feel it my duty, to fight for a ctfuntr.y that- educates her children' oh Prussian* ' principles." "Is this intended -as a joke?" asfted V-r Vviddowsdn (chairman) sharply. "No, sir," replied the appellant.' "Is that «M you have to say;?" pursued- Mr Widd-jy sbn. AS the question evoked, no satisfactory ehaed . the .matter by ruling that there was no ground of appeal. " ',-,, ■'"■■'.'

A bright little lad, 14, years' old,i the son of highly respectable residents of Adelaide, was sent .away, into .the,'coun-. try io receive a training"on-a farni. Fbr a- time letters were exchanged regularly, arid the- boy appeared very Then no, m>re letters came.' from him, Presently, the parents were alarmed. Ks having their letters, returned, ,- marked "Address unknown." They promptly had inquiries made, and -dis.cbvj.'jJ,, to their dismay, that the ,boy*-w«ts formatory, to which he had beenjcqni 1 matted T>y two country justices, sitting' as a JuveniTe CouH, for four ,'-years. It appears that the boy's homesickness had overcome him,-.and he took someone's. bic.ycle and started out to ride-, to the nearest port, where he could'proceed home. The machine broke down, and He fell into the hands'of the polic.?, He was charged and committed without * iy notification being sent to his -pai-ents. Ho was promptly released.: In a. letter from. France to his mother, Mrs E. Bracewell, of Bourne Street, Mount Eden, Private W. • Bracewell. speaks enthusiastically of the efforts ■'. of Bishop Cleary in the interests of the New Zealand" soldiers. "Although I do not belong to his denomination I have learnedi to admire him." says the writer, who prbceeds to relate how the bishop, when in England for the benefit, of his health, "came across. here to see if could make life* pleasanter -for us." Private Bracewell adds:—"We can feel the difference already, though he has only just begun. At .Christmas he was around here to greet us. and always looking for Aucklanders to joke with, making regular visits to the trenches. -Canon" Burton, Anglican chaplain to the corps, is a particular friend of the bishop's, and the two dignitaries frequent the lines together, and. are energetic workers for the comfort of the troops. The canon was instrumental in getting' a- Y.M.C.A. 'hut' erected, in a central iplaco close to -tho firing-line." Private -Bracewell- writes vorv. wj .n.-iy of the splendid -work done L>' this Y.M.C.A. o'rganisatioii.' Mi" M. AVebster is not too shy to_ tell thrifty housewives that ".No Bf-übbing" Laundry-Hel|pi does wash all clothes-spot-lessly -clean -■without- rubbing, or. injury, also gives' Thinker. Note Book .free, with every" Is packet- of "3[ o Rubbing-." •: -.

-Sir. James Allen to-day advice from the High 'Commissioner that the General Post Office intimates that parcels for prisoners of war in. Turkeyare suspended until further notice.— Press Association.

Owing to disorganisation caused at the Wakefield .-School by hop-picking holiday*, Uie Nelson Education Board resolved ilia-, m future hop-picking holidays were not to exceed' a period of four weeks.

The Laud Purchase Board last week inspected properties in ..this district which have been ottered to the Government for purchase in connection with the settlement of returned' soldiers on the land. At Motueka the 'board was "wafted upon by representatives of the local branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association, who were .introduced by Mr R, P. Hudson, MP.

It was reported to the Education Board to-day >by Mr Cockburn, Director of the Technical School, that he had "been approached in regarfl to the Government Buildings grounds being lighted by electricity on the occasion of the Red Cross ,Fete next month. The Board resolved to. grant; permission for the light to be supplied from the Technical School. .. ■' ■ - •

It is understood that the New Zealand .shipping companies have decided upon a further set of on the public cation of vessels' movements, and it will shortly he general throughout the Dominion that no news of ships other than those confined entirely to New Zealand coastal trade will be published in the newspapers, 'says the Press.

At to-day's meeting of the Nelson Education Board) a letter was received; from 'Mrs Lock, President of the Nelson. Bed Cross Committee, asking the Board to grant the city schools a half-holiday on Friday, April 27th, to enable the children to participate in the Red_ Cross Fete. . The children, it was stated, were assisting in'the Fete. The Board decided to grant the request.

The trustees for the National Efficiency Board for the Wairarapa- intend shortly taking a census among farmers, when the following questions will be asked: — ' ''How many" men were engaged prior to the war?"* "How many are at .present engaged?" "Hfow many have left- your employ for the war?" "How many men can you conveniently do with?"

A large number of farmers in the Waimeas have agreed to sow wheat this season. The need for growing sufficient wheat for (the Dominion's requirements! has been emphasised; of late, and- the; Government directed Mr Melrose, of the 'Nleflson- Agricultural. Office, • to wait on farmers and bring the matter under, their notice., Mr -Melrose has been engaged for Eoino days interviewing farmers oi> itlie subject, "and has' received, a large number of .(promises to sow wheat.

In connection with the application .by the American Film Corporation to the Government, to take . pictures- in New Zealand, the Hon. G. W. Russell stated at Wellington that Cabinet considers it undesirable, while the war is on. for any cinematograph pictures of New Zealand to he taken by anybody. Consequently no authority will be given in this direction until after the close of the war.—Press Association.

A 'pathetic ihcidont occurred this week, savs the Auckland- Herald. A returned soldier, who was invalided; from 'the front suffering from shell shock, disappeared from his home. With the help of the police, the soldier was found at Avondale. and ,it was ascertained that he had been for several days wan-, dering about the Waitakere Ranges. Arrangements have been made for professional treatment.

The Schedule Committee of the son Horticultural Society will meet at the " Institute at 7.30 this evening _in connection with the Schedule, for the Autumn Show. .

Mr W. W. Snodgrass has received word from Wellington suggesting that apples be sent there to 'be placed on. troopships from time to time. .As there are many apples about fust nowlMrSnodgrass has arranged for a shipment to he sent to Wellington 'by Wednesday evening's steamer. Persons able and willing to contribute are requested-to" forward the fruit to Mr Snodgrass, qr notify him, and it will be collected. It is hoped there will be a ready response to the appeal.

■-, Aoi interesting exhibit which has been received at the 'Ohristchurch Museum is the.feather of a blaoto swau which, was included in the first consignment of birds sent to 'Belgium in 1915 from Little [River. This feather was sent back to Mr Quealey./ secretary of the Little River swan drive, by a. ; Belgian; and by. him d'onatedi to the. •museum. The 'Belgian dn question has ..printed a Belgian flag oitlhe feather, and inscribed the following tin English:—''From, a wild black swan"'S?ew Zealand, food Belgium' war time, 1915."

■'■ 'There is quite an ebb'in .the production of tho farming districts at the present time,' 1 - said a member of one of the, Auckland ti'ustee board's conference. In hi£ own district, he explained, the proper amount of stock was riot on y the farms. This was due partly \a the high price of stockruling, and partiv to the fact that the owners were likely to be called up, the stock-dealing firms were hqt disposed' to make advances for the purchase of stock. As a director of a dairy factory, he could see in every ctirectaon that the .production was falling. Another effect of the present situation was that so much work was left to women and-'children that in some districts the children were being over-wrought, and were not arriving at sclioolin a nt. state for carrying on their studies.

"Pattiots," in a letter to the Editor, point out that those who man steamers which traverse the danger zones, run as creat risks as. onr "brave boys the battle-front, and are some .mothers sons yet so little is done to show our appreciation of the great part they _ are playing'in carrvirig Home our prodvice, etc. They suggest that these services should be 'recognised when ports are visited, and they write:-—" We as mere women, will do .our part in proTiding refreshments and entertainment, and one home is placed at our disposal, and surely some of the churches could help in such'a-good, work. Men are scarce-we know ! But are there not some left who could visit the "Home boats" ■arid leave literature (which they are always glad to receive), and also to . accompany to the place where they are to be entertained? These 'boats' are not in. this port verv often, so volunteers will, not be greatly taxed, "but when a boat is. in the port, it behoves us to -be up and doing."