Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1918. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 50, 27 February 1918, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1918. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Making appeal for the exemption of Carl August Berendsen', 'Chief" Cleric and: Registrar of Industrial Unions, Mr F. W. Rowley Secretary for Labour, told the 'Military Service Board' at Wellington yesterday, says- the Post, that the staff of the JLa'bou'r Department had been very- seriously depleted. Out of a staff of 36~ clerks they "had lost 21' who had' gone to the war, and four, otherssenior officers—two of .whom had been appointed Conciliation Commissioners: The v vacanacies had been - filled up as best could be done by the appointment. of igirls and' cadets. Mr Rowley added that Mr Berendsen was a corporal in training class at Treatham Camp, where he had been for about six months. The appeal was the first lodged by th 6 Department, and it would be the only one necessary out of a total staff of 85 until Oas s : D of the Second Division was reached. The fact of Berendsen having been in camp for so long* proved a rather formidable stumbling block, and the board reserved its decision in the matter.

The following motion was carried at yesterday's conference of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of New Zealand: —"That this association desires' to place on record its admiration of the gallant rally to the Colours of members' of all branches of the newspaper and printing business of the Dominion, and its prayer that those who are now fighting on the war fronts, or have been wounded 1 or disabled, having done their duty nobly to their King and country, will be sparedito return to their homes in this Dominion to receive the grateful thanks of their fellow-colonists. To the memorv of the hallowed dead who have 1 fought their last fight' in defence of the liberties of the Empire and the woi-ld we record our reverential homage. Their comrades and relations will know them no more, but their deeds will live to inspire future generations and add fresh lustre to our nation's history.''

•Sheep doge are perhaps the most valuable and intelligent of" the dog family, and should therefore be treated with some amount of consideration. The inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Captain Henry) had his attention drawn recently to the nractice in some parts of the country" of hobbling sheep dogs, when not on duty, by tying one their forepaws to their collar. In orfe specific case the offender was warned, and this had the desired effect. This method of hobbling, it should be rioted, not only causes the animal pain and inconvenience, but reduces its working capabilities.

A ' verdict of accidentally drowned was returned after the hearing of the evidence at an inquest at Levin on Saturday into the circumstances' of the death of a little boy, Barney Bore, aged' two years, says -the Post. The deceased'went with his parents to the beach at Hokio, near Levin, and was left alone while his parent? gathered pipis. At the end of about half an hour, his mother returned to th e spot where the cart had 'been left, and then saw deceased: floating face downwards in the water near the shore. -She brought him ashore and called her husband, who applied measures.to restore animation, but the deceased did not respond.

Spring Grove residents are invited to meet members of the Town Committee, Y.M.C.A., in the schoolroom on lnureday, at 8 o'clock.

A meeting of the Nelson Poultry Association will be held in Opie's Rooms to-morrow (Thursday) evening at 8 a'clock.

A reminder is given of the flannel dance in the Rowing Club's shed tonight, ia aid of King George's Fund for Sailors and the Y.M.C.A. War Work Fund.

Dancers who took part in the recent carnival in Nelson will give an entertainment in the Institute HalL Motueka, on Monday, March 4. in aid of St. Mary's orphans. The tCheer-O Girls will be seen in the latest songs and dances, and the Irish Girls in a spirited country dance, and Misses Doris Scott, Melba Sargieon, and Dorothy and Thelma Crumpton will give special terpsichorean exhibitions

Hand-made Laces and -Crochet D'Oyleys at TraMjen'a See prices on page 3.*

The National Reserve Band are holding a dance in St. (Mary's Hall, Wednesday, March 6th.

R. Snodgrass and Sons' replace advertisement on page 7 is worth your notice.

Some °f the prison reforms that have been effected in New Zealand were re l ferred to by the Minister of Justice (Hon. T. M. Wilyord) when replying to a deputation at Napier, the Hawkes Bay Tribune reports. We have a prison at he said, working on the honours system. Every morning fiv e men start out with three-horse teams road-making. They take their billy and lunch, and they are away from the time they leave camp until they return with their teams. They go two miles from the prison, and if they do their work fairly they get so many good conduct marks. Twelve marks is a day off their sentence. So far that had gone on for some weeks, it was working all right. America boasted of its. honours system, and 1 he was telling them what he could do here.

The successful season experienced by fruitgrowers in the Auckland district this year, notwithstanding the prevalence of pests in the form of black spot and brown rot, is (says the New Zealand Herald) an indication of the potentialities of the industry. The suitability of the Auckland province for the profitable raising of a wide variety of orchard products has been advocated for many years, and the experience of orchardists* who have improved on the old haphazard methods of fruitgrowing and marketing has amply justified the claim. Enquiries made from orchardists and prominent people engaged in the wholesale fruit trade of Auckland, however, point to the necessity for better organisation in respect to supplying the markets that are open for the many varieties of fruit that are grown. In recent years considerable addition areas of land in the Auckland district have been planted with fruit trees, and these are gradually coming into bearing. _ A largely increased supply of fruit within the next few seasons is assured, and the question of finding suitable markets and the provision of> storage and other facilities is regarded as being of the highest importance.

A feature about the British dependencies in the Pacific that has several times been remarked upon is the wonderful way in which the inhabitants have responded to the call to duty. There has been no need fbr the stimulus' of recruiting agencies. In most of these outposts of Empire there is scarcely an eligible man left. This is the case in Papua and the Solomon Islands and in the Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. Lord Howe Island, with a population of less than a hundred, who.lead an Arcadian life, has set a splendid example. Nine of the young men that is, the whole of those eligible for active service—rhaye gone to the front, and'-one has made the supreme sacrifice. The islanders are 'naturally proud of the : patriotic record established. By reason of its being east of the 154 th meridian of ■ east longtitude, the 'limit of the jurisdiction of, the Governor of New South Wales, Lord. Howe Island is especially mentioned in the Constitution Act as a dependency of the State, though it lies, as a tiny speck on the broad' bosom of the Pacific, over 400 miles away.

The matter of the future of Samoa was referred to on Friday by the president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce in his address at the annual meting of members. Incidentally he mentioned the Island trade. He said that, notwithstanding the fact that merchants engaged in this business had been using every effort to capture arid retain more of "it during the past year, their efforts had not been so successful as could be-wished. Unsatisfactory steamer services and harassing Government restrictions, together with strenuous American and Australian competition, had limited the amount of business! Mr Burns drew attention to the resolution submitted by the council of the chamber to the Government, strongly opposing any suggestion that Samoa should be returned to Germany at the conclusion of the war. He thought it would be advisable that before the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward left the Dominion to attend the Imperial 'Conference a public meeting should be held to more/strongly voice the*- protest. Without doubt, it would be exceedinglv dangerous New Zealand if the Germans were ever permitted to regain a footing in the Pacific.

The whole-hearted loyalty of the press of New" Zealand found expression in the following motion carried yesterday at the annual conference of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association: — "At this crisis" in the affairs of the nation the united press of New Zealand wishes to record its deep thankfulness at (the splendid coutrEfge which' has been' manifested by all branches of the Defence Forces of the Empire in. the great conflicts which have taken place with a powerful enemy since the commencement : of the war. Their courage and endurance have been an unflagging manifestation of the deep patriotic spirit with which they are imbued, and it is in a similar frame of mind that the newspaper press of the Dominion now assemble in annual conference desire that a message be transmitted' to His Majesty .the King, through the Governor-General, expressive of its unswerving loyalty to the Crown, and its earnest -prayer for the speedy triumph of His Majesty's Forces and their brave Allies, and for a lasting peace founded on the principles of righteousness and justice and the liberty of the world.' The motion was carried with cheers for the King, following which tHe National Anthem was sung.

In some parts of Taranaki blackberries are a perfect curse, and farmers are only too' pleased (the Eltham Argus says) to see people take the berries away in any quantity—a kerosene tin is the receptacle in general use. But not sufficient berries are taken; huge quantities are left to be'carried all over the province by birds and to se.ed luxuriantly. In Wellington blackberries are retailed at 4d per lb. "What a pity it is that the consumers live so far away from the source of supply -; if such were not the case they could have their blackberries, for nothing, and they would be very acceptable in the present days of high cost living.

A particularly sad case of drowning occurred at Tauranga last Thursday. Thre little boys, Matty Mearns, aged four years, Barney and Bobby Smith, brothers, aged four and three years respectively, were playing in a boat on the Waikareao Beach. Apparently the anchor was lifted on board and the boat started to drift. The boy Mearns appears to have jumped out with the youngest Smith boy, but Barney Smith was carried out into the Waikareao Estuary. A search was made after the alarm was given, and it was discovered that the boat had stranded on a small island near the Judea side of the estuary. Evidently, from the footsteps seen in the sand, the little lad had landed and, probably being alarmed, had tried to wade over the beach to the Judea eettlement, a short" distance, and was drowned. The body was recovered about half a mile further along. the beach. Efforts to restore animation were fruitless.

Nelson ladies are greatly pleased with the quality of GOLDEN RULE Soap and NO iRUBBESTG Laundry Help—an excellent combination for washing all clothes clean. — Levin and Co., Ltd. Wholesale Agents for No Rubbing and Golden Rule Brands.

JerichS is a point of great strategic importance, 14 miles north-east of Jerusalem, and five miles north, of the Dead Sea,. Its possession by the British interposes- a very strong l barrier to any possibl e counter-attack on Jerusalem from, the north and east. Jericho has long been famous in history. It was the first Canaanite city to be attacked by .Joshua and: reduced 'byi the victorious Israelites, the romantic story of its conquest being fully narrated in the first seyen chapters of the Book of Joshua. The destruction of the city by the Israelites was almost complete, as for many years afterwards little but a hamlet marked its site. Thereafter it gradually grew until it was again a city, when the last battle was fought there between the Babylonians and Zedekiah, wherein the Kingdom of Judah came to an end. The extra-Biblical history of Jericho is as disastrous as are the records preserved in the Scriptures. Bacchides, the general of the Syrians, captured and fortified it. Aristobulus also took it, and Pompey encamped here on his way to Jerusalem. Before Herod its inhabitants ran away, as they did 'before Vespasian. The reason of this lack of warlike quality was no doubt the enervating effect of the great heat 01 th e depression in which the city lies, which has the same effect on the handful of degraded humaaity that still occupies the ancient site —in a miserable village known as er-Jtiha. which has a population f-f about 300. Th 6 Anzac Mounted Division._j which has the honour of this important capture, is commanded by a New Zealand officer. Major-General ""R. W. C. Chaytor, C.8., C.M.G.

The 12th Nelson and Marlborough Begiment Band, assisted by the Male Quartette Party—Messrs Vttetta Bros., Mrs J. Gogmore and Mr E..< Short —will giv e a sacred benefit concert in the Theatre Boyn? on Sunday evening next, March 3rd, commencing at 8.15 p.m. A silver coin collec'tion will be taken up on behalf of Bandsman 'King, who has had a long serious illness.

Ladies are reminded that McKay's are making a special display to-mori'ow of the very newest styles in Autumn These goods have just arrived by the last Home steamer, and we believe them to ibe th e smartest assortment, of hats ever assembled in one showroom in Nelson. Our lady readers are invited to inspect.*

The Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board invite tenders for supplies, etc. •