LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15823, 21 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Seventy -three of the 75 men required from the Auckland group of the Auckland military district for the infantry section of the fifth reinforcement draft have already passed the medical officer. In addition, 35 mounted men are required, and of this number 18 have been secured, while a further 20 to 30 mixed infantry and mounted men are awaiting the medical examination, which will be held tomorrow. The men for the fifth reinforcement draft will not be required at Trentham until about tho seiond week in February.

Members of the National Reserve, which now has a roll of 600, will march through the principal streets of Auckland to-mor-row night. Prior to the march the various companies comprising the force will be paraded at the Drill Hall, where the officer commanding the district, Colonel J. E. Hume, will be enabled to appreciate the quality. of the material he will have at his command should there arise any emergency calling for the services of the Reserve. The members of the various public bodies have been invited to be present to witness the parade.

The opening of Myers Park will take place next Thursday afternoon, instead of Wednesday, the date formerly fixed. The speakers at the cereinonv will include the Mayor, Mr. (". J. Parr," CM. Mr. A. M. Myers. M.P.. the donor of tho park, and others who am taking an interest in. the kindergarten, which Mr. Myers proposes *.o establish. The public are invited to attend the ceremony and seating accommodation for the ladies is to be provided. The Mayor stated yesterday that although no grass had yet appeared on the slopes, the transformation of the aiea was an object lesson of what could be accomplished by municipal effort in the direction of town-planning.

The Empire veterans, to the end of their days, will never weaken In their allegiance to the late Queen Victoria. The secretary of the King's Empire Veterans, Captain Jas. Stichbury, announced at the annual meeting last night that the Railway Department would grant free passes on the railways to enable veterans to attend parades on the King's Birthday, but unfortunately the Queen's Birthday is not now observed as such and no passes would be available on that day. The chairman, Major Thomas Broun. voiced the loyal feelings of the old soldiers and sailors present. "We cannot ignore Empire Day," he declared. "The Queen's Birthday is recognised as Empire Day. and it was the date of the institution of the Veterans' Home by Lord Ranfurly, to whom we pledged ourselves to maintain that day." Major Purnell moved: " That the King's Empire Veterans celebrate both days by a parade of all members, railway passes to be issued for tho King's Birthday, when luncheon will be provided." This was seconded by Mr. H. Ritjg and carried.

The hot weather experienced recently lias resulted in large attendances at the Parnell swimming baths. In one day over 1600 people paid for admission, and at the present time over 500 ladies visit tic baths every week. The mixed bathing experiment has proved a great success under excellent supervision. A small portion of the baths is reserved for ladies, and when out of the water all bathers are asked to remain in their respective quarters. The 'bos service running from the top of St. Stephen's Avenue has proved a great convenience and the takings have considerably increased since the service was inaugurated. The baths are open until nine o'clock at night.

Nominations for the two vacancies on the Eden Terrace Road Board closed at noon yesterday. The only nominee for the seat held by the late Mr. D. F. Taylor was Mr. George Croft, and be has been declared duly elected. There were two nominations for the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. W. H. Butler, those of Messrs. Henry Clayton and Randolph Pe*cy Smith. A poll of ratepayers to decide the contest will, therefore, be held on January 27 in the public hall, Eden Terrace.

A lady was elected yesterday to the membership of the King's Empire Veterans. The matter caused a good deal of discussion among members of the committee and an investigation of the rules. It was hold that although it was understood nil members should be men, there was no provision against the election of women. The lady is Nurse Ball, of Khyber Pass Road, who served in South Africa with the Black Watch. 42nd Highlanders, and gained the Queen's medal with three bars and also the Rival Red ('toss. The order of the Royal Red Cross is one of the four decorations which can bo. worn by British women and is the Victoria Cross of the nursing profession, although it is not a test of valour so much as of skilled and devoted service. Nurse Ball re-eived the cross for carrying a wounded soldier fifty yards under" fire during the war in South Africa and attending him afterwards.

The continued dry weather has given the caretaker of the Domain Gardens a ditfieu t task in keeping the beds, well supplied with plants and generally making the gardens attractive. It had been a great undertaking. Mr. Nicholson said, to keep plants alive during the last season, and he did not remember a period which had been more trying to the, gardens. Despite this fact, however, the Domain Gardens are well ■worth a visit just now, many of the beds being ablaze with bright flowers. A bed of amaranthus. which was a feature of last year's display, will be at its best in a few weeks' time.

The municipal fish market is now well established in Auckland, and supplies of fish are coming forward regularly. The fishermen are receiving a good price for their catches at the auction sales held daily at the market and. at the same time, it is claimed that the public are securing fish more cheaply than formerly. It is becoming more generally known that fish is being retailed at the market, and- that small quantities, from one fish upwards, fresh or smoked, can be obtained. As a result, householders are now patronising the market very largely each day.

A wash-house attached to the residence of the Rev. J. E. M< Farlane. View Road, Mount Eden, was partially destroyed bv fire shortly after thiee o'clock yesterday afternoon. The Mount Eden Fire Br-gade was called and suppressed the outbreak before it spread to the main building.

The King's Empire Veterans only meet once a year, and, consequently, the annual meeting, which was held last night, was the first since the war began. It was speedily evidenced that the martial spirit had been awakened, and the heroes of the past burned with zeal to do something lor their King and country in such a crisis. The veterans had offered their services to the Defence Department in any capacity that they were capable of filling. They proposed the formation of a reserve corps, uniforms to be paid for by the men themselves, the corps to be permitted to attend ceremonial parades. The Department gratefully accepted the offer. Several references were made to the matter. One member spoke regretfully, and expressed the view that the authorities only wanted younger men. but all agreed that they would be able to render effective service should it be required. All wrre enthusiastic, and before closing the meeting, those present sang the National Anthem.

A farmer from Mangere. Mr. Wiliiam Cotter, 59 years of age, was seriously injured at Onehunga last night. Mr. Cotter left a pair of horses attached to a waggon in Lower Queen Street, Onehunga, and on hearing a cry that the horses were bolting rushed back and grasped the reins. He slipped, and the wheels of the vehicle went over his thigh, which was fra< tur>d. After being attended to by Dr. Tre=-id<i( r. the injured man was conveyed to the Auckland Hospital.

The statements made, at the meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on Tuesday evening to the effect that the Patriotic League had been very "close" in regard to distributing money for the relief of local distress were referred to by the Mayor. Mr. C. J. Purr, C.M.G., yesterday. The Mayor stated that, according to the board's relieving officer, the sum of £1090 had beet expended by the board in affording relief, an average of £181 per month, while the Patriotic League had, for the four months ended January 10, expended £668 on general relief, an average of £167 per month. In addition to this, the Reservists Committee of the league had expended £268. and the league was already committed to an expenditure of £31 per month in respect of reservists' wives and other dependents. Bandsmen had also left wives and dependents, and £79 had been paid out to them. Then, again, the Mayor pointed out, it should not be forgotten that the league was spending £125 per month in wages, in order to provide employment at the relief works in the Domain. In one way and another the league was paying out about £379 per month for the relief of people, who might otherwise have been compelled to go to the Charitable Aid Board. In view of the foregoing, the Mayor expressed regret thatone or two members of the board should have stated that the league had closed its purse. There was no justification for such a statement. Mr. Parr also expressed the opinion that the league was pursuing a wise policy in conserving iie finances as much as possible for the approaching winter.

The movement in Ellerslie to enrol men in that district for the purpose of home defence is progressing steadily. Application has been {hade to the Minister for Defence for official recognition, either as a branch of the National Reserve, or as an independent association. Recruiting lists have been issued and are stated to have been well signed. As soon as the association has 50 members figure which it is believed to be nearing at the present time—active operations, will be commenced.

Some time ago the Mayor of Auckland indicated that he would possibly relinquish office before the expiry of his term. Yesterday Mr. Parr stated that at the suggestion of several members of the City Council he had decided to remain in office for the full term.

A curiosity in plant life has been grown by Mr. J. Nicholson, caretaker of the Domain Gardens. Five years ago, Mr. Nicholson secured the seed of a sensitive plant, known as Mimosa Pudica, and he has now a small collection of healthy young specimens of this variety. The leaves, which are somewhat similar to those of the Kowhai, close up when touched. The sight of each leaflet responding to the touch of a ringer, and the whole leaf bending down at the joint, is an unusual one. A hard blow causes the whole plant to collapse, when it has the appearance of having been destroyed by a severe storm. It takes from ten minutes to a-quarter of an hour for the miniature tree to regain its normal appearance.

Owing to the continual dry weather the City Council is making an endeavour to conserve the water supply. Notice has therefore been issued to water consumers, drawing or using any water supplied by the council, through any hose or movable pipe, that all permits for such hose sopplies are cancelled, as from to-day. Any person now found using the water supply for gardens, lawns, etc., -will be prosecuted, as the council intimates that it is imperative that the water available should be used for domestic purposes only.

Representations have been made to the Mayor by the Civic League a s to the condition of Waikumete Cemetery. It was pointed out that the municipal burial ground compared rather unfavourably with privately owned areas, and it was uiaed that a scheme of shelter stations and treeplanting should be undertaken. Mr. Parr, in reply, stated that a City Council committee had the matter of improving the appearance of the cemetery in hand, and he would make it his business to see if something in the nature indicated could be done. He admitted that the surroundings of the cemetery were not what- they ought to be, hut believed that a good deal rould be done to improve the general appearance of the area. The Mayor thought that, as the City Council could not find the mor.ev for this pin pose at present, the Patriotic Committee might perhaps be approached for a grant to improve the cemetery grounds. This would absorb .some of the surplus labour offering, and at the same time beautify the cemeterv.

The Auckland City League reports that the record for December of offences and defaults arising from drink, as dealt with in tio local Police Court and reported in the daily press, is as follows: -Drunkenness, first offenders 152, other, 87; disorderly while drunk, 5; drunk while in charge of a horse and cart. 2: breaches of prohibition. 25: indecency. 11: obscene language, 2; assault, 5; threatening behaviour. 1 : assaulting the police, 3 ; theft. 10: obtaining money by means' of a valueless cheque, 1; damage "to property. 3; refusing to leave licensed premises, 1; vagrancy. 6; separation orders issued against husbands, 1; total offences, 315; total offenders, 258, of whom 13 were women. Twenty-one new prohibition orders were issued, four of them against women. Three men were committed to Roto Roa for the customary- period of 12 months each. Fines imposed amounted to £129 15s.

Friday of next week will be Anniversary Day. The Mayor requests all citizens to observe it as a public holiday in *i_-cord-ance with the usual custom.