LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15885, 5 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A i,ari;k quantity of oversea mail matter reached Auckland yesterday morning by the steamer Maheno from Sydney. The mail totalled 536 bag*, and included a large consignment of correspondence from the United Kingdom, the Continent, and Australia. About 265 bags were dealt with at Auckland, and the remainder were despatched South bv the express last night. Another large oversea mail will reach Auckland this afternoon by the Makura from Vancouver and way ports. The vessel is bringing a total of 860 bags from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Island ports. Over 320 bags will he dealt with here, and the correspondence will be delivered in the city and suburbs to-morrow morning.

Six of the Auckland nurses who have been chosen to go to the front left for Wellington by the first Main Trunk express last night. The names of the nurses were—Sisters Mary Sutherland, Carrie Young, Emma Harris, Samson, and Sarah Clarke. Sisters l'oote, Cora Anderson, and Daphne Commons leave to-day. The nurses have to report at Wellington by April 6, and they leave for England shortly in the steamer Rotorua.

Concerning military matters, the Hon. .lames Allen, Minister for Defence, states that 1000 men will form the stationary hospital offered by New Zealand and accepted by the Army Council, this complement comprising eight medical men under tho charge of a lieutenant-colonel, warrant officer, non-commissioned officers, and ambulance men. '1 he officers will be selected from members of the New Zealand Army Medical Service, preference being given to those with experience as territorial officers. Fifty nurses leave Welling, ton next Thursday for England. Twelve, who left for Australia, proceed to the base hospital in France, which is connected with the Australian forces.

" When the Court sat on Saturday morning for the revision of the jury lists there was little except formal business to transact. The constables responsible for the lists in each district swore that they lud compiled such lists to the best of their ability and in accordance with the Art. No objections wove lodged, and two men who asked to be excused from serving, on the grounds of ill-health, both had their applications granted. Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., who presided, remarked at the close of the proceedings that, as far as he could see, the jury lists had been compiled this year in a very thorough and proper manner. Tho justices who were oresent were :—Messrs. G. J. Garland. B. Kent, J. Shana.ghan, T. E. Whitton. H. K. Bagnall, and J. La-king, and they expressed unanimous agreement with Mr. Kettle's observation.

Passengers by the steamer Orontes, which reached Sydney last week, report having had a, very interesting trip. "We left Tilbury Docks," said Mr. H. M. Kmeeton, who was on board, " just before the German blockade commenced. When coming down the Channel all our portholes were painted black on both sides, no deck lights were lit, boats were hung out in readiness for instant launching, and tiie crew and stewards had to stand bv all night long. Many of the passengers did not know this at the time, bat it impressed those who did. When we reached Australia we learned that a ship was blown up the day we were off the mouth of the Thames, within five miles of where ire passed."

bile visiting the High Commissioner's office in London, Mr. H. M. Smeeton commented on the fact that the photographs of Auckland were very much out of date, arid presented the city, harbour, etc.. in a false light. He considers that the pictures should be renewed, and thus maintain the credit of the city.

| '"'I lie Young Men's Christian Association has done great work for the benefit of the soldiers in Britain and France," declared Mr. H. M. Smeeton yesterday. "Its efforts have been beyond all praise, and have won the warm commendation of officers in high command, not only in England. but also on the Continent. In fact, so highly has the Government appreciated the tent work at the bases that it has subsidised it, I understand, by an amount nearly reaching six figures. The magnificent policy pursued by the national committee has lifted the Young Men's Christian Association into a very lofty position in the general esteem. 'J

An active share is being Taken by the Auckland branch of the Society for the Health of Women and Children (the Plunket Society) in providing clothing for the infant children of British soldiers, in responso to the appeal made by & y French. A few weeks ago the committee published a request for assistance in this work, and with the hearty co-operation of a number of people who are interested in the society's activities two large shipments have been forwarded to Lady French, the first of 800 garments having I been despatched some time ago, while a second of 1170 garments was taken by the steamer Hallamshire, which sailed on 1 day. This work is being undertaken without drawing upon the culinary funds of the society, which are reserved for its special function of " helping the mothers and savin? the babies.'" Several firms have provided material at wholesale prices, and the New Zealand Shipping Company is cariying the packages without charge. Information lias been received to the effect that the Federal-Shire Lines steamer Nairnshire, which was damaged bv fire some weeks ago at Havre, will bo out of commission until about the middle of this month. It appears that the vessel was hadiy dr.iinged by fire and water m No. 4 hold. The Nn'rnshire was to have loaded at Liverpool for New Zealand polls. Oniv a verv faic.t echo of [lie threatened " military" fashions seems to have reached Auckland, judging by the display on the lawns on Saturday at Ellerslie. 'I he keynote of the coming winter fashions is generally sounded at the Easter race meeting. and the general tendency seems to be avoid bright colours and to wear navy blue. The prevailing mode, if it has a slight " niilitaiv" tendency, is that of Russia. Special Faster seivices were held in the various churches in Auckland yesterday. There were large congregations. Dr. Averill, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, occupied the pulpit at St. Marys Cathedral last evening.

The Auckland Prohibition League slipplies the following summaiy of offences due to drink, which were dealt with at the City Police Court, as published in the daily press, for the month of March: — Drunkenness, first offenders 125, others 63; bad language, 11: committing a nuisance, 3: vagramy. 21: idle and disorderly, 9: illegally on private premises, 5; refusing to leave licensed premises, 1; fighting in a bar, 2; assaults, 13: breaking windows, 1: theft, 8; drunk in train, 5; drunk in charge of motor, 1; breach of prohibition. 12: new orders issued, 21; committed to Fakatoa, 1; to Roto Roa, 1; issuing valueless cheques, 1; attempted suicide, 2: total offences, 308; total offenders, 264. of whom 17 were women. Remand cases do not appear in this list.

Writing from London, on February 19, our correspondent states that the Institution of Civil Engineers has just issued the pass lists of the examinations held in October last. Amongst candidates who sat for the examination for the associate membership in England was Mr. Fred A. Eustace, of Auckland, who Has "been studying engineering in this country for some years, and is now a lieutenant in the 9th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment. Of tho candidates examined abroad the following New Zealanders passed the whole examination for A.M.1.C.E.: J. ■£• Anderson, of the Public Works Department, who sat in Canada, and is now a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, Thomas M. Ball, Auckland; Lachlan B. Campbell, Christchurch: Richard B. Cotton, Christchurch; William A. Gray, Auckland; Drummond Holderness, Auckland ; John Meenan, Invercargill ; Geoffrey H. J. Mellson. Auckland; William L. Newnham, Wellington; Robert H. P. Roynayne, Wellington; Harold Watkinson, Christchurch. Frederick S. Dyson, Stratford. completed his examination. Henry 0 Armitage, Auckland, Charles J. McKenzie, Wellington, and Arthur J. Wigley, Auckland, passed in general knowledge and Section A of scientific knowledge. James J. Wilson, Matawai, passed in general knowledge.

The total number of primary schools in the Wellington education district at the end of last year was 166, three less than in 1913. The total number of scholars on the school rolls was 19.691, showing a record increase of 826 over the number at the end of the previous year, and of 1930 over the number in 1909. In their annual report the inspectors stated that the inspection and examination reports showed the efficiency mark of 140 schools to range from satisfactory to very good, that of 19 to be fair, while seven were classed as distinctly inferior. The percentage of schools below satisfactory was somewhat larger than was the case the previous year, and though changes in the management had been made in the majority of these schools the difficulty of finding suitable teachers for the more remote and isolated localities in the district was still very great.

The new auxiliary schooner Strathcona was lauched from the yards of the builder. Mr. C. Bailey, jun., at Freeman's Bay, on Saturday evening. The actual launching ceremony was performed on Saturday morning by Mrs. C. L. Hertslet, wife of Mr. C. L. Hertslet, superintendent for the Pacific Cable Board at Auckland. A slight accident marred the launching of the vessel at the first ceremony. She had moved about her own length down the ways when she was brought to a standstill through one of the shores jamming, and her progress was for the time btfng checked. The tug Young Bungaree, which was standing by to tow the vessel to a berth after being launched, made several attempts to pull the schooner into the water, hot after the tow-line had twice parted, it was decided to wait until low water, so as to readjust the defect in the slipway. This was accomplished on Saturday afternoon, and the Strathcona was launched without any further hitch at high-water on Saturday evening. The new vessel is of about 160 tons gross register. She has been built to the order of the Pacific Cable Board, and will be used for the conveyance of officials of the board and stores between the cable stations at Suva. Fanning Island, and Honolulu. Captain Robinson, of Auckland, will take command.

Two striking instances of determination on the part of men unemployed owing to the war to suffer in silence rather than publish their misfortunes are cited by .Sister Esther, a well-known worker amongst the poor. Since the war began, she says, two perfectly respectable men have been sent to gaol for failing to pay fines inflicted upon them for not sending their children to school. In each caso the lather was genuinely unable to get work, but, rather than malie his conditions known in Court, went to gaol. Neither man had ever been imprisoned before. One of these cases was particularly hard because the child had been ill and the only doctor who could certify to the fact had gone to the war. Had theso facts been made known to tho magistrate concerned, Sister Esther is convinced that the two men in question would never have been imprisoned.