LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15997, 16 August 1915, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A wireless message received .yesterday from the captain of the Huddarfc-Parker liner Riverina stated that the vessel expects to arrive at Auckland at 3 p.m. today from Sydney direct. The Riverina. left the New South Wales port at 3 p.m. on Thursday last with 248 hags of European, Egyptian and Australian mails, 70 first, second and third-class passengers, and 2000 tons of general cargo, the latter ! including 12,500 hardwood sleepers- Owing j to the large amount of cargo to be dis- j charged and loaded, the departure j of the Riverina for Sydney has been post- j poned from noon to-morrow until 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

A man named Wilfrid Alp was admitted to the hospital on Saturday with both his legs fractured below the knee and his left shoulder dislocated. Alp, who is a married man, and lives at Waikumete, is about 50 years of age. He is employed at Messrs. Seagar Brothers' foundry, near the Hobson Wharf, and on Saturday morning was working some machinery, when he became, entangled, receiving the injuries before anything could be done to help him. He was conveyed to the hospital in the waterside workers' ambulance, and was reported last night to be progressing favourably, though suffering severely from shock.

An extensive fire was narrowly averted early on Saturday afternoon, when a planing shed in the Taupo Totara Timber Company's yards was discovered to be on fire. It is presumed that a spark from a passing engine ignited some shavings near the planing-machine. A very strong wind was blowing in the direction of neighbouring buildings, but excellent work on the part of the Newmarket Fire Brigade prevented the fire from spreading. When the flames were extinguished it was found that little damage had been done, the loss being estimated at between £20 and £50. The premises were insured.

For some time past, the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, has had in hami a sum of £500, subscribed for the relief and comfort of soldiers at the base hospitals at the Dardanelles. Mr. Gunson stated on Saturday that he had arranged to forward this money to Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Partes, commanding No. 2 New Zealand Stationary Hospital, who will supervise its expenditure and distribution for the purpose for which it is intended.

The question of winter clothing for the New Zealand forces on active service i* at present under consideration by the Minister for Defence. Writing on the subject to Mr. C. J. Parr, MP., in reply to an inquiry by him, Mr. Allen states that some time ago he communicated with the Imperial authorities, and learned that it is their intention to supply all the winter clothing reauired for New Zealand troops on Oallipoli. " They have, however," the Minister wrote, " asked New Zealand to assist them by supplying a considerable number of sheepskin coats. The question of this supply is under consideration at the present, moment, and I hope to be able to comply with the Imperial authorities* request, though it will be a large order. Although the Army Council has decided to supply winter clothing for the New Zealand troops in Gallipoli. I intend to send warm underclothing from New Zealand for the use of our own troops."

Admiration of the military genius displayed by General Joffre -was expressed by the Rev. W. G. Monckton during a lecture on the war on Saturday evening. He declared that it was the French general who was responsible for the unique departure by Earl Kitchener from his iron rule regarding interviews. Mr. Monckton said that Joffre learned that von Falkenhayn proposed to move a large army from the | western front against the Russians. To 1 prevent this, Joffre resorted to a piece of • bluff that was entirely successful. He persuaded Earl Kitchener to give an inter- ! view to an American journalist, and though it was evident that Kitchener did not make many of the statements attributed to him, he did say that a great , attack was contemplated. Sir John , I French also gave a journalist warning of the attack, while Joffre himself confirmed , the announcement in a third interview. Finally he sent a small French force against , a strong German position, and, contrary to the traditions of the allies, it surrendered. Upon these men, the Germans found orders mentioning the great attack. Mr. Monckton said these . reports were , taken seriously by the Germans, and the intended movement of troops was aban- , doned.

Part of the mortgage on the building in Christchurch which belongs to the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council has been paid off. There is still a liability of £1552, and arrangements have been made for the whole of this, except £22, to be borne by trades unions, which have taken up the council's debentures. The sum of £22 is held by private individuals. The council does not intend to redeem the debentures held by the unions, but to let the latter have a permanent interest in the property. Any surplus of revenue over expenditure at the end of the financial year will be devoted to the improvement of the building and to other objects in which the unions are interested.

A compliment to New Zealanders and New Zealand is paid by Bishop Neligan, formerly in charge of the diocese of Auckland, in a letter to the Hon. J. Allen, written from Ford, Northumberland. " How splendidly the New Zealanders have done," Bishop Neligan wrote. "I do feel so proud of having been, as Colonel Da vies used to call me, ' Staff Officer for Religion ' for the Auckland Command for eight years. If you want a man to go out to buck up the chaplains and bear a hand, send me. I can easily get away for six months or so, and I might be of some use."

The opening of the Mount Albert tramway extension has been delayed, owing to a flaw having been discovered in an Order-in-Council, by which the Tramways Company is era powered to use the lino for traffic purposes. The line has been completed and was certified as satisfactory by an inspector of the Public Works Department on Monday last. Until validating legislation is passed by Parliament however, the company will not commence the new service. It is expected that the trams will be running to Mount Albert before the end of the month.

A lecture was given by the Rev. Ernest Chitty in the Queen's Theatre last evening, under the auspices of the Auckland Diocesan Social Questions' Commission. Mr. Chitty took for bis subject, '• Christianity and Brotherhood," and in the course of an interesting survey of history, he showed that the introduction of Christianity was followed by a ; ther estimation of human life. IT «£* much the Church had failed as a ■.■314she had the power of realising the ideal of Christian brotherhood, and her restraining influence made men lead better and healthier lives. It saved the poor from oppression, and made the rich feel their responsibilities towards their fellowmen.

The Union Company advises that, a steamer has been set down to load general merchandise at Vancouver at the end of j September, and at San Francisco early in October, tor Auckland, Melbourne, and Sydney. The Waimarino is to load at Vancouver about the third week in October, and at San Francisco at the end of October lor Auckland and Sydney. The I YVaihcmo will los-d at Vancouver and ! San Francisco early in October for Weli lington and Sydney. | The memorial service held in the Salva- ! tion Army Barracks, Albert Street, last j evening in memory of those who have j fallen in the service of the King was I largely attended. A roll of honour con- ' taining the names ot members who have fallen was displayed, and reference to the character and qualities of these soldiers was made by Adjutant T. E. Holmes, who conducted the service. During the evening the band of the city corps played "Garland of Flowers" in memory of those who have fallen, the audience standing meanwhile. Prior to the service the flags of the allies were borne through Queen Street, followed by the Army band playing the "Dead March." The journey from the foot of Queen Street to the barracks occupied haif-an-hour, and the ceremony was a most impressive one.

The Institution of Chemical Technologists has received a notification from, the British "War Department to the effect that a certain number of technical chemists would shortly be. required from its ranks for important Government work in the Department, and that a list of members able and willing to undertake such work, whether at present serving in the army or other branch of the Government services or not, would be of great assistance to the Department. The details of conditions of service are much more attractive than have ever before been offered from, the Government Departments.

A comparison of the quantities of meat shipped from New Zealand during the 12 \ months ended Jane 30, with the shipments I of previous years, shows that mutton has a I decrease of 15 per cent., and lamb 29 per ;Cent., but beef has an increase of 40 per cent. The total weight is 12 per cent, less, | but the value of all frozen meat for the 'period is per cent., or £700.000. more i than in the previous year. The North ' Island has an increase in beef and the South Island shows an increase in mutton and beef. The North Island contributed 71 per cent, of the mutton, 46 per cent. lof lamb, and 85 per cent, of beef. Some I 64 per cent, of the exports were in the last I six months, as compared with 80 per cent, for the previous corresponding period, and all the decrease is in that period. The decrease is chiefly due to shortage of ships to carry the meat, ands stocks on hand are much heavier than usual. Consequently exports for July to October will be much larger than usual for that time j of the year, which will swell the current -year's total.

The formation of the National Ministry was the subject of reference by the Mayor of Dunedin, Mr. J. J. Clark, at the last meeting of the Dunedin Council. He expressed the opinion that as representatives of the city the council should express gratification that party politics had been sacrificed in order to show a united front to the common enemy. On the Mayor's motion the council unanimously adopted the following resolution:— this council, whilst disclaiming any desire to enter rnto questions pertaining to party politics, recognises the absolute necessity to utilise to the utmost the resources of the Empire to enable us to bring to a successful issue the present great struggle for justice and liberty, and expresses its satisfaction that the various parties in the Parliament of this Dominion have been able to unite in the formation of a National Ministry to assist and strengthen the Empire hi stewing a united and determined front to our enemies." Copies of the resolution will be communicated to the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward.

A novel method of raising monev for the Wounded Soldiers' and Red Cross Funds was adopted by a gathering of sportsmen during dinner in Christchurch recently. Mr. W. Hayes picked up, a banana from a plate, and suggested that it should be sold by auction in aid of the funds. The - idea -was accepted immediately, and Mr. Hayes officiated as auctioneer. Bids came > rapidly,' and the banana was sold and resold .again until it had realised £31 lis, the skin being knocked down for £2. It was decided to divide the amount between the two funds.

"All are suffering dreadfully in our poor country, but, above all, "one suffers morally. What we miss in food we do not so much mind, but we have been cut off. and without any news for over ten months, with all the horrors around us. Whatever you may have heard does not come up to the mark. I will write all about it when we are free." This is an extract from a letter written to Mr. C. E. Fraser, of the city engineer's office, Wellington, from Switzerland,- by his sister, who for several years past has been living in Brussels with a Belgian lady. For ten months after the outbreak of the war they were interned in Brussels, and then were granted two months' leave of absence, which was spent in Switzerland. Miss Fraser goes on to say: "The money question is dreadful. All I possess is sequestered, through being English, and so is madame's, as she married a Frenchman, and he was taken prisoner at the Battle of Cournaie. lam certain we must gain in the end, but am afraid we are by no means at the end of our trouble. Naturally, the outside world does not feel it as we ail do, shut up in our country, or they would not leave a stone unturned to come to our help, though I daresay all think they are doing a lot."

A report concerning the climatic conditions experienced in Napier has been prepared by the Marist Fathers, of Greenmeadows, at, the request of the Borough Council. Comparisons are made with towns claiming to hare the most genial climate in the world, and the figures quoted show that the climate of Napier approaches that of San Diego and surpasses those of some of the most noted European and North African health resorts. The Mayor of Napier has suggested that ten or twenty thousand copies of the report should be printed and distributed to business people to enclose with their correspondence.

Proposals for the reconstruction of all the bridges under the control of the Manukau County Council have been made to the council by its engineer, Mr. R. F. Moore. In a report presented to the council Mr. Moore states that the condition of many of the bridges has so greatly depreciated that complete renewal would be more economical than further repairs, and he has recommended the council to rebuild all of them in fcrro-concrete. The largest of the bridges is 136 ft long, and there are two of about lOOft each, the total number approaching 30. It is estimated that the scheme would involve an expenditure of £10,000. The report will be considered by the council at it« next, meeting.