LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16035, 29 September 1915, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand standard time will be signalled in future from the Auckland Ferry Buildings at 9 p.m. on not less than two days a week. On the days on which the signal is to come from the Wellington Observatory a red flag will be hoisted from 4 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. At 8.10 p.m. a green light will be shown, at 8.50 p.m. a red light and at 8.55 p.m. a white light. At 9 p.m. precisely all three lights will be extinguished. The signals will not commence until Friday next, October 1.

With the arrival of the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Turakina at Auckland from London to-morrow week a new departure in -connection with the sailings of the company's mail steamers will be inaugurated. Previously these vessels have been calling at Capetown, Hobart, Wellington and Lyttelton, but under the new time-table the next six steamers, of which the Turakina is the first, will make Auckland the first port of call. The Turakina will be followed by the Ruapehu, which is due here about November 7. The expansion of Auckland's trade, the shortage of tonnage, and the necessity of economising time on the coastal run are the factors chiefly responsible for the new arrangement.

Recruits are required for the Garrison Artillery unit of the National Reserve, in order to bring it up to full strength. The unit has guns at the forts at the North Shore to practise with and the work carried out there is most interesting. At present the average parade strength is forty, but some fifty more gunners are needed. About ten or a dozen more men are also required for the electric light section, which is under the command of Lieutenant Wylie, the city electrical engineer. There is also need for recruits in the range-finding section. This work should appeal to surveyors who will find scope for the use of their knowledge. Intending recruits are invited to attend a meeting to be held on Monday next at the Artillery Drill Hall, Rutland Street.

An allotment of land in Ranfurly Road, Epsom, has been presented by a member of St. Mark's parish, Remuera, as a site for the erection of an Anglican church. For some time past services have been held in a building in Wapiti Avenue. The donor of the site has -undertaken to erect the first portion of the church, sufficient to meet the present needs of the district. Plana for the building will be prepared immediately. The area of the allotment is 80ft by 265 ft. The donor has stipulated that sittings in the church are to be free, and that the furnishings are to be provided by the parishioner!.

The Auckland Town-planning League has forwarded a letter to the Harbour Board requesting aid in the beautifying of the cliffs in the harbour approaching the city. "It has been suggested by an expert," says the letter, " that mesembryanthemum be planted along the cliff behind the Calliope Dock. It will quickly cover the cliff from top to bottom, as it has done on Papa Cliff at Timaru, which used to be very unsightly, and is now an object of beauty. The cliffs around Auckland and in the Hauraki Gulf were once covered with pohntukawa, but nearly all are now completely denuded, and only show unsightly clay and papa rock. It would not be a costly matter to employ a few men to sow pohntukawa seed down the facet of the cliffs, and there is no reason why all the cliffs around our shores should not in a few years be covered with healthy Christmas trees. The board decided, at yesterday's meeting, to inform the league that it had taken steps to improve the appearance of the cliffs near Selwyn Street and that the matter would be borne in mind in the future.

The arrivals at Auckland for the fortnight ended September 23 consisted of one Royal Mail steamer, seven large cargo steamers, four inter-colonial or Island traders, four coastal steamers and two sailing vessels, an aggregate of 67,315 gross tons and 42,105 net tons, together with 225 local coasters of 38,674 gross tons and 21,314 net tons, making a grand total of 105,989 gross tons and 63,419 net tons. As compared with the corresponding period for last year the returns show a decrease of seven vessels, 1694 gross tons and 700 net tons. The departures consisted of one Royal Mail steamer, seven large cargo steamers, four intercolonial or Island traders, seven coastal traders, and one sailing vessel, an aggregate of 73,715 gross tons and 44,728 net tons, together with 239 local coasters of 37,226 gross tons and 21.238 net tons, making a grand total of 110,941 gross ton., and 65,966 net tons. As compared with the corresponding period for last year, the returns show an increase of six vessels and 896 gross tons, and a decrease of 7915 net tons.

A large number of socks are required by the Women's Patriotic League for dis tribution to members of the seventh rein-

forcements, and the demand already exceeds the supply. Ladies are asked to assist the league by sending in finished socks as soon as possible. A knitting de monstration will bo given in the Town Hall at 2.30 p.m. to day by Mis 3 1. Spedding.

A branch library is being established by the City Council at Remuera in the premises formerly occupied by the Remuera Road Board. The librae- is to be known as the Remuera Branch Library, and will be officially opened by the Mayor! Mr. J. H. Gunson, on Saturday afternoon at three o'clock. v An invitation is extended to citizens, and especially those in Remuera, to be present.

Members of the seventh reinforcements, at present on leave, were entertained list evening at the Auckland Soldiers' Club by local territorials and by many of the returned men, including a few" of the wounded. With Mr. George Warren, a member of the house committee, at the piano, and an apparently unlimited supply of musical talent available, a most enjoyable evening was spent. Private J. Bowman, a returned soldier, whose accomplishments include an ability to eat glass and allow pins to be stuck in his body, contributed some acceptable items. " Other performers were Sergeant Angus, Gunner Penny, Privates Pearce. Christie, and Wheeler. A mandolin solo was given by Corporal Marshall. Refreshments were provided by the ladies' committee.

I The claim of Gervan Runcie (Mr. W. D. Anderson) against George W. Hutchison (Mr. E. J. Prendergast), liquidator of the Bulletin Printing Company, for £24, wages alleged to be due to the plaintiff as a lady correspondent of the Bulletin, was called in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Mr. Prendergast stated that he had approached Mr. Maurice O'Connor, the debenture-holder who had taken over the assets of the Bulletin Company, but Mr. O'Connor had declined to meet the claim. He considered that the debenture he held over the assets was entitled to preference over all debts, including wages. The case was set down for legal argument to-day.

The chief feature of the. pictorial portion of the Avcklxsd. Weeklt News, issued to-day, is an excellent series of pictures of the training of New Zealand's seventh reinforcement draft. Last -week the seventh' reinforcements marched from the camp at Tauherenikau to the Trentham camp, the journey occupying two days. Excellent panoramic views of the march, over the Rimutakas appear, together with. a number of other animated scenes on the journey. Flashlight pictures show the troops bivouacking at night. These photographs are of outstanding merit and will undoubtedly attract attention. The remodelling of the Trentham camp is now practically completed, and photographs are published in the issue showing the up-to-date hutments and well-formed streets of the camp. The portraits of 217 fallen heroes appear in the Roll of Honour and the number also contains several other interesting pictures touching on the war ;-«nd other subjects.

A deputation from the Eden Terrace Volunteer Fire Brigade waited upon the Eden Terrace Road Board last night and asked for the gift of certain appliances and uniforms used by the brigade, which was now disbanding, in consequence of the district being about to be merged in the city. It pointed out that the articles asked for were chiefly obtained by the efforts of the brigade, the members of which had given their services to the public free. The articles belonged to the Road Board, which had no further use for them. The brigade proposed to sell them to provide souvenirs for the brigade and a " winding-up" social. Members expressed the opinion that the board should not dispose of the articles without the City Council's sanction. The request would be laid before the council, with a recommendation that it be acceded to.

Representations were recently made to the Government concerning telephone bureau charges by the Devonport Borough Council, and a reply was received at a meeting of the council last evening from Sir Joseph Ward. Post- - General, that the matter was under consideration. Mr. F. L. Armitage, an ex-councillor, wrote stating that he had been in communication with Mr. A. Harris, M.P., and some of the other Auckland members of Parliament on the subject. He found that Cabinet was considering the question of bureau charges, and there was no prospect of them being removed altogether. ' He was of opinion, however, that some satisfactory reduction or adjustment would be made.

The lambing season has been good in the Auckland Province this year, the- good feed and warm weather having contributed largely to this state of things. In the Opotiki district, on an area comprising one-half bush and one-half cleared land, 1480 ewes produced 1350 lambs, and in the all-grass areas the percentage in many instances exceeded 100 per. cent. Mr. A. Schmidt, secretary of the- Auckland branch of the New Zealand Farmers" Union, who returned from a visit to the Waikato, Te As-oha, and Matamata districts on Saturday, told a Herald reporter that the percentage of lambs was slightly lower in those districts than it had been in previous years. The good season, however, was having its effect, and both sheep and lambs were looking well.

A man about 40 years of age was found dead in bed at the Salvation Army Workmen's Home, Lome Street, at 7 a.m. yesterday. There is some doubt concerning the man's name, but it is believed to be Patrick Kelly. He was described as a fireman and a discharged soldier. Deceased was admitted to the home on the certificate of the Rev. F. R. Jeffreys on Monday. He retired to bed at 9 p.m. that day, and was then apparently well. An inquest will be held before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., at the mortuary to-day.

The civil list dealt with in the Magistrate's Conrt yesterday contained 194 cases, 23 of which were defended. In order to facilitate the work of the Court, and in deference to the wishes of members of the legal profession, the magistrate, Mr. C. C. Kettle, announced that he had instructed the clerk of the Court to call the defended cases first in future, in order of number, and then set them aside until the undefended cases were disposed of. The defended cases would then be taken in order of number.

A carrier named William Kent, 21 years of age, residing in St. Alban's Road, Mount Eden, fell off a cart which he was driving yesterday, and was cut about the head to an extent -which necessitated his removal to the hospital. It is expected that he will be able to leave the institution to-day.

A complaint was made in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. J. Craigie, M.P. for Timaru, that New Zealand soldiers in hospitals and convalescent homes in England were, in many cases, penniless, and were cabling to their friends stating that they were not receiving their pay. The Minister for Defence, the Hon. J. Allen, said that such men did not receive the full amount of their pay, which went on accumulating, and was" paid to them on their discharge. The Imperial authorities had found that where men in convalescent homes had been enabled to draw full pay, the results, in many cases, had not been satisfactory, especially as far as the recovery of the men was con-

cerned. Through the medium of the funds for the sick and wounded, the men were provided with necessities and small

comforts, including shaving outfits and fruit. In addition, they might purchase comforts up to the extent of 2s or 3s a week, not drawing these sums in money, but opening an account which the paymaster settled. There was no real necessity for sending money to the soldiers, and. in some cases, it might do more harm thangood.

An English, Egyptian, and Australian mail, consisting of 264 bags, arrived by the steamer Victoria last night. It will be delivered in the city and suburbs this morning.

A girl, 15 years of age, -was brought before the Juvenile Court at Hamilton yesterday and charged with not being under proper control. The case was an unusual one. A male cousin, who is a member of the sect of Israelites, induced the girl to leave her mother, and brought her to Hamilton. She was taken to a boardinghouse, but left on Saturday, and did not return till Monday. The police communicated with her father at Coromandel, who replied: " She is capable of looking after herself. I left her in Auckland, with her brother, to teach her the Word of God." The girl's story was that she left the boardinghouse and was unable to find her way back. She therefore stayed at a private house for two nights. The magistrate characterised the man as a scoundrel, and committed the girl to an industrial school.

The Wellington Education Board, at a meeting yesterday, says a Press Association telegram, expressed strong disapproval of any attempts being made to influence teachers to sell, or to enlist the help of children in selling, lottery tickets for carnival funds. The board approved of the action of those who had declined to take part' in the railing of these tickets.