LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16421, 26 December 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The R.M.S. Makura, which arrived at Auckland from Sydney yesterday, had 317 passengers on board. Of these 267 were for Auckland.

An unpleasant experience befel a party of four men who on Sunday went in a boat to Motutapu for shooting and fishing. The members of the party became separated, and when three of them were ready to leave for home the fourth man could not be found. A search was made, but no trace of him could be found. At midnight the three men became convinced that their friend had met with an accident, so they left the island and reported the matter to Sergeant Baskiville. of Devonport. The sergeant sent a constable to investigate the matter, and upon the latter" arrival at Motutapu he found the absentee hale and well- He had merely been overcome by the heat, and had slumbered until after his friends had gone.

A fire broke out in the dwellinghouse occupied by Mrs. S B. Collett, in Seafield Road, on Friday night. Flames were seen by a boy as they issued from a bedroom, and the City Fire Brigade being summoned, succeeded in confining the fire to the room- Damage was done to the extent of £40. The contents of the house were insured. Nobody occupied the bedroom, it having been locked for some time, and the origin of the fire is a mystery.

The death occurred suddenly on Saturday morning of Mrs. Catherine Albina Scott, aged 35 years, wife of Mr. Joseph Scott, carter, ofiVauxhall Road, Devonport- At an inquest held by Mr. E. CCut ten, S.M., on Saturday afternoon, evidence was given to the effect that Mrs. Scott was confined on December 13, no doctor being present. On Saturday morning she complained of being ill, and Dr. Atkinson was summoned, but she died just before his arrival. Evidence was given by Dr. Atkinson that death was due to cerebral embolism. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned by the coroner-

The officer commanding the Auckland Military District, Colonel G- W. S. Patterson, has received a telegram from the Adjutant.General to the Forces stating that His Majesty the King has approved next Sunday, December 31, as a day for a special war sen-ice of intercession, thanksgiving and commemoration. No special form of service has been prescribed for the occasion.

The Tainui. which arrived from London on Sunday morning, besides bringing cargo and passengers to New Zealand, has on board two consignments of pedigree Shorthorn cattle from the King's Royal herd. The first consists of one bull, Windsor Gold, one cow and calf, and two heifers, from the Royal farm at Windsor, and consigned to Mr. J. C. N. Grigg, Longbeach Estate, Canterbury. The second lot con sists of two heifers from the Royal f.inn at Balmoral, and consigned to the Hon. 1). Mc Nab. Southland. The animals received a severe shaking after the vessel left England owing to the heavy gale the steamer met with, but after four days fine weather was experienced, and the cattle picked up, arriving here in splendid condition. Thev are in charge of Corporal G. H. Morrison.

A youth of 16 admitted to Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., in the Juvenile Court on Saturday that he. had placed obstructions on the tramline at Takapima. Senior- • Sergeant Rutledge said that on one occasion the lad had placed a batter, on the rails, on another a. fencing post, and on others a curbstone and a survey peg. On each occasion minor damage was done to the engine of the trams. The youth was stated to be mentally deficient. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, and the magistrate said he would recommend his transfer to an industrial school.

As the Makura berthed at the Queen's Wharf yesterday morning a noticeable feature was the absence of young men in the crowd of passengers which lined the ship's rails. The new arrivals were mostly women and children, and men over the age for military service. The attention of a traveller was drawn to this circumstance, and he said it was a very difficult matter for men of military age to obtain passports to leave Australia. This, in a great measure, accounted for so few young men being on board, a* the Christmas trip-under ordinary circumstances brought a large crowd of racing devotees to Auckland for the Summer Meeting.

Many local reservists who are appealing against being called up as the result of the ballot seem still to believe that all they need do is send notice of appeal to the Commandant of the Forces and then present themselves at the next sitting of the Appeal Board at some place handy to their district. There have been instances in which men have put themselves to considerable, expense and inconvenience through this misapprehension. Until a man receives notice from the Appeal Board that his case is to be heard on a given date it is useless for him to attend the board's sittings. If he does so, he will probably find that the board itself is unable to deal with his appeal, however anxious it may be to save him trouble, because the papers incident to his case have not yet been sent forward from Wellington—a?, indeed, has happened already.

•\ seasonable telegram was circulated during the week-end by the Hon. (i. \Y. Russell, Minister in charge of sick and wounded soldiers. "On the eve of Christma.-," said Mr. Russell, " I desire, on behalf of the Government, to wish all sirk and wounded soldiers in the hospitals and convalescent homes throughout the Deminion a speedy restoration to health, and to express to them the hope that the New Year may bring to Britain and her gbnous allies victory leading to a lasting peace. The Government fully appreciates the sacrifices that have been made by our men, particularly those who have returned sick and wounded, and assures them of its earnest desire to promote their speedy return to health and general welfare in every way possible."

A presentation on a tramcar in motion }■•, somewhat of a novelty. Corporal A. F. B. Hepburn, now at Trent ham. who was very popular during the time he was a motorman on the Brooklyn-Wellington section, was travelling to town on that ILne when he was handed by Mr. Thorpe, on behalf of Brooklyn residents, a very fine shaving outfit. Corporal Hepburn lost a brother at Gallipoli, and another is in camp at Featherston.

The customary dinner was provided for the sailors in port at the Auckland Sailors' Home on Christmas Day. The president. Mr. H. Symons. attended, and on behalf of the council wished them and their fellow-seamen abroad the best that the coming year could bestow. The excellent fare provided was much appreciated, and at the conclusion of the meal hearty cheers were given for the manager and his wife, Captain and Mrs. Grant.

No less- than 12 names of those who had been unwisely celebrating the festive season appeared on the charge sheet at the Police Court on Saturday, when Mr. F. V. FraEer, S.M., presided. Five first offenders were convicted and discharged, two were fined ss, four forfeited their bail, and Norman McLeod Dodds, who, by getting drunk, broke the terms of his prohibition, was fined £2. George William Pearce was fined 10s for assaulting J. W. Pollard. A sitting of the Police Court yesterday was presided over by Messrs. G. Roberts and G. E. Read, J.P.'s. Seven first offenders for drunkenness forfeited their bail, two were fined 10s, and Martin Saunders was similarly dealt, with. Thomas Chappell was fined 10s for committing a nuisance, and convicted and discharged for drunkenness. A first offender for drunkenness was convicted and discharged, and another, who went to the police station looking for a bed and who was provided with free boarding and lodging, was also convicted and discharged.

Three boys, aged 15 year?, 12 years, and 17 years respectively, admitted to Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M.. in the Juvenile Court on Saturday that they had visited the Hobson Street and Shelly Beach baths and helped themselves to bathers' property while the owners were having a swim. The eldest lad was stated to be the ringleader and to be beyond the control of his mother. He was committed to the Weraroa Industrial School. The charges against the others were adjourned for three months, during which time they will be under the supervision of the probation officer, Mr. F. S. Shell.

" I wouldn't undertake to build any house at the present time, because labour is impossible to get." said a building contractor giving evidence in a case heard in the Wellington Magistrate's Court.

Further cards of Christmas and New Year greetings to the Herald staff are to hand from Bishop H. W. Cleary and J J. Craig. Ltd.

As showing the increased value that dairying has placed on farming lands, a Feilding farmer states that in 1902 he sold a farm at Halcombe for £12 10s per acre, and just lately it had been resold at £40 per acre.

In view of the shortage of teachers, the Southland Education Board has decided to suggest to the Education Department that teachers with the right to retire on superannuation should be urged to continue their duties until the end of the war.

The boiling-down works owned by Mr. Thomas Hopwood at Eveline, Oa'mani, were destroyed by fire receitly. There is nothing to suggest how the fire started. The buildings of iron and wood, in which was stored a considerable quantity of tallow, were soon blazing fiercely and "were completely gutted. Mr. Hopwood's loss is particularly unfortunate, as the busiest part of the year is now approaching. It is doubtful if any of the plant, with perhaps the exception of the digester,' will a fain be serviceable. The premises were insured for £550 in the South British Office, but. notwithstanding, Mr. Hopwood will be a heavy loser.

Between 50 and 60 men were entertained at dinner by the Salvation Army at the Workmen's Home yesterday. At 8 a.m. a very large number of the men assembled to take part in an intercessory prayer meeting. A Wanganui paper records an extraordinary mistake in connection with Regt Q.M. -Sergt. King, the eldest son of ° a former Mayor of Stratford. Q.M.B. King recently returned to duty after some days' furlough and was ordered to Featherston Camp instead of Trentham. where he had been previously stationed. A few days ago the authorities telegraphed to Q.M.S. King's father and reported that he was missing from Trentham. The telegram caused the greatest consternation to Mr. and Mrs. N. J. King, the shock to the latter being of a serious nature, while Mr. King made for Wellington post haste, merely to find that bis son had been hard at work at his duties in camp at Featherston all the time-