LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16589, 12 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Replying to a question by Mr. C. J. Parr (Eden), the Minister" for Defence states that it is not intended to medically examine Second Division reservists before they are drawn in the ballot. He points out that it does not follow that because a man is passed by the Medical Board he must of necessity sacrifice his business, and go into camp, for every reservist lias the right of appeal.

The regulation of the liquor trade is amongst the subjects that have been considered by the National Efficiency Board. In reply to a question yesterday, the Auckland commissioner, Mr. J. H. Gunson, stated that the question had been investigated fully by the board, and that its report ha.l been submitted to the Government. Mr. Gunson added that the functions of the board were only of an advisory character, and that he could say nothing as to the nature of the board's report, which he believed would be made public in due course.

The Government is considering the advisableness of providing financial assistance to returned soldiers who go on to land other than that purchased by the Government for leturned .soldiers.

Feeling reference to the death of Mr. Wm. Burnside, late inspector of schools, was made at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board, members expressing high appreciation of Mr. Burnsid'e'j services during the 10 years he had acted as inspector. It was resolved that a letter of condolence should be sent to Mrs. Burnside.

The Claims Board of the Auckland Patriotic Society reports that there is still a must noticeable neglect on the part of returned soldiers in making applications for Government war pensions. Returned men are entitled to make application immediately on receiving notice of their provisional discharge, but this is iiivariahlv delayed to a much later dale, with the consequence that on discharge they have neither military pay nor Government pension, and as a result claims on the association's fund are considerably heavier than there is any need for.

The Auckland Education Board, in conjunction with the St. John Ambulance Association, has arranged for first-aid classes at the following technical schools by the lecturers named:—Whangarei, Di. Frailer Hurst; Te Konuru, Dr. I'lo.-s; Devon port, Dr. Clayton; Otahuhu, Dr. Rowley: Te Aroha. Dr. Kenny; Waihi, Dr. Eraser; Hamilton, Dr. Garland.

A tribute to the public school teachers of the Dominion was paid last night by Pastor C. Meyers, one of the speakers at the meeting of Protestants at the Town Hall. He said that their spirit had been manifested, in this time of crisis, by the large numbers who had volunteered. Out of 181 students who passed through the training colleges, from 1907 to 1917, 123 were now serving their country. (Applause.), This drain upon the teachers; had been cheerfully accepted by them and by the public. Two accident cases were admitted to the hospital yesterday. The first was a married man, Mr. Thomas Charles, 62 years of age, who resides in Kitchener Road, Avondale. It is stated that Mr. Charles was backing his cart out of a shed at Avondale, when be caught the back of his bead and shoulder against the top of the door. He was admitted to the hospital shortly after mid-day, and, on examination, was found to be suffering from a crushed head and shoulder. The second case was that of a boy named Henry Dwyer. who resides with his parents at 1," G rat ton Street. The boy was playing on the verandah when he fell, striking the stones below. He received a number of abrasions on the face, and is suffering from an injury to the thigh. J ' A tender has been accepted for clearing and cultivating an experimental plot to be used at the old New Lynn school site in connection with the Huapai classes in fruit culture. Mr. J. P. Kalaugher advised the Education Board yesterday that arrangements were being made, for experts to deliver lectures and condu* 1 demonstrations in every branch of the work. Returned soldiers interested in fruitgrowing will be given instruction free of charge. Consequent upon a truck being derailed at Drury, the Waikato train which usually arrives at Auckland at 2.40 yesterday was an hour late. A delay was also caused on the Mount Eden line yesterdaymorning, through the derailing of an engine.

The following names of soldiers wounded in action have been added to the Board of of Education roll of honour:—Private L. J. rice, Papakura school; Private J. F. Wells, Eden dale school ; Private A. E. Bishoprick, Training College student.

"It may be some comfort to relatives of men killed in action to know that, without exception, the mortal remains of their loved ones are laid in their last resting-place with reverent hands, and the burial service is read by one or another of the chaplains,'' said Chaplain-Major Hawkins, in the course of an address at St. Sepulchre's parish hall last evening. " The work is in the hands of a huge organisation known as the Graves Commission, and a regular procedure is followed in every case. The body is brought to the dressing station, where the man's pay-book and personal papers are removed and particulars of his name, unit and religion, are pinned on the clothing. The body is then taken to a place set apart as a morgue, and from there to the cemetery. These cemeteries are beautifully kept. The day after the burial a cross is erected over the crave, bearing the soldier's name and unit. Two copies of all essential particulars regarding the dead soldier are made, one being sent to the Graves Commission, and the other to the Army Headquarters."

In answer to a question in Parliament by Mr. T. W. Rhodes, member for Thames, the Prime Minister stated yesterday that the question of how the capital value of a Hanraki pastoral lease should be fixed is under consideration.

The Minister for Education stated yesterday that, in view of the increased "expenditure, the Government is not disposed under present conditions to institute a State system of free class books.

" I never knew a New Zealand soldier whom I did not consider equal to 10 Germans," said Chaplain-Captain Burgin in the course of an address at St. Sepulchre's parish hall hist night. "At tho Battle of the Somme I was engaged at a dressing station just behind the front line trench, over which the men leaped to the attack. We saw them go over, and we did not have to wait long before wounded and prisoners commenced to come in. I saw one New Zealand soldier bring in eight German prisoners, and all he had in the way of weapons was a pair of scissors."

The Maoris residing on the shores of Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti intend to raise the sum of £500 to prosecute their claim to the beds of the lakes. The Ngatiwhakaue tribe will supply half of that sum, and have already raised £205. The case will probably be heard next month, before Judge Wilson, of the Native Land Court.

Two calls were received by the City Fire Brigade yesterday afternoon. Both, however, proved to be false alarms. The first, received shortly after noon, was to Archhill, some boys having accidentally released the bell while playing in the street. The second call was received about five o'clock to the Grey Statue.

The Prime Minister yesterday informed Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) that it has been decided to revalue several local districts in the North Auckland peninsula. The Vice-Consul for France at Auckland, M. Leon Hippeau, stated yesterday that the French national flag will be hoi-ted at the office of the Vice-Consulate on Saturday next, on the occasion of the Fete Nationalo Francaise."

In reply to a suggestion that the Government should not charge cheaper railway rates on white pine when consigned to a port for export than when consigned to a butter-box factory in the New Zealand, tho Minister for Railways stated yesterday that free rates on timber were under consideration.

Teachers' classes in hygiene, agriculture and botany were held in Auckland from June 25 to July 6, the attendance at the hygiene class being 66, at agriculture 58, and at the botany class 29. Miss Holt' Messrs. Neve Merrington. W. Hudson] Clinch, and R. P. Connell acted as instructors.

The proposal to dose hotels at 6 p.m. during the war and for six months afterwards was supported in a resolution adopted by the Mount Roskil! Road Board at its meeting on Tuesday night. It was decided that a copy of the resolution bo for 1 */ 0 rl .*"**"<* J-*"6, as member for the district, with the request that he would support it when the matter comes before Parliament. e3

A further remand was asked for bv the police in a case before the Court yesterday when a man named William Williams was charged with stealing a horse-cover valued at 255, from Percy Lupton. SubInspector Broberg said there was a lar-e amount of property believed to have been stolen, found at. accused's house when ii was searched, ami this material was now m the hands of the police awaiting recovery by the owners. It was toward the end of restoring the property bv the aid o. accused that a remand was asked for. -Mi. 1-razer formally adjourned the case until this morning.

The Government is considering the question of introducing legislation vesting mangrove swamps in the. Crown Lands Department, with a view to enabling the Crown Lands Boards to open these swamp* on the optional or freehold tenure but on account of complications affect the. title it is not proposed to take any action at present.

The fact that several applications had been made by returned soldiers for small sums for the purpose of buying businesses was mentioned in a report submitted to the executive of the Auckland War .Relief Association yesterday. The report stated that a-s this class of assistance was against the policy laid down by the, executive, all applications of the nature mentioned had been declined.