LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16850, 15 May 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The resolution of the council of the Auckland Railways League, in regard to the importance of extending the Kaihu Valley and Pukemiro Valley branch railway lines to certain definite points as early as possible, has been forwarded to the Minister for Public Works, Sir William Fraser. In a covering letter, the chairman of the league, Mr. P. E. Cheal, points out that there is a precedent in the manner in which the Paeroa-Waihi line was constructed for the request to allow the settlers to find the money to construct the extension of the Kaihu line. He states that if the settlers in the district were assured of the Government's intention to authorise the work, the felling of timber during the coming winter would undoubtedly be accelerated. In regard to the Pukerciro line, Mr. Cheal states that if tho line were pushed on to the metalled road, about 1£ miles from the Akatea junction, it would give access to Auckland direct, and that for want of the two or three miles of line in question, the settlers have to travel up the Akatea Valley over a range to Ngaruawahia, some 15 miles out of their way.

A large number of applications were dealt with by the Claims Board of the Auckland Patriotic Association yesterday. In several cases where the Government pension votes were apparently delayed, necessary assistance was afforded. In several cases in which the applicants were in receipt of the full Government pension assistance was declined, but in respect to the majority of applications votes were made according! to the needs of the applicants.

The first half-year's interest on the New Zealand war loan raised last year will be payable to-day. The total amount to be paid to" bondholders is approximately £340,000.

The health of th«\ Featherston and! Treotham training camps is described as very good by Surgcon-GeneTal Henderson, Director-General of Medical Services, who is now visiting Auckland. There are, he says, only about forty cases of sickness at Trentham, and about twenty cases at Featherston. General Henderson adds that there are no serious epidemics of any kind.

A letter was received by the Auckland Presbytery last night from one of the ministers of the Church, pointing out that the students in the flying school at Kohimarama had no opportunity for attending religious services, and that when weather conditions were favourable, they were expected to fly on the Sabbath. This was a grief to Christian parents whose sons were in the school. "He suggested that the presbytery take steps to make it possible for students to attend Divine services on Sunday. The letter was referred to the Life and Work Committee of the presbytery.

Reference was made yesterday by Mr. J. O. Williamson, chief postmaster, to complaints recently made as to the tardy delivery of consignments of pheasants and other game from the country. Apparently tho delay had occurred in transit, said Mr. Williamson; there certainly had been no delay in delivery, unless the address had been insufficient. Every effort was made by the postal officials to effect quick delivery of these parcels. It sometimes happened that the birds reached the office after the delivery vans had left in the morning; in such cases, the addressees were telephoned, wherever possible, or a card was sent out by letter-carrier that afternoon, asking them to call. Everything possible was thus done to ensure the birds reading their destination in good condition. "In justice to this office," said Mr. Williamson. "complainants should quote some specific instances of delay, so that the cause can be investigated."

The first meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Francis Donnelly, saddler, of Thames, will be held on Mav 22. . 3

One of the crew of the Wairuna, Mr. R. Donovan, of has returned to New Zealand. He was chief cook on the vessel when it was captured by the raider Wolf, and was carried as a prisoner on the Wolf until the Spanish steamer, the Igotz Mendi, was taken. He was transferred to this vessel, and owes his liberty to her being wrecked on the coast of Denmark.

The difficulties of the postal officials in regard to maintaining a staff still remain acute, as men are constantly leaving for camp. In the course of conversation yesterday, Mr. J. C. Williamson, chief postmaster, mentioned that in the last ballot alone, 25 men had been called up from the Auckland postal district, 13 of this number being from the city office. The shortage of men was now being felt in the country branches also, and girls were being taken on wherever possible, either to release a boy for work in town, or in cases where no boy was available. In all such cases, the appointment of girls was proving entirely satisfactory. A certain measure of relief, said Mr. Williamson, had recently been afforded by the Postal Department having sanctioned the engagement of extra lads in country branches, so that when a vacancy arose in town, or where the need was urgent in another country district, senior qualified lads could be transferred without detriment to their own offices.

Services of intercession in relation to the ■war will be held daily throughout the week in the Anglican churches of the Auckland diocese. Every day at 7 a.m. there will be a celebration of the Holy Communion at St. Sepulchre's Church and evensong at 7.30 p.m. To-day is to be observed as a day of continuous intercession at that church from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., and members of the congregation are asked to attend for a quarter of an hour at least. Days of continuous intercession are to be held at St. Barnabas';; Church, at All Saints' and at St. Albans on Thursday, Friday and Saturday respectively.

The petition of Samuel J. Polglai.se (Mr. Coates) for the dissolution of his marriage with Florence A. Polglaise came before Mr. Justice Cooper* yesterday afternoon, Ernest Strong being joined as co-reepon-dent. Evidence was given to the effect that petitioner had condoned one act of misconduct, but that since January last respondent and co-respondent had* been living together in the city as man and wife. A decree nisi for divorce was granted, with costs against the co-respon-dent on the lowest scale.

It is reported that strychnine poison, laid for the destruction of rabbits, is playing havoc with quail in the Lake' County. In places where the birds were numerous before - strychnine was used, not one is to be eeen now.

The dashing exploit of the British Navy in sealing the German submarine bases at Zeebrugge and Ostend is touched upon in the pictorial section of to-day's issue of the Auckland Weekly News. A diagrammatic picture of Zeebrugge is included in the series, and gives a clear idea of the hazardous nature of the operations undertaken by our sailormen. An excellent view of Ostend Harbour is also published, together with a portrait of Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, who was in charge of the raiding operations. The work of the navy in other directions is also well illustrated. A double-page of picturesque views connected with the opening of the shooting season, and depicting the chase of the wild duck in the lakes and swamps of the Waikato district, forms another interesting feature of the paper. Pleasing views of North Auckland and other parts of New Zealand are also published, as well as photographs of the funeral at Wanganui of the Maori chief Porokoro Patapu, who fought with the British in the Maori War. The portraits of some of the new members of the Legislative Council also appear, and there are several other subjects of interest.

An undefended civil action was before Mr. Justice Cooper yesterday, in which James Joyco Seymour, land agent (Mr. Richmond), claimed from Mrs. Julia Crook £200, representing shares in a proposed company that was to be formed to exploit a window invention, such shares having been part of the consideration in a property exchange transaction. His Honor gave judgment for the amount claimed, as against the defendant's separate estate. •

Several cases at the Police Court were dealt with by Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., yesterday. For using obscene language while drunk, Jane Mann was fined £1, and a first-offending inebriate was fined ss. On a charge of failing to account for £49 lis, the property of the Massey Harris Company, Ltd., William A. Warner was remanded to appear at New Plymouth. Bail in one surety of £100 was allowed.

Reference to the proposed memorial to the late Lieutenant-Commander Sanders, V.C., was made at last evening's meeting of the Devonport Borough Council. Mr. F. A. Thompson asked what Devonport had done regarding the matter, and suggested that, in order to raise funds, a collection should be made throughout the Dominion on a certain day, so that the memorial should be a national tribute The deputy-Mayor stated that illness had prevented the Mayor, Mr. J. Henderson, attending the meeting held in Auckland to consider the matter of the proposed memorial.

The terms and conditions for the renewal of the lease of the Mount Eden quarry site by the City Council were finally agreed upon yesterday between the Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister for Justice, and the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson. Referring to the matter subsequently, Mr. Gunson said that as soon as the new machinery could be obtained the council intended to enlarge the plant. Modern machinery was to be installed with a view of increasing the output of metal, and it was hoped to effect improvements which would reduce the cost still further, although the present cost compared favourably with that of metal obtained elsewhere. He added that the adequate supply of metal was a primary necessity to the council, and after exhaustive investigation of other metal-producing areas it was absolutely established that Mount Eden metal was as good as could be obtained in the Auckland district. On that account the policy of the council was to continue its operations at Mount Eden, as, notwithstanding the increased mileage of permanently paved streets in the citv, macadam work would comprise the principal road maintenance in the city for some time. .

A young man, Arthur L. Fitzgerald, alias David Scott, who had been arrested by Plain-clothes Constable Gourley, appeared before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday on a charge of deserting his wife at Brunswick, Victoria, Formal evidence was given as to accused being identical with the person named in the warrant issued by a Victorian magistrate, and defendant was ordered to be handed over to the escort for extradition to Australia.

Empire Day, May 24, is to be celebrated in Auckland by a "floral meeting" of children, arranged by the Victoria League. The meeting, which will be held at 1.30 p.m., will take place at Queen Victoria's Statue, in Albert Park. The statue will be decorated with flowers. Addresses will be given by the Mayor, and Mr. W. J. Napier.

In a divorce case heard by Mr. Justice Cooper yesterday, the father of the female defendant gave evidence in strong corroboration of the petitioner's story, and in proof of his daughter's misconduct. His Honor remarked upon the unusual situation, and asked whether the witness was aware of any fault on the part of the petitioner. " No," was the answer, " he has been a most indulgent husband. In fact, he has been what I should call rather* a fool."

A special meeting of the Northcote Borough Council was called for last night to consider notices of motion by Mr. W. H. Barnes in relation to the Little Shoal Bay reserve and the matter of the exemption of the waterworks engineer. The meeting lapsed as no quorum was present. An element of humour was introduced into the proceedings by the fact that the four members present—Messrs. Barnes, Flay, Webster and —proceeded on a deputation to the residences of, those of the absentees who live in the vicinity of the Borough Council Chambers. Their efforts to persuade their fellow members to attend the meeting, however, proved unavailing. This is the'second time on which a special meeting called to consider the notices of motion *ias lapsed, whilst the subjects have twice also been on the agenda for the ordinary meetings, the council rising on each night before notices of motion came up for consideration.

A peculiar and paimul accident befell a returned soldier, Mr. H. J. Harris, of Totara North, a few days ago. He was engaged in climbing trees for gum, and had worked his way up a tree to the height of 25ft, when in driving a gum hook into the tree it was deflected by a vine, r.nd the hook entered his left hand, impaling him to the tree. With great presence of mind and fortitude, Mr. Harris withdrew the hook, and with lightning speed, again drove it into the tree, thus preventing himself from falling backward. He eventually reached the bottom of the tree and fell fainting to the ground with the pain.

Among the remits dealing with roads submitted to the annual provincial conference of the Farmers' Union are three

recommending that the Government be urged to take over, make, and maintain, all arterial roads. A fourth protests against the *' stagnant attitude" of the Government regarding important public works, such as roads and railways, and urges that the Government should raise a special public works loan.

The 1916-17 season was considered by Southland farmers to have been the best experienced for many years, but the 1917-18 season has been an even better one. There was plenty of sunshine, and the rain foil at intervals just when it was most wanted. The oat props in many instances have been very heavy, but in some cases they have been on the light side. A large number of farmers, however, retain their oat crops for chaffing. The turnip crops nave been particularly free of blight.

" Well, that's worth knowing—people can still buy diamonds, just as they can go to the races," commented Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., chairman of the Second Canterbury Military Service Board, recently, during the hearing of an application by a partner in a firm of diamondcutters for extension of leave. The applicant had atated, in reply to a, question, that the diamond business was better than it had been for many years, in both England and New Zealand. His firm, which has its headquarters in Birmingham, was employing 50 or 60 Belgian refugees in diamond-cutting.