NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8810, 13 August 1914, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

A committee of the Wairarapa P. and A. Society made a canvass of Wellington last week for funds, and secured £3O more than was obtained in the previous year. At about twenty minutes to 8 o’clock last evening two motor-oars came into collision opposite the Queen’s wharf. The collision was practically a head-on one, and both cars suffered some damage, which fortunately, as they were going slowly, was not serious. Mr R. W. Holmes, M. Inst. C.E., chief engineer to the Public Works Department, has been elected to the position of president of tbe New Zealand Society of Engineers, vice Mr R. S. Rmmthwaite, who has resigned in order to take up the duties of secretary.' The society, which is an incorporated body, is taking active steps to increase its membership, and already a number of applications have been received from corporate members of the Institute of Civil Engineers (England), as well as from those in the Government service, judging .by the way in which applications for membership are being received it is anticipated that before the close of the half-year, in September, the society will have a large membership. “Are you a German?” “I am.” “Well, take that you German .” The “taking that” process led to the appearance in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday of Joseph Ravenscroft, charged with assaulting Charles Henry Thielemann, a German, to whom ho had addressed the query recorded .at the beginning of this paragraph. Evidence was given by Thielemann that accused, whom he had never seen before, had come’np to him, interrogated him and then, proceeded to belabour him. The assault, however, was witnessed by Constable Chapman, who arrested Ravenscroft. The accused also called him insulting names. Ravenscroft denied using any insulting language, and said that the German had attacked him first. As this did not agree with the testimony of Constable Chapman, who said the German had only acted in self-defence, Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M. (who was on the bench) intimated that he did not believe the accused. “You have no right to inter- , fere with a German, or a Britisher, or any person of any other nationality," he said. “You will bo fined 20s, or seven days’ imprisonment.”

The remaining members of the party of New Zealand bowlers who toured Australia recently arrived back at Wellington by the Llimaroa yesterday. A sharp shock of earthquake was felt at Eltham at twenty minutes to 1 yesterday morning (states a Press Association telegram). According to a wireless message transmitted from tbo Tahiti last evening while en route from San Francisco, tho vessel will arrive at AVellington at 7 a.m. to-day. The vessel brings Englisii and American mails. 8.-iord the Arbitration Gourv adjourned yesterday, Mr W. A. Grenfell expressed, on behalf of the employers, appreciation of the good spirit shown by Mr E. Kennedy (on behalf of tho employees) in matters in dispute that had come before the court. The Telegraph Office notifies that Italy has established a censorship. All telegrams for Italy must be fully addressed and fully signed, messages must be written iu one plain' language, English or French, and will be accepted at sender’s risk. Advice from the telegraph office was received yesterday as follows: —European Administrations renew the notice that -all cable messages are only accepted at sender's nsK. No complaints or requests for rcrunds arising from any cause whatever will bp considered. Tho death occurred last night of Airs O’Neill, wife of Captain Henry O’Neill, of the dredge Whakariro, and mother of Mr J. B. O’Neill, of the Chr.stchurch “Sun’’ literary staff. Tho late Mrs O’Neill had been suffering for some time, and her death was not unexpected. Tho Wanganui Education Board last night adopted a resolution asking Mr D. H. Guthrie, M.P., to support the inclusion of a clause in the new Education Bill providing for the granting of an honorarium to chairmen of education boards, says a Press Association message. , One of the German reservists who was -arrested iu Dunedin on Sunday is understood to have, stated that the present war was contemplated by Germany in 1912, and that was why ho left Germany —in order to avoid taking part. c,His , opinion is that Germany has such immense resources that the war may last for years. At a meeting of the congregation of tho Lutheran Church at Marten on Sunday, a resolution was passed acknoivlodging alleg.anoe to Great Britain and expressing their willingness to assist in the -defence of tho country. It was -also decided to contribute towards the defence fund by doubling the collection for the day. In reviewing the evidence in a com pensation case in the Arbitration Court yesterday morning, Mr Justice Stringer remarked that if the court could believe all the statements that came before it in regard to tho payment to dependants in compensation cases, no doubt a higher opinion would be placed oh human nature than was the case at the present time. The case of the “New Zealand Times” Co., Ltd. v. the AVcllington Publishing Co., Ltd., a claim for £3OOO damages for alleged libel contained in tho “Dominion” newspaper, appears in the list of actions set down for hearing at the, civil sittings of-the Supreme Court in Dunedin, which, according to the local papers, are duo to commence on the 17th inst. The contractors for the construction of the motor ’bus bodies, in connection vith the motor ’bus service which the Botcmo Borough Council has decided to in.stal, are making excellent progress with the work, bnt on . account f the uncertainty of tho arrival of the chasses some time must elapse before the ’buses , aro running on the roads. .

The call to arms in Masterton is depleting the ranks of the Red Star Football Club (reports our own correspondent). On Tv.esday I the secretary of the club (Mr W. Andrews) and captain of the. junior team (Mr W. Shackleton) left for the front with the ambulance corps, and it is expected that several' members of the senior and junior teams will also leave with the expeditionary force The committee appointed to raise funds for the acquisition, for the Dominion Art Gallery, of the picture, “The Flight into Egypt,” bv th« lata F. Goodall. R.A., met yesterday in the Mayor’s room, when it w-aa decided to postpone fu.rther operations until a later more favourable time. The fixing of the date for the next meeting was left in the hands of His Worship the Mayor and Messrs Gore and Atkins, who will also interview Mr Baillie on the matter. In. the Arbitration Court yesterday Mr E. Kennedy mentioned the northern plumbers and gasfitiers’ agreement, which the union was anxious to have made into an award. Mr Justice Stringer said that Mr W. Ferguson, who objected to the Wellington Gas Company being made a party to it, was not present in court, and he desired to give parties an opportunity to be heard. Mr Kennedy concurred, and said he understood that Mr Ferguson would be present at the Arbitration Court that morning. A number of leading sportsmen are endeavouring to bring to a successful issue a scheme for the transporting of a shipload of frozen meat, dairy produce, foodstuffs, clothes, etc., to England for the relief of destitute or poor people who are feeling the rise in price of commodities consequent upon the outbreak of war.’ The idea is to raise sufficient money for the purpose by voluntary subscriptions, and with the co-operation of the New Zealand Sports Protection League there is every reason to believe that the object, which is worthy of support, will bo carried out. Two prominent Christchurch gentlemen have matters well forward, and Mr R. W. ShaUcrass, the general secretary of the league, left for Christchurch last evening to confer with the sportsmen in that city, and the plan of campaign will be made known in a day or two. The Government is to be asked to undertake the transport of the goods.