NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9044, 15 May 1915, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The country hotel-workers’ dispute will be heard by the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr P. Hally) at 10.30 a.m. on. May 26£h. At Auckland yesterday, says a Press Association telegram, one , bookseller was fined £lO and costs, and three others each £3 and costs for selling indecent literature. , ‘

The list of civil cases for hearing at the present siting, of the Supreme Court will be called before the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) in Chambers this morning, after the sentencing ot prisoners has taken place. Signs of the approaching Parliamentary session are not wanting. A number of members of both Houses have secured accommodation in: the vicinity of Thorndon, and members who have not done so already are finding difficulty in securing private apartments suitable to their requirements. No date has yet been fixed for the unveiling of the Seddon memorial statue, the erection of which is just being completed in the Parliamentary grounds. The ceremony will take place during the forthcoming session of Parliament.

Endeavours are being made to arrange a ‘‘People’s Day” at Trentliam camp in connection with the coming Wellington carnival. It is proposed that country people should be given an opportunity of seeing the camp, and the Railway Department is to be urged to run excursion fares for the occasion. The idea is to stimulate recruiting. Several youths who had failed to render the personal service required of them under the provisions of the Defence Act appeared before Mr D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Small penalties were imposed npon the following Eric Andrew Brasch, Albert Egan, Hollis Law, Michael Francis McHugh, and Ernest S. O’Neil.

A plea of not guilty was entered by John Williams, when charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with failing to close his butcher’s shop at 7 o’clock on a recent Saturday evening. The evidence for the prosecution was to the effect that a woman had been seen coming out of a side door of the shop with a parcel, which, it was alleged, contained meat. The magistrate dismissed the information, on the grounds of insufficient evidence, and allowed £1 costs against the department. Mr E. P. Bunny appeared for defendant.

The postal authorities advise that the s.s. Maheno, which left .Sydney on Wednesday for Auckland, is bringing Australian mails and also an English mail via Suez. The Wellington portion is due per Main Trunk express on Monday afternoon nextPersons desirous of sending weekend cable messages to the care of tile High Commissioner, Loudon, inquiring regarding wounded soldiers, will bo permitted to use the High Commissioner’s registered code address, “ Deputy, ’ instead of the full title. The soldier’s address must bo in full.

Many of the recruits who arc offering their services are desirous of join-,, ing the New Zealand Engineers Corps, but there is not room for all the applicants. A couple of bricklayers are needed, however, and early application is necessary to secure the positions now open.

A man named C. Edwards, who is employed at the Working -Men's Club, yesterday had tho misfortune to spill a tub of hot water over himself. He was badly scalded about the arms and abdomen, and was removed to the hospital, where late last night he was reported to bo doing as well as could he expected. AVhilo riding a bicycle near the Fetono railway station last evening, a young woman employed at the woollen mills collided with a trap. She was thrown heavily, and received injury to a leg. First aid was given by Mr A. H. Medhurst, a member of tho Petono ambulance section of the National Reserve, and she was' removed to her home. The Defence authorities have under consideration a jiroposal to issue cards to men who have offered their services to tho Empire, but who on account of unfitness for service abroad have been rejected by the medical staff. Many of those who are desirous of serving do not come up to the height standard and they, although sound physically, are also to be granted certificates. In England badges’ are issued to those medically Unfit, but this practice is not favoured: by tho authorities in JNcw Zealand.

The Commercial Bank of Australia, Ltd., which has been conducting its Auckland branch at premises in Shortland street, has purchased a property in the centre of Queen street, with a largo four-story building thereon, which it intends to occupy after it has been suitably altered. The premises were recently purchased by Messrs Wilson and Canham, Ltd., for £29,500, and have since been acquired by the bank at a satisfactory figure. The bank has opened branches in the four chief cities of the Dominion, and recently purchased in Wellington the premises previously occupied by the Post Office Savings Bank, Nos. 328 and 330, Lambtou quay, where the business is now conducted.

Major T. H. Dawson, who has been wounded, was born in Auckland, and educated at King’s College. Ho joined the College Hides wlieu the corps was formed in 1897. Ho was sergeantmajor in the Fourth South African Contingent, and during the progress of the war received his commission in a border , regiment. He- holds the Queen’s medal with three' clasps and King’s medal with two clasps. Shortly after the close of the war Major Dawson resigned his commission and returned to Auckland. Since then and until his departure, last year, Major Dawson has practised as a solicitor. He rejoined the College Rifles with the rank of lieutenant, and was promoted to captain. When the expeditionary" force was mobilised he was transferred from the command of the Divisional Signal Company to the 3rd (Auckland) Regiment with the temporary rank of major.—Press Association.

Since the Town' Hall has been in existence it is safe to say that never has such feminine activity been seen within its walls as at present. Ever since the outbreak of war busy bands of patriotic ladies have been in attendance receiving donations and making equipment for the troops at the front. They fill the Council Chamber and the committee rooms and occasionally overflow into the Mayor’s room. The work as a whole is under the direction of the Mayoress (Mrs J. P. Luke). At first the energies of the ladies were mainly directed towards the provision of clothing and comforts for the relief of the Belgiums. Yesterday the newly-formed Military Hospital Guild was engaged in making equipment for the stationary hospital that is to leave shortly. The Lady Liverpool committee members were busy with comforts in the way of clothing for the troops at Trentham, and the St. John Ambulance Society have many members preparing comfortable underwear and bed linen' for the wounded Now Zealanders at the Dardanelles. An unusual civil claim occupied the attention of Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. N. H. Jack, indent agent, proceeded against Kemsley and Co Proprietary, Ltd., for £l5O on the ground that defendants, assuming to be the agents of Tozer, Kemsley and Fisher, of London, on October 28th last induced Jack to enter into a contract with them for one motor-cycle on the terms that plaintiff should have the option of the agency in the North Island in a month after the arrival of the cycle. The defendants, plaintiff alleged, thus impliedly warranted to him that they were authorised to make the contract as agents; he also alleged that .the defendants had no instructions or authority to arrange an agency with him on the lines on which it proceeded. Mr A. M. Salek appeared for the plaintiff..Mr A. W. Blair represented defendants, and denied the allegations contained in the statement of claim, asserting that his clients had full authority to enter into negotiations' on behalf of their principals. Decision was reserved. A meeting of the creditors in the bankrupt estate of Albert William Organ, late managing director of Books and Papers, Ltd., was held yesterday, Mr A. Tansley, acting Official Assignee, presiding. Mr J. S. Barton appeared for the debtor and he and Mr J. L. Arcus were the only creditors present. The assets of the estate amounted to £IOO, over which security was held by a creditor. The amount due to unsecured creditors was £1167 12s, ot which sum £645 consisted of calls due to the liquidators of Books and Papers, Ltd., £155 10s lid to Wilson and Horton (Auckland); A. Sanderson, uhakune (due under an agreement of purchase of 575 shares in Books and Papers, Ltd.), £350; C. Ridd, Eltham, £1 5s 7d; and J. S. Barton, Wellington, £ls 15s 6d. The debtor stated that all his money was invested in the company. The outbreak of war had stopped all sales on the railways except newspapers, and after two months the company was obliged to go into liquidation. He had only drawn his salary out of the business. The meeting was adjourned sine die* ,