NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9245, 12 January 1916, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Yesterday a wharf-hqnd named Max Deckston fell down a hold on board the Mararoa and, fractured his knee. He was admitted to the hospital. The prisoners to be dealt with at the /Supreme Court on Friday morning are John Matson, of Picton, indicted bn five charges of false pretences, and Albert Cole, a lad about seventeen : years of age, who was convicted of tneft and allowed out on probation, and is now charged with a breach of his probation order.

Colonel Patterson, , acting-Adminis-trator of Samoa, reports that Corporal J. Swan, who has been seriously ill, is now convalescent. Two other members of the garrison force are under treatment and progressing favourably. They are Privates W. G. Brown, suffering from ptomaine poisoning, and G. Garrigan. rheumatism. v

The representative of ( an American business firm who was returning from Australia after a stay, of/two_ years in the Commonwealth,-gave ah interview to a Honolulu newspaper, '-files'of ■ which’ were brought ,to Auckland by the Makura. Tins gentleihan (Mr T. JV. Hastings) said he was convinced that because of anti-American sentiment it would not be possible for . American manufacturers to do any business with Australia after Imperial conditions had settled down sufficiently to enable the imrinrtation: of all necessary goods from England. , At the meeting of the Karori Borough Council last evening, the Mayor (Mr B. G. H. Burn) safd that the number of building permits issued in the borough during the .current financial year was highly satisfactory. The borough of Karori was undoubtedly going ahead very fast, and was becoming more popular as a residential suburb each year. The engineer’s report was most favourable, and therefore was a good start for the new year. The total number of building permits which had been issued was sixteen, of a total value of £7OIB.

The orders issued in connection with Saturday’s parade of the 9th Reinforcements provided that the troops should have breakfast at Trentham camp, that each man should carry a dry ration when he left the camp, and that a hot meal for all the men should be ready at their quarters at 12.45 p.m. The troops went to quarters at 12.30. .The Defence authorities state that th«e orders were followed out. If a man by any chance missed his hot meal in . quarters, he should have been -in possession of a dry ration, served out at the camp. We have some complaints on the subject, and we think the facts as aboVe stated are a sufficient answer. A correspondent complains that no Roman Caiholic chaplain accompanied the 9th Reinforcements, although “the percentage of Roman Catholics exceeded that of any other reinforcement that has left our shores.” The Defence Minister informed a “.New Zealand Times” reporter, in reply to this complaint, that the appointments of chaplains to the New Zealand forces have been made to correspond as nearly as possible to the relative strength of the denominations. It is not feasible to send a complete set of chaplains, with each reinforcement. The Imperial authorities place a limit upon the number of chaplains who may serve with the troops at the front. The members of the reinforcements are going to fill gaps in the ranks of battalions that are already provided with chaplains, and when they get to the front they will find every considerable denomination represented among the minister's who are wearing khaki. The Wellington Rose and Carnation Club held a particularly attractive members’ exhibition at Godber’s rooms Courtenay place, last evening, and it was well attended by floral experts and lovers. The show was unique in all sections, the mam feature being the swett pea exhibits of Mr G. C. Holder, of Porirua; To him was again awarded Mrs Jacob Joseph's challenge trophy, which now becomes his property, in carnations. Mr H. A. Fox took first place, while Mr R. Hirschberg was awarded.the National Society’s .medal for the best collection of roses. A fine lot of gladiolas , was shown and a collection of Iceland poppies was particularly admired. In opening the exhibition, Mr J. B. Harcourt, the president, explained that a members’ show on a modest scale had been decided upon rn account of the parade of troops ou Saturday. Otherwise the regular show would have been held at the Town Hall. He mentioned that in the course of the year the club had raised €250 for patriotic purposes. In alluding to the princrnal features of the show, he remark'd that the roses were quite extraordinary for this time of the year. Towards the close of the evening the exhibits, with the exception of the carnations, were disposed of in aid of the wounded-soldiers’ fund.

The sale of flags arranged by the Commerc’al Travellers’ Club on Saturday Inst produced a sum of about £45. , The money will bo handed to one of'the patriotic funds.

The Native Land Court now sitting at Rotorua is going into the question or individualising the titles to the land comprised in the island of Mokoia, situated in Lake Rotorua. This island is famous as the objective of Hincmoa in her legendary swim across the 'ako to join her lover Tutanckai. At the monthly meeting of the Wellington Freezing Workers’ Union, held at Petone on Monday night, the following nominations of officers wore received for the annual meeting:—President. Mr J. Smith; vice-president, Mr G. Packwood; secretary, Mr M. J. Reardon; treasurer, Mr A. Bowden. As the nominations do not exceed the num. her required, no election bill be necessary.

Owing to a clerical error in the copy of the banking returns supplied for the December quarter, the advances of the Bank of Australasia, as sot out in our article in yesterday’s issue, were put down at £2,228,811. The amount'-should have been £3,223,811. The aggregate assets of the Six banks should therefore bo a million more, and the excess of deposits over advances is accordingly a million less. 1 A yell-known merchant from British Columbia, who has been trading with Now Zealand and Australian firms for some years, arrived at Auckland on Monday morning by the Makura from Vancouver. As there seemed to be some, little difficulty as to the merchant’s nationality, and his papers, he was asked by the Customs officials to remain aboard, pending inquiry, and the matter was left in the hands of.-the police. The merchant in question pi'oved to be an American citizen, and he was released with as little delay as possible. “Somewhere in France,” an old Petone boy, Mr Arthur Kelly, son of Mr W. H. Kelly, of Patrick street, Petone. is serving as a sergeant in the 3rd King Edward’s Morse, a cavalry regiment; “Our regiment/'’ ho writes to his “has done splendid work out here, but it has cost us dearly, and up to date 200 of our'boys have been put out of action. For nearly eight months we have been in the trenches. T cannot tell you anything concerning military matters, but I may say that we have got ail that is required to win—men, money, munitions, and guns. It will take a, little time, wo all know, but we shall win; there is nothing surer/’ Sergeant Kelly enlisted in London four days after war broke out. He states that his training, in the Petone Nayals stood him in good stead, and it was not long before he became a seigcant. “We are excellently fed,” ho continues in his letter, “and also well clothed and supplied with smokes.”

Not the least remarkable story of recovery by shock is told of a Bristol soldier. He was discharged from the trmy because he had lost the use of his iegs, but regained his full powers as the result of a taxi-cab incident. The happy man is Private A. W. Brace, .ate of the Duke o.f Cornwall’s Light Infantry, whoso home is at Bristol. Ho returned recently, as anl invalid, bonleqUent on exposure'to wet and cold in the trenches whilst serving with his regiment at Yprcs. A number of friends, as a mark of appreciation, bought him an invalid “chair, which was ' publicly presented, and in it he was photographed one Monday. Later in the day when ho was out with a friend, who was assisting him in the chair, a taxicab, which by a peculiar coincidence contained another intimate friend of his, nearly dashed info him. Hiu friend who was with him screamed. Brace, who was so‘unwell on his return home that he went to bed, awoke next morning feeling the effects of shock, but to his unspeakable joy discovered that the Use,of his legs had been' restored.

The (special- correspondent of the “Tithes” at Rotorua telegraphs .that at the Rotorua railway station yesterday morning/ returned soldiers farewelled'Mr T. M. Wilford, who, alter a holiday, was returning to Wellington. - Sapper Baxter thanked Mr Wilford and his family for their continued kindness and thoughtful consideration, and presented Mi- Wiilord with-a framed photo of a soldiers’ picnic party at Hamurana on Christmas Day. Mr Wilford confessed that when he arrived in Rotorua ho was deeply prejudiced against the soldiers, whom he had been Jed to believe were a hand .of ruffians busily employed in painting the town red. He found, instead, men who; in courtesy and good conduct, worthily upheld in peace the magnificent reputation they had won in war. The words of appreciation uttered by Sir lan Hamilton he knew were deserved. That the men. would, after such. stirring scenes, be attacked by boredom and kick over the lines at times, was to be expected. It was the business of those who could not fight to see that boredom did not come to the men who risked all in the cause of the King and their native land. He was proud to have been associated’ with the fine fellows in Rotorua, and would always do all in his power to assist them. The men i and the spectators heartily cheered Mr W'ilford as the train pulled out.

Aj paragraph in the “New Zealand Times” of last Friday stated: “Ethel ■Tul’a Watson, a married woman, was found dead at her home. No. 35, Owen street, Wellington South, about I. Hi yesterday morning. The medical men called in stated that appeapances were consistent with death from poisoning. An inquest will be held to-day.” In regard to this matter a letter has been received front Mr A: PI. Hindmarsh,solicitor, in which he says; “The ordinarv reader would understand from the word ‘found,’ particularly in- cast* of illness known to those whose duty it is to look after such cases, that there had been some grave act or omission on the part of those responsible—the husband in this case—for the care and custody of the patient. . Mr Frank Watson, the husband of the late Mrs . Ethel Julia Watson, a doctor, a professional nurse were all present at the bedside when Mrs Watson died.” The paragraph was written on information received from the and the use of the word “found” was in nowise intended to convey any such impression as now appears to have been taken from it. We ■ regret that the husband and relatives of the deceased have suffered distress and annoyance in consequence of the publication of the paragraph, aud have pleasure in making known the explanation forwarded by our correspondent. At the same time we must point out that the obvious meaning of the paragraph was that the cause of the fatality was not one within the knowledge of friends, and thereby could not reflect in any way on them.

At a meeting of the 6.P.C.A. yesterday, Inspectoij Henry, stated that he had institutea proceedings against a man for alleged cruelty Id a dog. The man is stated to have thrown a brick at a dog, which received a very nasty wound, and lingered in pain' for two days, when it was destroyed. The ease will probably bo heard on Friday. Numerous reports of good fishing in the Auckland province have been received by the president of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. In Waikato river, Hera Horn Rapids, ami Atiamuri river rainbow trout of excellent quality and size have been caught. One sportsman caught 15 fine fish in a few hours. In the north feathered game i? reported to be plentifulUnder the arrangement by which the Imperial authorities take onethird of the output of the New Zealand cheese factories at a fixed price, 3799 -tons of cheese have been . shipped already. The : system came into operation early in November. The amount of cheese shipped in November was 760 tons, and in December 3029 tons. 1

Buyers of wool for the American market expect to be able to ship stocks that were bought prior to the issue of the prohibition against export to neutral countries. There may bo enough of this wool to justify the chartering of a steamer. Shipments,., fdr the British market have been heavy lately, and the big stocks ot wool in the Wellington stores have been reduced considerably. ,

Referring to an Auckland telegram stating -that the rise in the price ol wheat was due in part to farmers holding stocks for'a rise, the Frime Minister said yesterday that ho was sure the farmers were being blamed unjustly. “As a mutter of fact, - X behove there is no farmer in th# North Island at present who has live sacks of wheat,” said Mr Massey. “1 don’t say that there is.no- wheat held in store, but that is another matter. The farmers are not holding it in the North Island.”

“I have just heard of the torpedoing of a ship with a big. Now .Zealand mail on it,”, says General Godley. in a letter to the Defence Minister, written late in November, The Hon. j. Allen, mentioning this incident yesterday, said it was clear that several New Zealand mails had been lost in this way on their way to the troops before the evacuation of Gallipoli. German torpedoes accounted for some of the complaints that had been made against the postal authorities in Egypt.

Tile greatest prosperity is being enjoyed by New South Wales at the present time, says Mr J. Harper, Chief Commissioner of the Now South Wales Railways, who is on a visit to Wellington. A record has been established in crops, and it is expected that fiftytwo million bushels of wheat will bo carried on the State railways, as against the thirty-six million bushels of a previous good year. The rains came early this season, and the country has never been m a more prosperous condition. Several weeks ago herds of starving stock - were brought down from Queensland, Now that the State has experienced monsoonal rains, that class of traffic has ceased, and it is not anticipated that any stock will have to bo; transported within Now South Wales itself. The handling ofwool by the railways hasi been finished, and a start has been made with the carriage of the wheat. : The shortage of labour is proving embarrassing te the railway authorities.

Public servants Lave been advised by circular-that it been decided that contributions from members of the service, .as a separate body, to the New Zealand war relief fund shall no longer he invited: Prom the inception of the fund to November 30th, 1916, no low a sum than £21,445 was subscribed by the service.- Of this total: £13,281 -was devoted to the Empire defence fund; £5195 to the war relief fund, £2627 to' the relief of the Belgians, and £342 to other funds. In the circular which furnishes these facts, the Hon. G. W. Bussell, Minister for Internal Affairs,' says:—“Since the outbreak of the war New Zealand has manfully, shouldered its responsibilities in both men and money. Large numbers of members of the service have enlisted, some of, whom have given their lives to the cause for which the Empire stands, - and others have won honourable distinction in the trenches and on tbo field of battle. Others who have been unable-.to go have . given of their income the substantial sum which I have mentioned. 1 feel, as Minister for Internal Affairs, that it is impossible to adequately recognise the patriotism and generosity which have inspired the service throughout. They have given a fine lead to the population of the Dominion tnrouguout the war, and I am express-, ing the led;ngs of the whole of wy colleagues in the Government when 1 thank most heartily the members cf the service for their practical patriotism.” ■

It was stated in a- cablegram -this week that the'New South WaliiS scheme for the manufacture of munitions in the State railway workshops would probably bo abandoned owing to the refusal of the men to work the necessary overtime for less rates than time and a half. Some information on the position was given yesterday by Mr J. Harper, Chief Commissioner of New boutn Wales railways, who arrived in Wellington yesterday morning from Sydney. The workshops, bo said; had .thirty lathes available for the work, and should be able to turn out from 1000 to 1500 shells a week, but the authorities were faced with a labour difficulty. They were at pivient short of about 400 skilled men for the ordinary work , of the shops. Skilled mechanics were forbidden to enlist in the expedition-, ary forces, and some had been brought back from the camps. If sufficient men could have been secured a second shift would have been employed for the manufacture of munitions, hut all the , bauds now available were required lor the ordinarv work, which had. to be car- • ried on. The only way in which munitions. could be produced was by work-; ing overtime, and instead of working eight hours a day, the men would work ten or twelve. Some of the work migrr have been done on the lathes by handymen,. but the unions would not alloj this. Apart from the demand for tin) and a half for overtime, the managr raent had to consider the effect on a# workers of continuous overtime filoyment. A man could not work wjl. for ten or twelve hours a day, and tht, continuously, in the engineering shos in the New South Wales climate. Ip Harper added that he did not knw , what his colleague, who had chargejjf the shops, would do in regard to lo demand for extra pay, , hut it was-Si-most certain that long hours ,wofd mean decreased efficiency on the prt of the men. Munitions could not ie manufactured in the ordinary workac day. ; -.'-'iv.