NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9607, 13 March 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

. Sir James Allen (Minister for Defence) lias received information from the remaining portion of' the 20th Keinforoements—two detachments of Minch have already arrived at their destination—that they arc all well. At the concluding sitting of the Arbitration Court at ' Wellington yesterday a Dominion award was made in the lithographers and letterpress machinists’ dispute; mid awards were also made in the bookbinders and paper-rulers’ dispute—one to cover the Wellington district, and another to cover the rest of the Dominion. A lad named John Thomas, sixteen ycarj of ago, living in Roxburgh street, mot with a serious accident on Sunday. He was riding on a bicycle near Johnsouville, and on the approach of a motor-car got flustered. The cycle crashed into the car, and tho lad was thrown violently to the ground. His left arm and leg were fractured. Ho was conveyed to the hospital. Ho is progressing satisfactorily.

The Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for Internal Affairs) stated yesterday that (Hi appeal had been lodged against tho censoring of a picture film by Mr IV. Joliffo (censor of cinematograph films). As provided by the regulations, an appeal board had therefore been set up, consisting of Messrs H. -UGoro president of tho New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts), Mr TV. Bowring, and Mr J. B. Speed, the lastnamed of whom is to represent the film-proprietors.

The Board of Trade has for some lime past been making investigations with regard to tho supply and price of milk in Wellington. As the result ot Phc.se inquiries, the wholesale prices, which were fixed at 1 Old a gajlon, "ill, it is understood, he revised in order to assure an ample winter supply from a wide district for the city. Retail prices are not to be fixed, hut an understanding has been reached with the milk vendors that the retail price shall not exceed 5Jd a quart, which 13 so below the winter price last year. The arrangement is to come into operation practically at once, and will remain m force till August next.

Visitors to the Federal House of Representatives are tremendously mystified by two queer-looking instruments on the table. They look like a cross between a telegraph-pole and an elongated telephone. They are actually very sensitive telephone aerials of most clever construction, and are designed to assist the Prime Minister in catching every word uttered with the aid of his telephonette, Mr Hughes was promised some improvement of hearing by groat specialists in London (says a Melbourne scribe), but there has been no marked diminution of ms difficulty. Being such a busy man he has never given much attention to lipreading. so that once he loses grip of the context of a speech he is done for. Yet, very curiously, he can catch all the ’ joyous nothings which his little daughter utters. • It would seem that the activities of the Board of Trade with regard to meat supplies and prices in Auckland and Wellngton have been of considerable benefit. Press reports state than Auckland retail butchers who were given the opportunity of getting meat from the frozen stores have reduced their prices to the 1916 level, hut in some cases the Government shops still show slightly lower prices. In Gisborne prices have been reduced by Id and 2d in the main lines, and in small goods both prices and quantities show remarkable improvement from the consumers’ point of view. The Board of Trade has received an undertaking from tho Gisborne butchers that they will maintain these prices. Tho board will visit Masterton shortly to deal with the question of meat supply and prices in that centre. The tentacles of war (says the Auckland “Star”) are beginning to stretch far and wide, and the time has come when the grip on Now Zealand, as well as on other parts of the Empire, is made more manifest week by week. Trades and professions are now being exploited for men to strengthen the battle line. The legal profession is also under the ban of war. Before the First Auckland Military Service Board Mr R-. McVeagh (president of the Auckland Law Society) gave evidence to the effect that there was a marked shortage of solicitors, and it was exceedingly difficult to obtain qualified members of tho profession not now liable, so many had dropped the solemn quill to take up tho sword. Ho was of opinion that tho majority of First Division solicitors were on “First Division Service.” The board appeared to appreciate the facts as stated.

That the Federal Prime Minister is an able Parliamentarian is beyond question. In leading the House one sees him at his best (says an Australian writer). His personality is never more interesting than at questiontime. A frail figure, alert and fragile, ho sits at the table with audiphono to his ear, and a question is no sooner put than he is on his feet, mind, and nerves, and hands working rapidly, rattling off an answer, which may be grave or gay, sparkling with wit or bubbling with humour, as the opportunity presents itself. His quips and cranks are much relished by the House, and no one laughs more heartily at his own jokes than the Prime Minister himself. Ag a political personage Mr Hughes has assuredly no equal in Parliament. As a statesman, lie has yet to win his spurs, and time will show whether the promise many see in him now will be realised. Mrs J. H. Robinson, of Lady’s Mile, has in her possession a first copy of the •‘Lyttelton Times,’’ printed at Lyttelton on Saturday, January 11th, 18-51. It is a modest eight page quarto, and was published once a week at 6d per copy. It also contains as a supplement the prospectus of a newspaper to he established in tho Canterbury settlement, and to be published immediately after the arrival of the first batch of colonists, to be called the “Lyttelton Times.” The idea originated in London, and the honorary secretaries were Edward Robert Ward, Esq., and the Hon. James Stewart Wortlcy. The little paper contains the accounts of the voyage of the first four ships, in connection with tile first body of Canterbury colonists, the Charlotte Jane, the Randolph, Sir George Seymour, and the Cressy. The paper possesses a personal for Mrs Robinson, as it contains an item in the shipping news concerning the cutter Katherine Johnstone, 12 tons, of which Mrs Robinson’s father wa* the master.

The Arbitration Court is to sit at Palmerston North on Thursday, March lorh, at Wanganui on March 10th, New Plymouth March 81st. and Auckland March 26th.

Advice has come to hand that tho "Wellington men who left some weeks ago to join the Motor Pout Patrol at Homo have readied their destination safely, and report "'All well.’’ To date 455 permits have been issued to connect dwellings in Petono with the sewerage system now under construction, which has cost £60,409 19s, and which will be completed for about £3OOO. A court-martial will be bold in tho Drill Hall, Buckle street, this mornin" regarding six members of tho Expeditionary Forces for insubordination. The court' will be composed of Lieu-tenant-Colonel C. IE Macdonald, I.G.S. (president). Major W. Sim, and Captains Tbring and Kewish. The quantity of gas purchased by the Lower Huit Borough Council from the Petono Coup’ll during last month was 978.000 cubic feet, the quantity durinw tho same month of last year being 935,000 cubic feet, an increase of 42,000 cubic feet. Tho quantity sold to consumers during tho month of January last (excluding street lighting) was 825,400 cubic feet, being an ; increase of 89,500 cubic feet over |tho corresponding month of last year. By the Mnknra there will arrive a party of sightseers to make a tour of Now Zealand resorts under the care of Mr L. L. Collver, vice-president of the Raymond and Whitcomb Company, Boston. The Government Tourist Department is making all arrangements for the visit, which will start at Auckland, include tho thermal district, Wanganui river, Wellington, the Southern Lakes and Te Anau track, Otira gorge, the West Coast, and Nelson. It is the intention of the Raymond and Whitcomb Company to mako tho attractions of Now Zealand as a field for American tourists thoroughly well known, and tho visit of Mr Collver is made with the object of obtaining first-hand information jrogarding the scenic wonders of Now Zealand.

His Excellency the Earl of Liverpool has received the following _ telegram from the Eight Hon. W* HLong (Secretary of State for the Colonies):—“Please inform your Ministers His Majesty's Government have decided that all Dominion officers and men dying in this country shall lio buried at the expense of the Imperial Government in single graves. The land required for this purpose will bo acquired in perpetuity at the cost ot the Imperial Army funds, and all possible care will be taken of graves. 1 am confident it will be ino unanimous wish of everyone in this country that His Majesty’s Government should be privileged to undertake this charge and ensure that the last resting-place of these Dominion soldiers may not be unworthy of their sacrifice and of the cause for which they gave their lives. The latest progress statement of the Discharged Soldiers’ Information Bureau shows that on March Bth the number of names on the register was 6847. Of these 5975 had been disposed of as under:—Men who have work to return to, and men who have re-enlisted or returned to military duty etc., 2539; men placed in employment, 1401; men who have signed “assistance not required,” 1339; left Now Zealand'bf' caiiiiot ascertain address, 155; men who have not responded to repeated communications, and men who liavc accepted work the department found for them but failed to start work, 541. Of the remainder, 271 are men convalescing, not ready foi employment and not discharged by the military authorities. There are 118 at present on the employment wanted register, three of whom desire work in Wellington.

An inquest was held -at Maungataporo on Friday on Margaret Irene Johnston, the three-year-old daughter of Mr A. T. Johnston, of Maungatapere, who was accidentally killed hy an agricultural roller passing over her body. The evidence adduced was that deceased and her aunt, aged 14, went into a paddock where a horse had been left harnessed to a roller. The elder girl took-hold of the reins in order to get tho horse away from some maize on which it had started to feed. The baby was standing close to tho roller, when the rein broke and the horse started forward, the roller knocking the child down and passing over her. The weight of the roller would bo about five cwt. Tho child' was removed to her parents’ house, where she died within twenty minutes. The medical evidence showed a fracture of the base of the skull- A verdict of accidental death was returned, no blame being attached to anybody. Bush fires wore frequent in the Hutt Valley on Sunday, particularly on tho hills overlooking Potone, close to the Wainui-o-mata road, where there were several largo outbreaks, showing clearly at night against the dark background. Sparks from trains set light to the grass and scrub along the line near the Lower Hutt, where tho brigade was called out to quench a conflagration near the station, several large pine trees having caught fire. On Mr C. H. Treadwell’s property a large extent of scrub and undergrowth was burnt. Tho fires were beaten out by the local brigade without any damage being done to house property, or the scenery on the hillside. Between Silverstream and Trentham there were extensive grass fires started hy tho sparks from a train in tho afternoon. Some houses in the neighbourhood were endangfcrctl, but the efforts of a large gang of residents who turned out to check the flames were successful in averting any damage to property. The Kailway Department is into a statement that the use of inferior coal in the engine of the train was responsible for the outbreak. The incident about to be related heroin occurred during tho first six months of tho war. A cruiser belonging to the Australian fleet left Sydney for a protracted voyage in the Pacific. For six weary long weeks she steamed in and out of tho islands. At last tho welcome news reached the lower deck that on the next day they would put in at an island port where the beer was reputed to bo cooler, more bitter and longer than anywhere else. Almost instantly came the crushing blow that the stay would be a short one, and that no leave would he given. An hour or so after the vessel hod arrived an officer saw a fireman come cautiously up a companion way, sneak across the deck, and, gaining the jetty in safety, make a wild dash in the direction of the town. “Go after that man,’’ shouted the officer to a marine, and the latter, throwing away his rifle, went in pursuit. A petty officer, attracted by the commotion, mounted on the rail and watched the chase with breathless interest. “ ’E'§ only twenty yards behind ’im now, sir,” he reported. “ ’E's gaming on ’ira fast—e’s ten yards he’ind now—e’s caught ’im ; up—’e’s past ’ira.” —Sydney Sun.”

.During the past year permits for the election of buildings amounting to £0358 have been issued by the engineer's department of _ Petono Council, on which fees totalling £2l 10s were collected.

The conference between tho delegates of the various waterside unions of Now Zealand and experts of the shipping companies was continued throughout- yesterday. The parties will meet again to-day.

Owing to the scarcity of water in the Potent- reservoir, the borough engineer has reported to the council that it has been impossible to ilush the mains properly, which accounted for the discolouration in the water supply.

A petition from residents of Petono has been forwarded to tho Petone Council asking that a poll be taken on the half-holiday with the object of reverting to Wednesday. £he petition having fulfilled the requirements, the poll is to be hold.

A number of complaints have beep received by the Pctone Borough Council in regard to wandering stock on the water-supply reserve, and it was decided to impound all wandering slock found on the catchment area that is under the control of the council.

The borough engineer of Petono (Mr A. Cowic) has informed the council that it would cost upwards of £4O to erect swings on the esplanade. Mr Cowio made an inspection of tho swings, etc., erected in Myers Park, Auckland, at tho request of the council.

At last night’s meeting of the Petono Borough Council the Mayor (-Mr J. W. McEwan) said that according to a letter he received from a member of tho Motor-boat Patrol Service, the food was not of tho best, and it cost two days’ pay (ss) to secure a meal in London that would cost Is in New Zealand.

A deputation of players who make use of the ketone municipal bowling green waited upon the council last evening, and asked permission to form a club in order that affiliation might bo made with other clubs. The. reserve committee of the council is to confer with the bowlers on Friday and ascertain what improvements are necessary to the ground.

A magisterial inquiry is to bo held at Wellington, commencing at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow, concerning the recent stranding of tho Union Co.’s steamer Mnraroa near Orongorongo during a dense fog. Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., will preside, and the nautical assessors will bo Captain H. Johnson, late harbourmaster at Wellington, and Cantniu Felix Black, coastal pilot, of Wellington.

A Prbss Association telegram states that last night a well-attended meeting of members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church at Palmerston decided to form a branch of the Presbyterian Men’s League of New Zealand. Tho objects of the longue are to promote amongst men '6f the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand spiritual developments, brotherly love, Christian activity, and a deepening sense of the demands of Christian citizenship. This is tho first branch formed in New Zealand.

An undersized hoy of ten years, who seems to have been seized w-itb a spirit of lawless adventure, came before Mr F- V. Frazer, S.M., at Auckland on Friday. On Wednesday ho entered a neighbour’s house through a window, and stole a watch and chain, a penholder and twopence. Encouraged by this success, lie decided to continue his exploration work, and got into another house, whore his fancy was taken by three razors. These things—none of which, except the twopence, was of the slightest use to a boy of ten—were merely used to play with, and, with the of two razors, which were,'throw'll away on a rubbish heap, were recovered. Tho lad’s parents had to pay 20s for tho missing razors, while the youngster, who obviously was unable to understand the seriousness of his offence, was placed for a year under tho eye of the Juvenile Probation Officer.

An unusual Class of misdhief wtu mentioned in a case before the Auckland Juvenile Court last week, who* a lad of thirteen from Mount Albert, was charged with having damaged a pair of trousers belonging to a neighbour. The circumstances were that when the neighbour and his family were away, the lad went into the house, cut a piece out of tho leg of a man’s trousers there, had a meal from what he could find in tho larder, and went away. When tho damage was traced to him, ho explained that ho lived with his father, a widower, and wanted to patch his trousers to go fishing. He went next door to borrow* a reel and thread_. and, finding tho people away, ho helped himsoll not only to tho reel and thread, hut also to a piece from tho leg of tho best pair of pants belonging to the master of the house. The man s exasperation, when lie""Went to don the trousers, on finding one of the legs partly cut away, resulted in tho police being asked to search- for tho vandal and the discovery of the small boy s pants-patching expedition. The lad was admonished, and discharged by the magistrate, and an order was made on his father for the payment of 30s, the value of tho damaged pants.

Mr Moss, a member of the newlyappointed National Efficiency Board, pointed out to a meeting of farmers and business men at \Vanganui oi Saturday that there were great diffi cultics ahead in organising ’ the manpower of the Dominion, and so arranging affairs that essential industries will ho carried on effectively, and production maintained. It was suggested, he said, that three sheep farms could be worked by the same supervisor, and that the same teams could ho worked m neighbouring properties, whilst someone with very little knowledge of the subject suggested that dairy farms could bo grouped and worked together. to manage sheep farms, but the dallying industry presented many difficuh ties, which, however, they hoped tc overcome by proper and efficient organisation. AVl’.at they had to carefully watch was that those going away to fight for us were not called upon tc make every* sacrifice. Coming through the Mnnawatu lie saw a property that was going to rack and ruin. A young fellow had taken it up, but could not dispose of it when called up; neither could he make arrangements for its care during his absence. The result was that it was rapici)y_ going back to scrub. This was wrong, and the country must sec to it that the interests of these bravo soldier boys were protected and conserved.

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