NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9613, 20 March 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Sir James Allen (Minister for Defence) stated to a “Times" reporter yesterday that tho provision restricting allowances for soldiers’ children to live children only has been removed as from March Ist last. The Manuka is expected to reach Wellington from Sydney at 1 p.m. today, one day late, as she did pot leave the Australian port until Friday last. The Manuka will berth at No. 1 north. Queen’s wharf. “We don’t come to town often," said a soldier named John Welsh, when charged with - assault in tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday. “When we do W have difficulty in getting a bed unless we agree to pay an extortionate charge.” / Tho Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W. Magger). left for Palmerston North yesterday to preside over a sitting. of the council in respect to tho Mnnawatu butchers’ dispute. On the 21st mat. ■ the Commissioner is to sit at Napier to ' conciliate in tho' Kapwfc butchers’' dispute. No little inconvenience has been caused for some time past by reason of the fact that the ■ Government transport table has been very irregular. With a view to obviate this for tho; future, tho Government has taken over two large New Zealand-owned ships for transport purposes. :

“I see. that they credit' mo with 83 per cent, of attendances,” said the chairman (Mr C, E. Daniel! )at the annual meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday, t'and .that the average attendance of members ia 90 per cent. I think that is very good for busy business men on a board like this.” “The board, as a. policy, and our officers in daily practice, -have striven to co-operate With the military authorities in all possible ways,” said Air C. B. Daniells (chairman of the Harbour Board) at the annual meeting yesterday, “and the Defence Department in recognising this have expressed their hearty appreciation.” The conference between representatives of the various waterside workers’ unions and experts employed by the shipping companies has concluded’. Tomorrow at H a.m. tho union rcxirescnta.tires will meet tho heads of the various shipping companies. The conference will continue all day and resume again on Thursday, Wednesday being an off-day owing to the waterside picnic: •

So far no trace is reported as haring been found of the whereabouts ot John Dome, who escaped from Mount Cook on Saturday morning. Dome was one of a gang engaged brick-mak-ing, an"d seized a favourable opportunity, while not under the warder’s eye, of making a bid for freedom. The escaped convict was lust seen in ' the Brooklyn district and is Said to have secured a change of garb, which, of course, would render his capture more difficult. Tho audited accounts of the Belgian Christmas Fair, held at Kilbirnio in December last, show that the receipts totalled £24.‘13 4s 4d. District amounts raised wore :—Kilbirnio £lO2l, Hataitai £4Ol, Boscneath £BO, Maranui £92 Miramar £BO, and Seatoun £79. Contributions totalled £606, and various receipts at the fair £SB. Expenses amounted to £lO7 10s 2d, and the balance, £3325 14s 2d, was paid to tTie Belgian Consul In Wellington, the Hon. C. J. Johnston, for transmission to London. On Saturday. March 31st, a man will traverse the principal streets of the city and present a half-sovereign to each person, who, on request, can produce a Red Cross art union ticket, Donnelly’s Hair Restorer.—A real tonic. Cures dandruff, stops hair falling. Chemists, stores, hairdressers, 8s 6d. Donnelly’s, 65, Vivian street. 4

The Labour Bureau is in a position to place about tiventv good labourers. Early application to tbe department is required by those in need of this class of employ wont.

At n special meeting of the Pcton» Council Ijist evening, a lettey was roccivod from residents of Korokoro, stating that the district was short of Water, and asking the council to furnish supplies. lt> was decided to grant the request.

•‘The motor ambulance recently purchased by the Harbour Board is found to bo suitable, and has already been called into service on several occasions,” stated Mr C. E. Daniel] (chairman) at the annual meeting of the boat'd yesterday.

At a wcll-att(?nded meeting at the Kent Terraco Presbyterian Church last night, a lecture was delivered by the Eev. J- W. Shaw, ALA,, Chap-lain-Captain on a hospital ship. The speaker entertained his audience thoroughly with a graphic description of “Lite on a Hospital Ship.” At the conclusion of the address a collection was token up in aid of the Bible Class fund.

..Members of the "Waterside Workers’ Union cease work on Wednesday, but the period of inactivity will only bo a short one, work being resumed on the Thursday. Instead of loading and unloading cargo on. the Wednesday watersiders will adjourn with their families to Maidstone Park, "Upper Hutt, where in ■ the excitement of sports, tugs-of-war and baby shows, all such things as dumping or Burton blocks will bo forgotten. Everything has been, or is being idone by an .energetic committee to make the day as enjoyable as possible. In connection with the annual picnic an essay competition on the Labour movement will bo hold, also a recitation contest.

Councillor D. McKenzie has given notice that he will table the following motion at the next sitting of the I’c-fcono-Council“That it bo a recommendation from this council to the Government that the strictest supervision be. exercised in- the. medical examination of recruits for war purposes, so as to guard against unnecessary hardship on the men who are taken overseas. Knowing that laxity of medical inspection of recruits has revealed the fact that many soldiers who left New Zealand were unable, to proceed beyond Britain, owing to physical disabilities, apart, from the economic question of cost and the humane consideration of tho person, we ask that this state of affairs ho speedily rectified."

Whether members of the Otaki Bowling Club resemble desperadoes, or whether it is because they are so keen on bowls that they arise early, is only conjecture, but the fact remains’ that a rink, while motoring to the Lower Hutt on Saturday morning, were taken for a gang of thieves. Arriving at To Horo they called’ for a member who was to make • the trip, and within a few minutes Constable Satherley was informed; that burglars were at To Horo, where one was seen to enter a house, after leave hurriedly, and then drive away with mates in a motor-car. The constable, knowing tho facts of-the case, enjoyed the joke. - The name of burglar is evidently too much for some high-strung individuals.

Thomas Walker and Donald Black MoVicar brought an notion in the Magistrate’s, Court before Mr L. G. Reid, S.M.i yesterday ’to .have Walter Mansfield, of . TCarori, monumental mason, bo bound over to keep the peace towards.them. The evidence was that tho defendant used certain objection able words towards .the- plaintiffs which if repeated were likely to cause a-breach of .the peace. Both the parties were engaged ,in work in’the Karori cemetery, and an altercation took place over a job that the plaintiffs were working on. A considerable amount of evidence was called, after hearing which His Worship 'said that there was no doubt'hut that the defendant suffered from iv grievance and in the interests of both parties he should bo bound over to keep the peace. An - order- was' • made that Mansfield keep the peace for a term of six months towards both the plaintiffs, the surety being-one of £SO.- Mr H. F. O’Leary represented the plaintiffs and Mr A.’ W. Blair the defendant.^

A soldier from-the Tending district, in preparation for a route march from the Trenthum camp, conceived the ruse tie guerre of nicely packing his haversack pith, a: pillow instead of the weighty articles directed to be carried by .military regulations. The trick succeeded perfectly during the first part of the march, and our soldier moved with a buoyant step. At the halt when the haversacks were placed on the .road side the Fcilding man. was not tired enough to need, to sit down, and wandered away to havoachat with a friend along the line. An officer, how-! ever, mode choice of it for a sent, and he found it so comfortable that ho had no difficulty in comprehending, the 'cause”. Before the return of the owner tho officer inserted in the - haversack about 701 bof stones. The' Fcilding man had the grit, to accept.his punishment without a murmur and marched back to camp "with his 701 b of stones without acknowledging that ho was aware of the extra, weight.

The attention of Sir James Allen (Minister for Defence) was called by a “Times” representative yesterday to a case recently before the Third Wellington Military Appeal Board relative to a man with, an abnormal foot, whom tho Medical Board passed as fit, subject to an operation on tho toes. The ,man had obtained a certificate from a medical man that the operation would not have the desired effect, and Mr A. H. Hindmarsh, who represented the appellant before the Appeal Board, held that the board should take .the certificate into consideration. The board, however, declined to accept responsibility for deciding that the man was physically unfit. “The Appeal Board,” said tho Minister, “has got nothing'to do with physical fitness. That is for the Medical Board to decide. The duty of the Appeal Board is to decide as to undue hardship, and whether it is against the public interest that a man should go. It is for the Medical Board to decide on medical questions.”.