NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9618, 26 March 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Mr P. C. Webb, M.P-, and Mr AH. . Hlndmarsh, M.P., will speak in the Post Office Square to-day at 12.15 p.m. in support of the Labour “ticket” for the municipal elections.

A conference will bo held to-morrow between representatives of the Slaughtermen’s Federation of Wellington and tho Meat-Freezers’ Federation of Can-, terbury, the object being tho amalgamation of the two bodies.

: “Thoso who have passed through dur State schools are morally, mentally and physically second to none,” declared the Hon. J. A. Hanah (Minister for Education)-at the opening of the new public school at Wadcstown on Friday last.

As showing how ’he staffing system of the Otago Education Board has been interfered with of late, mostly hy the war, it is stated that 103 teachers are" at present in appointments that are not their own—relieving, temporarily, promoted, and' so forth.

The “Otago Daily Times’' says;—lt is understood.that'the Otago coal-mine proprietaries, with two exceptions, have decided to increase the price of their coals as from Monday. It is also rumoured that the "Westport Coal Company intends shortly to advance the price of its coal. A sudden death occurred at the Consolidated Dental Co.’s premises,’ in Mercer street, on Saturday morning. An elderly man named William, Craig, who resided with his wife and family at 8, Nelson street, collapsed while working on the second floor, and died almost immediately. An inquest is to be held.

“What is a joy ride?” was tiio conundrum propounded to the president (Mr C. H. Easor) of the Canteibury A. and P. j Association at its annual meeting. “Burning petrol not for business,’' -was Mr Easor's ready reply. He added that many farmers used their motor-cars because it was cheaper than to harness up a horse and drive to a railway station and pay train faro.

A lad named Richard Nixon, aged seventeen, residing at 15, Cambridge avenue, had rather an unfortunate experience yesterday morning. Some window curtains catching fire, ho incautiously set ■ about suppressing the flames, with the result that his legs became entangled in the burning mass, and they were injured to an extent that rendered his removal to the. hospital necessary. He, however, succeeded in putting the fire out.

A passenger who arrived in Wellington by the Pateena on Saturday night was apparently not satisfied with the fact that he was well drenched with the heavy rain, and farther well soaked (inwardly) with another hind of liquid, but .must add to his rather moist condition by falling over the edge of tho wharf into the harbour as he was coming from the boat. Fortunately some Harbour Board officials heard the splash, and threw him a lifebuoy. By tho time the passenger ■wa s hauled on to the wharf again a constable arrived and conducted him to drier quarters.

This neck’s Sydney boat, the Moeraki. is expected to reach port at about 1 p.m. to-day. She will berth at the Queen's Wharf, and after discharge will proceed on to Lyttcltoi to-morrow afternoon.

Louis Tanner, a yachtsman residing at Kelvin grove, met with a serious accident at Martin's Bay yesterday. Ho was assisting in cradling a yacht on a landing-stage, when some chocks suddenly gave way. and he was caught between tho yacht and the staging. His right leg was broken, and his chest severely crushed. After being attended to by Dr Elliott he was sent to tho Thorndon private hospital in Davis street.

The conference of District Medical Board officers which was bold in Surgeon-General Henderson’s office on Saturday was attended by sixteen representatives from the military districts of the Dominion. Surgeon-Gen-eral Henderson (presided, and after going fully into the matter measures Were agreed upon whereby a standard for the examination of recruits in the • various districts was arrived at. The Kvstoos adopted 10 one that will prevent other than fit men catering camp.

Tho Conciliation Commissioner fair W. Hagger), who returned from Napier on Friday night, reported that complete agreements had been arrived ah in regard to the Manawatu and Hawke's Bay butchers* dispute. ‘i'be principal items agreed upon were an advance of approximately 5s per week in wages for butchers and an advance for boys. The hour to commence work was also definitely fixed. In some instances it is 6 o’clock in the morning, and others 7 o'clock, according to tho district.

Mr P. J. O'Regan has issued a writ on behalf of the widow of Alfred Haywood, claiming £2OOO damages from the Union Steamship Company. Haywood was a crane-driver in the employ of the company, and was killed on the Ist inst. through falling down the hold of the s.s, Manuka in port. The plaintiff contends that the death of her husband was due to tho defective state of the shixi, inasmuch as tho lodge provided for tho support of the hatches was inadequate. The case will come on for hearing at the May sessions o 1 ■ the Supreme Court. : The llinistor-in-Chai’gs of Munitions and Supplies (the Hon. Arthur M. Myers) states that the Advisory Board for Military Purchase has completed contracts for the supply of boots and clothing for the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces for tho current year. The contracts, which are for Now Zea-land-made goods, are of a total value of £200,000. No tender, adds tho Minister, has been accepted from any peri son or firm convicted of wilfully breaking the terms of' former contracts, and as sub-letting of contracts is not allowed the offenders will not be'able te evade tiffs prohibition. On a charge of having stolen a box of tobacco, valued at £G‘i Ids, William Arthur Bailie, a young man, was brought before MriL. G. Reid, S.M., on Saturday. The proportyjielonged , te , the 'Wellington Harbour Board, Accused, for whom Mr P. W, Jackson appeared, was remanded till Wednesday, bail- being allowed in his own recognisance of £SO and sureties lor n like amount. James Cooper was charged with having received the tobacco, weighing 1701 b, and was also remanded till Wednesday, bail being fixed the same amount as, m the . previous, case.

A largo alluvial venture is now taking shape at Woodstock, where the Woolston Tanneries Company, under the management of Mr F- B. Powell, has commenced sluicing operations (says the Hokitika “Guardian”); Water has always been the groat essential to work tho Back Creek and Woodstock terraces .on a large scale. The present company, recognising this, determined to pump the water from the river, and so operate on tho faces. By the acquirement of ; the Ross Flat electric plant, the coippany has installed a pumping; station on the banks ot the Hokitika river ‘ at Woodstock. Using hydro-elcctric power, derived from Lake Kauieri, tho water is pumped on to Woodstock terrace, a height of about-248 feet,, and front the storage dam the water is used for sluicing purposes at the roar of tho terrace, and the tailings are being sent out W the river, partly by way of a drainag* tunnel.

.An interesting shipping case wa* tried in the Supremo Court at Invercargill on the ISth .inst. Armour, Johnston, Ltd., sued the Shaw) Savill, and Albion Company, Ltd., for damages for short delivery of part of a cargo of iron carried in the s.s. Pakeha from Glasgow to New,Zealand. The bills of lading provided that the iron was to be carried from Dunedin to Invercargill (by transhipment) “at ship’s expense. but at shipper’s risk.” The iron in question was duly discharged from the Pakeha at Dunedin and delivered to the Southern Steamship Company for transhipment to Invercargill, hut The plaintiffs claimed that a considerable portion of it was not delivered to them there. On the 19th inst. Mr Justice Sim gave judgment in favour of the defendant company, holding in effect that the liability of the defendants came to an end when they matin a contract with the Southern Steamship Company to carry the iron to Invercargill for delivery to the plaintilm at that port. The learned Judge accordingly nonsuited tho plaintiff company, with costs according to scale. Mr Stout appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr IV. O. MacGregor, K.C-, and Mr Haggitt for the defendant company.

There, is a fine story told on the authority of a wounded Australian. it says the bravest man ho ever saw was a military chaplain. He was on one of the barges which were landing men from our troopships at the Dardanelles. A man was shot down. Xho chaplain made a dash to rescue and bring tho wounded soldier back to safety, but a Roman Catholic priest standing near grabbed hold of him, saying: “You must not think of it. It ts madness. You arc,going to certain death.” The Protestant chaplain shook off tho restraining hand, replying : “i have got my orders, and they come from a higher command. I am going.” Ho went, and was struck by a bullet while, in the act of beginning his service of love and mercy. Instantly the priest sprang after him. but the officer in charge of the landing party called out-. “Stay whnrn j?ou are, I forbid you going. Wo are iosiug too many men.” -The priest calmly went on, turning his head t® say as he passed: “Did you not hea? what my Protestant comrade sa.d? (- too, have got mv orders from the high, er command.” Within a few moment* he was dead, beside his brother of th* Cross. Donnelly’s Hair Restorer.—A real tonic. Cures dandruff, stops hair falling. Chemists, stores, hairdressers, % 6d. Donnelly’s, 65, Vivian street, •

At Dunedin on Saturday, states a Press Association telegram, the First Military Service Board granted condi’exemption to Air Wheeler, tho ajT'i.o-.iecrotary of the Union Steam fihie 'Company. Air Kollett (a member ..f ti.o board) dissented from the dcciidon.

A painful accident occurred in the Oamaru municipal swimming battia recently, A boy named Erie Bichardeon, eleven years of ace. and a pupil of tho South School, had dived into the baths, and upon reaching the surface was struck on tho right eye by a plato used in olate-diving events, and thrown by another boy. Acting on a medical practitioner’s advice the boy wai sent to Dunedin Hospital tho 101 lowing day, where the injured cyo wbjl removed.

Fakipaki, a Maori -settlement some miles south of Hastings. has been the eoono of groat Maori festivities during tho past few days, the colchration-in-ohiof being a welcome to Sir James Oar roll which event took place wit" groat eclat on Saturday. Maoris camo from all tho surrounding settlements to do honour to their chief. Fakipaki does not boast of any accommodation houses, so that tho few houses there wore taxed to thoir utmost. Motorcars of all typos and sizes lined the fields in the vicinity, and altogether tho general aspect of tho settlement a» tho Napier mail train passed through on Saturday was a gay onoA rather novel sight was witnessed near Maungatna a fow days ago, states tho "Otago Daily Times,’’ when tho locomotion of fifty years ago mot that of tho present day. tho former proving more reliable. A West Tuien farmer who owns a motor-car sot out on a journey with his lady friends but forgetting for 1 a moment that the steering gear, if manipulated the wrong may. mignt turn tho car off tho track, found himself and his tl 'i, e nd« firmly deposited in a crook. All efforts to restore the car to the track tailed; but happily a teamster and his bulJooks came in sight. Oio bullock team, being hitched to , tho car, soon righted matters, and the car again sped on. ita way-

Mr 8, 8. Dean. Gisborne manager of tho South Britiah Insurance Company, has just roturnod from a visit to the Coast (says the “Poverty Bay Herald”). He proceeded ns far round as the Bay of Plenty, and states that the flood damage in the latter district was not nearly so extensive as on tho East Coast. A considerable quantity of wool had been damaged through getting wot, and has had to bo reconditioned. In one instance, at Lotcn Point, about 70 bales wore convoyed to tho beach for shipment by tho s.s. Malco, but could not ho taken, and although it was covered as well as possible tho flood came, and the wool got damaged. Owing to tho blockage or tho roads most of the woolsheds were atill full of wool. Mr C. H. Clark, of T e Araroa, had the misfortune to have his wool shed washed ftway.

Mr J. I*. Shorlnnd (chairman of the Island Bay school committee) has received from tho British Prime Minister the following reply to a congratulatory message sent him on behalf of tho children, the ' teachers, and tho coraunibtoo :—“10, Downing street, Whitehall, S.W. February 9th, 1017.—Dear Sir,—Mr Dloyd Georgo desires mo to thank you for your letter of December 14th last, and to ask that you will bo so good as to convey to tho committee, tho teaching staff 'and tho_ children -of Island Bay .School’hfll warm "appreciation of thoir kind message of encouragement. Such » message from the people of the Overseas Dominions, who have done so much for tho Mother Country, is very helpful to tho Prime Minister in the difficult task that lies before him, — Yonm faithfully, F. L. Stevenson, private secretary. ’

11l connection '.nth the mining operations at VVoodstook (says the Hokitika “Guardian”), the promoters of the pumping scheme have_ been rather hampered through the main stream of the Hokitika river leaving the south bonk. To secure . tho return of the stream to its original main course, decoy wings are being put in the main bed, the idea being that when in flood tho river will hug tho decoys and scour out 'the temporary closed-up channel. A feature of this work is the adaptation of tho Keystone borer to drive the piles required for tho decoy wings. This adaptation has been done at very low cost, while the celerity with which tho piles are driven shows what a marked saving this idea is upon tho old system with a hand winch, or oven a horse to work the monkey. The work is proceeding very satisfactorily, and success is looked for when tho flood waters come down. Theft is despicable under any circumstances, but to roh a Y.M.O.A. car Is to get very low down in tho scale. Such a theft occurred near Winchester one day this neck. The secretary to the Y.M.O.A. for Canterbury sot out from Christchurch parly in the week interviewing people in connection with the one, two, and threo-year funds which the association aro establishing. Having worked tho district as far as Ashburton, he set out tor Titnaru, and when at Winchester the axlo of tho car broke, and the oar had to be left on the roadside while an expert was sent for to effect repairs. Mr Lamborn was asked to go out and attend to tho car, and on reaching it he found that it had been systematically pillaged. All tho tools were taken, including tho pomp and jack, the burners were taken out of the acetylene lamps, the electric bulbs out of tho aido and tail lamps, and' a now Klaxton horn wii. also taken, as well ns some loose straps which Lad been, loft in the car.

A small contingent of Maori recruits, numbering over 100, was given a typical Maori farewell at Pakipaki ■when the Napior-Wollington mail train passed througb, there on Saturday morning. As the young Maori warriors mounted tho train their friends and relations packed around in their hundreds, while a dozen or so Maori maidens, garlanded with ferns, lined up as a bodyguard. Then as the tram was about to move off a band of Maori instrumentalists struck up “God Save the King.” As the train pulled out of the station the general noise of shouting, singing, and band-playing was momentarily eclipsed by tho boom of a detonator someone had pieced on the line. Tho young Maori warriors amused themselves in various ways oh tho journey down, ■while “hotel stops” exorcised their fascination on a small percentage. The latter weakness was responsible for treating passengers to a rare sprinting exhibition. The train was moving oil from one station alien tho first of the Maoris appeared at the hotel door. Ho was immediately galvanised into action. and with a whoop rushed for his carnage. He was followed in a moment by six others. The last of tho sprinters waver! a bottle of beer excitedly. and was only assisted on to a carriage ns the train was practically out of tho station.