NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9630, 10 April 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Owing to the large number of excursionists boarding the WcllingtonXapier express on Friday, it was found necessary to put on extra carriages at all the principal stations between Palmerston and Kapiar. Sir James Allen (Acting-Premier and minister for Defence) has received a letter from General Richardson (G.O.C. Xow Zealand Headquarters at Home) m which ho states that the Hew Zealand ordnance organisation in the Old Country, which deals with all the supplies, is running very well. They get all the stores through the Army Ordnance Department, except clothing, and the, 11.C.0. helps them to make contracts for that at Home The New Zealanders, added General Richardson, are behaving themselves well, and the postal 1 services are good.

An excited soldier rushed into the Lanfbton quay police station on Sunday with the news that a baby’s body was floating in tho harbour in the vicinity of the To Aro baths. He was perfectly certain it was a baby and supplied gruesome details, mentioning that a string was tied round the infant’s nock. A constable was dispatched post haste to. tho scene, and sure enough righted a small white body floating in the hahbour. Whim the “corpse” was landed it was found to he tho body of a putrefying odorous dog which from long immersion in the harbour had lost all its coat of hair. A string round its neck told a talo of a common canine tragedy. There was quite an air of freedom and amiability about the deliberations at the Poultry Conference yesterday. True, there wps a discordant cackle now and then, but this is inevitable even in tho best regulated poultry runs. Then, again, there was, perhaps, some undue crowing when a niuch-discusscd remit was carried or lost. The most important matter laid before the conference was that of tho invasion of the Asiatic egg into the Dominion. Important proposals were made in this respect in the direction of egging on tho authorities to see that the yoke of tho foreign invader was thrown off. Incidentally it was mentioned that the plot to captJliro the money of the egg-buying public of the Dominion was originally hatched in Germany.

Percival Green celebrated last Saturday by taking more liquor than he could hold comfortably, and followed up this indiscretion by’ an eccentric acrobatic display between two streetposts in Adelaide road. A constable who remonstrated with and eventually arrested the disorderly one found himself somewhat hampered by his father, who had como along to resent his son being taken to the lockup. The constable chose the simplest way out of the cFfficulty, and arrested both Green and his parent. Both appeared hetoro a sitting of J-P.’s in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, and were each fined 10s. Failure to pay carried the penalty to forty-eight hours’ confinement. The Bench Panted out to the hilulous one’s father that it was only because of his blood relationship that he was being dealt with so leniently.

It may have been the fact that he was Quite at homo in his surroundings that prompted William Hayden to have a little joke when he appeared in the Macisirate’s Court yesterday morning. Haydon had a list of 40 previous convictions recorded against him. Ho was now charged with drunkenness and damaging a glass panel in the Wellington Hotel. “A man was coming out of the hotel in front of me," said Haydon, in explanation, “and ho loft the glass door swinging.- __ I put out my hand to stop it, but the pane went. I have been pained over since.” one even smiled, and the Bench intimated that the fine for drunkenness would he 10s, and for damaging the glass 2os. “Thirty-five bob the lot, - ' murmured Haydon in business-like fashion.” If you allow me twentyfour hours I will order the glass for it right away.” The bench made no reply, and Haydon left the dock. Two men, John Arthur Jackson and Patrick Tiyan, who put their heads together on Saturday, and succeeded in stealing a pair of hoots, but. "who incidentally succeeded in attracting the notice of a constable, appeared before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with the theft of the boots in question. The evidence showed that the pair had first visited a Chinaman’s shop and scoured a newspaper, and then wended their way to a boot emporium owned by Henry Edwards. The boots were bagged and neatly wrapped up, when a constable Tiappened along. .11,van had a returned soldier’s armlet on when he appeared in court yesterday, and fearing that the bench might fail to notice it, Eyan put in a reminder that he had just returned from the front. The bench ignored the appeal, and fined each of the accused £l, in default seven days’ durance. 'Ryan ivas remanded Fiiday on a further charge of breaking his prohibition order.

Poultrymen complain about the largenumber of eggs broken in transit over railway or through the post. Iho Poultry Conference took up the matter yesterday. One speaker declared that he had lost an enormous amount of valuable eggs through the carelessness of railway employees—whether this was due to the shortage of hands or the taking on of inexperienced men through' the war. the speaker did not know. “Perhaps you packed the egga badly,” murmured a poultryman. “Packed them badly!” echoed the original speaker with scorn, “not likely. I have had years of experience. I have sent cases of eggs to Australia and not one was broken.” The speaker went on to say that recently ho had consigned some eggs to the South Island and a week or so later the consignee was written to by the Railway Department to the effect that the eggs were stinking. “Oh, I say,” ejaculated a member, and there was a roar of laughter. The original speaker hurried to explain that the eggs had been dropped by a railway servant a week before the letter was written. “You can imagine what they were like seven days later,” said the narrator feelingly.'

Xapier was exceptionally full of visitors during Easter, and a number of persons had difficulty in securing accommodation.

' “We seo the Government voting £35,000 to the fruit industry,” said a speaker at yesterday’s session of the Poultry Conference, “yet they won't give £35 to the poultry industry.

While at Kanakanaia on his tour pf inspection, Mr Strachan, one of tho Hawke's Bay Education Board’s inspectors, mot with a nasty accident. Ho was riding a restivo horse, which threw him, and he was dragged a short distance. Mr Strachan received a severe scalp wound, and ns the result of tho accident returned to Napier.

Considerable success has been attained by Mr T. A. Cooper, provincial organiser to the Now Zealand Farmers’ Union since his appointment. Twenty-four bronchos have been affiliated in the Waikato _ with a membership of 547, and it is anticipated when the district has been thoroughly canvassed there will be upwards of 1300 members. f

Modern Spiritualists do not hold with St. Taul, who wrote “Let women keep silence in the churches.” In a note to the “Times,” it is pointed out that in tho ordinary church women arc not allowed to speak, but tho Spiritualists give women full freedom of utterance. “We recognise,” states the writer, "that our sisters hayo equal ; iglits in this respect -with their brother workers.”

In tho Full Court at Hobart recontly, judgment was delivered in the appeal by David Dicker, M.L.A., against his conviction by a police magistrate for 'making use of statements calculated to prejudice recruiting. Defendant appealed on tho grounds that tho information was bad. The appeal was not directed against the magistrate's decision. The ■ court unanimously dismissed the appeal and upheld the conviction.

Mrs F. Perry’s efforts at Hastings on Thursday to raise funds in aid of the North' Sea Mine Sweepers’ Fund met with a generous response. Mrs Perry and her daughter, assisted by many willing sympathisers, _ put up a splendid record. Hie public responded most handsomely to thoir appeal, over £3OO being raised, the donations including £IOO from Mrs Peiry and £75 from her father, Mr G. P. Donnelly.

Prospective efforts of American poultry exporters to secure a market in tho Dominion for their eggs are not viewed with concern by local poultrymen judging from remarks made yesterday by members attending the annual conference of the New Zealand Poultry Association. For one thing, it is known that the high shipping charges are a big hurdle for the Yankee exporter these days. As a poultryman remarked yesterday, if Dominion poultryimen cannot successfully compete with the American exporter at tho present time it does not say much for them. Another speaker remarked that if they found thousands of eggs coming from America they would have to supply the public here at a lower rate than the American rate. Mr John Macdonald, editor of tho Brisbane “Daily Standard,” a Labour journal, was brought before the court on information that he had published certain articles dealing with the war which were not submitted to the censor before publication. Tho police .magistrate imposed a penalty on both. charges of £ls plus £2 12s 4d costs, in default two months’ imprisonment. A further sentence of two months under the Commonwealth Crimes Act was inflicted, defendant to he released on condition that ho gave security by his own personal bond, in the sum of £ls, to be of good behaviour for a term of two months, and that he complied with the War Precautions Act and regulations of 1915. The sentences were made concurrent, a week being allowed for settlement. Realising that externally one egg is very similar to another egg, but that internally conditions are sometimes very different, members of the Poultry Conference, at their annual conference yesterday, discussed the ad.visaibility of asking the Government to pass an Act requiring all eggs, other than fresh, to be stamped “preserved,” “cool stored,”, or otherwise, as the case may be. Speakers stated that the public were at present at the mercy of grocers, who could sell preserved eggs as fresh eggs. The only distinguishing mark at present was that given by the grocers, who either /old eggs as “new-laid eggs,’’ “fresh eggs,” just “eggs,” or “preserved eggs.” Eventually it was decided to ask the Government that all coolstored and preserved eggs retailed to the public should be stamped.

Captain Bollons, of the Government steamer Hinemoa, stated to a ‘‘New Zealand Times’' reporter . that recently ho made a curious find, in the shape of a very old brass plate, on the sand dunes in the vicinity of North Cape, tiro site of a Maori settlement which was abandoned some seventy or eighty years ago. The plate measures about seven inches by five inches, and is slightly rounded, as though it had been attached to a spar or something similar. On the centre are the letters “G.R-,” surrounded by a band with the motto “Honi soi qui mal y pense.” There is also a lion in a natural standing attitude, with a crown on its head under the badge, and over it is a large crown. On each side are several flags, and an old flint lock musket and lance. Captain Bollons has the pl.ate on hoard the Jiinemoa, and would be glad to show it to anyone who might be able to shed light on its origin. Some time ago he found at the same place an English penny, dated 1797, also a Portuguese coin, dated 1799. These relics must have been gathered by the Maoris and kept as curios.

Apparently the practice of pampering German prisoners in New Zealand continues. A correspondent writing to the Auckland “Observer” says; •‘Walking down the main street at Devonport the other morning I spotted the noble figure of a man emerging from the post office. Smoking a cigarette and walking in a nonchalant manner witli his hands in his pockets few would have known that it was an alien enemy, and a prisoner at that. I gazed again. Could it be the man I thought it wasp Yes, there was no mistaking the stalely figure of Dr Endletsberger. Then I noticed that a soldier accompanied him and I knew my surmise was correct, because the soldier’s arms were full of parcels, and no prisoner of war in New Zealand is allowed to demean himself by carrying parcels. ’Twas the doctor all right, and I felt sorry for the soldier because ho looked so sorry for himself. I wonder if our English prisoners in Germany .ire allowed to wander down to the local post office while their guards carry their mail for Hhem? I do not make any comparisons, but I am merely curious.”

The Labour Department’? report for March states that tho demands from employers for female labour exceeds the applications for employment. During the past month applications from employers numbered 143, and from workers 55, of which total 52 weie found employment. Day workers wanted numbered 81), and 38 wore placed. Only seven dnmftsxic workers were found out of 29 applied for.

“You will be fined 10s, in default——,” commenced His Worship iu sentencing a prisoner at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. “May I have time to pay?” interrupted accused eagerly. “In default forty-eight hours,” added His Worship, not heeding the interruption. “Forty-eight hours—thanks,” burst out accused gratefully, apparently failing to catch the words “in default.” Accused had a contented look on his face when ho left the dock'

Mr Edward Melitirray Cuthbcrt, a well-known resident of Gisborne, died on Friday night sis the result of injuries received through a buggy accident. On the previous Sunday deceased and Mr Percy were driving a pair of horses at Rere, when the. animals shied and ran down a bank. Both the occupants were thrown out of tho buggy and were badly kicked and knocked about* Mr Cuthbcrt was onerated upon twice at the Gisborne Hospital, but hil injuries were such that ho died.

Anzac Day will bft observed in Hastings on Wednesday, April 25th, and not on the dav fixed by tho Government (April 28rd) because of the municipal elections being held throughout New Zealand being held on tho 25th. Tho decision of the Government was strongly disapproved by returned soldiers who had taken part in the historic landing on Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25th two years ago, and the change of date haa been made by tho Mayor of Hastings at the request of a deputation which waited upon him on Saturday. On Thursday nffai> Major J. L. Slceman, 1.G.5., Director of Military Training, will asmmo the duties of Commandant at the Wanganui College, which for four da?»B is to bo converted into a "barracks” so that the boys attending might he put through a course of military instruction. Tho programme of training will consist of instructional exorcaecs and manoeuvres, particular importance being attached to individual training and a high standard of discipline. Similar “barracks” wll bo hold at tho Waitaki Boys’ High School from April 22nd till April 27th.

A monster sharS., some sixteen feet in length, visited the New Plymouth harbour on Sunday. The huge brute cruised right in between the wharf and the breakwater, Mid was observed to swim against thoi latter structure, where he apparently enjoyed himself rubbing off the barnacles, etc. His dorsal fin was sotho three feet high, and the spread of bis tail was about five feet. Tho 4»h was probably of the species known as the white shark, or Lamia, being white in colour below and brown on the upper part. It is found in most teas, and attains a length up to 25 or even 30 feet. This shark is one of tie ferocious species, and many incidents are related of itfl savage voracity.

A story of holrtle's desertion of a bride elect is told in .Napier. A wedding was to have been celebrated a few days ago. All arrangements for tho ceremony were well in hand, and an hour befor(j the appointed time tho bridegroom, who is a returned “hero,” borrowed his prospective mo-ther-in-law’s bicycle to go on a small errand. The bride and _ tho attendants and the impatient minister after a considerable wait at tho church, were obliged to return to their homes in great disappointment, the bridegroom having failffd to put in an appearance at tho cturch. Ho, is believed to have pawned the cycle at a well-known dealer’s, and then made good his escape, for he has not been seen or heard of since.

At Friday, night's meeting of tho Hastings Borough Council, a letter was road from tie solicitor to tho Municipal Association of New Zealand, advising that an Alien could not take advantage of the. ordinary qualifications and vote at local bodies’ elections, and accordingly a resolution was passed by the council as follows: “That, taking into account tho opinion of the municipal solicitor, the town clerk be ‘instructed to take such steps as he thinks necessary to remove names from tho roll.” hkom inquiries made by a reporter, no action has been taken in tho matter. Apparently, under the property and ratepaying qualifications, a German at large in New' Zuoland can go to the poll with as much right as a New Zealander, notwithstanding the fac< that a German ia debarred from possessing property, says an exchange.