NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9648, 1 May 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

According to the Manawatu “Herald/ - when the one-armed man, David Morgan Leckie, who has been committed tor trial to tho Supreme Court on a charge of murdering Albert Ryan at Frankton Junction, was in Foxton recently, the police there suggested to him that there would be mo ro scope for his talents elsewhere. Leckie moved on.

There wore great celebrations at Mr Hori Mcmera’s grounds at Otorohanga last week. Five Maori weddings were celebrated on the one day. There were present over a thousand guests, both natives and pakehas, who, after tho ceremony, dined sumptuously on pork, shark, and cels cooked “a la Honare.’ - Tho feast took place in a large marquee.

As an evidence of congestion in the sawmilling industry caused by the disorganisation of tile railway service, there are at the present time (states tho Ohakune “Times’’) forty-eight trucks of timber standing at the Rangaraua railway station. It is not known when they will be, sent on. to their destination. Unless some arrangement is made very shortly with the Railway Department the inconvenience will become very acute.

A gentleman with a practical knowledge of Southern Hawke’s Bay informed a reporter of a northern paper that a remarkable response had been made by farmers in that district to the Government's appeal to grow foodstuffs. .' Many men who had never cropped before were putting in an acre of wheat, oats, etc., and though the nuantity individually might not be large, in tho aggregate it would mean a great increase and have a distinct, effect upon the feeding problem. A house, owned by Mrs Potter and occupied by Air Walter Crib, in Mantel street, Sea loan, was badly damaged bv fire on Sunday night, about V o’clock. Ex-Fireman Sherwood date of tho Miramar Volunteer' Fire Brigade), with the assistance of several neighbours and men from the forts, saved the building from total destruction. The only water available was from a garden hose. 'Phe -Miramar brigade did not turn out owing to the alarm not. being given.

At the conference of the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers’ Union, the following resolution was passed: ■ “That no restriction be placed on shearers using the broad comb, provided the employer makes provision for machines to drive it, the employer to find the band-piece and fork, and that a man may use a blade; no member on any consideration to. use his own band-piece under a penalty of £lO fine.” The conference continues to-day.

Surgeon-General Henderson, Direc-tor-General' of Medical Services, reported yesterday that the patient who is suffering from cerbero-spinal meningitis at Featherston passed a bad night, but was somewhat better yesterday. The enteric case at Greytown was improving. At Trentham a member of the 28th Reinforcements was being treated for chicken-pox, and is doing well. The two pneumonia patients were much better, and the general health of the men in both Trentham and Featherston camps was very satisfactory. An inquest was held by Mr W. G. Riddell. S.M. at Trentbam yesterday afternoon conjccrnihe the' death of a soldier named Andrew McLean, belonging to the 26th Reinforcements. The evidence showed that the deceased was travelling on a troop train on Saturday night, and when nearing Petone he walked out of the door and fell between two carriages. Apparently ho thought there was a platform between. The door ought to have been locked, and it did not transpire how it came to be open, but it was explained that soldiers often opened the doors with penknives. The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death. The following have been elected members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce: —Messrs 8. G. .Nathan, j. c. Tonks,- F. M. Bush, E. A. Fhelps, H. iW. Moss, A. J. George, W. It. Doughty, X. W. Butcher, A. Waterworth, E. J. Arlow, W. Naiemith, J. H. Ryder, J. M. Thornley, F. Meredith, H. L. Morrison, and Captain C. McArthur. There are seventeen candidates for the twelve seats on the council. Their names are as follow:—-Messrs T. Ballinger, 8. 0. Baron, J. B. Brinsden, W. J. Bndson, T. C. Dawson, W. F. Cuthbertson, D. A. Ewen, J. G- Harkness, J. B. McEwan, J. McLellan, F. W. Manton, John F. Mills. H. W. Moss, F. Rasey, 0; E. Richardson, R- W. vVaterhouse, R. Wilson. A change of management is proposed, by which, in addition to the council of twelve, there shall be representative members who shall be appointed annually. from approved mercantile, industrial, and other associations.

■Some laughable stories were told by Mr Smeotou, the 1.M.0.A. Commissioner to the front, during a lecturo he delivered at Tauraarunui recently. He said that some of the boys liked to pose as great heroes when writing home, and ho quoted the following incidents in support: “Hero am I,” wrote one of the braves, * ‘writing this letter' to you with shot and shell falling fast around me” (he was in a base camp) .... “You Will notice that tho first, part of the letter is written _m ink. You now see that I am using pencil for a minute ago a bullet came and skot the pen clean out of my hand.” (Laughter.) Another one wrote about the hardships he was enduring in the trenches. “In fact,” he proceeded, “as I write this letter to you i am standing up to my knees in six feet of water.” (Laughter.) It would be interesting to calculate how “tall” that particular soldier hoy really was. A most miraculous escape from sudden death occurred to three ladies and the driver of a motor from Eketahuna last evening in Willis street. the car was travelling up Willis street on the wrong side of the road, and tho driver suddenly realised his indiscretion, and attempted to get across to tho proper side. In doing so ho chose an inopportune time. As he slew his car across the road a tramcar was coming down Willis street and another going up. It seemed a thousand to one chance that tho car would be smashed to atoms, and that there would ho bloodshed, but somehow the two tramcars worked it that tho motor-car was caught at the right time and it was slewed round in the opposite direction to that in which it was proceeding originally. The near front wheel was locked in the gear of the tramcar, which was proceeding to Island Bay. No one , was hurt, no one even screamed, and after some heavy weight-lifting all concerned proceeded on their way. The driver of the Island Bay car was the means of saving the lives of the four occupants of the motor-car.

An Ofcaki racchorso owner states that, although ho is only in a small way, racing has cost him nearly £3OOO in nominations, acceptances, riding foes, travelling, etc., during the past reo year*. The "Wanganui Borough Council has accepted the tender of -Messrs Graham and Son. of Christchurch for the erection of tlie Sargeant Art Gallery (reports thej Press Association)- The tender is £13,800. The designs were selected in open competition. There wero thirty-three competitors, including several from Australia. Air Edmond Auscombc. of Dunedin, was successful. The restriction on the, posting of newspapers and book-packets to the United States and United. States territory except through newsagents and publishing offices has been withdrawn. Private persons may post freely. The united States territory includes Alaska, Canal Zone. Danish West Indies, Guam. HalVaiian Islands, Philippine Archipelago, Porto Rico, Tutuila and other islands of American Samoa., The restriction to other neutral countries is retained. c The angling season closed yesterday. Anglers in the Alanawatu district state that the season has been a very unsatisfactory one, small baskets being the invariable experience and practically no largo fish were taken. Some give 'as a reason for the poor sport that the fish have not been “on the take,” and others that the Alanawatu is not well stocked, but whatever the cause anglers are agreed that the past season is one of the worst in their experience. In connection with the opening ceremony of the Soldiers’ Social Club at Trciitham, which takes place on Monday night, May 7th, the Mayor (Mr J P. Luke) has sent the following invitation to the Camp Commandant (Colonel H. R. Potter)“Tlie Hon. Sir James Allen. K.C.8.. will declare the building open. I shall be glad u you will preside on this occasion, and will you please make tlie necessary arrangements for the attendance of your staff, officers and men. Visitors from town will leave Lamb ton station at 1.20 o’clock, leaving Trenthanvfor the return journey at 4.47 o’clock.” The Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) and tho committee who are endeavouring to raise funds to furnish the Soldiers’ Social Club at Trentham .that is to be opened bv the Acting-Premier (Sir Janies Allen) on Monday next ,still require £450 to liquidate the indebtedness. At present there is a sum, of £1062 8s 3d in hand, and’ a further £23 has vet to come in. Three bil-liard-tables have been donated and another is expected from Dunedin. It is hoped through the generosity of tho citizens to have the necessary balance of the fund subscribed by the opening day. -

On April 21st Inst a man named Robert Male was found lying at the foot of some stops at 152, faydney street. Ho was bleeding at the back of the head, and on removal to the hospital wag found to be suffering from a fractured skull. He lingered at the hospital until Sunday afternoon, when ho died. An examination of the steps near which ho was found showed one of the steps to be broken, caused, it is presumed by deceased striking his head as he fell. An inquest into the circumstances attending Male’s death will be held at the Magistrate’s Court at 4 p.m. to-day. Male was a married nian, ’ blit' ha* no kith or kin resident in New Zealand.

The restricted traffic on the railways is affecting the flaxmilling industry in this district (states the Manawatu “Herald”). In the past a largo quantity of green flax has been obtained bv rail, but since the curtailed service has been in operation this class of goods has been refused. The millers' ait Tokomaru and Shannon have been in the habit of forwarding their hemp by rail to Wellington, but have had to make other arrangements, and are now sending it to Foxton by motor lorry. The Bangitane andßangiotu mills have also had to change to this method of carriage. Hemp is also now being sent to Foxton from the Bulls district bv tram which previously was railed from Groatford to. Wellington. Judgment was delivered by the Appeal Court yesterday in the case’ of the Waihi-Paeroa Gold Extraction Company, Ltd., in which a declaratory judgment was sought as to whether the company was to bo rated as a contributing body under section 17 of the Waibou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement. Act, 1910. The Court found that the operations of the cßmpany came under the head of “tailings,' and it was rightfully assessed by the Warden. Costs, amounting to ten guineas, were allowed the Crown. Dr. H. D. Bamford appeared for the company and Mr J. W. balmond, K.C., for the Attorney-General. The Court comprised the Chief Justice, Mr- Justice Denniston, and Mr Justice Coop--6 Mr Hull, of the Carterton branch of the Bank of New South Wales, . has itceivcd an (interesting letter from Private Burnside, formerly of the bank’s staff, but who, at time of writing, was in a convalescent hospital in Boulogne, after being for some time in the trenches. Ho says that the winter was very severe on New Zealanders. He was recovering from an attack of pneumonia. He gives a graphic description of patrol work in the mud, along the front of the trenches and relates a startling incident that betpl a fmail patrol he was out with. M was pitch dark, and just as they got through their own wire, seven or eight Huns suddenly rose from where they happened to bo lying in wait grabbed one of the Britishers and hustled him off—a prisoner. Fire was immediately opened on the fleeing enemy, but it was impossible to see with what result- Private Burnside adds that the New Zealanders are thought very highly of in France. The Victoria University College Students’ Association held its annual meeting in the gymnasium building, Jir Kay presiding over a large attendance. The annual report showed that 350 students and ex-students have volunteered and been accepted for active service up to date, and of these forty have laid down their lives, including two Rhodes scholars—Captain Alan MacDougall and Lieutenant Athol Hudson. During the year members of the association knitted and sent to the front some 200 pairs of socks, and also collected two cases of clothing for the elgians in England. It was decided at the meeting that £25 be don teed out of the patriotic fund to the Wellington War Relief Association. The following officers were elected for tns coming year:—Patron, Professor Gairow; president. Mr S. A. Miron ( Vicepresidents. Miss E. J. Crawford and J. H. Sbeat: hon. secretary, Mr H D C. Adams; hon. treasurers. Miss J ' Park and Mr E. Evans: committee, ilisses Woolhouse. Mackenzie, and Crabb. Messrs Joplin, Homery, Cooper and Rishworfh: hon. auditor, Mr G W F House • tournament delegates, Messrs G. G. G. Watson and A. J. McLennan.

A monster mushroom found on a ifarm near Taupoka the other day measured 37 inches in circumference, and the stalk, which was about 6 inches m length, was quite a couple of inches through. It was in perfect condition. An industrial agreement has been filed between the Canterbury Woollen Mills’ Employees’ Union and the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Co., Lid. Tho agreement embodies tlie special war bonus and other minimum conditions decided upon by the recent Domiuiou conference. It is to remain iu operation from May Ist, 1917, till six months after the declaration of peace.

At a meeting of the executive of tho Returned Soldiers’ Association it was arranged to hold tho annual conference at Dunedin, from May 25th to 29th- At this conference the work of the association ijiill bo reviewed and plans for the future considered. It is anticipated, that the various branches of the association will be fully represented. A Chinese named Wong IVah, “wanted” as having come to the Dominion without having paid tho usual foe of admittance charged to residents of the “Flowery Land,” was brought down from Greytown yesterday in police custody. Wong Wall, who was arrested by Constable Mclntosh, appeared in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, and was remanded until this morning. Three men who recently embarked on a “joy” ride in n motor-car at Palmerston, found it followed by another journey not nearly so joyful. The original trip finished in a disastrous manner. The car they were in camo to grief, and the trio were brought before the resident magistrate at Palmerston, and each sentenced to twelve months’ reformative treatment for unlawfully damaging tho motor-car. The three men, Bertie Thomas Barnes, George Howell, and Arthur Pyo, wero subsequently taken on to Wellington under escort. They arrived here last night to take up their twelve months’ residence at the Terrace Gaol. At tho To Aro school meeting to elect a school committee last night Air H. A. W. AloKenzie (chairman of the committee) road' two interesting' letters —one from a cliild in a country school in Ontario. Canada, and the other from a schoolboy in W.iilcs —received by children attending the To Aro school. The letters were well written and very well expressed. Tlie Welsh schoolboy wrote very" appreciatively of tho part Now Zealand had taken in the war. and tho Canadian letter spoke enthusiastically of the winter sports enjoyed bv the children of ‘Our Lady of the Snows.” Air AlcKonzie said that. ho thought that tho interchange of correspondence by school children throughout the Empire would teach them more about the Empire and do more to bind the Empire together than any book-learning could do. (Applause.)

“What we want among teachers,” said Mr Caughley, Assistant-Director of Education, to Napier teachers on Saturday, “is a new vision of the importance and scope of their work. New conditions have to be mot with new ideas, and teachers must be students. They should become expert in their profession. As does a doctor or lawyer, they should specialise in the subjects affecting their profession. The time must soon come when the university will supply a course in pedagogy, including the study of English. At i>resont a University graduate can secure an ‘A’ certificate without having studied one word of pedagogy or psychology. This should not be, and the time would soon be ripe to change the position. But, all things Considered, a university graduate hod proved on the average to he more efficient than the teacher with lower academic status.”

The Second Wellington Military Service Board gave its decision yesterday in regard to the legal point raised at a previous sitting bv Mr H. H.' Cornish (solicitor) on behalf pf an appellant. The point was that the Act defined' as reservists all men who on August Ist, 1916, “are” over the ago of 20; that the First Division was, therefore, in callable of increase; and that its contents were fixed permanently on a certain date, after which they ’ could not be augmented. Mr Cornish further contended that the appellant had married at 18 years of age, though since May, 1916, and that even if he was held to be a reservist, he should be in the Seoond Division. The chairman ; (Mr J. W. ; Poynton, S.M.), in stating the decision of the board, said that legal advice had been taken and in the Acta Interpretation Act of 1908. it was enacted that a law should be considered a.s always speaking and that whenever a matter was expressed in the present tense, it should be read as applying to all times. The appellants’ contention, therefore, must fail. The chairman declined to state a case for the Supreme Court. Permission was given to reopen the case on the of undue hardship: but the board', after hearing the evidence, regarded the grounds stated as insufficient, and the appeal was dismissed.

Argument was heard in. the Court of Appeal yesterday in the case of Rupuha Te Hianga (appellant) and Murray, Roberts and Co., Ltd, (respondents), an appeal from a decision of Mr Justice Chapman, In this case the respondent firm had claimed £1284 4 S Hd and interest in connection with a stock and station account. It was alleged that Joseph Rawhira Baku was in partnership with To Hianga, and ho was joined as defendant. As Paku had become bankrupt, the Official Assignee was also joined. It was alleged that the two first-named had engaged in business as sheepfarmers, and had subsequently extended their business to include that of motor-car drivers and mail contractors at Hawke’s Bay. The defence filed by Rupuha To Hianga consisted in a general denial of the plaintiff company’s allegations, and stated that ho was unaware of any advances having been made tc Paku. The latter admitted that advances were made in connection with tho motor business to both defendants, but denied any partncrschip with To Hianga in the- shcepfarming business. Ho also admitted that in his dealings with the plaintiff company he acted as agent for To Hianga, and all moneys and goods delivered to him by the plaintiff firm were either delivered to To Hianga or used as directed by tho latter. His Honour had found that Rupuha Te Hianga was liable for the whole debt, with interest at 6J per cent., the company having proved its case. Against this decision, Rupuha Te Hianga now appeals. Mr Wilford appeared for the appellant, and Mr Myers and Mr Curry (Napier) for the respondent company. The Bench was occupied by the Chief Justice, Mr Jue> tice Denniston, Mr Justice Cooper, and Mr Justice Hosting. . • Donnelly’s Hair Restorer,—A real tonic. Cures dandruff, stops hair falling. Chemists, stores, hairdressers, 2g 6d. Donnelly’s, 65, Vivian street. •