NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9870, 16 January 1918, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

A slight shock of earthquake was felt in the city last night about 8.45 o’clock. In Petone the shock was a fairly sharp one, the buildings racking considerably.

Members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association are requested to attend the funeral of Trooper Freeman (a member of the Main Body), which will leave Wilson's Montuary Chapel at 2 o’clock to-morrow afternoon.

A trial by court-martial is to be held at Trcntham camp to-day. The defendants are Privates Daniel Brosnan, Howard Hopkins and William McKenzie. of Trentham Details. Major D. W. Talbot has been appointed president of the court, and the other members are Captains It. J. Seddon and E. Purdon, and Lieutenant H. M. Clark.

An agreement has been arrived at between the Hawke’s Bay freezing companies and the Freezing Workers’ Union which brings the latter into line with the agreement in force in the Wellington Province. It provides for a minimum wage of Is 4)d an hour and a ten per cent, war bonus for the duration of the war and three months after.

In England th© War Pensions Committee is empowered under the Regulations to grant a sailor or soldier where his general and financial circumstances are similar to those of officers a supplementary pension, special allowance or other grant, to hie widower dependent or to the man if disabled, upon the scale applicable to officers. No such provision is made in New Zealand. The order was given that certain companies of infantry were to engage in a silent route march from tne camp to featherston and back. Not a sound was heard from the men as they marched softly to tho town, and the same silence prevailed until the camp was almost reached again. Dire punishment was promised the man who made a noise of any description. The officer commanding gave his orders by signs, and nearing the camp one of thesei was not understood, and the commanding officer becoming impatient so far forgot himself as to call it out in a loud voice. The tension was thus felieved. hut the position was so ridiculous that the men sniggered. for breaking the silence the men are to bo punished, states one of them, and thus discipline is maintained. •

A soldier who is training at Featherston informed a “Times” reporter yesterday that a civilian who has not previously had any experience of army life does not, as a rule, object to the discipline, but to tho pin-pricks he receives. As an instance he said that on entering camp at Trentham the quota to which he belonged got their first issue of military clothing. The majority of the men at once set about marking the articles with an indokble pencil. On receiving' their second issue the major in charge of the 'stores informed the men that they were not to be so marked, and any man who marked them was liable to be fined 2s 6d for each garment so marked. On being told that the first issue had been marked in ignorance the major asked the O.C. of the company why the men had not been informed that tho practice was not' allowed.' The O.C. replied, “I distinctly heard the Quar-termaster-Sergeant inform the men, sirl” Tho officer in question thus saved his own face at the expense of the men. An inquest was held by Mr W. C. Riddell. S. M., yesterday afternoon concerning the motor-cycle fatality which occurred at Northland on Saturday afternoon. It appeared from the evidence that Victor liirnest Larcomb was riding with Adolph John Schulenbeig, a fellow-employee, of Gollin a,nd Oo Proprietary. Ltd., along Creswick terrace, the latter occupying, a sidecar. The machine was travelling at ,a rate of seven or eight miles an four down the decline into Northland road. Turning the corner the right handlegrip slipped- off, and the brake proved ineffective. As the cycle got beyond control and was heading for a large rock Schulenberg reached out from the side-car and grabbed at the handles, causing the machine to turn sharply and go over a steep declivity. Laiv comb fell under tbe machine, and though badly shaken was not seriously injured. Schulenberg, however, fed on his head and received such injury that he died at the hospital on ounday morning from a fractured skull. Larcomb stated that he had eight or nine years’ experience as a cycle driver. Schulenberg was a married man without children, residing m Creswick terrace. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

Sir James Barrie once explained that one of his reasons for preferring London to other cities is that it is the only oity in the world where a man can eat buns in the street out of a paper bag without attracting attention. But under war conditions stranger sights than a man eating ihuns will be witnessed in London streets (says the Melbourne “Age's” correspondent). Owing to the shortage of petrol and labour, shopkeepers are trying to enforce a rule limiting delivery by vans to parcels over 71b in weight, and, owing to the shortage of paper, shopkeepers make a favour of ■wrapping up parcels. Therefore, it -will soon become a common thing to see the city clerk walking through London streets to his railway station on his way home with a bag of oatmeal under his arm, a leg of mutton in one hand, and a pair of new boots in the other. But before London women will carry parcels home an Act of Parliament will have to be passed to compel them to do so. In the old days no spman who cared for her dignity would carry a parcel from a suburban shop, and the obsequious suburban shopkeepers used, in their servility, to insist on delivering every purchase, no matter how small. For instance, the fishmonger would send his boy round with a couple of herrings purchased at a cost of Id, and intended for food for the household cat. The basis of the objection of women to be seen carrying a parcel seemed to be that the woman who did her own suburban shopping and took her own parcels proclaimed the fact that she did not keep a maid.

The New Zealand Natives’ Association Band will play at Newtown Park to-day (Wednesday) at 8 p.m.

A man was arrested by Detective Mason yesterday on a charge of false pretences.

The postmarks on the latest mail from the United States bear the following words: —“Food will win the war; don’t waste it.”

Mr A. L. Monteith, secretary of the Wellington Storemen’s Union, left for Auckland by the midday express yesterday. He is to act as an assessor in the storemen’s dispute at Auckland on the X7th inst., this being the first occasion on which the northern union has taken steps to secure an award.

It was stated yesterday by the Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) that the three experts—Messrs Oliver (City Council), Ward (Fanners’ Association), and Williams (Vendors’ Association) — conferred Until a late hour on Monday with legat'd to the milk clearing-sta-tion. The report would soon be in the hands of the council, and ivould be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Owing to the continued illness of Mr D. M. Findlay, chairman of the Third Wellington Military Service Board, and the fact that Mr W. M. S. Moorhouse is unable to act as chairman any longer, the board will not sit to-day. AH oases set’down for to-day have boon adjourned until the 23rd inst. It is hoped that the services of a temporary chairman may bo secured, so that the hoard may carry on tho sittings of Thursday and Friday, as previously arranged.

Tho ballot taken by the A.P.TJ. on the question of amalgamation with the Australian Workers’ Union, also the election of president and delegates to the annual conference, and general secretary," concluded yesterday. Owing to the large number of votes cast, tho final results were not available last night. It is understood, however, that the return of Mr.A. Cook as president is assured, also that of Mr C. Grayndler, general secretary. the proposal to amalgamate with the Australian Workers’ Union is sure to be earned. Tho official figures will he available to-morrow.

The need for the establishment by. the Hospital Board of an institution in Wanganui for the treatment ot cases of nervous breakdown and temporary derangement of the mind was emphasised at the local Police Court the other day. A young woman—a visitor there—whose mind had become slightly deranged owing to trouble, Was committed to, Porirua, on the medical certificate of two local doctors. The Justices who committed her remarked that the case appeared to be one more for careful hospital treatment than for sending away, but unfortunately there was no, receiving home for such cases in Wanganui.

Lieutenant W. Perry, the Wellington solicitor who forsook law to take up arms, has written to a former colleague on the New Zealand Rugby Union. “Congratulations to you all,” ho says, “on the great effort to save the Park. It will be a great monument to you all. You know how short was the spin of the great old skipper—Dave Gallagher. He was leading his section, when a shell burst about eight feet in front of him. How he was not killed instantly is a miracle. I Ho died* 'iii* England, the scene of his 1905 : triumphs.* I have been here five months and have seen plenty of fihting, including La Basse Ville and fourteen days of Passchendaele Ridge.” “A corner of Blighty” is the appropriate name given to a club established in Paris for the soldier's of the Etmpire. This home for British soldiers (including the Dominion troops) ■ has been open for over six months, and has done excellent work in, the way of providing light ipfrosliments. cagareittos, music and entertainments fot soldiers, also arranging excursions round tht* French capital for those on “Paris leave.” No charge of any kind is made to the soldiers, , and all the helpers give their services. In ,a leaflet issued by' the club photos are seen of the writing and music and tea rooms, which arc palatial in appearance, and well appointed. This idea of .providing a “home from home” for war-wonn soldiers is an excellent one. and deserves all encouragement. The founder and manager is Miss Lily Butler, who mentions that contributions in cash may be sent to her through the Bank of New Zealand, also that gifts of cigarette,s tea, sugar and other needs may be sent to her at “Corner of Blighty,” A.P.0., S 5, 8.E.F.. France.

In connection with the electricallycontrolled boat which it was announced had been destroyed off the Belgian coast a little time ago, the following information has been supplied officially by the British Admiralty—- “ The electrically-controlled motor-boats used on the Belgian coast are twin-petrol-engined vessels, partially closed in, and travel at a high speed. Hey carried a drum with between thirty and fifty miles,, of insulated single core cable, through which the boat is controlled electrically. The fore part carries a considerable cargo of high explosive, probably from 300-5001 h in weight. After the engine has been started the crew leave the boat. A seaplane, protected by a strong fighting patrol, then accompanies the vessel at a distance of three to five miles, and signals to the shore operator the helm to give the vessel. The boat is zigzagged while running; this may be eittiar Intentional or unintentional. On being steered into a ship the charge is exploded automatically. The device is a very old one. A boat similarly controlled was used in H.M.S. Vernon (the torpedo experimental ship) as far back as 1885. The only new features in the German boats are petrol engines and W/T signals, neither of which existed then.