NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9965, 8 May 1918, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

It was - stated in a biographical sketch in our yesterday’s issue that the Hon. W. J. Geddis was a native of Auckland. This is an error. Mr Geddis was horn in Belfast, Ireland, and came to Auckland with his • parents when a child.

The Inspector of Awards (Frederick Wilson) proceeded against Staveley and Fletcher, dairymen, Maranui, for the recovery of £lO as a penalty for employing an assistant, and failing to pay him the award rate of wages. The defendants were convicted and fined £2, with 4s costs. Mr G. W. Blair appeared for the defendants. The effects of the war axe far-reach-ing. It counts its victims not in thousands, but in millions. Great minds have weighed dubiously the question whether the good brought a,bout by the present strife will balance the evil that the war has necessitated. The evil docs not restrict itself to France, or oven to Europe, but has had an influence on sunny Kent. This was shown recently when a Kentish dairyman was fined £8 Sb for selling adulterated milk. His defence was that the cows w'ore suffering from shell shock.

The first of the Bth draft of Cl recruits arrived at Featherston Camp yesterday at about noon. These meu were from Canterbury, and will be foL Hewed by Wellington and Auckland recruits to-day and to-morrow. The concentration finishes' on Friday with tho arrival of the Auckland section. On arrival yesterday, the men marched to Tauhereuikau, whore the Cl’s are in training. The weather at the camps made the initial preparations most pleasant, and the men arrived at Tauherenikau in time for tea and and a welcome by the Camp Band. A collision on Lambton quay between a bicyclo and a mail lorry resulted in T. W. Hart bringing an action against the Crown to recover £2B 16s damages. Tho evidence for the plaintiff was that on September 29th. 1917, Hart was riding a bicycle along Lambton quay, and when in the vicinity of Quinton’s Corner a gust of wind caused him and his bicycle to swerve slightly to the left. A Post and Telegraph motor mail van was coming along close behind him, and he swerved in front of the wheels of the van. Alleged negligence was attributed to the driver oh tho mail van, in that ho failed to sound his horn, or give a warning of his near approach, and that ho drove too closely behind tho bicyclo. Mr W. G. KiddeU, S.M.. after hearing the evidence, reserved his decision. Mr 0. C. Mazengarb (instructed by Mr H. F. O’Leary) appeared for tho plaintiff, and Mr P. S. K. Macaesey, of tho Crown Law Office, for the Crown,

The requisition signed by the local booksellers for sis o’clock closing will bo gazetted this week, and will take effect from Monday next, 13th. inst.

The annual conference of tho Agricultural and Pastoral Union of Workers will be held in Wellington between tho 16th and 18th inst. Important business will be dealt with by the delegates.

It is expected that the First Wellington Military Service Board (Mr D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., chairman) will resume its sittings in Wellington next Tuesday, but the date has not been definitely fixed.

The polio© cases at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday were disposed of by Mr S, fi. McCarthy, S.M. Three inebriates, who were, strangers to the police records, were leniently dealt .with, David Wilson Oughton was remanded for a week on a charge of being idle and disorderly.

At a meeting of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, held on May 6th, the following resolution was carried:—“That this branch views with alarm, tho clause introduced into the Finance Act of last session, having for its object the conscripting of labour for private gain, and calls upon the executive council of tho A.S.R.S. to record a strong protest against same.”

A notable sign of the times is the interest being taken by women in mat. tors Which concern women. Following are tho names of the various societies, representatives of which have been present during the hearing of evidence in the Kelburn raid case:—The Society for tho Protection of. Women and Children, Soldiers’ Mothers’ League, Teachers' Association, National Council of Women, Social Hygiene Committee, Women's Social Investigation League (Victoria College), Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and Salvation Army.

Here is an amusing passage in Sir Henry Brackenbur.y’s “Memories of My Spare Time.” “Only three sermons I heard,” writes Sir Henry, “have left a lasting impression—one by Wilberforce, one by Colenso-, and one by a High Church, hut not a celibate, clergyman at Brighton, . who, preaching on St. Paul’s Day, described St. Paul’s trials, the scourgings, bufferings, shipwrecks, and then said (his wife sitting just below him), ‘But St. Paul never had the greatest trial to which man can be subject—ha never was married.’ ”

An unusual charge was laid against * named Axel Johanson in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The charge against him was that, being a person against whom an order of exclusion from wharves and shipping has been issued in pursuance of the W*ar Regulations, ho did enter the wharf at Wellington contrary to section 6 of the regulations. Chief-Detective Boddam explained that accused had come to the police to notify change of address, but had given misleading information as to whether, he was entitled to work on the wharves. Accused pleaded guilty, and was fined £5, or one month’s gaol.

The adjourned l inquest was held yesterday concerning the death of Louis Lucas, a returned soldier, who was knocked down by a tramcar on Lambton quay, resulting in severe ■ injuries from the effects of which he died on May 2nd. Elizabeth Carr, married iveman. of 4, Frederick . street, who had known the deceased, said he was thirty-eight years of age, single, and a Frenchman. His sisters were living in France. Lucas went away with the 6th Reinforcements, and returned to New Zealand about eight months ago, wounded. Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., who heard the evidence, returned a verdict that death wa s due to injuries received through a tramcar accident, and that there was no blam© attached to anyone.

It is quite fifty years ago since John Bright, that greatest of simple orators, made a speech in-which the-following magnificent passage occurred‘ln the centuries to come w© shall ho proud that, from the loins of England have sprung millions of prosperous and wealthy Americans. If we only act with discretion, w© in these islands, we shall yet live to see, when w© ourselves are in a great crisis, the two great Commonwealths of Britain and the United States marching abreast, fighting the common foe, looked upon as the parents and guardians of the world’s freedom and justice. Wo shall then rejoice that the Pilgrim Fathers are on© with us again, and that we are a united family once more.”

The Hon. W. 6. S. MacDonald, Acting-Postmaster-General, in the desire to save trouble and anxiety to the friends of New Zealand soldiers who have had the misfortune to be taken prisoners of war, emphasises the fact that parcels for prisoners of war interned in enemy and neutral countries may not be sent from New Zealand. Persons desirous of sending parcels of food and other things to those prisoners of war may do so by making arrangements fo that end with the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Strand London, W.C., 2, forwarding mm at the same time the necessary aonnittanxje. All particulars relating to correspondence with prisoners of war and providing comforts for them ay T> . found m the red ! fly-W of the Post and Telegraph Guide, to be soen at any post office.

A foreign visitor to the National Apple Show at Auckland declared that tha/T* ° xhl m tod ?’? uild compare more than favourably with fruit produced m any other part of the world 1 . H«j was quifco prepared to agree with +Tu* secretary of tho Royal Horticultural Societw of Great Britain that Nelson ?„!‘f r^ er wT°, re „ the finest he had ever tasted. While the national apple shows of this country mainly demonstrate tho remarkable suitability of ou r soil and climate for the production of high quality fruit (says the “Star”), they emphasise the fact that fruitgrowers are doing little to convert the apple from an item of luxury into a common article of diet. They can produce the fruit, but they still fail to realise the importance of standardising their produce, marketing it in an up-to-date manner, .and* facilitating the purchase of it at a reasonable rate. There is no export trade at the present tjfne, and there is a heavy production in more than one district. Just the time it would be thought to encourage increased consumption by rdv ; "tr tho nublic a ready means of obtaining the fruit, in case and half-case lets, delivered at their doors. May the present fine show of New Zealand fruit stimulate growers to the adoption of improved marketing methods, and thereby build np the trade awaiting at ■ii'eir own doors instead of lookalone to an export trade to make i.their undertaking profitable.

. A peculiar mishap hefel Mrs Katherine Lowrie, of No. 1, Minerva street, Newtown, last evening. It appears that g]je attached one end of a clothes lino to a chimney, and a motor-oar ran anto the clothes line, causing, portion of the chimney to fall. A brick struck Mrs Lowrie, inflicting a severe injury to her head and to her left leg. She was admitted to the hospital at 6.45 p.m. and at a late,hour last night was reported to be a little better.

Thomas Munn, a seaman, belonging ■Jo the steamer Te Anau, while ascending a ladder in one of the holds of the vessel at the Queen’s wharf at 11 o’clock last .night put his hand on an electric wire which provides current for the cluster of lights over the hold, and received a severe shock. Munn fell about three feet and' suffered a nasty bruise on his forehead. Dr Young was summoned and he dressed Munn’s injury after'which the seaman was able to go to his Bunk. The' ship sailed shortly afterwards.

A "New Zealand Times” representative was shown, yesterday, an ingenious contrivance that should lessen the difficulties of picture-show patrons while endeavouring to locate vacant seats in the semi-darkness. The device, which is the invention of Messrs E. Q. Sanders and H. F. Mander, of 60, Roxburgh street, is purely mechanical. It is attached to each row of seats, and at the end of each row it indicates by a red light if there is a vacant seat. When the patron then inspects the device it will clearly show r. : . many seats are vacant, illuminated numbers being exhibited. The cost of equipping a theatre with the appliance is said to be lelativply small. It will apparently simplify the duty of the ushers and save considerable trouble to the public.

In his annual report to the Manawatu A. and P, Association, the treasurer, Mr R. McKnight, pointed out that during the past four years there had been a .steady decrease in members’ and life members’ subscriptions showing a total loss of revenue of £293. Mr McKnight said the, association was becoming mo.re and more dependent upon this vicarious source of revenue for its existence, and urged upon members the necessity of making a special effort to add to the membership. He pointed out that in the future there would bo very keen competition in the farming as in all other branches of the industry, and we should provide every facility for the rising generation to equip itself to meet , this contingency. In conclusion he said: "We have only to read tho history of the development of the farm industry in Germany during the past forty years to realise what we are up against.”

Some quicklime in the bottom of No. 3, the after hold, of the Mararoa, became ignited about 9.45 o’clock yesterday morning when the vessel was discharging at the Ferry berth. Th*e Fire Brigade under , ■ Superintendent Tait was summoned & ffefo- minMek later and arrived at the vessel at 10 a.m. It was found that the lower, tiers of a con-, signment of about 100 sacks of quicklime were smouldering. The brigadesmen put on smoke-helmets, and,Working in shifts, shovelled the loose lime into baskets, which were tipped into the harbour. The ■ harbourmaster, however, ordered the throwing of the lime into the harbour to cease, and therefore the remaining dozen’ baskets of lime were deposited-.on. the,,,deck for removal in carts. The dust and fumes arising from the lime considerably affected the .firemen and members of the crew who were unloading the baskets. The lime was taken to Lyttelton in railway trucks on Saturday, and while there on Sunday heavy rain fell. It is believed that a few of the sacks became wet, and when the air got to them yesterday combustion was caused. No damage resulted! to the vessel.

Tiie most important evidence given before the Defence Commission, yesterday was that of four officers recently returned from the front with special qualifications for,.giving instruction and for whom no such work .can he found to do in camp. They were summoned indiscriminately from Trentham by tno Commissioner, so that it must be understood that they did not volunteer their evidence or. wish to ah' individual grievances. The tale-they had to tell was that after going under special training and being sent back to New Zealand to impart the latest knowledge acquired after active service, they were not wanted after the voyage. ■ Succeeding , weeks of idleness, practically, a desperate desire was discovered to send ' them whence they came. They were sturdy-looking men. typical soldiers. They evidently know their business. But apparently local arrangements have no room for them. One officer in the engineering section spoke out plainly. Ho went away with the first to volunteer in a patriotic spirit—with the Main Expeditionary Force. , He is a man with two children, and he frankly acknowledged that he did not see why ho should be wasted in merely looking after a draft on a transport when he had the latest methods of instruction to impart, and there were many others here who ought to take their turn at the front.