NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9998, 15 June 1918, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The citizens of Wellington will have the opportunity of extending a cordial welcome to Lieutenant S. Frickleton, V.C., at tho Town Hall, this morning. The reception will take place at 11 o'clock, and the Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) will preside. All tho Ministers of tho Crown are invited, and the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) has been asked to speak. It is hoped that there will be a largo and representative gathering. The deed for which Lieutenant Frickleton, V.C., has been honoured was a very brave one. He arrived by tho Main Trunk from Auckland yesterday afternoon, and was formally welcomed on behalf of the citizens by the Mayor.

As tho result of falling off a lorry at Karori yesterday, a man named Charles Butler received an injury to tho left leg. He is receiving treatment at the hospital.

The Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) has received advice that the transport conveying tho main portion of the 37th Reinforcements has been reported again as having reached a port of call all well.

It is officially stated that Mr S. E. McCarthy, Stipendiary Magistrate, is being given a month's leave of absence for tho purpose of taking a holiday. The current rumours that Mr McCarthy is being transferred from Wellington are without foundation.

Mr E. McDonnell, who has been subeditor of the "Maoriland Worker" for .the past eighteen months, has resigned tho position. As Mr H. E. Holland has relinquished tlio paid editorship, and Mr James THorir" is also off the staff, the board of directors at its next meeting will have to re-staff the paper. Meantime, it is understood that Mr P. Fraser will bo given a position on the literary staff.

An advertisement in this issue states that tlie following are liable for training under the Defence Act:—(a) Boys of fourteen years, or who will reach that ago by December 31et, and who are not attending a public school—in the Senior Cadets. <b) All males between tho ages of 18 and 25 years—in the Territorial Force. All persons under (a) and (b) above who are liable to register, and those who have registered, but are not performing their train ins, and fail to do so on or before the 21st inst., will be prosecuted. The place of registering and reporting foi training is at Group 5, Headquarters, Driilskod, Buckle street, Wellington.

The Union Company's steamer Pateona is still delayed at Wellington owing to inability to obtain firemen as a result of trouble following the discharge of one of her stokehold staff. Two trimmers joined the vessel yesterday, but there are still vacancies for six firemen. As reported in these columns yesterday, the Anchor Company's smaller passenger steamers Kaitoa. and Nikau will maintain the Wei-lington-Picton-Nelson service during next week. Instead of leaving 'AVellington at 12.45 p.m., as previously announced, the Kaitoa will get away at 1.45 p.m. on Mpndays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for" Picton, Nelson, and Motuoka.

A well-attended meeting of ratepayers and householders of tho Newlands and Paparangi districts was held on Thursday evening, to consider a letter from the Education Board to the Johnsonville School Committee proposing to close down the infant side school at Newlands. The proposal has created much surprise and indignation in tho district, where the school has been a valued asset for over ten years, catering for the education of children up to the third standard, who, if the board's proposal is carried into effect, will have to trudge too groat a distance for children of tender years, and this on tho dangerous Ngahaui-anga gorge road, crowded at school times with motors and live stock. After lengthy discussion and much testimony to the usefulness of the school to the district, It was unanimously agreed to use every effort to retain the sohool for tiie children, and to this end a deputation was appointed to wait upon the Board of Education to see if their unwarranted action cannot bo cancelled.

Thoro recently arrived in Napier threo Gorman machine-guns and a trench mortar captured in France by troops from tho Wellington district. The trophies havo been presented to tho oity by the , military authorities, and they will shortly bo placed on exhibition. One of the guns was made in 1016, and is complete in all details including the tripod. This weapon is in excollent condition, and bears no mark showing that it had been used in the great war, although signs are not lacking that the gun has been used. It has a special fitting whereby tho water jacket would bo kept constantly cool by circulating water, when a supply was available. A similar gun, built m 1914, but without the tripod, has aso been sent. A trench mortar is ako included. It has* a range up to -tOO y.rds, and is of the usual type of such weapons. The other gun is a smaller class of machine-gun, a weapon that has been much knocked about by bullets and shrapnel. Tho waterjacket has been pierced over a score of times, and the operator must havo had quite an exciting time before he abandoned the weapon, if he was fortunate enough to do so. Tho trophies are at prosent in the office of the citv engineer (Mr R A. Williams). The JS£r nn, T? ?f ?" fOUl ' PkCeS iS in S° od order It « interesting to note that m,,? t ? ? S ";' Uch nre similar w oro X„ %l f '" tc '." va!s of two years. That tho first design gave satisfaction is proved by tho fact that no alterations were mado m tho second gun. These trophies will bo later placed in some publio place as mementoes of the doings of New Zoalandera in France

Tb© Post and lislegraph Department advises that from June 10th code addresses will not bo permitted in cable messages. The address and signature must be indicated by the Christian and surname of the 'addressee and the sender respectively.

Under the auspices of the Wellington Social Democratic party, Mr P. Eraser will deliver an address on "Crime and Punishment; the Need for Tolerance and Common-sense," in the Alexandra Hall, Abel Smith street, on Sunday evening, at 8 o'clock.

The Wellington and southern portion of Returning Draft 165 will arrive at Wellington at 4.4 S o'clock this afternoon by special train. An enclosure lias been erected at the Thorn don station specially for next-of-kin, and admission can be obtained only on presentation of next-of-kin passes.

A defendant in a case at the Magistrate's Court yesterday said he speeded up his motor-cycle in order to avoid a collision. A collision took place, and Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., said that human life was not to be treated in an off-hand manner, as was done by some motorists, who think thev ehould have the whole of the road to" themselves.

The following findings of a district courts-martial held at Trentham Camp have been confirmed by the Commandant, New Zealand Military Forces:—For deserting His Majesty's service, Privates F. A. lloberts and C. A. Hood were sentenced to ninety days' detention. Two other men, for absenting themselves without leave, were each sentenced to fiftysix days' detention.

Bertha Wardle's state of health prevented her from appearing in court yesterday to answer a charge of selling adulterated milk. Mr T. W. Hislop, who appeared in" "her behalf, said the defendant's husband was going into camp, and she was going out of the business. Mrs Wardle was a poor woman, and the prosecution did not desire that a heavy penalty be imposed. In.the circumstances, Mr S. E McCarthy, S.M., convicted and ordered her to come up for sentence when called upon, on condition that" she disposed of her business within a month.

Applications for employment from returned soldiers are being received' daily at the Labour Bureau "which Im run in conjunction with the office of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, states Mr Thomas Bohlson, th© local secretary. .Employment of almost every kind is asked for (skilled and unskilled), but owing to the evident slackness of the season, difficulty is being found in placing the majority in suitable positions. For information it is stated that the returned soldiers' labour bureau is established entirely apart from any Government institution, and appeals to every employer to communicate with the bureau whenever a vacancy occurs.

Education Board members are elect, ed for a period of four, years, and the Act of 1914 also provides that half of the members shall retire at the end of .t.wo years, being eligible for re-elec-tion. The retiring members are selected by ballot, and the members of the Wellington Education Board so selected are:—YVellington urban area (City, Karori; Miraariar, and Onslow), Hon. J. G. W. Aitken and Mr T. Forsyth ; Hutt and Petone boroughs, Mr G. T. London; Hutt-Horowihenila ward of the rural.area, Mr J. Kebbell; Wairarapa ward of the rural Mi A W. Hogg; Marlborough ward of the rural area, Mr R. McCallum, M.P. Nominations close this month.

The Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, Acting-Fostmaster-General, has received_ notification that the following are 'information bureaus in regard to prisoners of war:—Germany: 1. Bavaria: Zentralkomitee vom Roten Kreuz, Abtoilung fur Kriegegefangene in Munchen. Brionneretrasso 53. 2. Abteilung VII.a, of Wurttemberg: Landesvereins Vom Roten Kreuz fur Kriegsgefange-nen-fursorge in Stuttgart, Neuer Schloseplatz 1, Akademie. Spain: Head office of the Spanish Red Cross, 65 Rue Atocha a Madrid (Asaniblea suprema de la Cruz Roja espanola, Callo de Atocha 65. Madrid). Turkey: Commission of prisoners of war of the Turkish Red Crescent Society.

Beryl Caton in the Magistrate's Court yesterday admitted being the ovrner of a dog which attacked Mary Thompson in Marama crescent. Inspector Marsack said that the defendant had promised to keep her dog chained up, as the animal had bitten several people. Mrs Thompson was walking along Marama crescent when the dog attacked and bit her so badly that the wound had to bo cauterised by a doctor. The dog had been destroyed on the authority of the police. The defendant was convicted and ordered to pay £3 3s medical expenses and £1 9s costs. Tho magistrate said that the decision of tho court would prevent any civil action that might bo contemplated by the parties.

Percy Kirkby, the man who was arrested when leaving the s.s. Hinemoa tho previous evening, appeared before Mr S. E. McCarthy, r S,M., yesterday morning to answer a charge of stealing 21b pork, a tin of curry powder, a tin of marmalade, lib butter, a tin of spicp, six dozen eggs, and a cauliflower, of the total value of £X, tho property of the Now Zealand Government, ivir M. Luckie, wlib appeared for the accused, said he desired a remand till Monday, but this was objected to by Inspector Marsack, who said that the vessel might not be in port after Sattirday for several days. If bail allowed it should bo substantial. The amount was not much, but the goods stolen were ship's stores and tho offence was serious. A remand was granted till to-day, bail being fixed at £SO and two sureties of £25.

It is expected that the conference between the Minister for Public Health (the Hon. G. Vv. Russell), the "Wellington Hospital Board, and tiho representatives of the various contributing local atvttiorities, will bo held within the next fortnight. At the conference the local authorities will have an opportun.ty of stating the grounds upon wh.ioh they object to the Hospital Board's levies for the current year, n.nd the procedure adopted will be on the linos of the Hawke's Bay precedent. Before the conference the objecting authorities will bo asked tc stale as fully as possible the reasons for their protests, so that the board may have as soon as possible al! the necessary information to enable, it to make their explanation. The Minister trusts that the local bodies will limit their statements to dcfinito matters of complaint, so that the conference will not drift into a "general bombardment," aJid the business may bo expedited.

The Court of Appeal (First Division) has been adjourned, until Monday, June 24th, at 10 a.m.

"Tho simplest definition of honey we can give is—ithc nectar of blossoms distilled and elaborated by tho houey bees in the hive or bee laboratory."— An extract from a paper read at the National Beekeepers' Association yesterday.

A prohibited .person named Patrick McEnroe was discovered by a constable leaving the Brunswick Hotel. He admitted having imbibed beer, and yesterday Mr S. B. McCarthy, S.M., convicted and fined him £2, with costs; in default he is to go to gaol for fourteen days.

Among the, producers v of tho Dominion ibandicapped by the shipping shortage are honey makers. During a discussion, on this big problem at yesterday's conference of the National Beekeepers' Association, it was stated that there are at present in store awaiting shipment 700 of' honey.

Owing to the absence of two of the principal witnesses, the case against Archibald James Stanaway was adjourned by Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., yesterday, for one week. Stanaway was charged with stealing 6ix tins of condensed milk, valued at 4s, the property of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Steamship Company.

Myrtle Lilian Coley and A. B. Saunderson were jointly charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday before' Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., with obtaining goods to the value of £2B from the To Aro Drapery Company by means of a valueless cheque with intent.to defraud. _ On the application of ChiefDetective Boddam an adjournment was granted till Friday, June 21st.

For leaving a motor-car on a street without being sufficiently lighted, Hugh C. W. McKellar wa ß fined £l, with 17s 6d costs, by Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., yesterday; and Frederick George Wakeling was fined £3, -with £1 13s 6d costs, for riding a motorcycle on the wrong side of a street. The motor-cycle collided with a motorcar. Both vehicles were said to havt been travelling at a fast pace.

The practice of depositing doad animals on the hill behind the wireless station proved expensive to Eddie May when he came before Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., yesterday. May, who was fined. £5, with £3 16s costs, had thrown a dead horse or two andsomo calves in a hole, and placed a few stones on the bouies. A nuisance was created, and the defendant is to b«. fined £1 per day for each day he' allows the nuisance to continue.

Robert Brassell, for whom Mr H. F, O'Leary appeared, pleaded guilty before Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., yesterday, to charges of refusing to leave a tram platform when requested to do so by the conductor, and refusing to pay his fare. It appeared that the defendant had a drink or two, and boarded a tramcar with a monkey. He did not remember any of the ciroumstances. The magistrate, in fining him 10s, with £1 Is costs, said he supposed the defendant did not charge the passengen on the car for the amusement caused by the monkey. . .. ■-„•., -,...

Speaking on' the good value oi honey at the annual conference of the Naihbnal Beekeepers' Association yesterday, Mr R. W. Brickell said that the most interesting aud significant article he had read on this matter was recently published in a physioal culture journal. The significant statement was made that in treating tho spread of diabetes throughout the United States, that refined sugar and ;reflned starch ihave been "U-boatmgV. the stamina of America, and that there was good treason to believe that honey does not have the same ill-effect upon the human system that sugar does, and thoie is very good reason t<? believe that diabetic patients to whom Ui'gar in any other form ib poison,can consume honey.

I Much amusement was caused in a i case heard before Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., yesterday. Joshua Heard, an old man, seventy-one years of age, sued Margaret Lockett for assault and damage to property. The complainant, when giving evidence, denied having liquor in his pockets, and refused to allow Mr H. F. O'Leary to Search for it. He made humorous answers to questions put by counsel, and convulsed the court by his manner and assumed dignity. The magistrate, in finding for the defendant, said her evidence and that of her witnesses were credible while that of the plaintiff and his witness was not. The defendant was allowed £1 13s costa. Mr P. W, Jackson appeared for Heard, and Mr B F. O'Leary for the defendant.

"The circumstances jn this caee art somewhat peculiar," said Mr E. M. Beechey, who appeared for Lavington MoWilliams at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. "Three informations art laid against the defendant for allow. ing stock to wander. Ho is a returnee soldier, and goos about on crutches, The defendant leased a piece of land, and fenced in part of an unformed road. The City Council decided to form the road, and took tho fence down, with the result that tho defendant's cattle wandered. MoWilliams was not in a position to fence the property, but if given a month would undertake the work. Ho has to go into hospital to undergo an operation to his leg." A penalty was not pressed for. The court convicted and ordered the defendant to come up for sentence wher called upon. '

A Wellington boy, writing to hit father from "Somewhere in France," says:—"Things, as you are no doubt aware have been very lively of late. The German did not get much of » reception from the Wew Zealanders. We drove him back several miles in one attack. Ho counter-attacked, but did not ,vm any territory. The fighting for most part, was in the open, and owing to the fict that the riflo and bomb were the chief weapons, and also to the absence of artillery fW fi,« ti r • foI,OWB thou «** it good fu . lhe hvmg was rough, and 6ometimes a week elapsed without our baring removed our boots or having a ihX!; a !„„??*• and mo ™ oftcn than not the .weather was cold and showery. The food was of a pleasing variety, and re^i + ° nCG f WCre W ° rcduced t 0 *>U *<* ccssity of going without. This wal when Fritz had directed a woll-aimed snot into the cook-house, and thoueh nobody m, hurt, all were disappointed \\e have had rather cold weather ov^r here this R prm s , but it should not bo