NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10073, 11 September 1918, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

That during the forthcoming session, which is to open towards tue latter end of October, tho House of Representatives is to meet in the new Parliamentary Buildings, as promised last session by Sir William Fraser (Minister for Public Works), is very clearly indicated by the fact that the seats, desks, and oilier furnishings of the old Chamber have now been transferred to the new one, whore they are to do temporary duty. The final furnishing of the new Chamber is not to bo proceeded with until after tho war.

The R.M.S. Moana. is now fixed to leave Wellington at Z p.m. to-day for San Francisco, via ports.

Dast evening Plain-clothes Constable Russell arrested a young man on a charge of bigamy, alleged to have been committed at Wellington.

The Acting-Prime Minister (Sir iJamca Allon) wrote to the Karo-n Borough Council last evening, agreeing to perform the ceremony of unveiling the honours board in the council chamber on Monday next.

A Press Association telegram from Christchurch reports that “Pinewood,” tho ten-roomed residence of Mrs hiHay, at Idris road, Fendalton, was totally destroyed by fire yesterday. The insurances total £1460, in tho New Zealand office.

Major A. M. Samuel, president of the Wellington Trotting Club, stated at tho annual meeting, hold last evening, tlfat an attempt was being made to throttle all sport. Should this bo brought about, ho said, tho nation would deteriorate, as sport was the life of tho nation’s manhood, and concerted action should bo taken to combat all attempts to throttle it.

At tho next meeting of the Wellington City Council, the seat of the late Mr Robert Fletcher on the Wellington Harbour Board will bo filled. Mayor stated that in all probability tho vacant seat would be offered to Councillor C. B. Norwood. At the last Harbour Board election the run-nor-up to Mr Fletcher woe Councillor Norwood, with Councillor Hildreth next.

Sir James Allon has written to the secretary of tho Southland War Funds Association in reply to a letter that was forwarded to him from tho organisation, drawing his attention to tho position of reservists who, after being passed medically fit for active service with the Expeditionary Force, are denied tho opportunity of effecting life insurance through failure to pass the insurance doctors. Sir James has stated that this question has been under consideration for some little time, and that ho is now submitting proposal? to Cabinet which he hopes will satisfactorily meet tho difficulty which has arisen.

George Anderson Miller, who has made his appearance at the Magistrate’s Court on numerous occasions for insobriety and breaking his prohibition order, was committed to Roto Roa for 12 months by Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M. Miller was concerned about a pension ho was receiving, and inquired if it would be stopped. The magistrate said ho did not think so and as the defendant was in bad health a soiourn at the island would do him a lot of good. “It was my, pension,” said Miller, “I was afraid that it might be interfered with.” He left the court quife contented with his lot.

The exhibition of the works of the greatest French and Allied artists now fighting at tho front will he officially opened in Wellington in the Fine Arts Gallery next Saturday, at 3 p.m. This artistic mission is the only one of its kind, and is the rarest collection of works of art in existence. It includes about 500 pictures, originals and reproductions, and among them the original s of the great Raemaekcrs never published before. , Messrs Willy Rogers and Raoul Bigazzi, both soldiers released from the war, whore they have been serving their country for a long time, have been charged with this interesting mission. They will give_ a few lectures, accompanied hy official films. The exhibition will last only one week. The net proceeds will be for the benefit of French blind soldiers.

Wound up to talk until run down like a phonograph, Donald Mathieson made his fifth appearance at tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday, within six months, for insobriety. The accused was making a rambling statement when Senior-Sergeant Willis interposed and said “tho defendant* is the man who was before tho court on Saturday and made all sorts of protestations that he would leave the town at once if given a chance. The court extended leniency to him. and he left the court and filled himself up with whisky.” • “I am a shearer and it does not suit me to stop in town.’’ replied the accused. Senior-Sergeaut Willis added that Mathieson had £l6 in his possession when he left the court on Saturday and only 4s lOd remained when he was re-arrest-ed. The police suggested that they should look after his money and send it on to him up country, but he refused. " Mr Frazer, S.M., said he was in doubt about letting the defendant off on Saturday He would be convicted and ordered to be detained at Roto Roa Island for 12 months’ curative treatment.

■ A correspondent signing himself “An Old Comrade’’ writes to the “Times” as follows: —“In vour issue of September 9th, in which appears an alphabetical list of a Returning Draft No. 176, is included the name ‘5/315 Parkbill, D., Ireland,’ and thereby hangs a tale. The above bald statement marks the return to New Zealand of a well-known Irishman of letters, who, after his experiences of Gallipoli; till , the evacuation, and a good stay in Franco, is no doubt well stored with copy,' of which, I trust, we in New Zealand will have the benefit of reading. The abovenamed gentleman is a university man, and during the vacations spent them, as the students of old, tramping through tho continent of Europe, and perfected his pronunciation by vonversing with all and sundry. On at least two occasions his gift of languages was of benefit to tho New Zealand Army, as he acted as interpreter in both France and Italy, both of which tongues he spoke fluently. This is one of the many instances of the strange mixtures constituting tho cosmopolitan army now thrusting the Allies to victory. of which I had many whilst a member of the N.Z.E.F.”

An urgent appeal is being made on behalf of Dr Barnardo’s Homes for their annual collection of half-crowns for the food bill fund. The provision of food for the largest family in the world (over 7000 children) is a serious problem in these times of high priceshast year 232,304 half-crowns were raised for this fund as birthday gifts in memory of the late Dr Barnardo, and the homea are looking to the generous public in all parts of the British Empire to raise more this year, because the need is greater. Six thousand and seventy-seven children have been admitted since war broke out. Two last year came from Singapore. Eighty-six thousand children have been rescued by those national homos in fifty years, and roared and trained and placed out in life as useful citizens. Thirty is the weekly average of admissions. Their charter is “No Destitute Child Ever Refused Admission.' There is no waiting list, no voting system, and no red tape. Hundreds of children of soldiers and sailors have been, and are being, admitted to tho homes for the duration of the war, and the homos are supplying the lack of necessary parental control. Tho homes feel confident, that readers will help them to save the children of the Homeland. Gifts will be welcomed by the honorary director, Mr William Baker, M.A., LL.B., at headquarters, RE to 26, Stepuoy Causeway, London,

In regard to a complaint mentioned in a paragraph recently published in the “Times” that coupons had been missing from letters received from tho front through tho Dead Letter Office, the Postal and Telegraphic Department states that notwithstanding tho fact that the Army Correspondence Branch has been in existence for nearly three years, not one single complaint of the kind referred to has been received. Tho work of the branch is controlled and performed in tho most efficient manner, and every possible effort L made to effect delivery of correspondence, and inquire into every matter brought under notice. It is possible, states tho department, that tho whole thing is the result of a misunderstanding on the part of complainant. _A groat deal of money is sent to soldiers, and on the return of letters containing valuables a notice, together with tho cover, is sent out to the sender, asking for a description of tho contents, in those cases where there is any doubt as to name and address. It is frequently found that the writers are unable to describe the contents, or that tiiey confuse them with tho contents of another letter. In one case a sender alleged that tho contents of a letter was a £1 postal note, whereas 5q worth of coupons was enclosed therein. The letter containing the postal note was returned subsequently. It seems, therefore, quite possible that the complainant may "till get back the letters which actually contained the missing coupons. Bv tho time letters hack to New Zealand for return to senders a period of at least twelve months might have elapsed since the date of posting, and consequently it is not to bo wondered at that the actual contents might have boon forgotten. During the last three month,- approximately 2000 coupons have been returned to senders, averaging £IOO a month.

The 46th Reinforcement Draft is to mobilise at Trentham this week. The Wellington quota will concentrate at Garrison Hall. Ruckle street, to-day, and proceed to- camp.-to-morrow. -

An historic cannon, which belonged to the ship Endeavour, commanded by Captain Cook has been offered to the Poverty Bay Institute. In 1770, while on the Australian coast, the Endeavour struck the Barrier Reef, and in lightening her six guns were thrown overboard. This cannon was the only one recovered from the reef.

The Church of England Military Affairs Committee has i’ust cabled Homo another £IBOO for the immediate erection of three more Church Army Huts—these are the Auckland No- 2, No. 3 and No. 4 Huts. Since the commencement of the present year, this committee has remitted no less than £11,644 for the purpose of building these recreation huts in the firing line.

Yesterday afternoon Hubert P. Morrison was fined 10s. with costs 7s, by Mr F. V. Frazer. S.M., for driving an insufficiently-lighted -motor-car. For allowing stoak to wander Len Thompson was fined £3. witli costs 7s, and £2, costs 7s, respectively on two charges; and Robert J. Dockery and Elton were each' mulcted to the extent of 12s. Richard White, for allowing a. drain to remain in an unsatisfactory state, was fined £3 with 7s costs.

Mr Justico Hosking yesterday delivered judgment l in the case- of Lazurus W. Balkind v. A-rthur P. Ralph, in which £29 was claimed in respect of a. loan of £25, bearing £l4 interest, of which the defendant had paid £lO. Defendant had asked relief under the Moneylenders Act, on, the ground that excessive interest had been charged. His Honour said that the sole question at issue was as to excessive interest. He allowed £lO for interest, and gave judgment for £2q i . i ,, No order was made as to costs. At the hearing Sir John Findlay, K.C., and Mr J. G. Morrison appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr P. Levi for the defendant.

The balance (about 4000 in all) of Class C of the Second Div ision are now about to be called up.« Their names, together with those of the usual accretions to other classes ,wilj he published in a Gazette Extraordinary on September 18th. By that time the medical boards will have disposed of all men drawn in the last ballot, and will be ready to commence examination of the new lot. •Second-Division--reservists who prove to -be fit will be'posted'to the draft entering camp in March. When Class O has been disposed!,,of there will be-no further-Second Division ballot until January, 1919, when the first selection will be made from Class D (married men with three children).

Mr W. G. idddell.SJL, heard, am action yesterday, ,a..Glaim made by Frederick W. Clayton, against Henry Stephens, and his wife, Elizabeth Stephens.-16 recover "the- sum of £l3 9s 6d alleged to -be due for rent and the value of some articles in a furnished house that were said to be missing when .the defendants gave up' j possession of .the. premises. The plaintiffs leased a furnished house in Pipitea street to the defendants at' a rental of £3 per week, and when they gave up possession on May 14th the arrears of rent amounted to £l2. After hearing the evidence the magistrate gave judgment for the plaintiff, for whom Mr M. J. Crombie appeared, for £l3 10s, with £2,.15s 6d costs. , ]

Two sailors, named respectively Alex Bogdoioff, a. Russian, and Louis Christensen, a 1 Swede, stood in the dock at the Magistrates’s Court yesterday. Bach man with’charged with drunkenness, and Bdgdoroff was called' upon- to answer a further charge of assaulting Christensen. Th'e' defendants were mates, and wont into- a hotel to have a drink. While there an altercation took place between them,' ’’and ’ ’'Bogdoroffi knocked his mate down. Christensen’s head came into contact with the counter, and it was cut to such an extent that the services of a doctor had to he obtained. Bach focused was convicted and discharged for insobriety, and Bogdoroff was ordered to refund £1 10s, which Christensen had paid to have the cut to his head attended tO. . ' Ir.-.-t-

Judgment was given in tho Supreme Court yesterday in the compensation case in which'the Duke Buildings, Ltd., claimed £1i;740 from the City Corporation on account of the severance of 10 feet frontage of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, in connection with tne Willis street widening. In tho hearing of the case associated with Mr Justice Hosking were Messrs G. H. Scales and 0. B. Morison,, K.C.. an assessors, for the plaintiffs and defendants respectively. Messrs M. Myers and G. G. Watson appeared-for the claimants, and Messrs A. Gray, K. 0., and J. O’Shea for the defendants. ■ Hi s Honour stated that tho award was ,by a majority of the court, Mr Morison not concurring with it. The, sum awarded was £4660, in full of all demands, including any claim made by Mr Dwyer, the licensee of the hotel, the corporation undertaking to widen the footpath to the same extent as further along tho street. The assessors’ foes were fixed at 60 guineas, each side to pay its own assessors.

Mr W. R. Riddell, S.M., delivered reserved judgment yesterday in the case in which Edward William Jackson, motor expert, of Wellington, claimed the sum of £3O fronl James Aldred, taxi-cab proprietor. The • claim was for damages occasioned to the plaintiff’s through,a. collision which took place on the Paekakariki hill on June 9th. The plaintiff was driving a small motor-car from Palmerston North in the direction of Wellington, and "when nearing the top of the Paekakariki.iull, a, car, .driven by tho defendant,- collided with plaintiff’s car. Tho magistrate, who visited the scene of the accident, said that possibly the formation of tho road was to some extent responsible for tho defendant failing to keep to tho Left side of the road, but on such a road and at such a corner it was absolutely necessary to give any approaching, vehicle, ascending the hill, half of the road. Had beenr dono,. the, court was satisfied the collision would not have taken place. Tho weight of evidence was agailist'the defendant, and judgment would bo given for plaintiff for £47 10s; with costs, £6 Bs. On a counter-claim ’for £76 KJi 2d, judgment was entered tor plaintiff. At .the hearing, Mr TV~Neave - appeared for Jackson, and Mr H. “F. O’Leary for tho defendant:' 1 '"

To-day is Bargain Day at Kirkcaldie arid Stains’. Lid., and the big bargain room simply teems with wonderful savings. Special line' of Ladies’ Glace Derby Lace ShodS,'" TJsual price 22s 6d; to clear at 16s’6d.‘ Cal] eaijy(Adyt.)