TOWN EDITION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14607, 17 May 1918, Page 4

TOWN EDITION.

Cpl. Douga.ll, of the staff of the Director of Recruiting, Wellington, is at present temporarily" assisting the ballot clerk at the local Defence Office, and S.-M. Woodward, of Woodville, is also temporarily assisting tho Defence staff.

It is understood that a cargo of about 4000 tons of Newcastle coal which has arrived) at Port Chalmers lias come to the order of the Government for use on the Otago railways. The cargo (says the Otago Daily Times) will prove a welcome addition to the rather small existing stocks.

The Defence Office has received telegraphic advice that the following men by the returning draft No. 160 leave Aucklanjf to-morrow for Gisborne : Ptes. Bad^ey, Clark, Dunphy, Goodwin, Forden, Hydo. Jones. Mills. Mogford, Omies, Pike, Rapley, and ' Rua ; for Whatatutu,. Pte. Cameron;, for Tolaga Bay, Pte. Cranswick, Lockwood. and Onyonj for Qrmond, Ptes, Howie and Leggett : for Tokomaru Bay, Pte. Ramina; for Makauri, Pte. Rogers.

Advice was received by the district engineer this morning that the Minister had approved of the erection of a temporary bridge over the river at Motu to replace that recently destroyed by flood. The bridge will be a high level one, erected of local timber, and carry the traffic until the permanent structure is erected. No time is being lost by Mr. Armstrong with the work, which is regarded as one of urgency, tenders being invited m this evening's issue for the supply of piles and stringers.

Once, an airman relates m the Westminster Gazette, a Hun landed by mistake m one of our aerodromes m a mist. Being suspicious, he sent his observer to investigate. He discovered his error before his observer returned, and flew off. leaving his comrade m the lurch to be made a prisoner. After flying 30 odd miles m the mist, he landed m another British aerodrome, only this tima to be captured himself. Later m the day the Hun pilot and Hun observer were introduced to each other, and the Britisher had the joy of listening to their remarks, which surpassed m eloquence the glowing cadences of the majestic "Hymn of Hata."

Sir Edmund Walker, president of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, at a recent meeting, showed what Canada was doing to help the war. Their Imperial Munitions Boardl had disbursed £160,---000,000, and Canada had already turned out 49,000,000 complete shells. They were manufacturing high explosives, aeroplanes, and high-power engines for aeroplanes, steel and wooden ships. They were refining copper, zinc, and lead, producing brass, and assisting the United States with supplies. But they could no longer borrow abroad, and must dtjr pend upon themselves for capital and supplies, and he was proud of what Canada was accomplishing. In one year she had taken up £120,000,000 of securities. '

A powerful combination of British and Spanish industrial interests, involving an initial capital of £1,000,000, lias been completed between Messi's. Babcock and Wilcox and some of the most ' important industrial forces m the country, including the Altos Homos Company, of Bilbao, the only steel producers m Spain (states Mr. Filson Young, m the Daily Mail). The principal object of the combination, he says, is the manufacture of high-class locomotives, marine and land boilers, and solid drawn tubes on a new principle which will supersede the Mannesmann process. Works which will be by far the largest m Spain will be erected near Bilbao, and give employment to 2000 men.

' Upwards of three weeks ago a number of territorial officers were notified that they would bei required to go into camp. On Wednesday they reported for [duty at headquarters, where they, were j informed that they would draw a : sergeant's kit, and afterwards proceed to I Trentham camp. Some of the officers were m uniform and others were m mufti. Before they entrained they had lunched together at the Empire Hotel. The officers stated that they had volunteered "for service, but were not accepted on the ground that ther© were more officers available than were required. Hie scheme by which territorial officers are being sent to camp as sergeants is one that is understood to have been formulated by the Assistant Military Secretary's Office, and approved by the G. 0.0.

Lord Cowdray (states the London Daily Mail) has urged the necessity of passing an Act to nationalise the British oil industry. Unless such an Act is passed, the work, which is about to be done Tinder the Defence of the Realm orders will benefit not the many, but a few owners of land. The question is of \the utmost importance. Qur Navy and merchant service are becoming more and more dependent upon oil. The American oilfields are within measurable distance of exhaustion. As vet oil . m paying quantities "has <not t>een discovered m the United Kingdom, but American experts are of opinion that it exists, though for efficient working national control is necessary. We hope that, m Lord Cowdray's words, '.'Parliament will not allow this necessary industry to be sacrificed on the altar of indecision."

I In connection with the case m which Alfred Brown (Mr. Willock) sued Andrew McCullough (Mr. Burnard) for £4 10s 9d, plaintiff saidl he told defendant there was a great risk m using a bevel pinion? wheel which had a flaw m it. Defendant wanted it put m for the raaes, which took place next day. About a week later defendant asked him about the wheel. Witness communicated) with the makers m Napier, and they undertook to supply another for the one put m if it broke. A new wheel was procured, and 1 accused then refused! to pay for it. For the defence it was contended! that plaintiff gave them to understand that a new one , would be supplied if tho one with a Haw broke. He did not order a new one. His Worship said he was satisfied tho plaintiff ' Avas not entitled to succeed. Judgment was given for defendant, with costs £3 Is.

! Speaking to a Herald representative to-day, the Mayor said that he was afraid the proposed soldiers' hostel for Gisijorne, -which. had been the subject of 'representations to tho Hon. W. D. S Mac Donald, would havo to be abandoned, insofar aa the use of the nurses' home at the old hospital .grounds was concerned. The Salvation Army had' offered the Hospital Board £62 a year for a 30-year lease of the grounds and £1000 for tlie buildings, paying off the same at ithe rate of £100 per 'annum. The Board had accepted the offer respecting the building, but had fixed the terms of the lease at £52 a, year for 20 years, and then, the figure should 1 foe subject to re-valuation. Mr Sherratt said' fhat whilst one might desire to be generous and assist the proposed hostel, the Board, with its heavy obligations, could' not afford to turn down an offer like that and grant tho free use of the premises to the Defence authorities. ♦ ' The Poverty Bay Spinning Society, which has been working hard for the last few months, wishes to thank Mr. Wm. Tucker, who has kindly consented to grade the wool. The ladies have) experienced some trouble m mixing the wools, and naturally appreciate the benefit of Mr. Tucker's experience. The society also thanks all who have donated wool, as they depend upon, the generosity of the farmers to enable them to continue their work. Owing to the labor and other troubles no doubt occasioned by the war, the society has been unable to obtain its full supply of spinning wheels, but about 15 members keep the three wheels busy from Monday till Friday of each week. As the wool is spun it is knitted up by knitting members, and each member has th«f privilege of nominating- some' man on active service to whom the knitted articles may be sent. The society has already despatched several comforts, and lias a fair amount of wool now m the hands of knitters. No charge is made for membership, but postage of parcels is paid by those who nominate friends at the front to receive parcels.