NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13791, 11 June 1915, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Tho Wellington Farmers' Meat Company, ot Masterton, has made a donation of £1000 to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund.

Nominations for the president, vicepresident and committee of the Nelson Jockey Club close with the secretary (Mr. J. Glen) to-day. V-

A peculiar mishap befell a farmer of Central Otago a few days ago, reports -•he Otago ''Daily Times". A heifer ho was milking managed to put his shoulder out of joint He suffered great pain during tho day, but in tho evening the same cow, by another sudden plunge, bumped the shoulder-blade back into place. Thin unconscious act of generosity- on the part cf the animal did not end the matter. As ";he result of the wrnnrh and the strain, the farmer is now i-i Dimedin securing special treatment i'or his arm.

The local branch of" the Post and Telegraph Olfiocrs' Association will hold' a reunion.a*, the- Foresters' Hall to-iiijjht i'or the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr W/T. Ward, Chief Postmaster, who has been transferred to Chiistrhnrch, and to members of tho Association, who are leaving for the iron t.

The effect, nf the decision of the Bay of Inlands electors is to give the Gov-(n-nmout forty mein))ers in tho House of Pa'prpsonlatives, or just half the '.fcivjigtii c-f tho cliamber. The Opposition c-oiisisls of thirty-eight members, fiero is ono Independont (Mr.lav lleuaro Northern Maori District), and one seai. still remains vacant (Tautnavunui) The position may be stated as follows.—Government 40, Opprwiion ,3R. Intloppndent 1, seat vacanrl. Total 80. The Taiimaninui by-election will take place cm .Tuesday next.

■ Members of the Lady Liverpool Committee are aske.d: to note from the report in to-day's issue that the meeting fixed'for Monday, next has been postponed.

The two young men who walked from Westport to Nelson in order to enlist whon-.fthey .found tho Westport quota full, presented themselves, for medical examination -'yesterday, - but were rejected as .they failed to.come up to the (standard -pf measurement required by the authorities, although organically sound. The men had thrown up. their billets, but have been" found employi ment on the Glenhopo railway works, ; where they hope to develop themselves j" sufficiently to pass the test later on.

• There was.a large gathering at the Oddfellows' Hall at Wakefield on Wednesday evening to bid farewell, to the Rev. P. B. Strongman j who has enlisted and leaves for Trentham to-day. Mr. Tvo. Tunnicliffo presided, and during tho evening songs were contributed by Mis.ses. Thomas, Burroughs, Mesdames McGowan, "Lightband, and S. Field, Messrs. Wheatley and Francois, a violin solo by Miss Currm, pianoforte riolo by Mrsr-M. Bird, recitations and addresses;.by Revs. P. B. Strongman, J. R. Dart, and A. A'shcroft, Messrs J. G. Wilkens, and F. Stallard. On behalf of the residents the district, Mr. F. B. Peart presented Mr. Strongman with a purse cf sovereigns, which was gracefully acknowledged by tho recipient. During the evening selections wero played by the band, and the proceedings closed with the singing of the National "Anthem. •* . -

At the Christchurch Poultry and Canary Show yesterday, Miss Ni'all, of Nelson, with eight entries in canaries, secured three first prizes, two seconds, ono third, and one highly commended award.' She.also won tho cup, and the ■special' 'prize for tho host bird in the show. It is- proposed to hold a public meeting in the City Council Chambers on .Monday night in connection with the Sick and Wounded Soldiers and their Dependents' Fund. The meeting will be" of a patriotic character, and it is hoped that it will be the means of widening public interest in the fund and further stimulating tho whole movement.

At the farewell and presentation to the Rev. P. B. Strongman, who has volunteered for active service, at Wakefield on Wednesday evening, Mr. Frank Stallard was .present on behalf of. the Recruiting -Committee, and addressed, the meeting on the urgent necessity of more', recruits for the New Zealand forces. Mr. W. W. Snodgrass, secretary of the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund, was also present, and urged the co-operation and financial support of the residents of W rakefteld and surrounding districts. A recruiting committee was set iro as follows.—Messrs. J. Hooper, K. Hodgson, I. Tunnicliffe, E T. Gibbard, W. Stringer, W. Newth, F. Pearfc, H. Homer, L. Baigent, G. j Robertson, H. Low, W. Fawcett, J. G. ■Wilkens, and W. T. Douglas.

Useful Presents for Ladies! Jewel Boxes. Scent Boxes. Hand Bags, Hair Brushes, Mirrors." Wrist Watches.— Louis Kerr, Jeweller.*

The riumtsr that speaks volumes in whisky—No. 10 Watson's.*

The Band of the 12th Regiment has consented' to play at the farewell to the Reinforcements draft to-morrow morning, and on the occasion of the patriotic meeting to be held on Monday evening, and the benefit entertainment on Tuesday., The question arises again, however, cf some of the players probably losing money through having deductions made from their wages for the time for which they are absent from their employment. It was recently KUggested tliat tin's matter might bo considered by the Empire Defence Committee. This hns not yet. been done, but, _in view of the value cf the band's services on public occasions of the kind here referred'to, committeemen think that an appeal- may well be made to .employers to facilitate the attendance of bandsmen at these- gatherings.

The "Trade Review' r says that a compilation of tho Government returns .'shows that for the seven months from October, 1914, to April, .1915, the net increase in exports from New Zeaiiiud as compared with the corresponding period of 1913-14 was £338,511, or .slightly over 20 per cent., which practically all arises from wool, frozen i: eafc and dairy prodiice.

__ The war provides topics for a number of excellent special articles in the Juno number of the "Windsor Magazine," to hand from Messrs Jackson and Co. Mrs Maurice Hewlett, the wife' of the noted author, and a wellknown aviator, describes the work of iho- pirirau in tho war. Sir, Harry Johnston has an ai-iif-V on Uie Camcroonp. wliore- hostilities aro taking j>!aci\ .li-.d K. H. T). Se-woJl t>ontrii])uto:a c'.iaitv articlo n'i f-.nnous footballers who are sor/ing with the forces. Soci'il c-iuniu'f's and the v,;ir is the subject oi rm arliclo by T\V. G. Fitzgerald! The fiction of tho number is <-o:itri!>uted by Ivlo-i PliHlfOTtls, Vr*'\. M. WhVw 31.'iv Edgintou, V/arv.-ick Per ping, and other well-known v> liters.

Tho Tlicrn onieter. —At S o'clock this rroini ="r iUf +!>«^r7no"",otev oui.sido this viiee roaistercd -11 dogrecri.

Poverty Bay expects to raise £30,000 By various patriotic efforts, including tho Carnival Queen gaieties. Over £25,000 has so far been secured.

The .soldiers' "police court" has been described by a "Wellington newspaper. It'is know?i.as "the'camp commandant's orderly-room," -md the commandant, Lioutenant-Colonol 11. H. Potter, generally presides. Two stalwart military police, siiinding sinartij to attention, anu a staff-sergeant-major acting as clerk of the court, are" jcgularly in attendance, while tho offenders against the rules and regulations of the camp are drawn up in line under special guards outside. When Colonel Totter has taken his seat, tho prisoner is brought in hatless and placed before the camp commandant, v. lvm the military police close up on cither side of ■him, still -standing smartly to atten■tion. Tho charge against tho prisoner is read out, evidence given, the prisoner asked for an explanation or to call c\idcnce on his own behali, and then his commanding officer is asked for a report. The sentence generally pronounced is the forfeiture of a certain amount of pay and so many da.\s "C B." While tho former is not popular' with the offender*., the latter is still less so; it means confinement to barracks or deprivation of lea.ro from tho camp during the time specified. When Colonel Potter is unable io preside, tho duties of judge arc- taken up by Captain N. Adams, .camp adjutant. The "supreme court" of the camp is the court-martial,' which, happily, is hold but seldom.

A person's liability in going into a hotel after closing hours, and then liavino- a drink, was questioned m tlio Feilding Court, when a man uns charoed with being on licensed promises at Apiti aftrr closing hours. Accordhv to the evidence tho accused went into the hotel after the dosing time to receive payment of an account. His debinr, after they were in the hotel, asked him to have a drink and then the police came m. His debtor was a lodger, "and iho question is,' saidlhP Magistrate, "can a lodger ii-eat a friend who is not a lodgr-r'r Tho law appeared to be this: 'Ii a lod"-("' takes a man into a hotel lor the puiTOse of giving- him a drink, the •\uest is imuroperly in the hotel : but if for any other purpose, as 'to sco him about, a'dop.' etc., and after he is m decides to treat him, he is entitled to clo so and tho inconvenient advent of the'police makes no difference." Ihe case was. therefore, dismissed. Aitor oiving judgment his Worship suggested that the licensing law should be amended \ lodger, he ,sai:i, could not take a friohd in after 10 .p.m. to have a drink 'jnly.'but provided-he took him in for some other purpose he could treat him to a drink.

There is considerable sickness among the natives in the Cook Islands, according to Dr. Norman, who has been relieving as Government medical officer ,at Rarotonga, and returned to Auckland by tho -Talune last week.

Support is being sought by the Patea Chamber of Commerce for tho following resolution: "That it is advisable, in the opinion of. this chamber, that in all contracts of local bodies for works, a provision should be inserted as follows: "That, except" v/here expressly provided herein to the contrary, all goods and material for use on this contract shall be of British or British colonial manufacture.' ' This resolution is to be considered at the meeting of' the Nelson Chamber •'■ of Commerce on Wednesday next. .

"All things come to those who wait," wrote the Clutha county clerk to a Wai? pahi resident a few days ago, when returning a cheque (long since replaced) dated September, 1911" (says the "Ma-t-aura Ensign). A postal box, fitted to the old railway and post office at Waipahi in its later years, and designed to deliver the goods, failed slightly in its duties, and somo 15 letters and postcards were' found between tho .raised bottom of the box and tho floor of the' building on its removal. One missive had served five years' - imprisonment, and will perhaps be nearly as old as tho box.

Apart from general slacknoss caused by the war/the high cost of living.has greatly increased the sufferings of tht poor in Auckland, and has. made it much harder/ for them to struggle along. Sister Esther, tho well-known worker Among the poor of the city, has appealed, to the good will of the'farmers to donate gifts of produce for the really deserving. ■

The people of New Zealand will be disappointed to learn that their gift battle cruiser is no longer in the first cruiser squadron in the North- Sea along with the Lion, the Tiger, the Queen Mary and the others; of the latest fast steaming capital ships, says an exchange. .Tho New Zealand has now been attached to a second'cruiser squadron of which the Australia is the flagship. This second, squadron S3 made up of those battle cruisers not equal in speed, or armament to the strongest and latest ships in the Navy. °.

Over 15,000 applications were received for Grlenmark sections, coming fioin about a thousand applicants.. There are 25 sections, ranging from 11 to 897 acres. The date of the ballot has not yet been fixed.

In the Supreme Court, at Wellington, oh the .7th inst., in chambers., on the motion of Mr. E. 8.. Moore, Mr. Justice Chapman grantee! probate of the will of the late James Drummond to Sidney James Cook and Thomas Hewetson the. executors named in the will