NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14401, 11 May 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Driver tho Magician announces that he will give one of his mirthfully mysterious entertainments at the School of Music on Wednesday, the, 36th inst.

_ It is vrohpMo that the National Efficiency Board at its next meeting wijl be .considering, the question of retail deliveries generally, which will include specifically -that of bakers' bread, but this (says the chairman. Mr W. Ferguson) has no connection whatever with pastrycook work.

A board conster.mg of Colonel Strono;, Lio'itonant-Oolonel Frederic, and Major F. Shand, opened a military inqViiry last week,at Port Chalmers into the allegations made recently By Dr. Bedford in"respect ■to':.the. sate, of stores by menibers'oi' the crew of a certaiii transport.

. The Anchor Company notify intend-1 ing passengers of alteration [n sailing time of s.s. Kaitoa.' Sho will leave' hero for Wellington direct on Sunday at /p.m., instead of on Saturday as previously advertised.

Two new British chemicals have been produced to replace the German photographic developer "metol," largely used in X-ray photography: and in cinematography. j

The name of W. S. Hull, of Manuka street should have been starred in the ballot list. He enlisted, about a-vear ago, and was rejected.

The Nelson Red Cross Committee yesterday cabled £1000 to headquarters, London, this sum including proceeds of the recent fete:

Eighty German prisoners of war — 75 privates and five non-commissioned officers—under a guard of British soldiers--have gone to work in the market gardens at Eveshani (England).

A German machine-gun captured from the Turks at Gallipoli by a party of soldiers in charge of Lieutenant Gordon Harper, of Christchureh, has been presented to Canterbury Museum.

The next sittings of the Supreme Court will be held In Nelson on Tuesday, June 19th.

The Commissioner of Taxes draws attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in to-day's issue that returns of income must bo furnished not later than Juno Ist. Forms of return may bo obtained at any postal money order office; thej- will net bo sent to taxpayers from the office of the Commissioner of Taxes unless written application is made for them.

Tho Government is concerned over tho fact that..so few'of the disabled returned soldiers are taking advantage of its offer to provide free tuition in technical schools (says the "Post"). It is thought that the reason probably is that the men find it difficult to main-, tain _ themselves while they are receiving instruction, and, in view of that, the Government has now decided to grant returned soldiers, under certain conditions, an allowance of £1 per week during their period of instruction, such allowance to be over and above any amount paid by way of pension.

An instructive meeting of tho .Nelson Poultry Association was held at Opie's rooms last night. Mr S. Y. Wearing, of Wakapuaka, gave a demonstration of Bantams. Many of tho members brought birds, and among the breeds represented were the Old English Game, Modern Game. Black Roce-comb, and Silver Sebright. The chairman (Mr J. Hockey) congratulated Mi- Wearing on his exposition, aad. on the motion of Mr N. Tibbie, seconded by Mr G. H. King, a vote of thanks to the demonstrator was accorded by acclamation.

Some difficulty was experienced by Mr F. 08. Loughnan, S.M., yesterday in arranging tho dates for the June sittings of the Magistrate's Courts In various parts of the district, and in discussing the matter with counsel, Mr. Loughnan suggested they might hold one of the sittings in the motor car while proceeding to the next place. He understood ,-that the Caliphs of Baghdad administered rough and ready justice under a tree. However the arrangements were made without recourse to the court in the motor ear.

It is with considerable regret (says tho Ash burton "Guardian") that New Zealand commercial circles have learned the news that two of the large cargo steamers trading between the Pacific coast of America and this Dominion have been requisitioned by the Imperial Government. The loss of these boats will be severely felt in the Dominion. ' . '

The Dunedin millers have received, a telegram from the Government asking them to supply answers to the following questions:—<l) How many sacks of wheat have you in store? (2) How many held by others for you Or on your behalf? (3) How long will the above quantities last your normal requirements? (4) How many tons of flour have you in stock?

Someone has evidently been trying to play a Joke uu Mr J. J. Corry,"Mayor of Blenheim. On the day preceding the publication of the ballot list he received, the following telegram, pur^ ■■porting" to be from the AdjutantGeneral at Wellington, which srteaks tor itself:—"Take notice you have^beon selected by lot for service with the Expeditionary Forces by ballot gazetted Bth inst. Notice and appeal form follow by registered post." j

An invalided soldier who arrived in Auckland this week, in speaking of London, expressed his surprise at the New Zealanders' impression of life in the great city. "I saw by one of your papers," he said, "that soldiers in London complain of the low moral standard of the average Londoner—of the female harpies and their influence on the soldier. It is a case of incident being exaggerated into a general statement. It is ridiculous for any soldier to express an opinion of London. There is certainly a sad condition of disease among some of the lower people, and morally they may be lacking i but m proportion to the population, London compares very favourably with colonial towns for morality and social i organisation. I am. .sorry that any soldier should give a too severe critic-^ ism of a city which has entertained" and cared for every man in khaki who <>has found himself there on-leave "

A new regulation in respect to passports of people arriving in the Dominion came into operation on May Ist. Previously visitors to New Zealand were allowed to retain^ their passports but under the new regulation the passP l Ort />,mUBt' on s^ival, bo handed to tae Customs authorities, who. will issue a receipt for it. On leaving' the Dominion the receipt must be returned to the Customs in exchange for the pnr-s----port. On arrival, also, the visitor— unless • from Australia— must sign a declaration stating w hen he intends to leave New Zealand. The passport, Wider the new regulations, expires. -on the. date: given by the holder" unless extended by the Minister^ f©r Internal Affairs,on application prior to tho o&tfi of expiry. In the case of visitors from Australia, it is not neeessarv to .stnto the date of return, the holder bein«required to-make 'application for the return of the permit 4S hours Wore the sailing of the vessel by which he desires to travel.

The Thermometer.- -At 3 o'oTnck this mormng tb« thermometer ontside this office registered 47 degrees. ' =

New Zealand's net annual liability on account of war pensions is already £300,000. ' J

The annual meeting of the Nelson Licensing Committee has been fixed for Thursday, <June 7th'.

On the eve of their departure from the Chatham Islands' to tlie mainland five reservists, P. Lanauze, J. Ritchie' P. Rua, N. Pinirau and A. Jacobs were entertained at a farewell social on April 26th, presentations bein<»made to each soldier. ' .' ■ ' &

Mr S. Ramsay is returning to Karamea (says the "Westport News") to arrange for the shipment of the Mangapapa machinery, which has been sold to an Otago firm. The scow Magic has been chartered to lift the machinery.

The Canterbury United District of the Ancient Order of Foresters nas decided to postpone the question of adopting the High Court scheme to aid returned soldiers until October, to enable all courts to consider the scheme.

It is not often at a trotting meeting that a horse goes out imbacked, but in the second race at New Brighton on Thursday (the "Lyttelton Times" states) one of the starters did not attract a solitary investment on the totalizator.

Last month Mr. F. A. Handcoek, of Myrrhec, enlisted at "Wangaratta (says the Melbourne "Age"). He is the eighth son of Mr. and Mrs. K. Handcock to be accepted for service. Five sons are serving in France, the sixth returned to Australia recently, and the seventh gave his life on Gallipoli. One son, 18 years, remains at home.

A native named Ruruanga, employed' on a launch" at Bowentown, was engaged in filling a benzine tank, first having placed a. light beside hun, when suddenly the benzine burst intonaine, in which the man Avas ehveioned. says the Auckland 'Star." The"-hair :m his head was completely burnea off, and before the fire on bis clothes could be extinguished he received sevcro burns on various' parts of the body. Though seriously injured he is' making a good recovery.

Two informations under the Shipping and Seamen Act were called upon at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, and were adjourned by Mr F. 08. Loughnan, S.M., until Thursday, June 7th, at 10 a.m. owing to the absence of the Collector of Customs (Mr. W. Devenish) from Nelson. Richard Gill Tregidga, master of the scow Pearl Kaspar, was charged with having between 26th February and 17th March, while making voyages between Puppnga and Nelson, employed Louis Allan McNabb as an engineer, the latter being a person who was not in possession of the' required certificate. McNabb was also charged with acting as an engineer while not in rwssession of the required certificates. The Hon. A. T. Maginnity appeared for the defendants.

Mr. J. P. Firth (principal of Wellington Boys' College) approves the proposal of the National Efficiency Board that the bigger boys and -girls going to the secondary and technical schools throughout the Dominion should do some useful work during their Christmas holidays to assist in meeting the difficulty caused' by the shortage of labour. All his boys" were extremely anxious to do what they could, and by working before breakfast and at lunch time had planted an area of the school grounds with potatoes.

A very plucky action was performed at the' Crane Wharf by Mr. "Don Seaton (says a Westport'paper). It appears that a girl, ten years of age, daughter of Mr and Mrs Bert Mackenzie, was walking along the-coaming of the wharf, and,flosing her balance^ fell into the river. It was a big drop from the top of the wharf to the water. Don Sea ton, noticing the accident, hastily flipped off his boots and coat, and at once dived from the wharf into the river, and after a struggle got the girl on to the stringers, and from there brought her back to the wharf.

"The Battle of the. Ancre" pictures, which were taken during the progress of the advance of the British forces, and a copy of which has been received by the New Zealand Government, v?6re screened hi the theatre of the film censor (Mr. W. Joliffe) in the presence of Ministers of the Crown, the Under-Seeretary for Internal Affairs, and other officials on Tuesday. The film, which i a 5000 ft in length, depicts the actual scenes—marching, fighting, "tanks," succouring the wounded, and the capture of Germans, all taken on tho 6pot. In all probability the V.M.C.A. will take charge of it and show it in the towns of the Dominion. Half the proceeds will' be to augment its war funds in France, and the other half will be donated to the Returned Soldiers' Fund.

Referring rt ircorlally to the coal strike, the ''Railway Review" says: "The miners have too rough-and-ready a method of adjusting grievances. They were aiming at the profiteering classes when they downed tools, but .the first people to suffer were' the wage-earners, particularly those in inland towns, who would have been deprived of necessaries had not a decisive step been taken to conserve railway coal supplies for absolutely essential transport of foodstuffs. Thoueh slower and less-, showy, the constitutional method of redressing grievances is more effective and permanent."

Lerore Mr. F. 08. Loughnan, S.M , at the Magistrate's Court yesterday bamuel Tyson (Inspector of Factories) proceeded against Henry Baigent, timber merchant, for a breach of the Ivelson Carpenters and Joiners' award m that lie employed a non-unionist and tailed to give the necessary notice to the secretary of the union. A technical breach of the award was admitted. A»r Lewis Baigent, manager of defendant's timber mill, stated that it «aa unintentional. Owing to one of trie office- staff going into camp and frequent -changes-in. the personnel -of ■the. men employed in the /sawmills, which kept him out of the office sixty per- cent, of his time, several matters,including the employment of the nonunionist, had been overlooked. As soon as he was made aware of the matter ho notified the union. The Magistrate- said he would not impose a heavy penalty, as it was not a breach of the law for the purpose of ovaning the law. If he had fconsidorod it nn intentional breach };e would JavA inflicted a severe penalty. Detoiidant was convicted and fined ]Qs