LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12243, 15 February 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Minister of Defence has been advised that one of the New Zealand hospital ships has reached a port of call. The Minister of Railways has written to Mr G. Witty, M.P., stating that after recommendation it has been decided to exempt New Zealand-grown fresh fruit from the second addition of 10 per cent made to the railway rates in November last. In reference to the case, heard by the First Canterbury Military Service Board at Rangiora on Wednesday, of George H. Bridget, who appealed, and for whom his father appealed, the latter explains that his appeal was not proceeded with. George H. Bridget, who is a Second Division reservist, was placed in A Class, and appealed to bo removed to B, on the ground that he had adopted a son in July, 1916, before the Second Division classification was announced. The appellant not having been medically examined, the board reserved its decision until the examination was made. / An employer who appealed at the First Military Service Board yesterday said lie had 200 acres of heavy wheat land, capable of producing 70 bushels to the acre, hut that only 20 acres were cultivated this season. Members of the board wanted to know what the man appealed' for had been doing. “ Well,” said the employer, “ there is a lot of work to do about a. farm in fencing, and so on.” The chairman (Mr j. S, Evans, S.M.) pointed out that it r]id not require a first-class farm hand to do rouseabout work. An essential thing nowadays was to produce wheat. The appeal would be allowed for a period, to see if the farmer did something with his labourer to counterbalance his loss to the military side of the State. During the hearing of an appeal at the First Canterbury Military Service Board yesterday, when an appellant, hau stated that attention to an orchard comprised one of his duties on the home farm, the chairman (Mr J. S. Evans, S.M.) suggested that it would be well if the State could see that the Agricultural Department took charge in such work and arrangenients were made to draft conscientious objectors into the vacancies. The appellant here interjected : '■ T may have a conscience as well.” The chairman was commenting on the raisin" of such difficulties at that period, when counsel for the appellant said there was no intention of doing so. The incident closed by the chairman’s remark to the appellant that “ there is no use developing a conscience now.” The “ Timaru Herald ” states th.at Air Mark Saunders, with a persistency worthy of the highest cause, still continues to work on the eastern extension mole with the object of harnessing the sea in sufficient volume to run all the industries of the town by electricity. It is norv twenty-nine years since Mr Saunders first started on this project, and though he has met with difficulties sufficient to overwhelm the average man, he is still undismayed, and very confident of the ultimate success of his scheme, the completion of which, he says, would not be more than a week delayed if he had the power of the purse behind liis personal exertions. A matter upon which, at the time, considerable public interest wvas centred was an operation, authorised hy the Hon J. A. Hanan, while Ire held the portfolio of Justice, upon a young prisoner whose conduct was held to ho due to some pressure on the brain. In conversation with the Hon J. A. Hanan, a “Southland Times” representative inquired whether the desired results had been obtained. The Minister answered that as soon as he was sufficiently recovered from the operation, the young man was removed to better surroundings. He is now in the Waikerin. Reformatory, and latest advices report him in good health. Mr Hanan added that it was yet too early to pronounce a definite opinion as to whether the operation would produce the results which were hoped for when it was undertaken.

“ In the event of Mr Brandon being elected, will be denounce the Judgeship of Mr Herdman ” began a questioner at Mr Brandon’s election meeting at Wellington North on Tuesday evening. The chairman (Mr M. Myers) said that be could not allow the question to be put. The Supreme Court was the great bulwark of our liberties, and it was the one institution which should not be commented on or criticised at a public meeting. The questioner insisted on trying to put his question, but Mr Myers very firmly ruled him out of order, saying that, not only as chairman, but as a member of the of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, ho was not going to allow any question to be put which might reflect upon the Bench or upon any member of it. (Applause.) '‘There are,” ho added, “some matters of decency which we must everyone of us regard.” (Applause.)

Dr Fellows’ Pile Cones do not simply relievo the pain caused by Piles. They remove piles completely. From your jnemist or A.M. LOASB?. XI