LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7918, 14 August 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Semple, Cook and Co. will be released from gaol in a month ’s time.

.To-day is the first anniyersary of he sinking of the British transport loyal Edward, in the Aegean Sea. with great loss of life. * 1 Why not give a universal old-ag< >ension, irrespective of earnings, and my for it by an increase in the deatl luties?”—Remark by Mr R. P. Hud ion (Motueka) in the Budget debate. Government offices throughout New Zealand will be closed on Monday 14th September, in celebration of tin enth anniversary oLthe day on whicl Slew Zealand was created a Dominion

Y.M.C.A. coupons of the value of 3d mch, bound in booklets for sale at 2; •id and ss, are now on sale at post jffices. Goods to the value of eacl •.oupon may be purchased at an) Y.M.C.A. hutment or canteen.

The military “round up” in Dun jdin district has netted a few rathe: “bad” cases, including at least tw< who had become expert in dodging These two were passed as medical!) fit, and promptly sent to camp. In a note commenting on the dis posal of patriotic funds in our issue >n Saturday reference was made t< f he Church Missionary Society a: vpplying for a grant. This shouh iave been the Church Army Society. “I have tried to play the gam< right from the beginning of the war n the interests of the Empire, and im going to play the game to the end >f the war,” said Mr W. A. Yeitcl •luring the course of his address oi i he. Budget. There are at present eight returned •■oldiers in the Napier Hospital and ieven others in the out-patients’ do partment. At yesterday’s meeting of he Hospital Board it was decided t' i rect a building for the soldiers alone where they could study or pass away Mieir time.

A return has been asked for in Par ii ament by Mr Glover, member foi Auckland Central, showing the num her of licensed hotels now beinj managed by the Public Trustee on be half of widows, orphans, and others and the districts in which such hotelire situated.

Although the price of tea has already been raised by 3d per lb. ii Dunedin, the Invercargill retailers dnot intend to raise their prices in the meantime. Furthermore, the Invercargill grocers have lodged a«strong protest against the action of the northern retailers in raising their orices for stocks already on hand.

The licensed victuallers of Hawke’s Bay have decided, in view of the iteadily increasing price of spirits and the increased duty, to increase the price of the “nip” to ninepence, the change operating from to-day. As a guarantee that there will be no breakaway from the agreement the pub licans of Napier and Hastings have each lodged a deposit of £IOO. A shop for the disposal of produce n aid of the Wounded Maori Soldiers’ Fund will be open-in the premises adjoining Mr W. D. Pattison’s on Saturday under the direction of Mrs Topi Roberts. A large variety of goods will be on sale, and it is hoped that the nublic will their patronage freely. /

A settlement has been arrived at between the Wellington Gas Company and the seventeen employees who recently left the company’s service, by which the labor difficulty ha? been brought to a termination. The terms of the agreement are that all >f the employees are to be reinstated, ind the dispute concerning the conditions of work and rates of pay are t< be referred to the Arbitration Court.

Sir Joseph Ward states that tin question of filthy bank-notes has been brought under the notice of the banks. f o whom further representations are being made. The statement was the result of a question by Dr. Thacker, whether the Government would at once deal drastically with the filthy, infected bank-notes in circulation, and increasing in numbers. Information has been given the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association that no firing parties will be supplied for funerals of returned soldiers except at the cost of the Association. Firing parties arc to be permitted only in cases where the deceased received a medal. Mr Poole asked the Minister for Defence if the Government was going to refuse a complete military funeral to those heroes who came back and died: Sir James Allen replied that in a few days he would make a statement to the House.

The duty on tea (writes a Parliamentary correspondent) is being condemned all round, and may encounter some organised opposition when the taxing legislation is before the House. Of course, the insidious cigarette has no friends among the members, but just now the additional duty placed upon this luxury to the youth of the community is being used by some of them as an illustration of what will happen in the case of tea. The further duty placed on cigarettes amounts to something like a farthing on the packet of ten, but the retailers, who so far have paid no extra duty at all, are already charging 7d a packet .in place of the former 6d. The Auckland prisoner, Birch, who was the subject of an interesting brain operation with the object of removing a cranial pressure, believed to be responsible for fits of criminal violence which have resulted in his committal on a life sentence, has recovered his health. He was recently removed from the Auckland gaol hospital to the Waikeria prison farm, where he will be given light employment and where he will secure improved environment, which should enhance the possibility of effecting a complete cure.

No opportunity is lost bv v M’Combs of condemning com, l lervice. In the House on Friday le stated that New Zealand J ‘distinction and disgrace” o fj /he first overseas Dominion i D • hat some of our Reinforcement* ,o be forced to the front at the* >f the bayonet. “It is not an ible distinction,” said Mr M’r

“It makes me cross; here th has been on for three years * leems as if the men who have« longest to go are going to get yj reatment. ’ ’ So said Lieut.-C(J Hughes during a discussion at a ng of the Wellington War Reli, (ociation. Continuing, he deph ill the talk of special trains ’eave, dancing, etc., and the on >f expensive buildings for men would have no time to use Every available minute, he ihould be spent in training. A spirit of morbid curiosity Q i man to be brought before the •din Police Court for refusing m order of the Court while h :ases were being heard. It j. that this man, despite orders t# iway, returned to the Court anj istening in the passage way. a aken into custody, and aftertb business was finished he wash before the magistrate. A reported that while in the Com he defendant had attempted to >ne of the women in the custody ;aol matron. For this net thei trate imposed a fine of £5, iji seven days’ imprisonment. PERSONAL ITEMS, Mr T. Talbot, assistant at ( works, has resigned his positi he Council invite applications! oost. Mr S. W. Strang, who forli ’wo years has been manaa Waipawa practice of Mr H. F. has purchased the latter’s iptq he practice, the change taking Rate effect. A Press wire from Hastii cords the death of the Rev. Augustine Keogh, S.M., 8.A.,i years. Deceased was a nativei I in, rector of St. Patrick’s ,| from 1901 to 1909, nnd parishn Hastings from 1909 to 1915.