LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16824, 28 November 1916, Page 7

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A fire destroyed Butler Bros. 5 saddlery warehouse at Brisbane. The Hon. Jas. Allen has received advice that the 17th Reinforcements have reached their destination. It is unofficially stated that the Federal" Government is exempting gold, mines from the operations of the proposed war profits fax. The amount of taxes paid to the Gov■ernment by the Canterbury Jockey Club in connection with the recent spring meeting was £8677 7s Bd. The "Wairarapa Age" states that1 the soldier who was reported in General Orders recently as having heen corn-t----in artiaited and shot in France for desertion, twice deserted before leaving i New Zealand. Probably the first lady ticket-collec-tor in New Zealand is Miss W. Mitchell, of Oamaru, who on Saturday and Monday (says the "Mail"), was to be seen on Mr Searle's motor 'bus exercising her novel calling most successfully. In connection with the annual Tara-naki-Wanganui Methodist Synod, holding its sessions this week in Wanganul, a conversazione of welcome will be held this^evening in the Trinity schoolroom, at 7.30. An address of welcome will be extended by the Rev. C. A. Sims supported by Mr. John Jones. The Rev, A. B. Chappell, M.A., of New Plymouth, and Mr Harris, M.A., LL.B., or Raetihi, will reply. The Minister in Charge of the Police (the Hon. A. L. Herdman) announced on Saturday that Inspectr Norwood, of Invercargill, would gc to Wellington to take the office of superintendent of the district vacated by the promotion of Mr J. O'Donovan to the position of Commissioner. Other changes among senior officers will yet be necessary, but these are being held over meantime. Until the series of changes <:an be made, Invercargill station will J>e administered from Dunedin. For the first time for 350 years a Presbyterian Assembly in any part of the world has elected as its Moderator an elder. This action was taken by tlie General Assembly of New Zealand at Satutday's session, when it unanimously appointed the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., Moderator-Designate for next year's Assembly. The Hon. Mr Aitken has been closely connected with St. John's Church (Wellingtn; ever since his arrival in New ZealaL-u 34 years ago, and has been an eid^r for over 30 years In accepting tiie ofiice Mr Aitken said nt first he was absolutely against the idea of an elder occupying the position «;f Moderator, but it was represented that it was the unanimous wish of the AsswnMy and that it was wrong to decline the call. The "Mataura Ensign" reports that what shouJd serve as a warning to parents who have sons at the front has occurred in the case of Mr. R. McBride. of Charlton, who has three sons at the front, and one proceeding thither. A cablegram was received by Mr Mcßride on October 28, ostensibly from one of his sons, stating: "Well. "Expect to go on leave. Cable thirty 8.N.Z., London." Knowing the na^ ture of his son, and being sure that lie was not in financial straits, Mr McBride did not accede to this request, and the wisdom of his action is proved by a letter received a few days ago from the son concerned, stating that he was recovering from his wounds in Brockenhurst Hospital, and that he did not need money." In a v,ery short space of time the number of returned soldiers on the register of the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department will reach 6,000, the exact number shown in the progress report issued by the Hon. A. L. Herdman on Thursday being 5986. Of these. 5099 cases have*been disposed of, and 501 are still under consideration. The number of men who have work to return to, or hav,e re-enlisted, or returned to military duty, is 2168, and the number placed in employment is 1194. Those men who do not require assistance total 1157. At present there are on the Employment Wanted Register 158 men, ofvwhom 33 are registered m Auckland, five in Christchurch 22 in Dunedjn, and six in Wellington. Says the "New Zealand Times," Private F. Thompson (one time of its literary staff), who was previously reported missing, is now reported as killed in action at Gallipoli on Auril 26, 1915. Private Thompson was in Queensland when the war broke out, and he enlisted in the 3rd Australian Brigade. His regiment, the Ninth Infantry, formed the advance party at the landing, the last message received from him, written from Lemnos a few days previously, stating:— "We of the Ninth are to >be particularly honoured in three days' time." From information obtained from a survivor, it appears that his company was cut off by the Turkish reinforcements on the summit of Sari Bahr on the second day ashire, and fought to the last man. Private Thompson s parents reside in Feilding. Among those called up for service by the recent ballot is Mr. L. F. Pearce, of Makino. Speaking of this, the Feilding " Star" says: Mr. Pearce is a member of a v,ery well known family in the district. He has a brother chairman of the Oroua County Council; and another brother chairman of the Kiwitea County Council. He is 47 years of age, twice married, and has two sons, the el dei- of whom has been in camp for some months and is shortly to sail for th.c front. These facts should have been sufficient to protect Mr Pearce from the risk of a ballot with the First Division men. But there is another—he has only one ar*n! In filling up the National Register card, Mr. Pearce gave these particulars. Still, he has been drawn in the first ballot! "I am- the only conscript in the family," lie said to our representative. "I have been drawn in Jimmy Allen's art union and am getting ready to go. I have cleaned up my old muzzle-loader, and will shoot the Germans on the Avinf.1; or siting, whichever they like. All' that I ask is that they gi ve me an orderly to put on my tie, wind up my puttees'and lace my boots."

Trentham Camp is to have a "town clock." Mr. A. J. B. A'Deane, of Aslicott, Takapau, has presented a cheque for £50, to provide a camp clock. Mr. Randall Welch, of the "Rendezvous," has generously promised to donate his full takings to-morrow (Wednesday) as a prize fund for .races at the Swankers' Seaside Carnival on Boxing Day. The following cablegram has been received by his Excellency the Governor: "White open-work bandages, all sizes ;up to 6 inches, bandages of flannel from three to six inches, dysentery binders, splint pads, limb pillowS, facecloths, capeline and head bajidages, are articles most required." Calico bandages are not asked for.