LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17063, 16 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is officially stated that owing to the labour troubles in Australia the intercolonial steamer sailings from Wellington have been suspended in the meantime.

A public meeting will be held in the Wanganui East Town Hall this evening at 7.30, Avhen Mrs. Lee Cowie will give an address on "The Strength of the Nation Movement." Mr. G. W. 'McCaul, president of the Wanganui KoI/'oense League, will preside.

Last night the Education Board received a request from the Mangaweka School Committee to "close the school early, to enable the boys to assist with the shearing. It was considered that the Sixth Standard pupils should be let off, but it would be ridiculous to close the whole school, as it would only mean the younger children playing about the streets.

The executive of the Beturned Soldiers' Association at Dunedin has decided to communicate with the Minister of Defence regarding the proposed holiday for the Main Body, pointing out that it is unfair to ask the men whether or not they desire to 'return. It was also decided, in view of the comparatively small number still left, to ask if it would not be possible to grant a holiday to the whole of the Main Body men still serving.

The Wellington Central Cbamber of Commerce has forwarded a letter to the Prime Minister regretting that the Government is unable to prevent the merger of the Union Company with the P. and O. Company, and urging the Government to assist in acquiring the controlling interests in the proposed Dominion Shipping Company as being the only apparent safeguard for the future of New Zealand's trade interests, which depend on a frequent and reliable service and reasonable freights.

The " Otago Daily Times" is informed that the New Zealand Refrigerating Company has now definitely de-c-Jded to erect a further store at Burnside for the coming season, if the material can possibly be secured, provide accommodation for frozen products. The addition will be. planned to hold 80,000 freight carcases, or a clear storage space of 240,000 cubic feet. It is also understood that a further addition will be made to the storns.e capacity of the Pukeuri Works, near Oamaru, as well as to the various freezing works of the company in Canterbury.

There were thirteen eases of diphtheria and nine cases of scarlet fevor in the Wanganui Borough during the past month.

To-day a deputation representing local and public bodies oh this coast will wait upon the Prime Minister to urea that tlie Government instal the hydro-electric power scheme as soon as possible.

Sir Joseph Ward announced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday that during the period of the war oldage pensions, widows' pensions, Maori Wnr veterans' pensions, and the pensions of miners suffering from pneumoconiosis, would be increased by ss. per week.

All money-order offices are to be opened in the evening from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. on Fridays, the 17th, 24th, and 31st August, and Saturdays, 18th and 25th August and Ist September, for the purpose of transacting War Loan business or withdrawals from the Savings Bank for investment in the Loan.

A magisterial inquiry is fixed to be held at Wanganui next Tuesday, commencing at J.U a.m., concerning the foundering of the N.Z. Refrigerating Company's lighter Dorset. The nautical assessors will be Captain G. Lambert, of Wellington, late (vf the Union Company's service, and Captain Sydney Holm, of Wanganui. The Collector of Customs at Wanganui reports that the Dorset struck the bar when she was crossing outwards, carrying away her rudder, rudder-h,ead, and damaging her stern-post.

An interesting suggestion for sharpening juvenile interest in the War Loan comes from Mr Robert. Darroch. headmaster of the Roseneath School. He suggests that the children of, each school—this, lie thinks, should embrace all classes of school, primary, secondany, technical and others—should organise their forces in a campaign for the collection of disused articles, sucii as bottles, paper, tins, and so forth, and with the money thus obtained pur* chase War Certificates in behalf ol the school fund. Thus, he says, would be established a nice little investment by which the school, and incidentally, of course, the scholars, would benefit.

Voluntary recruiting for the 34th and 35fch lleinforcements will be closed down on Saturday next, and a ballot) will be taken from among the remaining member*^ of the First Division of the Exoeditonai'y Force Reserve next week, to fill up such vacancies as exist. ,As no ballot was taken last month, and two drafts require to be filled, the ballot will thus be a double one, and it is expected that between 14.000 and 15,000 men will be called up/under it. This will leave some 7,000 men still m *he First Division, who will also be called up by ballot a month later. The taking of the tenth ballot will probably be cotnmttnced on Tuesday next.

Th« Chairman of tho Wanganui Hospital Board.(Mr T. H. Battle) has written to the Minister for Internal Affairs stating that it was understood at the' Hospital Boards' Conference that legislatkm xfoulJ be introduced so that Hospital Boards could raise a loan by security for an annual rate to cover interest »wid sinking fund. The chairman has pointed out that Boards would have less difficulty in raising money for hospital purposes, and that posterity would pay its share. The chairman is asking whether the suggested legislation is likely to eventuate this session. A similar appeal to the Minister is being made by tho Waikato Hospital Board.

An applicant w?n applied ?n tne Magistrate's Court at Wellington, on Monday, to be given the custody of his child, an inmate of a receiving home, said that he Went aWay with the Bth Contingent, and was invalided back to New Zealand after being an active service for 161 days. Before going away h© mad© an allotment in favour of his wife, but the authorities mislaid the papers and his wife was unable to draw the money until he had left the Dominion* Consequently she had to go out working, and permit the child to become an inmate of a receiving home. During the time he waa away, he only drew one shilling a day.