LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17066, 20 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

14th le/ OllT ing fcfe?""* <J*ted August from lhH* c? n *%W ci Mr Ma«*y trom the Prime Minister of Australia • *iS e;SP« Bt6r l Ol> Defe^ CG llas beei advised of the safe arrival at their des. tmation of the 26th Reinforcements, and also of the first portion of the 27th. The little boys charged1 with the manslaughter of a little girl schoolmate by undressing and pushing her into a stream; near Thames were fgimd not guilty ai the Supreme Court at Auckland.

hi the House of representatives on Jnday, replying to Mr McCombs, the 1 rime Minister said he was not prepar«d to say the time had come when we must conscript labour, but the time may come when Parliament would have to pass legislation to discourage idleness.

Speaking m the House of Representatives on Friday, in answer to a question, Sir Joseph Ward said he had heart, a good deal concerning the system of raising money by. means of premium bonds. He preferred, however, to wait the result of an investigation now going on in England on this subject before adapting the system, A special note on the subject of saluting appears m Trentham canm orders. Non-commissioned officers and men whilst on puss or leave from camp," it 15 stated, •• will be returned to camp iit once, and have their pass or leave cancelled, for the following offences:—(a) I<a;hng to salute officers; (b) wearing civilian great coats; (c) being dirty and slovenly." '

Ttvo members of the Women's National Reserve are required to assist with voluntary work at the Defence Uihce for a-nout three hours .each day hvo members have already been engaged in the work for the past tihree weeks, and have given great satistaclaction. Volunteers are asked to send names or ring up the secretary of the Women s National Iteeerve, 103 Bell Street.

ii^fW Inspector has informed the.Wellington Hospital Boaixi that eighty-three cases of diphtheria have been notified during the past four weeks, fifty-one being from Wellington City area. Tho j-pecial *axd at the hospital was so full at one time that the authorities had to place two patients in o»e bed Tho Hospital Board discussed the problem of the control of contacts regarding this at present as too lax ' but s-j full of difficulties that nothing seemed possible to be done beyond enforcing as far as practicable the precautionary regulations already in operation.

Anzae Day wa« marked by appropriate demonstrations throughout Australasia and Britain and was also celebrated by services in France. We have been privileged to examine a form of service used on Anzac Day at a certain base camp in France, when a very large number of men attended. A melancholy interest attaches to the form in question, as it was sent out by Rifleman James O. Gralbally, who was killed in action jvt Messines on • June 7th of this year, and who was present at the service.

A few days ago the Premier state* that no farms were changing ownership just now, owing to the high prices put upon ihe land. Inquiries in Feilriing, Marton, and Wanganui show that Mr Massey's statement does not correctly interpret the position. Many transactions are occurring, and land agents in all these districts report that all kinds cf farming lands are being .fold and bought, and business is brisk. As a matter of fact, at Patea and Rangitikei County Councils, held within tho last oouple of weeks, a number of transfers ti-ero put in for adjustment? in the rate books.

" With reference to •;•■<£,: telegram of August Bth, I regret tnat, owing to gifts for Australian troops having been rigorously resricted, and the greater difficulty experienced in finding space for the small quantities permitted to be carried, it is quite impossible to provide space to Egypt ( for New Zealand gift goods." The High Commissioner is being asked, in view of the above, hove gift goods can be sent to Egypt from New Zealand, and if they are shipprd to England, will they be sent on to Egypt.

Palmerston North Pirate football team visited Wanganui oh Saturday and defeiitj.i Old Boys by 5 to 3.

Messrs C. Quentin Pope (of the head office in New. Zealand of the Shaw Savill and Albion Co^ Ltd.) and Huon P. Gibbons (of the Wellington "Evening Post), are at present on a visit bo wanganui, and are staying with Mr and -Mrs A. E. Whiteford. St. Hill Street.

Hie primary, schools football finai was played on Saturday, the Avenue fechool defeating Queen's Park by six points to nil. During the game Ansl^y (Queen's Park) and Stoddart (Avenue) kicked at the ball together and the former sustained a clean break of his leg just above tiie ankle. The injured boy was attended to by Dr. Wall, and than amoved to his home .