TOURIST AND TRAVELLER

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1493, 5 December 1918, Page 36

TOURIST AND TRAVELLER

HERE AND THERE.

The Government has decided that alien soldiers who have loyally served abroad shall be allowed to take out papers of naturalisation. It is stated there is a keen demand in Auckland for hotel accommodation at Christmas time. Sapper R. C. Farr, of Maori Hill, Dunedin, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on the field of action. Approximately 10,000 reservists’ appeals and rehearings have been dealt with by the First Auckland Military Service Board during its term of office. About 6000 cases have been heard by the Second Military Service Board. * * * * Mr. C. Bell, an engineer in the service of the -Union Steam Ship Company, died of pneumonic influenza last week. He had been with the Union Company for several years, and was (second engineer on the Mapourika when he went into hospital. • • • • Austrian pencils are still to the fore, says the “Hawke’s Bay Herald,” others being off the market. It was noted that after Austria’s surrender her pencils arrived in the town in 12 hours. * » • • At a garden fete at Criccieth, England, in aid of the Red Cross, a walk-ing-stick that had belonged to Mr. Lloyd George fetched £l4 10s. * ♦ * ♦ Owing to the death of Mr. A. W. Young, of the Atlas Assurance Co., Ltd., Mr. Thomas W. Pilcher, chief clerk at the Wellington branch, has been appointed acting resident superintendent for New Zealand. * * * • Master Bearney Gardes, of Foxton, won the 100 yards championship at the recent school sports at the Sacred Heart College, Auckland. This is the third year in succession in which he has won this event, and he now becomes the possessor of the cup given for this race. • • e • Captain Hall-Thompson, accompanied by Petty Officer West, exploded the Gorman mine found at Wairongomai (Otaki). The explosion was plainly heard several miles off, and at Otaki, a distance of four to five miles, houses fairly shook and windows rattled. Mr. A. J. Knocks carefully took measurements of the hole made by the explosion, and found the circumference was no less than 84ft., the diameter 25ft., and the depth 15ft. Fragments of the casing of the mine were hurled in various directions, and many of the pieces were sent about 800 yards. There was an eager rush for fragments, which will serve as mementoes. « • • Mr. W. Lewis, of Wellington, an expert swimmer, recommends seabathing as a preventative against the prevailing epidemic. He suggests that for young and old alike salt water should be used not only for baths, but gargled and sniffed up the nostrils. In the case of people unable to visit the baths or beaches, the salt water, Mr. Lewis suggests, could be obtained in bottles for gargling purposes. * • * « “In view of the Mayor’s statement that Wellington is clean, it is interesting to relate the experience of some of the workers of Wellington Central,” said a worker to a “N.Z. Times” reporter. One party, a taxidriver and two women workers, entered an alleged house of two rooms, where the filth was indescribable. On approaching the patient, who was lying on a mattress that was rotting, the visitors noticed a whip lying beside the bed. On being asked what the whip was for the patient replied. “To keep the rats off. You keep silent and you will see the rats come out.” And so they did. This was in the broad daylight. West Indians were put on to the job of cleaning uo the house. When it was finished one of the men said he had been in the yellow fever regions, but had never struck such a den as this particular one in Tui Street. The tenant of this house is reputed to be a miser.

Mr. A. McCarthy, who has been Deputy-Registrar of the Supreme Court, Christchurch, for about six years, has received notice of transfer to a similar position in Auckland. Mr. Arthur Blacklock, of Messrs. Ross and Glendining’s Wellington staff, and Mrs. Blacklock, who have been on a visit to Japan, are now in Sydney awaiting an opportunity to return to New Zealand. * * * • Major W. C. Morrison, second in command of the Canterbury military district, died rather suddenly from heart failure following a severe attack of influenza. He saw a good deal of service with the New Zealanders in Gallipoli and France. * * =>• « Mr. Hector Swallow, of Palmerston North, who has succumbed to influenza, was a great swimming enthusiast, and last year had taught over 100 juveniles to swim. He was also secretary of the Palmerston North Swimming Club. In addition, he was an active member of the Orchestral Society, in connection with which he undertook the secretarial duties.

The value of minerals produced in the Dominion during 1917 was £2,589,817, and the value of minerals exported during the same period was £2,496,870, these 'figures being respectively £297,018 and £482,105 less than those of the previous year. ♦ • s> « The death occurred of Mr. Charles L. Innes, a well-known Hamilton resident, at Warkworth Hospital of pneumonia, at the age of 42. Mr. Innes was having a well-earned rest at Kawau after a short illness when he was struck with the prevailing sickness and was taken across to Warkworth, wher his condition varied and he passed away. He was head of the firm of C .L. Innes and Co., Ltd., brewers, a prominent Mason and a keen sport and a member of various clubs. He married the eldest daughter of Mr. C. Gillander, chief engineer N.Z.D.A., and was the eldest son of Mrs. Innes and the late Charles Innes. He was exceedingly popular with a wide circle of friends. He leaves a widow and five young children.

The Military Medal has been awarded to 5/241a Shoeing-Smith Harold Thompson, for gallantry on the field of action. His next-of-kin is his mother, Mrs. M. Thompson, 6 Carlton Gore Road, Auckland. # # » * The season has been a record one for the hauls of crayfish made at Opunaki, Taranaki. It is stated that the crayfish climbed the piers of the jetty, and were knocked off by sticks into boats. » • • • Dr Patterson, formerly of Canterbury, died at Hornchurch Hospital, England, a few days ago. Deceased was Mayor of Geraldine, and resigned office on his service being accepted by the military authorities, and he left as captain in the N.Z.M.C. _ * * * * *• Dr. Henry Pollen, who died at his residence, Boulcott Street, Wellington, from influenza, was one of the best-known practitioners in Wellington, and as Port Health Officer for some fifteen years past was widely known and respected by the travelling public and shipping authorities.

Mr. Edward J. Barry, Mayor of Ohakune, who succumbed to the prevailing complaint, was probably, the youngest mayor in New Zealand —only 29 years of age—and took a very active part in th e campaign that was started for the development and popularising of the Tongariro National Park. ♦ * • * Mr. D. D. Weir, chairman of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union, died from influenza at St. John’s temporary hospital last week. He was about 46 years of age and single. Early in the war period he endeavoured to enlist, and he was keenly disappointed at his failure to pass the doctors. * * * * “It has been a very pitiable thing in connection with this epidemic to find that exploitation has been practised in things necessary to save human life,” remarked the Hon. J. T. Paul in the Legislative Council. “It seems to me that some of our traders have lost their moral sense. They simply say, ‘The people want this

thing, although it is true that they may die if they do not get it, but we will get a certain price even if some do die.’ I believe we shall have to have a law against exploitation of this sort, and if the culprit is found guilty the penalty will have to be very severe. Ido not think that the majority of our decent traders will stand for this kind of exploitation, but it is practised, and in my opinion ought to be stopped.” “When are the services of officers, highly-paid men, to be dispensed with, or are we to keep a standing army in New Zealand,” asked Mr. George Witty, M.P. for Riccarton, in the House of Representatives. Many of these officers, he stated, had simply been walking the streets in uniform and swinging canes all the time. Sir James Allen stated that the officers in the New Zealand Army were the lowest-paid officers in the world, and the Government would possibly have to consider before long an increase of pay. Many of the officers, like Colonel Tait and Major-General Robin, for example, had been drawn from their civil occupations, and had made great sacrifices to come and take smaller salaries to do their duty to their country during the war. So far as the officers were concerned, as soon as the Defence Department could get rid of them it would do so. It was not keeping them on for the sake of doing so. Demobilisation was a very big job, and would require a considerable staff to carry it out. * * * * Mr. H. G. Ell ased the Minister of Defence, in the House of Representa-tives-whether arrangements would be made to allow the soldiers who have been serving in Egypt an opportunity to visit the Old Country before their return to New Zealand. Sir James Allen said that arrangements for the demobilisation of troops had been discussed at the War Conference. As far as he knew the procedure would be to embark men on service in Egypt at an Egyptian port for return to New Zealand. But it would also be arranged that men who wished to do so might have furlough in Great Britain if there were no reasons to the contrary. He would be very glad if this furlough could be arranged. ♦ • » • “I am certain that next year there is going to be a great dearth of flour in this country,” remarked the Hon. W. Earnshaw in the Legislative Council. “Owing to the position in Europe there will be a great shortage of wheat supplies, and if the Government are wise they will buy a couple of million more bushels from Australia than they have done.” * * * * The many beautiful tourist resorts of the Dominion are included in the illustrations in the Christmas Number of the “Sporting and Dramatic Review.” They open one’s eyes to the resources of New Zealand. * * • • The death has occurred at Poona, in India, of Lieutenant Clive Cracroft Wilson, of the South Wales Borderers, from influenza. Lieutenant Cracroft Wilson left New' Zealand with the 3rd Reinforcement as a trooper, working his way up to sergeant. In Egypt he sat for and obtained his commission in the English Army, and was appointed to the South Wales Borderers, with which regiment he took part in the fighting at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia at the capture of Kut-el-Amara and also Baghdad.

Lieut.-Col. John H. M. Hardyman, M.C., Somerset Light Infantry, who is said to have been the youngest lieutenant-colonel in the Army, has been killed in action in France at the age of 23 years. Joining up in August, 1914, he came by two accidents while training at a flying school, and then accepted a commission in the Somerset Light Infantry. He went to France in 1916 and had been wounded. He won the M.C. when a major, and was promoted colonel in May last. * . * * * Mr. Alfred William Young, superintendent in New Zealand for the Atlas Assurance Company, Ltd., and one of the best-known of th e younger underwriters in New Zealand, passed away in Wellington last week from influenza. He was 40 years of age and was a native of Victoria. He leaves a widow and two children. • v * « Mr. Blake Mason, one of New Zealand’s strongest chess players, died from influenza at Hastings on Wednesday week, aged 35. In the years 1903 and 1904 he was champion of the Timaru Club, which he represented with distinction in the telegraphic matches against the Canterbury, Otago and Oamaru clubs. In the 1904-5 congress (held at Oamaru) he made his first bid for the New Zealand championship. He was the youngest competitor (aged 21), and his thirteen opponents included eight whose names appear on the New Zealand championship roll; nevertheless, he took second prize, coming out of what was an exceptionally stiff ordeal for a debutant, only half a point behind the champion (A. W. O. Davies). This is generally considered to be the best “first appearance” ever made by any New Zealand colt. The late Mr. Blake Mason enlisted in 1915, and left New Zealand in the Seventh ments. He was severely wounded on the western front (at Flers), and returned to the Dominion when able to travel. He was a prominent member of the Hastings Boxing Association.

Mr. Harry Wellbourne, of Bellamy’s staff at Parliament House, died last week from influenza. Picturesque reaches on the Wanganui and Avon Rivers will catch the eye of tourists looking through the Christmas Number of the “Sporting and Dramatic Review,” not to mention the numerous other scenic and wonderland attractions given prominence. * • * • In these times of patriotic demonstration citizens have occasionally flown flags that they are not entitled to so use (says a Palmerston paper). No doubt they have been actuated by the best of intentions, but through ignorance they have committed a breach of the regulations concerning the use of the Royal Standard and several Ensigns that might cause them trouble. We are informed by Colonel Hume, officer commanding the Wellington Military District, that there are three flags that are not permitted to be hoisted and flown by citizens, although they may be used in certain decoration schemes. The first of these is the' Royal Standard, which may only be flown in the presence of a member of the Royal Family. The White Ensign is exclusively the Royal naval flag, and cannot be hoisted and flown by anyone on shore except in Royal naval barracks, arsenals, and coastguard stations. The other flag is the Blue Ensign, which is the flag of the Royal naval reserve, and is'flown by ships which are commanded by an officer of the Royal naval reserve, provided he has a sufficient number of his crew (based on a percentage basis) who are members of the reserve. Anyone on shore may fly the Union Jack anywhere; it is the national flag of Great Britain, and may be used at all times, except that it may not be flown by vessels at sea with the exception of His Majesty’s warships. People who have been to the expense' of obtaining a White Ensign may make it usable by having two or three stars sewn on the white portion of the flag. * * * * Arrangements have been completed for regular supplies of trout from Lake Taupo to be made available for sale in Christchurch. * * « * In the House of Representatives the Prime Minister announced that one of the measures to be brought forward before the session closed would deal with the liquor question. It is understood that the bill which Mr. Massey will bring forward will provide for a referendum of the people, with two issues—one being prohibition, with four and a-half millions compensation to the trade, with an interregnum of four years, and the other State ownership. It is proposed that the poll shall be held in March, and that a bare majority of votes shall suffice for the settlement of either issue. Should both issues be turned down, then the present system of reference to the people as to license or no-license is to continue, with the three-fifths majority provision.

The war expenditure of the Dominion had up to September 30 last, reached the sum of £51,400,000, including imprest advances outstanding. ♦ « < In emphasising civic responsibilities, the Minister for Public Health (Hon. G. W. R. Russell), speaking in the House, related several instances showing the shocking conditions existing in Auckland. He knew of one case where six Hindoos were lying in one room of a house where the sanitary conditions were simply awful. In another case brought unde r his notice, the father, mother, and four children were found in one room. Here, again, the conditions were a positive disgrace. He went to the Mayor of Auckland and warned him that if matters were not improved there would be great danger of a worse pestilence in the future. He had said the same thing to the Mayor

of Wellington. There was one thing certain, and that was that vested interests and money must not affect the responsibility of those whose duty it was to keep the cities clean. He repeated that the administration should be taken out of the civic authorities’ hands altogether. Dr. Newman: Do you intend to introduce a bill this session? The Minister: I will have no hesitation in placing my views before Cabinet with a view to getting a bill through. I hate to think what will happen to Wellington and Auckland if matters are not im proved within the near future. ♦ * » # To many Australians there are little plots of land in France which for many years to come will be looked upon as hallowed ground. They are dotted with the graves of the Commonwealth’s soldier sons, who in the flush and pride of manhood laid down their lives in the cause of liberty and

righteousness. General Pau, the gallant old French general, at present -a visitor to Australia (states the “Argus”), has given an assurance that the graves of our gallant men will be tended with reverential care by the people of a nation who know how to honour an ally. Steps have already been taken to record the last resting place, wherever possible, of each Australian soldier who has fallen in France. During the course of his stay in Australia General Pau has been asked on several occasions by the relatives of soldiers who had died in France whether they will be permitted to purchase the little plot of land where the graves are situated. In each case the general has taken particulars concerning the locality of the graves, and the names and addresses of the relatives in Australia. When he returns to France, it is his intention to place the matter before the French Government.

The death occurred in Christchurch on Thursday week of Mr. James Rugg, sen., a well-known W T est Coast pioneer. He built one of the first hotels in Greymouth, and for some time carried on the joint businesses of hotelkeeper and cargo-boat carrier. Soon after the breaking out of the Greenstone rush, he removed to the Greenstone Junction, where he also built an hotel and continued as a carrier by boat on the Teremakau river, and as a livery-stable keeper. He next went to Kumara, where he built the well-known Rugg’s Hotel, which he conducted in connection with lines of coaches, livery stables, and, later, motor cars, until a year or two ago when he retired from active life and took up his residence in Greymouth. He was 87 years of age. * ♦ * * PlatoomCommander R. A. Savage, who was recently reported as having been killed in action, was the son of

Mr. W. G. A. Savage, of Petone, Wellington. He volunteered for service at the age of 17, and left with the troopship Hawkes Bay in September, 1914. His first promotion was gained at Suez; afterwards he took part in the landing on Gallipoli, where he was wounded and sent to Malta. He then acted as principal military instructor, being promoted through all the grades. He, however, desired active service, and got to the front again, where he met his death. * nt • The Naval Adviser to the New Zealand Government (Capt. P. H. HallThompson), notifies in a recent Gazette that from 15th December all British ships of 1600 tons or upwards not registered in New Zealand and trading out of New Zealand must be fitted with a wireless telegraph installation and carry two certified operators. * * « 9 The falling-off in overseas traffic has naturally affected the Tourist and Health Department, says Sir Joseph Ward in his Financial Statement, but the revenue has been well maintained, being £32,935, or only £202 short of the previous year (£33,137), which was the highest ever recorded. The increase in prices of all commodities has resulted in a rise, in the expenditure from £45,782 to £48,732. After the war a large influx of visitors to the Dominion may reasonably be anticipated, and the valuable work of this Department will considerably increase, and the revenue of the office will be added to in proportion. * * * ¥ The total output of coal from the mines of the Dominion for the year 1917 was 2,068,419 tons, a decrease of 188,716 tons as compared with the previous year. A protest against the possibility of multiplicity of petty war memorials was made in the House of Representatives by Mr. H. G. Ell. He urged that the Government should interest itself in this matter in order that these memorials should be well worthy of the soldiers’ sacrifice. The Prime Minister replied that national memorials would be established, and they would be worthy of the men who had fought; but the details had not yet been worked out. The Government would provide headstones for all soldiers who had lost their lives, whether the deaths happened overseas or in New Zealand.