LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2819, 10 July 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An Australian mail only will come by the Manuka, due from Sydney at ;1 o'clock this afternoon. The tallest man at present in Trent ham Camp is a. driver in theA.S.C. His height is 6ft. 7in.

There was a vory largo numbor of soldiers in town r.n Saturday niglit ou leave, tho total being about 3500, including 1000 l'rom Feather,ston Camp, who returned last night. To carry this large number, a number of troop trains were needed, and Trentham railway station, between the hours oi' 3 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, wa3 a busy place. In addition to passenger and goods trains arriving and doparting, two long trains of empty carriages came out from town, and wera nmdo up into three troop trains, which left for town at intervals between the hours named, carrying over 2000 soldiers. Tho two troop trains from Featlierston passed through shortly after the last of these left. In the evening, an experiment was made by running a train from Lambton for Trentham at 10.25, in addition to the 11 and 11.15 p.m. train. All these were crowded. Important, improvements liavo beon made in tho lighting of Trentham 'Station by the erection of atout a dozen oil lamps, fitted with strong reflectors. Hitherto troops on disembarking at niglit have had to do so with only the lamps in tho carriages to light them on their way. It was reported on Saturday morning that a. whale had been wasfi.ed ashoro at the Run Round, a short distance from Happy Valley beach, in the direction of Terawhiti. Throughout yesterday a largo number of people journeyed out to the spot, wliioh is within fairly easy walking distance of tho Island Bay tram terminus; to view ' tho stranded crcaturc, which, although not as largo as tho ono that was washed-up between Lyall Bay and Island Bay a few years ago, is fullj 30 feet in length.. ,Tho whalo lies on its back on the rocky foreshore, and bears evidence of having been dead some time. Tiro men who were fishing from a flatbottomed boat near Petono ■ yesterday morning decided to change their quarters, and drew anchor with that object in view. A sudden change in the wind, however, mado it impossible for them tn pull tho boat alon?, and in spite of their efforts the littlo craft commenced to drift. Rapidly - casting anchor again, the fishermen hoisted a signal of distress attached' to an oa.v, which was seen by, Mr. A. Bittle, from tlio Petono beach. A few minutes later, Messrs. Bittle and M'Donald's motor launch was on tho scene, and the men- were speedily towed to safety.

"I spent some anxious, nights thinking of my son in tho trenches in France, said the father of a New Zealand soldier tho other day, "and was much relieved one morning when I got the following cablegram from London' Broke, send money. Bill.'"

Dr. Stephenson spoke interestingly en homoeopathic treatment at the annual meeting of tho New Zealand Homoeopathic Association at Dunedin on Thuwclay night (says the "Otago Da-'ly Times"). He said that no doubt surgery was the predominant branch, the most remunerative, and most attractive work. Tho remark had beon made tohim that at the conclusion of tho war there would be an endless number of good surgeons, but tho usual scarcity of good, physicians. This would be the case until homoeopathy assumed its proper place in the world. New Zealand was one of the most backward places as regarded homoeopathic treatment. Dr. Stephenson said that there were homoeopathic hospitals in London, Paris, Southampton, Edinburgh, and Birmingham, slid a considerable number of beds were set aside for the treatment of military and naval cases.. A special hospital lor 6oldiors )ras carried on at Neuilly, with physicians from' lingland and America. An old friend in calendula was proving a valuable) healing to thoso in the treatment of soldiers suffering from lacerated wounds, and liyperioum was also proving most efficacious suffering from nerve injury. and shock. In some cases a few globules of hypericum placed on tho tongues of soldiers who had received shock, and were enduring great pain, gave instantaneous relief.

A poll of ratepayers within tlio Fcatherstou County, adjaoent to Die town of Featherston, on tho proposal to "raise a loan of .£12,000 for tlio construction and installation of a hydro-electric power and lighting system, was taken on Friday. Tho result was: For GO, against 60. As a three-fifths, majority was necessary to carry it, tho proposal was negatived. Tho above was intended to be an extension of the scheme for supplying light and power for Featherston from the Tauherenikau River, on which a local poll was taken in January last, and was approved by tho ratepayers. This poll has Leon found to be invalid, and a fresh one will be taken shortly. The estimated cost of the work will be about ,£BOOO. The value of the bequest mado by tho late Mr. James Crawford to the Featherston Town Board will (says our Featherston correspondent) be about and tt is intended to uso the monoy in installing a drainage systom to cost about iC7500, including an additional reservoir for the water supply of the town. The plans are now being prepared, and tho work will bo gone on with, at an early date. — As to what France is doing in .tho great struggle that has been forced upon her by her aroh-enemy, Lieut. A. B. Sievwright, writing from "somewhere in •France," says: "It is a fine thing to noto Here tho whole-hearted support of tho people of France. to the war. ' They are all doing their own little work for ultimate victory. Womon, boys, and old men keep tlie land tilled and tlio farms going. Not a man of military age in Franco is to be seen out of uniform. On all sides there is confidence as to the final result, and in tho midst of their greatest war. they are able to say 'Bon Jour, monsieur,' with a smiling face." The call of the Empire appeals to different people in different ways. Olio young man of a statistical turn sat down and carefully worked out the ratio of killed and wounded to the total number engaged, and found tho percentage, in his opinion, very small. On the other side of the scale ho put tho opportunitjj of a trip round tho world, and other/ novel experiences attendant upon war service, and concluded it was a good snorting proposition. He thereupon enlisted.

The Anglican Synod will ;continue its sitting in Wellington to-day,- anil among the business set down for transaction is the consideration of the following motion, which has already been partly dealt with in committee:—"(l) That, in the opinion of this synod, it would bo in the interests of the country to close the bars of hotels and clubs at G p.m., nud also to forbid tho practice of 'shouting.' during the period of the war. (2) That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Government, urging them to bring in legislation to this effect, or to authorise a referendum on this subject."

For some time past tho number of horses in 'the possession of the Defence Department has been in excess of training requirements in camps, and as it would entail considerable expense to kesp them all ill the Remount Depot,-,these surplus animals have been turned out to graze until again required for service. In this connection great assistance has been rendered the Department by the patriotic action of some settlers who have taken Government horses on their properties, and are allowing tliem to be grazed free of any charge whatever. Tho gentlemen who have rendered this patriotic and valuable action are: Messrs. Allen Donald (Feathorston), S. Bolton OVoodville), J. D. Ramsden (ICumeroa), C. Peebles OVoodville), ,T. P. Jlackio (Kumeroa), J. Carswell (Woodville), AY. H. Gaisfonl (Oringi). A. AV. Green (Hastings). — Hamlin (To Ohi), and W. jM'JCenzie (Masterton). Tho following have now kindly offered to also take horses for grazlng on their properties: Messrs. .T. D. Ramsden and O. H. Druce (ICumeroa), and Col. Andrews, P.M.O. (Trpntham).

have beui operating in the Kelburn district of late, one house in Central Terr-ace Tiavijg been entered and another in Glasgow ftreet. ' It is reported thait in one case i big haul of jewellery was made. Despite the war, tha revenue from the Napier tramway contiiiies to increase.' Duriug June it was J2B more than for the corresponding peysf of last year. Sergt. G. Bitossi, of Wellington, writing to friends in Welington, says:— "The 'Anzacs' were male a great deal of everywhere in Frame, and half the men arrived at their joii-ncy's end without buttons on their,_oiorcoats, or' liat' badges, and many of iipm minus-tlie little collections of Egyjtian coins they had saved up to take blck to New Zealand. At every station (ho French girls begged for a 'Souvenir, nessieur!' Tho anniversary of the landinr at Anzac was celebrated by holding a. lancruet, which brilliant nli'air was over by Captain May, with Sergiaait J. J. Medley as lion, secretary. • TicL'p. were five toasts—"The King,' 'The jWacs,' 'Army, and Navy/ 'Our Ain 'Fallen Comrades.', Songs were attributed by Sergt. G. Bitossi, Sergt. -JL Hunt, Privates G. B. Duggan, G. Hacldey, W. March, W. Todd, A. ,R. Boulter, (i. Polworth, and Corporal

The possibilities of sudsxjs attending' the efforts of the AnieficalT aviators, Messrs. Curtiss and Wanamansr, in their proposed flight across the Atiintic; from New York to Europe in a. single flight, are again receiving much piblic attention in America. The inal&ine being built for the flight is ft giant iriplane of larger proportions. than anything, yet attempted, mounting motors capsible of developing 1800 horse-power. One-expert, in discussing the proposed undertaking, points out the fallacy of the project, citing as his reason' that thai development of aviation has not suf&jmtly advanced to- warrant continuous 'Jfi&ltt of 30 hours. ■ In quoting figures the,\3xpert in question points out that it .is' a recognised fac.t tlmt the average maeaiue does not weigh less than llib. per hojejeripower, also that no practical aero motmi lias as yet been constructed that uses 'IBss- than O.Gib. of fuel and oil per h.p. ktnuy and that the air resistance at a speed of 70 miles.' per hour of any machiiie built could not possibly be less than oiiip-sixtli of the weight. Based on these Die weight would be equivalent Stn_3oll>. per h.p., which, it is pointed out, pre. eludes at present any clinnce of tiuccess for a 30-hours' transatlantic flight

At about 3 o'clock on Saturday noon two young men, Vera cm Smitfe and Maurice Carmody, wore riding motorcycles along the Main Hutt Kosd towards Trenthami when just as \they readied' tlio Lower Hutt Bridge \ tlio cycle ridden. by Smith sirorred, and struck Wo railing, throwing the off. The injured man was taken a passing: era' to Dr. Hector's surgery,.and was later removed to the WellinpMi Hospital. A rather grim relio of the days ~of Trafalgar is contained in a fasn of &tirgical instruments which occupies a prominent place amongst the recent quisitions at tho Canterbury Museum i {says the Ohristcliuriih "Sun"). Thie*j' were the property of a naval shrgeep> Dr. Morris, and a letter written by lii'w under date of Hay 14, 1881, states tb thoy had been used in upwards of liW cases, beginning with the Battle . erf Trafalgar, in 1805. Subsequently tlio;,-'? came into the possession of Dr. Itedmnni of Picton, who presented them to tlnv Grand Lodge of Freemasons of ■ Newf Zealand, - with instructions that they 1 werß to find a final resting-place in the ' Christchurch Museum. Tho lodge disposed of them for .£558, as a. result'of an art union in aid of the AVar Fund . for wounded members of tho fraternity. The instruments are as keen and bright as they were in the' days when they they woro wielded in .the cockpit of one of the old English "wooden walls." Tlio museum authorities intend to make full inquiries and endeavour to ascertain on what ship the instruments rendered their service.

The recent southerly caused a motor boat, about 45 feet in length and 12 feet beam, to break anchor at Evans Bay, drift across tho harbour, and eventually find a resting-place on the Pctono beach, on Saturday morning, close to tho junction of the Horokiwi and Hutt.Boads. The oraft, tho 'construction of which was only partially completed, contained very little gear, and, strangely enough, boro soarcely any signs of any "buffeting." The owners visited tho locality yesterday, and carried out tho initial steps of launching and towing tho wanderer-home again.

"Tho hearts of many fathers and mothers sink within them," remarked Chap-lain-Captain D. C. Herron to an "Otago Daily Times" reporter, "when tlieir boys go away, and they think that within seven or eight months they may bo in the firing-line;, but all of ns do not realise that, the biggest battle that many a man will ever be called upon to figlit will be i during tho first ten days of camp life. , A man's attitude during those few days will often determine tho wholei of his earthly career. Broadly • speaking, there are three classes of people—those who morally are definitely on the up grade; those who aro just as obviously on tho down grade; and between theso two the great 'host that might be termed neutral. Once in camp a man quickly realises that thero are no neutrals there, and that that very large class must be reabsorbed either among thoso who are going up or going down. A man is compelled to make his decision either to buckle on his harness and _fig"ht as he never fought beforo or to drift with the stream." Captain Herron; who is a chaplain of the Presbyterian Church, is visiting Dunedin just now from Tr.entham, in order to secure urgently-needed additional accommodation and comforts for the men. He is appealing especially to Presbyterians, of whom there aro 011 an average 1200 in Trentham Camp alone.

"As regards our men being better than tlie Bricioh, ;r is 10 a slight extent correct," writes a Canterbury soldier at present serving with a British regiment in France. "The Australians and Now Zeaiaiulers are, \on the average, mere seasoned and better developed, and have more go about them, whereas a , great many men in the British regiments neve;- left the vicinity of their homes before, and have hi*(l a more or low easy life of it. But if'you could see the Highlanders lyiflsj out in front of tuo lui&j where the ad-vance in the attack last September finished, every man firing in the ri<*ht direction, rifle in hand as 110 fell, vou would say there was nothing in it alongside the British, troops. 1 can tell you I am proud to say I have good Scottish blood in my veins."

Owing to expansion, of .its business, the Dunlop Rubber Company of Australasia, Ltd.; has increased its capital from 520,000 JEI shares to 1,250,000 .£1 shares. In order to carry this out the company lias been reconstructed.

For ileii who wear good Caps. W® have landed a supply of Tress's "stitched mascot," lrom ss. lid. Geo. Fowtds, Ltd., Manners Street.—Advt.

ladies, we aie glad because' you are clad about the great success of "No Rubbing Laundry Help" for washing all clothes clean without rubbing or injury. Wellington Grocers—Advt.