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Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1917, Page 2

The Guardian four-paged supplement is issued to our readers to-day in the usual course. A recent letter from England states that a “ permanently unfit ” camp for New Zealand soldiers is being established at Torquay, in England. The idea, the correspondent states, is to draft all permanently unfit men into the new camp, and treat them there until there is accommodation for those well enough to be shipped back to New Zealand. A suspension bridge that Mr Joseph Dawson is erecting for Messrs Seiliert’s Flaxmilling Company over the Manawatu River will be 475 feet in length, and the longest heavy traffic bridge in New Zealand. It is warranted to carry a tramload of eight tons, One of the concrete towers is just about finished. It is sixty feet from the foundations, or fifty feet above the deck. The weight of the towers is estimated to be about a hundred tons.

The death of Mrs Jane Anderson, of Waitaha, is reported from Ross. The deoeased was an old resident of Donoghues of many years standing, where she reared a large family. Apparently the carrying oot of the new Borough bye-laws is being at tended to without fear or favor, Oue of the first victims was a visiting Town Clerk who fai ed to carry a light. The latest victim is the Borough lamplighter, wbo was noted oarrying out his duties without giving attention to the requirements ol the bye-lawe. TIIO lato Senior sergeant Barett Riuthlodge had been stationed for about; five years in Auckland previous iu which 110 was for many- years in w euingtanl. 'He was the particular enemy of the sly-grog seller his campaigns against whom in both Wellington and Auckland were attended with remarkable success. iSeniox- Sergeant R-uth-ledge who held the distinction of being perhaps tho biggest man in the New Zealand Police Force, was an exteimuy popular officer and his death while still in tho prime of life will be widely regretted.

On May 24th Mr W. E. Fortescue, of Cullensville, Mahakipawa, attained his one-hundredth birthday. Mr Fortescue, who is still hale and hearty and in possession of his faculties, has been seventyseven years in New Zealand, having arrived at Port Nicholson (then called Britannia) on January 4th, 1840. There are very few living to-day in any part of the world who can say they have lived under six reigning sovereigns, but Mr Fortescue can lay claim to this record. He was born in 1817, and was J hus a subject of George 111. for three years, and remembers in succession the passing away of George IV., William IV., Victoria and Edward VII,

We have been asked by parents send* ing children to school to draw the attention of the Borough authorities to the boggy nature of the Britt an Street footpath between Weld and Stafford streets, also the footpath on the west side of Sale Street, between Weld and Stafford Streets. Both footpaths are badly overgrown, with the result that pools of water and mud are in the footway. A number of school children use these footpaths daily, apart from the ordinary pedestrian, who, however, is learning to avoid tho wet and tbe mud bv making a detour by seme other street. The paths should be put m order for the winter months without delay to enable people to pass along dryshod.

Wrb reference to the request by the Westland Ghamber of Commerce to tbe Ur ion Steam Ship Company that the s.n. Maori should be delayed at Lyttelton on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to enabls through passengers and mails from the West Coast for the North Island to oonnect with the terry steamer, the Manager of the Company has advited the Westland Chamber as follows:—“Going into matter. Hope arrange. Will advise again.” If this connection can be arranged as asked for by tbe Westland Chamber it will be a great bcoa to passenger traffic as well us to commszoial people who have business relations with tbe North Island, and are in regular mail commuoioation. Tho present delay and uncertainty in regard to mail services is often very inconvenient, aud tbe connection suggested would solve all these troubles and delays. Au Australian who was at Gallipoli from start to finish said:—“l have been in two real fights—Lone Pine and Lagnicoutt. For sheer ferosUy and quick-killing these beat the rest hollow. Ths Germans at Laguioourt came on on a six-battalion front, and in seven linesThe hills were black with them. We fired until they were close, and then went for them. It was a case of buttends, bombs and anything haody. - After a bit Fritz lost k s head and began to squeal. 1 killed a German working a machine-gun with one hand, while he held the other hand above his head shouting “ Kamerad ” all tbe time. We reckoned that four divisions were wrecked that day. Over 2000 dead lay in front of the Australians. My battalion got to the Hindenburg line, but could not stay. It is a terrible trench, with a concrete and earth head cover almost proof against shell fire. The wire is sometimes 500 yards wide. But we shall get it. Few of tho B'ritzes there will ever see daylight again," The Defender is expected to crose the Giey bar at midday.

Tbe Success dredge washed no oa Thursday for a return of 34jzs Bdwis.

The grocers of Hokitika notify that commencing on Monday they will close their bnoiuess places on week days at 5.30 p.m.. instead of 6 p.m. daring the winter months.

Michael Noonan O’Brien, of Brighton, one of tho very old aud highly esteemed residents of the Bailer district, passed away at the Westport hospital on Thursday morning. Deceased entered the institution three days ago. Ha was 86 years of age, and had spent over fifty years in New Zealand.

After a lengthy consideration of itg estimates, the Grey Hospital and Charitable Aid Board resolved t> raise the wages of first year probatidners £2O to £25, second year prob itionors from £25 to £3O, third year probationers from £3O to £49, four year nurses from £SO to £55, aud to invite applications for two sisters at a salary of £BO a year, increasing to £BS and £9O, Four employees (housemaids aud wardsmaids) were granted increases of 2/6 a week. The total increases amount lo £l5O a year. Notice of motion tvas given to reduce *he secretary's salary from £250 a year to £175 a year, It was aso resolved to do away with the gardener, £IOO a yeer.

Hokitika ladies happiest knitting socks for our soldier buys while “No Hubbing” Laundry Help does the weekly washing.—Dee Bros. WOLFE’S SCHNAPPS Possesses peculiar medical virtues. For Ohronie Chest Complaint s Woods Great Peppermint Cure. 1/6, 2/6 The cable newß iu this issue aj3redited to the “Times" b?s appeared in that journal, hut roly where expressly stated io such nows the editorial opinion of the “Times.”