LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4590, 20 August 1923, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A large number of influenza patients in Brisbane have recently been experiencing prolonged and distressing attacks of hiccoughs. A leading doctor said that this was an unusual form of gastric influenza, but it was not entirely new feature of the disease, as a few similiy. cases had been reported during other epidemics. One patient suffered an attack of hiccoughs which lasted for two hours and a half. He was finally relieved by a hypodermic drug injection.

At. a meeting or the Waltotara County Council recently a letter was received from Mr G. V. Pearce protesting against payment of the Power Board rate. “I am forwarding my cheque,” wrote Mr Pearce, ‘‘as I have not time to contest it. A local body that will agree to collect rates from ratepayers for something they do not want and not likely to get for the next ten years are, in my opinion, nofc fit to be a local body.” The actingchairman, Cr. R. Farley, said the Power Board struck the rate, and the council was' compelled to collect it. It was decided to reply reminding Mr Pearce of the fact that he was a member of Parliament in 1918, when the Electric Power Board Act was placed upon the Statute Book.

“I believe the Lord does not warn anyone to drill who is going up to be a saint,” said a young man to Mr JBarton, S.M., at Hawera, when he appeared before the Court asking for exemption from military training on the grounds of a religious objection. He freely quoted the Scriptures i'support of his objection (says the Hawera “Star”). The applicant said he “did not think much of the Territorials as a- class,” and it was of no use one man speaking amongst the many. In reply the Magistrate quoted a passage concerning the little leaven and the lump, and pointed' out the great opportunity the objector would have as' a little leaven amongst the lump of Territorials. There was nothing in the New Testament' to prevent a man from carrying out his duties as a citizen. Mr Earton advised the applicant to think these things over, and dismissed the application.

A resident of Dunedin was supplied for years with vegetables brought by a certain Chinese, who gave entire satisfaction (relates the “Evening Star”). The customer moved to another house, and notified the Chinese of the shift, asking him to continue his calls. He did not call, and the customer could not for a time maka out why he kept away, 'till at last the explanation was forthcoming to serve the new house he would have to cross the tram line and thus intrude upon the beat, of another Chinese ! The incident shows how the Chinese systematise their trade, also how they observe a point of honour.

In the early days of Mudgee (New South Wales) it was a common sight to see convicts getting forty pr fifty lashes* Old records at the local Court, show that for being out late at night, getting drunk, and other trivial offences they received several lashes at the triangle. The severest man in those days was a magistrate named Furlong, who died suddenly one nighr at the Grattai Hotel. Two convicts were sent from Mudgee to bring his body to town in a dray. Overjoyed at the death pf Furlong they decided to indulge in a spree, and became very merry. On the return trip they selected the roughest parts of the road as a means of paying off old scores against their latp enemy, and cantered the horse, while they sang : “Rattle his. bones over the stones; he’s only a tyrant whom nobody owns.” They enlivened the neighbourhood with this ditty until Mudgee was reached, where the gaol environment sobered them.