FLASHES.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 1 March 1917, Page 2

FLASHES.

Parliament meets on March 15th, The Kaipara Dairy Factory are calling tenders for additions to their office. It is reported that there is increasing anxiety in Holland, owing to the fear of a sudden raid by Germans to obtain food. The Minister for Railways has announced that after the summer season a drastic curtailment in railway services will be made. Don't forget to attend the send-off social in the Star Theatre to-morrow (Friday) evening, to local members of the 24th Reinforcements. Tickets are for sale by members of the committee. The Army Council is enrolling women for war work in place of men. Already 30,000 British women are doing work as | motor drivers, cooks, and waitresses in France. We are glad to be able to record the fact that Mr H. F. Mirams, our local stationmaster, is now about again after his serious illness. Mr Mirams left for Taihape this week, and it is hoped the change will prove beneficial. Warrants are out for the arrest ot those men who have failed to comply with notices to go before Medical Boards, and also those who have been missing when their drafts left for camp. A special meeting of the Town Board j was held on Thursday evening last to | discuss a lighting scheme for the township, but after considering the greatly increased cost of material owing to the war, the matter was,held in abeyance, and things now stand " as you were !" * The tents at the Featherston Military Camp hold eight occupants, and in soma cases the names of the men give a distinctive name to their special tent. For instance, there is the " Bird Cage," which contains an Eagle, a Robin, a I Parrot, and a Chook. All ladies are invited to attend a meeting, convened by the Helensviile Branch of the Women's Patriotic League to be held this evening (Thursday) in Stewart's sample room at 7 p.m. The object is to arrange matters in connection with the Carnival which is to be' held on Easter Monday.

The Helensviile Platoon of the Kaipara Defence Rifle Club will parade on Saturday, 3rd March, at 2 p.m. On Sunday, 4th inst., the Platoon will parade outside the Defence Office at 10 a.m , for the purpose of attending Church Parade, to be held at the 15th (,N.A.) Regiment's Camp.

»There are some comic surprises in store for you when you see Ford Sterling in " His Father's Footsteps " (Keystone), which is one of principal attractions at the Star Theatre on Saturday evening next. He makes some quick changes from the role of stern parent to that of a victim of the charms of his son's sweetheart, and the fun is fast and furious. The supporting programme includes a splendid Vitagraph drama " The Shadow of Fear," and a film of great interest entitled "African Wild Life"; also episode 17 of " The Broken Coin."

At noon on Thursday last Dargavilla was the victim of one of the biggest tidal floods in its history. From the Bank of N.Z. to the Central Hotel communication was cut off from shops on both sides qf the street, and all the proprietors had %q do was tq stand at their doors and watch things, Several well-known citizens, to whom time was money, doffed their boots and socks and waded bare-legged to their destinations. At one period the Central Hotel was completely surrounded. The Kaihu creek ran a banker, and the wharf at the junction of the creek and the river was awash.

The patriotic spirit of British women at this {.iine. qf national crisis is very fjnely illustrated by the sample of their shipbuilding- which was recently at Port Chalmers. The vessel in question is a new cargo carrier of aboiit 7,000 tons, which was built on the Olyde, The hull vasf principally built by women who, attired in masculine qethar- garments., did the plating, not hesitating to mount stages and clinch rivets on the vessel's top sides. The males employed consisted of boys and old men above the war age.

See " Jelfs" —the picture that has delighted thousands—showing on Wednesday nex| at; tjie |>tar Jtheatre. It is a story cleyejrly" wovpn^jgumif the exr periences and adventures—botn extremely humorous and quaintly pathetic—of a big, breezy young Canadian cattleman who is called to London to talce. charge of the ojd-esiabjished Bank of the Jel?s. The leading role is played' by'"Henry Ainley, one of the best actors of the day. " A Safe Investment,^ featuring Mr and Mrs Sidney Drew," is another splendid item on the programme.

Speaking of the bad weather conditions last week, our Dargaville conternpoyaty S aya :—passengers from Hel#a;pua l <a d ftn ' unp^aAlg e'jgepjwie' The full force of the gale was felt as the vessel emerged from the Helensville Creek, and when passing Shelly Beach things were piping. Those on board looked forward with dread to the passage across the Kaipara Heads, but Captain Ross kept his vessel up to the gaxyau Shoal anfj {hen bore away to tneiightjiduse, -wrch the-result that little or'no 'Buffeting^ was: "felt "b9 those'bn' boar^. Qn entering \^airoa wafers the gale Julled, and although the trip was a l^gi-rap -jjed one, the passengers were loud in their. ' pra}se'" Qf 'tlje skilfu) navigation of the fleet commodora.