LOCAL & GENERAL

Levin Daily Chronicle, 8 March 1917, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL

"German Aggression,;" "'P.iHze Crews' Bounty," and ""Chinese Canals" are the heading of articles appearing on page 1 of to-day's issue. On page 4 there is also some very interesting reading matter;

.Amongst visitors to Levin this week lie Mr Cooper, for se'veral years a builder and contractor in this town. He now is farming at Te Aroha, Thames Valley.

A proposal to instal eeletric light at Otaki was carried by the narrow margin of one vote. Keen interest was taken, and there was considerable excitement at the result, followed by cheers.

A special effort to obtain at least the last £100 needed for the purchase of an ambulance for use of the Maori soldiers at the front is being made by Nurse Lewis and her sclio .lchildren endeavorens. On Saturday, Ma' eh 17. a sale of gifts will be held in the Century Hall, Levin, on the occasion of a flag being unveiled by Mr. X. Kirkcaldie. Gifts of produce, etc., for the sale will be reoeivcil at the hall by Nfurse Lewis, on IGth March, 4 to 6 p.m., and early on Saturday morning.

A troubled * conscience carried in Christchurch lias moved its owner to forward £5 to the secretary of the Treasury. Whether the .money ,is "on account" or in complete discharge : ts not stated by the repentant one.

.Xewly-publishv.'! census returns give the following live stock returns for f.-oirowheiiua County (as at 31st January. 'i 916): —Horses, 34.62 ; cattle (including dairy cows) 37,430; dairy cows in milk, 11.087; sheep (shorn), 132,689; lambs (tailed) 59,288; sheep, including lambs (as at 30th April, 191G) 139,770; pigs, 6687; goats: angora 1;3, ether 26. Germany occupied first place in the foreign trnde of Italy previous to the war, but Canada is now taking active .-tops to oust German goods from that market.

The Frankfurter Zeitnng reports that the Federal -Council'has forbidden the sale abroad of German shipping shares, the object being "to prevent the introduction of undesirable foreign influence into German shipping concerns." The following workers were present last Friday afternoon at the (Red dross Workers' Guild Vickers, -Fyke, Hislop, Prouse, Pink. Phillips, Brown, Vincent, Keedwell, Richter, Misses Sedcole and Howard. Mesdames Windelev and Heslop were in charge of the Red Cross shop last Saturday, and fcuicieeeded Hn taking the largest amount taken this year- — £9 8s The committee wishes to thank the following for donations of produce, etc: Mesdames J. Prouse, Hawkins, Brown, Gardener, Corinell, Ryder, Heslop, Win dole v, Py'ke, Procter, Bertram, Tatum, Keedwell, Dean, Walkley, Perkins, Chaplin, Finlayson, Porteous, F. O. Smith, Catley, A. K. Sirnson, Frechtling, Blackburn, Blenkliorn, Richter, Wright, Porter, J. Page, Palmes, Pink, Sedcole and Mr C. iPrechtLing. -Next Saturday a

big effort is being made for Dr ißarnardo's 'Home. It is to be hoped everyone will remember and send in to the shop anything saleable as tho proceeds for that day are to be devoted to that fund.

.Members' delay in paying subscriptions for 191L6-17 is hampering the Horowhenua A. and P. Association in setting the affairs of the show held in January last. There is ia fairly substantial credit balance in hand, to be devoted to patriotic purposes, and the patriotic funds will be helped further if all outstanding subscriptions and entrance fees come to hand at once.

Horowhenua A. and P. Association recently referred to its general committee two protests lodged at its annual show. The committee has upheld the protest of Mr. G. Hughes against the award of first prize to Mr. P. E. Palmes in the dairy cow class. The cow was held to be over class age. The protest of Mr A. Anderson against Mr. A. V. Winge's win in the dairy heifer class (-11) was referred to a sub-committee to adjudicate upon.

At the present time interest in local municipal affairs in-so-far as they iefer 1o the forthcoming election of a mayor and nine councillors — a're as dead as Julius Caesar. The reason for this may he that the war overshadows all else. The war should not he- an excuse for laxity, but rather act as; an incentive to additional interest in municipal affairs. , There is -i link between local governing bodies and the Government, and the latter re. quires all the assistance that responsible bodies can. give it. So that fioin a patriotic point of view citizens should not grow indifferent. Apart from this, there is much important work ahead if the welfare of the borough, is to be maintained. The present mayor, Mr Alf" Fraser, has put in two strenuous years of office, and does not intend to seek re-elec-tion. We hope that a little life will be infused into municipal affairs before election day, and that some one will come forward with a live policy to keep the borough abreast of the times.—Foxton Herald.

The gas discount day has been extended till Monday, the 12tli, on account of the 10th falling on Saturday.

A serious accident occurred in the iNgtahaiuanga 'Gorge on morning (says the Evening Post). A motor cycle, driven by Mr J. Robertson, the former member for Otaki, witlv a side-car, in which his wife was seated, came into collision with one :f the Post and Telegraph Department's motor lorries, laden with tim-

ber. Mrs Robertson was thrown out ;.iid suv.rk the timber with' great force, sustaining severe injuries to the head and face. She was attended to by Dr Saunders, of Johnsonville, and was then removed to the 'hospital

where she is doing as well as can be expected. Mr Robertson escaped with a few scratches.

Those in the know have informed the man in the street that a rise of 50 per cent, in the price of tobacco will short, ly be announced. Some of the w:so ones arc laying in stocks. Manawatu Times. There is ground for stating that as the result of communications which iiaxGscl between the 'British and Japanese 'Governments, an agreement has been arrived at by which the shortage of tonnage may very soon be considerably relieved. Th:s applies (says i,ii3 London correspondent of . the Birmingham Post) not cnly to the cargo, hut the mail services, and apparently; our Far Eastern ally is able to render greater assistance than in the former respect, thus releasing a number of vessels well accustomed to Eastern and colonial routes which will be available for the bringing of produce to this country.

To avoid clashing with the" Red Cross Society's effort fc-r Dr ißarnar-

,-Vs Homes, fixed for next Saturday, Nurse Lewis lias postponed until''Saturday, 17tli March, her sale of gifts ■to lie held in Levin Century Hall, in .•■id of the Maori Ambulance Fund, for which another £100 is reqirrecl.

In America tthe 'Lutheran Ch r. ebrs have joined in celebrating the anniversary of the date on which .Miii tin -Luther ' nailed his ninety-five theses on the church door at AVittenburg. Luther was not- of the gentlest nature himself; if Cromwell had

vurts cn his foce Luther had ''warts cn his character. But if the great

reformer, with his deep (sense of right, his hate of wrong, his zeal for righteousness, walked through the churches of Germany to-day, what would he say of them?— New Zealand War Cry-

A report is abroad that many who l ave besn drawn in the ballots are Still nt. large, in defiance of the law and the Government. If the report is crrrcct the Government is responsible for a grave neglect of duty. It will l-.0. ia scandal if Second Division is called up while numbers of the First Division who have failed to report aro allowed to continue their freedom. The 'report that-a number who should have been in camp long ago are not there is so persistent that the (Government should deny it ox admit it.—Waihi Telegraph.

A pretty little equine comedy delighted the frequenters of a southern street the other day. A married gardener left a vehicle stocked with vegetables standing outside one of the fruit markets. A milkman's turn-out was drawn up immediately behind it, the driver disappearing into the terowd gathered 'round a sale of fru.it. Soon the milk horse was aware that a meal lay under his very nose. He proceeded ot make >a raid upon the vegetables, going about the task in a workmanlike manner. He started off with the lettuce, toying with a succulent heart or two, and' tossing the bunches on to the roadway. He got through about nine courses, giving the carrots and turnips a turn. A head of red cabbage seemed particularly tasty, as it was devoured with deliberation. • After all the vegetables had been 'sampled jtlife nag found )Dme biscuits in a hag. He was engaged upon these when his owner arrived. He mildly censured the now wellsatisfied animal, pulled him out of the ranks and . drew up another horse in his place, backing an ironmonger's cart-. . Thus the resource of the milkman's horse was equalled only by that of its owner.—Te Arolia News.

"A good many hymns," says a clergyman, "are nothing more than doggerel. They would "be just as good sung backwards." It is our opinion that it is just that kind of a hymn which the young man with an Adam's apple like a freight -elevator piefeis to let himself out on.—Toledo Blade.*

Another reassuring thought in this hour of doubt and dread in our fashionable circles is that Joseph procured his coat of many colors at a timejwhen it was impossible to import dyes from Germany.—Ohio State Journal.

That Great Britain has found a master in the person of Lloyd Geoi-ge is the opinion being freely expressed by recent arrivals from Home. Interviewed upon Iris return from England, "Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., for Wellington East,' said Mr. Lloyd George was the long-sought-for Man of Destiny, and all Great Britain, every man and woman, was behind him. "Whatever he says goes. He can say anything" and tho people at once respond, as quickly and readily as an army obeys a general. The crowds of people who used to curse 'that damned, pettifogging litle Welsh attorney' are now his willing army of unquestioning backers. Lloyd George orders, and Great Britain does as he orders. I bought papers (formerly hostile to lnim) after lie overthrew the Asquith Government, and none sneered. All agreed he was the man they all had wanted. The Lloyd George Ministry lias delighted the people because he chose the biggest men in Great Britain to manage the different departments. He cut adrift from old traditions and picked men for them - abilities and for "no other reason. He is the head of a wonderfully able Cabinet—the ablest in Great BritainV history. ..

Amongst the lastest enlistments for active service is that of Mr W. Walton, of 1/erin.

Levin Bowling Olub's annual gaslight tournament is to be played next week, on (Wednesday and Thursday. Details are advertised on page L The whole of the net proceeds will be given to patriotic funds. Rinks will be present from all parte of the county and from Palmerston. In addition to games various side-shows are arranged for, and an open air concert will be given. The Levin Brass Band has kindly consented to play instrumental music on both evenings and Mrs IBould's string orchestra will assist. Mr J. 13. Currie is arrangin some interesting side-shows, inclusive of a dancing doll of up-to-date accomplishments. Refreshment stalls, sweet stanli and produce stalls will be set flip.

A great feature of the opening day at the 'liin;uM Boys' High School was the "ducking" of the new boys, says the Herald. This is a time-honored function in which every boy who enters the school has to take part. All the old boys IVrm up in two lines facing each other armed with all manner of soapy concoctions. At the end of tlio line is the "tub" filled with soapy water. The news boys are stripped to the waist, and one at a time are made to run the gauntlet down the lines to the tub where two of tli n old hoys upend 'them in the water. After ducking the baptised ones have to run back botwecn the lines and are well lathered with soap, ears, eyes, mouth, etc., on tlio way. They are allowed to dry themselves as brst they may, and iare then p'tt through the second stage of initiation. A huge box is stationed in the quad, and each boy is made to mount the box, his socks are pulled down over his boots, and in front of the -yelling throng he has to contribute an item—a song, a recitation or a story. During this compulsory concert, many witty sayings and clever snatches of verse are to be heard. If -the prisoner will not recite, sing or tell a story, he lis ducked a second time. Needless to say nobody looks for a second immersion.

Suggestive par from tlie Dannevirke "News" :-pComing through the Gorge yesterday for the races some motorists had the bad luck to meet a mob of slieep, and were held up. A passenger in a train also bound for Tamaki, evidently had a fellow feeling for the motorists, as he was heard to indignantly exclaim that "people shouldn't he allowed to drive sheep on race days!" Soon it will be a cry of "Stop the war fo rtlie races," Private — Hogan, a son of Mrs E. C. Hodgman, of Levin, returned by the hospital ship Manama, on Thursday. Private Hogan is in hospital in Wellington suffering from an internal complaint. The By-election for a Parliamentary representative for Hawke's Bay electorate takes' place to-day. 'A special telegraph message to the Manawatu Times thus sums up the prospects:—

iSimson's opponents say that if the election had taken place a few days ago he would have won, but that he haa lost ground t>y his actions'. There .is no doubt, however, that Sir John Findlay'fi supporters are very anxious. At Havelock last night 'Mr Mason Chambers made a special appeal to •reformers to rally to Sir John Findlay's isupport, and expressed the view that if they- persisted in an attitude of aloofness towards the Government candidate iSimson would wan. The Labor vote will go solidly to Simson. He will score a lot of support from a large number of people of all kinds who are disgruntled against the National" Cabinet for various reasons. Nobody knows what the silent voter is thiriking. Therefore it is not safe to prophesy the result. It looks as if, failing the support of the Reformerg, wllio certaii'nly lack ienthusaasm| for Findlay, Simson may win. If in response to S.O.'S. signals the old brigade rolls up, Simeon will go down to oblivion, unwept and unsung. The whole business of vote-begging and back-biting has been more sordid than inspiring.