General News.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 22 November 1917, Page 1

General News.

Charles Bassett King, secretary of the Auckland Master Bakers' and Grocers' Union, died in the hospital on Saturday afternoon as the result of a fall from a tramcar. The base of his skull was fractured.

.At a meeting of creditors of Frederick Cassin, land agent, Hastings, a bankrupt, whose whereabouts arc at present unknown, it was stated that he loft Hastings for Ti Tree Point on September Ist last and had not been heard of since. It was also stated that Cassin had keen seen in Wanganui and in Melbourne. It was decided to take steps to ascertain the whereabouts of bankrupt to secure his presence at the next meeting of creditors. A builder named William Gardener was drowned in the Waikato River at Mercer yesterday through the capsizing of a launch.

Infantile paralysis has again made its appcarancc in Hawke's Bay, the first victim this year being a child. The disease terminated fatally, the sufferer never rallying.

The Belgian Relief Committee, at a meeting decided to hand over the money remaining in hand to the French refugees, for whom an appeal was recently made. This action was taken in view of the statement received from the Minister for Internal Aifairs that America had taken over the responsibility of looking after the Belgians.

Cable mesages relating to the cargo of a vessel carrying troops will be accepted for transmission to the United Kingdom only if they are sent in the first place to the Secretary, G.P.0., Wellington. Full instructions as to such messages may be obtained from the secretaries of the Chambers of Commerce or of Chief Postmasters.

A Press Association telegram from Greymouth states that a minor named H. Leakman was injures yesterday by falling coal in the Rewanui State mine, where he was working. He was immediately removed to his homo, whore it was found he had sustained injuries to his back and a sprained anklg.

News has been received of the deat'n from wounds of Sergeant C. H. Still, of Wellington. He was in the house at Armentieros when Dr. Guthrie, of Feilding, was killed and helped to carry the doctor's body down. A few months ago he was awarded the Military Medal. He was a relative of Mrs Calvert, of Kimbolton Road.

The "Examiner" says: The first ballot for the Second Division has hit Woodville hard. When it comes to seeing our bank manager, the secretary of two of our dairy companies, and the manager of one of our cheese factories, not to mention one of our business men and quite a little bunch of farmers, all roped in by the very first cast of the military net, we may well ask what is the country coming to. It will mean re-adjustment, and again re-adjustment after that—that is ail.

A statement in regard to the alleged forward buying in Hawke's Bay of calves by buyers who are alleged to re present the "meat trust," has created considerable interest amongst stockraisers. A firm in the Waikato district, which communicated ivith its agents at Napier, has been informed in reply that forward buying has not been jiroceeding 0 n a very extensive scale. It is stated that two-year-okl pedigree bulls are in demand at prices ranging from 40gns to GOgns for Shorthorns and from 35gns to 40gns for Polled Angus and Hereford breeds. Weaner steer calves, it is stated, are being sold for delivery in May next at from £8 to £9 each. For ordinary heifer weaner calves, it is added, tlvre is no great demand, but there is some inquiry for pedigree weaner heifer calves.

Lieut. Aurthur Desmond Herrick, M.C., was killed in action on November 14th. Lieut. Herrick, who was widely known throughout Hawkc's Bay, volunteered and left New Zealand with the Mounted Rifles branch of the Main Expeditionary Force. He took part in a number of important engagements in which the New Zealand Mounted Brigade achieved a glorious name, and it is supposed, although not positively known, that he met his death in the recent fighting in Palestine. Lieut. Herrick was the youngest son of the late Colonel Herrick, and was 36 years of age. He was engaged in farming pursuits with his brother at Tautane, Herbertville, and Oporae, and had been on the land at Tautane for'some 15 years, but lived! most of his time at Oporae— which was sold some months ago to Messrs Easton and R. Stevens. Lieut. SCerrick was educated at Wanganui College, and was,, a keen sportsman, and took a great interest-in horses. He was a gentleman rider of some note, and was often in the saddle on Mr F. Armstrong's horses. His death is mourned by a wide circle of'.fricnds in Hawke's Bay 1 and elsewhere.

The efforts of Miss Doris Swadling on behalf of patriotic funds is an instance of the value of small' contributions (says the "Hawera Star"). Since the beginning of the war she has sold buttonholes in the streets for patriotic purposes, aind in this way has raised the sum of £100, which is a great achievement for a child. To mark their appreciation of her devotion and untiring energy, she was entertained at afternoon tea at the Dardanelles depot by her friends and fellow workers and presented with a handsome book on the culture of flowers, profusely illustrated with coloured Ipictures of herbaceous borders, etc., in beautifal gardens. Mr Dixon, on his, own behalf, presented Miss Doris with a book on Oxford, as a token of his own appreciation.

"We nrust remember/' said Mr Massey in a speech at Wellington—"and this is perhaps the most important point —we must remember that the Americans are coming to our assistance. Fresh and unwearied, they arc throwing their whole weight into the cause of freedom and righteousness; they are coming to assist their kinsmen—-the British people —and their friends, the Frcnch people. I have no hesitation in saying—and I say it because I mean it —I say the end is undoubted; this war is going to be won on the Western front; there may be difficulties in other plaecs, but I am satisfied this war is going to be won on the Western front. I would remind you that a hundred years ago the British won the last fight, and they are going to win the last light this time. When we win the last fight in this war —and it may be soon—wo will have to assist in laying the foundations of a durable peace. We as British citizens have got to do our part, as we have done in the past, for liberty, freedom, andi righfiteousness, and for the honour

of the racc to winch we belong." (Applause.)

No legislation was brought down during last session affecting the relationship of the medical profession to the war. The Hon. Mr Russell now slates that the Public Health Department would have to make the best provision possible for the supply of practitioners for the depicted districts. He thought, the balance was being maintained, and that the full number of men likely to be withdrawn from the medical profession had now been reached. The doctors returning would probably be equal for the remainder of the war to the number taken from practice for military needs.

With reference to the scheme inaugurated by the N.Z. Society of Accountants to provide free clerical training for partially disabled returned soldiers accredited by the Department, it has been found that the genoral education of a number of the men who have taken up the tuition has proved insufficient to permit them to appreciate the course provided. Therefore the Society has decided to confine the scheme to returned men who have passed an educational test equal to the Sixth Standard. This information will be embodied in the new leaflets when being printed and which each soldier receives when being interviewed at the time of his discharge. At a meeting of the executive of the North Island Timber Merchants' Federation, held yesterday afternoon at Palmerston North, the following motion was passed: "That this meeting of the executive of the Timber Merchants' Federation, representing all the timber merchants of the North Island, views with concern the recent advance in the price of timber by the Main Trunk millers. While it recognises that the charges for special lengths are somewhat justified by the continued labour shortage, this meeting is of the opinion that the rise in the basis list price, following so closely on several previous advances, is not in the best interests of the trade generally and must tend to antagonise a large section of the public. ''

The Recruiting Board, Wellington, has forwarded -a letter to the Patriotic Society stating that a Dominion alphabetical roll of men of the Second Division of the roserve is now being printed at the Government Printing Office. The first portion comprising the names from A to E (part) is now ready and copics have been forwarded to the Society. Copies aTe also being distributed to all patriotic offices, defencc offices, police stations, Second Division Leagues, and recruiting The class to which each man belongs is indicated by a letter in front of his name. The Board asked that members of the Society would chock these lists and advise the Government Statistician if they have reason to believe that any man lias been placed in a wrong class of flic Ke.'icrvc, or that his name has hem omitted from the Reserve altogether. The roll is being printed, not by districts as was the ease with the roll of the First Division, but for the Dominion as a whole.