LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1672, 8 February 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the present time there are 60,000 bales of wool stored in Napier, valued at nearly £1,500,000.

It is officially notified that men of 4ft. (iin. are now eligible for military service in England.

The West Coast Times (Hokitika) had to suspend publication tho (filler day owing to shortage of paper. The girls of the Manchester (England) High School volunteered their services in the cultivation of idle land in and near that city. Estates in Bessarabia which formerly belonged to Germans have been sold-by the Russian authorities, realising £420,000.

A Canadian V.C., before enlistment, had a farm in the Peace River country, and was previously a. chef at a local hotel.

The work of military medical boards is not all monotony. Variety is afforded by some of those whose anxiety is to avoid service. One of the boards silting in Auckland was examining a man who said he- was subject to epileptic seizures. With dramatic suddenness he collapsed upon the llor of the boardroom in a (it. One of the medical officers, however, was not at all sympathetic. In an audible voice he told the orderly to bring a .bucket of water and souse the sufferer thoroughly, Am instantaneous cure was effected.

Auckland’,s fortunate position in regard to gifts from her wealthy people was referred lo by Mr W. A. Veitch, M.P., at the luncheon given to the Parliamentary party at Devoiqxirl on Satu'rday. “Your public benefactors,” he said, “do not wait until they die before they give the public the benefit of their money. They do it. while they are alive.” A great deal of Auckland’s progress, he said, was due to the large-heart-edness of her public men. He wished that the same could be said of all parts of the Dominion. Every person with a knowledge of slock values will agree that the provision made by the Legislature for financing returned soldiers wishing to go upon the land is thoroughly inadequate, says the Wairarapa Age. A sum of £SOO will not stock an area of more than 200 acres of first-class land at present jmices, and it will allow nothing for improvements, Stock firms are reluctant to make advances on the security of a Government lease, and the soldier who wishes to occupy the land must either have a friend with money, or depend upon the good offices of a patriotic society. The Government should introduce a flexible system, under which advances could be made up to £I,OOO, provided that purchase of stock is wisely made.

See cheap rates, front pages Laidlaw Leeds’ Wholesale Catalog.

What is there to dread anywhere in the world compared with the civilised savagery of the German Empirel?—Bishop Welldon. The “Sunday wear” of a young working girl employed in a munition factory in Liverpool included a fur coat which cost 30 guineas and a pair of high boots at 455. The Y.M.C.A. served-during the six months ended November last 160,000 hot drinks, all free, in its refreshment dug-outs close to the front in France.

A conscientious objector at Bolton (England) was allowed a continuation of his exemption on condition of paying to the local infirmary 5s a week, the difference between Army pay and his present income.

The Fox ton Facing Chib’s animal race meeting held last month was one of the most successful in the history of the Chib, the profits being roughly £OOO. Looking through a country electoral roll tlie other day we came across an unique qualification sent in by a woman voter. She registered as “ , farmer's drudge, residential.”

Twenty Canadian teachers are going to London this year, and will be employed in London County Council elementary schools. They will remain a year to gain experience. Bishop Bussell Wakefield's new episcopal finger-ring contains, in place of jewels, scraps of ruby and sapphire stained glass, fragments from the famous windows of Bheims Cathedral, shattered hi' German shells.

Millar and Giorgi, of Palmerston North, announce in a replace advertisement appearing on page 4 of this issue, that their great sale of men’s and hoys' clothing and footwear will close at 0 p.m. on Saturday next.

A Taranaki settler, who has just, returned from a trip to Marlborough, states that he met a farmer there who had taken off one piece of land three crops of lucerne, and lie expected to cut two more. The crops averaged four tons to the acre, valued at £l(i, which shows tile possibility of growing this rapid-growing fodder on suitable land.

Lieutenant Nimnio, of (he Awapuni Ambulance Cam]>, waited on the committee of the Foxtou Racing Club at its meeting on Tuesday night and asked for a donation towards the cost of providing a piano for (he camp. After discussion, it was decided to donate £l5O, the balance after the purchase of the. piano to be expended as the Ambulance Corps Committee deem best.

A statement in bankruptcy tiled with the official assignee at Auckland on Saturday by Arthur Groves, of Green Lane, farmer, possessed an unusual feature in showing an apparent surplus of £3,849. The total liabilities amounted to £10,151 —unsecured creditors £lsl, secured creditors £IO,OOO. The estimated value of securities is given as £14,000, leaving a surplus available of £4,000.

Cure for the German measles: Mix some Woolwich powders with tincture of iron or essence of lead, and administer in pills (or shells). Have ready a little British army (a little goes a. long way), some Brussels sprouts, and French mustard. Add a little Canadian cheese, Australian lamb, and Italian macaroni, and season with the best Indian curry. Fat into the mixture slices of a hard boiled Haig, and keep stirring until quite hot. If this does not make the patient perspire freely rub the best Russian bear’s grease on his chest, and wrap in Berlin wool. This is the private and exclusive prescription of Ur. Cannon. N.B. — The patient must on no account have any peace sou]) until the swelling in the head has quite disappeared.

Speculation is already rife as to who will be the candidates for the Hawke’s Bay seat, so lately rendered vacant by the death of the Hon. Dr. McNab, says the Hawke’s Bay Herald. It is understood that Sir John Findlay has been asked on behalf of the Liberal League to consent to nomination, and is considering the position, while there are some forming a not insignificant section of the party who consider that the party choice should fall on a local candidate. Mr A. E. Jull’s name lias also been mentioned, and it would appear that if he consented to offer himself he would receive strong support, in view of the compact between the party leaders when the National Government was formed it is not considered likely that I here will be an election, but it is impossible to forecast the happenings of the next few days. A meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Liberal League Ims been convened for Thursday evening next, when possibly there will be some definite developments. in the same connection the Telegraph stales; We are requested by the chairman of the Kefonu League for the Hawke’s Bay electorate division to state that, on advice from the ActingPrime Minister (Hon. J. Allen) no steps will he taken regarding the selection of a candidate for the now vacant Hawke’s Bay seat, until the lit. Hon. Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have been consulted, and, further, that, in view of the war, it is most desirable no party contests should take place.

Call in at Walker and Furrie’s when you require anything for cleaning or cooking purposes. All household lines stocked and excellent value give#.

On pages one and four of this issue will be found interesting reading matter.

At the police court yesterday morning, before Messrs Fraser and Hornblow, J’s.P., a prohibition order was granted against a local resident on his own application.

Most of the tlaxmills in the district are working full tiine, but the shortage of labour is being felt in many instances, flax-cutters being the main shortage. One huge mill has boeen unable to get properly going since live holidays.

When called to serve on the Grand dory at (he Supreme Court in Wellington yesterday, a juror said he was a bank accountant, and had under him a staff of 50, of whom 22 were girls. He asked for, and received, exemption.

The Italian Cabinet has decided not to propose to Parliament the imposition of any new taxation, but to establish Government monopolies, of which the most important will probably be that of sugar. Salt has boon a Government monopoly in Italy for some time.

It has been discovered that inulinc, a substance essential for the production of (he serum used in anti-typhoid and anti-typhus inoculation, can be extracted from the tubers of ihe dahlia, and appeals are now being made for the supply of (hoe tubers in Great Britain.

At the Magi.-lrale's Court, Palmerston North, yesterday morning, Air W. G. K. Kenrick, S.M., presiding, Arthur MeKegney was charged with failing to maintain his wife and family. Accused said he was in good employment in Tokaanu, and was willing to make regular payments. An order was made reijuiring accused to pay £27 at once, £1 per week to he paid in future, and £1 pier week off the arrears, in default six months' imprisonment with hard labour.

Prceedings against the Blackball miners who went on strike recently are being taken by the Labour Department. The miners came out liecause the company would not agree to their demand that b'in hoys should be paid for the time they bail lost sinee Christmas through their not being fully employed. It is understood that in adopting this attitude the company was following the usual custom for many years of paying hands only for actual lime worked.

The Hon. G. IV. Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs) made the following statement yesterday:—"The attention of the Govermueht has been drawn to the large number of women who are leaving New Zealand at the present time for the Mother Country, and it has been decided that restrictions shall he imposed on future departures . It therefore has been decided that in future passports shall not be issued lo women except in eases of exceptional necessity. The policy of re- w striding the departure of men will he still further tightened.”

At Tuesday’s meeting oi' tlie Manawatu County Council it was decided to give a war bonus of £1 per month to the roadmen and linemen employed by the Council.

At its meeting on Monday night, the Ceilding District High School Committee passed a motion that in the opinion of the Committee children of school age should be forbidden by law from attending race meetings where the totalisator was in use. A copy of the resolution was ordered to be forwarded to the Kdueation Hoard and to the member for the district.

Writing lo The Welling Post, “An Australian Visitor’’ commented on the omission of (he National Anthem from the organ recital programme, and mentioned that “it is customary at all public gatherings in (Sydney, and throughout Australia, to play (he Anthem as a linale to meetings and entertainments.” Apropos of ibis, another correspondent (“P.”) now writes:—-“I have just returned from Sydney. It is true that 1 heard the National Anthem played at the close of all entertainments I attended there. It is equally true that 1 never witnessed so much disrespect on the part of tlie audiences; almost invariably they began to leave on the first barbeing played. It: was quite the exception to see anyone remain whilst the Anthem was being performed.” the Wellington city organist says the National Anthem was inadvertently omitted last Saturday when the visitors were present.

-Many men who have previously volunteered for service with the Expeditionary Forces and have been rejected are responding to the invitation of the Defence authorities to re-eulisl, in order that their status under the Military Service Act may be defined. When these, men re-cnlist, they go before the Military Medical Boards, and if they aie found to be still unlit for service in the field, they are lifted from the active section of the Expeditionary Eoree Reserve, in order to reduce the labour connected with the ballots. Otherwise their names would appear sooner or later in Jtl list of balloted men. The standard has been lowered in several respects, and the Defence Department is ready to overlook defects that would have been regarded as complete disqualifications in the earlier days of the war. For example, a man with one eye may be accepted for active service if the eye is a good one.

Housewives! We have the right labour-saving devices to cut your work in two. Our stocks are complete with every house need. Best value offered at Walker and Furrie’s, Foxton.

At the Taumarunui races on Saturday, a horse named Pink Tye, out of Neck Tye, owned by D. Tye, and ridden by Cotton, won the Owhango Handicap, and paid the largest dividend of the day.

“A. man’s a fool to put his children to a trade in New Zealand. Better to lie a wharf labourer than a, tradesman. Labourers’ wages are going up all the time, and tradesmen’s wages are going down.”— Hon. W. Earnshaw, in giving evidence before the Military Service Board at Wellington yesterday.

“Have you heard that the interned Hermans have been transferred from Somes’ Island to D’Urville Island?” That was a question put to a Maslertunian recently, "‘Why have they been so transferred'?” lie asked, innocently. “So that they can see the French Pass,” was the prompt retort.

It should not be thought, according to a Herman authority, that it is only in modern times that (he real character of the English has been probed. In the early Middle Ages the following proverb was already current in many parts of Hermany; There are three things that a man should avoid —-ihe hoofs of a horse, the horns of a bull, and Die smile of an Englishman.

An arithmetical deduction'? Jones had a dog, which he sold to Smith for tea pounds. Smith sold it to Green, receiving ten per cent, less than lie gave for it. Green sold it to Rohiimoii at a loss of ten per cent. Robinson sold it to Wilkes,

he also receiving ten per rent, less than ii had cost him. (Question: What did K’ohinson sell (he dog for.’ Answer: Because it hit him.

One thing which impressed the Parliamentary Party very much during its lour of the North was the number of hcailliv children to be

seen everywhere. The youngsters were all strong and well-grown, and were an excellent advertisement for lie. 1 (dimate of (lie northern territory. Willi sm-h a sturdy population maturing, there should be great promise for the little-known districts above Auckland.

The story of the faithful devotion of a sheep dog is related by a visitor from the Bay of Plenty district. Two years ago the owner of the animal left Whakatane for the front, leaving it to he eared for by friends. Every day since, the faithful beast has gone to meet the Opolikt coach in a vain search for his absent master. The daily journey of the dog is a source of great interest to the residents of Ihc town and to visitors.

The Taiimanuiui Borough Council has set up a committee to make enquiries regarding starting a municipal bakery; also lo cal) on the Government lo eslablish refrigerating stores at To Awamntu, Te Knit i, and Tauumrunui, to send meat ami iish by.rail for country consumption, charging the local butchers Government prices; and to enquire about starting a municipal milk supply with a view to reducing the cost of living.

Girls mature very quickly in I lie “winterless’’ north, but this rapid approach to womanhood generally brings with it a loss oi.' complexion and good looks. There were many pretty children in the districts passed through by the Parliamentary party, but the young women, by which we mean girls from 17 years upwards, are tor the most part sallow, freckled, and harsh-looking, though of excellent stature. They are able to turn their hands to the roughest kind of work, while their hospitality has now become proverbial.

Splendid rains have fallen throughout the Kelson country districts. The Colonist says that the drought has been effectively broken, and all anxiety in regard to danger from bush tiro dispelled. The Takaka Fiver, which was dry on Thursday morning, wa.- in high Hood on Friday afternoon, indicating (hat the rainfall in the hack country was exceptionally heavy. The rivers in the Molneka district were also swollen on Friday, and at Appleby the Wairoa Fiver was running 2fl. over the road on the other side of the bridge, and rising steadily. Some of the low-lying lands in Appleby were also tinder water.

Writing from ismidt, near Constantinople under date November Ist, Sergeant George McAneny, of Wanganui, who was captured by the Turks at Gallipoli nearly two years ago, says he had had another change of quarters, and is now at Ismudt, where he is acting as interpreter to S 7 men, most of whom were captured at Kut-el-Amara. There are two other New Zealanders with him —William Marlin (11th Auckland .Mounted Filles), and Gordon Solway (2nd Wellington Mounted Lilies), both cap Lured on the Canal, and both in hospital, hut doing well. Sergeant MeAneny says that alter being prisonered for twelve months they heard from the High Commissioner, who inquired us to their necessities in the way of clothing, informing them that he was sending them 20 pisutres (3s -Id) a week. It is a very sure point with the New Zealand prisoners of war in Turkey that, whereas' ihc English and Australian regiments had received money, the New Zealanders had only received the American Ambassador’s £1 a month, which the other prisoners also received. The writer adds that Lsmidt, and in fact all the Turkish towns he had seen, were nice places, and reminded him of Itangitoto Island, in Auckland harbour. He expresses great disappointment at not being released, having failed after thirteen days’ negotiations, with success almost in his hands.

A smart boy for cycle trade is wanted.

Mr Pluck, whose father was recently executed as a rebel, Ims been elected to represent North Roscommon in the British House of Commons. Mr Mann, who has been relieving on the local Bank of New Zealand staff, loaves Foxton to-morrow for Wellington, and Mr E. Jackson, who has been absent on sick lean*, will resume his duties.

An appellant (aged 28), in giving evidence at the Military Appeal Court; at Ha were on Monday, stated that he had never travelled any further than Ha worn on the one side and Wanganui on the other. He was doubtful whether he would like to take a trip to France,

The ballot for recruits to complete the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Reinforcements, due to he’mobilised in March and April, was completed on Tuesday evening. The names of tin 1 selected Resenisls of the Firs! Division will be issued in a special number of the Ha/.etto during the next few days, probably on Monday.

The Hon. J. Allen staled at Dunedin hist night, in regard to military service, that instructions had been given the Defence Department to formulate proposals for Ihe classification of men in Division 11. Before any men are taken from Division 11, those in Division 1 whose eases have been adjourned sine die will be reviewed by the Military Service Boards, and those engaged in essential industries will be left.

A narrow escape from a horrible death was the experience of a hoy who was playing on the beach the oilier day in a locality known to old residents as Blanket Bay (says the Dunedin Star). Several youngsters were playing in the shallow water at low tide, when an octopus of large size pursued one of the boys, and, travelling with a velocity unsuspected in so uncouth a creature l , seized him by the leg. A. girl—and a plucky girl she was—-tried to pull the uncanny creature from its prey. Bui, from all accounts, she would not have succeeded but for Ihe arrival of oilier children, when, recognising that the odds were against it, the repulsive devil-fish abandoned its attempt and escaped.

Tim increasing reluctance of women to enter and follow dogicslic occupalions and their growing interest in the possibilities of farm work, is emphasised in the latest report of the women's employment branch of the Labour Bureau, at Welling - lon. It is slated ilia! there have been several inquiries for farm hands and there is good reason Lo believe lhal a fair number of women would underiake this kind of work in preference to other work - if reasonable opportunity were given for learning and adopting it. With regard to housework, it is stated that many women who formerly followed domestic work have now gone lo work in the factories, and like the change, it usually lakes only a short time Lo learn the new work, and owing to the war bonus now being paid, they can make heller wages than at domestic work .