LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1698, 14 April 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“When the train service is cut down by 50 per cent., will the gentleman who receives £3,000 a year accept half his salary in consequence?” was a question put by Mr Piper to the chairman of a “protest” meeting at Petone onThursday evening.

A former Lyttelton Times reporter writes from the “somewhere” that if the people of .New Zealand knew the kind of cigarettes that are supplied to soldiers they would cease to continue contributions to tobacco funds, as hundreds of packets are thrown away as useless.

The total trade (excluding specie) of the Dominion for February, PJI7, was £4,753,7-17 —imports £l,370,820; exports, £3,370,927; excess of exports over imports, £2,000,332. For February of the previous year the corresponding figures were; total trade, £6,023,191; imports, £1,761,804; exports, £4,260,387; excess of exports, £2,497,583.

The Rev.,.T. H. Bredin is spending n fortnight’s holiday in the Taranaki district.

It is of interest to note that the distance from Cambrai to Brussels is only 70 miles in a direct line. The German frontier lies about 120 miles due east of Canjbrai.

During the hearing of the perjury charges in the Supreme Court; at Hamilton, Constable Skinner described the allegation that he tired the tirst shot at Rua’s pah and tired it point-blank at Him, as “a diabolical conspiracy."

On Wednesday afternoon next a number of ladies from the Levin Croquet Club will visit Foxlon. All members of the local club are requested to be on the ground at one o’clock, so that an early start can he made.

“You'll be a pretty expensive recruit," remarked Captain Walker when the question of financial assistance required by a man who had recently married a widow with six children was under dismission at, the Appeal Board. Under the new regulations an allowance is made for every child.

The Acting-Premier states that he has made careful inquiries into the suggestion that promotions to commissions at the front were not always made on merit, and as far as he could gather the appointments wore made on merit. He did not want parents to think they could help their sons by applying to him. That could do no good.

A dairy farmer slated a) the Palmerston sitting of the Appeal Board that his ten cows gave a return of £l.lO for the last quarterly period. This led Captain Walker to remark that there were evidently cows and cows. The farmer said his herd were specially selected and well bred, and he had found that it always paid to keep the best.

A fatal tire occurred at Wellington on Thursday, when the Wellington Hotel, at the corner of Sydney and Molesworth Streets, was practically destroyed. There were about 20 inmates at the time, several being Maoris, All escaped with the exception of Patrick Twohill, a well-known identity, 74 years of age. Tie was burnt to death.

Mayor Blenkhorn, of Levin, has convened a public meeting, whereat he will give an account of his stewardship during his term of office, and invites candidates for the Mayoralty and Council to express their views. It would possibly arouse local interest in municipal affairs if our Mayor followed a similar lead, as Mr Blenkhorn, like Mr Fraser, is not seeking re-election to office.

The Hon. G. W. Bussell, Minister for Health, had enquiries made concerning the treatment of returned soldiers in Avondale Mental Hospital, Recently it was stated in Auckland, on the authority of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, that these men were'being treated with unnecessary harshness. Hon Russell says there are only four soldiers in the Auckland Mental Hospital. Theree of these, when seen by Dr. Hay, assured him that they were comfortable, and had no complaints. The fourth was not in a lit condition to be interviewed.

As a party of recruits belonging to the Twenty-eighth Reinforcements were proceeding by train from the northern districts towards Palmerston on Thursday, a disturbance occurred between Marlon and Redding, resulting in a man named Schofield being somewhat badly injured by being pushed through a window. The man was attended by a doctor at Feilding, and on arrival of the train at Palmerston, after further medical attention, he was removed to the hospital. The military police took a recruit named P. Carrol in charge, and the matter will be dealt with hy the military authorities.

Under the heading “New Substitute for Sisal may Revolutionise Binder Twine Industry,” Barm and Fireside, of Springfield, Ohio, says Charles Chrislodoro has found that New Zealand llax yields a (ibre twice as tough as sisal aud entirely adapted to binder-twine manufacture. "Tins flax, of which he has sent a sample to us,” says Farm and Fireside, “lias been successfully grown as an ornamental plant in the West, thrives on ordinary soil, and will withstand a temperature as low as llldeg. Fahrenheit, ft matures from roots in two years, and may be expected to yield about 15 tons of leaves per acre, equivalent to two tons of fibre.”

A park orator returning home, Hushed with his oratorical efforts and from other causes, found a mild curate seated opposite in the tramcar. “It may interest you to know,” he said, truculently, “that 1 don’t believe in the existence of a ’eavenl” The curate nodded, and went on reading his newspaper; the man desirous of argument repeated the declaration. The curate again nodded, and turned to his newspaper. “You don’t quite realise,” said the park orator, “what I am trying to make clear. 1 want you to understand that I don’t believe for a single solitary moment that such a place as ’eaveu exists.” “All right, all right,” answered the curate pleasantly. “Co to hell, then. Only don’t make quite so much fuss about it.”

Wanted Known: The Store where quality and value lead is Walker and Furrie’s. The best of everything—always. For Chronic Chest Complaints, Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, 1/0 and 2/6,

The total paid to date for produce requisitioned in - New Zealand for Imperial purchases is £27,620,000. Meat accounts for nearly £16,000,000, and wool for £10,000,000.

A prohibited man somewhere in the Woirarapa handed £1 to a soldier, and asked him to procure liquor to that value. The soldier did as he was told. But he procured forty drinks for himself at sixpence apiece. The prohibited man is not confiding in soldiers in the future, says the Wairarapa News.

A man who likes to delve into the Unglish language and point out its incogruities recently came out of his last trance, and asked a friend these questions.’ Tell me: Did you

ever see a stone step? Or a sardine box ? Or a sausage roll? Or an apple turn over? Or a night fall ? Or a bed spring? Or a rail fence"? Or see ink stand? Or a man pull up a river?

“As far as I know, only war legislation will be dealt with next session," said the Acting-Primc-Min-isler (Sir James Allen) to a Post reporter. The chief feature would, he added, be the new War Loan Bill, which would carry extra taxation in its train. Until Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward came had) he could not indicate what, if any, general measures would he gone on with.

01! interest in eonneelion with the present eon! crisis was a remark passed in Auckland on Saturday as evidence of (lie opinion of the Huntly miners. One of the men nt work in these mines, voicing; the opinion of many more, expressed his extreme disapproval of the shortening’ of supplies, concluding' with (he remark, “We would all have been able to go to the Auckland races if it were not for this thing,"

Seventh Day Adventists and members of other religious denominations will be interested in the following extract from Peat hers ton Camp Orders: —“Officers commanding units will nole that all observers of (he Seventh Day Adventists’ faith are to be given leave every week- from Friday nights (ill Saturday nights, and that their services are invariably utilised for Sunday fatigues and duties, thus relieving other men of Sunday work."

Mr T. J. Wills, an old and highly respected Ilawera settler, died on Sunday last at the age of Sti years. The late Mr Wills was farming near Bell Block when the Maori War broke out; in 1800, and he took part in many of the engagements during (he prolonged struggle, receiving a commission as lieutenant in the militia. After the war he went to Ilawera, where he carried on farming successfully. lie leaves a widow and a large grown-up family.

“Some people l ,” said the Minister for Railways, speaking in Auckland, on Tuesday lasl, “have said that (he curtailment of railway facilities should have come gradually. Rut the (lovernmcnl’s idea was that we should carry on lo (he last moment in giving l the people the privileges they were accustomed to, rather than bring the change home to them by degrees. There would have been just as much row made over knocking off one (rain as over knocking off twenty.”

An appellant assumed a rather surly attitude during his examination at the sitting of the Appeal Board in Palmerston, which brought a well-merited rebuke from Chairman Cooper: “Look here, young man,” he said, with some warmth, “a month or two in camp would do you good, and bring you under discipline, I will deal with you if you are not careful. Be more civil in your replies.” 'flic examination proceeded smoothly after that.

A typical instance of the neighbourliness and goodwill of the tillers of the soil towards one of their number proceeding on active service was outlined by the secretary at a. meeting of (be expert advisers to the National Blliciency Board at Dunedin. lie stated that, in the case of an Awamoko farmer called up, the residents of the district, so as to facilitate his entry into camp, undertook, lo plough his laud aud permit of sowing operations before Ids departure. The speaker stated that no fewer than twelve teams were engaged on the land.

The cleutli occurred at the Palmerston North Hospital on Thursday evening of Mr Charles John Whibley, second son of Mr and Mrs I). Whibley, of Foxton. The deceased, who was 38 years of age, had been contined to his lied for almost nine years with a spine complaint. He was a widower, his wife, who was a daughter of Mrs Hudson, of Foxton, having died between eight and nine years ago, and is survived by a little daughter between eight and nine years of age. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon, leaving the Church of England, Foxton, at 1.45 p.m. for the Foxton Cemetery. In deference to the wishes of deceased, there will be no ilowers or mourning.

If a statement is true, and is certilied to,

To accept it as such is a wise thing to do; It is futile to argue and wrangle and doubt If there’s nought to wrangle and afgue about. If you suffer from coughs, bronchitis, or cold, .Seek relief at the druggists whero “Woodses’ ” is sold; A glad restoration to health you’ll assure, If you ask for Woods’ Peppermint Cure. 5

On Wednesday afternoon next Messrs Mounsey and Co. will hold a elearanee sale on account of Mr Jas. Armstrong, of .Johnston Street.

■ The Queen of the South, hemp laden, sailed for Wellington at midnight on Thursday night. She arrived back again this afternoon with

a cargo of general

It is a remarkable fact that there is only one official woman-gaoler. Her name is Jenny Porehet, and she lives in Switzerland. She is governor and warder in the Prison of Aigle, in the Rhone Valley.

“A lot of people's patriotism is measured by £ s. «!., not by flesh and blood,” said Mr Callister al the farmers' meeting in Masierton recently. “These people don't care for the boys lying dead or lighting, all they think about is how (hey can swell their hanking accounts.”

A commencement lias heefi made by the Featherston County Council with the work of reconstructing in tar macadam the road from Featherston to the military camp, states the Wiii rani pa Age. The progress of the undertaking, which is estimated to cost less than £OOO per mile, will he watched with interest by those anxious to have* similar improvements.

The returned soldiers throughout New Zealand seem to lie opposed to the celebration of An/ac Day on April 2Jrd instead of on April 25th, the real date of the landing at Gallipoli. “Why didn’t they tell Sir lan Hamilton that April 25th would he inconvenient and be done with it,” said an Anzae to a Palmerston Times reporter, “it might have saved all this trouble."

The New Zealand Trade Review says Ilia! money still is in ample supply of all ordinary requirements, and is likely to remain so for some little time at least. Our exports for the two first months of 4917 were 2A millions of pounds sterling in excess of imports, and would have been much more in excess hul for the ever-present shortage of shipping facilities.

The approaching municipal elections have resit lied in attention being again drawn to the fact, frequently mentioned, (hat an alien can vole at municipal elections in New Zealand. The Hastings Borough Council has made some protest, and (he solicitor to the Municipal Association has given the opinion Unit an imnatiiralised alien could not al present take advautgae of the residential qualifications, hut (hat as a ratepayer he would he entitled to vote. The fault lies with the law. For the Parliament are roll British citizenship is one of the qualifications, hut for (he municipal roll the elector may he anything or nothing at all. Not only do aliens vote, hut some local bodies have had members who are not British citizen.'-.

Tin* Canterbury Education Board at its last meeting adopted a recommendation that it should apply to the .Department for a grant of £OSO to provide for the erection of open-air classroofs at the Waimataitai school in Timaru. If the Department is agreeable, an interesting experiment will be carried out. The building will be the first openair school in the Dominion. The plans provide for the erection of a building containing two rooms, each 20ft. by 20i't., and each to accommodate about 30 pupils. It is to be of wood, with two end walls like those of an ordinary school, while the two side walls will be composed of French windows, not necessarily all of glass, in the proportion of 4ft. of French window to 2ft. of wall. The plan, in its essential, is the work of Eleanor Baker, medical inspector of schools.

Wanted Known; You can get better groceries for the same money at Walker and Fume's.