NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1701, 21 April 1917, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

Dr. Chesson, district health officer of Christchurch, states that people should take every precaution against a recurrence of scarlet fever and other infectious diseases now that the cold weather is approaching.’ They should see to it that houses, schools and places of entertainment had plenty of ventilation. It was only inducing such diseases to shut up rooms, exclude every bit of fresh air and huddle around firesides or heaters. There was a double danger in the cutting out of fresh air. People living under such conditions became predisposed to infectious diseases by reason of their lost vitality, while, on the other hand, a carrier would disseminate disease more readily under such circumstances. The best precaution to take was the allowing of plenty of ventilation and plenty of good, fresh air.

Whip, is probaly one of the first Iron Crosses to reach New Zealand lias been received by W. McCathie, of Upper Waiwera, from his son, Sergeant D. S. McCathie. The latter was in charge of a troop which took one of the first advanced trenches of the enemy at Rafa early last January. Three German officers were taken prisoner, together with some 20 Turks. After surrendering the German commanding officer handed over his Iron Cross to Sergeant McCathie. The medal is somewhat like a Maltese Cross in shape. The iron is encased in plated white metal, and is of very neat appearance. In the centre of the cross is the letter “W,” the initial of the Kaiser’s Christian name; above the “W” is a crown, and below it the figures 1914. At the back of the cross is a strong-plated pin for fastening it on to the. uniform of the wearer.

In connection with the demand that is being made by the Second Division League for improved conditions for married soldiers, it has been pointed out that many of the difficulties that, confront the Second Division men would he removed if the Government followed the example of the Canadian authorities and paid separation allowance at the rate of £1 a week, to the wife. New Zealand at present allows the wife only 7s a week. If the wife had separation allowance bn the Canadian scale, plus the present allowance of 5s 3d per week for each child, the husband could ensure her against actual want during his absence by making a supplementary allotment from his pay. Assuming that he was leaving two children, and that he allotted 3s (id a day from his pay, retaining Is (id a day for himself, the wife’s weekly income would amount to £2 14s (id.

An unusual and interesting occurrence is reported by the Quirindi correspondent of a Sydney journal, who states that Mr J. T. Pollock, a farmer in that district, in May, 191 G, sowed 40 acres with Warren wheat, which was harvested towards the end of November, before it had been affected much by the storms. The crop was beautifully bright, and showed not the slightest sign of rust. The 40 acres gave an average of nine bags to the acre, the grain being of excellent quality, weighing, without cleaning or grading, (illb. to the bushel. When the rains came the self-sown wheat from the harvested crop made rapid growth, and Mr Pollock recently completed taking off the second crop, which gave an average of four bags to the acre, the weight having been 71Hbs. to the bushel, and the sample pronounced by the local millers as superior for milling purposes to the first crop. The second crop was also entirely free from rust.