LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1730, 26 June 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There is a case of diphtheria —an infant —in Union Street. The Prince of AVales was twen-ty-three years of age on Saturday last. A meeting of the Aloutoa Drainage Board will be held on Thursday, 28th hist., at 7.45 p.m. Business: Rating and general. Last night there was every indication of a severe frost, hut rain fell during the night, making tho weather decidedly cold. Air Esmond Grcig has purchased a farm in (lie Northern Taranaki province, and intends to take up his residence there at an early date. Air E. J. Golding was in Eoxlon to-day making arrangements for (he appearance of the Royal Pantomime Company at the Town Hall on Thursday and Friday. Air F. H. Crawley, of Marotiri, after four attempts to gel away with the Reinforcements, lias been filially rejected hy the .Medical hoard. Hr. G. L. Aland!, who has been suffering from a severe attack of rheumatism for several weeks past, left for Rulorua yesterday, where he will undergo a course of treatment. During his absence, Dr Bryson, df Levin, will attend to Ids practice. A woman over (JO years of age, and her husband, also over (50, of Hakataramea, South Canterbury, have lately been engaged putting in their wheat, all their sons having been la ken for the war. The woman has been ploughing and driving a four-horse team. Mr AI. O’Brien, district health officer, was in Eoxton yesterday. He visited the local /State school, and said the rooms and outhouses are in a fairly satisfactory condition . A written report re same will be submitted to the Committee. The inspector also visited certain dwellings in the borough, which are reported as unlit for human habitation. The valedictory gathering to Privates Partridge and Norris at El(ham recently also took on something of the nature of a family reunion, says the Argus. There were over fifty members of the Norris family present, and this number included four generations. The party included Air and Airs John Norris, both octogenarians, who were among the earliest settlers in Eltliam, and who are well-known locally. “I might also congratulate you on the fact that this young man is one of the very few of your body who has been classed at (if,” said Air H. AV. Bishop, S.AI., to Bishop Julius, when the latter appealed on behalf of a clerk in Holy Orders at (ho Christchurch Alilitary Service Board. “Otherwise 1 might say that the majority of them are, physically, weeds." “Only physically, though,” rejoined his’Lordship, with a smile. “Oh, yes,” added Air Bishop. Replying to a "deputation of his constituents, the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, ALP., said that whatever happened lie was going to vote for a very considerable curlailmept of hotel hours. Some time ago lie had urged the head of the Government to give the House a lead on (lie question, and there was a probability that this might he done. As to racing, he though! it could have been cut down by one-half instead of one-third, but he did not believe in abolishing racing.

A. pathetic incident was witnessed ;it the Lambton Police Station on Sunday evening, says (he Times, when the widow of a Pacific Islander who has lost his life at the front was brought in. She was in an obviously demented condition, and her How of language in her own quasiAlaori tongue was unceasing. She was handed over to the care of the female watchhouse attendant to await medical examination, which will no doubt result in her being sent to the Porirua Mental Hospital,

The latest appliance to : void theft of motors is a secreted syren attached to the exhaust manifold, which the owner locks into operating position when he leaves his car. If someone starts it up without his knowledge the shrieks wake ail the sleeping police in the-neighhourhood, while the public gather round to discover the cause of the disturbance. Even a hardened thief cannot face it out, and experience has proved that his courage fails him, and he abandons his plunder with alacrity.

AVhy bother making cakes when there is such a good assortment at Perreau’s*

In connection with the Commercial Travellers’ Art: Union, Messrs Walker and Furric have undertaken to send on all tickets in connection with same, and parcels will be returned to and delivered by them.

“I was alright when I came off the train, and after I had two drinks aV the pub. I don't remember anything else,T said Alfred Bade, at the local police court this morning, on being charged with drunkenness. “Don’t you remember coming along .Main Sired waving your arms about as if you were about to mesmerise the community?” asked Constable Woods, “No, I don’t remember anything,” Bade answered, lie pleaded guilty to the charge, and was convicted and lim'd 5- by Mr flornblow, J.P.

Describing the Returned Soldiers’ Settlement at Takapau, a writer in a Napier paper says the soldier farmers have a splendid held for their labour, as the land is some of the best in Hawke's Bay, and well watered by streams. The soldiers Lave fenced and ploughed their holdings. Some have shoe]) farms, and some dairy farms. No farm is of less area than 100 acres, and the value of each runs from £2,000 upwards. One can read the name of each farm on the gates; all arc gathered from Gallipoli, stern reminders of scored spots on Turkish soil.

A gentleman who recently paid a visit to a military cam]) where a new draft of recruits were being shown “how to walk and where in place their feet,” came away convinced that there is nothing like soldiering as a means of levelling up (he social classes of the communily. In oik* of the cookhouses lie was .surprised to Ibid a well-known university professor and a graduate busily removing tlie overcoats from a pile of potatoes and onions, while 1 lie officer who presently came alojig was, in civilian life, a person who concerned himself with (lie cut of one's dotlu's.

The murder of lit lie school children by Germans in the recent London air raid has inspired an appeal to all New Zealand children to show their practical sympathy, it is suggested that every child should voluntarily coniriimte one penny or more from Jiis or her own pocketmoney towards a fund for the benclil of the sufferers. The Wellington Education Board has decided that the children a 1 tending the schools in its district shall be given an opportunity of contributing, and the Auckland Board will also consider the matter at its meeting next week.

The tragedy of a backyard dog tight was recorded at length in the report submitted, at Christchurch, to the meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelly to Animals, by that body's inspector. It was in vain that a woman tried to separate the canine combatants — broomsticks, buckets of water, and other means were quite unavailing —and the light waged i lore el y for three-quarters of an hour, until the peacemaker, in dcsperalion, emptied a- kettle of boiling water over the animals. That did it; the iaspeclor was summoned to look into this case of “cruelly to dumb animals.” llis report re the incident, however, 'admitted that he did not think a magistrate would convict, on the evidence. Jl was resolved to caution the woman not to adopt this method of stopping similar canine arguments in the future.

“America is not the place for Australian slackers, for the Government there has intimated that/ they must cither register under the conscription scheme or get out of the country,” said Mr Cuote, of Angus and (Joule, Ltd., who is back in Bydncy, to a reporter. “It is surprising to lind that there are more limn I,UUO Australians in America, nearly all of whom left the Commonwealth since the war commenced, and only a few have made, good. Since America, spoke of conscription there has boon much uneasiness among the slackers, who recognised that there was no way of avoiding the measure, beean-e the authorities know just who (hey are. Unless I hey have made arrangements to leave the country before names are registered, they must slay and tight. /Some of them came back on the steamer hy which 1 travelled,” continued Air Uuolc, “and f understand that a big batch will return shortlv.”

A communication of general interest was received recently from Brigadier-General Richardson relative to gift parcels for soldiers. The Minister of Defence cabled to the Brigadier as follows: —"Jr having been staled that gifts for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force arc not required except Red Gross goods, and that quantities of gifts, sudi as socks, are lying at different places deteriorating, please telegraph.”- Brigadier-General Richardson replied as under; —“Gift parcels fur Hoops in the field are appreciated highly by Hie men, if they contain —gij specially appreciated, socks, cigarettes in hermetically sealed tins (otherwise useless), and are better supplied from England), milk, Havelock tobacco, bool, laces, handkerchiefs, sweets, chocolates hermetically sealed; (b) appreciated, but not essential, as cun be obtained locally from canteens —soap (if in tins or cases and not exposed to tobacco or eatables), toothbrushes and paste, writing materials, and pipes. Gift parcels are sent to France, and not retained in England. Personally addressed parcels should not be sent except by post. Time to reach troops, approximately five months from New Zealand.”

Overheard in an Auckland tramcar going to the races last week: Old lady, who is somewhat upset owing to the rush for seats, to one of the racegoers; “This is disgraceful. .Racing ought to be slopped while the war is on.” The racegoer (a bit of a wag): “Don't you think, madam, it would be more sensible to Mop the war. so that everybody could go to the races,’” The lady gasped, and suddenly discovered that she had travelled Jar enough hy that tramcar.

Corporal Jack O’Brien, of die 4th Divisional Signal Company, linn Forces, who has been awarded^^ 1 lho Military Modal for bravery in the Hold, and who had previously been honoured with the U. 5.0., is a Now Zealander, and the only sou f of Mrs .]. O'Brien, of Onga Onga, * Hawke's Bay. Corp. O’Brien was working in Sydney when the war broke out, and immediately joined the forces, lie has never been wounded or ill. although he has had many narrow escapes. Corp. O’Brien in a brother of Mrs W. Scadden, of Marotiri, Foxlon. The other sisters are;—Mrs B. A, Mar : tin (Kiwitea), Mrs (!. Wade (Woodviile), .Mrs A. Jlobles (Lower Unit), Mrs if. Tierney (Onga Onga), Airs B. Smyth ( Kasibonrnc), Mrs 11,’ Su -ails (Cardiff), and Mis A. Marshall (Danncvirke). Mr Massey and his colleague return to find New Zealand win I they left it —a united nation whose supreme aim is a vigorous prosecution of the war. says (he Dost. We shall be milch disappointed if they do not succeed iij strengthening its determination to set- the struggle through. The return of the tjvo leaders of the National (iovermnenl must of Usui abate hie injudicious preteii--ions of subordinates who ha\e been (inva 1 cuing trouble during their ah- s ■ ace. There is no vacancy in tin; leadership either of the Oovernnieii! or of either of the parlies which coinliined to form it. and there is no longer any room for hypothetical a mint ion -. based upon changes which have not been realised and have now no chance of being real- ■ -eil. ihe t iovenimeiii, which in the absence of its two leaders has success) ally grappled with a seines of problem- of unprecedented dillienliy, .should now lx* able to face the mliire with a surer confidence (ban ever before. Air John Lbiarierman, a resident of Smithlicid, while demolishing a building’ wiiicb in the early days of ibe village bail served as a blacksmith's shop and dwelling, discovered a pickle bottle containing 200 sovereigns embedded in (he brickwork of a chimney (says the (Sydney Daily Telegraph). The money had probably lain (here for many years, as (he place had been inioe- v ctipied owing to the belief of some credulous persons that it was haunted. The owner of (he properly —Mr Bayne, of Fairfield —had accepted a tenant for (he premises a. few weeks ago, and three weeks’ rent had been paid in advance, hut owing lo (he ghostly stories in conncction with (he place, (he would-he occupier decided (o move elsewhere, and his money was refunded by Mr Bayne, who, disgusted wilh the re-'" I }’"' ports in circulation, decided (o pull I lie old house down. The premises were found to he infesied with nils. 'Tempinig offers have been made.M) the owner of (he properly (o dig up (he garden attached to the place, in the hope of Jinding more spoil.