LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1733, 3 July 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

■ This week children’ and teachers in this district are enjoying the midwinter holiday. Oaten sheaf chaff was sold at a private sale in the Pahiatua district a few days ago at £7 per ton. Another case of diphtheria was reported yesterday, the patient, a four-year-old infant, was removed to the hospital.

The latest additions to the local telephone list are Mr J. Chrystall, Lady’s Mile, No. 54, and Catholic Convent, 88.

• The vital statistics for Foxton for the month of June are as follow: —Births 5, deaths nil, marriage certificates issued 2.

Intending exhibitors at'the local Horticultural Society’s Bulb Show may now obtain schedules fi’om the secretary, Mr Patterson.

The local State School Committee meeting, to have been held last night, lapsed for want of a quorum. The meeting will be held next Monday evening.

The Mayor will convene -a public meeting, probably next week, to discuss the proposed exchange of the Round Bush at Motuiti for a portion of the borough reserve in the same loealitv.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Foxton Borough Council will be held in the Council Chambers, on Monday, 9th inst, at 7.30 p.m. Business: ordinary.

The Kmnara Times, which has been established 41 years, ceased publication on Saturday. One more victim to war expenses and shortage of paper. An under-age reservist at the Appeal Board in Palmerston, when asked what age he put down on Ins registration paper, stated, “I said I was rising 20.”

“Did your husband drink very much'?” asked Mr Justice Gordon of a petitioner in the Divorce Court in Sydney. “Oh, yes,” she promptly replied. “Ho drank to success!” Definite support in the agitation for 0 o’clock closing of hotels was given by the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Educational Inslitule, sitting in Wellington. The particulars of the rainfall for the month of June are as follow : —Rain fell on six days, the maximum fall, 0.48 inch, occurring on 24th. The total for the month was 4.30 inch, compared with 4.0 inches for the same month last year. In the course of a discussion on the proposal of the Wellington Patriotic Society to raise money for the rapidly dwindling funds of the War Relief Association, Mr John Hutcheson said: “There are men in this town worth twice as much as anyone in this room, who have not given anything. They should bo pilloried by being named —and, they will be soon!” The Post says: A sale of butter for export at Is 2d per lb. is reported by a Wellington house. The butter is graded first-grade creamery, and produced in the Wellington district.” And yet, with stores all over the Dominion overloaded with butter, it costs Is 8d per lb. in Foxton to-day!

The following are the principal legacies left by the late Mr Robert Glendining, of Dunedin: —£5,000 to the Presbyterian .Social Service Association for the maintenance and general carrying on of the Glendining Home for Orphans; £2,000 to the Deacons' Court of Knox Church, Dunedin, for the salary of a nurse or sister; £I,OOO to provide a peal of bells for Knox Church. '

The Lutheran parsonage at Rongotca was destroyed by lire early yesterday morning. The Rev. Mr Has,sold had a valuable library on the promises, as well as a' large slock of furniture, and this was completely lost. There was an insurance of £450 on the enlarged building, held by the church trustees, and Air Hassold had £l5O on the library and furniture. Messrs Arnott, the builders, of Rongotca, lost all their tools, upon which there was no insurance.

At the monthly meeting of the Council of the Palmerston Philosophical Society on Friday evening, it was decided, on the motion of Air J. W. Poyuton, to write the Government requesting that the islands lying to the south-west of Stewart Island be declared bird sanctuaries, and that bird specimens be procured from these islands and placed on the sanctuaries at Kapiti and Little Barrier. It was also decided to ask other societies in the Dominion to support the motion.

Diphtheria is very prevalent in Palmerston. Up till last week Foxtun had kept (dear of the. outbreak, but there are now several cases in the borough. We again urge householders to exercise every care in respect to drainage and decaying vegetable matter about their premises, and to examine the children’s throats if they show any signs of sickness. We would suggest also that the local-halls be thoroughly disinfected and fumigated. These steps are being taken* at the local State school before the children again assemble. . What is NAZOL? Thousands answer “The best Cough and Cold Remedy in the Dominion.” No cold is NAZOL-proof. Sixty doses,. 1/6, Refuse substitutes. NAZOL acts like a charm in tackling coughs and colds. Penetrating and germ-killing. Better than mixtures or syrups. Most economical. 1/6 buys 60 doses.

Rear-Admiral Fiske, of the U.S. Navy, declares that the Allies must “go in” after the German fleet before the lack of oil ties up the British Dreadnoughts. The Germans could he swamped in their own harbours, and the war won if a swarm of torpedo-aeroplanes accompany the Allied Fleet.

Although the United States is a comparatively young nation, the Stars and Stripes is a veteran among flags. It was born in 1775. The Tri-colour of France did not appear till 1793. The Union Jack of England in its present form was first seen in 1801, and the Germanflag only appeared at the top of the flagstaff'ln 18G7, after the victory of Prussia over Austria.

When leave of absence was bcinfj given in.the House, Mr Fletcher, with some show of moved for one week’s leave of absence for Mr P.. C. Webb, member for Grey, on account of “inexcusable absence.” Mr Massey, in a surprised tone, asked what was the excuse? The motion was canned without discussion. Webb’s sentence will be completed at the cud of July.

Two bookimfkcrs, Alexander Lindsay, Mackie and Leonard Andrews, were fined £IOO each at Auckland for betting on licensed premises. Henry McCormack, -charged with being in Fort Street for the purpose of betting, was fined £25. All pleaded guilty, and paid the fines forthwith. The case against McCormack is the first in Auckland, and it is believed in the Dominion, of a “pun” tor” being fined.

Members arc inclined to laugh at the predictions of certain press writers that there is a probability of a dissolution and a general election, writes a Parliamentary correspondent to a contemporary. 1 think there is reason for their merriment. Members are never in a hurry to face the trials and tribulations of an election one hour before the due. dale. I think it may he taken for granted that there will be no election before November of" December, 1918.

A painful case came before the Auckland Relief Committee of tin; Patriotic Association recently. The Board, which recently advised a soldier at present in Franco that bis father bad died, now Ims the melancholy duty of communicating to him news of the death of bis mother. The soldier lias two sisters and a young brother, and (he committee, in writing asking him to make the necessary alteration in his allotment order, assured him that* his sisters and brother were being cared for by the committee during his absence.

Writing to a friend, Mr E. K. B. llolben, of the firm of Hoi ben and Kirk, of Palmerston, and now in London, has some interesting things to say about his work. Mr Holben is one of the inspectors in an air-' craft factory. From this particular factory the type of aeroplane turned out attains a speed of 100 miles an hour, carrying two quick-firing guns discharging 1,500 rounds a minute. Six one hundred-pound bombs are also carried, and these machines are being manufactured at (he surprising rate of 30 a day! When it is remembered that.the factory mentioned is only one of many it will be seen that the rate of production must he enormous. Work is carried on day and night by two shifts, Sunday alike.

M; Cammaerts goes to some trouble to collect records which insist that not one section of the Belgian people have developed a peace-at-any-priee feeling despite their tortures at the hands of the Huns. And the author’s concluding paragraph is peculiarly apt in putting the case: “The whole policy of Germany is determined by her first stroke in the war. That stroke was against, a small nation. The whole policy of. England and of the Allies is determined by their first efforts in the struggle, and these efforts were made to protect a small nation against Germany's aggression. Never has the choice between right and wrong been made plainer in the whole history of the war.” And every logician will agree with this terse summing up.

A man in uniform who says lie is a returned soldier and who used the nom-de-plume of “Walker,” has been having high jinks in this district. He stayed a while with some Bumyvthorpe friends, and is said to have.sold their horse and gig and borrowed money on bogus information. He victimised a Palmerston taxi proprietor to the extent of a trip to Napier and back. Another taxi was taken to Sanson to “inspect the Post Office.” The “inspector” also borrowed £2 from the confiding chaffeur, who, after waiting all day, made a fruitless enquiry of the Postmistress as to whetbei; the inspector was finished. It was then found that the adventurer had left by another ear for fields unknown. Presumably the police are in full possession of the facts, if not of the perpetrator’s person.— Palmerston Times, Of nerve-racking worry, beware! Have faith in the help which avails ■ you: Take courage, and vanquish despair. ~' In storm and stress, each.pang will grow less, If with calmness your fate you’ll endure When cough or cold of your lungstake hold, Take Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 14 Why bother making cakes when there is such a good assortment at Perreau’s*

The second of the series of socials held under the auspices of the local Presbyterian Church will take place in the schoolroom to-morrow (Wednesday) night. The social gatherings are much appreciated by members of the congregation and others, and an enjoyable two hours can be anticipated. The programme, will consist of musical and vocal items, and refreshments will be provided by lady members of the congregation. The admission is Is, children half-price.

The value of the “gargle” parade in military camps as a means of preventing the spread of many readily infectious diseases is now well recognised. Each soldier regularly receives a portion of diluted disinfectant which keeps the throat in order and prevents diseases originating in ulcerated, inflamed, or sore throats. A well-known medical authority in Wellington declares that a, gargle of Condy’s fluid every

morning is an infallible preventative of diphtheria, and urges that (his being so a daily gargle parade should be insisted upon in every school.

, The abnormally wd weather experienced during recent.months has brought about an increase in the number of cases of diphtheria reported to the Auckland health authorities. Dr T. J. Hughes, district health officer, slated that while there was nothing in the nature of an epidemic', the number of cases notified was above' the average. “The reason is not far to seek,” said Dr Hughes. “People got their feet wet during this rainy weather, and tins induces sore throats, which provide an ideal lodgment for the bacteria of the disease. An increase in cases of diphtheria from tbs cause has occurred in most parts of (lie Dominion."

bobbing a hank',’ apparently, like robbing the Government, is not regarded so seriously by some pimple as is (heft from private persons (says the ’Christchurch Star). Mr Justice Denniston, when dealing with a prisoner in Christchurch who had pleaded guilty to retaining £2O overpaid by a hank teller, said that in such instances it appeared to be taken for granted that the hank would hear the loss, and such money was regarded by some people as money found. There was no justification for such an attitude, although there seemed to be a -strong temptation to keep the money, owing to the belief that it was an institution and not aii individual that would lose it.

There was considerable discussion at a meeting of the Hawcra Howling' Club His week on the following motion by Mr J. Toy: —“(T) That this club decides to disallow (he use of, spirituous liquors on the green at inter-eluh matches during the continuance of the war; (2) that it be a recommendation to the Taranaki Bowling Centre that the use of spirituous liquors be discontinued at tournaments during: the continuance of the war; and (3) that the centre recommend clubs to discontinue use of same at their inter-club matches during the war period.” The matter was discussed at length, the motion being strongly supported, and it was resolved to submit the proposals to the members for decision by ballot, which io now being taken.

The 'Minister for Education, replying’ to a deputation at Wellington on Saturday, said that lie thought that the most serious defect in our system of education was that it did not provide for compulsory attendance at classes up to the age of 18 years. To him it was a matter of deep regret that many of the children should discontinue their, education at 11 years, thinking it was complete, and waste their golden years of preparation. He understood that hi other parts of the world evening continuation classes had been tried, but they had not proved satisfactory. Public opinion had to bo .educated, and it would he a great advance on sound lines if day classes could ho brought about. It was a reform ho had always advocated, hut there was no hope of obtaining Ihe necessary legislation this session. However, whether or not he was in his present position, he would always be a very strong advocate of this system.

. Several defects in the methods ; employed in the teaching of arith- . metic in schools were touched on by Mr W. A. Burnside in the course of > an address delivered at a conference 1 between inspectors and teachers, at . Auckland. In the preparatory clasi ses, less concrete and more abi, struct methods of teaching number- . ing were advocated. - Some children, . after a year or more of schooling, , he said, were still counting only by . the number 10, and tins despite all aids that humanity could devise in . the way of heads, buttons, sticks, . and other appliances. In the middle standards less attention’ should he paid to the mere formal setting out of arithmetical exercises, which , were often ’absurdly elaborate, ■ Speed should not be sacrificed to , formality; accuracy and speed should he the first consideration, and formality the last;. Speaking of ■ the teaching of higher branches of mathematics, Mr Burnside advocated the use of simple fractional methods, use of algebraical symbols wherever practical, and a wider use of the graph. The aim of this branch of instruction was not to train children to be eminent arithmeticians; what was needed was a systeia of * training in mathematics such as could be applied to the needs of everyday life. Wanted: Housewives to realise that it pays to purchase groceries and household requisites at Walker and Furrie’s. 4

At the lodal Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning a resolution was carried urging the Government to legislate for the early closing of hotels during the currency of the war. A copy of the resolution has been forwarded to the Premier and member for the district.

A Carterton woman was driving a cow to the bail, when the bovine kicked a dog. The- dog howled and limped off to a shed. The woman followed the dog and struck a match. The match ignited the hay. The hay set lire to the shed. The tire brigade arrived, 'fbe water supply refused to act. The shed was destroyed. The owner was Air Lawrence, who loses £IOO.

It is rumoured that there is likely to be trouble over a recent land deal in the Inglewood district (says the Eltham Argus). A farmer who disposed of his property for the purpose <>f proceeding to the front to 'do his bit for the Empire, has discovered that the purchaser is an unnaluralised alien, consequently lie is wrathful at the idea of facing hardships and risking his life while an alien is allowed to enjoy his freedom and other benelils. While every Britisher is willing to make any secritiee for hi- King and country, he does not like to see all the benefits of Ins In lion;.' reaped by foreigners.

A Incut returned soldier ' was wearing a military overcoat, recently, contrary to regulations, and was accosted by a military policeman and ordered not to offend by wearing it again except for parade purposes. When the returned man was discharged he was allowed 39s for a new suit of clothes —barely sufficient for a suit of "hand-me-downs." We have suggested to the seen Ia ry of the local Patriotic Society that an overcoat for the returned man he purchased from the funds, and no doubt this will lie done, as the secretary is moving in Ihe mat ter.

The Greynioulh Argus makes serious complaints of the moral conditions of (hat- town. Beginning with a statement (hat it is practically impossible to get juries to convict local resident.-, the editor goes on: "We art- astmushed at the serious things that happen in this town, and which are regarded lightly and with a smile by n section of the people. The man who by shady methods heals his neighbour in business is ’palled on the hack,' while the man who goes ‘straight’ is regarded as something of a fool, and is looked upon as some abnormal being. The moral fabric of the town as a whole has been reduced to shreds, and it is high lime there was an awakening to the seriousness of the position.”

A charge was preferred in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch last week .against Bernard Noonan that, on 21sl June, 1917. being a man enrolled in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, he did assume a name other I ban the one he was ’ customarily known under. Suh-Jnspeetor Atullany said that this was the first ease of ils kind,

and it was a very serious offence. The accused could have got away, and the Defence authorities would have had some difficulty in finding him. The accused: "I did nut intend to dodge (lie Defence people.” The Afagistrale: "You were dodging somebody.” The accused: "Yes.” Sub-Inspector Mulhuiy said that the accused had bought a ticket fur Wellington. He asked the .Magistrate to impose a heavy penally. The accused was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, Noonan was also ordered to contribute 15s a week to his wife’s support.