LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1747, 1 November 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

J. Hawes, a waterside worker, died in the Auckland hospital of injuries sustained while employed on a steamer in port. The continuous warm rain is causing a pi’olfic frowth of grass throughout this district. Gardens and orchards are also looking well. Myriads of slugs and snails arc attacking vegetables and seedlings. A stone monument 20 feet high is being erected at Featherston cemetery in memory of the soldiers who have died in Featherston camp. Sixteen names are engraved on the stone at present. The Minister for Finance (the Right lion. Sir J. G. Ward) stated that there was no truth in the rumour that the public servants were not to be paid their war bonus this year. “They will get it all right,” he said.

In the public schools division at the Manawatu A. and P. Show, Hilda Thompson, of the local State school, received a card of merit for mapping (Sts. V. and VI.); there were forty entries, and also a similar award in drawing from a natural object (38 entries). “The New Zealand engineers,” says a returned soldier, “have the reputation of being the best on the western front. Sir Douglas Haig has stated that never once have the German engineers been successful in working a point on them.” An alleged deserter named Private Harry Alexander Donghi was arrested at Waipawa on Friday last (reports the Mail) on a charge of escaping from the detention camp. Donghi was taken to Featherston camp next day under escort. The local business places observed a holiday to-day in connection with the Palmerston Show. A number of local people proceeded by this morning’s train to Palmerston, but the wet weather kept more at home. The State school observed a holiday.

Mr James Phelps, late of Greytown, died at Carterton last Saturday, The late Mr Phelps, who was born in Wellington some 65 years since, took up land in Waiohine Gorge, about 21 years ago, and had resided there ever since. He is survived by his wife and five sons and one daughter. At the Palmerston Police Court on Tuesday, Joseph Daniel Boyle, arrested at Foxton, was charged

with indecent exposure at Shannon on October 14th, pleaded guilty, but stated that he remembered nothing of the occurrence, as he was drunk at the time. He was convicted and sentenced to one month’s hard labour in Wellington prison. A letter recently received from Glasgow gives an idea of the normal prices ruling for the necessities of life. When the letter was written, butter was costing 2s Gd per lb,, coal Is 9d per sack, in contrast to from 81 (I to lid before the war, sugar Gd per lb., bread Gd per 21b. loaf, tea 3s per lb., steak 2s to 2s Gd per lb., dripping is per lb., ham to 2s Gd per lb., eggs 3s to 3s Gd per dozen, and other commodities five, or sis times as much as three years ago. When the American army goes into action it will be as a thoroughly musical force (writes a correspondent of the London Daily News), for the War Department in-Washington is said to be making a special feature of teaching the soldiers to sing. Each camp is to have its singing masters—“not,” says an enthusiast, “opera leaders; jflst plain chorus leaders —good fellows with mellow, singing voices who can sneak into a bunch and start a bellowing sopg a-roaring.” Colonial boots are cheaper and more durable than the imported article, according to a statement made before the Military Service Board at Wellington by Mr C. J. Ward. An imported boot of the same grade as the locally-made boot which sold wholesale for 24s and 2/s Gd was costing, he said, from 34s to 40s. Further, statistics prepared by the military authorities showed that the New ZealaUd-made boot supplied to the Army wore for nine'wehks longer than the boots made in England.

The vital statistics for Foxtou for the month of October were as follow: —Births 4, death 2, marriage certificates issued 1. The meteorological particulars for Foxton for the Month of October, were as under: —Rain fell on 14 days, the maximum fall, .50 inch, occurring on 30th. The total for the month was 2.96 inches.

In the public schools division at the Palmerston Show, in the, brushwork division (plant form in colour), Elvira Smith, of the local State school, was awarded a card of merit, and Madge Admore was commended (23 entries); any conventional plant life, Hazel Newth merit (14 entries).

Sir James Allen was unable to say definitely, when questioned on the subject in the House, whether the casualty lists already received covered fully the recent heavy fighting. It happened sometimes that lists were delayed, but he thought that the lists were up-to-date. The funeral of the late Mr Arthur Turner took place yesterday afternoon. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev.-Raine, and the Druidical service was read by P.A. Bro. Healey. Members of the Druids Lodge, of which the late Mr Turner was a member, acted as pall bearers. “It is quite refreshing,” said Capt. P. Baldwin, military representative at the Third Wellington Military Board yesterday, “to hear counsel refer to a young man of 43. Appellants of that age are usually referred to as 'very old fathers.’ ” “Then,” replied counsel, amidst some merriment, “I must be a ‘very old father.’ I am 48, and have six kiddies.”

Replying to questions in the House of Representatives, Sir James Allen said the men who had completed their training in the camps, and were not required to leave for the front immediately, were allowed to appeal to the Military Service Boards for leave without pay, if they were needed for work on their farms or elsewhere. No general system could be adopted, but he thought leave had been granted in all cases where it was advisable.

The following resolution was unanimously carried at yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington Education Board;—“That this board believes the calling up for service of all eligible married teachers is so serious a loss to our educational system that it is now necessary to reconsider the present policy of not appealing for the exemption of teachers; and that the executive of the board be instructed to review all cases and appeal for exemption when considered essential.”

The name of a local boy appears in the recent military honours list in the person of Sergt. B. C. Robinson, N.Z.E., 4/2208, who has been awarded the Italian Bronze Medal for military valour. Sergt. Robinson is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Bred. Robinson, of Thynne Street, and started in the postal service at the local office. Prior to going on active service he was at the wireless station at Port Awanui. He is serving with the wireless division in Mesopotamia, We congratulate “Bred.” upon the honour conferred. The celebration of Guy Bawkes’ Day this year will be a source of profit to the men of the Navy and their dependents. The children of Hataitai, Roaeneath, Kilbirnie, Miramar, Maranui, and Seatoun, and adjacent bays, are being organised by a band of patriotic citizens, and in accordance with their scheme the districts named will be energetically canvassed early on Saturday next by boys bearing effigies of Guy Bawkes, and wearing distinguishing badges, and armed with sealed collection boxes.

Dr. Batchelor, of Dunedin, who has just returned from a trip to the United States (says a Southern exchange), says that the medical examinations of recruits are particularly severe in the United States. The men have to go through the ordinary medical examination and are then brought before a board composed of specialists. One specialist will confine his examination to the lungs, another to the heart, and so on. If there is then any doubt as to a man’s physical state he is examined with the X-ray. This all spells efficiency.

A few days ago in the House of Representatives Mr W. H. Field referred in scathing terms to shame-, less profiteering by a shipping company, by giving inferior food to soldiers while being taken to Britain on active service. Mr Field read on Saturday afternoon, a letter which he said he had received from the Union Company, asking him to state that the Union Company was not at fault in this matter. This Mr Field did. The M. Myers and Sir James Allen also stated that they had made no charges against the Union Company.

Sir Henry Lucy, in his London letter to the Sydney Morning Herald: —Under date July 22nd last year, the following passage was written in this correspondence: “The advance of the Allies in the German entrenchments, slow but steadily sure, has revived the long insistent, of late intermittent inquiry—‘How long will the war last." Before the push started I put the question to one of our most prominent naval authorities. He said: The Queen asked me yesterday the same question. I give you the answer I gave Her Majesty: The war will be brought to an end in February, 1918. There is no indiscretion in now stating that the authority alluded to was Lord Fisher,

A serious accident occurred at one of the Foxton Cordage and Flaxrailling Co.’s, Ltd., mills yesterday afternoon, whereby a young man named Stacey Crichton received severe injuries. Whilst in the course of his occupation he got caught and hurled round the shaft-, ing. Luckily the manager, Mr Thompson, was quickly on the scene, and cut the belting, thus releasing 'Crichton. He sustained a fractur- " ed collar bone, and was very severe-, ly bruised about the head, body and legs. Crichton is a nephew of Mr J. Colder, of Foxton. At the Town Hall on Tuesday night a troupe of performers from Palmerston North held a concert, presenting a varied programme of vocal and instrumental items. Thei company comprised an orchestra of six instruments, which contributed the overtures at the commencement of the first and second halves of the programme. The attendance of the public was not very good. Of the items submitted, perhaps the best were those of the company’s comedian, whose efforts were must ap-: plauded. Encores in some cases were demanded, but altogether the quality of the entertainment was not very high. Some little time ago, it will be re-; membered, the Government, in a desire to increase its revenue, imposed an amusement tax in varying de-< grees according to the prices of adi mission. This tax comes into force as from Ist November (to-day)? The tax is being passed on to the people. It Avill apply to seats, thq price of which is over 6d and up to 2s 6d, in which case the tax will bq Id, while a tax of 2d is to be impose ed on seats sold for from 2s 6d to ss, and so on. Thus in regard to pictures the increased prices will only be imposed on patrons of the dress circle. So instead of the even shilling, purchasers of tickets of that value will be required to contribute the humble copper.

The sudden death of the late Mr Arthur Turner had a somewhat sad sequel. All arrangements were made for the marriage of Mr Turner’s brother Alfred, which was to take place at Christchurch yesterday (Wednesday), and the late Mi’ Turner’s wife had proceeded to Christchurch to take part in tho marriage celebrations. As a result of the sad intelligence, the wedding was postponed. The telegram to Mrs Turner infroming her of her husband’s death arrived at Christchurch, but at the time of its delivery Mrs Turner was away at Raka-i ia. The message was opened by Mr Turner’s mother, and transmitted to Rakaia just in time to allow Mrs Turner to catch the down express and steamer at Lyttelton, enabling her to reach Boston at midday on Tuesday.

Should public school teachers be exempt from military service? This question has for the last few days been prominently before the public, At the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute Mr W. H. L. Foster moved that an emphatic protest be made against the proposal of the Government to exempt school teachers from ser- ''"l vice. After lengthy discussion, in which Mr Foster’s motion was referred to as “too strong,” Air H. A, Parkinson moved, as an amendment, that the branch strongly support this statement of the New Zealand Educational Institute made this week. The statement referred to set out the policy of the institute in regard to the exemption of pri- . raary school teachers of the ion. The amendment was agreed toBI by a large majority. A bright and pretty little who made her appearance the Juvenile Court at Auckland a child not under proper control,■■ has had a somewhat career (states the Herald). child’s mother is a single woraall who recently went to work on a% farm near Te Kuiti, but became |i mentally deranged, and ran away \ with the child into the bush. After two days a search party found the mother and child in a very exhausted condition. The mother had to be sent to a mental hospital, while the little girl was housed at the district hospital. Here the child captivated the heart of one of the nurses, and also of the nurse’s family. The result was that when the police, proceeded with the usual course of having the girl committed to an in-, dustrial school, they were able to recommend that she be licensed out to the family, where she would have all the affection and kindness of a real home.

“An Old Hand" writes to the Lyttelton Times: —“I read an article upon a supposed new method of economical potato cultivation, in your paper, but cannot say it is new, for I have seen this done fifty years ago; and whenever I got a new variety and wanted to make the most of it, I put the tubers in a -v, shallow box until they had sprouted. I then broke-, off the sprouts and planted them as I would do the tubers, getting a good crop from each, If the tubers were required for use, of course they would have to be kept in the dark. Another way when seed is scarce is to plant the peelings in shallow trenches. Dig a strip, hoe out a shallow trench, each day laying the peelings 2Jin. or Sin, under the surface. When the row is finished, repeat the process. The Dutch people have practised this for years, but the average colonial is not put to the same practii cal economy, and prefers the whole spud, as he calls it."

Wanted: Housewives to realises that it pays to purchase groceries and household' requisites at and Furring, ' ‘ _ !.

The election to fill the position of secretary of the Flax Union, which has been filled for some years by Mr P. T. Robinson, resulted in the re-election of Mr Robinson by a substantial majority. In the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Mr T. W. Rhodes took exception to a published statement that Mr P, C. Webb, member for Grey, who has been called up for service, was invaluable as a miners’ representative in Parliament. Mr Rhodes said he regarded that as a distinct reflection on the mining members. The Hon. W. Dj S. MacDonald (Minister of Mines), said there were about eight men in Parliament representing mining districts. Everybody recognised that they were keen on mining matters. Mr Webb had been as keen as anybody else. The Mines Committee had been doing its best in connection with mining matters, and any representations made by the mining delegates were always dealt with by the experts of the Mines Department. He could say without hesitation that New Zealand had on the Statute Book the most up-to-date mining laws of any country in the world. Eeach mining member was as interested in the subject as any other mining member.