LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1828, 18 May 1918, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Borough Bund will render u programme of music at the Patriotic Shop to-night.

The Foxton Girls’ Guild will have charge of the Patriotic Shop next Saturday, and solicit gifts for same. The proceeds are in aid of the Guild’s funds.

Christopher Martis, a negro, was found guilty at the Palmerston Supreme Court, on a charge'of theft from the person, and was sentenced to two and a-half years’ reformative treatment.

Among the teachers recommended for environment certificates by the inspectors and supervisors of the Wanganui Education Board at last meeting ■were Mr L. -1. Fnrrie (Ohakune), and Mr P. G. Jackson (Foxton). ■ The latter was awarded a certificate last year. “Unless this Government understands the soldier, woe betide it. The men who fight for the country own it,” said a member of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, at a recent meeting. “Ought to,” commented another, laconically, in a tone which indicated that the ownership was very remote. The Primate of Ireland, in opening the Synod in Dublin this week, lauded the men who did not hold aloof to save their bodies and lose their souls when duty called. He said: “May God mercifully forgive our misguided fellow-countrymen, whose abstinence from service will for ever constitute the darkest blot oh the tragic page of Irish history.”

The; presence of a hair “dipper” in Wellington is knoAvn to at least one unfortunate young lady, who was recently the unconscious victim of this despicable kind of thief, says the Post. The young lady in question, the possessor of a line head of hair, had several inches snipped off her long plait while mingling with the crowd in the street. Her experience should be a warning to girls who are in the habit of wearing their hair loose.

“Some of the worst laftd in Hawkes Bay,” was the remark of a returned soldier at Thursday’s meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, referring to an estate on which discharged soldiers had been settled. He said that the conditions, which suited the sellers but not the buyers, made life a hard struggle fur the men. “They arq only hanging on till some other silly comes along,” he added. “I am sorry for swearing,” hy apologised, “but I feel sorry for the men who are losing their savings—and some of them have girls waiting.”

The necessity for equality of service is stressed by “Rejected” in a letter to the Post. The correspondent maintains that present discontent would be largely eliminated by preventing any person from making profits out of the war. “Why not lake a retrospective view of our conditions V’ he asks. “Allow these men or firms pre-war profits, and give the Government the rest. Place every man in khaki, give him the rank his civil life warrants, and then if there are war profits they should become the property of the country.” The adoption of such a course, he contends, would enable the country to pay for the war, provide everything necessary afterwards, and leave the profit-earning establishments no worse off than before.

For Chronic Chest Complaints, Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, 1/6 and 2/6.

As evidence of the recent mild weather, apple trees are in blossom in many of the local orchards.

There is a splendid display of goods at the Patriotic Shop to-day, and business is booming. The proceeds are in aid of the French War Orphans fund. Special meetings will be held tomorrow in the Salvation Army Hall. A programme will be given by the children in the afternoon, of songs, solos and dialogues. All are heartily invited. “I wonder if Palmerston is a specially thirsty place, or if the police arc particularly .vigilant,” said Rev. John Dawson in the course, of his address there on Thursday night. He went on to point out that there were 346 convictions for drunkenness in Palmerston in 1916, and in 12 electorates, with a population of 170,000 uhder no license only 289 convictions. In connection with the voting competition to be held in aid of the Red Jersey Appeal, a representative meeting of shopkeepers was held this morning to select a candidate to represent the tradesmen, and the following nominations were received: Misses Johnston, Harper, Osborne, Patterson, Admore, McColl, Oxley ami Perreau. The candidate was selected by lot, and the choice fell on Miss Rita Admore.

"I have had three years in France, and am not feeling too good in the legs. Apart from helping my father on the farm, if I get a few months’ leave it will make me tit to return to the front again,” remarked a tine-looking New Zealand sergeant in the military Appeal Court at Masterton. The Board thought appellant’s case was a good one, and granted him three months’ leave, saying he could appeal for further leave at the end of that period if necessary.

A very much distressed lady called on the manager of the Grand Theatre in Christchurch last Saturday’, and stated that while she was attending a. performance on Friday evening she had dropped some bank notes —two £1 notes and a ten-shil-ling note, to be exact. She wanted to know if anything had been seen of the money. The manager said that no find had been reported, but, along with the lady', he decided to make an examination of the morning’s sweepings. This was done, and the notes, very much trampled and discoloured, were found and restored to the delighted claimant.

In his charge to the Grand Jury at New Plymouth, the Chief Justice referred to the amount of crime directly traceable to drink. He said that at least one-third of the crime in New Zealand was the direct result of the drinking habit. He thought that the people were dead to all sense of humanity towards their fellows* in not stopping drinking, by which some of the best men of the country were brought to crime. He also was amazed that in the midst of this terrible war people continue to spend their money on drink and pleasures, those at home leaving all the sacrifice to be made by the men who had gone to the various fronts.

An anonymous correspondent, who signs himself “Resident,” writes as follows in last night’s Palmerston Standard; —“The Poxton Post,and Telegraph Office is open for the transaction of business in the evening from 7 to $ o’clock. Frequently some half-dozen ‘good mannered’ individuals arc to be seen loitering at the entrance, thereby causing obstruction. Remedial measures, without further delay, should be adopted by the authorities.” The post office is open for telegraph business only between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. Individuals do assemble in front of the post office every evening, but “obstruction” is a stretch of the writer’s imagination.

Mr Widdowson, S.M., chairman of the military Board at Dunedin on Thursday referring to the general demand that all (it single men, irrespective of their responsibilities, should be' sent to the front, said it was an absurd fascinating cry, emanating from unthinking people. It was absolutely opposed to all common sense, and was entirely against the Board’s policy. The people responsible for it generally talked without the book. The Board came across . instances of single men whose responsibilities were greater than those of married men with large families. The Board would continue its duty fearlessly aud honestly, dealing with every case on its merits. He condemned the action of people in sending anonymous letters to the members of the Board, Mr F. M. B. Fisher, at last repoi’ts, was lecturing throughout the United Kingdom, under the auspices of the British Empire Producers’ Organisation. He lectures on Imperial trade and industrial problems, illustrating his remarks by exhibiting cinema films of the overseas Dominions’ industries and scenery. Sir Edward Carson, in referring to Mr Fisher’s capabilities for the work he has undertaken, stated at a meeting of the Royal Colonial Institute: “Mr Fisher has one advantage over all Englishmen, Scotsmen, and Irishmen who venture to speak upon Imperial trade —he is not weighed down by any of the old party prejudices. He knows nothing ahout them, and cares less. He is the" pure wine from overseas.” Have you heard the good news?* Colds fly before NAZOL —the ready-for-use and money-saving remedy. Keep NAZOL handy. Sixty doses 1/6.

Wanted Known; You can get better groceries for the same money at Walker and Furrie’s,

The Wanganui Education Board has decided that the winter holidays . for’schools under its jurisdiction \ will commence on July Ist.

At the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday, Ernest Harvey,' of Kaponga, got a divorce from his wife and £250 damages from corespondent, Patrick Deegau. The. Rev. J. H. G, Chappie, formerly Unitarian minister at Timaru. was sentenced to eleven months’ imprisonment at Christchurch yesterday for making seditious utterances.

In a divorce ease heard at Auckland on Wednesday, the father of the female defendant gave evidence in strong corroboration of the petitioner’s story, and in proof of his daughter’s misconduct. His Honour remarked upon the unusual situation, and asked whether the witness was aware of any fault on the part of the petitioner. “No,” was the answer, “he has been a-most indulgent husband. In fact, he has been what I should call rather a foOl.”

The 1916-17 season was considered by Southland farmers to have been the best experienced for many years, but the 1917-18 season has been an even better one. There \yas plenty of sunshine, and the rain fell at intervals just when it was most wanted. The oat crops in many instances have been very heavy, but in some cases they have been on the light side. A large number of farmers, however, retain their oat crops for chaffing. The turnip crops have been particularly free of blight.

The Southland Times states thnl; Constable Carroll recently accosted а. young lad with a pea ride and cartridges, and, as both had been secured without the issue of a permit, he was charged under the War Regulations at Riverton before Mr б. Cruickshank. This led to another lad, who procured' the cartridges, the shopkeeper who sold the cartridges, the person who gave the rifle to the boy as a birthday present, and the shopkeeper who sold the ride, all being charged with contravention of the War Regulations, in which it is necessary to get a permit from the local constable to purchase or deal with the articles mentioned. Defendants pleaded guilty. The constable stated that all were, frank in their admission of the facts, and ignorant of* the regulations. All were convicted and ordered to pay 7s costs. Theh rifle and cartridges were returned to the owner.

In addressing the jury at the Supreme’ Court at New Plymouth, his Honour the Chief Justice referred to a duty the public were compelled to render the police if called upon for assistance. He said what was known as “King’s, assistance” was not often required in New Zea„land, but if it happened that a constable had occasion to call on anyone to assist him, a person so ('ailed could not refuse, lie referred to an incident within his own knowledge lift ’which there had been a disturbance between some Dutch marines and American whalers. To the surprise of all, one man who was called upon for assistance was a lieu-' tenant in the United States Navy, and, contrary to usual practice, he carried a revolver, and the rioters were soon dispersed. If anyone called upon failed to give assistance, they were liable to. punishment as if they had helped' those who were causing the trouble.

A very pleasing ceremony took place at Messrs Levin & Co.’s grading stores this morning, when the employees met to make a presentation to. Mr Alf (“Mick”) Cook, who is going into camp on Wednesday with the next draft. Mr J. W. Stevenson, on behalf of the employees, presented the recipient with a wristlet watch. In doing so, Mr Stevenson said they all admired the spirit in which Mr Cook accepted the call. Although a married man, Mr Cook felt that the call was right, and ac-. cepted it in a cheerful spirit. HR; fellow employees wished him good luck and a safe return. Other dangers and temptations were stressed by the speaker, who said that he felt sure Mr Cook would do his duty honourably. Mr Cook feelingly responded, after which he wits ac-, corded three rousing British cheers.

Probably on n'o previous occasion could a poet boast that his poems had saved his sou’s life. Yet Mr Robert Hogg, of Wellington, cun make such a claim, and produce the soundest of evidence in support thereof, viz., a copy of the poems pierced with three bullet holes* during the great German push early, in March of'this year. Mr Hogg, under the pen name of “Robin Bk>chairn,” recently had a collection of his poems, entitled “Singhs to* the Weans,” published by Mr Alexander Gardner, of Paisley, Scotland. Copies of the first edition were forwarded to Wellington, and one of them was sent on to his son in France, Gunner Robert Hogg, of the sth Battery, New Zealand Artillery, fornlerly a linotype operator in the Dominion office. Ho was carrying the .little book of poems in his right breast pocket on the day he was hit, and he would certainly have been killed had the book not stopped the bullets. Mr Hogg declares that if one copy had not been sold his verses have proved their worth in saving the life of his son. A« a matter of fact, the poems have been reviewed most enthusiastically by the leading papers in England and Scotland.

Delays are dangerous with Golds and influenza. Get NAZOL to-day. Better than, mixtures of syrups. No cold is NAZOL-proof. 1/6 buys 60 doses.

The regulations foreshadowed by the Minister for Defence, preventing the supply of alcoholic liquor to newly arrived returned soldiers, will be promulgated in the near future. The amount of trouble caused in this connection has not been very large, but it has been serious enough to demand* official attention. The size of the returning drafts is increasing, and the proportion of men who still require careful attention tends to increase. Medical officers are strongly of opinion that no soldier wearing the hospital uniform should be served in an hotel bar under any conditions.