LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1868, 24 August 1918, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At tho last meeting of the Wanganui Education Board, Mr F. Pirani was unanimously re-elected chairman. The Levin Borough Council has appointed Councillor U. W. Malheson to represent it on the Foxton Harbour Board, vice Air J. Robertson, resigned. Sir James Allen slated that Cabinet’s full proposals regarding the conservation of soldiers’ businesses while on active service will be made known in the course of a few da vs.

German papers state that the Czecho-Slovak authorities exhumed the body of the ex-Tsar, which was buried in (he cemetery for suicides, and solemnly re-interred it in (rousecrated ground, in the presence of thousands of people in Ekaterinburg.' The following resignations were received at last meeting of the Education Board: —R. E. Lethbridge, sole teacher, Orangimea; J. E, Marshall, formerly lirst assistant, (acting), Ohakune; L. G. Weatherall, sole teacher, Warrengate; M. A. Logan, acting assistant, Utiku; .G. Stewart, pupil teacher, Gonville; E. M. Short, assistant, Victoria Avenue; E. E. Cavell, assistant, Wanganui E. Mr A. P. Whatman's contributions towards the erection of the Soldiers’ Club in Masterton will amount to over £4,000. In addition to 1 his, Mr Whatman has guaranteed a sum of £3OO per annum for ten years, if necessary, towards the upkeep of (he club. Mr AVhatmau has also contributed large sums to other patriotic funds. He’s the same clean sport who played football for Masterton in the early days. Mr Whatman is a successful farmer who has made, money, but money was never his slave, and he’s white throughout. Air AC. M. Hughes, addressing Australian hospital patients, said that in the recent fighting the Australians had the honour of reaching the furthest point attained. They had cleared the enemy from a hundred square miles of territory, and Cilptured over ten thousand prisoners and 120 guns. Their total casualties were little over two thousand. One of the best tributes to the Australians was a captured map which showed that whenever Australians were known to hold sectors the Germans labelled these “storm troops,” IT IS SURE TO HAPPEN. Some day you will get caught in the rain and get soaking wet. That is just the time that you want to remember the most irritating cough can be quickly relieved by taking Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy. For sale everywhere,—Advt.

The Hon. Guthrie prognosticated in his speech at Cheltenham last Wednesday “that when the war was over party politics would be no more.” A youthful drover. 17 years of age, giving evidence before the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court, said that lie earned from .Cl lbs to £5 a week. The Queen of the South, fron> Wellington via Terakohe with general and cement, arrived this morning, and will sail again for 'Wellington to-night with a cargo of hemp. Sly grogging and “dropping” so far as Masterlon is concerned,, appear to have died a natural death, (says the Wairarpa Age). There has not been a police prosecution for a breach of the Licensing Act in this connection for many months. Mr E. Page, recently appointed stipendiary Magistrate for the Palmerston North district, in place of Mr W. G. K. Kenrick, transferred to Rotorua, presided at the local sitting of the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The following address to nurses is reported in an exchange:- The colonel was addressing a band of muVes who were about to start for the front. He said: —“Some of you-are very young and very pretty —and I advise you to work hard over there and to do no flirting. Serious courtship is a different thing. -Many of you, 1 am sure, will be courted seriously, and Will make good marriages with our soldier-boys in France. But flirting—what is a flirt 1? A flirt is a rose ‘from which everybody plucks a petal, leaving the thorns for the future husband.”

A Berlin critic, of Germany has translated the beatitudes into the brazen patois of Berlin. Here are some specimens of the Kaiserised beatitudes: ‘‘Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after power-at-any-price, for they shall be Jillecl with honour.’’ “Blessed are the ruthless: for they shall obtain spoil and booty.” “Blessed are they that persecute men for cherishing' righteous treaties: for theirs shall be the stolen kingdoms.” “Blessed are the arrogant; for theirs is the kingdom of the earth.” These are a few of (lie items in the creed of Potsdam.

Retailers and tradespeople generally have less trouble in getting in their accounts where National Prohibition is in vogue in Canada. Mr W. Proudfool, Liberal Leader of the Ontario Legislature, says: —“Retail merchants and butchers are quite strong in their statements that'men who previously were in (he habit of letting their accounts run, and from whom it was only with the greatest difficulty they were able to secure payment, now pay regularly withouli even being dunned.” This phase of matters represents a very valid rason why the Alliance Monster Pe-. tition for the abolition of the drink traffic- in New Zealand should receive the support of tradespeople. Be sure you sign it.* An effort is being made by the local (State (School Committee to erect an Honours Board at the school bearing the names of all cxpupils who have made the supreme secrilice in the present war. ■ Mr Perreau was deputed to canvass old boys for the needful, and is meeting with a fairly liberal response. The Board wus written to usking’ whether the Department will subsidise subscriptions, and has been advised that a subsidy will be forthcoming. The Committee hopes to erect in the school a fitting memorial to the memory of departed hero expupils. A suggestion has been made by the head teacher that the memorial should take the form of swimming baths at the school, but owing to the lack of a water supply this would he a very costly item. A purchaser goes into the grocer’s shop and buys certain goods at a certain price, and comes away believing that a fair exchange has been made. There are some people who cannot understand that the advertising space in a newspaper is to the newspaper man what the goods are to the storekeeper, Willi this difference, that the advertiser does not carry goods away for money expended, but business, patronage or cash follows publicity. Yet, strange to say, there arc people who imagine that because they pay for an advertisement they are bestowing a kind of charity upon the newspaper man, and if it happens to he an entertainment notice the pressman is the debtor. Such people should try this process on the tradesman, and ask for a pound of butter in exchange for sixpence. The newspaper man prints to Jive. The London Daily Telegraph, discussing a report from Madrid that King Ferdinand of Bulgaria is dying, and that the proclamation of a Bulgarian Republic may be expected, says: Neutral newspapers have attributed the removal of the Royal Family from Sofia to internal and political unrest, the economic crisis and the food shortage. It is recalled that M. Malinoff, leader of the Democrats, succeeded M. Radosiavoff in the Premiership in June, The latter has u shady history,'and served a long term of imprisonment for embezzlement of public funds. He is recognised as Germany’s tool. German newspapers recently protested that M. Malinoff was Russophile, and was pursuing a poliev diametrically opposed to Radoslavoff’s. It is impossible to say definitely what is, happening in Bulgaria. There has been no news, except communiques, ■ received for three months. Walker & Furrie are selling the best White Duck Horse-covers at 32/-. Buy now, they won’t get cheaper.*

At the local police court this morning, before Mr Hornblow, J.P., John Kinley, whose face looked as if he had been in the wars, was charged with drunkenness, second offence. He was convicted and fined £2,'in default seven days’, A social afternoon, under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, will be held in the Town Hall supperroom on Wednesday afternoon next, at 2.30 o’clock. An attractive ■programme has been arranged, and afternoon tea will be dispensed. Everyone is welcome. The sitting of the Magistrate’s Court yesterday was the shortest yet held, occupying five minutes only. The two defended cases set down for hearing were adjourned until next sitting, the only case dealt, with being a judgment summons, 11. Wise and Co. v. S.' W. Smith. There was no appearance of judgment debtor, who, however, forwarded a letter stating be was unable to attend owing to illness, but ottering to pay the amount owing, £4 Is Od, by instalments of leu shillings per month. An order was made accordingly. Official instructions have recently been issued by which overseas vessels arc, for the present, prohibited from visiting the \\ aug*mui roadstead. The reason given (says the Herald) is that (here is a possibility of drifting mines in Cook Strait fetching up in the roadstead, and that such vessels may come in contact with them. While there is a possibility that the enemy mines sown round the New Zealand coast may be more numerous than supposed, it may, however, be pointed out that coastal shipping passes up and down and across the Strait without mishap, and, further, that the main current, which is more likely to carry mines, is in midStrait, the coastal drift being only feeble by comparison. In vieiv of the great shortage of insulated transport, whether by railway or coastal steamer, the prohibition is a serious matter for the local freezing companies, and it is to be hoped that the fears which have actuated the authorities will be speedily removed.

When an account for gas fittings, incurred by the Terrace End School Committee, was before the Education Board on Wednesday, the action of the committee in incurring the expenditure was criticised, and it was decided that under no consideration will the Board pay another account without its authorisation. The circumstances under which the Terrace End Committee acted might, be explained. Owing to the overcrowding of the school, extra accommodation had to be obtained elsewhere, and the Coronation Hall was engaged. The building; is not heated in any way, and the conditions during the specially severe weather were almost intolerable for the children, who were .suffering, intensely from the cold. This was ..reported to the committee, who, recognising the need for action, supplied heaters at once, instead of applying through the ordinary channels and probably having to wait for weeks before the matter was rectified. The objection of the Board, under tho circumstances, is weak and paltry, and unworthy of notice. —Standard,

In the Coronation Hall, at 2.30 o’clock to-morrow afternoon, Mr •Tames Simpson, the Canadian Labour Delegate, will deliver an address on “Labour and Prohibition.” Mr ■Simpson is one of Canada’s most prominent Labour men, and has been chosen as that Dominion’s delegate to the World’s Conference of Labour men to consider peace terms at the close of the war. He has occupied numerous official positions in Canada, including that of Controller and Chairman of the Board of Education, Toronto, and is a member of the Executive Council of the Dominion Temperance Alliance, Canada. Mr Simpson is a recognised aulhority on the subjects with which he is dealing, and being a first-class platform speaker, the opportunity of hearing him 'on Sunday afternoon should not be missed by residents of this district. To-night he is speaking at Shannon, under the auspices of the Shannon branch of the New Zealand Labour Party, and on Sunday night at Palmerston N., under the auspices of the Palmerston Labour Representation Committee. To-morrow afternoon’s address in the Foxton Town Hall has been arranged by the Manawatu Flaxmills Employees’ Union. Referring at Christchurch on Thursday to smoking among soldiers, Sir James Allen said that as regards the troops at the front his advisers stated that under heavy physical and mental strain the smoking of a cigarette! or a pipe was a great relaxation and comfort: but the fines)ion had been raised of the danger of issuing an unlimited number of cigarettes to men in hospital and those returning as patients. Sir James Allen remarked that he was afraid -this was undoubtedly true, and it had been suggested that patients with lung or cardiac troubles should receive only a limited number. He was not a medical man, but he thought there was a great, deal too much cigarette smoking amongst* New Zealand soldiers, and particularly those in homes or hospitals, and he was afraid in some instances it was retarding their recovery. In the interests of the soldiers themselves the generosity of the public might, therefore, be cheeked a little in this direction, for there was ample evidence from soldiers that as many as fifty or sixty cigarettes were smoked in a day. He did not want to stop smoking, but he would he glad to see excessive smoking checked. The will-poAer of the men to stop it themselves might well be assisted in their own interests,

At a meeting of the claims board of the Wairarapa Patriotic Association, loans aggregating £350 were granted two returned soldiers, free of interest.

A Native named Puni Thomas -was on Tuesday last arrested at Waikar.ae for failing to parade for medical examination. He was taken to Palmerston, and handed pver to the military authorities. The Hon. Guthrie stated at Cheltenham that up to the present we had sent from New Zealand 99,000 men; there were in training 8,500, and a further 2,500 occupied in home service duties. Up to the present the number of casualties (under all heads) was 47,000.

It is reported that there is a considerable slump in all classes of stock in the Waikato just now. A line of 400 good 4-tooth sheep was recently put into the saleyards at Hamilton with a reserve of 15s each, and the only bid was one of 2s 6d each.

For the silting of the Magistrate’s Court in Wanganui next Monday a. case has been set down tor hearing in which a farmer of the district will be called upon to answer a charge that he retained in his employ a reservist alleged to he a deserter from the Expeditionary Force. There is also a charge pending against the farmer’s wife of withholding information which might have been of use in finding the reservist.

Another instance of the need for caution in dealing with bulls, however quiet they may seem, was provided in Woodville last week, when Mr Hurley, of Woodlands road, was attacked by a bull belonging to a neighbour. Fortunately a fence was near, and the bull’s attention was distracted long enough to allow Mr Hurley to gel over it, but not before lie had sustained a very severe wound in the thigh from the animal’s horns.

The Cheltenham Dairy Company, at- its annual meeting, carried the following motion : —“That this meeting views with alarm the accumulation of land under the single ownership in this and the surrounding districts, and respectfully urges on the National Government the necessity of taking steps to prevent the aggregation of land, which we consider inimical to the best interests of the dairying industry and the small farmers of New Zealand.”

We clip the following from the Pahiatua Herald: —“Major J. B. Whyte, of Morrinsville, formerly of Pahiatua, who left with the Main Body, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry in the field. He has received his decoration at the hands of the King. Major Whyte's numerous friends in the district will be pleased to hear that he was also mentioned in despatches, and furthermore that there is a possibility of his returning to New Zealand on furlough. Mrs Whyte is now living in Hamilton.” Mrs Boyden, of Himatangi, is a daughter of Major Whyte. Mr H. Witchell, of Otaki, ex-pre-sident of the local Horticultural Society, in a letter acknowledging thq honour conferred on him by being made a life member, writes: “I have at times won various prizes at your shows, but this is surely the greatest of all. . . . You can rest assured my keen interest in the welfare of your association will always continue, and as the years roll on I hope the time may come when I shall once again take the active part I did of yore.” There are now four life members, all ex-presidents, viz., Messrs Alex. Bpairs senr., H. Witched, G. H. Stiles, and P. G. Jackson. At Wednesday’s meeting of the Wellington Education Board a communication from the Council of Education raised the question of appeals against teachers being sent to the war. The Council of Education suggested that appeals should be made for teachers whose cases had not been decided. The chairman stated that the policy of the Wellington Board was not to appeal for First Division men, but to appeal for Second Division men. Seven or eight appeals hail been made, ft was resolved that the letter from the. Council of Education should be received and that the suggestion contained in it slu/idd have the hearty endorsement of the Board. The Education Act provides that in the absence of the Chairman the Board must elect a chairman from among its members for the meeting. When the chairman, Mr Pirani, went to England, he was given leave of absence, and a deputy-chairman was appointed in his absence, which was illegal. At lasi meeting of the Board it was decided to obtain the Board solicitor's opinion as to whether the acting-chairman could hold otiiee for a longer period than the meeting, and the Board was informed that it must elect a fresh chairman at each ■ meeting. Fancy having to obtain a legal opinion on such a point and imterring expense which would otherwise be more profitably spent. Surely the secretary, with a .salary of £SOO per year, could have enlightened the Board on ibis point. Keep with your clients as much as you can, That’s the wise plan of a business man; Abselree through illness for orders is bad, Patrons soon drift when you’re missing, my lad. If hr tire winter with cold vou take ill, Brace up your spirits and peg along still; At the first symptoms resolve to endure, Trusting to Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 18

A letter from E. G. Martin is unavoidably crowded out of this is-

Owing to Mr D. R. Richmond’s departure for camp, the business of Mr R. Moore, barrister and solicitor, will be managed by Mr J. B. Wither, of Palmerston North. Of the 136 men examined by the Medical Board in Masterton during the present week, 67 were passed fil, or 50 per cent. This is considered a good percentage by the medical authorities.

The value of produce exported from New Zealand during the year ended December, 1917, was as follows : —Wool £12,175,366; meat, £6,119,747; cheese, £3,949,227; butter, £2,031,575; sheepskins, £1,287,529; hemp, £1,191,396. Mr Greville, of “The Dairyman,” stated af Cheltenham that the people of towns and cities whilst buying milk were paying for butter-fat at the rate of 5s 7d per lb. He also stated that the farmers were throwing to the pigs 91b of solids out of every gallon of milk. The Hon. Guthrie, referring to putting returned men on the land, said that the Government had purchased 1,200 acres in one locality, but up to the present not one returned soldier had offered to go on it. He repudiated the statement that, as Minister for Lands, he was buying dear lands for soldier settlements, and justified the expenditure in this connection on the ground that the land must be suitable for the man. “Cheap land” was too costly in the long run. England is now producing 3,00 Q aeroplanes monthly, and France 2,000. Add to these figures the huge supplies also being turned out by America and Italy, and one can judge of the tremendous part the aeroplane is-playing in the present operations on the Western front. The original estimate of three machines for each (Iyer has now been changed to six aeroplanes per flyer, making a quota of 108 machines needed for each sepia (Iron of 18 aviators, or 24,000 aeroplanes for 4,000 dyers. The average cost of the plane itself is now about £I,OOO, whilst the engine runs into £4OO to £I,OOO, according to power and size.

Speaking at a meeting of the Dunedin Education Board, the Minister for Education, the Hon. J. A. Ha nan, said the system regarding the maintenance of school buildings had inherent weaknesses. In some cases if buildings had been attended to at the right time a saving of thousands of pounds would have been made. In one district the condition of the buildings gave him the greatest concern, while the account had been so depicted that the board had no money to provide for the repairs necessary. Although the boards received money for maintaining schoolmasters’ residences, many had been allowed to get into disrepair. Some provision seemed to be necessary to ensure the money appropriated being used. He had made alterations with the object of putting matters on a bettor fooling and to enable the Department to supervise expenditure. He had no wish to centralise things, but the question arose whether by a modification of local government control an improvement in administration could be effected. A father who appeared before the Second Canterbury Military Service Board in furtherance of an appeal for the return of a son on furlough to New Zealand, after four years ou active service, said he could Jay claim to having the largest family of any man in Now Zealand (reports the Christchurch Star). He had been fifty-three years in the Dominion, and had twenty-four children. Five of his sons had gone away a ( t once, at the beginning of the Avar, and two had been killed. In reply to a question, he said he had been married twice. “I have eleven daughters married, f might tell you, Mr Chairman,” he continued. “I don’t want to delay the Avar, but I would like this son back for a Avhile, and he can return again.” The father said he had been farming for fifty years, Avhieh brought forth thu comment from the chairman (Mr H. W. Bishop) that he had done very good Avork. “1 avus promised by Mr Seddon,” said the father of many soldiers, “that if ever he could do me a kindness lie Avould.” The Board decided to recommend three, months’ furlough on full pay for the soldier son. “Swinging the lead,” explains a Trent ham correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle, “is not a nautical expression, but in military parlance means malingering, a stratagem, according to repute, occasionally resorted to-by soldiers desirous of obtaining something in the nature of a brief holiday. But it is a very difficult part to play by the “sufferer,’’ as the medical fraternity have made an art of diagnoses of knoAvn ailments, these comprising a someAvhat bewildering array. Occasionally there might be a slight doubt as to whether a ease is genuine, or perhaps exaggerated for personal reasons, and the unswerving practice to give the sufferer the better of the argument until a lapse of time will furnish further observational opportunities. The average medico is a humorist in a quiet Avay, Avith a much more effective Avay than exposure fur getting level with the genuine “lead swinger” avlio occasionally happens along. The latter receives tender solicitude, a tablespoon of a A'ile-tasting, but harmless Hu id, a hearty invitation to return at frequent intervals for more, and finally, a promise of larger doses if the first is ineffective. The first dose usually effects a cure,”