LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1880, 21 September 1918, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Government was acquired a farm of 100 acres in the Winton district for experimental purposes.

All the houses at the local seaside have been booked up for the Christmas and New Year holidavs.

The Queen of the South, hemp laden, sailed for Wellington on Thursday morning. She is due back again with a cargo of general at mid-day on Tuesday.

Mr E. McEwen, whose name appeared in the last ballot, among the accretions to the First Division, enlisted on August Kith, and was medically examined on Tuesday last and classed C2.

It is a striking comment ary on the demand for land in the vicinity of Levin that* within the past three months over £.150,000 has been paid at auction for blocks embraced by a ten-mile radius from the town, says the Chronicle.

The Minister of Defence announces the death of Sister Tubman, one of the nurses who accompanied the 10lh .Reinforcements. The cause of death was apparently the same as that which ended the lives of many soldiers on the transport.

Speaking at Waihi, Mr Clement Wragge said that after 1020, particularly about .1022, conditions Avould be favourable for earthquakes. He took the opportunity, however, of giving an emphatic denial to certain exaggerations in regard to the matter Avhich had been published as coming from him.

The State school attendance this week averaged 388.5, out of a roll number of 420. The average attendances in the various classes were as follow: —Primer 1., 85 per cenl.; Primer IT, 80; Primer ITT, 1)1; Primer IV., 85; Standard 1., 1)0.9; Hid. JT, 92.0; Bid. 111., 1)4.8; Sid. IV,, 97.5; Hid. V., 95.1); Htd. VI., 92.5,

The following resignal ions were received at last meeting of the Education Board: —S. T. Butler, head teacher, Horopilo; J. Butler, assistant, Horopilo; 'B. A. Einlayson, third assistant, Crofton; G. I. King, first assistant, Kimbolton; D. W. •Argyle, first assistant, Bunnythorpe; V. E. Barns, fourth assistant, Ohakune; M. Ahern, second assistant, Linton. Mr Hugh Goldsbury, a member of the well-known family in the Wanganui district, handed in his resignation as a teacher to the Education Board at last meeting. He cannot, owing to his conscience, carry out the Board's instructions to salute the British flag on (he occasion of the school celebrations. lie wants to give the good old British cheer instead of the military salute, it is that he objects to. He is a member of (he Society of Friends. After a lengthy discussion the Board accepted the resignation.

Considerable discussion took place at the School Committees’ Association meeting’ around the suggested remit for a free and compulsory system of education up to the age of 18 years. The word “compulsory” was the obstacle, and one delegate, in opposing the idea, remarked that “he had four boys, and lie did not want them eating their heads off until they were 18.” The meeting was very evenly divided on the question, and it was eventually decided to take no action in the meantime.

An anonymous artist has forwarded us a humorous sketch entitled “Foxton’s Firefly.” A Jireman is depicted in uniform and helmet, a hatchet in his belt, and under his arm a “squirt.” Nearby are several buckets, and behind him is a child carrying a lighted candle. Beneath is a rat contemplating a box of matches, and a cat off; duty. We regret that the artist did not give us the story which inspired the picture. Perhaps some of our readers will supply this. It may assist the authorities in finding a clue to what at present remains a mystery.

We have large stocks of Yates’ Reliable and Sutton’s English Seeds. Ail fresh in this season. Also a number of varieties of choice seed potatoes, including the famous Aberbrothock. —Walker & Furrie*

-The date of the opening of Parliament is generally understood to ho October 24.

The recent cold snap and frosts have cut down potato crops in this district. In (he Salvation Army Hall tomorrow, speeial meetings will he conducted by Envoy and Mrs Arnold, from liawera. Alt are weleome. It is expeeted Urn! the Westmere Estate, to the east of Masterlon, will he taken over by the Government for settlement: by returned soldiers. , An Ekctaliuna baker who appealed before the Military Service Board at Pahialua was recommended leave (ill January. The chairman said that the whole question of bilkers would have to be dealt witii in a comprehensible way. The Military Medical Board which concluded its sitting in Palmerston (In’s week examined a total of 214 men. Of these, only 88 were classed A lit, while 110 were classed C2, the remaining 10 being equally divided between (he B2 and Cl classes.

At the Patriotic Drovers’ Race Meeting, held at Port Darwin on Saturday, the tote returned all the money on the first race, as no one knew the winner. Fights took place every live minutes, until the people lost all interest in the races, preferring to watch the unofficial events.

The proposal for the building of wooden ships in New Zealand which Mr C. J. Purr, M.P., lately submitted to the Acting-Prime Minister, is under consideration by the Government. Sir .James Allen, in a letter to Mr Parr, promises to take an early opportunity of conferring with the Minister for Marine in regard to it, '

A Gazette Extraordinary announces the decision of the Government under the War Regulations to operate from October Ist, restricting the license for meat export and slaughterhouses. The regulation provides that it shall be unlawful to fellmonger any slice]) skins other than skins of sheep slaughtered on the premises, except by consent of the Controller of the Imperial Government Supplies.

The first volume of the “Soldiers 7 History of the War” will be published before Christmas, according to a statement made by Sir James Allen. This volume will deal with the story of Gallipoli, {•oncoming which the Base Records Office has received over 1,000 letters, diaries, photos., and sketches. The Government intends to prepare a similar history of other campaigns, and will welcome the loan of letters, diaries or other material which may prove interesting or useful.

“Things are not going to lie too rosey in New Zealand in the near future,” said a Government official of high standing to our representative, in Wellington the other day. “There will be a tightening up,” he continued, “and other avenues of revenue will have to he sought.” Asked what these were, he replied, Government monopoly of insurance, coal mines, transport and State Bank. . He stated that the Governments in other parts of the Empire had already placed big orders for ships with a view of nationalising transport, but so far New Zealand had not touched this subject.

At the Schools Committees Association meeting, held at Palmerston North on Thursday night, Mr Job]in, a member of the Wanganui Education Board, and who is also a member of the Association, was bombarded with innumerable questions by delegates, humorous and otherwise. Finally he declared that be was a unionist, and was on strike and refused to answer, but this did not prevent delegates from a continuation of references to the “expert.” It appeared that many of the committeemen bad a closer grip of educational matters than even the Board representative.

Ordinary sewing col ton, once procurable for 2d a reel, is now being retailed throughout (be Dominion at Sid. A retail merchant in Wellington who keeps in touch with the English market declares that the profits the cotton manufacturers are making are staggering. A few months ago it was announced that one big firm’s profits for the last financial year amounted to over £3,000,000. The latest “Drapers’ Record” to hand gives a resume of the balance-sheet of one of the smaller concerns. This company made £438,458 net profit, paid .Slaveholders, a dividend of 20 per cent:., carried forward £191,416, and £50,000 to the insurance fund.

According to a letter in his own handwriting, written by General Birdwood, to Mrs Trewhelhi Bentley, a Molong musician, whose song, “Our Own Dear Land, Australia,” is dedicated to him, the popular general was gassed during the commencement of the counter-attack of the Allies in June. After stating that he had been looking for her son, Sergeant Bentley, and had discovered that he had evacuated suffering from the effects of ga.s, General Birdwood says: “We have a large number of such eases, nearly all of which recover completely after three weeks to a month's rest. I have lately been one of those cases myself. I trust that your boy will soon recover and go through all that is before him in safety.”

CHAMBERLAIN’S TABLETS FOR CONSTIPATION.

For constipation, Chamberlain's Tablets are excellent. Easy to take, mild and gentle in effect. Give them a trial. For sale everywhere,—Ad.

Messrs H. Mclntyre and W. Swangcr (secretary) are to represent the Wanganui Education Board in the enquiry into the destruction of the Foxton school by lire.

On Saturday next (he Givis' Guild will hold a sweets and flower stall in Main Street, in aid of the Copper Trail Fund. Donations of any kind will be thankfully received.

The Education Conference in Christchurch resolved that it is desirable (hat picture dims should be used in schools, and that the ■ Education Department should he asked to circulate dims on the lines used 1)V schools in the United States.

The Public Health Inspector for Napier and Hastings states that there is a peculiar and violent form of iniluenza prevalent in the district. Four deaths had occurred within a fortnight within a few miles of a given spot, and there are many other serious cases. Whilst (he cases did not show any marked similarity with cerebro-spinal meningitis there was some similarity between the two diseases. The Inspector also slated that ‘Trench mouth” is increasing in the district. —Herald.

A number of candidates are already being mentioned for the vacancy caused in Taranaki by the death of the silting member, the late Mr Okey. The only candidate who has declared himself is Mr F. W. Shortland, solicitor, of Taamarunui, who will stand as a representative

of Labour. Others are Mr J. L

Connell;, chairman of the A. and P. Association, and chairman of the County Council; Mr A. Morton, chairman of the National Dairy Association; Mr D. Hughes, and a son of the late Mr E. M. Smith, M.P., who is a member of the Education Board. The Wellington Military Service Board reserved its decision in the case of an application that Norman R. Ryan, a soldier on active service, should be allowed to return to the Dominion. This soldier had been the legal adviser of the late Mr A, Hetrick, of Wanganui. It was staled that the duly on the estate would probably be from .00,000 to £40,000, and it was expected that it would be sworn for probate at a quarter of a million sterling. The application was made because there was likely to be a conflict of interests and Bain was the only one with a, complete knowledge of details.

A deputation from the Mannwatn Hospital Board, consisting of Sir -lames Wilson (chairman), Messrs J. A. Nash and J. K. Hornhlow, waited on (he .Minister for Public Health at Wellington on Thursday, with a request that the proposed building grant be increased. The Minister stated that the was not in a position to grant an increase in the amount, but he made certain recommendations which will be submitted to a speeial meeting of the Board to be held to-day. The deputation also waited on the Minister for Defence, with a request that a shelter be erected at the hospital, so as to make the ward now occupied by the soldiers available to (he general public in order to relieve the congestion in the building. Sir James Allen promised to go into the matter with his officers.

A shrewd business man in Dunedin, who has hud. a wide experience in the settlement of industrial disputes, is of the opinion that there would be much less difficulty about increasing’ wages to something more than a living wage, which is the fixed standard (now obviously unsatisfactory) of (he Arbitration Court and more or less authoritative economists, if organised workers offered, in return for concessions, a decided increase in their working capacity, especially during the war period. Careful observation ami records show that in many industries arid activities (lie output of workers’ energy has shown a tendency to decrease substantially, while demands have been shrewdly directed towards obtaining substantial increases in earnings. There is a limit to the policy of less work and more wages. lan Hay (Captain Bcith) (ells the story of a young Englishman of for* tune who in times before the war gave little thought to anything more serious than polo, cricket, and tea parties. He went to France with the First Hundred Thousand, and after a. hot bombardment was borne from a shell crater unconscious, more nearly dead than alive, minus arms, minus legs, minus eyes. A. year later Captain Beith met him as he was being wheeled through a London hospital, going from one bed to another, reciting in inspirating and entertaining fashion stories of cheer to wounded and suffering men. Under affliction and infirmity he had found and developed an unsuspected talent, and that of the .storyteller. "Would you believe it, old man,” he said to Captain Beith, "I was never so happy in my life!”