GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 7, 11 December 1915, Page 7

GENERAL.

The following bequests are included in the will of the late J. C. Mucky, head of the firm of Macky, Logan, Caldwell and Co,, ou 0 of the victims of tho Lusitania outrage; Employees of the linn £20,000, Unitarian Church ,CIOO, Door of Hope ileseue Home £IOOO, Blind Institute £IOOO, Blanket In nr so Society £SOO, St. James liosbyteriau Church £SOO, Kindergarten Association £SOO, Leslie Bresbytexiau Orphanage £500.—8.A.

Wild pigs abound in the forest-clad mountains oi Northern Kaipara, and their destruction is aimed at by settlers, states the “New Zealand Herald.” In the Maungaru district, Northern Wairoa, the pigs' invade the grassed areas. If they stopped at that, little objection would be taken to their existence, but they -stalk, kill and devour the young lambs. During the past two year s the manager of the Maungaru Estate has thinned their mobs to an appreciable extent by the employment of men with guns and dogs and estimates that he is responsible for the death of some hundreds. Unfortunately, their flesh, although toothsome, is on the lean side and is no use to butchers, so tho carcases are allowed to lie and rot.

Captain Barclay, who is in charge of the recruiting office at tho Wellington Town Hall, stated to a Times representative yesterday that there is no nation which can spare more than 10 per cent, of its total population for fighting purposes. * That is tho accepted basis of all civilised nations. Tho population of Now Zealand is, in round figures, a million; therefore, for New Zealand, 100,000 is the maximum. Forty per cent., however, must bo allowed for “unfits,” and from the remainder 10 per cent, xnust be taken to . keep up the public services. The number available thus works out at some 65,000 men. The Dominion is working now on a basis of 36,000 in twelve months, so that iu two years practically all the .available men will have' been called up, and that makes no allowance for tho requirements of agriculture and other industries.

“Wo are justly proud of the way in which our Old Boys have responded to the call of King and Country.” In these words “Night and Day” for October refers to the fact that in the present war probably two full battalions of Old Barnardo Boys are fighting for King and Country. Thero is some uncertainty about the leal number, for many Canadian emigrants originally sent out by the well-known Homes have joined the colors without apprising headquarters. It is believed on good grounds that over 2000 are wearing khaki or navy blue; nearly 1000 names are actually known. That is a great thing to be truthfully said by any institution, and it is peculiarly significant when said by -an institution, which, like Dr. tlarnado’s Homos, is engaged solely in the saving and up-bring-ing of children who are destitute. In forty-nine years these Homes have passed over 81,000 boys and girls through their hands, and over 7200 are under their care daily. War time presses with serious elfect upon the .resources, and, as winter comes on, the pressure is sure to deepen. The Homes are a voluntary agency, without State aid, and their endowments would not by themselves maintain the work for throe days in the year. Help, therefore, is more than ever needed. The head office is at Stepney, Causeway, Londou,

The writer of tho woman’s letter in Melbourne “Table Talk” is responsible for the following:—“1 have just heard of such a heart-rending tragedy arising out of this dreadful war that I feel 1 must tell it to you as a warning. A young Australian soldier husband, .anxious to send a souvenir of tho East to his womenfolk, secured two handsome Egyptian

scarves and sent word they were coming. His young wife was living with his mother and sister, and as he had said no word as to who was to have them there was quite a little controversy over the matter, but his sister felt that they should bo for Ids wife and his mother. Unlike so many parcels—this arrived safely—unfortunately, as it proved: and in order to wear and' show the beautiful wraps, the trio went to the theatre one night. Almost immediately afterwards tho young wife, who hud worn a decollete frock, was troubled by an intense irritation of her shoulder, which became so unbearable that she was advised to consult a medical

man. This she did, to learn the dreadful fact that she had contracted one of the leprous forms of skin diseases. She was at once ordered into quarantine, and is now eating her heart out there. She is under observation, and has not been sent to an isolated place, for, mercifully now,

some forms of this dreadful disease are curable if treated in time. What adds to the tragedy is the fact that her soldier husband is on his way back to Australia wounded. This is not one of the wild canards that have been circulated from time to time, but, unfortunately, a fact. Such

lovely wraps from tho mysterious East, especially if they are embroidered or are antiques, should ho regarded with suspicion and handled cautiously unless they have been disinfected. This can bo done by experts without harming the fabrics.”