LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 June 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Government has decided, as a compliment to America that flags shall be flown in New Zealand on Independence Day July 4.

Cabinet has agreed to increase the allowance to a guardian of the mother, less children of a soldier to 3s per day, the rate allowed a soldier’s wire.

The Acting-Prime Minister stated on Tuesday that .Sir Thomas Mackenzie has been re-appointed High Commissioner for New Zealand for a further period of four months.

Diphtheria is rampant in Auckland at the present and the public hospital in that city is taxed to its utmost, no less than 80 cases being in the infectious wards.

A grand patriotic dance in aid of the Lady Liverpool Fund is to be held in the Bennett’s Siding Hall on Friday night next. There is to be a grand patriotic display and a good floor, good music and ample refreshments are guaranteed.

The Wanganui Borough Council at its last meeting resolved “That this Council wishes to place on record its strong disapproval of the action of the Government in permitting such large Quantities of alcoholic liquors and other unnecessary goods to be Imported into the Dominion, resulting in the crowding out of essential commodities.”

The Minister of Public Works says that preparations are being made for the meeting of the House of Representatives next sesion in the new chamber of Parliament Buildings. It is expected that Parliament will be called together about the middle of October, when both chambers and lobby will be ready for the accommodation of members. . 1 ■

Mr. G_ E. Little, outfitter, has an interesting notice in another column, the subject matter of which is ‘ ‘ winter shirts and pyjamas in neat colours and designs.”

A remarkable operation has been performed on ex-Corporal R. L, Martin, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was wounded at Loos. A shrapnel bullet entered his shoulder, passed through the collar-bone, and lodged in the muscle of his heart. Recently it was discovered that the bullet had moved slightly, and Martin entered Leeds Infirmary, where it was successfully removed.

It is somewhat remarkable that two sisters —Mesdames Pearse and Byrn—should have died at Masterton yesterday (says Saturday’s “Age”). One passed away shortly after midnight, and the other at four o’clock in the afternoon. Although in extremis, Mrs Byrn told her family at the exact hour of her sister’s death: “Aunt Phoebe is dead.” One sister had been ailing for seven weeks, and both died on the seventh of the month.

The usual fortnightly euchre party of St. Margaret’s Guild will be held at the Three Stars to-morrow night, whan it is expected that all previous efforts will be eclipsed. Preparations are being made for a record attendance, and additional conveniences arc being provided. The admission is the same as heretofore —one shilling, but ladies of the Church are requested to bring a basket, the larger the' better.

The Church of England Military Affairs Committee have cabled £3OOO to the Headquarters of the Church Army—-£2OOO for the Hut fund ? and £IOOO, the gift for an anonymous donor to provide -a kitchen car for use in supplying hot drinks and food to the men in the trenches. Since the beginning of the year the • Military Affairs Committee have remitted Home the sum of £5464 for the building of Church Army Huts and for comforts for the men at the Front.

A reminder is given of the Huia Hockey Club’s social to be held in the Three Stars Theatre to-night. To add variety to the evening’s programme it has been arranged to nave recitations, a monologue, and fancy dancinginterspersed among the usual dances. The floor has been put in splendid condition for dancing, the music will be first-class, and the girls of the Club are doing justice to themselves in the matter of supper. Those who attended the last social will have pleasant memories of that night but indications point to this evening’s function being even better.

Whilst actual figures are not available as regards the totals of motor vehicles in use by the British in the French front, it can J)o judged that they must be something enormous by the fact that motor lorries have increased by 40 per cent, since Novem.ber 1916 motor cars and ambulances 7 by 73 per cent during the same period, whilst the increasing use of motor cycles is told in a jump of 91 per cent. These figures are exclusive of the replacement of wastage. All told half a million vehicles have been transported mostly to France, the major portion of which would be motors of one sort or another.

On Monday night in the Salvation Army Hall, Major Ranjit Singh (College) addressed a large and appreciative audience on the “Life and customs of the people in India.” This recital was both humorous and pathetic, A number of Salvationists were on the platform, clad in Eastern costume, and created much interest, as did many Indian articles, which were eagerly examined by the people after the lecture. One of the most interesting articles was a weapon of warfare such as the Ghurkas are using in the trenches. Captain Shack well proposed a vote of thanks to the Major, which was enthusiastically carried by the audience, and an enjoyable and interesting evening was brought to a conclusion by the singing of the Boxology.

“You will have to excuse me,” said Lieutenant Frickleton, Y.C., when replying to a civic welcome extended to him at Wellington. “I am not much of a speaker, but' I would like to extend my thanks for the way you have treated me. I have been through quite a lot of this sort of thing, and it doesn’t feel too good to be a hero, as you people seem to think. (Laughter and cheers). I haven’t much to say as regards the honour I have got. I only went out to do my bit. I don’t go out looking for medals. When you go out looking for them you generally get something else. Dozens of New Zealand boys have done as much as I did; many have done more. It doesn’t call for heroism. A man only wants to take a chance when it offers. Hundreds of our boys would do the same thing if they got the chance. Many a boy has won out there a distinction that’s never been awarded him. I thank you for the reception.”