LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Picture theatres in Wellington city and suburbs will rc-open to-morrow.

It is estimated (says the Sun) that 466 persons died from influenza in Christchurch last mouth.

The Appropriation Bill recently passed by the House gives local authorities power to contribute to peace celebrations

The Wairarapa Age states that the hay crops in the Mastcrton district are particularly heavy this year, and a difficulty is being experienced in securing sufficient labour to harvest them

It is estimated that it will take £40,000,000 to restore the English roads to their previous condition. During the past four years the reads in the Old Country have been practically let go to pieces.

Mr W. T. Young, General Secret,ary of the New Zealand Seamen’s Union, has sent the following cablegram to the Seamen’s Union, Sydney: “Auckland excepted, New Zealand ports are now clean of epidemic, and it is safe to man for Wellington, Manuka and Moeraki, but sec that the living quarters have been thoroughly cleaned out with a strong disinfectant.” At Mr Crabb’s election meeting at terrace End on Monday the candidate was asked: “Is it consistent for a leading Prohibitionist to have the Licensed Victuallers’ president (Mr. M. Reilly) for his chairman.” The reply was: 'Yes, quite. It shows that men may honestly differ in opinion ■and yet have a personal respect for one another.” But the questioner came again: “Have you never heard of being judged by the company you keep?” ‘Yes,” replied Mr Crabb “the man I most wish to follow was accused of keeping company with publicans and ■Sinners, but I never he,ard that it hurt him!”

Two packages of wool bales lost on Mataroa Road, are advertised for. A reward awaits the finder at this office. The Naval Adviser to the Government reports that another mine has been washed ashore at Otaki. The usual steps will be taken to destroy it. Restrictions against picture theatres have been' withdrawn, therefore the Town Hall and the King’s Picture Theatre will re-open to-morrow (Thursday) evening, when programmes far above the average will be screened at both halls.

A section of the "Washing-up” Bill (which was read a first time in the House of Representatives on Saturday night) proposes to empower borough councils to fill extraordinary vacancies by appointment instead of byclcction. The provision operates as from October 1 this year till April 30 next (the date of the next election of local bodies.)

On of the problems connected with the cessation of hostilities will be the marketing of the hundreds of thousands of motor cars, motor waggons, and motor cycles in use on the Western front, without seriously jeopardising and upsetting the motor industries of England, France, and Italy. Tho American Army alone had 50,000 motor vehicles in France, few of which will probably be shipped back to the United States, but be sold in Europe.

In the House of Representatives last night, after speeches had been made emphasising the importance of the mission to be undertaken by the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward, and they had been given an assurance that they would take the support of the House with, them, the Ministers replied. The House then rose and sang the National Anthem. On o motion that the House do now adjourn, a division was called for, the motion being carried by 25 to 23, and the sth session of the Nineteenth Parliament came to an end at 10.19.

The Medical Superintendent and the Matron of the Taihape Public Hospital desire to thank all who so promptly assisted at the Hospital on the .day of the recent railway accident especially doctors Sinclair and Mitchell, Sister Bremner, Messrs Cunninghame, W. Munro, Spicer, Sergt.-Major Forrest and the numerous others; Mr Arrowsmith, who kindly lent stretchers, and Mr. Capill, mattresses. Also all those who have helped in various capacities during the influenza epidemic, foremost among them being Misses Bakewell, Fraser, Spooner, Gillette, and Messrs Howden, Robinson, Hintz, and tho Boy Scouts.

Once more have tho hopes of land reformers been disappointed. With the appointment of Hon. D. H. Guthrie as Minister of Lands it was anticipated that some steps would be taken to stop the land aggregation which has been going on during recent years, but the Land Laws Amendment Bill which was passed through all its stages on Monday makes no real provision for dealing with a very grave scandal. During the discussion on tho Bill many members deplored the lack of provision to check this practice, to which Mr Guthrie replied that Land Boards had full powers to prevent aggregation. These bodies have not done so in tho past, and there is little probability, they will do so in the future.

To, be cut short in mid career was the fate of Mr. J. McCombs, Labour M.P., for Lyttelton, when giving notice of a question to the Minister for Defence in the House of Representatives on Monday. “Will tho Minister for Defence,’ ’ read out Mr McCombs, “hen he is compiling his list of defaulters and shirkers, include in the list tho names of those who evaded their responsibilities and failed to perform their public dtuy by running out of the House when the second vote on “Women in Parliament” was being taken and will —” Here the honourable member was interrupted by cheers and laughter, and Mr Speaker quietly intimated that the question must be submitted to him before the honourable member went further and before it could be put on the Order Paper. '

A collision occurred on Monday evening in Main Street between a motor car and a baker’s cart, fortunately unattended with serious consequences. It appears that the car was rounding the corner by the Post Office when it ran into the cart, which -was wtihout a light. The car caught the cart near the wheel, capsizing it, but luckily throwing both occupants clear. The impact dislocated the steering gear of the car, which after a devious course struck the kerbing of the footpath before it was brought up. The cart received only , a few minor injuries, but the motor car was consider-, ably damaged. The driver of the car did not see the other vehicle until he was almost on it, when it was humanly impossible to avoid the inevitable collision. The folly of driving without lights is emphasised by this incident, WADE’S WORM FlGS—Wonderful Worm Worriers. Price 1/6 3