LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 297, 19 May 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The iPukclcura Park Board 3w& received an (offer from an anonymous donor to defray .the coa'fl of painting tho band rotunda, in the park. Mr H. Atmore, 'M.P, for Nelson, received a very hearty welcome to Whangaimomona on Saturday, and had an excellent meeting. He introduced Mr W. H. Hawkins, the Liberal candidate for the seat, and there waa an insistent call for hint "bo show Oiis mettle. In a brief speech Mr Hawkins soon got on good terms with his audience, and earned a special ealvo of (three cheer#. The staff of the New Plymouth electrio light department has liad a busy time in the last two days, the heavy southerly wind! having played havoc with tho wires, and every available mrnn has been kept going in answering "hurrj up" calls. The trouble has been worst* at Fnanklcy r«ad, where many of the wires were down, and. several families had, to fall back ,on the old reliable candles and kerosene lamps,

In a report to the Bukekura. Park Bo&rd last night #hc turaitw (Mr W. W. Smith) stated that despite the force and oontimiance of tho present gale, which began on Thursday last 1 , very little material injury had been done to the vegetation of the paa-k. In the more exposed placea tho tree forns had been injured somewhat. Two pinus-insignia trees snapped off in the middle, but in falling did no injury. A tew arms of others hod been broken, but with little disfiguration. As a result, fchie board had : now half a dozen icaaltloads of half-dried I firewood for sale.

The sanitation of the 'borougfh of New Plymouth is still engaging the attention of the Health Department. Yesterday Eh- Finch, who succeeded Dr Chesson ai District Health Officer foa- Taranaki, paid a short visit to New Plymouth, and in company with Mr Skitrop (borough engineer) and Mr Fielder (health inspector) inspected tho Mangaotuku 3trea.ru, the septic tank, and 'the waterworks. He expressed the opinion to the borough engineer ihat tho waiter from wliich the town supply is derived was even before i't reached the filters purer than that at a good many other wa/tetrworks he had seen. Dr Biaicli left New Plymouth by| the 4.20 p.m. train yesterday.

The time is drawing near for the revaluation ©i lands 'held wider the old West Coast Settlements Reserves Act, 1882, prior to' their being put up to auction on expiry of the lease, under the provisions of that- Act. The matter i» now being taken in tend by the Native Reserves Agent, Mr Barnes, and tlie valuation will be proceeded with by Messrs 11. p. .Russell (district valuer), T. Qrann (on behalf of tflio lessees), and Te Hilcakn. (on behalf of the native owners). There are over one hundred areas t'o be revalued.

Tlie epidemic of suicides and attempted atwides, wliidi ihas miwle itself felt in New Plymouth lately, ]ias evidently had its effect on someone. A bottle' was handed in 'to the police station yesterday by the curator of Pukekuira* Park (Mir W. W. Smith) who had found it floating oit oim , Q f t ] ie Wce3 hl t]lc Tnsi<le tho bottle wtis a piece 'of paper, evidently recently torn from a paper bag, heaving this message: "X am jjoin" to drown myself—K.ll/ 17-3-!)." As 110 one 'hag bee® reported missing lately, and considering tlilat the papt-rdoes not appear bo be quite four years old, as the drato would imply, the police regard th." matter as an attempt at ;i hoax. j

The Boy Sennits will parade on Wednesday in 'tilie afternoon providing the schools observe a holiday. The XI. Regimwiit Band will parade at 2 p.m. to-anoawow. This i» n compulsory pitrade. The Technical College Cadets are notified that there will be a compulsory parade at the Drill Hall at 10.30 a.m. to. morrow, iu connection with the visit of Sir lan llama] to f.

| Returned territorial* Iron th» Taka- \ might eaeily have proved serious, says ian exchange. It was the temporary illness through, ptomaine poisoning of a large number «f the 11th Regiment, caused through ctpple« having been left in a galvanised iron bucket. One member was unconscious for over an hour, while others were only a little loss seriously affected. The notice that native pigeons were protected again this season was not well received by sportsmen in the Main Trunk country. Pine berries «Je numerous this yoar, and there is every indication that pigeons will be very plentiful throughout the Kaitdake Country. It is not uncommon now to see flocks of between 40 and 50 pigeons flying over th« township of Ohaupo. The Wellington eorreepondent of the Tyttelton Times eta tee that £h» annual classification list of the Public Service lias been completed. It shows about four hundred additional employees as compared with last year. The actual number of extra names is greatly in excess of this total, owing to the fao ithat many temporary employees became permanent during the year. The Theatre Royal Picture Company's change next Monday night will bring one of the greatest moving pictures of the age, a Cinema production of Lord Lytton's famous book "The Last Days of Pompeii," andl those who have not read the book, should now take the opportunity, aa 'having read, title story will greatly enhance the enjoyment when seeing the picture. The film takes up the wihola evening, and (he settings are said to be magniflcewt. The Takapau Territorials tod no monopoly of bad weather. In fact, tliey were splendidly treated in comparison with the Canterbury "casuals" at Kowai. A terrific gale early in th emornI ing, accompanied by a Jainstorm, de;scei)ided upon the encampment, levelling or destroying the majority of the tents, and breaking down the telephones communication. The telegram stated that | it was impossible to remain at the camp, and asked for a special train to be sent to convey the men back to town. Arrangements were made 'promptly to get the train away. The day ia past when one needs to apologise for the Christian ideal of man-' linoss. At the camp I met a lqjge number of men from all parte of this illtary area, who are active church workers, and I could not help feeling that so far as they were concerned the eamp presented them with an excellent opportunity of standing by their solours and of influencing for good men with whom they would cot otherwise be brought int» contact, writes a South Island chaplain. If there are a. few weak men wlw are influenced for evil by samp life, I am satisfied that there are scores of others who are benefitted, and who come back to .town stronger in shar&cter and firmer in their adherencs to the Christian ideal." At the inquest on the two gutn-dig-gers who woro burned to death, up north the other day, Dr S. H. Ward said that the two bodies were huddled 'in a sod fireplace. There were no signs of any struggle, but there l was evidence of a drinking bout. Daley'® ihe&df waa under Cam-, and jambed in the aalies. Carr was lying over the sihouldei* of Daley, lie Saw four empty quart bear bottles, an empty whisky tattle, and: a, gin bottle on the table, also a fflii* on the seat, and an empty five-gnilo* keg There were five full botffcl** of »tout close by. The burtu wihiah the two* men received were sufficient to (have oaused death. He believed that dieaibh waa due to suffocation while the two men were in i di-unken state. The ground round the sv.lvaro was littered with empty beer Jottles. ; i i . ,i (V : According to the Hamilton branch of he Farmers' Union at & largelv attend'd meeting, decided to take 'steps to ombat any attempt by farm labourers o obtain an award governing wages and onditions of employment in that district. The chairman (Mr. Ewan Meiregor) said farmers had no objection

. to the farm employees forming a union, but the varying conditions of Nature over which the farnfers had no control ' would render an award for farm work 1 absolutely unworkable. It w*s decided to establish a fighting' fund on a, -basis of Gd per 100 eheep and 3a per 100 cows, to which fanners, whether member of the union or not, aie asked :to aontr!buto. The decision come to be by Far- ; mers Union to establish a fighting fund : m recognised to bo the reply of the farmers to the formation of 'a, farm labourers union in the Wflikuto. l>rs. Putman and Peach forwarded the following report on infantile paralysis to

o -- "" nuantile paralysis to no lalmerston Hospital Board last reek: "Infantile paralysis io essentially i disease of early ehildhood nffeotiri" unst frequently children .between the irst and fourth year, and i 5 rarely s?,en iter the sixth year. It is rtherefore nd'jsable to as far us possible isolate the asos from o'tlher children for the period 'i at least two weeks after the acute ymptoms (which generally last about i week) aro orer, The infection is ihiefly contained in the discharge* from e nose > Uiro(i,'a and intestines. As it s known that imany chi]<lren suffer from the disease in a mild form without >aralysis which are capable of infecting sthers it is almost impossible to effectvely isolate nil infective eases. The nost tlhat can be dona therefore is to sol-ate as far as .possible all definite Mses from contact with other children tor a period of three weeks, disinfect Ml discharge from nose Wiroat and intestines, and at the end of tlio period named effectively fumigate the liouse.'' It is frequently stated tlia't New Zeatandors are too serious and ere lacking m humor. Some of ii, e rcmark!l anJ r( £ torts of the liberal "Flying Squadron" ni l.iirtnaki and the King Country rceently show that good-humored retort* .md reniinrks are not a lost acquirement, and the outbursts of laughter from the 1 audiences show that a "little humor now mid then is relished by the wisest men. Mr. Wilford's reference to feeding trout at Tnupo on shrimps, at a considerable cost to, the country, was received with roars of laughter at his meetings. Mr. Jl,,bbie Smith got back on an interrupter at Ohura neatly. This interrupter wa* ft "Reformer," 'but evidently agreed with Mr. Smith's remarks about the handling of the strike, shouting out, "Y-o.li .have 'hit the imii on ),he head The M.P.'s retort was smai't and <)iiick, when, looking at his inter jeefcor, no fiaid: "Yes, the head is the proper to hit some people if von do not wish .1,0 hurt them." Sam and his ma tes .mined the outburst of laughter that followed Mr. Witty silenced a persistent interrupter «t the Tannmrmw meeriing when be asVwl, "Wlioi is par in « for the Dreadnought"? to which ihe in', tf-rlector retorted, "We are." "Then" said Riecarton's H.P., "if yoll „. re piu .. in.'; for it yon are either a pami.ler or you are dead, for the cost is coming out ofihe totalm.tor tax mid death duties Now which are you? You do not look like a dea<l person, and as a Kl)or t t hope you <k not lay stiff 'ims.»' '

Art*)* Bay is ito be eelebrakei July 15 ol 'tfrifc y»ar. An unfortunate *ccide«t happened «l a motor garage in Orterton. A )n4 named Leslie Armstrong was twi'af the stalling handle of a motor ear, when it flew back breaking Iris right arm s&or« tho -wrist.

"Money! mbney! the trouble is to J»d mpney Dor public works," is the reported remark of (Sir Walter Buchanan at a confejence in Masterton on Saturday. "The Government would) carry out any quantity of publit works if eheay money could: be got." Milk sterilised by eleetlrieity, the oroben being killed by electric shocks, is being euppJied l ironr the Liverpool Corporation nijlk depots to about 1000 babies daily. The advantage said 4* ke gained over eteri!i«a,tW>n by ii that th« milk tastes the same as who jit leaves the cow. It is raid that the con.tfcmiM'tioa is removed.

The underwriters interested ia insurance againet appendicitis have iouMed the premium, says the Daily Wew» and Leader. A few months ago the price per £IOO was fixed at 10s, but do grewt was the number of* claims that it has sow been raised to fl. It is interesting to note that with the raising of the premium the malady wis substantially abated. Intending policy-holders- are required to Answer five quest ions as their state of kMljth. Ob 6<utunla.y afternoon, Mr W. T. Jenkins submitted for sale a swrtio* between Kegel* George and Johnston's garage and Messrs Row* and OaJder'i shop. Starting at £3OO, the bide rapidly rose, until 1516 was reached, at wfewh price Mr Jo®. Qijrten because the poxchaser. The piece only contains » fraction over 18 perches. Sixteen yeans age, the quarter-acre, of which tihe piece sold formed' a part, was purchased by the late Mr Ooxlicad for £4o.—Waitara Mail.

How a pack ef twenty foxhounds took possession of a cross-channel steamer at Dover is told by the Globe. The hounds arrived at Dover is a railway truck, but there was some delay in eomf pleting <tlhe formalities for their ins-ta-tiorv to France. The following day they had become so impatient of restraint that it wu decided to piit them on board a steamer, but one# eft deck they ran wild and took possession of the deck. The crew took to lUbe rigging until sonjfeonc lassoed the Itoder and placed him in the truck agai», et*d the others followed.

, The dictate# of liumwuiy and the persuasions of common sense would seen to require that a woman should not spank iher husband, even occasionally. Spanking never reformed a husband, and never will. Notwithstanding the paraenever will. Notwithstanding, the prac:iihe other day, Johm Berger, of Sirabitry,. il'ennsylvarik, -who ■weired #o' pounds, was in court to compfaia .that •his wife, who weighs 300 pounds, had vaulted and battered him. "I surely did," responded Mrs Berger, when questioned by the court, "and I will do.it again. We have six children, and he earns 12dol. a week. Last week he got 'out and spenl? 2 dol. of it for dffin", and when he came ihotne I laid Wm over my knee, and. furthermore, he ate kren leftist standing up.

It it a law of Nature that every beast, every insect, every plant. eves, has some parasite which preys upon it IfotJii»B i* left to thrive aad multiply unchecked but Man, and there there is no necessity for something to eonVnuhilj destroying his species, »,s, lift :iln«e, he will do that himself. [n th<* «*ily agiw of the'world wild beasts (oak In.l of the uncivilised men wli.i roamed the plains and forests, but the invention of destructive weapons by Man has pu,t the Imsta out "of court in the destructive line. Man then hnd nothing to prey upon liim, nbthimg <to prevent him growing and multiplying exceedingly n he at once set .his fertile brain to work, and invented steam] boats, railway trains, motor cars, and lastly, aeroplanes. That these make a good substitute for Man's natural enemies is evidenced by accounts published from every country in the civilised world. So 'long as Man continues to destroy himself there is ne need for any natural enemy. The southerly gale which arose oil Saturday and continued on Sunday and yesterday, while not so severe as at least one 'previous southerly gale of comparatively recent date, was yet strong I enough ito do considerable damage of a minor nature, and broken windows and prostrate fences were no uncommon sight yesterday. A big piece of high fencing round the N.Z. Express Co.'s stable site was blown flat, a double mrick chimney at the vicarage was broken, a telegraph pole at Westown was laid low, and numerous windows were blown in. One of the, windows in 1 tho Whiteley Memorial Church was shattered, and pieces of glass hurled quite thirty yards awav by the force of the wind. A tree on .the banks of the Huatoki was uprooted, and several in Pukekura Park on the borders of the racecourse suffered from the elements. The mail train on Saturday night had a rough passage over the high and exposed bridge over tho Ilentii river, and .to some of the passengers it seemed as if she would bo blown off altogether. Otherwise the gale has not played serious havoc. * <

American and Canadian sawmills have, discovered that the sawdust which they have been perplexed how to rid themselves nf the worthless encumbrance is wor.h £8 a ton. In Baltimore a chemiit has perfected a process of extracting n ;!M from sawdust adequate enough to supply a city like Ottawa with light and he.U at 3d per 1000 feet. This is tihought to portend that around the great sawmills, which have been emptying their dust into ,l!he Ottawa river, iv variety of new industries subsisting: on it are likely to grow up. In Austria, where c very thing in the fcliape of fuel is being carefully searched for, sawdust is in" presmttell with j.lie mixture of trfi'ry subMtances and heated 'to. Hut proper temperature; it. is then passed ove* a plate of iron heated by steam, from which a conveyor takes it to a pros*, where it is compressed into bric|uetles of the required size. The press turn out about nineteen every minute, weighing twofifths of n pound each, and measuring ta k 2(iin b,f ]i/ 2 im. One factory alone produces something like 7.000,000 briquettes a year. In Germany there is a bakery tflm.t turns out 20,000 loaves «>f sawdust bread daily, and finds an open mvkot for this product. Although this sawdust bread is intended for eonxnmpt.iftn for h'orscs only. it is claimed by 1 lie manufacturers that, in case of famine, sawdust bread would furnish a nu'ritiou* and Tory highly satisfactory food for human beings. For Children's Bucking Gought at night Wood*' SN*S Peppermint CJure 4 1/8, 2/8.