LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A doctor in out! of tin. hu'u t , hospital* i" Kngland, u'lilin- lo a relative in Napier, says, «lion refcuiiig l 0 the war, "You people out there will -el a pleasant surprise soon." Writing from Kgypt, a itiiiric says Unit tlio best tiling lo stud soldiers is cigarettes. Tliey prize these mole (iiaii anv oilier class of gift. A recruit at Sydney recently proved to be a giant from Conlbiirn. lie was 21 years of age, weighted 20 stone, was Oft 4in in height, and was 4S inches round the chest. The box plan for '•The millionaire Brigand" season, which commences next Tuesday at the Theatre Roval, is now open at Jtou'mann's. The photoplay is easily the best of its kind ever seen here. Says the Wellington correspondent of the Auckland Star:--"Whllc most responsible administrators consider the lime is yet too early to talk about conscription, there is a possibility (hat if the war continues any length of time conscription will rendered necessary." How to drt-33 well fur little money is only a matter of buying your clothes at the Melbourne Ud's. seln'i-annmil reduction sale now oh. Your new suit will coat you at least S5 per cent less titan usual if you make yotir purchase any time before Saturday, September 'll, after which date prices go back to normal. Wellington detectives on Wednesday arrested two men, William Stock lirhk'o (alias Daveiiport) and liobprt Stockbridge, on a charge of having committed burglaries at Mitamar powerhouse, and Miramaf golf links during the week-end, when a fair amount of booty was obtained. A Wtfimate (South Canterbury), correspondent slates that a man named Pollard was frostbitten during the first week in duly, and lay in a shed for three days, with a few sacks over him, before lie was discovered and taken to the hospital. There an attempt was made to save his legs, but gangrene set in and the limbs had to bo amputated. There arc now good hopes of the mail's life being saved. Wairarapa farmers who hung on to tiller oaten straw chaft'j wheat, and hay in anticipation of receiving very Mgh l--i ices have not had their hopes n&lised (says an exchange). One Mascertoli farmer, who had 1300 bushels of wheat 0:i land, cannot find a buyer, evui at a (,r.ce lower than that i".iiin.j lately. In fait, it looks as if 'one rh.ei's who have hung on to their wheat have leen ''bitten." The statement that a case of cerebrospinal meningitis has occurred in the Maori training camp in Auckland is incorrect (says a Press Association message). The case mentioned by the Minister of Defence is probably one engaging the attention of the Auckland public health officer—a European soldier who arrived on leave from Waikanae camp a few days ago. This man is not seriously ill, and after the prescribed period of isolation, will return lo AYellington. A small tradesman testified in the course of the hearing of the drapery dispute at Wellington that since the war began, and since the introduction of the Saturday half-holiday, trade had seriously fallen oir. He had been compelled to discharge three out of his eleven assistants. The railway people had stated that on Saturdays they used to bring in 5000 or 0000 people for'the shopping. But that, of course, had now stopped. The people did not come In to shop on Fli-' days instead.

Hotelkcepers. hoardingl: ■■!!*-!! keepers, housewives and others will be interested to know that the New Plymouth Steam Laundry is now- ur.dev entirely new management. The premises have been renovated throughout and modern plant installed in all departments. This up-to-date laundry is now prepared to undertake every class of laundry work and Hj only thoroughly reliable craftsmen arc employed satisfaction is guaranteed. King 'phone 529 and the firms conveyance will call. At the Arbitration Coin! at Wellington on Tuesday. Mr. .Tusliee Stringer found considerable difficulty in getting from one witness called in the drapery dispute a statement as to the difference between the position of a porter and a packer. Finally, His Honour said: U yon are not a better packer of crockery than you are a witness, you must break a lot of crockery! (Laughter). Tt seems that the difference, is that iltc porter does rather more sweeping and the packer rather more packing. That is all.'' (Laughter). Some intelligent (?) busybody i.mong the postal authorities (no local reference) has raked up some old and musty regulation, well bound up with red tape, which prohibits the use of "stickers" on (he address side of envelopes. As a result all corespondence showing seals on the address sides purchased to aid the wounded soldiers' Fund will in future be sent to the dead letter office! This is about one of the most amazing exhibitions of departmental muddledom imaginable. The officer responsible should have a daily lesson on National stress and National sacrifice: he is evidently badly in need of it. At Invercargill on Wednesday, Wong Yon", a Chinaman, was charged with selling liquor within the no-license district of Invercargill. ITe pleaded guilty. Defendant was cook at a hotel at Orepuki and was allowed so much brandy regularly by his employer. He had been in the habit of saving this up and had finally sold four bottles at 5* Od each to another Chinaman in Invercargill shortly before a Chinese feast day. A fine of £lO, with costs Bs, was imposed. Loo Lee, a Chinaman, pleaded guilty to having in his possession opium in a form suitable for smoking. A fine of A'2o and costs was imposed.

The Japanese judicial advisor, Dr. Ariga, on (lie question of a Japanese army in J']iirnp«, says:—'"Japan will intorvpiie, energetically ami without delay, in the European war if it would appear that a Oman victory would nullify the importance of the capture of The best sphere for Japanese intervention would he the theatre of war in Poland, line must, however, seriously consider the question whether there is nut a reason for Japan lending her assistance against Turkey. The freedom of the Sue/. Canal—that is to say, the unfettered possession of the canal l>y England—is a question of life or death to Japan. Our intervention on this side would allow to use her troops in France. Japan has 250,000 met, ready for service in the canal zone. The Japanese are willin;,' to follow British directions in the strangle in Kgypt, and io renounce all initiative in these operations. The Japanese troops are ready to play the same part in Egypt that the Indian troops are playing in France. On the question of expenses of the war. Jupin will follow the Sardinian example in the Crimean war. That is to say. Japan will look after all the costs, but v. ill ask for compensation if the campaign is successful."

Tiventy-six shillings v.;as recently paid for a line of very ciioice lambs at Waikoikoi (says the Jjatdurrt, Kiislgli). The promoters oi" t.l:e lili ham Queen Carnival hop,; to raise £>M) by their effort-. ' Lamb.s are now to be seen I'rSlie'.ng uhoul the in the liawera district. The period for taking the war census has been J'iM'd for September (J to 15. The agents for the I*. and 0. Company and thf Orient line report that butii companies have announced an increase yf fares between Australasia and Kuropc. In the House yesterday, Jlou. ti. W. Itussell said that the War Pensions Act was a most important measure, and should be widely circulated;, and lie would have a number of copies struck off for free distribution. Tlie Legislative Council spent fifteen minuted of the members' valuable time yesterday in transacting formal business, and then adjourned until next Thursday. What a farce the Upper Chamber is becoming! "The police always start out on a theory, and make Up their minds, instead of thoroughly investigating the circumstances before coining to a. conclusion," Mas u remark made by Mr. 10. If. Jellicoe to a Wellington magistrate on Wednesday. Advice was received in New Plymouth yesterday that the wholesale price of (lour had been reduced by 10s per ton, making the present price £l."> 10* at the breakwater. This will make the retail price; Hundred Ks lid, fifty Ms, twenty-five 4s Bd. » ' ! At Waimatc (Soiilli Canterbury) ,i'--| tcrday Edward Owen MeMurtrie, tele- j grajihist, and Mrs. Alison Moore were committed for trial for conspiring to defraud It. Cox and W. Whelan, bookmakers, of Christehureh, on 'bets on the Timuru trots, by means of manipulating telegrams.—Press Association. At Wednesday's meeting of the Stratford Volunteer Fire lirigtule, the \e»ling of the Brigade's property ill a Fire Board was considered. The bentliU the ratepayers and the townspeople generally would derive from the Hoard were pointed out, and it was decided to invite Superintendent P.ellringcr, of New Plymouth Fire Brigade, to \isit Stratford and address a public meeting, explaining the working of a fire board. The following Information lias been received concerning sickness in the various military hospitals as at noon yeatertlay:— lVlmorston North, It) cases, none serious. Kttlwarra, 4 ooilVataccllt eases. Wellington, 20 eases, 4 eerioua. Tronlhnni, So cases, 8 serious cases Unchanged and 1 shows slight improvement. Upper Ilutt, 9 eases. Tnuhcro nikau, 12. Greyitown, 12. Maatertou, 1. Total cases, 108.—Press Association. % In the House of Hepre-entatives yesterday, Hon. O. \V. ifussell moved'the second reading of the Lirths nnd IX-aths ltegistiation Amendment Bill, which, lit explained, was entirely technical in nature. Mr. M. P. r.ee said in committee that lie would move an amendment for the purpose of removing the stigma from the. birth of illegitimate children wdio had been legally adopted. The Minister said lie was prepared to accept the suggestion, am! the second reading was carried. In the House yesterday afternoon Dr. iThacker asked what course SurgeonGeneral Henderson, who had been appointed to supreme control of military medical hospitals, would pursue in the event of his not approving certain medical appointments recently made. The Premier replied that ,St!rgeon-Geue|ral Henderson would have supreme control of military hospitals, and appoiiiitmienfs made would not embarrass him in the least. Dr. Hope Lewis, whose appointment had been referred to, had not been placed in a position of smireme control; he had only been appointed to the office of inspector. Hon. A. M. Mytrg said, in reference to Dr. Pollen's appointment to tlie Pensions Board, that he (the Minister) had anticipated that Colonel Henderson miglit want to join that board, and part of the arrangement with I)r. Pollen was that ho should retire from the Board if that position arose.

Practice play was coinm.'need at the Fitzroy howliii' green yesterday, when three links took part, several meinlttrs of the town club being present. It is probably a record to start bowls in August, hut the green was in capital order and some very close heads wore played, a most enjoyable time being spent Uy all present. The green warden (Mr. S,' Smith) and the caretaker (Mr. Ward) dekerve praise, if or the condition of the green, which will, weather permitting, be available on Thursdays and .Saturdays onlv till the formal opening take? place.