LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Word was received by the Northern Steamship Company last evening that the Rnrawa, which left Onchunga at 3.30 p.m. yesterday, was bar-bound at Manukau Heads. The Post Office advises that an English mail (via Suez) and Australian mail will arrive here this evening. Nominations close at noon to-morrow for the vacancy on the New Plymouth Borough Council. No nominations had boon received last evening. Fourteen men of the Samoan garrison invalided home returned by the Tnlune to Auckland on Sunday. They are: Sergeants McArthur and Clark, Privates Collins, Addison, Crane, Diamond, Gridgc, Heggie, Parmim, Perks, Syme, Vernon, Fitzgerald and Rowe. The hanks in the Dominion are experiencing a shortage of clerks to carry on their work, through their staff's enlisting. In some branches young ladies are being employed. The board of directors of one bank is seriously considering the advisability of closing some of the country branches on account of the depletion of staffs. The gale on Saturday was very strong at Eltham. It toppled over the'chimney stack at the Eltham Gasworks against the building, and it is now considerably out of plumb. The manager is of opinion that it can be pulled back into position. The top of the framework of the springboard at the Eltham baths was blown down. A Rotorua telegram states that the Minister of Defence has declined with thanks the offer of Mr. A. W. Gillies, through the Rotornn Chamber of Commerce, of £IOOO and the use of a site at Kawaha Point if the Government will establish a free aviation school to train aeronauts for the front, or for the Government to advance £2OOO. in addition to Mr. Gillies' donation of £IOOO, to enable Walsh Bros., of Auckland, to establish an aviation school, undertaking , to train forty pupils free,

''We have five months lo go and have only got £IOOO to spend," remarked the Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess) at the meeting of the Borough Council last night. "The wages last month amounted to about £260, and it is only a matter of arithmetic to see where we stand."

An interesting discovery in (he shape of a message from France was made at Messrs Gilberd and Sons' soap factory, Wanganui, last Friday. A consignment of resin just arrived from France was being opened up, and on Ihc head being broken out of one cask there appeared, written across the. top of the. mass of resin, the words: "England expects that every man this day will do his duty." Underneath, in French, was the name and address of the writer.

During the month of September there was an appreciable increase in the amount of the telegraph business in New Zealand. Ordinary telegrams increased by 35,748, bureau messages by 34,063, and the total for all codes by 70,987 messages, The total increase in net revenue amounted to £3554, the increase in number of telegrams being almost 9 per cent., and the amount slightly over 13 per cent., as compared with September of the previous year. This all-round increase of business is regarded as highly satisfactory by the department.

At a meeting of representatives of the New Plymouth churches—with the exception of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches—it was decided that a deputation should wait on the Borough Council with regard to running the trams on Sunday. The Kev. F. Hales attended the meeting of the Council last night and stated that it was intended the deputation should wait on the Council that night, but it was impossible to get the members together at such short notice. He intimated that the deputation would bring the question before the Council at a later date.

During the passage from Auckland to Whangarei on Thursday the Northern Company's steamer Kanieri had a narrow escape from being struck by a thunderbolt. About 3.30 p.m. the vessel encountered an exceptionally heavy thunderstorm, during which a thunderbolt fell close to the ship after an ex. ceptionally heavy clap. The passage of the thunderbolt into the water resembled a boiling cauldron, plainly discernible to those on board. The vessel was shaken from stem to stern. The greatest consternation prevailed. Under the captain's orders the vessel was slowed down, but examination revealed that no damage had been sustained. Passengers describe their experience as nerve-racking.

At the last meeting of the Patea Patriotic Committee the following resolution was passed:—That this League is of opinion that the time has arrived when the Government should seriously consider the advisability of passing the necessary legislation to bring in compulsory military service, and further to generally bring in a scheme of universal service for all the male population for the efficient carrying out of our prime industries, transport works, military stores or ammunition works if required, and that patriotic committees throughout the Dominion be asked to co-operate. It was also decided to urge upon the Government to allot full pensions to all wounded soldiers irrespective of their financial positions, and that all patriotic leagues be invited to co-operate in the matter. Further, that the Government pay full cost of dental attention to recruits desirous of going to the war. A sub-committee of ten was set up and authorised to solicit substantial contributions from the wealthy landowners and others throughout the district.

A correspondent sends us the followins;:—Tim official regulations with regard to size, etc., of sandbags: The hags should he made of jute hessian, not too heavy, but must be strong to stand wet and weight. When complete thoy should measure 33 inches by 14 inches, and one inch turning should be allowed for scams, or they will burst, however well sewn. Seams must be strongly oversown with double thread or tine strong string, or machined with thread in two rows of stitching close together (not a chain stitch). The mouth must be left open and a piece of stout string 2ft. long must be tied on 3 inches below the mouth, ready to close the bag when filled. The basic slag bags are the required size, and are being collected at the Towh Hall, Wellington, for forwarding when possible for the front. Sugar bags and others arc said to be no good. With regard to making sandbags, the hessian comos from India, and is at present somewhat difficult to obtain hero, as supplies are being requisitioned direct from there by the Home authorities. Also the hessian rims into about a shilling a bag in New Zealand, whereas thoy can be obtained in India at about 3d or 4d apiece. Khaki handkerchiefs: These are best made of some cheap muslin (white) and then dipped in a solution of Condy's fluid, which dyes -them quite a good khaki color. A very small packet of permanganate of potash crystals will make a largo quantity of solution, and the color can bo as dark or light as required, according to the strength of the solution. Bo careful not to dip the hands into the dye, or they will become stained. This is by far the cheapest method of making khaki handkerchiefs, for they can be made of any material desired. Butter muslin makes quite a good handkerchief, or a firmer muslin can be used if desired. It is necessary to dye the white handkerchiefs, as only dark ones are allowed to be used. The solution makes quite a permanent dye, and does not wash out. Summer time is towel time—and that means that Messrs Morey and Son have opened their towel stock early so that New Plymouth homes will not he short of them. Choose your needs from a large selection of 'white and colored Turkish, cotton, and roller towels. Elsewhere in these columns there is a towel announcement which should interest you. THE GERMS OP CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS are stated by the Director of the Bacteriological Laboratory of the University to Melbourne to be quickly destroyed by eucalyptus. SANDER'S EUCALYPTI EXTRACT was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria to possess far greater antiseptic power than the common eucalyptus oils and so-called extracts. Therefore, if you are not particular about your health you use any sort of eucalyptus; if you are—you use only SANDER'S EXTRACT, 3 drops on sugar. It protects you not only from meningitis, but from all other infectious diseases; scarlet fever, measles, influenza, typhoid, diphtheria, small-pox, etc. SANDER'S EXTRACT is the strongest and safest antiseptic, and its curative qualities have been demonstrated to be genuine and lasting—it not only disinfects, but stimulates and gives new vigor to diseased parts. Ulcers, poisoned wounds, chilblains, inflamed skin are quickly cured by SANDER'S EXTRACT,