LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Baptist Union Conference at Dunedin unanimously decided upon the transference of the union from Auckland to Wellington, the change to take effect as and from March, 1017. The Taranaki Hospital Board received advice yesterday that Tr#oper s Dodunski and Clinton, who returned to Purt Chalmers on Tuesday by the Tahiti, will be sent to the hospital for treatment.

There will be an entire change of pictures at hot!) the Theatre Royal and Empire Picture Palace to-night, particulars of which will be found in our advertising columns. The names of Misses Isabel A. McLeod (Napier), Bessie J. Gibaon (Patea), and Marion K. Bates (Wellington), have been added to the probationers' list of the New Plymouth hospital. The blowing up of the Matatua at St. John, Canada, with paper for New Zealand, will further accentuate the paper supply problem. It is a general belief that before the present year is out every paper in the Dominion will bo compelled to reduce its size by one-half, unless, of course, more freight than is in sight becomes available.

The Tahiti's men arrived in Dunedin yesterday, and were entertained at lunch and given a civic reception. The northern contingent left by, a special train at 11.53, there being f>o for Auckland, 54 for Wellington, and 40 for Canterbury. One hundred and four men crossed by the ferry steamer. The average attendance at the Central School, New Plvmouth. for the last four weeks respectively wa? 528, 530 538, and 537—average bHß—the average roll being 0(17. At Vogeltown, the average far the month was 35.5, the number at present on the roll being 3D. At the Central School 32 new pupils were admitted during the month and ii left.

At a special meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club a request from the New Plymouth School Board for temporary accommodation for the Girls' High School in the racecourse buildings was considered. The committee unanimously decided to grant the board's request, and the chairman and secretary were authorised to meet a deputation from the High School Board to arrange terms. Those in authority who have inspected the buildings are delighted with the excellent accommodation to be obtained and the lovely surroundings. At the meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday, the Department notified that subsidies amounting to £1525 and : £Bl4 2s were now payable. The following tenders for supplies' wore accepted:—Meat, Messrs. Role Bros.; groceries, Mr. C. Carter; wood and coal, W. Bondall and Co. The. tenders for broad were considered unsatisfactory, and the ma Iter was left with the chairman to arrange, while no tenders were received for wines and spirits.

"I can sound a note of comfort to the people by pointing out that infantile paralysis usually reaches its maximum in March ami dies away in April," remarked Dr. K. A. Walker at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Hoard. While agreeing that steps should betaken to keep towns clean, Dr. Walker said a peculiar feature of this disease was that it usually originated in the country rather than in towns, and it was just as likely to break out in the wealthy quarters of a city as in the slum areas. There was no doubt that while many theories had been put forward, medical men were still baffled by the disease.

Anyone leaving parcels, umbrellas, I etc., in the trams should make inquiry for same at the tramway office, where articles found arc depositee!-

At Hawera on Tuesday. Arthur Xesbitt, wlio had innocently supplied beer to Maoris working in tlio hayfield, was fined 10s. For supplying liquor to two Maoris dolm Rilev was fined £1 on each information, also £2 and posts for selling a bottle of whisky to a. Maori. An Auckland message says that one phase of the win conditions is that the master bakers are asking the Arbitration Court to agree to the employment of women and girls in any department of the trade. It was stated in court that where women eould do work equal to that of men the employers were prepared to pay them men's wages. At the meeting' of the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday the matron of the Old People's Home (Mrs. A. Bayly) reported that during the past month the institution had progressed favorably, the discipline and supplier being good. There were two admissions, two departures and one death, leaving 29 females and five females in the Home. Some amusement was caused in the Supreme, Court, Napier, on Tuesday, as a Maori pristnev was asked to plead. He first of all made a plea of guilty. Then ii was pointed out that he was represented by eounsel. The latter immediately said lie would plead "not guilty." The prisoner was then asked whether ho still adhered to his original plea, and lie blandly replied, through the Court interpreter, ''Just whatever my solicitor says!"

For some time past a Xgacre farmer has noticed the pradual dying of many plants of ragwort and the total eradication of others, mid investigation showed that this was due to the operations of a little black beetle, which hatches out larvae in the shelter of the plants, the insects immediately attacking the shoots of the ragwort, and causing its death. Ocular demonstration of the destruction caused by the beetle was given to a representative of the Stratford Post. The evidence was quite convincing that a natural enemy of th e noxious weed had been discovered.

"We can never be the same people after the war," said the Anglican Bishop ot Auckland, Dr. A. W. Averill, speaking at St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell, on Sunday evening. Quoting a statement by the Bishop of St. Alban's, he said: '"We stand as a race at the parting of the ways, and the choice, X believe, is between repentance and the beginning of dissolution, between a race exalted and purified through trial mid a race hardened beyond repentance." The time had come, said the Bishop, for h real spiritual stocktaking with regard to the nation.

"Why don't you go yourself?" was the question asked of the Mayor of Westport last week (says the Westport Times) at a send-off by a man in the audience. "If the man who asked the question will f,ome forward I will give my answer," replied the Mayor. A well-built man. who said he had a brother amongst the draft for the 14th Reinforcements, at once stepped out of the crowd. The Mayor said lie was glad that the questioner was man enough to come forward. He then explained that as Mayor lie had a number'of duties to perform, but principally in seeing to the despatch of the troops, looking after those who returned, and seeing that their relatives left behind were provided for. When the opportunity' came he would go readily, and if he had his heart's desire he would be at the front now.

A West Coast resident who arrived in Christchurch last week says the idea is prevalent on the Coast that owing to the heavy loss of population there will be great and important changes in the constituencies. What is now known an Westland will absorb Greymouth borough, while from there, right up to Westport will be the sole other West Coast electorate, which will be practically reverting to the Inangahua electorate of the days when the present Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) stood for that constituency. The population of the Coast is said to be showing a most deplorable decrease, and this is bound to affect the representation. As if, is expected, the South Island as a whole will lose one if not more seats, it is imagined that the Greymouth electorate will be the one to be excised.

"I know that a very largo majority of members of the House are against Mr. Allen holding the portfolio of Dofence," states Mr, Payne, in a circular he has addressed to all members of Parliament. ; "I suggest that the urgency of the case is such that all members of Parliament hold a meeting at early date with a view to passing a resolution calling for the resignation of Mr. Allen, in order that a more tactful and more reasonable member of the Beform party he appointed in his stead, and in order that all matters pertaining to military administration be strictly enquired into in order to ascertain who is tlie instigator of commissions being given to those who are of alien birth or descent." Mr. Payne's circular runs to some length, as he deals with the work of the Wellington Women's AntiGerman League, and makes a good many allegations regarding German trading in New Zealand and the inclusion of persons bearing German or Austrian names in our forces. Ten names are mentioned in the circular, and Mr. Payne suggests that a large number of apparent aliens have gone away with the reinforcement drafts as officers.

A special sale of first class furniture is advertised for Friday next on account of Mr. A. Coxhcad. The list contains many items of general interest. The whole of the furniture was specially made for the vendor, and is to be sold without reserve. The annual harvest festival services in connection witli the Salvation Array will commence on Sunday next when they will be conducted by Staff-Captain Thurkettlo, from Palmcrston North. The hall will be decorated in a most pleasing way, and the festival will continue on the three following evenings. 111'. T. \Y. Welch, estate agent and builder, calls attention to a replace advertisement in this issue, to a dairy farm he lias for lease, as well as a smaller dairy [arm and sheep run he has for sale. Mr. Welch is prepared, also, to build for clients desirous of purchasing their own homes upon very easy terms. THERE IS ONLY ONE SAXDER .EXTRACT, and that is why the people insist on getting it, and why they reject tiie. many inferior substitutes and the cheap and frequently harmful ' : jnst as good." The I'iENU--INTC SANDER EXTRACT is free from the objectionable qualities of the common Eucalyptus oils and so-called "extracts." SANDER'S EXTRACT ia the most powerful antiseptic and healing remedy that can be used with safety; it prevents and cures a_ll infectious diseases, influenza, colds, fevers, smallpox, diphtheria, flatulence, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, dysentery and kidney troubles. SANDER'S EXTRACT, applied to ulcers, burns, sprains, cuts, inflamed skin, etc., gives immediate relief and cures permanently. Reliability, Effectiveness and Safety are the groat attributes of SANDER'S EXTRACT,

Ha were'a Wounded Soldiers' Fund 118W stands at £75)39.

At tlie Magistrate's Court, Nelson, on Saturday, Frank Rupert Ila 11am, driver of the ear which collided with the train at AnnesLrook Crossing, resulting in the death jf two Christchuroh residents, ftp. peared to answer a charge of manslaughter arising out of the accident. He was comniitteed for the sitting of the Supreme Court, at Nelson, next week, bail being allowed, accused In ,£IOO, and one surety of £IOO. It will be remembered that Loyal Excelsior Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0. F., assisted by a grant of £2 from the district funds forwarded Christmas cheer to our boys 'nt the front. The cheer consisted of sweets, cakes, puddings, tobacco, cigarettes, wr'ting pads and pencils, enclosed fn a serviceable billy. Forty of these were sent forward and that the efforts of the Oddfellows were appreciated is evidenced by letters received by Secretary Little of the local lodge. Private X. H. Moore, of the Wellington Batti/lion, under date January 23, writes from Ismaila: "Your parcel came to hand yesterday, and words cannot ex. press my gratitude to you for your kindness in sendihg these lovely gifts to us. One is apt to forget even a kindness, but, believe me, the generosity of the good people of our dear Homeland will not be ifadily forgotten by the troops. We have lately come from Anzac and the contrast between bully beef and biscuit 3 to a slice of rich cake, or something equally as nice, is better imagined than described. It would have done your heart good to see us enjoying some of the many luxuries that were sent In us. Please read these few lines to the members of your lodge, and tell them that the troops all feel grateful to the New Zealand people for these gifts." The idea of sending the gifts in a billy was that (lie latter could be utilised as a water carrier and another letter received from a trooper announces that they were found very useful for this purpose.