LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 11 January 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The mails which left New Zealand on the 23rd November, via Suez, arrived in London on the night of the, 7th inst. There is a great shortage of labor on the Wanganui wharf at the present 'time. Consequently there is serious delay to shipping. Advice has been received by Mr. G. V. Pearce, M.P., that the question of making Patea a grading port for wool is being considered hy the authorities. Mr. Newton King informs us that he has received official information that the first valuation of wools for the Government will commence at Waitara on the 16th inst.

An idea of the fall in temperature on Tuesday may be gauged by the fall of snow on Mount Egmont. Yesterday, when the clouds lifted, it was noticeable that quite a heavy fall of snow, reaching almost to the radius line, had descended.

"One of the hig evils of unionism is the paid secretary. He goes about the country trying to persuade the workers that they are badly treated." So said a member of the New Zealand Educational Institute at the conference in Wellington, when a .suggestion for the appointment of a paid secretary was under discussion.

The Westport Harbor Board has granted its engineer (Mr. C. X. Boiillj leave to enlist, and has agreed to allow him £250 a year while he is at the war. Mr. Boult stated that he wanted nothing out his military pay, but the Board thought it was only right that he should be given at least a quarter of his salary. ■Mr. J. Gilford, stationmaster, Hunterville, was the victim of a very painful accident. He was affixing a tablet as a train approached, and the big arm, rehounding, struck him with considerable force before he had passed from the danger zone. His' shoulder-blade was broken, and he also received a nasty fracture of the skull. It is stated that he is making a wonderful recovery.

"It comes to one of two things—either they must fight for their country,' or thny must shear for their country," was Captain Walker's summing-up of the position of the New Zealand shearers, when shearers' cases were bofore the Military Service Board in Wellington. A consignment of first-class Xelson fruit, consisting of apiicots, nectarines, and tomatoes, was sold in New Plymouth yesterday. High prices were realised, the apricots reaching His per half-bushel. The shipping facilities between Xelson and New Plymouth are not satisfactory, and regular supplies of fruit cannot be obtained. Supplies from Hawke's Bay and Auckland have been coming forward in small quantities, which are insufficient to meet the demand. The prices generally are high. Life's Tragedies.—A good-natured holiday crowd was bustling and pushing to get aboard one of the expresses at the Paimerston station. A man and a young woman accidentally bumped against one another. An incipient apology gave place to mutual exclamations of mutual recognition. "Hullo, -—," said the man. "I haven't seen you for over a year. Xot engaged?'' This with a playful grin. The young woman, a quiet, good-looking girl, in the freshness of her early twenties, colored, and fjears of genuine misery flooded her eyes, her obvious efforts to restrain them notwithstanding. ''Yes," she stammered sadly, "a long engagement. 'He was killed a month ago." A father with a quiverful of 17 (10 of whom are living) and his son were among those offering their services for the Tunnelling Corps at Greymouth (says the Star). They were desirous of leavin? for Narrow Xeck camp with a -p-a/cy of tunnelle/t, who ierc last ttue,. by the Otira express. They were, however, disappointed in that the father was over the age limit and the son scarcely came up to the medical standard required.

The New Zealand Farmers' Bacon and Meat Packing Co., Ltd., will receive pigs at Smart Koad on the 15th and 29th, and not at -Funiho Road, as advertised. Fitzroy residents are invited to attend a meeting to be held at the Fitzroy School tiiis evening, to discuss Fitzroy beach affairs.

It was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria, at Melbourne, that (1) SANDER'S EXTRACT is much more powerfully healing and antiseptic than ordinarv eucalyptus preparations; (2) SANDER'S EXTRACT does not depress the heart like the so-called "extracts'' and crime oils; (3) SANDER'S EXTRACT is i;':'ily commended by many author;:'". i safe, reliable and effective lion-, ' icmedy. Got the genuine—-iusisc »■ ,'ou have to—and be ■safe.

lii connection with the recent bathing accident during the visit of the Boy Scouts to Opunake, the Opunake Town Board has decided to ask the Hoyal Humane Society to recognise John Trotter's gallantry in saving life on the beach.

in connection with the closing down of the bairdressing business in Devon Street which had been carried on. by .Yir. T. Furlong since 1875 continuously in the same premises, "Fity-one" writes iu the Ilawera Star:—"Tom Furlong, senr., when he received his dischargr from the 57th Regiment in the 'sixties, took over the Masonic Stables, and really commenced the business there which he has conducted so successfully ever since. Tom's first msiness premises were situated in Rrougham Street, near the bridge. l!y the way, I believe T was Tom's first customer, a stable bucket being used for a chair.''

flic Minislci of Internal Affairs announced yesterday that a Royal Commission had been appointed, consisting of Mr. Justice Hosking Messrs. C. F. Thomas (Auckland) and W. Milne (Oaniaru), to inquire into tile general effect of the leasing powers enjoyed by Borough and City Councils, and whethei same are in the best interest.- of the corporations concerned: also whether the system of valuations prescribed by section 137 of'the Municipal Corporations Act is satisfactory in its application; and, if not, vhat alterations should be made. The. Commission is returnable not later than March I. Press Association.

The agreement under which the waterside workers are employed expired hist month, and the terms of a now agreement are being discussed. The negotiations have not yet proceeded far, and no date has been fixed for a conference between the parties. It is understood, states pu; Wellington correspondent, that the workers are asking for an increase of wages from Is lOd per hour to 2s -2d per hour, and that the employers are willing to concede - 2s per hour. Proposals have been made for a ■ conference. The issues involved are not confined, to the question of wages.

A sitting of t'lio .Military Medical Board for the Wellington district wo; held in Hawera yesterday. .Approximately 85 men had been called up for examination. The Board consists of Lieuts.-Colonel Lindsay and Jennings (examining officers) Captain .T. firay (dental examining officer), Captain Casserlo.y (attesting officer), an! SergeantMajor Tiroadfield (clerk to the Board). The Board was not expected to conclude its work until late at night.- The Board proceeds to Wanganui to-day. A party of young men in Nelson who seized a motor-car and started on a "joy ride" at an early hour last Sunday morning are unlikely to repeat the experiment. The ride was, of short duration, as in attempting to turn a street corner in the centre of the town the ear was capsized One of the occupants was so severely injured that lie had to he removed to the hospital The car was seriously damaged, and it is estimated that the repairs will cost about £SO.

Two guides arc accompanying the people wishing to hear a hand play at the great height of SifiOft, and the fees so charged will he all given to the hand funds. A souvenir programme is to be specially issued for the occasion. The manager of the hostel had two band performances at the mountain house with which he was previously connected, when there were record attendances. Special arrangements are being made at the hostel to cope with the extra traffic and visitors for the day. ■■

The H.uvkc's Bay sportsman, Mr. 0. P. Donnelly, has expressed his intention ot donating the whole of the proceeds of the .-ale of four of the Otatara yeailings for the beneiit of the returned soldicrs who have secured sections on the Kaiwaka block, Hawke's Bay. This donation, which is in addition to the other large amounts promised by Mr. Donnelly for similar patriotic purposes, will no doubt (states an exchange) bo greatly appreciated, as owing to the high prices of sheep the new settler? are experiencing considerable difficulty in stocking their sections.

An old man, S3 years of age, a granger to the town, appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday upon a charge of drunkenness. Senior-Sergeant McXcely said the old man, who was a ship's painter by trade, led an unsettled hie, roaming from place to place doing odd jobs. He had suggested to the old man that he would be better in the Old Men's Home, but he scorned the idea, Accused had said that he had never boon locked up before, and he (the senior sergeant) had no reason to disbelieve the statement. Mr. C. 0. Kkdahl, J.P., who was on the Bench, took a lenient view of the case, and discharged the accused with a caution. The seniorsergeant added that the accused stated that he had been -present at the coronation of Queen Victoria.—Star.

The Melbourne, Ltd., is- the home of lovely blouses up-to-date in style and priced lower than at other stores. Beautiful white silk blouses, 10s fid to li)s fid; lovely crepe di chine blouses, 17s (id to 22s' fid; black silk blouses, lis (id to If-s Oil; dainty voile blouses embroidered and veined and with set in sleeves Ss lid to 9s fid.

During 1017 men of Now Plymouth ujiil district who intend to Vie well dressed, will be wise to call and patronise the Palatine. They are showing n splendid range of summer suits and all icady to wear, smartly cut and priced at 5Ss (id, 05s, 755, and 85s. Don't wait, order your New Year suit NOW! "Palatine," New Plymouth.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. draw attention to their Tarata sale on Friday, 12th- inst., at 1 p.m. Particulars on page B._

A SUFFERER FROM DROPSY. RECOMMENDS DR. SHELDON'S GIN PILLS.

"For a very long time I have been a sufferer from Dropsy in a very bad form indeed. I might mention that I have been tapped, so you can see my case was very severe, but thanks to Dr. Sheldon's Gin Pills I am now almost completely cured and with a little, longer continuation of Dr. Sheldon's Gin Pills I fully e.vpect to be in my normal state of health again," wi'tes Mrs. M. Bartlctt, 10 Charles street, Ashburton, N.Z. "All hope was given up for me before [ started to take Dr. Sheldon's Gin Pills, and my case has been a wonderful recovery as my death was expected a long time ago but thanks to Dr. Sheldon's Gin Pills I can see a new life ahead and all my worry has gone to the winds. Dr. Sheldon's Gin POls are always in the house and always will be with me wherever I go as 1 have absolute faith in their virtues and recommend them to all reading these few grateful words." Dr. Sheiuon's Gin Pills are sold at Is Od and 2s Gd. Obtainable nvervwhera.

Ono of the dairy companies in the Opodiki district has learned already to appreciate the immense value of female labor. The company, which produces cheese, was quite recently faced with a serious labor problem, a couple of the employees being called up by the ballot under the Military Service Act. No other help being forthcoming, two ladies in the district volunteered their assistance, and have rendered yeoman service. Through the assistance in this case is only to be temporary, it is apparent that before long many of the factories will have to depend upon female help, following the lead given by Tar:inal;i.

In giving evidence at an inquest in Auckland hist week, a witness complained of th(. difficulty he had experienced in obtaining the services of a doctor at night, lie-marking on the subject, Dr. Diier said the public as a rule treated medical men very unfairly in the matter of night calls. In many instances they were, put to extra expense in attending these cases, and often thgir clients completely ignored the obligation to pay fees. Doctors, like other people, suffered from tiredness as the result oi over-work, and he mentioned that on the day in question, lie had attended twenty-five day and live night calls.

A novel means of eradicating the Californian thistle pest lias been brought to light in quite an unpremeditated manner. A Canterbury farmer, whose farm is more or less infested with thistle, laid a small pasture down in lucerne, with some misgivings, he confessed, in view of its condition owing to the prevalence, of thistle. The district being ono favorable to the growth of incerne, there was a good strike, and to his satisfaction he noted that the thistle seemed to be held thoroughly in' check As the crop thickened, establishing itself more firmly, and several cuttings were taken off the field,, there was no mistaking the fact that, it was gradually crowding the thistle out, plainly showing that the passing of another year or two would see it complete, extinction. This belief, as subsequent events nave proved, was not ill-founded, and at the present time he was unable to find any of the patches that were once so noticeable.

"A linesman lias easily the hardest job of anyone in the attack," writes a soldier in France to his brother, Mr N. Webley, of Wellington. "The last time I iVent through the barrage five times with a reel of wire and all my gear. There were /our of us—one man with tlie 'phone, one with the wire, and two spare. Our wire ran out 300 yards from the trench we were taking, so I started back with a man for more wire. I lost him; he was knocked up; went to headquarters: got more wire and another man; and started off again. In the meantime the corporal had been wounded. We got the wire right out this time to the trench, which was easily taken, but the new piece of wire was no good. Luckily there was a reel of (lerman stuff lying in the trench, so wiih an officer and lance-jack holding the reel in the trench, 1 tool; the other end hack to the join, hooked up. came hack, hitched on (ho 'phone, and was through. 1 wis never so pleased in my. life, and never so exhausted''

An Australian .soldier, writing to his parents, says: —"There is a big movement among the Anzac mounted division to erect a bronze equestrian memorial on the banks of the Suez Canal, where everyone who goes through can see it, to those of our comrades who have fallen out here on the desert. Of course, as far as we have been able, we have,made,our mates' graves wherever they 'fell, and where possible have looked, after them as well as we could; but they are scattered all over the country, poor chaps, and some of the men have been neither found nor identified. The graves that arc made cannot la-t Jong after we leave the desert, because the wind keeps blowing the sand away, and the dirty Bedouin will come back and probably use the crosses for firewood; so that we all think the idea of the monument the best in the world, and are paying for it ourselves, and do not require help from the public, whom we know would subscribe enough in a day if necessary. It will be a lasting tribute to the 'boys,' and will be located where people from all parts of the world can see it." Some of the soldiers who returned by the Itiveriua had been in Egypt for nearly two years, and although they had been recently ill, their complexions were still colored deeply by the F.gyptian sun. The men stated that life with the Mounted Rifle Brigade had not been monotonous. The Brigade had been constantly on the move, and most of them had seen a fair amount of fighting of a desultory character. They left Egypt before the big "push" to El 1 Arfsh, but it had been reported that a move of that nature was in prospect, and the troops had been looking forward eagerly to another brush with the Turks. One man offered the personal opinion that the enemy would not again attack the Canal in force. The garrison was very strong indeed, and the wide stretch of desert that had to be crossed before the Turks conld 'reach the canal appeared to be an insuperable obstacle, in view of the fact that heavy transport was necessary for guns and supplies. The capture of Til Arish and other advanced positions by the British troops would increase the diflleullies of attack.

The sparkling sea is c:illinff you to its silver shores to revel amongst its buffeting billows. Get your bathing costume from the Big Store, Waitara, and you'll be in the swim.

Miss Marie McCarthy notifies that she is prepared to take pupils for the violin at ''T'e Kohunga," Carrington Road. Miss McCarthy is a gold medallist, and her . terms are exceedingly reasonable.