LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The. Fitzroy Fire Brigade acknowledges a donation of £1 Is from the New Plymouth High School Board. At the sitting of the Military Appeal Board yesterday, Mr. D. McLaren stated that from what had been represented to the board it was very nearly time that the Government took steps to finance farmers. This was in response to a statement made by an appellant that ho was paying ten per cent, interest to various firms for accommodation. A number of men for military service in Samoa are being called for by the niilitary authorities. Applicants must he over the age of 46 years and under 48 years, and are required to sign on for the time of the present war. Immediate application should be made to the local Defence Office by any volunteers willing to accept Samoan service. The Third Wellington Military Service Board held a sitting at the drill hall yesterday, when 50 recruits were examined, about 40 p»r cent being pawed as fit ror camp. The members of the board will leave by the mail train to-day for Stratford, proceeding to Hawera to-morrow. The group commander advises that in addition to those men who have been ordered to attend, any voluntary r»cruits who present themselves between 9 a.m. and noon will be examined. A thunderstorm, accompanied by heavy rain, passed over South Taranaki early yesterday morning. No washouts have so far been reported on the railway in the Taranaki district. The fall for the twenty-four hours ended at 8 a.m. yesterday was 2.11 inches, making 1i.34 inches since last Sunday morning. Tho total fall for the month so far has been 0.9-1 inches,—Star. "I believe that nineteen out of every twenty dairy herds could be reduced twenty per cent, without decreasing the output of butter-fat, providing that systematic testing and culling were gone in for," remarked Mr. J. Burgess, of Warea, at the sitting of the Appeal Board yesterday. Mr. Burgess added that there were a lot of poor cows that did not pay for milking, and could easily be dispensed with. As the result of ten years' testing, Mr. Burgess stated that he had increased the yield of. h!i powa by 1001b of butter-fat each per aawuik",- ■ -■'""

A Fcilding farmer stales that lambs have already begun to appear on his Pahiatua, farm. Seven returned soldiers are being healed at the New Plymouth hospital, while Bine attend as out patients. At Wellington yesterday tne prisoned John Dorm;, who recently escaped from prison and was recaptured on the Ota'ki beach, was sentenced in the Supremo Court to two years' imprisonment for breaking and entering, and a year for escaping frdm custody, tlic latter sentence, to be concurrent with the other, and was declared a habitual criminal. Archdeacon Jacob writes, under date January 14: — "[ am now living at Oatlands Park Hotel—lj miles from Walton—which we. have taken over, for 500 extra men, and ply up and down between the two places. We have about S4O patients now, and expect to have 1000 soon. There is not much to tell you as the work is always the name, though quite interesting. I can't get permission to build a chapel yet. We had a great Christmas Day and every one had a great time. ... T)r Unwin is -f very great value here—l don't knowwhat the hospital would do without bin.. He, does about three men's work, mil, of course, his skill and knowledge are invaluable; yet he keeps well, and has put on flesh." In answer to a deputation of teachers Mr Masters (chairman of the board) has granted a holiday on Monday next, 23rd instant, for the purpose of commemorating Anzac Pay. Mr. Masters impressed upon the deputation that it is the board's wish that all children should be made to thoroughly understand the solemnity of the occasion, that Anzac Day is 'not merely a holiday, but, rather, a day set apart to the memory of those brave soldiers who fell on the shores of Udllipoli two years ago, when the Australian and New Zealand troops received, their terrible "baptism of fire." It is hoped that the flay will be observed in a fitting manner. In reply to a question by Mr. McAllum as to the position regarding the liew nurses' home, the chairman of the Hospital Board stated at yesterday's meeting that the plans, which been prepared by Mr. Griffiths had been submitted to Dr. AValker and the matro>. for approval. Meanwhile, Dr. Loathain who had been on a tour of the hospitals of the Dominion, suggested that the plans of the Invercargill and Nelson homes should be procured, and the matter was accordingly held up, pending their receipt. Nothing definite had therefore lieen done, and tenders would not be called before next meeting. Mr. McAllum then gave, notice to move at next meeting that rtQ tenders be callea for the erection of a nurses' home until after the war. He stated that he recognised the need for the nurses' home but thought that its erection could be deferred. '•The war drags its slow length on to victory,'' write* a well-informed correspondent. "What amazes me most," he adds, " is the loyalty and unanimity of the working classes.' I never expected it of them. They seemed incapable' jf wide, unselfish views, or of anything beyond their own narrow self-interest. Biit we are all learning rapidly (even the politicians) and growing into something ft bit better and greater than we were two years ago.' hj» goes on to say:--"We have had a hard winter, and T believe the men from down under have felt is severely, especially the Australians. They fell victims to pneumonii in crowds. However, the cold is gone now (end of February). The Government is preparing, it is said, a million beds to be ready in the spring. \'ou can witli little imagination foretell what tl.nl, means. The struggle will be frightful. Our men are as full of determination and grit as ever. 1 tee the wounded in the war hospital here every week, and I can never cease wondering at their cheerfulness and pluck. They are splendid." A statement of unusual interest was mado by the Minister for Health at Auckland on Saturday. He referrd to the fact that there were only 510 medical men available for the needs of the civil population. This was very close to the danger line. He considered that before long some form of mobilisation would be necessary, with a power to transfer similar to that existing in Britain. He desired to see the profession opened to promising boys of all classes. At present every medical student cost tho State £220. The benefits to be derived form that expenditure should be diffused as widely as possible. While he was not prepared to formulate a scheme, he thought the University Senate, the heads of the university colleges, the hospital boards, and the profession, by conferring together, might evolve a practical scheme. He had no desire to lower the standard of training, but desired to see existing methods broadened and opportunities widened. The maintenance of the civilian medical service and the increase in the number of practitioners were now being considered. He believed Parliament would agree to help towards the carrying out of the proposed reforms. Owing to an error in the despatch from Auckland tho film "To Have and To Hold," advertised to be shown at the Empire Inst evening, wns sent on to Wellington. Fortunately the management had tho World film feature "A Woman's Power" in' hand, and this programme was screened to an appreciative audience. "To Have and To Hold" will be screened on Friday and Saturday. That lovely material, white silk crepe e chinci. so dear to the heart of every i.iman can be, obtained at the Meloarne Ltd. The silk offered is full 40 dies wide in a beautiful smooth, even "nve nnd splendid quality and weight. Prje 6/11 yard. The prize certificates won by local children in the "British Empire Rhyming Trades Alphabet" will be presented to tho winners at the Empire Theatre matinee next Saturday afternoon. HEADACHE, IT'S YOUR LITER. Too many people take Headache Tablets when a Liver Tonic is needed. Anyone who takes Laxo Tonic Pills the moment they suspect their Liver or Bowels will never have headache. For headache is nearly always the result of the waste product of the body. Laxo Tonic Pills are constructed to eliminate in a speedy, yet wholly natural, manner, the waste, or poisonous, products which lie at the root of nearly all headaches. Thousands of people-take one or two every night at bed time, to prevent disorders of the Liver. Constipation, Bad Breath, Pimples, and Headache. Try them for a week and see for yourself. Price Is and 2s, Obtainabla everywhere.

EVERYBODY'S DRINKING IT! What? GREEN GINGER. A pure, wholesome and refreshing drink for sensible people. A TRIAL WILL CONVINCE. A tablespoonful to a large bottle. 1/t per bottle; all grocers. Order to-day from your grocer! Jfou will J» aatiaAe*- ■''

An officer in Kitchener's' Army tolls how the first of July brought loot to his battalion, of great practical value. "No mere souvenirs of decorative value only," he says, ''but tilings of solid, practical worth—a dynamo, a cooking rungs and a bath, once the delight of the Boche, but now a lasting joy to us and the envy of all who heard tell of it. For was it not long and of enamel' The dynamo was of a more lasting luxury; office and workshop and stores and mess was as cheerful by night as by day, more so, '.« fact; and anyone who has tried to read or write by the light of.a hurricane lamp will know the real blessings of overhead electric light. To this delectable paradisc on the edge of civilisation Weary offieerß and men could always return for a rest and a bath, and we swore we would stay there till demolished by peace." "The military policy of Prussia is fashioned after the military policy of Napoleon, who filled the world with the roar of his cannon," said Professor H. 1). Bedford at a public meeting at Auckland last week in connection with the campaign to raise funds for the Y.M.C.A. War Bund. "Germany is attempting,"' he said, "to establish a kingdom upon death, upon the killing and maiming of men and the destruction of property. The most solemn and sacred things of life are being trodden under. Tho allies have gat to teacli Germany that she cannot erect such an Empire. The only Empire th.it is at all lasting is one established upon sen ice, not upon the grave, but upon the cradle, upon the seed-that germinates and the hands that tend. We want to keep in the minds of our soldiers this form of sorvice when ihey meet tho foe. We do hot want them to get harlened. Where our men are fighting-the earth is trembling and (junking with the explosions of'shot and shell, and in the Armament above them death is lurking. The sense they get is something like a nightmare. They are opposed to the enmity of man; other men are laying traps to kill them. The Y.M.C.A. endeavors to exert an influence of the exact opposite type by showing to tho soldiers that there are men who are wishful to do nothing else but minister to their comfort and safety. By extending the hand of brotherhood the agents of the Y.M.C.A. hope to counteract the German influence."