LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A piece of fimhergris, weighing over lib, has been found on the Otaki beach by Mr. William Knocks. The tax on amusements which came into force on the Ist of this month has made no difference to the.attendances at the various city and suburban theatres (says the Wellington Post). A lad named Peter Romanos was SC' verely burnt about the face by the explosion of a, "double-banger" in Masterton recently. He was admitted to the hospital. A oorfuderabje ad van* in railway fares is stated to be probable shortly, as the result of the railways being called upon to find from its revenue the money required for the payment of a war bonus to members of the service.— Press Association.

"I consider," a shearing expert told the Third Military Board at Wellington, "that on account of the shortage of men, each shearer in the South Island will have to take 5000 sheep for the coming year. This is 1500 more than in normal times. It will take 1200 men to get through the season in the South Island." "I think that the strike is now practically ended," said Mr. John Adamson, a Queensland politician, who arrived in New Zealand recently to a Post reporter. "From what I was able to hear in the course of a brief stay in Sydney, it is not expected that there will be any further disturbance for at least several years."

A Palmerston gardener, who has five thousand strawberry plants under cultivation, stated that up to the presen,t he has only been able to obtain a few boxc of fruit, owing to the ravages of slugs and the continued wet weather. The crop is an abnormally heavy one, but as soon -as the fruit begins to mature armies, of slugs attack it during the .night and eat the hearts out of the large berries.

A witness giving evidence tlio other day before the Military Service Board, in support of a dentist's appeal, mentioned that the young Maoris of the present day wero visiting dentists more than th'e native people did twenty or thirty years ago. The older generation of Maoris used to have perfect health, but it seemed that the health of the younger Maoris began to deteriorate just as those of the E"ropeans had done. The birth of a freak calf, a very remarkable specimen, is mentioned by the Launceston (Tasmania) Advocate and Times, of October 20 last. The calf had two heads, one each end of the body, and no tail. There were three legs in front and three behind, and two stomachs, all perfectly formed, with only one body. Such a peculiar freak is stated to be unique.

Some rather alarming statements have been made lately as to the shortage of drugs of certain classes in New Zealand. A Post reporter who made enquiries on the subject was informed authoritatively that though there was a shortage in some lines, practically every drug was procurable at a price. In some cases it has been found necessary to husband supplies, and retail chemists can obtain quantities sufficient only for the requirements from week to week.

A rattling good picture of the operations of illicit diamond buyers, and their wonderful devices for smuggling the precious stones is shown in the "Mutual" feature, "The Diamond Runners," screening at Everybody's to-night. The picture includes some rapid changes of scene from New York to South Africa and a wonderful shipboard romance crammed with plots and counter-plot* This picture was advertised some weeks back but went astray in transit.

As illustrating the ignorance of food values which was prevalent, Mrs. Brown when lecturing at Lower Hutt the othor evening, described the constituents of the various foods which had been tried by an anxious mother, whose baby had not been thriving, and showed how each was either deficient in or had > an overplus of some necessary element. The foods ranged from various prepared foods to barley water, and brandy and water.

Owing to the scarcity of boy labor in Ashburton, the Ashburton Electric Supply Company has engaged a girl on the mechanical staff. Her work includes the manipulation of electrically driven machinery, the manufacture of minor parts, and various other duties. The manager of the company, Mr. A. Dawe, expresses himself as thoroughly satisfied with the experiment, which shows that girls can be trained to do this kind of work quicker and to "stick" to it more consistently than the average boy. The wages paid are practically the same as boys receive who are doing similar work.

The committee of the St. Mary's Rose Show is sparing, no effort to make the exhibition of this queen of flowers a complete success. Intending exhibitors are reminded that, in addition to roses, any seasonable flowers, such as sweet peas, rhododendrons, etc., will enhance the display.

There is only one SANDER EXTRACT, and that is why the people reject the many inferior and harmful substitutes and just as goods. SANDER'S EXTRACT is free from the objectionable qualities of the common eucalyptus. Sander's Extract cures all infectious diseases, all winter ailments, ulcers, burns, sprains, eczema, etc. Insist on the GENUINE SANDER'S EXTRACT.

Heartburn and sick headache is re lieved bv Sharland's Majfnesia.

In order to get the East End reserve and surroundings into thorough order for tlio coming season, the committee have decided to hold weekly working bees. There was a good attendance last week and a good lot of useful work was done. A dam will be coiiotructed across the river this week.

It was stated by a restaurant waitress, giving evidence in the Arbitration Court in Wellington, that she shared a room with another girl for 6s 6d a week. There were about fourteen girls living in the same house on similar terms. "The proprietress is doing very well if she receives 13s a week for each room," remarked Mr. Justice Stringer, who added: "It seems to be absolutely wicked that girls should be charged this rate for rooms."

, A memorial to the "old boys" of Nelson College who have fallen in the war is to be erected by the Old Boys' Association. It will take the form of a "scriptorium"—a brick building— which will bo erected at a cost of about £2OOO. It probably will contain a library, writing, and other rooms, as well as a home for various mementoes of the war. Two donations of £IOO each have been received in aid of the project. About 100 old boys of the college have lost their lives in the war. There are stated to be 125,000 motor ears in England that are laid aside for want of petrol; and, further, some 50,000 public service and goods-carrying motor vehicles would shortly have to bo garaged for the Hame reason. Some English experts consider that coal gas in the near future is the only ray of hope, and advise that immediate steps be taken to manufacture and equij. veVcles to use this'cheap but cumbersome fuel.

Jack Warren Kerrigan delighted a crowd at the Empire last night with his splendid characterisation of "The Gay lx>rd Waring." Dorothy Dalton also added to her admirers by her powerful portrayal in "The Dark IRoad." This fine seloction of pictures will he screened again to-night and to-morrow. On Thursday the popular favorite Olga Petrova will be featured in one of her greatest successes, "The Soul Of a Magdalen."

No news has been received by the Government to allay the prevailing concern about the prospects of shipping for the New Zealand export season just opening (says the Dominion). The indications are that there will be a grave shortage of tonnage in the coming season. The freezing season is just about to open, and there are two million carcasses in cold stores all 'over the country. The dairy season is at full already, and there is still some cheese and a good deal of butter remaining over last year to be shipped. The era of women on the land appears to be looming, if Christehnrch and Timaru activities in this direction may be accepted as a criterion of what may happen in New Zealand. The idea of associating domestic service in the country house with the maintenance of national efficiency in production on the farm connected therewith seems to be growing in popularity. Mr. G. J. Frostick, the National Efficiency Commlssioncr in Christehnrch, and the Women's National Reserve are taking up the subject with keenness, and as a result of representations the various branches of the reserve are being asked to record the names of all women who are prepared to undertake work on farms The farmers are crying out for indoor and outdoor workers, and women are wanted to serve the country without asking for conditions other than comfortable sleeping quarters, fair wages, and protection.

The Wellington correspondent of the Eltham Argus writes:—Economy has been forced upon some women and girls in n manner that has taken them by surprise. There have been many women in receipt of allowances from several soldiers. For girls and women to obtain allowances from four or fiver soldiers lias been quite common. There were many cases in which married women were receiving allowances from several soldiers. An official tolls me that the scandals were so rank that the Defence Department stepped in and prevented women and girls drawing a portion of the pay of soldiers that they were not related to. If this be correct, and I believe it is, it will tighten up the purses of many young women who for some time past have been revelling in luxuries that they had hitherto never dreamed of. A draper said to me: "I am afraid this is going to reduce the sale of fur coats, in which v.e have been doing a roaring trade." A letter recently received by one of our suburban Mayors from a French girl is strong testimony to the / commonsense and self-respect of the average Frenchwoman, says a writer in the Adelaide Observer. This sensible girl wrote from a village in France saying she had become engaged to an Australian soldier, whose people lived in the Miburb over which the Mayor presided, ami though she loved him very much fje knew nothing about him or his people, and to whom should she write but Monsieur le Maire, to find out if it would be well for her to marry the brave Australian. (In a French village it is the Mayor to whom everyone goes with all joys and sorrows. He is something like the captain of a ship, father of the flock, as it were, even io the right of performing marriage ceremonies.) The letter was written in French, in a pretty foreign hand, and this rather flabbergasted the Mayor, who is an excellent Greek and Latin scholar, but with a poor acquaintanceship with the graceful French language. However, the difficulty was soon overcome, and the wise little French girl having sent the full name and address of her fiancee, he soon found out all about the soldier, and was able to send the writer a most

satisfactory account of the young man and his relatives. The Melbourne's stock of men's silk shirts is the finest value on tho market, only high grade Japanese silk being used. Fine tussore silk shirts, lis fid; heavy weight white silk shirts, 14s fid; famous Fuji silk shirts, 15s (id. Above prices for tennis or neglige make. HEAVY DRINKER FOR YEARS. "Although a heavy drinker for years, my husband is now off the drink, thanks to 'Drinko.' It is wonderful stuff." So writes a grateful wife. Drinko can be given secretly in liquid or food. Write for free booklet, in sealed envelope, givjng full details. State if Mr., Mrs., or Miss. Lady Manager, Drinko Proprietary, 212J Lambton Chambers, Wellington.

Economical housekeepers are now preparing to put down their supplies of preserved eggs. There is no preservative like JsHARLAND'S MOA BRAND EGG PRESERVATIVE. Just try it.

Flatulency and acidity of the stomach in young children is corrected by Sharland's Magnesia,