LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is stated by the Manawatu standard that several speculators in the potato market in a certain Manawatu district, scenting large profits, bought up heavily when last season's crop was put on the market. They held for big prices, but the demand was not nearly up to expectations, with the result that the great bulk of the purchases are still on hand, and in many eases the tubers ore in such a state of deterioration that they are unsaleable.

Sir William Robertson's handling of his undelivered-and not-to-be-delivered —speech to the press the other day (says a newspaper correspondent) reminds a friend of mine of an interesting case of a public man's practice in this matter The fifteenth Lord Derby, son of the great orator, not having inherited his lathers eloquence, used to write his speeches word for word, and used to hand them to the press. Not only did he punctuate them freely with "Hear hear," and "Laughter," but he also added voices of encouragement, thus—"But I am detaining you too long" (cries of No, no," and "Go on.")

The unusual procedure of-a magistrate giving evidence and appearing to conduet a case for the Justice Department was witnessed at the sitting of the First Auckland Military Scrvke Board at Auckland on Tuesday, wheTMr. E. C. Cntten, S.M., supported the appeal of James T. Bishop, clerk in the Magistrate's Court. The appellant has three brothers on service, and it was further emphasised that the removal of Mr. Bishop would entail undue hardship on the Magistrate's Court staff, which was already severely handicapped by the fact, that so many of the clerks had gone away to the war. The appeal was adjourned sine die.

A story with an entirclv new plot will be screened at Everybody's to-night when charming Ella Hall features in "A Jewel in Pawn." The "jewel" is Ella, who is pawned by her mother to raise money to seek forgiveness from her father for an unhappy marriage. It is a really delightful picture in whfch tears and smiles mingle, with pathos and humor, in every phase. The screening nights are limited to to-night and to-morrow.

During the visit of H.M.S. New Zealand to Auckland, Mrs. Sarah Peterson, a widow, married Sammells, a member of her crew, who went away with his ship after a honeymoon of three days' duration, and she subsequently became housekeeper to William E. Kemp, a iailway porter, whom, on repeated solicitation, she consented to marry, and did so In the Supreme Court at Auckland, last week, she was tried on a charge of bigamy, Sammells being still alive. Kemp stated in cross-examination that accused was a good mother to the children of his first marriage during her period as housekeeper. He proposed to her three or four times before she agreed to marry him. He heard her tell Constable M'Hugh that she believed Sammells went down with the crew of H.M.S, Sussex in March, 1016, as she had received information from- him that he was joining the.'ill-fated vessel. She had been receiving £4 a month from the Admiralty as an allotment, and as the amount was increased to £4 8s after the Sussex disaster, she took the altered sum to be a naval pension, consequent on Sammell's death. Not until March of this year did accused learn that Sammells was not on the Sussex when she sank, but on another vessel. Accused was accquitted.

The value of Californian quail in combating the ravages ■of the grass grub was discussed by.members of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society last week, states the Herald. The secretary said he had recommended to the Canterbury society the use of the quail in districts affected by the grub, but in reply it was stated that as the grub lived from two to three inches below the surface in grass paddocks, and did most of its feeding at night, a nocturnal feeding bird would be required to deal with the pest. The chairman said the quail wouid probably do no 'good in open grass paddocks, as they were birds that required cover. He knew of a locality in the Waikato where the introduction of Californian quuil had resulted in jrreat benefit, the grubs having been exterminated in paddocks which, prior to the introduction of the quail, had been devastated by them.

"Presto, change" is the order of the day, and is all the fault of those bewitched pyjamas, made from silk from the looms of an ancient Chinese Empress. Anyone who puts them on becomes instantly transformed into someone else, and the complications are amazing. No one who goes to see "The Haunted Pyjamas" at the Empire to-morrow or Saturday could possibly be bored.

THE POISONING OF THIRTY GIRLS In a Melbourne factory by eucalyptus lollies which were evidently made from the common eucalyptus brings home forcibly the importance of using onlv the GENUIXE SANDER EUCALYPTI EXTRACT internally. SANDER'S EXTRACT sniffed up the nose and three drops on sugar, is a sure and safe protection from meningitis and other infections. Applied to ulcers, poisoned wounds, sprains, chilblains, eczema SANDER'S EXTRACT brings quick relief and permanent cure.

Slieep stealing is, says the Post, reported to be rii'e in the I'ohokura district, and some settlers have lost num. hers out of the flocks which, are close to the road. The police havu the matter in hand. One feature of the Waiiganui Dog Show- last week was an Eskimo dog, lent for exhibition. This dog, which was born in the Antarctic, formerly beloved to Sir Ernest Shackleton's pack, and naturally, therefore, created much interest.

A family which has a striking record in connection with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is that, of Mrs Ryan, of South Dimedin. Mrs Ryan 'has seven sons, all of whom are in khaki. Mrs Ryan's sister. Mrs O'Gorman, of Wellington, has five sons in khaki. Thus the tw-o sisters musters no fewer than twelve soldiers.

The pickpockets appeared to have a successful time at the recent Christchurch Carnival, three visitors from Southland having lost by this means £of>—the amounts being respectively £2O, .€l9, and £lO. It is stated that many others were also relieved of their money while absorbed in the prospects of the horses in the various races.

There was a sitting of a special medical board, (comprising C'apt. W. B. Wade and Dr. Fookes) in Xew Plymouth yesterday, when some ten returned soldiers were examined Sergt.-Major Butt of Hawera, represented the Defence Department.

The first Taranaki contingent of men from the Second Division drawn in the last ballot will be medically examined next week by a medical board, which will sit in New Plymouth on Monday and Tuesday, Stratford on Wednesday, ml Hawera on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Thirty-five hundred women doing work previously done by men in Canadian banks, three thousand in munition factories, five thousand nursing the wounded at the front and in the base hospitals—these figures give a hint of the spirit in which the women of the Dominion are meeting the demands of the war.

"You're a gentleman!" declared Mary Ann Windsor, who has just got back to Auckland from Pakatoa Island, and was on the drunk, to Mr. Frazer, S.M., the other day, when he decided to give her a chance by prohibiting and discharging her. She added, when asked if she would promise to be a lady, that she would not say she would be a lady, but she would do her best.

The Christchurch correspondent of the Duncdin Star says:—On present indications many of the local grocers appear at loggerheads, and considerable undercutting of prices is in progress. This warfare, which commenced with butter linos, has spread, and as a result the public are temporarily benefiting. Cheaper sugar, for instance, is now available. It is fairly certain, however, that this state of affairs will not last long, as goods in certain instances are being retailed at cost price.

The partiality of the "Anzacs" for girls from the Old Country is likely to cause grave injustice to the young women who are nobly working and patiently awaiting the return of the hundreds of thousands of men the war has withdrawn from the British dominions. Colonel Springforth, of the Commonwealth Medicals, declares that 0,000 Australians have Carried in Great Britain, and we aflrall aware that the temptation to wed abroad has already proved irresistible to a large number at New Zealand warriors.

The Health Inspector, Mr. A. H. Kendall, reported at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board that during tiie month inspection had been made of fruit, food and milk supply premises, and that samples of milk wore sent to fhe Dominion analyst for examination. Weighings of bread and butter had also been forwarded to Wellington. One prosecution for milk below standard resulted in n, conviction and fine, and one case of appeal against the decision in a previous milk prosecution was pending.

A sign of the times. The members of the Jack Waller "Look Who's Here" Company journeyed from Hawera, where they had been playing, to New Plymouth yesterday by motor car. Four cars were required to accommodate the party, two of them having been brought over from Australia by the company and utilised throughout -the tour, whilst the other two were hired for the occasion. Certainly the increased ((■vain fares and curtailed services are not tending to popularise railway travelling, and very soon the only travellers that will use the railways will be those that cannot afford to purchase or hire cars.

Made from papier macho and costing not over five shillings each, artificial logs of a temporary nature are, says an exchange, supplied to disabled French soldiers in Paris hospitals. The paper legs, which are the invention of a Danish surgeon, are made on the spot. They can be used in a fortnight after the amputation, and obviate the necessity for crutches while the patient is convalescing. A hospital orderly can cut the paper leg to the required size, and fit and complete it for a patient in about half an hour. It is said that the work takes a day to dry and set. and may be used the next day by the invalid. With proper cave the paper leg should last from si.v months to a rear.

In the course of a discussion at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board, regarding the question of housing the motor ambulance, the chairman (Mr. M. Fraser) said that the Wanganui Hospital Board had an arrangement with one of the garages whereby a flat rate of 10s was made for all cases of ambulance transport, the garage supplying both ambulance and driver. In cases where the distances were great the rate probably would not cover expenses, but the loss was more than made up by the greater number of short town runs. If ever a like offer was made to the New Plymouth Board, he would advise that it be accepted, for it would mean less expense and do away with the present difficulties of storing and driving. 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, giving full details. State if Mr., Mrs., or Miss. Lady Manager, Drinko Proprietary, 212J Lambton Chambers, Wellington - FLI-KEELO is the only insect powder manufactured in New Zealand by Britishers. NO FLIES CAN LIVE where FLI-KEELO is used. Fliea carry diseass. FLI-KEELO kills flies. Obtainable from all chemists and store-

The newly appointed Hospital and Charitable Aid Board will pay a visit of inspection to the Public Hospital on Monday next. The East End Committee acknowledge with thanks the following donations: .CI Is from Air. S. Hooper, and n U from Dr. 11. B. Leatham.

Mr. H. Okey, M.P., received a telegram from the Premier yesterday stating that dairy factories seeking a temporary advance from the Government in order to enable them to meet their obligations to milk suppliers, must insure the produce to be advanced against in all instances. Dairy produce graders have boen instructed to notify factories to do this.

Mr. E. \V. Davies and party visited the mountain House on Tuesday. Mr. Davies brought up a parcel of rare and beautiful native plants from the southern mountainous districts, which he gave to the National Park Board. He went with Mr. Upson, of the Mountain House, and put the plants in high up in the gorge of the Waiwakaiho, where they should do exceptionally well, as the situation i 9 their natural home. The plants include Olearia insignia, elemesias, veronicas and raoulias in variety, also ligusticum and pimelia. Before the war the Dover Patrol did not exist. Now (in the words of ViceAdmiral Bacon) it has its teeth well into the German flanks, and forms a stopper to the mouth of the Channel. The ad-, miral was distributing medals earned on his particular patrol area, and he said to the men: "We have not got to be tired of the war. We have got to help fight the war, and not to talk about it, especially now when the Germans are having a bad time. Yes, a very bad time, and, what is more, they are going to have a worse one. For tbe last two years they have been afraid to tackle our navy. Now is the time to throw ourselves into the work that good fortune may bring our way. Our merchant service men have nobly gone on with their calling, in spite of mine and submarine. The whole country has shaken itself together in a way the Germans never believed possible. The Empire will go on disappointing them, and I hope we in the Dover Patrol will have a chance of disappointing them again, and furnish them with still ruder shocks." There are a good many New Zealanders serving in this section of the navy.

On Saturday, the 24th - inst., "Tlio Mart" will be under the joint oontrol ot the Red Cross and Women's 'Patriotic Committees, the Mayoress being in charge of the flowers. ' It has been decided to close "Tho Mart" during the months of December and January, therefore Saturday's effort will be 'the last for this year, and the public is earnestly requested to help as liberally as possible with gifts of produce, flowers, etc, to stock "The Mart," so that the closing day may be a financial success. If each householder would contribute ony article "The Mart" would be well stocked, and the burden would not press heavily upon any of the helpers. Gifts vill be received at "The Mart" on Friday afternoon or evening (7 to 8 p.m.) or, as early as possible after 8 o'clock on Saturday morning. We are asked by Mr. H. H. Skelton to state that during Mr. Kirkpatrick's absence he is filling the letter's position at the Technical College, and not Mr. Wright as erroneously stated in our report of the visit of the Employers' Association to the College.