LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A London cable reports that the Union Bank of Australia has declared a dividend of ten per cent, and a bonus of two per cent.

Statistics show that ninety-five per cent, of our soldiers recover from wounds and about ninety per cent, return to the firing line.

We have to acknowledge receipt, through the courtesy of the secretary (Mr. P. A. Schwartz), of the Taranaki Head Centre, a copy of the latest annual report (1912) of the Royal Life-saving Society. The last annual report received of the Royal Life-saving Society (1012) stales that from the institution of the Society's awards the grand total made numbered 99,614. In the first year (1892) 80 awards were made, while for the last year tabulated the number was 17,459.

Rumor has it that a large number of patriotic Australians intend leaving Australia for New Zealand shortly, on account of their disgust at the result of the recent referendum vote. Australia, in fact, bids fair to be spoken of as the "No" man's land of the future.

At the inquest on the late J. B. {Sim, at Eltham, before Mr. W. Carncross, J.P., and a jury, the medical evidence was to the effect that the shock of cold water in the early morning had produced heart failure, and that deceased had fallen into the water face downwards, and been asphyxiated. About two years ago Mr. Sim had been treated for an apopletic fit, and was liable to have another. A verdict was returned in accord with the medical testimony.

The Medical Board, which has been examining reservists in New Plymouth during the past two days, completed its work yesterday afternoon. On Tuesday the board dealt with 54 men, and yesterday 35 were examined, making a total of 89. The members of the board leave by the mail train this morning for Stratford, and from there go on to Hawera, where they will be engaged up till Monday. From there they proceed to Palmerston on Tuesday.

If. your throat is sore and irritable take NAZOLt *4 will give you relief,

The Ngn.motu Seaside Committee acknowledge receipt of .£lO from Taranaki Amusements, Ltd., and £1 Is from Mr. McMillan, Mayor of Stratford. Mr. M Holdsworth (a returned soldier) has been appointed caretaker at the J'.ast JOnd jlatii Kescrve for tin: remainder of the season.

It is rumored in Oreymouth that at least three men, forcibly taken from the West Coast to military ramps in the Nurtli Island, one of whom recently .received a sentence of three months on a charge of desertion, have escaped from camp.

As showing the scarcity of houses and accommodation in Patea, it is stated that some 2fi men who are arriving shortly to carry out the work of erecting additional freezing space for the Patea Farmers' Co-operative Freezing Company, have arranged to erect a large cook-house and temporary living quarters on property adjoining the works. —Press. Further evidence of appreciation of the goods sent from New Plymouth by way of comforts for soldiers on board the transports leaving New Zealand was given in << letter written by Private llnivke to a well-known local resident. On tlie transport referied to there were five cases of goods from New Plymouth, and though there were 78 Taranaki boys on the vesesl every man shared in tiie good things.

The due date fixed bv Order-in-Cnuncil for the payment of both ordinary and special war tax is the 28th of January, and the last day of payment is 18th February. Enquiries made in Wellington by the Post show that the Tax Department will probably be late in getting out a. good many of the demands, but in such cases, the Commissioner will fix a new date —for which power is given under I'lle Act. It may be explained that last year the tax was payable in two sums—on different dates—but this led to misunderstanding on the part of many taxpayers; and it has been resolved, therefefre, this year to make, the tax payable on one day, as has hitherto been the .practice. But) for the prompt and plucky action of Mr. Tim Moriarity, the river would ■have claimed another victim on Thursday (sava the Wanganui Herald). Mr. Moriarity was walking homewards shortly after six o'clock, and when opposite Annabel's store on the river bank his attention was attracted by a lady, who called out that a child was drowning. Mr. Moriarity promptly clambered down the bank and jumped into the river, just in time to save a six-year-old hov named Knott, who had been playing in a boat with his little sister and had fallen out and was being carried down the stream. The little fellow had swallowed a good deal of water, but the application of first-aid by his rescuer scon affected its purpose, after which Mr. Moriarity took the boy home. Passengers on the ferry boats in Auckland harbor got rather a shock on Sunday afternoon, states the Star, on observing two struggling figures, fully clothed, in the water off the Queen's wharf. A few minutes later three more persons appeared racing along the wharf. On nearing the edge they all took a dive, and landed near the struggling pair in the water. That one of the men had fallen into the harbor, and the others were rescuing him, was the belief of all on board the ferry boat, but the astonishment of all was turned to laughter on observing the men slowly crawling up the steps fully clothed, and on reaching the top one of the men suddenly turned and pushed them into the water again. It appears that the men were firemen off a vessel in port, and in order to get over the restrictions regarding bathing costumes, they were obliged to go in the water in their clothes.

A fine specimen of brown trout was on view yesterday morning in tlie window of Mr. A. S. Haseß'a shop in Devon Street. Tite fish appeared in good condition and scaled ji'/Jb. It was caught by Mr. I!. Birch on Tuesday night in the Waiwakaiho. The stream was always considered, to be a rainbow trout stream, and for many years was kept stocked with that class of fish. But as they were rarely, if ever, caught, it was decided to release no more in the river, and for the past few years no rainbow trout have been placed in the Waiwakaiho. It is very evident that the brown trout must have had first claim in the stream, and the endeavor to stock the river with the rainbow variety has really been simply a means of feeding the ,earlier frequenters of the waters. Fish sucli a* the specimen on view yesterday would easily account for a good number of the young rainbow fry tlmt have at times been released in the river.

[ At the burial of Mr. Hall, late paymaster at the State Coal Mines, the second victim of the Runanga murder, Archdeacon York paid an eloquent tribute to the noble and unselfish character of the deceased. The archdeacon said that probably had Mr. Hall betrayed his trust and handed out the money-bags, instead of attempting to draw his revolver, his life might have been spared, but he preferred death to dishonor. The loss of those money-bags containing the miners' wages troubled him worse than his wounds. When the good news was brought to him that the money was recovered, a weight was lifted off his mind, and he became cheerful and contented. During the seven weeks in hospital he had borne his sufferings cheerfully and uncomplainingly, and he faced death with true Christian fortitude and courage. Everything that human skill and nursing could do for him was done by the doctor, matron, and nurses, but they could only alleviate his sufferings, and prolong the life of a man with a bullet deeply embedded in his spine, and whose bullet wounds and injuries had completely paralysed (ill but the upper portions of liis body. Most men similarly injured would have succumbed to shock and died the first day, but William Hall was an exceptionally robust man, a splendid specimen of humanity, physically, mentally and spiritually.

| The past few years has seen a great development in the science of pihyschology. It is now fecongised that our thoughts affect the minds of others. Our thoughts are much influenced by our surroundings. Order, neatness, beauty and fitness tend to promote good thoughts in the looker-on. The one tiling suitable in tlie one place at the one time is perfection. Life's mission is perfection. Our duty to the world is to tlo and be our best. We can help ourselves by dressing well. Good clothes not only 'help the wearer, they improve those that see them. As the flowers respond to care bestowed upon them, and give forth to all manfliiul beauty and pleasure previously unheard of—so will your mind and body give fortli beautiful thoughts and actions if you give them the care niul comfort they need. Clothes made from good cloth which will make you feel lyell look well and improve life's outlook are supplied by tlhe Modern Tailors, Ltd., New Plymouth and Stratford.

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