LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A London cable states that Nelson Brothers' profit is .640,503. The years dividend is !) per cent, and the amount carried forward is £0507. The question of outstanding accounts was again the subject of some discussion at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board. It was resolved to notify publicly that all accounts in arrears and unpaid on March 31 would be sued for. ' A Press Association message states that a very prolonged and violent earthquake was felt in Ilawcra at 1.50 yesterday morning. No damage was done. There was also a slight shock at 8.40 a.m. The local branch of the Plunket Society regrets very much that so far no nurso has been procured for appointment to New Plymouth. The committee has been advised by the Central Council, Dunedin, that every endeavor is being made to complete a satisfactory arrangement. In commemoration of "Willard Day,'' a special meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the W.C.T.U. was held in the Good Temnlar lodge-room yesterday artemoon, Mrs. Mclsaac presiding. After an address by the Rev. O. Blimdrll, Mrs. A. Douglas, the late president, was presented with a silver epergne, in recognition of services rendered by her to the Union for almost 21 years. Mrs. Don. glas suitably responded. Vocal and instrumental items were contributed and afternoon tea served. A collection was taken for the World's Missionary Fund. At yesterday's meeting of the Tarav naki Hospital Board, Mr. Sylces asked permission to withdraw the motion of which lie had given notice, to the effect that the Board's resolution regarding the site for the new nurses home be rescinded. Mr. Sykes sa%l he had. with others, conferred with the medical stall' on the matter, and he was hound to say that the facts (of which he had not beep aware at the time of giving the notice) as now understood by him, convinced him that the site he had previously favored was not a perfectly healthy one and he fell the only course for him was to ask leave to withdraw his motion Leave was accordingly granted. A final reminder is given of the East End Reserve Committee's big picnic this afternoon, a prominent feature of the programme being the Royal Life-Saving Societvs annual competition for the Tabor shield. The public are asked to be on the 190k out for the Melbourne. I.td.'s sale circular advertising the firm's great stock--taking sale commencing on Friday next. Tjiese bargain sales arc justly popular and the one under notice will be no exception to the rule,

It itj understood that, practically the whole of the artillerymen in camp will be transferred to Ihe infantry, and then no call for further artillery reinforcenients will lie made foj- some time. In reply to a correspondent, the result of tue Wellington North election in lilli was as follows:—A- L. Ilerdman (Reform) 4550. W. 11. Turnbull (Liberal) 181)5, Holland (Labor) 10S8. Ilerdman therefore had a majority of nearly 100(1 votes. Tile defence authorities have power under the existing regulations to appoint a medical board of appeal, which would undertake the final examination of reservists who were dissatisfied with the decisions of the ordinary medical boards. It is understood that a special board of this kind will be set up ij the near future- The recent inquiry in (.hi i-f church showed the desirability of bringing a. medical appeal board into existence. "Gunner" writes in the London Spectator, says thei'e innst be millions of rats restroyed in the battle front in j'Vance liv the gas. Apparently they rush to and die by thousands, yet before 12 hours are over they are. swarming jurt the surface when they smell the fumes, as thick as ever. One captain tells a jstrry of being out on a li-tiling patrol, and not daring to move owing to the proximity of an attentive sniper- All the time a huge rat was nibbling bis packet of bread and cheese. Up to date 'lO5 soldier settlers have been -placed on the land, the total acreage held by them being 403,7 Hi acres. Of the men settled 507 have taken up thr.ir land under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, having received in all •2!3,901 acres. Fifteen discharged soldiers and 58 men still on • service have drawn land in ordinary ballots, and -25 have obtained land by transfer. 'Die advances authorised to soldiers, to help t'li.m to make improvements on their hind, and to purchase stock, Amounts to something like £IOB,OOO. One of the most extraordinary things about the upheavals in Russia is. a correspondent says, the amazing indifference with which they are regarded by the people generally, both in I'etrograil and elsewhere. While barricades are being erected, machine-guns fired, and Government offices stormed, the ordinary Russian goes on his way as if in no way concerned with the mad comic opera which is ruining his country, and if asked anything about it, merely says "Nitclievo"— "It does not matter, everything will come right one of these days.'' The use of electric beds for desperately wounded in the war zone has been •so increased that now most modern field hospitals are furnished with a.few of these inventions. Extreme cases Drought straight m from the battlefield to the field hospital might sometimes be saved could they only live to endure the n&cssary operation. Too often, however, the action oi the heart is so weak us to be imperceptible, and in that case little can be done to save the man's life. Now, however, the man is placed on the elec. trie bed, which benignly warms him through and through. No pulse in a number cases becomes some pulse. 1 he heatt beats grow stronger, until the man is able to bear wlmt is before him. At yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board the chairman (Mr. Fraser) referred to the inadequate office accommodation for the Board's staff and also for tile Board. He said the Board room was altogether* out of keeping with the importance of the institution they controlled'and that the ollice was very unsuitable and insufficient for the staff. The matter that concerned him most, however, was the fact that they lacked safe, accommodation for their books and papers, and that was a dangerous position for them to be in. All the members of the Board concurred in the chairman's view, great, surprise being expressed by some of the new members that the safe keeping of the Board's books and papers was not provided for. Mr. J. Andrews moved that the matter of new office accommodation be referred to the House Committee with power to act- The motion, which was carried, was seconded by Mr. McNeill, who said lie had had experience of local bodies losing their books and papers through fire. During the discussion pointed reference was made to the "ollice" of the inspector of public health, which was alleged to be something worse than a den. On the reccfoimendation of the Hons Committee at yesterday si meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, it was resolved to change the name of the Old People's Home to that) of "Rangialea Home " In moving that the change be made the chairman (Mr. Fraser) said the matron had complaine that the present name was not very sweet-sounding and was a. hindrance to her in securing domestic assistance. Some difficulty had been experienced In selecting a name which would he a suitable designation for the home. The a* sistancc of Mr. Percy-Smith, who was an authority on Maori names, had been sought, and the result was the name recommended. Tha- Chairman stated that the name really meant something like "Haven of Rest." The wlord "rangi'" conveyed an abstract idea, and had really an interchangeable meaning. When it referred to anything good it meant very good, and if applied to anything had it mailt it was very bad. 'The motion was seconded by Mr, J. Young, and carried. In the course of an address to Southland League last week the, Defence Minister is reported to have said: "He wished they could tell him when the end of the, war would take place. There probably would be tremendous conflict not only on the Western front, but on the other land fronts as well, before the finish. At the same time lie sincerely hoped that the end would be this summer One of his correspondents—a bri-gadier-general on whose judgment h# placed a good deal of reliance—had made no mention of a possible ending until inst a few mails ago- Now he says that, the war will end this summer. He (Sir ■lames) hoped that this opinion might prove true, and that the men might be back before the end of this year.' If, however, it was not to be so, and if he were correct in his estimation of the land he knew that the further necessary saciilUies would be made. He woutd have -been only too pleased to see the Main llody men back, but it was not possible. All arrangements had been made to bring them back on furlough when they received advice from the Army Council that it was impracticable. They might rest satisfied that the seasons were sufficient when, in secret conference, the House had been unanimous in falling in with the Army Council's wishes. In compensation, arrangements had 'been made to give almost every man a furlough in England, and for some of the more urgent easeF of business or family afTairs to come here " XAZOL relieves cold in the head and Nasal Catarrh.