LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Bed Cross Society acknowledges with grateful thanks the sum of .-CO 15a 0d handed in by Mr. and .Mrs. Freethy, of Frankley Park, this sum being the result of contributions placed in the collection box at the entrance ,of their beautiful grounds by appreciative visitors. Arrangements have foeen made for the returned soldiers to entertain the veterans to high tea on Anzac Day in the Soldiers' Club. The wisli was" expressed last year that the gathering should be held annually on Anzac Day. Owing to the threatening appearance of the weather yesterday morning, the committee decided to postpone the recital arranged to bo given by the Citizens' Band at Pukekura Park yesterday aftfernoon. The programme will in all probability be given next Sunday afternoon. The Red Cross Mart had a very successful day on Saturday, the takings amounting in round figures to £2O. Next Saturday will be accountants, land agents, and insurance agents' day. Preparations are in train for a big' effort. It has been decided definitely that no orders -will be accepted beforehand for next Saturday. As an outcome of the inquiry by Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., alien enemies commissioner, held at Waitara recently, into allegations of disloyalty and seditious utterances, Oscar Menzil, a naturalised Prussian, was arrested at Awakino on Saturday afternoon last, under military warrant, by plainclothes Constable Fitzgibbon and Constables Blackie and McGregor.

The annual meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the' British' Red Cross Society will be held at the Soldiers' Club to-night (Monday) at 8 o'clock. It is hoped there will be a large attendance of the public, as the present critical time calls for the highest endeavors on the part of everyone in support of the society, which stands for the succour of the wounded and sick men. That wheat can be successfully grown in the Waitoitoi and Pukeariihe districts has been demonstrated on various occasions and the results gained by Mr. S. Sutton give further proof. Mr. S. Sutton ha s just threshed a paddock on his farm at Waitoitoi, whieli yielded the fine average of 42'/ 2 bushels per acre, the seed sown being TS T o. 1 Milling Bobs. In order to help Sir Arthur Pearson's Blind Soldiers Fund the Mayoress is organising a chrysanthemum tea to be held on Thursday, 18th inst. All chrysanthemum growers will have a chance of showing their blooms, and also help our blind soldiers and sailors.

It is not often that farmers complain of the abundance of feed, but such is the case in Hawke's Bay just now. Owing to the exceptionally wet season there. is an enormous amount of grass everywhere, but the stock arc in some CBses dying of scour caused through eating the too rank feed. Three men named Cartwright, Taylor and Horniblow, who were in a boat off the Whakapirau wharf, Auckland, .the other night, met with serious injuries. Horniblow bad some gelignite and a dynamite cap in his rest pocket, into which he placed his smouldering pipe. A loud explosion occurred, Horniblow receiving a wound in his side and losing a hand, while Cartwright lost an ey». The other man was uninjured. Th» side of the boat was blown out, but the occupant! got aehorfr

An old grey horse with almost human intelligence takes a leading role in "The Sawdust Ring," the brilliant Triangle drama which tells of the wanderings of two children who set out 'to travel the world. Charming little Bessie Love is the heroine of this sweet picture which commences a three-night season at the Empire tonight. As "the picture is a delightful subject for kiddies the management has arranged to hold a special matinee to-morrow afternoon commencing at a quarter past three, when the little ones will be admitted for threepence. Whilst engaged erecting a dam in a creek that runs near his homestead at Te Tua, Mr. John Griffin observed a clucking duck in a greatly perturbed state a few yards distant from where he was working, says the Tuatapere Guardian. Knowing that the duck had recently lost several of her brood ho quickly investigated, and searching in the grassy bank, under the water-line, he found that a crayfish, about seven inches long, had pulled one of the young ducklings into a hole. Mr. Griffin is of the opinion that the missing members of the brood had disappeared in the same manner.

A largely attended meeting of the Taranaki Workers' Council was held on Friday evening. Mr. S. G- Smith addressed the council o n the need for more up-to-date schools. The following motion was passed:—"That this council of Taranaki workers urge upon the Government the necessity of making provision without delay for improvements and extensions in the education system of the Dominion; and the co uncil heartily endorse the motion of the Educational Institute in urging upon the National Government the necessity for a greatly increased vote for education in 1918 to provide adequate funds for: (1) More up-to-date school buildings, both in primary and technical schools, and "Setter play-grounds: (2) better remuneration of pupil teachers and training college students; (3) a larger number of inspectors; (4) medical inspection of schools; (S) free dental treatment tor children: (6) compulsory continuation classes; (7) additional staffing, so that the maximum class may be 40 children." flcnsiderable discussion took place on the above subject, and a motion was passed congratulating the teachers on their fight for better conditions for children and the Dominion as a whole. The matter of public conveniences was again brought up, the Borough Council replying, to a letter from the workers, that they were keeping the matter steadily In

"Voluntary"* enlistment isn't quite (lead. An expert in the business estimates that the defeat of a hot favorite for any big race is worth at least 25 stone-broke recruits. The time may come when the only way to reinforce tile Australian army will be to -bribe' .lohn lb-own and a few others to run still'.—Bulletin.

A special resolution asking that a commission be given to Miss Ruth Law, a, famous' girl aviator, lias 'been introduced into tlie United States Congress. Mis* Lav/ is anxious to go to the front in France, and it is her ambition to be the first woman to drop 'bombs 011 Berlin. According to the latest returns, some 200(1 motor ploughs are now in operation iri England, breaking up over 30,000 acres per week. The use of these up-to-date tractors will result in about a 1.000,000 acres of new country being tilled and put into use. Writing to a relative at Balclutha (states the Leader), a Gore soldier stated that while in London the "home touch" was realistically portrayed at a ''movie" entertainment which lie visited. Included in the pictures screened- was a film depicting the last Metropolitan Show at Invercargill, and the writer could plainly distinguish one or two friends from the Gore district who were present at the Show.

"To- put a nerve-raeked returned soldier on the land as a poultry farmer is nothing short of wilful murder," said a member of the New Zealand Poultry Association at the annual conference in Wellington, and ga-\e as the reason for his statement that poultry farming required constant attention, and, moreover, that an inexperienced man could not make a success of the industry at once.

One of the French aviators at Salonika was recently attacked by two eagles, but lie was luck}' enough to bring them both down with his machine gun. It will be remembered that Vedrines, in crossing the Pyrenees on his flight from Paris to Madrid, was also attacked by an eagle, and had considerable difficulty in escaping.

One of the latest burdens to he placed on the shoulders of the unfortunate housekeeper is an increase in the price of tinned and bottled jam as retailed by the grocers (remarks the New Zealand Times). Small tins of jam that before the war could be had at sixpence per tin are now retailed at ninepence at the ''cheapest" grocery establishments. Up to a few days ago jam was 8d for a small tin, but now an extra penny lias been put on. Jam in jars is sold at an almost prohibitive price now,, and in many instances owing to the inability of manufacturers to secure jars cannot be purchased at all. Visitors from North Auckland speak of the devastation caused by the ferocity of the reaent gale whiaii swept the North Island with such terrible results. One gentleman informed an Auckland Star reporter that the storm was so fierce at Cape Brett that the spray was carried over the tower of the lighthouse, which is over 200 ft high. Stones the size of cricket balls were lifted from the beach to a great height. The tram rails near the lighthouse were twisted like wire. At Peria and Victoria Valley huge pine trees of great girth *and 40 years old were torn from their roots along the side of the road and pitched like matches into an adjoining paddock. Very severe sufferers were the Maoris, whose crops of maize were in most cases levelled to the ground. Douglas Fairbanks was once a bright star in/comedy-drama and a universal favorite with the fair sex. That, however, was before, the advent of handsome George Walsh. Since George first flashed across the screen, Doug's star has become dimmer and dimmer, because Walsh has done all Fairbanks ever did and then added to it. Another big reason fdf George Walsh's success is that thereMs a life and versatility in his pictures entirely lacking in the majority of the Fairbanks films. George Walsh stars at Everybody's to-morrow and Wednesday in another swift moving story entitled "High Finance." A regiment of colonials was officered by a small and unpopular second-lieu-tenant. 'He 'had a violent temper, and every man loved to rouse it. One'day he was particularly peppery, and, stepping up to a massive man, one of the finest fighters in the regiment, he began to abuse him. The massive one listened with a tired smile on his face, which so infuriated the little officer that he grew almost incoherent. At last the big man thought it time to imterfere. He turned to the man next to him, and. said, sweetly:—"Say Bill, go and fetch a step-ladder, I Relieve he wants to box my ears.'' ' .

It is stated that 4000 American medical women have been asked to register their names for service in ten American women's hospitals. Some of these will commence their war service in the Women's Army General Hospital,, the management of which is entirely in the hands of women, and we are told that the funds have been raised by women doctors. It i,s said that one unit of American women doctors intends to open hospitals in the devastated regions of France and Belgium, and these hospitals are for women and children. Both nurses and doctors are to have lessons in French, so that they can talk to their patients, and at the conclusion of these lessons they are to have an examination at a French hospital.

The war lias resulted in a marvellous development in the 1 ' manufacture of art*, ficial limbs. They can be made to be almost as useful as the real article. The French have been, especially successful in this direction. 'The Cauet arms and hands are controlled through Bowden wires, such as are used for bicycle brakes and controls on motor cycles and motor cars. They are operated by movements of the shoulder and lower chest muscles. A fully equipped hand and forearm only weighs 161bs. By means of these Bowdenised limbs it is possible for a man with two artificial arras to handle a ear or motor cycle safely. This is certainly a Avonderful development, and it is interesting tlhat a device introduced for bicycles has afforded the modus operandi. Mr. A. De Bavay, the eminent analytical chemist of Melbourne, testified at the Supreme Court of Victoria that SANDER'S EUCALYPTI EXTRACT compares with other eucalyptus products like well-refined and matured brandy compares with raw spirit. Bv insisting on the GENUINE SANDER EXTRACT you will get tJe advantage of quality and will be safe from hannSANDER'S EXTRACT. CARE FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS WILL CARE FOR YOU. Rexona Soap is the secret that makes many a complexion a thing of beauty and a joy for ever. Rexona Soap, 1/6 I per tablet. Obtainable everywhere.

In the Eaetihi district there were at least two instances where houses escaped the fire in consequence of shelter belts of mature macrocarpa trees adjoining. In one case the macrocarpas were badly scorched hut tlier successfully served the purpose of acting as a shield to the intense heat. The Automobile Association of Great Britain is desirous of developing the uso of coal-gas among motorists generally, and to this end the Executive Committee of that body have decided to offer a prize of £IOOO for the best invention which will enable coal-gas to be used with advantage as a propellaut of motor cars and motor-cycles.

In August the term of appointment of Mr. E. H. Hiley, General Manager of Railways, expires. There is a good deal of speculation amongst railwaynum regarding the renewal or otherwise of the appointment, but Cabinet has not vet dealt with the question. However, it is understood that although Mr. Hiley himself is not keenly anxious to continue the engagement, he is prepared to stay on during the war, and the Government is likely to agree to that arrangement. To open up the whole question of management by an "inside" railwayman would be to raise a controversial question which, under the circumstances, the Government would prefer to avoid by leaving things as they are:' Despite the tremendous amount of work which Constable Gowan, of Eaetihi, had to do, still ho attended to his ordinary police duties (says the Wanganui Chronicle). Raetihi's hero of the fire lent material aid in capturing an alleged Australian criminal whjo was apprehended while calmly walking up Seddon Street during the trouble. Constable Wilson, a visiting policeman, made the actual capture in this manner. After consultation with his colleagues Constable Wilson went out into the town and saw a man about whom there was some suspicion. The constable approached the man in q'uestion and asked him his name and received a reply that it was Wilson. "Are you sure 1 it's not Hall?" said the constable, "where do you come from, anyway?" "Oh, I've been here for some time, working out back. I'm alright," replied the suspected one. The constable then said, "Your name is Stephen James Hall, and you're wanted for the theft of £725, the property of the Australian Commonwealth in Sydney.", That was the end of itHail protested his innocence, and said, he was not the one who had taken the money. Ho was arrested, however, and taken into custody, and Constables Mcflowan and Wilson brought him into Ohakune on Friday last.

Settlers in the Waimarino who have lost half their stock, farm buildings, and all their fencing, find poor consolation in the knowledge that a good deal of rubbish was burned off (says the Wanganui Chronicle). South of Raetihi "the counting of the cost" is still going on, and even yet some of the settlers are unable tc approximate their losses. As mustering proceeds, further evidence is obtained of the great Intensity of the fire. On one farm near Kakatahi the discovery wa|? made thi's v;eek of seventeen roasted bullocks in a heap; on an adjacant farm, over 100 sheep were found trapped in an angle formed by two fences, the animals evidently having been suffocated by the smoke. In other instances dead wild pigs have been found. In some cases Bhecp escaped destruction by finding refuge in green bush, but many are now dying, owing to the effects of smoke on the Jungs, a trouble indicated by a dry cough, and for which, in the case of stock, there appears to be no efficient remedy. The great need of the moment, from the settler's viewpoint, is to get grass-seed sown before the cold weather arrives. A later problem will be restocking, when the devastated areas are again carrying feed. The value of a certain bankrupt's estate in connection with which a meeting of creditors was held at Wellington on Tuesday appeared to be past finding out. Apparently the only realisable asset as yet unearthed was a gold watch—and even this was in pawn. Due creditor showed some anxiety to seize on this, although he was assured that it was one of the few tilings bankrupt had left in the whole world. Another creditor, determined that bankrupt should at least be left this one possession. This led up to a scene: 'What is the iise of taking this watch from him?" said the kindly disposed creditor. "I would take anything and everything he has," replied the hard-hearted one. Another creditor remarked, that this appeared to be purely vindictiveness. High words followed, and the creditor who was so keen on getting the watch asked that the kind-hearted one be ejected, as he had insulted him. The application waslmade in vain, whereat the hard-hearted creditor invited the soft-hearted ditto "to come outside.'' The Official Assignee brought about peace by firmly informing the disputants that he would have them both put outside if there was further trouble.—N.Z. Times.