LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There has been a distinct scarcity of labor at the breakwater lately in connection with the handling of cargo. There will be a keen demand for men to-day, with the Earawa, Corinna, and Baden Powell all at the wharf, and it is expected work will be available for any men who may apply.

A Palcfirston resident, wlio ha,? just, returned from a visit to Raetilii, states that although numerous individual losses in the recent fires were severe, the general destruction is not so great as was at first anticipated. The insurance assessor has already completed A3 claims, totalling £20.000 and the work of restoration has been carried on witli all expedition.

The quinatt salmon season in the Canterbury rivers, which has been disappointing to anglers so far this season, owing to the frequency with which the rivers have been in flood, promises to show considerable improvement, according to Mr L. F. Ayson, chief inspector of fisheries. It was thought that there had been no run of quinnat, but Mr Ayson now learns that there is a considerable quantity of salmon in the headwaters of the Waitaki river, the fish having apparently passed up the river through the muddy water. There is now a big run of salmon coming in, anil the Waitaki and Rangitata rivers are in good fishing condition. Stylish coats for ladies and girls are showing at Morey's. These new importations embody the latest style [features, and are superb values. For 'details read Morey's advertisement.

The Post's London correspondent states that the Journal of Education, commenting on Hie annual report of the New Zealand Minister of Kducation, remarks that whereas in Meyer's •■Hand Lexicon," published at Leipzig in it was said that the Jlaoris were dying out, the report shows that the number' of Maori schools has increased in the subsequent period from 00 to 118, and the attendance from 140 li to 4504. "Nearly ten thousand children at school of a race which, thirty-live years ago, numbered much less than forty-live thousand, and was dying out! You will find, we think, that under German Dominion in Africa the native tribes were dying out much faster than that. Yet the New Zealand Minister is not wholly satisfied with what is being done for the Maori,''

A big double star programme will be screened at Everybody's to-night and to-morrow, when the chief attractions will he a brilliant Blue-bird feature, "The Rescue," and a highly interesting and sensational Universal special "The Purple Domino,'' said to even rival "The Iron Claw" for its sensational happenings. There will he another complete change on Thursday when the popular favorite, June Caprice will star in a Fox feature "A Small Town Girl," and Mildred Manning will be featured in a Greater Vitagraph comedy drama in five reels, entitled "The Secret Husband." The prices of admission will not be increased for either of these big special attractions. A remarkable ease of a returned soldier has been brought under the notice of a Gisborne reporter. A labouring man who went to the war from that district returned recently, having been discharged under most unusual circumstances. The third finger of his left hand, through some defect of the muscle/ was stiff, and would not straighten out more than an inch or two. Whilst in camp in England it was pointed out to him that the finger was useless, and he had better have it removed. The Gisbornite consented to the operation, and, imagine his dismay, | when his first hand was dressed after the operation, to find the second—or middle finger (a perfectly sound member) —had been taken off by mistake. The gentleman who vouches for the absolute accuracy of the story, added that the man, now back in Gisborne and discharged, was contemplating going into the hospital to have the useless finger removed.

Owing to the large apple crop this year, and the impossibility of getting rid of the surplus, a serious position has arisen, says the Auckland Star. We are informed by Mr Hamy Turner, of Messrs E. Turner and Sons, who has made a tour of the Dominion's fruit districts, that there are at present 250,000 cases of apples in the cool stores of the Dominion, whereas at this time last year the accumulation was 150,000. In spite of the crowding of cool stores orders have been placed in Canada for 80,000 cases of apples, to come in four shipments, arriving between September and December. It may be said that the apples now in store will not keep until the end of the year, but we are informed that they will keep long enough to render unnecessary the importation of the first half of these Canadian shipments. By December other local fruits will be coming on the market. Not only would these apples compete against those of onr growers, who this year have been severely hit by the war, but they would take up a large amount of space that might be filled with more essential goods. Forty thousand cases make 1740 tons of shipping space. Reference is also made to the importation of dried apples, said to be not thoroughly peeled, and to show evidence of codlin moth. It is suggested that a large proportion of the New Zealand surplus could be dried for local use.

The following story comes from Featherston camp (says the Patea Press). It was a gorgeous field day, and after a strenuous time His Excellency the Governor, the Defence Minister 4 and sundry other "big guns" were lunching at the officers' mess. Among the troopers in camp who were pressed into service as mess orderlies for the day, was a well-known stockman, a typical "hard case." All went'well for a time, the stockman addressing the officers quite politely as "sir," as he passed them this thing and that. But there happened to be one officer, a captam who in time of peace was a particular friend of the stockman's and an M.P. to boot. The amateur waiter, after handing him everything he thought he would need, suddenly forgot that he was addressing his captain, and bawled .out in a loud voice, "What are you goipg to have to drink, «Jack?" ".Tack" took the request in good part and as he replied, "Tea, if you please, Trooper " laid special emphasis on the word trooper.

One of the most remarkable characteristics of the French soldier, the poilu, is the way in which he casta aside his uniform, and returns to the occupation of pre-war days when on leave. I had taken my shoos to the cobbler round the corner (says a correspondent). I found a vigorous-looking man in the prime of life hard at work amid a pile of injured foot-wear. "Not mobilised?" I asked. "Permissionaire" (a leave man) was his laconic reply. And now lam walking about Paris in shoes soled and heeled by one of the most gallant defenders of Verdun. The man was at home seven days. 110 who had been in the front line of the great battle spent six of those brief seven days at his cobbler's bench, never referring to the war except when closely questioned, looking as if he had never left that bench or put aside his cobbler's apron. Then it was the active little char-woman who met me looking brighter than her wont. "You've got your husband home." "Yes; he came last night. He's at work." In the army thd man was a daring young aviator. In the little restaurant where he was "at work" few guessed that the attentive, white-ap-roned waiter had for months past been soaring in the upper air, and would again be flying a week or two hence.

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 only the GENUINE SANDER EUCALYPTI EXTRACT internnlly. 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 re-

For Chronic Chest Complanits, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, 1/0, 2/6

Merit telU The phenomenal s-ales of the North British Rubber Coys. Hot Water Bottle with the "Unique" stopper is the best evidence of their undoubted quality and service. All chemists

Koxt Monday, May (i, is the anniversary of the accession to the. Throne of Kin# George V. The .day, under ordinary circumstances, would be the last day I'm- recurring business to lie dealt Willi ;it Hit; next siting ol the Supreme Court, but as it is a close holiday for the *Supremc Court and all the offices thereof, all business relating to the next session of the Court will have to be in the clerk's liands by noon on Saturday.

Sittings of the Conciliation Council will bo held in New Plymouth next month- On the 15th inst. a dispute in the furniture-making trade will bo heard, but it is expected that an amicable settlement will be effected. On the 17th the ease of the restaurant employees will be taken, and on tlie 20th the case of hotel and restaurant employers will l)e taken. A dispute in the same trade will be heard at Stratford oh the 23rd inst.

A tribute to the Maori soldier was paid by Miss Lee, a Maori mission worker, in the course of an address at Christchurcli. Miss Lee, who lias just returned to New Zealand after a considerable period of mission work in London hospitals, said that . General Richardson had told her that fewer Maoris got into any sort of trouble than did pakehas. During her experience in London she had come across only two cases of actual misdemeanour by Maoris in hospital. Their behaviour on furlough had been equally satisfactory. "They are warm favourites among doctors, nurses, and Tommies alike," she added. "They are wonderfully good patients, they bear the most frightful pain and are always bright and cheerful."

In ordef to remove misTindewtanding, the Wellington Post has been asked by Mr A. P. Dryden, Chief Postmaster at Wellington, to state that the New Zealand Postal Department is not challenging the posting of articles of food and tobacco to soldiers on active service, and is endeavouring to assure that they shall not be challenged When they reach their destination. The prohibition of foodstuffs sent through the Post Office does not apply to New Zealand soldiers, provided the parcels are marked with the regimental numbers and also state the names of the units of the men for whom lliey ' are intended. Each parcel must not weigh more than seven pounds, and it cannot be sent through the Post Office if it.is addressed to a civilian to be given to a soldier or is addressed to a soldier care of a civilian. "I don't know what the Board's policy will be now in regard to the last man on the farm," said Captain Walker at the Palmerston North sitting of'the Appeal Board on Saturday. "There are numbers of single men on farms whose appeals have been adjourned sine die; will there be any change of policy now the Second Division men are called up?" Mr Cooper: "It has not been considered yet." Mr McLaren: "It is within your knowledge that we had no iixed policy in regard to the last man on the farm. Cases are considered on their merits." Captain Walker: "Yes, but two months ago a case like the one under review would bo sine die. I think the single men granted exemption sine die should be called up and their cases reviewed before the married men are sent."

"A Marriage license covers a multitude of sins," says the father of "Indiscreet Corinne," when she turns up from licr adventures as a masked dancer, with a husband. Olive Thomas is captivating in the part of ''Corinne," and she gets a lot of assistance, from a clever French maid. "Indiscreet Corinne" will be screened again tonight and to-morrow night at the Empire. On the same programme there is the second series of the fine topical picture "History of the War." An address of considerable interest to farmers will be given by Mr. G. H. Buckeridge, provincial organiser of the Famrers' Union, at Kaimata on Thursday evening next, oil "Maxwell's Bookkeeping for Farmers." The following gentlemen comprise the Waitara West Road Board:—Messrs H. B. Lepper, J- Digging, I\ Copestake, P. H. E. Surrey, and R. Turnbull. White and Sons, of New Plymouth, direct attention to the facilities for ordering underwear by post. The firm pay postage. See leader page.