LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The population of Bulgaria is approximately five and a-half millions. Before tho war Serbia's population stood at five millions.

Owing to the unfavorable weather conditions yesterday the official opening of the Moa Road Board's town depot was postponed until to-morrow afternoon. The ;r.Z. Loan and Mercantile and Newton. King wish to draw attention to their Whangamomona sale on Wednesday, 30th instant, at 1 p.m. Excellent entries have been received for the first sale, and full particulars will be found on page 8 of this issue.

Speaking to a Times reporter, several returned men stated that the voyage out comforts left little to be desired. The troops saw a submarine attack in the midst of a convoy (details recently cabled,) but those on board wore more curious than panic-stricken.

The vessel by which he and Sir Joseph Ward twice crossed the Atlantic—for it was the same vessel both, times—was, stated Mr. Massey at the civic luncheon, one of 47,000 tons, a3 against the Niagara's ]3,Q00 tons. She was some 900 feci long and 100 feet from the keel to the poop deck, and travelled at the rate of 21 knots an hour. To stand on the deck of the with the white ensign flying at the stern, and see her cleaving the waves at a speed of 21 knots, made him proud to be a citizen of the British EmpireTho tug-of-war at this year's carnival is creating more interest than usual. Record entries have been received. It was thought at first improbable that a team would come from Waihi, but the redoubtable Waihi boys will most likely bo forthcoming. Bell Block, Omata and other country centres have entered. All entries should be in this evening (Box 36, New Plymouth P. 0.), so that the draw may be published on Saturday. In the event of more than one team entering from the one school teams should be classed A, B, etc., and the captain's name given in each casa Some exciting pulls should certainly result. •'■WAZQL'.' foi\ Influenza, and.-Catarrh.

Tlio actuaries have got, says an exchange, the soldier's war risks figured out to the decimal point. Based on tlio mortality statistics of the Allied armies, tiie fighting-man's chances are as follow: —Twenty-nine chances of coming home to one of being killed; 49 chances of recovering from wounds to one chance of dying from them; one chance in 500 of losing a limb. And the soldier's life even makes for longevity. It is estimated that the average Tommy who survives the risk of Lattlo adds five years to his life because of his physical training, and is freer from disease than he would have been in civil life.

A friend of President Wilson, to whom a London journalist recently remarked that the Presidential messages were marvels of clear English, told how lie writes them. This is the process — the President's friend believes it is unique; Mr. Wilson is an expert shorthand writer. When he has mentally evolved what he wants to say, he writes it down in shorthand. Then he seats himself before his typc-wriifcing machine and personally transcribes his own shorthand notes to paper. He is a fine operator, and the copy he produces is letter perfect. When the President starts dictating to himiself the creation of the message is purely mechanical. One of his most mwaentous war documents delivered to Congress at three o'clock did not leave his typewriter until just hefore noon "I was privileged," said Mr. C 11. Poole, M.P, on his return from America, "to be on the launching platform at Alameda when in 50 minutes four ships, aggregating 40,000 tons, took to the water, while in each case within one minute of the new vessel leaving the ways the keel of another one was laid, and remarkable as it may sound, a new ten thousand ton ship was in the water 24 days after the keel was laid. And let me tell you, these ships are all right. They have had some troubles at times with their new wooden ships, owing largely to the unseasoned state of tho timber, but is nothing the matter with these iron ships. One of the leading engineers m that big yard I visited —the Union works—is a young Scotch engineer who worked for six years in Wellington before going to San Francisco."

The mine which was washed up on the Hoqio beach, near Levin, was destroyed on Wednesday afternoon. Captain HallThompson, Naval Adviser to the Government, accompanied by a petty officer, made a special visit from Wellington for the purpose of inspecting and destroying the mine. Some of the sand was removed from under the mine and a charge of gun-cotton was laid. To this was attached a length of fuse, and after lighting it the party retired a distance of about a quarter of a mile. The explosion which followed was preceded by a sheet of black smoke which shot m the air to a great height, together with ton 3of sand. It was found that the explosion had torn a hole in the ground j from ten to twelve feet and about eighteen feet in diameter, but all thpt remained of the mine were a few small pieces of twisted metal. Writing to Mr. A. W- Budge from the New Zealand Soldiers' Club in London at the end of August, Mr. K- H. Nolan, who is the honorary secretary of that, institution, speaks of his intention to "carry on" as long a3 it is possible, or ha is needed in the position he is now holding- Incidentally, Mr. Nolan remarks that the constant stress of long hours which is entailed on those who are managing the Soldiers' Club is making them all war-weary, though they are very proud of their work. It has, however, been done at a great cost of health. In two years, Mr. Nolan states, the club has accommodated over 130,000 men with beds and provided somewhere about COO.OOO meals, and this part of the business is a difficult problem these times. Over a hundred men a day are coming on leave from France and the same number returning, bo that the Clr.b is kept very busy. No one young or old should miss seeing the glorious Fok drama "Every Girl's dream" at present showing at The Empire. June Caprice is the star of this delightful fairy tale and the scenic settings are simply lovely- Parents should be certain that their little ones see this picture at to-morrow's matinee as it will delight the kiddies and also give keen enjoyment to their elders as well. There is a dog in this picture that deserves a column all to himself.

Writes the Mnnawatu Times:—lf the Military Expenditure Commission's report is" worth the paper it was written on—and presumably it is—this country, on top of • .the necessary expenditure which the war 'has entailed, is being saddled with hundreds of thousands of outlay. Week follows week, and month follows month, and yet nothing is done to eliminate this monumental incubus. The. same square pegs remain in the same round holes; huge department* and establishments are maintained which the Defence Expenditure Commission have condemned as sunerfluous or, in part, superlative, and there is no sign th.it trained business aptitude is to he brought into the management. The newspapers are acquiescant, the politicians are dumb or too lazy to acquaint themselves with the contents of the Commission's compendious report, and the man in the street is, quite naturally concerning himself with minor problems. But this question has got to be faced sooner or later, and a' Ministerial rally is long overdue. We have no hesitation in declaring that the present condition of affairs is a scandal.

Nolan and Co. advertise a. five roomed bungalow in this issue for a quick sale. The property is well situated and should interest anyone of the many buyers lookin" for a comfortable up-to-date home.

Crepe-de-chene will be largely worn this summer for dresses and blouses, so Indies should purchase early to avoid a rush at the last minute. Morey's ihave a lovely display of now season's fabrics on view. Come and select yours. Read also advertisement in this issue.

The Melbourne, Ltd., have a supply of men's Mosgiel all wool fine knit socks, in dark grey sHiade at Is lid pair. Other sock specials in stock are, all wool black cashmcre half hose at 3s fid, heavy ribbed socks 2s 3d and 2s fid, and fine cashmere with fancy clox 3s lid pair. Above are all very scarce lines.

The Commissioner o£ Taxes draws attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in to-day's issue that the due date of payment of Land-tax for the current year is on Friday, the Bth day

Britain makes the best car tyres—the famous NORTH BRITISH CLIN-. CHER CROSS—made in the Empires ilargest rubber works. Try a set and watch .results* 14

The Anglican Synod in Auckland, with a few dissentients, passed a Bill providing for the establishment of church day schools, and appointed a board of control—Press Assoc.

The Minister of Justice (Mr. Wilford) states: ''The only women, in my opinion, who would be fit to be women po-: lice are women who would not take such positions." He is strongly against such appointments.—Press Assoc. Tlio men who attend the reinforcement training class, and any others who are desirous of joining, are reminded that the class will meet for drill tonight at 7.30, the work to bo taken being that set down for the sixth night on tho syllabus.

At a recent meeting of the North Taranaki Hunt, a very hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. L. A. Nolan, chairman of tho Taranaki Jockey Club Committee, for having acted as delegate for the Hunt at tho annual confer* ence of the Hunts' Association.

The Church Army has established a! number of soldiers' welcome offices ia various positions in London, by means of which enquiring and perplexed service men will be put in touch with any organisation best suited to help their particular need, and he given general ini formation of every sort.

"Give me New Zealand every time,'' said Sir Joseph Ward heartily on Mom day in a speech contrasting the conn paratively comfortable conditions of the people hero with those of cpuntries in the war zones. He gave an emphatio reminder that the people here, remote from the war, had no adequate idea of the restrictions necessarily put upon civilians overseas.

To-night will be the last screening of the triple attraction programme afi Everybody's. Alice Joyce stars in tho "Woman Between Two Friends," a Robert Chambers story, and Emmy Wehlen in a sparkling Metro comedy drama "The Shell Came. There is also the twelfth episode of the popular "Mystery of the Double Cross."

The members of the Whiteley Memorial Church choir met on Wednesday evening for the purpose of entertaining and making a presentation to Miss Ford, prior to her marriage and departu* from the district. The gathering took place at the residence of Mr and Mrs. Sutherland, Lemon Street. An enjoyable evening was spent in games and music, and the "Rev. W. A. Sinclair, on behalf of the choir, presented Miss Ford with a Doulton salad bowl and servers, and expressed to her the good wishes of all for her future happiness. Mrs. A. Gray suitably replied on behalf of the recipient.

In connection with the Labor Day band carnival, arrangements haye been made for the inclusion of Highland events, dav and night. Mr. Barry, of New Plymouth, assisted by Mr. Fahey, will control these. Mr. Mcßae, junr., and Miss MeKae, of Bell Block, are lending their aid. Two little Highland dancers—Master lan and Miss Ferguson, of Cardiff—are coming l , and are bringing, it is hoped, Piper Wade with them. Your Highland blood will sure rejoice. Carnival day and night also; dinna forget. The New South Wales Paper troller has announced thai from November II newspapers and periodicals must reduce their consumption thirty per cent. "NAZOL" for Influenza and Catarrh,