LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are indebted to the Wellington Post for the excellent summary of the war appearing on page 7.

The Eev. W. A. Sinclair received a cheque for £IOO from the Manaia Methodist circuit yesterday for the church's wounded soldiers' comforts fund. The amount was raised by means of a public appeal.

On the notice-board at the New Plymouth Post Office yesterday morning appeared the following: "Future postal address of the Kaiser, St. Helena." A wag crossed out the last word and substituted "H—l."

At such a time of rejoicing, one would not expect the sneak thief to be in evidence, but that it is in evidence is manifest by the despicable theft that took place in Brougham Street early-yes-teerday evening, when two large flags that were suspended between the residences of Mrs. Blackley and Mrs. Paul were stolen.

In connection with to-night's celebrations, vehicle owners are reminded that no traffic will be allowed in Devon Street, except those taking part in the procession, who must adhere to the route as fixed by the committee. Standing cars are absolutely prohibited in this street. Generally speaking, drivers yesterday took notice of the inspector's directions- There wag, however, one case of infringement, which will probaby lie ventilated later.

It says a great deal for the public spiritedness of the tramway employees that the cars were kept running to bring in and take people out of town all day yesterday. The manager evidently dealt with the men in a manner which provoked a most patriotic response on their part, and the public owes its gratitude to the men who were content to serve their interests while "all the world and his wife" was abroad for the purposes of enjoyment.

At a meeting of the New Plymouth workers last night, Mr. W. H. Fitzpatriek presiding, it was decided to carry s. banner, suitably inscribed, in to-day's procession. All workers are asked io be at Kawau Street at 12.45 p.m., to rally behind the banner. The meeting closed with singing the National Anthem.

The local health authorities have set up an inhalation chamber for the benefit of residents of the districts, and the apparatus was put into commission yesterday. The equipment has been set up in the office of the Health Inspector in the Hospital Board's buildings, St. Aubyn Street, near the corner of Brougham Street, and the service is at the disposal of the public without charge. It is to be hoped that now the authorities have provided this preventive means in connection with the influenza epidemic, the public will take advantage. A Daily News representative, with another well-known citizen, were the first visitors to the chamber. The process consists of a spraying with formalin and tiien 'the inhalation of the sulphated zinc spray. People have to remain in the room for a period of ten minutes, and though the fumes of the formalin are pungent, the process is not altogether unpleasant.

"There is no stoppage of pay when a soldier is granted routine or sick leave," said the Minister for Defence, in reply to a question by Mr- Wilkinson (Egmont); "but pay is stopped, and with it the usual separation allowances, when a soldier is, on application, given leave for any period either by the camp authorities or on the recommendation of the Military Service Board for business or domestic reasons. An exception to this rule is made, however, in connection with leave for a wife's confinement. In these cases it is the practice of the camps to grant a soldier 14 days' leave on pay. It is also competent for the Military Service (Board, in granting leave to a soldier, to recommend that the leave should be on pay if, in its opinion, there are special circumstances warranting such .1 recommendation! It must be remembered that in the great majority of cases leave is sought for private •business reasons, and for periods ranging from a week to six months, and that in every instance the soldier makes the application knowing that such leave, if granted, will be without pay. In cases where application for leave is made on account of serious sickness in the soldier's family, and evidence is produced that his presence at home is essential, the Department is prepared to favorably consider the granting of leave on pay." The Bishop of Adelaide, in Ms pastoral address to the Anglican Synod, remarked: "The question of social reform looms large like a big "doud over the future, and only here and there is a glint of the silver-lining visible. Can the church sympathise with the cry for social justice which rises from the democracy of to-day, and put this i:a the forefront of her teaching and he; practice? Can either side rise to the ideal of service, which the Bishop of York set so fearlessly before both employees and employed in the debate on la/bar in the House of Lords a few months ago? What matters," he said, ''is not a new scheme, hut a new spirit by which the main motive of industry would hot be to make profits or to earn wages, but to contribute to the servico of humanity. It is in the arousing of this new spirit that the hope for Australia lies." added the Bishop, "the spirit of personal service rather than of personal advantage, the spirit of brotherhood and co-opera-tion rather than of rivalry and ruinous competition. Many questions now in .ibovßYieo iv.ll leap into sudden prominence and demand speedy settlement when the war ends. Shall we be found

While influenza is raging through Palmerston and district it is an extraordinary case that Feilding twelve miles distant has so far practically escaped the visitation, only two serious cases (.both imported) having been reported to the local health authorities. Billy Sunday, the American revivalist, expresses in characteristic fashion his opinion of the type of young girl known as the flapper. Ho says: "\ would give more \for om good Godfearing, pant-patching, sock-darnh.g, brcadniakiug, praying' mother in Israel thun I would for a whole trainload of these little fizzle-headed sissies of our day." ' The committee of the Methodist Patriotic Day effort met yesterday afternoon, and after receiving reports of the state of affairs in the district, it was reluctantly 'decided, owing to the number of workers who are affected with tha influenza epidemic and the general dislocation of work, to postpone the effort for the present. The following is aa estraet from a letter received by the New Zealand agent of a well-known London firm: "The effort of New Zealand has filled the whole of this country with intense admiration, and I am not oaying too much, and I can assure you that among great enthusiasm for the colonial troops, and all the great sacrifices that the outlying parts of the Empire fcave made, those of New Zealand have been among the very highest, and the popularity of the New Zealand men is second to none; I might almost say is greater than any, although it would be invidious to make distinctions where all are so admirable."

A remarkable recurrence of -13 is recorded by an Adelaide soldier, Archie E. Novice, of the Public Stores Department, who was badly gassed in Jranee, but who is now convalescent in England! He has been at the front three years, and writes: "I was gassed on May 13, was in No. 13 bed in No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station, and subsequently in No. 13 bed in the 41st Hospital; 13 be 4 in the 49th Clearing Casualty Station; 13 bed in the 2nd Stationary Hospital, Abbeville; 13 bunk in the ambulance train to Boulogne; 13 bunk on the hospital ship St. Dennis; 13 bunk on the hospital train from Dover to Aldcrshot, and 13 bed in the Connaught Hospital, Aldersbot. Thirteen must be my lucky number. It brought me to Bligbty." Novice is the thirteenth grandchild, and his mother is one of 13 children.

"Dearer meat," with which we are now menaced, will have no terrors for our descendants, if we eon believe a prophecy which M. Bertholot, the famous French scientist, once made at a banquet of manufacturing chemists, says the Daily Chronicle. "When energy can toe cheaply obtained," he said, "food will be made with carbon taken from carbonic acid, hydrogen taken from water, and nitrogen taken from the air. Beasts need not be bred for slaughter, and barren regions may be preferable to fertile as habitable places, because they will not be ,pestiferous from ages of manuring. There will be no need to disfigure our planet with the geometrical works of the agriculturist or the grime of the factory chimneys, and the earth will become a vast pleasure garden," Unluckily, M. Berthelot's delightful millennium is not due until ihe year 2000. Writes a correspondent to the Haweia Star:—"Having read with interest the several letters that have appeared in your paper regarding the English wives of returned soldiers, and the hostile reception they have received, I should! like to point out that most 'Engish women' coming to New Zealand are sorely disappointed at the lack of courtesy extended to them I have resided in New Zealand soma years, and before I came I had travelled in many countries, but never had I been mado to feel so utterly a stranger in a strange land. We leave England so sure of our hospitality over the seas The dear old Mother Country has always shown courtesy to the 'stranger within its gates,' which is surely the first Christian principle. England' is broader-minded, and who so hosiMtable as the Scotch people! And I would also like to point out that the New Zealand girls are not above running after th<> 'English men,' and if I were the New Zealand girls I would pocket my resentment. An English girl in like circumstances would bo too proud to show it. Tt, is, after all, a pretty compliment New Zealand men are paying English girls." In the hospitals at the front the wounded men display wonderful hceerfulness under the most distressing circumstances. Often it happens tlhat the men hae to make theirv own fun. and Aujutant Bladin. in his lecture at the aSlvation Army Citadel the other evening, told of an ina\/lid in one of the hospitals wiho provided a great deal of fun with schoolboy essays. One such essay was on the cow, and wa somewhat as follows:—The cow is a wonderful animal. It has fom legs, one at each corner, with a duster behind to brush away the flies. The cow gives milk. The white cow gives white milk, so does the black. When four cows get together in a corner of the paddock that is condensed milk. Dr. Uoseph H. Marcus, of Atlantic City, reassures persons who fear that the human race will be debilitated through the killing and maiming of so many hundreds of thousands of its finest young men. Writing in the Medical Journal, he says; "It may be urged- that as the number of women is comparattyely larger than before, selection will be more perfect, and the women may raise the level of racial qualities in the same proportion as the penury of miles would tend *to result to debase it. The reasoning is correct, and justifies the belief that this war will not be followed by unduly grave consequences from -the point of vkw ei the preservation of the race."

Ask distinctly for SANDER'S EUCALYPTI EXTRACT, or else you may receive one of the many substitutes. The GENUINE SANDER EXTRACT cures colds, fevers, indigestion; prevents infectious diseases and heals ulcers, poisoned wounds, skin diseases, burns, sprains, etc. It is much more powerfully antiseptic than the common eucalyptus and does not depress or irritate like the latter.

ATHLETES ALL USE DR. SHEL DON'S MAGNETIC LINIMENT.

A favorite rub down, and indispensable in case of accident. Sold at Is 6d and 3s. Obtainable everywhere. The Melbourne, Ltd.. have still a large number of men's .pure indigo serge suits at 955. The serge is guaranteed to keep a good colour and is pure wool. The make and finish leave nothing to be desired, and the suitß are identical witib, those sold elsewhere at six guineas. Buy your Christmas suit now. It will be a good investment. '%AZQL" for Influansift find Catarrh.

A gang of Maori shearers near Poston' downed their coats and made hurriedly for the pa, leaving a shed full of sheep, m order to attend the "festivities" in connection with the \ tangi over the fleece's grandmother, These occupied three days. Cases of snatching children's flags axe reported. A woman yesterday seized a flag carried by a child in a motor-car, and unashamedly waved it for the remainder of the afternoon as if it were her own property. The child was greatly distressed, mare flags were available. It was a mean action, which,, I it is hoped, there wH !b» no recurrence to-day. ••Stick to the trua," interjected the' Prime Minister, sternly, to the member for Wonganni in the House dnring libs course of a severe criticism directed by Mr. Veiteh against liim. Mr. Veffcch (promptly): I will stick la the troth quite as well as the Government sticks to the Ministerial benches, notwiflastanding puWio opinion. (Langhtet.) ■"lt is inexpedient to mate a pronouncement in regard to anyp arfjctflar local scheme fur the supply of hydroelectrical energy, until the report of the Chief Electrical Engineer on the wltote subject has been sntanitted to Parfiament," said the Prim© Minister, in answer to a question on ttoe subjeot , *lWb report win be laid on the table- off <be> House in «h» worse." The Prime Minister Jras promised! careful consideration to the snggesKoni of Mr J. P. Luke that the Qcwernmenfc. having regard to the undoubted dainclination to submit industrial mat-' ters to the Arbitration Courts for settlement, should favorably consider amending lihe Ast and establishing Wages Boards, the assessors of which hall be those experienced in the esrvfcea under review. A correspondent states that conajderx able annoyance is fert by some of the residents of Inglewood at the action of ! unauthorised persons in ringing tike tini bell wher. any war news of importance comas through. The matter was dfei cussed at a meeting of a committee that h*d been sot up to make arrangements , for peace celebrations when peace v-as announced, and as the result the Mayor notified that any ringing tthe bell, witieh. is worked by water-power, without pcoi per authority will be prosecuted. A number of people are inclined to confuse the celebrations which will mark the signing of an armistice by Germany with peace celebrations. The two celebrations will be distinct, and, in the case of a general peace, will be on a much larger scale, it is thought, than is proposed in tho case of an armistice. It is asserted that a period of from two <l» three months will apse between lie armistice and the final peace, so tfuse will be ample time for arranging peace joy on an elaborate seata "A terrible feature of the epidemic *elief work is the revelation of the dreadful conditions that exist in the, poorer ! quarters of tho city," said a prominent worker to the Auckland Herald reporter last week. "Hitherto, we hive flattered ourselves that slum conditions Were unknown in fair Auckland. I should like some people to have had a glimpse of certain tilings with which we have grown familiar in the last few days. We have come across whole families herded together in two rooms, devoid of any of the ordinary decencies of life, let its comforts and luxuries. We found four sick children lying, top in one wretched bed, with no pro|i.:r bedding, and no food in the house. This epidemic i 3 revealing terrible flaws in uor eockl conditions, and when it is all over the authorities will have to face up to the question, and make most thorough investigation into these sad cottfitions.' Mr. Newton King notifies ttoat owing to the peace celebrations Mr, Qtfiffa clearing sale at Tataraimaka, which was to have been held to-day, is postponed j until Monday next, 18th inst. The postponed annual meeting of the New Plymouth Expansion and Tourist League, called for last evening, was, on account of the Peace proceedings, postponed to that night week. Owing to the Peace celebrations, the meeting of the Eginont County Council set down for yesterday was postponed until next Friday.