LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A cargo of peanuts saved a ship from sinking recently when submarined off the Atlantic coast of America. The peanuts swelled, filled the bomb holes, and kept the ship afloat. The Supreme Court has received a certificate from the Speaker of the House of Representatives claiming Parliamentary privilege for Dr. Thacker in connection with the libel case; therefore, it has been adjourned till the session is over.—Press Assoc.

The Egmont County Council yesterday decided that • its employees should not lose any pay for the four days lost during peace celebrations. The engineer, in the- course of a brief discussion, stated that on Thursday the men were prepared to start, ,<but one or two took charge of thrown and prevented them working.

The Egmont'County Council yesterday resolved to draw' the attention of the Taranaki County Council to the dangerous corner at Oakura. The chairman pointed out that the Egmont County was paying £llOO per annum toll; therefore, he thought the resolution was not out of order. Cr. Cornish stated the chairman of the Taranaki County had promised to obtain a report on the matter. The ordinary meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board was held yesterday, when there were present: Messrs E. Maxwell, C E. (Bellringer, E. Dockrill, C. E. MeGuinness, and J. S. Connett. In the absence of Mr. Newton King,' Mr. Maxwell was voted to the chair. The superintendent's report was read, and various matters were dealt with in committee.

New Plymouth presented the appearance of a deserted village yesterday, except for the short period when the shops were open. The only others moving about—excepting, of course, the unfortunate newspaper workers—appeared to be the Citizens' Relief Committee, who had a busy day looking up the various houses. Both newspapers are working with depleted staffs and carrying on under great difficulties. At the meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday, Cr. McNeill spoke in high terms of the work done by Sir James Allen, Minister for iDefence, and the Defence Department during the war. Though he did not see eye to eye with Sir James Allen in all things, he considered that no one had been harder worked than the Minister for Defence, and on his motion, seconded by Cr. Sinclair, it was resolved to send a telegram congratulating the Government on the fact that so many thousands of men had been carried safely to the front. A sad case is that of an employee of the Smart Road Freezing Works. He had been on a visit to Auckland, and arrived home fairly ill with influenza. Soon afterwards he succumbed, leaving a wife and four little children destitute His fellow-employees yesterday subscribed £2O amongst them to defray the funeral expenses, and it is hoped the public will come tc the rescue of the family, who are in great want. We would be pleased to receive subscriptions towards what we can assure the public is a very deserving case, and start the subscription with a donation of £3 3s ourselves.

f The Pierrots are very pleased with the results of their efforts during the last two days towards raising the £3OOO aimed at for patriotic purposes. Many people were dubious that so large a sum could he raised, but the total is now within view, and, given fine weather for the remainder of their "stunt's," it should be easily attjined. The Pierrots wish to heartily thank all who assisted so splendidly, including the local insurance agents, Messrs Stone and Bridger, and Mr. Mawkes for umbrella, which was won by Mr. C. Webster, who redonated it to the Pierrots.

The New Plymouth Pierrots are running another open-air picture show at the Recreation Sports to-night. The chief picture will be the Goldwyn featuvo, "Fields of Honor," with Mae Marsh in the lead, and the picture will be projected by the staff of Everybody's Theatre. The projection and lighting of the pictures last Thursday was juat as brilliant as when viewed in Everybody's Theatre—a distinct surprise to those people who thought it impossible to get brilliant effects in out-of-doors motion pictures. Members of the New Plymouth Citizens' Band are requested to meet at the Melbourne Corner at 7.15.

A United Methodist thanksgiving openair service will be held at the 'Band rotunda, Pukekura Park, on Sunday morning. The service will be conducted by the Revs. W. A. Sinclair, and H. L Richards.

The will of the late Elizabeth Bramley lias been proved before Mr. Justice Chapman, and on the application of Mr. Hughes, probate has been granted to Mr. C F. Foote and Mr. Francis J. Messenger, the executors. , "NAZOL" for XuflueozA and Catarrh.

The total number of persons arrived in New Zealand from the United Kingdom during the year ended March 31, 1918, was 2060. Of this number 171 were assisted to the Dominion by the Government. The number of assisted immigrants in 19'14 was 50G4. A Wellington press message states that the Recess Committee of the Senate has decided that scholarships and matriculation examinations shall not be held before the second week in January. The maximum retail price of the ibest quality oranges and lemons throughout the Dominion has been fixed at three-: pence each.—Press Assoc.

Enemy property owned in New Zealand by enemies resident or carrying on business in enemy territory was estimated at the end of 1917 to be worth £283,199, comprising dividends, interest, share of profits, etc.. £11,789; shares, stock, debentures, etc.. £4,327; real and personal property (other tihan shares), £242,474; bank deposits on balance, £23,481. "I don't believe we shall ever ihave the cost of living as low as it was before the war, in any part of the world," said Sir Joseph Ward in the House of Eepresentatives on Thursday. At any rate, he did not think there would be a reduction for at least ten years. One factor in the matter would be that a higher rate of wages would be ruling than had been the case in the past. The port health officer (Dr. McCleland) had the Waipori again thoroughly fumigated yesterday. All the officers and crew went through an inhalation chamber erected for the purpose, and it is believed the ship is now absolutely clean. Early in the morning two of the crew, who were suffering from a mild form of influenza, were taken to the hospital for treatment. Dr. McCleland was assisted by the sanitary officer (Mr. A- H. Kendall) in the fumigating pre cess.

i Some good baskets of trout are reported to have been caught in the Rotorua district during the last few days, and anglers have found that there are plenty of fish in the lake and streams. One day last week two anglers caught 34 nice fish on the fly in one of the streams running into Lake Roto'rua. The fish were in better condition than any caught in the streams at this time of the season, for many years past. A party of four rods took 48 fish in Lake Rotorua in one day. Five of them were five-pounders. The fact that the cost of paper has advanced by 300 to 400 per cent during the war is emphasised in the annual report of the Government printing and stationery department. It states that apart from the fact that smaller quantities are being sent out from the mills, it is difficult to get paper at all, owing to the shortage of shipping, and that even in connection with American purchasers, it is not certain that orders will come to hand. In view of these circumstances and the possibility of the position becoming still more acute, iheads of departments are urged to keep a careful check on their printing and stationery orders. A Wellington correspondent states .that it is too early yet to speculate upon the next appeal to the electors, but the lobby gossip upon the subject is not without some passing interest. It is common talk that three Ministers at least will not seek re-election-James Allen, Sir William Eraser and the Hon. T. M. Wilford—and that an unusually -»rge number of private members will voluntarily sever their connection with the House. The popular tip is that Sir "Dillon Bell, not Sir Joseph Ward—will be the Dominion's permanent in London, and that the Prime Minister of the day will continue his annual visits to the heart of the Empire after the conclusion of the war. AH the authorities predict that the old bitter relations between the rival parties'will not be resumed. They always have been more or less a prej tence—rather than a part of the tradiJ tions of the game than a necessary part of its their disappear- [ ance would be some consolation for the I political sacrifices of the war.

When moving the adjournment of the House on Wednesday, Mr. Massey wade the first official statement that he and Sir Joseph Ward would be leaving for tbo Peace Conference in the near future (says our correspondent. He suggested that next week members ehw&ft. hit mornings, afternoons, and evenings and deal with the important work of the session, including the financial measures. Several members suggested that the work ought not to be rushed, and Mr. Dickie (Selwyn) protested that_ important Legislative proposals held over for four years on account of the war should not be further delayed The House should be able to .handle theui even if the two party leaders were away. Mr. Massey's replies were nut quite defi nite, but. indicated that the Governiuen. was proposing to end the session befo.'e the party leaders left? for the Peace Conference. The point will come up for discussion again.

The longest continuous fence in the world is that which stretches from the South Coast of Western Australia at Starvation Board Harbor to tlhe North Coast' at Banningarra, a distance of over 'I2OO miles. This wonderful fence, of woven wire netting, is designed' to stop the inroads of rabbits from the eastern desert and.semi-desert regjons into the more westerly agricultural'districts, which are as yet comparatively free from the pest. The fence, which not only forms an impassable barrier to the rabbits, but which is also slbeep and pig proof, runs for hundreds of miles through waterless regions : seldom visited by man in the ordinary way, though inspectors, appointed and paid by the Government, patrol its entire length at intervals, in order to see that everything is all right, and to carry out repairs where necessary. In addition to this main barrier fence, there are also similar fences inside the agricultural areas it protects, which connect up wjth the main fence and with one another, the whole forming a protective network designed to keep tlhe rabbit pest well within control, the total length of the entire system being over 2000 miles. Occupiers of land within the fenced districts are compelled by law to destroy all rabbits on their holdings.

Owing to the influenza epidemic the Melbourne,' Ltd., is closed to-day, consequently the great capitulation sale arranged to start yesterday is postponed until Monday. The opening of tihe New Plymouth Lawn Tennis Club, which was to have been held to-day, is postponed till further notice.

Boys are requested to read the British Empire Trading Co.'s advertisement in to-day's issue, relative to collecting empty tobacco tins. Good pocket money jnay be earned by energetic boys. Weather permitting, a united thanksgiving service will be held in the school grounds, Rethotu, to-morrow (Sunday) afternoon, coiaarv»«cing.-at 2 o'ciook,

An exciting experience befel a settler at Awaroa, Golden Bay, during a. thunderstorm a few days ago. He was milking the cows when a flash of lightning struck the yard, killing one of the animals and felling a number of others, including the one he was milking. A horse in an adjoining paddock was also knocked over, and several fencing posts were split. A very sad case, caused through the prevailing epidemic, was brought to light in Devonport this week (says the Star). > father of five children died after a few days' illness, the family being left destitute. The mother had died two years previously, and the man* agement of the home had fallen on a very young girl. When the wants of the case became known £3O was raised in a short time to supply immediate needs, and (in effort is being made to get the chlldlren into the orphanage \nn der the charge of the Kev. Jeffrey*. The weird and magnificent spectacle of a large oil tanker on fire was witnessed by the personnel of the hospital ship which recently arrived in New Zealand. A German submarine had apparently boarded the vessel and placed bombs in the holds. When these exploded, «the ship burst into a mass of flames which were visible for a considerable time front the hospital ship, though the occur/ence had taken place many hours previously. A person who does not lay up with an attack of influenza is not only acting foolishly in the interest of his or her health, but becomes a menace to everyone else, said a well-known medical man in Wellington. While the influenza that is raging in Wellington now cannoti be identified with the very severe Spanish influenza that is scourging tho Old World, said the doctor, it is not a form to be despised, and is pneumonia in form, as it is leaving eases of bron« chitis, congestion, and even pneumonia' behind it to a far greater extent than ever before.

When the news of Germany's surrett-' der reached an Auckland suburb, a small boy, who had brothers at the front, raced to the nearest flrebell and commenced to ring it 'furiously. An old man happened along and inquired where the fire was. "The fire is out, Mr.,"' aptly replied the youth, who added, "Oa the Western front." "Then what are you daring to tug that bell fort" indignantly persisted the old man. "The dirty Germans have surrendered. Hurrah!" cried the boy, who rang harder than ever. "Get down you young rascal, making a noise like that." Reply: "Oh, shut up, you must be a Hun yourself," and the boy continued to express his joy.

Imperial Yoeman, the London contributor of war notes to the Dunedin Star, tells the following story:—A certain distinguished general, who is exceedingly keen in visiting the frontline trenches, happened to pay a sur« prised call at an advanced post. It was at an inopportune time in one par* ticular, as, unfortunately, one of the Tommies had by some means obtained more than his proper "tot" of rum, Possibly want of food accounted for it having greater effect than, usual, with the result that the man w£s hopelessly drunk. Some of the comrades of the man promptly took action when they covered the warrior who had been inn bibing too freely with a blanket. When the general reached the spot, he, owing to the semi-darkness, took the Wan-ket-eovered warrior to be a corps*, and. drawing himself up to attention, he saluted, and remarked: "I always make a point.of saluting the gallant dead." Unfortunately, at that moment a voice came from under the blanket: "What is that old blighter saying t". There is no need to enlarge on what followed; but the corpse that spoke will surely remenu ber that over-indulgence in rum ration* sometimes leads to complications. The Public Health Department in this issues advertises the closing of place* where the public usually assemble, including, m addition to buildings already closed, a comprehensive list,, as set out in the schedule to the advertisement, to which particular attention is drawn' Only a few weeks and Xmas will be here! What about your new suit? Kennie's offer you a Kaiapoi all wool tweed suit, made to your own measure and style from 87/6 to 100s; but you must hurry up as no orders will be re* ceived after November 20th next for delivery. Do it now!