LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to the influenza epidemic, the Borough Council did not meet last night. The secretary of the Education Board lias received a wire to the effect that the November examinations are postponed indefinitely.

Owing to the influenza epidemic, the opening date of the Melbourne Clothing Company's great capitulation sale has, been further postponed until Thursday morning next. The East Etid ball to have been held by the Citizens' Band Committee in the East End pavilion on Thursday evening next has been postponed indefinitely owing to the ifluenza epidemic.—Advt, An Auckland message yesterday stated that tho Riverina sailed for Sydney with 500 Australian soldiers. Gangways were run between tho vessels, and the transfer occupied two hours. A large inhalation chamber at the railway station is now in operation, and, owing to its size, will enable people to be attended to without delay. Another has been opened at Mr. Frank Messenger's private garage, Avenue Eoad.

One of the first wireless messages to be from Rarotonga is the following from the Resident Commissioner to tlio Prime Minister: —"Great demonstration at school. Chiefs and people request me to convey sincere good wishes and their joy at final victory and glorious peace." The raihvaymen who were compelled to work on the day of the declaration of the armistice, to meet the exigencies of the service, were paid double raes for that day, and, in addition, they will or, a future occasion "be given a day's leave, the management fully appreciat: ing the men's loyal and steadfast observance of their obligations .to maintain a regular passenger service on an occasion which was practically a universal holiday. The need for isolating travellers from Auckland and other infected areas was demonstrated in Wanganui on Thursday (says the Chronicle). An elderly gentleman from Auckland put up at a local hotel on Wednesday evening. He was apparently in good health, but yesterday morning lie was raving, and in high fever. The hotel-keeper, in the interests of otlhcr guests, had to have the sufferer removed.

At a largely-attended meeting of the Wanganui branch of the Engineers', Firemen's, a.ud Cleaners' Association, the following resolution was unanimously carried:—'"That we absolutely disagres with the bonus granted by the Government, and cali on our executive to insist on our demands for increased wages, and Ibetter conditions for long hours and night work. We also ask our executive to use every effort in their power to come under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and we support them in whatever action they deem necessary to obtain the desired results."

Having had a practical experience of the decimal coinage in several countries I ahcv visited , I am amazed that sucli a system has not been adopted years ago in Great Britain and all her overseas dependencies'' wrote Sir. Harold Beauchamp, chairman of the Bank of 2few Zealand, in his letter of. apology for unavoidable absence from a meeting at Wellington at which a Decimal Coinage Association was formed. "It unquestionably makes (lie added) for quickness and acuracy, enabling most calculations to be made mentally, whieh, under the cumbersome British system of currency, can be worked out only on paper." Dr. W. J. Anderson (Director of Education) wrote: —"I am quite in agreement with thev iew that the adoption of a decimal coinage would be a vast relief. Mr. J. W. Kinniburgli gava an interesting account of the movement in Great Britain, of which the present movement is a part, and on his motion, seconded by Mr. L. T. Watkins, it was unanimously resolved—"That this meeting approves of the principle of decimal coinage, and, -with a view to furthering the adoption of the system, those present agree to form a Decimal Coinage Association." Mr. Malcolm TYaser (Government Statistician), who took part in the discussion, said there appearod to be no two opinions oil the subject, but he emphasised a point that had already been made, that there was no necessity to disturb the vaiue of the £1 sterling. That should bo made perfectly clear. It was hoped that New Zealand would add some spur to the movement the new direction

.nth tHo relentless title, "Germany's Impending Doom," an "open letter" was. addressed, by Sir Isidore Spielnmnn to Herr Maximilian Harden, early in September. "Germany greatest punishment after the war," he writes, "will be that 'the trade offensive' will have proved an utter failure. Her commercial agents will in all likelihood see in every shop window in Great Britain, France,' Belgium, Italy and the United States, and in other countries, *No German goods sold here,' 'No German need apply.' This is the certain result of this Ger-man-planned war. The very natural feeling of revenge on the part of Germany's enemies is intensely strong, and is likely to remain so. This sentiment Germany cannot live down. No peace stipulations and no 'peace offensive' on her part can possibly efl'aoe the memory of her actions. However long tlhe war may last you may rest assured, HenHarden, that Germany's punishment is as certain as that of her Kaiser. Germany will be defeated. She will find her honor gone, her former prosperity melted away, her trade lost, her industries ruined, and the German name a byword among the nations,"

The Farmers' Co-op. notify clients that their next Manaia sale -will be iheld oa Tuesday,

Daring the American advance out of Cliateau Thierry a Red Cross captain v.as looking about for suitable hospital sites, when he met an American Negro soldier marching along towards Chateau Thierry, following closely behind a German major. The Negro had transferred the pack from his own back to the back of the German officer, and had also transferred the German major's nonocle to his own eye. Thus equipped, the black warrior was parading triumphantly down the road. As he passed the Red Cross captain, he called out: "I say, look here wlhat this Nigger done got!"

Writing from Franco under date September 7th, Lieutenant A. G. Jennings, M.C., R.A.F., who left the Dominion with the Main Expeditionary Force as a sergeant in the Taranaki Company of the Wellington Battalion, and after wards obtained a commission in the Northumberland Fusiliers, and was severely wounded in August, 1917, states that his section tad been in the great push, and they had had a hard time in following up the enemy. Four of their balloons were destroyed by shell-fire. They had been mentioned in Orders for being tiho quickest and nearest to the line. Their section watches over the New Zealanders, and he tried to motor up to them to see some cousins, but the Bodies shelled the car and he had to go back. Where (he was stationed the placo -was full of dead Bodies and horses. The enemy retired so quickly; that they left their dead unburied.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as everybody knows (says a writer in the Pall Mall Gazette) takes a great interest in pihyaical research, and in The New Revelation, recently published, he gave an account of the process of his conversation to the ranks of the Spiritualists. Sir Arthur now calls my attention to a remarkable prophetic dream he had. On April four last year, Hie says, he awoke with a feeling that some communication had been made of which only one word rang in his head. That word was "Piave." He had never heard the word before, but a3 it sounded like the name of a place he looked up tlhe atlaß, and noted that it was a river in Italy forty miles behind the front line, which at that time was victoriously advancing. "I could imagine," writes Sir Arthur, "far"more unlikely things than that the war should roll back to tlhe Piave, and I could not think how any military event of consequence could arise there, but none the less 1 was so impressed that I drew up a statement that some such event would occur there, and I had it signed by my secretary and witnessed by my wife, with the date, April 4, attached."

In the course of the next year or so Australia will probably be building her own aeroplanes (says the Melbourne Age.) Plars have already been prepared, and from investigations carried out by a special committee appointed by the Government, it has lieeji ascertained tliat with proper organisation all difficulties in the way of securing the requisite materials can bo surmounted. Australian timbers are quite suitable for .aircraft construction, and it has been rc. ported to the Government by one of its own everts that by the proper mobilisation of the industrial resources of .Australian factories it will be possible to turn out aircraft of the very latest type. Meantime the creation of an up-to-dato flying force is being proceeded with, In addition to the work that is caxied out at the Point Cook flying school, a new establishment is ■being created for tlhe teaching of aeronautics. This will be situated at Portsea, under the command of Captain Kilby. The'school is now being equipped, and will'be in full operation shortly. After tuition at Portsea air cadets will be transferred to the Point Cook school for the completion of their education. The Federal authorities have under consideration the question of amalgamating the naval and military flying services. To prevent needless expense it will be necessary for the two services to work hand in hand, The development of the air forces will necessitate the establishment of aerodromes in various portions of the Commonwealth. Eventually there will be a chain of aerodromes lb-king up t!he entire continent. With tho development of aviation in Australia it is anticipated that aero clubs will spring into existence. The Defence authorities are looking forward to the organisation of such bodies, which will be welcomed as a means of stimulating aeroplane construction and arousing public interest in aerial navigation.