LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Wellington wire states that the wet weather has further delayed demobilisation of soldiers now in camp, Sir Joseph Ward will submit the Budget to the House on Tuesday night next. —Press Assoc.

Some of the sutlers in some of the country districts aro working every working hour in order to help their stricken neighbors out. On Saturday a New Plymouth helper who was on the Kii'i'by Roiid came across one man who was milking his own herd and those of two of his neighbors—single-handed. He was working from early morn till late at night.

"Money is no object in this show." This remark Was made by the Hon. G. W Russell It is a thousand pities the taking of precautions by the Department were no object. Had it insisted upon the quarantining of all vessels, like Australia, we would probably have been saved the ravages of the scourge, as has Australia.

A remarkable coincidence in the experience of two returned soldiers is reported. The two soldiers fought together in the battle of Messines. in which both were wounded, each losing a limb as a result. After a time in hospital in France, they became separated. Tliei:- next moetiug was brought about as a result of the epidemic in Auckland, as the two comrades in arms occupied adjoining beds in the Technical College temporary hospital. | "The business men of New Plymouth have eschewed afi ideas of making money for the time being. They have shut down to fight tl)e epidemic—to root it out—and they arp succeeding magnificently. I hesitate to think of what would have happened if they had not acted so promptly and energetically, and I may add, so efficiently."—'Dr. Walker, at yesterday's conference of the Citizens' Committee with Major Keenan. Owing to its close proximity to the temporary isolation hospital in Princes Street, i-Jawura, the office of the Group Defence Headquarters was closed during last week, and it is likely to remain closed for some days. Ee'turned undischarged .soldiers who are either hospital out-patients or are on sick leave are advised that as soon as the group office is re-opened their certificates will be renewed as from the dates on which their la?t certificates expired. Medical boards cannot be arranged at present owing to the influenza epidemic, and soldiers due for board will be notified regarding same as soon as practicable.

There is a good deal of of inconsideration. exhibited by some people in the present crisis. It is Iciiowu now widely enough that it is with great cliffleulty that the Mew Plymouth Women's Committee are maintaining their- forces and coping with the tremendous demands made upon them. Notwithstanding, some people regard it as quite the proper thing to come upon them for all their requirements- VvMiere they are ill and cannot help themselves, the committee are only too_ pleased to provide for their wants. Cn Saturday word

'.vn= received from one house where there are quite a large number of inmatestwo families living together—who had had regular supplies from the committee for twelve persons, that TTalf of them were quite well, and able to look after and cook for t-hs others- This is sheer imposition, nnd the soone*' it i 3 recognised as such iho easier will it be for t'ip over ; v.-or!.-Pt! but. zealous members of the committee. The Women's Health Committee are performiii" multifarious duties just npw. On Saturday an order came for 100 pillow-slips, 100 bed sheets, and 100 respirators. By night they were all ready. The epidemic- provides some humor as well as tragedy. A New Plymouth committeeman, working in the country on Saturday, came aerosa one family of Poles, several of whom were ill. but noii seriously. He offered them some medicine to take. The head of the househnM. iookorl. f>t. him and said: "We don't want medicine. We want the priests!" A Wellington medical man referring to the fluctuations in the number of cases reported by the district organisation, said a peculiarity of the influenza epidemic would be noticed in periods of violent activity, and short intervals of a few days of comparative inactivity. It

would De as the waves of the ocean after a storm, each wave would, after the crisis, become loss and less, until finally the calm would ensue, and the epidemic would become a matter of history. Wellington was probably now experiencing the worst of the epidemic, but some weeks would elapse before it would be able to show a clean bill of health.

Among, the. hundreds of brave people ■.vho have beep doing their bit in the sad affliction which has fallen upon the community is a- country woman, who, with her three.children, have been milking 43 cows to l.c'tji the home, fires burning, while the "old iriah" is. down with the "lln.'' Being somewhat hard pressed, she asked her neighbor to give a bit of a hand (as the saying goes). The lilylivered "cow' said he was afraid of infection and might get influenza, hut would help one of the "'kids" at the factory with the cans! He did so, but ha did not bargain for that brick of n woman being tTiero too. and lie is not likely to forget the slathering he got from her i.om-nr—she can go some when slie likes. Tn front of (he manager and all the suppliers, she immediately torpedoed him; then she raked him fore and aft in a real Queen Elizabeth stvle. and used all the Big Berthas (no at her command until, for sKame's sake, he slunk from the scene. Verilv. righteousness exalteth a woman!— Stratford Post.

Owing to the prevailing epidemic, Rennie's Big Store, Waitara, will .be closed until Monday, December 2, when it will then he opened for all Christmas shoppers. Miss L. Pike notifies that the concert [ arranged by her pupils for December 2 has been postponed indefinitely owing to the influenza epidemic. [ The management of the Criterion Billiard Parlors notify that owing to the prevailing epidemic the rooms will not re-open until Monday next. The rooms have been thoroughly renovated. All old clients, and also new ones, will be cordially welcomed.