LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The taxis playing for liire to and from the races yesterday numbered JO, The potato . blight lias made its appearance in Patea.- One well-known horticulturist informs the Press that at least one-half of his crop is worthless on account of the blight," The .New Zealand Department of Agriculture has decided to send a member of the Dairy Division to the United States and Canada at an early date for the'purpose of acquiring first-hand information regarding the preparation of milk products, such as milk powder and sugar of milk.

A foolish act was committed on Tuesday afternoon by someono engaged in the last, acts in connection with the demolition of Berry's buildings, at tlie comer of St. .Aubyn and Brougham Streets. To light, a rubbish lire with a high ivir.d sv.ch as was blowing at the time was an' unthoughtfui, not to say dangerous aet, and but, for the timely arrival of the borough inspector, who insisted on its being extinguished, might have had disastrous consequences. The oflender showed some obduracy at first, until the inspector threatened to call up the fire Brigade, when he commenced to put the fire out. It is understood more will be heard of the mattter.

Juno Elvidgc and Carlyle tSlackv/cll are p. handsome pair and they have never appeared to better advantage than in "The Way Out," brilliant World film showing for the last time to-night, at Everybody's. The. second episode of "The Fatal PJaa" is . -

A Maori, who was arrested for drunkenness by Constable Mackie on Christmas Eve, was brought up the following morning before Mr. H. K. Cattley, J.P. He pleaded, guilty and was convicted and. discharged.

After the Cabinet had considered; the restrictions imposed on picture theatrehours by the amended Public Health Aet, the Acting-Prime Minister stated that the Government had not power to ignore such a law parsed by Parliament. — Press Assoc.

In answer to a correspondent who wanted to know the correct way to sharpen an ordinary lawn mower, the New .South Wales Government Botanist (Mr. J. H. Maiden) replied: "Make a paste of machine oil and fine emery powder. Apply this to the blades und reverse the machine. This will keep small machines in good order for years."

The Minister for Defence has received advice that the Mew Zealand Pioneer Battalion will be withdrawn from-France as a complete unit and returned to New Zealand as such during January. There is reason also" to hope that arrangements will be made for the demobilisation of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force tocommence in January.—Press Assoc.

Though the attendance at yesterday's working bee organised by the president of tlip New' Plymouth Beautifying Society for the purpose of improving the ?aocess to Paritutu was not very large, some good work was done. This will be continued to-day at 1 o'clock, when it is expected that the track at the base of Paritutu will be the scene* of operations, The president will bo pleased to welcome any additional'workers to-day.

The inventor of the explosive bullets to destroy 'Zeppelins, referred to in a recent cable message, is doubtless (says tjie Post) Mr. John Pomeroy, sou of Mr, J'- fl. Pomeroy, a fish merchant, of Invereargill. In July, IM3, Mr. John Pomerov gave a demonstration at Polhill Gully, Wellington, of a new explosive ho had invented, which he claimed was as powerful as lyddite and was specially valuable for exploding shells. He illustinted this with bullets lired from a Martini-Henry rifle. The bullets were bored inwards from the nose and charged with, 13 grains of the explosive, a red-colored paste, the ingredients of which were kept sooivl. A kerosene-tin Hied witli water van used for the purpose, -being placed at about, 20 yards' distance. The lint bullet lired b'v Mr. Pomeroy threw the wafer in tile tin in a shower 20ft into the air; the whole of the tin was torn open at the seams, and the sides were riddled with small holes. Later Mr. Pomeroy proved that even impact with ' a piece of canvas would explode the ballet, with remarkable results. Mr. who had been working on his invention Tor six years, subsequently left for England, but the authorities did not approve of it for the charging of shells, Having more powerful explosives available. When the Great War broke out, however, the Inventions Board senfTorTr. Pomeroy, and his invention was applied ti bullets' the successful results of which liad already heen demonstrated in New Zealand.

tight or ten Imperial officers who have been engaged in IVew Zealand during the war, including Surgeon-General • Henderon, Colonel Gibbon (Chief of the General Staff), Colonel Macdonald (Djjector of. Infantry Iraining), and Colonel Neave (Infantry Instructor), are to return to England shortly. Some important changes in the New Zealand staff will be made next year. There is reason to believe that General Richardson will become Commandant of the Forces when he is able to return to the Dominion, and that he will surround himself with officers of active service experience. Changes are bound to be made in the Territorial ami cadet systems, but they will be held over until the officers who have commanded the New Zealand army.-in the field are back in this country. The extent of the changes will depend to some extent on the decisions of the Peace Conference. If the settlement arranged by the Peace Confefencee mtikes it licessary for the Empire to maintain important armed forces, New Zealand will take a share.

Says the New Zealand Times:— It was a rare treat 011 Thursday to see the car-loads of returning soldiers and their kith and kin going through the town. The war oyer, a perfect day, the sound of loved rojces not heard for years—no wonder the' faces of many of the returned men beamed the quintessence of joy and happiness! And the mothers and sisters and little ones, how happy they looked as, oblivious to the crowds in the streets, thev devoured every word, aye, every look, of the boy come back, Little Tommy or little Mary were in heaven itself as they enjoyed the hitherto untasted pleasure of. a motor ride, and were at a loss as to whether more -pleasure could be found in looking at their big soldier brother, or watching the big motor they were in rashing onward. And as the cars hurried homewards with their happy freight, passers-by halted and took in the scene with due appreciation. Indeed tljere is infinite satisfaction to be derived.from watching another's happi-. ness.

The control of the race traffic yesterday showed a great improvement on that of previous years. No one would; : ol course, claim that the ,-ipoed limit vvag' not exceeded, but with this exception the rules of the road were generally well observed. Tho ■ relegating of the traffic to a certain prescribed route enabled the general public to know exactly tehere' to be ou the chief look-out, and the direction signs erected :as a" warning to drivers assisted to keep vehicles in their proper place. The dißtihet advantage,,at tho racecourse was - at once apparent. Tho congestion, and • consequent risk of accident, tvhicft hitherto has takoii plkce there was entirely eliminated, and "with the separate courses for private airs and taxis <md the signs over each of them, the traffic practically controlled itself. There was, of course, a big rush of traffic at the close of the day's racing, but even this could not get out of order ax the courses laid out make it impossible for cars to do anything else but keep in a procession order. The architect (Mr. T. H. Bates) and borough inspector and his staff deserve great praise for the resuits produced, and the Jockey Club are to be congratulated on the formation: of an entrance grounds which is xo all intents awl purposes an ideal one.

The Empire programme to-night is headed by the Metro super-feature, "A Sleeping Memory," which is an adaptation of the celebrated novel by E. Phillip Qppenheim. -Emily Stevens is cast in the principal role.

Messrs L, A. itolan and Co., wool Crokers, notify that the next Government wool valuation will take place at Wai> tara on Tuesday, January 7i ."MAZQL" jor Influenza

The United States Government Jltt* begun a nation-wide campaign for ths total eradication of tuberculosis from cattle anrt hogs, a. disease that coats Uw country an average of £8,000,000 ft year, besides endangering the lives of all who drink milk or eat pork. ) Our Christcliurch correspondent telM graphs: Interesting developments ill the financial affairs of a Cfoistchurcl laud agent are expected to occur shortly. In additions to complications in flu matter of trust funds, there are said td be other heavy liabilities (including one debt of over £3,000), end the total sum involved is reported to be between £7,000 and £B,OOO.

One of the discoveries of the war has been the number of defective teeth among men otherwise fit. England (saya B,n English journal) is the worst den* fcured of any civilised nation. An authority states that one-tenth of our armies are constantly) incapacitated through teeth troubles. This figiira might be less but for the fact that the soldier has' a prejudice against army dentistry—he has an idea that jt is rough and ready. Trench mouth makes ravages among British soldiers, 'whereas among others—the Canadians, for in- ; stance—it has been practically climin* ated. A dentist suggests that we should ; have panel dentists like panel doc ton, and he would take the. evil at its sonic*, by beginning with the children. A Levin resident ' lias' just returned " from a visit to Hawke's Bay. He relates that at a large shearing shed he be visited the whole-board of thirty shearers was composed of Maoris, many of whom were accompanied by their wives, who acted as "pickers-up' 1 and did the work well. On leaving the shearing shed the Levinito noticed a small park of motor cars, and inquired as to who . owned tliem. He was in- ! formed 'by the station-owner that the ' . \ cars belonged to the shearers, who made ' 1 the rounds of the stations at shearing time in their own motors. The visitor" returned home convinced that the paxeI ha shearer is a long way behind in the race of progress. Do animals contract influenzal State-! ' i ments made that horses and other animals are liable to contract the influenza . ' havp been treated with grave suspicion. A caso was reported in Masterton, when the epidemic was in full s,wing, of a cow displaying every symptom, of influenza,, and it became, convalescent on the application of remedies somewhat similar to those with which human 'being Wors treated. A racehorse owner, in Masterton now avers that a horse of his, vrnich participated in the New Zealand Cup ; meeting, developed symptoms while in ■■ . Chris tchurch identical With those asso*

eiated with the influenza, and. has since become almost a wreck, though it is now recovering. Mustard plasters were applied to the animal's throat, and he was given frequent doses of eucalyptus in sugar, with successful results. v