LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Wellington press message states that,the French Mission is expected to arrive there on 'Monday, and will be given a civic reception. Five Bankruptcies have been recorded in the Wairarapa during the present year. For the last four years the total number of bankruptcies lias been thirty, compared with forty-eight for the previous four years.

Writing to his parents in 'faranaki a few days before he met his death, Kn-gineer-Lieutenant Carl Newsliam stated that he was on duty in the English Chaunel one day, when he picked up a crate of cheese made at Mangatoki—the place of his early school days. George Hertrich was sentenced at East Ham (London) to two months' hard labor for being in unlawful possession of eleven shirts, seven of which he was wearing over his own shirt at the time of his arrest, and four of which he wound ingeniously round his body. At the eild oi the thirty-eighth week of the Auckland laying competition, Mr. W. Scott's (New Plymouth) pen of White Leghorns was still in the ltad among the light breeds, with a total of 897 eggs, his nearest competitor Being Mr. <R. M. Smith, of Xrchhill, with BGO. Mr. J K. Hawkins' (New Plymouth) pen bad a total of 771, and Mr. E. W. Griffiths' 732.

Dr. Truby King, director of "Babies of the Empire," speaking in London, said, among other things, that the most serious disease of modem times is not tuberculosis or cancer, 'but the diminishing in size and strength of the jaw and teeth, which makes lis easy victims to microbes. If this is a fact it would" seem to show that we do not eat enough hard food.

In the course of his speech of welcome at Auckland to Lieutenant Bassett, V.C., who returned on Christmas Eve, the Hon. A. M. Myers stated that New Zealand had won no fewer than fifteen Victoria Crosses, of which four had been gained by soldiers of the Auckland Military District, seven by Wellington, and two each by Canterbury and Otago. The King had referred to the fact that the greatest number of Victoria Crosses in proportion to the number of troops had been gained by Australia and New Zealand.

The present is perhaps the most unseasonable summer experienced in Taranaki. With the exception of a few days before Christmas the weather has never been such as to induce one to doff winter wearing apparel. This can be understood when it is mentioned that the average temperature so far has been 11 degrees below normal summer temperature. On Now Year's Day the maximum temperature was 65 degrees, and the minimum 50 degrees. Last month snow fell on Mt. Egmont on four days—quite an uncommon occurrence for the time of the year.

The Lyttelton Times states that a series of burglaries has occurred in Christchurch. during the past few weeks, indications pointing to the fact that a clever and daring cracksman is at work. Most of the residences visited are situated in Fendalton and Merivalc, and the thief has shown a nice discrimination in the selection of his victims, visiting only those homes where he might be expected to secure a substantial haul. As far as can be gathered, however, his anticipations in this respect have been disappointed, the intruder failing to locate any large sums of money, and, with the caution of his kind, preferring not to incur the risks attendant on the possession of stoUn jewellery. At one house he is repoitid to have secured a sum of about £ 1,.', and a few medals and a safety rar.ov are also reported tc bo mining. At one place visited during the jimt few day? the lady of the, ho.ise, whose Insband is at present in the N'orfc'i island, had a rather terrifying ex/wioii'Ms. Mu> was awakened some time after 4 a m by a noise in her room, and obsevcJ a man haWdirg the articles on her dressing tr.ble; At first she was imdsr llie impression that it wa3 her husband who had unexpectedly returned, but realising that this was impossible, she asked the intruder what he was doing there. Hereplied: "Don't make a noise or I'll shoot you," and, after glfmcing round, edged his way through the door and made off. An investigation showed that he had turned on the electric light in the diningroom, where he had made a cursory examination of the contents of the drawers, •but had removed nothing.

In consequence of complaints received by the police at New Plymouth a watch was set on the bakehouse of Messrs May and. Arrowsmitlv on Wednesday evening Mr. May stated that goods had been missed from his premises, and his suspicions had been aroused The watch set was.. .well, timed, and Constable Blaikie had. not. been on tho premises more than a.few minutes before a man came into the yard and reached a parcel from out of one of tho delivery carta, where lit had been hidden previously, and he was just in the act of taking out a second parcel when the constable nailed hiin. The offender was a married man named Arthur Maxwell, employed as a baker by the firm from whom the goods were taken. He had in his possession, when taken to the police station, two. parcels containing fllb of tea, 31b of butter, and five eggs, valued at 14s fld. He was broiight before Messrs H. R. Cattley and John Avery, J.'sP., yesterday morning, and, on pleading guilty, was fined tho -am of £2, in default seven days' imprisonment.

Writes the Eltharn Argus, which is edited by the Hon. W. G. Carneross, Speaker o£ the Legislative Council: — The indications last session were that, so far as the Liberals are concerned, there does not appear to he much likelihood of a coalition between the two main political parties, but that each will agree to paddle its own canoe when election time comes aronnd; and the election may take place somewhat earlier than is generally expected. The probabilities are that a disruption will take place very early in the session. Mr. Massey certainly lias not a satisfactory working majority, and if at the cessation of the- party truce, which will be as soon as the House meets, the Libernjs and Labor vote aolidly against Mr. Massey, he will find it impossible to cany on. It is safe to presume that Labor will vote against Mr. Massey and ally .itself with the Liberals for the time being; not because they love Sir Joseph Ward, but because they hate his party a" little less than they hate the Reformer?, If by combination With the Liberals. .Labor unseated Mr. Massey, it would be pre. pared to do the same thing to Sir Joseph Ward immediately afterwards; so there is no hope of a permanent Liberal-Labor alliance as parties now stand. At present Labor disdains all alliances and hag the fixed goal in view of creating a Labor Government; but much water will run tinder the bridges ere that end is achieved.

"NAZOL" for Influenza and Catarrh,

Sir Arthur Pearson, in » latter of thanks to the Lord Mayor of London for the sum of £l4/279, recently collected in that city for the children of blindtxi soldiers and sailors, states that over 200 blinded soldiers have been married from St. Dmietan, England. Many of them married giris they knew when they could see, and many married girls whose acquaintance they had made sines they lost their sight.

Recently the Queen opened a national kitchen in the East End of London, tod after the ceremony went and' served behind the counter. A little East-Ender, nino years old and about counter high, came up to the Queen, shoved his hand in his pocket and successively brought out a piece of string, a half-eaten apple and a top. He delved further down and brought forth two roses, which he handed to the Queen, saying "Here, I gccmed 'em for you." The Queen was very pleased and put them in her girdle.

Writing to a friend, Sir Thomas kenzie says:—l heard a good story of an interview between an American sol- | dier and one from Australia. The Ante- • rican had casually remarked that they were coming over from the United States to win the war, and the Australian said, "Win the warl , What have we been doing for the last four years?" "Oh!" replied the American, "you have been doing splendidly" "Yes,", retorted the Australian, "Christmas, 1915, we were at GallipoU; Christmas, • 1910, on the Somme; . and Christmas, 1917. at Bethlehem." Said the Yankee, "Bethlehem? I reckon the shepherds watched their flocks by night when: you fellows were there!"

Suggestions that all positions oil the permanent staff of the' Defence Department ought to be filled by officers with active service experience are regarded as unjust by some of the officers who would be displaced ii such a rule were ■ brought into operation (writes our Wellington correspondent). Injustice certainly would arise. The position is that certain officers were retained in New Zealand throughout the war for special work despite repeated applications for permission to go to the front. They were engaged in instructional duties or in Bervice for which they had been specially trained, such as transport work.' It might not be faiT to quote names, but cases could be mentioned of officars who have been held to routine work and find themselves now at a disadvantage in comparison with their fonntr juniors who were sent to the front.

Two dairy farmers of Gippslsnd (Vie-), who were too old to enlist, and nevertheless were to do their bit, went to Melbourne to help load ships during the strike (says an exchango). ' Thsir wages were 18b per day, and Utter doin? some mental arifTimctie they foUBd that, from the time thev had taksn over ■their forms, they had earned upon thtnl about 4s Sd per day for much harder work than they did m town. They therefore instructed their "agent to Mil their stock and their farms, and with tlie interest on the money added to their wa.ies. found thoir incomes raided to 34s per day. As a consequence of this change, .which evidently impressed the neighbors, it is reported that 13 farms, in the district have been offered for sale since the two brothers went to Melbourne.

The Earl of Dudley gave evidence before iU»* Justice Astliury recently in the action brought by the Countess to rectify their separation deed by making it clear that her allowance of £9OOO a year wa- to be free of income tax .(says an exchange) After he had given evidence a conference between counsel with a view to settlement was ht'.d and th(j hearing was adjourned. Lord Dudley said difi'erences arose between his Wife and himself in Wlo. Ho had had no discussion with Lady Dudley with' regard to the terms of the separation deed. He himseli put in the clauses taking the blame upon himself. The question of income tax never entered his mind from first to last. He had never verbally agreed to pay his wife £OOOO n year and pay her income tax in addition," replying to Mr Frank Russell. K.C., crossexamining, Lord Dudley said he had no wish that Lady Dudley should suffer "in discomfort. It wag his wish' to make it clear to everybody that the separation was his fault and not. hers. Asked why lie altered the £SOOO to , £9ooo' in the, deed, Lord Dud'ev srtid he thoua-ht the reparation would 'oe only•tfenmrary ar.d hj» was anxious to mako Lady le; fcal that he wished to treat wr generously.