LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are desirous of obtaining a copy of our issue of December 3rd, 1918, and would be obliged if a reader could let us have one.

The police cases at Wellington for 1918 totalled 4793—a decrease of 1184 as compared with the previous year.—Press Association.

A London cablegram states that tobacco control ceases in Britain on January 11.

A Maori woman was committed to the Porirua Mental Asylum from the New Plymouth Hospital on Saturday, and was conducted there by the police matron and Constable Fahey. A sitting of a Special Medical Board is to be held in New Plymouth to-morrow for the purpose of examining returned soldiers, about .13 of whom have been ordered to parade.

It_ig understood that steps are being taken in Bawera to tender a complimentary social to the V.A.D's who did such grand work during the recent epidemic-

llifie competitions will be resumed at Irentham on March 11, finishing the same week. 'No range will be over SOO yards.—Press Assoc.

The secretary of the Post Office advises that the censorship on all wireless messages to and from all ships and shore stations has been suspended. This does not apply to men of war, for which all wireless messages must pass through the naval authorities at Wellington. About a hundred German prisoners will bp repatriated shortly. They include naval officers and men and some civilians who want to go back. Others, who were in business, do not wish to return; The men will go under a guard already chosen from returned soldierß with good records.—Press Assoc. The Star Motor-Cycle Club, which was recently formed in New Plymouth, has so far been unable to mako much active progress. The llrst club run was to have been held at the beginning of December, but influenza interfered and it did not take place. It is probable that a meeting will be held during the present month to arrango a programme for the future.

The steamer Corinna last week loaded at New Plymouth 1-2,000 crates of cheese to be re-shipped at Wellington, and yesterday the Corinna loaded a further 1-2,000 crates here. From Wellington 10,000 crates of the cheese will go in one linef and 14,000 in another, according to the allotments of space which have been notified.

An alarm of ffre was received by the New Plymouth (Brigade at about two o'clock yesterday afternoon, to which a prompt response was made, Some rubbish had' been burning close to McAllum's old tannery building, on the Irankley road, the corner of which became ignited. The flames were extinguished before much damage wa; done.

The good roads movement is being actively prosecuted in North Auckland" The Monganui County Council, which has promoted a proposal to borrow £54,000 for the formation of about 36 miles of tar-sealed roads in the westportion of the country, has been notified that the loan will be available from the Public Trust Department. The money will be advanced at the rate of £9OOO a year - , the first annual instalment to be paid in November next. The loan, if approved by tho ratepayers of the special rating area, will bo liquidated in 36 years by the payment of £6 per cent, annually, which includes a sinking fund of 1 per cent. Australia's population (exclusive of full-blooded aboriginals) has passed the 5,000,000 point. This achievement, delayed by tho outbreak of war, the departure of troops, and the practical cessation of immigration, was, according to tho Commonwealth Statistician, made in September last. Mr Ivnibbs recalls that in ISOO the population of Australia (aboriginals not counted) was 5217, whilst a century later it reached 3,765,339. The Australian population attained its first million in 1858 (seventy years' after settlement was effected); its second million in 1877; its third in ISSfI, and its fourth in 1905. Thus, since the attainment of the first million in 1858, the average addition to the Australian population has been one million every fifteen years. The declina of 8964 and 50,663 respectively in 11)15 and 191G was followed by an increase of 59,986 in population in 1917. For the first nine months of this year the not increase has been upwards oi 66,000, and Mr Knibbs opines that with the resumption of normal conditions for immigration and the repatriation of our troops from abroad, Australia's population will reach 5,400,000 persons by the end of March, 1921, the next census.

The last of the free Christmas gifts at Ronnie's Christmas Fair will soon be gone. The Fair will shortly close down, and your chan ce of a free gift will pass away. Come soon; bye and bye may be too late. There is only one SANDER EXTRACT, and that is why the people reject the many inferior and harmful substitutes and just as goods. SANDER'S EXTRACT is free from the objectionable qualities of the common eucalyptus. Sander's Extract cure# a ll infectious diseases, all winter ailments, ulcers, bums, sprains, eczema, etc. Insist on the

It is estimated that 1,300,000 tons of steel are lying around Verdun, about 13 tons to the acre, the total value of which is about five million sterling.

The Prisons Board will leave Wellington on 13th January, and visit the prisona at Waimarlno, Waikcria, Auckland and New Plymouth.

A witness in a recent divorce case was called upon to produce a letter from one of the contending parties. Turning to the Judge he said: "I would hate to have to read this letter before all these women." The Judge replied: ''My good man, they •will never forgive you if you don't."

Town-planning is receiving enthusiastic support in South Australia in connection with the repatriation of her soldiers. On the banks of the Murray a large training farm is turning soldiers into agriculturists, who are given land of their own aB soon as they obtain diplomas of efficiency. Community centres in town and country are provided for the new plans of settlement.

Mr Lloyd George, in addressing an audience of 3000 people at Leeds, said: "I shall never forget that morning when I sent the cable message to President Wilson telling him what the facts were, and how essential it was that we should get American help at the speediest possible rate, and inviting him to Bend 1*20,000 infantry and machine-gun-ners. The following day came this cable message:—'Send your ships across. We' will send the men.' America sent 1,900,000 men across, and of that number the British carried 1,100,000." According to the Evening Post, the chairman of the Wellington Education Board (Mr T. S. Forsyth) will shortly recommend that body to establish classes for training in physiology, first aid, hygiene and home nursing. It is not unlikely that similar classes will be established in many centres, the recent epidemic having shown the necessity for greater knowledge in the direction indicated. Provision has been made in the estimates for capitation grants in respect to these courses. The prospects for the fruit season in the Hastings district are better than was anticipated, and the late frosts aitt not do the damage that was esjpected a month ago. Although the crops are light, they are of excellent quality, and should command good prices. A profitable crop, particularly in the Pakowhai district, is loganberries, which are selling well and are much in demand tor jam making. The fruit growers who were lamenting their 'bad fortune last month, now see before them a fairly profitable season. Regarding Professor Dominico le Monaco's "cure" for consumption, Dr. G. J. Blackmore, Medical Director of Tuberculosis Institutions, has reported as follows to the Christchureh Hospital Board (slates the Press): "I began a trial of this method of treating consumption on August 13, and so far have not been able to substantiate any of the claims put forward by the originator. In his original paper Professor Monaco produces no evidence that he himself has ever treated a case of consumption by thiß method, or that any person has ever been cured by means of it. Apparently only three cases had been treated by someone else at the time the paper was written, and in no one of these is any proof adduced that the disease was cured, or even arrested. The method of treatment, may have some uses, but that it will cure consumption is open to grave doubt, and certainly no proof that it will do so is so far forthcoming." Prior to the election of Lord Mayor a few weeks ago, the Sydney City Council met and fixed the Mayor's allowance for 11)19 at £IOOO. This recommendation (says the Sun) came from the Labor Party, and was supported by Alderman Richards, whose vote was carried by 14 to 12. Alderman Walker moved that the amount be fixed at £ISOO, the same as in previous years, with the exception of 1918. Alderman Hagon moved that the amount be £2OOO, saying thnt a small city like Adelaide allowed £ISOO. 'Alderman Meagher supported the £2OOO proposition, saying that during his two terms of office at £ISOO a year his books showed a loss of £ISOO a year. Ho did not believe in greasing the fat pig, but a city like- Sydney with a revenue of £1,000,000 a year, should be able to make a proper allowance to its Lord Mayor. He did not want to make the £2OOO a tyear a precedent, but the year 1919 would tax the resources of the Lord Mayor. Alderman O'Connor said £IOOO a year would be sufficient. The other £IOOO could 'lxs spent in necessary work, instead of in guzzling. He contended that the Lord Mayor should not be asked td' give elaborate functions. They wanted plain living.

Tho official record of the act of bravery which gained the VC. for Sergeant £S. Forsyth, late Xew Zealand Engineers, was contained in mail news \.'hieli came to hand tills week. It is as follows: "For moat conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. On Bearing the objective, ins company came under heavy machine-gun lire. Through Sergeant Forsyth's dashing leadership and total-disregard of danger, three machinegun positions were rushed and tho crews taken prisoner, before they could inflict many casualties on our troops. During subsequent advance his company came under heavy fire from several ma-chine-guns, two of which he located by a daring reconnaissance. In his endeavor to gain support from a tank he was wounded, but, 'after having the wound bandaged, he again got in touch with the tank, which, in the face of very heavy fire from maehine-guns and anti-tank guns, he endeavored to lead with magnificent coolness to a favorable position. The tank, however, was put out of action. Sergeant Forsyth then organised the tank crew and several of hie men into a section, and led them to a position where tho machine-guns could be outflanked. Always "under heavy fire, he directed them into positions which brought about a retirement of the enemy machine-guns and enabled the advance to continue. This gallant N.C.O. was at that moment killed by a sniper. From the commencement of the attack until the time of his death Sergeant Forsyth's courage and cool ness, comjbined with great power of initiative." proved an invaluablo incentive to all who were with him, and he undoubtedly saved many casualties among his comrades.