LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The troops by the Zealandio will not disembark until Friday.—Press Association. A Press Association message from Wellington says the Zealandio has arrived with returning draft 217. The troops will disembark at 11 a.m. ito-dav (Thursday). '

A Wellington press message states that notice has been lodged at the Supreme Court of an application to move for a new trial in the Grierson v. Thacker libel action, on the ground that the damages of 100 guineas awarded by the jury are indaequate. A man who had been arrested in New Plymouth on a charge of drunkenness, a statutory first offender, was brought before the Magistrate yesterday morning and discharged.

On the 21st inst. the N.Z. Dairy Association, Ltd., distributed amongst its suppliers the sum of £126.760 2s Hd. This covered 1,7*i5,77il l bs of butter-fat supplied during the month of January.

It is understood, states the Chronicle's travelling reporter, that Mr P. Brady; of Marton, intends contesting the Rangitikei seat at next election, in the interest of Labor. Mr Brady was formerly connected with the railway service.

There was a large attendance at a meeting of the Bell Block branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, which wa» held on .February 3rd., when tiie subject, "Roads and their upkeep," was discussed. The meeting was strongly in favor of procuring dump lorries for metal carting, as it would be much quicker than horse teams. The meeting was unanimous that toll gates were the fairest means of raising revenue for the maintenance of our roads.

An indication of the dry weather now being experienced is shown by the fact that the Waikato River has fallen so low that at present great difficulty is experienced with navigating. This is due to sandbanks having been discovered in various unexpected places by boats becoming stranded upon them. The water being low is, however, not an unmixed evil, as the swamp lands, being dry, are carrying splendid feed for stock. Canterbury contained 4000 square miles more than Belgium, declared Mr J. A. Frostick to the Parliamentary Industries Committee at Christclrurch, and yet Belgium contained seven and a half million inhabitants. Why should we, lie asked, hesitate to push our country ahead because we had not the employment to provide? After the war, there would be a great exodus from Britain.

The special correspondent of the Edinburgh Scotsman, writing of the joy in Amiens when the Allies arrived, speaks with keen appreciation of the Australians' love for their animal allies in the great war. He remarked that the deep affection for animals is typical of all the Australians, and is a pleasant little touch of character greatly admired by their French and British allies. He says:— "An example of Australian kindline'ss to animals came up during a visit I made to one of the brigade headquarters. Here was a rather savage-looking dog, black and tan, suggesting both the collie and the Alaskan. It was threatened, coaxed and cajoled into silence by a stalwart Australian in his shirt sleeves as we entered. The dog was German, and was known as 'Bertha.' It had been found in one of the German trenches after the Germans had been hurriedly expelled. Its German masters had trained it to carry messages, and it was an animal of exceptional intelligence. For the Australian captain who had found it and made himself its sponsor, it showed an extraordinary affection. At the time of our visit the captain was away; and the stalwart Australian, who was acting as cook, explained that,the dog was rather in low spirits, and" would remain so until his return. It slept in the captain's! shelter, and anyone who intruded in that sanctuary during the night risked his life. A curious trait of this animal was its respect for the officer's uniform. Any officer approaching headquarters was respectfully received by the dog, but to a private he showed am implacable hostility. The dog had imbibed the German discipline. The cook, however, was ] an exception to the general rule, and, | as he himself explained, the reason was obvious. It is not often that national characteristics are so definitely communicated to dumb animals."

When the Germans first used poison gas against the British and French troops at Ypres, in April, 1915, the combined casualties of the British and French forces exceeded GO.OOO. At that time the Allied troops had absolutely no protection against the deadly chloride fumes with which they were assailed. But as the war progressed steps were taken to checkmate the Germans at the gas game, and eventually to turn their own weapons against them. Lecturing recently at a meeting of the Melbourne branch of the Australian Chemical Institute, Captain Maine, an officer who served with the A.1.Fl in France, mentioned that for every casualty due to gas poisoning sustained by the Allies the Germans had had to pay five-fold. At first they had it all their own way, but when the Allies retaliated they gassed the Huns with a vengeance. During 1917 no less a quantity than 3000 tons of liquid gas was used against the Germans. Captain Maine drew attention to the fact that the anti-gas apparatus in use throughout the whole of the Allied armies was an adaptation of the box respirator designed by Professors Osborne. Laby and Masson, of Melbourne University. Professor Masson, who presided at the, lecture, stated that at the time he and his colleagues were working together and endeavoring to produce an effective anti-gas apparatus, Mr Fletcher, of Geelong, was similarly engaged, and it was only when he learned that the University staff had evolved the same idea of a box respirator that he abandoned his efforts. A few more weeks will see the end of summer and then comes autumn with its new styles in millinery and costumes. Morey's have mnay pretty millinery modes, for early autumn wear, just to hand for New Plymouth ladies to choose from. Eead Morey's advertisement in this paper. DON'T DIET. Dr. Sheldon's Digestive Tubules digest, what you eat, and allow you to eat all the good, wholesome food you want. If you are suffering from Indigestion, you will be surprised at the speedy relief they will give you. If your case is of long standing, it will require a reasonable time to effect a remedy, for Nature cannot replace worn-out tissues with new ones by magic. But when, by fbe use of this preparation, the stomach is given absolute rest, and abundant nourishment and reconstructive materials furnished, recovery is certain and permanent. Price 1/6 and 2s 6d- Obtainable everywhere.

Watches to the value of about £2O were stolen from the window of Mr H. iMortensen's jeweller's shop in the Main i street West, Palmerston North, in the early hours of Sunday morning. The thief extracted the booty by means of the simple expedient of either cutting or punching a hole in the window—the glass was not very thick—about six inches in diameter. The matter is now the subject of investigation by the police. The goods traffic passing through the Palmerston North station was extremely heavy during last week. Some hundreds of trucks of sheep from the various ram fairs, and a few trucks of bullocks and pigs were included in the live stock, while amongst other goods were over a thousand tons of chrome ore, which was being railed from Auckland to Wellington to be placed on an oversea vessel at that port. As the result of the arrest by Constable Lapouple of a native named Davey Eaiviri in McLean street, Waitara, on Monday, on a charge of drunkenness a slight disturbance occurred. The Native was resisting somewhat strenuously when his wife Raua came on the scene and immediately went to the assistance of her husband. The first Na? tiVe managed to extricate himself from the constable's hold, but was secured again, and with assistance the constable took 'both his charges to the lock-up. They appeared the next day before Messrs Jupp and Jenkins. J's-P., and pleaded guilty to the charges made aeainst them. Davey was fined £1 on the drunkenness charge and £1 for resisting, and his wife was fined £1 for obstructing the police. Farmers wanting to invest in a firstclass dairy farm are recommended to read R. A. Large's new advertisement appearing on page 1 of this issue. On our leader page it will be seen that H. Cocker, of Devon Street, New Plymouth, has won distinction in the art of tailoring and he wishes to share that honor with you. The last day! Rennie's sale at the Big Store, Waitara, stops Saturday. After that we go back to regular prices and your many money saving chances will be gone. Hurry!