LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

1 he Invercargill Borough Cojineil has decided to inform the Health Department that it does not favor the proposal to grant a certificate to epidemic workers.—Press Association-

A writ has been issued on behalf of Lieutenant Orierson, against the FTsivrke's Bay Tribune, claiming £2OOO damages in respect of an alleged libei contained in the issue of that paper of February 15, 191S.—Pre*) Association.

An unfortunate accident befel Mrs X. VV. Hill, Hillsborough about mid-dav yestcrdav. While motoring into town with her husband she fell from the car and was rendered unconscious She was taken to the public hospital and at a late hour last night had not regained consciousness. No explanation can at present be g'rven as to what caused Mrs Hill to fall trom the e*r

The University Senate resolved that next annual session should 'begin in Dur.edin in January, 1920.—Press Association. A number of memfbers of the Taranaki A. and P. Society with some other heipers, formed themselves into a working bee ytesterda-y afternoon for the purpose of getting the grounds in readiness for next week's show. A numbet of the ladies' committee were also present getting matters in hand for the refreshment ami luncheon booths. The officials of the Society are desirous of meeting the class stewards on the ground 011 Monday.

011 Thursday last a squad of boys from Motuirui School accompanied by their teacher, journeyed to the homestead of Mr A. H. Haleombe, of Urenul, where some practical work in dairying, cow-judging, etc., was undertakenValuable instruction was given by Mr Halcnmbc, and tho boys took a very keen interest in (.he lecture. Many tlianks are extended to Mr Haleombe, who spared no pains in his undertaking. It was suggs-,ted that the excursion be repeated later on- As soon as the school is fitted with the long-applied for dairving apparatus it will t\ie pupils to follow up the work in its tircty. Tlie general committee of the Kawaroa Park Improvement Society gave a complimentary social to the ladies' committee at the Bungalow on Thur day evening. There was a large attendance and a very enjoyagle evening wa,s Bpent by all. Cards were played and during an interval the president, Mr VH. Deal, on behalf of the committee, presented Mrs Oliver, convenor of the ladies' committee, with a gold wristlet watch as a token of her valuable work .-dura the formation of the society. Mrs Oliver suitably replied, thanking Che members for their handsome present and remarking that it had always been a pleasure to be associated with the Indies' committee and to do anything she possibly could to further the interests of the society.

A meeting of the Efficiency Board Trustees for New Plymouth, was held mi Friday morning. Present: Messrs T. Furlong (chairman), E- Whittle, and F. J- Hill (secretary). The secretary reported that since the last meeting he had attended to several matters that had teen brought under his notice bv returned soldiers, and had also made representations to the authorities of son* who were on active service. Correspondence was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs, and also from the District Commissioner, in connection with soldiers' affairs- Consideration of requests for the return of soldiers for specialised work was dealt with, and the course of a'ction adopted by the Government in dealing with repatriation was fully explained. Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., waited on the board with reference to matters that had been brought under his notice and he was furnished with the data required

Considerable concern has Ibeen felt by the'Hawera Hospital and Charita-ble Aid Rnard at the frequent resignations of members of the hospital staff. At the board's January meeting, the resignations of a sister and a probationer were received, and at the February meeting two sisters and a probationer intimated their desire to leave the board's service- Since the last meeting the resignation of a senior nurse lias been handed in. With a view to ascertaining the cfuise of these frequent resignations the bo-ird set up a committee of inquiry at the last meeting, and a report will bs submitted at the next meeting. Two new sisters have recently joined the hospital staff.

An unusual si«ht these days was witnessed in Westown yesterday afternoon, wlien a five-roomed cottage was moved bodily, by a traction engine, from the site of the new Nurses' Home. Barrett street, to the hospital farm, Tukapa road. The cottage was mounted on a carriage with four broad wheels, and in front wai rigged an apparatus for steering, tho wheel being operated by two men. Though there was a little difficulty in passins und:*r telephone wires, etc., the buildinc; was suecess-fnllv moved. Th? operation was viewed with delight bv crowds of interested children, many of whom forgot all about the tea liour. but their cheers as the building reached it's journey's end, shortly after 7 p.m., showed that they had no fear of retribution overtaking them on tfrelr retutji home.

The pillaging of cargo was mentioned at a recent meeting of the Wellington Harbor Board, members urging that magistrates should be induced to be more severe in sentencing convicted offenders. Importers know that an enormous amount of goods is stolen every year from ships and harbor stores. The pillaging seems to begin in the docks in Knghnd. or elsewhere, and to continue at every stagis until the goods reach the consignee. Some of the pillagers evidently are experts who can open a case, abstract goods, and close the ease again so that no external trace of their work remains. Manufacturers, shipping companies, harbor 'boards and consigne-?-") (marvel daily owing to the difficulty of determining in the majority of cases iu*t where the loss occurred. The Wellington Harbor Board, which pays hundreds of pounds every year for pillaged cargo, recently lost five hundredweight of copper and a case of silk, to mention two articles that could not- possibly have been concealed in pockets or even in bags.

A three-ton teyland motor lorry, in good running order, is advertised for sale in this issue.

The Melbourne's great stock-taking sale only continues for another eight days, therefore patrons are requested to make their purchases within that period if they wish to participate in savings offered. lien's and boys' clothing particularly are radically reduced for this sale only. A new attraction to the ring event' at the forthcoming agricultural show, at New Plymouth, will be a liiph jumping competition for horses. This is always a most interesting and tbrillng contest, and one that is sure to drew a large number of, spectators, annrt from the usual popularity that centres around the equestrian perform' ances.

Attention is drawn to the Metropolitan College's advertisement in to-day's Issue. This College makes a speciality of individual tuition by cerrespondcnce. They offer various courses which are under the control of University graduates. Those who feel that they bavj not the time or opportunity of attending a University should make application for a prospectus. A choice Ngaere dairy farm for sale as a going concern, is advertised on page one, by W. H. and A. McGarry, Eltham. Heartburn and sick headache is relieved by SHARLAND'S MAGNESIA. 1» 3d per Bottle everywhere. ?

The Imperial Supplies Department, since its inception, has paid to the producers of New Zealand a sum of £89,351,455. The payments have been qb follows; Meat, £31,387,487; cheese, 1915-16 £917,748, 1910-17 £3,295,557, 1917-18 £4,920,232, 1918-19 £2,844,408; butter, 1917-18 £2,930,970, 1918-19 £2,208,950; scheelite, £130,060; wool, £33,490,243; slipe wool, £3,386,404; sheepskins, £1,498,199; hides, £719,507; other business, £1,013,527. The meat in store on January 31st for which space had not been allocated in overseas steamers was 4,724,645 freight carcases. The cheese in store awaiting shipment on Imperial account on February 17th comprised 9219 crates of the 1917-18 season cheese and 478,620 crates of the 1918-19 season cheese. The butter ir. store awaiting shipment on February 14th amounted to 230,073 boxes. The geese whose extraordinary behaviour saved Home, aa every schoolboy used to be supposed to know, had tlicir successors in the giieese that, throughout Belgium and Northern France, hissed, screeched, and otherwise behaved strangely when the Germans were coming but were not yet visible. Some day perhaps a book will be written, if it has not been written already, about the behaviour of animals and birds during the war. It will, no doubt, include the parrots that were placed on the Eiffel Tower and, until they got used to whatever warned them of something coming, betrayed the approach of distant aeroplanes. In the north of England the keepers of game preserves report that the peasants were uneasy and alarmed whenever ships were firing in the Norili Sea; and it was also noticed in many places that cats, dogs, chickens, and ducks were aware of distant battles or the approach of enemies. The cause remains unexplained, but a likely explanation, remarks the Christian Science Monitor, seems to be that birds and animals are more susceptible than men to air vibration caused by guns or the whirring of aeroplane propellers. Where the sounds were near and frequent they soon got used to them and paid no further attention.

There has been considerable speculation at the sittings of the Fisheries Commission at present taking evidence in Auckland as to the migratory habits of fish. The commission has already heard the evidence of a number of line fishermen, who all contended that the introduction of trawling had reduced the ;upply of fish in the IJauraki Gulf. They asserted that the trawls destroyed much of the natural food on the bed of the gulf, and killed off the small fish. None of them, however, could say whether there were other causes operating to take the fish to other waters, the only evidence so far which has enlightened the commission on the supposed roaming habits of fish being that given by Major Whitney, of Waiwera. He mentioned that some, years ago two huge sharks were washed ashore at the Wade, and when measured the largest proved to be 32ft. 6in. long. The sharks were of a variety commonly seen 011 the Queensland coast, and fishermeu expressed the opinion that they had followed n huge school of fish which had been observed coming into the gulf. Major Whitney drew the conclusion that the shoal had come right across from the Australian coast.