LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A third death has occurred in Palmerstem North from lethargic encephalitis, a girl named Clapham succumbing on Friday.—Press Assn.

The Mayor of Christclmrch, Dr. Tliackcr, M.P., is promoting a Bill enabling municipalities to purchase and sell firewood on such terms as they think fit. At present they have power to deal in coal, but not in firewood.—Press ABsn.

The deprivations of hotel licenses in Victoria for the financial year of IDIB-1!) have now practically been completed (nays the Age). Since the beginning ot this year 95 hotels have been£deprived of licenses, making a total of 223 deprivod in the two and a half years since the amended law came into force. When the amendments were being introduced it was pointed out that in many districts, the operation of the "statutory number" prevented the closing of many unnecessary hotels. Under the new provisions the vote for "reduction" was deemed to have been carried in every district. In the two and a half years hotels have been closed in 144 licensing districts, and in 80 of these districts 140 hotels were closed which, under the old provision, could not have been touched. The total number deprived of licenses to date is 1277.

Charles Jenkins, a few years ago fSew Zealand's champion jockey, was recently convicted at the Supreme Court on a charge of theft, but it was decided to iive him a chance to pull himself together, and an order was made that he should be sent to the Botoroa Inebriates' Home for 18 months. It was found, however, that he required medical e.Uention, and arrangements were made l"cr his treatment at the Wellington Public Hospital. On Wednesday he leit the hospital without permission, and lie was shortly afterwards arrested for drunkenness. Ho is to be sent to Eotoroa.

Building operations in Auckland are being serious hindered by the" railway restrictions, contractors finding it im•[■i ssible to obtain the necessary material either to complete jobs already started or to commence new contracts. Inquiries made from contractors and sawmillers revealed that the supplies of lotara and rimn, which are largely used for house building are practically exhausted, The representative of one building firm stated that he knew' of at least a dozen house-building contracts that had been stopped during the last fntnighi owing to the inability to obtain timber by rail, and that doubtless many others were similarly affected.

Many stories of strange meetings at the front have been published. Here is one told by a reservist, who at the time of joining was a mmber of the police force (states an exchange). While out reconnoitring one day he and other scouts unexpectedly came" in contact with a body of enemy troops lying in ambush, nnd, being outnumbered, were in a ticklish position until reinforced. A bullet in the leg brought the ex-policeman to the ground, and he had resigned himself to capture when suddenly he was seized by the brawny arms of a young giant, who bore him to safety and immediately disappeared without waiting for as much as a word of acknowledgement. "Well, I'll bo hanged! If this isn't a queer world!" ejaculated the former constable, as he was assisted into an ambulance. "I had a warrant in my pocket for that chap's arrest when I was called up!" If nnyone had claimed to be able to drive in one trip and single-handed two motor vehicles through from Wellington to New Plymouth it would have been deemed impossible. However, Mr. H. Derby, of the local Ford garage, and his son can claim, to have accomplished this feat. Mr. Derby arranged to have two Ford cars and two Ford one-ton trucks ready in Wellington on Wednesday, and to the trucks were fitted temporary platforms and a car was mounted on each truck. A start was made for New Plymouth on Wednesday afternoon, and as far as the trucks were concerned there was no hitch whatever in the working, the drivers coming right from Bulls to Now Plymouth without changing gear once. The roads are very soft, through (he increased trnffic oiv them, and in tryinc to )ins'? another ear on a narrow road near Otaki Mr, Derby's truck was bogged, and this caused a delay of some hours, consequently the party did not reach New Plymouth until Friday night. As can be imagined, the two strange looking vehicles caused a good deal of interest as they came through the different towns en route, despite the fact that people are getting used to uncommon sights on the roads in these days of few trains,

To get laborers who would be satisfactory and would say on the railway works the Government, said Mr. J. 6. Ooates, M.P. for Kaipara, to an Auckland Star interviewer, must alter {he whole of the present system of employment. Ft was the custom to send men' into the country to work in the mud and under conditions that were far from satisfactory. It has been demonstrated at the war that it was quite possible to make men fairly comfortable, even ivhen it was necessary to move at frequent intervals. Portable hutments could be provided, and with them hot baths. Tt should be easily possible, also, to establish portable libraries on a small scale, and even schools, so that the men who went into the backblocks and their families would not be handicapped to the extent they were at present. Rooms in which to dry their clothes could also be erected for the men and everything done to make the conditions as attractive as possible. "Do you sincerely suggest portable libraries and schools?" questioned the pressman. "Why not?" was the reply, "we have' done it in France for much larger bodies of men than would be needed here. If we could do it there, why not here?" The Public Works Department, he continued, would have to realise that they must compete in the labor market if they were to attract the right kind of men. These men were really the pioneers of the public works, mid under proper conditions the best type of man should be obtainable.

Mr. A. B. Gibson, of Now Plymouth, land agent, inserts in this issue particulars of a very fine dairy farm at £OS per acre— £4OO deposit. This lias all been bush land (matai) and mostly drained swamp. Close to school, railway, and factory. "FAIRY WONDER will do me!" said an enthusiastic lady the other day after seeing the marvellous results attained by this wonderful new dry soap. No back-breaking rubbing, no scum, less rinsing, and at half the cost and labor of other methods. Try it. Use it. Prove it. All grocers. Irresistible bargains at the Melbourne, Ltd.'s great tile: Splendid cotton tweed working trousers 1/B; strong working shirts 4/11; genuine S.S.S. drill shirts 8/0; natural pants and singlets 3/11; pure all-wool cashmere socks 4/C pair; linen collars, all shapes and sizes, 1/#acli; white cotton singlets 1/11,