There was great interest taken throughout the whole district in the ' election and right up to midnight the telephone was at work with this office. A report was circulated in town last evening that an aeroplane had been secji over tho sea near the hospital last evening.

{ The Social Committee of the New j Zealand Labour Party will hold a I meeting in the Lyceum Hall this evening at 8 o'clock. A cable message states, that the West onmouth mines are ictle 17,000 miners having struck because twenty men's pay was stopped at Hollybush whilst they carried a dead comrade home. _-«i men claim that this was contrary to ! chc coal fields practice. j

| An Ashburton resident was greatly' surprised on Tuesday by receiving a cable message from England purporting to be signed by his son. The message contained the following words:— "Well, cable six pounds." The son referred to was invalided home some six months ago."

"You know, captain, that athough appellant is in the First Division, he I has a wife and nine children," said Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., to Captain | Beale at the sitting of the Military I Service Board at Masterton, when tfie captain was questioning an appellant. Mr. Poynton further explained that the man had married a wiabw with nine children since the Military Service Act was passed. The infor-i mation evidently convinced the captain of the man's courage, as he remarked "I. think, then, he is just the class of man who is wanted at the front!" The board allowed appellant to stay at home with his family for the present.

A cablegram from Madrid states j that a mysterious epidemic spreading i throughout the country is creating great alarm. The. laihvays, tramways factories, newspapers, schools and theatres htc seriously l disorganised owing to the depletion of tiieir staffs and many have' been/ closed. Military manoeuvres have, been suspended. Some of the symptoms resemble inrluenza, but there are many cases of sudden fits. The King and several Ministers are fll. A few deaths havet occurred.

A New Zealand military officer, who was in England during the German . offensive, says that the spirit of the British people during that time was absolutely splendid. . The busdrivers were .Just going on strike, and there were very serious difficulties ; with the Society of Amalgamated Engineers, but the German offensive settled all differences, and closed up ~ the. ranks. It was felt that the situation was very grave, but the courage and determination of .the people seemed ,to rise higher., than ever. There was a solid determination that even if Germany succeeded in getting to Paris and the Channel ports, and England! was left to fight alone until American help was forthcoming in some strength, she should fight on, sure of victory in the end. If you sniffle and sneeze and f oel ill et. case. If your sight gets blurred arid you sag at- the knees< You may bet your life it's a signal' , sure You'ro in need of Woods' Peppermint Cure. So don't get worried and don't grow sad..- • • .■.•■-."• Thousands of others have been as i . bn«V .; | Your influenza won't long fndnre (If yon take Woods' Croat Peppermint Cure.