LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 115, 12 November 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The members of tthe' Third Wellington Military Service Board left by 'the Main irunk Express to-day for Taihape. After hearing appeals there the board—which consists of Messrs. D. G. A. Cooper (chairman) D. M'Laren, and William Ferry-will go on to Taumarunui.

The Church of England chaplain at Taulteremkau -Military Camp earnestly appeals to the public "for supplies of good reading material, well bound and fresh looking-, m order to complete his library. There are 2500 men here," he writes, 'and the demand for books is very large." Parcels addressed to the Camp Commandant, for .the Church of England Chaplain, Tauherenikau Military Camp, -will go tree. '

The New Zea-landers under General Allenby s command ought to read their Bibles with fresh interest when they return from this expedition. In Egypt they camped on or near the site of On a city mentioned in Genesis. More recently they have been entrenched in front of a town associated with the names of Samson, Alexander the' Great, the Crusaders, and Napoleon. Beersneba, takes us back to the time of Abraham, for it was by the wells of Beersheba that the patriarch planted his tamarisk trees.

The Evans Bay portion of the Queen's SaTr?* ls m m? V£ *y bad state at th « present time. The potholes which have developed in the road during the winter have been roughly filled, in with metal, but no effort has been made to roll the metal in. The consequence is that the « at the present time is not only uncomfortable to the occupants of motorcars, but m parts almost dangerous to motor-cyclists. • ■ .

A report from a special disinfectant committee was presented at a meeting of the Onslow Borough Council on Saturday evening. Guided by enquiries made by Councillor Tucker from agents for various disinfectants, the Government Analyst and the District Health Officer (Dr. Watt), the committee decided;to select one winch, by the way, is the cheapest, iiight five-gallon drums of the disinfectant have been obtained at a price not exceeding Ss 8d per gallon, and the drums have been distributed to the storekeepers of the various wards, on condition that they sell it at not more 'than 2s per quart. .

Hardly a. Sunday goes by without some motor-car or other being held up in the loose sand and stones on the road; between Happy Valley and the "Run-round.-' Very often cars are (stuck there for hours at a time, and few are the motors which manage to traverse the ground without mishap. A big Buick ear which sank into the loose metal yesterday afternoon took a good hour and a half-hour's work on the part of the occupants to get clear. Why motorists should want to use this roadi at all is not clear.

It was stated in a communication from Te Awamutu received by the Farmers' Union provincial executive last week that it was believed that the statute prohibiting the conveyance of land to unnaturalised aliens was being evaded. The plan suggested was that naturalised aliens were securing land on behalf -of compatriots who were not naturalised, and for their future benefit. No immediate action was taken by the executive.

An unfortunate season was experienced last summer by many Gisborne amateur gardeners with their tomato crops, on account of the prevailing blight. Discussing the subject with a Herald representative, Mr. Rice, Government orchard inspector, remarked that the season had demonstrated the value of systematic spraying. One commercial grower had sprayed fortnightly as the new growth developed, with the lime and sulphur mixture, the result being that he was practically the only com" niercial grower in the Bay with any crop.

Advice has been received that Bdr. Bernard L. Rigs* who has been in France with the N.Z.F.A. for two years, has been recommended' by Gen. Godley for a commission, and is at present at the R.F.A. Cadet School, London. He is the youngest son of Mr. R. B. Rigg, of the head office of the Bank of New Zealand, who has also two sons, commissioned officers, with the Australian Forces in France.

Diphtheria is stated to be again prevalent throughout the Gisbome district, a number of cases having been reported during tl»« past few week*, coming from both the town and, country districts.

By Gazette notice dated London, 21st August Capt. S. H. Crump, of the New Zealand Army Service Corps, has been appointed Senior Army Corps officer in Egypt. Capt. Crump left Auckland as a second-lieutenant, and for a time was stationed in Egypt. He was later transferred to France, and shortly afterwards returned to Egypt, where he was present at the Battles of El/Arish and Rata

Tha body of a motor-car belonging to Or. Mackin was considerably damaged by fire yesterday evening in Crawfordterrace. The Fire Brigade was summoned, and managed to get the outbreak under without the rest of the car being damaged to any extent. The £°50 r was by an insurance of

Mr. M P. Cameron wrote to the Onslow Borough Council on Saturday night suggesting that a permanent record of the_ many men of Khandallah who had left New. Zealand on active service or have died in New Zealand under military rule, be erected in the public hall at Khandallah. Mr. Cameron offered an honouru board for this purpose. It was decided to accept the offer with thanks.

Woodvillo residents were somewhat startled about 6.30 on Thursday evening by a terrific noise as of a collision at the railway station (says the Examiner). This proved been caused by ai engine running off the line and crashing through a fence and shed near Mr Wilson's. It appears that the 'engine V ' a V3 the yar{U read y to ta ke the train to Palmerston, and the driver and firemen were having tea. in the refreshment rooms. Something must Have blown out, for the .engine started off backwards as a great rate. We are told that the signalman, seeing there was no one on board, turned it on to tho block line. On it went until it came to the end of the line, where it crashed through the buffer and turned over.

•The prospects of stone fruit in the Giebome district this seat-on are verybad, ' remarked Mr. W. H. Rice, Government orchard inspector, to a. Herald representative. Mr. Rice went on to cay thai the Reason was now sufficiently advanced to gauge the position, and the result wag that apricots would be nonexistent, the same as last year. Japanese plnms had a fair show of fruit, but English plam3 would be scarce. Peaches and nectarines indicated that there .would be practically no fruit. Pears are showing well for a good crop, and apple prospeeta are really gocd. Gooseberries and strawberries are also very fair, and the first of this fruit will be in the market next week. Judging by present indications there will be a splendid citru6 crop next year, the lemon trees being full of bloom.

Memories of the milling days in Dannevirke are revived by the announcement in the casualty lists of the death in action in France, on 10th October, of Sergeant Herbert Ellis (says the Dannevirke News). The late Sgt. Ellis, with his brother, Mr. Arthur. 'Ellis, was a well-known and popular worker at different sawmills in the but. being desirous of a more advantageous career, he volunteered and was accepted for the Royal Navy. He served his time on different British warships, but after completing his time New Zealand again appealed to him, and he retired from the Navy. He settled in North Canterbury, where he engaged in farming. On the outbreak of war he immediately again volunteered for the Navy, but was informed that the Admiralty was riot accepting volunteers. He then enlisted with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and left with the 13th Reinforcements.

On Friday Jajst a. party, consisting of Messrs. W. ( Salt (Wanganui), W. P. Mead (Taumarunui), and Bourne (Auckland) made an ascent of Ngauriihoe, and had a most interesting climb. The party got away at an early hour on Friday morning, and ascended the mountain, during which time several shots were sent up. They went half-way up, and as it was considered dangerous to proceed any farther, the party reconnoitred in the vicinity and found red-hot lava and rocks 3ft through lying around. On descending, it was found that some' of the rocks thrown out by the valcano had reached the plains, and the grass had been burned and scorched in consequence. When the party arrived at the accommodation house a most beautiful shot was sent'up.. Rocks, steam, etc., were thrown up to a. distance [of fully 600 ft above the crater. The white-hot mass appeared to hang in the air for a second or two, sparkling and burning, then it fell with a thunderous roar to earth. Mr. Salt, Who has had a great deal of experience with the three mountains in New Zealand's wonderful National Park, expressed the opinion that a new crater had been formed in Ngauruhoe further to the northward.

The quality of the land set aside for settlement by soldiers on the Reynolds Estate, near Cambridge, was strongly condemned at last meeting of the provincial executive of the Auckland Far-' mere' Union (states the New Zealand Herald). Mr. R. D. Duxfield read reports by Captain Peake and others who had inspected the land, who generally denounced the quality of the land placed at the disposal of the soldiers, which was described as mainly deep T>eat. They also objected to " the valuations placed upon it by the Government. Many of the soldiers, it was stated, were quits unable to make a living upon the land. Some of the stock on.-certain farms were said to have died of starvation, and sections were specified as untenable. The best of the-land in the block acquired by the Government was that allotted to civilians. Mr. Duxfield declared that the manner in which the soldiers had been treated, in the poorness of the land provided for them, and the excessive valuations made, were scandalous. While he blamed the Government in this-respect, he gave it credit for excellent work in the selection of the stock-provided for soldiers. Mr. Duxfield moved a motion affirming that in the future selection of blocks for soldier settlement the Farmers' Union and the Returned Soldiers' Association should be represented on tie Selection Committee. Mr. Jas. Boddie deprecated the strong terms used in some of the reports, and said he was on the side, of cautious enquiry. He moved that the whole matter be referred to the Standing Committee, with instructions to represent the matter to the Lands Department, with a view to eliciting the official reply to the allegations. Eventually this course was agreed to.

"Fowlds" is the 'House for Panamas, the ideal summer hat: Jap. Panamas, 10s 6d to 21s; Panamas, 25s to 455. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners-street.— Advt.

What age are you?" asked a member of the Appeal Board in Masterton last > w ??k. "Thirty-nine." was the reply. You look more than that." "Oh, yes, but you can't judge a sausage by its overcoat," smilingly retorted the.genial one.

Moving? Engage the New Zealand Express Co., Ltd., with their special, motor. Careful, quick. Remove furniture near or far. S7-91, Customhouse-quay. —Advt. H J

At The People's Store" the Mantle Department is now fully stocked with new goods, and tho usual excellence of quality is everywhere supremo. The smart costumes and pretty summer frocks will appeal to your good taste, and value, even a ~ y, « s . a . s great as ever - Pa y a visit to C. Smith, Ltd., Cuba-street, and see the latest importation*. Always something new at this popular store.—Advt.

The statement is made by the OtaJci Mail that although deer are plentiful in the Tararuas, tbe "heads" are reported as being poor. It is in consequence of this that a- "thinning-out" process is being carried out.

. The result of the weight-guessing competition at the Spring Show at Palmerston North is announced. The actual weight of the bullock was 927g1b, and the first and second prizes totalling £13, are divided between Mr. D.' Collis (Kairanga) and Mrs. Wm. Freeman (Kaiwarra), each of whom guessed 92741b. The third prize was secured by Mr. L. A: Abraham, who guessed the weight of 927i1b.

The annual conference of the New Zealand Unitarian Association will be held at Auckland on Wednesday and ihursday next. The Wellington delegates, who left for Auckland to-dftv, are the Rev. G. E, Hale (secretary)", and Messrs. J. M. Geddis and C. A. Cook, iney were accompanied by the Rev. J. wn ,£P le (Christchurch) and Mr. G. Wells (Timaru).

~AI a ™ ee * m S oi the Thorndon branch lIJ, Society of Railway Servants the following motion was carof thr a Tr°"> 8l - y: r" Th . afc thU meetic * ol the Thorndon branch, Having heard cil P ll ° £ the Executive CountvL™ } c ( T^ Way baUot > a nd their Sf ™Ti ° f * 6 Thornd °n branch, has fn ,^ d f- nCe ln , tQem for Hwir in connection with same."

Lit ?™ hotn \ Borough Council resolved rl t0 vr S e on *c Minister ? l- UMIC W ° rks the ™P°rtance of tl a t" scheme for obtaining eectncal energy for the North Island It was contended by Councillor Mouat that the claims of the East Coast were again being ignored. It was proposed, 7.1 S f 'w 5? °? with subsidiary schemes, one for Wellington and one for Auckland -probably he added, due to political pressure. It was agreed to ask the Borough Councils of Wairoa and Napier to pin in a protest against the Minister s attitude in regard to the Waikaremoana scheme.

There was a large attendance of residents of Roseneath on Saturday at the ceremony of the unveiling of the memorial to the memory of the former pupils of the Roseneath School. The inscription on the panels of the pillar, which is 18 feet high and occupies a conspicuous place on the side of the road adjoining the school, is as follows : — Roseneath School. .Magna est Veritas et praevalebit. In memory of the old boys of this school who laid down their lives in the great war for God, King and Country. They died the noblest death a- man may die, fighting for God and right and liberty: and such a death is immortality. Erected by residents and friends."

"She areas which were badly flooded during the autumn and the winter in the bouth are still in an unfit condition to do much with (states the South Island correspondent of the Farmers' Union Advocate), and the loss to the farmer's in these localities is going to be very considerable. Dairy herds have been reduced and cropping has been restricted in numbers of cases. On the Taieri the losses were probably felt worst, Cattle, calves, sheep, and produce of all sorts were lost. It is only, lately that the full extent of the damage has been made apparent. Paddocks of roots and stacks of gram were ruined. Some of the farms ! are still under water,'and team work is ; impossible in numbers of cases. In some cases; the cows have become little better than wrecks of their former selves, and have depreciated to the extent of from 50 to 75 per cent. As a consequence the deliveries to the dairy factories have suffered very much. Some of the land which has been under water for a long time will have to be regrassed, as tha pastures will Be quite killed.