Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4931, 26 July 1918, Page 4

Local and General.

The box plan for the “Dusky Dandies.” is now open at the London Music Shop, Gladstone Load.

The Minister for Defence has received advice that the 40th Reinforcements have reached a port of call.—Press Association telegram.

Plantations have suffered! heavilv in Canterbury through the weight of snow. Ac Waipara. the pine areas near the railway present a desolate sight with snlit trunks and branches.

It was announced in the London Gazette in Mar. that Captain the Prince of Wales, M.C.. Grenadier Guards, had been promoted to be temporary major whilst employed as a general staff officer, second grade.

There is nothing better to keep out the cold these wintry days than all wool colonial underwear. Messrs. C Rosie and Co. have good stocks of these in all grades and sizes from os Gd for all wool knitted underpants and from os 6J tor pure wool undershirts.*

The Minister for Defence has received advice that owing to increased competition and a decrease in establishment at the Royal Military Academy. Woolwich.’ and the Royal Military College, in future only one candidate for the former and two for the latter can be accepted from any dominion for any particular entry.— Press Association telegram.

Noel Pemberton Billing, tlio man who is creating so much scandal in London, is described by most people who know him as a comfortably circumstanced “knut.” He drives through the streets of London in an automobile disguised to look like a German submarine, and does many other things for spectacular effect.

Very cold weather has been experienced in the Opotiki district during the last few days, and snow has been observed on the hills iu the Motu district. A very severe frost was experienced at Opotiki on Saturday, accompanied by ice up to a thickness of about a quarter of an inch.

New materials and extraordinary designs, though supposed to be fashionable. have failed to oust the neat, well-made ladies’ hand-b lg from its place of preference, and to-day the leather hand-bag is more popular than ever. To those who buy at the Beehive it is also the cheapest. Twelve dozen bags purchased .as travellers’ samples at 7s 6d to £1 Is are being sold at 4s 6d to 15s. No bargains comparable to these are being offered in the town to-day. The Beehive has also a great variety of babies’ hand-knitted and crocheted coats, bonnets, boots, etc,*

Twenty-five stalwart Polynesians from the Ellice Islands and' Gilbert Islands have arrived in Wellington on their way to Narrow Neck camp, where they-arc going to train with the' Maori Reinforcements. These men from the coral islands of the Pacific aro all' volunteers. Their homelands are not controlled by the New Zealand Government, but it has been convenient to attach them for recruiting purposes to this Dominion, since the Australian forces do not. include any native troops. “We would like to seo the great fighting,” said one of these men. “Oiir people live at peace now, but they were warriors in, the past. We are of the British race, and were told that we could come to New Zealand to go to the war with your Maoris. More men would be ready to come, but we are not many in the islands.”

Medical nien in Melbourne have sounded a note of warning in regard to “carriers” of diphtheria. A report in the Argus gives credit for the efficiency of the anti-toxin treatment, but indicates how tile remedy may help in spreading the disease. Convalescents in infectious hospitals may be discharged after only two throat swabs have revealed the disappearance of the diphtheria germ; but a throat negative to-day may be positive to-morrow. It may happen that the germ has hidden in one of the many snug recesses of the throat, and.* while not- causing a fresh attack on the patient, is there ready for the infection of another person by contact. Thus to the number of ordinary “carriers”, who hear the germ without being attacked themselves are added many still infective convalescents. “Anti-toxin is doing what it was intended to do —-cure cases,” said a medical officer, “but, while saving lives, it increases the number of carriers.”

A 19-year-old youth will appear before Mr. W. A. Barton. S:M., this morning ,on a charge of stealing £ll, tho property of Mrs. Ellis, the wife of a soldier, residing in Palmerston Road.

Our special correspondent on the 'Coast advised last night teat Heta Potae, the 14-year-old son of Mr. 'lorn > Potae, of Tokomaru Bay, was thrown / from his horse yesterday at Waihatr" and killed instantaneously.

The Gazette notifies that the At-torney-General has prohibited the sale of a pamphlet called ‘ Gold tor Iron,” purport.ng to he issued by the Auckland branch of a society known as the “Fellowship of Reconciliation.” —Press Association telegram.

The following_wi’l represent the Y.M.P. team a’gamnt Kaiti-City A on Saturday—S, Te Scott, Turuki Pt-re. Te Kanapa, Morrison, "Wi 'Fridav, Poi Hipi, Pepi Te La, Paki Mateiie, Harawira, \ mceut, Pitau Brown, Arthur, Scouts, Wi Pere, Mutaira. Emergencies: Ben Nathan, Wi Pewhairangi.

‘‘There is not a blacksmith on the Chat-hams,” said Mr. A. Peverill. in tlie course of an interview in Cbr stchureh on his return from the islands. “The horses®don’t need shoes, ’ be added. "The roads are not formed, at all. It a road gets too bad they take down the wires and go through the pad dork to avoid the bad spot. There is not one river bridged, and childn n riding to J’e One School from Waltangi have to cross a liver that is impassable in flood, providing the tide is in. Any bit of road that is not on the beach is op A to your knees in mud at present.” |

Writing from Jordan Valley. .Jerico in the early part of May, Trooper Roy Hughes, of Maxwell, says: “We went for u swim in th<- Dead Sea yesterday, and, oh, it is salty ! I managed to get a sip of it. J.t absolutely stings your eyes. It’s a peculiar sea altogether. First of all, where it gets its salt beats me. unless there.is a salt mlitu und-r ;t. Next, it’s 1200. feet below sea level and, lastly, you cannot sink in it. It’s quite true, you can sit up and put your arms around your knees in the water:, you just lie bmp and you float like a log. There is no life in the sea. It being too salty altogether. But the Jordan River is teeming with fish. One has to wasli in fresh water after bathing in the Dead Sea, and you can’t Tiay in too long for it’s too severe-”

The much-talkc-d-of matter of providing a badge to be won: by the parents of volunteer soldiers is mentioned in a letter on the subject received from Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, by Mrs. Emily Nice], of Auckland. Sir James Alien .-rates:

; I am in jeceipt of your letter in which you a 4; for information as to the badge of the National Reserve A-soe-lation. fin’s is the official badge of the National Reserve Association, and tlie only persons entitled to wear it are members of that asoeiation. So far as I am aware at present there is no intention on the part of the Government to issue this badge as a recognition of soldiers’ mothers. The idea of providing a badge for parents of volunteers has been under consideration on several occasions, and it has been decided that it is one which cannot be adopted.

The calling up for military service of Mercer Maoris has-occasioned much “korero among the natives concerning tlrdr attitude cowards the conscription law. and the taik is still proceeding, but generally in an orderly manner. There was some

disturbance, however, at a “korero’’ at the . Mercer pa on June 3. and Constable Horan, who attempted to suppress the disturbance, was "attacked some of the natives, and had to u.S6 his truncheon in sell-defence. Suesequently two of the natives. Hapv arm Vharemu, were summoned on a charge of having assaulted the constable while he was in the execution of his duty, and they came berure -ur J. E. Wilson, 3.M1, at Mercer on Monday. They were sentenced jo two months’ imprisonment with naic labour, the magistrate declining

to _grant.au appeal by the Maori “princess’ who holds swav at the pa chat the men be fined, with a statement that she would pay the fines.

„ a meeting of the Ashburton Second Division League, sav.s an exchange, a case of hardship on the pai’p of an Ashburton married reseiiist was reported. The reservistwas under orders to proceed to camp in March, and a few days before he was one to leave he gave up his employment . He was, however, informed that he was put back a month and finally till July 5. In the meantime. he was out of work. His wife became very ill and this week was removed from the. Ashburton County Hospital to Christchurch to undergo a serious operation. , He recently applied to the Financial Assistance Board through a solicitor, and was granted an allowance of only five shillings a. week for rent from the date of going into camp. He made a further appeal to the board, stating his circumstances. The board replied. adhering to its previous decision. and stated that it could make him no allowance until he was actually in camp. On account of his wife’s health he has been granted extended time, and is still * out of employment. The league severely criticised the attitude of the Financial Assistance Board, and decided to write pointing out the exceptional circumstances in'connection with the case.

Stocktaking—What does it mean? The answer depends very . largely upon the nature of the business. In some cases it is a very simple matter, while in others days of work for a large staff are involved, and records must be taken with the greatest care. With some goods the unsold portion can he carried forward from year to year, but in other cases the length of days allowed is a season and no more. Out they must go—not necessarily because they are out of fashion or because purchasers cannot be found. Miss MNeill. Gisborne’s specialist in ladies’ underclothing, is not holding a sale, but she has commenced stocktaking. Many lines are now being offered at prices which give the customer all the advantage, and for some days her shops should be the happy hunting grounds of those who wish to ge'. the best value for their money. At the old corner and at Everybody’s Buildings.*