Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume L, Issue 5110, 28 February 1919, Page 4

Local and General.

The Invercargill Borough Council to-night decided to advise the Health Department that the Council did not favor the proposal to grant Certificates U> epidemic workers.— Press Association.

The monthly mooting of the Cook Hospital mid‘Charitable Aid Board, which was adjourned last week on ac(iimiit of the funeral of Captain Tucker, was to have been held yes1, erda Imt owing to a quorum not being present, the meeting lapsed.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, in if judgment summons case, Charles A. Foote (Mr. Barnard) v, John Charles Culnitt, claim £3 14s 1 Oil, debtor was ordered to pay the amount on or before March 27, in default four days’ imprisonment.

At, a Bed Cross bazaar at Omsk irk the first prize of £IOO worth of War Bonds iu a draw was never claimed. The winning number was extensively advertised, and it was found that the winner was the late Mr P, Murray Hunted, formerly a leading Liverpool cotton merchant, who died a month ago. The bonds have been handed over to his executors.

The bodv of Wi Campbell, better known as Wi Mackey, one of the victims in the boating accident at Te Araroa about ten days ago, was found on Saturday. No trace of the body of Tauranga, the other occupant of the fishing boat, has yet been ored. Wi Campbell resided at Kaiti for many years and was well known, reviving his education at the Gisborne school. He was forty-six years of age, and leaves a widow and four children. The funeral took place at tiie Maori cemetery at Te Araroa.

“The council is not going to tolerate those blackguards in taxis taking young girls out in their ears,” said the Mayor of Auckland in the City Council last week, when the matter of cancelling a taxi-driver’s licence c-ame up for confirmation. “Hear, hear,” said all the councillors, and the cancellation was endorsed, after the Mayor had saiu he did not wish to reopen the discussion, as. according to the police report, it had been a most revolting case.

‘ There was never a greater demand for British and Colonial stamps than at the present time.” a London paper was informed in December. War stamps are specially sought after, and seme of the keenest enthusiasts axe the American and Anzac men, who throng the stamp dealers’ premises daily. A wave of postage stamp patriotism seems to have swept over them. There is no demand, however, for the stamps of our enemies, and some firms announce that even if there were they would not fulfil

Some comment has been made in various parts of the Dominion on the matter of payment- of doctors for services rendered in connection with the influenza epidemic. It has been stated (reports the Taranaki News) that some have received as much as £lO 10s per day for such services and rumours have been heard in this district suggesting that the local doctors have received this remuneration. This matter was referred to the secretary of the Taranaki Hospital Board by a News representative, and received a flat contradiction.

‘’Picture shows are more firmly established than ever/' ran a portion of the Life and Work Committee’s report to the Presbyterian Assembly, ‘‘and have come to stay. Their influence. several correspondents state, is often far from helpful. The censor eliminates the worst features, but the tone of what is left is often flow Nothing but a more rigorous censorship will change this, and the genera opinion expressed is that the work is more than one man can do. There should be two more censors, one of whom should be a woman of character and experience.”

The Pied Cross Shop to-morrow will be in charge of the Victoria League and a special effort will be made*to establish a record in the matter of monetary results. There will be a large number of stalls, for which generous donations have been promised. The jumble stall will be in charge of Mrs Redstone, and the articles* for sale include a number of ladies’ costumes and men’s suits. For some considerable time past the Victoria League’s funds have been handed over for comforts for all British soldiers. but to-morrow’s receipts will be used for Xew Zealanders only, the intention being to have funds in hand in rase any call is made on the organisation

Yesterday word was received from Wellington that the well-known musical comedy team. Maud Courtnev and Mr. C.. who were to have made their appearance at Everybody's on Tuesday evening, had been recalled to Australia, but that their place would be filled by Sa-hera. “the miracle woman.” Sa-hera. whose performance has mystified both medical and scientific men. is one of the highest stars on the Fuller circuit. She presents a thought-reading turm which has amazed thousands 'throughout the world. The artist is blind-' folded, aud as a guarantee againstdeception, a committee is elected from the audience to scrutinise the performance. Tables written on a. black board are correctly totalled, names touched by a pointer are given and the audience is invited to* ask Questions on ar.y subject they prefer. The box plan for the season is now at Miller's Corner.*'**

Mrs. E. D. Hayes is in receipt of official advice of the death on August 31st last or her son. Gunner F. C. Hayes, previously- reported missing. As a result of a Court of Inquiry, it lias been stated that an enemy gun across a ridge was causing trouble, and volunteers were asked from cur lines to go out and silence it. Five of the men of the company volunteered, among them Gunner Hayes. The five man all lost their death on tne expedition. Gunner Hayes was educated at the Gisborne School, and later served his time with the firm of Masefields, in Auckland, as an engineer. He was 25 years of age. and was in A Company, 4th Platoon. 29th Reinforcements. Another son. W. A. Hayes, of the Cyclists’ Corns, returned on Tuesday Inst from the war. It was through his inquiries from Sir Thos. Mackenzie that the circumstances surrounding the death of his brother were finally o-iuLlt-Ji-ed. Sincere sympathy will be feltwith Airs. Hayes, who has waited five months for further word since her son was reported missing.

A final meeting of the Committee in connection with the harbor conference, will be held at the Harbor Board office on Monday,, at 11a.m., to receive the report of the sub-com-mittee and to decide on the report to be laid before the conference. A small draft of soldiers returned to Gisborne by the Arahura yesterday. The men were welcomed by representatives of the Citizens’ Defence Committee and the Returned Soldiers’ Association, The Salvation Army Band was b- attendance. On landing from the Tuatea the men were conveyed to their homes in cars placed at their disposal by citizens.

Tim French Journal Official publishes the following extract from an Army order: “His Royal Highness Edward Prinec of Wales, staff-captain in the 14th British Army Corps from July to October 1917, in the region of Boesinghe and Langemarck. by ensuring liaisons up to the first lines under bombardment contributed very effectively to the close co-operation in battle of the 14th British Army Corps and the Ist French Army-”

The Cook Hospital presented a very busy appearance yesterday, soldiers in large numbers being grouped along the corridor, some resting on forms and others standing. The occasion was a sitting of the Ail lit ary Medical Board, before which, according to a recent regulation, all outpatients have to be examined once a month. The visiting medical officers was Captain Reid, arid in the morning he was assisted by I>r. J. AY. Uuliams, and in the afternoon by Dr. Itoss. Altogether eighty-one men were examined.

By the invitation of the agents of the For dr on motor tractor Messrs. Bie-nel] and Holmes), members of the Cook and Waikohu County Councils attended at Bushmere yesterday to witness a trial of the tractor, so that its abilities for County Council work might be ascertained. Those present included members and officials of both Councils. An unformed road was selected for the test and the tractor set to work to plough the hard land, a task which was soon accomplished. Considered generally, the test was a severe one. and the onlookers expressed their satisfaction at the work done.

That there is a great deal in a name is, the opinion ">£ the Rev. Issac Jolly. * Speaking av the Presbyterian General Assembly he remarked. in connection with Sabbath nonobservance, that the man who coined the term “week-ender,” did an evil thing; if described as “Sabbathbreaking” it would not sound so well; “week-ender” sounded almost semirespectable. Those who went on week-end excursion? left God behind. and did not give much attention to God and His work during the week. There was, he added, no practical question before the Assembly than the maintainance of reverence for the Sabbath Day.

An extraordinary story of a youth who, in order to help his brother-in-law. a soldier home on leave, donned' his uniform and went to France in his place, was told at the Southampton Polie Court, when Albert Seccombe, 17, a motor-driver, was fined £5. with the option of 14 days’ imprisonment, for wearing uniform without authority. The police stated that Seccombe’s sister was married while her soldier sweetheart was home on leave. The bride was then taken ill. and, the husband being loth to leave her, Sec-combe volunteered to take his plac-e. He donned his uniform and proceeded to France. The deception was not discovered until he was court-martialled for overstaying leave.

During the hearing of a case in the Wellington Conn. Inspector Marsack said the stealing or running away with motor-cars was becoming very prevalent in the city. Persons took the ears and went for joy rides, and in the past they had not been prosecuted, as mischief had not been alleged; but it would be well if the court issued a warning irp regard to the seriousness of the offence. Mr. F. \ . Frazer. S.M.. replied that when he was in Auckland he dealt with a number of similar cases, in each of which mischief was proved. There was a heavy penalty provided where guilt- was established, and a$ far as he was concerned he would do his best to prevent the offence from becoming rife in Wellington.

Everybody who attended the last Mat a where sale remarked on the sharp rise ewes of all ages had taken. Messrs. Williams and Kettle Ltd. desire to to the fact- that they are holding a clearing sale atMangataikapua Station on Saturday, March Sth. when tkev will offer a yarding of over five thousand sheep, the majority of whterr are ewes, fuller particulars of which appear in our advertising columns. Those attending the sale will be well catered for. and King’s car meets the morning train at Puna, conveying intending buyers to Mangataikapua homestead, and returning in time to catch the evening train bac-k to town. As this is a splendid opportunity for anyone to stock up before the ewe seasor closes, a large attendance is anticipated by the auctioneers.***

At- a meeting of Christchurch citizens to take precautions in case of another visatat-ion of the influenza epidemic. Air. R. C. Bishop, towards the close, rose and said: “In future. Mr Chairman, you will have to manage without my help. I am very sorry, out I. am taking this course because °r . V le dirty. mean. contemptible action of the Government. While I was busy attending to epidemic affairs at St. Luke’s, in Alanchester street, my own business had to be neglected. I did not attend at my office. In consequence. I omitted to pay my land t-ax until after the date fixed for the imposition of 10 per cent extra. When my services were no longer needed at Si Luke's. I sent mv efieque for the sum originally demanded to the Commissioner of I axes 111 •T* flbngton. explained the whole position, and asked that, in the circumstances, the imposition should be remitted, and I received a reply that my request- could not be granted 10 per cent, extra is a small thing—nothing, i n fact—but the Government’s action towards one who was doing work for the public that should have been done by the Governmentitself is abominable.. In future, as far as I am concerned, the Government can employ returned soldiers to do the work, and pay them.”

An amnesty of political prisoners and similar questions is being considered by a committee under Viscount Cave, it was announced in Parliament. Mr Brace said they could not amnesty “Conchies” and keep men in the Army without rousing feeling.

Dreaming that her son, . who was reported killed in July of last year, r was not dead, Mrs Fry, of Cliffe, Lewes (Sussex), made inquiries, only to liear from a chaplain that her son had been buried behind the lines, and this was corroborated by a corporal. A friend of Fry’s, named Woollard, was recently taken prisoner, and lias now written to say that he has met him in Germany.

A well known Fifeshire farmer, who made liis “pile” in New Zealand, had a remarkable experience at the Tay Bridge Station, Dundee.' While waiting the arrival of a train a New Zealand soldier approached him and inquired where he was likely to meet Jack • It was a happy and surprising moment for both when the Fifer exclaimed —“Man, you’re speakin’ tae the man you’re efter.”

Sitting in civil jurisdiction at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiffs in the following undefended eases: —Ellen Fry (Mr Mann v. Frederick Walker, claim £74 12s 9d, costs £4 9s; Hewitt and Paterson (Mr Willock) v. Chas. C. Manson, £3, costs £1; George D. Muirhead v. Jack Ttakataere, £1 15s od. costs 10s-, W. Pettie and 00. (Mr Burnard) v. 801 l a Marchant, £l4 7s lOd. costs £1 19s 6d.

The oat crop in the Bay has been good this year and an unusually large quantity of local chaff is offering, k At the beginning of the season, local chaff sold at £l4 and £l4 10s delivered in Gisborne, but the market has been affected by heavy arrivals of Blenheim chaff, the quality of which is generally regarded as better than that locally produced. The price of local chaff dropped considerably and it is not exnected that the remainder v of the offerings will fetch more than £9 to £lO oer ton. Farmers are asking somewhere about £lO at present. The Blenheim chaff is said to be bright but poorly cut.

“I have been in Christchurch for sixty years, have been married twice, and have had twenty children, and there will be another one very shortly.” was the statement which caused Mr. S. E. McCarthy, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court, to look curiously in the direction of the elderly man who occupied the dock, says the Lyttelton Times. “If you let me off this time,” continued the accused, “I promise that I’ll never come before you again.” “You must have said that pretty often,” replied the Magistrate: “have a look at the record sheet.” “I know that.” responded the accused, “but I’m an old man and also very weak.” The Magistrate was iigt greatly impressed by the plea, but the penalty was a mild one.