Local and General.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 311, 4 December 1918, Page 4

Local and General.

A substantial drop in the price of benzine is recorded. Merchants aue already quoting the reduced price, about 6/- per case. The Telegraph Department, advises that the Papeete wireless station is unable to work owing to the .?taff being down with influenza. The banana is said to be the most prolific of all products, being 44 times more productive that potatoes and 123 times more than wheat. The Hastings hotels re-opened this morning, after being closed down during the epidemic, the same hours as previously, S a.m. to 6 p.m. being observed. A, Gazette notice yesterday extended the restriction of the sale of intoxicants on the arrival of returned troops to a radius of twenty, five miles from the port of arrival. The London County Council has recently saved 100 ten/ of pulp a year by simplifying its tramway tickets, the annual consumption now being 270 tons. Admiral Cleaves ha: announced that the Americans had about 150 warships in European waters, and between 35,000 and 40,000 men on board them. The members of the Wairoa bar have asked Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., to further adjourn f.he sitting of the Wairoa Magistrate’s Court until January, on account of the influenza epidemic. An idea of how the epidemic has dis-arranged the intercolonial postal service may be gathered from the fact that Auckland merchants received letters, via the Bluff, which were posted in Sydney 17 days ago. The troopship Ulimaroa is ex peered to arrive in Wellington on or about December 12. It is understood that she has troops on board, but the names of the men are not yet available. One of the Napier HarbotrBoard’s small cranes, when crossing the tramway lines above Crtinbyh loop, cut tlie Port-Napier overheat 1 wire in two, with the result that the tramway service was suspended for a while, In the course of his annual report, which was reported to Parliament on Monday, the Under-Secretary ot Internal Affairs (Mr. J. Hislon stated that no borough councils had applied for the issue of regulation under Section 13 of the Cost of Living Act, 1915. “The cost of living question,” he adds, “seems t,o_ biregarde’d by local bodies as a subject for discussion rather ill an definite action.” “I had a glass of whisky which was given to me by a gentleman in Manners street and was not drunk when arrested, but unwell from influenza.” So said a first offender when churned with drunkenness before. Mr. F. V. Fraser, on Monday at Wellington. “One glass of whisky does not usually make a person drunk,” replied the Magistrate. “You must have drunk whiskv and methylated spirits.” “No.” added the defendant, “I use methylated spirits for polishing and should be very sorry io drink it..” “Well then, perhaps you have been polishing your inside with it.” In connection with the election to be held on December 20, to till th.? vacancy, caused by the death ot the late Councillor Arthur McCarthy, _in the Napier Borough Council. Mr B. ( . Runciman, at the ieqne<.t of a number of electors, ha- consented to contest the position. Mr. Runeiinau was a candidate at the last Municipal Elections, and attained the position of second amongst the unsuccessful candidates, with J 034 votes. It is stated that Mr. M . J. McGrath will also be approached, and petitioned fo stand for the vacancy. Mr. McGrath was also a candidate at the last elections, and was fourth on the list of unsuccessful contestants with &93 votes.

The following dates have been set down for the Supreme Court Sessions at Napier for 1919: —Monday, March 10th., June 9th., August 2&th, Nov. 24th. The Minister of Customs states that the Customs revenue collected in November throughout the Dominion was £175,909, and the excise beer duty £14,590. The figures for November, 1917, x er e £2Bl, 956 and £21.860 respectively. The Hastings Holiday Association invite business people to meet at Climie’s Rooms, to-morrow at 3 p.m., to consider the question of closing at noon on Wednesdays and at 5.30 p.m. other days, except Saturdays. Doctors carrying out diptheria examinations in Broken Hill schools have so far taken 1300 swabs, and up to date have found about one child in every hundred a carrier of the disease. This, it was reported at a meeting of the hospital board, accounted for the persistence of the disease in Broken Hill. Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., who imposed a fine of £25 on a Chinaman, at the Napier Court yesterday, for selling oranges above the regulation price, had the case re-opened in the afternoon, this course being found necessary owing to the point being raised as to the cpiestion of juris diction. The Magistrate will give a written decision later. He was a returned soldier. In his delirium he fought hi ls battles over again, and shouted instructions to his men. His case had been added to the list of those th Sisters of Mercy were nursing, and when two opened his door, they were greeted with an emphatic: “Duck your heads, damn you. duck your heads 1” A peculiar after-effect of influenza, particularly in the case of women, is for the vocal chords to be affected (says the “Dominion”). Such people may be able to speak quite clearly in the daytime, but after dark the voice commences to get. husky, possibly through the added moisture in the air after sundown. This affection of the voice gradually wears off with complete convalescence. In connection with the vacancy 7 on the Napier Borough Council caused by the lamentable death of Mr. Arthur McCarthy, Mr. L. Bisson ’s spoken of ar a likely candidate. Mr W. J. McGrath has also been approached to allow hinisel" to be nominated, but has not yet definitely decided to stand. However, a strong requisition is in course of circulation in, favour of the latter’s candidature. The case, mentioned in yesterday’s issue wherein Yen Kee, fruiterer, was fined £25 and £1 17/costs for unlawfully charging an excessive price for oranges, was reopened by Mr. Dyer, S.M., yesterday afternoon, who stated that, on looking into the act, he was doubtful whether the case came under his jurisdiction ot whether it should be dealt with by the Supreme Court. He granted a re-hearing of the case at ten o’clock on Thursday morning. Some comment is being made against the action of the Napier Borough Council in spending money on local works, it being contended that a lot of work which it is proposed to p.ut- in hand, could very well stand over until the return of the boys from the front, when many may be looking for employment. It is reported that the matter will be brought before the Council at an early date, when the question will be fully considered. There was a. fair attendance of members at the adjourned meeting of the Eureka Lodge of Druids, held in the. Oddfellows’ Hall, Hastings, last evening, when a large amount of routine business was dealt with. D.P. Bro. G. Brown was appointed to visit all sick members of the Order. It was decided, to hold the annual children’s Christmas Tree evening on January 14th., and a committee was set up to make the necessary- arrangements. Measles having been declared an infectious disease, information is ueing received by- the Health Department from various parts of the iJonnnion as to the numner of cases viiat are in existence. The Minister of Public Health (Hon. G. W. Bussell) states tnat in a few days it will oe possible to determine the position as to this epidemic, which he sincerely hoped would not become serious in tne Dominion. “I have received a communication from a gentleman in Auckland,” added Mr. Russell, “who. informs me that the epidemic is serious in the Mount Albert district.” On Monday last there appeared a letter in the “Tribune,” signed ‘ Efficiency” in which occurred the following passage: “By the way, can you inform me of the regulation prohibiting the sale of liquor referred to breweries. I have personal knowledge of a steady business being done by a brewery not a hundred miles from Hastings during the whole time of the embargo, etc.” This morning, at bergean Hogan’s request, the editor asked the writer of the letter lor permission to give his name to the Sergeant to assist him in the performance of his duties. The permission the editor asked for was refused. The Napier Licensing Committee met yesterdav morning. Present: Messrs R. V,’. Dyer, S.M. (chairman) A. L. Beat tie J..1’.. ami W. P. Finch. A letter was received from Mr I). B. Frame, architect, to the effect that plans for new fir? escapes wen being prepared by him for all th< Napier Brewery Co s hotels in the district. The matter was referred to Messrs Dyer, Beat-tie and Finch. The question of fire escapes generally as dealing with all hotels will be reported on at the district quarterly meeting. All reports were favourable. A transfer of the license of the Royal Hotel from William T. C. Reading to Herbert Colbert, was granted. “The Scindian.” the official magazine of the Napier Boys’ High School, is to band, tlr.s year’s issue being distinguished by a frontispiece of Captain P. V Sturkey. V.C. with letter-press giving a brief history of Captain Storkey, the honour of whose educational training is shared by- the Napier Main School the Boys’ High School, and th? Sydney University. The otheial story of his gallantry-, which earned foi him the supreme, military decoration is also recorded. The inugazine is well got up and brightly written, containing news of. intense interest to “Seindians” boys, past and present. with house news, sports notes, and general items. One form gets some of its own back from the masters. The : r statement is plain : "Ths say any fool can do parsing. We cannot do parsing. The- masters can do parsing. Therefore, things that are equal to the same thing being equal to each otli?r, the masters are_ f 0015,." a. conclusion which is proba.biy correct. because we are e,ll more or less in that category, only we have to becoip© very wise before: we know

The voluntary patriotic contributions in money and goods of the Dominion from the outbreak of war until March 31, 1918, total £4,774,891. A Danish inventor, it is announced, has discovered a process for making newsprint paper from seaweed. The new process is said to entail half the cost, of making paper from wood pulp. Queen Alexander is the owner of probably- the oldest pet in the world. It is a parrot that was brought to England in the reign of George 111., and presented to His Majesty, who taught it to talk. This aged bird still rep.eats in the accents of the long dead King his famous “What! what!” which was his usual mode of addressing his courtiers. Now that all the breweries in the United States have closed, brewers declare there will be not more than six weeks’ supply of beer on hand and consequently beer will not be available after January. It is estimated in New York alone 10,000 licensed victuallers or saloonkeepers will go out of business. The revenue loss to the Government from the suspension of the breweries in the next twelve months is estimated at £28,000,000. At least one story that is being told of the present epidemic has its humorous side. A local doctor was called to the country to a man who was a victim, and a perfunctory examination indicated that the patient would be much better off at the hospital, where he could receiye proper treatment. The worthy sawbones suggested as much, but the sufferer expressed doubt whether the hospital authorities would take on the responsibility. "Oh, yes, they- will,” said the medico; "they have a special ward for cases such as yours.” "Where is the ward?” enquired influenza. “At the racecourse.” said the doctor. This had the effect of thoroughly arousing the patient from his lethargy. “The racecourse 1” ho said. "For God’a sak a . don’t send me there, doctor. I’ve never had any- luck on a racei course yet.”