LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 23 November 1915, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

n^, ule. we . aro sending apples to South America, North America is sending them to New Zealand. An Urepuki resident recently received trora an Invercargill firm a"case of apples grown m Washington territory by a German named Frantz. The Bluff Press reports that some • Jne hailstones which recently fell in Uluff were the size of sparrows' eggs. A number of samples measured *m- oeyei-al promising gardens were practically destroyed—battered to pieces. Tho Southland Times says that a high price was paid for fat heifers at the last U allacetown stock sale, when ±-14 /s 6d was paid for a pen of the Devon-bhorthorn cross. When the steamer Makambo passed through the New Hebrides on her last i Island trip (states the Sydney Daily j Telegraph) the volcano on Tanna Is-' land was in active eruption. Deose clouds of very fine dust were being emitted from the crater, spreading over the adjacent islands and out to sea for miles around.

A Masterton clergyman (says the Age) recently received a surprise in the shape of a bulky letter containing A sum of £302 in bank notes. The letter, which came from .Wellington, was not registered, and the name of the sender was not enclosed.

The celebrated pantomime of "Mother Goose," or the goose that laid the golden egg, is to be produced at Stratford to-night. Eltham will be visited on Friday, November 2C; Patea, Saturday, November 27; and Waverley, Monday, November 29.

The secretary of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce *has been advised that a British 'commercial and industrial patriotic exhibition is to be held in Wellington in February next. The exhibition is to be solely for the display of British (and Allies') goods. A thrilling anecdote comes from Paris. A French trench was being held under terrific fire. After many hours not a single one of the brave defenders was unwounded. Then the Germans advanced to take it. Suddenly a French sergeant sprang up, bleeding, but undaunted, with the shout. "Debout vous morsts"—lJp, you dead. At this inspiring order, the mangled Frenchmen rallied from among those already expired, and actually managed to beat back the foe. But it was at the cost of all their own lives. Next evening the last of the survivors passed away.

Both Japanese and Russian soldiers are wearing paper clothes "Kamino," as paper clothing is called in Japan, is made of the real Japanese paper manufactured from mulberry bark. The paper has little "size" in it, and, though soft and warm, a thin layer of silk wadding is placed between two sheets of the paper, and the whole is quilted. Japanese soldiers realised the value of this kind of clothing when they had to weather a Siberian winter, but its only drawback is that it is not washable. A company in Yokohama is supplying large quantities of paper shirts to the Russian army. They state, says the American Consul-Gen-eral at Yokohama, that paper clothes are extensively manufactured in Japan. The garment sold by the firm is made of tough, soft fabric, strong enough to hold buttons sewn on in the ordinary way, and appears to be very serviceable.

A non-commissioned officer in a Liverpool regiment tells a story of a rather grim joke played on tha Germans in the Frenches of Flanders. At this point the opposing lines are very close together,, separated by only a few yards. The Germans hailed across one morning, shouting: "Hello, Liverpools! Got any bully beef?". The answering shout was, ' "Yea, plenty!" "Chuck over a tin!" shouted the Germans, and a- two pound tin of bully beef went sailing over into the German trench, whence came sounds of a., gleefulscrambl© and grunts of satisfaction. "Want any more?*' shouted >the Liverpools. The answer was a regular chorus of "Jas!" and "Yesses!" Two more tins were hurled over, right into the German trench, and then the Liverpools, with beautiful aim and strength, threw across an explosive bomb. It was, as the sergeant*remarked, with an air of quiet satisfaction and joyous reminiscence, "A proper sell for the Germans." There was a prodigious thud, followed by howls of pain and rage, and then came a chorus of vituperation. The incident resulted in some very ferocious fighting, but the Liverpool got decidedly the better of that.

In the Wellington Supreme Court Alfred Goodbehere, builder and contractor and professional vocalist, claimed £550 from the Wellington City Corporation on account of damages alleged to have been sustained in a tramway accident on August 12 last. .Mr M. Myers appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr J. O'Shea (city solicitor) represented the defendant corporation. The plaintiff stated that a tram-con-ductor pushed him off the car when the car was in motion, saying that the car was full. As a result, plaintiff tell and injured his nose, and now he suffered from an obstruction to his breathing, and would no longer be able to sing in public. Several witnesses supported the plaintiff's evidence as to the accident, and Drs Hart.y and Faulke gave evidence as to the injury sustained. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the accident was caused by the action of the conductor, and that the plaintiff was entitled to £100 general damages. In answer to a question by his Honor, ]$ c foreman or the jury explained that they considered the conductor had been guilty of a breach of duty. ihe hearing of an application by Mr Myers for judgment was postponed. Seven performing sheep, a bucking ram, two, young gymnastic pigs, and a brerman on parole .comprise collectively a proposition that is occasioning considerable bewilderment to the astute heads of the Victorian Intelligence Department (says the Melbourne Age) The German, it should be explained, is the owner of these somewhat extraordinary animals Prior to the war the troupe had been appearing m all quarters of the globe. But owing to the war the owner has found himself stranded in an enemy country, and with his collection of trick animals he has thrown himself 2 c Potion of the military authorities. He has asked to be inrlfffi ccV,. but. his request bristles with difficulties inasmuch as he refuses to be parted from the performing Seep !ot S Dgn an, d the **» y°Sng Pigs. The officials of the Intelligence Department are in a state of p- erllTtl °Ver *h2.™»tter. Completes wt,i c regulat «>ns comprising the VV ar Precautions Act, the/contain no provision applicable to thl internmen? ten years. Further, he has assorted Hi t^r .value has increased rather than deteriorated with age, and lie hi • The, nthonties hare their own ideas on this matter. So far however, they have come to no decision regarding the disposal of the men witT ci- ail *t e r rman is st>" aiSSd wll roil, h°ping that someone fnrL° T to hIS rescue before he is by force of circumstances compelled to seek internment as the only escaue from starvation. y ebcaPe

CHOOSING A PIANO

As the selection of a piano calls for sound judgment and nice discrhninaSf'«? t^ WIU d° eM to avail itself of the ripe experience of the Bristol Piano Co., Lts. During the past I l;tr^'° years this firm has <*Iven satisfaction to thousands of purchasers Indeed, most of their instruments have been sold on the recommendation of users-a fact that proves the evergrowing confidence reposed in them by i<£ W- x~, aii a m«sic-lovers. In the .Bristol showrooms are always displayed the latest models of such renowned English pianos as "The Broadwood" and "The Sames." These superb instruments are noted for their full, sympathetic tone, responsive touch, beautiful designs and wonderIn <J? rability- "The Bristol" also sells Canada's leading organs—the Bell and the imperial. All these highgrade pianos and organs are offered on easy terms. The Bristol Piano Co. • el"n&ton- North Island manager, M. J. Brookes. Local represen-, tatives: Purser and Son,—-Advt

The Corinno will take from New Plymouth on Monday for transhipment at Wellington. 11,000 boxes of butter and 7000 crates of cheese, of an estimated valued at £38,500 and £28,000 respectively.

The adjourned sitting, of the Supreme Court a*- New Plymouth will be opened on Monday week. Next year's sittings have now been fixed, and provide for sittings to deal with criminal and civil cases on February 1, May 16, and September 5, white a; sitting for civil and divorce busines* only will open on November 21.

* A serious accident liappened to a man named C. Twort, employed by Mr H. H. Clement, baker, of Bawera. In the course of his work he was driving across the paddocks to Mr Duke's house on the Denbigh road, when a jolt threw him out. One wheel went over hi.3 leg, and he sustained a fracture of the thigh. Hi? cries brought Mr Duke to the rescue, and he conveyed the sufferer to Hawera. He was taken to the hospital, where medical attention was given. Mr Clement informs us that the sufferer is doing as well as can oe expected.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that at a recent meeting of the Yass Shire Council, Councillor Julian stated that, owing to there being no-lock-up at Galon g, where there are nearly 2;)00 navvies employed on the reclamation works, men arrested were tied to fences until they were taken to the nearest police station. The people of Galong had offered to construct a lock-up from old railway sleepers to protect such prisoners from heat and rain, but the offer had been declined. It was further stated that the one cell available at the Binalong lock-up was occasionally made to accommodate nine or ten men.

"Do the creditors pay for keeping their debtors in gaol nowadays?" asked Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., in the Auckland Magistrate's Court, of Mr A. H. Mowlem, who appeared on behalf of a creditor in a iudgment summons case. Proceeding" his Worship said that in the old days a creditor paid 12s 6d a week for the keep of a debtor who was sent to prison". Mr Mowlem replied that the Dominion was more magnanimous now. Mr Kettle said he did not see that the country should keep debtors in gaol at the present time at the cost of the taxpayer. Mr Mowlem pointed out that a debtor was sent to prison for disobeying a Court order. The Magistrate observed that a lot of imprisonment orders were made in default, when people had not the means to appear.

Engineering says that one of the most remarkable and humane features of modern warfare is that bullet wounds of the brain are no longer necessarily fatal, as they almost invariably were in the days of the Martini and "Brown Bess." In suoh wounds brain matter may protrude from entrance and exit apelrtures, a phenomenon apparently due not so much to the direct action of the bullet as to subsequent pressure set up by pathological changes. A soldier walked four miles after the battle of Magersfontein with brain substance emerging from each side of his head, yet this man made a very good recovery. Concussion of the brain may be induced without the bullet having entered the brain or even the skull.

An interesting little problem in eugenics and the improvement of the human breed is set the Queensland Goyernemnt by Mr J. W. Bleakley, Chief Protector of Aborigines, w Tho draws attention in his annual report to the predonderance of males among the natives on the islands in Torres Strait. "This continual increase in males/ he says, "is a very serious problem. If not solved it will inevitably lead to an increase in immorality, and probably to the destruction of male children at birth. Many of the islanders are related to the Western Papuans, and if arrangements could be made with the Papuan Government to permit a number of their native women to come to the islands to marry our boys it would, I believe, prove a satisfactory problem. Many of the young men are unable to find partners among their own people, and this infusion of new blood would probably prevent the degeneration of this fine, sturdy race."

w £ Miniser of Agriculture, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, had (says the Rotorua correspondent of the Auckland Herald) a narrow escape from a serious accident on a motor journey from Rotorua to Whakatana in company with his private secretary, Mr K. G. "Chamberlain, and the chairman of the Rotorua County Council, Mr H. King. When ascending the Tikitere Hill the car was about to pass thj coach, which it had overtaken, and the coach-driver, unaware of its presence, turned the horses m. In trying to avoid the horses, the car went over the bank and, after sliding down for a considerable distance, its progress was arrested by some of the undergear being brought up by he ti-tree. Fortunately, it did not upset, and the occupants" were unhurt. Horses were obtained from Mr Wallace, and men and implements from the Maoris, and after an hour and ahalf's work with screw-jacks and other appliances, the car was put on the road, j and the Minister and his companions resumed their interrupted journey.

In his Almanac for 1916 Old Moore has some very gloomy things to &£j \ about the great war. "From the s+ollar influences/ he says, "there appears to be but little indication of peace fiur-. ing 1915. Some movements in that '■ direction will be made during the autumn, but they will be unavailing. In 1916 the centre of Eurone will be given over to the God of War. Fire, devastation, fevers, and widespread ruin will reign supreme. The eclipse of the sun in February will see Germany defeated and her legions driven back to the confines of her own country. The British armies will be triumphant, and win victory after victory. Holland will suffer terrible privations, and will be driven into the war. Throughout the spring the most appalling slaughter will occur, and step by step the "Allies will force their way ahead. A decisive naval victory is denoted in May. The culminating point in th c war does not occur during 1916, and it will not be until the following year that the hordes of Orermany will be overthrown finally. As referred to elsewhere in this year's Almanac, 'Power was given unto the Beast to continue for fortv-and-two months.' "

Car buyers will be interested in a new car which it is the intention of Messrs James and Gillman Motors Ltd., to exhibit at the show to-morrow and Thursday. It is known as the Saxon, and has become extremely popular where introduced. It is built in two models, one a two-seater 4-cylinder, and the other a five-seater 6-cylinder, with Gray and Davis' lighting 'and starting outfit. It is impossible, in a few words, to fully describe a modern car, but a glance through the specification indicates that the Saxon has come to stay. Success in "life is mainly achieved by recognising opportunities and acting! on them immediately and energetically. A great opportunity for the public is presented by the sale of Cock and Thompson's assigned stock at the N.Z. Clothing Factory Hawera. Wbite handkerchiefs, 2s lid dozen; singlets and pants, Is 6d each; boots, shoes, suits, trousers, hats, caps and overcoats. Read page 2 and see what we are doing.—Advt,