LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, 21 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Butter is now being sold in Sydney at Is &d per pound.

Auckland, which in 1903 had a population of 60,000 souls, now has 117 000 within its boundaries. '

An Auckland telegram states that nine cases of infantile paralysis were reported since noon on Thursday. The total to date are 215 cases.

A Melbourne cablegram states that the city is suffering from a heat wave, producing a temperature of 100 degrees in the shade.

When a man recently was charged with drunkenness at the Palmerston Police Court, the police stated that he had had 61 convictions recorded against him since November, 1898. He had paid £40 15s in fines during the last ten months, four -months of which were spent in gaol.

That Serbia, a country of 3,000,000 population, has fewer than 200 doctors is a surprising revelation of the war. In view of the short supply of wool, as indicated by the rising prices, several Waimate (Canterbury;, farmers intend shearing their lambs. They reckon they will get 3s or 4s worth of wool off each lamb. : The deer shooting season in the Marl- ! borough district will open on the 28th ' instant, and close on May 1. In the Nelson district the season is from February 26 to May 1, Canterbury April 1 to May 10, and Southland April 1 to May 1. i Practically the bulk of the harvest in : South Canterbury is in stack and threshed, and those who have threshed I from the stook are holding in anticipation of better prices, but seeing that j high freight rates are ruling, there is , little hope of any immediate increase j in price (says the Timaru Post). i The new central police station at pre- ' sent being erected in Wellington will be i five storeys in height, and will be the ' most up-to-date in Australasia. Hawera j citizens are wondering when the local ' station, which has done duty for over 30 , years, is to be replaced by an up-to- j "date building, in keeping with the progress of the town. i At a meeting of the New Plymouth ' Veterans' Association on Saturday, it was resolved that the celebration of the j ar.-iiversary of the battle of Waireica (March 28; take the form of a banquet in the evening. It was also decided that the Volunteer and Militia Colors be deposited in St. Mary's Church as near the first Sunday after Easter as can be arranged.

"When the old wharf was built in 1587," said Mr Thomas Partie at Motueka on Tuesday, "the staple products of this district wore corn, potatoes, butter and bacon. In those days the settlers were not so prosperous as they are to-day. In fact, I do not think I am exaggerating when I say that many of us then had to make £1 go as far as £5 goes to-day." The war has had an extraordinary effect on the shipping industry, old*vessels for which only breaking-up prices could have been realised 18 months ago. finding ready purchasers at Cardiff and other ports at £10 and £11 per deadweight ton —considerably more than they were worth when newly built. A 10----year-old steamer of 6000 tons, which sold for £25,000 in 1911, changed hands recently for £60,000.

The poilee ifoave completed their enquiries in connection with the r,u':mjv 01 Horatio Ramsden, the young v>hiixf laborer who was stabbed to death at Hillside Crescent, Mount Eden (Auckland), on the evening of January 22. No further developments have taken place and, so far, the whereabouts of the murderer remains a mystery. The inquest will be resumed to-day.

A somewhat ludicrous and al>surd spectacle was witnessed in Gladstone road, Gisborne (says the Times), while the thunderstorm was at its height. The rain was lashing the surface of the road, and washing down into the gutters in muddy streams, when, plodding along in the middle of the road, the driver, muffled up in a great oilskin, and water flying from the pipes, came the borough watering cart! Despite the efforts of the Agricultural Department, lucerne growing has not been taken, up as energetically as it should be. Suitable soil for lucerne exists in most farming districts of New Zealand, and this wonderful fodder plant, where successfully grown, is a veritable gold mine. A Hawke's Bay farmer has earned a profit from ten acres of lucerne amounting to £40 per acre. The land used was previously a mass of Californian thistle, which the lucerne has completely killed out. The Auckland waterside workers, decided hy 292 votes to 213 to join the New Zealand Arbitration Federation. The decision was unexpected (says a Press Association telegram). The Union will require to surrender its right of selection,' and may be committed to a ten p.m. day. and the door will be opened to many wharf workers who have been unable to work on the wharves since the 1913 strike. An American journal says that America bids fair to do without jjotash in her commercial fertilisers this year. The war influence has raised potash prices from around the .£l2 per ton mark to £50 per ton for muriate and £25 per ton for sulphate of potash, without much potash in sight even at these prices. The July imports this year of sulphate of potash were 17 times less than fn 1914, and 13 times less of muriate of aotash..

At the Christ-church Supreme Court on Saturday, Mary Ann Reid was charged with the murder of her two infant illegitimate children at Hornsby. Mr Cunningham, for the defence, intimated that he would rely on the plea of insanity. After the evidence for the prosecution Mr Justice Stringer said he would not call on the defence, as there was no evidence to show that the children had ever breathed after birth. He directed the jury to return a verdict of "not guilty." A verdict was accordingly returned.

It has been the practice in the Ashburton County for some years past for schoolboys, during the vacation, to go out and do harvesting work in the fields. Besides being congenial work, the boys in most cases make tidy cheques, earning 9d, Is, or Is 3d an hour, according of course, to their aptitude for the work (says the Guardian). This year a number of boys who have been apprenticed to various trades, and earning small wages, have been released for a few weeks in order to go out harvesting. One apprentice who ordinarily earns los a week went out harvesting for 10 days and brought home a cheque for £3 los. Several of the Ashburton High School boys have earned cheques of from £5 to £12 during the vacation.

The largest mat in the world has just been made in the factory of the Sydney Institute for the Blind. It is 45 feet in diameter. Two tons of coir 'were used in its construction The mat has been made to the order of Wirth Bros., circus proprietors, and will fill the arena of their new hippodrome. It was made entirely by blind workers, and shows excellent craftsmanship (says the Sydney Sun). The same workers have turned out many masterpieces of matwork, and several articles were recently purchased by the Museum in. New York. Some of their best work is the red ensign ol the mercantile marine worked right through the mat in all colors. These mats were made for the HuddartParker steamships. THE BRISTOL PIANO CO., LTD. A special visit to Hawera is being made by the Bristol Piano Co.'s warehouse representative, Mr T. L. Shone. During his limited stay there will be offered an absolutely new stock of pianos and organs from the company's bulk stores in Wellington. These instruments —the Broadwood, the Sanies, the Collard and Collard, and others — were selected and imported for Hawera by experts fully cognisant of the needs and tastes of this district. The pianos are offered at "The Bristol" prices—the lowest prices at which instruments of their quality can be offered for sale i.n New Zealand. But during tho present short visit of our representative, particularly easy terms can be arranged.

Our Hawera agents are Purser and Son. High Street. The. Bristol Piano Co.. Ltd., Wellington. M. J. Brookes, North Island manager.

"lam satisfied that there is no splendour in war except the way our men die," writes a New Zealand surgeon who is at the front, | A well-known farmer of the Geral-! dine district (says the correspondent of the Christchurch Press) estimates that the wheat yield for South Canterbury i will average 25 bushels. i The Golden Bay Times states that a very valuable discovery has been made —a lode from 30ft to 100 ft thick, carrying silver, gold and copper in payable quantities. The. prospectors have been sent by the Waihi Company to exj amine the property, and if their report ;is favorable the company will take the matter in hand. j Consignment of frozen meat totalI ling 30,500 freight carcases will be ' loaded by the steamer Essex, which is j now in Auckland. The steamer will | proceed from Auckland to Whangarei !to lift a large quantity of meat, and | will afterwards visit Waitara, Wan- ! ganui and Wellington to complete her j loading. I What is clai ned to be a record juice for sheep was obtained at Tolaga Bay j (says the Poverty Bay Herald), when Messrs Dalgety and Co. sold, on account of Black Bros., Arikihi, 1000 2I tooth ewes—36s realised 28s lid, and . 635 25s 3d. an average of 26s 7d. They j were a splendid line of sheep, weil j woolled Romney cross. This price is ' said to be a record for Poverty Bay, and brings it close up to the price obtained for the celebrated half-breds of . North Canterbury. General Joffre has paid one of the j highest possible honors to a British

woman in conferring the rank of Medi-cine-Major on Dr Helen Sexton. Dr Sexton is directress-in-chief of a hospital at Auteuil, which has been organised and financed by four Melbourne women. Dr Sexton will now rank equal with Dr Louisa Garrett Anderson and Dr Flora Murray, both of whom have been given the honorary rank of major in the Royal Army Medical Corps by Lord Kitchener. Striking evidence of economy in domestic administration is afforded by the returns of butter delivered for local consumption from the Auckland Farmers' Freeaing Company's cool stores (says the Herald). During the period from July 1. 1915, to February 12,1916 the quantity has been 15,022 boxes of 561b each, though during the equivalent period of 1914-15, the quantity was 19,655 boxes. A portion of the city's requirements is met by supplies received through private stores., but the figures given afford a reliable indication of the quantity of factory butter consumed. The shortage has been met to some extent by an increased use of the cheaner "farmers' butter."

The following (says the Dominion) is an extract from a Home letter received by a Wellington resident: —"We have just engaged a nur&e, a charming Scotch lady, IVfiss a who has done some nursing at the front, and is glad of a rest. She says chat her superintendent nurse was shot by a German officer because she refused to turn out British and French and to nurse for them. This seems an eieri more cold-blooded murder thr.n that of poor Nurse Cavell, and I hear that several French sisters were also shot! These horrors did not get into the papers." In England the Government supplements the small pay of the ordinary soldier by adding a sum in proportion to the allowance made by the soldier himself. The amount paid under this head, as told by Mr Lloyd George, runs into over £60,000,000 per annum. In Australia, separation allowances are as under: For wife, Is 5d per diem; for each child under 16 years of age, 4sd per diem; for widowed mother, of whom soldier is the sole support, Is 5d per diem. In. no case, However, is a separation allowance paid beyond the amount which, together with the soldiers , s pay, will exceed 8s a day; in other words, tlie pay for married men and others in the Australian army with widowed mothers is 8s a day, as compared with New Zealand 6s for married men and widowers wifcfc children. The rates of pay and separation allowances for the South African Expeditionary Force are similar to those prevailing in Great Britain. It is said (writes the Daily Chronicle) that the ex-Emperor of China is about to marry one or Yuan Shih Kai's daughters. If so, he will gain a host of new relations, for the Chinese President has no fewer than 26 children. Yuan Shih Kai is described by an admirer as a reincarnation of Talleyrand. Certainly, at the game of ,diplomacy he can beat most contemporary statesmen as easily as Talleyrand could beat those of his own generation. Like Talleyrand, too, he is a mixture of resolution and suppleness, and has a knack of generally finding himself on the winning side. There is, however, one wide divergence between them. Th childless Talleyrand amassed vast wealth, mainly by ways that would not bear inspection. Yuan Shih Kai has never become rich, as Chinese official life goes, although, before hie accession to the Presidency, the upkeep of his family proved a heavy drain on

A bull that had suddenly developed an antipathy to being converted into bovril made things exciting for a time in the vicinity of the Wbangarei Freezing: Works (says the Auckland Star). While awaiting slaughter with other cattle in the paddock, it attacked a passing resident, who sought safety by shinninc to the top. of a convenient rock. Then things began to happen in quick sequence. A lady with a milkpail on her arm came tripping down the track, and the bull charged, again from the ambnsh of a jgorse-biish. The lady screamed, and. throwing the bucket in the animal's face, also gained the sanctuary of the rock, scrambled up, and sat herself beside the man. The next scene opened with the arrival of six butchers from the works, armed with cleavers and axes, bent on slaying the savage where it stood. But the bull was game. It joined battle with a joyous "whoop," scattered its adversaries, and succeeding in forcing three units, to seek refuge on the rock with its first two prisonei's. The animal then mounted guard over them. It had acquired by this time as aspect of monstrous comicality, by reason of the bucket. The utensil had becomo impaled on one long horn, and sat rakishlv on the creature's head like a disreputable bad hat. One eye was obscured, but the remaining optic still glared truculent hatred and cold murder. However, "all's cvell that ends in a laugh." A rifle was obtained, after an interval, and a well-timed shot enabled the rock-dwellers to descend. CHAMBERLAIN'S TABLETS are intended especially for stomach troubles, biliousness and 'constipation, and have met with great success in tha treatment of these diseases. Peoplewho have been sufferers for years from stomach troubles have obtained permanent relief by the use of Chamberlain's Tablets. Chronic constipation may be permanently relieved by the rise of Chamberlain's Tablets. They are the most agreeable of laxatives when the proper dose is taken. —Advt. THOUSANDS CURED BY RHEUMO. Isn't it a greait consolation to know that YOU can be cured of Rheumatism, Gout, Lumbago? RHEUMO will cure you as it has cured thousands of those who once were sufferers. Start the cure to-day—get RHEUMO. 2/6 and 4/6.

There are 286 enemy subjects intern-j ed in New Zealand, Forty-one persons are on parole. I

A London cable states that in the Waterloo Cup (coursing). Harmonious beat Hoosack.

It is reported that Taranaki buyers have been purchasing large quantities of aged breeding ewes in the Hunterville district up to 22s —a record price.

It will be news to business people to know that men going on military service cannot be sued lor debt unless the amount is over £30. It was stated from the Bench at Feilding that such is the position.

It is rumored persistently (says the New Zealand Times) that one of the southern Supreme Court judges desires to retire from the Bench, and that the Attorney-General is likely to fill the vacancy thus caused.

The Post says that during the month ended February 8, 1916, according to a report of the Public Health Committee of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, 44 cases of infectious diseases were notified, as follow: Scarlet fever 26, diphtheria 11, enteric fever 2, blood poisoning 2, infantile paralysis 3.

William Broad, rejected by the New Zealand recruiting authorites as too short, stowed himself away on an Eng-lish-bound ship, working his passage after being discovered on the sixth day. He ended a journey of 10,000 miles at Leicester, his old home, where, to his delight, they accepted him as a "bantam" (says the London Observer).

"It is too much," says General Godley, writing from Gallipoli on December 9, "to expect better delivery of postal matter. If you saw the conditions here you would be surprised, I think, that we are getting as much as we are. Colonel Rhodes has been able to improve and hasten matters a bit."

The fishing in the Rotorua district is exceedingly good this season. Fly-fish-ers in Lake Rotorua, says a correspondent of the Napier Telegraph, have been exceptionally successful. Recently a party of three secured 148 good fish in five hours at Hamurana, and one angler, Mr Moult, obtained 310 in 17 days.

The Auckland Star says that Mr Simpson, a member of the Matamata branch of the Farmers' Union, speaking at the last meeting, said that, in view of the demand that was being made on the farming community in the matter of keeping books, it was desirable that elementary book-keeping be taught in the public schools.

During the hearing of a case at the Magistrate's Court, Wanganui, the other day, when a young woman was charged with placing a used half-penny stamp on a letter, Detective-Sergeant Siddells said that according to the reading of the Act it was an offence to remove an uncancelled stamp once it had been affixed to a letter. He added, however, that the practice was a common one, and he had done it himself.

The Otago Education Board has received a communication from Dr Anderson (Director of Education) to the effect that it is proposed to introduce legislation next session providing that the parent of a pupil, even if a non-resident householder, shall be eligible for election to the school committee of the school attended, so that those most directly interested in a school may have the opportunity to serve on the committee.

A Wairoa settler had an experience with chicken-raising which seems somewhat unusual. A hen sitting on ten Wyandotte eggs came off her nest early on Saturday morning with two chicks. The deserted eggs were found at 2.30, and, thotigh cold, were placed under a hen which would persist'in sitting on nothing in particular. The same evening, when the poultry were being fed, locked up for the night, but next mornshe cam e off and was accidentally locked up for the night, but next morning on being released, she took ur> the hatching process again, and on Monday morning, the duly appointed day, she brought out four healthy birds under circumstances the reverse of favorable.

Masterton farmers are finding seedgrowing a profitable undertaking, and land is now being prepared in various parts of the district for autumn and spring sowings (says the Times). During the past season there has been an unsatisfied demand for Wairarapagrown seed, and this has led many farmers to give seed cultivation their attention. There is undoubtedly a, big future before the Wairarapa in seed production. Some of the best alsyke seed in New Zealand is to be seen growing in the Masterton district. There is a big opening in the Wairarapa for cocksfoot if proper attention is given to its cultivation. Cocksfoot equal to the best grown in Hawke's Bay or on the Akaroa Peninsula can be cultivated in Wairarapa with very little trouble.

The deportation of Bertha Trost som«s time ago as an "undesirable" interested thousands oi people in England who had seen her before the war driving in her eccentric Early Victoria get-up in Hyde Park. She professed great sympathy with wounded Tommies, and took out relays of them for a drive in her sump-tuously-appointed carriage. But when they cane to compare notes it> was discovered that their hostess's curiosity about war derails was apparently quite insatiable. Every Tommy to whom she had talked reported that'she asked him questions all the time. So one day a Scotland Yard detective, disguised as a wounded Tommy, was one of the party, and he answered questions so readily and seemed so surprisingly well informed that Madame Bertha Trost was very anxious to see more of hhn! And she did. But the next time he* appeared in her presence it was in his leal character of detective. It was he who asked the questions this time, and Madame Bertha Trost found herself deported at a moment when deportation was the last thing in the world she wanted.

At the last, cattle show at Islington, London, the King won two firsts and one third in 'the Shorthorn section. In the Devon cattle classes the King's two-year-old heifer Windsor Lily was placed first, while two other of the Royal exhibits were placed third. In the section for Herefords his Majesty had the first, second, third, and fourth prizes. The King won the £25 silver cup for the best Shorthorn with Windsor Gem. In the class for Highland cattle he secured two first prizes, one second, and one third. In the class for Kerry and extra cattle the King secured three first prizes, one second, and also won the £10 cup for the best animal in the small crossbred cattle class. His Majesty gained the championship of the show and the 100 guineas champion plate offered by the lloyal Agricultural Hall Co. for the best beast in the show. His Majesty also took the £50 silver cup for the best heifer. We are positively giving Hawera folk the greatest bargains they ever had. Each week brings a fresh list, and today's prices on dress and Manchester goods .should hurry you along to our sale. Lose no time.—W. Spence, the Economic, Hawera.—Advt. In Brazil here is no middle-class. The people are either rich or poor. When nexx you uafce scones, rolls or cakes, use SHARLAND'S Baking Powder —and watch them rise! Costs less than others —worth more. —Advt.

A number of soldiers who have been on their hnal leave, previous to sailing with the next reinforcements, left for their respective camps this morning.

The South Taranaki Club has decided to give sick and wounded soldiers returned from the front free membership of the Club for a year. The kindly action of the Club wiii no doubt be appreciated by those who have done their "little bit for the Empire.

The ambulance section and longdistance men belonging to tlie Hawera Territorials proceeded to Rangiotu by the express train this morning to commence their annual training under canvas. Other Taranaki units were also on the train. Those men who have not completed their training for the year wilt go into camp on Friday morning, while the main body will lea\e on Monday next.

At St. Mary's Church on Sunday evening, the service was specially arranged to commemorate the great victory of the Russian Army at Erzerum. A Te Deum was sung at the opening of the service and the hymns were specially chosen for the occasion. The vicar, Rev. C. H. Grant Cowen, in an impressive sermon, made reference to the course of the war and the great part taken by our Allies. At the close of the service the National Anthem was sung, and the organist (Mrs King) played the Russian National Anthem.

The Swiss police and Customs officers make a very careful examination of all passengers into Austria to prevent their carrying military news across the frontier (says an exchange). Women spies are very frequently caught. The other day a woman with her arm in splints wept bitterly because the police insisted on undoing her bandages and plaster. The young woman's arm was found to be quite healthy, but wrapped round with military documents. A stranger device was adopted by another woman, who had notes of great military importance written on the skin of her back. The trick was discovered after the woman had been bathed by the female searchers and the rouge and powder with which the writing was covered washed off.

A notable figure in the Maori community, in the person of Hori Te Puni, died on Monday, at his residence, Hutt road, Petone (says Friday's Post). Mr Te Puni, who had been in ill-health for some years, was 72 years of age, and was tlie son of Henare and Rangiwhia Te Puni. He belonged to the Ngatdawa tribe, and was born in Taranaki, afterwards migrating, on foot, with his parents, to Petone. His grandfather, Honiana Te Puni, was a former chief of Pito-one, who welcomed the Europeans to this district. Deceased was well known and higjily esteemed in the Petone district. He was unmarried, but leaves three sisters, a brother, and two nephews.

The People's Journal, a Scottish paper, in referring to Inverness's contributions of men and money to the Empire's cause, says that of a population of 4000, a tenth, or fully 400, have gone as soldiers of the" King. "The regiment in which they naturally enlist," says the writer, "is the 6th Gordons. An incident about this regiment was related by the Duke of Richmond "nd Gordon at a welcome to Gordon heroes returned from the fighting line. The Duke said that at the Convalescent Home attached to the castle there was a youth who had returned wounded*. He told the Duke that he was from Hartlepool, and when asked why he came to be in the Gordons, he replied: "Mv mother said it was the best regiment I could go to."