LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 1 June 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Feilding electric system is in a bad way, and the Star says is getting as shaky as the Hindenburg line. The difficulty seems to be deficient power, and it is suggested that in order to economise the street lighting might be switched off at 10.30 or 11 in order to make a saving. Each sitting of the Wanganui Borough Council ha s before it letters from ocher bodies conveying resolutions concerning Government or war measure matters. The Council (says the Herj aid) has made a practice'of not discussing the contents, but merely ''receives" the letters. The Hon. IV. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, states that the Government is continuing public works taken in hand during the financial year which ended on March 31 last, on which date the Minister had £180,000 in hand unallotted for roads and bridges. Mr Fraser intends asking the Government to continue its present policy in connection with public works, and hopes that Parliament will agree and make the necessary grants. Twenty-seven boards of farm trustees, under the National Efficency Board, have now been created in the Auckland provincial district. To show that the system of fostering soldiers' farms is not costly to the State, MiArthur Gillies informed the Farmers' Conference that, though the scheme had been in operation for three months, the travelling expenses and salaries paid to trustee boards, including his own expenses as supervisor, had been only £12 10s 4d. The monthly meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance Union was held in Wesley Hall on Thursday afternoon. Mrs Bone presided, and there wa3 a good attendance of mem- | bers. It was decided that a Loyal i Temperance Legion be started by the I ;' T1i°«- Much regret was expressed at Mrs Browne's departure to New Plymouth. The meeting was closed with I the Benediction. For a long time the best variety of pea, to grow has been that known as the ' "Prussian Blue." Patriotic people who, m response to requests from the Efficiency Board, are planting small areas in vegetables have been exercised about the Prussian Blue. It has been hoped a Royal ukase or something would order a change in the name. But no change is needed. Mr H. Tolley stated at the Feilding Chamber of Commerce meeting this week (the Star reports) that a new variety on the market had beaten the Prussian all round. It was a more prolific cropper and better in every way; It is named the Imperial' Blue Th« Prussian is ousted. A recent visitor to the Urewera Country states that five or six of the prophet" Rua's wives are now living in a group of very decent little houses, patiently awaiting the "prophet's" return at the conclusion of the term of imprisonment which he is now undergoing. They are evidently well provided for, and their homes show evidences of prosperity and respectability, me women's sanctuary is strictly guarded from undesirable visitors by the old Moari law of tapu, which forms a sufficient protection to ensure the satety of the prophet's wives from any molestation The tapu only affects the batch of houses set apart for the women, where no Maori man is allowed to go The grass-widows themselves are allowed full liberty, and are not themselves tapu.

Driving the enemj is not the only th%& *ha* is c°mins out from I itaiy. Ihe Italians are credited with having invented, a method of making bread direct from wheat without grindmg !t. After being well washed, the wheat is soaked m warm water for three days, by which time it has become quite soft The grain can be kneaded ™ I \ o. roWy way, made into loaves, %L S ak!? a/ ter > in« allow^ to rise. ' Bread made in this way has a much higher food value than the ordinary article, as even the husk has T* S ietf tlc qualities. The wheat should be of good quality for this Pro-ce-ss, and of course should be free from dirt, seeds or other species of grain, iience, although no grinding h needed the processes which precede this operation must be carried out

Writing to his relatives in Master- %{. * WairaraP,a soldier, who left < h m L Australl?n Imperial Force says: ihis experience has brought home to me more than anything #lse opuld have done the vast powir of England ponderously slow to start in motion, but once roused of inconceivable tenacity and of an almost majestic strength. On our weekly route march when passing through villages, to see the women crowding to the doors and windows to view us and to see the Red Woss on the windows, indicating that husband or sons are with the colors or gone west' is a revelation of uncom- £ off n?Ji erois-, m- ,Hardl y a house but is affected, and only too often one sees tno black which means a casualty. The 10-mmies, too, are such genuinely goo d tellows, and are so pitifully anxious to make some return to the chance and casual hospitality of our troops. It seems possible that in days to come there , s a promising future for the small farmer m this country. Condi! fZ S are CT° + ming his wa7 as never be- £ on" "ij- \ s a conviction common nYain £h &0-° n; You cannot explain why, you simply sense it. Engwhl M Un haS I not ?et 6et < n°r will it wi th%^°Pk z™ of the same pattern as those of to-day."

A t ,n<mjl, and simple scheme which SatTof'of h^- r making with the generation of electrical energy at i ■ me; Mr J- W. Hmton, who has been m charge of some important p Sc works in New Zealand. Mr HinWs scheme is to enclose an area of water !SP"» lm»XT two square mile** by means of concrete piling. Mr Hinton tS +nklknvat' s «)u'd be generated by 13 mr h' eqi^ralent to approximately Reaper electricnlc-nVrrnt power ft oS l,Pr? vide liehtine «"d I Sosp/ Si J rhor and eoneral purland 'woulV\ larp:O BT M of claimed iana woula be reqmrod tho snm "s°ed w i e t c™e™ Vr ly aml'-™-"" short Km W 3 r°nay itp<i!f in a vow raised on the system of profjr^s navwent on. a Vnrho- r--.^T-, iP tod on fo?ir^o naturnl nutlet' n7X» \r -frOTn d'st'-'ets ns far south vL ?r lte, SUre that the scheme I I "i- and 2a^?r would *row into : fo. SS V^ Hl Wlth accommodation tor deep-sea liners at all times."

The Star will be published on Monday next (King's Birthday). The vital statistics for Hawera for May were as follows: Births 20, deaths 9, and marriages o. The schools in the Taranaki Education Board's district break-up for the term holidays to-day. Tuesday, June 12, is the date fixed ior re-assemb]y. The jubilee! of the opening of tl:e Thames goldfields will be celebrated on August Bch. His Excellency the Governor has been invited to attend the celebrations. The secretary of the Hawera Citizens' Band, Mr John G. Osborne, desires to acknowledge the receipt of the following amounts on behalf of the widow and family of the late C. E. Hobbs: Mrs Pease, £1; A Friend, 3/-. The usual Red Cross Assembly was held in the Foresters' Hall last night, and proved very enjoyable. The floor was in first-rate order. The music was supplied by Mr N. Kirk, while Mr R. Roberts acted as M.C The Dardanelles stall to-morrow will be conducted on behalf of the Dominion Gift Barceis scheme. Mesdames Tait and Bone will be in cnarge. They will be grateful for donations of produce of any kind, or of flowers or money. Considering that Denmark is a strictly neutral Power, she is nevertheless suffering many of the disadvantages of a belligerent. Thus the use of motor cars is forbidden between 12 (noon) and 6 p.m., and at other times the maximum distance they may travel on week days is 25 miles, and nine miles on Sundays. On Wednesday, June 6, a grand patrdtic concert will be given by the Opunake Musical Society in the 'Town Hall. Among the performers will be the Rev. H. Papakakura, of Opunake. The programme will be very good, and should attract a large audience, especially as the proceeds are for Red Cross purposes. Sir James Allen, in replying to a deputation at Milton for the six o'clock closing of hotel bars, said they were really face to face with a much bigger question than simply closing at six o'clock in the evening. He would vote for a reduction in the hours if he could get nothing else, but he would give no pledge to vote for six o'clock closing until he knew^ if it would put the solcHer and civilian on the same footing. He did not think it wise to make a distinction between them. That the German effort to stir up sedition in India earlier in the war was fostered and assisted by the Germans in China was illustrated in an episode related by the Rev. \V. Mawson, a Presbyterian missionary, who has worked in •Canton for thirteen years (says the New Zealand Herald). He stated that on one occasion a shipment of timber which was leaving Shanghai for Calcutta attracted suspicion. The timbers were split open, and found to be hollow, and to contain small arms. The Postal Department intimates that the prohibition against posting books, packets, and newspapers to the United States and dependent territories, except through news agents and. publishers, is again imposed. Newspaper publishers and agents who desire to send packets of newspapers to the United States, unless they have alI ready had a permit, must apply to the Chief of the General Staff, Defence Department, Wellington, for a permit empowering the despatch of newspapers and book packets. Any permit already issued to a publisher or news agent is to be regarded as revived and in force. "Your name is Mrs Terry?" said counsel for tho defence in a case heard in the Wanganui Supreme Court to a witness. "Yes," said the witness. You are the husband of this gentleman?" indicating the accused. "No," replied witness, I'm his wife," and the j Court smiled. Later on, counsel asked witness if she had had a dog with her on a certain occasion, and she replied in the affirmative. "Did the dog go with your husband?" asked counsel. How could he, when he was with me!" replied witness, again amidst smiles — Herald.

A great effort is being made in England to meet the agricultural situation resulting from the shortage of labor Some 2000 motor tractors have been brought into operation and are to work night and day during the ploughing season. This means that relays of drivers wquld be necessary and to obtain these car drivers and motor cyclists are being urged to volunteer their services The rate of pay fixed by the Board of Agriculture for drivers of the motor tractors is 4s per shift of eight hours, with a bonus of sixpence per acre ploughed Week-end service is asked for from motorists who could not get away by the week. A section of Battersea Park London, has been set apart as a training ground, so that motorists may obtain some experience in this class of work. In the Hedgehope (Southland) district there are 25,000 acres of rough country set apart for landless natives ihe member for Mataura has urged to have the area made available for settlement, but the Departmental report is against any action being taken during the war. It was stated that the land was rabbit-infested and overgrown with noxious weeds. One of the owners informs .the Western Star that the .and is nearly all covered with virgin bush, some of which is already aken up for sawmilling. Also that the Mokonui coal seam runs through vlj.l- c de Precates the action of belittling the land therefore depreciating its value, the natives would be willing to dispose of the land for soldiers' farms.

. In a private letter received in Fielding, an English ]ady describes the effort required to live within the food restriction regulations in Britain The of m XV re: H lhs,- meat > 41bs- bread or 31bs flour, and fib. sug ar per week. VVe have managed very nicely, I am glad to say. Sometimes we have one or two potatoless days (that is when we have curry with rice) and one meatless day. "Roast duck" made of haricot beans! It really is scrumptious. On one ot the curry days we have cod roes curned. Bacon and poultry are included m the 2jlbs. meat, so i' can tell you it means some management, lhe cook now uses half flour and half ground rice for roly-poly. It is quite yOU CAN DEPEND ON IT wil] not only be benefited, but you will be safe from the harmful effects of the common eucalyptus. The importance of this is brought home forcibly by the report m the Melbourne Age, sth August. 1916 of poisoning of about 30 &V&1& ©JjadlPtua lolli«8. SAXDER'S bXIKACT. sniffed up the nose, and three drops on sugar, prevents meningitis and all other infectious diseases. Applied to ulcers, wounds burns sprains, eczema, it gives prompt relief and cures permanently. It is VieneSeial m so many affections that no household can afford to be without it. Specially refined and prepared by Sanders process, it has no harmful by-effects You Barraclough's Progandra quickly cures corns.—Advt. r^, rellevin IS cowghs and colds "NAfiUL goes straight to the seat of the .rouble. Penetrating, soothing, germfc.xty doses cost only Is tkl.— RHEUMO rapidly relieves Rheumat sra, Gout. Lumbago, Sciatica. Try it tow —it, seldom fails to cure.—Advt.