LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 17 January 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

■ ■ I Fishing off the wharves is to be prohibited in .Auckland, j The value of building permits issued by the borough engineer durjug thS past month was £710. , The Auckland Red Cross Fund organised by the Citizens' Committee has closed with a total of £58,206. I The town clerk reported to the Borough Council last night that the following stock "were slaughtered during the month :-^-ol cows, 36 heifers, 216 sheep, 245 lambs, 13 calves. 48 pigs. The fees totalled £48 17s 9d, an increase of £7 5s 9d compared with the corresponding, month of last year. The diphtheria epidemic in the Southland Health District shows no abate- ' ment. During December 111 cases were notified, This represents (states i the Southland Times) an increase of I tour over the November notifications ' and ten over those for October. Last month's figures, though, fall short of September's, when the record number of 123 diphtheria cases were notified. I "We have had no rererendum nonsense," said Professor Trueblood, of ' Michigan University, United States, , in an address on the war. "My wife and I were in Australia during that cam--1 paign, and it was pitiful to see th* , hostile spirit jtvaged between the two i parties and the sectarian animosity that was aroused in some of the States jof the Commonwealth. Instead of that ■ we followed your example and. offered ■ a selective conscription law, which wa# i at once acceDted.

Mr G. A. Wilkinson, wlien picnicking at Urenui beach, had (the Eltham Argus is informed) a narrow escape from drowning. He was gathering \ mussels from the rocks during an incoming tide, when a big wave washed him off the rocks into deep water. Fortunately he was not alone and assistance was quickly given to him. Had he been alone it is very questionable whether he could have regained a footing on the rocks.

A certain County Council not a hundred miles from Ohristchurch (says the Press), has lately been in receipt of many uncomplimentary remarks from the travelling public on account of the state of a piece of road under its- control. The road in question had been metalled and the sides ploughed ready for grading when work ceased, the explanation, which was taken with, a pinch of salt, being that labor was not available. Such seemed to he the case, however, wlien on a recent date, and much ±o the amusement of travellers generally, a traction engine driven by the county clerk, and steered by the county chairman, was observed busy grading and rolling the piece of highway that had caused so much firelike language. The officials having proved to be adept at the work, the result ha^ been a decided improvement in the language often heard in the vicinity

Everything has its uses, and even the hot and dry nor'-westers.. which popularly used to be a curse in Canterbury, would be particularly handy just now, and would benefit the district to the extent of thousands of pounds (^ys the Christchurch Sun). Their blast, in fact, would be welcomed, as far as the crops are concerned, for, particularly in the case of wheat and oats in stook, a drying wind is needed which would penetrate into the sheaves and restore them to the required condition. In fact, hot and dry weather, as distinct from muggy conditions, is now urgently required for ripening the grain, and also, of course, for the shearing. Until a few days ago, harvest operations had! commenced in earnest, not only in the case of oats, but also for wheat, which is now looking splendid in most districts. A tour f*F Ashburton a few days back fully illustrated this, and here the effect of recent winds in the direction of levelling crops was not apparent.

In connection with the electricallycontrolled boat, which it was announced had been destroyed off the Belgian coast a little time ago, the following information has been supplied officially by the British Admiralty — "The electrically-controlled motor-boats used on the Belgian coast are twin petrol-engmed vessels partially closed in and travel at a high speed. They cany a drum with between thirty and ntty miles of insulated single core cable, through which the boat is controlled electrically. The fore-part carries a considerable charge of high explosive, probably from 300 to 500 1b in weight. After the engine has been started the crew leave the boat. A seaplane, protected by a strong ngnting patrol, then accompanies the vessel at a distance of three to five miles and signals to the shore operator the helm to give th o vessel. Th« boat is zig-zagged while running- this may b e <^4ier intentional or unintentional. On being steered into a shin the charge is exploded automatically. The device is a vory old one. A boat similarly controlled was used in ri.M.S Vernon (the torpedo experimental ship) as far back as 1885. The only new features in tne German boats are petrol engines and W-T signals, neither of which existed then.

I have received a cheerv lotto written from thc-front bv Ui<Tex-iio-ne Secretary (Sir John Simon), who ga'U up an income of £20,000 a year, earned at the Bar, to serve his country in t n* held; writes Sir Henry Lucy in tn~ Sydney Morniiig Herald. There has been no moaning at the Bar' at my departure," he writes, "but I mean to come back when this is over and resum» my old habits. I'm amused to see ni\ good friends Hogge and Pringle arl making merry at my 'staff' job. In point of fact, I'm going round squadrons and wings, and thev are welcometo share my experiences of bombs and shells before Ypres. All I stipuk, was that I should not be given a layer s job in the field. I think I shall end as a balloonist and come down -• a parachute, like the ladies in nmk tights, who start from the Crystal Palace. At any ra te, I've got lot fi to learn and plenty to do, and although the army is not a-paying occupation, they open an account for you at O ■ without asking your leave, and give you a sovereign a day."

Commenting editorally .on the return to office of the lit. Hon. W. M. Hughes, the Sydney Morning Herald states: —"To attack Mr Hughes now is to play Germany's game; because he can only carry on as he is trusted. He must be given the fullest possible chance of showing himself capable of giving a great lead. If he is challenged at every turn, reviled, and buffeted, the Empire may lack our cooperation as effectively as though Mr Tudor had been sent for and was now preparing to overhaul the electoral machinery for another general election. We dare not face a critical situation in snoh terms, nor can we assume that Mr Hughes has no right to be Prime Minister again. He ha s every right, constitutional and moral, now that the Governor-General has sent for him . nnd while we may think that ho should have effaced himself, yet fairnlay vocfuires that the lendor'of the National ■party no allowed directly to speak in. his own defence."

On the Hawera bowling green yes- ( terday afternoon, in a match for the challenge ferns, the holders—Anderson {sub.), Graham Atiamson and xtobb-rwere defeated ■by Goodwin, Were, Foden and Spence by 28 to 11 points. The poundkeeper (Mr W. Davidson) reported to the Borough Council last ! nigttt that 19 horses, 2 bulls, and 8 cows were impounded for the quarter ended December 31. Double guards with orders to shoot on sight any intruders have been placed at the army post stables, Vancouver, and other points, owing to the discovery of evidence indicating a plot to disable army animals. Several mules were crippled within the last few weeks by the insertion of needles into their joints. These mules were so badly hurt I that they were shot. j Appearing on behalf of a reservist : iin the Cl camp a solicitor stated to ! the Third Wellington Military Service lioard that a man had been suffering j from tuberculosis for some years, and j he did not see how he could ever be lit to serve in the trenches. Mr M.\ J. Mack, (a member of the board): "I know a man who was absolutely given i try the doctors on account of tuberj culosis, but he has been at the front two years, and it has cured him." j Appealing to the Third Wellington Military Service Board for exemption from service, a country resident wrote stating that he was a married man and had eight children (states, the Post). A little later in his letter he stated that all the children were under the age of 14 years. • As the appellant did not attend or i'urnish any proor of the number and age of his children the board.had no option but to dismiss . the appeal. It is not likely, however, that the appellant will be sent into camp in th« immediate future. London advices state that Sir Douglas Mawson, referring in an interview to the statement that the ex-Antarctic ship Aurora (which has since been posted "missing" by Lloyd's) had disap- ' pea-red in southern waters, said:—"if the Aurora is lost it must be due to a ' submarine attack. She proved her

seaworthiness by navigating 30,000 miles in the foulest weather, during the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. She was the finest boat afloat for Polar exploration work." The younger generation of New Zealand may suppose that the m>lit;cal interest of the Dominion in Samoa commenced with, the seizure of the Islands in 1914. This i s far from being the case. As early as 1883 Sir George Grej' introduced a bill with a view to incorporating Samoa with New Zealand, all the leading chiefs desiring such a union. The bill was necessarily reserved for the Royal assent, and was deferred by the Colonial Office, leadng the New Zealand Herald to complain whimsically two years later that "the chances now are that the bill will remain for us, but Samoa will belong to Germany." It is to hoped that this prediction will not be justified a second time. The gratifying announcement was made by.Mr Chapman at last week's meeting of the Hastings Borough Council that the Municipal Theatre would pay its own way without costing the .ratepayers a penny piece. The regular expenditure of the theatre, interest, sinking fund, insurance, caretaker's wages, etc., amounted to something: about £25 a week, and it w*s a matter of great satisfaction that the*«

expenses wer e all being met. "It is a great thing," he added, "to think that the people of Hastings and district have the comfort of such an up-to-date theatre without the prospect of pacing an extra penny by way of rates." One of the most tragic stories of the war-—of a mother who came home from India to see her son, only to learn from a casual glance at a newspaper on arrival that he had been killed—wag told at an inquest at Hornsey.on Mrs Mabel Hyde, says the Daily 'Express. Mrs Hyde, a_ widow, who had lived in India for a long time, came home to •see her son, an officer in the R.F.C., from whom she was separated for eight years. While she was on the voyage her ,son was killed, and^is name appeared in the casualty list the day his mother landed at Southampton. On the way to London a fellow-pas-senger offered Mrs Hyde a newspaper, and, turning it over idly, she saw the announcement of her son's death. From Waterloo she went to the War Office, where the news was confirmed, and then she went to a. sister's house at Muswell Hill, where she spent a sleepless night. The next day she made her wiJl, wrote a number of farewell letters, and at night took the whole contents of a bottle cf tabloids which contained poison. A verdict of "suicide while of unsound mind" was returned. Private Nicholas is the tenth New Zealauder to win the Victoria Cross. The first in order is Captain W. J. Hardham, who won it in South Africa in 1901, and afterwards served with distinction at Gallipoli, where he was severely wounded. The second is Sergeant C. R. G. Bassett. of Auckland, who gallantly repaired telephone lines at Chunuk Bair in broad daylight under heavy fire on August Bth, 1915. The third recipient of the honor was the late Sergeant Donald Forrester Brown, of Oamaru, for conspicuous gallantry in the Somme battle. The fourth was Lieutenant-Commander Sanders, of Auckland (since deceased) who won the award for naval service. The V.C. was also awarded to Lance-Corporal Samuel Frickleton,' a West Coast miner, who won it during his second period of service with the Expeditionary Force for attacking machine-guns, and Sergeant Leslie Andrew, of Wanganui, who, single-handed, captured two enemy machine-guns and one gun. The Cross has also been won by Brig— General P. C. Freyberg. Wellington, serving with the Imperial Forces, and the late Cap tain A. J. Shout, Wellington, and the late Private Thomas Cooke, Wellington, serving with the Australians. In the latest casualty list the following Taranaki names appear:—Killed in action: H. Earp (M. Earp. New Plymouth, mother), C. R. Watkins (M. E. Watkins, Stratford, mother). Died of wounds: P. W. Lincham (J. Lincham, New Plymouth, mother). Previously reported wounded, now reported not wounded: Corporal F. Baker (A. Baker Rahotu, father). Wounded: K. B. Garland (J. E. Garland, Hillsborough, father). Wounded, admitted to hospital: V. H. Mills (J. Mills, Hawera, mother), Lane -Corporal C. T. Stephens, (C. 'i'. Stephens, Midhirst, father), J. P. O'Sullivan (D. O'Sullivan, Opunak-j, father). Previously reported wounded, now reported slight! wounded, remaining with unit: Seiv.ant J. P. Glentworth (H. Glentworin. Urenui, father). The hospital repo': •• on tains the following names: —SenVv•■■!;.- ill: T. J. Surgenor (Manaia). So: •.■:■>■ cupps: R G. Moverley (New P:v,r.,,>:th), M. Metcaffo (Waverley). ><>i severe cases: A. E. Corkill, ('■<..':■!., W. W. Gibb

(Eltham), W. 0. r.raham, C. E. Hadland (Inglewor :i .T. L King (Now Plymouth), C. Ti. \.-.irk\ntr (New Plymouth). G. T.. \--).-<. (Tnglewood), M.. B. O'Grady :>i ! ■'~ Roonoy. Police-brnc^\ ■■ 0 a priir. nt the Melbourne Ltfi, Other "braces correspnii!l?!i"!v lo\- !-".'>v instnnff: Boys' «Jl.-o;v£ !>i-.'.<■•!'<■ : viair; Men's oxtra •vti-oTitr Sp.tik- ■; ; -.fcs. 1/0 and 2/11 '. !.:i!!-; f!.-'i!ni;i' ■ ■'-.' -v Pr.'sidoiit braces, j :V0 iKiir •. T'-' ~.' ~■ ],;.] + •?, club col-.

Before harvesting commenced there was some doubt as to whether the necessary labor would be available (says a Southern paper). Reports indicate that the supply of men is greater than tho demand. The experience of the Department of Labor is that, after having brought to the notice of farmers that the Department would endeavor to supply labor, it is now unable to place all-the men who are willing to work. In Auckland there is a surplus of labor, both ordinary and volunteer, and in other places also there is little indication of a shortage.

The Auckland Herald says:—"Pe: emptory notices in Queen street \vs*~ pedestrians that, under a penalty of £20, they must do certain awu.

must not do other things. One of the mandatory things is to walk on the right side of the footpath, one of tho.prohibited is to loiter. Yet there is probably no other street of the same importance in the world whose oev.

so persistently walk on the left side or in the middle, or ziz-zag from side to side, and there is no other street which is so badly blocked by loueie

An important proposal, and one which is of considerable interest to this country, has recently been made in France by M. Marc Reville. The proposal is to the effect that immediately upon the conclusion of the war, the French Government should arrange for the manufacture in France of 25,000 farm tractors representing a, small series of types suitable for various classes of work. These would be placed at the disposal of the agricultural community upon the easiest possible terms, pro-, vision being made for paying by instalments. Local depots would be established at different centres. These would be staffed so as to be thoroughly competent to deal with all work appertaining to repair, overhaul, or maintainance. Doubtless, they would provide for the technical training of farmers and their men. The depots would also take charge" of adequate stocks of parts, which would be retailed at reasonable prices controlled by the Government. M. Reville states that the i employment of these .tractors in place of the machinery and animals formerly used would lead to an annual saving of 40,000,000 working days among farmers and agricultural laborers, thus having the effect of immensely increasing the available man-power," and also j of filling the deficiency in the number of draft animals. The scheme has received the favorable consideration of i the French Chamber of Deputies.

"I would like very much if the department would be a little easy on us this season in the matter of cutting tmstles," said^Mr Robertson when acting as spokesman of a deputation which waited on the Right Hon. Mr Massey at Middlemarch on Saturday (says the Otago Daily Times. The speaker went on to say that the farmers in the district had no desire that the penal clauses of the Noxious W-eeds Act should be suspended, nor that tne farmers should abstain from keeping the thistles in check, but, he iSdi*l, we are working twelve hours every day, and still cannot cope with the most essential work on ijae farm We would like the Act toned down a little." Mr Mason pointed out that the root crops in the district were being neglected owing to the scarcity ot labor, and it could not therefore be expected that the destruction of Calrfornian thistles could receive the attention which the department desired they should. He knew of one farmer who had been threatened with a summons if he did not comply with the command of the Agricultural Department s officer to destroy thistles growing on his property. Mr Massey, as a practical farmer, grasped the position msantly, and replied: "I will see to

lou have all, no doubt, read in the newspapers the report of the British .Prime Minister's recent speech," said Mr Massey at Southbridge the other day (reports the Chiistehurch Press) Most of us agree with the spirit of tne speech, and are in thorough accord with the principles laid down, even if T 6i c-° t not aSree -iviT7£ ali the details." A lot had been heard about peace proposals from men who ought to have known better. There were some who suggested that Germany should be allowed freedom of the seas and be permitted to carry on unrestricted commerce with the British Empire. Jt would never do to allow that. (A voice: No.) It had also been suggested that the inhabitants of occupied territories should be allowed by means of a plebiscite to say which nation they should be ruled by in the future. New Zealand was most concerned about bamoa, which had been the headquarters of the German fleet in the Pacific "We don't want them back again,"' said Mr Massey emphatically. "I would be prepared to trust the natives of Samoa to say which flag they would live under provided there was no German gold or German influence to affect their decision. Gold is a gr<*it power amongst the natives, it is not a fair question to ask a native race whether they would prefer to be under German or British rule. The natives of Samoa are not the only people concerned in this matter. Why should we not have a say with regard to the future government of Samoa? I nope this point will.,not be overlooked when peace proposals are entered upon."