LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 28 March 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

In reply to representations made to him durmg ills visit to JN'ew Plymouth with, reference to sj)eaciing up the morning train, the Minister of Railways promised to go fully into tne master on his return to Wellington. Dairy factory managers and others interested are reminded that entries for the dairy section in connection with tne forthcoming Dominion Winter Show at Hawera close on Saturday next with, the secretary, P.O. Box 79, Hawera. ; A conference between members of the National Efficiency Board, the associ- ' ated sawniiilers of New Zealand, and re. '; frigerating and dairy companies will be held in Wellington on April 4th (states the Post) to discuss the difficulties that have arisen in connection with the uti I lisation and conservation of white pineT ; | Messrs Mailler and Quereau, in their ' New York circular, dated December 20,1 1917, state: —"Shipping business is far "i from satisfactory. JB'or the past twenty' | days no steamer has been loading for' any Australian port, owing to the prac- ' tical impossibility of getting any prompt ) tonnage. Freight rates continue very firm, and with present condition of ton. nage we can see no prospect of any lower rates for months to come. ti/^" , Gazette Extraordinary dated March 23 states that the maximum price of grass seed and clover seed shall be the standard price thereof on March 11, 1918—that is to say, in I respect to every locality the current price at which on that day goods of the same nature and quality were sale- , able in that* locality when sold in the same quantity and on the same terms as to payment, delivery, and otherwise, j | J. U. Just, who has retired from the head mastership of the Lyttelton ' District High School, has accepted tlu? position of organising secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute, and will visit branches in the Dominion on behalf of a new campaign of educational reform. On Friday last Mr Just was presented with a gold watch by the teachers in the North Canterbury educational district. He has been in the pro-' j fession for 52 years, and has., been staj tioned at Lyttelton for 25 years. For • some time past he has been president of 'the North Canterbury Educational Institute. I > A New Plymouth resident who lias j recently been visiting Opunake, was heard telling a strange story a day or two ago whilst travelling by train (says the Eltham Argus). H e said that round about Opunake there are several utterly disloyal shirkers who openly declare I their disloyalty to the British nation. : He further said that in Opunake it is j common knowledge that there is a little I batch of deserters living in the Forest j Reserve, and that they had ;the daring I coolness to leave their camp in order ; to attend the Opunake races. Some of : these men, he says, are casually emI ployed hy settlers, and the settlers know the class of men" they are employing. As Minister of Labor, the Prime I Minister (Right Hon. TV. F. Massey) | has framed a new set of regulations deaL : ing with the provision of fire escapes, ■! sanitary conveniences, ventilation,' and ' heating appliances.in factories, says the j Wellington Post. Their object is to I provide for the greater comfort of the worker engaged in a factory. The new proposals have now been circulated for j consideration by employers and workers. Already they have been discussed by the Wellington Trades and Labor Council, which has, in a general sense, approved of them. Alterations have j been suggested in one or two directions, notably in regard to the fine to be imposed in the case of a breach. The Minister will be asked to increase that from £5 to £50 Other details will be referred to the Building Trades Commit- ( tee, which the Trades Council proposes ( to bring into being. It' is understood | that the Employers' Federation is also I giving attention to the new regulations. ,The Otago Daily '.limes states that it is understood t-hat a Ifrge oroportipn of members of the Expeditionary Force ;who returned io New Zealand in the j three transports that arrived a few days ; ago did not see a shot fired in the war I but were rejected, after undergoing ■ some training at Sling Camp, as physic- ! ' %, vnpt for active service, according ; to British medical standards. It is said ■ that more than 50 per cent, of the men j who returned by one of the three trans- I ports were thus rejected, and it is un-! , derstood. that over 25 per cent, of the' , men who returned a feur weeks previ'2" sIy e similarly rejected at Home. (The expense to the Dominion of the' | training, transport, and maintenance or these men, numbering several hundreds in all, who according to British standards, should never have been passed as fit for service, must run into a very large sum. Mrs Espagne, of Hawera, has received a letter from her daughter, Mrs Bailey, of London, in the course of which are the following interesting statements concerning life in the great city: -'I know it must be very lonely for you at times, but we all have our troubles, and some poor mothers have had all their children killed in this war not only at the front, but many ramuies have been wiped out by bonibs. We had two very big air raids recently, and in one place quite near the office hundreds were taking shelter *n. a cellar, when a bomb struck the building and set it on fire. Then the nre engines poured water on it, and the poor people were still in the cellar, and those that were not burnt* were drowned—mostly women and babies I think it is terrible. Herbert was attending to a patient all the time the guns were firing. Our place is as safe as any, because one can never tell where they will come. Poor Paris had a bad time in the last raid. We are very short of food, not starving, you j know; bu* we can get no butter, only 2oz margarine, and no dripping, because we cannot get meat. We make soup of rice and lentils and split peas, and we can get potatoes. I bought some eggs at 5s a dozen, and they were like pigeon's eggs, so tiny. Sometimes we can get tea, but we have to be very careful with it. We are allowed i-lb sugar per week." ."Jason" all-wool three-quarter socks with double ribbed tops, are in full supply at The Melbourne. Ltd. This hosiery is guaranteed to keep its color, and, furthermore, is warranted not to shrink. Prices: Size 3 1/9, to size 10 2ill. On sale at all Melbourne, Ltd ! stores. —Advt. ' Sir J. Madden. K.C.M.G., etc., tdeu-tenant-Govevnor and Chief Justice of Victoria, when delivering judgment in a ease in which an inferior substitute had been pushed as "just as good" as the genuine Sander Eucalypti Extract, said : "Whenever an article is commended to the public by reason of its cood quality, it is not -oermissible to imitate an y of its features." and he prohibited further substitution. When using a medicine it is "good miality" that yon want, and Sander's Extract is nlw'av? beneficial. A trial will at once convince you that there is no "just as good." because Sander's Extract is the only eucalpytus preparation prepared exclusively from the leaves; it is snpr-ialiv refined by Sander's nrocesses. and contains no harmful bv-pr^vlnM-s. If vrm use Sander's Extract you will have good and lasting effects.— Advt. Always ready for active service—the "Underwriters" Chemical Fire. Extinguisher. Superior in every way and absolutely reliable. Enquire particu-lars.-—Manning Machinery Co., 188 Cashel Street, Christchurcn.—Advt.

We acknowledge with thanks receipt of the 191/ Year Book from the Government Printer. It is, as always, packed with useful and interesting statistical information. This is the twenty-sixth year of publication of the xear Book. At the sitting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday, members drew lots as to who were to be the three retiring representatives in August. This resulted in Messrs Trimble, Smith and Dixon being the retiring members, who will be eligible for re-election. Mr Dixon told a Star reporter this morning that at present it was his intention not to seek re-election. The Hawera Defence Eifl 6 Club will hold a field day on Saturday next, when the final shoot for the championship belt and the Hallenstein Cup will be fired. There will be a three-range shoot on that day in conjunction with the final shoot, and three trophies will be given in each match, and also three trophies for tyros only. The trophy for the aggregate for the day will be the cup presented by Mr B. C. Lysaght, Motfoia. Special handicaps have been declared, and the club is looking forward to having a successful shoot. Visitors are I cordially invited to attend. Shooting :is to commence at 9.30 o'clock. The trophies are on view at Messrs Blair and Sellar's. Last Sunday the Presbyterian Bible Classes and Sunday school were asked to send any contributions of clothes they might have suitable for the Main I Trunk sufferers to the Patriotic Depot on Monday. The response was such that Mrs Frisk and Mrs Westwood ' were able to pack twelve sacks of garments and despatch them on Tuesday j morning. The packers wish to thank [the children and all their friends who • so generously sent contributions. ' The following winners, who have not yet communicated with the secretary, F. Burgess, Box 180, Hawera, are asked to do so urgently: Weight' of sheep on "Big Push" Day, 481b—Mrs E. A. Taylor (Mokoia), Mr A. Ward (Okaiawa), and. Mr F. Willcocks (Inaha) tied with correct weight. Pair of pictures (Tokaora stall) —Mrs J. Winks and Miss Chadwick. Cake, 141b 6Joz (Tokaora stall) —Mrs C. Rawlinson, 141b 6oz. Silver sugar basin—Mr E. Barnes. In relating the splendid war service of New Zealand ladies at Home, the Rev. H. N: Roberts informed his audience at Woolston on Saturday night that on one occasion he came upon a . huge motor car, with a pair of little legs sticking out from it, says the Press. Knowing that there must be something attached to the legs, he made further investigation, and out wriggled a young lady in overalls^ covered with grease and grime. She said: "How do you do, Mr Roberts ?" and seeing the look of 'surprise which' came over his face, she added: "I used to play golf with you at Shirley." It was only then j that, under her begrimed disguise, ne recognised the daughter of a well-known and highly-respected citizen of Christchurch. ; . The remarkable spectacle of pickets at a church was witnessed at Brompton, near Adelaide recently a following upon a trouble which had arisen owing to the action of the Methodist Conferonce in deciding to remove the Rev. Albert Morris from the charge of the local church, after two years' service and against the almost unanimous wish of the congregation (says the Sydney Morning Herald). On the occasion of the referendum Mr Morris took the platform, as an anti-conscriptionist, notwithstanding that most of the Methodist ministers ardently supported compulsory military service. Mr Morris has been allotted no church elsewhere. Great indignation prevails in Brompton. A service conducted by a minister from another circuit was attended by only thirteen worshippers, and Sunday school had to be abandon- | cd. The stewards refused to officiate. Members expressed a, determination to.' ; stand by the pastor against the con- , ference. . Farmers throughout Southland" are now beginning to feel the effects oi the long-continued spell of dry weather, and many dairy farmers who depended ! upon windmills for,supplying water to , their herds are now carting water oi driving their cows to water courses. There has been practically no wind during the past month (writes the j Southland correspondent of the Dune I din Star), and * windmills ' have been , useless. Root crops and rape are both , beginning to show signs of the dry j spell, and rain is urgently required to , restore them to their crreen color. For gathering the harvest Southland farmers have had the best season since 1892, and grain, both oats anS. wheat, has gone into the stack in perfect color and condition. There is hardly any crop left in stook now. and samples of grain being submitted to merchants in Invertcargill are excellently conditioned. In the Winton district, a good deal of grain is already threshed out, and so far yields have been fully up to the farmers' expectations. Up to 60 bushels of wheat and over a hundred for oats to the acre nave been reported by growers. Of course there are some bad crops, but these are far and few between this season. Writing editorially on the subject of the compulsory retention of public servants whose period of service allows them to retire, the Katipo, the official organ of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association, says—"So far from the Department offering to pay what is due, compulsory retention is,being used as a cloak for dodging payment of what is already long overdue. If rumour serves us correctly, it is beinp used for something more. We all know that the amendment which "made compulsory retention possible relieved those compulsorily retained from paying further contributions to the Superannuation Fund. This little annual bonus of fifty pounds or more is apparently not enough for some of the men1 (presumably) retained. They have persuaded the Department to seek a ruling from the Crown Law Office as to whether they can legally suspend payment of contributions to the Superannuation Fund until jthe period of compulsory retention is ended (six months. after the termination of the war), and then keep their jobs by continuing: their contributions again. What the ruling will be we can only guess, but as to what it should be we have no two opinions. If what it hannens to be and what it should be do not coincide^ we foresee some very stormy passages between those who would keep the service cribbed, cabined, and confined, and those who feel that just and lawful o^nortunitv is beine filched from them. In +Ti« meantime, we cannot withhold a measure of admiration at the cool calculation of those responsible for such a ruling being: sought. They ought to be well satisfied in having the service nn "•'n way it is without trvino- to destroy the key." Ladies, come and see these highclass goods at pre-war prices. Dr Jaeger's Celebrated Pure Wool Underwear: Ladies' singlets. 7s lid 8s 6d, 10s 6d, 12s (3d. 15s, 16s 9d, 18s 6d; combinations, 25s 6d, 27s 6d, 29s 6d, 32s 6d; bodices, 9s lid. 10s 6d, Us 6d; pnencers, 11s 6d; knickers. 7s lid. 8s fid, 9s 6rl, 10s 6d, lls 6d, 12s 6d. There is nothing better than Dr Jaegers pure wool goods. J. C. Gillett. Sole Agents.—Advt. CHAMBERLAIN'S PAIN BALM. An antiseptic liniment, especially valuable for cuts, bruises, burns, sprains, swellings, lame back and rheumatism. Sold everywhere.—Advt.

According to a cablegram the profit made by the Bank of Australasia for the past year was £323,300. "If a family moves from one school to another, in any district, and take with them all their school books, the Board of Education or Department will supply or pay for any new set of books required by pupils/ said Mr Murray, a memb*er of the Auckland Education Board, when the uniformity | or standardisation of books for schools ; was under consideration by the School ■ Committees' Association, and probably ' to many of the public the information ' given by Mr Murray will come as a pleasant surprise. . j The registration of Maoris under the '■ Military Service Act having been almost completed, it will soon be possible to bring the Act into operation as applied to Maoris (says the Post). The Defence Minister stated on Monday that unless the Waikatos volun-. tarily enlisted as the other tribes had done., it would be necessary to bring the Act into operation. He hoped that this would not be necessary, but he considered that it was his duty to see that there was fair play as among the different tribes of Natives. The number of Maori reinforcements required is |75 men per month. In the course of speeches at Bombay and Mangatawhiri last week, the •Prime Minister referred to the present period of the war as the most difficult one in the whole struggle (says the Auckland Star). Nobody could at present predict that the end of the war was in sight. It was an anxious and trying time, for enthusiasm had to a certain extent "iven place to war weariness. We had now to set our teeth in grim determination, and' hang on until the enemy admitted he had had enough and' cried for quarter. Qf one thing he was absolutely confident, no matter what signs of weakening there might be in some auarters, and that was that there would be no sheathing of the sword until Germany had been brought to her knees, and Great .Britain and her allies could dictate terms. Britain, France, America, Italy and some of the smaller allies were standing resolutely together, and there could be no doubt as to the result, no matter* , what temporary clouds darkened the outlook,. "I take the.responsibility of saying we are goino- on until we are able to say to Germany, 'You must reduce your army and, your navy, and give us guarantees of reparation for some of the injuries you have inflicted ' And I say further," went oh the Premier, "we must also demand of Germany, for it is a matter which vitally aliects these dominions overseas, 'You must kejer) out of the Pacific in future We don't want you here.' (Hear hear.) I say then, and not unjfl, will the time arrive for the discussion of peace." (Loud applause.)