LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 5 June 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Australian war pensions now total 215,005, involving an annual liability of £5,109,232, states a Melbourne cable".

The Minister for Defence stated yesterday that a preliminary enquiry has been held- by the. military authorities into the circumstances surrounding the explosives accident during the Scouts' encampment at Trentham, a Wellington message says. As a result of this preliminary enquiry, a full enquiry has now been ordered.

An earthquake which occurred at the Friendly Islands on April 30 was followed by a tidal wave, estimated to be eight feet high, which did considerable damage on Haapai. Vavau and Nukualofa escaped damage. The extent of the damage on Haapai is not known, the only information having been received by natives in the other groups. It is understood no lives were lost.

An indent agent called on an Invercargill fancy goods firm last week and solicited orders for German goods which he said were awaiting shipment when shipping was available. The local firm, astounded at the offer, simply laughed. The indentor did not visit any other firms. The attention of the Mayor of Invercargill was drawn to the matter. He said that it was astounding that such things should go on. Hostilities had not officially ceased, and the agent's efforts amounted to trading with the enemy.

A speaker at a Farmers' Union meeting at Wyndham gave a notable instance of the wonderful change in property effected by dealing properly with rabbits (says an exchange). The laiid had been badly infested -with rabbits and its carrying capacity seriously reduced. Firstly, it was securely wirenetted, and then war was waged on the rodents in the enclosure, so that now there is not a rabbit to be seen on the land. The consequence is that on an area of 250 acres 700 sheep are maintained.

A general meeting of the Hawera Town-planning Association will be held in the Borough Council Chambers to-morrow (Friday) evening, at 8 o'clock', and not to-night, as advertised in error.

Ladies' all-wool underwear at Gillett's, is great value. Ladies' ereme rib wool vests, S.S., 3s lid, 4s 6d, 5s lid; L.S.. 4s 6d, 4s lid, s*s lid, 6s 6d. Ladies' ereme butterfly vests, L.S., 43 6d, 4s lid, 5 S 6d. Dr. Jaeger's unshrinkable ereme vests, S.S., 8s 6d, 8s lid 10s 6d; L.S., 9s fid. Dr. Jaeger's natural vests, S.S., 7s lid, 8s 6d, 9s lid; L.S., 4s Ba, 4 S lid, 5s lid, 6s 6d. 4s 6d, 15s Bd, 18s 6d. Heavy Dr. Jaeger's combs., natural S.S., 22s 6d, 2o s 6d, 27s 6d; L.S., 24s 6d, 26\s 6d. 28s 6d, 29s 6d. Dr. Jaeger's spencers, S.S., 10s fid, 11s 6d. .Dr. Jaeger's drawers, 8s (id, 10s 6d, 14s 6d. These goods are all worth double the price at present Gillett's.—Advt. Land searchers are invited to re^ W. H. and A. McGarry's oolumii advertisement on D»fie I.—Advt.

The Cadbury and Fry firms have combined to form a British cocoa company, with a capital of £2,102,000.

Owing to unseasonable weather, the vintage in all vine-growing parts of the Dominion was fully a month late this season. The make of wine is estimated at 48,000 gallons, or about one-fifth less than that of the previous vintage. The production of table grapes has also been less feh:s season owing to the same causes. The yield .from 850 glasshouses is etimated at a total of 457,400ib.

While the lifting of the embargo on the exportation of potatoes has been followed in the South Island by an increase in price of from 7s 6d to 10s per k.n, a letter received by an exporter from Sydney clients the other day stated that "there is not likely to be any shortage of potatoes in either Victoria or Tasmania for the next two or three months. Prices in New Zealand for this market will have to be low."

Mr T. Ennis, of Hawera, formerly a member of the 18th Royal Irish Battalion, has received a letter from Mr W. Forsyth, stating that the Mayor of Auckland has deeded to give a free dinner in Auckland to old veterans of 18th Royal Ir.sh Battalion, in commemoration of tho ending of the war. Members should apply to Mr Forsyth, Putiki, for railway passes, which will be supplied free and. have a currency of eigh+ days.

i A painful accident befell Captain H. Burgess, master of the Melanesian Mission steamer Southern Cross, at Auckland on Friday. The anchor was being lowered by a stopper, and as the rope took the weight it slipped off the windless end. Captain Burgess inadvertently stepped into the bight of the rope and was dragged to the hawse pipe, where his ankle jammed. When he was released it was seen that the limb was badly lacerated, and he was sent to the hospital in the ambulance. Mr J. CampbelK the chief officer, was also injured. In trying to save the captain he was struck by the chain as it was running out, his hand being lacerated and his leg badly bruised. He was taken to his home.

A story was circulated last week that Messrs Parr uii'l \ mi on Reed went t<Napier to arrange for a candidate for Napier seat. This action was interpreted to mean either that they were touting for the Reform party, or, as members understood to W.ong to the "cave" they were seeking to obtain strength for the alleged dissidents. But it, seems that all the speculation was idle, for there were no facts to build on. Mr C. J. Parr has wired to Sir James Alien: "Please accept emphatic denial of press report that we were engaged last week choosing candidate for Napier and that we are going round country on like mis^ sion. On returning from Town-planning Conference I called for a day at Napier on private business, and Mr" Reed, who was visiting friends, accompanied me-. I fear Mr Vigor Brown's friends have political nerves, and see an enemy in every bu?h."

The Auckland Star states that, in the interests of the returned soldiers, the Auckland District Repatriation Board has been moving in the matter of the retention of girls and women in the positions formerly occupied by men who went to the front. Special attention has been paid to the Government Departments in Auckland, owing to a statement having been made that there would not be openings for returned men beyond members of the staff. The Repatriation Department in Wellington was communicated with regarding the matter, as it was felt that it was useless asking private employers to engage returned soldiers in place of girls and women if the Government was not adopting the same policy. A reply has been received from the Department to the effect that the Public Service Commissioner has been asked to report on the matter, also that a list was being prepared giving the names of all temporary public servants, together with the dates of their appointments.

A correspondent who ■■writes, as a visitor to the district, sends us a letter in the course of which he refers to Plunket Nurse Dix ' 'who is to be seen in all weathers and on all sorts of roads wending her weary way along to the homes where her assistance is often so urgently needed on an antideluvian old push, 'bike.' Has it ever occurred to those in authority that leaving the human element out altogether, it is a very poor policy and wasteful of the nurse's valuable energies and time, and of the' public funds that she should be obliged to continue this old-fashioned method of locomotion, especially when many of those she is assisting are riding in their own cars." He proceeds to advocate the purchase of a car for her use. But without going too far over old ground, we may say that it is hoped that the car which was purchased may be superseded by one more suitable, and we Ijparn, on enquiry, that when the old car has been realised on and an estimate can be formed of the additional amount necessary to provide a new one, the public will be asked to find the necessary money.

Speaking at a* meeting of the Wanganui Cham her of Commerce with reference to the shortage of apprentices, Mr R. W. Green said that practically all industries were affected, and gave two instances. In the plumbing trade, three years before the war there were 389 apprentices; after three years of war this number was reduced to 28G, a loss of 103. Of carpenters' and joiners' apprentices three years before the war there were 320, three years after war brok out the number was reduced to 193, 'a loss of 127. From 1377 apprentices three years before the war, there were, after three years of war only 913, showing a- loss of 464 in all industries. This loss was largely brought about by- the war, said Mr Green, by apprentices volunteering as soon as they reached 20, or soon after their term of apprenticeship was completed. A great disability was placed on industry by youths seeking much higher wages in the direction of unskilled labor. The speaker instanced the tramways, where mere youths were earning as much as full-grown men. It might be to the financial advantage of the youths, but those who were in touch with industrial matters could foresee that it would have a disastrous effect when it came to replacing the men lost to industry by the war, or who were, as a result of active service, seeking new avenues of employment. Not only would a larger number of apprentices taught trades not endanger the positions of other workmen, but it would t eiKl enlarge and increase the scope of that particular industry.

A bazaar in connection with St. Aidan's Church, Okaiawa, will be held on Wednesday, June 11. Besides a large variety of plain and fancy garments, I produce, etc., for sale, there will be a ' shooting gallery and other amusements :in the evening. | The Melbourne, Ltd., is showing a I fine range of English marcella quilts lat the following prices: Ten-quarter j (i.e. three-quarter bed size),* 24/6; eleven-quarter size, in finer make, 31/6; . twelve-quarter size, 35/- and 38/6. These quilts are all extra' wide, and in handsome registered designs.—Advt. Overcoat, week is around again at the H.B. Throughout the Dominion j they are making a special display of men's and boys' overcoats, and now is your opportunity to get your winter j coats from the Hawera branch of the New Zealand Clothing Factory ,—*sVkt.

The matter of a continuous telephone service is again being pushed, and it is hoped that the new arrangement will soon be brought into force. It seems that a few more names are needed to satisfy the Department and on the return of Mr Lynskey, who has the petition in hand, and is expected here at the end of this week, the requirements of the Department will no doubt be immediately complied with.

Hon. Mr Thomson is be.ng further' challenged o n 'his statement tnat water divining is ail moonshine. Tne challenge is ior £60 aside, Horn iVr Smith, of Uosborne, who proposes ti»e ioaowing conditions tor a test:—"i will select a suitable p.ece of land, wii.cn can bo piougned, it need be, and three p*pts ouned, of not less iJhan one men m diameter, reticulated in three separate directions from a supply tank m the centre of the land. The pipes must have uo blockage to stop the water running from tne termini —a hole in the ground will be sufficient to receive the water, or a buried vessel of some sort. Mr Thomson oan turn oil the water from one ot three taps concealed in a box near the tank, while I am standing at any part of the locality he desires me to remain. He can turn on any number of taps. I will undertake, at* a signal from Mr Thomson, to walK around" the land at any distance from the tank, but over the concealed pipes, and indicate which contain running water. One p.pe at least must contain running water or the myt'iiieal heresy won't work.'' '

A conference was held at Stratford yesterday representing the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards of New Plymouth, Stratford, and Hawera to discuss the question of accommodating Oxd and indigent people. Hitherto New Plymouth institution has been able to accommodate cases from all over the provincial district, outside districts paying for the inmates', board, but bearing no responsibility in respect of the building; but the demands are increasing, with the result that New Plymouth cases alone nearly fill theHome, and the New Plymouth Board cannot guarantee to accept additional cases sent from Stratford or Hawera, and already some cases from these districts have been sent further afield. The difficulty of the situation is increased by the fact that the building at New Plymouth is not worth improving or adding to, and therefore it seems that a new and larger building must be provided if all Taranaki cases are to be accommodated at New Plymouth. It was suggested that the present hospital at Hawera might be utilised as a home for South Taranaki to the relief of the situation, but there is no prospect of this being available for some years to come. The. conference discussed matters without arriving at any conclusion, but the feeling seemed to be in favor of still concentrating at New Plymouth, and it is expected that New Plymouth Board will formulate a proposal and put it before other districts for consideration. Probably Hawera and Stratford will be asked to co-operate in erecting a new building, and if so they will have to consider whether this will be cheaper and more suitable than for them to make local provision.