LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Lake County Press, Issue 2697, 30 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An ordinary meeting of the Lake County Council will be held on Wednesday next.

A soldiers' gift service was held at the Arrow Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening. Tho gifts, which were numerous, were divided into 2!) parents. Mr T. J. Cotter soUl by auction on Saturday afternoon a considerable portion of Mr T. Pope's household goods, of whioh be had too great a superfluity to remove to his new home at Fairlie. Although the weather was unpropitious a numerous company of buyers assembled, and, as usual, the auctioneer succeeded in getting good prices for most lota.

The monthly meeting of tho Arrowtown Borough Council was held oh Tuesday evening, when his worship the Mayor and all the Councillors except Mr S. George wore present. A number of conimunicationn were read, and a few subjects were discussed. Amongst tho communications was a, circular letter from Sir Joseph Ward urging tho Council to Jo all they could to induce the inhabitants of the town and district to subscribe to the Liberty Loan. The Mayor remarked that the loan was so well advertised in tho Lake County Press that nothing more was necessary for this district. A full report of the Council's proceedings will appear in our next week's isaue.

The football match, Queenstown v. Arrow and Country Pirates, played at Queenstown yesterday, resulted in a win for the combined team by 17 points to 6.

The absence of the Vioar from the Arrow Anglican Church on the morning of Sunday week was due to the time of the service boing wrongly advertised. An Arrow man has put £SOO into the Liberty Loan, and he is going about saying to his friends and acquaintances," Go thou and do likewise!"

The oldest Arrow resident says, " We have passed through the mildest winter on record. The fact is, we h*ve had no winter this year. It has been a very sunny and delightful spring." It seems likely that Arrow will contribute substantially to the Liberty Loan. The applications for certificates are not as numerous as they ought to be, but a few have paid in good round suras. Cecil Peak Station has just changed hands, the purchaser being Mr H. M. Reeves, of Christchurch. Possession will be taken on Ist September. Mr Reeves has had a run in North Canterbury.—Mail. The National Efficiency Board has resigned. This will be generally regretted, for the Board did its duty conscientiously, and made a number of excellent recommendations to the Government.

Mr Webb, M.P., amused a big crowd of Wellington friends by telling them that he greased his boots with the " butter " they gave him when he was a seditious prisoner in Lyttelton jail.

A transport arrived in Auckland last week, bringing back 581 invalided soldiers, of whom 73 belong to Otago and Southland. Edward Sainsbury (Queenstown) and Thos. Trevathan (Wanaka) arrived by the transport.

•Since the outbreak of war four thousand miles of railway have been constructed in the various theatres of war. 105,000,000 yards of khaki, and 115,000,000 yards of flannel have been manufactured, or enough to go four and a-half times round the earth.

Some regular visitors to Arrow town are extremely pessimistic as to the future of the old town ; but their views are not shared by the older residents, one of whom remarked to us that the pessimists are " people who know little or nothing of the locality and whose ideas in regard to improvements are quite impracticable."

Great Britain is theonly belligerent paying a large proportion of the war erst out of increased taxation. Three years of war have cost Great Britain approximately .85,150,000,000, of which £1,250,000,000 lias* been provided from revenue and £3,900,000,000 by increased National Debt, the latter including loans of £1,170,000,000 to the Allies and the Dominions.

" I am more and more convinced that if we find it necessary to keep up an enormous Navy—say, a two-power standard—to protect our island, it will be essential to maintain at least the same standard in the air," said Captain B. C. Hucks, in a lecture on ' A Further Three Tears' Flying Experience,' before the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain.

Parliamentary proceedings have thu3 far been confined chiefly to war business. There has been, as in previous years, a superabundance of talk, and much valuable time has been wasted, but a great deal of good work has been accomplished. The chief source of satisfaction is that the two great parties are sticking well together to win the war. Perhaps this ia the best that can be said for them.

Government is very slow to fill up the vacancies in the Legislative Council. There are at least ttvo men in the Lake County who would make excellent councillors. But they are straight men, and a Wellington barrister says that " no straight men are ever raised to that august assembly," by whioh he means, we presume, that only men warranted to support party interesta through thick and thin are required. Unlike most small specimens of humanity a baby Bmiled up beautifully into a clergyman's face after the baptism. " Well, madam," said he to the young wife," I must congratulate you on your little one's behaviour, t have christened more than two thousand babies, but I never before christened one that behaved so well as yours." The young mother smiled demurely, and said: ' His father and I, with a pail of water, have practised on him for the last week, sir!"

Messrs Leo Lee and W. S. Reid, representing the Lake County A. and P. Society, W. Reid, the Lake County Council, and Mr A. Simson, the local Borough Council, met and conferred with Mr Brabner, District Traffic Manager, last Tuesday, in reference to the matter of better provision for the shipping and unshipping of stock at Queenstown and Frankton wharves. Both wharves were visited and certain investigations were made which may probably result in some improvements being made.—Mail. The Daily Mail states that the Germans occupy all territory marked down for c6nquest, including Belgium, the richest lands of Northern France, Poland, and Western Russia, and the Balkan Peninsula. An immense compact German State extends from Zeebrugge to the North Sea and the Euphrates, from Lille to the outskirts of Riga. There has never been such a military Power in Europe. No wonder that the Germans are attempting to lure the Allies to negotiate while the plunder is in their hands. An editor in the Far West dropped into church for the first time in many years. The minister was in the very heart of the sermon. The editor listened for a while, and then rushed to his office. " What are you fellows doing ? How about the news from the seat of war ?" " What news ?" " Why, all this about the Egyptian Army being drowned in the Red Sea. The minister up at the church knows all about it, and you have not a word of it in our latest. Bustle round, you fellows, and get out an extra-special edition." John Bright showed a strict regard for accuracy when he ended a controversial letter, " I am, Sir, with whatever respect is tltie to you " On the other hand, the Admiralty used to make an habitual display of iusiucerity, nil letters from the Lords O.iLnniissioners to naval officers—even letters of reproof—being signed, " Your affectionate friends." This practice was discontinued in consequence of a naval captain signing one of his letters to the Board of Admiralty ■•.Your affectionate friend." He was asked (o discontinue this practice, so when (writing again he concluded, " I am; my Lords, uo longer your affectionate friend."

j The ceremonies in connection with the induction of the Rev. R. C. Hunter, late of Invercargill, who was recently appointed to the charge of the Queenstown Presbyterian Church, took place on VVednesday evenings 22nd inst. (says the Mail). The Rev. G. H. Jupp, of Woodlands, Moderator of the Southland Presbytery, had charge of the proceedings, and associated with him were Kev. D. K. Fisher, Moderator of the vacancy of the Queenstown charge, Eev. J. Robertson, of Limestone Plains, Rev. W. P. Rankin, Cromwell, and Mr C. A. Kennedy, Homo Missionary, Arrowtown. After the service a social and concert was held in the Town Hall. There was a large attendance of all denominations. Addresses were given by the clergymen previously mentioned, and by Rev. R. G. Coats (Anglican Vicar of Wakatipu). A number of musical itoms was also rendarod. Supper was handed round by the ladies, and the singing of the Doxology and the National Anthem, brought tho proceedings to a close. In changeable weather take NAZOL on sugar or by inhalation. Best safeguard against chills. Onu dose a day keeps colds away. 1/0 buys CO doses.

It is reported that the number of conscripted men who have disappeared has increased to over 2000.

At the blood stock sales at Christchurch Messrs Paterson and Baird purchased the br m Lady Wayward II (imp.) (2), foaled 1905, by Ladas—Vane, served by Elysian at 600 guineas. A good hearty sneeze is generally atten" ded more or less by a most unpleasant sensation. That the exception proves the rule was well exemplified a few dayß ago, when a member of the local post omoe staff, when sneezing, dislocated his shoulder (says the Bay of Plenty Times).

"If the whole of the Land and Income Tar revenue which Sir Joseph Ward estimates to collect from all the people of New Zealand were taken out of the war profit on last season's wool clip the growers would still be left"with more wool money in their pockets than ever they possessed since the first sheep was born in New Zealand."— Lytteltcn Times. •

Fob choice jewellery, wedding and birthday presents, latest in watches, optical goods and silverware. If you wish to get your watches thoroughly, repaired, and desire everything of the best send to the most reliable watchmaker, Peter Dick, jeweller and certificated optician, 490, Moray Place, Dunedin (established 1889). Rabbiters are still making good wages despite the mild winter (6ays the Alexandra Herald). Trapping ceased during the winter months on account of the hard frosts, and since then poiaon has been laid on several runs with good results. Prom all quarters we learn that good cheques are being made, one gang of men being credited with earning £IOO per man for seven weeks' work.

The report that Government intend conscripting boys of 19 and 18 is not true. But it seems probable that the age for service will be lowered to 1.9, and tha^J 1 youths of that age who wish to go to the war and have theii parents' consent will be accepted. The suggestion is made in some political circles that the sturdy men of the ' Second Division should be called up immediately, but apparently this proposal is not generally favoured.

" Owners of Otago pastoral runs are just now making, great efforts to get the freehold of the runs " writes a correspondent. It is pointed out to the government" that if the tenure were freehold there would be no deterioration in the runs, but the owners would soon find out the best way to improve them." As they are occupying owners it should be to their interest to do their utmost to improve the lands under the present tenure.

" In the cause of grammar, please convey to your many readers, who are unaware of it, the fact that the infinitive of the word in everybody's mouth to-day is not 'to conscript,' but 'to conscribe'" (writes " L.A." in a letter to the Wellington Post). "It is amazing to note the number of presumably well-educated people who still persist in saying that so and so has been 'conscripted.' This error was pointed out in the London Daily Mail, but has been overlooked by the press, not only of New Zealand, but of America and Australia also."

Complaint was made in Parliament last week concerning the filthy bank notes in circulation. Bank officials, asked for an explanation, say the reason for continuing the circulation of so many of such notes is the shortage of paper, due to war conditions. Steps, however, are being taken to provide for the enormous circulation of paper money, necessitated by the withdrawal of gold from circulation. This lis now being overcome, supplies of paper having come to hand, and the old notes will be called in as noon as possible. Mr Witty, M.P. for Biccarton, who is one of the liveliest critics in Parliament, has denounced the expenditure of upwards of £3OO on the opening of the military hospital at Hamner as " a damnable waste of public money." But this is a small item in the too general waste of public money. We need a Government that will be as careful of the public fuuds as they are of their own money. More money is wasted every day by the present government than would suffice to re-open and greatly enlarge the Arrowtown Hospital for the use of returned

soldiers who are in need of a convalescent home and skilled medical treatment.

A queer piece of logic (wires the Dunedin Star's parliamentary reporter) was enunciated in the House last night by Mr Farata while he was criticising the anti-shouting law. He had not voted for the law, he said, and therefore did not consider himself bound by it. (Loud laughter.) But what of taoss members who had voted for the law and then broke it. They ought to be put out of the House. (Laughter.) They were no longer worthy of confidence as honorable men. They ought to go and hide themselves away if they were caught breaking the law, and then somebody might be returned who could be trusted. (Laughter.) Bishop Brodie strongly urges Soman Catholics to invest in the Liberty War Loan. He says: It is not necessary for me to commend the Liberty Loan from the commercial standpoint. I can quite realise that those who are thrifty enough to be able to invest in this way are quite able to judge for themselves as to the soundness of, their investments. My exhortation and** commendation are based on higher grounds. Those who are blessed with money to spare should feel themselves called upon to help this movement as a mark of appreciation of the bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers, and as a mark of gratitude to God for the liberty and privileges we enjoy, and for which our soldiers are fighting wit hj euch bravery and valor.

A Wellington gentleman who recently paid a visit to Japan states that war contracts are creating millionaires in that country just as quickly as they do in America (says the Dominion). Before the war Japan was not a financially strong nation, but now she is to be reckoned with as one of the strongest of the Great Powers, for, apart from naval patrol and escort work, her part in the great war has been negligible, except as a provider of munitions to Russia, which work has kept every factory going at top speed : and, in addition to this, the trade of the world has flowed automatically to Japan as the nations became involved in war. The enormous demaud for metals has been a bonanza fot Japan.

From all appearances Queenstown is the model branch of the Southland Second Division League (says the Southland Times). The lakeside branch was worthily represented at tho conference held in Invercargill last week, and one of its delegates especially kept its activities well before the meeting. On quite a number of occasions delegates ventured suggestions as to what might be done in the way of organisation or of tho furtherance of the League's aims, only to be met with Dr Stewart's " Yes, air, a very good idea; but we're doing it already in Queenstown." After the first time or two the doctor's remark was greeted with hearty laughter, and once Mr Joseph Hunter, M.A., smilingly flashed back, "Oh! but we're not so enlightened in Gore." That the progressiveness of Queenstown and her League was duly appreciated by the assembly, was proved a little later when the doctor asked leave to retire early in consequence of his having some distance to go. The chairman thanked the delegate for his attendance, and expressed the opinion that the meeting had benefited by his presence. The sentiments were enthusiastically applauded, and I lie teti.-ing gentlemen received a chorus of " Good-nights." NA.ZOL is known everywhere as ths ready-for-use and money-saving remedy for coughs and colds. Acts like a oharm. Sixty doses 1/0.

The Australian strike has been most disastrous to the trade of the Commonwealth, and it has resulted in a serious diminution of New Zealand coal stocks.

The Defence Minister lays that the Second Division will not be called up until November and December, and will not go into camp until January or February. No adequate improvement has yet taken place in the pioture films that are e x » lbl *« d in the larger centres of population; but the Minister for Internal Affairs informed a deputation that steps are bidng taken to meet the wishes of those who are demanding clean picture exhibitions. A change In the censorship seems to be absolutely necessary. One writer on the subject suggest* "a committee of clergymen and their wives. New Zealand is becoming absolutely intested with fortune-tellers, crystal-seen, spiritist humbugs, and a ho«t of other noxicua weeds of this description (writes " Marguerite " in the Farmers Advocate). Many of these harpies are doing a thriving business deceiving poor ignorant women who have sons at the front and who are desperately anxious to know how it is with them. A good plan would be to deport the whole harpy sisterhood to England to the munition factories. A widow writes :—" At the present time the matters of taxation and cost of living are causing anxiety to those of limited income. Under the Income Tax all incomes up to JP3OO are exempt. My income is £52 per annum, and yet I have ti pay a Government tax of XI 18s Hid. I hold a debenture for .£250 in a certain coal company, on which the interest is 7 per cent. For some years 19s per annum wa9 deducted from this under a debenture tax, but recently the amount has risen to £1 18s ll}d—more than double. Neither my friends nor myself can understand why, with an income of only .£52, I should have this amount deducted from mo. lam a widow ;my only son is at the front doing his bit somewhere; I have to keep my house in repair, pay insurance on it and rates, and provide for myself—and all on £1 per week. And then the Government step in and take jnat on JB2 ont of that £52 by way of a debenture tax. It makes one indignant to read of a bonus to Civil servants while 1 havo to pay a severe tax out of a very small income." Probably if the lady applied to the Tax Commissioner for a refund she would get it.

Delays are dangerous with colds and influenza. Get NAZOL to-day. Better than mixtures or ayrups. No sold is NAZOL-proof. 1/6 buys 60 doseß.