THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1388, 21 November 1918, Page 4

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

A matter which should have the altcntiou of tho municipal authorities at an early date is tho disinfection of the books in the Public Library. When the influenza wave overtook Palmerston hundreds of books were in homes where tho disease has since made its appearance, and it is in the interests of the public health that tho works in the hands of subscribers should be called in without delay, and a thorough process of fumigation resorted to. We notice that in Wellington the public library has been closed to subscribers, and no books are to be circulated until the whole have been properly disinfected. This is a very wise precaution, and shows very commendable foresight on the part of the authorities. The need of similar action by the Palmerston Borough Council is too urgent to need much stressing. The library has already been closed, but provision should bo made for disinfecting tho books when it is possible to call them in. It is a precaution dictated by common sense, and if adopted and put into practice will be a vital factor in restoring normal conditions in this community.

The Wellington Education Board has decided that the schools in its district are to remain closed until the first Tuesday in February.

One of the many sad incidents of the influenza epidemic was mentioned at. an openair service at St. Mary’s Church, Christchurch, when during the course of his sermon the Rev, Father Seymour asked for four men volunteers from among the congregation to perform the duty of pallbearers at the funeral of a lady visitor to Christchurch, who had just succumbed to an attack of the prevalent disease, and who had neither relative nor friend in the city. “Wo are now making finer glas s than has ever been imported from Germany,” said Sir Herbert -Jackson, referring to laboratory glass, miners’ lamp glasses, thermometer glass, and opal glass, at the British Scientific Products Exhibition at London, in September. Over 1000 girls were engaged in the. lamp blown-glass trade. We are now making 45,000,000 electric lamp bulbs a year and 4,500,000 vacuum fruit jar s lias been distributed. According- to a. White Paper issued in London early in September, 55,542 experiments on living animals were conductdo last year, 10,501 fewer than in 1916. Of this number 54,208 were simple inoculations, hypodermic injections, and similar proceedings. Cancer investigations accounted for 6251, while 19,000 experiments were made on behalf of Government departments and public health authorities, and more than, 22,000 for the preparation, testing, and standardising of sera, vaccines, and drugs. A Raetihi telegram' states that two men named Alex. McLean and Gordon Wheeler, while working on Mr W. Stewart's survey party, have been lost in the bush a few miles from Raetihi. The men failed to return to camp and a search party discovered certain portions of clothing, but no tools at the scene of the place they were last working. During the past six days searchers under Constable McGowan, have scoured the adjoining country, but no trace of the tracks of the missing men can be found. This affair seems nothing loss Ilian a mystery. In the course of an address on “The Poultry Industry in Australia,” at the Trades Hall recently, Mr J. B. Merrett stated that the Australian Government had invested over £50,000 in plant for purpose! of starting returned soldiers in the poultry industry. A complete 'township had been built a*. Burnside (some 20 mile s from Sydney), and each returned soldier was provided with a five-acre lot, a house, and £2 8s a week while learning the industry there. The returned men expressed complete satisfaction with the arrangements, and, so far, the schemo had been highly successful.

Av, ;oN.,mcsntnurnreb bnemirll cl o eaoi The suggestion that tho bagpipes can be a means of cementing the amity of nations will strike tho ordinary English mind as fantastic, but (lie French papers vouch for an incident on tho front which proves that tho English idea is wrong. Some time ago a Highland regiment marched with bagpipes playing to its appointed place by tho side of a detachment from Brittany, and was received with shouts of delight. The simple-minded Breton folk thought that the Scots had taken some of their own cornomuses. They soon made friends with the pipers, and asked leave to play the pipes, and played them, thanks to their knowledge of (heir own home-grown variety, to admiration. And now they spend all their time in friendly rivalry learning each othcrs'6 tunes. One French writer says (libc-llously, of course) that the English regi. ment which had been living next to the Scots was glad to see the last of the pipers. Pretty white voile blouses, made in fine (quality voile, trimmed filet and val insertion, embroidered fronts and handworked medallion. Price 9s fid to 5 guineas. The C. M Ross Co. Ltd —Advt,

It is understood that! the death-roll from influenza in the Gisborne district reached 23 for the past fortnight, The Chelmsford Town Council have adopted a scheme for the erection of 960 houses for working-class families on a site of) eighty acres, which" will allow 12 houses to. the acre,. Chester magistrates havf fined Alica Meet, 20, ij 10 or two months’ imprisonment for w riting a letter to a German prisoner, ending with the words “Fondest love and kisses.” In 12 months at Dedham, the Suffolk village immortalised by Constable’s pictures, seven persons haw died who were over SO years of age, and 19 who were, between 60 and 90. Otaki’s one chemist, Mr 1,. St. George, broke down on Sunday from overwork and had to go to bed. lie has been working ate high pressure for several weeks past. In the meantime a local storekeeper is filling his place as far as possible. All the chemists in Masterton are victims to the epi demit: and a dispenser had to lie obtained from an outside town. Many charlatans in the West End of London have built up big fortunes by assuming certain knowledge of the future. They employ, as a rule, an Indian servant to usher in ( 'their dupes. This gives a first touch of Eastern mysticism to the proceedings. Their seances are usually held in rooms upholstered in black doth, picked out with silver stars. They see images of persons and of events in crystals. Their effrontery and assurance arc as largo as their fees.

Included in (ho largo display of red, white and blue that waved from the Dunedin Town Hall {states the. Otago Daily Times) was a. French flag of much historical interest, which was flown from the windows of the room occupied by the Mayor, 'f'his flag, which was lent by Lieutenant- < ‘olonel Pow, was flying over a chateau in France, when the Germans invaded that portion of the country. It was the last flag to |be taken down, and was presented to Lieutenant-Colonel f’ow in recognition of the gallant services rendered by the New Zealand Brigade serving under him. Replying to Sir William Howell Davies, M.P.. regarding the imprisonment of certain alleged conscientious objectors, Sir George Cave, said these men “failed to satisfy the tribunals of tho conscientious character ol their professed objection to military service,” and after conviction were given further opportunity of establishing their claim. The fact that they have refused lepcatedly to obey military orders does not, Sir George thinks, prove more than that “many of them prefer the quiet safety of prison to the dangers and hardships of military service.” The men sentenced had been shown special consideration, and their absolute discharge would not, be justifid or in the public interest. The Japanese Consul-General in Australia advises that, in regard to matches, glassware, cnamelleduare, braids, and hosiery, tho Japanese Department of Agriculture and Commerce lias issued ordinances and orders, with a view to maintaining the quality of such articles. Exportation of.all manufactures which do not pass the inspection cl the' trade association or their union associations organised by the manufacturers or dealers concerned, or by tho prcfcctural authorities, is prohibited. It must, be noted that the articles which have come up to the above-mentioned requirements will bear a certification stamp to denote approval by thej authorities.

What may bo termed a preliminary to demobilisation on a grand scale is taking place in the military camps at present. Be. ginning from last Monday about 300 men pei' day are being sent, from each of tho camps, as they are found to be free of infection. and otherwise fit and ready to he discharged. The machinery for the clcrnobolising of all the forces in tho camp and abroad has been ready for some time, past, and the details have been prepared with a great deal of thoroughness. As much work is involved in discharging as in taking in new soldiers, and dkg., clerical .staffs, in Ihe catniw have been very busy. The difficulty in finding adequate transport to take the demobilised men across (he Straits has hindered the work considerably, and with tho abatement of the epidemic and resumption of regular sea services, an impetus will be given to the work of sending home the troops from the camps. The spectacle of a titled gentleman working a, lift, and several rather distinguished guests doing duty as domestio servants, is to bo seen (says the Star) at one of Auckland's largest private hotels, where the epidemic lias incapacitated most of the staff. At this establishm nt. where ordinarily every thing is made as easy as possible for the guests, boots no longer clean themselves overnight,, and in such matters as making beds, waiting at table, the guests have to look after themselves to a great extent. The ballroom is being used as a hospital, where the influenza-ridden servants are being attended to by volunteers from the guests, who include in their ranks more than one trained nurse. As a result of tho willingness of the people in the hotel to look after themselves and assist in every manner possible, a great deal lias been done to help the patients and to prevent the sickness from attaining its worst form.

The decision of the Australian Gorarnmono to reduce the price of llns«ed oil to the basis of 7s per gallon for raw is (-ays a Melbourne paper) keenly resented in Hading circles. On what ground such action has been taken is not disclosed, and it is stated that sellers of oil at this price are practically not to be found. When some time ago a shortage of raw material was threatened, more enterprise was shown in some quarters Than in others, with the result that linseed was purchased from New Zealand sellers. The price paid, of coarse, entailed an increase in the cost of manufacture of linseed oil. Importers also saw the supply of oil in danger, and purchased fair quantities from India, and this is now coming to hand. The landed cost is far above the price just amended by the price-fixing authorities', and what with stocks which were bought from Sydney on a 9s basis and those new arrivals,'merchants are threatened with a heavy loss; The wholesale use of disinfectants at the present time led to an amusing incident at an , Auckland boardinghouse. A waitress was hurriedly called into the establishment to relieve an employee who was sickening for .influenza. She had little time to spare, for (ho boarders were all in their respective seats, and she was the solo person on whom fell the burden of appeasing their appetites. Taking a can of milk she emptied the contents into n jug and in a few moments it had passed through the hoarders’ hands and was empty. The tea into which it had been poured, and the pudding on which it had trickled were now being treated cautiously by - the boarders. There was something aboitt thorn that they did not like. After grimacing and expressing hurried glances at each other, which conveyed their disapproval of their first meal at the hands of the newcomer, a timid young lady broke the tension with: “It’s eucalyptus." The throng then fell to the joke—tfie jug for weeks past 1 had served as a, receptacle for eucalyptus 1 for disinfecting purposes. The ne.wcomer is again in favour. > “We deem it dishonest to exaggerate in our advertising. We tell you the real truth about our goods, describing them as closely as possible, and wo present their good points-. What the goods are worth is for you to determine. If would seem that people prefer our method, judging by our everincreasing business.” Collinson and Cun* ninghamo, Ltd., the. store that grows.— Advt. For sprinkling disinfectant about the house, drains, yard, and sickroom there is a little device to insert into the neck of a bottle. With (bis little aluminium sprinkler you can easily disinfect quickly and efficiently.. Price only one shilling each, to fit any bottle. Collinson and Son; lysol; Is. —Advt, Everybody invited to push the sate of “Golden. Rule’’ Soap, “Golden Rule” Candles, and “No Rubbing” Laundry Help, Goldmgham and Beckett, Ltd., Wholesale Agents. —Advt,