LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13523, 6 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Press Association message received from Auckalnd last night stated that an inmate of the Costley Infirmary •named Thomas Parkinson, a labourer, laged 36 years, had been found dead •in his room with his throat cut, Deceased was a consumptive ptient and had no relatives in the Dominion. The following is Mr Bates's weather forecast: Present indications are for strong easterly winds northward of Kawhia and Napier and south-easterlies thence to Hokitika and northerlies elsewhere. Expect cloudy and unsettled weather, with rain following generally, and a falling barometer everywhere.

1 The Town and "Country Patriotic Women Workers" held a very successful meeting yesterday afternoon in the Anglican School-room. The country people were vcw well represented and judging by the 'lists of donations etc. there is every inuication that the venture is going to be a tremendous success. The committee of ladies intend to energcticallv canvas the various sections of the t-.wn and hope that the public will respond well. Soap Leaves are the latest and daintiest innovations in travel luxuries. They arc made up by the Oatina Company and consist of tiny leaves of soap of wafer thickness, 40 in a small book, which can be carried in the purse. On train or steamer one leaf at a time is quite sufficient, producing a creamy lather, fragrant and cleansing. At the C. M. Ross Com- # pany, Ltd.*

A slight shors of earthquake was felt ia the Manawatu and Hawke'.s Bay districts at about 11.10 a.m. yesterday morning.

A great many of the Wairarapa sheepowners have made their engagements at £1 per hundred and 5s war bonus without request, and without a murmur.

It is predicted that cast-off bulls that were sold as '' potters'' previous to the war at 30s to £3 are likely to be worth from £ls to, £2O before the present season terminates.

A lire in Lichtenstein and Arnoldson's kauri gum store (Auckland) yesterday, did damage estimated at v £looo. The building' did not sustain -much damage, but the stock suffered severely. The insurances o,n trie stocrc v were £IO,OOO, on the building £3,000, and on the machinery £550.

The employees in the car department of the Pctone Eailway Workshops passed a resolution condemning the workshop's manager and the General Manager of Eaihvays for refusing to allow them to erect an honours board containing the names of comrades who had fallen at the front. Groans for the management concluded the meeting.

A spirit of ardent, even if misguided patrotism is abroad among the bigger boys of Stratford. On Monday morning two of these, dispensing with parents' consent or approval, left for the military camp at Palmerston North, and a telegram, received on Tuesday evening, announced that both had been accepted for service. Both boys are yndcr 17 years o.f age. An angry father left by train on the following morning for the cam]), and the boys' military enthusiasm will probably get a chill. The spirit of the boys may be approved, however greatly their action may be deprecated, and a litle more of it in certain quarters in Stratford would be hailed with much satisfaction, says the local ''Post."

A head-on collision "between two v rnotor-cars at the intersection of the Rangitikei Line and Boundary Road was narrowly averted yesterday afternoon. A motor belonging to Str Charles Carr, of Newbury, with a lady at the wheel, was travelling, down the yßangitikei Line at a fairly rapid rate, while another motor belonging to Mr Alfred Mitchell, of Newling, and also driven by a lady, was going at a similar pace along the Boundary Road. The two cars met at the intersection of the two, roads and were within an ace of plunging head-long into each other, when the presence of mind of Mr Mitchell, who seized the wheel of his car, saved the situation. He brought the car round at an angle and received the impact partly sideon instead of head-on. Fortunately no one was injured, but Mr Mitchell's car was badly damaged, and the other car was considerably knocked about. The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Manawatu Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0.F., last evening was presided over by W. G. Bro. G. P. Hawkins. The quarterly balance sheet and auditor's report were received and adopted, showing that the sick and funeral fund had reached £5879 3s 7d. It is expected that this fund will reach £(5000 bv the end of tlie year. The euchre teams (P.P.G.M. Bro. H. Sharman, captain), were complimented on having won the Friendly Societies' euchre shield for the ensuing yea*. A presentation was made to P.G. Bro. I. P. Le Chemisant for having secured the "most points (47) for individual playing on behalf of the lodge, the presentation being made by N.G. Bro. Hawkins, and duly aCKnawledged. A presentation was made to Bro.. Hawkins (who had won tnc trophy for the quarter's tournament), the presentation being made by V.G. Bro. I. Bruce, and duly acknowledged. It was decided to forward a letter of sympathy to Bro. T. T. Kerslake (trustee), on account of the news received that his son (Mr A. E. Kerslake) hud been wounded. It was decided to arrange with the Oroua Lodge to play a combined visit far a euchre tournament. A degree lecture was fixed for next lodge night. Mr Charles Schupback, the new Consul for Switzerland in West Australia, arrived by the last mailboat. Interviewed he said that authoritative opinion gives the duration of the war at 18 months —twelve fighting and six adjustment. He had recently been at Verdun, and elsewhere. Verdun was now beyond the hope of Germany. The prestige of the Kaiser and the Crown Prince had gone. The forrger was hissed during his last, appearance in Berlin. He never gets there how, but travels ceaselessly between the western and the eastern fronts. Berlin was seething with rebellion. >on Hindenburg and Von Tirpitz were the nation's idols. The Crown Prince, though alive, was reported dead, because he was practically relegated to obscurity, his posed army command being merely nominal. Authoritative opinion is that there will be no retreat across the Rhine, as the conclusion of thewar will bo reached before sucfi unnecessary loss of life is entailed. All' the big centres of Belgium and Northern France are completely mined for destruction by the Germans in the case of an emergency evacuation. "The Australian troops in France are," concludes the new Consul, "tremendously popular."

While we are optimistic concerning the present season, we fully recognise the necessity id* organising , every branch of labour upon business-like principles says .ho "Wairarapa Age" and adds: Should the war continue for another year or two —and nobody, at this stage, can accurately fortell its duration —the position will become exceedingly perplexing. On the recognised principle that to be forewarned is to be forearuiedj the Government, as guardians of the interests of the people, should set to work immediately to organise the industrial resources of the Dominion. The responsibility should not rest upon the Recruiting Boards of saying that this or that man must stay behind because his services are required on the farm or at the bench. An authorised body should be in a position to confer with the recruiting Boards and show definitely whether it is possible to replace eligible men by men of more mature age, or by returned soldiers. We cannot afford to wait for organisation until the levies are made upon the farm and other labourers of the Dominion. If we do that, wo shall probably find our compulsory system of selection a lamentable failure. The Government should move iu the matter, and move at once, so that disaster may,, if possible, be averted.

The tender of Messrs. Hunt and Co. has been accepted for cheese carting t'rom Newbury Dairy Factory to Palmerston.

The Jewish residents of Palmerston and district will celebrate the Day of Atonement Services to-night and tomorrow morning at the Temple, Church Street.

Examination of the returns of the Government Statistician reveals the fact that for the last five years cancer has been responsible for more deaths annually than has tuberculosis.

A deputation consisting of Messrs. J. M. Johnston, Sutherland, E. Short, and J. Lethbridge, introduced by Mr D. Buick, M.P., has waited on the Minister of Railways with a view to having special train facilities for the Show, ncluding a special train to and from Wellington. It is understod that satisfactory arrangement have been made.

Parents who have had sous wouihU-1 in action will be interested ro ki.ow tnat they are permitted to despatch. three cables of inquiry, at intervals, to the Base Records uifice in London,, free of charge. Replies usually occupy a week in transmission, but they also come free, and contain i rogrcss reports. Parents will be directed us to the form of cable that sho.ibi lie despatched, on application to rile nearest Post Office. This concession is not, we fear, too commonly known. Hence the publicity we are now giving it. A Honolulu item: —Whichever way you view them, the Japanese are energetic and thorough. I must say s« again, because the fact sticks out in the education of their children. The Japanese youngsters go to Japanese schools from 7 till 0 in the morning. Then they go to breakfast. At 9.30 they are at the American schools, and, less the meal time, they stay there till 3.30, when they troop . off to the Japanese schools again and finish at 5.30. What about that for a. school course? The truth is that the Japanese are determined to be heard in the world, and they are making sacrifices to that end. After the primary course the Japanese children go to the- American, high schools, and a professor assured me that they are very clever.

A New Zealander .writes from Honolulu:—There were 13 German merchant ships interned at Honolulu whilst we were there, most of them big vessels, also a German man-o'-war, with a crew of 650. These men-o'-war's men move about the town as freely as others, and they help to pass away the time by attending the English classes at tlie Y.M.C.A. in Hotel Street. It is an odd sight to see them . trooping ashore with their books. They seem to like the teaching, and evidently intend to improve the shining hour, for at an examination held just before we left they nearly all passed with high hpnours in English. —Here is the difference between tfc« British and German psychology. Imagine the crews British vessels going to school to learn German!

Private Bert Booth, of Carterton,, writing on August 11, from German East Africa, mentions that he has had a lot. of motor car work lately. One trip he did was of 500 miles, which was accomplished in four days. ' ' Thi»last week." he says, "I did 70ft miles. At headquarters the reports of the German guns and the bursting of the shells can plainly be heard. These are the long-range guns off the Konigsberg, and have been shelling our camp for six weeks. The first day wo travelled 200 miles, starting at (5 o'clock one morning and finishing at 2 o'clock on the following morning. During the night we saw a lion and a both of which were travelling along the road, and merely moved to "the side to let the car pass. The lion was about 50 yards ahead and the leopard only 20 yards or so. - The Commanding Officer fired at the leopard and hit it, . but not hard enough to stop it. Had another long: trip yesterdav. Did 100 miles and finished at li at night." Private Booth is enjoying the very best ofhealth.

The only RAILWAY REFRESHMENT ROOM at Palmerston North, and that is situated on the Platform, and is still conducted by J. H. FLETCHER. The public, as formerly, will get the best attention. Try- our Hot Luncheons and Light. Refreshments.*