LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1586, 11 June 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Ulimaroa sailed from Sydney for Wellington at 4.45 p.m. yesterday. "The only thing is to carry prohibition and then you will have no D.T. cases," said Mrs Gill at the Hospital Board meeting 1 yesterday, when the chairman mentioned that the padded cell at the hospital could not be used for "D.T." cases unless a police constable was in attendance to look after the patient. A lady visitor to Wednesday's concert in the Opera House deplores the neglected and shabby appearnce of the front of the stage. She says the fine building is worthy of better attention from the Council. Half a dozen dirty music stands, with inverted battered tin funnels as reflectors, and ragged strips of coloured paper, should at least be removed. We note with some pleasure that the Government are employing capable literary men like Elsdon Best and James Cowan, to compile the historic records of this country. To these men we would commend a local suggestion that Dr. Thomson's "Story of New Zealand," published in 18 59, should be reprinted. It is incomparably the best book of its kind yet published. The National Dairy Association raises a bitter complaint about the pillaging of butter and cheese from the railways. The Association's annual report says: "The evil is on the increase, and when three boxes of butter are lost from a consignment of 200, as between loading station and destination, it is time the Railway Department took responsibility for losses incurred, and adopted preventive measures to minimise the constant annoyance and serious loss now prevalent." The Palmerston North Hospital Board has decided to hold an official opening of the new wards and the Martin memorial on the second Monday in July, at 2.30 p.m. It is desired that as many of the public as possible should be in attendance, in order to see what the Board had done, and the achievement made possible by the generosity of those who had devoted sums of money for such a humanitarian purpose. Members of local bodies, neighbouring Hospital Boards, and other representative men are also to be invited.

Mr J. W. Muggins, health inspector to the Palmerston North Hospital Board, reported to the Board yesterday on infectious diseases notified durinpf the month. The cases v.-ere: —Palmerston North: Diphtheria 1, chickenpox 3, influenza 118. Feilding: Pneumonia 1, measles 1, influenza 47. Foxton: Pneumonia 1, measles I. chickenpox 2, influenza 31. Levin: Enteric 2, influenza 22. Shannon: Influenza 12. Otaki: Diphtheria t, influenza 9. Rongotea: Influenza 1. Oroua: Diphtheria 2, pneumonia

2, ophthalmia neonatorum 1, influenza (>. Manawatu: Enteric l. pneumonia 1, chickenpox 2, influenza 50. Enteric 4, diphtheria 1, pneumonia. 1, measles 1, influenza 15. Horowhenua: Diphtheria 1. influenza ::4. Pohangina: Influenza 5. Total number of ca.ses 381.

Have you ween the latest novelty in dress skirt materials at Palmerston's fashion Ceutre? Made in a cosy creme alt wool fabric, with smart coloured border. Skirt lengths only, no two alike Price 79/6. The C. M. Moss Co., Ltd., dress section.* For influenza, take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, 1/9, 2/9.

An immense fall of earth has blocked the Otira tunnel at the Otira end, four miles in. It will take several weeks to clear.

St. Paul's anniversary services, which were postponed, owing- to the inclemency of the weather, will be held next Sunday. The Federal Solicitor-General has opened an oflicial inquiry into the cases of Father Jerger and Dr. Hirschleld, says a Sydney cable. Present weather indications are for strong westerly winds, cloudy and unsettled weather, with rain probable generally, and a falling barometer everywhere.

A conference of inspectors and teachers will be held at the Campbell Street school on July sth. District teachers have been given authority to close their schools on the day of the conference.

The illuminated, illustrated address presented by the Danes of New Zealand to the King of Denmark was deposited in the Palmerston Post Office yesterday. It was insured for £IOS by Mr C. Dahl, Danish Vice-Consul, before proceeding on its long voyage. Referring to the commandeer of wool, meat and dairy produce, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister of Agriculture, stated at the opening of the Winter Show at New Plymouth that during the war the Imperial Government paid £130,300,000 for New Zealand produce.

The Minister of Education, Hon. C. J. Parr, has announced that arrangements will be made for giving children in State schools definite instructions on the subject of temperance and the danger of alcohol to human organism. Politics and prohibition would be kept out of the subject. The competition for Mr Ruebe's crack herd of Jerseys at New Plymouth was keen on Wednesday, the average being 120 guineas. Mr Fulton, Waikato, paid 200 guineas for Avoca's Lady, and Mr H. Sharp, Matapu, paid a similar sum for Waiwetu Trump Lily. "Those who complain of indifferent treatment, at the hospital and consequently refuse to pay, should lie made to._" was the remark of the chairman of the Hospital Board yesterday. Jle added that it would be a dangerous practice to commence to remil charges on such grounds.

A meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the Home Service League was held last evening. Mr S. Newman presided over a fair attendance. A movement is on loot for a petition setting out the objects of the League to be placed before Parliament, and it was decided to put the petition in circulation in this district. Several new members were enrolled.

The Manawatu A. and P. Association is up against it, and wants the Palmerston people to help it out of a real difficulty. There are at. least 25 per cent, more people coming to the Winter Show this year than ever before, chiefly delegates to the various' conferences. How to accommodate them, that is the question. The secretary, Mr Penny, will be very glad to receive communications from those prepared to accommodate payingguests.

The Wellington Brewers, Bottlers. Bottle-washers and Aerated Water Employees' Union have reached a complete agreement with the employers regarding pay and conditions. Bottlers shall receive £3 5/ per week; general hands for first two months, £3 3/ for next two months, thereafter wages to carry a bonus of 10/ weekly; casual labourers 1/9 an hour; only one youth to be employed to three men; overtime to be time and a-half, and Sundays double time; holidays to be the same as in previous award, except that one week's annual holiday shall be granted on full pay. The agreement will operate from Ist July, and will last for two years. A St. Helen's Home for Palmerston North was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board. Dr Valintine had visited Mr Park's residence and stated that it was unsuitable. He did not approve of converted houses, favouring the erection of new buildings. In the present state of the country's finance, he did not feel justified in recommending the Minister to spend £40,000 to £50,000 on a St. Helen's Home in Palmerston North. If the Palmerston people wished to help, let them provide money and not a house which would handicap the Department. Mrs Gill said more would be heard of the matter, but after discussion, the question was allowed to drop. A summoned meeting of the Loyal Manawatu Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., was held last evening, and presided over by N.G. Bro. S. Wright. The nomination of officers took place, and the election and installation will take place on next lodge night. A special meeting was fixed for Thursday, June 17th, at 7.30 p.m., at 14 George Street. Reference was made to the valuable assistance rendered to the Lodge by P.G. Bro. F. Hughes, who was wished bon voyage. Bro. Hughes suitably acknowledged the compliment. The shooting competition, in which Bros. F. Hughes. B. T. Higgins, T. A. Rodgers, and S. Wright tied with 20 each, was fired off, and resulted in favour of Bro. B. T. Higgins. The rope quoits tournament was won bv Bro. T. A. Rodgers.

"I wish I con Id get some really live newspaper men. 3 want them," said General Booth to a "Times" reporter. "The pay is very prood—much of it, however, will be deferred," he added, smilingly. "Every day we call for more workers in some part of the world. I received only this morning by cable an appeal from Ceylon for more officers for the Salvation Army there. During- this last few years I have sent men to Korea, Japan, China, Uganda, and other places, including Sierre Beone, the ' White Man's Grave.' We were the first missionary organisation to take up Christian work right on the border of Tibet. I want more men, and yet more people for this work, and that is one—but only one—of the reasons for my visit."

When asked for his opinion of the present great increasing interest in psychic phenomena and spiritualism, General Booth replied scathingly:— "What do they know? They cannot tell us anything we don't know. There is nothing- in what spiritualists say that is not lamentably behind what the New Testament says. I am not prepared myself to support the view that familiar spirits were evil spirits. There is nothing in it; they can tell us nothing about heaven, and they have never mentioned hell, and the fact remains that they are more in the dark with all their rapping* than we are without them. They do not give happiness or words of guidance on human problems. My advice is: Let them alone. To quote my father's words, 'lf the spiritualists did the washing instead of the rapping they woidd do some good.' "

A clearing sale of pediprree Jerseys is to be held by Abraham and Williams. Ltd., at their emporium, Grey Street, al 10.30 a.m. on the second day of the Show, starting with srood cows. All the increase has been bred by Mr Andrew Guy, and during the past two seasons the milk from the herd has been purchased by Nathan and Co.. who certify that the average test, for the two seasons is 5.5. Such a test is quite a record, and shows the quality of the herd. For children's hacking coughs, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, 1/9,

A Sydney message states that the master of the steamer Havre reports that the tug Champion was in wireless communication on Wednesday, but by the time the Havre had raised sufficient power to reply, the tug's operator had closed down.

A Sydney cable gives the latest prices:—Oats, Algerian feed, 6/10 to ~/; Tasmanian, 6/11 to 7/; maize. 10/3 to 10/6; potatoes, £l2; Tasmanian, £ls to £l6; onions, Victorian, £l6 to £l6 10/; New Zealand. £l2 to £l3; Adelaide oats, feed, 6/3.

At Christchurch, General Birdwood related several amusing stories that caused great laughter and a demand for more. One concerned the soldier who, when asked whether the tins of water he was carrying were heaw, replied, "Yes, they would not be haif so heavy if they were rum." On another occasion the General escorted a French Admiral up the trenches of Gallipoli to a New Zealand battery. When the Admiral saw the men very lightly attired, with their bronzed backs, he turned and exclaimed, "Mon General, what magnificent men these are of yours; and if they could onlv appear in Paris in that costume, what a success they would be!"

The following supplied the street stall in aid of the Willard Home yesterday:—Bread, cakes and scones: Mesdames Simpson. Clarke, Swan, Ronberg, Jackson, Holbrook, Hodges, Print, A. J. Will, Nathan, Robbins. McEwen, and Miss Jamieson. Vegetables: Messrs Goring Johnston and Crabb, Mesdames Nathan and Morley, 'A Friend" and "Helper." Apples, jelly and honey:' Mesdames Wolf, Technical School, Lancaster, Smith, and Miss Murray. Meat: Mesdames Print and D. Rowland, jun. Ducks and rabbits: Mrs Buchanan. Cooked meat: Mesdames J. Hepworth and Holbrook. Butter and cheese: Kairanga and Tiakitahuna Dairy Companies. Cash donations: Mesdames Richardson, sen., Sherrock, Parker, Rowland, sen.. Mitchell and Linklater, Miss Johnson and "Sympathiser."

One of General Birdwood's best anecdotes at his civic reception at Christchurch arose out of the remark that he would have liked some of the younger men, the platoon commanders, for instance, to describe the bravery of the colonials, instead of leaving- it to decrepit old g-enerals like himself. There was a laugh at this lemark, and the General immediately told them about an incident that attended the wedding of his daughter to an Australian. He had just given his daughter away, when somebody said to him, "Oh, General, we are so pleased your daughter has married young . Such a magnificent termination to your career." Only in Wellington one of his young New Zealand "cobbers" had said to him, "I am so glad you have got one daughter married to an Australian, and we hope the other one will marry a New Zealander." General Birdwood assured the audience that he would be most delighted if this came about, but he was bound to tell them that his daughter was only ten years of age, and she had lots of time to make her own choice.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs:—The Price Investigation Committee had recommended four cases for prosecution. One was recommended two months ago, but .had not yet been tried, the second had been proceeded with at once, and the others had been delayed, pending the collection of information. One case involved charges of hoarding. The profit and loss account of thirteen firms had been examined, and the investigations into alleged overcharging" involved bricks, groceries, cartage, coal, clothing, freight, furniture, glass, medicines, tools, tobacco, wheat, woollen goods, wines, spare parts of motors, etc. Over 300 original invoices had been examined, and in some cases the amounts overcharged had been small, but the tribunal had insisted on refunds. In one case 25 per cent had been remitted upon complaint having been made. Tradespeople now were recognising that it was better to keep their prices within reasonable limits, rather than risk prosecution. However, the tribunal did not wish to harass business men, but it would not hesitate to recommend prosecutions where profiteering had occurred, and there was a likelihood of succeeding in Court.