Northern Advocate Daily With which is incorporated the Northern-Mail Daily THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 3 May 1917, Page 2

Northern Advocate Daily With which is incorporated the Northern-Mail Daily

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper.

•For several years past Ngunguru school affairs have been conducted solely by a commissioner, as no committee was appointed. This year the householders rallied to the occasion and set up the requisite committee of five members Avho are Messrs Currie (chairman), Whare Amos, Marsh, Mahanga, Morey and Donaldson. The probable date of the exhaustion of the First Division is still a subject of discussion. The available figures do not pro Aide a basis for an exact calculation, since it is impossible to know what proportion of the remaining members of the division arc fit for active service. But there appears to be no reason for amending the suggestion already made, that the married men will not become subject to the chances of the ballot before October, and will not be required to enter camp before December or January. A suggestion has recently been made to the Minister in Charge of Hospitals (Hon. G. W. Russell) that some recognition should be given to nurses Avho have remained at their work in Dominion hospitals instead of going to the front. The Minister has now forAvardcd a copy of a letter on the subject Avritten by Dr. Valintine, who states that there Avould be many difficulties in recognising the services of the nurses in any other way than by giving substantial increases in salary to those Avho have given long service. The restricted traffic on the railways is affecting the flaxmilling industry in this district (states the Manawatu "Herald.") In the past a large quantity of green flax has been obtain xl by rail, but since the curtailed service, has been in operation this class of goods has been refused. The millers at Tokomaru and Shannon have been in the habit of forwarding their hemp by rail to Wellington, but have had to make other arrangements, and are uoav sending it to Foxton by motor lorry. The Rangitane and Rangiotu mills have also had to change to this method of carriage. Hemp is also uoav being sent to Foxton from the Bulls district by tram Avhich previously Avas railed from Greatford to Wellington. A most miraculous escape from sudden death occurred to three ladies and the driA-er of a motor from Eketahuna this Aveek in Willis street, Wellington. The car Avas travelling up Willis street on the wrong side of the road, and the driver suddenly realised his indiscretion, and attempted to get across to the proper side. In doing so he chose an inopportune time. As he put his car across th|, road a tramcar was coming down Willis street and another going up. It seemed a thousand to one chance that the car would be smashed to atoms, and that there would be bloodshel, but somehow the two tramcars Avorked in that the motor car Avas caught at the right time and it Avas sleAved round in the opposite direction to that in which it was proceeding originally. The near front wheel was locked in the gear of the tramcar, Avluch Avas proceeding to Island Bay. Xo one Avas hurt, no one l even screamed, and after some heavy ' Avcight-lifting all concerned proceeded . on their Avay. The driver of the Is- < land Bay car was the means of saving J the lives of the four occupants of Tbe ! motor car. I %

A monster mushroom found oil a farm near Taupeka the other day measured 37 inches in circumference, and the stalk, Avhich was about G inches in length, Avas quite a couple of inches through. It was in perfect condition. A notice in this week's Gazette states that Empire Day will be celebrated on Monday, June 4, the anniversary of. the birthday of King George. The day will be observed as a public holiday in the Government offices throughout Nlew Zealand. -■'" A woman inspector to test the scholastic acquisition of the youth of this State does not seem to be a very dreadful fracture of the tradition (says the Sydney "Telegraph.") The gingerly tread of the Minister towards the change is quite in the best official style. Just one woman will be chosen, and her fate Avill depend on her owti success judged by the standards which men will establish. Some of these days no doubt, there will be a woman Minister, who will announce that as a trial she has appointed a man to look after an infant scHooL Notwithstanding the tumultuous an* often tragic scenes which Avere often witnessed on Pitcairn Island in the earlier days of its occupation by the mutineers of the "Bounty," the- present dwellers on the island would appear to be a peace-IoA-ing and orderly people. Mr Carey, iv his lecture at the Whangarei Toavii Hall last night, told his audience that the two great holidays there are New Year's Day and King's Birthday. A full programme of sport, music and song is arranged for each of these days, and on the latter occasion saluting the British flag and other loyal demonstrations form a very important feature in the day's proceedings. All farmers Avho have more at stake than they can look after themselves will be interested to hear of the latest demand by a gentleman in search of a country home (says the Oamaru "Mail"). The man owning the farm, \vho is Avell known as one Avho treats his hands fairly well, even going the length of morning tea to all, offered £3 a welek to a general man, with a house, the milk of one coav, and the use of a section of ground large enough to return a good profit on labour if planted in potatoes. The gentleman demanded £3 a week, a house with hot and cold water, a garage for his car, and the milk of two cows. He has not got it, but it is strange that, as far as is known, neither has the farmer yet secured a suitable man at his figinle ; The men attached to No. 3 Group who are proceeding from Whangarei as portion of the Northern quota of the 29th Reinforcements paraded at the Drill Hall this morning, and were briefly addressed by the Mayor (Mr J. S. Dent), before marching through the town. Headed by the Municipal Band, they then made their way to the station, and Avere cheered by the crowd as the train moved off. The eamparatively small number of men parading here is due to the fact that the "remainder had permission to report en route. Altogether the quota numbers 70 men, and goes forward at full strength. It may be added that in future the farewell ceremony will take place at the Drill Hall, and the public will haA-e an opportunity afterwards of fraternising with the men before starting for the railway sation;