LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 7 August 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Commenting on the recent earthquakes in Hawke's Bay and elsewhere, Mr Clement Wragge, who happened to be in the zone at the time, said that new upheavals had just appeared on the sun's surface and that the conditions continued abnormal.

A very dangerous gap was apparent iii the decking of the main road bridge near the Whangarei gasworks this morning, portion of one of the central planks being smashed right through and leaving a hole greatly jeopardising traffic, especially horse-drawn vehicles. Prompt notification was telephoned to the Borough engineer by Cr. W. Reynolds, and the mischief was made good very expeditiously.

Referring to the condition of the coastal defenco of the Dominion, the Defence Minister said in the House of Representatives yesterday that it was in good order. The forts were all well supplied with munitions, and the defence authorities were quite satisfied that in the event of any trouble everything would be well —not for a moment that any trouble was expected. The men who manned the forts had been gradually replaced by men who were not fit to go to the front.

Ncm 7iiny pay more money but you cannot get a better dentifrice than "OZO' ; TOOTH POWDER at (Id per tin. It makes the teeth pearly white, and preserves them. " 6d tins everywhere,

In the course of a communication to Mr V. H. Reed, M.P., the Prime Minister states: "In reply to your letter of the 19th inst. enclosing one from the Kaipara Chamber of Commerce, I beg to inform you that careful consideration will be given to the suggestion that a resident of the North Auckland District might be nominated for the Legislative Council when the question of making the appointments to the Upper House comes before Cabinet.'-'

How mustard was first introduced to the palate of the Maori was described by Mr Coleman Phillips at a meeting of the tiarly Settlers' Association in Wellington. In 1826 Mr Henry Williams had settled on the shore of the Bay of Islands, and one day when the famous chief Hone Heke was walking past his house, Mα Williams invited him to come inside and have some kai. Hone accepted the invitation, and willingly partook of some beef, which was the principal item on the menu. There was mustard on the table, but Mr Williams did not invite the chief, or any of the chief's party to try it, which led Hone to remark that Mr Williams was a curious man. Mr Williams accordingly told Hone that he (Hone) was quite welcome to the mustard, and the big chief very quickly scooped out a spoonful and ate it. Tears rolled down Hone's cheek, but he suffered in silenco. A fellow-chief also helped himself to a spoonful of mustard, Hud immediately after swallowing it began to dance around as though in great pain. He earned the wrath of Hone Hekc for such undignified behaviour in the presence of a pakeha.

'' That the Croatians and Dalmatians, or rather Jugo-Slavs, which name includes all of the southern Slav race, are loyal there is not the slightest doubt," said one of the JugO-Slavs at Auckland this week. "You are at wart with Austria, so we Jugo-Slavs have been for many years, and will be until we get freedom in our own land, and our country is controlled by our own people. Should any other foreign Power try to oppress our people and draft us on the foreign tree, we will not be quiet. We have suffered enough. The Jugo-Slavs are even more bitter against Germans, Austrians, and Magyars than .the British people. The French authorities are accepting these men for the firing line in France or sending them to Salonika to join the Servian army; America is sending them to the front, and I also learn that Australian authorities already have a camp where Jugo-Slavs are being trained for the front. These men will, in a few days, be sent to Salonika to join the Servian army. They are uniformed and paid Is 6d per day by the Australian authorities, which expense will bo adjusted by the Servian Government later. When they leave Australia they will be under the pay of the Servian Government. If this is done in Australia, I cannot understand why it cannot be done in New Zealand."

Though the fame of New Zealand is widespread in England, thanks to the doughty deeds of her sons in Prance, the popular ignorance as to the whereabouts of our comparatively little country is hard to dispel. A few weeks ago a New Zealand lad was sitting in a London restaurant, when an apparently well educated man of thirty or thirty-five sat down beside him and entered into conversation. Inquiry as to where the soldier came from led to conversation about his native country.. "But I'm afraid," said the Londoner, "that New Zealand wouldn't do for me. The climate in England is cold enough, without having snow

on the ground all the year round." Surprised at this misconception, the young soldier hastened to assure his interlocutor that iii the greater part of the Dominion ice was unknown, and that snow was only seen occasionally. Suspecting weakness in his companion's knowledge of geography, he proceeded to put a few searching questions. Then he learned that the Londoner held a firm belief that New Zealand was part of Canada, somewhere up in its northern border! No, he said, it was not Newfoundland that he was confounding it with, for he knew where that was well enough. The idea t£at New Zealand is a province of the Commonwealth is quite widely entertained.

What was probably New Zealand's first strike was referred to by Mr Coleman Phillips at a meeting of the Early Settlers' Association in "Wellington. Had it taken place in these sterenuous days it would have been a "seditious" strike, because it concerned the shipbuilding industry. On the shore of the Bay of Islands, away back in the year 1826, Mr Henry Williams built a small schooner of about five-and-twenty tons. There were hundreds of natives round about, to whom the launching of the big canoe was a sacred happening, and they wondered how the paheka was going to launch his comparatively big boat. However, they put their heads together, and decided that they would have nothing to do with the launching operations unless they received in return a whole keg of tobacco —about one hundred weight. Despite all pleadings they would not do the job for less, not even when promised n stick of tobacco each. Then Mr Williams became equally obdurate, and one fine morning he himself knocked the chocks away, and the boat slipped quietly off the ways, and was soon floating. Somewhat annoyed, the natives went into the water after it, and began to spear it and club it, but as they could make no serious impression on the stout little vessel they finally gave in, and candidly admitted that the pakphas were clever men thau themselves.

The funeral took pla,ce yesterday rv? | the latr- .\i"r james iiric-e, ot' MairtoWli; ! A short service was held at the residence, Banff street, aad the cortege left for Ketenikau Cemetery, <Kamo, at 2 p.m. A soii and two daughters of the deceased gentleman attended, and the Mayor and many prominent business men of Whangarei, as well as friends connected with the Methodist Church, were present at the interment, also Adjutant Dixon, of the Salvation Army. The number of vehicles in the procession was very large; and there were many beautiful wreaths. The services at the house and at the graveside were conducted by the Rev. J. R. Clark, of the Methodist 'Church, Whangarei.

How the Hon. E. Mitchelson views racing restrictions was expressed to the annual meeting of the Auckland Racing Club by that gentleman in the following terms: "The curtailment of racing may, froni a Sentimental point of view, be quite right, but it will not have the effect of winning the war, so shortening its duration by one hour. I have given the subject, he continued, during the last two years a good amount of consideration, and that is the conclusion that I have arrived at. Could I be assured that the curtailment, or even stopping of racing altogether would help to win or even shorten the war, I would be one of the strongest advocates for its suppression. Sentiment, no matter hdw strongly expressed or advocated, is not going to win the war—nothing but hard fighting, plenty of men, and plenty of money to back them up, will end this terrible and devastating war, and from a financial point of view the Government have made a great mistake in insisting upon a reduction in racing, as such must seriously affect the Treasury. One would have thought that in times of stress, such as we are now passing through, every effort would have been made to conserve every penny of revenue, especially tlJat which costs nothing to collect, and is very largely contributed by those who will not be touched by the proposal or late taxation methods."

A large company assembled last night in the 'Whangarei Salvation Army Hall for th© concluding meeting in connection with the band festival. A varied programme of songs, recitations, etc., was provided, in addition to which there were demonstrations <>i ambulance work and signalling by the members of the Life-Saving Scouts, under Scout-leader Fairburn. Ad. jutant Dixon, of Auckland, presided, and oinder his capable guidance the interest was not allowed to flag for a moment. A specially pleasing feature of the evening was the presentation to the iband of a fine saxophone, the donor, Mr Carnegie, handing over the instrument with the request that it might foe put to the best possible

use. The chairman and' the handmaster suitably acknowledged the gift, promising that the giver's wishes should be fulfilled. The chairman took the opportunity during the evening of inviting Adjutant Chapman (lady superintendent of the Boys' Home at 'Russell) to Bay a few words concerning her work. The Adjutant warmly thanked all the Whangarei people who had assisted (by their gifts in money and kind, and assured the meeting that such practical help was greatly appreciated by the at the Russell Home, who were caring for a large family of 17 boys, som c of them little more than babies. The financial result of the series of meetings was about £20, clear of all expenses; and in drawing the .meeting t> a close Adjutant Dixon and Ensign Lamond (officer in charge of the corps) expressed their gratitude to all who had in any way contributed to the success of the gathering.

Orchestral Concert (conductor, Mr ioi?" Walker ) Wednesday. August S, 1317. Soloists: Miss Muriel Allen contralto; Mr C. Hunter, baritone Box Plan at Hutton's. Hon. secretary, W A. Parker.—Advt.

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