LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, 4 August 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A somewhat serious accident happened at tho Bovs' Training Farm at Stoke yesterdav afternoon. A youth named John Braid had the misfortune to cutins left hand, with an axe while chopping wood, inflicting a. gash about five inches lone. First aid was rendered by L." Bradstock, the manager of the 'institution, and TJx Lucas later attended to the injuries.

A farmer in the Rakaia district is reported to have gathered 40 tons of mangles from an acre of ground. Another resident took five tons from, an eighth of an acre.

The total numiber'of swans ready in Christohuch. for shipment to England for food for the Belgians as the result of tiie recent swan drive on Lake Ellesmere is 1744. They will- be shipped du<ring the month, of August.

Captain O. W. B. Littlejohn, Victorian Rhodes scholar for 1909 (son of Mr W. &. Littlejohn, of Melbourne, formerly principal' of Nelson College, and grandson of Mrs Wilson Littlejohn, of Wellington) has been for two years on ictive service with the Royal Army, Medical Corps, and has been wounded twice. He holds degrees in arts, science, med'icine. and surgery, and a diploma in mtbropology of the Oxford University, ind has passed the final examination for he Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons.

General regret, says the Post, will be felt in Xew' Zealand! shipping circles at the news of the total- loss at Robben Island, near Capetown, of the fine Shaw, SarviM. and Albion liner Eangitira, which went ashore there in a thick fog on 31st March. 1916. whilst on the passage from to Kew Zealand. At -first it was thought that there would be some hope of 'refloating' the Rangatira, but latterly it was not considered improbI'ble-, bv those in a position to know, chat she would have to be abandoned. About SCCO tons of salved cargo from thfe Rangatira was brought to Auckland ■x few days ago by the "Wa-i-wera. Captain R. A. Low den was in command at the time of the disaster. Built in 1910. uv Workman, Clark, audi Co., Ltd., Belfast, for the Shaw, Savill, and Albion 0-0.,' the Rangatira was a fine type of'a •nodern cargo liner. Her gross tonnage was 10.11-8. while her principal dimensions were as follow : —Length-, 478 ft: width, 61ft: depth, 31ft. Besides her large space for general cargo, she possessed an up-to-date refrigerating plant, ind. 'in- fact, all 'the* appliances of a modern oversea cargo carrier; It will be remembered that the old Shaw-Sa-viil steamer 'Maori was lost at -D-uikar Point. ,orao miles from Capetown, several- years igo.)

A Manawatu farmer, who has a herd of 40 cows, in a letter to a friend, in Ashburton (says the Guardian) mentionid that the dairy season was now commencing in that locality, and that it was i most difficult matter to get men to fill .-he vacancies on the dairy farms. Re.ently his man bad left him to go into .-amp, 'but before doing so, stated that lis fiancee, who was an assistant, in a : iraper's shop in Wellington, was most inxi ous to take up irural life, and to keep lis berth warm while he was away servng his country. Tho farmer was natu- ' ally sceptical about employing the •oung lady, but at the earnest request >f the employee he decided to give tne drl a trial, and promised at the same \me that she would, nf suitable reeive tho same wages as her soldier over The young lady duly arrived, '•nd her first duty was to acquire a ;i\iow'ledgo of the intricate working of he milking machines, which she did m i comparatively short time The new . ssKtant had now been' in his employ , or over a month- .and had given every atisfaotion. 'One evening, m coming iom-o rather late from) a sale, he found o his sur-crise that she bad started the lachines and had milked 18 cows. The firmer added that if all the girls are ' s game as this young lady from the own dairy farmers in the North Isind need mtvc no qualms about solving he labour problem.

'. Dr Elizabeth McDonald, in a. lectn-.'e •nil "Physical Fitness hi Women," delivered 'in Auckland on Saturday evenMncr laid peculiar stress on the fact that 'little drls up to the age ,of twelve or ■Mm-teiM! should not he coddled any more •'than liuvs. Thev were just as strong ■laiurallv as hoys, and it was the mistaken idea Ihat they were- fragile, which HrouslU.oii manv nervous troubles. Jhei'2 vvoidd he fewer nervous children if there vvere quieter mothers. . The lecturer ■spoke strongly upon the stupidity of examinations for younger children, and instilliii'r into their minds the fear of ! iailm" r Study should* be a. pleasure to iin ordinary "intelligent child., properly <*taivdit,. and not the dread bugbear which Louses children to talk about their lesions in tbeir sleep.

Supplies of ten shilling bank notes have been issued. The branches of the various banks will be circularised in a few da vs. —Press Association.

The Timaru Harbour Board evidently got a cheap job in the- construction' of the eastern mole. According to a recent issue of the West-port- J imes, the stone for the West-port i ' ' i- works now going on is.costing /» per ion. Ihe cost of the stone in the eastern extension works just completed at Tima.ru was 3s 2d per ton.

The following descriptive postcard communication has just been received by a Wellington lad v from "Somewhere in France" :" —"Dear,— In the trenches__wet weather, water, mud, bullets, shells, rats, frogs, snipers, spring flowers, swallows, bombs, mosquitos, mice, whizz-bangs, frankfurters, fleas, fear of death,° shrapnel, biscuits, sandbags, splinters, more rats, marmalade, ma-chine-guns, stretchers, stew. fun<c, i'righti'nlness, fun, gas, grenades, more rats, picks, shovels, bayonets, noise, loss of sleep, slips slides, tin hats, louder noise, more mud, more rats, 'not-her loud noise, finish. —Someonefetehmea-drink-quick! Yours till the last gasp."

A Taranaki resident who has just returned to New Plymouth from Australia states that he was very miuch struck with the paucity of New Zealand news appearing' in .the Australian- papers. During his stay of over a month he only read one .paragraph with reference to New Zealand, and that, strange to say, was a two-lino paragraph in regard to the New Plymouth fire.

Inquirer writes requesting information regarding the commencement and _ end of each season. The reason for his request is a statement by an exchange published in the Mail some time, ago which stated, towards the end of May, "that the first month of winter is nearly over." This remark, says the-correspon-dent, conflicts with the season periods as I have always known them. Seasons vary to some extent according to geographical position, but taking the astronomical division of ,the seasons, winter would comprise 13" -weeks with 21st June in the centre, therefore commencing at the 6th May, and ending at the 6th August. Regarding climatic conditions here, however, one shcuuld say that the season would be at least a month later all round.

Referring to the request made by the Advisory Board of the Patriotic Societies that the Government should, favourably consider the question of subsidising public donations raised for the relief of distressed Servians, and of Russian prisoners interned in Germany, the Hon. G. W. Russell states that this matter was recently considered by Cabinet, "but he regretted, that -while the Government was in full sympathy -with the objects, of the fund, it was unable to grant the subsidy applied for. Three more whales were killed in Cook Strait last Saturday 'by the Berano party, making six for the week and 26 since the season 'began. Since the season opened Mr IBaldick and his men have secured six whales. A kinematograph operator has succeeded! in taking some pictures of the hunts carried out by Mr Perano's oil launch. The little vessel has a speed of 25 : miles an hour.

Mi- P. 'G. Webb asked the Minister of Public Health in t-e House of Representatives yesterdayi .what steps he was taking to suppress tubercular disease in New Zealand. The Hon. G. W. Russell' said the Department/ and' the Hospital Boards' had' been tackling the question for many years. A_ splendid sanatorium had been established at Christ-church, on the Cashmere Hills. Auckland was providing a sanatorium, and there were sanatoria at Cambridge and Otaki. He feared that, on account of the dampness of the climate, it would be impossible to establish a sanatorium on the West Coast, but- Arrangements in this direction would be made to have patients from) the West 'Coast accommodated in either the Cashmere 'Hills Sanatorium or one specially erected there. •

Mr Peter Mack ay, of Kaituna, Col--1 ins: wood, recently --.spent some time in Wellington demonstrating his artificial arm and) hand to the Defence authorities. As a, result it is probable may proceed Home to place his invention before the British War Office. A victim of misfortune himself, he having lost a hand several years ago, he set to work to, improve on the artificial limbs then procurable, and has succeeded l in his object, having perfected "a hand that will enable a person to do any-land of manual labour, and 'to, perform' such a delicate ooei~a'tion as the picking- up of a oin. or the holding of a; newspaper. Military and medical authorities, speak very highly of Mr Maekay's invention, which promises to be a boon to those who may lose an arm.

Trathen's Sale, last few days, Fur Muffs, Fur Necklets, and Sets at'specially low prices.*

A strange recovery of money was made after the recent New Plymout fire. Mr L, M. Monteath remembered that a roll of notes had .been left on the taible in the premises destroyed. He searched the imins, and amongst themi found 'the notes undamaged.

Tratheni's Sale, the balance of remnants to be cleared cheap.

Two fatal cases of septic scarlet lever have occurred in Grreymmiih during the past week or so (says the Star). T,his is considered by the authorities as not to be altogether unexpected as an aftermath to the recent mOld epidemic of scarlet fever there.

Ladies' Cashmere Hose, (last chance for Hosiery at these low prices), Sale Is 3d, Is 9d, Is lid, 2s 4£l, 3s 3d.— Trathen's Sale.*

The 'postponed Flannel, Hard-up, and Original Dance, which was. to have been held in the Port Rowing Shed last night, will be held to-night.

A public meeting of the residents of Tahuna. will he held in the Tahuna Public Hall this evening at 8 o'clock, when the lighting and drainage of storm/water will be considered.

Dadies' Costumes are exceptionally low priced at Trathen's Sale, Navy Serge Costumes, smart new styles, and good quality. Serge Sale prices. 52s 6d, 57s 6d, 655, 69s 6d, 755.* ' •

A seal was observed dn the Oama.ru Harbour on Sunday, .swirnimiug about 80 yards out from the wharf (says the Mail). As itihe animal, represented danger 'to the fishermen's nets, it was effectively scared away. Dress Goods at Trathen's Sale, quality dye and colour guaranteed, prices are low now, and you have an excellent choice of materials.* Trathen's Sale! The end draws near, complete stock* ot Towels. Quilts, Dongcloths, Flannels. Blousings, still at sale prices.* A meeting of returned soldiers is to be held to-morrow. Saturday, at the Nelson Institute, at 7.30. We can supply you with Dadies' Warm Whiter Coats of good dependable quality, cut in the latest styles, at very loiv sale prices.—Trathen's Sale.* For Children's Hacking Conch Woods' Great Peppermint Oui:t»,

Although he is "on service, many thousands of "miles from oS'ew Zealand, and is engaged in matters of far more import than the Territorial system of the Dominion, General Sir Alexander Godley nevertheless,still takes a keen interest in Territorial matters here, and has asked Colonel G. F. O. 'Campbell, Coast Defence C'omimauder, Wellington, to keep hint posted with. the. doings of our ''citizen army." In a letter to Colonel Campbell, written on his wiiy to England, General Godley pays high tribute to the efficiency of our troops in France. "The infantry reinforcements which have reached us in France." he says, "are quite up to the standard set by the previous drafts, and if the coming reinforcements have the same high efficiency as those in France now, they will be quite satisfactory." The artillery reinforcements, continues Sir Alexander, are doing excellent work, and have developed into an exceptionallyi fine body. Since their arrival in France they have all attended a big artillery instruction camp, with, the result that they now possess combination, speed, and accuracy, the three greatest attributes to the perfect gun team. General Godley expresses his appr-eeiation of th© officers in New Zealand', who are responsible for the very thorough training and equipment which the New Zealand troops have received during their sojourn at Trenthami and Featherston. The writer concludes a very

interesting letter by expressing the hope that more artillery" would be sent from New Zealand! in the future.—Post.