LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, 22 May 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sir James Allen has been advised that the -first -portion bf the 23rd Reinforcements has reached its destination safely.—press Association.

"Man is by far the md«t Courageous, animal God "ever made; and compared with him lions are Cowards," Mr liloyd George is reported td have said after a visit tcl the frdnt, Speakiiig of the British soldiers.^.

The Helping Hand Shop will be open as usual this 'week. Gifts from the Wood will be collected on Thursday morning. All who have any odd brigilitly coloured buttons to spare are asked if they will kindly leave them; at the shop. ♦

tn the Christchureh Police Court this morning Daniel Stevens, licensee of the Marine Hotel at Sumner, was lined 40s and costs foi' refusing to supply meals to two Carters from Lyttelton at 8.30 At ilight.—.Press Association.

Postcards from soldiers at the front, returning thanks for the cigarettes and tobacco sent through the Mail Tobacco fund, have been received for the following.:—Miss G. Ledger, S. Wearing, Henry'Saunders, C. Price, W. Sampson» "G.E.T."

A bos containing first-class raspberries lias beeil forwarded to the Mail Dfliee by.Mi- R. J. Polglaze, of Stanley 'Brook; the fruit being of large size, bright colour and excellent flavour. The gathering of "raspberries at the end 1 of May is an indication of the unusual mildness of the weather for this period of the year.- It is learnt that aill through the raspberry-.ga-owing districts there is more or legs Fruit oil the canes at the .present tinie. In town, so far, there has been no frost severe enough to blacken tho growth that is the first to succumb—potatoes, beans, and pumpkins amongst the vegetables and dahlias (a very tender subject) amongst the flowers are still "going strong/ Tile autumn is unusual? ly~ prolonged, audi the advent of frosts considerably later than usual.

"Why should not wheat be grown in the <H'u<tt Valley, as it used to be?" asks the Mayor of Tjower Hutt (Sir H. 'Baldwin). "Wheat is of greater exportable v value <than potatoes," he remarked, adding that as a'-merchant he could Hot seo that there was going io be an unusual (scarcity of potatoes in 'New Zealand. The Government e ou ld utilise their own land for wheat growing at the Hutt', he suggested. At Niai Nai -they had 100 acres, on Racecourse road they had two blocks of 10 acres each, and at the back of the Waiwetu some<too to 500 acres. Assuming -that 550 acres were available for wherit-growiiig in -the Hutt 'Valley,. the yield at .30 bushels per acre, a low estimate, would-be 16,500 bushels of wheat for export if required from a few acres - '' "-Mised Government land in the Hutt Valley.- '..'"■'"'

The New Journal of Science," which the Board of Science'and Art has decided to establish, and which- the Hon. G. W. Russell has approved, is described by Mr Russell as "a very modest undertaking.' He stated the other evening that it will be published quarterly. It is intended as a channel of communication between \the scientific societies in New Zealand, chiefly in the way of promoting scientific research. He points out that the importance of this work is fully recognised "in other parts of the Empire, notably in Australia, where the Federal Government will, be - merely the beginning, of a scheme which, he hopes, will be of great service to the State during the war arid afterwai'ds.

Thus "Civis," in the Otago Daily Times :—Professor Dickie makes the shrewd suggestion that "the, leakage of information which caused the loss of the and the lamented death of the 'great organiser of victory, was owing to treachery emanating from the Russian Coui-t." Why, of course; what .else'/—rtho light now thrown on the Russian Court and its Germanism makes the thing clear as daylights The movements of the Kitchener - mission ■were known at Petrograd, a Petrqgracl traitor told the Germans. The Hampshire was waylaid at one sure point for intercepting herr—the start. There a submarine was waiting, and within an hour or two,of the! Hampshire's leaving the deed was done. Nemesis has always overtaken"- the Russian' traitors, or some of them. To the' Hohenzollerns .there remains a fearful-looking form of judgment: J and Tino, their faithful lackey, must: be shaking in his shoes.

*' '■ Did Lincoln Run Away from His> Own Wedding?" is the title of a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle. The story has : long been current that Lincoln, whose first love died in early youth, had great searching of heart over. his subsequent engagement to Mary Todd, and that when the wedding , was first arranged, and guests and relatives were assembled in honour of the events, Mary Todd waited in vain at thealtfir; Lincoln in a state of gloomy frerizythad fled. woods.. In the. following -year a reconciliation was effected by -f*nie friends, and the two were ' in : 1842. Now this tale/we read,: has disproved, as resting v on the single au-V thbrity of a disappointed ofnce-seekef, ; who did riot hesitate to defame Lincoln's family, as., well as invent a story of ■ "moral cowardice so unlike' the'fearless President of years to come. - thicoln:: did 'marry Miss Todd in 1842, but of the," preyipus wedding date and runaway theret.- is no"' authentic record, and the: fact of Lincoln's being in at, the time would h:ive rendered it,impos- . Bible to hush uj> so" startling an episode-: had it really occurred. ■■■• That Lincoln doubted' his chance of happiness'"was probable, as the, sharp temper Of' the ■ bride showed itself from the fii-st." But, no aspersion was ever cast on; the domes-" tic life of the Lincolhs after.

uVlessrs Bradshaw Bios.' cutter 'Carrie,, wliile fishing off the. Dog -J si and lighthouse, observed the notorious (Dog Island shark in the vicinity (says Wednesday's Southland Niews), and he followed*'his usual "custom on this occasion of snapping off the groper as the '.fisher? men-ipulled them to the surface.' It was? this Hast experience of the kind, however, as Mr H. [Bradshaw always carried suitable tackle in an attempt to catch this well-known mammoth fish, who for years has 'been. the. bane of fishermen. Ihe bait was tossed! over, and the shark 'seized it With, rapidity, ar/i then the, struggle commenced. Plenty of line was paid out; and. half towing the 50-ton cutter for .half an hour, the foil <was ibroucht up, havinc suci-ceded m drowning himself. The '-Carrie then towed the ■monster to the Bluff, and after'landing, him two horses were requisitioned to dirag the monster to the railway platform. They proved unequal to the, task of moving such bulk, however, and much greater strenuth had to he secured to get the fish on to the, railway platform, where he was worked into a truck, and was this morhhur dispatched to the Show (Grounds for exhibition. His length is 14 ' fppt; and without doubt he is a' veritable mari-eater in size. A missionary social will be held >-\ the Congregational Schoolroom to-mor-row evening, to raise funds for their native in India. A good programme is arranged, and as admission will be free, a large gathering is expected. i . ' Mr M. Webster is not too *h.y to tell thrifty housewives that'" No Rubbing" Ijatrndry Help l doeflwaah all clothes spotlessly, clean -without nabbing or injury, alsbieives Thinker Book free with' •very U packet of "No Robbing. ** ,/

Only one case -was called on at th# sitting of the Magistrate's Court to* day, and this being beyond the jurisdiction of Justices, was adjourned) to'.Tun* 7th. when the Magistrate will siL .The presiding! Justices were Messrs T. Edwards and! C. R. Sainsbury.

A Moose stone or the aeries of watercourses across Brougham street between •ColUngwoodi street and Trafalgar .street was apparently responsible for a motor cycle mishap that occurred there yesterday afternoon. . A boy was riding the cycle accompanied by a motor mechanic in a side-chair—apparently oil a trial spin, when the machine on the roadi stated* .turned sharply at right angles and took 3i header down: a bank.. A little gymnastics, followed, but neither tne boy nor the (machine was injured. On the letuati journey the boy occupied the side-chair.

An inventor has corns forward with-' an jidea- by which it' is hoped to seve valuable and important papers from, shipwreck. An ' officer on a -vessel in' port gave an Auckland Star reporter an, interesting description of the-new ''floatitif_f safe," as it is called. Menotte 'Nauni has devised a nori-sinkable vault, which is liot only .large l to hold the purser's safe, but which also provides ample storage space for registered mail, gold bullion, and valuables owned) by passengers. T»he inventor plans to install several of his floating safes in a large.vertical, cylindrical &jLse\ casing placed in a well amidships, the top of the -well being flush with the upper deck, f,n<& covered with a loosefitting, easily^removed cap. If a ship equipped with such a system o£ floating safes should sink, the c over of the well would float off and water would l the steel casing and- force the satfes £o rise. to the surface. The inventor has also provided for hermetically sealedfloats to be placed at the extreme Iwtttfro oi the well under the last safe. Attached to these floats is a cable, which would, serve ■t° indicate the position and identity- of 'the ship.

The New Zealand Herald states that a veteran of 74 yeark, who has seen service in many lands, and whohas worked on survey .parties in the King Coun- . try for the past quarter of a century, , presented himself at the Taumaruhui' recruiting office the other day and said he wanted to enljst. In answer \o a • question regarding his age, he was not 6ure, he said, whether it was 46*7>r 47 years. He passed the medical,, examination, his sight and all his other facul-" ties being quite good. Just as he' was aßout to leave the office in triumph, the sergeant -of police happened to enter, and "gave the man's real ago. To all appearances , the would-be recruit is perfectly sound, but there seems to' bo no doubt about his age, for a trust- , worthy Taumafunui resident states he knew "him forty years ago, when ho looked, very r much the same as he d|d to-day.

A rather amusing story is going Iho * rounds concerning a certain incident - which occurred a few days ago at One pf the local hotejs where mining,men generally meet (says tlie Hokitika Time^)." t It is stated that a mining magnate \ from Sydney, a local solicitor, and 'the owner of some valuable mining privileges were in close conclave regarding the sale of the properties. The business had for somo_timc, and just got to the stage "when the documents were to be signed, when the licensee walked in, and, calling the soli- > citor, informed him that he was wanted I outside on important business. The so- -' licitor, who "was anxious to get the docu- ' \ meats completed, said he would be .out' C, in a few minutes, but the pro-''" tested that his instructions were that" the business was important. Asking to be excused for a moment, the solicitor left to see his impatient client, who turned out >to be a well-known dealer. The "important"' business that the client had to transact was put in' the form of the following question:—*'l {want to send a telegram for fish. How do ypu spell barracouta?' '■> *. • The terms on which all the steamers' • now engaged in the trade' between the United Kingdom ' and Australia ."and | New Zealand nave been requisitipped by the Imperial Government, are. , what I are known-as "Blue Book'" rates agri.<to' - charter. These provide .for the, usual-. •-.."■ terms of charter of ships>.th'e:GpWßm-/- .• * ment paying all charges for arid discharging" the ships as well as for (.the •* - coal required for bunkering. ■' It is also , *; ' understood* that the Government,pays, *»>* small perceptage on jbhe gross ' earnings. " of the ships to satisfy claims; ales yirar risk insurance. \ The ship has'to.pay.>all', ;. i» other charges, such as the wages pf offi- T ■ i cers and crews, and their victualing," •■" and the usual marine insurance, • repairs •. and maintenance charges.' ■< < •'"» ' -'• * t - ' -i" . l S. iT i- On the evening of Saturday,-!-April -. v 28, % unj'mber of young men were'hav-'i '*i ing supper at a restaurant in Master- ,- t ton when an argument ensued over the • . ~ (possession of a hat, which ultimately-led,. ,> to, blows. It is alleged that one, named', '„' i Arthur- Barnes, struck atiother named , ' Leo. Dixon, an" employee at the' Post.; - • Office, a 'blow causing- IDixon- to , his head against the wall with such force . "to inflict a scalp wound. The in- ,\ . jured" lad, however, felt no seriouß effects; and went to work as-usual on. fhe . Monday. iLater, however, blood pqjsoning; set in,, and Dixon was removed to the Masterton. Hospital, where, during ••- -the past few dajs, be has been in'' a •• • precarious i:6iiditioo. ' On Wednesday Barnes was arrested, and at the Police Court next day, before Mr Eli Smith,. . J.P,. he was .charged with assault 'and , causing hodily i harm. On the application of the police he was remanded, bail being fixed at self £SO. and one surety ' of £SO. The bail was forthcoming.

A largely altteiutadl public meeting ~ was held in Timaru on Thursday, night for the purpose of discussing matters , affecting the interests of 'soldiers and .. . their dependants, but especially .the interests of members of the Second"''!**- . vision. ' Mr J. Craigie, M..P. for Timaru, brought forward a policy whereby, -foe contended,, the money acquired to P r 9" vide property for our' soldiers and their dependants' could be easily secured. 'Ho said' there wcro mem in this district and -in other parts of .New Zealand who had givera freely of their wealth, but there were others so mean of soul that they would give nothing. .Those whq . had "ivetu freely should be given.credit! for it in any scheme of taxation or conscription that ntf-jht" be adopted. He had drawn up a scale 'by which a maw • would bo texedi according! to his wealth:.. It was as* follows :—«An exemption* of . £2500 should! be given,, and then •he - , would tax as follows : -HB3OOO, 1. per- ' cent., yielding (after the exemption), £26; £SOOO to £7OOO, 'U v per cent*, £75; £71500 to £14,000,- 2 per cent:, £150; £IO.OOO to £16,000,-3-per cent., - £375; £15,000 to £20,000, 4 per cent., £700; £20,000 to £30,000, 5 per cent.-, ■ £1375; £30,000 to £40,000, 6 per cent., • £2250 £40,000 to £50,000, 7 per cent., J83325 £50,000 to £co,ooo, 8 per cent., £4600; £60,000 to £70,000, 9 per cent., £6075 £70,000 to £BO,OOO, 10 per cent., £7750. iH'e stopped; at this but was Qt opinion that a \mau owning more „™*; n . £BO,OOO should 'be compelled, to «ontnbute at a still higher ratio, and then he •would still have plenty to live "P OO - «'? proposal had been approved by lading rich men of the Dominion; who told blip that it'was right. s .-' The Anchor. Company announce that owing to the Kaitoa being laid-up / for arthual inspection they will not have any steamer sailing for. Wellington on Thurs. - day or Saturday next. ~'*'•, t, ■'■ "'"" ■'•''..'\ ,^.:.V^^-.

-: Wiiite liere is hot an actual shortage., of staff. at the Auckland Hospital, -the high pr.es.ure at which the doctors there.are working was instanced by the chairman of the Board, who stated at the meeting that he had to wait for • several hours before he could see the medical superintendent. It was becoming more "and more obvious that the present staff should be enlarged, yet the scarcity- of doctors stopped this. It was decided to pay expenses, plus salary, to , three-.students from the South, who * would be "available for duty at the hos- . pital for a few weeks.

In connection with the recent operation 'on the brain of a young prisoner at Auckland, Mr James Moore, the Sailors' Friend Society missioner at Wellington, gives an interesting instance of a- somewhat similar case which was reported" in a reputable English journal some years ago. In the Battle of Waterloo at British, officer was in the act of

gryujg the order. "Charge, Forward," which was then used. He 'had just said "Charge," when a bullet struck him on the head., .£or oyer 30 years he was an absolute imbecile,. iintil with the march of medical .science, it was decided to operate. _ The operation was entirely . snccessf ul,. the prtssure on the brain was * released, and the first thing the patient . said «as the word l "Forward," the ramainder of the order he had commenced .: 30 years i>efore. ,

At;-the monthly meeting of the Otago . anflli;Southlaiid Fire Underwriters' Ass~ sociatjon, the chairman intimated that he -feai; received a communication from Superintendent Napier, of the Dunedin drawing attention to the r. dangerous nature of the damp-proof Hn- . ing-'paper" that was at being largely. nsed. io the construction of •wooden buildings. On a small piece of this paper, which was produced, being .lit J: it burned fiereeiy in spite of repeated efforts to blow out the,flames, ' shoTongthat the use of this paper wilt greasy...increase the risk of total loss if a ; ;bipding in . which it is used catches " ,A still more serious consideration is'j;-he r aanger to life, as the paper when burning produces a> thick, black smoke thai would quietly overcome the inmates ■ of a burning building and so present their escape.. It was the unanimous opinion of the meeting that the use of this "paper constitutes a menace to life -and property, and that the dangers at- - teniJant on its use should be made widely known. .•'.'.