LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 201, 21 August 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The need for increased NeW Zealand was strewed by the_Hori G W. Russell (Minister of -Public HealVhM on Friday. "We want img population in tine country, said. tne Sister. 'After the war hge am increased national debt of SIOOjUW, 000 and we will have a pension bill of about £2,000,000 annually. The proper way ta to .breed our own POP^ l^'-., 1 have figured to show that if the birthrate in 1886 had been maintained « would have had 240,000 more peoplem New Zealand The shrinking birth-rate has two aspects, economic artd moral. The moral aspect can be lett toministers of religion. As for the other aspect, the State must realise that the population has it s economy value Then the State must assist by direct cash allowances every working man bringing up a family. If we aVe to have 3 a healthy,.population we must arrange that no mam or woman) as - too poor to get proper medical attention J wan* to see a separate staff of doctois in all hospitals to attend to this.

The reference in yesterday s issue to the performance o. Mr A. B. Halls vvonder" strain of Runner ducks gave tn,e birds credit for even more wonderful" laving-than they liav 6- actually done. This was- due to the omission- of a "I"—the date should have been 19th not 9th of August. From the 20th. June to «th August the five ducks have laid to within three of the possiDle.

l&s will buv vou a beautifully Embroidered White Voile Frock at our Huge Spring Sale Next (Week—The Auckland Clothinc and Drapery -Co.

The mails for United Kingdom which left New Zealand on the 6th July axrived at destination safely.

Tussoro shade is all the rage this _ season .At our big Spring Wale Next Week we will sell yards artd yard® ot Bea-uti ful Tussore Coloured AU,«ver Embroidery at Is yard.—The Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.*

" iMotueka: Tialhen and Co.'s Sale of as-. A. Wallace's Stock continues. Fresh bargains every day.*

Japanese Silks are going up m pn£o every day. At our Spring Sale -uex» week we will sell 36-inch White Jap. at 3s 6d yard.—The Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.*

Ladies' Cashmere "Finish Black Hose at Is 9d pair next week, at The Auckland Clothing ' and' ttteafiJSX - ®Q*-

Most of the excuses proffered by jnrvmen who wish to be excusedf from attending the cour.t have the necessary war flavour. Five jurors made their plea s to be excused in this fashion at Wellington the other day, says the New Zealand Times. The first juror called said he was a manufacturer of confectionery ,and had .two son s at the front. He was essential to the business. Without any hesitation. His Honour excused him. The next juror pleaded that he was a masseur, and that his patients would be kept waiting if he were I placed on l the jury. "What happens when you are ill?" inquired His Honour. "I have not been ill' for seven or eight years," promptly replied the juror. Ho was ordered to appear the following day and make arrangements for having his place filled in the meantime. "I am a dairyman'; the only one oMi the farm," said the next juror. "I I think we will let you go," said His Honour. The next juryman said he was in charge of special machinery in the new Parliament Buildings, and if he were on the jury the work would have to stop. Likewise this juror was let go. The last juror pleaded he was deaf in one ear. "Then you would be only able to hear half the case," observed His Honour, a s he let this juror go.

American forces in France are now equipped with a new weapon, the shotgun, which is said to be highly effective in stopping enemy rushes. An officer in Wellington lias received a specimen of the cartridge used im thi s arm. Iru outward appearance it resembles the ordinary paper-cased cartridge familiar to all sportsmen, but instead of small shot it contains nine pellets of No. 00 buckshot, about the diameter of a .32 calibre bullet (or of a lead pencil.) The American gun sprays the contents of the cartridge over an area .measuring mime feet horizontally by about three feet vertically. At 150 yards the pellets will penetrate a two-inch plank. iThe shotgun itself is (comparatively short, and it is, of course, smoothboredand it will hold six cartridges in the magazine. Its weight is Bglb, complete with bayonet. To strengthen the thin barrel to carry the bayonet work, and at the same time to assist in cooling the -weapons, a perforated outer jacket of steel i s fited over, Fut separated from, the barrel proper.

One of the strangest cases of soldier marriages is that of an Australian, a wealthy private, who (says a cable message to the Australian papers) married a woman who appears to have gone through the form of marriage three times! Her first husband was killed it the front on the day before her third marriage, which. • is, therefore, .legitimate. The Australian, who has. now been killed in action, not knowing that his wife was a bigamist, left her his estate orovided she went to Australia within a year of his death. The woman is now serving nine months' imprisonment for her second' marriage. The Australian's will is considered legal, but it is problematical whether the woman can reach Australia in time to fulfil the conditions.

During the course of the inquest on the late ißonald Opie, at Christchurch on Saturdav, Mr H. W. Bishop, the Coroner* and*Dr W. Fox, medical superintendent of the Christchurch Hospital, savs the Press, both made some trenchant remarks regarding the recklessness and lack of consideration shown by a large number of motorists. Dr Fox s»id' that in his experience more accidents were due to motor traffic than all the other causes combined. He considered it was high time that some energetic . attempt was made to regulate motor traffic. 'He was glad to see that there' had beera some police supervision during the last few days at the Hospital corner, -but 'Park Terrace was a highway on which motorists seemed to go at what pace they chose. Mr" Bishop said he had repeatedly made strong remarks with regard to the reckless speeding of motor drivers, and he had pointed out to 'the police that more stringent regulations were necessary. Dr Fox said it was true that a motorist obtained a certificate'before he was allowed .to drive, but this certificate only showed that he had some knowledge of his engine and its control; it did not guarantee the motorist's temperament or guarantee that he would show (consideration for his . fellow-beings. "I would have all these men who were con- i victed of -inconsiderate fdrrving conscripted," said the dootoft "If they/ want to kill people, let them go and | kill Huns." I

Wait till you see the Pailette Silks in all shades at 2s lid yard, worth to-day 7s 6d. Next week at the Big Sale.—The Auckland Clothing and Drapery, Co.

A meeting of the Matariki branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union will he held in the School on Saturday, August 24, at 8 o'clock.

At our Spring Sale next week! Tweed Camisole Tops in dainty designs ready to work at 1© 6d, le lid each: also with sleeves at 2s 3d.—The Auckland Clothing and 1 Drapery Co.*

The Actional '•Efficiency- Board proposes to compensate the liquor trade for the loss of the four and a half veal's ..during whicu, under the Statute, it must continue after a prohibition vote. The Board reported that compensation based on the foregoing lines would be a sound investment for the State and the cost would be recouped) by increased national efficiency." Surely the electors of New Zealand have the rvght to express their views; on so important a proposal. The. Alliance Monster Petition asks Parliament to submit the Board's proposition to the vote of the people. Every elector who has the welfare of New Zealand at heart should sign that petition.*

"We are out to make » record next week, and we have the goods to do it. Ladies' Smart Spring Costumes 19s 6d, in Linen, Pique,- and Garbadine. The Auckland Clothing and Drapery 'Co.*

The rapid disappearance of our ■white pine forests is causing great uneasiness •in the dairying industry. Pressure" is being brought to hear to have the export totally stopped, but so far unsuccessfully. At ithe annual conference of the Council of Agriculture, Mr F. S. Pope (Assistant Director of Agricultiire) sounded rather a new note by stating that experiments had been successfully conducted with Pinus Insignis for butter boxes. Provided the boxes were lined with parchment paper and coated with paraffin no odour was noticeable in. the butter. This is good news to the dairyman. Plant Pines for profit.— Kingsland, Appleby.*

"Everyone knows the price of Kid moves.* Next week wo will sell French Kid Gloves—Tan only—sizes 6-2. 7, 7£, at 3s'lid pair.—The Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.* Motueka: Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be big bargain days at Trathen's sale of Jas. A. Wallace's Stock.* • Miles of Glorious. Taffeta 'Ribbons Next Week at Is vard, in all shades, .including blacks. We havo been offered Is 6d yard l wholesale for these, but would .not sell, as we • cannot replace them. —The Auckland Clothing - and Drapery Co.* 'No Rubbing" Laundry Help delights every housewife; Is 3d packet eujfficient for seven weklv family washings. —T. Pettit.*

[Little now l-emains of the steamer Defender, which was destroyed by fire in Wellington Harbour a short time ni\u. and which was stranded off Leper Island, on the northern end of Somes Island!, says the Post. During the trial trip of the Aorero on Saturday, thn««s on board observed a lifeboat davit and a few feet of super-structure showing above the water. An attempt is to be made to salve the machinery of the vessel, and from all appearances the chances of this being successfully done are decidedly good.

A Christchurch soldier —a B class Second Division man—who left for Trentham with last Monday's draft, writes to a friend, after two days' experiences of camp life: —"So far everything has been tip-top—tucker, clothing, and the. other necessities of life, beyond any possible reproach. The weather has been very bad since we arrived hero, but we are well provided for, and are better off, many of us, than we were in our civilian life."

! "There are no religious distinctions at the front," remarked Chaplain Bladin at a meeting at Palmerston. "A man is appreciated for the work ho does, not for the cloth he wears. When one comes i home and finds the little party grievances in the following of Jesus Christ, one wishes that the same spirit prej vailed at home that there is at the I front."

A Wellington citizen wrote to the editor of the Journal of iScience for an explanation of the appearance of light clouds about the masts of.the Wireless Station during fine days. The question was referred to Professor H. Clark, Victoria University College, who suggested the following explanation:—"lt 'is well known that -air, in rising to region of lower pressure, expands and cools. The water-vapour which it contains may become saturated. A great electrical stress ionizies air, and the •ions act asi nuclei for condensation. T?hus- a cloud would form about the high-tension electrical conductors if the air at the summit of the hill were slightly super-saturated."

Old Maori middens in the Wellington district are the subject of another bright article by Mr Elsdon Best in the Journal of Science. "At To Paripari, about "half a mile south of Paekakariki, he writes, "commences a series of sand hills that extend far up the coast, on and between which were situated many native hamlets, in former times. Such signs of former| occupation as" shellmiddens and village-sites are almost continuous for miles in some areas. Most of these remains date from preEuropeaii times, and many of them must be centuries old. Wind-breaks followed by sand-drift have covered some of the shell-heaps and exposed others, while some of the -sandhills show several layers of shells- and other debris separated by deposits cl drift sand of varying depth, possiblyt betokening abandonment ahd re-occupa-tion of the site. In some cases- a shell-midden occupies the sharp summit of a hillock, showing that the winds have removed a higher part formerly occupied by Natives, for assuredly no Native woman would carry her cook-house-refuse uphill. A number of stone and bone inplements have been found in this vicinity. The late Mr Hamilton here collected nearly one hundred stone adzes and parts of such implements. , When a pond that formerly ' existed near the hotel was drained some wooden -weapons—spears —were found in the bed thereof. The rapid growth of. certain introduced sand-binding plants along this coast lias much impeded the work of relichunters. '*

Heavy Ribbed Hose at Is 6d pair, at the Big Spring Sale next week.—-The Auckland Clothing and Drapery iCo.*

Messrs Hingston and Cann will hold a. sale of clothing, 'furniture, and sundries at rooms to-morrow at 2.30 p.m. On Saturday section at Richmond Avenue.

White.Voile, double width, at Is 3d yard, at The Auckland Clothing and Drapery: Co; V Spring Sale Next Week.*