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Southland Times, Issue 17962, 13 December 1918, Page 4

A Wellington telegram states that the censorship on naval articles, photographs, etc., has been removed. The. late Mr C. W. Reid, of Christchurch, has in his will, made bequests of £250 each to the Oamaru Hospital, ' North Otago Jockey Club, North Otago A. and P. Association, and Canterbury A. and P. Association. The epidemic has revealed many things, not the least being a number of extraordinary mental curiosities.. Yesterday, for instance, a “dear old lady” paid a visit to the Central Depot, Christchurch, explaining that she had come to make arrangements to have her house painted, which, she understood, could be done by making application to Nurse Maude ! The holiday season will soon be here, and the Milford Sound track, the beauties of which will doubtless be taken advantage of by numbers, will be opened on Saturday, 21st inst. The accommodation at the Hermitage is not yet all booked. Stewart Island is certain to be well patronised, and, already, it is understood that practically all the available accommodation has been secured for the busy season. The influenza epidemic has claimed a large number of victims from the ranks of returned soldiers, and at last night’s meeting of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the secretary reported the names of twenty who had died as the result of the outbreak. It was decided to send letters of sympathy to the men’s parents, and those present stood for a moment in silence, as a mark of respect to their ex-comrades. The High Commission has cabled to the Prime Minister that he has been advised that the Imperial Board of Trade has accepted the offer of the New Zealand producers, and has agreed to purchase the New Zealand surplus of butter and cheese from September, 1918, until August, 1920. The prices are to be 181s per cwt. for butter and IOJd per lb for cheese, and the proportion of cheese is not to exceed 81 per cent, of the total. The Imperial Government will pay storage after two months. “When the mortality bill of these few weeks comes to be reckoned up, we shall probably find that this pestilence in three weeks’ time claimed nearly as many dead from New Zealand as the war has claimed in four years,” said the Rev. Dr Gibb at Wellington on Sunday night. “We have learned the lesson to our bitter cost. Tile epidemic swept away temporarily many barriers in Wellington. For a brief periodin the city there were no rich and poor, society and non-society, cultured and ignorant. For that brief period, there were only two classes of people—those who were suffering from the disease and those who had escaped it.”-

The strain placed on the services of the Southland Hospital has been greatly relieved during the past week, and it is probable that massage treatment' - for outpatients will be resumed" on Wetfnesday next,- and that soldiers attending as outpatients will receive treatment on Monday.

The Southland Grocers’ Association advertise that they have unanimously agreed to continue into the coming year the practice of closing on Saturdays at 6 p.m. At the meeting it was also agreed to invite by advertisement the other retail traders to cooperate* in this direction.

“If there is one fact that the epidemic has brought to light,” said Mr J. A. MeGibbon at the H. and C.A. Board meeting, “it is that there is an appalling ignorance in connection with ordinary domestic duties amongst many women in this country.” A member: “It is not surprising when you consider our education system.”

In his report to the H. and C.A. Board the chairman stated: “Where the people of the district have done such magnificent work in the way of combating the disease and helping their more unfortunate neighbours in their trouble, it is impossible to individually thank everyone for their services. This epidemic, which happily is now passing, has brought out conspicuously countless instances of- heroic self-sacrificing devotion among all-classes of the community,* and as chairman of the-Board, I wish to publicly express my appreciation of what has been done.”

Some excitement was caused in Dee street yesterday afternoon, when, a young man, apparently the worse of liquor, and a taxi-cab driver had a disagreement which ended up in a fight. The young man was rather unfortunate in his choice of an opponent, who was bigger in every way, and had not a policeman intervened 1 , there is little doubt as to which would have been the victor. Before being arrested on a charge of creating a disturbance in a public place, the aggressor insisted on fighting the taxi-cab driver in a month’s time. The contest will probably not take place.

It was indeed fortunate that the Hospital motor ambulance was completed and on the road before, because of "the epidemic the need for quick and comfortable transit fpr the sick became so pressing. In his report to last night’s meeting of the H. and C.A. Board, the acting-superintendent (Dr Wilson) remarked re the ambulance: “It must be very gratifying to the subscribers for. the ambulance to know that already it has more than paid for itself in work done, and to know that many country patients were brought in who otherwise would not have been cared for.”

In his report to the H. and C.A. Board Dr Wilson adopted an unusual but striking method of emphasising the seriousness of the cases of pneumonic influenza which were admitted to the Southland Hospital in the early days of the epidemic. The number of deaths in the institution from the disease to date being stated at 68, a table is attached showing that 14 patients expired before they had been 24 hours in hospital, 20 before they had been there 48 hours, 11 before 72 hours, 6 before 96 hours, and 17 after 96 hours. It will be thdST seen that exactly 50 per cent, of the deaths occurred before the patients had been 48 hours in the institution.

That a considerable quantity of timber is being imported from America, notwithstanding the scarcity or tonnage, is evidenced (says the Dunedin Times) by the returns of the Bruce Railway and Coal Company, which is the South Island agent for Messrs J. J. Moore and Co., Oregon and redwood exporters, of San Francisco. Since the beginning of March 705,000 ft of Oregon, 174,000 ft of redwood, 39,000 ft of yellow pine, 1500 bundles of redwood shingles, and 362,000 Oregon laths have arrived at Lyttelton and Dunedin—a total of about 1,008,000 super feet of timber. Orders booked to arrive early next year total between 400,000 and 500,000 super feet. For the same period a total of 46,300 super feet of hardwood has been imported from Australia in execution of contract for supplies of telegraph "cross-arms for the New Zealand Government.

Now' that the influenza epidemic is practically over in so far as Christchurch is concerned (says the Press) many quaint little incidents hitherto not spoken of, are being related. At last night's meeting of the- Heathcote County Council the chairman related the case of a gentleman who had" furnished much assistance to the relief committees by attending a great number of influenza patients within the district. The block doctor had been sent to the West Coast, and the relief committees had been left without medical attention. The gentleman mentioned had stepped into the breach with conspicuous ability and success. In order that his patients should have faith in him, however, they, were informed that he w'as a medical student from Dunedin. The “w'hite lie” did wonders, as all the patients under treatment spoke with gratitude of what their “doctor” had done for them.

The total number of “calls” received throughout the fire districts of the dominion for 1917-18 was 820, as against 775 for 1916-17. Out of the 406 actual fires 26 are reported as due to incendiarism, 16 as having occurred on unoccupied premises, and 159 of unknown origin. The fire loss throughout the fire districts for 1917-18 amounted to £245,806, an increase of £103,630 over that for 1916-17. The disastrous fire that occurred in Danpeyirke on October 22, 1917, is responsible for nearly one-half (£113,834) of the fire districts’ total loss, Dunedin coming next with" a loss of £51,798. The insured loss throughout the dominion for the year ended December 31, 1917, amounted to £578,024, and throughout the fire districts for the corresponding period the insured loss was £218,325.

The sad case of a soldier who lost his life, at Trentham in a bomb-throwing demonstration was before the House of Representatives on Friday, when the A and L Petitions Committee reported on the petition of his widow, Mrs W. Beekman, for compensation. The committee reported that while it had very great sympathy with the petitioner, it could not make any recommendation. Mr Walker asked that the case should be referred back to the committee. The deceased soldier had returned from the front suffering from sunstroke, and met his death while taking part in a bomb-throwing demonstration —a dangerous occupation for a soldier so suffering. He had held a good position in civil life. Mr Harris said the committee had every sympathy with the widow, but could not recommend any special treatment, as she was in receipt of a full pension. The Chairman of the Committee (Mr Brown) said he had no objection to the petition going back to the committee. The House agreed to this.

Prices of furniture have gone up by 33i to 50 per cent, during the past six months a Christchurch Press reporter was informed on Monday. The cause of this is ascribed to a famine in oak and glass. Up to six months ago the rise' in prices was but gradual from the outbreak of the war; then the local oak and glass supplies suddenly gave out, and up jumped prices. Oak which-used to be 7d a foot now costs from Is 6d to 2s. Glass, which was 10s 6d recently, jumped up to 27s 6d the other day. The oak comes from America, and with the possibility of more shipping being secured for the Pacific, and the statement of the general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company that that corporation is securing sailing vessels to relieve the situation, it is anticipated that the position will become easier as the weeks go by. At the end of 12 months a substantial drop is expected, but owing, principally, to the increase in wages, it is considered that furniture will never revert to its pre-war price. It'is regarded qs almost a certainty that the glass situation will not be much easier until close on 12 months from the present. NAZOL is known everywhere as the ready-for-use and money-saving remedy for coughs and colds. Acts Like a charm. Sixty doses 1/6.

The acting medical superintendent of the Invercargill Hospital reported to last night’s meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board that .on November 1 there were 107 inmates of the institution. During November 320 patients were admitted, making a total ujider treatment of 427. Of these 169 were discharged and .78 died during the month, leaving on December 1, a total of 180 inmates. Outpatients to the number of 650 were attended.-—Adopted.

Ratepayers who have not yet paid their borough rates for the current year should make a point of doing so at an early date. The time is fast approaching when all amounts unpaid will be liable to a 10 per cent, surcharge.—(Advt.) You’ll get anything in HEADWEAR for Men, best at UNDRILL’S, opp. Post Office. —(Advt.)

•The pure “GOLDEN RULE” Soap in pretty coloured cartons depicting Invercargill -people lifting the world into harmony. Use it morning, noon, and night. Wonderful value. Local grocers.—(Advt.)

White Blouses, White Skirts, White Dresses and White Underwear are wanted by everybody at this time of year. To get the very best at the lowest of prices pay a visit to THOMSON & BEATTIE’S December White Sale and take your pick of their stock at special prices.—(Advt.) Xmas Fruits, Xmas Jellies, Xmas Cordials, Xmas Spices, Xmas Canned Peaches, Pears, Apricots and Pine Apples, Xmas Candied Peel, Xmas Crystahsed Ginger, Xmas Biscuits, Xmas Dried Fruits, at BAXTER’S. Small profits; quick returns. —(Advt.) The BON MARCHE STORES, Tay street (PRICE & BULLEID’S, Ltd.), hold a very attractive selection of Ladies’ Summer apparel. Dainty Voiles and other light fabrics, are prominent in the Frock and Dress stocks of which there is an excellent selection. Blouses of all descriptions and in all sizes are showing in profusion; also Tweed, Serge, and Gabardine Costumes. Messrs PRICE & BULLEID, Ltd., buy heavily in the best markets, and can always be depended on for variety, value, and quality.— (Advt.) In cases of sickness Messrs Thomson and Co. will deliver soda water as promptly as possible. Telephones: 628 and 629.—(Advt.) INSIST ON “FLUENZOL.” Try elsewhere if your Chemist or Grocer is temporarily out of supplies. Nothing else equals genuine FLUENZOL . in healing inflammation and dispelling microbes. Millinery Sale.—During December all our up-to-date models and ready-to-wears will be sold at Sale prices. THE ECONOMIC, 60 Dee street.—(Advt.) Insist on getting genuine NAZOL—it’s worth while. No-, cold is NAZOL-proof—-aud no cough or cold remedy is so moneysaving as genuine NAZOL. Splendid showing of Ladies’ Costumes—the very smartest styles—in Navy, Black, and Colours. Black and Navy Roslyn Leyen Costumes from 105/-, 115/-, 126/-, to 149/-; Tweeds and Gabardines from 55/-, 65/-, 84/-, 95/-, 105/- to 147/-. Washing Costumes, White Fumyi and Black Costumes, from 75/-, 79/6, 89/6 to 115/-. Gabardines and Poplin Costumes from 45/-, 55/-, 65/- to 97/6. Special line in White Pique Costumes (one price) 35/-. Coats, Jerseys, Blouses, Feather Boas, Corsets and Underwear. You will find a big assortment to choose from. All alterations free of charge. See our windows for special display of Millinery Ready-to-wears, and semi-trims, all one price,. 12/6. H. & J. SMITH, Ltd., Progressive Drapers, Tay street. — (Advt.) FIGHTING THE INFLUENZA MENACE. The influenza is far too serious to trifle with. And when we ask you to get BAXTER’S LUNG PRESERVER, we are not asking you to experiment, or take chances with an unknown specific. “BAXTER’S” has been the staunch friend of New Zealanders for over 50 years. It is a protection against attack, and is unequalled as a toiiic for convalescents. You can feel “BAXTER'S” do good at first spoonful. It is delightfully warming and revivifies the run-down constitution in a way little short of marvellous. Get “BAXTER’S,” and you can’t go wrong. 2/6 buys generous sized bottle. Chemists and Stores. A SCIENTIFIC NECESSITY. Dr. E. Symea Thomson. Gresham, Professor of Medicine, recently drew at tentioa to the food value of pure carbonated waters. He said that in the course of a day each person requires 2i pints of these liquids to keep the human machines working smoothly and regularly. In addition to their dietetic -value, pure waters which are carbonated with pure gas, such as is in champagne, are the best vehicle for the elimination of various impurities circulating about the internal parts of the body. It is essential, however, that attention should be drawn to the selection of pure waters. The most beneficial results have been obtained from water which is properly carbonated, since the effervescence moves the fluid of the stomach, thereby facilitating digestion. This is one of the many reasons why Thomson's are recommended by the faculty, and are used in every hospital and military camp in tha Dominion. —Advt. Banish coughs and colds and save money by using NAZOL. Eighteenpence buys 60 doses—enough to cure the whole bad-cold family. Get genuine NAZOL in the red carton. * For Influenza.—Messrs Moffett and Co. advise that they have just received a fresh shipment of pure West Indian limejuice. This drink is recommended by the medical and health authorities, and obtainable at all stores. — (Advt.) Some drops of NAZOL on lump sugar instantly soothe sore throats and remove huskiness. Equally effective for coughs and cclda. Sixty doses 1/6. Get genuine NAZOL.—(Advt.)