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Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14894, 17 October 1918, Page 4

The footbridge across the Maitai river below Sunday Hole, in the Valley, is in a dangerous condition. There is a nasty gap in the planking, some ot which is loose, and the guard rails are falling away.

Three of the seaplanes from the New Zealand Flying School, Kohiinarama, went out to meet the Niagara as the vessel arrived at Auckland on Saturday morning.

A cornimini cation was received by the Blenheim Borough Council at its last meeting from the Nelson City Council regarding the contemplated conference at Lake Rotoiti in connection v/ith the hydro-electric proposition. It was explained that the Nelson Council had already been advised that ih© date suggested by ii^-the 28th inst. (Labour Day)—would not be suitable for the Blenheim Council! The matter was left in the hands of the Mayor and the De-i puty-Mayor.

A display of the Aurora Australia was.observed in Nelson yesterday evening. .

Casualty lists issued on Monday reported 11 officers and 41 men killed in action; 10 men died of wounds, I died of sickness, 1 died at sea; and 26 officers and 271 men wounded; totals, 37 officers and 324 men.

A meeting of farmers will be held under the auspices of the Waimea branch of the Farmers' Union at the Rechabites' Hall, Brightwater, on Saturday evening, for the purpose of discussing matters of interest to the farming community with Mr % A. H. Field, M.P. ' '

The returned • soldiers at the King George V Hospital, Rotorua, have been put into blue hospital uniforms.

J. Hartstone, a Woodville farmer, was rolling a paddock with a Cambridge roller on Monday afternoon, when his little daughter (aged three), who was beside him, fell under the roller and vas killed.

A ship s fireman, named William Farron, a native of London, was drowned at Auckland through falling off a gangway.

Peter Husband aged 17 years, met with a fatal accident at Eiffelton. He was leading a team of horses through a gate, when he was crushed against the post, receiving severe internal injuries. He was removed to the Ashburton Hospital, where he died.

A pathetic scene occurred recently on the arrival of a transport with wounded soldiers at a New Zealand port. The mother, of a Wairarapa soldier had teen informed that her son was wounded. The son wrote home stating he was returning soon, and that he was making good progress. When the mother met him she was-borified to find that he had come back with'''one arm and one leg amputated. She fairly broke down when the truth was revealed to her

Speaking of the efficiency of aerial photography, in the course of a lecture at Gisborne, Lieut.-Colonel Sleeman Director of Military Training, said that if a man was sent out to dig a hole two feet square, no matter how that might be thought to be covered up, an aeroplane at 6000 feet would locate it" with aero-photography. What one could not see with the eye could be seen by photography. Even telephone wires could be picked up by the line of the trench m which they were placed.

Some interesting, evidence was given at a meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of the licensee of a hotel at Aratapu. The bankrupt, in a sworn statement he made, stated that in April, 1917, he purchased the lease of the Aratapu Hotel for £1000, subject to a mortgage of £1200. The business paid till 6 o'clock closing came into operation, but after that the takings tell off to the amount of about £20 a week. The Austrians being taken awa vfrom the district by the Government also attected the business detrimentally He had made efforts to sell, without success. The official assignee said he proposed to carry on the business until a purchaser could be obtained

,M£ H. G.'Wells's latest book, "In th^Fourth Year," is mainly concerned with a. discussion of the idea of a league of nations for the permanent preservation of peace after tko present war is en He repudiates the conception or a British Imperialism which would but give a new lease to national aggrandisement and materialism; and hTs plea is for an honest arid convincing statement of the terms the Allies would make with & democratic republican Germany—"republican, I say, because where a scrap of Hohenzollemism }s left to-day, there will bo a fresh militarism to-morrow." There is a frank, vigorous chapter on the future of the British Monarchy.

"I had the opportunity of meeting General Foch, and I was greatly struck by his personality," remarked Sir Joseph Ward in an interview at Wellington. "It is needless to add that if he had not extraordinary qualifications as a soldier he would not have been promoted to a position of such enormous power as that he now holds. He gives you the impression of being ! a singularly alert man, with great keenness depicted in his facial expression, and .with remarkably. attractive eyes; and if there-was ever evidence in confirmation of the saying that 'the eyes are the windows of the soul,' it is certainly to be found in the eyes of General Foch. All the great soldiers whom I have met say that he is a genius in war matters, and, since the present offensive under his direction comm-onced, the results certainly have demonstrated the correctness of the opinion of these experienced men."

When the Allies march into Berlin President Wilson will dictate peace terms on German soil, and no American will be satisfied with less," was the statement of Mr. J. B. Clarkson, who returned to New Zealand by the Niagara, at a welcome home "social" at Wellington. The speaker said that America was into the war with both hands and both feet, and would not stop until Germany had had a full measure of the horrors of war that had been inflicted upon Belgium and France. People in high positions, competent to express an opinion, could not foresee an early peace, but they agreed that victory was now assured for the Allies. The days when German Kaiserism and military, force could seek to rule Europe were numbered, and America- was just as anxious as England and France that the people of Germany should be made free by this great war for the liberty of the peoples of Europe.

"Men will have their vices," say some. Therefore the State should sell Alcohol to keep men from Drug using or from social vice. Actual experience, however, shows that Prohibition decreases drug using and vice. Judge Swanson, of British Columbia, says that "There has not been a recrudescence of drug-using as the opponents of Prohibition prophesied." Vancouver's Chief Constable says that "It was thought by some that the abolition of the Bar would lead to the use of Drugs, but as far as Vancouver is concerned it has not been the case."! Referring to vice, most young people go wrong under the influence of Alcohol. And State Alcohol, served out to I make profit and revenue for the Government, will break down morality just as surely as does Alcohol sold under License.*

The Thermometer.—At 3 o'clock thie morning the temperature outside this office registered 44 degrees.

Where to stay at Murchison.—Commercial Hotel, J. Thomason proprietor. ♦Stopping place for Newmans' sars.*

Where to stay when in "Westport. GRAND HOTEL, opposite Bank of New Zealand.*

Emma's mail cars le«ive Nelson for Takaka from Jones's Postcard Shop at 8 a.m., arriving in Takaka at, 1 ">.m. Leave Takaka for Nelson at 7,45 a.m., arriving in Nelson at 1 p.m. Car* me et. ia Motueka at 10.15 a.m.*

ton for the WonditiorlTSreldif S Bulgaria, the vicar dedicated for use in1 the church a bcautifuj double set of Communion vessels, which had beeni presented by Miss Mary Seddonls memory of her brother, Captain 11. J. beddon, who was recently killed in 1< ranee. It is intended to hand one set over for use in the'new church' at Day's Bay as soon as it is erected

Evidence of excessive mortality amongst dairy stock from the hard winter accumulates..(writes'the Stratford correspondent of the Taranaki "Herald ;. Some farmers have lost a quarter of their herds, and the survivors are incapable of filling the milk buckets. The effect on the output is I ] V 1! 1 be very marked. It is to be hoped it is the last season under war conditions, for it is certainly going to be the hardest for Taranaki.

A New Zealander just returned from America says that the American m general appears to have a very warm veneration for his "Star-spangled Banner." He adds: "You see them stand up smartly as a respect to their patriotic songs, and even in the street the men re??i V'S T r,hats to the flag- Those who tail to do likewise very soon know it to their cost. '

Arrangements' have been made by the Nelson Education Board, in conjunction with the Education Department, for a refresher camp of physical instruction for teachers to be held at Cable Bay for a fortnight in December next. It is expected that some 200 teachers will be in attendance. The campers will be accommodated in tents and the station buildings, and Mr. P. R. Just and Miss- M. Blackburn©.' physical instructors, will be in charge of the training. A meeting of teachers is convened for Saturday morning at the Technical School, when Miss Bla<;kburne will furnish particulars as to camp requirements and other matters.

One of the first returned soldiers to approach the Wanganui - Waitotara Patriotic Association for a loan to assist him to take up a farming property was Trooper Rewi Gray, who purchased a dairy farm in the Hawke's Bay district a little ever two years ago". At a recent meeting of the association, a letter was read stating that Mr Gray had repaid the loan, a matter which was-the subject of favourable comment. On the motion of Mr Allan Robinson, it was resolved that the interest due be rescinded, as a mark of the association's recognition of the excellent way he-had got on with his farm, the hard work he had done, and his absolute honesty.

A large four-masted schooner, flying the Stars and Stripes, was berthed at Napier the other day. The vessel, which is of 1200 tons, was recently launched on the west coast of America, and brought over 40,000 cases of kerosene and petrol. The vessel is one of the most up-to-date war boats which iias so far visited New Zealand. She is fitted with oil engines capable of giving her a speed of five knots and her winches are operated ! by steam. Fully laden the vessel draws 23 feet of water. She has a tine, appearance and has plenty of deck room with large hatches, which facilitate the rapid handling of cargo.'

During the course of a short address at the provincial executive of the Farmers' Union, held at Palmerston North, Mr Leigh Hunt, manager of the Farmers' Distributing Company, uttered a word of protest against the operation of tax-free war loans. He said a business man could invest his war profits in the loans, and he would be exempt from taxation for years to come. On the other hand, there would be heavy taxation to meet the enormous expense our country has to bear in connection with the war, and the great bulk of it would have to come from the land. It would be seen, therefore, .nat the farmer will have a big taxation burden to bear in the near future, whilst the man who has put his money into the war loan \\-ill escape. ;

Since the National Government was formed in -August, 1915, there have been nine by-elections, in four of which the National Government nominees have been returned, nameiy, Pahiatua, August 17, 1916, Mr G. H. Smith Hawke's Bay, March 9, 1917, Sir John Findlay; Bay of Islands, March 19, 1917, Mr V. H. Heed; and Wellington North, February 28, 1918, Mr J. P. Luke Of the other elections one ((southern Maori) was won by an Independent, Mr J. H. W. Uru; and the remaining four by "Labour representatives: Grey, December 3, 1917,"by Mr! Fr & IVeIl VelH Grey' Ma 7 by Mr H. E. Holland; Wellington Central, October 3, 1918, by Mr P. Fraser; and laranaki, October 10, by Mr g. G. femith.