LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 128, 17 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Education is not an indispensable aid to money saving. The court at a certain place in the South Island recently had the 'handling of a will by a wife, in whicih she left thousands of pounds to her husband, and neither of the parties could sign by name, having to be content to affix a cross.

While at a cattle sale at Opunake recently Mr. M. J. Mcßeynolds seized the opportunity of taking the .hat round for donations to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, of which he is a member. He gleaned 110, which he yesterday handed oyer to the Board. Mr. Mcßeynolds was heartily thanked for his efforts.

Handicaps as follow have been declared for the Bell Block cycle road race, under the auspices of the Rovers' Club, to be run to-day, starting from the Red House Hotel at 2.15 p.m.:—W. F. Roebuck ser., L. Smith and A. White l /» min, J. Cross, R. Renner, and W. D. Roebuck lmin, V. Gunson, W. Gunson, and F. Stevens 2min, H. Lobb, J. Jury, and Beauchamp 3min, A. May and 11. McGahey 3y 2 min, L. Nipper't and E. Re-ad 4min, and V. George smin. The actual prosperity of Hawera cam be gauged to a certain extent by the undermentioned figures (says the annual report of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce) :—Unimproved, 1007, £230,001; 1912, £318,897. Improvements: 1907, £205,000; 1912, £208.243. Capital value: 1907, £435,901; 1912, £587,140. . During the year, and at present the town is progressing, the buildin<r trade being brisk. Many splendid buildings have been effected that are a credit to the town. Building permits to September 30', 1911: £14,39.5. To September 30, 1912, £33,730.

Yesterday afternoon Mr A. Standisli received the following letter from Mr H. Okey, M.P.:—"I received your wire to-day pointing out the number of deaths out of your association for the last year and last month. I ihave shown it to the Prime Minister, also the Hon. Mr Fisher. who is in charge of the Bill. I am sure Mr Massey favors the giving of the pension to all veterans, independent of money, property, or the old-age pension, but a reduced pension owing to the present position of the finances, which will not allow of a large one. The financial stringency has been tightened owing to the state of affairs in Europe at the present."

"The fact is," remarked Mr M. J. McReynolds at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board, "that if we can't improve our drink at Opuaake, half the population of our town will either be in the hospital or the cemetery. There have been some terrible cases of delirium tremens during the last six weeks." In answer to the chairman, Mr Meßeynolds stated that Opimake was in the Eltham licensing district. In asking the inspector (Mr A. H. Kendall) to take note of Mr Mcßeynold's remarks,. the Chairman (Mr F. C. J. Bellringer) said that he could appreciate what he had said, because bad liquor was the cause of delirium cases which gave the board so much trouble in treating at the hospital. They had not the proper conveniences for handling these cases at the hospital, and they did not want them.

The banking returns for the September quarter, which have just been gazetted, indicate clearly enough that there is a strong demand for money, and will account in some large measure for the present tension. Commenting on the returns, the "Wellington Post says: "The prospects for cheaper money are not particularly cheering outside the Dominion, but, so far as this country is concerned, its produce year is scarcely begun. For the next six months some millions of pounds sterling will leave these shores for the British, and, to a small but growing extent, the Canadian markets. Labor troubles at Home and in the Dominion may seriously hamper the free transit of the goods from the producer to his markets, and it is difficult to say how and in what way political disturbances in Europe may affect the situation; but, in the absence of any such cheeks, the outlook is distinctly good for a sound and prosperous year for the Dominion."

Speaking at the Hospital Board meeting yesterday, Mr E. Maxwell roundly condemned the practice of the Government authorities recommending architects to hospital boards. It was, he said, an unfortunate thing that public boards should be in the position of having men recommended to them by certain people in authority, with the intimation that they were specially qualified to do special work, when in reality they had no special qualifications. By this official influence the men recommended gained a tremendous advantage over their fellows in a profession. In many cases the men recommended did not even possess qualifications equal to those not officially favored. He, 'objected to the authorities practically deciding to tout for men seeking appointments with public bodies. Touching on another point, the chairman (Mr P. C. J. Bellringer) said that it should be the duty of the Department in charge of hospitals to have available to hospital boards nil documents and plans that might be of usewhen a- new hospital was to be built. He was very disappointed when in Wellington to find that the Department had no plans or information that would suffice for an up-to-date hospital such as was required at New Plymouth. Guaranteed from impurity of any kind. "Camp Coffee" tastes good because it is good! 5

The alleged King' Country sly-grog cases will be herd at the Magistrate's Court this morning. A meeting was held in the Town Hall hut evening to consider ways and means of billeting and entertaining the Canadian Cadets during theii short stay in New Plymouth. Oilers were made by those present to billet 21 boys, and no difficulty is anticipated in arranging for the remainder. Mr. McCallum, of the Coffee Palace, is arranging to accommodate six of the number provided for at the meeting: He also offered to provide meals for those of the boys whom it is not convenient to eater for at the houses in which they are billeted. The meeting adjourned till next Tuesday to make final arrangements. Something in the way of a sensation was caused in Patea on Tuesday when it was known that Mr. and Mrs. W. JJutler, together with the whole of the members of their family had been removed to ,the Hospital' suffering from some form of poisoning (says the local tress). As far as can be gathered it appears that the family were taken ill on 1-nday night, showing what appeared to be symptoms of ptomaine poisoning. A o doctor was, however, called in until yesterday, when, as there was no improvement in the condition of any member of the family, medical aid was sought. Upon Dr. Simmons arriving he at once ordered their removal to" the hospital, where they now remain. Upon enquiry yesterday the Pre« found that their condition showed little or no si"ns I of improvement. °