LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

AH the chemists in Masterton are victims to the epidemic and a dispenser had to tie obtained from an outside town.

An Order-in-Council, gazetted November 15, vests in the Hawera borough Council the historic reserve of Turuturumokai pah, an area of 14 acres odd, In tl)e Taranaki land District. It is proposed to convert the military camp at Narrow Neck, Auckland, into a sanatorium for consumptive soldiers, as soon as tne Native soldiers present occupying the camp can be demobilised. The Imperial authorities have cabled the Government that no move aviation cadets are required from New Zealand.— Press Assoc.

Vessels in Wellington, with few exceptions, have been declared clean, and work was expected to -be resumed yeaterday.—Press Assoc.

O'tr Mklhirst correspondent reports •that the s6ldiers on the Croydon Road are getting about again, after wrestling with the influenza. In Midhirst township the disease has still a strong hold

It is notified elsewhere that the Supreme Court sittings at New Plymouth set down for the 3rd and following days, has been adjourned by the Chief Justice till the next sitting on the 3rd of February, 1919.

Captain Hal! Thompson lias received a cable from the Admiralty Board expressing congratulations to the Navy oil the completion of thei? wor'i by tiio surrender of the German fleet without the shock oi battle.—Preas Assa". Tlie Military Service Boards have been almost completely closed down throughout New Zealand. Their work is finished, except for a few appeals lv/ mea on active service, who desire leave on account. of urgent business or other reasons These cases ■will be dealt with separately. In forwarding us a subscription towards tlie Brace fund, the Hon. Oliver Samuel, M.L.C, said that only on Friday did he learn from a copy of the News that New Plymouth was suffering from the epidemic. Both Mrs. Samuel and himself deeply sympathised with the sufferings of those in their native town, and are grieved that they cannot join personally in the heroic efforts made by the citizens in fighting the scourge. '•The worst and most insanitary homes in New Plymouth to-day belong to whom? None other than the Hospitsl Board," exclaimed a prominent citizen who has been doing a good deal of relief and other work during the past few days. This observation, from other accounts, is no exaggeration, Tlie buildings referred to are In a disgracefully insanitary condition. They have been reported'upon, and the board know all about them. The question is why the hoard, whose special function is to protect the hciffifi of the community, and set an example in s)jch matters, haa not acted before and pulled down buildings which are not only a disgrace to tlie town but a menace to its health.

It was a Maori case, ant), serious. The, doctor had come, and told tlie nurse that, as the case was hopeless, it would not matter now what be ate or drank. So the nurse, bending over her dusky patient, asked him if he would like anything. Yes, he would- "Give rr.e ti whi ski." The whisky bottle was brought, aijd a small, medicinal nV poured out. Alongside was another Native m lied. He appeared indignant. "By korry, that no good. Ho komati =onn; you give him plenti." And the glass was filled. Wanted i water it? The patient shook his head. ''He would have it neat. He gulped it down, and it was thought, his last hour had come. But iiofc a bit of it He lived through the night, and is now out of danger! True' story.

The Gas Company's notice in yesterday's issue stating th<> 25th was tile last day for discount was an error, as the directors, owing to the prevailing epidemic, had extended the date for payment until December 9.

/\s noti Pied by advertisement on page 1 of this issue, the inoculation of calves in the Okato, Warea, and Pungarehu-dis-tricts has been postponed indefinitely owing to the influenza epidemic. There are many ways of Keeping tobacco in a soft a sliced apple for iastatwe, or a raw potato ara often used but, simpler still and certainly more effective is the direct applicatioi\ of water. Imported tobaccos usually carry an excess of moisture and any addition would make them unsmokaible. Different it is with our N.Z. grown brands Gold Pouch and Three Diamonds, which, on account of the special toasting process applied in their manufacture Eire capable of absorbing a large percentage of moisture. One ounce of water added to 2 ounces of this tobacco will make the latter quite pliable and soft ud prevent it from burning away too quickly. The saving is extraordinary. For Is the purchaser gets practically 3 ounces of tobacco with no more moisture than contained in the majority of foreign brands, and a healthier and superior smoke. Actual road tests show that the NORTH BRITISH "DREADNOUGHT" MOTOR CYCLE TYRE outwears all others. Used on Western Front. Engnite -as to mea. &

The epidemic is not confined to the centres of population, but extends into remote areas. On a big farm up the Wanganui river, shearing operations had been delayed owing to the weather, and a belated team of 20 Maori shearers was at last procured- They worked for one day and then developed influenza, and the sorely-tried farmer afrd \his neighbors had the difficult ta9k of nursing them. The Australian Minister for (Defence (Senator Pearce) announced recently at Melbourne that the net earnings of the Commonwealth lino of steamers during the year ended 30th June, 1918, were estimated to be about £059,000, after providing for interest and one year's depreciation. In accordance with the decision of a conference held in January provision for depreciation would be made in future by writing off annually a sum equal to 10 per cent of the original cost in the ease of the "Austral" vessels and 15 per cent in the cases of wooden vessels.

A dramatic incident occurred in the peace processions at Kaita,ngata last week (reports the Clutha Leader), and it was "touch and go" for trouble. Two young fellows had the foolhardiness to appear in the motor procession flying the red flag. In a thrice their motor and side-chair was surrounded bv a body of returned soldiers, the red flag "was torn down, and tramped in the dust, and cries arose from the crowd to "roll them in the gutter," and "duct? them in the river." Things looked very ugly for the two "Red 3," but eventually for the sake of order and for their own safety they were requested to leave the procession, and get out of public viewNeither needed to he told twioe

There are so many people rendering unselfish ami noble service at present that it is hardly fair to. discriminate, yet the services of one woman in a coastal district should be placed on record, for she has hehaved like a perfect heroine. When the epidemic started there she threw herself heartily into the work of helping her afflicted neighbors and making arrangements for a temporary hospital • to accommodate th» cases. She'had her cows to milk night and morning, but that did not deter her from going to iier'neighbors, cleaning upj their places, feeding the stock, and attending to the sick. One day last week she had just finisned her ministrations when the clock 3 a.m.! Her cows were bellowing, and she turned to and milked them Then away 3he went again to her neighbors to give them help. And this went on for days. At last she got a little sleep, and is now working awav as hard as ever, thinking no effort too great so long as she can help her fellows.

A horse attached to one of Mr. J. McNeill's delivery vans made a somewhat sensational dash, through town yesterday morning. Fortunately, the animal avoided the main thoroughfare, and thereby the risk of collision was lessenedThe vehicle had gor.e up to the Rangiatea Home, and the young man who was in charge secured the wheel in the ordinary manne", and was much surprised to find his turnout missing when lie came out of the institution. The horse made a clear run for. town. In turning from Dawson Street, into Powderhain Street, it ran on to the footpath on the northern Bide of the latter street, and a wheel oaus-lit ft low, corrugated iron fence and ripped out a sheet or two. The horse continued up Powderhani Street, and when approaching the Tise bv the Good Templar Hall a man came out in the middle of the road and shouted and. waved\an umbrella frantically before the horse and brought it to ii walking pace, but failed to secure it. The animal then continued along Courtenay Street and turned down Cover Street, and was ultimately brought np In Moleswortb, Street, through a wheel ,-oming off the van. N!o further damage appeared to have r ncen done, and no caua* could be assigned for 'the animal's bolting.