LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Melbourne cabte states that the Painic sailed yesterday for New fc.esr land with the French Mission on board-

A good number of people availed themselves of the opportunity of visiting "Brooklands" and "Maranui" yesterday The gardens, set* as they are, iu perfect green swards, amidst the pristine native Lush,' are always a source of interest, and yesterday they were rendered doubly so by the. beautiful weather pre' vailing.

The influenza epidemic i 3 still somewhat acute at Okokc. There are quite a number of cases in the locality, and on Friday a quantity of medicine was seat out there by the Hospital Board. On Saturday morning the motor ambulance was sent out to bring- two patients in tothe Hospital. Mr. D. J. Hughes, of New Plymouth, in a letter to the Manawatu Standard, says:—"Being a visitor lo your town, 1 went last night to hear the political ! speeches in the Opera HouscAs a Tara-naki-it-o and a father of children, J strongly resent the remarks as to child slavery in Taranaki, as made by Mr Frascr, M.P. Possibly he may say,he was going by school inspectors' reports, etc. No such official would, I am sure, speak in the implied tone which Mr. Fraser can command. The children of Taranaki are j loved as much by their parents as elsewhere, and mentally, morally, and physically, aro as good as in other parts. It was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria, at Melbourne, that (1) SANDER'S EXTRACT is much more powerfully healing and antiseptic than ordinary eucalyptus preparations; (2) SANDER'S EXTRACT does not depress the heart like the so-called "exeifective household remedy. Get the tracts" and crude oils; (3) SANDER'S EXTRACT is highly commended by many authorities as a safe, reliable and igeiwne^—insist if. jou ' '<

The British Ministry of Information has wound up its affairs.-—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

A case against a New Plymouth milk vendor, for selling milk that was deficient in fats, without first notifying the purchaser, which wa3 to have been heard on Saturday, was adjourned till Januarj 16, on the application of defendant's solicitor.

"Billy" Te Whiti, who at the May sessions of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for taking part in the riot at Eahotu, was released on Saturday, after serving seven months, the remainder of his sentence having been remitted.

A meeting of the general committee of the Taranaki Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held on Saturday, Mr. W. B. Grant presiding, The Schedule Revision Committee recommended certain amendments to the schedule, wiiich were adopted, the chief of wii'ch was the Si 4" Asjon in ;the jumping section of a claaa for an; inter-Provincial Hunt Club Cup, to he open to members of the North Taranaki and the Egmont-Wanganui Clubs. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. E. Salway for the gift of a framed enlarged photograph of the champion dairy cow "Majesty's Eileen." The following were elected members of the so-ciety:—-Messrs B. H. Gatenby/E. Heel, J. H. Graham, B. Wardell, S. Sheen, and A. Street.

At the annual meeting of the Wellington Journalists' Institute, the following resolution was passed:—"(l) That the institute places on record its opinion that when delegations representative of the journalistic profession are selected the working members should be consulted with the object of securing more direct representation of the profession of journalism than has hitherto 'been the case; (2) That representations be made to the Imperial authorities through the British Institute of Journalists, to the New Zealand authorities, and, in view of the forthcoming World's Press Conference in Sydney, to the Australian authorities, with a view to having this principle put into effect; and (3) that copies of this resolution bo forwarded to the journalists' unions in New Zealand, with a request for their endorsement."

The ffrebell at the Central Station sounded an. alarm just about 1 o'clock on Saturday, a fire having broken out in the small workroom of Mr, T. W. ..Welch at the rear of the two-storey building on the corner of Egmont and King Streets, occupied by Northern Steamship Co. and Mr. Welch. It appears that Mr. Welch and a farmer were endeavoring to repair a slight leak in the benzine tank of a motor-cycle, They were smoking at the time, and suddenly there was a burst of flame, the benzine ' having ignited. Mr. Weleh had one of his'hands badly burned, and his clothes caught fire, but his companion managed to extinguish it. In the meantime, the floor of the building itself had caught fire The motor-cycle and a side-car were got safely out of the building, the whole interior of which seemed to \'c alight. The brigade arrived quickly, and soon had the fire under control, before any very serious damage was done.

In connection with the transfer of German prisoners from Motuihi Island to Narrow Neck Camp, the Auckland correspondent of tho Wellngton Post telegraphs:—"[Residents of Dcvonport naturally arc up in arms against the prisoners being placed practically at their doors, and the local borough council, which discussed the subject recently, U mking a strong protest to the Government against the retention of prisoners in an important residential neighborhood" The Herald, in reference to the matter, says:—''lt is difficult to see why Narrow Neck was selected, unless on tho ground that it would be harsh to deprive the Germans of the charming outlook to which they have been accustomed for the past four years. Some 300 Germans are already located in Featherston Camp, and there is ample room there for the 100 odd from Motuihi. Since the advantages of the island camps ar» lost, economy should have suggested concentration in one central camp, with one initial outlay on ths necessary enclosures and one guard" j It is much to be regretted that Paritutu, one of the most beautiful and interesting resorts for 1 both town and country people, is so neglected. For two or three vears nothing has 'been done. The tracks have become in some parts nearly gutters where horsemen have used them, and in most parts they are almost blocked with lupin. In the past much good work was done by working bees under the auspices of the New Plymouth Beautifying Society, which continued operations until interest died down. On the last occasion the president was the only man at work. Later in the afternoon he was joined by one other person. In view of the large number of visitors to Paritutu who may be expected this summer, an eifort is. being made to arrange a working bee. for. next Thursday and Friday. By au advertisement in our columns it will be seen that the president wishes those willing to assist to send him their names. Luncheon and afternoon tea will be provided. A very pleasant and useful day may thus be spent. Doubtless many visitors encamped at Moturoa will assist. \

The election/and installation of officers of the Moturoa Lodge, U.A.O. Druids, took place on Monday night the 10th inst., District President Bro. Burnip, of Inglewood, installing the officers as follows: P.A.D., Bro- C. Edwards; Arch Druid, Bro. G. Eiley; V.A.D., Bro.. W Knapman; secretary, Bro. W. Groombridge; treasurer, Bro. S. Parrott; LG., Bro. F. Schwamm; 0.G., Bro. S. Blanchard; A.8., Bros. W. Bennett and W. Morris; V.A.8., Bro3. Gilbert and Martin. A rote of thanks was accorded Bro. Burnip for his attendance to instal officera. The treasurer's statement showed that the epidemic had been heavy on the sick pay of tho lodge. During the evening P. Grand President Bro. W. T. Jennings, M.P., gave a resume of the help the Government had given to friendly society members who had gone to tho war. Over .4000 had enlisted, and a sum of £15,000 had been voted by the Government towards cost of reinsuring and funeral benefits of members. Out of this sum £9144 had been paid to the various orders. On this year's estimates a further sum of £15,000 had been voted. On the motion of Bros. Blanchard and Gilbert, the lodge passed an appreciative vote of thanks to Bro. Jennings for his continued interest in the welfare of friendly society members.

Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Second Group) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable to-day, Monday, Currie street, from 9 a.m. to 12.30. p.m., from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 8 pjn.—Advt.

Riders of Barley Davidson and Indian Motor Cycles can now procure CLINCHER. i« 28 % 3. Hold by th» trade paty 31

At the Petone Court:—"When I go out on Saturday afternoon I can make a resolution that'l will not have more than sixteen drinks for anyone, and stick to it," "What is the alternative?* asked a defendant . "One month," re-plied-the magistrate. "Well, as I am as free of money as a frog is of feathers, I will accept the alternative," «■• torted the accused. , ,/ "„ The terrible housing conditions that have been revealed in Wellington and other cities can only be solved fry a Labor Government," said Mr Eraser, M.P., at a meeting at Brooklyn. la some parts of Te Aro flat, ke'added, the houses were 29 to the acre. "The Gov. ernor would not put his horses into many of these houses." Most of the people there, he said, were not there because they wanted to be there, but because they could not afford to live; anywhere else.

The success achieved in the citl+o'TiiV Ition of NewjJsaiwS&iks in St7 Helena' vtoMnn a paragraph appearing in the Kew Bulletin relating to plants suitable for cultivation in the British, Empire. During 1913 the quantity of flax exported from the island to the United Kingdom was 21,824 tons, of a. value of £649,170. In 1915, within the 1 war period, 14,512 tons, valued at £397,858, were shipped, It is stated that phomrhun tenas does not appeat to have been grown -in a commercial scale in any part of the Empire outside. New Zealand and St. Helena.

Speaking at Newtown the other -eveni! rag Mr P. J. O'Kegan re/erred to ib» ; land syndicates and the land purchases by the Government. He referred to two cases where the purchase price was £60,000 and £23,000 over the valuation, which proved either that the Go-. vernment had paid too much for tha land or the owners hod been ehitkin? taxation on that amount. He also referred to the fact that the urban land syndicates were deliberately held fram war taxation, which proved that eorrupt forces were behind the Government * backing up their public plunder.

An instance of the faithfulness ofntio dog was afforded at North Sydney eome days ago, when a fox terrier's fidelity led" to the discovery of its master's dead tody. Following his Usual route to work, Alfred Turner, of North Sydney,, was walking through a scrub neaj the Suspension Bridge, and on several morning 3 a dog stood in his track and persistently barked at' hint At first he took no notice, font one morning he approached ths dog, which immediately retreated into the scrub. Turner followed, and suddenly came upon the dead body of a man, The animal growled as Turner approached the body. He then communicated with the police, who on arrival had to cons the dog before it would allpw them to take charge of the body. It is believed to bo tin* of a travelling tinker recently seen in tso neighbourhood. Death ia attributed to haemorrhage of the, 'brain.

• The benefit of sleeping in fresh air is exemplified ia the annual report of the principal of Solway College, Masterton, a paragraph in which state*:—"The open-air sleeping verandahs haw proved ail unqualified success. For many weeks during the second term, despite a phenomenal winter, no colds were reported, and doctors' visits have- been conspicuous by their absence; and during this last month, when the Angel of Death has been through the land, it is with thankfulness that I report that we have'been entirely free from the epidemic Except for the slight indisposition of a few girls for one week during the whole yean "e have had a clean •bill of health* and the weperience of the.year has justified the board's policy of restricting the pupils to boarders. In many individual cases there has'been a marked improvement in the health of the girls." v .

fc, is not expected that the Defence. Department will be in a position to begin the payment of the gratuities to' service men until demobilisation is in some way advanced. A number-of the details of the scheme have yet to be set in order. Not tho least of the difficulties will be those of determining in; what cases it will not be desirable to ' pay the gratuity in cash. In the Government takes power to a»ake' the payment by other means than by direct cash payment. It will happen, that in a majority of cases cash wiU be given, for the eimple reason that thij Department will not have the time or! the energy to discover "whether It iswise or not to give money to every soldler.'. The gratuity is really a most generous gift. It will be specially good for the married men who volunteered-' If the soldier is still alive his wife will, be entitled to a separation allowance at the increased rate from the time of en-. listment, and if the soldier is dead thej widow will be entitled to the increased! separation allowance up till the time of j Jris death, and also to the service gra-> tuity.

A glassware merchant informed »> pominlon representative that there waa! every likelihood of a sharp fall in the j price of glass during the next few week*.. Glass bulks big as cargo, ted as already freight rates had receded by; 25 per cent, the war risk was dispensed with, and the rate of exchange had fallen, the prica of incoming shipments must be considerably affected. Already the agents of Pilkington's, the big English linn, had notified buyers in New Zealand in the fall in the price of their products. There would soon be a fall, too, in the price of paint. The eost of this indispensable commodity was ruled to a very large extent by the price of pig lead, which was already down in price, and white lead always moved in sympathy with pig-lead., As to the price of oil, any fluctuation now depended largely on the position in India and Russia, which was still obscure.

It ia stated by the New Zealand Herald thai officials of the Defence Department are at present in Auckland, making arangement for the continuation in the hospitals of the scheme of education and vocational . training of soldiers initiated in England by General G. 3. Richardson. What- will be attempted in Auckland, will not be so elaborate as that carried out with suc.l outstanding success in England, but the local work will Tie extended' and developed as far as possible. In this way it is hoped that courses begun in England, and continued on transports, will be carried on in New Zealand hospiU'.s without & break. Arrangements fw the complete co-ordination of the work have been made. The Defence Department will concern itself in this matter only up to the time a soldier is discharged. After that he' will be dealt with : by the newly-formed Repatriation Board, and it is yet too early to say what farther opportunities will be provided for the soldier to continue any branch of training or instruction. The compulsory system will apply in >'«w Zealand hospitals. Riders of Har'isy dian Motor Cycles <£^^MHflHH