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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16051, 8 February 1918, Page 2

On February 2 the Sydney Morning Herald published -the last of its letters from Sir Henry Lucy, who for more than a quarter of a century has contributed a weekly budget of notes on “Life in London and Thereabout.”

“I don’t take much account of these things,” a man, who was unable to say when his children were born, told the Military Service Board this morning. “You will later on,” put in Captain Walker, “when you have to buy birthday presents.” Mr. W. Wilson, fields inspector, recently conducted a rabbit-poisoning campaign on the Franktou Flat (says the Wakatipu Mail), employing the new system of decoying “brer” rabbit with toothsome oats and molasses for three consecutive nights and then introducing another sweet in the shape of strychnine on the F ourth. Result, 900 victims.

That the war pensions allotted in some cases are fairly liberal is illustrated by the recent case of a widow with eight children under 16 years of age. The husband (says the Lyttelton Times) enlisted, and in the course / of training developed heart trouble, which eventually proved fatal. His widow is now' drawing the sum of £2 per week and 10s for each of the children, making in all a sum of £6 weekly. Tho war. while to a certain extent reducing tho strength of the police force, has also brought much extra work in the carrying out of tho many and various war regulations. The local fc-rce has recently been fully taxed, and the difficulty of carrying on will shortly ho increased with tho transfer of one of the five constables to Hawera, as another man has not yet been appointed in his stead. • At tho racecourse on Thursday afternoon Constable Morris effected the arrest on a military warrant of Albert E. Magon. Tho charge was one of failing to parade to proceed to camp when ordered. Magon, who was drawn some months ago in a First Division ballot, having been absent last Wednesday morning when the Now Plymouth draft for the 36th Reinforcements left for camp.

The Wanganui tramway returns, says tho Herald, continue to mount steadily. The total revenue over all lines, borough and suburban, during January, was £2942, which is practically four times tho usual monthly return as at the commencement of the service some nine years ago. In New' Plymouth ths revenue for January was £1163, which compares very favourably with the earlier figures reported in Wanganui.

Harvesting operations are well advanced in the Greenstreet district, and tho majority of tho wheat crops have been cut and are in stook (reports the Ashburton Guardian). A few of the latter have been thrashed, and yielded up to 30 bushels per acre. There is a remarkable growth of feed on the stubble land, which includes red and white clover.

The final Screening of Mary Pickford in "Hulda from Holland,” and Mary Milos Minter in ‘•‘Environment,” takes place to-night at the People’s. Tomorrow’s new' programme presents Blanche Sweet in “The Sow'ers,” an unusually fine drama, being the picture version of Merriman’s famous story. Also on the bill are two now gazettes and the first two reels of the Canadian Hydro-Electric Works, official films from the Canadian Government. The usual matinee will be held to-morrow-at 2 p.m. There was a good deal of reference to hats during the hearing of a case at the Supreme Court in. Wellington. Attempt was being made to fix the identity of an accused man by means of a bat ; and this article of headgear was variously described. The supposed culprit denied the suggestion that the hat was his, and said he did not like “coarse felt” hats. “I think it is described as a ‘velour’ hat,” said Mr. Justice Hosking. This apparently did not satisfy the accused, who ended the argument by decisively exclaiming, “I never wear those long-haired hater 1 ’ , The part that has been taken in the war by the employees of Dalgety and Co., Ltd., was referred to by the chairman of directors, the Hon. E. TV. Parker, at the recent annual meeting of the company in London! He stated that out of a total of the male staff numbering 1320 of all ages, 535 bad joined the colours. Of these 44. had made the supreme sacrifice, 89 had been w ounded, and three were missing. Several of the men, the chairman added, had won distinction, the awards including three D.S.O.’s, ■ eight Military Crosses, two D.C.M.’s and three lesser decorations.

Mrs. J. G. Cobbe, of Feilding, enter-, ed a- lovely little Jersey bull in the yearling class at the Feilding Show. The animal bad a bright glossy hide, and comment was occasioned as to what kind of feed Mrs. Cobbe gave her entry to produce such results. The climax was reached when the groom had finished rubbing down his charge, and threw- tbo cloth in the stall near the yearling’s head. The bull immediately seized the cloth and began to “chew the rag.’ - ‘Ha, ha!” chimed in a wag standing by. “I see what Cobho’s feed their hull on. They give it remnants!” As Mr. Cobbe does a big drapery business in Feilding. the joke was greatly appreciated, and evoked considerable laughter from the bystanders. Some idea of the force of a torpedo was supplied in the Admiralty Court at London, on December 6, by Mr. Justice Hill, in awarding £8450 to a number of vessels for salving the new steamer Woodfield. Tlfe steamer is worth £160,000, and she was torpedoed on her maiden voyage in the English Channel, and beached at New Haven, after services by a torpedo boat, an armed trawler, two tugs, and other craft. “Tbo damage was extraordinary,” said the judge. Tim torpedo passed right through the vessel from port to starhoard. making a hole 40 feet long, bending out the plates 6 feet, and making other holes, from which the ship must have sunk had not the salvace services been promptly rendered.” His Lordship decided that £7750 .should be divided between the two tugs Alert and Joffre. Lieutenant Macmillan-, of Torpedo boat 5, would be given £100;Lieutenant Barclay £SO. the crew £O6O, and the armed trawler Glanboyno £2OO.

It is understood that the friends of Mr. P. C. Webb, M.P., are making an effort to have him exempted from active service. Under present arrangements Mr. Webb must go into camp in March, and it is stated that there is not the remotest chance that he will be excused from this obligation save for a military reason.

All post offices have been advised that they can announce the closing times of all overseas mails in the ordinary way, except that no ntmes .of steamers or information as to routes were to he published. This virtually means a resumption of mail notice information as it was before the war, except that the steamers’.names are to ho withheld. “It is very poor consolation io the man who goes to buy a couple of pounds of bacon to be told .that the scales are old when he complains of short weight,” said Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court at Napier when fining a grocer for having incorrect scales and for not having legally stamped weights and measures. Several well-know'n shopkeepers were substantially fined for offences of this nature.

A Gazette Extraordinary issued on Wednesday contained a proclamation directing the enrolment of the First Division of the Maori Expeditionary Force Reserve. Reinforcements f6r the Native section of the Expeditionary Force have been enlisted voluntarily up to the present time, but Parliament has authorised the extension of the compulsory system to the Maori race, and steps are now being taken to apply this power.

The Pending Star says:—A lad who had taken oa a pupil-teachership in this district at a salary to start with of £SO a year - , received a telegram from a Government department offering him a position in the service at a salary of £73 a year to commence with. Yet the Education Department is deaf to the frequent requests of the hoards to increase the pay of pupil-teachers and probationers, and, even worse than that, deducts pay from those at the training college if they dare to take up relieving work in their holidays. According to the monthly instalment of the Returned Soldiers’ Information Department, 14,244 soldiers have been listed on the register of the Department. Of these, 11,022 have been disposed of by the Department, 1937 are “under action,” and 1285 are “not ready for fiction.” Of the men reported as “under action” only 294 are on the “employment wanted” register, the others being as yet not, anxious to go to work, or men about whom inquiries have not yet been made. A proportion of these men will he placed in work as soon as the Department gets into touch with them, or as soon as they wish to resume work; The men “not ready for action” are unfit for work, and many of them have not been discharged from the array.

Brigadier-General C. G. Johnston, lecturing at the United Service Institute in Melbourne recently on the capabilities and limitations of modern artillery, said that siege artillery had to be drawn by tractors, and could not travel off thel road. Owing to the difficuty of moving the heavy guns he did not think that any sensational “break through” would be made by the British on. the Western front. The Germans had from time to time been driven back for a distance of several miles, but they had always, made a fresh stand as isoon as they reached strong positions. But when the nature of the country was taken into consideration an advance of oven a few miles represented a big victory, and every advance brought the end of the war nearer.

Among the attractions to be i found for sale at the Red Cross Mart to-mor-row is a large and varied assortment of beautiful doll’s furniture, made and presented by a skilled amateur in aid of Red Cross funds. The wardrobe with its compartment for hanging frocks and drawer, for millinery, the duchesse table with swivel mirror, beds, cradle, chairs, table, garden sent and other articles too many to enumerate are all so well built as to ensure their standing the wear and tear of any ordinary doll's (not made in Germany) usage and will delight the heart of any child fortunate enough to become the possessor of one or more pieces. A variety of the newest and most up-to-date emery pincushions, so indispensable to our climate, will also bo for sale. The length, of the short session to be opened in April will be about two or three weeks. The first business of Parliament is to hear the speech of the Governor-General, and there will be assuredly some debate on the Address-in-Reply. This debate is the unknown factor, "and if the talking on this motion is prolonged, there may be difficulty in bringing the session to an end before the time comes when the two leaders will have to leave for England. After the Address-in-Reply will come a Finance Bill to provide for Supply until a later period in the year. It is unlikely that the Government will have to ask the House to sanction more war loans, because there will be enough nuJnoy in band after the next loan is raised, assuming that it is successfully raised, to carry on until the end of the year. After this Bill has been passed by both Houses, Parliament may be prorogued. Tiie report of the directors of Dalgety and Company, Ltd., for the year ended June 50 last, showed that, after providing for bad and doubtful debts, interest ou debenture stock and debentures up to June 30, dividend on preference shares, and payment of income tax and excess profits duty, there remained to the credit of profit and loss account, including the balance brought forward from last year, £442 770 13s 7d. In May last an interim dividend was paid at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum for the half-year ended De>,ember 31, 1916, amounting to £40.000, leaving a balance available of £102,770 13s 7d; which the directors 1 recommended should be appropriated as fellows: 8 per cent, per annum, free of incometax, for the half-year, making with above payment 8 per rent, for the year; £50,000 in payment of a bonus of 5 per cent, for the year ended June 30 lafet, free of, incofneTtax ; £'loo 000 to the reserve' fund, 'thereby raising it to £750.000; £IOO,OOO to writing down cost of premises; £IO,OOO to the staff benevolent fund; leaving £102,770 13s 7d. to be carried forward. The Melbourne, Ltd., for bargains in men’s socks; All-wool knitted socks. Is 8d pair; Mosgiel fine knit socks, dark grey, Is 6d; black Mosgiel plain knit socks, Is 9d pair; heavy ribbed Mosgiel socks, 2s 3d pair; black cotton cashmere finish socks, Is 6d and Is 9d; pure wool black and navy cashmere socks, 2s 6d and 2s lid pair.* For low prices and high values you must go to J. K. Hawkins and Co. Samson braces, Is pair; all-wool,socks. Is pair; boys’ caps, Is; men’s tweed trousers, 9s 6d; Shirley President braces, 3s 6d pair; singlets and underpants. Is 3d ; first-class box suits from 47s 6d to 75s Get busy. Our expenses are small and >ou get the benefit.*

They have a. way of putting things on the other side of the Atlantic (says a writer in the, Westminster Gazette) that is sometimes-inelegant-but always', very much to'file point. A maxim that, I am told, is popular just now in America runs: “Don’t stuff your husband—husband your stuff” The Gladstone family is selling part of the Hawarden estate because of the war taxation, which is four times above that of 1913, and the death duties six times more than on W. H. Gladstone’s death in 1891. The valuations, rates, and duties on agricultural properties render thin step necessary,-though the debt is no factor.

The Dominion Bed Triangle appeal for £IOO,OOO for the Y.M.C.A., war work was launched in Wellington on Thursday. The Wairarapa Patriotic Society has promised £3OOO, and re-presentatives-.of two Wellington firms, had offered .£600; if eight others would; do the same. The first £IO,OOO is already in sight.

“You say you are keeping company with the cook of the hotel?” was a question put by Sergeant Bird to a defendant in a case heard at Dower Hutt on Wednesday, “Yes, Sir,” replied the - Witness.- A‘D6 you know fl Miss and do you keep company with her also “I know her and speak to her sometimes,” said the defendant. Mr. J. J. M'Grath, counsel for the defence, humorously observed that if flie defendant kept .company with two girls at the same time he ought to join the police force.

Tie fervour of negro mission-era is very well known, and it is equally well known that their conception of the English language is not exactly what it should be. In the course of his recital at the Y.M.G.A. in Christchurch on Wednesday night, Professor Tmeblood told rather a good story regarding the manner in which a coloured preacher offered up a prayer to Jehovah. “Oh Lord,” he said, “Thou Who are allsufficient, self-sufficient, insufficient. Praised he Joheva.” The story was greeted with much merriment. The Fitzroy Hall was well filled on Thursday evening on the occasipn of a concert in connection with the celebration of the anniversary, of the Fitzroy Methodist Church. An excellent programme of music and song was thoroughly appreciated by the audience, who accorded encores in nearly every case. Mrs. Thomson, Miss E. White, Mr. P. Fredric and Mr. R. L. Cooper contributed songs; Mr. .and Mrs. G. H. White and Mr. and Mrs. Johnson gave-vocal quartettes; Miss Bishop and the Rev. H. L. Richards-recited; Mrs. P. Fredric, L. Cooper, and Mr. A. O. Sturrock played pianoforte solo's and the accompaniments. The Rev. Mr. Richards returned thanks to the visitors who contributed to the programme. '

The Minister of Public Health made a statement on Thursday regarding' steps that will hare to be taken by his department to deal with the large number of cases of tuberculosis disease which are found to occur among the, returned soldiers. A request received from the Public Health Department, said Mr. Russell, shows that up till' January 31, 1918, th 6 number of phthisis cases among these men, including cases which had developed after the arrival of the men in New Zealand, was 693. ;0f these 499 had developed the diabase before their return here. There had been 42 deaths from tubercular disease. At present there are Under treatment 148 of these men, and it is evident" that a considerable increase in the number of consumptive sanatoria will have to be provided for soldiers.

A Canadian Army Medical Board was in consultation on a soldier whoso disease had baffled the regimental doctor. Unusual syi’/ptoms rendered diagnosis difficult, attd led- to an earnest discussion. ’ The patient; momentarily forgotten, was listening intently, and presently, forgetting all else in the inten-. eity of his interest, surprised the doctors and himself by a spontaneous utterance expressing strong disagreement. The astonished doctors began to rebuke the soldier for his breach of discipline, but were presently amazed to learn from his rather reluctant answers to their question that lie was an eminent surgeon from the Western States who from loro of adventure had enlisted in'the ranks. In civil life every doctor on the board would have thought it a privilege be a pupil of this voluntary private soldier.

In an account of the fighting on the Cambrai front Mr. Phillip Gibbs says: —I wrote on Wednesday of German officers who spoke with admiration of our attack and-praised the courage of our men and the strategy which had led to our victorv. They are not all like that, and some of the younger officers are filled with fury, and show it hy. their words and gestures when they see such swarms of their own men marching by under.the escort of a few' mounted guards, and when they see our cavalry riding through ‘' villages' which until two days ago were behind, their lines. The . most deeply-angered man is a regimental commander, .who, with two of bis battalion commanders,, was taken nrisoner in his headquarters, and led back to one of the prison camps. Ho looked very haughty and sullen on the road as he marched in his fur-lined overcoat, and his language was sultry and loud, and his scowl so ferocious that our Tommies roared with laughter at the sight of him, and enjoyed his rage. ■ ' “I saw a train load of men come in from the western front,” says a writer in an Australian paper. ‘‘They were grimy, but, laughing. I saw another train load go but for tho western front. The women had ’ been assisting the soldiers, carrying their luggage. They were all healthy and smiling. They gave me my first impressions of England. 1 was satisfied that the heart of -the people was in the right place., . One of the greatest sights ofLondon now takes place. at about 7o’clock at night, when you see from 50 to 100 ambulances go towards the railway station. There , are thousands of people standing round waiting for the hospital train to draw up with the returned soldiers. When the train arrives there is a deathly stillness. A moment or two afterwards a wounded soldier, oh. another waves his hand or foot. The crowd recognises that the men are living. The cheering that goes up from tho crowd would bring tears to tin eyes of anyone. The people stop there patiently from 7.30 to 9.30 or 10 o’clock every night. Thar, goes on every evening at the proper time in all the main centres of London. It -a sight that one never'forgets.” You can considerably reduce your footwear bill just now' by purchasing your boots and shoes at the Regal Shoe Store, who are ready to meet every demand' with a splendid.variety of reliable shoes' for every member ,of the family. A few money-savers are here mentioned: Men’s very strong chrome derby balmorals, pegged, 19s 6d and ,21s; -men's chrome and box hide bals., 16s 6d and 17s 6d; hoys’ school boots, 13s 6d, 14s 9d *nd 17s 6d; ladies’, smart oue-bar shoes, 14s 6d; ladies’ glace kid derby bals, 14s 6d. Inspect these values to-day.*-

At Cardiff a n Wednesday the police arrested a ma i named Edward George Hansen, charged with.failing to report . ‘fa tlie I Military Aledifiidßoard, and escorted him to~ Hawma, where he was taken in charge by the authorities. ■ . It: is understood, says the Eltham .Argus, that the strength of whiskysold over hotel bars will be considerably reduced by an Order-in-Council, notice of which will appear shortly. Under' the new regulations the spirit may be sold at 33 per cent under-proof, the percentage previously having been 25 ' per„cent. . , , v ...

The WdlMngtdri .Elastetersp,Union on Thursday night passed a resolution: “That we emphatically protest against the term of the present Parliament being ...further extended, as it is unconstitutional and-, not according to the Act which limits Parliament to a term of three years ”

•it"would seem {says- -the Southland Times) that, from bne'viewpoint a# any rate, neutrality is, like honesty, a very good policy. Mr. Joim Macdonald told Saturday’s meeting of the Invercargill Farmers’ Union that in Uruguayhand the Argentine, where cattle were raiseoTor their hides growers are -to-day .getting,,, through the American ;Mefd> Trust, right-- up equal to those paid in Ij.S'.A.'' ‘TKBs.j prices are just double those at present ruling in New Zealand. v„ A delightful addition to the lengthening list of war-time legends is given by the Daily Chronicle. A certain town which has enjoyed up to the present, immunity ■ from-, “the- cavalry of the clouds,” .attributes, this-fact to the residence, just, outside, the town, Of- an old lady who is reputed to be a distant relative of Tirpitzrl! How the said “cavalry” discriminate -between the wicked English and the .‘.‘distant relative” is -not stated T But everyone Wishes long life to the did-lady. Some interesting Sidelights are thrown on life at Ruhleben (says the Christchurch Press) by a letter which has been recoisod.hy Mr, J. ,H„ Howell, director'‘of‘the - •Technical .'College, from Mr. A. H. Jones, an old student of the college, and now g prisoner of war in Germany. “There is undoubtedly a splendid -opportunity -for. gaining experience in public work for - all those here who have sufficient energy to avail themselves of the privilege,” he says. > “Practically all departments of a. city corporation 'are' in" existence, and, in. many instances, the work required is of such a nature that one’s whole time , has to he devoted to it. On the other hand, there is the work of the school and the Arts and Science Union to occupy ever available: hour that a student is allowed. To walk through the chemical, physics. , biological, and research lahbratories is an education. Weird and marvellous are the homemade- instruments and apparatus one sees there. We, of course, now get valuable/outside assistance, and, therefore, cthe tables have, a more civilised appearance than in the early days. Tire handicraft workshops are a real Godsend. Models of yachts, motor boats, steamers, . ships’ engines, and dozens, of other articles are being made every week. All kinds of .bookbinding, leather'work, and art metalwork are pro- ■ dneed—bnt this -side of camp life* would take a book to describe. The fact that already we have had exhibitions in art. handicrafts,- model--yachts.- and bookMhdine. as -well- as three flower and vegetable, shows, illustrates' what has, , and is, being done.” .

£lO guarantee 'goes with e very Is packet “No Rubbing 1 ’ Daimdry Help. “No Rubbing” washei alb clothes clean without the rubbing slavery. Your grocer will supply you 1 - •