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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16295, 23 November 1918, Page 2

On account of the disorganisation caused by the influenza epidemic throughout the district, the Taranaki Education Board has decided to keep all its schools closed until January 31, 1919. ' ’ Growers of green peas in this district, says the Nelson paper, are concerned over the threatened dislocation of shipping. The main shpply of peas is now being picked, and good prices are obtainable if delivery at Wellington can be obtained. Mr. A. E. Sykes, chemist, the proprietor of Zcnol Inhalant, wishes it to be made known that his preparation, Zcnol Inhalant, is a non-irritant, and before this reliable remedy was placed on the market twelve months ago, the formula was submitted to the Department of Public Health, Wellington, who approved of same. The remedy may be obtained at every chemist and store in Taranaki, and has contributed in no small measure towards combating the influenza epidemic and keeping the bauds of hard workers oa their feat- * ,

Tram fares have been raised on. some of Sydney’s suburban lines, causing complaints in all quarters. A Chinaman, when asked for the extra fare, made the following remark, proving that he was quite, conversant with the method of “passing it on”: “All h; upee go tlam lide to-day: upee go ca)Uot to-mollow.”

Tho three local Chinese laundxymen have been commandeered fox the “duration” to take charge of the New Plymouth Public Hospital laundry. The first laundryman approached was quite willing to go up, but did not like the idea of his two competitors in bnsincos being able to open their laundries. When he was told that they also were assisting the good cause, he readily assented. Sir James Allen, who visited the Fcatherston Camp on Thursday, saysthat the epidemic has been conquered and that the worst stage is well past. Plans are in readiness for rapid demobilisation as soon as the ..epidemic and transport facilities permit. It is expected to send 500 daily from Featherston and 000 from Irenthatu. The dislocation of the ferry service is a big hindrance as it is possible now to send only 120 on alternate days. There is to he .an interesting development at Jordans' the well-known Quaker centre in Bucks, England. An estate of about 100 acres has been bought, and it is proposed to lay this out as a model village, to be known as “Jordans Village.” The promoters of the scheme do not intend to sell any part of the estate, but to let plots on which will be built cottages and ample accommodation for market gardening, beekeeping, and poultry-keeping. A number of tenants have provisionally taken plots, and it is intended to begin tho felling of timber and planting of fruit trees this autumn.

Most of the -voluntary workers m Wellington have been supplied with broad white armlets on which are printed in large red characters the letters “E.H,” “What do the letters stand for?” asked a reporter of a young miss, bravely disporting her armlet. Oh, they stand for Epidemic Helper, said the young lady quite glibly and with a touch of pride. “But surely you are not helping the epidemic? I gathered that you were endeavouring to hinder it 1 ” The reporter was subsequently informed that the letters stood for Emergency Helper, which was something nearer the point. Assuming that business will be resumed in the town on Monday, the Mayor wishes it to be understood that, unless the organisation which has up to the present rendered .much valuable service in fighting the epidemic is to break up, business people must continue to help either themselves _or by giving extended leave to some oi thenassistants. It would be a great mistake to relax efforts just as .the foe is on the point of being beaten, indeed the result of any relaxation of vigilance might be disastrous, therefore Mr. Burgess hopes that business people will cheerfully put up with a little further inconvenience, perhaps only for a few days, so that the organisation may he kept going until there is no further need for it to carry on.

Captain Gerald S. Doorly, master of the s.s. Navua, reported, according to a Gazette dated November 15, that while on a voyage from Wellington to Papeete a considerable quantity of brown, discoloured water was observed. There were three distinct large patches, the edge of the discolouration being sharply defined, and a complete contrast to the ocean blue. Later ho. met another large patch. He stopped the ship, and sounded, hut there was no bottom at 30 fathoms. A whale was blowing close to the discolouration, and the captain suggests, in his report, that the brown might bo something it was feeaing upon. He adds, however, could see no matter in the water, that it was bright sunshine at the time, and no break anywhere. He had never seen anything.so striking at sea before unless an indication of a shoal.

While in the vast majority of cases the spirit of helpfulness in misfortune lias been conspicuous during tho present trying time, instances are met with now and then of that “man s inhumanity to man,” which, in the words of the Scottish bard,, makes countless thousands mourn.” One day a report was received that at a certain house a. family was lying ill and in need of help. A committeeman wont to the house with some food, knocked, and found that there were two families in the house. The person who answered tho knock said no assistance was required by Tns ramily., but the others were ill m bed. Ho was asked to take the food to them, but be absolutely refused to do so, and remarked that perhaps the people next door would do what was wanted. Whether this inhuman conduct was due to fear or to any quarrel between the parties we cannot say; the committeeman was too angry to discuss the qiiestion, and found other means of discharging his errand.

It is learned on good authority (says tho Melbourne Argus) that over 45,000 tons of wheat, or more than halt a million bags, will fee shipped from Fremantle to ports on the Mediterranean shortly by a fleet of steamers which arc now on their way to Australia. That the wheat is urgently needed to relieve tho famine conditions now threatening some of the European peoples is demonstrated by the composition of tho fleet which will move it, and also by the fact that none of the steamers will come farther east than Fremantle. Tho vessels have been hastily diverted from other important trade routes, their nearness to Australia being tho chief factor governing their inclusion in the southward-bound group. Among them are freighters belonging to the Briiish-India Steam Navigation Company, and detached from service in Indian waters to make the trip; two German steamers which were requisitioned by the British Government on the outbreak of war; a steamer flying the flag of the Tatem S.N. Company of Cardiff, and cargo carriers of the International and Ellermann and Bucknall lines respectively. Owing to the epidemic, it has been decided to postpone the sale of the Brewer Estate properties (which was advertised for tho 29th inst.) to Friday, December 13. Plans and particulars may be obtained from the auctioneers. W.C.T.IJ. —There will bo no meeting of the W.C.T.TT. next Wednesday; the annual meeting has been indefinitely postponed.* Owing to the influenza epidemic Mrs. Brightwall’s clearing sale at Tarata is postponed. Mr. Symons has a notice he his pig sale in this issue. The Health Department advertisement in this Leslie states that all auction sales of clothing, furniture, etc., ore prohibited until further notice. Tho St. Mary’s Guild salo of work is postponed until after the epidemic. My wife is a tiger for “No Rubbing” Laundry Help—she makes a terniible noise if J. M‘Neill runs out of iU 4

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that another mine was destroyed off the North Cape on Saturday. The charge of assault, causing actual bodily harm, against C. W. Williams, which was set down for hearing yesterday morning, had to be f urther adjourned, as several of the witnesses were suffering with influenza. The hearing was fixed for Thursday, December 5.

Giving evidence before the InterState Commission in Sydney the other day, an estate agent stated that in that city there were many houses without baths. He had spoken to one man who owned a large number of houses, and he stated he would not put baths in houses until he know that tenants would not knock them about. This houseowner said that in his experience tenants sometimes used the baths for other purposes than for bathing themselves. Among other .purposes they, were used for storing wood and coal. “Thd health authorities should insist that baths should be in every house,” added the estate agent. “And there should he a heavy penalty imposed upon tenants who destroyed them.” Mr. .Morhy (a member of the commission): “Have you ever known the bath to be. used for breeding canaries?” (Daughter.)

Mr. J. H. Coyne (Minister for Dands for Queensland), when on. a visit to Melbourne, stated to a representative of the Ago that land settlement was proceeding excellently in Queensland. During the past year, Mr. Coyne said, settlement had been out of all proportion to that of the two previous years. The Government’s perpetual leasing system was becoming very popular. A good' deal of misunderstanding had prevented the people from taking to it at first, hut better knowledge of the terms and conditions of the leases had caused a radical change in sentiment. The rental of each such leasehold was based, Mr. Coyne explained, on 3) per cent, of the estimated annual value of the land, and reassessment was provided for every 15 years. Tenants were satisfied that no possible hardship could a&crue to them for subsequent reassessments. The point of the whole system, Mr. Coyne said, was that the rental (3J per cent.) was cheaper than any rate of interest at which money could be borrowed for the purchasing of freehold. Freehold was, as a matter of fact, as far as the Queensland Government was concerned, a thing of the past. The policy of the Government was leasehold, and for twelve months past no freehold' of Crown land'had been granted. Every .possible provision was being made for the settlement of returned soldiers on the land. Subject to the previsions for permanent residence (a safeguard against aggregation) and the approval of the Minister, any- holder of a perpetual lease might, after a certain number of years, dispose of his lease as a business proposition. Questioned as to the extent of the Minister’s powers of approval and refusal of any transfer, or disposal of a leasehold', Mr. Coyne said there was “no limit” to* the Minister’s powers. The however, Mr. Coyne explained, exercised his wide powers “discreetly and justly.”