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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16608, 4 December 1919, Page 2

Tho. Capetown-St. Helena cable has now been restored. There was a slight earthquake at New Plymouth at 9.20 on Wednesday night. t

Private advices received in Melbourne from Cocos Island report Hint the Emdcn has completely disappeared. Only four cases of .influenza in the Auckland health district were notified on Wednesday and one case, of pneumonia. All tho cases wore in the city.

Work was resumed at tho Kaitangata mine on Wednesday, but. the mine manager was informed that at the meeting on Tuesday it was resolved to “go slow.” It is stated that no reason is assigned by the men for their latest resolution.

Regulations have been gazetted that soldiers still absent on active sen be

on December 17 will vote on the national licensing issue only, ns practicable arrangements could not bo. made for them to vote at the Parliamentary elections and on the local option question in the existing no-liconso districts. Tho regulations provide that the votes of soldiers on transports at sea shall bo taken on December 16 and sealed until the arrival of tho vessels, when the count will be made in Wellington.

The Old English cottage scene for “Snowed Up with tho Duchess’ to-night has been carried out most realistically. The properties on the stage are all antiques, and date back ICO years. The china, is from valuable collections, a. spinning wheel comes from the Isle of Skye, porringers from Bobbie Burns’ homo, and many treasured copper and brass relics of ye olden dayes all help to make a perfect and effective sotting.

When rainbow trout were first liberated in Lake Alexandria (Mackenzie Country) it was predicted that some day they would make an angler’s paradise of that region (says the Ashburton Guardian). After waiting patiently for some years that day has apparently arrived. A local angler who went nji to tho lake last week to try his luck returned to town with a basket of magnificent rainbow trout, which lie caught in an hour and a halt. There were nine ol tho fish, their respective weights being as follow; 13, 94 9 g>. 8,8, 8,6, and 6Jlb. ’ 3 ’

bupportors of the East End Bathing Reserve should not fail to attend the grand ouchr© party and dance to be held in the East End Pavilion to--o?,,^hiVl f., .of the East End candidate (Miss Lina Bellringer) in the Queen competition. The prizes aro a splendid Christmas lot—bag of sugar, ham, and flour; music by Miss Georne. Admfcainu. la.

Owing to numerous requests from people who cannot attend' to-night’s concert, the committee have decided to repeat the programme again to-morrow night.

Cattle are cheap in the neighbourhood of Whar.garoi and Dargaville, owing to tho scarcity of grass. A private letter received in- Eltham says that cows are almost given away now. —Argus. Mutton birds in millions are recently reported as having been seen by Mr. A. Hansen, formerly of Penearrow Lighthouse ( but now at Taiaroa Heads, Otago. The birds came up from the south in a flying column about half a mile wide, advancing in wayos about ten chains apart, each wave numbering thousands. The main flight continued for an hour or more. Later the birds began to fly south again, but in irregular order, thousands settling in the water close, to the lighthouse. Mr. Hansen predicts in consequence an abundant harvest of fish from the waters around on the principle “no birds, no fish.”

The Labour Department has let a contract to Mr. J. Kavanagh for the erection of tho concrete portion of six dwellings at Miramar. Tho building ekes are all sections fronting the golf links. Mr. Kavanagh proposes to use solid concrete blocks bonded at the horizontal points with expanded metal. The Department has, therefore, adopted no fewer than three concrete construction systems for tho execution of its building programme in Wellington ; for other contractors at Miramar are already using the monolithic system, and tho system of building block walls with air cavity. It will bo interesting to learn later how the systems compare in efficiency and cheapness. “Civis,” in the Otago Daily Times, complains that the style of repartee in election meetings is very poor and says that old time election meetings had much more sap. “If I had a son who was an idiot like yon I’d drown him,” said an interrupter to a young and boy-ish-looking candidate. “Evidently your father was of a different opinion,” was the reply. Or take the reply of .Sir George Reid when he received a packet of flour full on his expansive chest; “I always said 1 was a white man or one el Lloyd George’s retorts. When a man in the audience called out, “I knew your father when ho drove a donkey-cart,” Lloyd George replied; “I have seen tho cart myself, but I always thought until now that tho donkey was dead.” Mr. Hiram Hunter, tho official Labour candidate for Christchurch East, has been asked if ho approves of the goslow policy in the mines. That is the sort ol simple, direct question that, the Labour extremists do not like, and so Mr. Hunter evades it this way:—“A perusal of our platform will give you an indication of what we purpose doing to rid society of the incubus or octopus known as tho profiteer, who is responsible for industrial strife, whether it is in the coal mines or elsewhere. lam not familiar with the trouble of tho coal miners, and know onlv what 1 have read on the subject. What I have read has led me to believe that tho Government is the parly responsible for the prolongation of the dispute, ami led the millers lo adopt the tactics which you refer to as the go-slow policy.” The following new books have been added to the Carnegie Library:—“The Last. Million,” lau Hay; “The Old Card,” Roland Pertwell /“Beatrice Ashleigii,” E. E. M. Young; “The Cross of Heart’s Desire,” G, I’ablow; “Just Outside,” Stacy Aumonier; “White Motley,” Max Pemberton ; “Tho Wine of Astonishment,” M. H. Bradley; “Tho Governor of England,” Marjorie Bowen; “Mary Plantagcnet,” J. C. Stiailh; “Making Money,” Owen Johnson; “The Story of Marco,” Eleanor H. Porter ; “Amarilly of Clothes Line Alley,” 15. K. Mauiates; “Knights of Arahy,” M. I’icktiiall ; “Summer,” Edith Wharton; “The Lamp in tho Desert,” Ethel M. Dell; “Sonia Married,” Stephen M’Kcnna; “Tho Avalanche,” G. Atherton ; “Tho Great Hunger,” Johan Bojer.

The stawherry crop in Auckland this year is tho best known for years, the berries being more plentiful than usual and of larger size and good flavour. As a c<m»equeiue I here has been a big supply of tiii.s popular fruit on tho local market. Elions to reach a wider market doun tb,_ line per medium of the Last trains have not been successful, as the Railway Department found it impossible to iciax the restiicunns imposed during the war period, and only a limited quantity of stawberries is transported daily uu the express trains. As a. result consumers in the city have been luxuriating in early .strawberries at a price averaging sixpence a chip less than they have hitherto had to pay in November. Unfortunately there'is a possibility of a drop in supply and a rise in price before Christinas, as tho growers report that a continuance of the present spell of dry weather will mean a sudden falling off in the production of tho straw bery bods, and a scarcity of the fruit by Christinas time.

It is no fault of the companies concerned, but those people in Great Britain who have looted to life assurance as tho siuest means to provide for old ago have suffered very severely from war influences. This form or saving has depreciated in value very materially, and the losors are not a rich class. The latest return of the official statistics bearing on tho sucfTct status that tho average ordinary life policy taken out is barely £2OO, while the total amount per head of middleaged householders does not probably exceed £IOOO. Before the war life offices were able to increase policies by good bonuses, but the depreciation of their investments compelled them to refrain from adding to tuelr liabilities, and the distribution of bonuses has vanished. In nominal amount tho sums assured remained wlicro they were, but in purchasing power they are now' about 50 per cent. down. It ‘is pointed out that while this is a sad experience “for the middle-aged policy-hoftlor to-day, for the young one the prospect is. quite different. Policies taken out now' arc paid for m currency which, has lost half its value, but the suras assured will steadily gain in value as tho country improves its position, and reaches the firm ground of financial stability. The latest advices indicate that there is quite a “boom” in life assurance, which implies that tho investment value of this form of saving at a time of depreciated currency has been perceived by a good many shrewd young men.

A meeting , will he held to-morrow (Friday) evening in tho ball of the Baptist Chapel of tho members of the Protestant Political Association, New Plymouth branch.

“Keep Smiling’' Boot Polish is causing quite a stir in society circles owing to its superior shining qualities. Price Sd tin. All grocers.* Saturday, the 6th inst., is tho last day of The Melbourne’s groat salvage sale of Roberts’ warehouse stock. Last opportunity of securing 86-inch flannelette Is 9d; 63-inch ticking, 3s 6d: ladies’ longcloth camisoles, Ss 6d; ladies* laro-e cotton vests, 2s lid; Island hats, is lid; splendid quality pique skirts, ISk 6d-*

A.tentative settlement Ims been arrived at in the dispute between the Wellington Gas Company and the employees. The men are now working overtime, and a complete settlement is likely.—Press Association.

During the week ended November 2v the War Expenses Branch ■-paid out 5i 19 war gratuity claims, aggregating £367,448 3s 7d. The daily average of payments was thus 1020. _ This brings the total gratuities paid to November 29 to 31,294, the total amount distributed being £1,949,842. —Press Association.'

A reluctance on the part of inmates of the Pakatoa Island institution to register as electors was discovered by a party canvasser, who last week visited tho various places of abode in the Hauarki Gulf. Tlie authorities were willing to allow tno women facilities for being enrolled, but their was a general disinclination among' them to place their names on the roll in view of the fact that their address wousd appear as Pakatoa, public knowledge of which they sought to avoid. Similar fine feelings were, however, not observed at Roto Rea, in the case of male inebriates.

“Has anybody a knowledge of tho present whereabouts of Sir Joseph Wardf” asks the Christchurch Sun. For one so prone to speech and qne occupying such a responsible position, he has been strangely silent of When first he went south his observations were telegraphed at great length throughout the Dominion. Since then he has been one with the most inconsequential of candidates; just “one of the starters.” Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has trar veiled southward, too; as far down as Riverton, which is not a great distance from Sir Joseph’s own constituency.’At the time of writing, no counterblast to Mr. Massey’s challenges has be»n heard. No answer has come out of Winton, though there is much that calls for reply. What has happened to the lost leader? Is ho going unreported P Is ho merely rusticating against the’time the battle thickens Or can it be that ho is working out in detail those schemes of his which have baffled elucidation even by the .financial experts who are responsible for the Liberal editorials?’’