LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17061, 14 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

We have to acknowledge receipt of another parcel o! magazines from the Wanganui Girls' College for the V.M.C.A. camp at Trentham. During the past month seven cases of diphtheria, two cases of scarlet fever and one case of pulmonary tuberculosis were notified in . Patea County. Mr. G. V. Pearce, M.P., remarked at the meeting of Patea County Council, of which he is chairman, that if the big loan is subscribed, probably £700,000 would be devoted to public worKs. At Patea Hospital Board yesterday, the surgeon reported on the hospital for the past month as follows—Patients remaining on June 30, 14; admitted July, males 13, females 6; discharged, males 11, females 4; remaining July 31st, males 10, females 8. ' Some discussion took place at Patea County Council yesterday, in respect to the non-delivery of a letter at Waverley. It was at first suggested that the attention of the Postmaster at Wanganui be drawn to the alleged omission, but eventually the complaint was referred to Cr. Dickie to investigate.

The staff of Base Records has increased in number during the year from I'll civil and military clerks," of whom 31 were women, to 160. of whom 62 are women (says the Wellington "Post ") There are now 63 military clerks. No clerks who are eligible for active service are now employed at Base Records.

The headquarters of the Eastern Extension Cable Company in New Zealand will he moved during the present month from Wakapuaka, near Nelson to Wellington. The company's submarl me cables will now run direct from Sydney to Titahi Bay, near Wellington wnence communication with the latter city will be completed hy means of an earth cable. When the change is made the distribution of cable messages throughout the Dominion will be greatly facilitated.

_ Four days after the outbreak of war 18 members of the Auckland College Rifles left Auckland for Wellington to join the advance guard which left that port tor Samoa. They were the first Aucklanders to answer the call of the Empire and to Leave the city upon the great adventure. It is a remarkable fact that on the third annnversary of their departure from their homes, every one of the men is so far as is known, alive and well, with the possible exception of Flight-Lieutenant Culling, who is reported missing. All but two of the 18 went on to Gallipoli and France, and most of them have been wounded.

The Government has purchased the late Hon. Walter Johnston's "Highden" Estate for settlement by soldiers. The property is situated between Palmerston and Feilding, and is of the very best land in that fertile district. It is .expected that it will sub-divide into 25-acre sections, bu'c as this land will carry a cow to the acre, a man should be able to make a fair living from even such a small holding as 25 acres. The price paid by the Government is not announced, but it is understood that the bargain has been a very satisfactory one for the Government.—Exchange.

The Bank of New Zealand's pink 10s. note has not been a success. That is to say, its quality has been found to be deficient, and in frequent use it becomes disintegrated at the fold a deal quicker than the orthodox note engraved on parchment paper. The shape of the note is also an awkward one ]n banking practice. For these reasons, among many, the pink notes are to be called in shortly, and in their place is to be issued a very handsome new note, in size not differing materially from the Commercial Bank's neat 10s. note, but of an entirely different design and colour scheme.

It will be remembered that at the last monthly meeting of Patea Hospital Board, It was decided to communicate with the Health Department emphasising the fact that the district which the Health Inspector was expected' to cover, was too large altogether for one man. In reply. Dr. Valentine wrote to the effect that he fully realised that the district was too large to he worked by one man with any degree of satisfaction, but he hoped that it would be possible to continue the present arrangements : during the war.

A fire in Hunterville on Friday afternoon completely gutted tne offices of the "Hunterville Express." The causa was probably a leak from the oil engine, and although noticed at once, and an effort made to beat, out the flames, re spread with incredible rapidity. The brigade arrived speedily, but by the time the water was turned on the flames had completely gutted the plant. Tho plant and buildings were insured, but tile stock was uninsured,' and the proprietor, Mr. Martin, will be a heavy loser. Arrangements have been made with a neighbouring newspaper office for the publication as usual of the paper.

Referring to the "Amusement tax," the Eltham "Argus" says: "Presumably a racecourse is a place of amusement, and patrons on 'the lawn,' at ten shillings a head, will, in the aggregate, contribute fairly well to the coffers of the State. Complimentary tickets are issued with great liberality by some racing clubs, and as these will be liable to taxation they will probably be restricted in numbers, as clubs, can hardly be expected to issue free tickets and also pay the tax upon them. And yet the restriction of the issue of such tickets will tell against the financial interests of the clubs in another direction, so the matter is one that calls for consideration by the clubs.

In these hard times some people apparently are of opinion that the end fully justifies the means which may be adopted to add to one's exchequer. The engine utilised in the screening of the picture "Intolerance" at His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin. broke down at the matinee the other day (states the "Otago Daily Times"), and, despite the earnest endeavours of the theatre staff, it could not be put in order again. Th.c mnnagement finally decided to return the people their money. At the circle ticket-box, however, it was found that 16s. more had to be paid out than had been received. The reason given why the moneys could not he got to square is that some of: the audience who ha.d received passes of admittance coolly walked up to the ticket box with the others, and collected 25."

In conversation with a "Lyttelton Times" reporter after a visit to the Aviation School at Sockburn on Monday 3 Sir Joseph Ward said: "When tne war is over ttier.e will not and there cannot be a discontinuance of the uses of the aeroplane for effective and necessary defensive purposes. In all parts of the Empire, I am sure. T>yhea the war is over, the need for making provision for tkis brauch for defensive purposes will be accomplished by a great movement to use the aeroplane for utility purposes of a peaceful nature. The improvement in the machine nas been so great that it will be used for commercial purposes. I look forward to seeings mails, that is, letters, " conveyed between the important centres in this country, through the air, with greater rapidity than any other form of transit. So that the work which Mr Wigram has heen responsible for promoting is not going to end with the war. It will, in my opinion, be necessary in this country to continue the making of machines to train our youths, and to utilise at least a portion of their services under peace conditions for the requirements of the people."

•Mr E. Newman, M.P. f Ol - Rangitil^i h^g^en notice |o ask the Mniiter o* Lands, whether he will give instructions t0 the Laild Bo ». ds t j££ ru£ uture returned-soldier settlers will not be cliarged rent for the fiftt half-year of occupation of their sections '•>

A meeting of the Carterton Second lJivision League unanimously pass -d the blowing resolut.on, to be torwSdcd to the Minister of Defence and member for the district -.-"That this meetSJ of members of the Second Division League very strongly protests against the w " posed, action of the Government n cll\ ai e up fr s^ s °f i 9 .*> — : t Lt