LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7563, 6 May 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We have received a further contribution towards the Stevens Fund, viz., £4 10s from Mr. H. Good.

By the will of the late Mrs. E. M. Serjeant, the general funds of the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church of this town benefit to the extent of £50.

A statement received by the Act-ing-Postmaster-General shows that the total sales of war loan certificates tc. March 31st, 1919, amounted to £4,017,031 2s 9d.

Another lovely selection of autumn leaves and berries from Mr James MacGregor's will be on sale at the Orphanage Stall on Wednesday. Will those wanting a bunch please apply early or ring up Mr (J. W. Poynter's hookshop, and their order will be reserved. All sales are for the benefit cf the Orphanage so every little helps.

Lovers of beauty will have a chance on Friday of seeing the finest display of chrysanthemums ever shown here. The Horticultural Society's shop window competition is attracting growers from the Hutt, Hawera, Marton and Feilding. The collection will include the prize bloom at the Marton Show.

Sir James Allen yesterday stated that on the 18tu April there were 281 New Zealand soldiers in France, probably left to look after equipment. The New Zealanders in Britain on the same date numbered 19,155, the patients in hospital 2012, and the nurses and Red Cross workers 216. The married men with their wives and families in Britain on April 15 numbered about one thousand.

"We have kille^ the last suction gas plant in the city," said the Christcbur?:h city electrical engineer, proudly, the other night. He said that the electrical revenue in 1913 was £18,000, and in 1918 £54,000, and at the 1913 rates it would have been £120,000. By reducing rates, however.every suction gas plant had been "'outed,'' and he had received very pathetic letters®expressing the hone that they would never again be needed.

At a reception at Papanui to returned soldiers, Mr G. Witty, M.P., said that he had heard some talk of the soldiers forming a faction. His advice to them was, "Don't." The rcturneu soldiers would do better for themselves by being factors in the community, than being a faction in the country. As factors they would have much weight among their fellow-citizens, on account of the broadened outlook they had acquired, and tjie appreciation they had won, and as such would get full justice from Parliament and peonle.

The discovery of a grave of conr siderable historic interest was made recently by Miss E. M. Statham, Inspector of Soldiers' and Historical Graves, in the course of a tour of ►inspection of cemeteries in the South Island. In the Invercargill ceine•tery she found the grave dated 1863, "William Augustus Gordon, son- of Lieutenant-General Gordon, R.A." That wag the sole inscription. Upon "making inquiry Miss Statham was informed by the Mayor of Invercargill that it was the grave of a brother of General Gordon, of Khartoum. Arrangements for its renovation are now being made.

Ninety-nine years ago to-day a plou fe^ was put to New Zealand soil for the first time. An account of the event was written by the Rev. J. Butler, father of the late Judge Butlet, of the Native Land Court ,in the Church Missionary Society's report for 1820. This morning," he wrote lon May L\ 1820, "I put the agricultural plough into New Zealand soil for the first time, and felt much pleasure in holding it after the bullocks. This day, I trust, will be remembered and the anniversary kept by ages yet unborn." It is stated that the bullocks were brought to New Zealand on board H.^I.S. Dromedary, on the Rev. S. Marsden's third visit to New Zealand.

A largo number of pigeon fancier, ZLs\£? ™™l^ discussion, it was resolved to recommend the formation ox a New Zealand Kg™, \^£% / a °nc y SnJ^ land, and to further the interests of the homing fancy. Draft rmes were discussed and will be submitted to a meeting of delegate from the various pigeon clubs in .New Zealand to be held in June. What is claimed as a world's record ca-toh of fish has been made by t-iie State trawler, Brogla, which returned to Sydney a few days ago from a portion of the southern toning grounds between Haystack Hock and Jfiden, with *a vast catch, aggregating 1117 baskets, equal to 67,0&) 10.,(nearly bO tons). The fish was captured in waters averaging 36 to 40 fathoms in depth. Of the catoh 50,000 lb. was fiatheaaeu, the remainder being gurnard, skate, barracouta, and leatherjaekets. Mr Stead, manager of the totate Fisheries, states that this is the greatest recorded catch for the time occupied—39 hours —in the world's history of deep-sea fishing.

It -is stated that sleeping sickness is following in the wake of Spanish influenza and pneumonia in America. Writing on March 25 a correspondent stated that the matter was not alarming but 21 deaths had occurred. More than 100 cases had been listed as actual sleeping sickness in seventeen cities, but there are believed to be many as yet unrecorded. In this disease the sufferer lapses into a state of coma. In many instances the recovery is complete. Borne have been known to sleep for eight or ten days and then "come to life" in good health. A number of committees are considering precautions similar to those taken against the spread of influenza.

The following letter has been received by the President of the W.C.T.U. (Mrs. Bathgate), in acknowledgment of a resolution of appreciation passed by the Union:— Dear madam, —I have to acknowledge receipt of letter dated 21st inst. and signed by yourself and three others, on behalf of the "V" branch of the W.C.T.UI, with reference to my letter in the Press on the Liquor question. I feel very strongly on the matter myself and am glad to know that your branch so heartily approves of my views and more particularly of my publishing them. Yours faithfully,—J. Allen, Minister of Defence.

With reference to the local in our columns on Wednesday concerning the rights of a landowner to shoot imported game on his own property without license, we might point out that should he relegate such rights to anyone else it must be done in writing, .-jtid notice mast be sent to the Acclimatisation Society giving the name of nis nominee. Such rights, however, cannot be retransferred 'to the owner or miyone else during the shooting season. As birds cost the Society over £1 each and the shooting license fees are the only source of revenue the Society has with ■which to purchase L irds for liberation, it ia not expected that many land-owner ''sports," wisthing to see the game increase, will take advantage of what is considered a flaw ;n the game laws. We understand the Society is spending £210 on birds to # liberate this season.

According to the Dunedin "Star" the Maheno found a loose mine in the English Channel. The discovery was near the entrance to Southampton, in a very . thick fog. The man hi the crow's-nest sighted a suspicious object straight ahead, and gave a yell. Mr. William Whitefield, second (a New Zea/lander who passed in Dunedin), flew up like lightning and yelled "Hard a-port," and the ship had enough way on to answer promptly and just miss the mine. The wireless message to the shore was answered by an assurance that a destroyer would be out shortly. The MaUfeno stood by for a while not daring to lose sight of the mine and when the darkness set in two RTN.R. members of the crew went in the lifeboat and passed a line under the chain below the mine hanging on to this till the destroyer came along and exploded the dangerous straggler.

Tw\> songs, the words and music of which are from the pen of "Mona" (Mrs. Holden, of Auckland) are to hand from the composer. "Dreams that are sweet and true," dedicated to her son, Private Gilbert D. H. Holden, who, at the age of 17 years and three months, returnee! invalided to Auckland from the front, having been twice* wounded. The song has I a simple, pretty melody, and words j that breathe a spirit of sadness at the absence of a beloved one, yet with the knowledge that he is eyer in [the thoughts of the writer. ' The other song, "Welcome to our boys in ikhaki," is a different type. It ihas a martial spirit, as befits a songdedicated to the soldier boys, Joyous and triumphant words, and a melody that carries one along with a codft swing and a capital taking chorus. The songs should be popular especially with all who have been to the war and with those thousands who have had dear ones,at the front arid returned safely homj. Both are pleasing compositions and they should certainly appeal to popular favour.

In acknowledging receipt of a letter from Mr. S. G. Smith M.P., embodying the opinion of. the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce on the matter of the suggested appointment of a commercial agent abroad to ascertain the possibilities of obtaining additional markets for Dominion primary products, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald states that the question will receive attention. Mr. Smith also brought under the notice of the Minister several matters regarding the fostering of the fruit industry, aud in this respect the Hon. Mr. M:.cDonald says he is in full sympathy with the fruitgrowers, and that the Government is desirous o£ assisting them to obtain better marketing conditions for their crop in the Dominion, and also to foster and en r courage the opening of new markets abroad. The Assistant Director of the Horticulture Division is at present on his way to America, and will investigate, among other mattery, the marketing organisations that exist iv. that country in connection with the fresh fruit trade. He will also inquire into .the possibilities of placing New Zealand apples and pears on the American market during the off season for fruit in that country, Qving to the abnormal demand for shipping space it has not been able to ship any fruit to American ports this season. I

A widower with two young children is in urgent need of a good home where the children will be well cared for. Fuller details will be seen in the advertisement in another column.

The Governor, speaking at Auek* land Savage Club korero, &aid he wouid probably not leave New Zealand toi nine or ten months, and the Counter and he were about to redeem their premise to visit every distinct in the Dominion to bid the people farewell. Ho t left in June to visit the Islands of ii^ •' I'acific, including Samoa, winch -Js^"" , could be token for granted wouid come under New Zealand control. He had been in New Zealand ror six years, and lad received every help and consideration and kindness from Ministers and officers of t«lie civil service. His stay l<ad been a time of great instruction to him. and he would carry away wa^ dear recollections of a little couptry that had never failed the Empire in anything it undertook to do in the / greatest crisis civilisation ever had. Representations were recently made to the Minister of Agriculture that about 17,000 &acks of New Zealand' peas on hand in London, or due to arrive, had not been taken over by the '»< British Government at tne proclaimed ] maximum price; also, that the Government had refused leave to re-export these peas to the Continent, where ■ -a satisfactory market exists. The Minister cabled the High. Uomissioner asking that representations be made %o the Droper authorities, and a reply has Veen' received from the High Oomnjjssioner stating upon application being made to the War Trade Department , for license/to re-export ( peas to ap- v proved destinations, no obstacles vpU. |i 3 raised to prevent owners disposing ■ r of their stocks in that iranner. Thte ■' anouncement has done-away with Tt&-' easiness on the part of the shippers, '- and restored confidence in the local market. ■'„"- ■