LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14773, 29 November 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An Auckland wire states that Mr 11. Brett has re-purchased the organ built for the Auckland Exhibition, and afterwards given to the Choral Society, and has presented the instrument to tho Blind Institute, together with JtlOt) to cover cost of re-erect ion.

The Defence Minister, referring to recruiting, said on Saturday that there was an indication of a s'nortage of infantry lor the Eleventh Reinforcements. Mr. Allen also commented on the fact that tlie response to the invitation to men enlisted for the Ambulance and Army Service Corps to transfer to the Infantry had been disapnoihtilig.

An interesting and instructive article appears in another column on "The Adventures of a Diarrhoea Germ," which we commend to the earnest and thoughtful consideration of mothers and others who have charge of infants. The writer has been nursing in Wanganui for the past lew months and has' been somewhat disturbed in mind at finding a carelessness in mothers, due to ignoiance in many ta.-es, a-s regards their infants and their free use of tap water.

Tho following extract from a letter received from a prominent manufacturing concert in England is of interest;--“ New arsenals and projectile factories are lieing erected; one has just been commenced S ere. It is to cost about .£2.5(1,(1011, and to find employment for 7)810 hands. We believe the contract, is for the works to bo completed in nine months. If such works have to be built, equipped, and munitions turned out before the war can be concluded, there is a long period in front of ns. We have also put. down new machinery tor dealing with hand grenades. Mr. Claude McKay, an Australian journalist, writes home from New Y'ork that the only time he saw a crowd cheering iu that solemn city was when they saw .£10,000,000 of British gold being carted down Wall Street. They stood on the pavement and cheered the boxes trundling by! Satirical reference is made by Mr. McKay to the skilful way in which American daily papers vary tho war news to keep no their circulation. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays tbc Germans win in the columns of the New- Y’ork dailies, and the rest of the week (he Allies have the best.of it. The first Australian woman to take to tho recruiting platform spoke recently in Sydnev. The lady, Mrs E, P. Dillon, is connected with the Labour movement, and is practised speaker. Sac opened her address by staling that she had made her sacrifice for the war, because her busband had gone to the front and was now lying in hospital in London. She nad tilt at the men who spent their time at home or who took a delight in Chaplin films. One man whom she thought she had converted to a recognition of his duty said he would rather be a live man on earth than a dead hero in the sky. She had no time for such live men. They could not hide behind the womens’ skirts. Some said they would tight when the Germans came here. She could not thank these men. They were either hypocrites or fools. YVomen must help by urging their able-bodied men to go. Every man of the millions fighting had a mother, a wife, or a sweetheart, so the excuse of others that they could not go because their womenfolk hejd them back was not valid.

Sacrilege of tho grossest character was perpetrated recently iu St. Savour's Cathedral, Gonlbnfn, New South Wales. A number of C.E.M.S. publications were arranged near the pulpit in such a way as to form the letters of an obscure word. Bookmarks from (he lectern were tied round the neck and feet of the brass eagle which forms the reading desk. Toe linen cover was removed from the altar, and the cross taken from its usual place and deposited upon the communion table and damaged. Surplices and cassocks were stripped from the choir and vestries and strewn upon the floor. Leaflets wre distributed upon the carpets and soaked with water. The roll of honour containing the names of .soldiers was torn from the board iu the aisle, and hymn sheets and books were scattered about, Bishop Radford and Canon Carter viewed the destruction the same afternoon. The bishop was greatly distressed. The sanctuary is open daily to worshippers, and the bishop )s opposed to taking the step of closing it. The cathedral authorities are offering a reward for the defection of the offenders.