LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15133, 30 January 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

' At the week-end sales in the Wellington markets Hutt 'tomatoes realised as high as 7s 9d per case. Recently a member of a family that should be hit by “Clause 35" volunteered the statement that they had made ,£49 for a month’s shearing (says a southern exchange). The Wellington Post says: Mr Gerald Stead, who has twice been rejected for active service, offered his services to the Defence Department this morning without pay for the duration of the war, in any work the Department though he could do.

In the course of a glowing account of the enterprise of an undertaker in providing an up-to-date motor-hearse, a Christchurch paper remarks: “Suburban and country people alike have not been slow to show their appreciation of Mr Barrell’s foresight.”’ Any interpretation you lijce may be put upon this. Mr Anscombe, architect for the Sarjeant Art Gallery, will arrive in Wanganui to-morrow for the purpose of discussing certain proposals in connection with the"-structure with the Building Committee, the Sarjeant Art Gallery Committee, and the executive of the Beautifying Society. “We will have to face difficulties and hardships during the next twelve months, no matter what happens,” said the Hon. W, D. S. Mac Donald last week. “No turn in-the tide of the war can alter that, and it is most important that we should all pull together. Every - member of the Government is keenly anxious to maintain harmonv among all sections of the community. ’ It is probable that the carpenters and joiners of Ohristcnurch will- taice steps shortly in the matter of endeavouring to obtain increased wages. The Union and tne Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners are working in unison in the steps tnat are being taken. It is understood that a similar action will be taken by the Wanganui carpenters. U repaid lias taken on a very sober turn since the war started, says the Tautapere Guardian, During me past year the local constable states that there has not been a single case of drunkenness to bring before the Court. Owing to lack of business the holders of the license for the large Masonic Hotel decided to-close down, and to this end the license was allowed to lapse last Friday evening. 'This now reduces Orepuki to two licensed hotels.

Bee-keeping as a possible sphere of industry for returned invalided soldiers was advocated by a speaker at the lasi meeting, of the Piako County Council. One settler in the Waitou district had, lie said,* lately despatched two tons of honey in one consignment. Already three tons had been taken this season, and the settler—who had by no means put in all his time at the industry—expected to take as much as six or seven tons of honey for the season He got 5d per lb wholesale. This was the industry for returned soldiers, and the Hauraki Plains was a natural harvest field, being covered with white clover. It was also ifnderstocked, and much pollen was going to waste. He would like the Fanners’ Union to take up the matter. What was said to be the first case of its. kind to be heard in Auckland camo before Mr F. V. Frazer S.M, in the local Police Court on Friday, when Joseph Wheeler, master of the scow May, was charged, on the information of the superintendent of mercantile marine, Captain Fleming, with trading in the Auckland extended river limits without having load lines marked on the side! of his vessel. Captain Fleming said the offence was evidently regarded as a serious one, as the maximum penalty wat .£IOO. He pointed out that before the section was included in the Act scows frequently came into port deeply laden and the lives of the crevs were endangered. Captain Fleming said he did not press for a heavy penalty, as defendant had only been in"the vessel a short while and might not have been aware of tin) section. Defendant was fined -£2 and 7s costs. I

' At the recent cor.ference of tramway pioprietors in Wellington it was made quite evident (the Mayor of Dunedin told an Otago Daily Times reporter) that great difficulty was being experenced in obtaining ‘a supply of competent motor men. The Minister was requested by the proprietors to recommend Cabinet to amend the particular clausa in the Act so that a conductor with six months’ service would be eligible to sit for his motor driver’s certificate. The Minister said he would submit the proposals to the Cabinet. Mr Clark continued, that under the Act there was no obstacle to the employment of female conductors, if the necessity arose, but apparently, under the Act, they could not qualify to act as motormen. It would have to be remembered, however, that if womeh were employed as conductors it would very considerably reduce the number of male conductors who would be available for training aa motormen. . , ... it is proposed, on the return of the Aurora from Ross Sea, to make a presentation to Sir Ernest Shackleton from people in the Dominion who recognise the courage and resource displayed by him in his repeated and finally sue* cessful efforts to rescue his companions who were stranded on Elephant Island, in the Weddell Sea. This has been described as one of the finest and bravest of rescue achievements in the thrilling his tory of Polar research. Sir Ernest Shackleton’s work throughout has been of the most unselfish character, and it is pointed out by Dunedin citizens who are helping in the movement to recognise this, that the carrying on of the work of Arctic and Antarctic research appeals to many people because of their recognition of the fact that, irrespective of its. value to science, it is owing to the dauntless courage and fine: spirit which animated*the early trading adventurers of Britain, in Polar seas and elsewhere, that the national character has been largely built, up. The return of the Aurora may be looked for next mouth, and it is sincerely to bo hoped that she will bring with her the men who wehe left at Ross Sea when she drifted away in the ice.

A boy eight years of age died in the Masterton Hospital on Sunday from infantile paralysis.

Only 8000 doctors are apparently now available for ths civilian population of Germany, according to an American medical journal. The War Pensions Board, has cancelled the allowance of a man who had been, sentenced to three months’ imprison'ment. Sunday with a maximum temperature of 92 degrees was the record hot day experienced in Gore for upwards of seven years. The Manawatu Gorge presented a brilliant spectacle on Saturday night, when the hills on both sides of the river appeared like a burning furnace owing to log fires. A fire broke out in Mr S. Seifert’s swamp at Tokomafu yesterday. Between forty and seventy acres ot flax were burned. It is surmised that the fire was kindled by a spark from a passing locomotive. The damage done by the fire which broke out in Messrs W. R. Cook and Sons’ sash and door factory in Main Street, Palmerston North, last week, id estimated at ,£BOOO. The timber stacks were saved. . The Palmerston Chamber of Commerce last night passed a resolution protesting to Mr Hiley, the General Manager of Railways, against the department not having a proper system of patrol in the flax areas in the North Island, thereby jeopardising enormous areas of valuable country. - As illustrating the driving power and size of the hailstones which fell on Wednesday (says the Southland News), apples have been split as if .struck by a bullet, and plums are riddled as if peeked by birds. The fruit crop was a very heavy one, probably the beet on record, and the loss has been severe. The fire which occurred at Messrs Gledhill and Co.’s Oriental Rug Factory at Wanganui East yesterday was confined to the front portion of the building. The outbreak apparently originated in a lean-to where raw material for the manufacture of rugs was stored. It was largely due to the excellent work of the Eastown Railway Workshop brigade that tip other buildings were saved. The town brigade also got to the scene promptly and helped considerably. Henry W. Spearman, a married man, who appeared before the; Wellington' Military Board on Saturday, said he was employed as a storeman, and he did not think the separation allowance was sufficient. He had no children. Since the war he had lest both parents, and was engaged in settling up his father’s affairs. He did not wish to evade service, .and if he was given until the end of February he would be satisfied. "Then you will Jhave the lot of us,’’ said appellant, who remarked that ho had 72 relations, including two brothers, at the front. The leave was granted.

Advices received in Auckland state that there has been a very substantial and significant rise in war risks during the past few days. The rate for the Pacific and Indian Oceans has advanced from 5s to 40s per cent., the rate to Britain from Australia and New Zealand via the Cape has increased from £5 to £8 per cent., and the rate via the Panama Canal from £4 to £7 per cent. These increases are no-doubt due to the presence of German raiders on the sea routes.

At the Military Appeal Court in Hamilton, William McKinnon, of Eureka, withdrew his appeal, and -wrote as follows: “Although I am the only son left on the farm, all the others having gone to the front, my father and I recognise the great need for sacrifice, and I have therefore received his approval to go into' camp.” The father also intimated that the four brothers were in the British Army. Just before the war he brought three nephews out from England. These were all at the front. The Board expressed the opinion that it was a fine record, and deserved special mention. A healthy opinion straight from the Egyptian desert; “And so Australia has bumped out Conscription; well, ao far as 1 can hear, it is the work of agitators, probably pro-Germans. It is surprising to me that men cannot see their duty clear to enlist. The end is mot yet in sight, and we must organise arid utilise our man-power to the utmost, and if they won’t come of their own free will, they must be made to come. The firing line must not be allowed to grow thin, or disaster will follow. The Government have taken up a good position in compelling families to send at least one son. When our country has to be carried on after the war, we don’t want it carried on by slackers and boasted sports. They will find plenty of scope out in the firing line.” The Aotea Home for New Zealanders at Cairo is greatly appreciated by the boys in Egypt, judging by frequent communications received. At the Patriotic Association meeting yesterday Mr Hope Gibbons reported that fluring the year 1226 patients were on the books, the average being 80 to 90 daily, th though this by no means represented all who came into the Home, for it was made use of by every New Zealander who was on leave or who passed through Cairo, as also by other troops.. It was a centre of social enjoyment as well as of healing. Mr Gibbons added that the Imperial authorities had', every confidence in the management, and Colonel Essen had reported on the good work done by the Home. —ln answer to a question Mr Gibbons said the Home was supported principally by contributions from \vairarapa and Wanganui, and the latter Patriotic Association had earmarked £IOOO or £ISOO for the institution.

- A New Plymouth, visitor to Christchurch writes: At the address in Victoria Square, Christchurch, when Armstrong was indicted for seditious utterances, the speaker was not allowed to have it all his own way, as there Were numerous interjectors. The chief _of these was a young and good-looking lady who took her stand opposite Armstrong and time after* time raised the laugh against him by her clever remarks. But the climax came when an old lady with a decidedly Hibernian accent suddenly jumped from her seat and in indignant tones shouted: "Oh, you brute, you dirty brute. I have three sons in the trenches and you ( wouldn’t, go to help them. Yon and all your party are dirty brutes.” Armstrong is a fluent and impressive speaker, fcut his audience as a whole were far from sympathetic. On the morning of his trial, when those in Court stood on the entrance of the Magistrate, Armstrong's friends, of whom about a domett were present, remained sitting. On his ;removal from the Court ■those same friends formed an escort ‘ to "Black Maria,” singing one of their Socialistic songs,;