LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15133, 30 January 1917, Page 7

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The fishing launch Campbell made a big haul of sharks yesterday, ranging up to 6ft and 7ft in length. 'Quite a number were, 4ft and sft long, and the haul included a regular shoal of smaller ones. Two men were charged, with drunkenness at the Magistrate’s Court before Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., this morning. William James Burns, alias Munro, alias Wilson, who had two previous convictions against him, was fined £l, in default three days’ imprisonment. John **ynn, with one previous conviction against him, was fined 10s in default or 48 hours’ detention. The careless use of lighted matches is responsible for several grass fires in Wanganui and suburbs, and considerable trouble has been caused at Springvale owing to the fire taking hold of the peaty land. A child’s feet were severely -burned the other day as a result pf passing over the burning land. Greater care should be exercised during this hot, dry weather. It is not generally known that any man who is granted exemption from service under section 35 of the Military Service Act is still liable to be called up under the ballot system. Exemption from the provision of clause 35 is not exemption' for all time. If a man is exempt from what is commonly known as the “family shirkers’ ” clause, and he is drawn by lot in « succeeding ballot, he must lodge a further appeal if he does not wish to go on active service. The District Medical Board will eit in Wanganui on February 7 and 8, in the Drill Hall. Men who have already been warned will be medically examined and attested. Any man who has- previously registered and who has been turned down as being medically unfit and who is in doubt as to his present position is at liberty to present himself before the 'Medical Board and -be re-examined. In addition to sitting at Wanganui, the Medical Board will hold a sitting at Taumarunui next month.

Speaking with regard to health conditions throughout the Dominion, the Hon. G. W. Russell on Saturday remarked that the occurrence of infectious disease at present appeared to he normal. Last week there were only two cases of infantile paralysis iii Auckland and Canterbury respectively, though there were three cases of cer-ebro-spinal meningitis in the Waikato. Hawke’s ,Bay and Hawera districts. •Scarlet fever was down to 45 cases for the entire Dominion, diphtheria to 40, and enteric to 22 (chiefly in the North Auckland district). The New Zealand War Contingent Association arranged for the Christmas entertainment of 12,000 New • Zealand troops in England, including the sick in hospitals and the fit men and reinforcements in camp. Prom August to December 18 the association had consigned to it from New Zealand 584 cases of Red Cross goods, which came direct by passenger or cargo steamer, and 560 cases oy Government transports. The War Contingent Association has 'acted as receiving and distributing agent for all these goods, which have been disposed of after consultation with Miss Thurston, the Matron-in-Chief, N.Z.E.F. fin© association is also acting as fairy godmother to the Lady Liverpool Fund gifts, which have lately been arriving in hundreds of tons. These consignments are all checked and forwarded on, and letters constantly arriving from the units at the front show, that they are reaching their destination and' are thoroughly appreciated. '