LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15193, 13 April 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Sydney cable states that Ministers deny an elevator split on the Wheat Board. The Railway Commissioners have been asked to report on the question. Through a plague* of caterpillars, Mr Goulding, of Kikau, Weetport, has had the misfortune to lose. three ? acres of oats (says the Westport News). They have eaten not only the oats, but also destroyed the stalks. Fowls, pigs, and. ducks turned into the field failed to combat the hordes of caterpillars, which hav>e effectually destroyed the crop as if a fire had run through it. Mr Goulding does not recollect anything so serious happening in his district before. He attributes it to the unusually dry season experienced on the coast. The County Clerk (Mr G. 'H. Darbyshire) of the Wanganui County Council was heartily congratulated by members at to-day's meeting on the excellent results he had obtained in connection with the collection of rates in the county. In the past the county has always been "between JJ7OO and .£BOO out in its rates. This year, however, "'•'the outstanding rates amount to JJIO6 only. In addition to this .£4GQ of arrears have been collected. Particulars of the outstanding rates in the following ridings were as under:—Mangawhero, nil; Kaitoke, .£8 lis lOd; Puma, £1 2s 4d; Kaukatea, nil; Mangamahu, nil; Upper Wangaehu, .£97; Total, ..£lO6 14s 2d. Councillors expressed the opinion that the position was unique in the history of tae council. Included in the above figures it is interesting to note that over ,£IOO in outstanding rates for which authority have been given to write off were collected by Mr Darbyshire.

Apparently the practice of pampering German prisoners in" New Zealand continues. A correspondent writing to the Auckland Observer says: "Walking down the main street at Devonport the other morning I spotted the noble figure of a man emerging from the Post Office. Smoking a cigarette and walking in a nonchalant manner with his hands in his pockets few would have known that it was an alien enemy, and a prisoner at that. I gazed again. Could it be t«be man I thought it was? Yes, there was no mistaking the stately figure of Dr Endletsbergcr. Then 1 noticed that a soldier accompanied him, and I know my surmise was correct, because the soldier's arms wore full of parcels, and no prisoner of war is allowed to demean himself by carrying parcels. 'Twas the doctor all right, and I felt sorry for the soldier because he looked so sorry for himself. I wonder if our English prisoners in Germany are allowed to wander down to the local post office- while their guards carry their mail for them? I do not make any comparisons, but I am merely curious.

A few days ago a Southern paper reported a case of wanton destruction of a bouse and contents at Kurow, belonging to Frederick Seffan, a Tyrolese Austrian, who was absent motoring with a soldier relative on leave from camp, Windows, crockery ware, mirrors, and furniture were broken. A few days afterwards Steffan threw the place open to the public, in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, and a considerable sum was raked. On Wednesday the detectives arretted two married women, Hardy and Pratt, on a charge of committing the damage, which is estimated at about £IOO. Pratt is the wife of the local constable, who was absent from the district when the offence occurred, and the other woman is the wife of a carpenter. Both live next door to the Steffans. Steffan is a wellknown New Zealand guide, and an expert bushmau. Some years ago he assisted Detective Broberg to hunt down the murderer Ellis in the back country of the North Island. He also recovered the body of a tourist, Mr Andrews, who was lost in the bush whilst deer-stalking in the Martinborough district. Andrews' life was insured for ,£IO,OOO, and a reward of t £4oo was offered for the recovery of the body or the man himself.

Cost of liviug statistfbs for February of this year record a decrease for the three fcod groups of 13 points (or about 1 per cent), as compared with January. As' compared with" February, 1916, however, the index number has advanced by 103 points, or about 8 per cent, The downward movement in comparison with January is accounted for by a large decrease of 65 points in grocery prices, mainly brought about by a fall in the price of onions and potatoes. Gisbornc and Alexandra are the only towns to show a.n advance in this group, while Wanganui remains at its former level. In dairy produce prices continue to advance; the average increase for the month being 23 points, or 2 per cent. All towns with the exception of Nelson, show a marked increase in the price of eggs, while cheese and bacon also contribute to a cousiderable extent. T&e Dominion average for meat is 27 points above the figure for January. The most noticeable increases are in W<hangarei (150 points), Nelson (98), Auckland (68), and Greymouth (64), all being due to an all-round increase in beef and mutton. To a lesser extent Dunedin, Wanganui, Timaru and Wellington have also increased. When all three food sToups are considered, Gisborne is still the dearest town in the Dominion, while Timaru displaces Nelson as the cheapest, At a meeting recently of tho governors of the Middlesex Hospital, Dr. C. H. Browning, director of the BlandSutton Institute, made an important announcement. He said that since the war had created by tens of thousands wounds infected with the bacteria of sepsis -there had been a clamant need for chemical substances which would aid tho surgeon in his treatment Vif these terribly distressing cases. He was glad to be able to say that the BlandSutton Institute had discovered an antiseptic, which they had called "Flavine," which afforded to the surgeon in his fight against sepsis what was probably the mo-st poAverful accessory weapon known so far. Before the war all the potent antiseptics were also highly poisonous to the living body, and many distinguished surgeons despaired of the discovery of an ideal antiseptic which would kill the bacteria without harming the tissues. With flavine they had come very near to reaching- this goal, and the sum total of saving in individual suffering, as well as the economic gain to the nation, effected by cutting short sepsis in wounds was a gain of which the magnitude cculd scarcely be realised. The possibilities of such a discovery were by no means exhausted, and the investigation of agents for the treatment of tuberculosis and other infective diseases had already begun. He earnestly appealed for means to pursue thes? and similar important researches which the Bland-Sutton Institute had in hand.

A draft of invalided soldiers, together with a few who have returned on duty, arrived back in Auckland on Monday. Special interest attaches to tho arrival of this draft of soldiers, by reason of the fact that it is largely composed of men of the Main Body and early reinforcements. A large number have been in hospital in England since the Somme battle of last year. Captain Hateorn, in charge of the men, was one of those who saw strenuous service on Gallipoli, being, at one time of particularly heavy lighting, the senior surviving officer of the Wellington Battalion. Three of the men—SergeantMajor Dan Roc«, of Wanganui; Sergeant L. R. Nicholas, of Woodville; and Sergeant R. Angel, of Whangarci —hold the Military Medal for gallant service. Sergeant-Major Ross, who left England with the British section, and joined up with the New Zealanders in Egypt, is a veteran of the South African war. He received the Military Medal for his services in Gallipoli, wliere he was twice wounded, and afterwaaxls took part in the Somme battle, where he was again wounded. When the war broke out, Sergeant-Major Ross, who is a son of the late Mr David Ross, of No. 3 Line, Wanganui, was in England, having left here some eight years prior to the outbreak of hostilities. Ho enlisted in the British section of New Zealandera in London, and joined up with the Main Body at Zeitoun. He took part in the landing on the Peninsula, and participated in the fighting there until the 4th of August, when he was wounded. With the exception that his left ankle becomes a "bit stiff at times, he is little the worse for his three wounds —he was shot through the left thigh and the right ankle, and hit in the back with a piece of shrapnel. SergeantMajor Ross, who has been sent back to take up a ©ommiseion, left France on the 23rd January.

Tlie Acting-Premier says, concerning the suggestion that promotions to commissions at the front are not always on merit, that ho had made careful inquiries, and as far a«s could lie gathered all appointments were made on merit. He did not want parents to think they could help their eons by applying to him. That could do no good. At a meeting of the Waibato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday, the engineer reported a serious shortage of coal supplies, and said that the whole power plant was in danger of being stopped on account of such shortage. Fifteen tons of ecal per week was necesßary during the winter. The Beard resolved to communicate with the Minister in the matter, and that in the meantime labour be put on to secure firewood.

It is notified that the publication of the Journal of the Department of Labour will cease- with the nest (April) issue. This step has been found necce«ary owing to the war, and its effect on the ccst of labour and material. Certain information now included in this Journal will be embodied in other Government publications. Cost of living figures will appear in the Groverament Staiietician's monthly abstract of statistics, and certain industrial information will appear in the periodical issues of the Book of Awards. "There has been considerable talk lately about the running of race trains," stated the Hon. W. D. S. McDonald, at Maaterton, on Monday evening. "Well, I have been racing for thirty-two years. I own horses—in fact, I was represented at the Tauberenikau meeting. I have not seen my horees race for about two years. "Racing has never done me any injury or caused me loss. But it is not an essential industry, neither is it profitable to some. Everyone is of opinion that luxuries and non-essential industries must go, and our whole attention given to the essential industries. Right on top of the essential industries are agricultural and pastoral pursuits. The (Jorerttment will organise labour and help the producers."

A point, of interest to local bodies was brought before the Acting-Premier at Wellington yesterday. Some time ago the Eastbourne Borough ratepayers authorised a loan of .£4500 for water and drainage purposes, but owing to the war conditions the money cannot be raised within the two years allowed by .statute. The deputation to Sir James Allen suggested that the Government should introduce legislation providing that for the purpose of reckoning the two years mentioned the war period should not count. Sir James Allen promised to consult the Cabinet on the matter, recognising the case as one of hardship deserving relief, but he said the question of making general provision to cover all loans in suspense would need careful consideration. In some cases it might be desirable to heere another poll of ratepayers. The pig section of the Sydney Roy&l Show had a big lift by a record individual entry from Mr W. H. Bruce, of the Marlston Stud Pig Farm, Adelaide, in all, this enterprising breeder sent 200 pigs, a special train being chartered for the purpose. The contingent comprised 51 Berkshire*, 126 Middle Porkshires, 11 large Yorkshires, 8 Tamwort»hs, 3 Essex, and 1 Poland China. The animals, all of which are eligible for or are registered in various stud boobs, he valued at not less than ,£3OOO, but tfaey are probably worth a good deal more. This enterprise stands out as unique in Australia, and it may be questioned (says iue Daily Telegraph) if a breeder in any other pa t of the world has sent 200 pigs in one lot on a train journey of 2000 miles—for that is what the trip will mean by the time the pigs return to Adelaide—for show purposes. Recent American files gives a good deal of publicity of t&e rounding up of German spies iu tne United States. According to the New York Sun, the Federal authorities have been making inquiries into the promotion of riots amongst noor women and ignorant foreigners in the United States to further the interests of the Central Powers. It asserts that Teutonic agents have paid ,£4OOO to six East Side individuals in New York for t<he purpose of fomenting agitation. The Federal authorities also are exploring evidence suggesting an extensive German spy system throughout the United States, involving several hundred persons who are engaged in prying into defence secrets and also attempting to discover the intentions of the Government concerning co-opera-tion with the Allies in the event of America's entering the war. This system of espionage is said to be directed from the same bureau which has been sending alleged American newspaper correspondents into the United Kingdom These correspondents are now Wing rounded up, and it is thought probable that much valuable information will be secured from them as soon as the American agents iave an opportunity of questioning them concerning the collection of information in America and sending it to Germany. The Sun says that the master intriguer in Berlin is in close touch with agents in Holland. German agents in-America are also under suspicion of paying for the circulation of peace articles written by American pacifists and financing propaganda by peace at any price individuals. The Department of Justice is said to be curious concerning a certain syndicating agency which has been sending out strong peace articles to the newspapers. Wealthy women are giving their services free in many directions in these days of national stress, when, every fie man is wanted for the Army, says the Loudon correspondent of the Age. Several titled women have organised parties for agricultural work; these partiea place themselves at the disposal of farmers who are short of labour. The spectacle of a party of ladies of social position hoeing weeds in a turnip field, for nothing a week, is liable to make a farmer think that the 16s a week he formerly paid his men is a ridiculously high wage. The combination of free labour, and high prices for stock and all farm produce, makes the farmer very pleased that there is a war on. In London wealthy women serve the State by placing their motor-cars at the disposal of Government departments. A good story is told of a lady who placed her car 'at the disposal of a high official, •,n.l aleo her services as driver. She drove this high official to an important conference, and waa to wait for him until the conference was over. At the end of an hour the conference was still sitting, and no information could be obtained by the lady from the attendants .as to when it was likely to rise. A little later a note was; handed in to the high official by one of the attendants. It was -written by the lady, and it contained the information that as she had. accepted an invitation to dinner that evening,' she must drive home to dress. In order that her departure with her car might not inconvenience him, ehe enclosed 2e to pay his taxi fare heme.

i - A telegram from Auckland last nigbfe states that the Auckland Eacing Clu# voted .£SOO to the Y.M.C.A. War Worifl Fund. An elderly man named Patrick Webster appeared before Messrs E N.jp Liffiton and Jas. Williams, J's. .'.. in the Police Court this morning cLjiged. with having indecently exposed himself on the Gastleeliff Beach on Apiil 9 raiad April 12. Mr L. Cohen, who appeared for accused, asked for a re* inand till April 18, and as the police had no objection this was granted, Bail was allowed in accused's owe recognisance of £SO, and one surety of £25,

'That the Government be requested to erect cold storage at the four main centres or in conjunction with present works, eo as to be able to f-.toiw all the surplus meat and dairy produce, «o tfcafi our produce can be shipped regularly all the year round." The above resolution was receiwd by the Wanganui County Council to-day from the Ekotahuna County Council. During the) resultant discussion it was pointed out , that Wanganui at least had more than sufficient cool storage accommodation, and it wan finally decided aot to support the resolution.

As a result of a visit of the bailiff to a house in Koromiko Road yesterday afternoon, some excitement was caused in the immediate vicinity. The bailiff had occasion to go there to rerfcove certain furniture and was in the act of doing so when the bead of the hoaso arrived on the scene. There was some discussion, and an alleged seuffle took place. In the end the police were sent for, and the sequel was the appearance m Court this morning of Lawrence; Albert Jacobs, who was charged with Assaulting William Wall, bailiff, at Gonville on April 12. Mr L.. Cohen -appeared for accused, and asked Messrs J5- N. Liffiton and James Williams, J's.P.. for a remand till Wednesday, April 18- This was granted, bail beittej •fixed at £2O.