LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160639, 4 May 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

According to their own calculations, the Jews number altogether 15,430,(X)0, or enough, if they were united, to constitute a second-class Power.

The . deepest well, in the world is at Czuchow, in the coal field of Upper Silesia. It has reaehed a depth of over 7boo feet below the surface.

The "war deb* per head of :he population of the United Kingdom ia <£ls7 OSS of Germany, ,£l2B 6s; of France, ill 4 4s; and of the United States, JESS ss.

What ia said to be the first ship* ment of Chinese coal to the American continent was made in June, when 1600 tons were shipped from Chinwangtao to Alaska.

During the inspection of the Cadets yesterday afternoon one of the Prince s Staff, in conversation with a chairman of one of the Board bodies, remarked on tho steadiness of the boys and stated that it spoke volumes for the training they had received. He also drew the attention of other members of the staff to the Cadets.

The huge crowds in town yesterday were very orderly, and in the opinion of on© experienced police official was the largest and most well-behaved crowd that he could remember for many years. The police had no difficulty in controlling end directing the large number, anO. there was an almost complete absence of intoxication.

A company with a capital of half a million has been formed in London to establish five air routes for civil avia tion in South Africa. It is proposed to undertake to deliver parcels and let ters at ordinary rates, employing thirty South African pilots. Of two cases which have been under observation by the Health authorities at Dunedin, one turns to be something quite different to smallpox, r ho other is not typical of the smallpox which occurs in Europe and Asia, but appears to be a very mild form of smallpox, which resembles chickenpox. There is no cause for alarm, but the District Health Officer is of the opinion that it will be advisable for persons to be vaccinated as a precautionary measure. —Press Association.

After the Prince’s departure from the supper given in the Sarjeant Gallery last night, souvenir hunters took advantage of their' opportunity. Flowers, candles and candle shades from the Eoyal table were lighted, and possibly other and more valuable articles would have been appropriated had not a maai been placed on duty to watch the table. Flowers and decorations in other pants of the marquees also shared the same fate, menu cards being much sought after, candle shades a good second.

The report of the Sydney Public Health Department on last year’s influenza epidemic shows the jjercentage of deaths of those attacked to be 1.3. Early treatment and confinement to bed and absolute rest were the most potent factors in .combating the disease. Amongst preventative measures, inoculation was the most valuable, and mitigated the progress of the disease to a hinge extent. Amongst those inoculated three times the mortality at hospitals was just one-half that of those who were net inoculated. Those inoculated once or twice benefited, but not to the same extent.

On a crowded tram car to Castleoiiff last evening, an argument took place between two men as to whether it was customary for the Prince of Wales to appear at public functions in uniform or civilian attire. This led +o a bout cf fisticuffs at close quarters, one of the disputants receiving a blow on the face, smashing his spectacles. A general challenge was then issued to fight die motorman, conductor and any other passenger who considered he bad the necessary stamina > and training. The car was stopped, and one of the pugilistic fraternity jettisoned, the run to Castlecliff then proceeding without further incident;

A Moscow wireless states that Bnyef Pasha has become head of the Turkish Nationalist movement. It is considered doubtful if there ii a Chinese native living who knows the whole of the forty-four thousand characters that make up the Chinese language. Some of the big New York hotels spend £2OOO a year for notepaper and envelopes, a large part of which is used or carried away by persons who are not guests of the hotel. A London cable states that the Port Stephen, en route to Hull, picked up the distressed American steamer Tashmoo and towed her in severe weather 1200 miles to Queenstown. The New South Wales Public Service Board reports that the amount involved in giving effect to the Board of Trade’s increased living wage ruling throughout the service totalled £585,000.

In En glared the average weekly cost to the State of a convict sentenced to penal servitude is £2 2e 9d, of a com victed prisoner £1 10s lOd, a pauper £1 Os 6d, and a pauper lunatic 18s B£d.

Hie Chinese made artificial cinnabar long before Europe, was a civilised country, and to this day there are trade secrets in the Vermillion industries which no European has yet been, able to fathom. The Durie Hill School Committee has decided that their school will resume tomorrow, as usual, aid that the extra holidays given in commemoration of the Prince of Wales’ visit will be added to the mid-winter vacation.

Among the Alps there arc several post offices at a height, of 6000 feet of 7000 feet. One letter-box, from which tho postman makes several daily, is nearly 10,000 feet above tha sea level.

The Daily News’ Paris correspondent states that the Labour leaders’ action in calling out the miners, seamen and dockers is frankly an anti-capitalistic move. M. Millerand regards it as intended to pave tho way for revolution.

Irish Nationalist members in th« House of Commons have issued a state ment intimating’ their intention to withdraw from future debates on the Homo Rule Bill, as it denies every right to the Irish people and is an attempt to break up an ancient nation. In conversation with Mr W. Bruce, chairman of Wanganui School Committee at the demonstration this morning, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales remarked on the large number of fine healthy well-clothed children taking part in the function. The Chinese Government will hold an international industrial exposition at Pekin in March, 1922, for which three million dollars have been appropriated. 'The Government is planning to appoint a commission to consider the living conditions of the common people, with a view to affecting amelioration, thus forestalling Bolshevism. The London Daily News states that Stanley Ausitin Orr left Plymouth on Monday, resuming a round-the-world tramp begun at Circular Quay, Sydney, with five others on January lst,_ 1910, for a wager. Orr claims that he has travelled 22,000 mills, adhering to the conditions of the wager. He was at Archangel at the outbreak of the war, and he returns thither. He tramps Russia, Siberia an€ China, thence to Japan and Australia.

According to advices received in Washington from Argentina, Die treaty recently negotiated between Japan and Paraguay provides for Japanese colon isation of Paraguay, and gives the former “favoured nation” privileges. It is also reported that a similar treaty is being negotiated between. Japan and Uruguay, and tjhat, in furtherance of Japanese colonisation plans in South America, Japanese capitalists have secured large tracts of agricultural land in Northern Peru and Bolivia. The slaughtermen at the New Zealand Refrigerating Company’s Islington works, ceased work yesterday morning. The trouble is due to the men refusing to place identification tickets on sheep killed and dressed by them. The management insisted on 'this duty being carried out,and the butchers, numbering between 40 and 50, walked off the boards. There was trouble at other works yesterday morning over the same matter, but it was amicably settled and work was carried on. The rise of the identification tags has been abpent during the period of the commandeer, and has only lately been reverted to. Subsequent to the function at Cook’s Gardens this morning, about 500 children from the country schools were taken by the "Wanganui School Committee to the large marquee at the Sarjeant Art Gallery, when they were provided with warm tea and coffee and refreshments. Between 60 and 70 children who could not return to the country until late in the afternoon, were catered for at Dustins’ Ltd. before setting out on the home journey. The country teachers, -on behalf of their districts, returned thanks to the Wanganui Committee for providing the refreshments.

The coal shortage was discussed lasi night at a meeting of the Sta/te Coal Miners’ Union Executive at Greymourth. The following resolution was passed: “That in reference further to the request conveyed to the Government by Mr H. E. Holland. M.P., for the removal of the embargo on the disposal of State coal in order to permit the public to purchase direct from the State Department, we urge that the same be given effect to, as recently the State mines were idle for days while the public were refused coal except through agents, and further that if satisfactory arrangements are not mad® regarding the same, a special meeting of this Union shall be called to discuss further action.”

Full services are again being run on the Auckland section of railways, and departmental officers are concerning themselves with making up the deficiency caused by half a week without railway service. Many hundreds of people who have been prevented from travelling have now to be catered for, and it is anticipated that passenger traffic during the current week will be heavy. This also applies to goods services, and special reference to coal. An immediate, start is being made with the transportation of Maoris assembled at Rotorua, and these will be on the way to their homes within three days.

The action of some person or persons in placing grease on the railway lino at Soroggv Hill, between New ,-ynn and WaLkumete, led to an accident cm Saturday afternoon, which fortunately was much less serious than might have been the case. Two men on a jigger were sent ahead of a train which was despatched from Auckland to Swanson. When they were ascending Scroggy Hill they found th'o rails had been greased in ‘ lengths of about six- feet, and although the men struggled hard they could not reach the summit. Ultimately they lost control of the .machine, which ran rapidly backwards down hill. Both men were thrown off and wore cut and bruised, while one of them also sustained injuries to his back. The greased portion of the line wfta attended to and the train passed over it without mishap. It is stated that when the tram was some distance further on. between Waikumete and Henderson, another strip of greased line was encountered, and it was only with great difficulty that it was negotiated.

Viscount Kaneko, former Japaaeea representative in the United States, in a speech in Tokio, >aid that peace m the Pacific rests upon the mutual re speot shown by America and Japan. Twelve persons were wounded in a clash with the police and workers at Monte Video on May Hay demonstra tiens, in which virtually all the workers participated. The next session of the Wanganui Supreme Court will commence on May 25. So far only two criminal cases have been set down in the list, one from W'anganui and one from the country.

Among those who were present at the reception to the Prince of Wale* at Cook’s Gardens yesterday afternoon was the Hon. Gilbert Carson, M.L.C., who was driven to the grounds m * car, which he was unable to leave. With kindly forethought and consideration the Prince wenit over and spoke to Mr Carson for a short while.

Imports to Wanganui the March Quarter were valued at £7/,600, a decrease when compared with the corresponding quarter of last yrar, when the imports were valued at £91,4h». From the United Kingdom good* value ! at £40,941 were purchased. The district’s purchases from other countries were valued as under: —Asiatic countries, including India, but not China or Japan, £2196, China £533, Japan £I3o, Canada £1382, Italy and other European countries £368, UK.A. £10,549. Writin-r ,to the editor of the Post on April 29,° Mr D. E. Dustin referred aa follows .to the possibilities of an eightoared crew at the Olympic:—“ One cannot help feeling that it is a matter for regret that New Zealand is, apparently, not going* to send an eighl-oar crew to compete in the Olympic games. As a visitor to England last year I was struck with the extraordinary advertisement that our “Digger” crew created. Although beaten at Henley, it was no disgrace when one considers .that sufficient lirst-class oarsmen were not withheld from returning home to strengthen the crew. It is doubtful whether last year's New Zealand crew would be regarded as champion here. In my opinion the rowing events would be the easiest for us to win at the Olympic games. No doubt the £4OOO item will lie hard to raise; and in this connection I consider that the Government would be well repaid in financing the Olympic team, on account of its advertising value. Tho display of trophies won by tho New Zealand soldiers in various sports create ed immense interest when displayed in the windows of our High Commissioner’s Office. In conclusion,' I am prepared to donate £5 towards the expenses, if an eighi-oar crew is sent.”