LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13886, 11 October 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The man who loafs may have plenty of company, but the quality is not very good. Ihe I'ederal Government has taken eontrol ol ;ill woollen mills in the C;m momveitlth. ' \ A meetiiifi, called at the request of the national Council M the Labour k tV | ( ' l, . l ' ist<,,l "rch, to present that body s views on the liquor question and the holding ol a general election, was addressed by .several inenil»ei sol the party, and a motion was carried endorsing the petitions promoled l iv the New Zeahmd Labour I arty for a general election and on ilie licensing ouestiou. For the past few (hiys every one has been talk in;! about the towels at Hooker and Kingston'. , and no wonder Kancy buying l;u«r 0 bath to vels m brown at L» s Ud pair, white 2? lid |wir. i n times like the present. There are not a great many left now . sc if you are likely to be needing towels shoi'tlv now is the time to J;iy a stock in. The big sale of hosier, ends on Saturday, after that they gt back lo their former prices.—Hooker and Kingston, Ltd. War discount art usual, an,! absolute satisfaction, or your money back.*

The WhiTiora bowling green will lie open for piny to-morrow (Saturday).

At a representative meot'iig caliod by the Canterbury Industrial Association, it was decided to form a jNoiih Canterbury Repatriation for the purpose of advising returned sol. diers.

A letter was recently posted in Australia for a well-known farmer in this district, it being merely addressed "Mr H. 1? , New Zealand." x lt speaks much for the thorough manner in which the postal officials do their work that the letter was duly received by the gentlemen for whom it was intended.

Richard Rowe, on charges of keep, ing liquor for ..sale in a no-license area and aiding and abetting in the sale, was fined at the Magistrate's Court at Waihi £25 on each charge, and Ellen Griggs, a widow, for keeping liquor for sale, wa-s sentenced to two months'

imprisonment. She had previously been convicted of a similar offence.

At the Magistrate's Court, Wairon. T. Komloy, a station manager, was charged with uttering a seditious statement in the private bar of the Wairoa Hotel—-viz.: "1 hope the Huns will come here end beat you and the Mnssey crowd The Huns would make as good bosses as (naming a local fanner)." Accused pleaded guilty, and was fined £SO and costs (i; 4 8s).

Old Auckland Rugby heroes find prominent place in the pictorial section of this week's issue of the New Zealand Sporting and Dramatic Review. Another feature is the gallery of presidents of bowling clubs in Wellington while the New Zealand roll of honour has a large gallery that will appeal to all. Topical events in London form an interesting series, and the world of amusement locally is covered in an interesting assortment.

In view of the muddle that arose over the reserved seats at the Theatre Royal last night, scores of people being placed hy the ushers in the wrong seats, and subsequently being forced to change into others, causing endless confusion, it is only fair to the theatre management to state that it had nothing whatever to do with this, volunteer ushers being in attendant. In future it would he advisable for this important matter to be left in the hands of the permanent theatre staff. A thoft of £l2O contained in a mailbag consigned bv train from the Auckland Post Office for Huntly occurred on Saturday week. The money was in a special packet put in the mail-bag at the Auckland Post Office, and the mailbag was placed in a van on the train in the usual way, and delivered at Huntly, where it was discovered that the bag had been interfered with and some of its contents, including the money package, had been abstracted. Petty thefts from railway trucks and vans have not been entirely uncommon in the past, but interference with mailbags in transit has hitherto been a very rare occurrence in New Zealand, though the mails in Austialin have been frequently interfered with of late years. A public meeting was held in Cambridge on Wednesday lor the purpose of discussing the aims And objects of the National Efficiency League. The Mayor (Mr li. J. Wilkinson), who pre. sided, outlined the circumstances which led to the formation of the League. It was unanimously decided to form a branch of the League in Cambridge, 27 members being enrolled. The following officers were appointed:—President, Mr E. -J. Wilkinson; vice-president.?, Messrs Geo. E. Chrk and A. X. Macky; secretary and treasuier, Mr Geo. H. Ollard; committee, Messrs E. Veale, J. G. Glanville, A. T). Hawks by, C. I!. Priestley, W. T. Perkins, W. J. Andrews, R. Newcombe and Captain J. W. Peake, with power to add.

! ; The two youths, George Flavin Thomas (16) and Douglas Johnstone (17), who pleaded guilty Inst month to various charges oi theft and lalse pretences, the chief offence being the theft of a motor-car, appeared before Mr Justice Hosking at the Supreme Court, Auckland, yesterday for sentence. Ihp lads found the motor .car in question unattended in the Auckland Domain and drove to Putaruru, where they were arrested. Hi s Honor said he was not going to send them back to Y\ eraroa—the authorities could do that if they wished—but lie "'ould put the lioys "where they could not escape. Thomas would be sentenced to years, and Johnstone to three years' detention for reformative purposes. His Honor hoped the prisoners would reflect on the sort of career they had entered upon, and woulu come out determined to < r ive it up.

meeting of the Waikato A. •ind I . Association yesterday a discussion arose as to the conduct of guessing competitions. Onp meml>er expressed the opinion that thev should be placed under the supervision of a paid steward, and several other speakers concurred. One stated that he had attended a show in another part of the province, where the guessing competition had proved one of the most successful features of the show. A '•aid steward was put in charge, and he procured a barrel of beer. Every guesser was given a glass of the beverage. and the steward did good business, many patrons repeatedly trving their luck. \\ hen the barrel gave out, the steward was also overcome and unable to transact further business, but the competition yielded a handsome profit to the Association. It was thought by some that a competition run on similar lines might do good business at Hamilton, but no one suggested that it be included in the progiammo for the forthcoming show. "The most valuable tree in the world now is undoubtedly the Sitka, or silver spruce, which is found in the forests of British Columbia," states a New York paper. "A few months ago this tree was almost despised and valued by the lumbermen at £1 or £'2 a ton. To-day it is the most sought after of all the woods in the world by reason of its being the only timber that meets all the exacting and peculiar demands of the aeroplane builder. What makes the tree so valuable for aeroplanes is the fact that it grows so straight with only the slightest tapering, shooting up to an average height of 150 foot, wit an average diameter of 48 inches. The long wing beams of a flying machine run from 10 to 3-"i feet and more, and naturally must, be in one solid piece. Then this wood has the added value of being extraordinarily fine of grain, of ioiig fibre, exceptionally clear, tough and strong, though weighing only 2') pounds to the cubic foot. It does not warp or split and is easily worked."

Consider the record of State Control i Government Operation) of tin- Liquor Traffic in America. In the United States, South Carolina tried Govern num dispensaries and then adopted Prohibition. In Canada, Saskatchewan opined (.overnment Li(|iior Stores, hut shut them up at the next election by a vote oi 9 to I. Prohibition marches on. In Canada, Prince Kdvard Tsh'lid, Noam Seotia. New Bvunswick Que hep, Ontario, Manitoba; Saskatchewan. Albert i and Mritish Columbia have all carried Prohibition. In the United States, '2B States have State, w ide Prohibition, and the whole country will have War Prohibition on Ist July next. Up to date no State has P'd'used to ratify Constitutional National Prohibition. America has found the solution. \\ hv fool around with suggestions of State ownership when tius proposal has been voted down wherever tried? 43 NAZOL relieves cold in the heail and Nasal Catarrh. (lj

The Catholic Church at Martinborough w■ i s totally destroyed by lire last night. The origin is unknown.

A member of the South Auckland Dairy Association stated at yesterday's meeting that Danish butter was now being purchased at over Cs per lb by the British Government, payment being made in coal. It is interesting to note that the New Zealand producers are only asking the Imperial Government Is l)d ]ht lb for the coming season's make.

Mr J. R. I homson, general secretary of the N.Z. Section of the Thcosophical Society, will arrive in Hamilton on Saturday and proposes to give lectures on Sunday and Monday at the hall in Collingwood street, as outlined in our advertising columns. He will also he glad to welcome enquirers at the limes specified, or at the conclusion of his lectures.

leather and other circumstances permitting, the Hamilton Municipal Hand will give a municipal concert at I'< ir\ Hank next Sunday afternoon. The following are the numbers to be played: —God Save the King; contest march, "Hendigo"; hvmns, "Eternal Father" and "Abide With Me"; selection, "The Vivandiere"; Mozart's "Kyrie," and "Gloria in Excelsis" • march, "The Gladiator"; waltz, "Maid of the .Mist"; march, "General Joffre."

A would-b e exhibitor in a certain class of sheep at the forthcoming Waikato Show asked the Association to provide him with a pen as lie intended to bring up a number of animals for "exhibition only," and for which he hoped to find purchasers. It was pointed out that this would be but the thin end ot the wedge towards making the. show a market, and it was unanimously decided that the Association decline to provide pons for animals for exhibition only if t'lere are classes in the schedule in which the animals could compete. It was further agreed that in all eases stock for exhibition only must be fully up to show standard.

A lengthy discussion took place yesterday at the meeting of the Wnikato A. and P. Association in referente to membership fees. It \v<!s the general opinion that the dual fee should he abolished, the special privileges extended to members of kindred societies withdrawn, and the mem!v r-liip subscriptions fixed at the higher rate. Instances were quoted where this had been done to the advantage of the Associations by a substantial increase in the amounts received for membership fees. It was agreed to lot the matter stand in abeyance until the annual meeting, when a definte proposition will no doubt be placed before members.

A meeting was held in the Baptist Church last night, when Rev. W. Perry gave an address on "Some Aspects of the Blessed Hope," especially directing attention to the prophecies concerning the Jews, as shown in Ezrkiel. Micali, Daniel, etc., and fulfilled in our day as announced in all the newspapers of the civilised world. Amongst other significant things the speaker mentioned was the fact that out of 40 prophets, only 10 foretold the firs£ advent of Christ, which had, as we know, been fulfilled; while 3f> prophesied of His second advent, which the signs of the times, ac. cording to Holy Writ, showed to be near at hand. The large audience which had assembled heartily enjoyed the address. Several present gave in their names as members of the association.

A London correspondent to Now Zealand papers states that the Board of Trade JournaJ quotes a rather extraordinary case of negligence on the part of British firms trading with the dominions. It says: "A New Zealand merchant sent the specifications for certain goods to one British firm and two American firms. The British firm did not reply at all, but the most unexpected results followed the applications to New York. Both firms replied that they were sorry they could not quote, but that tliev had passed on the inquiry to a few of their neighbours in the hope that they might bo able to supply the goods/ By the same mail the New Zealand merchant received no fewer than 27 letters from New York, Philadelphia, etc., offering him what he required. In view of the importance at the present time of firms doing all in their power to keep alive interest in their products, it should not lie necessary to point out the desirability of replying to inquiries, even if the articles demanded cannot be supplied. If this be don--,i the extension of our trade, when the war is o'.er, will lie made more easy." i Chating with a Waiuku Times representative, a leading Waikato flax. miller voiced a complaint that the industry suffered through had management in Auckland. Four, or probablv five, Auckland firms, he explained, were engaged in the trade, but their methods were out-of-date and tliev laeked enterprise. Our informant claimed that their lack of energetic initiative was to a large extent responsible for the existing congestion of flax in Auckland. Shipments, he contended, could under better organisation have been arranged for, which would thus have relieved stocks in store in Auckland. At Wellington, continued the speaker, the industry was in much more competent hands, and although the southern flax handled was much larger in amount than at Auckland, fairly continuous consignments had l>een made possible and less of the material was in the sheds there than was the case in Auckland. Millowners in the Auckland -province, were expected to promote the trade of Auckland a s a shipping centre, but such could not be done unless conditions were altered. It was his intention, he said in conclusion, to rail his produce to Wellington in future to secure the benefits of speedier shipping, and as Wellington prices ruled higher than those of Auckland he would not U» a loser even though the railway charges would l>o greater. A Christchurch gentleman, on his way to the British Isles via the United States, forwarded to the editor of the Press a menu card of one of the large hotels in New York, to show the thorough banner in which the liovernnient of the United States is dealing with the food problem. The menu s«ts out, on its front page, that the hot-l is a member of the United States Food Administration, and advises diners to "eat plenty, eat wisely, but without waste. Save the wheat, save the meats, save the tats save the sugar, for your soldiers at the front need them all." A statement headed "The Reason," by Mr Herbert Hoover, the United Stati's Food Administrator, occupies the second page, and sets forth the reasons for economy in the use if foodstuffs. One sentence reads; "The whole great problem of winning Ihe war rests priniarly on one thing—the loyalty and sacrifice of the American people in Ihe matter of food." (in the third [iage are printed several suggl stions to guests. In parallel cohmyis are set out certain foods, which, if taken at a meal, obviates the necessity for having certain other foods at the same meal. For instance, if a guest has a nutritious soup, lie does not nc-d roast beef; if fish, no roast pork; i!' milk or egjjs, no pork chops; if a cheese combination dish, no sausage; if pea or lentil croquettes, no Hamburg steak; and if cereal dishes combined with eggs, no porterhouse steak or tenderloin steak. The fourth page, which contains the menu, opens with the statement; "Beef will be served between 12 noon and i p.m. only." Vickory, Ltd.. ask why walk when you can buy a bicycle at a reasonable j price. 244 :

Hie I're rich .Mission is to visit New Zealand about the middle of Deccmlier.

According to tlie latest Hritish Army Council Instruction, Cadets are to Ik) allowed to join the Royal Air Force on attaining the age of 17 years and 10 months. O.C. Cadet Units will be guided by the following considerations before recommending the lad: The candidate must Ite 17 years 10 months of age at the time cf volunteering. He must be, as far as the Cadet C.O. can judge, approximately of Grade I. in Medical Category, but an anatomical defect such as slight lameness need not debar a candidate from his C'.O.'s recommandation. He must lie known to tue C.O. as an intelligent, well conducted lad, sufficiently well educated to ensure the successful reception of technical instruction. He must be fully aware that he is volunteering for service in the K.A.F. as pilot or observer or for such duties as the exigencies of the service mnv demand. When admitted into the K.A.F. he will be eaimaiked as a commissioned or noncommissioned pilot or observer, accord, ing to the attainments and qualifications he proves himself to possess. The written consent of his parents or guardians must be supplied to the Cadet

A\\ airarapa reservist—Mr J. W 'nge, of Kaiwaiwai— claims to have a heavy grievance. He has, he savs, been medically examined on eight difteient occasions. He has been twice in camp, and discharged as unfit, after gaining the rank of Sergeant. After being discharged a second time, he was operated on for appendicitis.' Three days after being discharged from a private hospital, he was drawn in a ballot, and ordered to parade again for medical examination. He did so, and was classed H2. He was granted four months' leave, And after further examination was again classed H*2. At a later examination h 0 was classed as C2. Three weeks ago, although still under medical treatment, and having lieen unable to work for two months, he was ordered to again present himself for examination. He attended before the special Medical Hoard in Masterton on Friday, was classed Fit A and ordered to proceed to camo in Fel>ruary next. When he was classed C2 he took over his brother's farm voluntarily, to allow the latter to proceed to camp.

The chief source of the world's information about the red terror in Russia has, up till the present, been Mr Arno Dosch-Fleurot (now •in Stockholm), who was correspondent in Petrograd for the New York World. Mr Fleurot himself had to leave the doomed country to avoid death by assassinttiou, to which it was feared so many foreigners in Russia have l>een victims. Visiting Wellington at the present time is Mr H. W. Russell, an American com. mercial man, who, up till November last, had made his headquarters in Petrog rad. M essrs Russell and Fleurot are personal friends of long standing, and the former, in the course of an interview with a Dominion reporter, gave the assurance that complete reliance! could l>o placed on messages sent out to the wcrld under his name. Mr Fleurot, said Mr Russell, was one of the most reliable and accomplished journalists located in Petrograd, and would not be inclined to exaggerate the position in the slightest degree. Referring in conversation with a New Zealand Times representative to the rabbit nuisance in the South Island and the noxious weeds question, the Hon. W. I). S. Mac Donald (Minister of Agriculture) stated that Dr. Reakes now had in hand the reorganisation of the whole Dcuartment. "There has been an impression," said the Minister, ' that there has been a lot of over-lap. ping by the different inspectorates; and. with a view to preventing that, we will make the districts a little smaller. and have one inspector as far as possible doing most of the inspection work. The intention is to see to it that the regulations are strictly enforced, and we shall endeavour to get put through Parliament this session a slight amendment of tlfr Rabbit Act. which will make the regulations very mlch more stringent in the future." The noxious weeds inspectors and the rabbit inspectors would still be the same, added Mr Mac Donald, but they would l>e called stock inspectors, and would be under the control of the Live Stock 1 Division of the Agricultural Department. The reorganisation was likely to be completed by the end of the pre. sent mouth, and the new system would be got und"r way as soon as possible.