GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15871, 10 April 1917, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Tho ballot for tho shortage in the Thirtieth Reinforcements commences at Wellington at 2 p.m. to-day. The shortage is about a thousand, and to provide for the rejects three thousand names will bo drawn. Mr William Green, of Napier, lias been appointed secretary of tho Christchurch branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association. A public meeting, convened by the Deputy-Mayor, will be held in tli© Excelsior Hall, Lvttelton, at 7.30 tonight to consider important matters in connexion with the borough. Meetings will be held in various parts of tho city and suburbs during this week in connexon with the petition for the closing of hotel bars at six o'clock during the war. Particulars of the meetings are advertised in this issue. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair, president of tho Methodist Conference, leaves for his new charge at New Plymouth by tho Maori this evening. In two years' timo ho will take up his duties as Foreign Mission secretary, and will probably reside in Auckland. A Press Association telegram from Gisborno states that when the steamer Tarawera was abreast of White Island, at 5.30 a.m. on Sunday, the chiof officer observed a volcanic eruption. Flames were seen shooting skyward, accompanied by flying stones, and debris. Tho spectacle was soon enveloped in a dense cloud of vapour. Something in the nature of a record was achieved on a field telephone yesterday by Captain Bradley, Officer Commanding tho No. 2 Divisional Signal Company, now in camp at Kaituna Valley. Captain Bradley, using an ordinary field telephone, communicated with "Tho Press'' office from Mount Herbert.

There was a highly satisfactory attendance at tho annual exhibition of the Art Society at tho Art Gallery yesterday during the day and evening. Tho hostesses at tho afternoon tea to-day will be Mrs A. F. Wright and Misses Scott and Booth. Tho musical programme has been arranged by Miss Muriol Little. The exhibition will bo open to-day from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. and from 7.30 p.m. till 9.30 p.m.

At tho New Zealand Poultry Association conference, which is sitting at Wellington, a resolution was carried "That tho New .Zealand Poultry Association determines to use every effort to enforce the regulations under the Pure Foods Act in relation to imported liquid yolks and desiccated whites, and that copies of this resolution bo forwarded to tho Ministors of Public Health and Agriculture." Tlie sum of £45 was subscribed to a fighting fund.

Many soldiers returning to Wellington from Easter leavo in the South were held xip at Lyttelton last night owing to tho Mararoa being a full ship. A good number had their berths booked, but all tho soldiers arriving by the second express were refused admission to tho ferry steamer, about 200 intending passengers being left on tho wharf. Tho

blockage was caused by only one vessel being available for tho return of tiho Sassengers who came South by tho [aori on Wednesday and tho Mararoa and To Anau on Thursday. Considerable difficulty was experienced l>y tho disappointed soldiers and civilian passengers in obtaining accommodation in the city.

Tho Hibernian Hall was packed last night, when Chaplain-Captain Murphy, who is leaving for the front, was given a farewell social. Among those present were Bishop Brodie, Dean Regnault, the llev. Fathers Long, linnrahan, Burger, McCarthy, and Cronin, Dr. Kennedy (Administrator), and 'the Marist Brothers. After an excellent programmo of musical items had been given, Miss Cronin, secretary of tho Arch Confraternity of the Blessed Sncnunent, of which Father Murphy had charge, presented the guest of tho evening with a purso of sovereigns and Mr G. Nee reaa an address. His Lordship, Dean Regnault, and Dr. Kennedy also made speeches of appreciation of Father Murphy's work in the diocese, to which ho fittingly responded. The social went with a swing from start to finish, and the largo gathering showed in unmistakable manner the high estimation in which Father Murphy is held.

| When tho Taranaki dairy season ODened the weather was mild and feed | abundant, and it was generally considered that no season had been inaueurated under more auspicious conditions (writes our New Plymouth correspondent). Yet it has proved to be very disappointing; that "is, in respect to production. Values have, of course, been high, but tho dry season has player! havoc with the output from factories, so much so that the returns will show a decrease of anything from 20 to 50 per cent. In many instances cows in Taranaki have been dried off, whilst others are being milked only once a day. Furthermore, tho prospects for the winter are not at all bright, as owing to the continued drought and scarcity of feed stock owners have been obliged to make big inroads on their turnips and feed which had been provided for the winter. For three seasons now there have been serious spells of drv weather, and there is 'no doubt that the cumulative effect has been vprv badly felt this year. * I

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