LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5, 4 September 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Sydney cable states that seventeen crises of smallpox were reported in the Newcastle' list iu connection with the war census.

The New Plymouth Chamber < "■•' Commerce last night passed a resolution protesting against the petrol tax, states the Press Association.

A Wanganui Press Association telegram states that Webb and Hamum are in solid training for the rowing match, which takes place iu thre." weeks' time.

A seven-roomed house in New "Ply-: mouth belonging to Robert Morris, of Opunake, and occupied by Mr Breach, was destroyed by lire at tbvee o'clock this morning. The house was insured for £450 in the .State Office. TJe Press Association states that Breach was alone in the house and had very few effects.

Lieutenant Gray, area officer, Stint-

ford, has received the following Tetter from Headquarters, Defence Department, relating to the appointment of permanent officers:—"No further officers or N.C.O.'s are to be permanently appointed to the New Zealand 'f-i-M\ Or New Zealand P.S. respectively, until after the war. The merits and qualifications of officers and N.C.O.'s who return from the front, as well as those who remain in New Zealand, must be considered for vacancies which exist."

Arrangements arc well in hand for the Fire Brigade torchlight procession, and "hard-lip" social to be held on] Thursday next. The secretary of the brigade has received word from Mr Harnett, an inimitable impersonator, of Wellington, who lias travelled W'ith many theatrical companies' throughout New Zealand, intimating that newilf be present. Teams are being'chosenfor the football and hookey maehes to be played in the afternoon,'and judging' from the names, the public' may rest assured that they will have a good day's amusement. Mr AIT. Moon has. a large stork of masks suitable evening function.

The proposal to form the Moa Road Hoard into a County ha s been rejected by i the Hoiise, of Representatives ofi

the 1 report of the Local Bills Cormuit•tee. Mr C\ J. Talbot (Temuka), said that the evidence showed that t,here ' were no natural boundaries and that ■the administration pf the [JTaraHaKi

County Coipteil had, been satisfactory, The for. Internal .Affairs

(Hon. ,G. W. Russell,) pointedout, tlnit

in 1912 the, House set, face ; against ithej of new; counties, as lit was, felt t larger counties .>vi,tlj

assyred. finances and increased powers, •could best serve public, interests, Mr. H} J okey (Taranaki) opposed the,.proposal and stated that the Taranaki County had been reduced considerably in' recent years. The Moa Qpun f ty would mean more toll-gates, to.enable the Taranaki County to maintain roads. The old Council had done its , work well and no evidence of its fail—i ure had been tendered by the delegates, ; ah'om the Moa" District. The report of i the Committee was accepted on the voices. ... >v'.

j.'l'At the present tinie 1 America'is one yast workshop, froiii'the Atlaritic'to (jhg [Pacific, tiirninji; ovit munitions 'of war ;for shipnient toEngland. France, and Russia," said Mr V. A. Sproul, managing agent of the Oceanic Steamship Company, who returned to Sydney .from America by the Sonoma. "When near Honolulu," - Mr Sproul added, "we saw two large steamers en route to Yladivostock, laden with 20,000 tons of munitions: Three or four dayas later these ships were to he followed by half a dozen others, each fully laden." Mr Sproul added that during the past twelve months' 'Britain alone had placed orders with American munition makers to the extent of nearly £100,000,000. Theßri-tish-born element in America, he added, -was far greater than that of Germany. At the present time there were over' 10,000,000 persons of British birth in America, and another 3.500,000 born of British parents. There were also 1,357,000 persons of French nationality. The Germans numbered a little over 8,000,000]

In connection with the patriotic action of a firm in Christchurch (mentioned in the Houso a few days ago) of having remitted to the Government the extra amount realised on the sale of kerosene through the- increase of duty which that firm had had to add to its selling prices to protect the quantities able to lie supplied to clients, ;• like case, though not quite similar, has come under our notice. Last Friday, -Mr Newton King, of Stratford, on receipt of advice from the importers "that the amount of duty had been placed on the stocks at present in hand (this later was of course squashed by the Government, which passed an Act forbidding the increased prices being placed on stocks held by importers prior to the duty coming into force), in order to protect his clients' interests, immediately ceased selling motor spirits, benzine, and Kerosene to anybody in ,any quantity. but apportioned practically the whole of his stocks, amounting to some -'SOO odd cases, amongst his numerous clients at the old price ruling prior to the duty coming into force. Mr King has since received many letters of thanks commending his action.

Weather Forecast.—Westerly strong winds to gale and backing by w<-st to south. The weather will probably prove squally and changeable.. Rain probable. Barometer unsteady.—Bates, Wellington.