LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 117, 18 May 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New York has a population of over 5 000,000 and spends £SOOO annually on municipal music. Baltimore, with a population of little more than onetenth that of New York, spends £6OOO a year on its music.

The Lokal Anzeiger estimates that no fewer than 3000 newspapers and periodicals have ceased publication in Germany during the war, a state of things chiefly due to shortage of paper.

The scarcity of paper is being severely felt by newspapers in New Zealand, and several have had to reduce the size of their publication, including papers in the South Island, where the reduction totals 50 per cent.

The Belfast News Letter, the chief organ of the Ulster loyalists, declares that a section of the English Unionist press is guilty of treason to Unionists in demanding the surrender of the arms of Ulster Unionists.

Germany has expressed regret at her "error" in torpedoing the Sussex, and thereby causing the death of the Spanish composer Granados and his wife. Germany offers an, indemnity to the family.

A warrant has been gazetted appointing the Public Trustee controller of the following enemy businesses: —Markwald, Son and Ross; G. Hardt and Co.; Eugene Schroeder; Rhodius and Co., Ltd.; Continental C. and G. Rubber Co.

At the inquest on Louisa White at Wellington, the Coroner found that her death was caused by a septic condition and extreme wasting, resulting from damage to the spinal chord by a bullet discharged from a revolver at the deceased by one Ernest Charles Jewell Devoin.

The United States is preparing what the State officials describe as a veryvigorous protest against British interference Avith American mails. The United States, it is understood, will refuse to countenance any further seizures or detentions.

Mr. R. J. Marmion, a member of the Chemistry Society of West Australia, who is visiting Sydney, has discovered a means of extracting picric acid and trinitrotoluene from the black boy gum. Trinitrotoluene is of considerable importance in the manufacture of high explosives.

After a long illness, Mr F. W. Venn, of Shannon, has recovered .his health. A London cable states that the Daylight Saving Bill has been read a third time. Carpenters are very scarce in New Plymouth just now. Several buildings are hard pushed for labour, which seems to be just as scarce outside. Mr L. D. Freeman, from Southland, has been appointed assistant instructor in agriculture to the Wellington Education Board.

The Postal authorities advise that the mails which left New Zealand on Marc 23rd arrived in London on the 14th inst.

"North Island towns ane easily beating South Island towns in progress," was the declarttion of a deiegv.te at the General Synod.

Word has been received that Gieorge Wiltshire, eldest son of the late Mr George Wiltshire, a former city engineer of Wellington, was instantaneously killed in action in France,

There are 23,630 acres of Crown land to be opened for selection this month and 90-49 aer.es are aKrcady set apart for disposal during June.

Formal notification is given by the Attorney-General of the appointment of the Public Trustee as controller of t-'ie following enemy businesses: — Markwald, Son and Boss, G. Hardt and C 0.,, (Limited), the Continental) C. and G. Rubber Company.

A Napier soldier who has been convalesing in Cairo, writes that he was taken for a motor-car ride and was much surprised to find brass plates attached to the cars showing that the cars were presented by the children of New Zealand.

T-'ie report widely circulated that the P. and O. liner Maloja was sunk ag a result of the commander proceeding in disobedience of Admiralty orders has been found to be untrue, The statement was first published hi America.

Sergeant E. J. Carey, a vesry wellknown figure in Wellington tnades union circles, is leaving with the 13th Reinforcements. He will be tendered a farewell "social" by the Trades and Labour Council and the Wellington Hotel* Club and Restaurant Workers' Union (of which he is lion secretary) at the Trades Hall next week.

A triple mouth-whistle suitable for military purposes, though adaptable to other uses as well, whie'i it is claimed is louder and more distinctive than any other pattern of whistle, has been manufactured by Mr W. Lewis, constructor of acetylene generators for. the New Zealand Railways and public works. Mr Lewis wilH probably submit the whistle to the War Office.

A recently-married Taranalu man, now at Trentham, in a letter to his wife, says:—"This is the life. Spur the boys on to come to camp

Don't believe any of the lies you may •hear about bad food at Trentham There certainly i s a sameness about it but it is good and wholesome, wellcooked, and there is plenty, of it. Every fit man should answer the call at once." A returned soldier who received a bulliet wound in the leg created some interest among his comrades at the Napier Soldiers' Club by exhibiting thcbullct with which he was wounded, and which was lying in a small jewel-box. The following words were engraved on it: —"Presented to Private , in a rather impolite manner, for being too slow to dodge it." Mr T M. Wilford (Hutt) has given notice to move in the House of Representatives that, with a view of conserving trade within the Empire after the war and between the Allies and neutrals to the 'exclusion of Germany, a scheme of tafc'is revision be prepared for submission to Parliament immediately after) the declaration of peace, and that such investigations be made and matters considered as will be necessary to enable the drafting of legislation to give effect to the object aimed at.

Madam Carroll,i representing the famous Hugard Wizard and concert com- : pany is in Taihapc to-day, making arrangements for a season, of one night only in the Town Hall, on Friday, 26th of this month. Madam Cafrroll states that large and enthusiastic audiences have greeted the Great Wizard and his five ton s of tricks all al'ong the Avay. Fine business was done at Napier and Hastings just before coming on to the Main Trunk line. Hugard Avill be remembered by many residents of this t own.

The member for. the Hurt (Mr T. M. Wilford) has given notice to move in the House of Representatives: "Thate, Avith a vieAv of assisting the development of trade within the Empire after the Avar, the National Ministry required to appoint at once a Trade Commissioner in England who lias a AAn.dc knoA\ r ledge of the requirements of the Dominion and an intimate acquaintance Avith 'commer.ee generality, in order that strenuous

efforts may be made to prevent trace, after the war, drifting back into German hands.