LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 136, 4 December 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We wish it to be known that we cannot publish letters to the editor in advocacy of'political candidates of parties ■from now till the end of the elections without arrangements having been made with our advertising manager. •Saturday was quite a warm summer's day, and, as a result, the town was crowded with people. An old settler at Okato, who drove into New Plymouth on Saturday, states that the Main South road is in a worse condition now than at any time during the past twelve years. During the first ten months of this year. 332.000 tons of coal were exported from the port of Greymouth. Up to last Saturday the export of timber had reached 4S,0:00,000 superficial feet. The North Bgmont Mountain House committee is proving a very live body and has eil'ected several improvements that will be much appreciated by all who visit the mountain this coming season. A new water service lias been installed, the water being forced .by a ram from a mountain stream near by, thus .ensuring a splendid supply of the purest water. Up-to-date Unitary conveniences have been installed at the house and cottages, which have been enlarged and a kitchen added. The No-license people held a big demonstration on Saturday afternoon, the principal feature being a procession of children through the business portion of the town on foot and on lorries., being grouped there in a series of tableaux. First came a lifeboat "manned" by jumpered girls. Another tableau represented the Knight Templar defending the family from a rather hideous-looking imp with'a bottle of cold tea in his hand. Zealandia's children waved banners imploring the electors to ''vote for us." There were other devices, and the children and nn-liccnsc leaders accompanying them sang various campaign songs. The youngsters were given a picnic afterwards in the Recreation Grounds, and apparently this part of the proceedings pleased them best.

On ono stalicsu in i i.v .Masterton district the shearers have, already been employed for over a month iti shearing 13,000 sheep. Tlu; weather lias been so broken that shearing lias been possible on anly 0110 or two days in the week. Other stations are similarly affected.

Jersey cattle breeders in Taranaki will be pleased to hear of the advent into the district of the noted bull K.C.8., which has proved himself to be one of the best imported bulls in the Dominion. His late owner thought so highly of him that ho used him six years in his herd. K. 0.8. was bred by the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, and was unloaded at Tariki last Saturday night .by Mr. A. A. Ward. A bronzed stalwart man about 60 years of age appeared in Collins street, Melbourne, on a recent afternoon clad only in a bathing dress that reached from neck to knee. Tie attracted considerable attention as he strolled unconcernedly along the block. When questioned as to his reason for setting aside convention, he said that his costume allowed sunlight and air to act upon the skin, and was'therefore the healthiest of dress. He declared that he was not a crank, but a man who had the courage of his convictions.

An amusing incident in the Royal Opera House at Warsaw, Russian Poland, is described by the . Paris Temps. By permission of "the commanding officer a number of Russian soldiers were engaged as "supers," to take the part of Spanish soldiers. Xo sooner had they come on the stage than they saw a general sitting in the stalls. The corporal with them immediately shouted "Attention!" The general, realising that the men were not likely to move until he gave them the order, cried from the stalls: "All right, my children. All right." The corporal advanced to the centre of the stage, and, gravely saluting, said: "We thank you, Excellency, for permission to continue." Messrs. Boon Bros., contractors for the erection of the up-to-date hotel for the North Egmont Mountain House committee, commenced work some six weeks ago. They speedily got the bulk of the material on the site, and, putting on a big gang of men, made good progress with the work. The foundations were quickly put down and operations were proceeding apace, when the weather, Which had not been too good, turned cold and windy, and some heavy falls of snow .buried the foundations and material, compelling a. retreat. As a result most of the men were temporarily recalled', and work lias been delayed a few weeks. Accordingly it is quite probable that the. hotel may not be available for tourists until February 28th, a month later than that originally intended. The members of the Whiteley Church dhoir gave a social to Miss Milly Black find Mr. Louis Blanchard, who are to be married shortly, on Friday evening last. A most enjoyable evening was spent in music and various competitions, and an excellent supper was provided (by the lady members of the choir. The' table decorations were a special feature, and the guests of the evening were the recipients of many complimentary wishes from those who assembled round the festive board. The, Rev. J. W. Burton, (jm behalf of the choir, presented the young couple with two pieces of electroplated ware (a teapot and honey jar) as a slight recognition of the faithful services rendered. Mr. CI. H. White, the organist, stated that Miss Black last year had made a record of 100 per cent, attendance at services and choir practices. Mr. Blanchard suitably responded, and sa/id that their marriage would not interfere with their membership in the choir, The singing of Auld Lang Syne brought' the evening to a close. Regarding the latest improvement in moving pictures, the last Sydney Bulletin to hand savs: "Kinemacolor was introduced 1 to Melbourne last week by the Amalgamated Pictures Co., at the Glaciarium. The revelation disposes of the earliest charge that was brought against 'this ingenious 'natural color' invention by black-and-white photographers. The 'colors were said to 'run.' As a matter of fact, there is no confusion of tints in 'the film picture, and though, in some subjects, fleeting suggestions of red and green 'shutters' (revolving at the rate oi about 2500 per minute), are noticeable on the screen, the effect of color photos is convincing enough. The picture produced by Kiiicmacolor art might ,be a fine chromo of a masterly oil painting. In comparison with the best black land white cinematography, there is a great gain of realistic impression. And these are only early specimens of Kinemacolor, anyhow. The results promise a complete triumph for the process presently." Kinemacolor is being introduced into New Zealand by Messrs Fuller, Members of the Equitable Building ( Society ■of New Plymouth (First and Second Groups) are notified that sub-scriptions-will foe due and payable today (Monday),, at the Secretary's, office, Currie-street, from 9 a.m. to 12.39 p.m., 1 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.—Advt