LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 131, 21 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"I suppose we've all got to make a beginning, some of lis"—words of wisdom emanating from a member of a deputation to a Taranaki local body. Owing to the Good Templar Hall being engaged, yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Brotherhood was lieid in the Whitfcley Church. The speaker for the afternoon was Mr. 11. T. Peat.

The many people who contributed towards the fund to send Haydn lieck to the Old Country will be interested to know that, after all expenses have been deducted, there was a balance of £7OO says the Wanganui paper. From Mr. Gordon L. Conrad, the touring manager for the Pliinmer-Denniston Company, we 'have received a copy of tho play pictorial for "Nobody's Daughter," which will be staged on Wednesday, October 30th, at the Theatre Royal. Tho booklet is an artistic reproduction and depicts the many incidents of the play in a very interesting manner. Altogether it is a delightful resume of the play.

■ When the Bible was translated into Japanese an equivalent to the word "baptise" could not be found, and the word "soak" had to be used instead, so that Japanese Biblical students are acquainted with a person named "John the Soaker," and with a doctrine of "soaking for the remission of sins." In that case the mistranslation is due to inadequacy of language. It is necessary occasionally to go away from home to learn surprising things about one's own country. The New York journal, the Motor, in a recent issue, states that light motor trucks are in great demand amongst the MaoHs in this country, and that one firm of motor importers has found it necessary to employ a Maori salesman in 'order to deal with this class of customer.

The I-lon. E, Heaton Rhodes (Post-master-General) in the course of a brief interview at Christcliurch, stated that there had been an unprecedented increase in telephone business, and in the June quarter this increase was 32 per cent., whilst for the September quarter the increase was phenomenal, amounting to one 'hundred per cent. The party line system of telephonic communication was largely accountable for this very satisfactory increase. A large meeting of the Wanganui veterans was held on Saturday, when the Military Pensions Bill was discussed. The general opinion was that the Bill is very much ahead of last year's, but the Minister is to be approached with a view to making the pensions universal, despite income, it being considered that those wtho have been frugal or are now more robust and able to work should not be debarred. The provision regarding renewal every year was also taken exception to. A suggestion was made that the widows of veterans should receive pensions. It was not thought right that when a veteran died that his pension, which was the sole support of his house, should be cut-off. "Settlers on metal roads are pampered up," remarked a back-blocks settler at the meeting of the Moa Road Board on Saturday. "Every little pot hole is filled up as soon as it occurs, if not they worry the Board. We on mud roads plough through the' mud year in and year out and never worry the Board, whilst along the metal road there are heaps and heaps of metal, 'that makes my eyes water,'" he continued, "when I consider that a little more would metal our road. Do something for me," lie pathetically concluded. A member interjected that the metal roads would become impassable, if they were neglected, and it was necessary to keep them in order, as they were used by the man' on the mud roads as Well as by 'his more favourably situated confrere.

Mr. F. C. J. Bell l inger, Chairman of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, has received the following letter from Mr. T. Kno\j'les, of Opunake, with regard to certain remarks made by Mr. M. J. Mcßeynolds at the last Board meeting:—"ln to-day's papers is an account of some remarks made at the last meeting of your Board re the quality of Opunake liquor. These remarks cast a grave aspersion not only .on my personal character, but on the 'hotel which I own. I lliave been catering for the Taranaki public for some twenty or thirty years, and have never received or heard of any complaint with regard to the quality of the beverages sold by me. In fairness to myself I that you send an official to examine and analyse any or all of the liquor in my establishment. —Yours faithfully, T. Kiiowles, Proprietor Opunako Hotel, Opunake."

An interesting article on the effect of English methods of education 011 the women of Egypt appeared in a London paper a few (lays ago, in which the writer drew attention to the apparent incongruity of teaching Egyptian girls in English such subjects as arithmetic, euclid, geography, history, drawing, needlework and domestic economy—all of which, it is observed, they learn with readiness —• when they are destined for existence in a harem. The same article throws a new light on harem life that will not be generally popular, one cannot but think, in writing, "It is on English lines we should like to see the harem life developed!" The meaning is, however, that it would be admirable if Egyptian women, instead of craving to follow the life of the average Englishwoman in Cairo, could model themselves on the thousands of Englishwomen at home who lead useful, contented lives in quiet homes, enjoying a moderate amount of gaiety and social intercourse. The Oamaru Mail states that the police have taken charge of a man who is suffering from loss of memory. For a few days he lived at Kakanui in a hut belonging to a boardinghouse-keeper there, of which lie had taken possession. He hardly had anything to eat, only once or twice going to the boardinghotise and asking if his dinner were ready. He was given food whenever he asked for it, but most of the time he appeared to totally forget the use of or need of food. To people addressing him he had made no reply. They became alarmed, and sent word to the police. The man was taken to the police station at Oamaru on Friday, and on Saturday morning was examined bj r medical men and the Magistrate, but without result. He was evidently considerably weakened by his continued abstinence from food, and could give no account of his wanderings. A little money was found in his possession, also a letter from a bank at Stratford stating that he had a credit balance there. Since he has been taken in charge by the police the man has recovered somewhat, though his memory is still very hazy. Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (First and Second Groups) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable today (Monday), at the secretary's office, Currie street, from !) a.m. to 12.30. from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.— 1 Advt.

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