LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 156, 8 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has forwarded a cheque for £:> to the West End Foreshore Improvement Society. The local officers of the Lands and purvey Department, have forwarded their contribution to the Patriotic Fund, bo far they have contributed £72 10s 4d. At the Taranaki County Council meeting yesterday, a subscription list for the Belgian Christmas Gift fund was passed round, councillors willingly contributing the shilling asked for, and the pres representatives joing in.

At the Juvenile Court yesterday, presided over by Mr A. C'rooke, S.M., a Maori boy wa3 charged with stealing a mail bag and contents at Rahotu on October 7th. The bag and contents were recovered. No conviction was entered, but the lad was ordered to be sent to the Weraroa Boys' Reformatory, his father agreeing to contribute main-' tenance.

Divorces to tho number of 223 were granted by the New Zealand Courts last year acording to the offlual particular just issued.The total exceeds that for 1912 by one. The number of petitions (2601 was, however, fewer bv t >irten than in the previous year. The number four years ago was 99 in one year. There was a big rise in 1911, and this has been maintained.

The two leading newspapers, the Waikato Times and the Waikato Argus, published in Hamilton, have been amalgamated, and one strong company has b»en formed. Tha Waikato Times, the new paper, is to lie run on non-political Hues and will be the farmers' newspaper for A meeting of Now Plymouth ladies was held m the Town Hall on Monday afternoon to consider the question of helping the Ngamotu Beautifying Committee with their New Year's Day picnic the proceeds of which are to be handed to the Belgian Relief Fund. The meeting after much discussion, decided that owing to tho calls on their time being so numerous just at present, they are [ unable to give any assistance. '"A great disturbed area is now in the sun," writes Mr Clement W. Wragge, to mi Auckland paper, "the full length 'being 170,000 miles. In connection therewith let people note the recent rains. One of the solar storms alone is about 30,00 miles in diameter. Tims the ctheri'e or wireless wave lengths have been changed, and hence the break in the alleged drought. Not only in New Zealand, but also m Tasmania, Australia', South Africa, and South American solar disturbances must be taken to indicate improving seasons." the district.

\ As a result c.f the war 387 representa- ' ; tire securities dealt with by the Bankers' ■ Magazine show a full compared with , January, 1007. There was a total deprcciation of no less than OBOi millions sterling. With tho exception "of insurance and shipping shares, and a few tramway and omnibus stocks, every detachment Ims .contributed at a loss. In the case of British and Indian funds, the decline 13 as much as £158,000,000, while foreign Government stocks and American I railway isucs have fallen about £ll2 - J 1)00,000 and £120,000,000 respectively. .■ A very percentage decline is that which ; lm« occured in .British railway .stocks,' ; which show a loss of about 53,000,000 or ; 17 per cent. Although there has in several j eases been a recovery since the Stock Ex- ; change was closed, it is doubtful whether I *,'; ''S lll '™ referred to would be mater- i rally modified were the comparison to be I made with the quotations now current. I ! j -HEADACHE AND LASSITUDE. I "For some weeks I suffered from atom- / «h trouble which caused headaches and ! lassitude," says Mr Frederick E. Whit--102 Clark street, Norttcote, Vie "I ] ]a ,'] 1 wen Chamberlain's Tablets advertised'' lor such complaints,.and decided to try j

At the S.M. Court yesterday, a man was convicted of drunkenness and discharged on taking out a prohibition order against himself. Mr W. P. Storey, who had announced his intention of standing for the Labor interests of Parnell, arrived at the office of the Returning Officer, Mr H. B. Mas- \ sey, with his nomination paper one rain- 1 ute too .late, and, despite a vigorous protst, could not obtain acceptance of his nomination.

The pig-rearing industry is apparently in a flourishing state in Taranaki. Forty, fat, squealing porkers left for Ngalnfranga by the afternoon train yesterday, rendering the air melodious with the only portion of the pig which the shrew Yankees have so far failed to turn to commercial account—their Squeals.

The magnificent North German Lloyd steamship Kronprinzessin Cecile, which returned to America after war was declared, presents a problem of considerable interest. She is now-in the bailiff's hands, and is guarded by the revenue cutter Mohawk and a torpedo boat. Just off the coast, British commerce destroyers are lurking, ready at the first opportunity to dispose of the German steamship. So long as the Cecile remams within the three-mile limit of America, she is immune from attack, but it found that to convey her to a suitable winter berth, it is found that , she must pass out of three mile limit. The United States has a very material interest in the vessel, because of the claim filed against her by a New York bank. As she has been seized by the United States, the Cecile is really United States property for the time being under American law. There would be no necessity for the British to recognise this perculiar status on the high seas. There she would be a German merchantman liable to atack. To leave the steamship through the winter-at Bar Harbor, where ice would most inevitably destroy her, and would make the United States possibly liable to her German owners, and would rob American banks of their security. It is desired, therefore, to take hen to Boston or Nov/ York. That would mean a trip round Cape Cod, and there' a big vessel like the Cecile must go beyond the three-mile limit. It is hoped at Washington (says the New York correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph), that, in view of the'special circumstances of the case, the British Government will make concessions and : allow an .American Governme.it collier to tow the German peacefully to winter quarters.