LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 192, 22 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

House rents are becoming easier in Auckland.

The cheapest gas in Great Britain is sold at Sheffield, where the price is Is 2d per 1000 cubic feet.

Enormous catches of eels have recently been made at the Wairongomai 1: ice, Otaki, and many natives have them now under preparation for salting.

The wharf earnings in Napier for the year were £43,858, an increase of £5834 compared with the previous year.

When the Emden was sighted, and half an hour before the fight commenced, H.A.M.S. Sydney's commander assembled the men for prayers.

Mr. J. W. M'Ewan (Mayor of Petone) in reply to an enquiry at the Council table, said that there was less distress in Petone at the present time than had been the case for years past.

A mean theft was perpetrated in Masterton last week. A little girl had a handbag she was carrying snatched out of her hand by a man, who quickly disappeared. Fortunately the bag ' only contained a shilling. The Farmers' Union Mounted Rifle Club promises to be a very powerful organisation before very long. The membership for the Auckland province is expected to exceed 1000. The objects of the corps are "the preservation of our rights, the maintenance of law and order, and the defence of our country."'

According to the Federal PostmasterGeneral, the Hon. W. G. Spence, Australians are greatest letter writers in the world. Last week he annouacud that over 500,000,000 letters and postcards, which did not include registered letters, were dealt with by the Commonwealth Postal Department last year. Including parcels and registered letters, the number was 800,000,000.

Judge Cluer, of the Shorcditch County Court, who is in his sixty-third year, has joined the English High Courts of Justice Voluntary Training Corps. '-I am a private," he said, "<iad I expect I shall remain one till I am shot by soine-body. I am drilling from seven to eight every morning, and I feel much more fit and capable for it than I did when I was forty."

Work has been fairly brisk on the Auckland waterfront during the week (says the Auckland Herald of Saturday last), and there has been comparatively little unemployment among the waterside workers. The Auckland union has a membership of about 1500. While the whole of the waterside labor was not absorbed _ locally during the week, the position is not regarded with any anxiety. Next week is expected to be a busy one for watersiders at this port, as several vessels will be loading and ununloading.

One of the most interesting, and at! the same time instructive, sights to be seen around Rotorua is the work of afforestation the Government has been pusiiing forward during the past few years. Between Rotorua and Waimangu acres upon acres of hillside have been planted by prison labor. The rows of trees are in perfect alignment and provide a good object lesson of symmetrical planting. The young shrubs come from the State nurseries at Whakarcwarewa, where, on the hills surfounding that wonderland, the Government ha'.i also carried out a comprehensive scheme of planting.

A resident of Rangitikei purchased a motor car, and having learned the rudiments of driving, thought he would impart what knowledge he possessed to one of his daughters. The party got seated all right, and set things moving for a start, when the car started rather suddenly and headed for the creek. The juvonile driver did not know exactly what to do, but both the owner of the car and his daughter managed to get out before the car plunged over a 12ft embankment into about Sft of water.

The Egyptian Mail says the conduct of the colonial troops in that country is above all praise. "All these men," it states, "are young men, full of health and energy, and most of them look men of good families, while the manner in which they spend their money indicates that they are men of wealthy families. A private soldier is seen eating in the best restaurants, going about in a motor car and never bargaining for what lie buys." The Mail draws the attention of tlie General Officer Commanding to the fact that the opulent young men are being shamelessly exploited by the tradespeople.

In Ml 4, the estimated population of Auckland and suburbs was 113,334, of Christehurch and suburbs 85,940, Wellington and suburbs 74,760, Dunedin and suburbs 08,604, lnvercargill an,d suburbs 17,809, Waiiganui anil suburbs 10,746. Then came Timaru 12,702, Napier 12,028, Palmerston North 112,042, Gisborne 11,575, Nelson 8705, New Plymouth 75)83. The above figures, which are taken from the just-issued N.Z. Official Year Boo'c, are, however, calculated only to April last, and it is possible that the growth sinee may have varied somewhat tlie order in which the towns follow each other.

Much dissatisfaction is being expressed by the residents of Roturoa, according to the local Chronicle, at their inability to obtain trout, either fresh or smoked, from the Tourist Department fish depot. In reply to enquiries as to why such a state of affairs exists, the paper it has been informed that for some time past from Ocwt to Bcwt of frjsh trout have teen forwarded weekly io the military camp at Auckland, 'thus creating a scarcity at Roturoa. The writer adds: '"While we agree that the boys who have enlisted to do service at the front should be well catered for, we consider that other food than fish might be supplied to them. They are not likely to get either freßh or smoked trout when they go into active service, and it would be just as well to wean them gradually from a fish diet, and at the same time enable visitors and residents to now and again enjoy trout for breakfast."

There is not the slightest doubt that the best class of man which the Dominion lias sent away to the front is the bushmen. Recently three magnificent specimens of New' Zealand's manhood came into Wanganui on completing a bush contract in the back-blocks, and lifted a cheque for £3OO. "Where are you cutting out next?" asked their employer. "Belgium," was the prompt response. Two days later local residents saw the trio in dungaree garb marching to the railway station, en route +o Trentham. One of the men was of exceptional physique. His companions averred that he worked from daylight to dark, and ran from tree to tree. Another bushman at Raetihi threw up his work, at which he .vas clearing £7 a week. "My mates have all volunteered." he said by way of explanation, "and I'm off, too." It is stated in well-informed circles that there will be a great scarcity of bushmen on the West Coast during the coming winter. Wanganui Chronicle.

During summer months children are subject to disorders of the bowels, and should receive most careful attention. If looseness of Wie bowels is noticed Chamberlain's Colic and Diarrhoea Remedy should be giveH. Children teething have more or less diarrhoea whioh can be controlled by giving Chamberlain's Colic and Diarrhoea Remedy at once. ,SoJ(J by all chemists and storekeeptn. j

1 To-morrow lie Royal Pictures are allowing' many fine films. Foremost is "A Woman's Way," a stirring tale of lore.

This year the "Glorious Fourth," the great day of our American friends, will be for New Plymouth people the fourth of February next—the date of the grand fete in P'ukekura Park.

Several breaches of the borough bylaws were dealt with at yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court. S. T. Joll, for riding a. bicycle without a light, was fined 5s and costs 7s. E. B. Honey field, for leaving a cab unattended, was fined 5s and costs 7s. Chew Chong, for using a fixed hose on his garden, was fined 5s and costs 7s. G. Bewley, for riding a bicycle along the Esplanade, was ordered to pay 7s costs.

Mrs Cory, proprietress of the Recreation Tea Kiosk, has notified the Floral Fete Committee that she is willing to close down the Kiosk on the 4th February, go that it may not clash with the arrangements for supplying tea on that day. The offer is much' appreciated by the Victoria League, and should commend itself to the general public.

Since ttio recent earthquake at Tokaloaru Bay a lengthy fissure extending about a mile hao made its appearance on the high range of hills near the township. The crack, which has opened as much as eight and ten inches, runs about parallel with the ridge, and ii is possible to push off large sections of earth down the hillside.

In view of the present shortage of wheat in .Vow Zealand, it is hoped that a larger area will be placed under cultivation for next season. Forms are being sent out to farmers and others in connection with the collection, of agricultural and pastoral statistics for the purpose of ascartaining the estimated yields. Particulars lelating to areas under cultivation were obtained some time ago. Farmers are particularly desired to exercise care in giving details of their wheat cultivation.

It would appear that sharks are extremely numerous in Gisborne waters at the present time (says the Times). Following the report of the presence of four sharks at Wainui beach, a reporter was informed that four sharks appeared on the Waikane side of the groyne about i o'clock on Monday afternoon, and made themselves a perfect nuisance to persons who were fishing off the groyne. The big monsters played havoc with baits and snapped lines is if they had been so many silken threads. Fuil views of a couple of the sharks were obtained, on> being about Bft., long and the other 10ft.

A gentleman closely associated with the dairy industry affirms that one of the largest companies in the llawera district had no trwer than 300 crates of cheese of last month's make still in store in New Zealand owing to the lack of shipping facilities. Ha considers that 1800 of these should ihave been on tbe water by now. The delay in forwarding shipments upset everything hy the time the twentieth of the month came round. 1

The Westown Baptist Sunday School picnic was held yesterday a 6 Mr Billing's grounds, on Eliot road. The weather was delightful, the company was good, and it was a very enjoyable picnic altogether, the shade of the native bush and Mr Billing's kindness in showing the visitors over the garden being both fully appreciated. Tea was served under a magnificent elm, planted by Mr Billing's father a great many years ago. The total of the Auckland provincial Belgian fund is steadily increasing, having now reached £41,567 3s 9d.