LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 205, 6 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Wanganui lady during last year took 377 books from the public library, all being works of fiction.

On the motion of Mr Quilliam (Govett and Quilliam) the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted probate of the will of Herbert Bloomer Curtis, of Inglewood.

'•'he tram*, ay takings in Wangtiuiii Icr January were a record. They amounted to £2050 Gs lid, which, when compared with the takings for January, 1914, £954 ltis 6d, gives an increase for the month of i'HC 0s sd.

The Australians are encamped at tin Pyramids, and are a rough lot. They are -nearly all drunk by 10 p.m, and make themselves very obstreperous.— Extract from a.New Zealander's lettor. ... £ls

On the application of Mr H. R. Billing (Weston and Weston), Mr Justice Edwards, on the 2nd inst., granted probate of the late Mr John Buckley's will to the executrix named therein, and also probate of the will of the late Thomas Francis Giddy to the executors and executrix named therein.

'I he oldest, theatre in America is in the City of Mexico. It is eailod the Teatro Principal, and was built in 1721 by the brothers of San Hipolito, in order that funds could be obtained for the maintenance of the hospital run by the Order. In 1753 it was replaced by a larger building, and in 1824 the playhouse was transferred to the Cottage of San Gregorio, and in 184G it was acquired by a private synidcate. Since then it has been used for the production of Spanish operetta.

A startling incident is reported in an Australian paper to have occurred to two fishermen. They report that when they were going to the fishing grounds at Cape Bridge-water before daylight, a large whale rose immediately under their boat, lifting it bodily. Tlie boat slid off the whale backwards into the water. Tlie stern was submerged and the water flowed in, nearly swamping the boat. Tlie forward ballast was thrown aft. Only by great exertions were the men able to reduce the water and make the boat fit to . proceed on; her way.

At the meeting of the Patea Harbor Board the pilot reported that the channel over the bar was straight, but very shallow, being only about Oft Gin at low water spring tides, and only about GOft Wide. He had never seen the entrance so bad since he had been at the. station. He could not say what water would be there at next spring tides, but unbss it improved boats would not be able to work at low tides. Twenty-six vessels had arrived and 27 departed during the month, and there was a lot of bumping and dragging both coming in and going out.

I The wife of General Mevtzinger, a distinguished French officer, whose son, a captain in the army, was recently wounded, was travelling from Switzerland to Lorraine. She overhead a conversation between two German officers during a rainstorm. One said, "Oh, I , left my umbrella at a hotel in Paris." the other replied: "Never fear, yon will be able to go and get it next week." I "Pray, do not trouble yourselves," interrupted Madame Mctzj'nger; "my son, who is a captain in the French army, will undertake to bring it to Berlin himself." JUST WHAT YOU NEED. Laxo-Tonic Pills can be taken at all times and under all conditions by both voting and old alike without the slightest risk, and without danger of unpleasant after-effects. Laxo-Tonic Pills assist the processes of nature, give relish to the food, removing exhaustion, sick headache, and many other ailments. J,axo-Tonic Pills are a popular pill at a popular price. Obtainable everywhere.

The Kaupokonui Company has just received word that 1500 eases of cheesa •pui- s.s. Rakaia realised 85s 6d 'per ewt. This is practically equal to 170s (id for butter.

I'he "Fitzroy committee are very pleased with the takings at their tea ten' at the Fete. With a, few exceptions, al contributed. Tent) 9, cartinj?, crockery, 'etc., were all lent. Smart road and Bell Block were- generous, too, in eU'u ;• money or cakes. Expense's were n : . Result, £l7 Us for the fund.

After our figures were obtained at the various stalls at Thursday's Fete, the funds were further augmented in one or two instances, and the figures should now read: Jumble stall, £24 3s Id. Vogeltown tea kiosk, £7 lis 7d.

In our report of the appeal case heard in the Supreme Court on Thursday, Joseph Speight v. Herbert P. 11. 'Graves, we omitted to state that Mr A. If. Johnstone acted for appellant and 'Mr E. Spenco for respondent.

An American was waiting for a train at Bedford, when his curiosity was nroused by a company of soldiers forming into line along the, platform and standing smartly at attention. Soon an engine drawing on<> coach rushed through the station at sixty miles an hour. The sergeant then marched the company off. Wondering somewhat, the traveller buttonholed one of the soldiers, named Murphy. "Say, was there some eminent person travelling by that train ?" he asked. "There was that," replied Murphy. "Did you see that fellow hanging out of the window with a note-book in his hand. It was the battalion tailor measuring us for our new uniforms."

'J-'id you read of the glorious charge of our regiment i n Belgium? Along with the Scots Greyg, we charged, through and through the German hordes until men and horses were thoroughly exhausted. The Germans ran like rats from our lances. They could not siand our riiles even, hut when it came to cold fteol, 1 think the Teutons' bbXI fni?» in their veins. The battlefield was in an awful mess when we. did slacken up at last. My word, it was great to hear our fellows, when the 'Charge' sounded. There was one terrific yell, which you never heard the like of, and, like an avalanche, the regime'Jt formed line and swooped down on the rncmy like a ytlling horde of demons. As one prisoner said, it was like all the fiends of hell let loose."—Private W. Allen, of the 12th Lancers, to his family at West Ealing.

Among the regiments which have particularly distinguished themselves during the fighting in the Soissons neighborhood; is the Foreign Legion, is whose ranks are included many Englishmen and Americans. The Legion is reported again and again to have repulsed fierce German onslaughts upon the French trenches -with, a dash and daring that has bee n an example to every other regiment in that part of the line. Recently, headed by an American, and 'a. former wrestler, Symons a handful of the Legion is said to have thrown back about four times their own numbers one of the fiercest hand-to-hand encounters of the war. A postcard was recently relieved from a soldier of the Legion, who, just before he went into battle, wrote: "We are going into the trenches at 4000 strong. If we come out with 1500 strong, we will be lucky."

Wo give the Auckland Star credit for the following, which possesses a "fishy" flavor:—"A peculiar ravenous seizure has taken possession of cattle in certain portions of Northcotc and Takapuna districts. This is believed to be due in some measure to the dry season causing an absence of some necessary substance in the animals' food which sets up a craving for that particular kind of diet. When turned into pasturage, the cattle chew bones, tins, iro n pipes, or other similar articles they- come across, with serious results. One settler had four cows die, while other settlers had to requisition the services of a veterinary surgeon. An analysis of a devoured golf ball is to be made, with a view to discovering the constituent which leads the cattle to mistake such indigestibe matter for a daintv morsel. Should the exact substance lacking be ascertained, the hunger c uld be appeased by mixing it with food or drinking water."

A New Zealand trooper, writing from Egypt to a friend in Wellington, states:—"When we, left New Zealand, it was generally understood, that there were plenty of comforts put on board, and I can sav this for the Star of India (H.M.N.Z.T. No. sj, we have not seen any of them. There was a quantity of cake, but it was rotten when taken out of the hold. The fruit also was allowed to go rotten, and had to be thrown overboard, together with five cases of ham and: bacon. The troops had to be content to eat the worst of everything while the officers (who told us we were gorging ourselves) were enjoying the fat of the land—seven meals a day. Our breakfast menu consisted of either stew made from the flaps of mutton, porridge, coffee, ox livers, sausages, steak or chops! and fish on Fridays. The heat in the Bed Sea was dreadful, but we got only one bottle of limejuice to forty men. Here are some of the canteen prices:— Shaving brushes (sold generally for 6d) 2s; quart bottles of drinks, is; pints fid; pine-apples, (New Zealand price four tins for Is) fid a tin; 21ba of fruit. Is (id; Kno'ft fruit salts, 3s; pipes (usual price, (is (id a dozen), Is 3d each."

Writes Mr Arthur Carbines to a friend in New Plymouth:—"Going through the Suez Canal we had a strong armed guard, together with machine guns and cannon mounted on board in case of trouble, as previously there was some! snipe shooting and about 40 killed and wounded on one of the transports. We started through the Canal at about 12 noon, and got to Port Said at 1 a.m. the following morning. Despite the expected trouble, we had a concert on the deck and came through without troubling.Now and again we would come across pickets of Indian troops on the Arabian side, exchanging cheers as we passed. A beautiful moonlight night favored us. We had some first-class talent on board, consequently resulting in many good concerts. I was official pianist and enjoyed the evenings greatly. Cur camp is pitched about five miles out of Cairo between Zeitoun and Jfleliopolis, where all the New Zealanders and fifteen thousand of the English troops are under canvas. Our tents are pitched on the desert sands, nnd the marching is very heavy. I think the boys could climb Mt, Kgmont now carrying a New Plymouth girl each, without any trouble. I went to a picture show in Cairo, and can say that our programmes at New Plymouth ca n compare very well with them. All the titles are in French. The charges are 5d to Is ,'kl and the shows are very well patronised. You see very few English here, the attendance being mostly by Egyptians and Oreeks. The French language is spoken a lot here."

"Are our young men safe?" is announced as the sermon theme of the Rev. A. B. Chappell at Whiteley Memorial Church to-morrow night. Mt A. Gray will sing "Absalom" (Lindsay), and tfha anthem will be Gale's "Hail, Gladdening Light." In the morning Mr Chappcll will conclude his sermons on "The Apostles," with a discourse on ' "The Great Succession: a )Study in Privileges." A special trip will be made to Ok'ato to-night by th c Transport Company's motor 'bus, if sufficient inducement offers, leaving Bank of N.Z. corner at io.]s. .L/C!"!";!

Tlie Wanganui Herald states that a boy, while going in for a bathe at Castlecliff on Wednesday afternoon, was .bitten just above the l<nee by a shark. Medical aid was necessary.

The New Plymouth municipal batilis are not paying. The Baths Committee bave come to the conclusion that wihat is required is publicity, so they are going to advertise. Tliey appear to nave made the discovery tjnat the concern cannot be iuii successfully without newspaper advertising. A goO'i many tourists visit New I'iyniouth, and how nr-.( they to know that tliere arc splendid sea water swimming baths at tlieir disposal unless the tact is advertised? -N'o private .business man would ihave attempted to run them without advertising.—Kltham Argus.

In referring to tile state of the money n.'i.rket, the Trade lie view says that, judging by the splendid volume and prices of the exports for the season, the improvement shown in the last banking 'returns must be rapidly increasing now. ';Our exports for the year I'JH totalled over twenty-six millions, while, though the figures are not yet available, we should estimate our imports at about •twenty-one o: .possibly twenty-two millions, which leaves a handsome surplus—more than is needed to pay our outside obligations. During the current quarter the realisation.", from exports will be coining in and providing a good supply of funds fur genera! purposes, and money should bo fairly plentiful, ft is hardly likely that rates, will ease materially, as th''re will probably be 'good demand for money, and it is quite possible that some requirement's may be filled locally, which at other ■times would liave been placed in the London market."