LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 208, 10 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Eltham Fire Brigade is sending a team to compete at the Fire Brigades demonstration at Tiniaru this month.

During January there were admitted to the Stratford Hospital 1-1 patients, 13 were discharged, and one died, the number in the hospital at the end of the month being 13. •

The Toko school held its annual picnic at the East End beach yesterday. There was a large attendance of children and parents, and the day being gloriously fine, a most enjoyable day was spent amid the delights of the seaside.

At the last meeting of the Stratford liorough Council there was a prolonged discussion over the question of not conlining tile purchase of cement to one particular brand, so that all the local agents for cement could have a turn. Eventually it was decided to let the orders go round, a proposal to draw lots being turned down.

An odd proposal to drain Lake llotoaira, which is situated on the Waimr.rino Plains, into the upper waters of tlie AVanganui Biver, is being renewed. The Taumaninui correspondent of the New Zealand Herald states that the object in view is to increase the volume ol water ill the iWangMiui river, but it is considered doubtful if there will be any considerable efl'ect, as the catchment area of the lake is not great.

Members rf the Taranaki Pluinpton Coursing 'Club are reminded of the 'adjourned annual meeting to-night at the Royal Hotel.

On the application of Mr .11. E. Lawrence, letters of administration of tin estate of the late Mr C. A. Saudliolm, ;i Midhirjt, were granted on 2nd iust. b llie Supreme Court to Mi's Marf.iv Sandholm.

In t ie Supreme Court in chambers on the 2nd instant, upon the application of •Mr Stanford, probatj of the will of Margaret Coleman, late of New Plymouth. deceased, was granted to tiie executors therein named, by his Honor, -Mr Justice Edwards.

. An Auckland telegram states that on it being pointed out to Mr Ma?scy that the) price of bread in Auckland 'had been raised tj fivepcnce the two-pound loaf, he stated that he intended to ask the i-bainii.in oi the Food Commission to investigate (lie matter and report whether there wan sufficient reason' for the increase.

A party of some .10 prisoners serving indeterminate sentences is camped on the Waimarino Plains, some five miles from the Waimarino railway station, and is at work on the formation <•■'

new tourist road from the Main Trunk railway to Kaanu. The work is laid out by engineers of the Public Works Department, and supervised by warders.

Ihe Evening Post (Wellington) on •don-lny celebrated its jubilee, and narked the occasion with an illustrated issue of twenty-four pages, containing an interesting leview of Wellington's T-rogress during trhe past fifty years. The proprietors, editor, and staff are to be congratulated both on the occasion and on the highly interesting issue with ,c 'i ™ e .y have commemorated it.

The latest invention, the discoverv of which is due to a special demand created ny the European war (says a Reutcr Chicago message) is that of a machine designed to dig graves. A Chicago concern has perfected the device, and has started upon 13 of the machines, which have been ordered by two of the allied nations. The new machine, it is said, can also be. made of use in the digging ol trenches.

The secretary of the Taranaki Agricultural Society has received a pound note for a member's subscription, but no name was enclosed in the. envelope. The sender apparently resides in Waitara, as the Waitara post mark was on the envelope. The secretary would be pleased to hear from the member who so forwarded his subscription.

American humor takes peculiar turns. Here is a specimen, culled from an American paper:—A dress suit, in excellent condition, was discovered in a collection of clothing that was being gotten together for th,e needy Belgians. At first it was thought that it had gotten into a pile of clothing bv mistake, and the garment was searched in hopes of finding some clue to the owner. On the sleeves was pinned this note: "This suit is contributed in the hope that some, good self-respecting Belgian gentleman may have something suitable to wear to the funeral of the German Kaiser."

Delegates representing the 45 branches of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants have been elected, and will meet in Wellington on Monday, February 22, for the society's triennial conference. This is the first occasion -on which the conference will be held in the society's own freehold building, recently erected in Aitkin street. -Mr. W. T. Wilson, of Palmerston North, president of the society, will be in the chair for tlie conference. About 150 remits from various branches, dealing with railway questions, the cost of living, the method of electing delegates, and other matters are to be discussed.

The point whether a man with an injured hand claim expenses for loss of wages when giving evidence in the Court cropped up in the Inverfargill Police Court the other day. The man (says tlie Southland Times) was called in a motor accident case, and Inspector Norwood claimed that he was entitled -to witness's expenses, but the solicitor for the defendant asked the Bench to decide whether a man with an injured hand, who would not he able to work in any ease, was entitled to claim wages. The witness said that he. had to pay another man to do his work in the meantime. The inspector insisted that the witness was entitled to expenses, which were eventually allowed.

The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Ministers' Association watf held at the St. Andrew's manse on Monday afternoon. Arrangements were made for the Bible lessons at the public schools for the. ensuing year, and other routine business was attended to. Considerable time was devoted to the consideration of the urgent need for universal prayer in view of the existing crisis in Europe, and the following resolution was unanimously adopted:—"That our people be urged to join with others at the midday ringing of the bell of St. Mary's in petition in connection with the present European struggle; praying for our King and country, our statesmen, our soldiers and sailor's, our Expeditionary forces. our Allies, and the speedy coming of a. righteous peace."

j A native of Holland, who, with his wife, came out to New Zealand by the Corinthie, spoke, while conversing with an Otago Daily Times reporter on Friday last, in eulogistic terms of his impressions of this country. "The climate is good, hut I have not got accustomed to the cold weather," he remarked, with a smile. He greatly admired the patriotism of the Dominion, and his trip had served to demonstrate to him the power and influence of the mighty and scattered "British Empire. When it was suggested that Holland might take sides against tlie Allies in the war he laughed the idea, to ridicule. "No, 110," lie exclaimed, rising his hands to emphasise his contention, "Holland would never, never, go to war against Britain. 'When the conflict commenced there was some feeling 011 the side of Germany, but since the terrible destruction of eatlied- j rn.ls and churches has been heard of, the Dutch Catholics, who are numerous, I have taken a very definite stand, anta-' gonistic to Germany." I

At a meeting of the East End Committer hell in tlie L'iivilion on .Monday night. .Mr A. Milne presided over an attendance ol 1-1 members. The following wire appointed a subcommittee to confer with the lion, architect, Air V. Grifiitlis. in connection with the proposed extensions to tile pavilion and sanitary conveniences: Messrs W. Koch, A. Alilne and J. llevell. The river committer were authorised to procure the necessary wire to protect the banks of the liver. !t was decided to buy towels ami bathing costumes, in order to provide for the increased attendance at the reserve, and to number the bathing costume*. Ah- Alilne reported that electric light had now been permanently installed in the ladies' bathing shed. It was reported tihat everything was going on splendidly for tile fete to be held on the river on the night of Thursday, February IS. The committee decided to ■purchase all tables, forms, trestles, etc., from the Road Race Committee for ff>. Air P. J. Flanagan was granted the grazing rights of the section used by the donkeys, the terms being the same as previously. The following were added to the committee: Messrs W. Hardwick. F. Danks, L. Lealand, P. Mason J and F. Wadman.

The High 'School Board has received notification of the appointment by the Government of Messrs A. McHardy and E. P. Webster to fill vacancies on the Foard.

A Sydney cablegram states that Mr Arthur Adams has just had two plays accepted, ''Miss Pretty and the Preirier." bv Arthur Bourchier, London, and i children's play by Beaumont Smith, for Australasian production.

During the course of a lecture at Waimate Dean Kegnault stated (says the Times) that be had two brothers and six nephews at the front, and in conversation the parish priest at Fairlie told him that he had three nephews with the colors.

A London cablegram reports the death of Lord Londonderry, the oth Marquess, at tiie age of 03. Hs was one of the leadirs of the Conservative Party. He was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland IUSd-MO, and as Postmaster-General became a meii'brr of the Cabinet in 18!)!). He v.':U' President of the Board of Education in the Balfour Administration 1002-5. lie owned 50,400 acres, and is succeeded bv bis only son, Viscount Castlereagli, M.P

Letters received by Mr 11. 11. Pitcner, of Fort street, Auckland, show that his brother, Captain D. L. Pitcher, an aviator, went with the British troops to France, in August. He flew from England to Boulogne and Brussels, and was engaged in the fighting at Mons, the Mame, and the Aisne. Captain Pitcher has been fired at by French, Germans, and British, but, so far, has not been injured. He has now been promoted to be flag-commander, and ha 3 been sent Home to organise an aerial squadron of 13 officers.

When referring to the cost of the contract work at the Powdcrham stfeet culvert at Monday night's meeting of the Borough Council, Cr. Kibby. drew pointed attention to the fact that the contract price was £1550, but the extras mounted up to £502. "I would like to note that fact in connection with tae tramways contract," added the Councillor, "for if on a contract of £1550 the t-xtras were nearly £6OO, what may be expected with regard to a contract-of £47,500? Even allowing at the rate of only one half the proportion of extras for the Powdcrham street contract, how would the Council stand witli a margin of only .€2000':" The question was unanswered.

The Fitzroy School re-opened 0 n Monday with an attendance of 100, as compared with 107 at the corresponding period last year. Of those who gained proficiency certificates, two giib and two boys have proceeded to the IligU School, and all the others except one have joined classes at the Technical College. The children and the five teachers were all looking the better for the holidays. During the recess a portion of the scliool grounds has been asphalted, an improvement that should be of great benefit. When funds permit, i lci-tric light is to be .'nstalled in one of the class rooms.

Max Pemberton's great spy story, "Kronstadt," is drawing heavily at the Empire Theatre. It is shown finally tonight.

Mr Bernard Byrn announces in this iisue that Messrs T. Bransgrove and Co., of the Imperial Garage, Devon street, are in no way connected with the Overland or Ilupmobile cars, or Thornycroft and Willy's commercial waggons, and that lie is in no way connected with Messrs Bransgrove and Co. All correspondence should lie addressed t<> Box 140. New Plymouth.