LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 208, 11 February 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A complete change of programme is announced for the Royal and Umpire Pictures, both theatres featuring Ali:';c Joyce and Maurice Costello. The Awatuna Dairy Company soid '33 cases of cheese ex Turakina at an . verage of 87s, not Sss as previously I . .jted.—Lucky Awatuna! According to a contemporary it is stated on very good authority that large stocks of flour are being held in various parts of the. Dominion, especially in artificial and not due to scarcity. The British Board ol Trade lias issued a statement whicli shows that out of a total of 10,123 British steamships, 1 !)!)28 are still plying the sea, compared to only ten German boats which are known to be at sea- out of a total of 2090. One. of the finest country residences in New Zealand is "Paroiangi," the residence of Mr. Ernest Short, near Feilding. Containing over 40 rooms on one floor, the building has every modern convenience and luxury. The grounds surrounding the house cover "20 acres in lawns and gardens. It is anticipated by some wlio are In a position to form a correct opinion that the price of beef will be extremely high next winter, for the reason that the works are now killing cattle t-at are really only in store condition, thus drawing on supplies that would ordinarily be ready for killing by the winter. | Professor Fawsitt, of Sydney Univer- ! sity, who is on a short visit to Palmerston, informed a reporter that there was no visible increase in the cost of living in Sydney as a result of the war. Bread was still 3 1 / 2 a loaf when he left, though : there was some talk of increasing the I price to 4d. He appeared surprised to • learn that bread was about to cost 5d ' a loaf in Wellington.

. At the beginning of the war Germany was credited with the possession or 533 flying machines, of which 211 were monoplanes, 240 biplanes, and 82 naval aeroplanes and seaplanes. Of the Taube, or "dove" type of monoplano there were at that time 42, but it is claimed that this total has since been largely increased. ' France, at the beginning of hostilities, had 761 aeroplans of various types. But for the honesty of a British soldier, a famous Parisian actress would have lost lie.r satchel containing jewels valued at £SOOO. She unconsciously .dropped the satchel as she was getting into a taxi, and the soldier, who was passing along, picked it up and restored it to her. So pleased was the actress that she took off a valuable ring from her finger and presented it to the finder, faying: "This ees for your leetle English amie."

( The defence authorities consider that • they have just cause for complaint at j the action of some recruits for the Fxi noditionary Force who. after putting the j Department to a great deal of trouble ]to enlist them, fail ,t put in an ap- | pearanee when called up. They point out that if such men at heart have no intention of going with the reinforcei ments, they should not enlist. If, when i he is called up, a rocruit cannojt see his way clear to go through altered circumstances, lie should at least give the De- ' partment due notice.

The following extract from the Dunedin Star forty-four years ago has special significance at the present time, when wheat is unobtainable at 7s per bushel: —"A large farmer in the. Courtenav (Canterbury), who sent Home some 2000 bushels of wheat in one of the early ships last season, has received his account sales, and states that the entire cost of shipping (including loss of bags, interest on advances, and every other charge) was 2s Id per bushel from Christchurch. The wheat was sold for 52s a quarter, 6s Od per bushel, and netted 4s od a bushel to the exporter. The sacks were sold in England for'(id each."

What appears to have been a most dastardly action was perpetrated on the locally-trained trotter Utopia, says the Westport Times. The. horse was to have taken part in the recent races, and shortly after 8 o'clock was inspected by the owner and trainer, F. Iliggins, and seemed to be as fit us training could make it. About 11 o'clock when Mr. Iliggins went to get the horse he found that it had been badly injured at the knee, which was cut and swollen, evidently the deed of some miscreant. The engagement at the Trotting Club's meeting had to be cancelled. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police for investigation.

It is to be hoped (says the Christchurch Press) that New Zealand troops who are going to the front will be well supplied with tincture of iodine, and taught how to apply it to wounds. This war lias confirmed the high opinion previously held of its virtues as a sovereign specific for cleaning wounds and preventing them from developing tetanus, gangrene and other microbic diseases, which swell the mortality list in war. Many thousands of pounds have been subscribed in England to ensure a full supply of this preparation for troops, and an ingenious Frenchman has invented a little tube, about the siV.e of a pencil, containing a supply of iodine and a brush or pad for applying it. It is hermetically sealed, but the soldier having the use of only one hand can break the bulb and apply the dressing.

J The last time before the present war I when English people saw or heard an ! enemy's guns within their own waters j was in 1(567, in the inglorious days of . Charles 11. That was when a Dutch ' squadron under Admiral de Enyter aail- ; ed up the Mcdway as far as Rochester to burn English ships lying there; and 1 on a second visit entered the Thames to | attack Harwich and go as high as Gravesend Since then England has seen no signs of war, though the British Isles sufTered an abortive invasion when Napoleon sent Tloche oil the expedition to "Ireland. In the 250 years since then England has been inviolate, and, except for a few shells thrown from the sea, .shall remain inviolate still. (With modern steam and modern arms the islands are far nearer to the German coast, than they were to the Dutch coast in the seventeenth century, and navigators cannot now guess at the possible course of an enemy vessel as they could in the days when ships depended.so much on wind and tide.

The Miilhirst Dairy Company lias forwauled £IM) a 3 its first instalment to tlii' Eiiijiirc Defence Fund. 'J'lie vakii' of the choose- exported from Patea for the l-iontli of December was £1.70,7J 0. For the week February 2nd the amount was f78,352. At the Opiinake meeting of tin N.Z.I\K. on Saturday the chairman an nounced that the local contribution te the Belgian Itoliof Fund amounted to £!::■■> Ik dd i lie roll-number of the Htiatford triet High School is 755--the primary department claiming 592, and the secondary 10H. In view of the itnwicMihcsj of such a crowd of children, the 'disestablishment of the High School is being suggested.- -Post. "I'll take you over here to pot a feed/'' was the remark of a Broadway South baker as lie. pushed a man to the Stratford police station yesterday •iltcrnoon. Mr 11. Kerr came unawares ou the thief in his shop, cays the He cleared, and a smart cl.aso ended in the Pa tea river, where Mr K-irr got hold of his man. An interesting event occurred last week at the scene of the famous Turuturu Mokai engagement, remarks the Patea Press, veteran J. G. Beamish, of Patea, being photographed with liis son and grandson, whilst standing on the spot wheer he was wounded in the now historic fight. Veteran Beamish, who lost a brother in the engagement, was himself shot through the shoulder, but continued to light throughout the eventful night. The site of the redoubt which was held by the troops during the night can still be plainly traced, though the ground is gradually becoming levelled.

The Salvation Array is doing good work in England and on the Continent in connection with the war. It is housing homeless and friendless Belgians, sustaining life in humanity's underworld, earing for the soldiers in the military camps, and lias its relief party at the seat of war. In addition to all this, a practical expression of sympathy for the dying and wounrtcil has been given liy the donation of five specially Imilt and properly equipped ambulance, motors, manned by Salvationists, which are to operate between the firing l ! ne and the bases. Consequent upon these demands made upon the Army, an effort is being made in New Zealand to raise £IO,OOO to assist the Home corps in their work. Moneys collected will be Sorwarded direct to London, and New Zealanders are appealed to for assistance, irrespective of creed and class.

Golfers will be interested to learn that the Aga Khan, the great leader of the Moslems who did so much to check the Sultan's call for a Holy War, is a devotee of "the royal and ancient game." Writing for the benefit of the more sedate and conservative, of the Indians, who believed that exercise was good, but objected to cricket and football as being ''undignified," over-violent and dangerous," lie recommended golf to their favorable consideration. Besides being most beneficial, lie said: —"It is dignified, enough for a bishop or high priest, and it is most enjoyable." While we would not for one moment quest oil this dictum, says a contemporary, we have to confess that so far we .have never seen a bishop "bunkered" or a high priest miss his drive. Still, it would be unfair to assume without direct evidence to the contrary that either the dignity o? the ecclesiastics or their habitual restraint of language would be unequal to the strain.

Inexcusable bungling has marked the handling of mails intended for the Australian force in Egypt (says the Melbourne Argus.) At least three, and apparently four, times mails have passed through Suez without being landed. The letters addressed to the men in Egypt have been taken on to London. It will be learend with intense disappointment by relatives in Australia that the letters intended to reach Egypt by Christmas will not be. delivered there until well into the New Year. It will be equally disappointing to the men who at Christmas time would naturally expect greetings from their friends in Australia. The New Zealanders have received their Christmas letters, because, doubtless, their Defence Department has had the foresight to ensure this. Somebody has blundered, and the result is that many thousands of letters have been over-carried.

At the dinner to the Ohura visitors on Tuesday night, speakers stressed the importance of metalled road communication between Tar&naki and the Ohura. They urged the active co-opera-tion of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. The need for direct telephonic communication was also referred to. Mr. Penn said that both these matters had engaged the attention of the Chamber of Commerce and had not been lost sight of. Mr. Okey said that the Postmaster-General would probably be visiting New Plymoutii at an early date and the need for telephonic communication could then be placed before him. Another speaker said that it would cost £15,000 to make the road. The Government had made a grant of ,£SOOO, which was inadequate, and the Chamber should assist the settlers to get the balance from the Government. This road would bring the centre of the Ohura within 3>/ 3 hours motor drive of New Plymouth, and would movcovcr open up a fine tourist traffio route, permitting of overseas tourists coming on to Taranaki and seeing its great scenic attractions instead of going down the Main Trunk or the Wangatuii river. This traffic was assured as soon as the roads were improved or constructed.

After the naval action ofT the Chilian coast American newspapers were discussing the possibility of an avenging British squadron using the Panama Canal. Some Americans held the view that the canal should he closed to the warships of foreign belligerents, and during the debates in Congress some months ago several legislators made strenuous efforts to have this view crystallised in legislation. However, the privisions of the Ifay-Paunccfote Treaty of 11)01 still stand. iwd.these provide that the canal is to lie open to the vessels of commerce and ww of all nations 011 equal terms and 011 just and equitable conditions. It is never to be blockaded, nor are hostilities to take place in it, and belligerent ships while using it arc not to tai;e in supplies, except, in case of necessity, ( nor are they to take in munitions of war or to embark or disembark troops. Such ships are required to pass through the canal with the least possible, delay. All these provisions also apply to waters adjacent to the canal within three miles of either end. Belligerent warships are not to tarry in sueh waters beyond 24 hours except in case of distress; but it is also provided thi'.t a war vessel belonging to one belligerent shall not depart within 24 hours of j the departure of a warship belonging to 1 another belligerent.

Working men largely patronise tlic Melbourne. Ltd.. for the very pood ;cnson that t'lie firm's prices for working and other apparel are lower tlian comThis consistent underselling is due to tl'e strict adherence to the firm's ■wise police of Inlying selling for "spot" c.isli only. ____

■ A'local resident yeaterday picked t;|a lifolmoy on the New Plymouth beach. It- bore letters "A.W.K.," and appeared t,> have i>een i» tlie water a long time.

The secretary of tlu pukekura Park Hoard, Mr (J. 11. Drew, requests that "-11 those who borrowed fairy lamps at the liieworks display in the Park last night will return them to him as soon as possible, as the Hoard intends tlieso lamps on a future occasion.

Those who have read Lytton's enthrilling book, ''The Last Day's of Pompeii,'' wiil remember that despite the lepeated warnings frgm Mount Vesuvius, tl.c inhabitants deferred departure untii too late. Appearing in this issue is another "last day" warning—the last two days of Morev's sale. See that you avoid regrets by acting now.

Some suspicion was attached to the movements of a . stranger wandering round Blutl Hill yesterday, ,says an Invercargill tei-gram. He was observed to take several -photographs, and also make some sketches, witih the result that an eye-witness promptly reported the matter to Captain Nicol, of the local defence force. "When t)he individual returned to port lie was promptly arlest.ecl by a defence officer and a se 1 .- geant of police, and his camera seized. After a lengthy explanation, tha some what puzzled stranger succeeded in satisfying his eapturcn that lie was a -harmless tourist. His sketches were examined. and his iphotographic plates exposed to the light, He was then allowed to proceed to Invercargill.

A well-known resident of Nonnanbv telephoned its last night that he hiui been "tackled" during the day by the chairman of the Town Board as the writer of a paragraph concerning the street improvements about to bo undertaken. The sarcasm of the writer had evidently done its work. The. chairrepudiated any knowledge of a tarviating scheme, and said the Board, far from undertaking Avoric of this kind, had not a penny to buy a load of stone vitli, and so on. It is only fair to our informant to slate 1 tl'.at lie did not ,-upply the paragraph in question, nor that dealing with the alleged niggardliness of tli-; fanii'-'rs in regard to the war relief funds.

At the meeting of thj Waitara, 80,--oi'gli Council last week advice was rC' te:ved Mint tic obelisk to bo crested in tlic soldiers' cemetery at Waitara, to the memory of Lieutenant Brooks and thirty-three non-commissioned officers and men of the 40tli Regiment who foil in the attack 011 the Puketakauri Pah or. June 27th, lS'iiO, would arrive at any lime. Tlii) Council set up a committee, consisting of the Mayor, Councillor Bra-' hunt, and Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., to M'ranga for what inscription should he placed on the memorial. When in Auckland recently .Mr. Jennings saw Scrj;cant Baker and Mr Jeremiah Corn{.■an, both of whom took part in the engagement, and these gentlemen undertook to lind out the whereabouts of other members of the regiment, so that they may attend the unveiling of the memento to their deceased comrades.

1 The following is taken from a letter written by a Xew .Plymouth trooper in Egypt:—"in Colombo the natives were very shrewd, and beat us for a good bit ef change when v.'e bought anything from them, "'heir money is different to ours, and wo did not understand them, so they made the most of their chances. Through the Suez Canal is something •icrtli seeing. W"e came bv train from i Icxanlria to Cairo. We are about five miles from Cairo now, in a place called Heliopolis. There are electric trams running constantly, so it is not dull by any meam, and it only costs one penn'v farthing to go to Cairo, which is a little Reaper t'ir:n the Fibrov 'bus takes one from Fitzroy to Motorua for. The buil'dings are very pretty; they 'are quite an education. Our camp is on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Of course, we have a good ileal c.f marching, but it keens us .wonderfully well and flieartv, and wj are well looked after. ' It is altogether a grand iife."

Mr W. M FaVoner, F.1.A.Jf.55., of Weiiington, has joined Mr T. L. Buxton. Tublic accountant. The (inn will in future be known as '"Buxton a:i:i [■>.'■ <oner."