LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 241, 20 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The sum of £SOO is to be expended on the additions to the Kaponga Post Office. Tlie Pharmacy Board has agreed that A section of the examination of chemists' apprentices will be held at New Plymouth. On account of the wet weather, the Uruti sports, fixed for Thursday last, were postponed till Tuesday next, the 23rd inst. It is stated that land in the central portion of Trafalgar street, Nelson, has changed bands recently at £ll7 and £l2O per foot.

The usual monthly meeting day of the Taranaki County Council falls on the Tuesday after Raster, and has, therefore, been postponed until the next day, Wednesday.

llesidental flats are becoming increasingly popular in Auckland and Wellington. This class of building has received an impetus im the latter city owing to the scarcity of houses.

iAt Inglewood yesterday, arising out of the recent conviction of a hotelkeeper for Sunday trading, two local residents were fined for being on licensed premises during closing hours. Entries for the dairy competitions at the Waikato winter show total 292, a record for the show and the Dominion. These are solely confined to factory exhibits, and come from all parts of tlie Domionion.—Press Association. "The trouble with .scarlet fever is that some people get it and do not know it, and that is why we cannot stamp it out," stateda member at Thursday's mooting of the Hawera Hospital Board, during the consideration of a report of the health officer 011 a case.

An effort is being made in Kakaramea to form a co-operative dairy company there. The Press understands that already some COO cows have been promised, and there is every prospect of the new company being registered in tinnear future.

The Moumahaki Experimental Farm is going in very largely for cultivating lucerne. The results, so far, are simply astonishing. The manager claims that they have taken in hay, green fodler, etc., equal to £3OO in'value off 15 icres in one year.

The Auckland Master Bakers' Assr-i----ation yesterday decided almost unanimously to make 110 further increase at present 011 the price of the 21b loaf, which is ml. The association considered that the market for flour showed a hardening tendency, and that bakers would be compelled to eventually further increase their prices.

The New Zealand Dairy Association has been advised that the Russian Government has prohibited the export-of butter. This will greatly reduce the Russian supplies on the London market, and will cause an incroaesd demand for New Zealand butter there. London advices state that there is every reason to expect that the present high prices will continue.

An IClthiim boy who went with the first expeditionary force to Egypt, writing In relations here from Cairo, says the talk about the throateutting episode in the low quarters of Cairo is "all bunkum." "Why, we never go near the low ipiarte.rs," he continues, "except when the sun is shining pretty bright. Viewing tliem from a distance is good enough for most of us." *

' A new brewery building is to b« erected in Wellington for Messrs Staples and Co., at a cost of £13,000. The building will b& erected on the skeleton steel frame principle, with brick .walls concrete floors throught, and a steel roof covered with asbestos slates, and wiit throughout be as nearly fire resistant us a building can be. ' The West End picnic on Easter Monday is undoubtedly going to be t! » big attraction in" New Plymouth on that day. The procession is already being much talked about, particularly the menagerie portion. Trains stop at Morlcy, &treet, at the park entrance, to which place country patrons are invited to book.

Speaking at tho Harbor Board meeting yesterday, Mr. Newton King-read' some interesting extracts from a letter which he said ho had received from his principals at Home. One shipping company alone bad 25 large steam vessels commandeered by the Government, while another had berthed four in succession, only to have each similarly treated. Mr. A. E. S.vkes has received a letter from Mr. S. E. Meredith, on behalf of the Ohura visitors, thanking him for his kindness in allowing them over his factory. "The very friendly spirit shown to the Ohura visitors," adds Mr. Meredith, "will always be appreciated by them, and I feel sure that healthy cooperation will be the result of these visits of the two districts."

It is related —we do not vouch for the accuracy of the story—that in his capacity as magistrate, tho late. "Rolf B6ldrcwood" whose, death in England was cabled a few days back, once "tried for theft a toy who was said to have been led astray by reading pernicious books of adventure. After admonishing him his Worship asked him what he had been reading.. "Robbery Under Arms " was the reply. '

At the Harbor Board meeting yesterday the chairman (Sir. Connett) declared that M. Marchant, consulting en<*inecr to the Board, had essurod him that the local harbor possessed better facilities some time ago than did Timaru when the big boats called there. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson said tlio harbormaster's report showed the soundings of the harbor were more favorable than they had ever been before.

Discussing the rule or law in respeat of the driving of motor cars, his Honor Mr. Justice Cooper state.d the other day that the drivers of motor cars were bound to exercise reasonable diligence and prudence, which ordinarily skilful drivers of such machines were aecustomed to use, but if for the want of the exercise of such reasonable skill a person was killed, there was a prima facie case. His statement of the law on this point had been upheld by the Court of Appeal.

A contortionist in Sydney remarked to a pressman: "I'll let you into a physical culture secret. Die you ever know a man beginning to develop pauncliiness and getting ashamed of it? I believe such men do exist. Well, let that' fellow with the growing anxiety under his waist keep performing a simple extension motion—arms at full length above the head, then stoop with straight knees till he touches his toes. Do enough of that, and he'll need nothing else—and there will be 110 paunch." Every- good paper has a soul, and'this makes its advertising /tfective and valuable. Behind big awertising blotches on the top of buildings there is nothing but wind; behind the advertising placards in railway cars and stations tlier" is nothing but dead wood; the only live advertisements that produce results are in the newspapers, and especially iii the papers that go into every home and' are not so large that an ordinary advertisement is lost in them like a diamond in a heap of cobblestones.

. ' Sa y* the Waipawa Mail: The raising of squabs (pigeons) for table use. is quite a large industry in the United States, but so far lias not been developed in this country (states the Sydney Daily Telegraph.) Special attention and Unlimited expense have, during the last two years, been devoted by American breeders to increasing the 'size of the birds, until - to-day they have pigeons nearly as large as small'fowls. They are sold for the table when they are'four weeks old.

.\onraerts, the German Socialist organ, publishes an historic document. It was sent by the authorities to all guardians of minors in the district of Oberstein in Prussia and runs as follows: "You are urgently requested to make the minors under your care enter the special junior organisations formed to prepare for the army young men of l(i and, if of good physique, of 15 years of If you fail to do so within a period of one month, without giving sufficient reason to the authorities, you will bo fined £15."

There is a somewhat unusual demand by investors for suitable investments —that is, gilt edged securities. Money is freely offering in various sums at 5S per cent and borrowers in this diswith rural land as security, have no difficulty in obtaining the amounts they require at reasonable rates of interest. This is rather singular considering the fact that the. greatest war the world has ever seen is still in progress, and it may be taken as an evidence of the confidence investors have in the stability of this country. The cessation of hostilities in Europe will, probably, open up other channels for investment, and this will have the natural effect of reducing the amounts now available here.

On Thursday afternoon Mrs. Jarvis and the girls of her Bible Class held a very pleasant' afternoon in St. Andrew's Sunday School hall, the object being to send help to the Belgian poor. Imitations were sent out, «nd a charge for admission was made of a silver coin. The original purpose was to hold the function in the open at Mrs. Jarvis' home, but the rain compelled them to seek the shelter of the hall. Afternoon tea was provided, and sweets and fruit salad sold. During the course of the afternoon songs were sung by Mrs. McWhirter and Mrs. McNeil; «,liss Smith gave a pianoforte solo, and Rev. Boseveare a recitation. The young people met again in the evening in Mrs. Jarvis' home, Pukenui Street, when a most enjoyable time was spent in music and games! As a- result, the class will have about £5 to contribute to the fund.

Japan Is evidently making a big effort to capture Germany's small goods trade, and since the war the 'Tittle brown man" is leaving no stone unturned to oust Germany from the toy business (writes the Wangamii correspondent of the Auckland Herald). An authority on the West Coast, after seeing the exhibition of Japanese toys, woodware, and baskctwaro at Hawcr'a, says he has no doubt that Japan will eventually capture Herman trade in toys and small goods. The dolls were, if anything, too well made, which caused the price to be high. The finish of the Japanese wooden toys was remarkable, and so was the price, they being obtainable at twothirds of the price of the Herman article. However, the Japanese were backward at present in the manufacture of mechanical toys, the article not being so good, and the price higher. The Japanese exhibition showed that they excelled in the manufacture of felt or cloth animals. For instance, Japanese dogs were infinitely superior to those from Germany. both in finish and improvement. The Japanese dog, when pressed, could open its mouth and utter a dismal little howl, whereas the German dog was dumb. "Do you think England will ever he a competitor in this direction?" the informant was asked. "No," was the emphatic reply; "Japanese labor is too cheap, lmt I have 110 doubt that England will make a strong bid for trade in the manufacture of larger articles."

An Auckland message states that at the meeting of the Labor Representation Committee, consisting of the delegates of 23 trade unions, there was an animated discussion on increased prices .of food. It was resolved that, owing to the growing dissatisfaction witli tlie inactivity of the Government in dealing wtli the lbnormal situation arising out of the war, whereby the people are being ruthlessly exploited by individuals controlling the necessaries of life, the meeting considers it the duty of the Cabinet to immediately call Parliament togichcr in order that the representatives of the people may take a hand in dealing with the' situation.

There are many accounts at present of the ways in which Germany lias achieved industrial success, but the Colonial Journal doesi not think that sufficient credit has been given to one of her resources. This is the potato. Vast quantities of this produce arc; used for making spirit, and the industrial position of the country largely rests on this abundant and cheap .supply. Some 45 million tons of potatoes are - grown annually, and a considerable portion is dried in factories and used as a food for both men and cattle. This dried stock is now forming l a very important food reserve ond is being largely in the making o: bread. .

A message from a Jlotorua member of the Maori Contingent has been recei'ved (telegraphs an Auckland correspondent). ■The soldier in question, Private H. Rukingi, enclosed it in a bottle and threw it overboard from a troopship on 27th February. Mr Jqhn Thomas M'Lean, of A'rey's Inlet, on the* toast of Victoria, found the bottle on the beach, and it was sent to the editor of the Geelong Advertiser. He transmitted it to New Zealand, and it reached Rotorua. Enquiries for relatives of the writer of the message were set afoot, and within a coupre of hours after it had been received it was placed in the hands of the soldiers brother. The message was written 011 two leaves from a small notebook. One of these bore the words* 'Troopship No. 20, 20/2/1915. Anybody pick this up communicate this message to my people. Rotorua, North Island, to Mr Rukingi. All well. From your loving son, H. Rukingi, On the other sheet was written: "Love to everybody m New Zealand from Private H. Rukingi. For Madame Liverpool, may God bless you."

A Manchester newspaper reports a speech delivered by Lieutenant-Gener.il Sir Harry MacKinnon at a dinner in Manchester. General MacKinnon related a story told to him by a relative whose company in the trenches was much troubled by a sniper, who was located with great difficulty. He was shot finally, and- when his body was reached an order was found on him deputing .mm to snipe British officers. He had in lis book particulars sliowig that he had k.iia.i lifi fewer than 50 officers, and documents found on him indicated that it was a rule of the German War Office to give a reward for each officer killed v ion the claim had been scrutinised and allowed. The sniper was required to state the exact position where the officer was killed, and give particulars about lus regiment, and so on. No claim was allowed until it had been tested nl-r C i CC le caß « a 'tv lists 111 British newspapers, and in the case of w™ »ii Sniper on 'y 25 claims Were allowed for each of which he had received a reward of 50 marks ( £2 10*). till*Aa™™ Ij ° an and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd and Messrs Webster Dobson ft Co. draw the attention of' are'hnn- • St l at ' W sa]e > w)lich they are holding in their Stratford yards on Tuesday 23 rd Mara. Full particular on page 8 ° Ur advertiain S columns

To-morrow (Sunday) at S pm OMer n , PP e r " tting) -,f he New Plymouth Orchestral Union will give another of Park W?r b 't c ° ncert * at the Kawaroa lark band rotunda. The previous conwe're^r 8 a PP«ciatcd by all who were present, and no doubt Sun-

,larv<>st festival services ill be held at the Salvation Army hali f Will i lave char £ e > assisth»ll ' •ifl ,ut ? nt and Mrs " H«me. The