LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 244, 24 March 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Kiverdale Dairy Company's payout for- February amounted to £7,431. This included tlie further or reserve payment on butter-fat. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce has decided to urge the Government to set up without delay a Commission to go into the improvement of the main roads between Auckland and Wellington. The Wellington • Military District's quota of recruits for the Oth reinforcements is now complete—three to four weeks before the men are wanted for training at Trcntliam—showing that this district is still providing its share of volunteers.

A contemporary has been asked to state what is Belgium's national flower. It ought to be the azalea if trade interests count, for this flower is largely grown in Belgium and there is a strain known as the Ghent azalea. But money does not rule in such matters.

The Awakino correspondent of the Waitara Mail states that no trace has yet been discovered of the miscreant who, in the dark hours of night, viciously attacked the four tyres of Messrs George and Johnston's motor mail car, and at the same time put the steering gear out of order.

Cheese is now selling- ,in London at Ous nor cwt., and from cabled advice received recently in North Taranaki the price is likely to remain at that figure for some time to come. At that rate companies could afford to pay out Is 9d per lb for butter-fat and still have something left for emergencies. Judgment by default was given in the following civil cases at the Court yes- ; terday morning:—A. N. Morey (Mr D. Hutchen) v. B. Andrews, £6, costs £1 Os 6d; R. C. Hughes v. Patrick Leahy and Thomas Burt, 16a lOd, costs 15s; J. B. McEwan and Co. v. J. O'Malley, £1 4s 3d, costs 7s.

It is stated that there will be a shortage of tweed materials this year, the war again being the direct cause. All the tweed was commandeered by the Home authorities on the outbreak of war, and consequently the export to New Zealand has been considerably restricted. Overcoats will be very short in, supplies this season.

There was only one judgment summons at the Court yesterday, viz., David Hutchen, New Plymouth, v. W. J. Jones fisherman, of Waitara. An order was made for the payment of the amount forthwith, in default, three days' imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended as long as Jones pays 10s per month.

In spite of the boisterous state of the weather there was a good attendance at the Salvation Army harvest festival last night to listen to a programme rendered by the Good Templars' Lodge. Mr. F. R. Pepperell presided, and a varied programme of musical items was rendered. At the close Adjutant Home moved a vote of thanks, which was heartily accorded. To-night the festival closes with a children's demonstration.

Mr. Clement Wraggs ha 3 handed to a contemporary the following interesting message.for publication: "A big disturbance is going on in the sun, measuring about 15,000 miles in diameter, and a smaller one is adjacent, about 7000 miles from edge to edge. This certainly means an alteration of the wireless wave-lengths operating between the sun and the. earth, and is a sure sign of improving seasons-in New Zealand and Australia." ,

The cutting off of th e simply of Siberian butter by the export prohibition which ha 3 been issued by the Russian Government, the news of which has come to hand, h likely to hare a beneficial effect on the priec of New Zealand' butter in London. Latest advices from England state that the recent advance from 1403 to 143s per cwt. in the value of New Zealand butter has been maintained, with every prospect of the high' prices continuing. Extraordinary heavy rain, the heaviest experienced in Whangarci for two years, has fallen during the last thirty hours, and "continues (says a Press Association wire). The rainfall is general throughout the North Auckland district, which has had abnormal drought periods over the last three years, during which the farmers and orchardists suffered severely. The camp of the 15t'h North Auckland Regiment at Ruatangata was compelled to close. There are 175,000 men in Chicago out of employment, according to a report of the City Industrial Commission- recently. The Commission has asked' the co-operation of tbe t police department in finding places where men can be> given work. "Never have I seen such pitiable poverty as at present," said Cardinal O'Connell at a meeting of the Boston committee to promote work, held in the State House. "Poverty is at all times pitiable, but the conditions at present are almost heart-breaking; Strong, ablebodied husbands, eager for- work to support their families, cannot find it.'?

The energetic East Enders, realising what a valuable asset their river is, both for bathing and boating, have made arrangements for the launch to be on the river all day on Easter Monday, besides which there will be other boats, two of which are being made by Mr. Roebuck, senr., for the committee." With the diving Events, swimming and tub races, etc., things, promise to be very lively on the To Henui river on Easter Monday at the East End Carnival; in fact visitors from Australia consider that the East End attractions will equal any of their resorts.

Kaupokonui Hairy Company's pay-out for tlio month of February amounted to £IO,OOO, and with this was also distributed another £IO,OOO by way of bonuses to the suppliers. The 'bonus of £IO,OOO, which covers a period of six months, represents only the first instalment for the period there being yet another big payment in reserve, up to the end of the season. The aggregate is certainly an enormous sum, and is an eloquent testimony to the exceptionally prosperous conditions of the dairying industry, as far as prices are concerned.—Witness.

Living within "'cooee" of a railway train, there are few who think and less who care about the troubles of tha way-back settler and his wife and family. Yet, in the. confines of the Beyond, back of Whanga, exists a man, who, in order to give his wife a taste of civilisation once now and again in the gathering years, has to carry her on his baek over six rivers in his journey to and from the nearest township. To the helpmate of this man, even Whanga fashions must make her feminine heart ache more for freedom. Xearly ten years of this sort of thing finds the settler no nearer satisfaction, and now he is making another despairing effort to secure a formed dray road as access to Whanga via the Rerekina and Manga re roads. .About a dozen of these unfortunate, but plucky fellows have petitioned the Stratford Chamber of Commerce to support them in their request- to the hardhearted powers that be.—Exchange.

The Mayoress" (Mrs J. E. Wilson) has received permission i'roin the Minister of Internal Affairs to hold an art union of two pictures presented by Mrs Kirkwood and Miss Annie Ingley, the proceeds of which will be devoted to providing comforts for our soldierh. Ticket •> (Is each) may be obtained from Jli.n Hamcrton.

Users of famous brands of .Austrian lead-pencils will, be glad to hear ■tlui.t British firms are reported to be turning oat huge quantities of very high-gradrf pencils, which it is hoped will take the places on the New Zealand market of the enemy-made article. This was stated at the meeting of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce to be the apparent position. Recently the Chamber was asked if there was a contract in existence between Jchann Faber, the Bavarian pencil-maker, and the New Zealand Government for a supply of pencils to this country. Tile Chamber made enquiries and has been informed that no such contract exists.

The lack of sufficient boarding accommodation in New Plymouth at holiday times was the subject of discussion at a meeting of th e Expansion and Tourist League last evening. It was shown that over two hundred applications for rooms had had to be refused in the space of two weeks. The capacity of the Mountain House had been equally taxed. It was felt by the members that the providing of further accommodation was an urgent need if the town was to become the popular holiday resort they all desired it to be. The League deeided to adjourn the discussion for a month in order to secure a full attendance of members and formulate proposals for filling the need,. A shipment of 10,000 boxes butter was dispatched from Auckland to Wellington on Saturday by the Corinna for transhipment to the Tainui. which leaves for London this week,, This shmment brings tho total export frbin Auckland up to 393,338 boxes since July last, as compared with 364,101 boxes for the same period of last season, an increase of 8 per cent, (says the Star), iAt present London quotations (138s to 142s per cwt.) the 10,000 boxes arc worth £31,750, f.o.b. Auckland. The value of the season's export is estimated at £1,218,098. The Corinna also took 020 crates of cheese, making 16,013 crates for the season, last season's total for the same period being 12,265 crates.

A meeting of fanners in the Kakaramea district was held in the Kakaramea Hall on Friday., afternoon, to discuss the proposal.to form a new dairy company and erect a factory in a more central position than the present one. Mr. J. Cobine presided, about a dozen settlor* being present. After a considerable amount of discussion, k and after various opinions had; been oxpressed, it wifi finally decided to get a written guarantee from those willing to supply the new company, and upon 330 cows being promised, to call a meeting of the signatories and form a company in a legal manner. A few settlers remained behind at- the close of the meeting and some 157 cows were-guaranteed. Among the visitors to Eltham at the present time is Mr. J. R. Regan, a big dairy farmer of Northern Queensland. Mr. Regan is on an extensive tour of New Zealand (says the Argus). He had much to say when approached by an Argus representative yesterday afternoon. Yes, ho admitted, Taranaki was certainly a richer district than was to be seen anywhere in Northern Queensland. "But- you know," he remarked with a smile that conveyed mu.?hy "we're not so bad." Mr. Regan stated that dairying was yet in its infancy in Queensland, and that its prospects were very bright. "I have shares in a dairy factory there," he said, "and the annual output would open the eyes of-some Taranaki fanners. So would the annual 'divvy.' But of course we hayenot got so many there as-hercy"-

Commenting on the discussion concerning the,.form which" a war tax should take, the Farmers' • Union Advocate, says:—"The farmer recognises that if a tax is necessary, he must pay his quota, and lie will do $6 willingly, provided that it is not a class tax; but that all classes contribute their share in proportion to the benefits received.- We also recognige. that it is next to impossible to impose a tax that can be perfectly just to- everyone, but speaking nominally, and with reservation, we believe that tlie taxation fbr. general purposes is fairly equitably imposed, and that a small percentage on existing taxation would" meet the. needs of the case. It may be true that certain sections of the people have suffered' more than others tlfrougli- the. war; and therefore there is all' the more need to see that the tax is levied in such a way that■snslt people will benefit by almost complete Exemption-."'

Nowadays there are only two classeß ,of "sports'" that count. One is the man who volunteers, and' the other is he who must remain at home but pays out in hard' cash to help the Empire (says the Post). In Stratford recently these specimens met at a centre of conviviality, ami in the course of conversation one' said" he had been rejected as a member of the New Zealand forces for- a trivial physical defect which he had suffered in the South African campaign, but that he knew he would be accepted' for a certain mounted regiment in the 01* Country, and he continued: "If- I have to work my passage, I am going Home." Said the other "sport" can prove what you say is correct I, will pay your passage for- you!" Promptly the man put his hand in his pocket and produced a bundle of- papers, which on being perused were found to bear out his statements in every particular. Then the second "sport"' immediately turned to a local auctioneer, saying: "Give our friend a cheque in the morning; I will make it right!" Two other facts are also worth mentioning. It was not the first handsome donation which one had given to the war fund, while the other, tth>new recruit, proved to the assembled company that he was bom with a fighting spirit, being a nephew of a major in the British Army.

Most people must at some time or other have speculated as to the origin of the bayonet, the weapon of whiclAo much is being heard in the present campaign. In view of this, a note in the Petit Journal, of Paris, is interesting:— "It is to the bayonet, an arm of French origin, that our infantry has always owed the greater part of its victori".?. This weapon takes its name from the town in which it was invented—Bayonne. It was in 1641, during an engagement between Basque peasants and smugglers that this deadly instrument was discovered. Having used up their ammunition, the Basques hit upon the idea of attaching their knives to the end of their muskets, and using them for repulsing their adversaries. This sontaneous application of a weapon, which was still without definite form, entirely changed the system of military art in Europe. The bayonet was used for the first time in Franco by the regiment of King's Fusiliers in 1070. In 1074 and 1075 other regiments were supplied with the weapon. The Dragoons received it in 1Q76; the Grenadiers in 1678. At this time the bayonet entered the tube of the gun, but improvements were made in 1088. The first bayonet charge was made in 170.1, at the battle of Spire. The weapon suited so well the dasli of our soldiers that the Prince of Ligne called it a typical French weapon. It has played a most brilliant part in the history of our military campaigns." ''

Messrs E. Clarice and W. 11. Preoce have been elected to the committee, and are now assisting in the preparation of" the bigtrest Master attraction in New history, the West End picnic at Kawaroa Park and the great menagerie procession.

Modern merchandising' \lb ■" a ''msieiktvmfi -*\ problem, and the most successful incrr''--v chant is' he" who adjiisU }liV tnßiniws* "* ,' to the conditions that confront 'him from day to day. Time brings, changes, and men conducting business must *c- <■■< u'nise the modern factors that are entering inlo the conduct of the business. The uondi-rfiil growth of advertising must be taken into consideration. This *; is a day of large businesses and' large advertising appropriations. - Advertising is an investment not ah expense. Inc. essence of success in the manufacturing business is production. In a fairly large business an Increase of ten per cent, in production will take care of a , large advertising appropriation, whereas a arge advertising proposition, usual- 1 ly adds from twenty-five'to fifty Per ■ I cent, increase in demand. The advertising appropriation, even a large one therefore, eventually results in lowering' not increasing, costs. The wholesaler or retailer who tries to fight against well-directed advertising, instead iof ly-' ing fast to it, by securing the advantagethat it will bring to him in the increase ' of his business, is not working along . the line of least resistance, but is paddhng against the stream; •

The handsome gold centre medals which are to be presented to the winner* of the physical drill competition at the Last End on Easter Monday are now on view in the shop in Devon Street adjoining Mr. S. Lovell's hairdressing saloon. The many other trophies to be competed for at the monster picnic anS sports are also open to inspection at-the' same place.

As showing the interest now being taken m the baby show ;o be held nfc the East End on Easter Monday, inquiries have been received from Iriglewood, Egmont Village, and Bcllßlock as to particulars, which are as follow: Two classes, one up to nine months, the other to eighteen months. Entries close on Easter Monday. To ensure the-com-fort of the mothers and babies it has been decided to erect the large marquee for their use on that day. Mr. George Kmght was approached to judge this event, but it was finally decided to ask ■Or. Wade and Dr. Brewster to act as sole judges. The matter of extra prizes. was loft m the chairman's hands -