LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 300, 28 May 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Moa (Inglewood) Dairy Company's lluahine shipment of 'butter real-' ised 114s per cwt, Wavorley has already! raised something like £3OOO in- money and kind for the various war funds. The public are given a final reminder of the Belgian relief benefit to be given in the Empire Picture Palace to-night. This worthy cause deserves a crowded house. f As the next meeting of the Taranaki Education Board falls on the same date as the Winter Show, it has been decided to hold the usual monthly meeting on June 16. Those schools at which committees were not elected at the annual householders' meeting in April, will have to call a further householders' meeting on June "28. On March 31 last there were 10.450 old-age pensions in force, representing an annual amount of £480,000. There weie also 1800 widows' pensions, representing .£35,300, and 1384 military pensions, representing £40,800. The New Plymouth Territorials and Deience. ltifle Club will hold a field day on Umrsday of next week, the King's Birthday. The men will parade at the Drill llall, which they will leave at 0 a.m. for a day's practical instruction. '1 he ladies of Lowgarth have formed a hockey club, which already numbers 10 members. The ladies are very enthusiastic and show considerable form. Mr. Curteis, of Mangatoki, is acting as eoach. The 'Y\ aimatc AVitnoss has received information from a perfectly reliable source that it has been decided to erect the station and sheds for the Manaia branch railway in the vicinity of the public school grounds and Mrs. -Mitchell's residence. The estates certified for stamp duty during the four months ended April 30 numbered SSS, of a total net value of £3,481,733. Seventeen of these were of values between £IO,OOO and £15,000, eight between £15.000 and £20,000, and twenty-four were of £'20,000 and over. The residents of Awatuna have presented the men from their district who are going away this morning with a bag each and an electric torch. The sleeping bags are splendid things. They are. waterproof and lined with warm blanketing. Eight member* of the. Hawera railway staff are leaving with the reinforcements from that district to-day for the Trentham camp. They were entertained by their fellow-workers at a railway complimentary social in the Baihvav Hall last night. In speaking with reference to his monthly report at the Taranaki Education Board meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Moore, the nvcr-cor, suggested that the pupils at the Technical College woodwork' cla-.es could lie <;iveu instructive, practical and interesting work on necessary school furniture, which would also ell'ect a saving to the Board. .Members agreed that the suggestion was a good one.

Mr, R. Pepperell has beefi appointed secretary of the IWaitoitoi Co-operative l)aiiy Company of North Taranaki, a new company that intends erecting a cheese and butter factor;,- beyond f'renui. He has also been appointed secretary ol another new cheese company, to be known as the Oxford Co-operative Dairy Company, in the Okato district. A singular accident recently befel a member of the mounted signal troop in camp at ITaulapu (says the New Zealand Herald). lie was practising for a tent-pegging competition when his lance took the ground firmly. Swinging over with the onward rush of his horse, he lost control of the weapon, which, having pulled clear of the ground, flew round and was then driven completely through the thickest part of the calf o'f the man's right leg. "I have just been through the north part of New Zealand, and am now on my way south," said 'Mr. J. Macleod Boulton, of Sydney, at a social gathering of the Christchurch Commercial Travellers' Club, "and while I won't say that New Zealand is booming, I will say that neither at Auckland, Wellington nor Christchurch is there any indication of it going back. This is a result that is highly creditable to the country, and I hope the prosperity of this Dominion will continue." Writing from Sydney, Mr. Hugh .T.Ward says:—"Regarding New South Wales Belgian Day, I think we did a world's record here on the 14th, as the following figures show:—Street collection, £23,000; matinee at Her Majesty's Theatre, £21,000, and with donations from the city and countrv the total is 110W about £110,(Hill. Tiie matinee figures, of course, include sales In the theatre and donations received during the 'periormanee." During the last few days -various offers have heen received by the Minister for Defence from people'who want to help the wounded and invalided New Zealand soldiers. A. Morrison, ol tile Woodside private hospital, has placed three beds at the disposal of the Goveminent. Mr. C. Chamberlain has offered the use of Panui Island. The Wei-ling-ton Institute of Marine Engineers has offered the use of its buildings in Wellington as a hospital for -wounded soldiers. iWhen tiie list of requisites came before the Taranaki Education Board on Wednesday, Mr. Masters said he did not think the Board was buying its supplies to the best advantage. As an instance, he referred to the large amount they spent on ironmongery. They were one of the largest builders in Taranaki, and he saw no reason why they should continue to buy nails by the pound and iron two or three sheets at a time. He considered that they should buv much larger quantities and store them. A building for this purpose could probably be erected on the present section, anil the foreman could easily take charge of it. The finance Committee recommended that an order be sent to England in order to secure requirements wore economically.

At a sitting of the Juvenile Court, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., a lad of 13 ) cars, resident at Spotswood, was charged with having stolen seven packet : of cigarettes from the store of .Miss Jessie i'rott, of Moturoa. The lail pleaded guilty to stealing four packets, but said he had returned two and that two had been paid for. Sub-Inspector I'ouliy stated the facts and said t : ie boy's general conduct had not been too good, The (Magistrate admonished the boy, 'but 'said he would not enter a conviction against him on account of his youth. The "boy's mother undertook to make good -Miss, Trott's loss. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning the case of the police v. Leonard Copestake, iu which the latter "was charged with throwing a stone and damaging a window in the .premises of John Hart, and also with causing wilful damage to property, was brought on. SubInspector l'ouhy said lie had three witnesses to bring, but lie did not know what the defence was. Mr. A. 11. Johnstone, who appeared for defendant, said he had not had sufficient time to complete his case, as defendant was a working man, but the defence was tiiat he did not throw the stone. He applied for an adjournment, which was granted till Monday, June 7, " '' One of the most successful social functions over held at Kent Road took plan; Oil Tuesday night, as a send-oft to Messrs K U, Melton and B. Thomas/who are going to the front and leave for 1 rent ham 011 the 11th. Mr. Melton is ■butter-maker at the local factory, and 'both are over Oft. and should give a good account of themselves as soldiers. Songs were contributed by Mrs. Davy), Messrs W. Perry, G. Ilawker, Lees, 1. ltundle, A. Ambury, E. Faynter; recitations by -Mr. J. McAhster; and a duet by Misses Lees and Robinson. Mr. Arthur-Morton on behalf of friends in Maugorei anu surrounding district, presented to .Mr. Melton a wristlet watch and to Mr. Thomas a safety razor outfit (both presents being suitably inscribed). Mr. •Itorton made a fine patriotic appeal, saying it was better to become a soldier voluntarily than compulsorilv lie also ••appealed to the ladies of the district who were able to give their services to their country as nurses. The recipients suit-, ably responded. Members of the Hawera 'Bowling Club met at the pavilion oil Wednesday for the purpose of farewelling Mr. 11. S. Maslin, who has ( volunteered for military .service and leaves for Trentham today. In making the presentation of a wristlet watch, the president remarked that probalbly but few bowlers would be able to go, though many of them had sons serving in the expeditionary, forces, and the Hawera Club was proud that one of its members was going and that another (Captain Kimbell) was keen to go whenever his services were required. It was hoped that Air. Muslin would come back safe and sound to again represent the eluh in tournaments (he having been one to bring the Tarnnaki Shield back to llawera last season); and in the meantime, wherever lie might lie, the watch would remind him that old clubmates were thinking oi: him and •wishing him success and safety. Mr. Maslin thanked the club for the present, and said he would value it highly for its usefulness and for the kindness of the givers. Cheers concluded the little function. Ex steamer Manmri the Melbourne Clothing Company has opened out a small shipment of their famous shilling Blockings. As the quantity to hand is a good deal less than usual, customers who have been waiting for these, goods are advised to make an earlv call.