LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 308, 7 June 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A callA) message from Home received last week advised that Awatuna cheese fetched .100s.

The Milan correspondent of the Petit Parisien states that the Countess Tarnowska has 'been pardoned and released. nhere .will be 109 polling booths in the Tauniai'unui electorate for the .purpose of the by-election on Tuesday week.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington says tlnat £23,7(12 has been received for the. .hospital ship by the Department of Internal Affairs. It is announced that free railway passes are, to be issued to the men at Trentham when they are granted tlie usual leave to visit relatives. In the Bay of Islands electorate Sir Joseph Ward has already delivered eignteen addresses, and expects to deliver another eighteen before the polling.

Tlie Manaia ladies' sewing committee for the hospital ship are sending a box of goods away to-morrow (Tuesday). All contributions should be left at the Manaia Town Ilall by this evening. At the meeting of the representatives of local bodies to deal with the smallbird nuisance at Levin, Mr. T. W. Kirk, Director of Orchards, said that, placing everything on a low basis, no less than £4,400,0(X) was lost per annum in the Dominion through the damage done bv small birds.

A sub-committee consisting of the Mayor and Crs. Young and Ruthcrfurd, representing the Stratford Borough Council, met a sub-committee from the Chamber of Commerce on Friday night for the purpose of formulating evidence to be given by the Council before the Toll Gate Commission on the lOtli instThe ]>olice have been informed that Murdo Stewart, a Mokau launch proprietor, left on Wednesday to go up tho Mokau river. On Thursday the launch was found with a light burning in the engine-room, but the engine had run down. What has happened to Stewart is a mystery, and no trace of him has been reported. At the annual meeting of shareholders of the Hawera Electric Lighting Co. on Wednesday the chairman remarked that the consumption of current was now almost up to the limit of power, and that in the near future the company would probably have to consider the installation of more efficient turbines at the power station.

One young fellow who volunteered for the front got a big disappointment at Dannevirke when presenting himself for medical examination. It was discovered that ho had been a territorial shirker, and he was told to stand aside with a view to staying here and doing the military service which he had been sidestepping. The local branch of the New Zealand Association of His Majesty's Veterans held a church parade yesterday morning. There was a good muster at the corner of Devon Street and Old Hospital Road, and the veterans thence proceeded to Holy Trinity Church, Te Ileinii. The parade was in connection with the special 70th anniversary services held at that church.

The officers of the Public Service located in New Plymouth, excluding the staff of the post office and railway, have just remitted a further monthly contribution of £2B lis <id to the National War Fund. As a result of the general meeting of officers held recently the method of collection adopted by the receiving officer (Mr. A. J. Rossiter) has both augmented the amount of the subscriptions paid and facilitated its transmission to the central authority in Wellington.

Among tho names 'of the recruits received in Wellington last week was that of a German, fairly well known in the city, who was for a while interned on Somes' Island. Several men complained of the fact that a prisoner of war who was on parole should be allowed to enlist, and stated that they did not feel disposed to go forward in any force which might include him. However, this unpleasant position will not rise, for the man has been scored off' the list, and will not be allowed to join the forces.

Interesting information regarding the congestion of all goods traffic by steamer and railway is contained, in a letter just received by Mr. 11. G. Hill, New Zealand manager for the Bristol and Dominion Producers' Association from his chief at Bristol, Major A. E. M. Norton, D.S.O. "Kitchener is absolutely supreme in all things," states Major Norton. "If he wants every ship, barge, railway truck, motor-car, donkey cart, wheelbarrow, horse, mule, donkey, and goat in the Kingdom he will have, them, and no one will say him nay, nor does anyone want to. Everyone hero realises the seriousness of the position—that our very existence as an Empire and a free people depends on the result of this awful war. The Germans must be crushed completely and soon, and to this end we have all, here and in the Dominions, got to submit to the powers that be.

An authentic story of a young countryman's practical patriotism comes to the Wanganui Chronicle. The, young fellow, who had by thrift and prudence placed himself in a sound financial pos: tion, conceived it to be his. duty to go to the front. lie offered his services, and was duly accepted. In the Bame locality there were a number of other young men, mates of the ono who had enlisted, and all eligible for service. Very properly, he suggested that they ought to follow his example, but, while professing to bo desirous of doing cs their mate had done, they all explained their reasons which made it difficult for them to do so. Pressed to state the nature of their reasons, they were for the most part unable to state any more serious obstacle to their enrolling than the fact that they owed money to certain people, and were reluctant to go away in debt. They must have been surprised when their patriotic comrade rejoined, "Well, boys, don't let that stop you froni doing your duty. Give me your bill*, and I will settle them far you, and, what's more, I'll give you each a 'fiver' ,on top of it." And now the settlers of the district are waiting with no little curiosity to see whether this generous offer will be accepted. Members of the West End Bowling Club are reminded of the annual meeting of members which will be held in, the Town Hall to-night at 8 p.m. The following new goods have opened out at the Melbourne Clothing Company: Children's flannelette pyjama combinations 2s lid. Boys' pyjamas 3s (id. Boys' dark union shirts Is lid to 2s lid. Men's strong working shirts 2s lid. Ben's pyjamas 4s lid to 8s (id. Extra fine woven all wool Mosgiel socks Is Od pair. New neglige shirts, winter weigiit Ss lid.