LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Prime Minister announced hist night that the Financial Statement will be delivered early next week. A procession ol' forty motor-cars gaily decorated, currying banners', and many persons on foot traversed the Sydney streets fro::i the Town Hail to Parliament House, carrying' the petition in favor of si:, o'clock closing for presentation. A union jack, sold yesterday afternoon at Kgrnont Village in aid of the wounded soldiers' fluid realised ill) lok, changing hands six times at £l, seven times at 10s, four times at oa, and. twice at 2s lid. At the Native Land Court at Kronertown the Natives of the Urewcra Country in lima ted their desire to offer a machine-gun to the Government, also to send Maori nurses. The Taranaki Motor Transport Company, Ltd., purpose improving their passenger service between New Plymouth and Opunake by putting on motor cars. Two up-to-date nine-seatcr Caddilaes hjive been ordered, and the new service will be commenced almost forthwith with seven-aeaters, A laillapo mcssiige states that the Carnival Committee passed a resolution on Wednesday night that the committee was of opinion that in the interests of the various patriotic movements throughout the Dominion it was desirable that the Prime Minister be urged to introduce legislation of a temporary character, with the 'view of providing the (greatest passible 'freedom with regard to holding art unions, raffles, auctions, etc., promoted byi patriotic societies.

Kcyl + viug - to, cpuipUiints , ...from AustWulff "icga'rding'' the tioti-'dfelivery 'of cables addressed to soldiers at -the front, the London office of the Eastern Extension Company states that thera is great difficulty 111 obtaining- the whereabouts of men, owing to inability to obtain reliable information from the military authorities. The British and Australian record offices are rcgujaiiy appealed to, with very partial success. There is no difficulty] with New Zealand messages, owing to the assistance at the base record office and headquarters. Mr. J. If. l'\ Gardiner, of the local railway stall', was the recipient of a presentation last evening, prior 'to his departure, for Greymouth, 011 transfer. Mr. Peach, stationmastcr, in handing the departing officer the gift—a pair of handsome silver-mounted hair brushes 111 case —made reference to Sir. Gardiner's many good qualities as u railway officer and pitbl'.c servant, and "the chief's - ' remarks were supplemented 'by Messrs Ruddock, Sbubbs, and 0. Ahier. Mr. Gardiner, in returning thanks, said he would always treasure pleasant recollections of his connection with the 'New Plymouth railway staff. -Mr. J. S. Connctt, presi.'. of the Tanmaki A. mid I'. Society, addressed the niueti-,; of Cape Kgmout suppliers at Pungarehu yesterday, in connection with tlie proposal for re-organising the society. He received an attentive hearing and encouraging support. The following new members were obtained: Mesdames Barrett and Dew, Messrs M. Fleming, It. Wright, F. W. Phillips, J. Rutherford, C. Penwarden, T. llarvey, A, Gilhooley, Symons Bros., R. Fleming, J. Fleming, W. 11. Keasberry, 11. Layman, P. Brophyi and N. T. Guild. Mr. 31. Fleming was appointed the company's representative on,the committee. To mark their appreciation of three of the staff who leave on -Monday to join the Bth Reinforcements, the postal and telegraph officers made a presentation to Messrs .Tames Patau, W. J. Crone, and George Fuller last evening. In handing each a fine safety razor, the Chief Postmaster addressed t-liem, and complimented them 011 the gallant spirit which they exhibited. Me had been very much pleased with thorn as officers, and hoped for their role return to rejoin the local f'taff as its most honored members. Mr. Paton responded for the recipients. The ladies of the telephone exchange presented Mr. Fuller with a wristlet watch.

Some idea of tin; rapid development of the Hauraki Plains, from a useless swamp into a flourishing dairying district, can be gathered from the difference in the payments for tatter-fat paid to settlers since? the Government lirst opened the reclaimed swamp for selection. The Thames Valley dairying Company first started operations in that locality four years ago, and in the first season about £IOOO (a little less) was paid to the settlers for cream. The second year the sum of £4001) (about) was paid to 'the Hauraki settlers. The third year brought the settlers £lo,oofl, and last year the stun of £'2:(,<loA was paid by the Thames Valley Dairying Companv for butter-fat supplied. The coming sea«on promises a fur g'reater increase than any of tlve previous ones. During Ihe last few months numerous Taranaiki and Manawatn farmers have bought farms In the plains, and a large proportion of the newcomers have brought large herds of cows into the district with them.—Auckland Star .

A very successful and enjoyable masquerade hall was held at Omata last night. It .was given 'by the ladies as a return to the gentlemen, and the fair hostesses had spared no pains to ensure its success. The hall was well filled, some seventy' couple assembling, and as quite a number appeared in fancy garb, the kaleidoscopic effect was planning. Tiie committee, of which Miss Wells was the energetic secretary, had attended to every detail, and as a result all had an enjoyable time. The M.sC'., Misses I'einvarden, Mace, and Wells, were most assiduous in 'their attentions to their guests. Kx'oeUent musie was provide;! by Messrs Pearson (piano), and Murphy (violin), the former. an old resident of Omata, journeying from Iluiroa especially to lie presnt. Extras were p.laved bv Mrs. llonoytield, Misses Mace and Wells, and Mr. Mace. The supper, which was oil a lavish scale, was presided over by Mesdames Moore, Penwnrden, and a bevy of fail attendants. Anv surplus funds arising from the entertainment .will be de.voted toward-; the Wounded Soldiers' Vund, towards which deserving object Misses L. MeAlliini, G. 'McDonald, and A. Jury, garbed as Red Cross nurses, made a collection.

Mr. A. .T. IVachev, land agent, Wicksteit I'laei l , Wanganui, is advertising simic lino fiirms urn) house property for exchange. Then* wliii aro in want of real Kuod properties should call on Mr. A. .T. l'eachey before going elsewhere. The Melbourne's semi-annual reduction sale, commerces to day. These halfyearly sales are extremely popular, a? during tlieir currency practk'allv every line in stock is reduced. of the bargains were advertised in our yesterday's issue. The lady who has not visited MVirev's great sqtieczcd-out sale should certainly do s« without delay. There are now chances to save 011 bargains which are broadcast. Turn to Morcy's announce-' ment olsewherc in our column*

The total number of cascjj lii the various military hospitals yesterday was 178. :: : ' Arrivals in New Vjilcalaqd from oversea during July totalled 1723, 2354 in July 1014. Departures numbered 2119, compared with 2tisl a year ago. —Press Association. Sister Grace Sisley, writing to her people, says since she left New Plymouth she has been very fortunate in obtaining a as niglit" superintendent in a hospital tor wounded New Zealanders, under hospital is a gentleman's residence situated in Watton-on-Thanies. Sster Sisley lias signed on till the end of the war. Tile school children's queen contest at the Kgmont Village fete yesterday- resulted in Miss E. Batten (Low»r Kent road school) being elected, with 4197 votes, and Miss Morton (Junction road school) second, with 4189 votes. The other candidates were N. Sinclair (Kaipi road), 3950; I. Chard (Upland road), 3590; W. Olson (ligmont road), 2709}'' N. Pearce (Albert rofd) 2471; .ir, Wil'- ! ; liams (Korito).J 2420, and N. Marsh (Junction road west), 1147. The crowning ceremony ivas a litting tableaux to Hit? eliildrens' effort in raising the large sum of £lO3 2s. The mock court realised about £l2 10s, and was brought to a close with the judge (Mr. Geo. Marsh) and the-Grown Prosecutor (Mr. A. Morton) 'being avrested for making the lines too lenient. They were fined the maximum of 103 each. The whole proceeding's should result in £250 being handed over.