LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the Masterton Supreme Court yesterday, William James was found guilty of breaking and entering into a storeroom at a Greytow® hotel, and removing a quantity of liquor. Sentence was reserved till Thursday. At the meeting of the High School Board last night, the secretary reported that in the recent election of two members to the board, 119 votes were recorded, out of a roll of 170 parents, while 11 votes were informal. "I look forward to the time when nominated boards will be done away with," remarked Mr. H. Trimble at the meeting of the High School Board last night. Mr. Trimble added that he thought all local bodies should be elected by the widest possible franchise. The patriotic concert that is to be held at Inglowood to-moirow evening, under the patronage of the Inglewood Patriotic Committee, will be well worth while." Thp programme contains items by the best of local talent, and the fact that Mrs. P. J. Nathan has kindly promised to recite should ensure an overflowing attendance. The management of the function will doubtless have every reason to be satisfied with its artistic and financial success.

Very favorable reports on the work at the New 'Plymouth Boys' High School, and on the Girls' High School have been made by the inspector. At last night's meeting of the High School Board, the chairman (Mr. E. Dockrill), said that he had gone over the reports very carefully and had never seen two reports so free from a single sentence which would give a blemish to the school. The reports were the most satisfactory the schools had ever received. Mr. M. Fraaer added that there is no doubt the Board has a very fine staff at each school.

In the House of Representatives last evening, Hon. G. W. Russell made a statement on the arrangements made for the returned sick and wounded soldier?, during which he stated that the civil seivants had that day donated a sum of £SOO towards the care of men returning from Egypt and Callipoli. He outlined the work which it had been found necessary to do at Rotorua and other centres, where it was proposed to allow tint woUnded to recuperate. He made an appeal to the organisers of patriotic funds to assist the Government in this work of adequately providing for the s ! ek and wounded.

A rather amusing incident occurred when tho Rimutaka, on arrival at Wellington from London on Saturday, was boarded by members of the. Catholic Federation to welcome new arrivals of the Catholic faith. A male passenger passionately clasped in his arms one of the young ladies of the Federation, and almost smothered her with kisses before she realised what was happening. The young lady freed herself after a struggm, and demanded an explanation. It then began to dawn on the man that he had made a mistake, and. that the young lady was not his wife, whom he had come out to rejoin. The principals in the little episode were the, only ones who did not appear to enjoy the humor of the situation.

Sayj the Masterton Times: "There » a good dca! of concern in Taranaki over (he continuous dry weather. Old residues state that never before in their experience has the spring growth of grass been so backward for this time of the year.' ' The Taransiki News begs to differ. The season in Central and Northern Taranaki was never so forward as it is to-day, whilst in South Taranaki conditions are about normal. The growth of grass during the past five weeks in the north, in point of fact, has been phenomenal. Cattle have wintered well, and owing to the mild weather con. ditiona, they and their progeny are doing remarkably well in consequence. The milk returns at nearly every factory arc higher now than at this time last season.

A light warning of an approaching "breeze" disturbed the proceedings of the High School Board for a few moments at last night's meeting. When the question of appointing a committee was under discussion, Mr. D. 1-lutchcn objected to committees in the light of past experience, whereupon Mr. W. N. Ewing ashed what Mr, ilutchen alluded to, and also asked him to substantiate his statement. •'There is no necessity to do that," replied Mr. Ilutchen, "as every member of the Board knows what I am referring to." Mr. Ewing: "Well, 1 don't for one. I ask you to substantiate your statement." Mr. Hutchen: "I simply make the statement and have nothing more to'say." This closed the incident, but later in the evening Mr. Ewing refused to accept nomination to a committee "after what Mr. Ilutchen had said."

Members of the Employers' Association are reminded of the annual meeting to he held in the Borough Council Chamber?, this evening at 8 p.m. sharp. Mr. Gray, Director of the Technical College, will address the meeting, and as several matters affecting employers generally are to be discussed, it is hoped that every member will endeavour to attend. The executive also desire to extend an invitation to be present to any nonmembers who may he interested. That New Zealand bacon and hams can successfully compete with the best in the world is proved by the fact that Messrs W. Dimock and Co., Ltd., were successful in obtaining gold medaU at the Panama Exposition for hams, bacon and lard.

A meeting of the Wauganui Patriotic Committee yesterday atfernoon resolved to urge the Defence Department to despatch immediately another contingent of ten thousand troops.—Press Association.

The usual meeting of the Egmont Ledge, 1.0. G.T., was opened by the C.T. Bro. N. T. White last evening. The business for the evening was the reading of short papers, and the session was closed at 9 p.m. in the usual manner. The price of flour in Dunedin was reduced from yesterday, by 10s, and will bo £l4 per ton; bran will be reduced bv 255, to £5 ss, and pollard, by 30s, to £6.

In and about the mines of the Dominion during 1914 there were employed 9304 men. The number employed at metalliferous mines was 4470, and at coal mines 4734. The number of gumdiggers exceeded 1000. It is possible that Dr. Glantz, a German interned at Motuihi Island, will be exchanged for a British doctor now a prisoner of war in Germany. Dr. Glantz was one of the prisoners taken when the New Zealand Expeditionary 'Force captured Samoa. The matter is now being considered by the Defence authorities. An incident that occurred during an aimistke for the burial of the dead between the trenches on Gallipoli is thus related in a letter from the front: "A Turkish soldier seized one of our hand grenades between the trenches, and, despite protests, ran off with it to his own trench. He was promptly pursued by a Turkish officer, who kicked him soundly, recovered the bomb, and with a bow and apologies, presented it to one of our officers."

According to Mr. A. H. Hindmarsli, M.?., Parliament is a very tame affair just now. It was a time of war, but peace in Parliament. At tlie Shipping Companies' patriotic smoke concert, at Wellington, on Saturday, Mr. Hindmarsli said that the Minister of Defence (Hon. J. Allen) was discharging his duties well. "Mr. Allen lias to bear all the criticism, because, in the opinion of members, no matter who makes the mistake Mr. Allen is responsible for it." An apt illustration of the cheerfulness of the New Zealand troops at the front was quoted by the Prime Minister at the Wellington Orphans' Club on Saturday night. One man, who had been very daring, was shot, and was being carried down a sap to the beach when he met an officer, who made an inquiry about the man. "Yes," said the man, "I've been shot—this is my sixth wound," h# said cheerfully. "Why," said the officer, "you only want another one to have one for every day in the week." "Oh, give us a chance," said the wounded soldier, "I want a rest on Sunday!" The usual committee meeting of the West End Foreshore Improvement Society was held at the Bungalow, Kawaroa Park, on Friday last. It was reported that the installation of electric heating apparatus in the Bungalow had been completed. Ways and means for erection of a suitable wall and entrance to the park were discussed, and it was decided that plans be prepared for consideration. It was also decided to hold a seaside gathering'on labor Day, and arrangements for this function were left till next Friday's meeting, to enable the secretary to ascertain definitely whether or not Labor Day is to be kept as a general holiday. It happened at Vogeltown, and the gentleman concerned tolls the joke against himself. He had put in a nice vegetable garden, but was troubled by birds eating the seeds, bo he decided to put up a ''scarecrow'' to keep them away. This he did, and in making the dummy put a mask of the Kaiser on it. But he did not reckon on the small boy, with the result that he came home the other afternoon and found his garden covered with road metal. The younger fry of the locality had thought it a good opportunity to bombard "Kaiser Bill," with the result that the gentleman admits wheeling out four barrow loads of metal, with many more loads still to come.

Since my laat notes (writes our correspondent), in which it was stated that a number of suppliers at the Noraanby Factory were Maoris from ICatemarae Pa, in which typhoid fever had broken out, the chairman of directors, Mr. J. S, Riddle, gave instructions that for the time -being the Ma9ris should be debarred from supplying the factory. This step is generally endorsed by other suppliers. The native nurse that was sent to assist Xurse Beetham in combatting the disease is now under observation for typhoid fever, and it is reported that another death among the Maoris .at the Hastings Road Pa occurred during the week. No steps have yet been taken by the school committee to fill in the pit in connection with the closets at the school, and it is expected that the Town I Board will take some action in the matter at its meeting on Tuesday.

A most enjoyable entertainment is promised for Thursday evening, in the Good Templar Hall, when, under the auspices of the Victoria League, a dramatic and musical recital will be given. A special feature of the entertainment, which has been arranged by Mrs. P. J. Nathan, is a musical adaptation of "The Prince and the Swineherd," one of Hans Andersen's most popular tales. This, quaintly-conceived fairy play, the music fot which has been arranged by Miss Ethel Lomax, was given in Wellington for patriotic purposes, and scored greatly and Now Plymouth people are fortunate in having this opportunity to witness it. Miss Maud Peart (late of the Court Cards), and Miss Beryl Hirst are assisting Mrs Nathan in the programme, which will include, many attractive items. Unfortunately, it lias been found impossible for the sale of souvenir programmes, specially designed by Miss Mina Arndt, to he curried out, the original design >iot being procurable in time, but Miss Arndt lias donated a beautiful etching to he raffled d.iting the evening, the proceeds to be added to those of the concert, which is in aid of funds for. the Stationary Hospital.

Major If. Marshal, commanding the Rifle Clubs' Reserve Corps at Wellington lias patented a new periscope for a ride.

The line of lace trimmed bedspreads for 10s 6d at tlie Melbourne, Ltd., expresses the firm's ideal—to provide pcupld of moderate means with the finer things they long to possess at the price of the ordinary and commonplace. That i-i service—service possible only to a store that buys and sells only for cash

We are pleased to learn from the secretary of the Ngamotu Seaside Committee that several enquiries have been received from residents of ilawera, Eltham and Stratford relative to building allotments 011 the seaside. The Ngamotu foreshore adjoining the Breakwater is an idea spot for a seaside whare, and we hope to see a large number erected there before Christmas. The increase in travelling faiea and other charges will doubtless induce a number of persons from our inland towns to erect seaside whares and 3pend the family holiday on tile beach.