LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Native Land Court which ban been sitting at Waitara during the past month, under the presidency of Judge J. B. Jack, will probably conclude its sittings at the river town to-day. The Court will next sit at Urenui. In the f.yttelton Magistrate's Court, Herbert Aitken, licensee of the Wheatsheaf Hotel at Tcddington. was fined ClO and costs for selling liquor on a Sunday.

-Colon d Logan sends the following report from Samoa:—Sergeant J. M. Clark, Private E. R. Blake (lymphingitis), Lance-Corporal E. .1. Smith (cyst) All iire doing well. A Dunedin message states that splendid rain has set in and is general throughout the province, from half to three-quarters of an inch falling. Much relief will be afforded North Otago and parts of Central Otngo, where the position was very grave.

A reminder is given of the New Plymouth Defence Rifle Club's season's opening at the rifle range to-day. Smith's 'bus will leave Ambury's corner at l.:iO p.m. Members arc also reminded that file parade takes place this week on Friday night. The Government has arranged to purchase about 1.300 acres of reclaimed swamp lands, part of the Mona Vale Estate, near Cambridge, from Mr. R. Reynolds for purposes of closer settlement. The land is especially suitable for cutting up into small areas for dairying. Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby is introducing a Bill entitled ''The Protection of Mem'bcrs Bill." The measure will provide for the conservation of members' rights, which Mr. Hornsby maintains are being whittled away. The gravamen of the grievance is alleged attacks by the newspaper press on the utterances of some members.

The new law providing for the collection of a double stamp duty on cheques and receipts will come into operation on November 1. All receipts for amounts of £2 or more must bear '2d stamp-duty. Cheque forms with only one penny stamp embossed may be used, and the extra stamp duty paid by affixing an adhesive stamp. An important point in this connection is that a postage stamp used for this purpose must be cancelled by the drawer of the Cheque with his initials and the date.

A case in which the Otago Typographical Union claimed £lO from the Otago Daily Times Co. on each of eight charges of alleged breach of the iward was held before Mr. 11. A. Young, S.M. The question at issue was whether linotype operators should charge for all blocks or only for blocks 'handled by them. After a lengthy hearing the magistrate held that operators should be paid only for the blocks belonging to matter set by them, and gave judgment for the defendant company, with four guineas expenses. Notke of appeal was given, and security for cost* was fixed at £24 4s.

Tiie Hawera, Patriotic Committee lias invited Messrs. Isitt and Wilford to address a recruiting meeting..

Out of £14,555 worth of dicesc exported from the Dominion for ihe week ending 28th September last, no leas than £13,120 worth came from the port of iPatea.

'flic Inglewood Ladies' (Patriotic League fonvarded to Wellington six cases of Christmas gifts.

The caretaker of the Patea Municipal buildings is at present receiving the magnificent remuneration of five-pence per day. Like Oliver Twist, lie is asking for more, and the Hall Committee has been deputed to consider the matter. Members of the Ilaweva agricultural class, together witli some members of southern classes, purpose paying a visit to the Mangatoki district on JYiday next to see the results that have been attained by Mangatoki fanners who have been carrying out agricultural experiments on the lines advocated by Mr. R A. Browne.

The Mayor of Auckland (Mr. ,T. H. Gunson), accompanied by the Hon. Geo. Fowlds, and Mr. W. A. Beddoe (Trade Commissioner for Canada), have started on a provincial tour, in the interests of the patriotic fund. They will address public meetings at various places, and, at the request of the Minister for Defence, will also emphasise the necessity for activity in the matter of recruiting.

One of the ladies who was in charge of the Red Cross mart on Tuesday relates a pretty incident. A very small boy, who would not disclose his name, went into the mart, and tendering a shilling lie said to "her: "Please take threepence of this for the wounded soldier." He was asked if he did not want to buy something, but lie replied in the negative; he wanted to give something to the soldiers,'not buy anything. On his request being complied Willi, the little chap walked proudly out, conscious of having contributed his little bit in a manly way. A good deal of the time of the Eltham S.K. Court yesterday was taken up in hearing a dispute between W. T. Bailey and the Taranaki Daily News, as to terms for delivery 0 f papers along the Cheal-Pukengahu road, inland from Ngaere. Bailey, who is the mail contractor, claimed for £9 13s 4d; the News contended that under an arrangements come to he was entitled to only £2 lis fld. The Magistrate assessed the liability at £4 lis 3d, and gave judgment with costs for that amount. The rainfall in Ashburton county dming twenty-four hours, which ended n't 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, ranged from half an inch in the town and surrounding districts to three-quarters of an inch near the hills. The fall was the best since the autumn, and was very badly needed, though it is insufficient still. For the nine months ended September 30th, the rainfall was less by ten inches than the fall in the lirst nine months of 1914.—i Press Association.

A field telegraphist writes from Gallipoli:— "Our work is linking up headquarters Willi all tlie different troops, except mounted men, though we have a small section for that purpose in case of need. If you could only see the number of wires running over all the hills and the rows of telegraph operators sitting at their tables sending messages day and night, you would sec how important our cable section is. Every camp, trench, battery, observation post, supply depot, senior officer, etc., has a telephone laid on to headquarters. The generals are able, without going out of their dug-outs, to know how exactly everything is going on."

At the meeting of the Patea Harbor Board on Monday, the pilot reported: "The sand bank that went round 'from tl)e eastern side has shifted to the eastern wall but I am sorry to say that the sand spit just outside the western wall has made up a good lot, which makes very shallow at neap tides, and, therefore, vannot work at very low tide. On Saturday Oct. 2, at 3.30 p.m., I gave the signal for the Kapuni to come in. but she grounded on the sand spit just off tiie western wall. It being fairly smooth and no sea she got off and went out to sea again to wait until the tides make. It was a very low tide, Oft 6in. showing on the tide guage. I should say there was only about seven feet in the spit at low water. There has been too much sea for me to go out and sound since the spit has made up. I expect to get the boats in about Tuesday morning. The Aorere was outside this morning, but I could not let her in. There has been seventeen arrivals and ten departures since my last report. Fifteen went out on the lights. Everything at the Station was in good working order. I will sound the bar the first chance I get." It was decided that three lifebuoys be procured and placed in the most suitable localities at the heads.

In this issue we publish particulars of Mr. Newton King's annual Waiwakaiho bull fair. This sale has been very popular in recent years, and for this year's sale the entry includes hulls from'wellknown breeders of all vlasses. Particulars as to breeding of any of the animals can be obtained from the auctioneer's offices, where pamphlets with details of the breeding of Mr. Hugh Puidie's hulls can also be obtained.

Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd.. wish to draw the attention of lite public to tile cleaving sale they are holding on account of David Blackstook, Ksq.. YVaingongoro Uoad, Cardiff, on Friday, October Bth. at 12110 o'clock. Full particulars will be found in our advertising colmns on page 8 of this issue.

The following new goods have arrived at the Melbourne, Ltd.:—Men's khaki handkerchiefs 6d, men's odd tweed vests 4s Od, ladies' plain cashmere stockings Is 3d pair, ribbed cashmere stockings H 3d pair, ribbed cashmere stockings Is fid pair, black lisle thread hose Is pair, fine lisle thread hose with double tops and soles Is Gd pair.