LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Seven hundred old boys of Wellington College have enlisted for active service. A Maori chased a Turk out of a trench at Gallipoli, but could not catch him, so using his rifle, with bayonet iked as a spear, he threw it at the Turk and transfixed him. Lieut.-Colonel Cosgrove (Dominion Chief Scout) pays a visit to New Plymouth to-day, and will inspect the Boy Scouts at the Whiteley Hall this evening at 7 o'clock. Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P., carried on a recruiting mission at Waverley racecourse on Monday with the approval of the officials. He spoke for ten minutes, The innovation ,waa well received.

At the meeting of the New Plymouth Patriotic Committee yesterday Mr, F. C. J. Bellringer mentioned that ten or twelve nurses who were trained at the New Plymouth Hospital were now working at the front. \ The latest addition to the business places of Eltliam is a branch of the Farmers' Co-operative Organisation* of Now Zealand. The branch will be under the management of Mr. H. H. Judd, late with Bayley and Co. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Defore Mr. A. Crooke, S.M,, judgment wag given for plaintiff in default of defendant in the case of the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. H. It. Billing} I *. W. E. Watson, £77 10s (costs £5 8s Od). For August last the total exports of New Zealand produce were valued at £2,388,353, as against only £722,028 for August of 1914. In the first eight months of this year the exports totalled £21,589,870, as compared with £19,891,550 for the corresponding period of 1914.

The Coachworkers' Federation Conference was opened in Wellington yesterday, states a Press Association wire. Mr. C. Israelson (Canterbury) was elected president and Mr. S. Pentecost (Canterbury) secretary to the conference. A Wellington message last night stated that the summonses, issued on behalf of the relatives of the three Chinese who lost their lives by gas poisoning in Tinakori Road, have been discontinued. It is understood that the case has been settled out of Court by the payment of a sum agreed upon between the parties. At present the Dominion lias 30 meat preserving works of a very fair average capacity. At this time next year that number will be swelled to 41—a forty per cent increase in the number of works practically within twelve montha, and about twice as many works as exist in the whole of the Commonwealth of Australia.

During August, 613,757 carcases of rabbits and hares, valued at £17,516 were exported from the Dominion as compared with 356,967 carcases, valued at £8065, exported in August of last year; 1,290,610 carcases, valued at £35,425, were exported, as against 874,103, valued at ,£20,091, in the first eight months of 1914. It was remarked by a councillor recently (says the ICaikoura Star) that the county ranger had stated that the telephone had ruined his business. As soon as he was seen out on "business," people in the direction in which he was going were warned on the telephone, and, consequently, stray stock was gathered in and no "business" resulted. One day last week the Falmcrston Nortli recruiting officer had u sixty-year-old applicant for enrolment for active service. This, he says, is the second time men of sixty and over have been anxious to join the forces, and have been keenly disappointed that age proved a bar to their serving their country in the field.

Dr. Newman, M.P., speaking at a recruiting meeting, said that the thought it rather mean that some men would not let their own sons go and fight, but were letting other fathers' sons go and fight for them. He knew one raaD who'had called his four sons together, and had said to them: "If any one of you goes to tho front, he won't get a shilling." Of course, he only says that sort of thing in the bosom of his family, The shortage of labor is apparently acute, iu some of the country di>.,-ii>ts. A report was received by the Wanganui Education Board on Wednesday thai children from a particular school had been kept away to assist in tho -iciison. It was decided to allow the Attendance Officer to exercise his discretion in view of the exceptional circumstances. Later the harvest will have to be gathered, but to somi: extent the labor problem will be solved, as the children will then be having their holidays. The Scv.' . Plymouth Beautifying Society will resume operations to-mor-row with a working boe, which will be engaged in improving the access to Paritutti. The lupin has grown so vigorously as to block the track cut about two years ago. A few slashers and shovels will be provided by the Committee, and those who can conveniently do so are requested to bring tools. Mrs. Williams, of the tea kiosk, will entertain the workers at afternoon tea.

Apropos of giving to the war funds, Mr. McLaren told the following story at his meeting in Eltham last night: A Mr. McDonald was collecting in the Wairarapa and was successful in getting a donation of £3OO from a settler. Some days'afterwards the settler met the collector and accosted him thus: "I think, Air. McDonald, I did well in giving you that £300; I can sleep much better since." ,r We\\," said Mr McDonald, "don't you think you could sleep better still if yon gave another £300?" And eventually he. gave it. —Star. The weakening of the ranks of labor in Taranaki by Die departure of men for the front was referred to at the meeting of the New Plymouth Patriotic Committee yesterday, when members gave several instances of the difficulty employers in all branches of industry were meeting in getting sufficient men to do the required work. Some employers, it was stated, would have their businesses held up by the absence of labor. "I think this is very fine indeed," remarked Mr. F. C. ,7. Bellringer, and when someone asked, "What will we do for butter and cheese?" Mr. Bellringer rejoined: "We need not worry about that. The work can be done by the men who cannot go to the front, and we should let every fit man go." W.C.T.U.—Monthly meeting will be held to-day (Wednesday), at 2.30 in lodge room.—Advt. On Friday, at their mart, Messrs Webster Bros.' will sell a quantity of good house furniture and effects on account of Mr. Clark and another vendor. All the articles are for absolute sale, and some good bargains should be obtained. A good Ford five-seater car will be sold at Messrs Webster Bros. Mart on Saturday next at 2.30. The car is the property of Dr. Wade, and has given him every satisfaction and is in good running order