LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The offertories at St. Mary's Church to morrow will be in aid of the Country Clergy Fund. A Wellington telegram states that owing to a complaint that they cannot make as much in Wellington as at Auckland on the work of discharging the oil ship Physa, the men on Thursday afternoon decided not to continue work, and nothing was done yesterday at discharging the vessel. The price of the 21b loaf at Wellington, is to be reduced to 4d on and after Monday. This decision was arrived at by tlie master bakers at a meeting last night. The reduction iB consequent upon the lessened cost of flour. Bakarg have now used up all their high-priced stocks of flour, and can now buy at much lower rates.

The Rarawa did not reach New Plymouth until about eight o'clock yesterday morning, having been delayed by rough weather. Soon after leaving the Manukau Heads rough aeas were met with and during the night the vessel battled against a head wind in a rough sea. There were over forty passengers on the Rarawa, and they had _an unpleasant experience. At the S.M. Court at Patea, on Wednesday considerable time was occupied in hearing the case of W Lamb v. Geary Bros., a claim for £ll 14s, defendants counter-claiming for £4B 13s Bd. The plaintiff had been milking on shares under an agreement, and the chief matter in dispute related, to a charge made by defendants - for grazing two horses. Judgment was reserved. Recognising what a powerful recruiting agent the sight of men' in khaki is, the Government has under consideration plans for sending drafts of reinforcements on visits to other centres. A beginning.will be made with Christehureh. The Eighth Reinforcements, will embark for Lyttelton on November 12, and march through the streets of Christchurch on Saturday or Sunday, or both days.—Press Association. Guy Fawke's Day yesterday di<i not escape recognition by the young people of New Plymouth. In many parts of the town boys paraded their '•guys'' early yesterday niorning and gathered coin, which was employed to purchase a variety of fireworks which infused a lot of noise and color into the early night. Fires blazed in all directions and there were many excellent displays of fireworks.

Tht Defence Minister has received the following cablegram, signed by General Godley and Lieutenant-Colonel 11. 11. Rhodes:—"Officers and men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force join with us in asking you to convey to the relatives of the nurses, non-commissioned officers, and men of our No. 1 Hospital, who perished in the Marquette, our sinccrest sympathy with them in their bereavement.''-—Press Association. The llawera fishing season, *so far as tlie llawera Acclimatisation Society's district is concerned, is (says the Star), proving successful, and anglers ai'e more tliaji satisfied with their catches. The streams are- all in good order, and the trout in splendid condition. Licenses are going off very well, and notwithstanding that, many anglers have gone away with the Expeditionary Forces, the Society expects to have a ' really firstrate season.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London house under date 4th mat; "Wool market firm. Compared with first Oetobgr good greasy merino 5 per cent., greasy crossbred 5 to I'/., scoured 7% to 10; greasy lambs and slips 5 per cent higher; greasy inferior, scoured medium, inferior 5 .to 7Vs per cent ' lower."

The Post Office advises that mails dispatched 011 September 23 via Sue? arrived in London on the -2nd inst. Mushrooms are early this year. A couple of fine specimens were left at this office yesterday morning from Simons' sawmill, Carrington road. The larger specimen measured 3D inches in circumference.

The Government offices throughout New Zealand will be closed on Saturday, Dec-ember 25th, Monday, December 27th, Tuesday, December 28th, for the Christmas holidays, and Saturday, January Ist, and Monday, January 2nd, 1910, for ! the New Year holidays. A Gazette Extraordinary issued on Thursday night contains an Order-in-Council issued by H.M. the King that Article 57 of the Declaration of Londonproviding that the neutral or enemy character of a vessel is determined by the Hag she is entitled to fly—is uo longer adopted by the British Government.

A private telegram received in Wellington indicates that the transport Marquette, which was torpedoed with the staff of No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital on board, was beached after the attack. The loss of ten of the New Zealand nurses was due to the upsetting of a boat—N.Z. Times.

Figures published in the Gazette show that goods of German origin, to the value of £BB9, were imported into New Zealand during the quarter ended September 30th, 1915. The total for the corresponding quarter of 1914 was £212,727. The fact that the imports from Holland show an increase from £19,581 to £84,711 for the same period may have some bearing on the point. For some time past (says the New Zealand Times), "stickers," measuring two inches by 222y 2 inches have been posted around the Wellington wharves bearing the following text:—"How to make your job easier. Get wise to I.W.W. tactics. 'Don't be a pacemaker, some one has to be the slowest, let it be you, join the one big union. Don't be a boss's man by trying to do more work than other men. Fast workers die young, Live a long life. Join the Industrial Workers of the World, the Fighting Union." One of these productions was stuck in the middle of a National Kegistration poster. The Eltliam Ladies' Sewing Guild have, says the Argus, despatched two cases, one containing equipment for one bed for the hospital ship Maraina, the other to the New Zealand General Hospital at Pont de Keubbch, Cairo, containing 30 flannel night shirts, 1(1 suits pyjamas, 42 pairs of flannel drawers, 30 flannel singlets, 30 calico night shirts, 4 flannelette shirts, 2 flanclette night shirts, 12 towels, 2 pairs slippers, l'J "pairs bed sox, 3 face cloths, <1 pairs mittens, 3 blanket dressing gowns; 2 dozen handkerchiefs, 30 cholera belts, 30 pillow slips, 2 feather pillows. The question of providing bags for use at the front was touched on at last night's meeting of the New Plymouth Patriotic Committee. It was pointed out that the committoe had offered to send basic slag bags, but the Defence Department had discouraged the idea, by saying such bags were not the regulation size. "It seems a shame that the large number of bags left lying about on the farms in Taranaki cannot be used," remarked Mr. D. J. Hughes. Mr. W. J. Pcnn said that he had seen it stated that bags could be procured in England cheaper than in New Zealand. A suggestion that the cheese factories in Taranaki should be asked to Bend cheese as presents to the soldiery at the front was made by Mr. D. J. Hughes at the meeting of the New Plymouth Patriotic Committee last night. Letters received from men at the front showed that New Zealand cheese received by the men had been greatly appreciated. Mr. Hughes felt sure the companies would respond, and in addition to providing a luxury for the men it would be a great advertisement for the cheese. Mr. J. E. Wilson thought the matter should be brought up at the Taranaki conference, and this course was agreed to.

On his return from the south to Wellington, says the Dominion, the Defence Minister (the Hon. J. Allen), said he was surprised at the strength of the feeling manifested 'here, especially in I)unedin, in favor of conscription. "I have received a good deal of evidence that the public mind is veering in the direction of compulsory service," said Mr. Allen. "The evidence in the south is overwhelming, and I have had many letters on the subject from all parts of New Zealand. The matter is receiving the most serious consideration." •

"It is a mercy that the war came when it did," said Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., in an address at Auckland a few days ago. Ho went on to say that, in his opinion, the British nation was going the same way as ancient Rome, and the people were indulging more and more iu ease and luxury If they had gone on for another -20 years it was doubtful if the nation would have been able to survive the present great struggle. The people realised the privileges of the great free democracy under which they lived, but they did not realise their great responsibilities. In political life there was too much of the politician and not enough of the statesman.

As a result of the gift auction afid gala day held at Urenui on October 25 a sum of nea.rly £7OO will be available for the patriotic funds. The statement of receipts and expenditure shows that £Ol2 Os 5d was collected, and the expenses amounted to £l7 15s Bd, leaving a balance of £594 4s Od. To this has to be added a sum of £SO which has been collected since the function took place. The receipts include: Proceeds from sale of gift stock £316 Os,, stall takings £O3, collection and competitions £OO 17s 7d. donations £3B lis, and collection by ladies for the stalls £3l lis. The proceeds will be divided amongst the different patriotic funds.

W. H. and A. McGarry, of Eltham, advertise dairy farms for sale or exchange.

Intending purchasers of the Melbourne, Ltd., .made-to-mejisure suits at 4!)s (id, 59s tid, 09s (id and 7os are advised that the special offer only remains open another 10 days.

"Summer" calls up a vision of pale, moonlit, mellow nights and warm, still days. Then summer is a time for comfort —but not with heavy clothing. Your dresses must be light and soft, and they will keep you coolest if 'they are white. 'Messrs Morey and Son are making a feature of their white summer dress goods. You should see them and select something seasonable. Read their advertisement iu this issue.

WHAT'S IN A NAME? Much. If it is that of the N.Z. Express Co., it stands for all that is boat in passing entries, forwarding parcels, moving furniture,, and checking baggage. Make sure you engage the N.Z. Express Co. With the best and biggest organisation of the kind south of the "line," they are reliable, prompt, efficient.