LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Hawera Borough Council has decided to ask the Valuation Department to re-value the borough. The long drought in the Cook Group is reported to be still unbroken, and likely to continue till the end of the year. Meanwhile, it is most injurious to the vegetable productions of the islands, and is greatly lessening the exports. At the Magistrate's Court, Hawera, yesterday, Tanmwhera Tonga Awhikou (known' as Charlie Tonga), pleaded guilty to stealing two heifers at Normaniiy on October 28, and was sentenced to three months' hnril labor. As this was his second conviction for theft, the Magistrate warned accused that if he was again brought before the Court he would be sentenced to reformative treatment.—Si tar.

'■The New Zcalanders take very few prisoners," said a returned soldier when in conversation with a Hustings reporter this week. ''lf you get into a Turkish trench, and ask the Turks to surrender, tlicv will throw down their arms, but a.s soon as you turn your back, they will dig yon with a knife. Of course, if it comes to a rough-and-tumble, as it often docs, there is no taking of prisoners; either you kill him or he drops you. The New Hollanders, however, do take some, but very few ever come down the Australian lines."

'•Hansard," tlio official record of parliamentary speeches, hag just been completed for tlie session, and shows a substantial diminution in bulk. Its pages usually extend into five heavy volumes each se'ssion, but the current Hansard will be compressed in three, The reason for the reduction is not so much the selfrestraint of members during the war session, as their lessened opportunities. Parliament sat shorter hourß and fewer days than usual last session, the actual total of sitting hours having been 330, compared with SB7 during the last session before the war.

The proposed lecturing tour of Mr. Ashmead Bartlett through New Zealand is causing the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce some concern. At the last meeting of that body the chairman, Mr. H. J. Wernlmm, asked whether the Chamber should not take some steps towards discouraging the tour. It would be no advantage to the Dominion, and 110 solace to the parents of sons who had fought at Gallipoli, to hear criticisms on the conduct of the campaign. His sole object in -seeking to discourage the tour was out of respect for the feelings of the parents bf the killed and wounded and the boys who were at present fighting. After discussion the Chamber decided to take 110 action in the matter.

At the ordinary meeting of the Parihaka Road Board, yesterday, reference was made to the proposed alteration of education boundaries. Members referred in high terms to the good work done by the Taranaki Education Board in eomicilion with agricultural education, both at the schools and among' the farmer. l '. On the motion of the chairmail it was resolved to unanimously endorse the resolution passed by the Opunake Farmers' Union expressing appreciation of the means adopted bv the Taranaki Education Board for the furtherance of agricultural education in the district, and stating that the farmers of that district were of opinion that any alteration of boundaries, which would necessitate the substitution of an inferior system in place of the comprehensive scheme at present in operation under the Taranaki Education Hoard, would seriously hinder the progress of agriculture education.

Eight girls are now employed on the start of the Bank of New Zealand at Auckland, saya an exchange. Tlie banks decided at the outset not to take on temporary male clerks during the war if it possibly could be avoided, but to keep open the places of their soldier employees and to allow them half-pay. The remaining employees have since cheerfully foregone their annual leave, and have worked overtime to keep things going. The girls who have been taken on by the Bank of New Zealand in Auckland are employed as stenographers and tj'piats and in working adding machines, duties 'for which girls have long been utilised in commercial offices. Mr. H. Buckleton. the Auckland manager, states that the experiment is justified, and that the girls have probably come to stay, at least in that department. a.s routine work of the kind they are engaged for is not congenial to the average male clerk. The men who come back from the war, therefore, will not be prejudiced by the change. Dairymen should be interested in the advertisement dealing with the Saigeant milking machine. This machine is to be placed on the market for £lO7 and upwards, and should be suitable for the small-herd farmer.

On a charge of allowing cattle to wander on the South' Road, C. J. Mulloy was lined fls at the Magistrate's Court vesterdav.

For failing to attend drilli, Stanley Baker, of Ttalioln. was fined £2 and 7s costs (or M days' military detention), at the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday. The Hawke's Bay A. and P. Society has invited owner- m 1000 sheep and over to contribute a bale of wool to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, and up to the present four owners have responded.

The nautical enquiry at Auckland into the loss of the schooner Falcon at. Raglan on 20th October absolved the master from blame. The vessel being in an unscaworthy condition was unable to stand the strain of the heavy weather met off the coast.

At a meeting held at Kltham on Wednesday night, ifc'waa decided to establish a branch of the Overseas Club, all present being enrolled as members. The following officers were elected: Patrons, Hon. W. Carncross, M.L.C., and Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P.; president, Mr. G. If. BuclteTidge; vice-president, Mr. C. White: lion, secretary, Mr. \V. 1). Rose; committee, Messrs. .1. Belcher. .1. IV Campbell, 0. W. Bennett, A. Crunin, 11. .1. Barnard, and 11. R. Jenkins.—Star.

A defendant in the Wellington Magistrate's Court admitted having a sum of about £3OO in the bank, yet, according to counsel, he resolutely refused to obey an order of the court calling on liini to contribute 10s a week towards the support of his wife. The latter was quite destitute. "What arc you doing with the money?" asked his Worship. "I am keeping it for myself when the time comes that I won't be able to work," was the reply. '-Are you, really!" said the magistrate. ''Well, we are going to have some of it." An order was made accordingly for defendant's imprisonment unless he pays the amount forthwith. A statement that "there is some probability of the New Zealand Government commandeering for war purposes part of the Dominion's wool clip this year" is made by an Auckland newspaper. Inquiries made by our Wellington correspondent indicate that the Government has no such intention at the present time. There may be a development in connection with the wool market, but it is not at all likely to take the form suggested by the Auckland journal. The Government's own requirements in the form of manufactured woollen goods for the use of the troops will be very heavy during the season.

Turakina Valley was the scene of a rather sensational incident caTly on Tuesday evening, when one of the settlers there and his family got the shock of their lives (reports the Chronicle). Shortly after 7 p.m., a heavy thunderstorm swept up the Valley accompanied by vivid lightning. The inmates of the house were startled by .a heavy explosion, and immediately the back portion of the dwelling was discovered to be in flames. When the blaze was suppressed it was ascertained that lightning had struck the telephone wire, aad had fired the benzine in the lighting plant attached to the house—Star, The departure of the 45 Raratongan "boys" for New Zealand to train for the, front, on 80th. September, has stimu-1 later recruiting amongst the Natives of these islands, writes the Rarotongu correspondent of the Auckland Herald. Some 50 more have handed in their names, and these are now being drilled by Sergeant Atkinson, who succeeded Sergeant Nasll in charge of the Native police here. These young men are most enthusiastic in the matter of this voluntary training. No instructions have, so far, been received by the local authorities to forward a further detachment to New Zealand. There is no doubt 200 men could be raised throughout the group without much trouble. ''l must tell you what the opinion is of the New Zealand and Australian men," writes Major Matthew Holmes, of the New Zelland Medical Corps at Gallipoli. "They don't know fear, and I am not boasting one little bit. When every officer is shot they go on just the same. The sth Reinforcement men, who arrived, I think, just when the recent big fight had started, covering themselves witli glory—it was juat splendid. There is a feeling of safety with the colonials about which gives confidence. A good half deserve the V.C. Our brigades are brigades no longer, but still they are good and won't be beaten. I am truly proud to be a New Zealand officer."

The Christmas fruit season which is now beginning will be one of the most extraordinary ever known, says the London Times. All dried fruit is expected to be dear, while some of the familiar varieties will not. rea-eh the British market at all. An interesting feature will be the shipments next month of "British dates'' from the part of Turkish Arabia now in British occupation. A few dates are received from Egypt, but the bulk of the supply conies from the Tigris and Euphrates Valley, ami the success of British arms in the Garden of Eden district means tlißt large shipments will lie made to this country. Supplies will also be sent direct, in British ships, from Bussorah (Basra) to Australasia and South Africa.

As will be seen by reference to our advertising columns, the people of Wnitara are tendering members of the ]oth Reinforcements a social in the Clifton Ilall this evening, to which all the men are invited. The Committee would also be pleased to welcome returned soldiers as well. A good programme of vocal items will be submitted, interspersed with dancing, and, needless to say. the supper provided by the ladies will be up to the usual standard of excellence. These socials give belter opportunities especially to the older people, to say farewell to tie boy-! who are going to the front, a* with the great crowd that assembles at the station it is impossible for them to either see or shake the hand of the gallant soldiers.

A smart lot of men's and youths' fawn and brown raincoats, celebrated "JTydrotite" make, are being offered at the Melbourne, Ltd., at prices ranging from to 411/0. These coats are evtremely useful for summer and autumn wear.

Summer Dresses are your next Well you won't have to think long if you visit Morey and Ron's, They are ready for yon with goods lor this season's style and materials. Summer frocks of all the daintiest and prettiest 'materials In all the cute styles that are noticeable this season. Don't neglect reading their advertisement in this issue —then you will surely see the frocks. WHAT'S IN A NAME? Much. If it is that of the N.Z. Express Co., It stands for all that is best in passing entries, forwarding parcels, moving furniture, and checking baggage. Make sure you engage the N.Z. Express Co. With the beßt and biggest organisation of the kind south if the "line," they are reliable, prompt, efficient