LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Argus understands (hat the Boy Scout movement is being revived in El,tham. The expcudiluvc of the Life Saving Club during the past year was £l4, not £O9, as stated in yesterday's issue.

A YVelliugtou message, says that Hou, das. Allen has been informed by cable from Kgypt that, the Maori Reinforcements have not yet left Egypt. As the result of the concert given by the pupils of the Convent School last week in aid of the Wounded, Soldiers' Fund, the sum of £f>(i 2s (id has been handed over .to the Patriotic Committee, a very creditable result indeed. A petition to the Clifton County Council is being signed by the farmers of North Taranaki, asking that body to adopt a systematic destroying of birds, which are increasing lo such an extent that great losses in crops are being caused.

What can be done by one person to help the patriotic funds is shown in the case of Mrs. Limmer, of Waitara (says the Mail), who worked a table centre (part of the time when she was ill in bed), and then she tramped from house to house selling tickets in a raffle for it until she had collected £25.

Writes the Dominion: "If the shirking of the single men necessitates the married men going into the fighting line, the single shirker should be called on to pay for his lack of manhood. The suggestion we here make to the Government is that every single man,-who is physically able to fight for his country and is unwilling to do so shall for the duration of the war or for such further time as niny be deemed reasonable pay one-half his earnings to the State for the benefit of the wives and families of the married men."

The hotels ut Feathcrst.on and Greytown have actually agreed not to sell liquor for consumption off the premises after six o'clock in the evening. It is understood that this course has been taken at the expressed wish of the military authorities in order to avoid the necessity of declaring the hotels "out of bounds" 30 far as the, Tauhere'nikftu camp is concerned. There are plenty of dairymen who are against testing. The following information can be verified by anyone interested (says the Otaut&u Standard), and is proof of the need of a cow-testing association. A local dairyman culled his herd; but one of the culls, a Jersey cross, failed to find ft buyer in the local saleyards. Later on this cow was bought by an Aparim'a farmer for £7, She ia pow giving 251b of butter-fat per week, and her owner/recently refused £22 for her. , ■

At the monthly meeting of directors of the North Taranaki Dairy Company on Tuesday, Mr. S. Elliot stated that he riiust retire from the position of chairman as his son was enlisting. The announcement was received with great regret, Mr. S. Elliot having held the office practically Bince the inception of the company. For ten years of the period passed through, the call on his time was almost taken to straining point, but he carried the burden on, and has the satisfaction of leaving the directorate with the company in a splendid position. Mr. S. Topless takes Mr. Elliot!s place as chairman, and Mr. H. M. .Purdie is to be asked to fill the vacancy in the directorate. —Mail.

At a tiathing parade of the troops in camp one (lay last week it was noticed that u man appeared to have got into difficulties. Sapper H. J. Cooper, wellknown in Taranaki, as a machinery agent, who is serving with the en ; gineerß, took the situation in at a glance and dived to the rescue. On reaching his man the sapper was surprised to find that lie had hold of another man's leg. The two men were gradually being sucked down in the eddy, and their plight was becoming dangerous. Sapper Cooper dived and managed to break the hold one of the men had on the other's leg. ' He then brought one exhausted man to the surface, and, having landed him safely on the bank, dived in again, and rescued the second soldier. The following are the Bchools in the territory recently added to the Taranaki Education District, with the pupils attending thereat, taking the yearly average for 1914:—Awakino County—Awakino (half-time) 23, Mokau (half-time) 16, Mangaotaki 14, Marakopa 14. Ohtira County—Ongarue 81, Ohura 55, Otangiwai 39, Mahirakau 28, Mfttiere 33, Niho Niho 27, Okahukura 31, Paraheka (halftime) 18, Kururau (half-time) 5, Otunui (half-time) 12, Tatu 16, Tokirinia road 16, Whenuakura 12, Eltham County-—Makaka. 15, Mangimingi 17, Rotokara 20, Mata 25.. Rawhitiroa 29, To Hot! 31, Riverlea 3S, Mangatnki 90, Kaponga 121, Eltham 330. Wsiimate West County—Auroa 62. Kapuni 65, Otakeho 66, Manaia 125. Hawera County —Ararata 19, Tokaora 20, Mere Mere 26, Wliakamara 21, Matapu 4ft, Mokoia 44, Ohangi 56, Okaiawa 76, Normanby 124, Hawera 633.

"A Bluejacket of the Old Niger" writes to the Auckland Herald:—"The first Victoria Cross won in New Zealand, was by a bluejacket of H.M.B. Niger, outside New Plymouth, storming the Waireka Pa, on March 2S, IS6O. It was won by William Odgers, leading seaman. Odgers was one of tfie first in the pa. and cut down the flags. Captain Cracroft promised us .CIO on that occasion, which we spent on our first leave in Auckland afterwards. The flags were carried to Government House and presented to Governor Gore-Brown, by New Zealand boys who had joined the Niger. One of them was my beloved shipmate, mid your honored citizen. Mr. George Powley. The ladies of New Plymouth testified to the crood service rendered to them on t/iat occasion by presenting Captain Cracroft with an address signed by themselves." The Melbourne's bargain list for Phristraas shoppers is recommended for eurcful consideration by our readers. The great buying and giving season is now with us, and the chance of securing seasonable and useful goods at extremely moderate prices should be gladly welj comrdi Messrs. Webster Bros, invite inspection of the Ford five-seater which they cell to-morrow absolutely without reserve, This car is a good investment, is very favourably known around Inglewood and is sure to meet with good competition. fx>ok into every detail of Coodacre's furniture and you will find quality, skilled workmanship, and splendid finish. It is not only the selected timber that makes Goodaere furniture so superior, but also th(' honest construction and the elegance of design. Read the firm's advertisement in this issne.

The new premises erected, by Messrs. Morey and Son, and only recently completed, are already aglow with the spirit of Christmas, Christmas shoppers and gift buyers will find much to interest t-liem iu this elaborate display You are cordially invited to promenade through the &ew wsmisw. When will you call J

Tie Star of India is at present loading a cargo of frozen produce at Waiter*.

Advice was received In New Plymouth yesterday that the price of flßurbas advanced £1 per ton, making the cost plMtf £l3 per ton.

In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., M. B. Bai> nitt was lined 20s and coats 7s for allow.: iiiy a bull to be at large o» a public „ street.

The Stratford Dain Company par out oil the '2oth inst., the um of £1 !) (»(>, being the K®ve*iber payment of Is per lb butler-lat and a bonus of 4d for .September. The Lowgarth Company pay nut £•>181, being November payment and £ bonus of one and live-eighths pen«e oil last season's butter-fat.—Potti

The Mayor and Mayoress sent apologies for absence from the Oirfe' High School brcakiug-up ceremony on Wednesday, owing to previous engagemestfl. In future the monthly electric light accounts will be required lo be paid before the 21)tk of the month, and not tilt 2fith ( as in the past.

Special Christmas greetings telegrams will again be accepted bv the Telegraph Department on the -Mil, 21st, 22ud, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 28th, 2»th, 30th, a»d 31st December at a uniforw charge of fld, provided the address and signature do not contain more than 11 words. Printed forms can be obtained at the telegraph office. The public are advised to lodge! their telegrams not later than the 23rd and 30th respectively to ensure delivery by Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. At a meeting of the Works Coni'mittee of the New Plymouth Borough Council the following matters' were decided:— In view of the fact that the land Is borough land, no rates beyond the water rate be paid by the, West Knd Bowling Club; the Taranaki Amusements, Ltd., will be informed that the Council cannot see its way to reduce tJle charges in connection with boardings, and that tho by-laws must be adhered to; the resolution fixing the carriers' stand at Curl ie street north, near the goods shed, will be given effect to.

On leave from one of the military camps, .James Granville spent, a somewhat too exciting day in Xew Plymouth, on Wednesday, and his behaviour led to liis arrest on a charge of being dilordcrly while drunk. Ho appeared before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, and was defended by Mr. A. H. John Atone, Granville waj fined .£1 and costs. "