LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The scholars and choir of the Baptist Tabernacle Sunday-school will repeat their anniversary hymns at the Westown Hall to-morrow afternoon. The Mayoress, Mrs. C. H. Burgess, wishes all those ,people who are providing Christmas cheer for the troops in camp to leave their contributions at tl)e depot to-day, as the goods must be packed and sent away by Monday's train. We have to acknowledge the sum of £5 from the Girls' High School, being the penny weekly contributions for the third term. Over 40 applications have been received for the position of sanitary inspector and building superintendent by the New Plymouth Borough Council. In our report of the bowling function at the New Plymouth Club on Thursday it was stated Mrs. George's orchestra provided a programme of music. It ■was Mrs. Woods' orchestra, and they generously gave their services free. The Court of Arbitration has forwarded to the Clerk of Awards at New Plymouth an order amending the Dominion Plumbers and Gasfitters' Award. The order comes into operation on December 20.

Francis Peter Hagen, a Civil servant, on four charges of publishing disloyal utterances, was fined £25 in the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Thursday. Mr. Jellieoe intimated that he would probably appeal against the decision. A Press Association message from Wellington says that the Associated Sports Bodies Christmas shilling fund for soldiers realised £3OOO, cf whcli £2600 has been sent to London, from whence tobacco, chocolates, and barley sugar will be sent to the uiei at Gallipoli. Gifts have also been foiw.rd'Hl to the Samoan garrison.

The Auckland Chamber of Cosinierr? recently asked the Defence Minister to issue cards to all men registering for active service, to enable employer* to discriminate in favor of those prepared to do their duty to the countrv. TV, Minister's reply is:—"The wioie matter is under consideration by myself and tlie Departmental officers. We t.np>» to have a scheme ready for the public before long, winch will very likely include the registration cards suggested."—Pre.-s Association. The Mercantile Gazette this wee* records the registration, as a private company, of the Manawaiu Daily Times Co., Ltd. The capital is £9OOO, divided into 9000 shares of £1 each. Followng are the subscribers:—Palmerstim North —F..T. Nathan 500, E. H. Pope 260, W. Devi no 350, R. A. MriKenzie 250, M. H. Oram 500, G. J. Seifert r,OO, C. S. Rush 500, L. Seifert f>oo, J. II Johnston 500, P. F. O'Connor 100, C. J. Monro 500. T. H. Moore 250, P. C. Freeth 3550, C. A. Loughnan 750. The objects of the company are described as being: To acquire as a going concern the business of a newspaper proprietor and publisher in its various branches heretofore carried on by W. H. Smitli at "Palmerston North, under the style of The Manawaiu Times sewsjwpsr.

Mr, Poletti, of Bell Block, lias purchased Mr. E. Griffiths' well-known model farm at Bell Block.

The number of persons arriving In Jfew Zealand in the month of November was 2581, and the departures 1558. The figures for November of last year were; Arrivals 373(1, departures 1184. Mrs. C. H. Burgess (the Mayoress) acknowledges receipt of a donation of ' £2 IGs from the Chetwode School girls for No. 1 Stationary Hospital; also £7 Os fid from the Mokau school for the same purpose.

A good many applications have been received for camping sites bordering on the East End beach. The committee wish to impress upon intending campers the necessity of making their arrangements at once, as only a limited nurn- > of sites remain.

The local agents of the Northern Co. have been advised that the Rarawa will leave Onchunga oil Tuesday, December 28, for New Plymouth, instead of December 27, and she will be dispatched from the latter port for Onehunga on Wednesday, December 29, instead of December 28.

Extended leave for the 3rd and 4th j Battalions, N.Z. Ride Brigade, will commence to-day, and terminate on Monday, January 3. To-morrow special trains will run from Rangiotu to Wellington, Napier, New Plymouth, and Auckland. On Sunday, January 2, special trains will be run to Rangiotu from Wellington, Napier, New Plymouth, and Auckland. The Minister fot Hospitals (Hon. G. W. Russell) stated yesterday that arrangements were complete for the reception of invalid soldiers returning on vessels due during the next fortnight. The available hospital accommodation was ample, and the convalescent camps at Rotorua and Hamncr were nearing completion.—Press Association. Persons who are willing to billet cadets taking part in the ■ Rille Association meeting next month arc invited to communicate with Mr. Monteath, hon. secretary of the Pat-iotic Committee. About forty cadets will require accommodation. They will arrive here on Saturday, January 1, and leave on Tuesday, January 4, A Wellington telegram says that despite warnings certain people • continue to post matches to the soldiers at the front. A few days ago smoke was seen coming from a parcel at Wellington that a box of matches (intended for a soldier) had ignited. Relatives and friends of fighters have a notion that the men are usually short of matches. Gifts of that kind have to be sent as freight, not as portion of the mails, and heavy penalties, up to seven years' imprisonment, are provided for these breaches of postal regulations.

At a send-off to Tirnaru msn on Wednesday evening Mr. Craigie, member f:>v Tim aril, broke new ground. He said that the voluntary system was all right, only it was spasmoili- mul did not make for equality of sacrhiee. The Dominion's finance could not be carried on on voluntary lines, and the war could not be brought to a successful issue under the voluntary system. He cited the case of a widow whose four sons went to tl:e war, while some people did not send any sons. All people should be prepared to share the sacrifice and thus have equality.

A large number of parents and visitors attended at the grounds of the Manaia State School on Wednesday afternoon, when an excellent vocal and musical programme was given. The chairman read the roll of honor, showing that as far as can be ascertained 4fi former pupils have left New Zealand with His Majesty's forces. Of these Lieutenant Ernest Jurd, Gunner Wm. A. MdKav Hastie, and Private Arnold King have been killed. Private George Rutland is missing. A former teacher, Mls« Flora Smith, was one of the nursing staff saved from the wreck of the transSport Marquette. Proficiency certificates presented by Mrs. Bridge, were gained by Raymond Bridge 80 per cent., Arthur Christie 76 per cent., Laurence Craig, 7 ! 1 per cent. Competency certificates were gained by Thelma Craig, Mavis Bennett, Jack Swan, and Edward Lloyd.

The art union in connection with the Auckland Cup, organised by the Auckland Provincial Licensed Victuallers' Association in support of their Queen Carnival candidate, has been drawn. The first prize is £IOOO and the second £SOO. Following is the list of ticketholders who drew horses:—Castalia, M. MKheehy, Temuka; Kooya, H. Page, steamer Kia 04.: El Gallo, J. PattcTson, Whangarei; Merry Roe, 0. Melville, Feilding; Manioroa, D. Foote, Kamo; Sir Solo, Keith and Valentine, Mercer; Christine, If. Lawson, Auckland; Snub, F. O'Connor, Taumarunni; Jack Delaval, D. Lindsay. Temuka; Blackall, Rainger and Donald; Warstep, .T. Pratt, Tc Kuiti; Colonel Soult, G. Stanton, Avondale; Mullingar, Mrs. Jeauneaux, Rennicra; Lady Penury, J. .McGregor, Railway Hotel, Hokitika; Self, Joe Greenwood, Eden Terrace; Balboa, T. Grubb, Stratford; St. Elm, "Charitus," Auckland. The headmaster of the Fitzroy School (Mr. 0. Johnson) made the following remarks at yesterday's function:—"We who are debarred from fighting in the trenches or from otherwise serving at the front feel, too, that we may do our duty in other directions than in helping the sick and needy When the war is over great economic changes are going to take place, and changes in the industrial, commercial and educational world, and to the last I should like to refer. 111 the first place our primary, technical and secondary schools must be under one controlling authority who will see that there is no overlapping, that it is an easy transition from the primary to the technical or high schools and then 011 to the university. Some of the technical subject-; in our primary system are going to he abolished or modified so that, they will be on more practical lineslines that will have a more direct bearing upon the future occupation of the qhild. A reform must be made in the method of medical examination. The head of the school should be able to consult with a local medical authority, and not have to wait for the round of the inspector. Then, again, greater privacy will be, observed in the examination. Our system of physical drill also wants modification, the present system not affording sufficient exercise for, at any rate, the boys in the upper standards; and very little provision is mide for those who want physical instruction most—the subnormal or abnormal children."

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London house, under date 15th inst.:—Tallow: We quote present spot values for the following descriptions—Fine mutton 4i)s per cwt., good beef 48s .Id, mixed 455. There ig a steady market. Wool sales: The market is strong. As compared with the 18th November values have advanced :Merino 10 per cent., except inferior, and lam!bs 7% per ce*t; crossbred greasy 10 per cent; scoured and slipe 7% to 10 per cwt. ,