LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford lias secured the serivces of Nurse Honeyfield, recently in charge of tiie Nelson district, as PHuiket nurse. The gross takings at the. Opunakc Seaside Improvement Society's Carnival on Wednesday, amounted to £l4O. ft is expected that this will leave a profit of i'SO, which is to he divided equally between the Patriotic Fund and the Seaside Improvement Committee.

Nothing is more certain than that when the "Pumice Country'' comes under the operations of the practical and scientific fanner it will speedily he made productive and will automatically improve in quality. The aftermath of war is debt, biit from the "Pumice Country" alone may ultimately be drawn the means to meet any debt this Dominion h likely to contract during the present crisis.—Auckland Herald.

Mr. 0. J. Ilerrick, Te Are! Apiary, has forwarded us a sample of this season's extracted honey. Ho informs us that it gave an hydrometer test of 1.43. and that was taken in a vessel containing a. depth of 2ft din of honey, so that it must be regarded as a very high test. The sample was extracted on /Monday last, and bottled on Thursday. Anyone interested can see the sample at this office.

A New Zealand officer, writing from Cairo, says: ''The class of men who have arrived with the last two reinforcements is tip-top, and I am sure could not be beaten. Compared to the Australians, our chaps are. giants, and there seems to be something so clean and healthy in their appearance that is lacking in our brothers from across, the Tasman. Still our fellows get on very well with them, and although they .are lacking in discipline, they are tigers to fight.''

They may have 'been after the bawbees in Aberdeen, but tliey don't give many chances for being presented with wliite feathers. Of the famous papermaking firm of Messrs Alexander iPiria and Sons, Aberdeen, there were ten members of the family eligible to serve, but eleven joined up (one being long past service age); of the clerical staff :!" were eligible and 10 joined: among the employees ISO were eligible and lfiO joined. Most of the. men enlisted in the Cordon Highlanders,

It is understood that the censns will not be taken this year owing to the war (says the Wellington Post). It is not certain yet to what date it will be postponed; but, meanwhile, it is very probable that a rearrangement of Parliamentary constituencies will take place on a system yet to be adopted by the ■National Cabinet, but which will give the Xorth Island its due proportion of peats in view of the population development, and the drift from the South.

Messrs Mackny Bros, and Co., eonsuiting agents, Colonial .Settlers* Association, writing from their bead office at Edinburgh to the New Plymouth Tourist and Expansion League, acknowledge receipt of a copy of the illustrated booklet of Xew Hymouth and district, which they say is very attractive. They cannot get anything there dealing specially with eacli district, only the usual supply from London ,of the stereotyped printed matter on farming, etc., and as they have a number of settlers for New Plymouth all the year round they ask to be supplied with one hundred copies of the booklet for distribution from their offices at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Kirkcaldy, by which means the district would be represented in all the best parts of Scotland.

"You are dead ! was the startling; announcement made a day or two ago to a soldier who is now walking about Wellington. Tlie soldier, who was sent back from the front invalided, presented himself before, the Medical Board in Wellington this week. The man is officially "supposed to be dead." and according to military law must remain dead until such time as he can prove otherwise by his papers. The soldier belongs to the Wellington district, and left Xcw Zealand attached to the Mounted Rifles of the Main expeditionary force. While at Gallipoli lie contracted .jaundice, and was also suffering from appendicitis. He was removed to an. Egyptian hospital, and on the night he was supposed to have died his temperature stood at 100. The doctors looked at the man, and said he would be dead by the morning, but although the soldier in the adjoining cot choired during the night, this, man appears to have recovered, lie returned with a batch of invalided and wounded soldiers, and the story goes that when he applied at the pay department of the "Records Office in Wellington for liis money, he was politely informed that he was dead and that there 'was no money for liijn. All his correspondence is supposed to have been returned to his relatives in Xcw Zealand, and there the matter rests until the Medical Poard can receive his papers from E;;,ynt. The man is "supposed to be dead." but he informed several of his pals at the recruiting office that lie will not remain dead to suit anyone.

"Tnglewood's Birthday" is the heading which ih ( > local paper, the Record, gives to the. following:—The 22nd January is ■the 41st anniversary of Inglewood. On Um day, in the year 1875, Inglewood S'S.b called into existence by its present name under the parentage or patronage, which you will, of the Provincial Council of Taranaki, and its birth celebrated oy nn al fresco banquet near the bank of the Kurapete stream just about where the railway line now crosses it. Tlie late Mr. Arthur Standish was actually the perpetrator of tlie deed; he it was who broke the bottle of champagne (not a magnum, only a little 'un) against the bole of a giant rimu, and to show that he was not addicted to such extravagant practices it took him three tries before the precious liquor was freed from its glassy imprisonment, and the bottle broken. Of those present at the ceremony there are not now many survivors; not that the ceremony itself cup be blamed, for it was quite a staid Anadian affair. Xo wild rombiioluoiif orgy started Inglewood on its placid career. Hut time lias claimed most of the celebrants of that summer afternoon. Messrs Thomas Kelly, (i. F. Kobinson, 1!. Stevens, and T. K. Hainerton in Taranaki, and. Jack Stagpoolc, somewhere above ground, are some of those who were present and still live to tell the tale. May they live to see more of these anniversaries, and in less i'oubled times than we are now experiencing. On Wednesday, Messrs. Webster Pros, will submit to auction the household furniture and effects of Mr. P. Death, •Moloswortli street, Xcw 'Plymouth. The furniture is a useful lot and in good order. Sale commences at 2 o'clock. The Melbourne, Ltd's. sale for great bargains. Japanese crepe kimonos 3s lid, 4s Oil, "s fid; lovely (ire screens 15? 6u, silk hand-painted table centres, silk hand-painted handkerchief satchets; damask napkins fld each; camisoles Is M; nurses' cloth 1» yard.

The Xcw .Plymouth and FiUroy Kirc Brigades will he reviewed to-morrow evening hy Inspector T. T. Hugo. .

The takings at the Red Cross Mart at Xew Plymouth on Saturday amounted to no.

An unusual phenomenon occurred at Shannon recently, say? .in exchange, when a .Maori baby was born with a full, set 01' teeth, perfectly formed.

At a meeting of the South Taranaki Automobile Association on Friday night it was decided 'Jo TVoIr! a run to Opunake on 'February 10. ' The lute Sir Samuel Wuv's estate is valued at JiSSjOOO. Over' £BOOO has been bequeathed to charitable and other institutions.

• The weather yesterday was ideal for surfing, and the, lieaehes' were lined with people, including, a. great number of visitors from inland towns. !

A particularly hot day was experienced at Xew Plymouth yesterday, the thermometer registering 7(1 degrees at mid-day. On the hottest day this summer 77 degrees .were registered.

The values, of the exports from Pateo during the week ended last Tuesday were as follows:'—'Butter .C-'iOfM, cheese £10,34:1, frozen meat £3OIB, hides and skins £325.

An inquiry into the cause of the recent fire at Mr. W. IT. Stoekley's house in Morley Street (occupied by Mr, E, S. Wooldridge) will be opened at the Xew Plymouth Courthouse at'll o'clock 'this morning.

The inquest concerning the death of •Latiritz M. Jensen, second mate of the schooner C. S. Holmes, who was drowned at Moturoa recently,' will be continued at the Courthouse at 2.30 o'clock this afternoon.

The birds arc interfering with the fruit crops in and about Xew Plymouth this year to ail extent greater than usual. Opossums are also a big nuisance to orehardists in certain parts of the district. Overheard in a train at Marton. ''How did you do out of your wool this year?" Better than I expected. Made a clear thousand more than I ever hoped to.'' The successful one was a young farmer of perhaps °,B years. The proprietor of the Mansion Boardinghouse at Kawau Island was, says a Press Association telegram from Auckland, fined •'6"20 for selling beer without a license. The Magistrate said the place was well conducted and the liquor was apparently kept more as a convenience for hoarders than for profit:

Mr. John Armstrong, of Peel Forest, has handed Major Kennedy, of Geraldine, a cheque for £'2;s(), which represents the extra amount he has received for his wool in consequence of the war. Mr. Armstrong said he felt it his duty to hand this a.mount for patriotic purposes—Timaru Herald. ''lf the millions of tons of grass fodder which we saw along the Main Trunk Railway from 'Wellington to within three-quarters of an hour's journey from Auckland could be estimated in terms of butter-fat and cheese," said Dr. Thacker, M.P., to an Auckland reporter, '•'the revenue of this Dominion would take some assessing." There was a large number of visitors to the Boy Scouts' camp a* Saxton's bush, 'Doralto road, yesterday afternoon, when a church service was held by the vicar of St. Mary's (the Rev. A. H. Golvile). The Scouts entertained the visitors to afternoon, tea, which was much appreciated. The camp will last for another week. There is a scarcity of teachers in the Hawkc's Bay Education District, according to the Hawke's 'Bay dlerald, caused to eomo extent, no doubt, by the number of male teachers who have gone on active service. The Education Board is at present in need of thirty-four teachers (headmasters, assistant masters, and solo teachers), besides pupil teachers and probationers for various parts oT the district.

The erection o\" the toll gate near Stmt ford will assist in sounding the death knell of toll gates in the Dominion, says the Eltham Argus. Travellers maintain that this particular toll gate is an imposition. If the roads were tarsealed, and made comfortable to travel nn, as many of the toll gates in the county are, people would recognise that they were getting somehing for their money, but to have to pay toll and not to have good roads to travel on gets people's backs, up. A private member will next session introduce into the ■House u Bill to abolish toll gates, and it will pas* through all its stages quite easilv.

This war, which is generally believed to be benefitting every farmer to a more nv less extent, is having a back kick at ilie Canterbury owners. No Taramtki man who has not lieen through Canterbury of late can hope to imagine the state of tilings there, for the paddocks are brown and bare almost beyond belief. Cattle are being sent in large numbers to Otago for grazing, and the farmers are naturally glad to see. Xortb Island buyers operating at the saleyards. Last week an Auckland dealer went south to pick up View hundred "'cattle. "He could have bough a line, of six hundred at a price, which would have enabled him to make a handsome profit besides relieving the Canterbury ownei'R of their diHieulty in keeping the beasts. But, try as he might, he could not obtain freight. Xot a single steamer was available to make the trip, although big money was offered. If the drought is an injury the ■shortage of ships is undoubtedly adding the insult.

The wireless stations in Africa captured from the Germans are likely to prove by no means the least valuable of the booty taken. The right Hank of General Botha's advance northward, commanded by Colonel Myburgb, crowned their.efforts by the capture of Tsunieb. Tlie town and garrison surrendered on demand, and the entire German battery, with its full complement of officers and men, fell into the British hand?. Tlie enormous supplies taken at this town included aOOO eases of rum and new equipment for 10,000 men. Tlie Germans destroyed their cartridges but lliuir wireless apparatus was so little damaged that it was possible to communicate the same day with the Slangkop station at Capetown. When we remember that one of. the principal delects in opening up vast tracts of undeveloped country consists of lack of means of communication, the value in the future of those powerful and wellequipped wireless stations can hardly be exaggerated. TRAVEL FREE FROM CARE. CHECK BAGGAGE THROUGH US. Won't have Baggage on your mind when travelling. You needn't. Get us (o check It, and enjoy physical and mental freedom. We call for baggage, check on, meet on arrival, and deliver at once. You can also obtain your ticket at our office.—The New Zealand Express Co., U4,

The Elhani Patriotic Committee har decided to join the Taranaki War Relic. Association. All the Patriotic Commit, tees in Taranaki are now joined to gether to provide a controlling execu »ive. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson. M.P., has I'jeen appointed the Kltham delegate on ithe c.vjclitivp.

The New Zealand High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, reports as follows:—"During the last few year* Ibo consumptive demand for margarine has been increasing rapidly, and during tho last twelve months it lias increased more rapidly still. .So great lias this demand become that manufacturers havj the greatest, difficulty in filling orders, and in some cases they find it almost Impossible to do so. Some time ago a new brand of high-grade margarine wgj placed on the market, the wholesale price 1 of which is 0.1. and the fixed retail price is Is per lb, which, it will be seen, leaves 3d per, 11) for the grocer's expense.-!. Tile success of this line has been remarkable, aided, no doubt, in no small degree by the- retailers pushing the sale of an article that returns tliem a good margin or profit, which for some, time butter lias not done. The worst feature in the .case is that this class of margarine has, according to the opinion* expressed by the trade, permanently displaced butter in the consumptive demand to a very considerable extent in quarters that had not hitherto been affected."

.Somewhere on the map there is a. place called Wellington, towards which, when its whereabouts are discovered, there will set in a rush for gold which will distance all the other rushes yet heard of. The following from Tuesday's Lyttelton Times supports this notion:— "Speaking to a Lyttelton Times reporter yesterday, Mr. R. Hoppy, who lift) just returned from a trip to the North Island, said that in Wellington business was booming. The war has neon a perfect god-send to thousands of people in Wellington," lie remarked, "for this greater part of the war expenditure is made, there. Every hotel and boardinghouse is full. You can't get a bed anywhere. I got a bed at last »nd the proprietor of the plaee told me. that if business went along as it had been for the past year, when the lease ran out in three or four years he would be able to retire. 1 made partiuiUr enquiries. One draper said, 'lt may sound strange, hut to be candid, I shall he sorry when the war's over,' Outside restaurants I saw queues of men waiting to got it. Tobacconists and hairdressers are bu»y from morning to night. They are coining money. Practically everybody said the same' thing. They had never had such' a run of prosperity, and nsturally they don't want Trenthaui .interfered with. It is too good a business proposition, lu the Manawatu I heard the same thing. The camps had brought business. Things are nourishing in th» north all right."

Tho Xew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Coy., beg to draw attention of clients to the clearing sale which they are holding on account of .1. 11. Bennett, Esq., Cross road, Midhirst. Full particulars" appear in our Advertising columns on page 8 of this issue.