LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tli? heat of late lias been excessive On Tuesday it registered SI in the shade at tiie station in Pukekura Park. After sundown, the points registered were i"t).

Potatoes are likely to he dear this winter. Most of the' South Island crops are a failure, owing to late frosts, while many of the North Taranaki crops have suffered from the Wight.

The road to tje Xorth Mountain Mouse is better now than it has been for years. The rolling of the metal between Kgmont Villnge and the radius line has made all the difference.

The, chairman of the Xorth Eginont Mountain House desires us to say that he would be glad of old magazines, books, etc., for use at the house. A recent visitor inform* the "S'ews that the greatest need of male visitors to the house is n billiard table, the revenue from which, he believes, would soon pay for itself and the necessary extra accommodation. In the wet weather—and there is a good deal of wet weather at the house—there is nothing to do but stroll about or mope indoors. The suggestion is a good one, and we have pleasure in passing it on to the committee in charge.

A Rotorua telegram says that the Salvation Army Institute for returned soldiers was opened this afternoon by Sir Joseph Ward, in the presence of a large gathering. Addresses were given by Sir .Joseph Ward, Colonel 'Powley (Army Chief Secretary), Mr. Hill (resident officer), Colonel bewail, Drs. Herbert and Thaeker. Captain Shearer is in charge of the Institute. Colonel Powley stateJ that the land and buildings had cost ,C:i3o, the improvements iMSO, and the fittings £7O. His appeal for linan::Ul support resulted in £SO being eont.'ibuted by the audience. The epccchcs were generally eompliruenta v y to the Salvation Army's work in the war. The building contains sitting and recreation rooms, a tea room, kitchen, and cool drink buffet. It is comfortably furnished.

A Hawera visitor, speaking to a News representative, was greatly impressed with the magnificent results Waitara is obtaining in connection with the patriotic funds. "Why," he said, ''we are a much richer and Digger district, and we haven't raised £2OOO yet. Waitara, I see by your paper, has raised £ ; 4182. It's splendid. But don't think that Hawera is less patriotic or liberal than Waitara. It's just througb lack of organisation and definite effort. We have a Patriotic Committee that is incapable of effort. It wants an infusion of new and younger blood, and we would goon remove the stigma that now' rests iijion Hawera for its backwardness and stinginess. I suppose there is no place in Tarunaki that lias so many wealthy people in and around it as lias Uawera. and they will give if properly approached. Put what I sav in vow paper, please." The Australian military authorities are displaying the keenness of sleuthhoundfl in their seaivh for field-glasses, which are urgently required for the use of the troops at the front. The market supply of binoculars being exhausted, the authorities are largely dependent upon the generosity of sportsmen and racegoers in securing these articles. Now and then, however, a small stock of field-glasses is unearthed in some pawnshop or dealer's shop, when it is immediately commandeered for use until the end of the war. Quite a windfall in this direction occurred the other day, when a consignment of nbout a dozen pairs of binoculars came to light on hoard a vessel just about to leave port. Needless to say, the boat left without the glasses. Large numbers of binoculars are, however, still needed to meet requirements, and an appeal has been made to all citizens possessing such articles to hand them over for the use of the troops. Writing from Westminster on November 20, Sir Henry Lucy says in his weekly letter to the Sydney Horning Herald: —"In spite of affairs in Servin, and continued checkmate in the West, there is observable just now increased confidence in the public mind as to the issue ;of this protracted struggle. The Stock Exchange, a safe barometer when not influenced by political controversy, testifies to the general feeling. ''Firm markets" are daily reported, and there is a steady increase of business, in some vases at augmented prices. Mr. Bonar Law contributed to this turn of events the assurance, that, with full knowledge of the military and naval position, he was never more sanguine of success than he is to-day. The winter campaign, with some authorities, including the fierman Emperor, thought might be avoided —nearly six months ago he named October as the date of the termination of the war—is now under full blast. The public learn with satisfaction that the War Office, profiting by experience, has made and is now distributing generous supplies of warm clothing for troops in the trenches, including the welcome novelty of gum boots reaching to the top or the thigh. It is officially announced that, with the exception of mufflers and mittens, not provided in the bountiful Government supply, there is no necessity for the appeals for private help which continue to be advertised."

All incident in which tragedy and comedy were pathetically blended was related by Sir 31. Vinson, chairman of Bovril Australian Estate.:-, Ltd., in his address to shareholders at the annual meeting of the company. Last year, the chairman, who at one time was Premier of Western Australia, inspected the company's properties, which extend across Northern Australia to Darwin. "Shortly before I arrived at one station," he told his audience, "there had been some murders committed by the natives, and some of the culprits had been tried at Darwin and sentenced to be hanged. The authorities thought, as they might be excused for thinking, that instead of hanging them all in the capital city of Darwin, it would liave a deterrent effect upon the other natives if the\ sent one of the culprits to be hanged in his own disrict, and got together as many of the tribe as possible, with his friends and relatives. Accordingly, one of the 'culprits was sent down to the neighborhood of our station, and the police got together as many of his friends and relatives and members ol his tribe as they could, and they hanged the man from a tree in their presence, but, instead of its having the desired effect, the natives never had such fun in their lives. They looked upon it as a gorgeous pantomime, and implored the police to give them an encore performance, they being quite willing to provide another man!"

Men's bargains at the Melbourne's sale of Japanese and "job" goods: Grand worsted trousers, Os Od; strong saddle-tweed trousers. 7s lid; Kaiapoi saddle trousers, 12s fld; men's President braces, Is Del; men's white handkerchiefs, eight, for Is; men's Island hats, Is Od; men's Kaiapoi tweed suits, f!'2s Od; men's Koslyn tweed suiis. 2fls u'd; men's iud'jjo serge suits, 09s Od,

A Sydney message .state, that Kelly. Uie Now Zealand footbai; player, linn enlisted.

A Toko settler was recently tarred anil feathered. The incident Is to he ventilated in court at an early date. An alarm of lire was given at 2.1/>. o'clock yesterday afternoon for a supposed outbreak on the South Road, but it proved to be a false alarm. The services of the Wanganui Garrison Band have been secured for the autumn meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club on February !) and 10. At the meeting of the University Senate yoterday the Vice-Chancellor gave notice thta the Senate would meet next year at Auckland, on January 17th. — Press Association, The Minister for Internal Affairs has convened a conference of representatives of I'atrioli.- Societies administering war funds, to be held in Y\ ollington on February 17th,—Press Association.

There are at present no sick men among the garrison at .Samoa and the health of the troops is good, states the latest report received by the Defence Department from Colonel d'atterson, Acting-Administrator. At the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday, the Education Department notified that a national competition would be held in 11)10, and it was hoped to hold the examinations in art as usual.

A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states that Sue ITam, alias Ah Lung, was lined £iii and costs for having opium suitable for smoking in his possession. The defendant went by motor to Port Chalmers. The police investigated the ear when it was upturning and found six half-pound tins of opium.

The hospital ship Marama loft Alexandria on January 2-2 for England, with 470 invalids from various corps. The Minister for Internal Affairs stated yesterday that the siolc and wounded aboard were not all Xew Zcalanders; the fillip is being used in the Imperial service, and the invalids represented all branches of the Britisli forces. —Press Association.

A Xorth Taraiutki resident recently received a letter from his people in the Old Country, in the course of which it is stated that every male is either at the Front or helping in munitions manufacture. Even the girls are helping. Two, not used to work, were helping a farmer digging turnips. "They start work at five in the morning and finish at six at night. For this they receive, 15s a week. The farmer charges 10s for board, so they net ">s for their 13 hours a day week.' As the food provided is good, the girls don't complain. Mr, Massey, speaking at the llorowlienua show yesterday, said that the people of this country had risen to the occasion in providing supplies for the Empire's need and in providing men, but more men were wanted to-day. Xo man fit for the front and able to get away is doing his duty in staying here. To put it stronger, lie is not only not doing his duty but he is assisting the enemy. He who assisted the enemy was a traitor to his country, and people had no cause to be proud of him. Referring to the country's production, Mr. Massey predicted that this year would be better than the last.—Press Association.

A.plucky action was performed by Constable M. Roche (formerly of Hawera), at Lyall Bay. Wellington, on Tuesday afternoon. A young lady who was swimming in the surf appeared to be in difficulties. The constable was also bathing at the time, and seeing the lady disappear twice, lie at once hurried to her assistance. After a great struggle, he reached the shore with his unconscious burden, and managed to restore her to consciousness by means of artificial respiration. The lady and the constable were the only two bathing at that particular spot at the time, and but for his plucky action she probably would have been drowned. The December number of the "Tai'anakian," the Xew Plymouth Boys' High School journal, maintains the excellent reputation it has justly earned. The editorial deals with the subject of patriotism as applied to schoolboys and family life, stressing the point that true patriotism is based on altruism. The school notes are comprehensive, full of interest, and are crisply phrased, while the school work, a.s well as the numerous outdoor recreations, are all detailed. The agricultural notes show that this important branch of education is receiving due attention, the work done is alike t-rcditable to instructors and students. The old boys are conspicuous in several of the illustrations depicting those who have responded to their country's call. The journal is in every way worthy of the school, and should be much appreciated by all subscribers.

"I have been trying to get a house for some, time, but because I have children 1 haven't succeeded.'' This was the burden of a grievance of a visitor to New 'Plymouth. He contrasted this state of tilings with what obtains in Germany. There the State encourages the raising of large families. Woe betide any landlord who "turns down" a man with a family, in point of fact, a landlord has to give preference to married men. Besides, the Kniser interests himself in the matter of large, families. On the birth of a sixtli child be sends a special courier to the parents Waving his congratulations and the intimation that he will act as godfather to the infant. Tliis personal interest, of course, binds him closely to the people, and has the direct result of encouraging huge families, and population Germany has by this and other means secured, with the result that she has been able to challenge the world. The need for greater population is equally as pressing in New Zealand, and the Legislature could, with advantage, take a leaf from Germany's book in this respect, and help parents in every way and not hinder them, as is now frequently the case. The price-list of choice Nelson fruit is advertised by Mr. H. G. Kingsland, of Appleby, Nelson. The prices quoted arc freight paid to nearest railway station.