LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Ohura Advocate repirts that owing to the downpour of rain, the ear containing the directors of the Tavstnaki Freezing Works not get thiough last week. The •feeetors hope to make the visit to Ohura about the end of February. A lengthy meeting of Cabinet was held on Monday, to deal with su. of business. The Prime nin,.„ J er ?u< lonned a that , 'ications i'w the salaried positions 011 tne Board of Trade had noi yen been uofilt with finally. The appoirr.":c;its are likely to be made in the near future.

T he Pulmeistjik :C«rth Chamber of Commerce is agitatl.ig for an alteration of the V'ellington-Now Plymouth express *'.inu-,able, to as to permit of tne express v) i,„i S Wellington easier. The Chant ue. Aas'decided to communicate with the flawera, Stratford, Patea and New Plymouth Chambers with regard to the matter

A Bill providing for the erection of the North Shore Bridge, Sydney, at a cost of £3,000,000, is now being drafted, and will be submitted to the New South Wales Parliament at an early date. It has not yet been decided whether the bridge will be built by contract or otherwise The cost is to be borne in proportions by the State and municipal and shire authorities principally affected. A novel sight in the way of towing was recently seen in England, when the ariahip "Eta" went lo the rescue of another airship that had become disabled, and brought her safely to her hangar. After maicing fast to iier tow, the Eta took a level of COO feet below it, in order to avoid the danger of fouling the rud-

dcr gear. The Eta is of the Parsival type, which has the cars suspended beneath the gasbags. In the Zeppelins the cars are rigidly attached to the framing. A rather extraordinary theft was proved to have been perpetrated at llawera by a respectably dressed man named Herbert Shackleton, the charge against him being that o;i January 28 he did steal a pair of,golf hose and two ties, valued at 9s, the property of the Xcw Zealand Clothing Factory, llawera. The. accused pleaded not guilty, A fine of £lO was imposed, or in default two months' imprisonment. The extraordinary part of the affair was that, according to the evidence of the police, the accused had a Post Office Savings Bank book showing over £IOO in credit, and another £IOO transferred to Government debentures.

The Bay of Plenty Times sa.Vs that a chase after a large sting-ray—called by the Maoris weku—in Tauranga harbor the other afternoon was attended with rather disastrous results for a valuable dog owned by a native resident of MatapiW. A number of natives, armed with three-pronged forks, were wading in shallow water in a portion of the harbor between Wereroa and Matnpihi in quest of fish, when they sighted the weku and pursued it. Two dogs were accompanying the party, and one of them got too close to the sting-ray, which succeeded in driving one of its stings through the foreleg and then into the body of the dog, the sting penetrating several inches in the vicinity of the heart. The weku made off and the dog was taken ashore, where the sting was extracted. The poor animal lost a great quantity of blood and eventually collapsed, the possibility of its recovery being very remote. Subsequently the Maoris secured a boat and resumed the pursuit of the weku, which they succeeded in killing. The sting-ray measured about five feet across. *A few weeks ago another fishing party killed a large sting-ray in the waters of Tauranga harbor. The Taranaki Transport Co.'s char-a-banc will make a special trip to the mountain house on Sunday morning at 9 o'clock, returning in the afternoon, at reduced fares. The char-a-banc will jnake a special trip from Opunake to New Plymouth on. the Sunday, leaving ,at 0 a.m., and Tetnrning in the evening.. Particulars are advertised. Buyers of man's sraitetshauld not over-' .look the spletffid offerings, .at the Mel-.battrtte'agreatflala-Bqyron. The Koslyn Kaia.pai and. Bekma tsfita oatala 29s tid, wool, made in Hew Zealand, aad

''l have heard of men who cannot sign their mimes until they get a 'strongthencr,'" remarked Mr* Justice Hosking in the Supreme Court yesterday. when a witness was being questioni.l to the effect of insobriety on the s : sriuilures of men. N

-Extended leave of iOtii Reinforcements. Mounted and Ist and 2nd Reserve Squadrons. 10th Reinforcements Army Service Corps, and 10th Reinforcements Veterinary Corps will be granted next week. Men for Xcw Plymouth will leave Fcutherston station by tin; 10.30 a.m. ordinary train on February !>th, and will return l>y the ordinary train ou 21st February.

The Xew Zealand Company's liner Ruahine, which left Wellington on Tuesday for London, took the following dairy produce:—From New Plymouth, boxes of butter and COIG crates of chi'pße:, Putea, 701), li 1 : Wanganni, nil, 1440; Wellington, 300, 401; T.vttelton, ion, 410; Dmiodin, nil, 122!); Bluff, nil, •'-'7—total, 1;i,4.")7 boxes of butter and 15,!)23 crates of cheese.

Tho annual shooting meeting under tl'e auspices of :|hc Taranaki Rifle Association will oppn at the Rewa Rewa range to-day, and will be continued tomorrow. Excellent entries -have been received, and all the leading rifle shots in Taranaki will be seen in competition against riflemen from Auckland, Ohura, and Wellington. A Feilding telegram says that a New Zealand Pigbreeders' Association was formed there yesterday, there being forty members. The following officers were, elected: President, Mr. U F. Fetch (Feilding); vice-president, Mr. A. Hunter (Hawera); treasurer, Mr. J. 0. Cobbe (Feilding); eounc'l, Messrs. N. P. Neilsen (Longburn), L. E. Alexander (Lincoln College), W. Green (Iluakurai, A. (jribble (Auckland). A number of charges of supplying liquor to Maoris in a prohibited area was heard at AVanganui yesterday. One European was fined £2O, and others in smaller amounts. Two Maoris were each fined £4. These bad already been fined

.£1 by the Maori Council. During the hearing the police said thiv: enormous quantities of liquor were going into the urea, anil that at Christmas there was great debauchery at various pahs.— Press Association.

Speaking to a reporter regarding the complaints by the men from Hanmer that they were treated like children and had to be in by six o'clock every evening, Hon. 0. W. Russell (Minister for Public Health), slated that misguided enthusiassts, especially of the female sex, appear to think it is absolutely necessary to give all men in khaki what is called "a good, time," ami as a result these entertainments and social functions are retarding their recovery.

The returned soldiers at Rotorua Convalescent Home (says the Auckland Star), are evidently not petted to death as heroes from Gallipoli. While in the institution they are allowed Is per day of their pay, out of which they cannot go very _ far astray in itlie matter of luxuries, excepting at Christmas, they have not been allowed any tobacco, out of patriotic funds, und some of them find it very hard to get, that as well as any other small luxuries out of one shilling loer day. ■/he Breakwater 'bus was standing at one of the corners of the South Rotul las* evening discharging passengers whan a motor-car cmrie past, approaching from behind. It was not noticed by Mrs. Pert Sole, of-Gaine Street, who hai just alighted, and the car knocked liar heavily to the ground. The car wag quickly pulled up, and tile motorist, Mr. L. Keith, went post haste for medical assistance, Dr. McClelland attended Mr*. Sole at her house, and found very seven, wuises and abrasions, but 110 broken bones, though the patient was suffering severely from shock. The traeks of the car show that the driver swerved sharply to avoid the collision, which, in the case of a heavy car, must hav« resulted in very serious injuries to the lady concerned. Says yesterday's Inglewood Record: Circumstances alter cases, just as large noses alter faces—At the meeting of the New Plymouth Patriotic Caamittee, Mr. C. Carter moved a resolution to the effect that the committee was satisfied that the Battle of the Bullion scheme was clean and the committee should extend to it all the help in its power. Revs. Colvile and Hales opposed it apparently because of the possibility of raffles being held. It would bo interesting to try to recollect a "Church Bazaar," Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian or Methodist, whereat the chief annoyance was not the perpetual stream of young ladies carrying cushions, pictures, copies, et hoc genus omnes, mid pestering the lives out of the gentlemen to "take a ticket." But then, ,you know it is different when it's for religious purposes, but the comfort of maimed men doesn't matter.

The Girls' High School will resume today for the first term of 1010 in the electric power station, Liardet Street, the upper story of which has been secured as a temporary school pending the 'erection of the new girl's school, tenders for which have been accepted. Though net altogether suitable for the purpose the premises are a distinct advance on those that have done duty for a school during the past' two or three years. The rooms are all lofty and well lighted. Four of them have been fitted up as class rooms and the fifth as at common room for the teachers. The two largest rooms will seat 32 and 24 comfortably, but tho others will be rather crowded. Quito a number of new pupils have applied for enrolment, the boarding department is at present full, several applications having to be refused. The. preparatory school will resume in St. Andrew's School, but owing to the lion-arrival of the teacher, [tho opening day has been postponed [until next Thursday.

Tlie firm of Walter Dennes' which recently went bankrupt to such an enormous fxten'ti, commenced their auction sale of the estate yesterday, and judging by local comment, bargain hunters had what may be termed a "day out." On Saturday next, at 1 o'clock, the sale will be continued again, when a further consignment of linen, drapery, bedding, harness, boots, cutlery, laces, curtains, etc., will be offered. The sale is located in premises in Hooker's sample rooms iti Egmont Street, and householders and thrifty people generally would do well to attend early, u« the auctioneer in charge ,is said to be rapid in his acceptance of a quick "bid." All goods arc now on view. There is no reserve oti any one fae to be oflered. , " " FOR THE COMPLEXION. Every ■woman should take pride and delight in her personal appearance, and, no woman can ba truly beautiful without ■■ aho ha 9 the bright eyes, rosy cheeks, ajid the fresh, clear complexion of health. Every woman may possess tßes& charms. if shorwill attend «tre£uUy-to herphytsicaJ conditi«D r -and thift she' williind for' clean ttwod meags a. clear- complexion,, and Baxo-Tanic JPfllar takeii is a, tonic, will grre-anyone clean, pure, red blood. Regular ize, Is;' donbliLaizey "flhtafeable ererywherat '

The box plan for Annette liellenmin in "Neptune's Daughter," to be shown at the Theatre Koyal on February 7, 8, and 0, opens nt Collier's Piano Warehouse at 9 a.m. this morning.

The Chief Postmaster advises that the Pacific Cable I'oaril announces the resumption of the acceptance of week-end traffic, and requests messages to be lodged as early in the week as possible. There is an impression abroad that the New -Plymouth branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is no longer in existence. This is not so. The Society is still operating, uiul we are asked to state that subscriptions towards its funds will be gratefully received.

\\ csb End School opened on Monday with 470 scholars, as against 504 on the roll at 4 the close of last year. There were CO 'withdrawals at the end of the year ai)d 30 enrolments this week. Last year the roll number at the commencement of the first quarter was 405. There are very few changes on the personnel of the staff. Miss Ilirst, third-year pupil teacher, and Mr. C!eo. Graham, firstyear pupil teacher, replace Misses Harle and Lennon, who have gone to the training college, whilst Miss Ida Miles, probationer, has been added to the staff. Swimming classes, which were such a feature of the school two or three years ago, hfive been resumed at the public baths this week, 50 girls and 35 boys taking lessons in this useful branch "of sport. ,

The price the public lias to pay for fruit was mentioned in a statement by Mr. A. MeKee, president of the Nelson District Fruitgrowers' Association. Under present conditions, ho said, consumers paid on an average 100 per cent, more for fruit than the growers received. This was due to the crude system of marketing. The price to the consumer could be greatly reduced by selling through merchant and storekeeper, with delivery to the door at reasonable prices. A* great demand had sprung up. The first essential was central packing sheds, so that merchants could be supplied with a guaranteeed article of uniform grade in any quantity. Big efforts are being made to centralise the Nelson fruit output.

The extension of free education to all who may desire to take up agricultural, domestic, or industrial courses, was strongly advocated by Mr. E. Newton in his presidential address to the members of the New Zealand Technical Teachers' Association. He pointed out that at present the Act limits free secondary education to holders of proficiency certificates, yet the Act allowed school committees to impose compulsory education within certain limits on all young persons, irrespective of the proficiency certificate. Between these extremes, would it not be reasonable to allow free voluntary education to all such young persons? The present position meant that in one district young persons £Ce prevented from having what is forced upon others. In another district agricultural, domestic, and industrial careers are taken up by those with no literary bent, yet it meant that as far as free education for such careers was concerned, it was a literary one. ThS injustice was a great one. It was our obvious duty to do all in our power to have it removed. Even with the present system of rewarding with free places injustice was done to many deserving students, owing to the varying standards of attainment required in different education districts.

Sergeant C. E. Bell, a New Zealand boy, who is serving with the Canadian forces, in tlie course of a letter to hia mother from Otterpool Camp, England, gives an interesting description of a Zeppelin raid. Ho says: —"There was a Zeppelin raid on our camp a few weeks ago, and we had 15 men killed and 12 horses. I happened to be in my tent at the time, speaking to the farrier-ser-geant, when the guard started yelling to put the lights out. I no sooner got our* out and reached the tent door when the bombs came screaming down. As soon as the first dropped I went to stand by the horgCß to keep them from stampeding, and I no sooner got there than both horses in front of me were killed, which was a lucky thing for me, for if they had not been there I would have got it. As it was I was only covered with blood and mud. They dropped 10 bombs altogether, five of whicl| fell in our lines and five in a field close by, but it was only the first five which did any damage. The first one dropped between the two guard tents and blew both tents and men to atoms; the next fell in the horse lines and killed 12 horses and wounded as many more; one dropped in a tent with six men in it, and all of them were killed. The remainder of the horses then stampeded, and it was days before we got them again. There was a gloom cast over the eamp for a day or so, but after the funaral everything went on as usual, and now it is almost forgotten." . ti _