LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Tiinaru telegram says that Mrs. Thomson, a Wellington lady, assisted by Guide Conrad Kain, ascended Mount Cook on Monday. The Tauranga Harbor Board has before it a scheme of harbor improvements prepared by .Mr. E, A. Young, C.E., to cost £150,000. The largest Spanish chestnut tree in the world grows in a forest on the slopes of Mount Etna. It is said that one hundred soldiers and their horses once found shelter beneath it from the vain

When engineers have been boring tunnels through the Alps, they have found rocks inside so hot that it was necessary to cool them with water before the men could continue their work. The new hospital at New Plymouth was open to the public yesterday afternoon, when a large number of people inspected the institution. The hospital will be open again on Sunday afternoon. "Companies have no bodies to kick or souls to save, and I don't think they have very high morals," remarked Mr. C\ P. Skerrett, K.C., at the Supreme Court yesterday.

So enormous has been the growth in rental value of Scotland's deer forests that Coignafcarn, which was let a couple of generations ago for about £3O a year, not long ago found a tenant for £2OOO.

Under a new law which has just been passed in Germany, any German who reckons up and publishes in any shape or form the losses in men, warships, airships 0 r aeroplanes is liable to a year's imprisonment.

The oldest regiments in the British Army are the, First Royal Scots, formed in 1(133; Coldstream Guards and Third Buffs, 1060; First and Second Life Guards, Royal Horse Guards and Second Queen's Royal in 1681. Major Coleman left his house in Vivian street on Wednesday and was last seen at the Breakwater. His friends will be pleased to hear from anv one who has information as to his whereabouts.

Mathematical calculations show that an iron ship weighs 27 per cent, less than a wooden one, and will carry 115 tons of cargo for every 100 tons carried by a wooden ship of the same, dimensions, and both loaded to the same draught of water. The "prophet" Rua, who has been sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for sly grog-selling, has retreated to tho pa at Maungapolmtu, 60 miles back, in the depths of the Urewera Country. -Two native constables will go in this week to seek him.

Restoration of the LouVain Library, the Belgian Government state, is about to be carried out by a large international committee' of scientists, who. hesides encouraging the formation of" national committees, will send out an appeal to the international world. Advicos from Nova Scotia state that the Halifax branch of the Committee of the Overseas Club has ordered an armored biplane at a cost of £2250, whicli will be presented to the War Office for the Royal Flying Corps and will be called "Nova Scotia."

With reference to the statement by the Minister of Defence that applications from returned' soldiers for commissions in the reinforcements would be received by the Defence Department, it is emphasised that no such applications can be accepted for consideration until the Intending applicant has been reported fit for duty in the training camp. Applications must then be submitted through the commandant of the training camp. "Papeete simply swarms with Chinese," said Dr. C. E. Adams, who returned from a lengthy visit to America, bv the Maitai on Monday. "All tho merchants are Chinese, and all the retailers are Chinese—as far as I could see. They are becoming so numerous in the French group that the passive invasion has become an acute problem, which the French people there have no solution for. I should say that they ought to try to check the influx of Chinese by imposing a heavy poll-tax and by making them pay a substantial annual tax. The peril is a real one to us, too, for Rarotonga is only two days' steam away from Tahiti, and once they become established there it will be hard to get rid of them."

The. story circulated in Xew Zealand some time ago to the effect that an Australian soldier was shot in the trenches at Gallipoli by one of his officers for shortening a time fuse and for being possessed of papers indicating that lie was a spy, is denied by Trooper R. J. Gray, of the First Australian Expeditionary Force. Writing to the Xew Zealand Herald, he states that he knew the man in question. The latter, he says, was a Now Zealand N.C.0., serving with the Australian forces, lie also 'went with the writer through the South African war. The story that he had been shot was incorrect." On the contrary, the man had been promoted to the rank of R first lieutenant and was in the hospital at Alexandria when the writer saw him last. Trooper Gray states that he was in a better position than the man who was responsible for the report to ascertain the truth, and in fairness to the Australians he. desires that the report be contradicted. Never in all the commercial history of Xew Plymouth have economists 'had such an opportunity of securing wanted drapery goods at such small prices, Moray's announcement, which is printed elsewhere in our issue, )s brimful of interest. Turn to it straightwav and profit thereby.

The Melbourne. lid.'s, great sale affords housekeepers a rare opportunity of saving on every-day lines. For instance: .12-ineh pure white flannelette, 5s lid dozen; Sfi-iiuh stout caliro, 5a lid dozen; 54-inch sheeting, lOd yard; 72-inch herringbone sheeting, Is 2d yard: large white towels, Is 3d pair; "Ivy" mending wool, fid a ball; and nurse's cloth, 40 inches wide, Is yard.

The auctioneer's hammer rose yesterday nt that much talked of auction sale of _ Walter Demies and Cn.'s estate, which is being conducted at Ilooker't sample rooms. Bargain hunters had a day out, as ~aeli and every lot was knocked down ridiculously low. The auctioneer who is conducting the sale advises bargain hunters to attend the sale early on' Saturday, commencing at 1 p.m.. as he is determined to clear the whole of the stock. There is not a penny reserve on any line. A VALUABLE REMEDY.

Piles are a most distressing complaint, and should always receive prompt attention. Rexona, the Rapid Healer, is a remedy specially prepared for 'the treatment of piles. It will at once relieve and will lie found most effective. In every State in Australia people have testified to the value of Rexona for Piles. Rexone is sold at Is Cd anil 3s, Obtainable everywhere.

The Auckland State schools are abandoning tlie afternoon session during February on account of the hot weather. The Union Company's two new steamers, which are nearing completion' at Homo, have been named Leitrim and Arrali. They are vessels of 10,000 and 12,000 tons respectively. An English fire department is testing a new lire escape by which persons are lowered in a backet from a tower raised against ft building, instead of being carried down ladders. The Canterbury Patriotic Society will probably refuse to be represented at the conference convened by the Minister for Internal Affairs. There is a strong feeling in Christehurch against anv official interference with the. funds.