LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The retail price of butter in Wellington will be raised to eighteen peace on Monday.—Press Association. The Eltham members of the Overseas Club held a well attended and very successful picnic at Taumata Park on Thursday. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining suitable labor and the increased cost and uncertainty of securing supplies of paper and printing material, tile Waimate Witness has decided to publish twice weekly instead of three times. Over 200 head of cattle per day are now being slaughtered at the Waitara Freezing Works, the sheep killed being proportionately high. Consequently the freezing chambers are well- on the way to being full up. No fewei than 421 motor-cars were lined up in the carriage paddock at the Masterton Show recently. Taking the average value at £Boo—a very low estimate—the cars in the enclosure must have been worth £123,000.

The latest reports from Home show that the New Zealand Tunnelling Corps has created a most favorable impression, being so good, indeed, as to require very little additional training. It is understood the corps will be sent to the Western front. Many applications have been received in connection with the establishment of a Sanitary Corps. The applicants represent a good type of professional men and technically skilled artisans. Arrangements are well forward for creating a New Zealand Division, consisting of three brigades—infantry, artillery, etc. Anglers this season have had some fair sport. Mr. H. d e Launay on Wednesday secured one of the best baskets we have heard of this season, having taken 25 nice trout from the Mangawhero, some of them weighing up to slb. Thi! Mangawhero, below the Skeet road, offers good sport to anglers. —Argus. The Waitara Mail states that a very large gathering of Maoris is to take place there about March 14. The occasion is the home-coming of Mrs. Hipango, and a tnngi is to be held in connection with the deaths of Waata Hipango and other chiefs. Our informant stated' that if the Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa natives come as expected, in addition to Wanganui, there will be over 600 visitors to Waitara. At the Stanley road school on Monday there was a large gathering to farewell Messrs Glen Sangster and J. Sheriff, who are leaving for the front. During the evening Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., made a most Impressive speech, and subsequently presented the guests of the evening with a gold medal and silver matchbox, on behalf of the people of the district. Mr. Sangster also received a shaving outfit from the Stratford Pipe Band. A collapsible rifle shield, for use in trench or open warfare, has been invented by Mrs. Hedberg, of Wellington, who has submitted a model to the Defence authorities. The finished type is to be made o? bullet-proof steel, and will, it is stated, be easily adjustable to the rifle barrel, the extra weight being but 31b. On the march, the shield collapses into a single flat sheet of steel, hut, on a spring heing released, it assumes a conical shape, behind which the rifleman may take aim with some degree of security. At the Magistrate's Court, Patea, on Thursday, W. Cody was charged with being the owner of a ferocious dog, not under proper control. It appears that the dog caught hold of and tore the trousers of a grocer's boy, who was delivering goods, and when the boy asked for a new pair, defendant refused. When a constable interviewed him, defendant denied liability, and stated that the boy should be insured by his employer. The Magistrate tokl defendant that it was only his (defendant's) own obstinacy that had brought him to court. An order was made tliat the dog must be kept under proper control or destroyed. The response to the London Daily Telegraph shilling fund in memory'of Nurse Cavell wafl, at the beginning of January, 56.800 shillings. A pathetic interest was attached to the sum of £5 10s forwarded by Major-General Sir Norman Stewart. It app»ared that his son Corporal H. T. H. Stewart, who was killed in action, had on the day of 'his death suggested that the Vancouver Battalion, to which he belonged, should start a subscription to the Edith Cavell Memorial Fund. His comrades carried out his wishes, and forwarded the money to his mother, with a letter explaining the circumstances.

A meeting of the creditors in the estate of Edward Smith, hotelkeeper,'was held on Wednesday at Patea, the D.O.A. (Mr. C. A. Budge) presiding. The bankrupt was till recently licensee of the Masonic Hotel, Patea. Liabilities were shown at £504, and assets a t £35. Mr. Fleming, solicitor, Patoa, represented several creditors, and the bankrupt was represented by Mr. P. O'Dea, of Hawera. At the outset Mr. Fleming put in three special proxies from absent creditors, which the D.O.A. refused to accept, as beirfg informal. Mr. Fleming and several creditors thereupon left the meeting. A resolution was carried that tie estate be wound up as speedily as possible, and that the bankrupt's discharge be facilitated.

Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Wellington, have received cabled advice from their London office that the dates of their owb sales for the March series have bees fixed for the 2nd, Sth, and 16th of March. Ik connection with the Red Cross collection to-day, the Marble Bar window will be fitted appropriately to represent a hospital ward, with a wounded soldier on a stretcher and a nurse in attendance. ' New Zealand products exported last week were valued at £1,275,903, including butter £141,735, cheese £13!),099, frozen meat £101,054 and wool £701,899.—Press Association. In accordance with a promise made by the Premier some time ago a block of land known as the Hall-Jones Settlement, near the Hutt, has been set apart for disposal to returned soldiers. The land comprises 75 acres and was originally intended to provide sites for workers' homes, out the sections were not taken up. The quality of the soil Lb described as good.—Press Association. Arrangements are now well in hand for the forthcoming Fete of Nations, which will be staged in aid of our wounded soldiers at the Theatre Royal for seven nights, commencing next Thursday, March 2nd. There will be a (special orchestra for the fete, and Mrs. Lundius has all arrangements for the dresses, etc., well in hand. At a meeting of the Patea Patriotic League, members of the Borough Council and others interested in the recruiting movement, held on Wednesday last, a resolution was passed that the meeting was in sympathy with the Government's efforts to support the movement, and a strong committee whs appointed to further the project, a sub-committee being authorised to appoint a canvasser. The New Plymouth Boys' High School will hold a "picnic day" at the Moturoa Beach on Monday, when the annual swimming handicaps will be held. This decision has been arrived at in consequence of the large number of entrants for the various events, which really preclude the holding of the events in the baths. All parents and others interested are invited to be present at the sports. The population of the Dominion at December Jilst (exclusive of Maoris and Islanders), was 1,102,825. There was an increase of 17,910 by excess of births over deathsj and a decrease of 11,085 by excess of emigration over immigration. Members of the Expeditionary Forces are included in the emigration figures. The total population of the Dominion (including Maoris 49,844, and Islanders 12,598) was 1,105,207. —Press Association.

At Auckland yeeterday Mr. Justice Cooper gave judgment on the Gisborne Borough Council proposal to borrow £30,000 from the Auckland Patriotic Association. The borough received authority from the. ratepayers to raise a loan to be repaid in thirty years. The Auckland Patriotic Association is willing to lend that amount, but it must be repaid in ten years. His Honor decided that the Borough Council had no power to negotiate a loan to be repaid in less than thirty years. It is rather curious to learn in these days (says the Christchurch Star), when the King's writ runs to every corner of New Zealand, that policemen have been deterred from arresting a Maori who is a convicted offender against tho laws of the country. The three policemen who discreetly 'withdrew" when Run Renana, the sly-grog selling prophet of the mountains, made a dramatic show of defiance—which no doubt was mere -bluff intended chiefly to impress his followers—may have been influenced more by the formidable character of the country through which they would have had to take their prisoner than by his actual offer of resistance. It is possible that three determined constables such a s those who were accustomed to deal with t, roublesonie Maoris on t\e King Country borders and in Taranaki some years ago would not have hesitated to lay hands on Rua regardless of the black looks of his people, and it is possible also that they would have succeeded in lodging him in Whakatane lock-up by this time, but it is certain that they would have been practically at the mercy of the Ureivera natives for every mile of the long and difficult ride out to the open plains. It is not likely at this time of day that the Urewera people, or that section of the tribe faithful to Rua, would attack Government officers, but it must not be forgotten that some of these people, dweller's all their lives in tile hush and the mountains. have not Inst the old fanatic fire, and that Rua is to some of them, in spite of his impaired mana, an inspired leader, just as his predecessor To Kooti was up to the day of his death. The following extract from a letter received by a southern paper is regarded as showing that right in our own country heroic actions are carried out without any blare of trumpets:—"We have just finished up a most enjoyable month at Quail Island camp, anil all were sorry to leave. There are three poor lepers on the island, and wo used to try our best to bring a ray or so of brightness into their lives. We frequently took quite a concert party round near their quarters, and entertained them. It meant nothing to us, but, the v.-ay in which those poor fellows thanked u.i for anything we did was very touching. One of these lepers—a Maori—is, in my opinion, a regular hero. He was discharged a year ago as cured. His mate—a leper who is blind, and altogether in a bad way—has no hope whatever of being cured. After his discharge, the Maori asked the Health Department if he might go back to Quail Island to look after and see to the wants of his sick friend. On analysing that, isn't it a wonderful thing: the feelings that would prompt the Maori practically to give up a life where he will be ostracised by all his former friends, for the sake of brightening the remaining hours of his friend's life: those feelings must he splendid. lam not what is called a religious man. but something in that poor Maoris' action moves me very deeply. One thinks of the Scripture: 'Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend.' Many a man has achieved fame and glory for an action not nearly as noble a« tftis. The greatest point is that the Maori does not seem to realise that he has done anvhing beyond his duty." THKRE IS ONLY ONE

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The Sydney Chamber of Commerce has adopted a resolution to impose a surtas on enemy goods after the war, At last night's practice the Whiteley Church choir unanimously decided to give Stainor's "Crucifixion" on Good Friday night. A IPreos Association message fro* Pahiatua says tliat the infantile paralysis case, a girl of 16 years from the country, died on Thursday night. Threshing and chaff-cutting is in full swing in the Waihi district, where two machines are busily employed, and, Juaging by tlie number of stacks that can bo seen they are likely to be engaged for some time. Mr. C. Johnstone is now running his cars right through to Awakino with the mail, and this considerably shortens the journey. The roads are now in good order, though the work of repairing the damage done by the wash-outs is not yet completed. The Kaimata school children held their annual picnic at the East End beach yesterday and spent an enjoyable day in the surf and on the send. Including parents, there must have been 150 in the party. Mr. Cutler (headmaster) and the committee (Messrs (?. Capper, ,T. Dobson, W. Rurrell, ,T. Klenner and L. Klemier were most assiduous in seeing that the youngsters had a good ti»e. A meeting of Palmerston citizens, convened by the Mayor, decided to assist the Government in the recruiting scheme. A committee was set up to enrol men for active service. It was also resolved "That, in the opinion of this meeting, dependents of soldiers who have been killed or disabled are entitled to a pension as by right.'' Thirty-five thousand sheep were penned for the Feilding annual sheep fair yesterday. Store ewes were in very good condition, and the demand was exceedingly brisk. The highest price was 37s 6d, for a pen of two- and four-tooths, sold on behalf of Mr. C. A. •!. Lovett. Most of the pens fetched over 30s.—Press Association.

There was considerable excitement in the locality of Wirth's circus yesterday afternoon when the valuable elephant "Alice," which loads and unloads the wagons on to tricks at the railway, went down to the creek to have a drink. She slipped from the bank into the mud, and though she made tremendous efforts to extricate herself she wgs unable to, and her weight caused her to slowly sink. When she wag nearly exhausted the keepers hitched-«n two other elephants, which hauled her out, very much exhausted. "Alice" had a very narrow escape. There is considerable movement of stock on the Awakilio-Waitara road at present. A fine line of 90 fat bullocks, from Mr. King's Nukahakere estate, were seen yesterday en route to the Waitara freezing works, whilst several lines of fat sheep were also journeying the same way. The works are now going at their fullest capacity. Several flocks of store sheep were ulso to be met with, some bound Opunake way, whilst others were to be railed down the line. The country in places is looking very dry, and rain would be welcomed. The Conciliation Council sat at New Plymouth yesterday to hear a dispute between the Taranaki branch of the Auckland Motor-car and Horse Drivers' Industrial Union of Workers, in respect to bakers' drivers, and employers throughout Taranaki. Mr. T. Harle Giles, Conciliation Commissioner for the Northern and Taranaki district, presided, and the assessors were: For the employers, Messrs E. A. Craig (Auckland), W. S. Young (New Plymouth), and McDonald (Stratford); and, for the union, Messrs G. Davis and C. Weaver (Auckland) and F. J. Lyons (New Plymouth). The same position arose in connection with this dispute as was the case in connection with the general drivers' dispute, and the whole matter will be dealt with by the Arbitration Court.

Vol. II of the Clydesdale Stud Book, ijust to hand from the secretary of the N.Z. Clydesdale Horse Society, is a work that should be of great use to owners and breeders, and has been compiled and revised under the editing committee of the society. Tlio objects of the society are set forth, and full information given relative to sires, mares, and progeny. There are also handy indices of breeders and owners, mares and horses, together with excellent illustrations of sonu of the most notable Clydesdales in tl*e dominion. The book is a credit + .o t'uo society and to the printers, Messrs Coulls, Culling and Co., Ltd., of Dunedin. At the Wellington Magistrate's Court yesterday Martin M(.'Govern was charged with ill-treating his son so as to cause unnecessary suffering. Evidence wit given to the effect that the boy was of most unruly character and frequently wandered away from home, and never returned unless compelled to do so. In despemfiott the father chained th» boy up in the back-yard. It was admitted that the boy was well caved for in every way, and it was asserted that the father was acting in the boy's best interest. The information was dismissed, because it was not proved that defendant was wilfully cruel, although the Mag-ftrate held that lie should not act in the wav he had done. The boy was committed ta an industrial school.—Press Association. The finest saddle tweed trousers on the market—made by the Oamaru Woollen Mill—are on sale, at the Melbourne Clothing Company. Prices for sizes 3 to 7 14/6, out sizes 15/6. Wear guaranteed.