LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A young lady lias died of infantile paralysis at Otakeho, near Manaia. To within thirty-six hours of her death she was in the best of Health. The East End Committee acknowledge a donation of 10s towards the refreshments at Patriotic Gala Day (March 9) from Mrs. W. Emeny. A commencement was made yesterday with (lie driving of the piles at the Te Henui Bridge, near the East End Bathing Reserve. The Railway Department has informed the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce that it is impossible to add to the accommodation at the New Plymouth goods shed at present. Wages up to £l6 per month are being paid sawyers in Southland at "present, and the manager of one mill receives £350 per annum with free house, milk, cheese and butter. The New Plymouth Surf Club has decided to enter a life-saving team for the sports at the East End beach on March !). Swimmers are reminded that the Tabor Shield competition takes place on March 10. The Wailri correspondent of the Auckland Star writes that no cases of infantile paralysis have been discovered in that district, and incidentally points out that that township, which possesses one of the largest beaches in Australasia, frequented by hundreds of children, does not lend support to any theory of association between sea bathing and the diseaiie. A well-known Auckland citizen, Mr. E. W. Alison, celebrated his fifteenth birthday on Tuesday. To those who know his mature years, this may appear (-ays the Herald) either a mis-state-ment or a joke, but it represents simple fact. Mr. Alison happens, like the hero of "The Pirates of Penzance" opera, to have been "horn in leap year, on February 29." Consequently his birthday | comes round only once in four years. By letter and telegram Mr. Alison received more than 100 congratulations upon the event. There was not a, quorum at the quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce last night, and the business taken was consequently only of an informal nature. A letter was read from the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce asking for the support of the Taranaki Chamber in getting the departure of the Wellington-New Plymouth train made three-quarters of an hour earlier. ' It was pointed out that this would be inconvenient to Taranaki business men, and would also prevent the Lyttelton steamer connecting with the train. Subject to confirmation by a meeting of the Chamber it was decided not to support the request. "I hav e suffered a great deal since this conference opened," remarked the Rev. T. G. Hammond, when speaking at the Methodist Church Conference in Auckland on Saturday. Such a statement immediately claimed the closest attention of the members, whereupon Mr. Hammond explained that his complaint of suffering was caused by the mispronunciation and wrong spelling of Maori names. He moved that the native ministers present be constituted a committee to correct' the spelling of Maori names on the agenda paper and in the minutes. He suggested that it might be extended so as to teach members the proper pronunciation of native words. The motion was adopted by the conference. The theosophical lecture entitled, "The Life Story of a Soul," was given last night by Miss Christie, in response to a request for more information as to the effect of man's soul upon the body he was to wear upon earth. The lecturer said that it was impossible to give more than a mere outline of this great evolutionary journey within the limits of one lecture, but the chief points are: (1) God creates the universe out of a portion of Himself, lives in every particle of it yet transcends it; (2) He is never fully expressed in the manifested portion of it for He is greater than it. The lecture was listened to very attentively by a good audience, who followed Miss Christie's reasonings with much interest. Among the thinkers who have applied themselves to the task of devising means of preventing loss of life when ships are torpedoed or mined is Mr. A. S. Shepherd, an employee at Messrs Parr and Co.'s engineering works at Timaru. He has invented a device of a very elaborate nature, by means 'of which'he elainw that it will be possible to keep a ship afloat for an hour or two after she has been tornedoed or mined. The details of the invention. I of course, are Mr. Shepherd's secret, but his device has been tried in the presence of expe't engineers appointed bv the New Zealand Government, and it is no secret that they were unable to pick bole- in it. the objections that they rsii--cil b<;in<r easily removed by Mr. Shepherd. New Zealand, however, cannot well take no an invention of this nature, anil Air. Shepherd, therefore, has decided to place his ideas before the Advmrnlh- and prominent shipowners in Great Britain. iVitb this purpose in view he is on his wav to London. With the ready help of Mr. James Craigie. M.P.. Mr. Shepherd was able to obtain a permit to leave New Zealand.

At St. Mary's Church on Sunday afternoon t>io ehi'dren will take part in a "gift service'' in connection with the Mclanesian mission. The service at tlie Whitelcy Church on .Sunday evening will be conducted by Mr. J. 0. Ellis', the subject being, "From Pit to Throne." At the Taranaki Agricultural Society's show, in the class for host farmer's turnout, the winning vehicle was a splendid type of gig built to the order of Mr. E. C. I.ocko by Messrs Bruce and Feakins, of Xew Plymouth. This enterprising firm Ims not lonjr been establisned in business, and the vehicle in question is an excellent credential for the chss of work done in their workshops. The body of the gig is of kauri, stained to represent oak, and nicely varnished. It is well hung on the three-spring system, and perfectly balanced. The body is mounted on a patent roller-hearing axle and. runs very smoothly. The wheels are. strongly and lightly constructed, and inn on the best rubber tyres. The seat is constructed with a patent screw slide and is easily adjustable. The upholstering is in superior tan leather, and specially sprung to give comfort to the occupants. Altogether, the vehicle is a most presentable one, and, in addition, is built to stand plenty of wear. Messrs Bruce and Feakins have recently Installed one of the latest machines for fitting on rubber tyres. This machine does not force the tyres on to the rims, but is so constructed as to adjust the tyres without stretching or in any way Injuring the rubber. The gig will be on view at the firm's shop, Currie street, to-day. and farmers and others will be able to inspect its woAmansMp and

The Red Cross market tnQ ' t. usual to-day in the premises next We&»7 liter Brcn. All contributions of cakes, produce, etc., will be very acceptable. The results »f the guessing competitions at the A. and P. Show at New Plymouth were announced yesterday, a3 follows:—Bulleck (correct weight, 5081bs), B. Allen (N.P.) 5071b5, J. Crockett (Omata) iiuTlbs, and 0. J. Knuckey (Waitara) SOOlbs. Sheep (correct weight, 1811bs), \V. R. Fuller (Waitara) and C. W. Sarten (Tikorangi) end guessid the ci.rreet weight end wi'.l divide the first and second prizes. At a meeting of the Egmont National Park Board a committee was set up, consisting of the Chairman (Mr. 0. 11. Builard), Messrs. Wilkie, Collis, Wilcox and Morison, to inspect and report on the condition of the houses on the mountain directly under the board's control. The board authorised the expenditure of £lO on the Bell's Falls-Raholu track. It was resolved that the Stratford County Council be asked to improve the Opunake Road between Manaia and the radius line. The Hon. A. L. Herdman has advised Mr. IT. Okey, M.P., that a Taranaki committee has been setup to assist the 'Discharged Soldiers' Information Department. The members of the. committee are, Messrs 0. S. Fleming (Patea), R. D. Dunn (Auroa), K. Beckbessinger (Waitara), L. A. Bone (Hawera), T. McPhillipa (Manaia), W. E. Percival (Inglewood), J. E. Wilson (New Plymouth), W. P. Kirkwood (Stratford), and C. A. Wilkinson (Eltham). The secrctarv is Mr. -T. W. McMillan (Stratford). ' The Department is desirous of helping discharged soldiers, who require assistance in the matter of obtaining employment or in other ways, and Mr. H. Okey, or any of the abovenamed gentlemen will be glad to do what thoy can in cases brought to their notice. Several humorous incidents of camp life at Trentham were told by ChaplainCaptain W. WaUer, at a Methodist meeting in Auckland. He related the story of how a soldier, in rendering a solo'at a concert attended by the men, attempted to reach a note higher than. his vocal powers allowed. His embarrassment was rather accentuated when a member of the audience immediately after the failure gravely asked in military form if there were "any complaints." Another humorous incident occurred on a route march near Trentham. ' A fanner and his wife, both well over the allotted span of three score years and ten, were interested spectators of a portion of the march. Upon seeing them the soldier 9 promptly commenced singing the popular ditty, the chorus of which runs. ''Halloa, halloa, who's your lady friend?" During a discussion at a patriotic meeting at Palmerston the other night a speaker said he did not believe in men going to the front and leaving their wives and families for someone else 1 to look after: ''We .vill go a step further," says the Marlborough Express, "and say that the present haphazard method of recruiting opens an easy way for men so inclined to evade home, responsibilities and to commit the crime of wife desertion under the guise of patriotism. We heard of a case the other day where d man openly confessed that he had taken the chance of a lifetime to get away from an unhappy home, to whiyh he never; intended to return." Two young men were received into the camp hospital at Featherston last week. One died after an operation; the other, Cecil Duff, was merely put under an anaesthetic to have his teeth attended to. Their beds were side 'by side and when a telegram was despatched announcing the death, Cecil Duff's name was used in error and the message sent to his mother at Bulls. It was a great shock to her, and she at once telegraphed the sad news to all her friends. And to the military authorities at Featherston she telegraphed asking that the body of her son he sent to Bulls for burial. Eric Barratt, once a schoolboy a Levin (who is now in camp) happened to go into the hospital, and went over to see, as he expected, the dead body of young Duff, who is a cousin. To his amazement the supposed corpse | put out his hand to be shaken, and then l it was discovered that a mistake had| been made in the identity of the dead man. Duff was that day granted leave | of absence and took the first train for' his home. After a little delay another telegram was sent to Mrs. Duff stating that her son was well. When young Duff presented himself at the door of his home he gave the household another shock, for they thought it was his ghost. Harvest thanksgiving services will be held at St. Mary's Church at both morning and evening services to-morrow. Contributions of flowers, fruit, and grain will bo pratefully accepted, and may be left at the Vicarage or the church this morning. That firont annual event, the Melbourne i H.V. "rent reduction sale., is now in ful' ■-wing, Drastic reductions have heeii made, and patrons are assured of stunning bargains in all departments.