LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlie price of the 411) loaf in London, winch was old before the war, lias risen to I'd. It is anticipated that the exports from Patea thin year will be close on X 1,230,000. In influential Wellington circles it i« believed that conscription will be adopted before two months are over. Two additional cases of infantili paralysis were reported in Wellington yesterday, one of the victims being over thirty 'years of age.—Press Association. A Uawcra firm lia« received advice that the wholesale price of whisky in the Old Country is now rather more than double what it was prior to the outbreak of the present war. During the last week or two, says the Auckland Star, sharks of the hammerhead species have been observed from launches travelling in the vicinity of Motutapu, in the Hauraki Gulf. These sharks arc very venturesome, and have been seen quite close in »hore. An unusual runaway, namely, tw« horses dragging a hearse, caused some excitement in Whataupoko the other afternoon, says a Gisborne paper. Fortunately there was no coffin in the hearse or matters would have bordered on tlie tragic. The Featherston camp at present contains a number of men who are, apparently, well aver fifty years of age. A hoary-headed, but virile-looking, soldier informed a Wairarapa Age representative on Saturday that he had three sons at the front, and he felt that he could not remain behind while they were fighting. The services rendered by the Methodist minister, the Rev. J. A. Luxford, who went to the Dardanelles as chaplain. and whose leg was amputated as a result of injuries received when attending the wounded under fire, were (vavinIy praised at the Methodist Conference, says the New Zealand Herald. The conference resolved to place Mr. Luxford on the supernumerary list, and numerous speakers bore testimony to his devotion to his work and his gallantry on the battle field. It was mentioned that Mr. Luxford had been promsted to chaplainmajor, and had been mentioned in despatches. Of the 800,000 workers in Japaness factories nearly 500,000 are wemen, and 40,000 are children under 14 years of age. Hours of labor from fifteen to sixteen per day "have been the rule." Thousands of young girls are hired on contract for three years to work in the mills, where tliey "live in a 'compound' like so many peas in a pod." There they labor fifteen hours for 4d to 7d a day, from which 2Jd is deducted for the meals supplied to them. The position and daily life of these dormitory operatives is frequently pitiable. A German soldier's pay, which the Socialists are vainly attempting to »et increased by 50 per cent., is, roughly, equivalent to 4i per day. But out of this he must contribute about l|d a day towards the cost of his dinner. Apart from the dinner, generally some kind of Irish stew, lie gets nothing but black bread and alleged coffee, so most of the remaining threepence must be expended on additional food. Even the meagre balance is not at his free disposal. It is carefully kept in a small bag suspended, from his neck. This is opened periodically for the inspection of the sokTSr's officers, and if he can be convicted of the least extravagance he will be severely punished.

Wars sometimes conclude in almost a matter-of-fact way, as did the FrancoClcrmun war of 1870-71. Bismarck, who had just concluded the terms of peace with France, told his friends at supper that "at 12 o'clock to-night our troops and the French will exchange their last shots, and I haw agreed that the latter shall fire the last one." Shortly before midnight Bismarck's guests left him, and waiteil outside the Hotel de Reservoir, Versailles. Soon they heard a shot from the Germans, and then, after a brief silence, the French fired their last reply. Hardly had the cannons' echo died away than the tower clock of Versailles struck 12—and the Franco-German war was an event of the past. Another appreciative audience witnessed the Fete of Nations at the Theatre Royal last night, when the takings .'amounted to £l9 Gs (id. The final performance will be given to-night, when a particularly attractive programme will be presented, and the performance should be witnessed by a full house, for, in addition to the new items that are to be introduced many of the old and favorite numbers will be repeated, and the bill-of-fare, the management assures us, is a most enticing one. All proceeds above expenses are for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, and to-night the New Plymouth public should flock to (and crowd), the Theatre Royal to see one of the brightest entertainments staged here for maliy a day.

In connection with the article that t appeared in yesterday's News referring to, the high-handed action of the German warship Adler in arresting a British subject aboard the Richmond, one of the officers on the British cruiser Royalist, now resident in Taranaki, which was there at the time, throws some light on the proceedings. When the fact of the arrest was made known to the captain of the Royalist, the latter demanded the immediate release of the British subject, and also intimated that if the Germans fired one shot in Samoa his cruiser would at once • attack the German cruisers. The Britisher was immediately released. The Royalist's captain also demanded an apology from the German commander. This was proffered on the quarter-deck of the German vessel. The British captain refilled it, saving that the apology would have to be tendered on the British vessel. The request was complied with, and the incident ended. The captain of an American man-o'-war was also in the harbor. He called on the British commander and said: "I don't tare a d what you do, but I'm with you." There were two fferman cruisers at Apia, but the British vessel carried heavier guns and could have sunk them. The Germans evidently realised the fact. The Motor Transport Company is putting on two large char-a-bancs for the Opunake races. Particulars are advertised. Boys' clothing of all kinds is greatly reduced at the Melbourne. Ltd.'s, great annual reduction sale. Good all-wool sports suits, all sizes, IDs 9d; all-wool knickers. 2s lid; fine serge varsity suits, sizes 2 to S, 12s fid. A PAINFUL SWELLING. On any part of the body may, if n?ejected, end in some kind'of sore, such ■is a boil, carbuncle, ulcer, abscess, fistula, etc. To prevent such a result, apply Dr. Sheldon's Magnetic, Liniment. This will relieve the pain, draw out the inflammation, reduce the swelling, and drive away the entire trouble. Accept no substitute. Price, lj 6d and 3s, Obtainable pv«r,£wiura*

A Canterbury threshing mill owner, in a letter to a Balclutha resident, states that some of the crops threshed out this siason'have averaged only four bushels to tue acre. At a general meeting of the Auckland Watersiders' Union the new agreement arrived at by representative's of the Watersiders' Federation and shipowners was confirmed with only one dissentient vote. In a local on Tuesday, commenting on the state of the road at Tariki, it was stated that the "Stratford County Council was doing the work." This is an error, and the paragraph should have read "Taranaki County Council." A Wellington telegram says that a statement is made that Parliament may he called together about April 20 to settie the recruiting question, and then will possibly deal with the proposed Ministerial visit to London for an informal Imperial Conference. As an appropriate ending to the Gala Day at the East End beach to-day, a dance will be held in the pavilion this evening. Complete arrangements have been made tp provide an enjoyable evening, and Mrs. Moverley's orchestra has been secured for the occasion. The proceeds will go to the Gala Day funds. The local defence authorities have been advised by the Group Commander at Hawera, that he has received notification from headquarters asking him to despatch as many infantry and mounted men as are available to camp on March 15. Thi* is probabiy to make up shortages in other districts' quotas. ' The Prime Minister has written to the Mayor (Mr. C-. 11. Burgess) expressing his gratification at the action of the Borough Council in respect to the new recruiting scheme, which he thinks will enable the Dominion to meet its engagements without recourse to compulsion. t