LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An order was pl ai , f . d tllis wH . in Osaka !(ir.lli,(iu() thermometers of spceial design for use in the dairv lactone, i„ \ ow Zealand (savs tl.e'.lapan . i, ""' s . of ''■"'."i>n' --iilj. This l s arr fn . tcrosting transaction, IIS formerly these instruments were inatlc in (lermany!

Tt is stated 'that an emidovec of a ("'ore mercantile firm, while' engaged on some busiiies s in connection with hifc firm at the railways yards rcoentb, had the misfortune to have a portion of Ins nether garments rather badly rent (says the Mataura Knsign). ]„ seeking a way out of his dilemma he sought tin aid oJ some member? of the railway ■del)', but was promptly met with tlie ie joinder. ••(;„ along to the Defence Office and you'll get a complete suit."

Mr. V.'nistnn Churchill regards SaturI < ".V as his "luck,- day." On a Saturday lie opened Ins campaign against the , llici! Mr. l.rodnek's scheme of army reform He won hi, North-west ManChester scat on a Saturday, and when on his appointment as President of the Boardof Trade) h a had to seek a "safe | scat' in Scotland, lie war, returned on a , "''day The offer 0 f a post in the | Cabinet also enme on a Saturday Best of all perhaps, it was on a Saturday that he possessed himself of a wife. ' The work of classifying certificated teachers under the Dominion gradin" scheme has been occupying the atten" tion of the Education Department for the past two months and the scheme has now reached an advanced stage. In addition to the teachers at present in the employment of education boards provision is being made for the grading of all primary school teachers who at the present time may not be so employed, provided they make formal application before March 31st next to the senior inspector of the education district in which they reside, i "The more I see of the distress caused by the inefficient roading of the backblocks, the more I am convinced that no country should be opened up until adequately roaded,'' declared the member for Taumarunni in Kawhia on Tuesday night, "In my opinion settlement of the. King Country has outstripped its roading capacity by fully- Jive years" confessed the Minister of Public Work's, in commenting on the immense difficulty his department had in keeping pace with the requirements of outlying districts." The foregoing statements were made at a meeting of settlers that waited on the Mirnstriul party at Kawhia last week. At the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday, the chairman submitted bis annual report for the year 11)15, in the course of which he said that at the end of the year there were 104 schools opened, including two half-time schools. The number of teachers In the service of the Board was 222. A table showing the number of schools, teachers, and pupils in the district from 1577 to Iflir. was appended. In 1877 there were 2.'1 schools, :!2 teachers, and 72fi pupils, with an average attendance of 4!) G. In I'M 5 there were 104 schools, 222 tcaehern, and 1)51)1 pupils, with an average attendance of 5837. A eorcrspondont of the Auckland Star writes that a recent newspaper paragraph, which slated that if the whole Empire had ,responded to the call as Scotland did. Britain would now have live million men in the held, prompted him to figure, out, what the Waipu (North Auckland) Scots have done in the way of recruiting, based on percentage of population of Xew Zealand. "To my surprise," lie says. "I found that we can go even one better. I make out that, if our Dominion as a whole liad sent the same percentage on the basis of population. Xew Zealand would now have H 7.000 men under arms. How does this strike the shirkers of other nationalities in Waipu?" While the exhibition of Anzac curios was in progress at the Grand Theatre building in Christclmrch, last Friday evening, a valuable gold ring forming part, of the collection was .suddenly missed. It had been taken from its place on the table, and nobodv knew what had become of it. When the loss was discovered a large number of people were in the room, and as nobodv admitted possession of the missing ring, (he police were communciated with and the doors closed, and nobody was allowed to ieave. Two detectives arrived, and all present were subjected to a thorough search, which lasted until nearly 11 o'clock. The missing ring, however, was not discovered. There was an interval of about fifteen minutes between the time when the ring was last seen and when its loss was discovered, and the souvenir hunter must I. have got away during that time. '

_ Settlers in Soulli Kawhia tell of peculiar atmospheric phenomenon observed there last week, and mentioned the occurrence to the M.P. for the district (Mr. W. T. Jennings), on the Ministerial visit. The weather conditions have been noted as exceedingly dry for a long period, and on Tuesday afternoon last, though the sun and heat were strong, Ihmuler and lightening prevailed. When the party reached Te Kau-a-Moa. and on arriving at Oparam a deluge of rain was met, which lasted fuly half-an-hour. The previous night settlers were startled by 'seeing a sort of Will-o'-the-Wisp lights in various paddocks, and were quite emphatic that it was not iires running through scrub, etc. On the same trip the Ministerial party were stuck up with their motor for an hour owing to bush iires, the flames rushing across the road at times, so strong that it was dangeroas to attempt going by with the ear. . The Journal of Agriculture for February contains photographs taken on the I'laxburne river, Marlborough, showing the possibilities of river-gravels as a field for growing lucerne. A farmer sowing the adjacent arable lands with lucerne took his team down across the gravel bed of the river to give his horses a drink, neglecting to throw the mechanism controlling the seed-distribution out of gear. The result was that a' double width of lucerne was sown on the gravel bed of the river, which, the season being favorable, germinated, and there is now a, good stand of lucerne, up to :i man's thigh. Another farmer was not slow to profit by this object-lesson, and has reclaimed several acres of rivergravel down (lie river. This is a discovery which might mean many thousands of pounds to the country if proved applicable to other similar areas. In this river there are numbers of white limestone pebbles, but it is probably worth trying elsewhere. In Canterbury alone there are thousands of acres of riverbeds which may be brought in in this way, given » good start and a few years suitable for growth. It is doubtful if any flood would then kill out the lucerne. J | SICKNESS" IN THE SUBURBS. | The prevalence of Whooping Cough iind Croup has u bad cn'ect on school attendance. Wise parents are never ; without I'luenzol (1,0 and 12/6} which is recognised us a reliable remedy for th.».e ailments. Free from narcotics and pleasant to take, Fluenzol is iust the Miina for tie youngsters. • j

The schools in the Taranaki education district will be closed on April 25, "Anziic Day." On (he motion of .Mr. Quilliam ((.'ovett and Quilliam) the Supreme Court Ims granted probate of the will of Hubert Well?, late of Brixton, to Mrs. E. .1. Wells and Air. 11. S. Wells, the executrix and e.wcutor named therein. The presentation of two medals to

scout boys at Manunui and Kopaki, for saving life in the Wanganni river in January last, which was to have been made last week, had' to be postponed owing to the school being elos,ed and fumigated. Major Sanford asked Mr. Jennings, M.V., to make the presentation. A number of other schools in the district have also been closed for the above reason.

A number of matters concerning returned soldiers was brought before the Minister of Defence bv Mr. Jennings, M.P., at To Kuiti on Wednesday. One was in connection with land for returned soldiers at Kaiigitoto-Tuhua, financial assistance to returned soldiers who have already gone on land by way of advances; 110 delay in payments to King Country returned soldiers, non-payment to men killed in action eight and ten months ago, etc. The Minister expressed surprise at some instances given by Mr. Jennings, which were indisputable, and sent telegrams away for explanations. Chaplain-Captain Angus Macdonald, who has returned from the front, narrates some pathetic talcs regarding Xew Zealand soldiers in the Egyptian hospitals. On one occasion, he said, a Xew Zealand lad asked for a scissors and hand mirror, so.that be could trim bis nails and tidy up a bit to look presentable when his mother and sister came to see him, find nothing would satisfy him but these. They were purchased by the chaplain for him. His hair was brushed and bis nails trimmed, and when next morning the padre came to see him, he. lay in the silence of death, wit* the scissors firmly clasped in one- hand, !iis last thoughts having been of the coming of his mother and sister. Another Dunedin boy had a strong desire to send a cablegram, as he felt so much better, and was sure he would get away in the next transport leaving "for Xew Zealand. He wa s very young, and he wished to cable his mother to expect him home soon, and "to bring little •Tacky with her to meet 'him when the transport came to Dunedin." Chaplain Macdonald went out of the ward and soon returned with a sovereign, which he placed in his hand. In a short time he had passed away, grasping the sovereign like some treasured possession. A letter from Egypt from Sergeant Alfred Jennings mentions that the draft of Xew Zcalanders he was in left England on December 10. There were a number of British troops on board. When in the Mediterranean, they had an exciting experience, a torpedo being dodged by about thirty feet. Everyone was ordered to the boat stations.' He has met a number of Taranaki new men, and says it is rare to come across any of the Main Expeditionary Force Taranaki men. Writing of his'hrother, Lieutenant Harold Jennings, R.F.A., who died at Athlone recently, he states: "Harold came from Ireland to see me away, ile seems so quiet and thin, and his old T.;ondon friends told me he is not the same since he was wounded at Loos." Sergeant Jennings could have obtained a commission in one of the Imperial regiments, hut elected to go hack' to Egypt, where he was stationed at Ismailia. He further mentions that he lias leceived no letters from home sinvc June of last year. The last letter received' from Lieutenant Harold .lennings stated that he had been from Athlone camp to Dublin with a draft of men who were going West. He was 6till troubled with two pieces of shrapnel, and stated he was going to get them taken out.

Sergt.-Major ft. ficrtrand state, that the Christmas gifts forwarded by the people 'if New Zealand were much appreciated by the boys at the front. Indeed, it would be hard to express their thanks in words. They had been months and months on ordinary rations, and it was a treat to receive the hampers from home. Some of it came to hand a few days prior to the evacuation, some when on Lemnos Island, and the rest at Ismalia. The infantry brigade Taranaki Company (Wellington Battalion) were the envy of the rest. The men were so thankful they could have gone on their knees and prayed. It was impossible to convey their thanks to all the donors, though notes enclosed were replied to by the recipients in as many cases as possible. Sorgt.-Major liertrand has a treasured possession in the shape of a sixpence, with the name "Money" printed thereon, which lie took out of a Christmas pudding. Major C. IT. Weston asked him to convey the thanks of the company to the donors, and Private Dodunski, of Inglewood, who has just been invalided home endorses the thanks of the boys at the front. During his reccruiting tour, Mr. C. H. Poole. M.P., was told, says the An :k----land Star, that there was just one place in Tantnaki it was unsafe to visit-the young rien of a certain town bad threatened that anyone who came along there to talk about shirkers would be intro* duccd to the local river. Naturally that was the place the burly member for Auckland West made straight for. A big crowd tilled the public hall, but the throwing of a bottle on the roof was as far as any active opposition progressed. "I was told," remarked Mr. Poole, "that if I' eame and talked recruiting in this town I would be ducked in the river. Well, I don't particularly mind being ducked, for I have a swim every day of my life if I can get it. I'll just say this, that if I go into your river per force, I'll wager I won't go alone. There will be two or three of you to go with me. But to get to business. Isn't it time some of you made for Europe, fdled with a resolve to duck the Germans?" Applause greeted the speaker, and his meeting was voted one of the most successful of the campaign.—Taranaki, which town does Mr. Poole allude to?

Farmers and others are requested to read the advertisement dealing with produce from Mr. ,T. McNeill, produce and provision merchant, New Plymouth. There will he an entire change of pictures at both the Theatre Poyal and Empire Picture Palace to-night, particulars of which will he found in our advertising columns. There will he "something doing" at the Melbourne, Ltd., for the last' two days of the sale. All oddments, mussed and soiled goods, and left over lines are for absolute clearance and prices have accordingly been adjusted to ell'ect this. Many lines are being practically given away. ANXIOUS MOMENT. One of the most anxious times of a mother's life is when her little ones have croup; There is no other medicine so effective in this terrible malady as T)r. Sheldon's New Discovery. It can be safely given and depended upon. No j mother should ever he without a. bottle in_the house. Price, l s (id and 3s. Obtainable everywhere.

I'almcrslnn North is creeling an "Auzac Club/' to cost £;i501). The committee already have over £2OOO in hand. ' The southerly yesterday cleared the atmosphere. It is a long timp since Taranaki experienced such a long spell of hot weather. . • The New Zealand Shipping Company's London Board of Directors has handed £IOOO to the High Commissioner to be used at his discretion for the benefit of New Zealand troops.—Press Association. Tlie Omata Dairy Factory is payin* out Is 3d per lb for butter-fat 'this month. This factory, which ma,mtacturcs butter, has paid out well this season. At the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday, the following resolution was passed: "That the overseer be instructed not to emplov permanently any unmarried man eligible for service in the military forces." In connection with the. Fete of Nations special programme to be shown, by request, at the Theatre Royal in aid of the Taranaki Ambulance Fund, seats (2s) may be reserved at Colliers' on payment of sixpence extra. Mr. .T. W. 11. Martin, of Pukeariihe. the recently appointed member of the Land Board, took his scat for the first time at yesterday's meeting of the Hoard, and was dulv welcomed by the chairman (Mr. G. H. Bullard), and other members. A dastardly outrage was perpetrated at Warea one night last week, when a milkstnml and two cans of milk belonging to Mr. IT. C'orbett were blown on evidently with gelignite. It is also stated that some gelignite was found underneath the cowshed, indicating an attempt had been made to destroy this also. ilie chairman of the Oputiake School Committee notified the Taranaki Education Board yesterday that the school had been closed from Tuesday, March 21, to Monday, April 3, in order to effect a thorough cleaning and overhaul of the school. He mentioned that last week only half the number of pupils on the roll were present. There were 2274 travellers on the temporary tramway service in New Plymouth on Tuesday, the revenue amounting to £l3 10 lid. During the first week of the service the trams carried 15,040 people, and the revenue was £l2l 9s 7d, while for the four days of the second week the travellers number 10,155, and the revenue amounts to £63 3s 4d.

The Acting Chief-Postmaster advises: From the 27th inst., the New PlymouthKgmont Village-Inglewood mail service will be incrensed from thrice-weekly to daily, mails closing at the New Plymouth office at 6.15 a.m., arriVing at Inglewood at 0 a.m., returning from Inglewood at 5.30 p.m., and reaching New Plymouth at 0.40 p.m. That the prevailing war conditions are having their effect on land settlement generally in this district may be gunged in a measuro from the amount of business coming before the Land Board from month to month. At yesterday's meeting no fewer than ten items on the agenda paper that occupied the deliberations of the Board for some time had direct connection with matters arising out of the war.

It does not follow that it is only the man whose name appears in print a 8 having given a substantial donation, is the only one who is doing his bit to assist the men at the front. A wellknown music teacher in conversation with a News representative, remarked that he had played gratuitously at socials, etc., in aid of the war fund on an average of two or three times per week since the war began, and based on his usual charges his contributions in this and other ways would amount to £2lO. In many cases, he said, he did not receive thanks for his services. Other musicians, he said, had probably given their services in a similar manner.

On Tuesday evening search parties were scouring the neighborhood of Avenue Road for a Higli School juvenile that had not turned up at home. The racecourse, the Park, Sole's bush, and other places were searched in vain by squads of High School bpys under the masters and residents. Later, the, boy was found—in the drawing-room of his parents' house! He had got smeared with tar on his way home, and hid outside till nightfall, when he crept into the house, while his parents arid the whole countryside were out looking for him I The Taranaki Daily News Is on the breakfast tables in places as far away from the publishing office as Pa-tea, Ifawera, Manaia, Kapuni, Whakamara, etc. We literally cover the whole of the province by breakfast time. Business men of the province—let us tell your story to the public every morning!