LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The annual meeting of the Witiora Golf Club will be held next Tuesday at - 8 p.m. There were 1040 passengers on the New Plymouth trams on Wednesday, the revenue being £ll 18s. At a christening in Timaru one day this week a lady was present to witness the christening of her fifty-fifth grandchild. One of the driving rods on the engine of the 12.50 p.m. train from New Plymouth yesterday broke at Durham Road, necessitating a delay of twenty minutes. The heavy load was left and the passenger traffic taken on on the one cylinder. Mr. F. W. G. McLcod, who has been appointed bandmaster of the New Plymouth Citizens' Band, arrived in New Plymouth last night. He was welcomed at the railway station by Mr. E. Sole on behalf of the band committee, and to-day Mr. McLeod will be welcomed by the public at a meeting at the Town Hall. The Westport Coal Company lias given notice to withdraw from the Coal Mine Owners' Association, in consequence of being unable to agree to certain resolutions passed at a special meeting of the association held at Wellington on the 17th inat. The Wellington Post says it is understood that, as the result of the visit by the Governor of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Mr. Denison Miller) to New Zealand, it is probable that branches of the Commonwealth Bank will he opened in the principal cities of the Dominion, starting with Wellington and Auckland. Under the Wellington City by-laws Mr. Cooper, S.M., yesterday fined a woman £lO for keeping what is known as a one woman brothel, which class of house has hitherto existed unchecked, as there was no power under the statute law to deal with them. The police stated that such places were o, great menace to the health of soldiers. A conference of representatives of the Egmont County Council, the Parihaka Road Board, and the Opunake Town Board, was held at Opunake yesterday, when those present formed themselves into a recruiting committee. It was deI cided to appoint two returned troopers at £6 a week each to canvass the district for recruits. Mr. G. W .Pogers was appointed secretary of the committee. Mr. E. Lash (No. 11l Brougham St.) has been appointed hon. secretary to the New Plymouth Becruiting Committee. At a meeting in the Mayor's office yesterday the following gentlemen consented to act, and were appointed by the New Plymouth Recruiting Committee as a sub-committee (with the borough councillors) for the purpose of making a canvass for recruits, namely, Messrs A Alexander, W. H. Beadle, W. J. Chaney, R. F. Cornwall, E. Dockrill, J, R. Hill, and E. Nops. 'Last Tuesday the shareholders of the Waihou Valley Dairy Company (Manawatu) met Mr. F. Nathan, representing J. Nathan and Co., Wellington, to consider a proposal to manufacture glaxo and dried milk. The firm offered for a term of ten to fifteen years a considerably higher price than that for butter payments in the district, with a minimum price of 15d for butter-fat per pound. A resolution accepting the offer was carried. The factory is to be considerably enlarged, and machinery for dried milk manufacture installed before August.

Inc bookings for the Fete of Nations performance in the Theatre Royal tonight gice promise of a big house and the funds to provide a Taranaki motor ambulance for the front should be considerably augmented as a result. Practically ail the returned wounded men in the district have notified their intention to be present, including the convalescents from the hospital, the Mayoress (Mrs. Burgess) having thoughtfully booked scats for them. Home-made sweets will be on sale during the performance, the proceeds to be devoted to the same fund.

The ordinary meeting of the Ngamotu Seaside Committee was held last evening, the chairman (Mr. J. Hayden) presiding. The chairman reported that since last meeting the committee had assitsed at the combined seaside picnic at the East End on the 9th inst. The ladies' committee ran the soft drinks and ice cream stall, and netted a profit of £C 4s 2d. The following new members were elected to the committee: —Messrs George Grey, McQuade, Hookham, J. Morey, Dcnnv-Brown, Chrystal, Miller, Bass, t Stohr, A, T. Moore, Kirkwood, H. de L'aimay, D. Sykes, C. Bond and N. Perry. It was decided to notify owners ol seaside cottages of the altered conditions arranged by the Harbor Board. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Bass, that application be made to the Minister of Internal Affairs for permission to raffle a motor launch, presented by.Mr, C. Curtis, for patriotic purposes. A subcommittee, consisting of the chairman and Messrs McQuade, Grey, DennyBrown, Bass, D. Hughes and the secretary were authorised to go into the question of finance for constructing twenty seaside cottages and the erection of up-to-date bathing appointments and tea kiosk on the beach, A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. C. 11. Burgess for his donation of £2O towards the committee's funds.

Aii officer who lias been in the thick of two hot engagements with the Scuussi, analyses his feelings with a calm air of detachment, "Of course, I elon't like it," ho writes to his father in Wellington. "Nobody hut a fool could like to sen his men dropping, and the horrible sights. I am also fearfullv afraid, lint I know, all the time I iuii afraid, that my will-power will see me through, and in consequence 1 don't worry much. You can't possibly imagine the wonderful joy one feels after having come through a show, knowing that you have played the game. I would far rather be in the firing-line than anywhere, because owing to your own men firing you can't hear the enemy's bullets whizzing, and also they don't come down with the steep angle of descent. To lie back doing nothing, with the bullets whizzing about, is damnable and nerve-racking. It is a wonderful experience seeing and being in a proper battle, done according to the book. A professional soldier might go a whole lifetime without seeing the shows I have seen. 1 consider myself very lucky from a professional point of view. Of course, lam a fatalist. One can't help being anything else." Farmers and others should not fail to read the prices of pollard, bran, wheat and onions advertised in Mr. J. McNeill's notice on page fi. The prices are extraordinarily low, and railage will be paid to any station in Taranaki on three-sack orders. KARBOL purifies the atmosphere and destroys the germs,—Sykes, Chemist.

The chairman of the New Plymouth Hospital Board Ims received a Notification that the members of the Stratford Hospital Board propose to visit and inspect the new hospital at New Plymouth to-day.

The progressive pairs tournament was concluded on the Fituroy bowling green yesterday afternoon, the successful skip being L. Olivers (8 wins), and the successful lead F. Bcllringer (9 wins). The runners up were: Skips—Renneli and Price (7 wins); leads'—Gibson, Brooker, Oxenham and Hammond fB wins).

No official advice is available here as to whether Sir Ernest Shacklcton will make Lyttelton or Hobart his first port of call on his return from the Antarctic, eays a Christchurch message. Tho Australian papers apparently assume that Hobart will have the honor of first receiving the explorer and his party on their return to civilisation, but It is just as likely that Sir Ernest Shacklcton will be first heard of at Stewart Island or Lyttelton.

The London Daily News, early in January, gave prominence to the news, "on the authority of a Tokio paper," that Japan was for the first time to export matches to Europe. Personal experience of some of these matches, which have been vexing the souls of New Zealand smokers for months past, led one at first to sympathise with our brethren at Home over this new installation of the minor liorrors of war, until further reading disclosed the fact that so far it is only with France that definite arrangements have been made in connection with this new departure in trade. Then one's sympathy vanished. Any matches—even gome Japanese kindswould be an improvement on the French matches, which are a Government monopoly, and which have long been a horrible example of Government enterprise. An owner of a motor launch in Lyttelton, who, with a party of friends, essayed to while away a few hours on the briny, had quite an eventful experience at Charteris Bay on Saturday afternoon. The journey to the popular resort was made when the tide was at high-water mark, but when the water began to recede the owner of the launch failed to seek a fresh anchorage, with the result that in a short time the boat and party of three ladies and two gentlemen were "high and dry." As the evening drew on the party endeavoured to draw the attention of people in the locality by hoisting a white flag, but the muddy nature of the ground prevented any efforts to effect a rescue. The thoughts of an early return to Lyttelton were out of the question, and the only thing for the members of the party to do was to make themselves as comfortable as possible on board until the tide was again full. They did so, and it was not until 3 a.m. on Sunday that the launch was able to return to Lyttelton. "In Nelson apple lands have gone skyhigli in price," says an Auckland man who recently visited the Nelson district. "Unimproved apple land is quoted at £25 an acre; planted one-year-old, £SO to £7O an acre, ranging upwards according to age. I inspected several orchards, about ten acres in extent, from eight to eleven years old, yielding from £IOOO to £ISOO a year. These figures may seem large, but anyone inspecting the orchards would have no doubt on the point. The trees are laden with fruit like Btrings of onions, and they are propped up and tied in every way. From my observations, I thought the trees were bearing much heavier than our northern trees; but a Wellington man, who is thoroughly conversant with the subject, told ine'l was wrong. He says the Nelson crop is three bushels to the tree, while Port Albert runs to five bushels to tho tree. My opinion is that this export industry is going to be a very much bigger business than I ever dreamt of, and, knowing the north as I do, I can -see immense possibilities for our northern lands,"

Three exhibits of literary and historic interest have been given to the Christchurch Museum (says the Press). The first of these is a ''dawk," or notebook, belonging /to Mr. M. E. Duncan, of the Canal Department in the Punjaub. It is remarkable for the Persian script, which is very clearly and beautifully traced, and also for the fact that it contains a letter or a copy of a letter written to Sir W. Wilcocks, the great authoritity on irrigation in India. It was presented by Mr. E. J. Duncan, of Fairlie. Another acquisition is a complete set of the proclamations issued by the New Zealand Samoan Expeditionary Force when they occupied the island. These are couched in English, German, and Samoan, and are most interesting. They were presented by Mr. J. Holdstone, of the New Zealand Railway Engineers, with tho Samoan Expedition. The third is a copy of the "New Zealand Spectator and Cook Strait Guardian," published in Wellington in February, 1847. It contains an account of the affair at Ruapekapcku, Bay of Islami? when the fight with Hone II?kc and the native rebels occurred. It also

gives an account of the landing, as Governor, of Coptain Grey, afterwards to be so well-known as Sir George Grey. This most valuable piece of newspaper history was presented by Mr. H. A. Atkinson, of Christchurch.

To-morrow will be bargain day at Hurt's great hustle-bustle sale at the Cut-rate Stores. During the past week hundreds have shopped jlaily at this sale and found the bargains greater than ever before. A glance at the price-list published in our advertising columns will convince shoppers that the sale is a very genuine one. Orders from country districts are pouring into Hart's, and our country readers will find that shopping by post is entirely satisfactory when dealing with this firm. Customers tomomw are asked to call as early. as possible, as there is sure to be a heavy rush for the bargains during the afternoon and evening, That advertising in the News brings results is shown by the experience of a local resident, who advertised a motorcar for sale on Wednesday morning. A settler north of Waitara saw the advertisement, came into town yesterday, and, after a trial spin, purchased. The oar in question was a Metz, for which Messrs Webster Bros, have the Taranaki order, and sold at a price above the odder, and sol dat a price above the original amount. NO WAITING AT STATION. A PASSENGER'S TRIBUTE. One advantage of the New Zealand Express Co.'a baggage checking system is that there; is no waiting at stations labelling, claiming, and getting carriers. The company takes baggage to the station, checks on, claims far end, delivers at once. They even issue ticket if necessary. A saving every way to get the company to look after baggage. IS YOUR TASTE FASTIDIOUS T Then drink CAMKOO Dry Ginger Ale compounded from an original Belfast formula—most delicious and healthful of all drinks. We only ask a trial. At all hotels and atorcs, (f

Auckland's "sporting parson," the Kev. Jasper Caldor, when speaking, at a recrmtng meeting last week, was asked by a niiin in the crowd: "Whv don't vou go yourself?" Mr. Calder repl/ed.•Look here, old sport, I'm just breaking my neck to go. If you go to my Bishop, even if you had to point a revolver at his head and make him agree to let mo go, I will give you £6." The answer was greeted with applause from the crowd.

A hale, well-built applicant appeared promptly at 0 o'clock on Monday morning to interview the recruiting committee at Palmcrston North. He had quite obviously plied a safety razor, a cake of soap, a,nd a clothes-brush in support of his claim to serve his country. In reply to questions, he calmly acknow. ledged a wife and a number of children; health, excellent; age, "Well, I was born on March 28, 1840, and am not yet quite seventy-six." Tiiis is an example for our single shirkers. The late Mr. F. L. Aspinall, of Tar*, dale, lias bequeathed the following amounts to the bodies named:—Taradale Town Board (for extending or Improving the lighting system of the t••'-«. ship), £360; St. John Ambulance Socioty (established in England), £200; Bed Cross Society (established in Eng. land), £200; Hawkc's Bay Children's Home, £200; Hawkc's Bay Branch of the Society for the Health of Women and Children, £200; Wounded Soldiers' Fund, £200; and Napier Soldiers' Club, £2OO. Total, £ISBO. - ,

Here's a queer interchange of courtesies in the Gallipoli trenches (say* London Opinion). "Having captured a line of Turkish trenches, only ten or fifteen yards separated us from the enemy. A favorite pastime of our friends during the day was to treat ua to a fusilade of Turkish cartoons from their papers. They wrapped them around stones, and threw them into our burrows. One depicted a mob of Turks contemptuously pelting Australian troops with gibbers.' But the monopoly of cartoons was not held by the enemy. A mail arrived in which the Sydney Bulletin played a prominent part. We treated them to some of our own, including the picture of a spiked German helmet spurring on the Turkish army. That tickled them up. Within ten minutes they were showering live bombs on our trenches to such an extent that wc had to take advantage of our overhead cover, and courtesies were 'off' for the day." Some months ago (states an exchange) there appeared in English and colonial illustrated papers a photo, of a mounted man surrounded by Indian soldiers, the photo, having been taken at Gallipoli. Under the photo, appeared the following letterpress:—"Twice a day this man, an Australian; was in tho habit of riding for about a mile, amid flying bullets, carrying despatches between Anzac and the headquarters of the Australian division. He lost several horses during his daily ride with Death, but up to the time of this picture being taken he had escaped all danger. It would be interesting to know the name of this gallant, rider." The identity of the rider has now been revealed, Mr. Alec. Stracnan, of Waverlcy, having received from his son, Douglas, an illustrated paper with the picture in question, marked: "Do you recognise mo, or is my whisker too long?" Douglas Stracnan left New Zealand with the Main Expeditionary Force. The ladies' new winter coats at the Melbourne's sale are causing quite ft flutter among drei sentimsiaats. Theso coats are quite' the latest, and include some with fur collars. Pirccs, 35s to 635. Ask to see them.