LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"Dutch" clocks are made in Germany, their names arising from a mispronunciation of "Deutsch," the German word for "German."

"There is no question but that the voluntary system is the sheet anchor of the shuffler," said Mr. T. M. Wilford, in an address at Maaterton on Saturday evening.

"Last year there were 35 of us in for the single men's race at the school picnic. This year there were only two—another' chap and myself. That will give you an idea of the number of recruits from some parts of the Waikato," remarked a resident of the north to a Pahiatua Herald representative. The Opunake railway work is (says the Argus) progressing'favorably at the STc Roti end. The new station building is nearing completion, The Government are experiencing difficulty in procuring the necessary steel girders from England, and the work of erecting the big viaduct. over the Waingongoro river is at a standstill.

Reporters at the Granville (New South Wales) Borough Council left a recent meeting, declining to report the proceedings, because the usual facilities to inspect the correspondence had been withdrawn and they were relegated to a back portion of the meeting places. The Mayor and clerk were appointed to endeavor to get the strike called off. Sergeant Cassells and Constable Ebbett, of Hamilton, arrested an Austrian at Ngaluneopouri on a charge of trading with the enemy. Accused was handfd over to the military authorities and taken to Wellington, en route for Somes Island . The arrested man had been in the habit of sending money to an address in America, with requests that goods should bo forwarded to a certain address in Austria. A visitor who travels extensively all over New Zealand, stated to an Otago Daily Times reporter that the railway service seemed to be conducted more efficiently in the South Island than in the North Island. This was particularly noticeable in the matter of regularity' of the trains, which in this island appeared to be run in observance of the scheduled time-table. Seldom are the expresses and goods trains erratic in the South, but in the North Island a different state of affairs exists.

Europe and America to-day face the danger of being cut off from 'cable communication with each other (says a London cable to an American newspaper on February 3). Seven cables, linking the two continents, have been put out of business mysteriously, it is learned. And while they have lain useless at the bottom of the ocean, the remaining lines have 'oeen overburdened with great masses of communications daily. The possibility of Europe losing cables to America is not remote, for it is rumored that a new submarine, equipped for cable cutting, may be working off the west coast of Europe.

, The box plan for the two night season of the Johnson-Willard fight films at the Theatre Koyal next Friday and Saturday opens at gollier's on Tuesday moratoga***,' - ■•"■ "---■■ ■-=-- ■

The Central School has been thoroug.ily disinfected and fumigated ™, ] vi! > le -°P en on Monday morning at The General Post Office has received advice from the High Commissioner that the Minneapolis did not carry any New Zealand mails. A Napier telegram states tjiat a ballot took place on Wednesday, for 15 sections m the Otnmauri settlement, Matapiero. There were 103 applicants for three sections which were drawn by soldiers on active service. The Christchurch Patriotic Society after a long discussion, decided to join the federation of War relief societies and appointed Mr. J. J. Dougall, a member of the advisory board in Wellington. The kind offer of the Fete of Nations Committee to give a performance in aid or the Ambulance Fund has resulted in a donation of £2l 13s lid being received by Mrs. Burgess, who thanks the performers and promoters for giving their services and generous help towards this object.

As there seemed to be some misapprehenion relative to the granting of free tickets to next-of-kin on the occasion ot the departure of reinforcements, Mr H. J. Okey, M.P., has, in response to an inquiry, ascertained from the Minister that no tree railway tickets are granted next-of-kin when reinforcements embark, that privilege being only given on tiie arrival back of wounded men in New /lea land.

A Wellington telegram says that a large party was present yesterday at a ceremony to mark the commencement of drilling operations by the Kaitoke Prospecting Company, at a spot near Kaitoke where the Company hope shortly to develop a thriving coalfield. The Government drill plant, in charge of Mr. Carter the Government expert, had been erected, despite considerable difficulty in w "J attoP of transport to the site. 'Mr \\. Piatt, chairman of the company, in a short address said that options had been obtained over some 3000 acres, which would be thoroughly tested. Mrs. Piatt then formally opened the drilling shed and started the machinery, wishing the new enterprise success.

The annual meeting of the New Ply. mouth Mortgage Loan and Agency Co., p wa ? held on Wednesday, when Mr. U T. Mills, chairman of directors, presided. The report, which was adopted announced that the business transactions ot the company for the year showed a profitable margain. £250 had been placed to the credit of the Reserve Fund and the. following appropriations were recommended for approval of shareholders: Dividend to shareholders, £235; honorarium to directors, £110; bonus to secretary, £3n; leaving a balance of £124 4s 2d to be carried forward, or otherwise dealt with. The retiring directors, Messrs. T. Furlong, Jnr., and W. D Webster, were re-elected. Mr H Stocker was re-elected auditor. Votes' of thanks were accorded the auditor secretary and directors. '

Speaking at Wanganui on Friday, Chaplain-Captain Blamires said that apart from the booming of artillery, the bursting of bombs, and the hiss of bullets, the most impressive feature at kallipoh was the great silence. He had never heard a command given in more than a whisper. Ho had never heard the native birds whistling, and there was no sign of native life except a few turtles. These the boys used to catch and write on the shells on their backs the name of some officer or other well-known person, perhaps paint on them the red cross to protect them from the enemy's fire, and then let them go. The flax industry throughout New Zealand is faced witli a difficult position. After a period of extremely low prices, the advance during the past; few months had stimulated the industry and nearly all mills in the Dominion had set to work upon what promised to be good payable prices. The output had increased 33 1-3 per cent. Now millers are informed that there is very little tonnage to carry their flax away, and that they might have to close down their mills for a time. Although freights have increased from 80s to 140s per ton, yet the shipping companies cannot provide the ships, and there is, it is asserted, no alternative. The millers are meeting immediately to consider the position and decide upon some course of action.

On the subject of spurious coins being in circulation, the Otago Daily Times of Friday last says:—'"We were shown yesterday an admirable imitation of a half-crown, purporting to have been tssued in the year 1892. The dies have been artistically made, and the milling leaves nothing to be. desired, the edges being smooth, as they should be with a coin whioh has been in circulation since 1892. It resembles a genuine coin in a good state of preservation, and the color of the coin is just what a legitimately minted half-crown of that nge would be. It is, perhaps, a trifle on the light side as regards weight, but when tried by dropping it on a table, the "ring" at once betrays the fraud, rt is, however, a coin 'that in the ordinary course of trade, particularly at a busy time, migbt easily pass muster, and has probably changed hands many times without any doubt being raised as to its genuineness." The waters of the Bay of Islands are renowned for the variety of their fish and the sport offered to 'anglers. Kingfishing and hapuka-fishing have long been recognised as one of the most exciting forms of sport, and by some to equal the far-famed tarpon-fishing off the coast of Florida. Angling for swordfish, however, i s claimed'by a correspondent from Whangarci to be far superior in point of both skill and thrill to anything else of the kind (saya the Auckland Herald). "Of late kingfishing has quite taken second place, and angling for swordfish is the aim of the most expert anglers," he writes. "The hooking and landing of a .lOOlh swordfish is a rare test of nerve and skill and endurance. Unlike the kingfish, which keeps below the surface, the swordfish, after his first long run, comes to the surface, and leaps in the nir. It is probably the mo=t exciting moment of any angler's lif. "me when his first Wg swordfiseh . rs to the top and hurls' himself into the air, falling back with a mighty splash, and doing this not once or twice, but a dozen times with some, or even up to 40 or 50 times with others, before they finally give in and are brought alongside and roped to the launch. . . . Doubtless when the war is over this unsurpassable sport will gradually become widely known, and Will attract many anglers eager to kill their first, swordfish."

That Australia can produce cinema film dramas equal to anything yit turned out form the Old World studios was clearly proved last night at the Theatre Royal, on the screening of the patriotic romance "How We Beat The Emden." This film will undoubtedly prove a strong recruiting medium. In tKese troubled times you will find cheer and refreshment in a cup of " Desert Gold," the Queen of Teas, 'feat it iSo-dftjf, ~-

The police force to arrest Rua, the Maori prophet, consisting of 62 men left Rotorua yesterday, in five-horse brakes, and were to camp at Muripara last night, They will reach Ruatahine today. Inspector Cullen is directing operations.—Press Association. A Cliriatchurch telegram says that in connection with a report from Wellington that the recent rise in values of Union Steamsliip Company shares was due to a projected fusion with the New Zealand Shipping Company, the head oilice of the latter company states definitely that nothing is known of any such fusion. It is stated on what seems good authority the Manawatu Times), that Mr. Hiley, general manager for railways, has purchased a block of 4000 acres of first-class land in close proximity to Palmerton North', owned by a member of Parliament.

One of the local recruiting officers (a returned soldier) made a good start on Wednesday, capturing no fewer than nine recruits. Another recruiting officer, with his bluey aboard, made tracks into the interior of Taranaki, with a view to rounding up .eligible back-blockers. A New Plymouth orchardist was unburdening his troubles to a News reporter the other day. '(First of all, I had to spray my trees several times to deal with the moth. When the apples began to ripen, thousands of hungry birds paid the orchard regular visits and took heavy toll. Then came the opossums, which, in my locality, are becoming a regular nuisance, and they about finished off what the birds had left. I have a mind to leave the trees to the various pests altogether next year." The local police authorities objected to the showing of the film, "How We Beat the Emden," at the Theatre Royal last night, intimating to the manager of the theatre that it was against the military regulations. It was shown that the Federal authorities had permitted the showing of the film, which includes actual photographs of the wrecked and battered vessel, and that it had also been shown in other New Zealand towns, whereupon the inspector waived his objection. The film is to be shown again to-night.

Forms of- application will be received from Mr. D. McAllum, P.O. Box 82, New Plymouth, for a limited number of shares in the proposed Iron Sand Company in Taranaki.-Advt. The Melbourne, Ltd., notify that they still have a limited quantity of men's police and firemen's braces on hand at la Od per pair. A s there is a big rise impending on these goods buyers will save money by making their purchases now. * Hart's hustle-bustle sale continues to be the popular shopping place. Bargains in all departments attract thrifty housewives and others from all parts of the district. It is surprising how many great bargains can be secured just now with a slender purse at Hart's Cut-rate Stores.