LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

-iio .iospital ship Maheno is due ?.t Auckland to-morrow morning. There were fifty applications for the position of Town Clerk at Auckland, and it has jeer* decided not to make any appointment from these applications.' We acknowledge receipt of the sum of £5 5s that has been donated to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund by the Fgmont School pupils, they having foregone their prizes this year to help the fund. On Saturday. Mr. W. Matthews, on behalf of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund had a most successful sale of the Bell Block wheat. Sixty bags were sold at 25-j per Imp, which must be most gratifying to (hose responsible for the production and a fitting wind-up to Mr. Matthews' career as an auctioneer as far as Jnglev.-ood is concerned. At the conclusion of the sale three hearty cheers were given for Mr. Matthews.—Own Correspondent.

The A.M.P. Society has just accepted the tender of Mr A. A. Renner, eontractor, of Wellington, for the erection of new buildings in .New Plymouth. The plans hav.» been prepared by Mr. F. de .1. Clere, of Wellington, and provide for a very handsome three-story building with" a flat voof to take advantage of the fine view to 'w obtained. It will occupy the site of the present premises of the Society and will have a frontage of 35 feet on Devon Street and 84 feet on Kgmont Street. The planning has provided offices and chambers for the A.M.P. Society on the ground floor and the remainder for the State Fire Offices, Medley and Co., etc.

The South Canterbury province remittance for tri-color clay to the New Zealand secretary of the French Red Cross .Fund covers £1477 4s 7d, including £253 4s lid raised in Waimate. Taihape has remitted £53 4s 4d, Nelson £124, New Plymouth £421 Is Bd, Tolago Bay £77. Inglcwood £fil Is (Id, Otaki £37 10s 3d, Feilding £lO4 Is, Dannevivke £234 Is 3d, Hokitika £72 10s, Murehison £l4, Opunake £53 10s lid, Wnnganui £l5O, Klthain £12!) 4s Sd. Palmerston North expects to remit £I4OO. Christchurch has somewhere about £3OOO in hand, and has already shipped 45 c«sc9 of clothing, bandages, etc., including £250 worth of Kaiapoi blankets. About £15,000 has now been raised, and Wellington is now arranging to hold a tricolor day. which it had to postpone on account of local functions.

It is noteworthy that in the Edison lesson film drama, "The Children of Eve" the many "supers" employed in its production were drawn from the poorest district in the city where the picture was filmed. The men, women and children were one and all handsomely rewarded for the parts played by them therein —thus does the moving picture producer help the needy, and "practice what he preaches." "The Children of Eve" will be shown at tHo Tkea.tre JJojal to-night,'

Tlio New Plymouth Defence Office reported on Saturday that three orderlies are wanted at once for the Awapuni Camp. Only men who have been rejected for service abroad, bu* are medically fit for home service, need apply.

At the New Plymouth Red Cross Mart on Saturday; the takings amounted to CM, bringing the total proceeds up to £OOO. lie competition for tin- suckingpig, generously donated by Messrs Sole Bros, realised £2 18s, and was won by Mrs. Whittle, who, by a fresh competition, raised the amount to £4 18s. The second prize, a bushel of soldiers' wheat, was tied for by Mcsdamcs C. Kyngdon, Emeny, Martin and W. Pratt. The pig turned th j scale at SOjlb. A number of the directors of the Farmers' Meat Freezing Co., visited Ohura on Friday evening and met with a good reception, arid on Saturday they visited other outlying settlements of the province for the purpose of forwarding the company's business. Excellent and heartening results were obtained. The party, who comprised Messrs. Newton King (New Plymouth), A. Morton (Egmont Village), Best and Quinn (Eltham), W. R.-Wright (Rahotu), W. McCutcheon (Whangamomona), and E. Marsell (Toko), had a most enjoyable trip, and arc highly satisfied with the promises of support. They returned home last night, after a non-stop run of over 300 miles.

When the Benmore sections, in North Otago, were balloted for recently, one of the sections was won by a young farmer from the Oamaru district. Complaint was made at once that this man had married a few days before the ballot, in order to qualify to compete, and that lie and his two brothers had not done anything towards keeping up the strength of the expeditionary forces, although they were all single men up to the time of this marriage. The matter wag referred to the Otago Land Board For enquiry, but fche Minister for Lands (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) stated on Wednesday that he had received information to the effect that the man in question had settled the case on hia own account. He had resigned the section in favor of a soldier who was second in the ballot. Motorman Nicholas, of the Timaru Fire Brigade, has lately thought out and installed at the fire station a very ingenious little set of contrivances for the more expeditious working of the fire engine. He has so arranged the switch board that on receipt of an alarm the motor-engine is started from the switch and the station doors fly open, the engine being also released automatically. On pressing the button at the street Are alarm box all the alarm bells in the station ring, the circuit is indicated, also the number of the box where the alarm comes from, every light in the station is lighted, while the'motor engine releases itself. By these improvements (says a local paper) the Timaru Fire Brigade has the most up-to-date switchboard in the Dominion. New Plymouth is still awaiting the installation of a fire alarm system. Surprise has often been expressed that the Government training steamer Amokura is not equipped with a small radio plant. As stated in recent messages, the Amokura was probably only a few miles distant from the Shackleton Expedition steamer Aurora on Friday, but as the former vessel had no wireless plant she might easily pass the Aurora, at a time when her help would be of the utmost value to that vessel. It is pointed out by shipping men (states the Wellington Post) that there are many and varied reasons why the Amokura should be equipped with suitable apparatus. On her periodical cruises round the littleknown islands off our coasts the Amokura might easily meet with mishap. With the aid of wireless help could be immediately sent for. Then, again, it would be an undoubted advantage for the Marine Department to. be able to communicate with the vessel throughout her entire absence from Wellington and direct her movements from one group to the other. The Amokura never ventures so far from the mainland that she would be unable to communicate with one of our land stations by means of a small compact plant which she could easily find room for without clashing with the rc-gular working pf the ship. Wireless operating is not the intricate subject most people imagine. Any of the boys on the Ship could easily pick up the rudiments of operating, which would prove of much value to them when they enter the mercantile marine. "Hurrah for the seaside! What fun we shall have with paddling and digging in the sand!" Mother, nt the joyous shouts of the children, pauses at her work and smiles, for she has promised to take them to the seaside fete at Kawaroa Park on Easter Monday. Work on the farm has lessened and father will also be able td come. Every morning at the factory, Kawaroa Park, Easter Monday, has been discussed and all (he neighbouring settlers have signified their intention to be part of the record crowd which will assemble. The excursion fares and the leaving of the trains from New Plymouth at half-past five is very convenient. The enthusiasm has spread everywhere and now that the programme is published anyone will agree that a day's full enjoyment is assured. Who would miss the Maoris in the beautiful poi dance? What a picture! Clad in native coitume, their lithe bodies swaying in perfect unison to the chant of joy and pleasure by the leader and echoed by the performers will be a sight long to be remembered. And the children's spectacular displays, of which more later. What a pleasure for other children to watch, a pleasure in their play hours will be (he chief theme for many a month. So bring the school children for whom admission is free. Make a picnic of it. There aiv thousands of shelter trees at this .seaside spot. Hot water and milk is-free to all. Echo again the popular phrase, ''Kawaroa Park, Easter Monday." Quite a large number of picture patrons were unable to gain admission to the Empire Picture Palace on Saturday night. Long before 8 o'clock standingroom was at a premium. The same films will be shows again to-night.

This is suit-week at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. Special value is being oflered in ready-to-wear suits of the highest standard, and a glance at the fine window display will show that this store is right out for business with the best assortment to be seen anywhere. Try one of these eplesdid suits for Easter.

Buy your oilskins at the Melbourne, JUd. These values are unmatchable elsowliero. Boys' black oilskins 32in to 48' m, 8s lids riding ditto, 10s !)d; boys' Fish brand oilcoats, 12s (Id; riding, i3s 9d; men's American oil coats, walking cut, 14s 6d; famous Fish brand slickers, 19s Cd.

CUSTOMS WORK. SAVE TIME, SAVE MONEY ,1 ' By getting us to pass your entries. We have made a study of tariff conditions, and enn be relied on to elucidate any question tl-at may arise, and to get goods put through and delivered at once. Moreover, as the volume of business we do is very large, we are able to give expert help at really moderate prices.—The .New. Zealand Express Co., Ltf

The proclamation summoning Parliament to meet on Tuesday, May 9 "for the dispatch of business" ma publiah. Ed in a Gazette Extraordinary on Thursday.

A new regulation under the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act provides that "no payments shall, be made except such as are covered by a cheque specially drawn for the purpose or purposes stated to the board, and duly passed by it."

A Bible Class camp undei the auspices of the Presbyterian churches in the Ta-ranaki-Wanganui district, will be held at Hawcra during Easter week, and will extend over four days. Provision is being made for 200 visitors, who will be billeted in the Hawera Presbyterian HaU.

Names of members of the Island Councils of the Cook Islands are published in the last Gazette. The members have been nominated by the Govrnor-in-Council. They are natives who will take some share of administrative re. sponsibility under the new Cook Island! Constitutions.

The forty-second anniversary celebration in connection with the Hawera Presbyterian Church were concluded on Thursday evening with a social in the iPresbyterian Hall. There was a large attendance of church members, adherent* and friends, including the Rev. C. H. Grant Cowen and the Rev. E. O. Blai inires. The Rev, J. R. Shore, M.A., presided.

In paying a gUwlng tribute to the Prime Minister, in <a. speech at a recruiting rally in Masterton on Tuesday evening, Mr. T. M. Wilf»rd said: "There is no more genuine Imperialist in New Zealand at the present time than the iPrime Minister. While on the floor of the House in peace time I may be a political opponent, in war time' I'm d— if I will oppose him."

Good progress in recruiting was reported by the member* of the Eltham County Council at Saturday's meeting. The councillors were recently appointed to canvass thir various ridings and their reports showed that canvassing lias been completed in the South Riding, Kaponga Riding and Omona Riding, while the work is nearly complete in the Mangatoki Riding, and is proceeding satis* factorily in the Elthair. Riding. The response from the men approached has been good and 25 recruits who are prepared to. go to camp next month have been enlisted, while many other men have offered to go in later reinforcements.

The Prime Minister has been asked by the executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants to have Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M., removed from the chairmanship of the Railway Appeal Board. What railwaymen as a whole think of the proposal may be gauged from the fact that the circular from the Gore branch of the A.S.R.S., suggesting the remaval of the present chairman of the Railway Appeal Board, was replied to by twenty-eight branches, all unanimously supporting the proposal. The secretary (reports the Railway Review) was instructed to forward data to to the general secretary with a view to having the request attended to. The first two shipments of Japanese sugar have arrived in the Commonwealth. Towards the end of last'year, when it became apparent that, there would be a huge" surplus in Formosa, word came through to Sydney that two o" three shipments could be secured for Australia. When the deal was eemjleted a paragraph appeared in the Times of Japan announcing tliu fact, and it brought forward ft denial of the statement from those interested. The surplus at Formosa was estimated to be between 80,000 find 100,000 tons. Of that, 12,000 tons is for Australia. ■ The first shipment which arrived is known as vellow sugar, and required refining before being placed on the market.