LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlie Kapongn, Athletic Club lias handed the whole of its credit balance (over £l4), to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund.

Nearly half an inch of rain fell last (Friday) night, and the downpour has been steady all day. The Government meteorologist expects a still heavie: storm.—Wellington telegram.

j On Friday last, the Bishop of Welling[ton "consecrated" the Church of St. Mary's, IJawcra, in the manner prescribed by the ritual, subsequently delivering an appropriate address. After fourteen years the debt has been paid off, all pew rent 9 being now abolished. The Easter holidays, which as a rule finish up the summer season of the Mountain House, are responsible for the Hostel being fully booked up. As at Christmas and New Year holidays, "shakedowns" and tents will again be in evidence.

As the result of the OkaUwa Sports' Club's recent meeting, and the subsequent concert and dance, the Wounded Soldiers' Fund benefits to the evtent of £25. The secretary, Mr. H. E. Penny, declined to receive a proposed bonus, in view of the purpose to which the proceeds were devoted.

Householders and parents throughout Taranaki are reminded that the annual meetings for the election of School Committees take place at the various schools (his (Monday) evening, at 7.30. All who can possibly do so should make n point of being present and infuse some interest in this work, as well as show their appreciation of tke services of committeemen. ~"

"New Zealand," said Mr. Ashmcad Bartlett in his lecture in Wellington on Thursday, "lost one of its most gallant and finest fighting officers at the highest point of Rhododendron Ridge—Colonel Malone. He had done more than any other officer to establish Quinn's Post. He died on the topmost trench encouraging his men with a rifle in his hand." At this announcement there was great applause.

"I have been informed by an officer of the Agricultural Department of a rumor to the effect that a portion of the cheese which the New Zealand Government contracted with the Imperial authorities to supply for the troops is being utilised for commercial purposes," said the Prime Minister to a reporter to-day. "I wish to deny the rumor. The whole of the cheese is being used for the purposes of troops, and in no other way."—Press Association.

The Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess) recently asked the chairman of the Recruiting Board (Mr. W. F. Massey), if he or any members of the Board could visit New Plymouth on Anzac Day. On Saturday Mr. Burgess received a telegram from Mr. Massey thanking him for the invitation, but regretting that owing to prior arrangements it could not be accepted, Mr, Massey added that he would bo pleased to arrange for a member of the Board to visit New Plymouth later. The monthly meeting of the Stratford Domain Board was held on Friday. Present: Mr. G. N. Curtis (chairman), and Messrs T. H. Penn, P. Thomson, and R. McK. Morison. A letter was received from the Defence Department asking for permission for me of gravel pit in the park for a rifle range. Permission flag granted provided the Department first gives the-Board a letter 'of indemnity that the Board will not be held responsible for any accident that may occur. The secretary was instructed to inform the Park Tennis Club that the Board required it to reerect the fence blown down by the recent storm

The Moa Road Board is faced wjth a plethora of elections. According to the Act, the triennial election of Road Boards through the Dominion must take place during the first week in May. Owing to the fact that a portion of tlie district has recently been merged into the county, the Tarannki County Council must dissolve the Board as from March-31st, and appoint a date for the fresh election. It was hoped that this could he done so that the election could take place at the statutry date and so avoid a second election. But formalities have to ho complied with, and it is impossible to arrange this', and a fresh election will be held about two months hence. In a few months time a small portion merges, when the County Council will again dissolve the Board and declare a fresh election. The citizens of New Plymouth have long ago assessed the true value of Kawaroa Park as a pleasure resort and it is safe to say that no other seaside reserve on the West Coast of New Zealand can compare in beauty with this famous spot. Residents of the country districts who will visit Kawaroa Park on Easter Monday will be pleasantly surprised that the town possesses such a highly improved beach party and picnic ground. For every picnic party there is a shelter tree, under which one can recline amidst grassy banks and lawns, thus being free from dust and sand. The displays will be well worth watching. The Ngatiawa troupe of poi dancers wll perform and the public are promised a fine display. It will, bo remembered that at the Ngatiawa sports, this team defeated in contest the well-known poi-dancing troupe from TVanganui. The exhibition of dancing with rainbow effects by children of the Central School and Swedish drill by the boys of the Waihi School are items which, with lllondini on the tightrope, the clowns, strolling minstrels and a host of other attractions, will make a programme unprecedented in seaside fete days. Kawaroa Park will indeed be thronged with merry-makers. Perhaps one of the prettiest stories ever told on the screen .is ''Rose of the Rancho," and it was started as a historical educational film. In America some time ago a law was enacted which called upon all the Spaniards in California to register their land. Many of them refused to do so. This led to bands of freebooters "jumping" the property and registering it as their own, and later on claiming it under the law. It was while the author was delving for particulars of some of the farmlands so fraudulently obtained that ho happened on the story. It was true, and carried conviction in every line. The historical research part was laid aside, and the scheme was made into the drama "Rose of the Rancho." The Famous Players filmed the drama which will be shown at the Theatre Royal to-night. THE CJANE MILKING MACHINE CO., LTD., Announce having purchased the patents held by the Eureka Company, and willcontinue to place on the market the )Eureka Machine conducted as a separate unit of their business.

There are a large number of Eureka machines in use throughout the Dominion and spare parts can be obtained from the Gane Milking Machine Co. Ltd., Fort and Gore Streets, Auckland, or from any of the company's branches or agencies.

A Sydaey oable says that the Parlia mentary sossibh has closed. '■

I Speaking at a reception tendered to him by the journalists of Wellington, Mr. Aslimoad Bartlett urged the desirableness of more trust being placed in the newspapers by the military authorities, so that tlieh influence with the public might be better utilised. "All Jaw is founded on common sense," remarked Mr, ]?. V. Frazer, S.M., during the bearing of a civil .action at the Magistrate's Court recently. He added that while such a statement might sound like heresy to those who believed "the law is an ass," still a man never went far wrong if he took a common sense view of a case.

Hat and cap-making are very busy trades in Wellington just now., A *-icarcity of female later is hampering the industry very much. The jewellery shops are very busy; a considerable amount' of overtime hag been worked, and in consequence good wages have been earned. The confectionary trade is also busy. A Defence officer waa heard to re. mark the other day, in connection with the threatened introduction of conscription, that the camp authorities would be in for a particularly happy time when handling the first batch of conscripts. His idea was that many of these men will be decidedly unwilling soldiers, and they will not infuse into their work that enthusiasm which is the mainstay of the volunteer.

Auckland botelkeepcrs have taken action which will set an example to the rest of Xcw Zealand's licensed victuallers. The announcement that they will close their houses from 10 a.m. till i> o'clock on "Anzac Day" bespeaks a strong sense on the part of the Auckland hotelkeepers on the necessity for sobriety on such an occasion, for it will mean a sacrifice of considerable gain. Will not Taranaki follow suit?

When a ease containing a motor-ear was unpacked by a Melbourne firm a teirier pup was found curled up in the shavings beneath the ear. The pup had apparently been accidentally nailed down when the car was packed in New York six weeks before. The sole food of the animal was evidently rats, as the bodies of two, half-eaten,'were found in the car, while rainwater which had trickled through the crevices of the case supplied drink. The terrier was reduced almost to a skeleton, but revived when given milk, and soon frisked round.

"Hundreds of single men in the Civil Service with dependents—and for that matter hundreds of married men in the Public Service— are ready to enlist if the Government will only make up to them the difference between military pay and Public Service pay," declared Mr. V. J. Mouat, a candidate for election to the Public Service Board, at a meeting at Wellington on Friday. "I have no doubt whatever that a large number of them will immediately step into the ranks if guaranteed half their Public Service pay in addition to the military pay." "I cannot speak too highly of the patriotism of Messrs K. S. and A. B. Williams in purchasing land for the purpose of settling soldiers belonging to Waiapu on the land on their return from the war," declared the Minister of Native. Affairs (the Hon. W. H. Berries) m GUhorne recently. "I only wish that oilier large landowners would follow their cv.uuplc. I shall have pleasure in representing to the Prime Minister the desirability of seeing whether there are any other large European estates that can be puchascd for returned soldiers, for, indeed, there are many estates, or portions of estates., which would be most suitable for suili purposes. I understand, further, that there is jvery little Crown land available for the'purpose in this district. In Hnwke's Bay large blocks have been purchnsed by the Native Land Purchase Board from the natives, and these are already set' aside foi returned soldiers. Kll'ortrf should be made to do the same in this district."

Stags were plentiful enough in the local deer forests this year (says the Bunedin Star), and some niee small head 9 were obtained, but stalkers from whom we have heard so far were after better heads (ban those they already possossed, and, although good sport was enjoyed, they did not gain their desire. Messrs Theo. Russell and John Frascr, however, in the bushy country near Lake Wanaka, were more fortunate, a 22-pointer falling to them. This head ij, contrary to the usual run of manypointed heads, both symmetrical and heavy, measuring 10 inches round the antler about half way up. One of the smaller points was broken off. The stag himself was one of shaggy front and enormous weight, Mr. Russell estimating his dressed weight at 5001b. It took four men to move him during the skinning, and, the head, with the neck meat cut away,' weighed 581b. This stag was accompanied by 21 hinds. He was in magnificent'condition. The high quality of the head is accounted for by the fact that the patch of country where the stag was shot is virgin country, inhabited by neither cattle nor sheep, and not previously shot over. The party made their camp 0000 feet up the slopes of Mount Aspiring, and the stalk of this stag took twenty-four hours. The party were obliged to sleep out for the-night without much provision for such a contingency, and at'such a high altitiu' .'''

cold was intense. . The spot wbei '.'. iV.X quarry was brought down was 100J feW" above the camp. Here there was a profusion of feed. The' deer winter in the bush,.and feed off native shrubs, broadleaf, etc. Aniseed and mountain lilies abound. .The head is probably a record for the Dominion in rcgarJl to weight ami number of points.

The man who wants an outfit for the faster holidays at a reasonable cost will find the Melbourne the best place for suits, overcoats, raincoats, suitcases, etc. This firm maintains its pride of place for supplying good quality, wellfitting apparel at lower prices than competitors.