LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is stated that in one hutment in Trcntham Camp there are no less than , seven lawyers. The waterside workers at Lyttelton were unloading vessels yesterday, having received an increase of 3d per hour under protest. The Xew .'Plymouth Defence Office has received a message from the group office at Hawera saying that if any more 111011 wish to join the 10th Reinforcements, which went into camp on Monday, they can do so provided they notify the Defence Office to-day. l'he cushion presented to the Railway patriotic Committee by Master Leslie Way is a particularly handsome one. This is the second donation this young lad has made of a similar nature. The first .Mishion he donated was auctioned at a patriotic gathering at Marion, and realised the handsome sum of £l5O.

The figures for the financial year closed on March 31 last are still not available for publication. The Minister for Finance stated yesterday that the returns had not yet taken their final form, and lie could not say when he would be able to disclose the results of the year's operations.—Own Correspondent.

A letter received from a Wanganui soldier, now a prisoner of war in Turkey, says that after discharge from the hospital the prisoners were all taken about 300 miles inland from Constantinople, evidently to mountainous country, as he says it was snowing. The prisoners were being well treated, and all were fit and well. —Press Association.

Two exceptionally big film features which will be shown shortly at the Theatre Royal are Mary Pickford in "Mistress Nell," a; Lasky production; and ,the popular Irish romantic actor, Allen .Doone, in his wonderfully attractive play "The Rebel," a stirring story of a blow for the freedom of Ireland,

At Inglewood the rainfall for the month of April totalled 7.94 inches. Rain fell on twelve days, the highest being 3.23 in., on the 7th.

Almost every senior Rugby footballer in Hawke's Bay who was taking an active part in the game before the war iius enlisted.

The taking over of the control of Fiji by New Zealand or Australia is favored by many residents of the colony. A petition advocating "annexation to New Zealand or Australia as the considerations of Imperial and colonial policy in the Pacific may dictate."

The old-established firm of tea-mer-chants, Nelson, Moate and Co., Ltd., has been voluntarily liquidated, by resolution of the shareholders. The firm has been in business in New Zealand for over three decades, and a sentimental general regret attaches to its'cessation from business activity. It is reported (says the Otago Daily Times) that an Inchclutha farmer has a sixty-acre crop of turnips whicii he estimates will yield thirty tons to the acre, Averaging the price at £1 5s per ton, the gross return would amount to £2250, which shows that, given the right quality of land, turnip-growing is a very profitable occupation. Gorman .residents of 'Fiji are now receiving attention at the hands of the Government. The steamer Levuka, 'Which was to leave' Suva la6t Friday, was to take ten Germans under military guard for internment in Sydney. A number of other Germans have been notified that in future their movements will be restricted. An official liquidator has been appointed in connection with the affairs of one business firm in Fiji, and similar action will be taken in regard to another company. Lepperton Dairy Factory (Mr. W. Roberts, manager) is second on the list of butter factories grading at Moturoa, with an average for the season of 93.86. Stratford with 03.94 was top, Mangorei (Mr. T. Robinson, manager), with 93.61, is third. Both Mangorei and Lepperton are now making on alternate days only, the output of the former being 60 boxes and of the latter 12 boxes.

At the monthly meeting of ladies connected with the Red Cross Mart on Tuesday, Mesdames Matthews, Addenbrooke, Dockrill and Wilson were present. Apologies were received from Mesdames N. King, E. Blundell and Cock. It was decided to join the British Red Cross Society in holding a-produce and cake stall at the Winter Show. The Red Cross Mart will be opened as usual on Saturday. It was decided that £25 be forwarded to the British Red Cross this month.

A. Wellington telegram says that Ernest Charles Devoin was yesterday com/ mitteß for trial on a charge of attempting to murder his fiancee, Louisa White, in the City Reserve, on March 27. Medical evidence showed that the woman is still in hospital, partially paralysed, and that her case is hopeless. White's depositions stated that she had not quarrelled with Devoin, and she had no idea that he intended to harm her. She was shot in the back, entirely unexpectedly. They were to foe married on the following Thursday. The police evidence indicated that the man was already married.

The Minister for Mines (Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald) informed a Post reporter on Monday that in connection with the Taranaki ironsand industry he was going to submit proposals to Cabinet, As, however, any action taken by the Government would involve a large sum of money, either by way of guarantee or direct expenditure, it was probable that nothing would be done this session. Several proposals had been submitted to the Government for subsidies and assistance, but no proposal had been, made that was considered sufficiently good for .the Government to adopt during the progress of the war. When the war was over the matter' would be gone into very thoroughly. There were sufficient data at the disposal of the Government to enable it to come to a decision whenever the financial position of the Dominion warranted it.

An old man named Arthur Hornby was charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. A. Croke, S.M., with having insufficient means of support. Senior-Sergeant Bowden, who prosecuted, said that the old man was brought down from Mokau on March 31 last, and was sent to the Old People's Home. Here he proved to be a source of considerable trouble to the staff, as he would persist in sleeping under the hedges, and they could do nothing with him. Then on April 13 he ran away from the Home, and evidently got into the country a bit, doing no work and sleeping out at night. He had no clothes other than the ones he stood up in. He was arrested by Constable Naughton, and as he was apparently determined not to stay in the Old People's Home, he suggested that a term of imprisonment with hard labor would do iiim good. The Magistrate sentenced the man to three months' hard labor.

The chrysanthemum show, which opens to-day in the Good Templar Hall, and the fete to-morrow promise to be very successful, and there should be a good sum to hand over to the Serbian Relief Fund. Mrs. Woods' orchestra will play selections at tlio fete on Friday afternoon and also in the evening, when a 'programme of vocal items will be given, including several numbers from the "Princess Chrysanthemum" production by the Technical College girls. Nearly all the flowers from the show will be handed over to the committee for sale at the fete, and the piiiblic will therefore have an' opportunity of purchasing some magnificent blooms. Tea will be available in the afternoon, and sweets at night, and as there will also he cake and sweets stalls, donations of sweets, cakes, and home-made 'bread will be very acceptable. There will be other stalls, and to equip these with (lowers and produce, etc., donations of violets, chrysanthemums, seeds, bulbs and pot plants will be gratefuly received. All gifts should he left at the Good Templar Hall early to-morrow morning,

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., have received the following telegram from their head office:— Wool sales resumed.. Compared with April IP, merino is about 5 per cent, and crossbred 222y 2 per cent, higher. The market is strong.

CHAPPED HANDS. Of course! Exposure to bitter weather; no gloves may be; work which soils the. hands so that frequent washing is necessary—result, sore hands, cracked and bleeding—may be blcfod poisoning. Keep your hands in good condition with Rexona, the Rapid Healer. A perfect skin treatment in itself. After work wash them with Rexona Soap, dry carefully, then rub in Rexona Ointment Your hands will respond to its healing influence, become soft and flexible without sores or blemishes. Rexona keeps the hands safe from Winter troubles. Rexona is sold in triangular tins at Is fid 'and 3s. Obtainable everywhere.

An Oainaru telegram states that the North Otago quota lor tile Sixteenth Beinforcements, leaving to-day, is full in all its branches.

A Christelmrcli message of last night says: Another case of infantile paralypi.; was reported from the West Coast to-day, the victim being a female child, three years of age. This makes the flfth case from the West Coast district.

Taranaki's production of butter and cheese will this season run into over two millions sterling. Meat, wool, skins, hides, etc., will account for another million; a total of three millions —a good record for a province of 56,847 people. ■A Wellington message says: The Karori ratepayers voted yesterday on two proposals, one to bqrrow £13,870 for a water service, and the other to borrow £15,330 for drainage. Both proposals were lost, the former by 146 to 94, and the later by 101 to 97. , "Shipping Illustrated" says: VThe steamer Carolyn four years ago ran on the rocks, and was abandoned by the inturance men as a constructive total loss, A speculator bought the wreck for £3OO and- suceeded In refloating it and making it seaworthy again. He had now sold the vessel for £239,400. Such is the result of the unprecedented present demand for ocean freight carriers." A tropical storm visited Napier late on Monday night, nearly an inch of vain falling in some localities. Cellars in some of the business quarters were flooded, and a good deal of damage was done. Trams were held up in the morning ')y silt covering the rails. The railway goods shed roof was broken open J>y hail. The total fall m' Auckland on Saturday was over 3in., and the downpour was the longest and heaviest experienced for years.

An Auckland telegram says that a 'burglar entered a house in the city in broad daylight, and upon being detected while ransacking a bedroom, gagged an old lady with a cloak, dragged her downstairs, and locked her in the cellar. The intruder was disturbed almost immediately afterwardß, and made his escape. The old lady, who is 80 years of age, suffered injuries to, her knee and body. The exploring vessel Aurora still lies at the export wharf, Port Chalmers. .Lieut, Stenhouse, is awaiting instructions from England. Another member of the crew, an able seaman named Sydney Atkins (born in Auckland), has enlisted, and signed off the ship. He is the fourth of the Aurora's crew to volunteer for .the wai. Thirteen men, including the master, are still on the ship's articles.

Rifleman Roots, of the Patea Rifle Club, haß shown himself to be one of tlie most consistent rifle shots in the Dominion by gaining third place in the South Island Rifle Association meeting, scoring 318 points as against 320 scored fry Sergeant Ching, the winner. Rifleman W. J. Henry also made 318. In deciding tire tie Roots rang on five consecu* tive bull's eyes at 700 yards, and won third money, £4. The Service Challenge Cup was won by Rifleman F. Sandford '(son of Major F. W. Sandford, of New •Plymouth), and the cup presented to the highest competitor in Matches 1 and 3 was secured by Rifleman.D. Roots.

The experience of a brave Highlander who helped to defend Hill 70 is one he will never forget. His small party fell back in little rushes of 50 yards, firing fiom* each new position. He was twice hit in this fighting, the second shot being in the neighborhood of the spine, which made his body stiffen, so that he appeared to be dead. When our men again advanced they thought he was finished, and reported him among th,e killed, so that the poor fellow was left between the opposing lines. It took him four days to drag himself along to the British trench, half a mile away from where he fell, and his experiences among the dead and wounded and whilst being fired over from both sides can be imagined. 1

(Particulars of the fire and explosion which occurred on the New Zealand trader Matatua in the middle of March, at St, John, New Brunswick, contained in letters received by an Auckland business firm, show that the outbreak was undoubtedly due to the explosion of the gas generated through water coming into contact with the carbide portion of tlie cargo. When it was found that the fire could not otherwise be subdued, the steamer's seacocks were opened and it was in this manner that she was sunk. Practically no damage was done to the structure of the ship. There is therefore every reason to hope that she has 'by this time been refloated, and will very soon be in commission again. (A cable received yesterday stated that the Matatua had been refloated.)

The (Railway Patriotic and Art Union Committee met last evening, and all arrungements'were completed for the concert to 'be held in the Theatre Royal this .vening, when the drawing for the art union will take place. The drawing will lie under the supervision of his Worship .the Mayor, assisted hy represent'. »es-of the New Plymouth Patri' otic lUimittee. |ln addition to the exeellei, programme, there will be a sale of vhnous gifts donated by the public, including a handsome hand-painted cushion, donated hy Master Leslie Way, a canary and cage (the canary was donated by Mr. C. Co?:, and the cage by Bellringer Bros.), a double-barrelled gun donated by Mr. A. S. Brooker, several handsome bouquets and buttonholes prepared by Mrs. Davy, and several other articles. In view of the enormous amount of work and energy displayed by the committee to'ensure success, tilev confidently look forward to a packed house. '

An entirely new programme of attractive photoplays will be presented tonight at the Empire Picture particulars of which will be found in our advertising columns.