LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wairarapa Racing Club yesterday voted £IOOO Uo the various patriotic funds.—Press Association. At the annual meeting of the Marton Jockey Club it was decided to demote till the profits of next season to the war funds. The Thirteenth Reinforcements will inarch through the main streets of Wellington on Saturday afternoon, under the command of Major D. A. Hickev D.S.O. , At the meeting of the Taranaki Land Board yesterday, six holders of Crown lands applied for.exemption of the terms of their leases as they had enlisted for active service. In each case exemption was granted for twelve months. The Telegraph Office advise us that Berne notified that in the following countries legal time has been put forward one hour up to September 30 next: Holland and Hungary from Ist, Austria from 10th, Denmark and Sweden from 15th, and Great Britain from 21st inst. It is understood that the banks .trading in New Zealand are seeking legislation to issue 10s bank notes. Information was recently received from Australia that no more half-sovereigns would be minted there pending the cutting of new dies Since then, however, the export of gold from Australia has been prohibited. "The 'Zepps' have been making things pretty warm lately," writes Staff Sergeant Keith Little from London to a Wellington friend, "and were down this way the other night. Fancy young Brandon attacking one. Won't"Wellington feel proud. ' I know I feel ever so proud to think that a New Zealander should have done so well. I can tell you London is mad about him. All the papers published photos of him, and he is known as the 'Zepp. Strafer'— that's the way the papers allude to him." At the meeting of the Education Board yesterday a letter was received from the District Health Officer drawing attention to the sta_te of the Normanby Seheol, and recommending that it be examined by the Board's architect in order that steps may be taken as soon as possible to have the structure removed and a new school built. As the Normanby school is still under the juris-* diction of the Wanganui Board, members considered the application, rather premature, and decided to forward the letter to the Wanganui Board. With refernre to the rennet shortage, a Taranaki settler informed a News representative that in Wellington he met the representative of a Dunedin firm, who formerly manufactured rennet, but owing to foreign competition had to close down. They still possess the machinery, and if certain of a constant supply of veils at a fair price, work can be resumed so soon as an export can be secured. It has been suggested that the Farmers' Freezing Co. might start rennet making as a side line, but the shortage is likely to be too acute to wait for the arrival of machinery. The unselfish and patriotic nature of our school children is being manifested as the war goes on. To-day, we received a cheque for £9 8s 6d for the Y.M.C.A. fund from the Newall Road school children, the result of a concert on Friday night. They have foregone their prizes this year. Another case is the Tataraimaka school children, who, with their penny contributions have been able to make a fourth instalment of £4 7s Od for the Belgium Babies'' Fund. There is a brisk and unsatisfied demand for houses in New Plymouth. The position is becoming so acute that many families are sharing a house between them. One estate agent says that the only way to meet the demand is for the municipality to build a number of workers' homes, which it could do without loss to itself, and confer a considerable benefit upon the town. He further pointed out that w'hen the freezing and ironsand industries start, as they will in a few months, and employ hundreds of hands, the house problem will be more difficult than ever. The Taranaki group commander (Major K. P. Cox) wishes it to be brought under the notice of the public and recruiting committees that young men under the age of 20 cannot be accepted for the forces. There have been a. good many registrations lately of lads under 20, and thereby causing a great deal of trouble t9 the officers of the Department. Instances have come under the notice of the group commander where lads under 20 have signed a false 'declaration that they are over the age, and the Department intends to call upon young men, if they make false declarations, as to their age before the medical officers, to pay the cost of the medical examination. Regarding the Kaiapoi tragedy the I.yttelton Times states: Although the |ioliee are leaving no stone unturned in their endeavours to discover the perpetrator of last Thursday's double murdtr at Kaiapoi, the investigations to dnte have borne very little fruit. A few additional odds and ends of facts bearing upon circumstances antecedent to the tragedy have been collected, but these are cither or little -or no assistance, «r serve to still further intensify the atmosphere of mystery surrounding the crime. It is now believed that the weapon with which the murders were presumably committed was taken by the murderer to the house in Raven Street wrapped up in brown paper, and that it was used without the wrapping hc ; ng removed. This certainly explains the wrapping-paper, as the piece of iron in question, an 18-inch'length of one and a quarter inch pipe, would attract mo attention whatever if wrapped up, forming a parcel of a very common size and shape. ' A modern residence in Vogeltown will be offered by Newton King (on account of Mr. G. W. Slade), at the mart on Saturday. Fuller particulars in advertisement. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., draw, the attention of clients to their Tarata sale, which they are holding in their Tarata yards on Thursday, 29th inst., and at the same time and place they are also holding a clearing sale, without reserve, on account of Mr. F. SI. Brightwell, who has sold his farm. Full particulars will be found in our advertising columns on page Bof this issue. The sale will start at 12 o'clock sharp. AMBER BEADS. The old-time nurse or mother believedthat a string of amber beads tied around the baby' 3 neck would protect the child from sore throat. The woman of to-day charms away the baby's cough or sore throat with Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery for Coughs and Colds, the medicine that is safe and sure. Price 1b 6d and 3s. Obtainable everywhere. KARBOL— one part to 50 parts of water—the best disinfectant. Sykes, Chemist

"If a party in divorce marries between the granting of decree nisi and tlic securing of decree absolute, that person is guilty of bigamy," commented Mr. Justice Chapman in the Supreme Court at Auckland. Mr. 11. J. Paul, proprietor of the Empire Hotel, Westport, has enlisted for active service, and will shortly join the reinforcements. Mr. Paul lost a son at Gallipoli, hag his second son in France, and feels that 'he also must get into the line. Two Petoiie hotel-keepers have also joined the forces. "Racing may improve the breed of horses, but •it does not improve the breed of men, judging from the size of these boys," remarked Mr. F. V. Frazer, 'S.M., in the Auckland .'Police Court, in expressing surprise at the age of a number of trainers' boys who appeared in Court charged with assaulting one of their number. It is freely stated that the experience of farmers who sent sheep south to gioze ui consequence of the shortage of feed in this district 'has been distinctly unsatisfactory (says the Oama.ru Mail). Not only have the animals failed to prosper in the colder and damper south, but they are coming back short in number. In one case, it is stated, the shortage reached about a hundred. No explanation has been forthcoming as to the short returns, and several farmers went south last week to investigate matters for themselves. As to the result of their inquiries nothing is yet known; but one thing is quite evident, and that is that the large losses have not been due to deaths. A correspondent of the Hawera Star : writes: "When reading your paragraph regarding the benefits derived in <Mes of dysentery by chewing koromiko Duuj, it struck me that many other Maori remedies might bo advocated with advantage. There is .the ngaio, the young leaves of-which were beneficially used by the Maoris similarly to the koromiko; and they used to speak very highly of its curative properties in case's of diarrhoea. The leaves of the ngaio, before bursting out, arc very glutinous, with a Blightly bitter taste. I have used both the koromiko and ngaio myself, and no doubt hundreds of others in Taranaki have proved their worth. The root of the flax was another Maori remedy, I believe; but I am not as conversant .with, this remedy as with the others. Even on the seashore the Maoris find a valuable medicine among the shellfish. ' Mr. and Mrs. W. Surgenor, of Otakeho, have received a card from their son William, who was wounded and taken prisoner at Gallipoli early last August, and who is now a prisoner of war at Belemedik, Pouzanti. He writes: "I am quite well, working with pick aad shovel at gravel; our gang consists of thirty men and two cooks. Get paid for work, 'but no vacancy,in the baking (he is a baker by trade). I like tihe cump here, but have got no news from you yet. Had a card from G-.P., also a post card of Mount Egmont. Work nights alternately, but get no news whatever from outside, and often wonder how you all are. Am getting used to the life here now, and have more money tflum previously, and have the freedom of the village and district for miles around. Spring Is coming on. I live in a four-roomed hut, and am fairly comfortable. Remember me to all friends; I am always hoping to see you soon." "Friend and Foe on the High Seas," a naval picture of great interest, will be screened on the change of programme at the Theatre Royal next Monday. Through a neutral country, some striking views of the German flleet in Kiel Harbor and of German submarines at work have been obtained. In contrast, some fine pictures of the British fleet sweeping the seas will be shown. A reminder is given of the auction sale of properties to be held by Messrs. L. A. Nolan and Co. on Saturday next, particulars of which appear in our advertising columns. The lands to be offered comprise several very excellent building allotments, some of considerable value, and all very conveniently situated. The completion of our tramway system ought to ensure a ready market for those areas which are served by the electric cars. The Melbourne, Ltd., for boys' oilskins, 8s lid; men's famous "Fish" brand oilskins, 14s 6d and 19s 6d; boysf and youths' "Fish" oilskins, 12s 9dj men's famous oily canvas slicker coats, 37s 6d (finest coat on the market; absolutely leliable in all weathers). The Red Post notify that their premises wiy be closed down all day on Thursday and Friday, preparing for the sale of E. Dingle's stock.