LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A prolonged conference of the Catholic clergy in the Taranaki deanery, was held at Manaia. on Wednesday, presided over by Dean Power. It is expected that the New Plymouth portion of the salvaged cargo of the Rangitira will arrive in New Plymouth ny the Kamona on Tuesday. Owing to the number of other engagements within the next week or two, the Fitzroy recital by the Citizens' Band, which had to be abandoned last Sunday on account of the very 'heavy rain, will require to stand over temporarily The Collector of Customs (Mr. R. B. D. Eyre) states that the new regulations governing departures from New Zealand require that persons of both sews, irrespective of age, must obtain » normit or passport. \

A cable from London stales thai Hie Dardanelles Commission lias examined General Monro. A letter received by a resident of Palmcrslon North last week from an officer in Egypt., stated that the manager and several of the stall' of the wellknown Shephcard's Hotel, at Cairo, had been arrested on suspicion of being spies. A Press Association message says that a'transport with a recent draft of reinforcements on board put into Wellington yesterday morning on account of overheated bearings in the engineroom. The vessel will sail again as soon as repairs have been effected. The health on board is good-To-morrow flowers will again be sold in the principal streets, in aid of the Belgian Children's Fund. The promoters hope to raise at least £l5O for this worthy object by this means, and as the total so far is £1.12 they should have no difficulty in accomplishing their aim. The Mayoress asks all who can spare flowers to leave them at tXe depot this afternoon or early to-morrow morning. In a letter to a relative in Hawera, Sergeant Syd. Burgess says lie is quite fit and well. His only hurt has been a slight wound on his nose from a fragment of shrapnel. This, one would •think, was a close shave, birt Sy». merely says that after it was bound up he returned to duty, and that in a few days the wound was healed. A Hawera boy in the course of a letter says that the country round the location of the New Zealand portion of the line is looking very lovely. It would be just past midsummer, and, he says, the fields are a picture. As one looks over the landscape one sees but little signs of trenches, and, except when fighting is actually on, could hardly realise that there was a great war —so peaceful and natural is the scene. A Wellington telegram states that in the case Caselberg and Co., merchants, against O'Brien and Co., carriers, claiming £3O on account of the loss of some motor oil consigned to plaintiffs, which defendants had been instructed to receive and deliver, Mr. W, 0. Riddell, S.M., gave judgment for the amount claimed with costs, £S 17s. The Magistrate held that defendants had negligently performed their duty. At the annual meeting of the South Taranaki Automobile Association, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mr. A. S. Tonks; vice-presidents, Messrs. H, Graves and F. G. Kimbell; committee, Messrs. W. O'Callaghau, E. Naldor, D. J. Goodwin, A. T. Wills, and Dr. Thomson; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. W. Webster. It was resolved that notices be posted up in the garages directing the attention of motorists to the ne.cessiy for strictly observing the rules of the road. Appreciation was expressed at the action of the Hawera County Council in erecting danger posts. Tlie sealing season is now fair!) in swing (states a Bluff correspondent), and parties are dotted all over the various rookeries, with the exception of the Solanders. The steamer Rita will land a party there this week. The brigantine Rachel Cohen landed a party at the Auckland Islands, under Mr. M. Topi, three weeks ago, and there is another party at the Macquarics, under -Mr. 0. Baur. The schooner Gisborne recently visited tiie West Coast Sounds and landed a party on Five Finger rookery, where they, bagged 27 seals in one day. Old hands are, however, more interested in the prospects of Spencer's party on the Snares, where the Rita last week landed them. On their first day on the reefs they obtained no fewer than u8 skins, and they should do well. On the whole, there is more interest .being taken in t'his old-time industry this year than for a couple of decades. The high price of skins is a big factor, and there has been an increased demand for sealskin goods since the South Seas Exploitation Company took a hand in the business. When, many months ago, the Red Cross Mart was inaugurated it was de cided to keep it open every Saturday, and the hope was expressed that the sum of £IOOO would result from the effort. This amount is well within sight, but an evtra effort is required this week to reach the desired goal before the end of the present month, as is the wish of the promoters. Tomorrow, will, therefore, be the last '■market-day," and tiie public are asked to respond warmly to the appeal made to them. Bell Block people, who have throughout been consistent and generous supporters of the mart, will to-morrow stock it with produce, etc.. of all descriptions, but other people sire also asked to aid with contributions. The worthy object, the generosity of donors (some of whom have sent in produce and other articles every week since the mart was opened), the good value to be obtained, the self-denial of the Ladies' Committee, and the fact that a little extra spurt will enable the amount aimed at to be obtained, merits the most hearty and spontaneous patronage to-morrow.

In addition to the sport to be derived from witnessing the jumping in the ■races at the Hunt Club meeting on the New Plymouth racecourse next Thursday, patrons are promised a musical treat, for the Citizens' Band, under the baton of Bandmaster McLcod, will render a splendid programme, comprising operatic and other musical gems. Saturday will be People's Day at the Melbourne, Ltd., the occasion being the (inn's great semi-annual reduction sale. Huge reductions on the whole stock are announced, so that, buyers may be assured of a substantial saving on every article purchased. The public are requested to do their shopping early. Definite arrangements have been made for the benefit promenade concert to take place in the Coronation Hal), Gill Street, next Friday night (September 1). This function is being organised by the Citizens' Band with a view to recouping the boys for their severe losses in connection with Monday's disastrous fire, and as vocal and other items will lie submitted, in addition to the popular selections by the Band, the entertainment, ap.nrt altogether fiom the objective, should be well worthy of a visit, For the convenience of those who cannot be present, the bandmaster will gladly receive and acknowledge personal donations towards thi? fund. He has already reeehed a donation of 10s Od from Mr. W. K. McDiarmid, besides several other promises of assistance. SOCKS. HANDKERCHIEFS AND SHIRTS FOR SOLDIERS. AT THE MELBOURNE, LTD. The following useful lines will be found to be of inestimable value to the boys at the front, and should be occasionally included in parcels to be despatched either to Trentham, Egypt, England or France:—Soft mercerised khaki handkerchiefs Od each, fine all-wool Mosgield (New Zealand) knitted socks Is Od pair, light mercerised khaki shirts, with or without collar, 4s lid.

A Iclt'-r loceived this week '.> ■ an Auckland lirm from a London home states that it is wonderful how the iemale workers have exerted themselves in England to meet the military' rtjuiremenls. 'lt is stirprisimr to note," says the letter, ''how they have niiiie I'nrward, and how well and capably they have adapted themselves to -lericiil work as well as various other forms of labor. As regards the clerical side, the banks arc largely manned by women, and we understand that the Minister for Munitions employs some 2000 women." A correspondent of the New Zealand Herald makes a suggestion regarding work for aliens. "We are told," he writes, "that the Germans conveying hundreds of French and Belgian young girls to help gather the harvest in Germany, in addition to the thousands of male prisoners working in munition factories and other works. We should do the same here. The aliens who are loafing at Somes Island mid nil the Austrians in the north riioultl bo put on making roads, bridges, railways, etc." Auckland lawyers appear to have a weakness foi "falling out" with the Bench. The other day a legal gentleman stated that in the interests of justice it would be better if a case were heard by a Magistrate other than the gentleman then presiding. Counsel was rebuked, of course, but gained his point. The Magistrate balanced the account 'by stating that the manner in which the application to have the case heard by another Magistrate was made was wobably due to the inexperience, or what might be called the crass* stupidity of the counsel who made the remarks. Mr. C. C. Davis, of Onehunga, said that on the journey from Auckland to Vancouver ho travelled with the 'Parliamentary party, including Sir James Carroll, the Hon. W. V. Carncross, Messrs C. J. Parr, M.P., and E. P. Lee, M.P. Mr. Aslnnead Bartlett was also on board Sir James Carroll was induced one Sunday evening to give a lecture on the origin ot the Maori, which, said the speaker, coming from such an authority, was particularly interesting. The other members of the Parliamentary party, and nlso Mr. J. B. Clark-son, of Christehurch, who was a passenger, spoke alsc on the same subject. At a later date Mr. Ashmead, Bartlett gave a lecture on the -war. Towards the end o; the voyage the passengers indulged in a smoke concert, Sir James Carroll being in the chair. He announced that everyone in the room would have to contribute an item or '-shout'' for the party. When Mr. Ashmead Bartlett was called upon, said Mr. Davis, he had the bad taste to ridicule and mimic the lecture given by Sir James Carroll on the origin of the Maori, and made remarks particularly uncomfortable for speakers who took part in that lecture. When he had finished a very unpleasant feeling existed, but Sir James Carroll filled the breach and called upon hinisellV as chairman, to contribute, tliie next item, entitling it "A Lecture on the War." Sir James then practically repeated a lecture by Ashmead Bartlett which ho had heard in Palmerston North. His pleasant way and bland smile soon had the room in roars of laughter. Orie particular little bit in his speech which created much amusement was: '-Gentlemen, I have been there, I have seen all that I have been telling you"—then with a pause—"through my glasses." After finishing he turned to Mr. Bartlett, and with a grin asked, "Am I right?" Mr. Bartlett jumped up and said he could only shake the chairman by the hand and said he would never lecture on the war again.