LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An enquiry is to oe held on Monday next regarding the recent fire at the New Plymouth Boys' High School. War Loan certificates sold through the post offices: on Monday totalled £IS,OOO. —Press Association. Mr. W. Joliffe, lately bead draughtsman, has been appointed Censor of Cinema Films. The censoring will take place in a special building at Wellington.—Press Association. Wellington hotelkeepcrs report that the anti-shouting regulation on Monday effected a' reduction in bar takings varying from 15 to 50 per cent., and probably averaging 25 per cent.—Press Association. Hillsborough residents are making a very generous response to the appeal for goods for the Red Cross Mart on Saturday next. The matter is being taken up enthusiastically, and the mart promises to be well stocked with dairy produce and general merchandise Mr. W. W. Jackson notifies that, weather permitting, his motor 'bus will make the trip to the mountain on Sunday. ■ As only a limited number of seats are loft, those desirous of taking advantage of this opportunity should at once communicate with Mr. Jackson at thy Masonic stables. The Admiralty representative in New Zealand states, for the information of relatives, that the New Zealand ratings of the warship Pyyramus, numbering 60, have been granted leave to visit the Dominion, and should arrive the last week in September.—Press Association. A Wangachu schoolgirl, Miss Gladys Bamford, who travels daily to school at Marton, has established a fine record in collecting on the trains for patriotic funds. Between August 20, 1915, to date she has collected no less a sum than £SOO for Red Cross purposes alone. Other amounts collected by this enterprising young lady bring the total to £505 10s—a very fine achievement. With reference to the Government building grant to the High School Board, Mr. H. J. Okey, M.P., recently communicated with the Prime Minister, and he is now in receipt of a reply, dated August 23. to the. effect that Cabinet authority has been obtained for the immediate payment of £2OOO towards the cost of the buildings at present under erection, viz., the new Girls' High School and a new boardingbouse for boys. A sneeze leads to a Cough. SYKES'S CURA COUGH leads to a Cure. Is fld, all stores.

In the S.M. Court yesterday, Mr, Crookii «nve judgment liy default in h claim by the Laborers' Union, for whom Mr. Billing appeared, {or £1 Is. Costs, ss, were allowed. Soldiers in uniform will he admitted free to the North Tantnaki Hunt's steeplechase meeting on Thursday. Discharged soldiers may also obtain complimentary tickets upon application to the secretary, Mr. E. L. Humphries. Another appreciation of the good work done by the ladies in charge ot t!" New Plymouth Red Cross Mart was evidenced in n practical maimer rm Monday night, when the committee of the Xoiih Taranaki Hunt voted ClO 10; towards the small balance that is required to make up tIIOOO, which it is in ped will be raised before the end of the ■first financial year, September 11.

A V\'hakatane message states that Iliimia Kercrn, paramount chief of the Tuhoe tribe, died on Saturday. He waft the last remaining of the old-time Maoris. He was able to trace descent from those who arrived in the first canoes. Kereru gave 1000 acres of land to the War Fund, and enthusiastically encouraged recruiting. Natives are coming from all parts of both islands to the tangL, Three men implicated in the recent I extensive, thefts from the warehouse of [iSharland and Company, were sentenced [by Mr. Justice Chapman yesterday I morning in Wellington. James Henry Bray, storeman, who pleaded guilty to [theft, was sentenced to eighteen months I reformative treatment; Edward Hellawell, grocer, found guilty of receiving, two and a half years' imprisonment; James Connon, on a similar charge, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. —Press Association. The Postmaster-General announces that Christmas parcels for the Expeditionary Forces should be posted as early as possible, and certainly in time to reach London during the'first week or ten days in December, so that the men in the trenches and in hospitals may receive their parcels in time for Christmas. At that season of the year there is great congestion in the British postal service, and the nearer to the Christmas season the date of arrival of parcels in England, the more likelihood there is of their being delivered too late. At the Wangamii Magistrate's Court on Monday, two charges for selling short-weight bread were heard. In the first case the baker pleaded guilty and was fined £5 and 7s costs. In the second instance the charge was against a shopkeeper. It was pointed out that the lady charged should have weighed the bread. A fine of £2 and casts 7s was imposed. A ohemist was charged with making rip a prescription after closing hours (0 p.m.) and was fined £1 and costs 7s; another chemist, for selling a stick of shaving soap, ind a bottle of brilliantine after hours, was similarly fined. A recent Press Association telegram from Dunodin stated that the local Magistrate had excused two brothers from military service on accoun|t of their religious belkfs. It slu uld be understood that this exemption granted by the Magistrate applies only to service in the Territorial Army under the Defence Act. It does not apply to service in the Expeditionary Force. No Magistrate has power to grant exemption to anyone on any ground from service in 4 .be Expeditionary Force. T'ndor the Military Service Act this power to ex.-mpt is vested in Military Service Boards special tribunals to be set up to hear and determine appeals by or on behalf of men called up for active ser-

Several of Auckland's most prominent business men' have had reason to regret having relatives residing abroad recently. Some person has evidently been trading on the generosity of the Auckland public, for several reports have come to hand of local business men being visited by a man who claimed to be a relative in need. In most cases the "need" has bccii'met with financial 'help. A man has been calling at business houses and asking for the manager, say Mr, X. Mr. X. has duly received the caller, who claimed to be a cousin—a Mr. Frank A,, of Hobart, or of any other place. The feeling that "blood is thicker than water" prompted the unsuspecting business man to advance a loan to the cousin, who was a school teacher and a Master of Arts he said. One of the good-hearted gentlemen referred to met_ another, and they compared' notes.' That's when the trouble came. Offers of assistance toward the Citizens' Band promenade concert at the Coronation Hall on Friday night, in aid of the boyg who suffered by the recent fire at the High School, are coming in freely, and the committee acknowledge donations of .£1 from Mr. J. Swanson (New Plymouth), and £1 Is from Mr. F. W. Atkinson (Lepperton). Tickets are being sold at a nominal charge ofls, but an extra charge will be made for the gallery, in which there is only a limited number of seats. Many popular local artists have volunteered their services for the concert, and the programme will consist of songs, recitations, etc., and a number of selections by the band. Mesdames Moyes, Benny-Brown, and other ladies are arranging for the conduct of a sweet stall during the evening.

The prrVAte exhibits and nursery displays at St. Mary's Bulb Show, which opens to-morrow, may be guaranteed to equal, if not excel, those of previous years. Although the recent wet weather played general havoc with the gardens the past three or four fine days have enabled the plans to make a wonderful recovery, with the result that intending exhibitors have now a wealth of choice blossoms from which to pifck and choose. The show should attract all lovers of the beautiful. Great bargains for men at the Melbourne's great semi-annual reduction sale: Grand tweed trousers, now 10s (id; blue copper-rivetted denims, 2s lid; double fronter denims 4s 0d; whipcord trousers, 0s M; odd tweed vests. 3s lid; odd tweed coats, 12s (Id; Roslyn saddle trousers, 12s (id; Petone flannels, 4s 3d; merino singlets, Is lid; pants 2s Od. It was thought that the severe hailstorm a few weeks ago would have ruined the prospects of the spring bulb shows, but the bulbs have made a wonderful recovery, and the blooms shown in previous years will in no way surpass those to be shown at St. Mary's bulb show, to be held on Thursday and Friday. The nurserymen's displays will be a feature, and some very line private exhibits will also be seen. White and Sons make a' preliminary showing to-day of genuine Paris model hats for spring. Untrimmed shapes and a large quantity of ready-to-wears are expected by post any day now. A microbe may have caused that Cough. SYKES'S CURA COUGH will k.ll the microbe. All stores, Is Od bottle. '£so in Prizes for users of Des«rt Gold Tea. Sr.ve the Cornels off wicket* B;est tea value obtaAn&W -

''[ am it great believer in prayer," said the Hon. J, Allen, speaking at tho Seamen's Institute in Wellington. fOnly I llio.su who hn\r. tried ami proved it are able to say what a power it is." He could not say just how it was that prayer was elT'ct.ive, but "somehow you get there:" There might he men who said they did not believe in prayer, but he had never met the man yet who could not pray for himself it he thought he would get anything out of it. "Think of those men in the North Sea. day after day. and week after week. Don't they need our prayers?" In view of the suspicion of New Zealand farmers as to what is happening in connection with, the "commandeered" meat output, the following letter recently published in the London Daily Mail, is iiitcresting: i -'''Sir,—When will the Government take strong action |o regulate the price of food? Here is an extract from my wife's butcher's bill last week: Canterbury larnb, 41b 7 ox, 7s-4d; rump steak, ijlb. 2s Od; silverside, ;ilh, 4s 4Jd; pickled pork, lib 15oz, 2s (Id; one small chop, lOd. These prices seem to be quite Baker. 3-1 King Edward's Gardens, Acton Hill, W." The Hohart express met with a sensational mishap near Parattah recently. When about two miles south of Parattah, on its way to Launceston, the express, while travelling at a speed of probably over 30 mile s an hour, dashed along a timber siding slightly over OOlt long, the points of which had been left open, and, after derailing two empty trucks which were on the siding, through the "dead end," came to a standstill. Only the engine had left the rails, and not the slightest injury was sustained by any of the 50 or (10 startled passengers. Only the alertness of the driver who pulled up the ft traiii in minimum time, prevented a terrible tragedy. The New Zealand Wood Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Company, Ltd., incorporated in July last, with headquarters at Christehuvch. have secured large ureas of busli lands suitable for the manuiacture of paper in the Rotomann (Otira) district (says the fireymouth Star). They hold on lease and reservation over 30,00(1 acres, and it is proposed to erect a plant which, together with the cost of harnessing streams fo' power, will rim into six figures. It is estimated that from 20 to 25 tons of paper will be mnmifactureed daily in the near future, the class of paper primarily aimed at being the newspaper reel. Recent statistics show that close on 40 tons of paper was the amount consumed daily in New Zealand bv the Tress, the annual cost being £378,530. A New Zealand business man who is visiting England, and who has made a point of visiting the different hospitals in which New Zealand wounded and sick soldiers are located, writing to it friend in 'Wellington, says the New Zealand War Contingent Association is doing splendid work and is really the IScw Zealand Bed Cross 1 . There is no New Zealand soldier in hospital that the association has not full particulars of, and it sees that he is looked after. The writer also states that the organisation is good, and he cannot speak too highly of General Richardson; He adds, "The New Zealand stores at Southampton are in charge of Captain Greene, and f am sure there could x n t be a bettor man to look after the Ne\» iVxland Bed Cross goods and Liverpool Fund goods."

The earnestness of the women of Sydney in connection with war work was remarked upon liy a recent Wellington arrival from that port in conversation with a Post reporter. One example was symbolic, he said, of a. great many others. The wife and daughter of a-very wealthy landowner had selected the poorest quarter of Sydney as the scone of their operations. They obtained the addresses of the relatives of soldiers in that district, called on them, invited them to cooking and dressmaking classes (all in the most unostentatious manner), dealt with necessitous cases which had escaped notice. They worked from 8.30 a.m. to f! p.m., and it was weeks before anyone knew where they had gone to or what they were doing. To this day their names have never appeared in print. Some interesting particulars concerning the Panama Canal were furnished by the officers of the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Kaikoura., which arrived at Auckland on Wednesday from Montreal, via Newport News and Panama. The Kaikoura is the first vessel to come to New Zealand by this route from Montreal, and the fact that she made the passage in 44.J days shows a considerable saving of time and a much quicker delivery of her cargo throughout the Dominion. The officers stated that th<; only weak spot in connection with the canal is the Culebra Cut, where slips are almost constantly taking place. _ The officers are, however, very enthusiastic over the ,splendid system which the American authorities employ to keep the cut clear and to pass all shipping safely through. A number of powerful dredges are kept constantly at work dredging up the silt, which slides away from the mountain, and which is added to by the number of springs in the cut. The dredges work all night and up to 2.3(1 p.m. each day. when they cease at a given signal and withdraw to the side of the fairway to enable all shipping to pass through.' There have been no large slips of late, ftiid the longer the dredges are kept at work the less danger there will be of stopping the fairway.