LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It was stated at Saturday's meeting of the Taranaki A. and P. Association that the Society lias now 1000 members. The mails which left New Zealand on the 31st August, arrived in London on October lli. _ The building staff at the Taranaki Farmers' J [oat Comjiaii v's: works have contributed .€lO 17s lOd to the Soldiers' Comforts Fund. A very handsome oak cabinet has been presented to the Soldiers' Club by Mrs. (Dr.) H. A. McCleland. The Hon. J. Allen, Minister for Defence, has been advised by cable that the llith Reinforcements arc all in excellent health. During the discussion on the .cheese question at Hawera on Saturday, Mr. Powdroll had remarked that l(!.id was now on offer for cheese. A speaker interjected that already more than half the factories had sold at less, which drew from Mr. Powdroll the retort, "I sympathise with them then." The Taranaki Dairy Employers' Union met on Saturday at Hawora to discuss matters in connection with the wages oi those engaged in the factories. The meeting, which was not open to the press, lasted several hours, but the result of the deliberations was not made public. Mushrooms in September and October are a luxury that is not within the power of all'to enjoy. A Tarata resident however has that privilege, for in the corner of his blacksmith's shop there has developed a mushroom bed from which he has already, without paying any attention to their cultivation, picked several well developed samples of this autumn delicacy. The Prime .Minister and Sir Joseph Ward cannot o'btair In London a nicer beverage than Desert Gold Ten which you can enjoy tvery day, 1

At ChrUtehureh on l'Yulay, -lames l''aitli, charged with using premises in High street us :i common <r:iming-house, was convicted it Jul lined £lO.

Speaking at M'anaia on Thursday on the (|iieslion of farm improvements, Air. Stevenson said that lie know a small patch of land not far away which, by tube outlay of AM per acre for draining, would be easily, worth £llO per acre Vet the owner allowed it to lie under water for several months of the year. The effect of the English Government's order prohibiting the importation of American motor vehicles, except under special license, is shown by the fact that the export of American-made cars to Great Britain declined from 4030 vehicles (valued at £1,179,171) for Slay, 1015, to 075 (value £348,082) for May, 1010. At the Otago Education Board meeting on Thursday a communication was received from the Education Department asking, with a view,to introducing uniformity in school buildings throughout the Dominion, for the Board to supply it with approved plans of buildings either actually adopted or proposed to be adopted. It was resolved to receive the communication, and to suggest that a conference of architects at Wellington would be a more desirable method of arriving at uniformity. An incident has been brought under the notice of Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., by a. mother had had a son killed in the recent fighting on the Somme front. It was a memorial card sent by a ladies' patriotic committee, condoling with her and her husband on the loss of their son, a King Country soldier. Standing out in plain black type in the corner were the words, "Printed in Germany." Comment is needless. Taumarunui (Press.

A miraculous escape from a serious motor-accident occurred near Kohuratahi on Thursday (reports tlie Post) when n car driven by Mr. Percy Collins skidded off the road down a precipitous gully. Fortunately, the five occupants kept their seats and none were injured. The par was pulled out of the gully by horses and came back to Stratford early next morning under its own power, witli a strained forecarriage and one door cracked. A strange accident, which resulted in the death of a boy named Sydney Thomas Thompson, the five-year-old son of Mr. A. - S. Thompson, of Waltham Road, Sydenham, occurred last week. Thompson, with several other children, was playing near a cart from which packing cases were being unloaded. The driver of the cart, with the help of some other men, was shifting a large ease. A strong wind was blowing, and as the case was lowered they told the children to get out of the way. The cae was let down, and they then found Thompson was underneath it. He died shortlv afterwards.

The song service at the Park yesterday was of a reverent, devotional, and thanksgiving character, to the majority of people. It was one of prayer, one of praise, and the gloriously picturesque surroundings helped to further the tribute, to the Almighty. Yet there were »ome "louts" (it is too mild a cognomen for them) who would persist in caterwauling, and remained with heads covered while the Doxology and National Anthem were sung. They were very well-grown youths, of military age, and it is this sort that the authorities should "rope in." The conduct of some of this peculiar "tribe"' is scandalous. A special service was held in the Salvation Army Hall last evening in honor of the memory, of the late Private S. R. Hart and other New Plymouth soldiers who had fallen in action. There was a large congregation. Special prayers were offered, and reference to the characters of the fallen soldiers was made by .re- [ presentative members of the Salvation Army. Adjutant Dixon, in the course of a spirited address, referred to the war and the part that Britain was taking in connection therewith. The service concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.

The first game of billiards in tho Anzac Club at Feathcrston, after its official opening, was plaved bv Sir Walter lliirlmnun, J1.1..C'., and Mr. W. 11. Ilectham. two of the oldest settlers of the district. The game was ten no. spot strokes being b.irrcd. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., called the scores in dignified but stentorian tones. A district exchange reports that the squire of Tupurupuru made several gallant attempts to pot tiie red, but failed by a narrow margin. Eventually he scored a "cannon," for which lie received a salvo of applause. Mr. Beetham wielded ti>,e cue with considerable dexterity, and ran out with a well-judged 'pot." His biggest break v,as three. The game was witnessed by an enthusiastic crowd of spectators.

A meeting of the'general committee of the Taranaki Metropolitan Agricultural Society was held on Saturday afternoon. Present: Messrs W. Grant (in the chair), T. Smellie, A. Tester. H. I'. Simpson, W. Hall, F. Hooker. .1. It. Hill, C. Hoskin, R. H. Pigott, C. Fairbrotlier, H. l.inn, C. W. Reube, C. Dobson. and C. Andrews. A letter was received slating that Mr. W. J. McKee had been appointed the Omata Dairy Company's representative on the Society's committee. The recommendations of the executive committee with reference *" the appointment of variou ....._..,_~..,- mittees were adopted. Mr. godson, of Belt Road, was appointed a member of the general committee. Messrs S. A. Mamigb, Urenni. .). Thompson. West End, and A. R. Cudopp, West Km'., were appointed members of the Society.

At Hie Moa Road Board meeting a ratepayer requested the Board to make some effort to suppress the straying stock nuisance. lie related instances where numerous horses and cattle were grazing on the roads. This was positively a nuisance and dangerous to people using the roads. lie did not wish to see any accidents. Neither was he anxious to cause trouble with neighbours. The Hoard had the power to impound stray stock, and he hoped they would make every effort to do so. A settler did not wish to run his neighhour's stock into the pound, but something should be done. The Hoard ha 4 the law at their back and should exercise it. At present there were plenty of opportunities to be found in his locality, Durham Road. Mr. Williams remarked that the same trouble was to be found in iiis roading, F.gmont Road. It wa-> resolved that the Board foremen he instructed to report on these matters, also that efforts be made with the County Council re ranger. It was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria, at Melbourne, that (1) SANDER'S EXTRACT is much more powerfully healing and antiseptic than ordinary eucalyptus preparations; , (2) SANDER'S EXTRACT does not depress the heart like the so-called '•extracts" and crude oils; (.1) SANDER'S EXTRACT is highly commended by many authorities as a safe, reliable and effective household remedy. Get the [ genuine—insist if you have to—and be ; iafe, --...

From one bonvdin':bouse in Manaia thirteen men have gone to the front. Willi regard to the adjustment of aecounls between the Taranaki jyid Wangaiini Education DuuriU, llic chairinau of the hitter Hoard (Mr. Pirani) stated at a recent meeting that the Taranaki "Board estimated .1:4100 to bo due to it, and had agreed to accept £'2ooo, and to accept payment of£looo within a year of the termination oi the war and the balance a year later. Mr. (Pirani suggested to liis Board that it would be .good policy to pay off £4OO it year, commencing next year, rather than drain the funds,by instalments of £IOOO.

A strange accident, which resulted in the death of a boy named Sydney Thomas Thomipson, the five-year-old ?on of Mr. A. S. Thompson, Waltham road. Sydenham, Christeliurch, occurred last week. The child Thompson; with several other children, was playing near a cart from which packing-cases were being unloaded. The driver of the cart, with thp help of some other men, was shifting a large ease while a strong wind was blowing, and as the case was lowered they told the children to get out of "the way. The case was let down, and they then found that Thompson was underneath it. He died shortly afterwards. "

The honorable roll of families wlo have provided three or more brothers (or the service of the Empire increases in dimension's from day to day, as casualties to one or other of the kinsmen in kliaki are reported. It is not given to many to equal the record of the Earnshows, of Petone, of wliom s& have gone to the front and a seventh offered his services, but could not meet the medical test, while their mother has sis brothers on active service; or the Birnies, of Ellerslie, another gallant halfdozen, one of whom has been decorated With the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The family records of three, and even four, soldier sons iu'c now coming daily into evidence, a splendid testimony to the patriotic enthusiasm of young New Zealand.

A very lengthy discussion on the action of the Board of Trade in fixing the pike of butter took place at the meeting of the Farmers' Union Executive at ■Hawera on Thursday. It was unanimously resolved —"That while this executive lias no objection to the Imperial or Dominion Government commandeering; the farmers' produce, if their doing so will assist in winning the war, wo strongly and emphatically protest against the action of the Board of Trado in connection with the local butter supply and the tax on the butter-fat, •amongst other reasons because the fixing of prices is wrong in principle, 89 interfering with the natural law of suplily and demand, and because the tax is a class tax, and we can only describe. their action as a case of impudent and liaro-faced robbery." Copies of. the resolution are to be sent to the Minister of Agriculture, Prime Minister, Dominion President of the Farmers.' Union and M.P.'s for Tavanaki.

Some days ago in the description of .1 fine cinematograph film of scenery in the southern Alps reference was made to the exasperating way in which tierman names arc scattered over the grandest natural features of the Dominion. This was made strikingly evident in the titles of the film, "Unser Fritz," being the first of a long series of Teuton names to excite unpleasurable feelings while witnessing nn otherwise beautiful •production. The Tourist Department has decided to throw out all the German titles.' No attempt is to be made just now to re-name the prominent features, so that in the film they will lie described an "Rlaeier near the Hermitage," or whatever the picture happens to cover. What has been christened the lla:ist Memorial Hut will,' however, be re-named at once, for the title is not a correct one. The hut was erected in memory of the English gentleman nam J ed King, who, with two guides, was overwhelmed by an avalanche a few years ago. The Hon. Dr. MeNab states that the hut will henceforth he known ns the King Memorial Hut. "As for tho other titles," added the Minister with a smile, "we have /inply wiped them out, .and the onlooker will not he offended by the recurrence of a long catalogue of (Jerman names." Jersey breeders' attention is drawn to an entry of six yearling pedigree Jersey hulls for Mr. Newton King's Ingicwood bull fair on Wednesday next. These yrung bulls are mostly by Belvedere Son Prince, a son of K.C.8.. and are all out of cows that have qualified under semi-official test. The owners (Messrs. A. and J. O'Donnell) are well-known breeders from Inaha.

What is probablv tho most interest' ing of the many ofiieial war films issued describes the wonderfully organised v.v.rl: of the Royal Anuy Medical Corps at tii" front. Opening scenes show wounded men being taken from the trenches and thereafter their treatment at. the various hosiptals. and, finally their discharge is shown in detail. Thi» picture will be screened on the new programme at the Empire to-night and toi morrow.