LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Eighty-four taxi cars are plying for 'lire at the Featherston Military Camp. Dominion troops will participate in the 'Lord Mayor's procession.—London cable. Australian mails, ex Manuka at Wellington, will arrive here this (Tuesday) afternoon. It is stated that as high as sos per hundred is being paid by small farmers in the Masterton district, who are anxious to get their sheep shorn early. An Auckland sawmiller states that there is likely to be another increase of li> per cent, in the price of timber in the North Island in the near future. A teacher who wrote to the Wangaliui Education Board objecting to the pupils "saluting the flag/' on the ground that it was idolatory, is to be asked to carry out the Board's instructions. Whilst the Boy Scouts were scouring the bush at Pukekura Park yesterday they came aerdss three rifles iii a punga tree. They were Senior Cadet rifles, and appeared to have been recently used. A Wellington telegram of last night says that Private George Herbert Ashworth, of P Company, 21st. Reinforcements, died yesterday morning at Trentliam liosjpta!, from broneho-pneumonia following measles.

iA member of tlie Fourteenth Reinforcements, writing to lug mother from Salisbury Plain, sayss—"My word! We never knew what discipline" was till we came here; but it's good for us, and will make us fit soldiers to beat the Germans all right." The following is the draw for the fourth round of the patriotic billiard tournament at the Criterion parlours: Plunitree (scr.) v. Dodson (GO); Higgs (scr ) v. Christiansen (/>5); Bartlett, a bye. All games must be played this week. 'A most remarkable coincidence is 'provided by the case of Private C. W. Sullivan, nn Aucklander. He was-, wounded on the Gallipoli Peninsula on September 27, IDlii, and word has now come to hand that he lias again been wounded in France, the date being also September '27, exactly one year' later. A middle-aged New Plymouth resident. named Alfred Williams, marrieu, wits charged at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, with attempting to commit suicide by cutting his throat. The injury was not serious. The accused was remanded for a week for medical treatment.

The late Mr. J. ,T. Hill, the railway Icing, in acknowledging the Yale degree of LL.T)., said: '1 have never found the place where a lie would take the place of the truth. In nearly fifty years of active business experience I have never found a transaction worth while when it came under the shadow of a trick or a deception." Some time ago, on the suggestion of the Rev. Butler, who was identified with the Boy Scout movement ,in New Plymouth/flags were sent by the various local troops to Boy Scouts in England. Recently the Central Troop received one in return from England, and this was iluly presented by His Worship the Mayor at the Park yesterday afternoon.

A Wellington telegram says that a deputation from the Manawatu FlaxmilleiV Association waited on Hon. W. D, S. Mac Donald, Minister for Agriculture, regarding shipping space for the coining reason's output of flax. They pointed out that a considerable quantity of fla:.' was already awaiting ship'ment, and more would soon be coming forward, and they wished to make sure of getting their ilax away. Mr. MaqDonald that during the present week he would look into the whole matter, to discover exactly what tonnage would be available, and after cabling to tlie Premier on the subject lie would let the deputation know the result.

The .storm of last week-end had a very damagbg oifoct on the azalea and rhododendrum and azalea mollis trees in New Plymouth. Up till then they presented a gorgeous sight. It is a fact that in no -part of the world, even in their native habitat, do these magnificent flowering shrubs grow so well as in Now Plymouth, at least this is the opinion of competent horticulturists. The local soi 1 and climate arc wholly favorable to their growth and flowering. New Zealand stand's in a. very bad light 'indeed in regard to daylight saving," remarked a member of tflic Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce at tlie last meeting of that body. ly every other country in the world lias adopted it," he continued, "and it must be a good thing. It is hard to understand the conservative feeling about daylight saving in a country where the legislation is generally so literal."

A correspondent writes to a contemporary suggesting that people should elu,b together and write a series of ''cheerful" letters to the boys at the trout. He submits a sample letter. iHere is an extract:—"Boys,—for God's sifke, our sake, your sake, try always to be 'fnirlj decent' and so preserve for all time to your kiddies and us and our kiddies -the honor we now love to accord to our 'young soldier,' who will one day grow old." The pleasure with which this cheering kind of literature would be received by the boys in the trenches can be better imagined than described 1

A delightful story is told in the first birthday number of the Gazette of the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, regarding a newly-arrived patient with a bullet wound in tlie arin who was examined by one of the most distinguished ornaments of the medical staff. "That's all right," said the doctor. "I'll have you well again soon." "Thanh you/' replied the patient, "but I 'was going to ask permission to go out and see a specialist about it." Given permission, the patient proceeded to town With his purse stuffed with banknotes to consult the best surgeon in England—and was ushered into the presence of the very gentleman whom lie rashly scorned at Wandsworth,