LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The opening of the New Plymouth bowling green, which was to have taken place to-day, will be held next Thursday, when the green will be ready for play. A meeting of electors within the Optinake harbor district 1?' ill be held in the Town Hall, Opunnke, on Thursday, lfith inst., at 1 o'clock, when an important proposition will be announced.

The work of completing the new freezing works at Fitzroy is proceeding satisfactorily, and it is expected that killing and freezing operations will commence early next month. A large number of men are engaged in assembling the machinery, laying concrete floors, and completing the wooden portions of the building.

A donation of '£2s has been made by the Mayoi (Mr. C. If. Burgess) to the Piikokuia Park Board. In a lettei to the Board, Mr. Burgess said lie wished the liinuc.v to be devoted to the provision of better facilities for holding functions in the Recreation Ground, and for the supply of hot water for those who attend 'these functions and desire to picnic in the park.

As instancing the dimensions of the trade between America and the Dominion nowadays, the Post says that there are in Wellington at the present timo nn fewer than four ocean liners discharging American cargo. They are the Maita'i. from San Francisco; Strathavon a'.id Port Philip, from New York, via Auckland; and City of Delhi, from New York direct.

An exhibition of children's garments, intended for various children's institutions in New Zealand and in England, will be given in the Girls' Friendly Society's Club rooms, Robe Street, this afternoon. The garments were made by the members at their Tuesday evening meetings. Refreshments will he provided at the display. The society extends a welcome to all interested in its work.

The Hon. W. Camcross returned to Eltlum on Tuesday night. The Argus says he was immensely impressed with London, and says that'he thinUs he will write a book about- it, the ti!le being: "What 1 don't know, and didn't see in London." He says that it is a city of absolutely inexhaustible charm to those who have tin slightest interest in historical scenes and episodes. Every day and every hour could be spent in "fasBicking" along the highways and byways n,? Tondon for many month?

'V brief sitting of the Magistrate's Court was lipid vesterdav, Messrs If. R. Cattlcy mid J. S. 8. Medley, J's.P., presiding. On the information of the borough inspector, Charles Andrews was charged with allowing his motor-ear to stand in Egmont Street at night without siillieieut lights. A fine of H)s was imposed. The ease against Emma Quickfall, who was charged with failing to register a dog, was struck out, the dog having been registered since the information was laid.

A lecture on the early days in Taranaki will bo delivered on Sunday after noon next in. the "Good Teniplai Hall by the Hon. Dr. R. McOCab. The lecture will be given under the mispices of the Now Plymouth Brotherhood, and the meeting will be open to all, A collection will be taken, and the net proceeds will go to the Red Cross Fund. Dr. McNab has nude the early history or Taranaki the subject of several years' research, and his lecture should Lie particularly interesting. . The programme tc be given at the entertainment to be 'held in the Good Templar Hall .this evening in aid of St. Mary's Sunday School Building Fund includes vocal solos by Mrs. Mac Donald. Miss M. iPoart, Messrs. MaeDonald and Day, a duet by Mr. and Mrs. Mae Donald, and piano solos by Misses B. Hirst and Leatham. Two amusing comediettas will also be staged, entitled ''The Burglar" and "Too Clever by Half." A large number of performers will also appear in "Mrs. Jarley's Waxworks."

The census of the population of YVanganui County (excluding the borough) taken on October 15 last, shows that there are 1870 males and 1.127 females, a total population of 3397. The estimated population of the county ou April 1, 19H, was 4157, and on April" 1, 1015, 4130, figures which reveal a considerable decrease. The falling-oil" was quite expected, as against the normal increase of the past couple of years there has, on the other hand .been the continuous demand for men to join the Expeditionary Forces. Whilst motoring from Ngaruawahia to Hamilton on Friday ovenim;, Mr. D. Hay, stockbroker, a well-known cricketer of Auckland, endeavored to .-.void three aninnls on the road, and crashed through a fence into a pot hole. He was apparently endeavoring to apply the footbrake, but pressed the accelerator instead, with the result that the car bounded forward, and, after striking the fence, turned a double somersault. Mr. Hay won struck in the chest by the steering-wheel. Several ribs were broken and his chest was crushed. He is at present in a private hospital in Ngaruawahia. Mr. A. Miller, manager of the stock department of the Farmers' Auctioneering Company, who accompanied Mr. Hay, escaped with a slight injury to his knee.

Bishop Averill referred to the Maori soldiers in the camp at Narrow Keck in an address in Auckland at a meeting of the Mothers' Union. When they visited Auckland, ho said, they were exposed to the temptations of such houses ns the one lately raided by the police. The Government ought to do more to protect our .Maori soldier*?. One way to influence them for good would be to appoint a chaplain to the Maori camp. He had again and again begged the Government to make this concession. The question of expense need not, he had pointed out, be urged as an objection to the proposal, for he had undertaken, if the Government would sanction the appointment, that the Anglican, Church would bear the necessary cost. The best way to reach these Maori boys was to place someone in the camp who would exercise a daily influence pvei their lives. The Rev. 1". W. Young, of Dcvonport, was doing what he could, lint what was wanted was a- resident chaplain.

For some time canvassers have been going the rounds of the city and suburbs selling musical instruments, (say- the Lyttclton Times). The price a iked is more than five times tile value of the articles, and as an inducement to purchase, a course of lessons is nmnised, the contract card of purchase having printed upon it numbers from one. to twenty, purporting to represent the number of lessons the seller contracts to give. Many sales were made nv. this understanding, but the purchasers have | paid for their instruments and renived one or two lessons, and suddenly discovered that the musical instrument vendors had departed from the city, leav--1 ing no address. Enquiry elicited the fact that they are in the looking for fresh fields where confiding housewives abound. The contract is so worded that the police are powerless to take action. Friends of the late Mr. Frank Wilson, of Auckland, recently killed in action, whose record as a representative footballer, and in the cricketing, running and swimming world constitute :ki athletic record rarely equalled in the cunals of Auckland's sport, have decided to create n permanent meinorinl to him. •Steps are to be taken to raise the necessary funds, and to endeavor to 'nnnil a scholarship on the lines of the Rowlings trust. It lias been decide! that the scholarship should be restricted to the schools of the Ponsonby district, with which the deceased was associated, namely, Bayfield, Richmond road, J'onsonbyl Newton East and Newton West Candidates for the sehoUrshius mu-rt be the sons of poor parents and under 12 years of age.

A garden party will be hold to-day at the Ngaere Cai'dons, in aid of the Eltham "Belgian Guild and Soldiers' Comforts Fund.

The attention of sheep farmers is directed to a money-saving proposition as described in Ltd, replace advertisement in this issue in which they o;ill attention to their stocki of wool packs, sheep shears, etc. Stocks are limited and prices are exceptionally low. Those who wish to make big savings must order at once.

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A London cabin states that Mr. Masscy ami Sir Joseph Ward arc conferring with Mr. Übyd Coorge over the proposal to take ore;- all _\"cw Zealand 1 crossbred wool. "- The locc.l Void 111 ill no in charge of the Christinas ,-inokos for soldiers reports that the first thousand tins have been despatched to the front. In the Magistrate's Court at Wangaiiui yesterday, Kniest Runmerstruin, manager of the Maoriland Dairy Co., was fined £2O for selling short-weight butter, and four grocers retailing the same £1 each—Press Association.

The police arrested a man and a woman yesterday, the first on a charge ol drunkenness, the second on a charge of vagrancy. They spent last night in the cells, and this morning will be dealt with in the Magistrate's Court. The estates of 277 deceased persons were wrtified for stamp duty in New Zealand during the month of October, the largest being that of Ralph Ewing, Otago, £33,805. Included in the list were seven Sew Plymouth persons, whose names 'are as follows:—William Hooper, £4410; Ann Hulke, £2310; WHSliam F. Nowbery, £lB-23; Henry H. Florey, £1580; Mary A. Keasberry, £1505; Phoebe Bewing, £1117; James Conway, £870; Albert Nash, £834.

The following is the result of the weight-guessing competition at the Manawatu A. and P. Association's Show. The exact weight of the fat cow was 932)1)3. Mr. M. Bunnell, Ashhurst, guessed the exact weight. The second and third prizes are divided between Messrs. 0. R. McKenzie, Carnarvon, with 031'/.lbs., F. S. Mcßae, Palmerston North, with 932 l / 2 lbs., and F. O. Andrews, Christchurch, with 032V4 lbs.

The news that New Zealand had adopted compulsion made, an excellent impression in Britain, according to the Hon. W. C. F. Carnc.ross, M.L.C., who returned from London on Sunday. On any occasion when the Parliamentary delegates mentioned the Dominion's legislation in that direction, their remarks were received with enthusiastic applause. Mr. Carneross said the result of the conscription vote in Australia, as at present indicated l>y the returns, would cause keen disappointment in Britain.

A somewhat extraordinary occurrence happened at Rotokohu 'on Wednesday (says the Greymouth Star). An unoccupied house there, owned by Mr. Richard Rowo, was struck hy a whinwind and stripped of every sheet of iro:i. The iron was carried some distance into the bush, and there is hardly a possibility of any of it being recovered. A resident who saw the occurrence considers it a most remarkable one, and it dissipates the idea that wind is unknown m the inangalum. Valley. On the sth inst. the ascent of Mount Kgmont was made by Messrs. LeslieJones, Fleming, and Fox, of Wellington, 'from the New Plymouth House. Heavy clouc'.s were encountered at Humphries' Ca-".tld, and obscured the view, but at "iIOO feet the party got above the clouds, and a magnificent view was obtained. During the ascent of the final 1000 feet, though the party ascended very slowly on account of the leader having to cut steps -in the ice that distance, the heat from the sun was very great, and though ail were smothered in face cream, their feces were badly burned. The ice formations on the summit are now very grand, the action of wind and rain forming numerous ice caves. On account of the warmth the party remained over an hour on top, enjoying the view and taking alpine photographs. Glissading being possible, the party came right from the crater to the castle via this mode. Mr Williams acted as guide. Startling revelations of lltmnism In connection with gifts for Australian soldiers are disclosed in a letter just received by a Gisborne resident lrom Dapto, New' South Wales. The ]:«1 Cross Committee in that centre had its curi osity aroused by a number of parcels being sent in for transmission to the boys at the front, all cvprcssly m-.nked "Not to be opened; to be sent direct to the front." The parcels were o|.?ncd, and a lady member of the committee, on thrusting her hand insife a pair of socks, which one of the p.ueels contained, had it severely cut, by a piece of fine glass. As the wound became much inflamed, an investigation was made, and the glass was found to have been dipped in strychnine. All the "expressly marked" parcels contained similar outrageous surprises for the soldiers. Andrew John Gibson, wh was recently sentenced at Johannesburg to imprisonment for life for hank frauds amounting to £?,"«">, is described by the Sydney Morning Herald as one of the. cleverest criminals known to the Australian police He arrived in Sydney over half a century ago when he was only twenty-two, and was employed us n dispenser. For foil.' or five years he kept off the police records, but he lived a gay life, and this need of money led to his being arrested at Yass for false pretences, and sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment Then he began his long career of roguery. Women were nearly always Ins victims. As Sir Harry West'wood Cooper lie marriocl a young woman in Sydney in 18!)5, deserted her. married a young girl in Brisbane and took her to England. Next he appeared in Canada and the United States, where lie carried out numerous extraordinary frauds and "married" further women—always wealthy women Next he went to South Africa where lie raised much money on a bogus deposit certificate. Then lie went back to Sydnew as "Surgeon-Major Home, V.C.," but the detectives were already looking for him, and he was arrested at Burraga when as "Dr. Swinton Home" he wai about to marry a Burraga girl. He was cxtradicted to' Natal, served a sentence, and arrived bapk in Sydney at the heginning of this year. He was arrested again' this time while posing as a doctor,] and living in luxtiry at the Coogce Bay Hotel, and sent back to Africa to answer a further series of charges of fraud. Some people go to the "Birth of a Nation" for the musical treat alone. They .hear "Tho Ride of the Valkyries," "Grcig's dance in the hall of the Mountain King" (Peer Gynt), as well as old favorites like "Father Abraham,'' '•'Swanee River,' "My Old Kentucky Home," "Hail to the Chief," "In the Gloaming," and "The Bonnie Blue Flag,'' nil bcMitfully played by a first class band. The "Star Spangled Banner," fol lowed by "God Save.the King," conclude; an evening that is a rare treat.

Mr. A. Bimiie lias, received iiotificntior. from the manufacturer that 200 of h'w patent life savers litive been supplied to His Excellency the Karl of Liverpool for use on the hospital ship Marama.