LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The meeting jf electors in the Opunake Harbor District, to have been held next Thursday, has been postponed until Tuesday, 21st. The position reached respecting the loan and several important matters will be discussed by tho Board. A big attendance is hoped for The members of the New Plymouth Soldiers' Club were yesterday afternoon entertained by Mrs. Wood's orchestra. The music was much enjoyed. A concert will be gn;en in the club this evening. Mr. H. J. Okey, M.P. for Taranaki, 'has received a telegram from the Hon. Dr. McNab, Acting-Postmaster-Gen-cral, stating that he will mee the imputation on Saturday night in regard to the Tahora-Tatu telephone, as reqested. The deputation will accordingly meet the White Hart Hotel at 8.30 :

"The master butchers of Invcrcargill advertise that from November 1 tliey will sell nil meat for cash only. The trade has been induced to adopt this courao owing to the small margin of profit caused by the continued rise iu the price of live stock, and the fact that they have to pay cash for their purchases. There was a large attendance of ladies yesterday afternoon at the display of children's garments intended for various children's institutions in New Zealand and in England, given in the Girls' Friendly Society's Club rooms, Robe Street. Those present evinced keen interest in the work done by the members of the society. Refreshments were served, and good business was done at the sweets and produce stalls that bad been arranged. Mrs. W. R. Wright, of Rabotu, has received a letter from Rifleman A. C. Biekncll, under date September 1, France, stating that the gift butter had come to hand in good condition, ami that lie was writing to thank -her on behalf of the N.C.O.'s and men of No. Platoon, B Company, 3rd Battalion, N.Z.R.U. They had received parcels at various times, but the butter and jam were appreciated more than anything else. The butter was the best they had fasted since leaving New Zealand. A sensational incident occurred at Beaconsfleld recently when a meeting in advocacy of the State Government's military proposals was broken up' by an attempt by means of an explosive bomb to destroy the gas generating plant which supplied the hall with light. Apparently u gelignite bomb had been used, and Constable Roe and Mr. Frank Cowie, the owner of the hall, who were guarding against such an attempt, were severely injured. In Roe's boot was found a piece of metal from tile bomb (s.nvs an Australian paper). The North Taranaki Head Centre of the Royal Life-saving Society has decided on a black costume with a broad yellow band as its distinguishing color. At a meeting of the Centre several new members were elected, and the Waitara, Seaside Improvement Society was affiliated. Mr. B, S. Knox, of Christchurch, consented to act as delegate for the society to the Dominion exective. Representatives were appointed to wait on the East End, Kawaroa, and Xgamotu Societies, to draw the attention of these bodies to the advisability of forming surf-bathing clubs for the protection of swimmers. The importance of cncourhging swimmers to qualify for medallions was emphasised by the secretary. ' ' The inclement weathelir experienced lately lias considerably retarded work in connection with the erection of the Australian Mutual 'Provident Association's new buildings at the corner of Devon and Egmont Streets. Foundations having a depth of 3.j feet have been laid, and the walls are being placed in .position. The building will occupy an area of S3 feet by 34 feet, and, when completed, will be one of the finest business premises in New Plymouth. The plans provide for several suites of offices, apart from the accommodation required by the Association for the transaction of its business. Concrete will oe used throughout in connection with the building, the front elevation of which will be' finished in stucco. The building was designed by Mr. F. D. J. Clere, and the contract for its construction is in the hands of Mt. A. A. Renner.

The heavy flood in the Wniwakaiho River on Wednesday had the effect of hacking up the water in a number of small creeks which run into it very considerably, with the result that a large are/ of country was inundated. Messrs. l»ooiit Bros., who 'have secured the contract for the erection of the grandstand at the new agricultural show grounds, had n quantity of staging carrying a pipe-line, and a pump for drawing water from one of these creeks in connection with their contract washed away. So far as the Agricultural Society's grounds were concerned, they were not flooded, bht the society lost a number of posts which had been stacked on a portion of the river bank, which was washed away. These posts are all morticed, and Air. G. W. Brow,nc, who is supervising the erection of the show buildings, would be glad if people discovering the posts along the beach would acquaint him of this fact, so that, if possible, they can be collected together again for use by the society. ' . - I#| It is plain to the least thoughtful that all the thousands of men who have gone and are going to the war from New Zealand cannot be returned immediately peace is declared, but few, perhaps, anticipate their boys, being detained in Europe for anything up to two years after the cessation of hostilities (says the Auckland "Star"). The rush on the transport service will, however be so great that someone's turn to get home from the war will necessarily come a good long while after the last shot is fired. "Although the war is not ended, I believe the authorities are considering the problem of transporting our soldiers back to the Dominion at the end of the great struggle," said Mr Parr, M.P., in the course of discussing this phase. "Indeed, some Canadian officers told me that they already had a large scheme worked out for the transport back home of the Great Canadian army, which will reach half a million men before the war is over. Our own New Zealand force will probably approximate 00,000 men in all branches at the front before the war ends; that is to say, men in the field and in hospital, and with the transport and medical. services. It will be no easy task to bring men home at an early date. The difficulty, of course, lies in the fact that so much shipping will be wanted immediately on the cessation of war for the Canadian, Australian and South Africian forces, and for the million Algerians and Moroccans who are fighting and making munitions in France. It will be a heavy'tax upon the British mercantile service, and we shall have to take our turn along with the others, I should not be turprised if it takes nearly two years after the declaration of peace before we get our last man back from Europe." Baldwin's famous three-ply "Bee-hive" fingering has just opened at the Melbourne, -Ltd., in the following shades, black, Shetland white and gray. Price 7|d skein. Roslyn fingering abo in stock ,in black and white only at 5d skein.