LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A cable buoy has heen laid in Cook strait, the position being south Bode", west, ten miles from Sinclair Head. *' An appellant, who owns a sheep farm of 400 acres, told the military Service Board at Masterton that in one particular year he took 3000 rabbits off his property. Six. of the men who were summoned to appeal- before the Medical Board' at Wellington for compulsory service failed to show up. Tliev are to be sent for!

At the Paliiafua Court, William •/r'ui 'iwomey, a navvy, was fined .€3 am! costs .'ISs lid for destroying trout will; an explosive in the Maii-atainoka trcut were killed by oiie explosion. On the Town Clerk's suggestion, the Borough Council last evening resolved not to run the trams on Christmas Day. The tramway employees were given perpiission to run special cars to the Breakwater if they desired to hold a picnic. ft is understood that the war bonus granted to drivers in Dnnedin involve? a sum of £46,000 annually. It is practically a 12 per cent, increase, as against 10 per cent, increase offered by employers' delegates. It is hinted'that the employers' delegates were loath to submit the question to Cabinet, and that coercion was exercised. . It is reported that among other unpleasant prospects for the '"householder in connection with the increased cost of living, there will shortly be a consirtrable advance in the price of new boots and in the cost of repairs to old ones. This, it is stated on the author-' ity of a wholesale firm, is necessitated by the increased price of leather and "findings" used in boot-making

Writes an cx-Xew IPlymouthite, now iu the fighting line:—''.ln London on furlough the other night I saw the Somme war pictures. They arc wonderful, and give you the real thing. Don't miss feeing them, should they come your way." They are coming this nay this week, for on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights tliey will be shown at Everybody's Theatre, next the Criterion. Indications for a successful season's deep-sea fishing, says the "New Zealand Herald,'' are contained in the folic,ving narrative from Russel, Bay „f Islands:—"'An angler, while waiting for a friend to come aboard n launch off Cape Brett, cast his line in an endeavour to land a kingfeh. To his (iflight a specimen weighing W'lb, and five large hapuku, were the result of a few minutes' angling. The sport was- cut short, however, by an unknown monster of the deep beeomin:: attach - ct"i tq. his line, which 'it promptly destroyed. The loss of the rod i'nd lino was unfortunate for their owner, as they were said to have been instrumental in landing the largest .swordfteh ever caught in New Zealand."'

An appellant who came before the Military Service Board yesterday sorely tried the patience of members and counsel owing to his failure to .make himself audible when giving evidence. Appellant had been asked to raise his voice On several occasions, but no sooner had he •been spoken to than his voice again sank to little more than a whisper. "Do you work dogs?" asked the chairman '(Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M.). "Yes," replied the appellant. "Well' don't you spqak to them louder than you are speaking to-day?" "Xo," came the unexpected answer, "I whistle to them!" At anothci stage Captain Orr Walker remarked to appellant: "I will have to stop the clock from ticking if you don t speak up. It is a regular strain to catch what you are saying."

Keen interest is being taken in the complimentary recital which is being organised on behalf of the Citizens' Band, and there is every indication Of a record attendance of the public in Pukekura Park on Thursday evening, to show appreciation of the many services that have been render*! by, bandsmen during'the past twelve months. That these are is shown by the donations that Mr. MeLeod has already received, including another anonymous donation of .to, alsc £1 Is from Sole Bros., £1 from A Friend, os from 11. Riley, and sundry donations of 2s and is. fid. On Thursday evening, jn addition to the band items, Miss Peart will jing, and Mrs. McKeUar, of Wellington, will sing "Here's to Love and Laughter" and Harriet Ware's "Reqiiieum." Vocal items will also be rendered by Messrs. McDonald and N. Day. The band's programme 'will include "Hark, the Merry Christmas Bells," Handel's "Harmonious Blacksmith," and Picquard's "Harvest Moon," concluding with the "Hallelujah Chorus." It is probable the conductor (Mr. .MeLeod) will also play "The Lost Chord" as a cornet solo.

A lovely lot of Japanese drawn thread and point lace work runners, tray cloths, table cloths, and table centres has just opened out at the Melbourne, Ltd. These goods have been imported direct from Japan and are marvellous value at the following prices: Runners, Is lid and 2s lid; tray cloths Is lid, 2s fld and 3s fld; table centres, Is lid, Is lid, 2s fld; table cloths, 3s lid, 4s lid and 5s lid.

UP-RIVER FARA SUBBER USED IX FIRESTpNE TYRES. Understand what this means. The Firestone ?asinji is not a hard'stiff husk unyielding to the sma4l irregularities of ilie road. Every layer of a FIRESTONE is ALlVE—every ounce of Firestone rubber compound is made from best resilient up-river Para, charged with buoyancy. Firestone? therefore absorb the'road-jars which are too small to affect the' high air-pressure in the tube. To this great resiliency, and the advantages gained by extra quality in seven places—extra rubber and extra thickr ness, Try these "most miles for the' money" tyres. If your garage can't supply you, get particulars from, A. Hatrick "and Co.. Ltd., Wangaruil <md Wellington, New Zealand agents. £4

It is stated in tht. Berlin Vorwarts that the average weight of Germans lias decreased by, from 121b to. 101b as a consequence of the scarcity of food in G'.rmany. A bankrupt hotelkeeper of Auckland told his creditors tliat if it had not been for the falling-off in the bar trade consequent to the war he would have been able to fulfil his engagements.Negotiations are said to be. practically completed whereby the whole of the picture theatres in Dunedin, with the exception of Everybody's, will be taken over by the Xew Zealand Pictures Sup ply.

The Wellington City Council last night decided to appeal against the Magistrate's decision declaring the city by-law, -prohibiting Sunday golf, to be ultra vires.—Press Association. Mr. W: Wiles (cairman of the Thorndon branch of the Engine drive's'. Firemen, and Cleaners' Association) has been nominated as the workers' representative 011 the .Arbitration Court by that body and other Wellington unions. —Prow Association. ''Wo have strawberries and cream (the latter out of a tin) for dinner almost e\ory night," says a-British officer in East Africa, "and 1 got twenty-sevei. hfns and thirty-six eggs from the m-tives for six pieces' of colored calico tie size of an ordinary face towel" • It is reported that Mr. B. P. Letlibridge's property at Turakina has hecn difposed of to Messrs. O'Neill Eros., of Kakatihi, who propose utilising the farm for fattening purposes. The price paid is in the vicinity of ,£OO,OOO. Mr. Lethbrldge retains the homestead, with about !X> acres. The saying that" there is nothing new ni.dor the sun is again sustained by a report from a South American, explorer, that he found, in the "Amazon valley, a system of wireless telegraphy that had been in use ,more than 3000 years. The transmitter and receiver were hollowed trunks of trees suspended on poles some miles apart, and the vibration was made by striking the transmitter with, a rubber hammer. X.i\r it 'remains, for some explorer to find that the aeroplane is not a new invention. '

As showing tlio astounding ignorance of New%euland possessed by people 111 oilier parts of tlio world, the following extract from a letter received from Miss V. B. Lysnar, of Auekhin.l, ".!»• authoress of ••'i'hp Dear Old Maori Land," is of interest. It is written from Petnlmnii, California: "My, sister tells me that oiiqo at the pictures here'in Petakma a view of our New Zealand coast was put. on the screen —a wild, weirdlocking scone—llo doubt made up for the occasion. • They were illustrating seme ex-tra'nrdinaty story, with a wreck >vhich happened 011 the' New Zealamccast, and put on the screen; the remark 'that no one landing there ever returned ai-ve,' meaning that only cannibals livea thire. She said the place was packedno one 1110, veil, and, not ever a murmur. F>'or New Zealand.''

■JCheiro," the celebrated London palmist, in an interesting article in the Strand Magazine, writes that the late Lord Kitchener twice came to him tr have his hand read, the last, time being in 18fl4. Cheiro then told him of the higher positions lie was to attain, and also that in his sixty-fourth year (1014) a grave and heavy responsibility would be upon him. By a combination 0* palmistry, astrology, and numerology, C'heirn also predicted his death when lie would be sixty-six years of age. Lord Kitchener asked if there was any indication of the kind of death it was to be, and was informed that it "would be by nicsfc likely caused by a storm at sea, with the attendant chance of some form or" capture by an enemy and exile, from vl.ieh he would never recover." "Tliank.4," laughed L-ord Kitchener, "I prsfcr the first proposition. Yet I must admit that what you tell me about danger at . sea makes a serious impression 011 my mind, and I want you to Kite dwown among your'queer theories —but do not say anything about it. miless some -.lav you hear of my being d'wnod—that 1 made myself a good swimmer—and I believe I am a fairly gi cd one—for no other reason but that, a?' far back as I can remember, I have always had a queer feeling that water would be my greatest danger."

A somewhat unusual case came before Mr. Justice Stringer nt the Supreme Court at Auckland,. 011 .Friday, accord-' ing to the Star, when a man name! Robert- Henry Stevenson was charged with having written a letter to the Judge about a .certain case that come before his Honor. When , the defendant answered to his name, his Honor remarked: "You are Mr. Steven son "Yes." "Well, you addressed a ktter to me in connection with a recent case before ine " —"I , did, Sir," "Are you aware.' that it Was a gross impropriety 011 your part!" Defendant' "l am aware oi that noiv, Sir, and have' here a written apology, which I wish to hand in." His Honor:."Very well, I will receive it.'' His Honor after persuing the apology, added "I' am, very glad to have that'letter. It is in a different tone to your former one. T,o address a letter to a judge ill connection with a ease which is coming before him is a" very grave impropriety..... You apparently thought, from - something that has teen told you, that this man's case was not being' properly presented. Your proper place, if you believed that to be the ease, was the witness-box, where you could have been dross-examined. I am satisfied now with the apology you, have addressed to- me, therefore, nothing more will be done in the'matter. It is just as well' for you and otlier people to know that writing such a letter, is not merely inpcr.tinence, but contempt of Court, for which they are liable tj a very heavy penalty.' As, however, your apology is satisfactory you can go now."

The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., intimate tliat, owing to the Christmas holidays, their Stratford sale will be hold on Friday, 22nd December, instead of Tuesday, 26th December. ■ Full particulars will be found on page 8 of this issue.