LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The schools in the Taranaki Ednea' tion District went into the summer cess yesterday.

During the three days' sitting of the Medical Board at Hawera, 10S men were examined, 01 accepted for active service, 13 for home service, and 32 declared unlit Considerable interest was taken in the sittings of the . Military Service Board at Hawera yesterday. Ten cases were set down ior decision, and throughout the sitting of the Board there was a good attendance of spectators, who appeared to take a keen interest in the proceedings. The New Plymouth express train on Wednesday evening carried a crowd ot khaki passengers. They are up for Christmas leave, and no less thr.n nine carriages were necessary to convey the Wang'anui and Taranaki men from the Fcatherston Camp.

Of the sixth standard pupils o." the Central School who sat for their annual examination recently, 31 gained pruliciency certificates, six secured competency certificates, and six failed. Referring" to the achievement in his report at the breaking-up ceremony yesterday, the acting-headmaster (Mr. McElroy) remarked that this was a very creditable result, which spoke well for the industry of the children.

The Milford Sound track lia's just been opened by the guides for the present season. When the guides got through to the Sound, they found that Mr. and Mis. Sutherland, well known to tourists, were very ill, and had suffered severely during the months in which tlie accommodation house is isolatec. from the outside world. No doctor \:v.'S within reach, hut the information which ha? reached the Tourist Department indicates that'the trouble probably is.not serious. Further information is being awaited.

It has been stated that balloted rcseivists who have failed to present themselves to the authorities \viU he. prosecuted. This is not the case. There will be no proceedings in the civil courts; The men selected for service are soldiers already under, military law, and their disregard of the order to attend for medical examination or any other purpose gives them the status of deserters. They will be arrested without further ceemiony after the period of grace has expired, and will then_ be handed ovei to the military authorities for training, or for such preliminary punishment as may he leemed necessary. Disregard of military orders by a member of the Expeditionary Force Reserve is not a civil offence, but a military one.

Unusual features were presented in a cas heard before Mi. A. Crooke, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, ■when Henry Heil'ord (Mr. F. E.AVilson) was charged, on the information of the borough inspector, with driving on the wrong side of the road. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given that the breach jeeurred at Fitzroy, and that for a considerable distance defendant drove on the wrong side. There was no tramcar near at the time. The defence was that the defendant drove on the left side of the road, but crossed to the right, in accordance with the requirements of th« by-laws, in order to pass a stationary tram-car. The Magistrate said he had only the word of the inspectoi and tin defendant to go upon. The onus of proof was on the defendant, and he had ,no option but to convict. The fine would be ss, with :osts and solicitor's fee.

You drink tea because you went a delicious and refreshing beverage. Therefore, select a brand that possesses best flavor and rich refreshment —Desert Gold, thi <> ••>•>»• -> f Teas. Buy theh 2/srade.*. ffi

I The Education Department has mads an additional grant of £IOO towards wood-blocking the floor of the new engineering room.. The children of the Fitzroy school on Wednesday night decided to donate £1 out or" the fund which they have raised for the Belgians, to the Mayoress' fund for the provision of Christmas comforts for soldiers' children. In the Magistrate's C'pnrt yesterday ■T. McLeod (Mr A. H. Johnstone) was charged with printing a betting card. After police evidence had been heard, the Magistrate (Mi. A. Crooke) lismissed the information, ami stated that it had not been proved that the card had been printed for and on behull of anyone, Four youths—A. Rider, li.'C'ole, A. fi. Miles, and 0. L. Rawlinson—were granted exemption from military wvice under the Defence Act by Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., in the-Magistrate's Court yesterday. The applicants stated that they resided five miles from Xew Plymouth, and to attend drill was a hardship to them. The Defence Department' wrote, offering no objection to the applications.

The realistic war film, "The Battle nt the Sommc," will be screened twice more in New Plymouth, this afternoon at a special matinee at Everybody' o , and for the last time at the re-opening ot the Empire Theatre to-night. Th-a Empire has been remodelled and brought into line as a first-class picture theatre, with exceptionally fine dress circle accommodation and good ventilation. 'A fitting film for the re-opening of thw cosy theatre is "The Btg Push." The prices of admission have been fixed at (id. downstairs, and one shilling to the dress circle.

The children of the Carrington School yesterday handed Mr. Ballantyne the sum of £H for the Belgian Relief Fund. An accompanying lettei state?: "We feel that we could not enjoy our Christinas festival without endeavoring in our meek way to help the poor, starving Belgian children. We have, therefore, saved onr pennies, and have now collected £5. This we ask you to please forward, that it may help to relieve their distress.'' Mr. Ballantyne has handed the money to this office, and we will have pleasure in rorwardins it to the proper quarter.

Striking . testimony was afforded at Wednesday's meeting of the Taranaki Et'.ucation Board of the value of technical instruction. A letter was read fror.T M:.' R. H. Pigott. of TJrenui, in which he apologised for the absence of his hoys from their studies, and he laid the blame to the capable instruction received from the Board's technical instructors, as both he and his neighbors had found the bovs more useful during shearing, and with general work on the farm He paid a warm tribute of praise for the instruction given. and hoped more parents would avail themselves of the course for their boys. Visitors to the Technical College yesterday were very favorably impressed with the work done by the pupils as exhibited in the various sections, and the opinion was expressed that if these would be seen by the Taranaki public, it Would .jonvcy .some idea of the work being taught at the college. As it is impossible for country residents to visit the college, though they are always made welcome, it was considered by members of the Board of Education that it would be advisable to make a display of the work in each of the Taranaki centre; as well as in New Plymouth. For a start Mr. R. Masters offered tc allow the use of the whole of his two large windows in Stratford for the purpose of a display and this offer will be taken advantage of. flood work has' been done by the Vogeltown Progressive Association during the past year, and at the annual meeting, held on Wednesday evening, gralifieation at the progress made was expressed. The following' officer-- were elected:—President. Mr. A. T. Moore:

committee, Messrs. F. K. Wilson, ('!. \V Biownc. W. Bcrridgo, W. Duncan, and 1.. Hoffmann The appointment of see13tarv was hold over until the next meeting Appreciative reference wnme.dc :o the valuable assistant which had been rendered to the Association •.win? the past twelve months by t'.U' p:osi(!er.t (Mr F. K. Wilson), and regret was expressed that lie eonlrl not i.M:iin .eccept the position of president. Although vacating this position, mem bcrs were quite satisfied that Mr. Wilson would continue to take a live interest in the affairs of the Association.

Alluding to the war and to the patriotic "efforts of the children at thr breitkiu-up ceremony held yesterday in connection with the Central School, the actiug-heaelmastc-r (Mr. MeK'.roy) said ■'l trust that in the coming year the uims of the Allies will he blessed with victory, .ml that next Christmas shall meet under conditions 01" lastintr peace The pupils liave again responded liberally to the call of patriotism. The infants and Standard Vf have, between them, contributed £23 to the Belgian Fund by regular weekly instalments, while the contributions of the other classes bring the total for the year up to £(l3, including £lB received from tlieli sale of sweets during Comforts Week, un'dei the management of Mrs. Firth and Mrs. Waters. In addition 1.0 this, the girls 'have made up over S!)0 articles for the Red Cross, the Belgians, and for oui own soldiers at the front."

In connection with- the enlistment of members of the First Division of the Expeditionary FcTee Reserve under the compulsory clauses of the Military Service Act, many settlers have difficulty in joining the Forces owing to inability to get anybody to manage their properties, and also because labor is scarce. The Wairarapa executive of the Farmers' Union has been discussing this matter with the Government, and at a meeting held at Masterton yesterday the. executive adopted the following resolutions:-- "That a Board, to consist of six honorary members recommended by the Farmers' Union, and approved of and appointed by the Government, shall undertake the management and supervision of properties of farmers or farm la'borers on active service, and keep properly-audited accounts of the same." "That facilities be offered by the Government for the attendance of members of the Wairarapa Soldiers' Farmers' Trust Board at meetings of the Military Appeal Board, to. explain the duties they are willing to undertake."

The hosts for the patriotic ten at Rahotu to-day (Friday) are Messrs. George Harvey, M. Copcstake, and M. Boniface, senr.

The men's ready-to-wear suits at the Melbourne, Ltd., 'are the finest obtainable, embodying as they do best,quality fabrics, stylishly cut and excellently finished. The man who wants a really good, well-tailored suit at a moderate price cannot do bettei than select from theh Melbourne's ver.v fine stock. Prices, ,35/-, 39/0, 49/6, 59/0, fi9/0, and To/-.

| Matters in connection with the dairying industry and the shortage of shipping I space reached another stage on Wednesday, when : . Southern Taranaki factories were notified that the Patea grading store would not take any more chees* until tome of the present stock had been shipped.—Press. At the Xew Zealand Loan and Mer« oantile Agency Company's Manaia S3le on Wednesday some particularly fine fat cows won., offered, and realised up to 120 Phis price, which the Star believes i< a record for Taranaki, was paid by Mr. Minisnii Barraclougli. butcher, of Hawera, for a fat beast sold on account of Mr. J F. Stevenson. ■ Of all the work displayed at the Tcch« nical School yesterday, probably none attracted more interest than did a desk in the art room on which was displayeu a number of beautifully made and finished lcathei pocket books, cigarette cases, etc.. which have been made by the girls for forwarding to soldiers at the front. These handsome and useful gifts will he' forwarded'through one of the patriotia institutions in New Plymouth. Ratepayers are reminded that 10 per cent will be added to the borough rate» i! they are not paid by 4 p.m. to-day,