LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There will oe no issue of the Daily News on Monday (Christmas Day). The paper will be issued as usual on\Eoxing morning.

A commercial cable from London states that the Government price for Australian and New Zealand cheese is still unsettled.

Waitara Borough ratepayers yesterday, by a majority of IHI to li), cunird a poll in favor of borrowing £S(IOG to municipalise the electric lighting o; the borough. Archdeacon Kvnns will preach at the 11 a.m. service at Ho'y Trinity, "\>. ITonui, on Christmas Day, and wi'll celebrate at the Communion scrvi?e aitc-r----wards.

()! 20,*! recruits "all-J up under the ballet in the Wuirarapt .Military Area, SS were passed for aot'.'J service, and U for home service, while 40 were rejetted as unfit, and 45 failed to appear Following their usual custom, the Salvation Army Band will be out liirolimc early on Christmas morning in various parts of the town. The proceeds of the collections will be devoted to the purchase of instruments and music.

The n inner of the nnz: fn>- the top girl of the class at 'the West End School was Lillian Har.lwiilge, not L Loveridge, as stated in the pubmhed prize-list. This pupil iins won the prize for five year,s in secession—an exceptionally good record. Yesterday evening, throughout the district, splendid warm rain fell; and should considerably benefit the turnip crops, though not perhaps being welcomed by those who have hay out. Mr Bates in his weather summary refers to the probable development of a wcsteih low pressure area, which affords anything but a reassuring general outlook for the Christmas holidays. Evidence of the remarkable extent to which teeth decay and are subject to disease in 'Xew Zealand is to be found in the fact that, of the 7'2 couipulsorilyenlisted recruits who were dentally examined at Hawer.i this week, only "three men. had teeth >vhir.i were passed as ellicieut. Of these three, two had platen, and the other had his teeth goldcrowned.

The display of Christmas toys which have been exciting considerable interest at the Red Cross Mart during the p cst few days .will to-day be removed to the shop next to Messrs. Bellrirvger .Bros., where they will be sold by "Mrs A McDiarmid, and the proceeds devoted to patriotic purposes. At t'i» Bed Cross Mart itself business as us.nl will be ine motto.

Waitara having been g»Miie.'. a valuing and shipping port, Messrs. Newton 'King- and L. A. \u!an iiu.l Co. notify that they have secured a vavf satisfactory building for valuation purposes av that port for wool. Elsewhere an advertisement gives full detail. A Senior-Sergeant Bowden liac received a telegram from the Undor-Seerctiry of Justice, giving permission for tiio Red Cross raffle to be extended to fiOi) tickets, and permitting the drawing to take place to-day, instead of January •22. Tlie drawing will accordingly take place at the Red Cross rooms, Queen Street, at five minutes to 4 this afternoon, the Mayoress (Mr;. £ H. Burgess) officiating. Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Second Group) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable on Thursday, December at the Secretary's office, Currie Street, from 0 a.m. to 12,30 p.m., i 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.— Wdvt.

A Sydney cable announces the death of Chidley, who. gained considerable notoriety as an exponent of the simple life creed.

A special appeal will be made by the 'Patriotic Flower Stall Committee today on behalf of the Belgian chklren. Residents and visitors are invited to give sympathetic and practical <sii!-port to the appeal by purchasing the Hovers that u ill he on sale.

On the door of a small shop at Hawera was a notice to this effect: "Notice, this shop will be closed from Monday till Thursday; f/one to Wellington to meet my wounded son." The shopkeeper ir.rdo the journey alright, hut he did not meet his son, as the steamer was delayed, and the Government apparently had knowledge that the Maheno wa. not likely to arrive at date mentioned to parents and other relatives. A working man and his wife from Hawera also made the journey on a similar errand, and had they received intimation earlier, the delay would not have cost the father a fortnight's work and othe* expenses.

If any industry is attracting notice iust now if. is that of dairying, and if any manufacture is being brought into prominence through the sittings of the Military Service Board it is the milking machine!!. One would think the salva : tinr of the farm lies, in this method of milking, but the military authorities evidently lose sight of the fact that the machine cannot fertilise (he ground, sow the crops, harness horses, take tin milk d the factorv. etc. These may not bo the main incidents of successful dairying hut are nevertheless important features and require human help.

Mrs. Sarah Moles, of Moterua, New Plymouth. Ins a family of whose fightini record she has reason to he proud. Four of her sons have enlisted in New Zealand's section of the army, and' all have suHVred foi their country. The eldest, Private Albert Leo Casey, was wounded in .Tulv last, in the earlier p< rtion of the British offensive in France, The other three brothers took part in the. great advance on the Sonvme ot September 15 last One of them, Rifleir.an P. •!. Casev, was killed in action and Sergeant W. B, Casey and Private T. R. Casev were wounded.

A party of bushmen from the Mokau district readied Palmerston cm Wcdncsday (says the. Standard). They liavo ceased work for the holidays, and it is the intention of some of the men to join the next reinforcements. "There is big money offering just now for bush clearing contracts,'' said one of the bnshmen. "the rates being from ,C2 (is to ,C2 10s per acre, and the man who can swing pretty well can make a .El a day without much trouble." The cost of living was felt in these distant parts, the backbloek stores dialling Is per 41b loaf, butter la fld, and other commodities on like scale, while meat especially was very dear. Tn spite of this, the contractors had done pretty well, and there was work in plenty. "The greatest compliment T can pay the New Zealand troops is that they have caught'the spirit of the British Tommy, the finest soldier in the world," -aid Lieutenant-Colonel Kvnns to a Xews representative last night. ''They are courageous in fighting, uncomplaining in siili'ering, ever cheerful and hopeful.'' The Archdeacon saw a great deal of 'U.'i'ering on the Maheno's trips across the Channel, but in no case did the men bebavj other than with fortitude and a solicitude for the welfare of others. He mentioned that, the Tommies were always on the look-out for souvenirs, and the German wounded often arrived on the hospitn) ships minus their button.;. The Germans were very docile, and could be left without guard, all of them appearing glad to be out of the awful fire.

In response to numerous requests for ft repetition of Thursday night's Christmas recital, Mr. McLcod has decided to endeavor to arrange for a municipal recital in Pukckura fail; to-morrow afternoon (Christmas ftvc), at 3 o'clock. Owing in the indisnosition of one of the cornet players, and the probable absence of one or two other players, it was practical!!- decided not to play out on Sunday, but it special effort will he made to accede to. the general wish expressed by those who were present on Thursday night, and also those who contributed to the fund, but for various reasons were unable to be present, tf the weather proves favorable, all the Christmas music will be repeated, while other numbers will replace the vocal items. This will be the first of a series of six municipal recitals, and there will not be a collection. Doubtless there will be.a large attendance. Bandsmen are asked to call on Mr. Cattley to-day to receive their Christmas box, and assemble at the rotunda on Sunday at a quarter to three.

The Melbourne Clothinjr Co. desire to thank the miblic for the past year's business and heartily wish one and all "A merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year." .

For the benefit of our readers, we would draw attention to Worry's nd\crtisement appearing elsewhere in these columns. It deals with the all-important question of Christmas gifts, and points t.i the most varied and economical selection in town.

Come this week to the "Palatine" and arrange to lie chart suited. It means meney in your pocket and a smart suit on your bank. Our suits arc the suits for satisfaction and economical men should not miss ; the holiday value we ■new offer. The "Palatine," Sew Plymouth.

Special Christmas services will be held at Whiteley Memorial Church to-mor-tow. In the morning the Rev. E. 0 Blamires, of Hawera, will preach. The evening service will be a fully choral one, an augmented choir rendering favorite choruses! from Handel's "Messiah." There will be no evening service at Fitzroy, St. Aubyn, and Frankleigh Park Methodist Churches, the congregation from these places combining with the Whiteley Church congregation for the special evening service.

jlcssrs. iMcLeod ana Sladc. Ltd., notify the closing of theii establishment for the Christmas and Sew Year holidays, and they intimate that mail orders lor office requisite:; will receive attention."