LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Saturday was the hottest day experienced in New Plymouth this season. New Plymouth is full of visitor-. Had there been accommodation, quite another five hundred would have spent their holidays in the town. The entries for the Dominion,bowling tournament show that a good proportion of Taranaki clubs will he represented, including New Plymouth, Uaviera, Pihama, Eltham, and Stratford. The fine weather 011 Saturday afternoon and evening induced nearly everyone to go outdoors, and at New Plymouth the crowd in the streets in the evening constituted a record, -u also did the busines done in most of the shops. «,';t The following rifle clubs have been disbanded:—iKiatnki (Oakura), Warea, Raimanuka (Upper Waitotara), Tarata, Huirora, and Hurleyville. All the above clubs are in the Wellington Military District.

Shearing at Wavtahori Estate last week, Johnny Hopp.v, i>. Damiwrke Native, shore big Lincoln owe-; in nine -hours, which is claimed to be a Dominion record (says the Dannevirke correspondent of the llawke's Hay Ili-rald). It is admitted that the- same tally has hcen hoisted elsewhere, hut the sheep were rot the size of those lloppy sweated over. A pretty ceremony took place at the Soldier;.' t'lub on Saturday afternoon, when 50 children of soldiers on active service were received by the Mayoress (Mrs. C. 11. linn-ess), and were each given a little present and a b.v; of sweets. Anion},' the recipients were a set of triplets, the )i\v-year-o'd children of Mrs. Worn, of Lower lVlangorei, -,,'bose husband is away lighting.

An interesting exhibit was made at the break-up ceremony at the Hawera District High School cf silky,-onus, which, as part of the Namre-stmh in the infants' room, have been hi'tc.hed from eggs during the year. There were five eggs last January, and now they have about 500 silkworms, . They show the worms in all stages, frofc. the chrysalis to the fully-dsyeloped insect, three inches lorn.'. Abo>,i sixtv are spinning, theli yellow and white eoenonr, making a very pretty show. The exhibit serves to show the class of work oeing done in the Xatur .'-study classes.

The following are the results of tt.a recent police examination;;:—Passed examination for rank of Sub-Inspector: Senior-Sergeant S. J. Dew, Mount Cook : Passed examination qualifying fo." rank of -Sergeant: Detective A. Hammond (Auckland), Constables L. E. ?,oach (Ross), <5. A. Doggett (Pongaroa), E. A. Regan (Timaru). D. L. Caldwell (Hohom-a), W. P. Oilligan (Cliristclnireli).

A proposal to present a silver mgss to every motlicr who lias lost a son at the front is being considered by the Cmadian (jovermnent. It was vvidciy discussed when first .nooted, and was then submitted to the Government for a decision. In referring to the mattst >'his week, Mr. W. A. Beddce, Canadian Trade Commissioner, suggested that a similar project m'ght appeal tj the people of New Zealand.

General .Toffre's successor as Comman-der-in-Chief of th2 Irene 1 ; Army, General Nivclle, succeeded General Petain at the head of the Verdun army on that vital front last May. .jei.eral Nivelle is (SO years. At the out,d:eak of war he was a coionel commanding the Fifth Infantry Keij.'jnent, but he rose rapidly—to Brigadier-General in October, 11)14, to Acting-Commander of the Sixth Division of Infantry in Bebrnc.ry, 11)15, and then ts uenerai and Divisional Commanding the Third Ann/ Corps "The agent of the Dairy Associations in London is still engaged in negotiations with the British J3oard of Trade with regard to the cheese question, but nothing definite lias be-.'n done yet," said the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald (Minister for Agriculture) on Friday. "Mr Massey has promised to send word as soon as anything is settled with regard to purchasing the cheese at this end or commandeering it at Home. We are daily expecting to hear from him. I have heard nothing furt'ier yet with regard to additional refrigerating tonnage for butter and cheese." "There is no attempt and no desire on the part of the. Government to interfere with freedom of speech," said the Hon. James Allen, Acting-Prime Minister, in Auckland, ;!i referring to the stringent regulations defining sec! tion which have recently been gazette 1. "If attempts are made, however," added tlieh Minister, "to create opposition to the carrying out of the law now in farce, the person cr persons concerned will get into difficulties. Any breach of the law or an attempt to create trouble will not be tolerated during a time l T ke the present." J

Among tlio Tarnnaki wounded n;:d invalided soldiers who returned last week by the llaheno were Private* Butler, Jackson, Johnstone, Peters, and Poole, who reached Hawera on Friday evening. There >vas a large ga+'iering of citizens on the platform to welcome the men, and upon arrival of the '.rain they were loudly cheered. The station was gaily decorated with hunting for the occasion, and the Hawera Cit sens' Band was present snd piayed pat"ietic airs. The Mayor briefly extended a hearty welcome home to all the Tannaki soldiers, .and congratulated them upon having done then little bit for their country and Empire. He asked tlie public to show their appreciation o f the men by again giving thera three ringing cheers. As the train drew out, farther cheers were given for tlie men going North. '

At the inquest on the late Rev, R. Shore, held at Hamilton last Wednesday, the Times reports that Mr. Msunll, who was driving, gave evidence that Mr. Shore was sitting in a front seat. The roads were very slippery after the ■heavy rain, but he did not consider chains necessary, as the road was, for the most part, swelled On reaching the top of tlie hill he shut off the benzine, intending to allow the car to run down the other side free A sma!!, ungravelled knoll, however, caused the car to skid, and to prevent the vehicle going over the. bank he had to steer towards the bank. lie got into the water-table, but managed to get the car on the road again, when it skidded across, and the two right-hand wheels went over the bank. 11-j saw the danger of a capsize if he attempted to bring tlie vehicle on to the road again, so lie allowed it to run down tlw hill with the two right wheels on the. incline. The ear had just about stopped when a hole in the bank caused it to turn upside down. The three' lady passengers managed to crawl out of the car, but Mr. Shore and witness were pinned beneath. Mr. Shore never uttered a word after the accident happened, and when help arrived, and the car was turned on to its side, it was quite evident that Mr. Shore was t'ead. Witness tonsiddred that the band of the hood struck Mr. Shore's head suddenly, forcing J!, over the back of the seat, and breaking his neck. A \i vuiet that deceased was "accidentally killed bv a motor-car being turned over on to him, no blame being attachable to anyone," was returned. His Wovii.ip tendered his sympathy to the relatives, remarking that, while he was noc acquainted with deceased personally, : ; ro;n what he had heard of him, he was u. yery fine type of man, and his losa would be greatly felt.