LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

According to the Dominion MeWeologist, storm areas have existed both to the east and west of the Dominion, but liave had a neutralising effect on each ether, accounting for the fair to cloudy conditions over the Dominion yesterday. At present there are about 30,(100 crates of cheese and ll.OOt boxes of butter in storage at the Mottiroa Freezing Works. The accommodation for cheese at the Jloturoa works is fully taxed, and a quantity is being stored at the Smart Road Works. The coastal lands arc very bare, „nd the tanks in Opunake are dry, remarks the iocai paper. A slight shower fell on Tuesday, the first rain for thriv weeks. The flowers and plants looked very disgusted when the sprinkling ceased, if i rain does not soon come, the pumpkin patches will end a thirsty life.

The country between New Plymouth and Waita.ra is looking drier now than it has done at this time of the year for a decade or more. The high winds of the past few days, combined with tjie sweltering heat, has browned the whole of the landscape in North Taranaki, and rain would be of great benefit.

On Sunday afternoon the Citizens' Band will give a municipal recital in Western Park. If the weather is favorable, the hand will play on the ton of the hill, but, if not, the performance will be given in the sheltered playing arena in the park. The band will pay a visit to the mountain on January 13, and will climb to the summit c.;i the following morning. A recital will be given at the Mountain House on Sunday afternoon.

A mechanic, named Harry Horsnell, when driving a motor-car along Powderham Street shortly after 7 o'clock last evening, came violently into contact with a motor-cycle, ridden by Mr. W. T. •Hookham, at the intersection of Brougham and Powderham Streets. Mr. Hookham, who was thrown to the ground and severely shaken, after receiving medical attention, was able to proceed home. The ear crashed into Mr W. P. Brooking'* business premises, breaking several windows. The front axle and wheels of the motor-car were badly damaged, but the motor-cycle escaped injury.

The elements of a serious accident were provided in a mishap which occurred at the intersection of Wat,son and Leecli Streets yesterday morning. An Inglewood lady, who was driving a two-seater motor-car, was endeavoring to turn her car round, The space was limited owing to the narrowness of Leech Street, and to the fact that ... trap stood in the way. The 'back, wheels slid over the edge of the road, and the car fell down an embankment a distance of about 15 feet. Luckily it did not capsize, and the occupant was unhurt. There was light bush at the bottom of jtlie embankment, and this saved the ear Ifrnia 'njurjj,

A Tarannki settler, who has just returned from a trip to Marlborough, states that he met a fanner there who had taken off one piece of land three crops of lucerne, and lie expected to cut two more. The crops averaged something like four tons to the acre, valued at. about which shows the possibility of growing this rapid-growing (odder on suitable land.

A :orrespondent writes:—"l hope the petitioners foi the stopping of the chiming of the town clock at night are relishing the present vagaries of the clock. We have to put up with erratic chiming during the day and an occasional stoppage of the clock (as happened yesterday). Jt would seem that tile timepiece, like othei delicate pieces of mechanism, would go better if not interfered with."

"Have yon never gone into the street and ;ecn children who show signs of want of education in the mother?" asked Miss Chaplin, 8.A., at the Women Teachers' Conference at Wellington, when urging the importance of educating well to-uay the girls who were to be the mothers of the future. "What," she asked, ''is the cause of the trouble when our boys and girls fall to temptation? We know it is largely owing to the lack of education of the mother.'' It amazes one (says the Rev. 0. Fitzgerald of Christchurch) that the Labor unions in New Zealand are satisfied to go one in a self-centred and in some oases selfish way when laboring men and women in Poland Fiance, Belgium, Serbia. and Roumanian are dishonored, homeless, murdered and deported. To many workers all those things seem to be quit'; a small matter when compared with the great question of one of their ill-balanced leaders being put in prison for being disloyal to his country in the time or her distress. The voting and conclusions of the tramwaymcn came as a great surprise, as all the men I have met are among the finest and most courteous men in Kew Zealand. Whato is the reason? Self-interest, intimidation, or fear of sacrifice? It is the laboring classes in all the oppressed countries that are crying, ' ; Come over and help us."

Speaking at a patriotic meeting at Hawei'a recently, Mr J T. M. Hornsby, M.P., asked, vVhat are the people going to do with the soldie.: boys when they eomc home? He had been looking into this matter pretty closely- lately, and lie had been making enquiries us to what land the landed proprietors of the Dominion had set aside for the returned soldiers. He was afraid there were very few who had done much. Air. Whatman, a Wairarapa gentleman, had, however, not a line example. He had given land and money to the value of £38,000. What was Taranaki doing? Had anyone in Taranaki set aside a portion of' his land for the returned soldiers? He instanced the action of the Land Board in Hawke's Bay and the insullicient means taken to cater for the needs of the men. Mr. G. P. Donnelly was another who had done fine work in this direction. It was the duty of the people of New Zealand a.s a 'whole to see that returned soldiers, if they wished to go upon the land, were able to do so whether they had money or not. We must make provision for the returned men, and it would be an everlasting disgrace if we failed to do so. A rave mixture of audacity and subterfuge was contained in a little ruse by which a person with a taste for motoring obtained the use of a motor-cycle from a well-known Palmerston firm within the last few days (says the Standard). .Just as the firm was closing its premises in the evening a telephone call was received, apparently fron. one of the leading local hotels, and the enquirer, giving his name, said he wanted to purchase a cycle of the latest model, and after being assured that the required article was in stock, said he would call next morning and see the, machine. Morning arrived, also the would-be purchaser, and the machine being apparently satisfactory, it was arranged that he should accompany one of the mechanics 011 a. trial spin, ami the pair set out for Fitzhorbcrt. After crossing the bridge on the way back to town, the stranger said lie would like to try his hand at driving, and see if he could manage the "ears. The mechanic dismounted, and

then set the machine going in the direction of town, and, as far as he knows, it is stiil going, for the ride; never returned to say if lie managed the gears

successfully or not. It is known, however, that' the motorist coolly rode into town, took in a supply of petrol and lubricating oil and left for the un-

known. Speaking at the send-off to the Hastings section of the 24th Reinforcements, the Hon. Dr. McXab made some interesting and pertinent remarks. They had come, he said, to the point iu this war that anyone who wants to be in it at the finish must be sure of getting into the next reinforcements, Germany had called n|> her lust man, even those who had taken part in the war of 1870, and every man, woman and child had been assigned a war station. This was j the last round. England had changed, her Government witii the one solitary purpose of ending the war . Germany was crying for peace, but to conclude peace now would mean that the present generation would hardly have passed when war would break out again, and i all Wood ;pUt would have been spent in I vain. There could be no peace until Germany was driven from the Allies tevritorv, and this was going to be done during the coming summer. Referring to compulsion, he hoped that no distinction would be drawn between the volunteer and the conscript when they both got into khaki. Every one was a soldier of the Empire, and was entitled to equal respect. "Volunteers," he said in conclusion, "I wish you God-speed in the mission in which you are going. I am confident you are going to be in at the ft'iish, ami it is going to be a finish that will end the German power in deed as well as in word. It will be a new world that vou will live in after this war, and I hope that all soldiers wil. take a more active interest in the affairs of their country than they have done, in the past. It Is unnecessary for me to arge upon you the necessity for giving implicit obedience to the commands of your officers. You must absolutely give up all personal individuality. 1 have'no faith in the man who considers he is. degrading himself by necoming subordinate to another man. Many of tlie men who are your officers to-day may be your servants to-morrow. 1 his is one of the glories of democracy, and one of the things we are trying to accomplish."

A few enthusiasts have lately been pathiug and improving Westown's beauty spot, Lake Rotokare. The hush is very fine, as is the expanse >1 water, but the approaches are not easy and a good deal of labor ivill need to be expended before tlie reserve will be as popular as, say, Pukekura Park.

A fe Kiri farmei killed a nice sucking pig for Now Year's Day, and instructed bis sons to scrape it cleanly. So they lathered the pig very soapy, and got their father's safety "tiMi and barbered it nicely. The father was delighted, and shouted them sixpence, but when he found that the pig had been shaved with his best razor—the _>oor little boys, they couldn't sit down.— Opunuke Times. For the ten seaside cottages controlled ny the Nganiotu Seaside Committee there were 110 fewer than ISO applicants. This will give some idea of the demand for seaside residences. Next season tins committee hopes to erect a further lot of cottages, which will be built on a seaside improvement plan. Mr. W. SV. Smith, Curator of Pukekura Park', has undertaken to provide a plan for the remodelling and beautifying of the surroundings of the foreshore, Many of the pivsent buildings will probably be shifted to conform with the pla::. The committee are acting wisely in taking advantage of expert service in furthei improving the splendid piece of beach under its control.

An ascent of Mount Egmont was made on Thursday from the North House by a large party under real wintry conditions. Before the summit was reached the party went through very heavy fog for 2000 feet, a wind of hurricane force prevailing, making the going very hard. Being from the south the wind was also bitterly cold. However, all the ladies of tlie party arrived there, but could stay no time, turning back immediately the goal was reached. Those who arrived at the summit were: Misses V. Hill, I). 1 linn (Wellington), N. Moore, Irene and Elsie Gilbert (New Plymouth), Messrs Howard Andrew (Maivukau), T. Anderson (New Plymouth), and T. C. AVebb (Auckland), with Mr. H. Williams us guide. The party all arrived quite sjfeIv at the hostel at 10 a.m.

Since the commencement of operations I>y the Xew Zealand Trawling Company in local waters a month ago, a good deal of time has been occupied in testing likely fishing grounds. Varle,\ .success has been met with. Considerable difficulty has been experienced .iv.'mg to the rough nature of the sea-cettom. and on several occasions the ncri ha v. huen .severely torn. The best haul was brought into port by the trawler Weka yesterday, when 45 baskets, about. 1001b. of fish each, were !,in«i:d The fish was conveyed by fail to Wellington and Wanganui, where it will :>c disposed of. [ll the. haul, which v.-.n caught at a point five miles nortlwar.t of Moturoa, were sehnappcr kirigllsh, mold, gurnet, and nolo. A small octopus was also caught The arrival of the trawler was watched wit:, a gieat deal of interest by visitor: a*, 1...:' Breakwater.

A pleasant gathering took place ... the Breakwater Hotel last evening, ,vh"ii Privates R. Murphy, D. Hooker and Farrier S. Fraser, who ar. ~o\v 0.1 linal leave, were entertained by their friends, prior to their departure for v.ami j tiin morning. _ Mr. B. Clrahai.i After being entertained to dinner .A r T. Knowles, a couple of hours -ere devoted to a short toast-list. ... plendid musical programme was intersperse!. items being given hy Messi'r. Wall IDunedin), Vale, Smith. Kc-yc., Saunders, and Private Hooker One of Ji. most popular items was a ,ioii.. solo

.yad ..i li. best styL ,*rivau T5. Murphy. Corporal Bainliridge pi'.' .dcd at .lie piano, 'flip previous evening the ~iine trio, were entertained / friendat Lcaland Bros.' r00m.,, ur... diirmj: the evening Mr. K. Whittle, ';!:<> pr.sided, presented each with a i'ountah pen on belwh' of those present.

Tho erosion ui the Wai.u: ...m; b.;5 been discussed at the last two meet:n;:s of the Opunake Harbor Board .nd t:\ut bod;; lias suggested obtaining; . report on the matter. The river after • very fresh takes oil' a piece a", land by nr.i!rr-si-oi.riiiL. Tlie lands afi'ected .re owned by th. Town Board, Education Hoard, tint. Harbor Board. Willow., bad jeiv. panted, but they, whilst beiK-ticki., are not .jfficieut. Soma years ago tin* To\wi Board got. M.. J. R. Stewart tn re|jort on the erosion, and ho ,nggest.-d floating beam to thro\, oft the v;:.ter. ii.ul packing eases, sun!., with bouiilers, plated behind the beai:-. Thi,; course he h..d found successful ... combating erosion on tlie Wanganui Hive.. The suggestion was not carried oiu, .. Ir.ere wa. some eoneern regarding the opposite side property owners. The Reserves Agent declined to taUe part in the expense oi the protective works, „ s the iri;\r was adding to the native .a..ds and devouring the town side prope-ty. ! Opunake Times. Speaking at a .urevcli ten.lcre.. -u I him a.. Manutahi the othei .vening, eaiu T.. R. Hamilto;: -aid 1!'.!'... e.l- ---| though military service ..t.s neees,K.ry and u-eful, be considered thai the .n-'i ,d women who liad the eour.<g. -t.-l pine!, to take over the ..spcmsibilities o. working farms and businesses d tt send away sons, brothers, husbands, employees, thus adding, as eaeh ucht the -front, to the burdev. .are—the/ were doing the greatest servi.ee .o tlie State and Empire. Many . man wb> | had spent a busy life, and bad .ookfonvard to r. life of retirement. h..d eome back without complaint, t<„ work a (arm -lid let his sons go to ...i * Theiv irc-'t in brass buttons, n- bands to celebrate such work. They simply went on quietly maintaining th. production of tlie country, a work which - just as trulv essential as the mak:n 0 of shot rind shell. To all inch '-..en and women who were cheerfully uattlmg against odds, he said he felt iiielui to take oIV His hat. The Xiiie ■sland bats at tlu Melbourne. Ltd., are a marvel of cheapness'. These hats are woven by the native women and girls, who have become exceedingly expert and can turn out dozens a week. I'ov harvesting, picnicking, bead, or my outdoor summer wear tlies. li.its are indispensable. Price Is Od, with leather strap; without strap, Is 4d. The directors of tlie Vacuum Oil Co. Proprietary, Ltd., have given every member on the .pay-rool throughout Australasia a month's salary as a Christmas present. The total amount oi the pavmcnt. is approximately £10,1)110. This is in addition to tlie usual increases.