LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

According to the Government Statistician, the purchasing value of a sove-1 reign in New Zealand on September 30,1 1010, was 15s T'/jd. For the eleven months ended November 30, 1010, 03,910 cwt. of butter, valued at £-159,50fi, and Kin,357 cwt. of cheese, valued at £039,007, was exported from New Plymouth. Near tlic Ngaere Gardens on Friday afternoon a collision occurred between two motor-cars, one of them, driven bv Mr. Retts, of Kapoiiga, losing a wheel as the result of the impact, while the other ear, driven by Mr. E. Iline, also suffered damage to the side-shields. The, occupants of both cars escaped injurv.— Argus. A call was received by the New Plymouth Fire Brigade nt 11.30 a.m. yesterday to Mr. W. J. Chaney's residence on Standish Hill. A fire burning in a quantity of rubbish and grass threatened to spread to the house. When the brigade arrived the blaze had been suppressed, and its services were not required. The New Plymouth troop of Boy Scouts, under Major Sandford, who have been visiting Opunake, left Puniho yesterday at '4.30 p.m., and arrived at Tataraimaka at 8.30 p.m. They spent the night at Tataraimaka, and will rise early this morning for their final walkto New Plymouth. The hoys, who are all well, expect to reach the town at 5 p.m. to-day. When the New Zealand delegates were in England recently, they were sbowu some huge ships nearly ready for launching (says the Elllmm Arg'.ie). There was a good deal of secrecy observed in connection with these maritime monsters, but it was understood that they would carry larger guns than any ship had ever carried before, and that their speed would probably be about 40 knots. A letter received in New Zealand from a young New Zoalander at present in Europe, in describing one of a group of the new superDreadnoughts, states that she did S3 knots on her speed trials. This tallies pretty closely with the information imparted to the delegates as regards speed. When motoring home from Wellington lalst week Mr. C. Cooper (manager of the Mangatoki Dairy Factory) and Mr, Jacob Marx met with an accident on the Faikakariki hill, whereby Mr. Marx received rather severe injuries. In descending the hill the brakes refused to act, and M'r. Cooper was forced to choose between the car going over the bank and down 200 feet—which would have been fatal—or running into the bank. He chose tho latter course, so that the car was upset and the occupants were thrown out. Mr. Marx <vas very severely injured, and had to be carried to the mail train, by which he came on to Eltham. He was put on a stretcher on a motor-car. and convex ed to his home at Mangatoki, where Dr. Cooper, who had been advised in 'advance, immediately attended to lii-j injuries, so far as they wore then a-icrr-tainable. Mr. Marx is very badlv cut and bruised about the legs and other parts of tho body, and it is impossible yet to say how far lie is injured internally. Mr. Marx will have the sympathy of the whole of the community, and his speedy recovery will be hoped 'for.—Star.

Considerable comment was made't'-t the municipal band recital in Western Park yesterday afternoon regarding the action of the tramway authorities in charging bandsmen their fares when proceeding to the park. Several bandsmen expressed their protest by refusing to pav' the fare, and by leaving the cars. In speaking of the matter to the bandsmen at the conclusion of the re eiial, the conductor (Mr. F. W. (! Mcleod) said he could not understand the position, particularly in view of the fact that the bandsmen had not been previously charged on similar occasions, and that the band's recitals had caused a verv appreciable increase in the tramway returns since the trams were inaugurated, lie eluu'ai'te,*.HMl the e.icuse"oi the authorities that the band had not applied for passes as ridiculous. The matter was considered at a meetilia' of the. Blind Committee, who resolved to approach the tramway authorities. with a view to preventing a repetition of the experience. It was the Jh'st concert given in the park by the band, and many residents visited the locality for the lirst time. They greatly enjoyed the line view to be obtained from the Trig. Station, and realised what a fine asset the town has in the park. The special tram service provided for the Morley Street route, was well patronised. Tile ban:'., under Mr K. \Y. I!. MeLeod, played the following programme: "The Yiilage .Ma.ck.-.miJi (Morelii), solo bv Sergeant Ooulthanl: marches, "Follow" the Dram." ''Royal Australian Navy," "Soldiers in the Park;" selection, "England" (Rimmert: -Queen of fieuis;" hymns, "Nearer. M. God, to -Thee/' and ''Sun of My Sou'. The band played well, and its e!iV" were much appreciated. It would h>' advantage if, when programsics arc provided, some means were adopt' notify those present what iten hand were giving. A few -l: board, a stencilling app.i'.'.U'.i--portable standard would s:i;::. Despite the enormous ad caprice of shirtings .the Me.br. : still continue to sell ilu: foih > at old prices: Horc.ckse-i' v,. cerised tennis and ucirii'.'c - lid; fancy white mercerised -.. nis shirts,'4s lid; mercerised •. sore tennis aiul neglige fhiri; and oB fid; boys' and youths' v nis, shirts, all sizes, 2s lid arid L.

A .Renter cablegram from London states that the Government has commandeered the Hotel Cecil for the use of the Air Ministry.

The Dunedin police returns for the year show that since September, ivhen tin: anti-shouting- legislation came into Force, there has been a distinct fulling off in the arrests for drunkenness. The Teachers' Conference unanimously resolved that the Minister of Education be congratulated oil his fair stand in refusing, a request for subsidised denominational schools.

The chief engineer of the Public Worts- Department is expected to arrive in. :Ww Plymouth on Wednesday to inspect the Waiwnkaiho bridge n'-'J the erosion in the Okato river. Th> members of the 2.lr\ Reinforcements. who have been spen !'!ig their holiday leave in Xew Plymouth, returned to camp on Saturday.

The Tarauaki quota of the L'iith Reinforcements will leave for ':amp this mousing. The men will be given a send off by the Ma 3 ?or and the members of the Patriotic Committae, .and the Citizens' Band will play a programme of music at the station.

Jt will l>e news to many (says the Lyttelton Times) that rennet is being manufactured in Ohristclmrch, and that the plant in operation was fully taxed some years ago in supplying orders from all over New Zealand.

A Nelson resident returned from Pilefilieim informs the Colonist that the grain crops in that district, will yield heavily, th ongh in the Seddon district the caterpillar is causing some damage to the barley crops. Labor is scarce, and Is (id per hour is offered for 'harvesters.

The Lake County Press reports that Mr. <j. S. Edie, of Glencoe Station, suffered a serious loss last wee!; His sheplierils were bringing in a mob <if 0000 sheep, and at a gate near Hilly Creek a "jamb'' occurred, with the result that !)J wethers were smothered. Air. Ellis estimates bis loss at £125.

To show the amount of money that passes through the hands of bushmen, the Wairoa Guardian mentions that a Gisborne busbfallfer called at a Wairoa hotel and casually asked for a drink for himself —the anti-shouting law preventing him from doing anything else —and tendered a cheque for £2OO. The effect of the war on the buildinj trade in the Greater Auckland area is reflected in the number of building permits issued by the City Council, Last year the permits issued totalled 1(147, for buildings estimated to cost £255,(137, shdwing a decrease of 204 permits and £52,310 cost, when compared with the previous year. » The thirteen-year-old son of Jfr ana Mrs. J. IT. Rogers died in the Xcw Plymouth Hospital on Friday last from sunstroke. Tho boy, whose name was Sydney Thomas Rogers, was bathing and diving in the IJrenui River on Xcw Year's Day, and he was affected liv the sun. He was admitted to the hospital on the following morning in an unconscious condition.

A five-year-old boy named John Leonard Walsh, son of Mr. E. IP. Walsh, Hurford Road, met with a painful accident on Friday. With a twin brother he was playing with a chaff-cutter when his right hand came in contact with the knives, practically severing four fingers of the right hand. The little sufferer was at once brought into the hospital by his mother and it was found necessary to amputate a portion of the hand.

Frank Rattenburv. of Mokau, who was arrested in connection with the theft of a qnfintity of whisky from Messrs. A. Hatrick and Co.'s stores at Waitara, appeared 011 remind before Messrs. .T. S. S. Medley and H R. Catt lev. J.'sP., in the Magistrate's Court 011 Saturday. Mr. C. F. K. Wilson, instructed by Mr. J. IT. Quillinm. applied for u, further remand until .January 13. The remand was granted, and bail was granted in one surety of £IOO or two sureties of £SO each.

The Russian singer, Mr. Eugene OssipolT, and his conipanay attracted a fair audience to the (jooil Templar Hall on Saturday evening. Mr. O.ssipoA" sang an aria from the opera, "Rnslan," and was encored. The baritone was in good voice, and he was heard to advantage in Mephisto's song from "Faust" (Gounod). As an encore he rendered .a Russian i'elk song; which was warmly appreciated. Mi-s Ethnee Clegg scored anether success in the numbers entrusted to her. Tile recitative and aria from "Nade.jda'' was particularly attractive. Miss Bessie Rogers, an elocutionist, and Miss Sylvia Roberts, the pianiste, also contributed to the success of the performance.

All angler 011 the Waiwakaiho River the other evening found a large four or five-pound trout lying in a backwater and evidently in distress, fin capturing the (bit and investigating it was. found that both eves had been destroyed. This was evidently the work of large gulls. These birds 'frequent the river in considerable numbers at this season of the veal wlu-n the water is low and attack the fish. Last year several instances of gu'ls taking fish from the Waiwakaiho were recorded." tn some cases several birds were «ccn attacking cue fish. The Taraiiaki Acclimatisation Society has endeavored to gain the consent of the Covciiiment Marine Department to have the protection covering ;;ulls removed in the ease of the Waiwakaiho river, but without success. Xow that the waters of the liver are low and warm the fish become very lethargic and when lying in shallow water do not appear to be aMe to elude the swoop of the gulls and fall easy victims.

'MANCHESTER GOODS AT THE MELBOURNE. LTD. The undermentioned offerings of overlay staple Manchester goods will only lioltl good while quantities last because all new cotton goods will show n'.i advance of from 15 to 25 per cent. 1 lorroekses' 3fi-inch white calico, 7s lid (Jji?,en; Crewdson's medium household calico, Ss lid dozen; Horrockscs' finest white calico. 3(1 inches wide, lid yard; Fir,lay's 54-incli white sheeting. Is 3d, Is 7;i .Hid Is fld; Finlav's 72-inch white elwcting. Is nd. 2s .'ld. 2s (id; Finlav's SOinch sheeting, Is lid. 2s 3d and 2s !kl; 72-inch unbleached sheeting Is ltd yard; 'm-hvv colored travels, grand value, 2s fid i;r- wliite roller towelling, "id and 7(1 •d; colored roller towelling, Sd and ' yard. i:-iu!is flavor and wonderful refresh■vcr are the distinctive (|iialities of field Tea. Its purity and strength t economical. Superb quality at ier prices: Is llkl, Is 9d, Is Sd. 3 ■■r* of the Equitable Building of New Plymouth (Second ■ notified tiiat subscriptions ai'.u payable to-day (Mon- , /y S). at Secretary's office, , "roni !) a.m. to 12.30 p.m., ui., and 7 p.ui,' to 8 p.m.—

At the Wairarapa Caledonian sports at Maslerton oil New Year's Day .Miss Lily O'Leary, daughter of Mr. John O'Leary, of the Valuation Department, wen the dancing <hampicm',i!i)> of New Zealand, which carries with it a rose bowl of the value of thirty guineas and a gold medal of the value of five guineas.

Thermal action at Waimangu a few dnvs ago was usually act-he, and culminated «in an eruption on the flat leading to Gibraltar Rock in the afternoon, creating a mud volcano of HO yards by (SO yards. The boiling uuid and water were thrown to a height of between 350 feet and 400 feet, and daring the twenty minutes or so thai (ha outburst lasted the sight wa3 awe-in-spiring.

Commenting on a statement n. the sitting of the Military Service Board at Ashlmrton, that there was plentv of labor available if farmers paid" tile .wages, a fanner in the Ashburtor. county said that ho had been applying for men for some time to man his threshing macjiino at 'ls 9d an hour. Only the driver had been procured. Tie further stated that it was almost certain that owing to the shortage of labor each farmer would have to find the men for 'his own .threshing. One of the appellants before the Otago Military Service Board, a farmer'* soil, who pleaded undue hardship, admitted that it was possible that his father was one of the wealthiest men in the Outram district. "It, might be," lie admitted, "that his' father was worth £30,000." He appealed .because his father was unable' to look after the business of the farm. He offered his services some time ago. Captain Free: "Yes, you passed fit for service, and you shirked it." The appeal was disallowed.

11l a letter to a friend in Ashburion regarding the manufacture of margarine, Mr. .T. 0. X. Grigg states that New Zealand best beef fat is largely used in i'iu manufacture of the first-grade article, with u percentage of butter added. The mixture will keep well, and is made up in Holland. Every precaution ii taken to see that none of it roaches fjer many. The Butch can only obtain tlx: fat from London, and if they attempt to send their output to other countries the supplies are immediately stopped The army is supplied from 'these fac tories, and the quality is superior to margarine made front nuts. As lnucii as 2s per gallon is being paid'for mi.k in England, and no farmer can afl'ord to make butter if he can rail his milk to. a town. The same applies to cheese. The whole of the Army and Navy and tens of thousands of others are quite satisfied with the, licst animal margar, ine, wliif.li is retailed 'at Is per lb, against butter at Is lOd wholesale and lis 3d to 2a (Id retail.

An article on "Maori War Flags," by '•Orakau," in the Auckland Star, mention-) a flag which was captured by the bluejackets of If.M.f;. Niger and other forces at the battle of Waireka, near New Plymouth, in 180!); a flag, which, unfortunately, has gone a-missing, at any rate its whereabouts are unknown in New Zealand. This Taranaki warbanner, displayed from a flagstaff on a palisaded hill on the western side of Mount Egmoiit, bore a representation of a peaked mountain and the Sugavloa. Rock at New Plymouth, witli « heart and a rayed sun. The native explanation of these symbols was that the lanu From Epmont to the sea was the land of their forefathers; that the heart of the Maori was set upon preserving this land to his race, and that the sun was the eye of Oort looking down upon and watching over the Maori. It would be difficult to beat that as a pictorial expression of the national patriotic sentiment.