LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

One dairy factory in the Kketahuna district Ims a lady engaged as second assistant, and it is reported that she is an expert worker. It has been decided to secure the names of some Waverley bo>3, so that they may be prosecuted for bathing in the town's water supply dam. Applying for exemption at Islington, a" farrier said all his men !r:d gone to the war. Asked who licN'd him in his business, lie replied, " fv wife. She wields the hammer." The "Wellington correspondent o c the Greyinouth "Evening ?.e\vs' wired en the morning of Dccembei GO. Scveii thousand to'ns of Japanese coal have just arrived for the purpose of eoal.ng tlie troopships,

Eleven building permits, of an aggregate value of £2150, were granted in the borough during December. The postal authorities Jmvc installed n public slot telephone it: front of the JTaivera Post Office. This should meet a long felt want.

Our Hawern correspondent telegraphed last night that much needed rain was falling in that district. The Borough Council last evening unanimously confirmed a special order reducing ils numbers from l;j to nine, including the Mayor.

Boring operations at t'ic oii-wells at Molnroa are proceeding satisfactorily. The depth of the Blenheim bore is now 4 ('.(>() feet.

The Mayoress, on behalf of the Women's Patriotic. Committee, wishes to acknowledge, with thanks, a bottle containing Ms 1!d from the resident men at the Fire Brigade Station. Mr. I']. Griffiths was a competitor in the tennis tournament that was held at Blenheim during the holidays. With his brother, E. W. Griffiths, of Auckland, and formerly of New Plymouth, lie wop the doubles championship. H. XV. Griffiths was also runner-up in the singles. The story of a determined suicide is reported from Auroa. Mr. Schikker, a dairy farmer there, was discovered late on .Saturday evening in ~<jine bush near his house, with his head blown open. Tbis had apparently been done by placing a plug of gelignite in his mouth and firing it, and it .vas the report that led to the shocking discovery. Deceased was of Swiss nationality.

Thus Victor Grayson:—l am a Socialist, and will wear the uniform of a warrior with good logic pnd a bright spirit. T hate war and I hate killing. Yet if I account for one of the vassals of the world's mad dog 1 shall "have done my bit" towards the world's regeneration.

An old couple, each of whom for the second time approached the altar at Charleston, down the West Coast, the other day, have morn than done their duty to the State. By their previous marriages they brought into the world a total oi' twenty-one children, one having, a family ol toil and the other of eleven. The bridegroom hn< two sons at the front and the bride one, another about to depart, and two brothers in camp. "How much beer can you get outside of in a day?" was the rather unexpected question put to nil appellant by Mr. 1). G. A. Cooper, S.M. (chairman of the Military Service Board). The appellant hesitated. consider that's an impertinent questir n," was the retort. "No. it's not ar. impertinent question," said Mr. Cooper. "I want to know." The reservist was non-committal, however, and eventually replied, "Weil, I can have a glass of beer or leavt it alone. Surely a man can do that" The Suva correspondent of the New acs land Herald reports that in connection with the sale, and distribution of benanns a small company Ins been organised by some oi the principal shippers of Fiji, in conjunction with an Awkiand firm, to distribute bananas throughout New Zealand. The company will be registered in Fiji, when. :i majority of the shares are held. Shippers have always realisnl the advantage of having some control over the sale and marketing of their fruit, so as to ensure that the exporter will receive a full return for his produce. Similiar companies are already operating -jn Sydney and Melbourne, to the gnat advantage of the Fiji shippers. Speaking at Marlon. Dr. Tniby King said that all the lessons of history lai.pht that the downfall of a race began when home and family life wire neglected. The great civilisations of Greece mid Rome undermined themselves by love of ease and neglect of the family Coming to modern times, the lecturer fii't 1 that the increase in population in France in secent years before the war had been 20,000 a year as against SOO.OOO in Germany. Germany's population had, therefore, inercsed 40 times as fast as tiiaf of France. Had there been no dcerenso in the birthrate in France since the Franco-Prussian war. it should have made a difference of no les> than 30 millions to that country

TJctails regarding the concrete ship, an account of the launching of which was cabled a short time ago, have been furnished by Mr. John W'lsun, of the Auckland Cement Co. He says an account of the ship launched at Christiania appears in The Rock Products and Buildii.g Materials, which states that it resembles a huge barge and is constructed entirely of concrete, except for the ribs, which are of steel, and is the first stone vessel ever floated. It is said the hull v.ill resist damage better than wood or steel, and is therefore safer ComI'.u nting on this, Mr. Wilson remarked that it took a good deal of shock to shatter concrete,, as with the steel reinforcement there is a certain amount of vieMing to a blow. In these days of inines it may yet be proved that eonevite bottoms are safest for ships that have to pass through the danger zone.

Writing to his mother from London a Wellington man who is attached to the Ist. Auckland Battalion, has some interesting comment to mal'c on the Heme military training. He says that he lias learnt more in one week with the Home training than he had learnt in New Zealand the whole time he was here. The Home training comprised a different course altogether. "My word, it does not take them long to teach us, either," states the witer. "I handle a bayonet now as if it were a toy. Then we have to learn bombtiirewing. For four days I have been doing nothing but learninn to throw these, and now 1 can pitch them like marbles. We must learn to shoot, and after two or three days here we. can shoot anything' at a second's notice. Then we must protect ouiselves against g.is attacks and practice with our gas helmets for two or three hours daily. 1 tell you in New Zealand you have a glorious time, and are ignorant of v hat's going on."

Aii application was preferred l)v the ccinmiUees of the town schools at last Cloning's meeting of the Borough Council, for a remission of water rates. Considerable discussion ensued on the question. Cr. S. J, Smith moved, and Cr YV. K. Short seconded that half the present rates be. remitted. Cr. Smith said he would like the whole of the rates remitted. Cr. J. S. S. Medley moved an nil amendment that the whole of the 'rates ho remitted. Tins amendment .was lost on the voices. Cr. Collis moved In further amendment that the rates for !<l>inking water only 'bo remitted and the water used for sanitary pur- ] ici.es be charged for. This amendment v:is also lost. The original motion that ,:ialf the present rates be remitted was I'iried, the remission to dale from April jot. I Australian mails, ex Bivcrina, at Welyjjjgton, will arrive here to-ni»ht.

Thursday has been fixed as the statu torv "half-holiday for the Taranaki Conn ty for the year 1017.

Apples are scarce and dear in Enghnri, because of the effect? r.f the late frosts on the crop, and the difficulty of securing transport for supplies from overseas. Canadian apples, which cost.l2?; to (is a barrel wholesale before the war, now cost from 20s to £tis.

During the last six months 21.000 merchant ships have passed through the Sea Patrol, and of these only 21 have heen lost or were seriously damaged by the enemy; the patrol al-;r. destroyed m viral enemy submarines and. surface APSSfcis,

Regulations regarding the examination of recruits for the reinforcements have been considerably modified, and varicose veins and varicocele no longer debar a man from being accepted, providing the complaints are not of a major degree. While walking in his garden in Waiit; Road, Timaru, one night recently a gentleman had a very unpleasant cxluad. His escape was only a mattct perience, a bullet whizzing past his of inches, and some children in the next garden were also endangered. Apparently some irresponsible person with a peari'lfl was the cause of the .trouble.

There is a thrilling story underlying the bestowal of the Military Cross upon Lieut. Arthur Howes, one of Britain's tank heroes. The caterpillar of which the lieutenant was in charge was knocked out by a shell. One man was killed, oiliors were injured, and the lieutenant limself was badly wounded in the head. Pulpites his injuries, Lieut Bowes, who is a well-known footballer, a school teacher before the war, and a native of Knodishall, near Laiston, rescued the remainder of the crew, and then retained to destroy the crippled tank. When the Post Office Clock began to ehipie erratically over a week ago the Town Clerk wrote to Mr. G. W. Taylor, jeweller, of Ilawcra, the contractor who carried out the work of stopping the chines between the hours of 11 p.m. and (i a.m., and drew attention to the defective operation of the chimes, and intimated that the defect must be rein died, within seven days. It was mentioned at last evening's meeting of the Borough Council at which the letter was read that Mr. Taylor would be in New Plymouth to-day and attcnt to the complaint. We hope with the English visitor who journeyed to New 'Plymouth recently that the New Zealand authorities will >et sea the wisdom of availing themselves of the fpunt of knowledge possessed by Mr. W. W. Smith to the benefit of the present day people of the Dominion and of the generations to ccme 'writes the Patea Press). It is little short of a scandal that his wonderful abilities and the results of years of scientific research and experiments are not utilised to the full. It is not too late yet for the authorities to wake up p.nd make amends for their oversight and neglect in the past. A report wis received from Messrs Sladdcn and Palmer, engineers, at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki t'ounty Council concerning the Waiwakaiho bridge. The chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett, expressed the wish that the report. be not. published. ll.' said that the borough engineer (Mr. W. 11. Cook) had flamed a report,, und the chief engineer of the Public Works Department would inspect the bridge in a day or two, and i'; was then hoped that Messrs Sladdcn and Palmer, Cook, and liie Government officer would consult and decide on the best course to be adopted in preventing further damage to the structure. The chairman said he expected the weir would be put down, but on a design different from that at first decided on. The visit of the band to (he New Plymouth Mountain House on Saturday and Sunday next promises to be unique in its'way. Music by a good band at any tune is very much'appreciated, but music on the slopes of a huge mountains, surrounded by magnificent forest such as surround? this Hostel, is unique. The hand intends giving a programme on the .Saturday evening to tile guests of the Hostel, and another programme os the Sunday afternoon, rendering it early enough to allow the farmers to get away in time to attend to their nulking 'A rumber of bandsmen also intend to e:,;mb to the summit of the mountain, and give a programme there at about n a ill. This in itself should constitute a record for altitude with regard to the playing of a brass band.

The need for regulating the conduct of negligent am! drunken motor-car drivers stressed at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Comity Council. (,'r. C. Andrews drew attention to the matter, and Rave two instances of drunken Maori motorists, who were a menace to the travelling public. The matter, lie said, was very serious, and demanded urgent attention. (Vs. A. E. Laurence and I). ilcAlluni agreed with Cr. Andrews. Cr. A. Morton said tin' Council issued no licenses, and could take none away. Vehielo-s were licensed, but the drivers were not. The chairman (Mr. J. 8. Connett) did not think the Council had any authority. Jhe clerk stated that action could be taken by the police under the Police Offences Act. If. was resolved to obtain legal advice on the question. An application for an. increase in wages was received from 'ju employee of the" Taranaki County Council at yesterday's meeting of. the Council. r lhe clerk (Mr. 11. 0. Ellin) read a report showing the. wages pa id to workmen in other counties" in Taranaki. The rates were higher than those paid by the local county council. The chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett) said there was nothing for it but to fall in with the more progressive counties, and grant an all-round increase. Several men had spoken to him, a ml' although they had made no complaint, they had mentioned they were lindin" it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. He knew these men would be grateful for a rise in wage?. There were some very excellent men in the Council's employ. continued the chairman. and he should be very sorry to lose anv of them. He moved, and (Jr. MeAllum seconded, "that an all-round increase of Is per day bo granted."—The motion was carried.

The mails which left New Zealand on November 28. via Vancouver, arrived in London on the sth inst. Men's summer underwear 'jargains at tiu Melbourne, Ltd.: White cotton singlets, Is (id; brown cotton s'.nglets. 2s (id; liown cotton pants, 2s Pd; merin.. singlets in Shetland and natural, Is lid; pants to match, 2s (id; men's natural siiiL'lets with halt' sleeves ami ventilated gussets, 4s (id; pants to match, 4s lid; Tine natural singlets, famous "Oceana" make, 5s lid. Nurses are gooa judges of tea. A nurse writes; - 'I use Desert Gold Tea in my Nursing Home; nil my patients like the- tea and intend using it when they go home." 1

The New Plymouth Boy Scouts who had been camp in*; at (ipunake completed the. filial stage of their rttum journey yesterday, reaching New Plyy mouth about 5.2 p.m. They left Tata-raii n.r.ka early in the morning and at O&kura were nntertined by Mr. Ci. Adlam. Omata was readied at mid-day, the ladß lunching and resting for three hours. Major Saudford. who was in charge, speaks in very high terms of the 1 hojpitaliQr liceived at Opunake and all along the road, the settlers not beinfc able to do enough for the lads. Oil Saturday l,uls were entertained: by Mrs. Weils to a pienie in the afternoon, and by Caj>; tain Knight to dinner in the evenjrijg. Sunday evening, when passing throtf|k Okato, the\ r were entertafned to tea by Mi. 8. Daily.

Figures supplied to the llorough Council last night disclose a remarkable increase in the popularity of bathing is Xew Plymouth. During last .December ICjS people used the Municipal baths, as compared with 21157 for the correspedning period in 1915, au increase of 36 per cent. Bathing by ladies is mora popular this summer than it was during the previous season, the figures being: December, 91G, 1883; December, 1916, 801. During last month, 1075 men used the baths, as compared with 1206 for December, 1015. The figures for the hot , baths also showed an increase, being 1W and 109. The receipts totalled £32 8a lid for last month, as against 10(1 4d for December, 1915.