LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A local resident, whose identity i,-, hidden under the number 041, some 'time ago sent a parcel of tobacco to the front. The parcel was received by Sergeant L. Brabant, of Waitara, who, in a letter to the Mayoress, acknowleges his gratitude to' the unknown donor.

a mooting of the Auckland Citv Council, thi> Mayor (Mr. Gunson) submitted a scheme for united action by lorn] bodies to liorrow for individual rciiuireinents in order to got the money at a cheaper rate. He pointed out that difficulties already existed, and that expenses were likely to increase during the war. The scheme would need Parliamentary approval. The Council decided to discuss it later.

As soon as the necessary details have been arranged a start will'be made with the scheme the Taranaki Education Board has in hand of teaching woodwork to pupils in schools situated round the mountain. An itinerary teacher will ahcrtly be appointed and he will visit the following schools weekly:—Monday, Okuto and Dahotu; Tuesday* Oaonui and Opunake; Wednesday, Manaia and Kapuiii; Thursday. Kaponga and Manga - tcki; Friday, Eltham. The preliminary arnngements are proceeding eatisfactoriiy.

Wit,h large crowds arriving by special train?, to attend the Tnr.uia.ki Jockey Club's races on Thursday, the traffic in Brougham Street was much greater (hun usual, and the Mayoress (Mrs. C. ll'. Burgos?) thought if" she placed a donation box outside the Women's Patriotic League rooms the funds of the organisation would he substantially augmented. The idea was given eifeet to, and when the box was opened yetscrday morning it was found to contain—two sixpences and a penny. And this in view of the fact that the totalizator turnover at the races on the same day was £22,6:)7.

The bankruptcy returns for (he Tnrtnaki district, for Hllfi. with (lie exception of Hawera, have 1" -'-.innTr-t<>cl. From Hawera, owing to t! Deputy-Registrar, no retm able. The following.are (he , turns:—Xew Plymouth, del-lev liens, Hi; assets shown, £3O-11 lis <i, secured creditors. £2312 Ills )()d; labilities, £3OOO, 7s 7d; assets realises, ,e:OS fis 0d; debts proved, .-£350-2 Is Id: dividends'paid, £137 Lis 7d. Stratford, del-tors' petitions eight; assets, £1!523 "is KM; secured creditors, £4Ol 10s Od; liabilities. £2IOO 3s 2d; assets realised, £1377 His Id; debts proved, £15.51 (Is 3d; dividends paid, £-118 0s 7d.

At a meeting of the Waverlev Patriotic League on Tuesday, Captain Surgeon Harvey, who was present, in reply to a member, stated that during the time be had been in Eg>pt and in France he had not seen one case of actual need among the New Zealand soldiers. The men were well fed, especially in the trenches, and even thing the men needed they got. The lood is pUiin and wholesome. He !bought the League could assist the V..M.C.A. and similar institutions with advantage, as they were doing a good work right up to the firing line. He also mentioned the wonderful organisation of transportation with all the huge guns and ammunition, food supply, etc. The authorities were able to deliver mails and parcels right up to the firing line.

Mr. T. J. Billing, of New Plymouth, niwl formerly of Ttahotii, lias three sons at the front. One of tliom (Fred) Ims iiir.dr. the supreme sacrifice. By the last mai; Mr. Billing received Hie following letter from Sergeant 0. Wooillieail, 2nd New Zealand Machine Gun Company, 8.K.F., France: —''On behalf of the Canterbury Machine Gun Section I wish to tender you our deepest sympathies for the loss of your son who was killed while on sentry duty in the trenches on the 10th' of November, death being instantaneous. And by request of the boys of the section I have taken up a collection and we have had a beautiful cross erected over tlie grave. The caretaker of the cemetery who is Attending to the cross and railing round the grav* etc., I have instructed to have half a dc7on photos taken of the grave which he will post to you. I would also like to mention that I have been over two years in the Machine Gun Section and that Private Billing was one of the finest men I ever had. And would it be too much to ask you to send one of the nhctofc back to me it' yau don't mind."

At the District High School, Hawera, on Thursday, an address was given by Mr. Cecil Palmer, of the Wellington branch of the Navy League, on the silent work of the navy and the Empire-wide duty to keep intact our naval supremacy. The children evinced keen interest in the lecture. The Secretary of the Hawera Coif Club has received a very appropriate note from Private E. Wrixon, from the wireless station, Saihoa, acknowledging the receipt of a parcel from the members of the club at Christmas time. He says: "I am very thankful. Everything in it was most useful. I cannot'speak too highly of the singlets. They are just the very thing for this climate." At the Hawera Magistrate's Court yesterday, Norman Kr'netzer pleaded guilty to the theft of a motor-car at Knponga on December 19, the property of the Ruenzol Proprietary, Ltd. ft appeared from the 'evidence that accused had been in, the firm's employ, and they had, in November last, purchased a car for his use. On January 25 accused returned to Wellington and stated that he left the car at Hamilton, but had arranged for it to be sent to the South Island, where lie suggested he should go. Accused subsequently returned to Hawera, and (he managing director, from w'hat he had heard, laid an information against him. Accused had no authority to sell the ear, had not accounted for the sale of the proceeds, and did not disclose the sale until after the information was laid. The man who bought the car had answered an advertisement and paid the £20(1 to accused. Kraetzer, who was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, did not apply for bail. A fine new lot of drawn thread and point lace tray cloths, runners, d'oyleys and table cloths has opened out at the Melbourne. Ltd. The goods are all Japanese hand made extremely dainty and are marvels of value. Prices Is lid to 5s lid. A brilliant reception was accorded Morcy'B Three Weeks' Prosperity Sale. All day long our counters are thronged and everything points to this event being a record one. Turn to Morey's announcement elsewhere in these columns. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. draw attention to their Matau sheep fair and cattle sale on Tuesday next, February )'■', at 1 o'clock. As will be seen by the advertisement on page 8 of this issue, a very large entry of sheep has been received, and it will repay buyers to he present. Cars will leave the Company's olliee, Stratford, at 9 a.m. on the morning of the sale. Brilliant and fascinating f.uiiine fm eriek will appear on the screen at the Empire Monday night in Danial Frohlnaim's superbly emotioal drama, "Zaza.'The role was a favorite with Nellie Stewart, who starred "Zazn" with immense success over the other side, ane. the intense dramatic situations with which the play abounds has enhanced the reputations of many other stage celebrities. Pauline Frederick is peculiarly fitted by temperament and appearance for the'difficult role of Zaza, the passionate and tempestuous favorite of one of the gayest music halls in Paris,