LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The special correspondent of the Daily Mail at Amsterdam says: "The Prussian Ministry of. the Interior has informed the German Society for Re-population that it will be necessary to introduce a bachelor tax. Bachelors will be taxed until their general expenditure is equivalent to that of a married man with one or two children."

Judgment for plaintiff by default, with costs, was given by Mr A. Crooke, S.M., in the following civil cases heard in the Magistrate's Court yesterday; Gorctt and Quilliam, v. R. H. Davcney, Wanganui, £29 17s Gd; Sladden and Palmer v. \f. II Lambert, Palmerston North, £l7 16.

Mr. J. W. Piper, who was stationmaster in Christchurch for many years, and who retired from the service aboiu ten years ago, has (the Christchurch ■Evening News states) been requested to join the staff again and has been given a position iii the goods department in Christchurch. Several other superannuated members of the Christchurch staff have been asked to rejoin. When Norman Kratzer (who had pleaded guilty to the theft of a motor car at Hawera) was Wore the Wellington Supreme Court. for sentence, his counsel explained that £2OO, for which the car had been sold by the prisoner, would be refunded if ho were allowed to go into camp. His father made an undertaking in the matter. His Honor decided that the case was not one for condonation, and sentenced Kraetzer to twelve months' hard labor.

A Wairoa message states that the Farmers' Co-operatiivo Meat Company commenced killing yesterda'y, with 20 butchers on the board. The works, whiclf are situated on the banks of the Wairoa River, have a killing capacity of 2000 3heep and 50 cattle per day, storage capacity of 75,000 carcases. As tho works at Gisborne and Napier on either side are 80 miles distant, the works will materially help the development of the district. The capital was subscribed by the farmers. ' An English lady, writing from Rome to relatives in New Zealand, says:— "Everything is frightfully dear here, and the taxes are heavy, so that it is really difficult to make both ends meet—even with the strictest economy. Eggs, sugar, and milk are difficult to get sometimes. In fact, eggs fail entirely occasionally, and sugar is doled out to one an ounce at a time. There is really no reason for all this scarcity, but there are always the middlemen who make enormous profits by holding back their stores. Where money is the object there is little or no patriotism'" At the sitting of the Military Appeal Board at Rangiora last week one of the appellants, Charles Edward Fox, of Rnngiora, made a suggestion which met with the approval of the chairman (Mr J. S. Evans, S.M.) The proposal was to the effect that the Government should appoint scrutineers to make inquiries in regard to tho grounds of appeal which are lodged prior to the hearing of an appeal case. Such a system, it was contended, would put the boards in a tetter position to question the appellants, should it be ascertained that faulty grounds of appeal had been put forward. The chairmen directed Mr. Fox to write to the military authorities embodying the suggestion.

EVERYBODY'S DRINKING IT! What? GREEN GINGER. A pure, wholesome and refreshing drink for sensible people. A TRIAL WILL CONVINCE. A tablespoonful to a large tumbler of water. 50 drinks to the bottle. 1/6 per bottle; all grocers. Order to-day from vour owcetl You will be satisfied.

At a private meeting of farmers held in Xiew Plymouth yesterday, at which members of the Military Service Board were present, the question of organising, the farming industry of Taranaki was discussed, and a committee was formed to take preliminary steps. A public meeting of a similar nature will be held at Eltham on Saturday.

An interesting demonstration was _Efiveu by the Xew Plymouth Volunteer 'Kirn Brigade with its new plant at the jiost cilice last evening. The extension ladder was reared against the post office tlock tower, and its top reached to the platform immediately under the clock. There was a splendid pressure of water, and when the pressure was assisted by power from the (Iwynne-Dennis engine pump a remarkable exhibition was witnessed. The water was thrown high into tliq air, and fell in a great spray river the roof of the White Hart Hotel

It is a significant fact that the greatest tonnage in the world's shipping is represented by the ships of the Ham-burg-Amerika Steamship Line to the total of 103, with a capacity of 1,135000 tons. In this line are" the three largest steamers in the world, the Bismarck (50,000 tons), the Imperator (51,000 tons). The Norddeutsoher-Lloyd Line Bremen, owns vessels with tonnage of 721,000. The nearest approach to these figures is the British-India Lino, with 14!) steamers of 870,000 tons total cap. acity. It must be added that most of the German ships mentioned, if not sunk by the British,' are safely interned either at home or in neutral countries, where their vast tonnage is more than useless

An unysual case, in which a woman Bought to secure the eviction of her son from one of her houses was heard in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when Mary Ann Coleman (Mr A. H. Johnstone, instructed by Mr. R. C. Hughes) sought to recover immediate possession of it tenement from Arthur John Coleman, of Buller Street. Evidence was given by the plaintiff that notice to Suit had been given to defendant some time ago, and he had promised to leave Defendant was in arrears with his rent. L'he evidence for the defence was that the money defendant had paid to hia mother was interest, not rent, and that defendant and his wife would leave when the latter found out what had become of the £lfl9 she had contributed towards the cost of the property. Up to tin present defendant had been unable to get a suitable house. Counsel for plaintiff produced title deeds showing that plaintiff was the owner. The Magistrate, Mr. A. Crooke, made an order giving defendant v possession on Marc); 13. Costs amounting to £1 12s wer? allowed.

An unusual instance of father and son serving together in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces is given in the case of Private August Clement and Frederick Clement, of Christehurch, The son, Private Frederick Clement, left. New Zealand in December, 1914, and went to Egypt, and but for a bad attack of pneumonia would no doubt have been in the landing on GallipolL The father left in August, 1915, and was at the evacuation of Gallipoli. It was three months before they met, at midnight, in camp, in Egypt. Together they left for France in May last as drivers in the New Zealand Army Service Corps, and except for a few weeks' illness the son had in Wimmereux Hospital in France have been together ever since.

The risibility of the Military Service Board was raised by a diverting inci> dent which occurred at the sitting ;« Now Plymouth yesterday. A tall, looselimbed youth appeared and said he wanted to protest against the treatment meted out to him when he was in the senior cadets and territorials. Asked if ho had any complaint to make about going into camp, the youth replied, "Well, it is my feet that is the trouble." Major Cox whispered that the Medical Board had stated that the appellant's feet were the largest they had ever seen In 'his appeal notice the youth had stated that he did not think he would bo of any use on active service, be cause his boots had to be specially made for him. Mr. McLaren, a member of the Hoard, observed to the recruit, "I think it will be all right if you keep then? ivarm." The youth looked reassured, but completely upset the composure oi all present by saying, "Ohi well, we'll dismiss the appeal," thus forestalling th» diairman in the exercise of his duty.

An interesting ease, disclosing a practice common in this district, was heard before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., in the Magistrate's Coijrt yesterday. William Humphries (Mr. F. E. Wilson) sought to re cover from a Maori woman named Eangi raoeka Mohi Rahui (Mr. P. B. Fitzherbert) the sum of £8 10s, alleged to be due, partly for money lent and partly for services rendered. The evidence dis closed that plaintiff learned that a largo Jura of money lay in the Public Trust Office for the defendant. He was the first to acquaint the defendant of her good fortune, and undertook to get it for iter, provided she paid him one per cent commission, or £6 10s. Through his instrumentality defendant obtained poscession of the money. A cheque foi £2 was lent by plaintiff to defendant For the defence it was stated that the defendant had not borrowed £2, and that defendant had not agreed to paj plaintiff £(> 10s, as the money coming to defendant belonged to her nephew, for whom she was trustee. Judgment ivas given for plaintiff for the full amount, with costs £2 Is. Counsel for defendant expressed surprise at the decision and asked leave to appeal, which was refused.

_ 'The Golden Cliance," a picture specially selected an the opening attraction for the Strand Theatre in Auckland last December, will commence a three-nights' Beason at the Empire to-morrow. This is a marvellous picture. Rich iii dramatic material, and replete with genuine pathos, it describes in pictures of superb beauty and supreme simplicity the Golgotha of a woman's heart. Wonderful lighting effects lend an indescribable charm and lustre.

The Melbourne's great stock-taking sale offers unlimited scope for effecting savings on every-day household goods, such as Horroekscs' 36in calico, at 7s lid dozen; ?2in white herringbone sheet.ing, Is Od yard; white twill sheeting. 72m, Is Od yard; Horrockscs' famous "H" longcloth, slightly stained, Hd yard; large white towels, Is each; and frilled pillow cases, hemstitched and embroidered, Is Ud pair.