LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A telegram from Wanganui states that a conference of local bodies on thf West Coast yesterday approved of tin Government's decision to develop the Mangahao and other suitable: hydroelectric power sources in the North Island.—Press Association. About thirty boys from the Salvation Army Boys' Home at'Eltham, in charge of Adjutant Scotney, went to Auckland last night by the Earawa'to attend the Army Congress there. At the conclusion they will spend a month touring the North Island, before returning to Eltham. A Manaia resident received a letter from an English soldier who was called up under the DeiViy scheme of enlistment. He was a business man resident in London and had a wife and seven children. Ho was given three months 1o dispose of his business and arrange hv> affairs. This involved a considerable sacrifice, but it should be explained, thaithe provision made in England for the families of soldiers is much more liberal Hian is the case in New Zealand. The lowanco is on a better scale and the .H'urity of a home is guaranteed, aiid altogether they are more generously treated.—Witness. The Post says, that in a letter to bis agents in Wellington, Mr. Henry North, of London, formerly in business in New Zealand, says: "My expenses here arc very heavy, and the cost of living is very .high. Income tax is os in the ,-C, and will be higher. Landlords' property tax-is 5s in the £. and rates £l3 10s on a £4is house worth about £500: all tenants here have to pay rates above ;C2"> rental, and find all gas or electric fittings; 24s goes as far as 12s (Id,twelve months ago. What do you think of New Zealand mutton here' Is 4d per lb; steak, Is 10d; eggs, 5s and Gs dozen; sugar, (id per lb; fish, from 2s 4d a lb, and so on. I think it is time to see what New Zealand is like." White and Sons, of New Plymouth, advertise attractive dressmaking quotations from the new autumn tweeds. See their advertisement on leader page. The last few days of the Melbourne's great stocktaking sale are announced. Buyers are requested to note that many lines will/be dearer after the sale, and that it will be therefore sound policy to purchase lavishly during the next few days. Salo ends Saturday, the 10th

A motor lorry which travels between Opunake and New Plymouth collided with the new concrete bridge erected by the Council near the Opua road. Sue'h was the impact- that the whole side of the structure tumbled into the creek below.

The Telegraph Office advises that that the word "zero" may he used as a substitute for the word "nought" in written groups of figures in cable messages from the Dominion. The ell'ect of this is shown in the following example, '■Fiflyzerotbrce," It letters, (•barged as one word, instead of 'fiftynoughtthree," 10 letters, charged as two words.

The Eltham school annual picnic will be held at East End beach to-day. Several district schools have intimated their intention to participate in the outing;, while the Box Factory employee--will travel by the same train for their annual outing. All Eltham business premises will be closed for the day, and the trainload shoilld prove a record one.

At 1.30 p.m. on Monday the residence of Mr. M. Howard, of Manaia, was found to be on fire, and by the time the brigade arrived the fire had taken a firm hold, but they got to work, and soon had the outbreak under control, though considerable loss was sustained. There was no insurance on the contents, but the house was insured in the Norwich Union for £3OO.

The motor-car of Mr. T. E. Marsh, of Tarurutangi, was severely damaged b> fire on Tuesday evening. Mr. Marsh was travelling along the Henwood Koad, near Bell Block, when a tyre was punctured. He stopped the car and struck a match to look for the puncture. The car became enveloped in flames, and damage to the value of £l5O was done before the fire could be suppressed. The car, a five-seatcr, was insured for £2OO. The euchre party and dance at the Kawaroa bungalow on Tuesday evening was a great success, twenty-one tables being engaged in the euchre tournament Mrs. A. Bullot was the winner of the ladies' first prize (umbrella) with. 14 games. Mrs. Sutherland, who won I,'! games, taking second prize (tray cloth). For the men's prizes Messrs Milman, Davis, and F. Hendry tied with 13 games each, and in the play-off Mr. Hendry secured first prize (umbrella) and Mr. Milman second (mounted horns). Supper was handed round at the conclusion of the card tournament, the dancers then taking the floor. Dancing was kept up till one o'clock, music being supplied by Miss George. A couple of ratepayers who waited on the Manaia Town Board at its last meeting asked that more light should he provided in the vicinity of their residences, which are in one of the back streets of the town. In unpleasant proximity to the street is a swamp, and to strengthen their representations they told the story of a lady whom they found in this swamp one dark night recently. She was up to her waist in slime and mud when discovered, they told the Board, and was rescued from her perilous position after much difficulty. Her distress and her condition generally may be imagined. They had to assist her to a neighboring house, where she had to undress, and after a bath, was supplied with clothing by sympathetic womenfolk and piloted to her home.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile draw attention to the sale in their Tarata yards -on Friday, March 0, at 1 p.m. Full particulars v;iH be found on page 8 of this issue."