LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waitara's new theatre is now completed and being seated, and will he opened some day next week. "Can I have my case heard in camera?" asked an appellant when his case was called before the Military Service Board in New Plymouth yesterday. ''What are your reasons?" asked the chairman. Appellant explained,that ho did not wish his financial position to be disclosed in the press. The chairman informed appellant he could overcome that difficulty by writing down the information and handing it to the Board. At this the appellant appeared satisfied!

Some amusement was caused at the sitting of the Military Service Board in New Plymouth yesterday, when Joseph Medley, farmer, Waiongona, appealed on the ground that he was not a reservist. He attached a certificate to his appeal showing that he was horn on March 1, 1800, and was consequently 57 years of age. "I-low old are you?" appellant was asked when he stepped into the witness-box. "I can't remember," he said. "You don't remember when you ■were born?" asked Mr. B. McLaren,"facetiously. "No, I don't," was the reply. The appeal was allowed. Appellant asked l'or bis expenses, and some time was taken in explaining to him that the Board had no power to order that expenses be paid, and that he had better see the military authorities.

An unusual appeal came before the Military Service Board in New Plymouth yesterday, -when John Harte, farm laborer, Raliotu, lodged an objection to service. Appellant said he was 2S years of age, and single. Asked why lie appealed, ha said lie was nob on the electoral foil. "Isn't that your fault?" asked Captain Walker. "I don't want to have anything to do with this country's affairs," said appellant', doggedly. "I am an Irishman, and have been four years in the Dominion. Wc are not treated like Britishers." Appellant admitted that no distinction had been made between him and others in this country, and that he had been allowed to earn his living in peace. The chairman intimated that the appeal must fail. A dismissal was recorded.

When the case of John Paul Bilski was called before the Military Service Board yesterday, it was explained that Bilski did not wish to appeal. "Are you willing to go into camp?" asked a member of tlie Board. "Yes, that is what I am waiting for," replied appellant, amidst laughter. He added that he had always been a "sport," and was one now. Captain Walker, the military representative, produced a properly-signed appeal which Bilski had sent in. It was admitted that this had been sent in in mistake. Joseph Martin Bilski had also appealed, but he had withdrawn the appeal, and had been sent into camp.

The Court orderly, a police constable, came in for a reprimand at the hands of the chairman of the .Militarv Service Board at its sitting in New Plymouth yesterday. When the name of an anI'ellanfc was called, the orderly u'as nowhere in sight. "Where is the Court orderly ?•' demanded the chairman. There was no response, and the chairman observed, "Call another ease. We must wait for the convenience of the Court orderly. A few minutes later the constable appeared, and the chairman asked, "Why were you not in Court?"' "Iwas outside Sor a few minutes, sir," replied the man. "You should be here attending to your duties," s aid the chairman.

T. W. Lawson has again been to the fore in the news cables from America, and he has been a principal witness in tlie Senate's investigation of the charges lately made as to leakage of State "information about the war, leading to huge gambling in "war babies" and other •stocks. "War babies" it may be explained, is the 'cute American name for companies which iiavo sprung into existence to manufacture war requirements. Since he wrote that smashing indictment of the big trusts, "Frenzied Finance," La wson has been a raging terror and-a perpetual stormy petrel in Wall street, and his closing remark lately reported is very characteristic: "I came here to givejione.-t testimony, only to have hell Ir.miiasted out of -me!" Mr. Lawson is the author of "Friday, the 13th," the sensational World Fiim live-reel Wallstreet drama which will be screened at the Empire to-night. A five-reel Marguerite Clark feature is also on the same programme.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency announce the cancellation of the Stratford Horse Fair advertised for Saturday, 17th inst.

The Arbitration Court is to Bit at New Plymouth on March 21. The taxation per head of, population in New Zealand last year was JEG 12s Id.

An old established South Island newspaper, "The Palmerston and Waikouaiti Times," has succumbed to the war pressure and has ceased to publish. Amongst the performers at the concert at Waiwakaiho on Tuesday night who were not mentioned in yesterday's report were (Captain Packman, Private George, Messrs Spiro, Vinson and Lovell. The two latter gentlemen appealed to the men immensely. After the concert the performers were entertained at supper by the officers. In an essay on "The Church" a schoolboy thus classified divines:"There are three kinds of clurgymen—bishups, vickers, and curits. The bishup tells the vickcrs to work, and the curits do it. A enrit is a thin married man, but when he is a vicker ho gets (fuller, and becomes a good man."

The letter carrier of Normanby reports that he had extremely bad luck on Monday. From 8 o'clock that mornign till thc< next morning lie had no fewer than twenty-five punctures in his bicycle tyres. Tho roads, he says, are grass roads, and many householders have been cutting their boxthorn hedges. -Star.

A soldier had a very narrow escape from a serious accident at the Palmerston railway station on a recent afternoon. He endeavoured to board the New Plymouth express as it was leaving for Wellington,, but missed his footing and fell between the train and the platform. Fortunately the driver of' the train was quickly apprised of tha occurence, and with great promptitude lie pulled the train up in a very short distance. The soldier was extricated from his precarious position little the worse for hU experience.

The "train of fire" which was observed belching out showers of sparks neai the Upper Hutt on Sunday afternoon is said to have been similarly ill-behaved when leaving the Lower Hutt station at about 2 p.m. The sparks the engine was throwing out were so thick and the danger from them was so great that people's attention was drawn to it Some alighted in the beautiful grounds of Mr. C. 0. Treadwcll, on the hillside above the Lower Hutt' station and started a fire that wiped out two acres of shrubbery and native bush, which had been the owner's care .and prido for years past, Mr Treadwcll is naturally very perturbed over his loss, particularly, the native bush, which is practically impossible to replace. In the course of an article in a London paper, of January 13, Mr Robt. H.H. Baird, of tlie "Belfast Evening Telegraph," says:—The most vital subject of the moment for newspaper proprietors and managers is that of paper supply. lam satisfied, if the war continues for another twelve months, the majority of journals will find the greatest difficulty in securing paper for,their publications, and that, if the present import restrictions are not removed, each newspaper must be. content, in t 1 c course of the next six or nine months, to print half its 1014 size. With the tonnage shortage becoming more acute, the longer the war endures, further import restrictions seem inevitable. Through the medium of the Auckland "Star" recently Mrs Lauretta Cambridge, of Summer Street, Stanly Bay, asked all interested in placing women on thejland to release male workers for war work to communicate with, iier As a result large number of women capable of looking after small farms have communicated with Mrs. Cambridge, while others have expressed their willingness to undertake poultry, fruit and general farm work on sheep, fruit, poultry or mived farms. In addition many young women willing to learn have sent in applications for employment. Mrs Cambridge now wishes to got into touch with farmers willing to take young women as cadets on the same lines as male cadets.

Tlic Opunako Times feels quite satisfied that i' 50,000 "will no more make a serviceable harbor at Opunako where it is proposed to commence work than emptying that number of golden sovereigns into the mighty deep would do. The Times continues:—Mr Moore meets any such statements by sneering at amateur engineers and their opinions The amateur engineers, however, can point to New Plymouth, Patca Wnnganui, Gisbornc, Timaru, Westport, Oamaru, etc., whore the world's best engineers were engaged and where the estimates were sadly at fault, so that when the loan money was spent, if there was no more forthcoming, what had already been spent was as good as wasted. Yet the ratepayers in this district are to take Sir Moore's word for it that no such thing can occur at Opunako because every shovelful of soil'has been minutely accounted. When the Harbour Bill wis put through Parliament, there was a plan for a much more limited scheme attached to it. which was to cost some £42,001). That schema, we believe, would give us a harbour quite suflicicnt for coastal trade, and if constructed, we think, would prove a payable concern, so that, in all probability, no rale would to required.

Manv_ nice things have been said about Xew Zealand's soldiers, but- the following tribute, contained in a letter received by the last mail from a mill* ister'in tlie County of Hants, England, is so nice that a short extract may interest our readers. The Kev. and Mrs. Lamb write: "We are very much in touch with Now Zealand just now, as the Base Hospital for your country is at Brockenlmrst, only, four miles and ahalf from us. All the staff, nurses, orderlies, eac., are from Xcw Zealand. Also so, here in Lymington, we have a St. John Hospital for sixty-eight, are sent to us from Bro'ckenhurst. We have several of the men here to tea now and again, and we take some of the worst cases -out for drives in our car, and such delightful men mostly are, so' intelligent and entertaining and so thoroughly 'kindly 'polite,' and yet selfrespecting too. We see some fine specimen.? of manhood, but it is grievous to see them often sorely crippled. There are four large hospitals at Brockenimrst (one holds 730), and if you have any relations of friends serving in France, let them know our address and tell them If ever they be sent to Bfockenhurst to let us know they that are there."

STRAIGHT AT IT, There is no use of our "beating round the hush." YVo m well out with it first as last. 'We want you to try Chamberlain's Cough Remedy the next time you have a cough or cold. There is \no reason so far as we can i i why you should not dQ so. This preparation by its remarkable cures has gained % world-wide reputation, and people everywhere speak of it in the highest tcrm& of praise, gold everywhere.

Hon. G. W, Russell states that the censorship of cinema films is to he considerably tightened, ample time having been given importers to instruct their buyers as to the New Zealand standard. —Press Association.

The Patea Harbor Board's dredge "Wallace" reached the Bluff on Tuesday, where Bhe Mil be fitted up for the journey to Patea. It has, says the Press, been arranged for her to leave on the 24th instant, and the,voyage up should occupy 10 days.

The new freezing 'chamber at the Vii tea Farmers' Co-operative Company's freezing works, which was badly needed to cope with the stock offering, lias been completed, and is proving a valuable asset, both to the Company and to the farmers of the district.—Press.

Travelling in a train to Wellington the other day, some people observed a man to be in They inquired if they could do anything "for him. "No," he said, "you can do nothing for me. I have lost my five sons at the war, and I am just coming back from putting my wife in an asylum." ' Owing to the great interest being taken in the gymkhana promqted by the Ngamotu Seaside Committee, it has been decided to slightly alter the events and increase the prizes considerably. An excellent range of trophies has been secured, and are on exhibition in 'Mr L. Hoffmann's window. It has also been decided to add a motor-cycle race to the programme, with substantial trophy prizes.

A noticeable feature of the present sitting of the Military Service Board is the absence of appeals from religious objectors. The explanation probably is that the experience of the objectors who appeared before the board previously, and the publicity given to the evidence, have shown that few reservists can obtain exemption on this score. Another point apparent at yesterday's sitting was the altered tone which prevailed. It appeared that appellants were given a greater length of time in which to explain the reasong which brought them there, and a more charitable and tolerant attitude seemed to he assumed by the members of the board and the military representative towards the appellants. The improvement appeared to be duly appreciated by appellants, .who were inclined to disclose their position and to do what they could to assist the board to arrive at fair decisions.

An Fltham motorist writes to the Argus: This is Manntalii's conception of :i joke: I was motoring through from Wellington last night, and passed Manutahi about 10.30. There was another ear ahead of me, when just a little beyond the pub, I discovered a figure lying spread-eagled on the Toad, and noticed tho other car pulling up. I at once jumped to the conclusion that a drunk had been run over. 1 stopped, and a .friend and myself got out to render assistance. In the meantime the'driver of the other car commenced to run back. I blamed liim for killing someone, and he blamed someone also for being callous in leaving a man after running over him. We hastened to the unfor-, lunate man on the road—the figure was a straw dummy, hut both the driver of the oilier car and myself were badly frightened. Tho Mamitahi pub people were at the door some little distance away enjoying the joke. Tho "tody" was lying in the middle of the tyad Needless to say we dismantled it, and threw the "limbs," clothing, etc., to tho four winds. It's laughable, lnit it did not appeal to any of us at 10.30 last night. A thrilling tale of the sea was told in the Admiralty Court, London, recently by Robert Fergusson, mate of the deepsea tug Vigilant (220, tons). Fergusson and two firemen claimed salvage for the t"". Fergusson stated that during a gale, which {ho tug met on the way irom New York to England, the captain of tlitt tug, believing that the position wa3 hopeless, sent a wireless message for assistance. Fergusson then appealed for volunteers to save the Vigilant, and two firemen volunteered. The remaining 10 members of the crew said that they were not tired of life, and boarded a liner with the captain. The three men left on board navigated the tug through the gale, which grew worse. They were without light; owing to the failure of the dynamo. Taey escaped destruction on a reef by 50ft, but eventually made Cardiff after a fortnight's struggle. Tho tug is worth £20,0(10. Sir Samuel Evans (the President of'the Admiralty Court) eulogised the courage shown by Fergusson and his cpmpanions, which was, he said, worthy of the highest British, sea traditions. Ho awarded Fergusson £2500 as salvage, and the two firemen £ISOO eucli.

On tli© occasion of the arrival of the first; ocean liner to New Plymouth on the 20th. excursion fares will be issued by the Railway Department. The 4.30 p.m. train will bo delayed till 0 o'clock Farmers, dairymen, builders and the public generally will be interested in an advertisement elsewhere dealing with timber and joinery. Mr. Jas. Austin, Fulford street, notifies that he is now prepared to execute all orders that may be entrusted to him. The material is guaranteed to be good qnd serviceable, and as timbers are all to be supplied direct from the sawmills customers may rely upon the-lowest possible prices.

Some bargains that help to make the Melbourne famous:—Men's dark Mosglel socks, fine knit, Is fid pair; English - make brown cotton singlets, strong make, 2s Cd; pants to match, 2s lid; indigo print, 30 inches wide, B'/ 3 d yard; ''Doctor" flannel, 2s 3d yard; ladies' plain cashmere hose, guaranteed all wool and fast dye, Is lid pail'; famous llama, hose, best .quality, 3s fld pair s

Some day, when the war is over, and the censor is out of a job, the world will be thrilled by the stories which will bo told of the heroes of Britain's fighting submarines. In the meantime what little has been told has given the world a graphic hint of the perils of un-der-water war. With this much to go ftpon tlio Vita graph Company has anticipated the day when the censor lets up on lifcj blue pencil and produced a remarkable triumph in fil&iic enterprise, depicting with striking realism the exploits of ''The Hero of Submarine D2." a five-reel "Blue Ribbon" now showing at Everybody's, in conjunction with the l'ox super-film, "Cannon," featuring Theda Bara.

It was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria, at Melbourne, that (1} SANDER'S EXTRACT is much more powerfully healing and antiseptic than ordinary eucalyptus preparations; (2) SA.VDUR'S EXTRACT does not depress the heart like the so-called "extracts" and crude oils; (3) SANDER'S EXTRACT is highly commended by many authorities as a safe, reliable and effective household remedy. Get the genuine—insist it you haye to—and be iWfe, '•v^-

We are asked to state that the Sol* diers' Club, .New Plymouth, will be glad of a supply of gramaphone records. The Tc Kiri and Eiverlea schools held their annual picnic at Ngaere yesterday. The delightiully fine weather conditions aided in the spending of a most enjoy? able day's outing. A London cable states that Lloydrt list gives prominence to the proposal of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to een tablish a line of steamships with a capU taljif five millions. Tlio N.Z. Loan and. Mercantile Agency draw attention to their Huiroa sheep and cattle fair, which they are holding ia Mr Samuel Bellamy's yards (known as Baker's old yards), on Monday, lflthj Full particulars; will be found on £!gf( 6 of this issue. , Something of a sensation Was ereataJ at Waitara last Saturday at the Big Store, when Ronnie's sale of Cossar's stock commenced. (People wera waiting from a quarter to eight, and by 8.30 the! shops was full of excited buyers snapping up the sensational bargains offering, All day long the store wag crowded with! keen customers picking out "snips" men's and hoys' clothing: Many women returned with more money for more bargains. There are still some eplendi<J chances offering on page 4, left-han(| corner, but you must coma soon*