LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

As will be seen from an announcement elsewhere in this issue, the price of the principal Taranaki newspapers will be increased to 2d as from the ilnu. pro.v. The increase is being made in most other parts of the Dominion, and has been rendered necessary by the very great increase in the cost of production and the difficulty of getting supplies of paper, even at any cost. I'or two years and a half the papers have borne the increase themselves, great as it has been, but now are obliged to ask the public -> share it with them. For prepaid subscriptions substantial discounts are given, as- reference to the advertisemnet over the leader will show. At the last meeting of the Wellington Harbor Board, Mr. Nathan said that he thought the suggestion of the board's engineer (Mr. J."Marehbanks) that the Pipitea wharf should be proceeded with in timber, instead of ferro-concrete was a good one. There was no doubt that .when they got back to normal conditions they would be very badly off indeed for accommodation. If they did not want to lose a lot of their trade the board would have to watch very carefully the development of New Plymouth and Wanganui, and keep fully abreast | of the »time».

The NgamoU Seaside Committee yesterday took in receipt, the vecora amount of £l4O.

Another liner is expected to berth at Motorua shortly to take, a, cargo of meat.

The price of coal is to be advanced about 10 per cent, within a week or so. It is stated the Increase will be general throughout the Dominion.

f'l don't know what is going to become of Taranaki," said Mr. McLaren at Tuesday's sitting of the Military Service Appeal Board at Hawera. "It is deplorable tho amount of sickness in tin; province, according to the statements of appellants before the Board." The chairman acquiesced. The sounding of the call for luncheon at the Breakwater yesterday by Mr. T. Hughes recalls the fact that it was' this gentleman who was in charge of the, military band that played on ilia occasion of the layinr; of the foundation stone of the breakwater over forty years ago. There was amongst the gathering at least one original member of that band, Mr. Phillips. Several thousands must have taken advantage of the opportunity afforded yesterday afternoon of going aboard the first Home liner to visit New PiyjWith. At times the crush to get aboard wis so excessive that some visitors suffered considerable inconvenience, and it is stated that one or two were slightly injured.

Acting-Bandmaster Hughes, of the Citizens' Band, who yesterday' blew the call to luncheon at the Home liner celebrations, was bandmaster of the New Plymouth Band when tho foundation stene of the breakwater was laid, and on that occasion he also blew the dinner call,

The traffic on the trams yesterday was very heavy, and though tbe return? were not available last night, it is expected that they 1 ' will exceed those of New. Year's Day, which holds the record up to the present. It is likely three figures were reached. With the limited number of cars available, this speaks well for the organisation, which was very satisfactory. Hon. G. W. Russell visited Thames yesterday, and conferred with the Hospital Board as to the flood damage. An estimate was submitted amounting to £IO,OOO to restore tho hospital to its former state, and the Minister went fully into the matter, and promised it should receive favorable consideration Press Association.

A very serious accident happened to Mr, If. Ward, a well-known resident of 'Patea, Tuesday morning, whilst driving sheep on the main road near the top of the hill on the east side of Patea. It is not yet known what happened, but Mr. Ward was found lying on the road unconscious, having sustained severe injuries to the head. He was immediately removed to the hospital, where he now lies in a critical condition.—Press. At Thames yesterday the Hon. G. W, Russell met, a, deputation of fishermen and explained to them how to cheapen the cost of fish to the public, while increasing the receipts of the fishermen. He suggested a scheme of organisation to bring fish to every home at cheap 'prices. He assured tho deputation that the trawling limits would not be altered in the Hauraki Gulf.—Press Association.

There was a vigorous crusade by the ladies yesterday on the Moturoa beach to gather contributions for the Red Cross and Patriotic Funds, with the result that £OO was obtained by the sale of souvenir ribbons and £l2 by a guessing competition. This result is hiehlv gratifying, but we understand that" the amount raised may be still further augmented by the sale of the remaining souvenirs.

Though there was a tremendous influx of motor cars from the country to the Breakwater yesterday, in addition to tlie abnormal local and private car traffic, the organisation was so good that there was no congestion, everything passing off without any accident. At one stage of the day it is estimated that there must have beeu close on ?,00 cars assembled in tbe paddock at Baylyroad, in addition to various lorries that had conveyed coastal visitors and schoolchildren.

At the Police Court yesterday, befo:e Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., a Scandinavian, named Thoralt Oswald George Knudsen was charged with having, between February 25 and March 8, broken and enter ed the whare of Thomas Hy Free, shearer, of Waitaia, and stolen' therefrom a silver watch and chain, £5 in cash, and some foreign coins. Knudsen was arrested at Waitara on March 10. Senior Sergeant Bowden prosecuted. Accused, who pleaded guilty, was committed for sentence to the Supreme Court at Wellington'.

The weather for the harvest (reports the Oreti correspondent of the Southland Times) lias on the whole been of a peculiar nature, rain alternating with hot sultry days. Consequently the oat crops have taken longer to get fit for stacking than otherwise would have been the case had the weather, generally experienced at this time of the year been of a more drying and windy nature. However, most of the crops have been stacked, and quite a number of them threshed, some out of the stook, the return in most cases being fairly good, but not up to the usual Oreti high standard. Here and there one hears of SO and 90, ami even 100 bushels to the acre, but 50 to CO will be about a failaverage yield for the district, and taking into consideration the very dry season we have experienced, it is a very good return. As for the price, some farmers are optimistic, and aver that a rise in the markets must eventuate, owing to the small quantity sown in the province last season. The grass harvest, taken all through, has turned out well, and a capital yield has been threshed in most holdings. The seed is solid and heavy, and already some sales have been made in the district up to 4s lid per bushel, a highly satisfactory return, especially when it is considered that most of the crops were good, and threshed out remarkably -well. EVERY WHIFF A WHIFF OF PLEASURE! Because Rhodesian Dreadnought is first and foremost an all-British tobacco, because it is pure, fragrant, full of flavor, and because it is economical, it should be "your" tobacco. Dreadnought is just the natural leaf, perfectly matured, and paeked undei ideal conditions. Every tin contains full 2o? and is guaranteed to be in perfect condition. This is the tobacco for the man who likes a •■snlul" smoke, and it can be obtained in full and medium strength at all tob:.<-^oi ; ist» -' l s tin. Try Dreadnought—\ j:i i. iik t „ B U[ perhaps you are a' • mxtiiro smoker' IXVICTA MIXTURE -" <m therefore be your choice—a choice Woim „f desian British tobasoosj, is uu (lull 20z.),

No little inconvenience lias been caused for some time past by reason of the fact that the Government transport table has been very irregular. With a View to obviate this for the future, the Government has taken over two large New Zealand-owned ships for transport purposes.

"It is enough for a man to offer his life, without his being financially ruined," remarked Mr Considine, a.member the Third Military Service Board, at Wellington, after expressing the opinion that certain business cases should be taken in hand by the Efficiency Board. "1 know of a woman who spends as much on one hat as I would spend on hats in five years," said Mr. L. A. Edwards, in discussing at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce the question of restricting the importation of non-essentials.

"You never read the weather predictions?" ''No" answered Farmer Jenkins, "i skip them for two reasons. One is that it's no use worrying about what you can't help, and the other is that you never can rely on a prophecy until after it's come true, and then it's too late to make any difference." A Palmwston business man who was present at the National Efficiency Board meeting last week informed the meeting that he had been instructed a few days ago to engage a farm manager at a salary of £5 per week, the applicants to be over military age. He had received no less than 50 applications, mostly from retired farmers, so that as far as this aspect of labor was concerned, the shortage did not appear to be acute.

The reason why the German claims as to the origin of the war are generally rejected by non-Germans is the difficulty of getting quite close to the German point of view. The New York livening Sun, grasping this fact, made a vigorous effort, and succeeded in furnishing the following thoroughly satisfactory explanation of the whole business: "The Allies' plan was, we presume, for Serbia to conquer Austria-Hungary, while Belgium devastated Germany. England, especially, showed her iian'd, when she hurled an enormous army of 100,000 men against only two oi three millions of Germans. . . and these Germans, taken completely by surprise; staggered forward into France, and got nearly as far as Paris, we believe, before they recovered from their astonishment."

A Palmerston resident found himself in a rather awkward position a few days ago. He decided to lop the brandies of a tree near his home, and progressed so well tiiat after some strenuous work he found himself at a dizzy height above Mother Earth. A few more branches clipped off and the job was finished. It was then that he realised that ''being at the top of the tree" in some cases at least had its disadvantages. He had cut off his retreat so effectively that descent seemed a risky undertaking, and he commenced to feel his position keenly. It was a matter of roosting in tho tree indefinitely or calling outside help, and after a parley between the treetop and the folk under the telephone was set in motion, a long fire ladder finally appeared on the scene, and the much-re-lieved tree-chopper was restored to his anxious family circle.—Standard.

The whole of England, said Sir James Carroll, in an address at Gisborne, was deadly engaged in, war purposes. All had awakened to the wart** that the country was at war, and everybody, from the highest to the lowest,"was making sacrifices, and helping to win the war. Proceeding, he referred to the work of the women folk in munition works, besides nursing, volunteer sisterhood, etc. On tram ears women were acting as conductors, and they were also doing agricultaral work. The women folk in the Motherland realised that it was necessary to relieve the manhood of the country for the greater fight. Even the aristocracy, were taking their part, not only in the fighting line, but they had taken on" their coats and were doing manual work! In order to subscribe to the patriotic funds and to the war loans, the aristocracy were disposing of their heirlooms so as to obtain ready cash to put into the various fighting funds. It was impossible for him to detail the whole of what was taking One required to see it to believe.

Mr F. Mills mentioned at the monthly meeting of the Hawera branch of the New Zealand Farmer's Union on Saturday afternoon, that the question of removal of the butter tax had not been lost sight of. The members would reniembci that some time ago a big meeting of dairy factory v representatives was held, when a committee was appointed, to go into the matter, in hand. Recently a circular had been sent around by the National Dairy Association suggesting a further meeting of farmers to get the tax removed. The committee he had referred to was going to Wellington shortly to go into the position, and the advisableness of convening a further meeting of farmers would depend upon the report of the committee. Personally he thought it would be necessary to convene another meeting. The chaii man (Mr A. R. B. Pierie) considered that nothing could be done with regard to the removal of the tax except through Parliament.

When it comes to cheering nothing thing at all like the short, sharp "Hipvah!'' barks of football teams, nor the anaemic attempts that are made at a cheer at some social or patriotic funccan beat a crowd of British "tars." That was made abundantly ovidont at the Wellington Town Hail oft Saturday afternoon, when Captain Hall-Thompson called upon the men to express themselves for the manner in which they had been treated by his Worship the Mavor and the ladies. Their cheers were "notions that could be mentioned. It waß the British cheer, pure and unadulterated, and none ■others are genuine. Only one man said "Hip, hip, hip!" That was Captain Hall-Thompson, and his stentorian tones proved the prelude to a long, roaring "Hurrah!" that exhausted each man's lungs, and whilst they filled again, came the captain's "Hip-hip-hip" once more, until the brave sound smackI ed the back wall and roof of the Town | Hall and rebounded to the galleries. After hearing these men cheer, most people will reluctantly confess that j cheering is a lost art in New Zealand, i HOW FIRESTONE TYRES ARE MADE. These "double-distance" Tyres are made from pure up-river Para Rubber and finest Sea Island Cotton Fabric—both the finest obtainable. But how they are made is a Firestone secret. Firestone chemists have special formulas—blends that make Firestone Treads, Cushion Layers, Breakor Strips and Side Walls absolutely unequalled for toughness, heat resistance and mileage capacity. Firestones have extra quality in seven places—they givo "most miles for the money." Use Firestones! If the garage can't supply, get particulars from A. Hatriek arid Co., Ltd., Wanganui and Wellington, Sie*B ''2e*Und agents.' ' . ""■ >n

There, is now sucli a (shortage of petrol tins in England that the leading motor spirit companies now allow credit for all ' empties returned by motorists. Rather vague was the writtou excuse of a reservist to the Military Service Board at Wellington on Saturday. "I have gone away as I am sick from my back," was his explanation to the board, "If things go on as they are at present there will be no excess profits'next year. The farmers will simply put the monej into the land."—Mr .T. R. Ham* ilton at Winton farmers' meeting. The Defence Department, it is understood, has secured for its use in the New Zealand Reinforcement training camps a. supply of the latest pattern rifles used at the front. These are to be issued ' shortly.

The 25th and 2Gth Reinforcements are to be given their final leave during the Master holidays. The 28ths, the next draft to go into camp, will mobilise one week late, bo that they may have tho full benefit of the holiday period before going into camp.

The number of private motor cars . stolen in America is enormous, as is testified by the fact that when a gang of motor thieves was recently rounded up at. Philadelphia, it was stated that this particular gang was responsible for the theft of more than 1800 cars since the beginning of the year. An American Trust Company, with ai capital of £15,000,000, has just bought immense tracts of land, believed to contain gold and platinum deposits, in the Ural Mountains and Siberia. Other American syndicates are exploring the forests of Northern Russia and the CaUi casian oilfields. A remarkable coincidence came under the notice of the Wellington Military Service Board on Saturday morning. An appellant, who wag appealing on the ground of undue hardship, had just informed the board that he had four brothers at the front, and that two other boys brought up in the family had also gone, when the chairman interrupted and stated that he was sure that this case had already been heard by tho board. His associates appeared to be of the same opinion. The military representative was emphatic as to the contrary, however. Appellant continued in his statement, and at its conclusion the chairman remarked that it was 1 rather a remarkable coincidence, as the board had recently heard the case of another appellant, who also had at tne front four brothers and two boys , brought- up in the family. The chahman was sure now, however, that the appellants were not the same person. Speaking at Saturday's welcome at Wellington to the naval ratings from overseas, Sir James Allen referred toNew Zealand's naval policy. What that policy would bo was not definitely known, but the action in sending men to fight alongside the British soldiers, however, meant that nothing would satisfy the Dominion but a policy that would ensure sending our men to fight alongside Imperial sailors in the Navy. We in New Zealand had to see that our young men had nn opportunity of being framed for the sea. and gathering some of tho gloriou? traditons of the past. It was unthinkable that New Zealand should not have a share in building up those traditions in the future. New Zealand would icarry out • naval policy which would provide for her taking on a fair share of the training of hex own men, who, when the time came, would fight alongside the sailors of the Motherland. They hoped that the competition would 'be to the advantage of and one in which New Zealand would certainly not come second. (Laughter and applause).