LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The fresh rains and warm weather of the past week or so are bringing on the feed again. The rain came just in time to provide grass for the winter months. Not a bed was to be obtained in New Plymouth during the holidays, and in consequence several visiting motorists had to seek accommodation outside. The town could very well do with additional accommodation for 200 or 300 people.. Rain fell early yesterday morning in New Plymouth, but held off for the remainder of the day. The sky was overcast, but the temperature was warm and induced thousands of people to attend tho beach functions. ilt is estimated there were between five to six thousand people at Kawnroft Park, and there was also a fairly large attendance at the East End. Tho Waimate Plains' trots at Hawera attracted moi.'c of the provincial sports. The ,s'olf tournament at the Waiwakaiho rinks was the Mecca of the golnsts, and tho finals at Inglewood of the bowlers. "The worst piece of road between Wellington and New Plymouth is that on the Avenue Itoad, alongside and past the High School," declared a visit' ing motorist yesterday. The road certainly is no credit to tho town, for it is full of holes and ill formed, whilst the hill near the school is more like the bed of a river course than a road. Probably on no road about New Plymouth is there so much motor traffic, and the Council could very profitably give it their attention. The road is very narrow and dangerous, owing to it sloping away in places on the one side and telegraph poles obtruding on the other. As a main thoroughfare it should be widened and provided with a footpath for the full length, and the surface tar-sealed, thus giving it permanence." The traffic returns for the New Zealand railways for the financial year just closed show that the tiital number of passengers for -the rear was 13,124,060, as against 13.252,063 for 101-3-. 10, a decrease of 127,077. Season tickets, on the other hand, show an increase of 25,980, from 303,590 to 329,570. Tho number of eattle, sheep, pigs, and calves carried during the past year was 0,297,351, as compared with 0,(155,880 for 1915-10 a decrease of 358,520; and the tonnage of goods carried also shows a decrease of 182,024, from 5,409,789 t;ons to -5317,7G5. The revenue for the year, on the other hand, shows an increase of £207,880, from £4,171,451 to £4,379,337; while the expenditure fcr the years shows a decrease of £38,203, from £2,087,775 to £2,049,512

The teachers who are attending the cla=s for agricultural instruction in New Plymouth, aro notified to meet at the Good Templar Hall at 1 p.m. to-day, when Mr. A. J. Morton, senior inspector, will give an address. The- water problem is still giving great anxiety to the Wellington Municipal authorities, who stress the need, for strict economy. The long spell of dry weather has had a serious effect on supplies, and in spite of one recent heavy downpour, the reservoirs have not benefited to any great- extent. Temporary recruiting for the thirtieth le-iiiforcements closed on Thursday night, and a ballot will be taken to-morrow to make up the. shortages. Though the various districts have done fairly well in providing voluntary recruits, it is expected that about 3000 names will require to bo drawn, to provide the necessary number of men. A strange ease of loss of memory is reported from the Featherston Military Camp (says the W'airnrapa Daily Times). A young man of good physique had been undergoing the usual training. One morning he was missing from his usual place, and was later found roaming about. His mind was an absolute blank, and he had no recollection of what had happened. He has pot yet recovered his memory. David L. A. Astbury writes to the Hawera Star:—"l submit a saner anil simpler method would have been abolishing the £SOO exemption under the land tax and striking a higher rate, together with a temporary export tax commensurate with the revenue required. This would have been simpler, cheaper to collect, infinitely more just, and would not have created the bitter feeling that exists, would not- have tended to make men dishonest, -would not have thrown taxpayers into the hands of the solicitors, and would have secured all the money needed." The orderly bugler on duty outside Headquarters at Featherston Camp has a duty to attend to, in addition to playing the various camp calls at their appointed times. This duty is known, in. camp parlance, as "whacking the clock,'' the "clock" being a four-foot length of railway iron, slung on a stout gallows. At every hour the bar is-struck with a heavy hammer, and the trumpeter on duty does the striking. The notes produced have a booming, vibrating sound, which is heard all over the camp. The Public Works staff had a similar "clock" during the period that the camp was being built. Trumpeters state that more ability than might be expected is required to "whack the clock" with masterly skill, especially at twelve o'clock. An ingenious contrivance, dealing with kicking and unruly cows at milking time, has been patented by Mr. Collins, of Midhirst. It is in the form of a bracelet made of steel, with a chain about a foot in length, and fits in just above the hock, being put on and taken off in If) seconds. It is a good substitute for the leg rope, which is somewhat clumsy, and becomes dirty after a little use. The bracelet can be dipped in water in a bucket, and in everlasting and clean. A practical test was made recently before Mr. \V. T. Jennings, M.P., and others, and it succeeded beyond expectation, a lively going milker, guilty of bucking and kicking, being placed in the "darbies." The invention was brought under the notice of dairy authorities in Wellington by the member, and approval was expressed with it.

English insurance journals report that a provisional agreement luul been entered into for the amalgamation of the Eagle Insurance Company arid the British Dominions General Insurance Company, Limited. The Eagle was established in the year VBO7 under deed of settlement and was incorporated in 1807 as an unlimited company under the Companies Act. Its funds exceed £2,000,000. The British Dominions was established in 1904 and has accumulations .exceeding £1,700,000. The London Times, referring to the amalgamation, says that the transaction represents in a striking manner the fusion of the old and the modern. It refers to the conservative methods of the Eagle under which a strong connection and valuable business have been built up and adds that'the British Dominions has been earning a big name for itself during the past few years and in association with its enterprising management the Eagle interests .nay be certain of a new lc-ase of life.

The reduction of railway services at the beginning of next month is expected to have an important effect in giving the training camps their full quotas of recruits. The shortage that has been carried forward from month to month to some extent since the compulsory synfem came into operation, but it has not been wiped out completely, owing to the delays that have taken place in getting the eompulsorily enlisted men into camp. The temporary exemption granted to a very large body of railwaymcii, whose names have appeared in bailot lists, has been a considerable factor in this respect, and the release of these men for service with the forces will be welcomed by the training stall'. The released raihvaymen ought to be available for mobilisation very soon aiter the end of this month, since they have already had ample time to arrange their private affairs in anticipation of the termination of their exemption. Quite an interesting event took place at the opening of Te Wakarae school, on the Wanganui river' on Wednesday last. This school was instil recently in the Auckland Education District, but is now under control of Taranaki Board. There was a large gathering of settlers, and Mr. \Y. T. Jennings, M.l'., who presided, was asked by the settlers to make a presentation to Mr.'and Mrs. D. Herliliy, who, with their family, were the pioneer settlers at Te Wakarae-, are now living at lvaimata, Inglewood, having their sons on the bush section The presentation was from the new settlers that had taken up land, and was a recognition of the many neighborly actions shown to them by Mr. and Mrs. Herlihy during their residence of three years in the settlement. One of Mr. Herlihy'* sous, who was up oil filial leave from Wellington camp, received the presentation on behalf of his father and mother. Mr. Herlihy will be remembered as having been for some years chairman of the Moa Dairy Company., When Billie Burke, having completed "Peggy,-" reluctantly left for the East, after what she termed the "most delightful experience of he-r life," she received a remarkable demonstration of popularity. City officials and notables of the photoplay world turned out to bid her farewell. A band and thousands of spectators joined in the march to the station, and garlands were thrown about her. In "PoRSy" her admirers will have a chance to see the unique spectacle reproduced just as it occurred. CARE FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS WILL CARE FOR YOU. Rexona Soap is the secret that makes many a complexion a thing of beauty and a joy for ever. Rexona Soap, Is Gd per tablet. everywhere.

Mr. D. Callinan, manager of the Pon•onby Drum and Fife Band, was loud in his praises of the receptipn the people of New Plymouth gave the boys, and extended a hearty welcqme at any time to a similar hand that, he hopes, will be formed in New Plymouth. The iband has collected over £2OO for patriotic purposes since the war began. He thought New Plymouth could do worse than start a similar band. While in Christchureh last week, Sir James Allen stated that all farmers and farm workers engaged in the camps on home service duties would be released from cam]) by degrees. Instructions to that effect had been issued, and would affect about SI) men in the Trentham Camp all of whom were not, however, farmers or farm workers, some having been employed in essential industries;. *'\Vo shall do our best," Sir James continued, "to supply labor for farms as far as we are a'ble to do it. We have no power to compel ft man to work on a farm, but we can ask him to volunteer to do so. We may have to ask Parliament nest tession to grant us the power to compel men to work, on farms." Both Captain Smith and Mr. Wilson, the chief engineer of the sunk steamer lOtalii, were well known and highly respected in the New Zealand trade. Captain Smith, who was a son in-law of Councillor J. Powell, of Port Chalmers, was very popular in shipping circles. He was chief officer of the Turakina before being appointed 'to the command of the Rakaia. Afterwards he commanded the Otaki and the Hurunui, leaving here last trip in charge of the latter vessel. Some anxiety is being fcl't by her relatives as to whether Mrs Smith was with her husband on the Otaki when that vessel was sunk by the raider. Mr. Wilson, chief engineer of the Otaki, was better known as "Wehausen." .110 was an i,';lilete, and also a very popular man. A playful incident with a sequel that is now pathetic took pbiue when the vessel was last at the Poi';. Mr. Wilson was fond of a turn at a local athlete's BMb dumbbell. The night 'before the Cfcaki sailed he asked for the loan of it, and took it down aboard the ship. Next morning the vessel left early, and the owner of tthe dumb-hell realised that Mr Wilson lmd worked off one of his little jokes, and that some time was likely to elapse before tlie dumb-bell returned—when the steamer came back. The ship will not now rdturn, and the loss of the dumb-bell is regarded as the merest trifle, for the athlete who love., to handle it has lost his life in lighting for his ship—- and his friends say he was jult the kind of man to die rather than give in. A Wellington visitor is much impressed with the signs of go-aheadness in New Plymouth. He had not been in the town for some years. "Then New Plymouth rivalled Nelson for sleepiness. 1 can hardly believe my eyes now. Everywhere I see evidence of progress and development, whilst there is a different air about the people, who in the old days were very pessimistic about prospects generally, but now they are full ot confidence and have the utmost faith in the future of the town and district. And, as far as I can see, they have good reasons. What other town outside tlio big centres have such prospects'/ In the lirst place you have fruitful land at the back of you. That alone, with the good roads permitting of every farmer motoring, is enough to make the town go ahead. But you have unrivalled w beaches, beautiful parks and grounds, the mountain at your door, besides two identities cither of which if it makes good will mean lifting the'town immediately into front rank. I refer to the oil and ironsand industries. I have seen tiie work that is going on in connection with both. '1 have talked with men who know all about them, and I am satisfied you are going to have an excellent run for your money. Apart from these factors, there is one tiling that will shove the place ahead if anything else fails—it is the harbour. You have got the accommodation now, and after the war you will, as surely as night follows day, have, a regular service of Home liners plying to Moturoa. That means more to you than you can estimate. Yes, I have a lot of tickets on New Plymouth, and I'm glad the 'stick-in-the-muds' are satisfied to give up the reins to the younger and more, energetic men, to whose efforts you must look for the realisation of the opportunities within reach of the town" The Empire Theatre was crowded the doors at 7.45 last evening, and many hundreds were turned away. The attraction was the versatile ',Billie" Burke in "Peggy." The same programme is to' be screened again tonight.