LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Post Office advises that nil mails sent to London by the s.s, Rotorua were landed at Plymouth. , ( We are always pleased to record a keen demand for the Daily News. We appreciate our subscribers' high opinion of the journal's usefulness, but unfortunately there are a few readers who are not obtaining their copies in nn honest manner. Complaints are being made H;at the agents' bundles are broken and copies removed before the retailers arrive. There are many degrees of meanness, and these early birds are something approaching the limit. The Central School Committee last night passed a resolution expressing regret at the non inclusion by the Education Board of the name of Mr. R. L. Mollroy, among the three applicants submitted for selection as headmaster of the Central School, in view of his faithful service extending over a period of ten years as assistant at the school. The following are additional results in connection with the successful picnic at Kawaroa Park on Easter Monday: The lady's gold wristlet watch wa9 won by Mrs. F. Jury (No. 445); fill the larder (number of potatoes in sack), A. C. Garner (675 —correct number) Ist; Mr. E'. Knight (085) 2nd. Mrs E. Goou won Mrs Baker's cake. M. Hart won Mrs. Coad's eake. The cake donated by Mrs. T. Collins (Tataraiamaka) netted £7 17s, the canvassers being Misses W. and E. Newell. At the conclusion of the last meeting of the Egmont County Council members, sitting as a board to consider steps to be taken in connection with representation before the National Efficiency Board, Crs. S. Campbell and S. Forsyth were appointed representatives of the southern end and Crs W. R. Wright and J. Young of the northern end to assist and co-operate with the board. Members of the council were also empowered by the council to give evidence before the Appeal Board in any cases in which it is deemed noce iJCP.y. The Efc.iioufc County Council yesterday resolved to snppor* a resolution from the Eketuhuna County Council, requc-st-'ng the Government to erect cold storage at the four main centres, or in conjunction with present works, so as to be able to store all surplus meat and dairy produce, so that our produce can be shipped regularly all the year round. The covering letter pointed out that unless the Government moved in the matter, New Zealand would be faced with a very serious position, probably for several years to come owing to a grave shortage of shipping. At Pmigarehu oil Monday evening there was a record attendance at a farewell socio,l which was tendered to Privates Thcs. Reynolds and Harold Smith, who were about to return to camp. The first-im-mc-d has already been to the front, h-T'ing r-turned. wounded from Gallipoli. but is about t,o go again. Messrs W. R. Wright and Cooper in«de the-presentations, respectively a wristlet watch to Private Reynolds and a pipe and cigarette- holder and mouthpiece to Private I-I. Smith. Mr. W. J. Guild was chairman. During the evening songs were given by Miss Martin and Corporal M. Hughson, both being encored. Mrs. Pope supplied the dance music, Mr. T. Pope making a capable M.C. 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. Revona Soap, Is 6d per tahlot. Qiitainallt frwrwjMra.

In order to accomplish the descent of Mt. Egmont in record time on Easter Sunday, a visitor conceived the remarkable idea of negotiating the return journey by sliding down the mountain side. An hour later he extricated himself from a heap of gravel at the base.—Post. There was a record number of visitors to the mountain during the holidays. Fifty peopde stayed in the old house, a party of 12 occupied the cottage, and welt over 100 sat down for lunch at the new hostel on Sunday, three sittings being necessary. In addition there were about SO casual visitors to the old hoiH'during Sunday. Visitors on Sunday hin! a reminder of the old days before the advent of the motor.car, a party of 12 young ladies arriving on horseback. A story of heartless desertion of a bride elect is told in Napier. A wedding was to have been celebrated a few days ago. All arrangements for the ceremony were well in hand, and an hour before the appointed time the bridegroom, who is a returned "hero," borrowed liis prospective brother-in-law's bicycle to go on a small errand. The bride and the attendants and the impatient minister, after a considerable wait at the church, were obliged to return to their homes in great disappointment, the bridegroom having failed to put in an appearance. He is believed to have pawned the cycle at a well-known dealer's, and then made good his escape, for he has not been seen or heard of since. One of the resolutions passed by the Cofiehbuilders' Conference yesterday draws the attention of the National Efficiency Board to the use of shipping space for the transportation of alcoholic liquor at a time when there- is a shortage of space for essential articles. One delegate stated that importers of goods urgently required by the people of New Zealand had found it impossible to secure space on steamers that were bringing to New Zealand large quantities of beer and whisky. Another delegate mentioned that be had experienced very great difficulty in sending an important consignment of iron plates to a West Coast coal mine, although space had been found on the steamer for a whole shedful of beer. Several important matters are likely to be discussed at the next meeting of the Egmont County Council as Cr. McNeill has given tootice to move a comprehensive series of resolutions as follows:—! and 2, that the council should approach the ratepayers of the Opunake Town Board and of the Parihakn Road Board respectively with a view to merging with the county, (3), that a committee be set up to consider the alteration of various boundaries, so as to provide for a running stream being the boundary instead of roads as at- present; (4), that applications be called for the position of certificated engineer; (si, that the council take the necessary steps to raise a loan over the whole 'comity to enable it to tar seal the whole of the roads in the county. The demand for the suspension of Territorial camps during the war period was supported strongly by delegates to the Coachbuilders' Conference at yesterday's meeting in Wellington. The president (Mr. George Dash) said it was a fact that hundreds of teams were idle on the farms because young men who had not gone to the war had been required to undergo Territorial training in accordance with arrangements made in peace time. It would be far better to abandon the camps and confine military training to the men who joined the forces. Civilian workers should be left at their employment until their turn came for active service. A delegate mentioned that when a Crimean veteran died recently, the Defence authorities took seven apprentices out of one shop on a working day to attend the funeral, a compulsory parade being called for the purpose. This he regarded as a serious and unnecessary interference with industry. The conference carried a motion in favor of the abandonment of Territorial parades during the war period. The prospect of employing women in the coachbuilding industry during the war period was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Coachbuilders' Conference in Wellington. The president (Mr. G. Dash) said he had no doubt that much of the work done in the coachbuilding factories could be undertaken by women if preliminary training was given. Ho believed that it would be possible if the necessity arosa to release some men for active service in the field by taking women into the factories. Mr. W. Ferguson, chairman of the National Efficiency Board, was present, and he mentioned that up to the present- time women had shown a distinct disinclination to come forward for work, of this kind. His suggestion was that when a man was going to the front he should be invited to nominate a woman from his own family to hold his job to the best of her ability during his absence. The man ought to be given facilities for instructing the woman before his departure, This arrangement would prevent a feeling arising among the men that they are being supplanted in their industries' by women, and it, would have its advantage in other directions. Mr. Ferguson asked the coachbuilders to give their attention to the idea and see what steps could be taken in the direction indicated.

The men's ready-to-wear suits at the Melbourne, Ltd., are the finest obtainable, embodying as they do best quality fabrics,,stylish cut and excellent finish, The man who wants a really good, welltailored suit at a moderate price cannot do better than select from the Melbourne's very line stock. Prices: Ts, 30s «d, 49s Cd'„ 50s 6d, (19s Cd and 755. The Xgaero Gardens still hold their own as a pleasure resort, judging from the number of visitors enjoying the many interesting sights to be found therein on taster Monday. The grounds presented a very neat and trim appearance i:i >pilc of the fact that summer is far spent, and its floral beauty almost past. The weather was ideal for such an outing, there being neither excess of heat nor cold. The monkey section of the zoo held a. full audience all day, and from the amount and variety of food offered to them in return for the antics displayed proved that both monkeys and audience were having a good time. The water chute and other attractions were also well patronised. WOOD-MILNE TYRES ARE GUARANTEED FOR 3500 MlLii'S. In itself, that is a, fin** guar \ntee, but many a Wood-Milne T.vivs h s done o'.ose upon 15,000 miles-t'vt argues sound construction, doesn't itV The Wood-Milne is a BRITISH Tyre—that's the secret the Wood-Milre Tyra is made from the very best rubber *nd cotton fabric procurable, i,ml is conscientiously and flarefullv So for downright durability, f„r reasons of jconomy, and because th y JBritisl, you should certainly us' Wood-MiLe Tyres. Bo a practical patrV ««d specify Wood-Milnes straightaway. Ik any case, write for details to your or N.Z. Depot, 167 Vivian Street, Wellington- 15

■'The "go slow" policy spells ruin nationally by spreading slowly through the whole ranks of labor. It lowers efficiency at every point.''—Hon. A. M. Myers, in reference to the coahuiners' attitude. Lord Kitchener, with all his sternness, was remarkably fond of children (says n society writer in England|, and nowhere is he more missed than among tie; children of the Royal family, with whom lie was a great friend. A lady whose fiancee is in Franco wbb one of a theatre party at Sydney theother night. Going home the tram was crowded, and father had to stand. "Sit on my knee, dad," said the girl with a merry smile. "No, my dear," he replied. "I would never have'it said that 1 had taken a soldier's seat." Extracti from a letter from "somewhere ill France":—"Last night I had a taste of New Zealand l<nned rabbit, put up in a Southland factory. It was verv nice and quite a luxury. It b a pity they do not issue tinned rabbits amongst the Army rations." This may be a "tip,"to New Zealanders who are forwarding parrels. "We passed the Garden of Eden coming up," writes a Masterton member of the wireleßs troop in Mesopotamia to his friends, "Great changes must have occurred since Adam's time, for there is very little left in the Garden now. A few date palms, apple trees, and a fig I tree are about all that remain. We al- I so passed the tomb of Ezra, one of the 1 prophets mentioned in the Bible." During the course of his summing up at the Hamilton Supreme Court on Monduy afternoon, his Honour, Mr Justice Hosking, said that if Wc. were to be guided by the criminal clas-es we would give up the police altogether. This class always said the police were not doing the right thing. His opinion of the police was that thev were a conscientious body of men always endeavoring to do their duty. Implying to a protesting deputation in Wellington, the Minister of Railways (Mr. Herries) said: "The truth is that it may come that we shall have to try and prevent you from travelling at all. This is only the first 'cut' and when the Second Division time comes, a much deeper 'cut' may be expected, and it may come to the position in England, where they have to get permission to travel. It may be that we may soon only have two expresses a week to Auckland. The case of Thomas Silsby, who obtained close on £3OOO by means of forged vouchers for alleged supplies to the Porirua Mental Asylum, again demonstrated the value of the trifle in criminology. Silsby carried out an elaborate scheme of robbery, by taking advantage of his position as accounts clerk in the Mental 110-pital Department, to slip forged vouchers in among the genuino ones in favour of J. Thompson, in which name he had a box at the General Post Office. It was some trivial arithmetic error in one of the vouchers which caused it to be sent to the Porirua Asylum for ratification, and then the forgeries were discovered. Otherwise his scheme might still be in operation. A lady who is in Lille with her four little children—her husband is in Salonika—managed to get a letter through the German lines. Among other things she said: "I had paid £2O for a goat, so as to provide milk for the youngest children. The Germans have taken it from me. The other day, being out for a walk with the children, we sat down on the grass by the roadside. I was fined for tiiis, as the grass was looked upon as the property of the Germans, and needed for their cattle. I could tell you of a hundred such petty acts of persecution, but what is the U6e? We must hope on and wait in patience for the great day of deliverance.".

In the course of a letter to friends in Wellington, a New Zealand gunner relates that a new gas helmet Is bcinjf served out to all forces on the British front. Before anyone is allowed to go up to the front-line trenches they are served with thoj-e helmets, and undergo six hours' drill with them, until tuey are proficient enough to adjust the helmet- from a slung position in the space of six seconds. After attaining the necessary speed (which is needed were the trenches of the opposing armies are close together, enabling gas clouds to be liberated from a position fifty yards away), the men are put into huts and "gassed" with tear gas the most penetrating and irritating but not most" dangerous of the gases used), after which their eyes are examined. If they are found to be running as tlie result of gas, the helmet is at once discarded, and another is served out and similarly tested. The Railway Department made a start last week with the employment of women as carriage cleaners. Two have ben engaged, and more will be taken on as required. They are provided with a comfortable retiring room at the Thorndon station. Their work consists of cleaning the interiors of carriages, and they are reported to 'be carrying oat their dtfties in a satisfactory manner. One of the new "hands" is a railwayman's widow, and the other is a wife of a soldier who has been at the front for two years. American manufactures of munitions, and more particularly the financial firm* promoting the sale of war stocks in the stock market, were furiously indignant recently because of anothef statement by Mr Daifielg, Secretary of Navy, paying a glowing tribute to the British lirm of Hadfleids, and denowni.ng the American shell makers "who put profits before patriotism." In answer to the critics of the award to I'r Velds, Mr Daniels made 'a sweeping arr'Vf sment, applauding British workmanship, prices, and all-round efficiency, and refcrv'ng to , the domestic output as cotossnUy inferior. 'Mr Daniels attributed the low qua'i 4 ,y ot America shells and the exorbitant prices to the politicians' idea th°t -Mie Amer i'.'an Admiralty would have to take vh?C they could get in the United States or none at all. He said that the local mei> had not kept pace with England in quality or in promptness of manufacture, and that their prices were 25 to 50 per cent above Hadfleids, Mr Daniels stated that fervent appeals made to American firms, for the sake of the navy and national efficiency, to deliver good shells at reasonable prices were to, little or no purpose, with the result that Washington now felt constrained to establish its iivn plant foj- the army and navy, JJo says that out of thirty-four 14-inch sh'dls submitted by the Bethlehem Steel Company for test three passed a percentage of 8.8, The Crumble ritee) Company managed to get 57.7 jw ;ent. of the sample of shells submit\d pissed, and the Midvale Company, wh'eh nppar. ently showed more enterprise and real desire to bring up the standard than the others, passed 73 pei cent. Of the shells submitted by Hadfleids, Ltd., not a single ine failed to meet all the rcqulrennii'ts, !x the result of Mr, Daniels' statem.liti. the question was raised if an English firm could compete with Aracric, .juring the war what sort of time awaits 'lie United States whan the European war is' ended and competition is one# again In j■ force?

Writing of life on a troopship, Pr(M feasor H. D. Bed fori! who has been acting as 01.C.A. agent, says:—ln the intervals between drill, the men sprawl about the decks playing cards iirnl other games iind reading Their appetite for ilium trated periodicals is insatiable. I have been provided with about a hundred, but the supply was quite inadequate, and at every port of call I found it nece?sarj to replenish my exhausted store. A gicat service would be rendered to ohi soldiers if the people throughout the Doi minion would forward their used magazines to the Y.M.C.A. Men prefer tho short stories and articles in the periodicals to the longer stories in the ordiin ury novels. Mr T. A. Edison, who on February 11 attained his sevontienth birthday, aired an idea not long ago of which one would like to hear more in these days of papet famine—the use of nickel to replace paper for printing purposes, says tha Westminster Gazette. "A sheet ot thousandth of an inch thick, is cheapen tougher and more flexible than an ordin* aiy sheet of book-paper, and will absorb printer's ink equally as well. A nickel book two inches thick would oontain 40/ 000 pages, and would \veigh only a pound." He could make a pound of nickel sheets, he added, for & dollar and a half; but somehow the filckel bopk htq not yet materialised.