LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

I. ho Twenty-sixth Reinforcements ;irinow itt Trcntham', and will be transferred to Feathers ton iu a few days' time.

According to a telegram from Greymouth, the waterside'rs at that port decided yesterday, by 104 votes to 9, to ■accept the new agreement with the employers. Five large sharks were, seen off tho coast on Wednesday .afternoon by a small party who were climbing Paritutu. The sharks .were large ones, and were disporting themselves seaward, the whites of the bellies being visible sis they turned.

There was a good deal of interest manifested in South Taranaki in the election for a seat on the New Plymouth Harbor Board, between ill'. C. K. Me(iuinness and D. Astbury. The former won by 237 to 153 votes.

The new system of troop trains from Wellington was begun on Wednesday, when two trains, each carrying 1000 men, came to the city from Trentham, and returned in the evening. Similar trains will run every Wednesday and Saturday. A start was made at Wellington yesterday (reports the Pres3 Association) to unload a vessel which has been lying unworked and full of coal for some time. The unloading also began of another full collier just arrived. The committee of Taranaki producers is to meet-the Minister and the Board of Trade at Wellington to-day, with representatives from other parts of the North Island, to discuss the butter-fat levy. At the recent sitting of the Medical Board in Taranaki 49 men were olassip tied as A (fit) and 55 as C2 (home service), while 2 were classified as D (unfit for service). The figures for the contres where the Board sat are as 'follows: New Plymouth 22 A, 21 02, and 1 D; Stratford 11 A, 12C2, and 1 D; Hawora, 16 A, 22 C2. That the position of borough councillor is no sinecure will soon be apparent to the newly-elected members of the Council who have not previously seen public service in that body, for immediately after their election notices were posted calling them to a committee meeting on an important matter at 1 p.m. the next day. A largely attended meeting of members of the Westown Patriotic Committee wis held last night. Several members of tin:. JVest End School Committee were present. and matters of great importance to education in the district were discussed. It was decided that a deputation, consisting of Messrs J. D. Sole, J. Clarke, Jas Oarcia, P. J. Hill and W. H. Haddrell should combine with the West End School Committee and wait on the Minister of Education this afternoon.

The quantity of butter produced in the Auckland provincial district in the present season—from July 1, is 527,458 boxes, as against 487,341 boxes in 1 tho corresponding period of the 1015-10 season (states the New Zealand Herald). The production of cheese for the present season has been f10,6G0 crates, as against 57,850 crates in the previous corresponding period. The increase thus shown is over eight per cent, in regard to butter and 56 per cent, in regard to cheese.

Thei comet, about which s» muoh has been, heard of late, may, on a clear moniing, be seen to the best, advantage at about.s a.m., before the dawn brqaks. It is not very bright as yet, but it is getting; larger and brighter, while eaoh day it rises a. little later. It will probably be viable during the whole of thio winter, during the latter part of which it will go round to the other side of the sun and be visible in. the evening. Not much is known about this celestial visitor, as the latest astronomical books and periodicals to hand have no mention of it.

"Before we start," said Mr. W. L. Foster, headmaster of the Clyde Quay School, Wellington, at the Aijzac Day •function, ''l want every one of you who has a father, brother, cousin, or any relative at the war to put up your hands!" Instantly every child in the big room raised a hand—the air was full of hands —and on a lower level were the eyes of their owners, glistening with pride at the fact that people of their own flesh and blood were engaged in the great fight for freedom, It was difficult to imagine any more striking demonstration of the whole-hearted loyalty of the people of the Dominion. Tho mart will on Saturday, 28th, be under the control of tho Girls' Friendly Society, and the secretary hopes that sJI members, past and present, will ■ally to the aid of the society both in bringing gifts and in buying. Besides tho usual supply of good home-made preserves and pickles thero will be cooked ham and other meats, potted meat, apple turnovers, home-made bread and cakes, sausage rolls, shortbread and other wholesome fare. A "special feature will be the display of artistic glove and handkerchief boxes, liberty boxes, china and basket ware. The floral portion of the mart will be under the management of the Horticultural Society, and the supply of chrysanthemums and other autumn flowers is expected to prove a. record, Gifts may ' be left at the mart on Friday evening between 7 and 8, or as soon after 8 as possible on Saturday morning. The mart will be open to purchasers at 9.30 a.m.

Word was received on Wednesday by Mr. M'Leod, bandmaster, that four members of his late band (Ipswich, Queensland), comprising Messrs. Burgmeister, Hugliie Brown, J'earce and Gray, made the journey to Glen Innes, N.S.W., during the JDaster holidays, and annexed the quartette championship, secured first and second in the cornet solo, and first in the tenor hotn solo. Mr. Burgmdister _ secured the Queensland cornet championship under Mr. M'Leod's guidance, the remaining three players having also been ptipils of their late bandmaster for some time. Mr. Wade, late of Wanganui, who succeeded Mr. M'Leod at Ipswich, has removed to Brisbane, and the band are at present being conducted by another pupil (Mr. A. Clark). It apparently did not take long for the Queensland men to notify their foyner tutor of these fresh laurels. The annual meeting of tho Tarnnaki Acclimatisation Society will be held in the Soldiers' Club rooms at 8 o'clock to-night.

INTERESTING TO MOTHERS-lIOW TO CURE COUGHS AND COLDS.

The Wanganui tramways receipts for the last year exceeded those of the previous year by £3427, equal to over 18 per cent., and the credit balance amounted to £2254, as against £1450 for the. previous year, an improvement of £798. A deputation of those interested in school matters waited on the Minister for Education, Hon. J. A. llanan, at Palmerston J!|prtli yesterday in connection with the proposed closing of the Bulls D.H. School on account of the fall-ing-ofi in attendance. These at the Melbourne, Ltd.—Children's . pyjaina combinations, 2/11; ladies' grev fleece-lined bloomers, 3/0g men's fawn fleece-lined pants and shirt; 8/0: hoys' new tweed overcoats, 11/11 to 13/0; youths' sizes up to 27/0; little boys' smart liydrotite raincoats, i. to 27/0; youths' sizes, 2!)/fl to 3!)/0. Cattle of all description are ill keen demand in Southland at present. A Wanganui 'buyer lias secured some 000 young cattle, which lie has consigned to the North Island. October calves brought up to £5 7s fld recently, and at Tuesday's sale at Wallacetown fat tattle realised up to 40s per 1001b. For a bullock of exceptional size and quality £3l was offered, at which price it was passed in, the .owner's reserve being £35. The weisrth of the beast was estimated at MOOH). , Adviees received hv Auckland commercial houses indicates (says the Auckland Herald) that the congestion on the eastern railways of Canada contiiu s to bo serious, chiefly on account of the heavy movement of agricultural products and of munitions of war. Many industrial estajblishments were, at latest advices, being inconvenienced through lack of steam coal and coke, not, however, through any such labor troubles as are experienced in New Zealand,, but on account of the difficulty of conveyance.

A rare opportunity of seeing the planon Mercury presents itself just now. The planet appears alternately as a morning and an evening star, but is never far from the sun, being visible as a rule in twilight only. This render* it difficult to identify unless placed near some prominent object like the moon To-night the sun sets at a quarter past ■five, a few minutes after which Mercury may be seen close to and on tho southern side of the moon, itself only one day a-half old. Mercury sets just before six o'clock, and the moon a few minutes Inter. The planet will be visible now for several evening?, its next appearance in the evening sky being exactly four months hence.

•Some idea of the extent of tho mice plague, may be gathered from the following experience of n country storekeeper, published in an Australian contemporary:—A storekeeper noticed for some time that his Btock had been undergoing depletion, hut the climax came when he was awakened one night by mice nibbling at his nails, and on rising from his 'bed foumi iriat his premises were full of the vermin. Another night lie uvas disturbed by what he thought was rain, but investigation proved that the roof was covered with mice. The stock in bis shop, with the exception of hardware, has been completely ruined. Groceries of every description were eaten, holes were nibbled in boots and shoes, and even labels disappeared from tinned goods. All that remained of a case of starch were empty packets riddled with holes. Packers of pencils were destroyed, the wood evidently proving tasty to the rodents, which even went so far as to attack leaden bullets in cartridges. Iti is estimated that the damage to the stock amounted to £3OO. If matters d<: not improve, he will leave the district. His house had been partly undermined, and his vegetable garden hod completely disappeared.

Tlmt the tremendous demand for iron ore, erented by the wan. has led to close search for new sources of supply 011 the part of overseas merchants, was proved lately by a cabled request received by Mr. R. R. Hunt, of Auckland, esking if 3000 tons of iron ore could be shipped from Parapara, Nelson, to England, France, or Italy .After consultation with the Parapara Iron Ore Companies, It was found that none could be shipped, for the reason that capital was lucking to erect tlio necessary plant to convey and loa,d the ore into the vessel. It was stated that one of the companies had 2000 tons of ore available but owing to the difficulty mentioned, and the shortage of shipping space, nothing could be dune in the matter. As the development of New Zealand's natural resources is a matter that is receiving a good deal of attention just now, and a heavy demand for iron ore is predicted for many yuara after .the war), the suggestion that the Government should take steps towards aiding this industry hns been made to the Efficiency Board by Mr. Hunt.

Good taible potatoes Vve been so difficult' to obtain that the soiling of 100 sacks of prime Canterbury Up-to-dates and Dakota Reds by Webster Bros, on Saturday next will be an item of interest with this issue. 'We understand this is the first of regular consignments sent direct from the grower.

The raw leaf tobacco which Great Britain and Australia use for the manufacture of their smoking tobaccos is almost entirely of American origin, and' huge sums of money go annually to the U.S.A. Why not keep that money wiuiin our own country and Empire? Now that New Zealand has its own tobacco industry we need import foreign brands no longer. Gold Pouch, iNew Zealanc*grown tobacco, excels all others in mildness and flavor, it contains'far less nicotine and is thus less harmful. Support local industries that give profitable employment to our own folk and benefit our population. But Gold Pouch is not only better and purer than the foreign article, it is more economical, too, 2}oi«. —as against l^ozs. —for Is. Cigarette smokers should use New Zealand-grown ''Three Diamonds" tobacco, far superior to the imported brands —21ozs. for Is. It was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria, at Melbourne, that (1) SANDER'S EXTRACT is mucli more powerfully healing and antiseptic than ordinary eucalvptus preparations; (2) SANDER'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 if you have to—and be Bafe. COUGH MEDICINE FOR CHILDREN Never give a child a cough medieiiuthat contains opium in any form. When opium is given, other and more serious diseases may follow. Long experienco has demonstrated that there is no better or safer medicine for coughs, colds and croup in children than Chamberlain's Cough Remedy, It is equally valuable for adults. Try it. It contains 110 opium or other harmful drug. Sold everywhere,

A telegram froin Wellington Btatea that new regulations have been -gazetted for the taking of a coal census. Though electioneering matters wor. quiet in New Plymouth on Wednesday, the officials engaged at the central polling booth at the Drill Hull had one or two oxciting incidents to relieve tha monotony. Early in the day a wellknown New Plymouth resident of some avoirdupois, who had evidently found the excitement too strenuous, applied for his papers. It was thought that he lmd remained rather long in the screened-olf compartment, apparently cogitating a< to file correct placing of his vote, when suddenly there wes a crash and he and the sc.reen were found to be mixed up on the floor, the voter having before operating on his papers gone to sleep with his head on the. voting deßk, which had q6t been built for this purpose and duly resented it. He was eviraeted from his position and duly st.n ted on his way home. Just before closing, a lady who had delayed the exercise of her vote until almost too late, was hurrying into one of the secret compartments, when she stepped on one of the inequalities of the floor and came to grief, bringing with her the screen. She fortunately wu unhyrt, and treated the matter very philosophically; rather, in fact, appreciating it as a good joke.