LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is stated that the Railway Department proposes to release one thousand men from the staff in both the North and the South Island, or a total of two thousand men.

An Otaki racehorse owner states that, although he is only in a small way, racing has cost him nearly £3OOO in nominations, acceptances, riding fees, travelling, etc., during the past three years. At the request of the Taranaki executive, the Dominion executive of the Farmers' Union recently considered questins relating to the case of farms for soldiers called up for military service. It was resolved: "That where the called-up farmers are willing to sell their farms the Government should purchase the properties at fair value and offer them to returned men."

As showing the great interest of the people of New Zealand in the British Navy ami how highly they appreciate tho splendid work done by the Navy ii> keeping our sea routes open and in oth ways, Mr. .T. B. Harcourt (president of the Navy League) stated at the Aimic dinner in Wellington that out of £120,000 raised for tho widows and orphans of tho men killed in the Battle'of Jutland the Dominion gave no less than £07,000. The first of the celebrated Blue Bird photo-plays will be screened at tho Empire to-night. Owing to previous booking? the picture, entitled "The Crippled Hand." can only be shown for one night.

The first appreciably heavy frost ot (he year was experienced in Hawera yesterday morning. At last night's meeting of the Borough i Council the Citincns' Band was granted permission to take up a collection in aid of the band funds, at the East End on Sunday.

The final result of the Christchureh City Council election gives the Citizens' Association nine representatives, Labor fivo, and Independents two. The new councillors include Mrs. Ada Wells, a Labor nominee.—Press Association. New Zealand must now ask the miners what they may do and when they may do it. The degradation of New Zealand is complete, and New Zealanders have no further say in the laws of the Dominion, and must do so until next election.— Inglewood Record. "There are no bigger 'traitors in the world," said Bishop Julius at the Christ - church Cathedral, "than those men who ore deliberately making large profits out of the war. No less traitors are those men who lay down tlioir tools and let their country's needs go to the dogs." The Railway Department intends on Monday next to remove the embargo on goods traffic provided that no further difficulty occurs with respect to coal supplies. In the meantime, as the necessity for preserving coal stocks still exists, the restricted train service will remain in operation. Thero were 23 voluntary recruits for the Taranaki quota of the 29th reinforcements, leaving a shortage of 89 to he made up by ballot. On the basis of five drawn to one fit man required, this means that the names of 445 Taranaki reservists have been drawn in the ballot just held. These names should be published next Tuesday. Following the defeat of Mr. J. McCombs, M.P., for the Christchureh Mayoralty, upon the conscription issue, Mr. J. 0. Jameson, of Christchureh, has challenged tho member for Lyttelton to resign and re-contest his seat as an opponent of conscrjption. Mr. Jameson offers to pay Mr. McCombs' expenses inp to £SO, if the latter defeats him. A little boy named Coulter, whose parents reside on tho Chcal road, met with a painful accident at Ngaere yesterday morning'. He was playing football with a number of other lads when lie fell and broke his thigh. Dr. Coopei', who was immediately communicated with, was quickly on the spot, and attended to the injured boy.

It is now clear that Germany almost induced the Russian Government to make peace in lfUfi. In Stead's Review for April 14 we find the following: "The report of 11. Milikoff's famous speech, attacking M. Stunner, Ims at last reached Australia. It makes interesting reading, despite the excisions of the Russian censor. From it one can gather that only the intervention of the Duma prevented the conclusion of a separate peace with Germany last year, and it also suggests that, even now, there are powerful influences at work to bring about a deal with the enemy should opportunity offer." A country settler writes to the Hawera Star: "Surely it is time something were done in relation to the all too frequent disappearance of stock from various Taranaki districts. Quite recently one man Inst forty fat cows, another 40 weaner steers, two others ten fat and ten (.tore sheep respectively; one settler lately lost five bulls, and so on, for these are only a few odd instances." Perhaps the executive of the Farmers' Union may be in a position to undertake or initiate enquiries likely to got to the root of the matter, and lead to whatever action may be called for by. the circumstances."

A transport berthed at Port Chalmers yesterday with 57 soldiers, nine o{ whom have returned for duty. Trooper James Howard Mitchell, of Palmerston North, who was suffering from gunshot wounds, died at sea. 'Die only cot cane is Frank Cuiverhouse, of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles. The rest of the men seem in better condition than the average of tho returned soldi'ers. Captain Simpson, of the Wellington medical officers, says that the men enormously improved on the trip. The officer in charge is Major Bennett, from the Bay of Plenty. The vessel experienced moderate weather, mostly fine. The men for north leave early tomorrow morning.

A knowledge of the fact that the mart will next Saturday be under the control of the Bell Block and Hillsborough districts should be a sufficient guarantee that the supply of good things will bo plentiful. Poultry, including ducks and geese, ready dressed, ham, lamb and mutton, cheese, butter and eggs are promised, and those wishing to secure a share are advised to come as soon as convenient after the opening of the mart at 9.30 on Saturday. Gifts of vegetables, flowers. cakes, bread, etc., may be left at the mart between 7 and 8 on Friday evening, or at the side door after 8 on Saturday morning. Mr. 6. H. Billiard, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Mr. John Heslop, member of the Land Board, were engaged yesterday inspecting a 400-acra farm near Kaponga, which has been offered, through Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., to the Government for a Returned Soldiers' Settlement. It will probably cut up into six- comfortnbje farms. The land is first-class, well watered, easily subdivided and quite close to Kaponga school, post office, etc. The price, we understand, is below the current market rates, and we trust the Land Purchase Board will find the property a desirable one to recommend the Government to purchase.—Argus, ■ ■;* ;-j

A conference of representatives of the Taranaki branches of the Jersey Breeders' Association was held at. the office of Mr. 15. Griffiths, New Plymouth, on Monday. There wore, prewnt: Messrs Ranford (in the chair), Belchor, Peterson, Goodson, Ward, Lepper and, Griffiths. The meeting had been called to consider remits for the annual meoting to be held in Auckland next month, and discussion centred around resolutions passed at the last annual meeting but which, had not been acted upon by the council of the association, It *was pointed out that although the~wlll of the members had really been approved, the council had meroly acted in accordfynqe with the powers conferred on it by the association. Notices of motion were therefore framed for proposed amendment to the rules, taking away from the council the power to override resolutions passed at general meetings, and also affirming the principal of voting by proxy.

THE POISONING OF THIRTY' GIRLS in a Melbourne factory by eucalyptus loilies which were evidently made from the common eucalyptus brings home forcibly the importance of using only the GENUINE SANDER EUCALYPTI EXTRACT internally. SANDER'S EX. TRACT sniffed up the nose and thre* drops on sugar, is a sure and safe pro» t.ection from meningitis and other ittj fections. Applied to ulcers, poisonefl wounds, sprains, chilblains, eczemaj PANDER'S EXTRACT brings quick relief and permanent cure, safe.

"There ia no need for pessimism any more tlian there is for unreasonable optimism," said the Mayor of New Plymouth last'night. "A happy medium of the two, I think, will prove of the. greater service. To have faith in your town is the first, essential, and with that as n basis all else will follow in due course, i quite realise that I have laid myself open to tho retort that we all have faith in our town, and I am glad to hear it, for it is justified, hut what I wanted to convey is that it is unwise to force things. A steady push all the time is the surest way to success. I used the word pessimish when taking office from Mr. Wilson, and at that time it was justified, as there seemed amongst some a feeling that, things were really bad. I am glad to-day to feel sure that, in that respect, matters have improved wonderfully, and during the last eighteen months there has been a much happier feeling in thrr town." Whether this was due to the trams or not, he could not say. j

In his address to the members of the Borough Council last night, the Mayor referred to one matter that lie thought was worthy of attention, and that was the fish supply. "We hear," he said, "a great deal of the cost of living, and yet have at our doors an almost unlimited supply of food of which we make little or no use. Other people can come along here, take our fish, and rail it right past us. Living as we do on the sea coast, fish should be accessible to all, and though I do not favor those sort of municipal enterprises if they can be avoided, if private enterprise will not take the matter in hand the council may deem it necessary to do so, as it lias thi> power. There is no reason why fish as [in article of diet should not be as plentiful and as cheap here as at Auckland or any other town in the Dominion."

Attention is directed to the advertisement which appears elsewhere in this issue, inviting tenders for the purchase in lots, or as n whole, of the late Colonel Okoy'a nice properties on the Frankley Road. These are very conveniently situated, and are at no great distance from Westown, to which locality an extension of tho tramways is in contemplation. Men's warm winter underwear, British and Colonial make, can bo obtained at the Melbourne, Ltd., at lowe-r-than-com-petitors prices. For instance: Unbleached heavy cotton singlets :V6; pants 2/11; heavy Colonial-made flannels 4/0; heavy warm fleecy pants and shirts 2/0 and 3/0; splendid winter weight natural singlets 5/0; punts to match 5/11; "Jason" make singlets and pants 7/0 and 7/11.

L. A. Nolan and Co. to draw attention to sale of furniture advertised in this issue on account of Mr. Normßn Day. A perusal of the advertisement will give intending purchasers soliw idea of the excellent quality of the furniture.