LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Government has received instructions from the Home authorities that all persons travelling in the United States must have passports.—Press Association. In addition to the list already published of cases to be dealt with at the sittings of the Supreme Court in New Plymouth next, another divorce action was set down yesterday, namely, Julia Maria Dolores Heather (petitioner) v. Arthur Burgon* Heather (respondent). At the monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Women's Patriotic Committee, on Monday afterno n, it was decided to vote £25 to the Nurses' Memorial Fund. The Mayoress has received the following donations:—The Mayor t. 10s, New Plymouth Women's Patriotic Committee £25.

"Unfortunately," said the InspectorGeneral of Hospital's, when diseussing.the provision of a maternity ward at the Masterton Hospital with members of the Wairarjipa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, "the birth-rate of the Dominion is at present only 35 in the 1000, whereas a few years back it was 36 or 37 in the 1000."

As an indication of the shortage of labor on farms in South Canterbury, a letter 'written by 'Mr. It. J. McKeown, of "Kinnoull," to the Formers' Union, may be quoted. Mr. McKeown, in apologising for his absence from the meeting, wrote: "I am obliged to stop at home and do the most necessary work, as I have no ploughmen), no cowboys, and no shepherd on my farm of SOCIO acres, and I have 4000 sheep to look after." At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, before Mr. A. Crooke, 5..u., a man named John Smith was charged, on remand from the 2nd instant, with helpless drunkenness, and pleaded guilty. Senior Sergeant Bowden stated that the man had been under medical treatment, in the gaol, the expenses incurred being 17s Od . The man himself admitted being scarcely right yet, and the sergeant suggested that, as he had ho money, a default might be ordered, so that he could be kept away for a further period, in a place where there was no whisky. His Worship ordered the defendant to pay tin. cost of medical treatment, in default fourteen days' imprisonment. A flrßt offender was fined 5s for drunkenness, : It is remarkable, considering the (imount of motor traffic, and the rate at which the motors travel, that there wasel no -serious accident to chronicle in connection with the Hawera races. There, were several minor incidents and many narrow escapes, but that is all. A good deal of this immunity was due to titti admirable system adopted by the Hawera Borough Council in Btationlng inspectors at each corner, and compelling outgoing traffic to make- use of different roads, but with their excellent roads they should also enforce a speed limit. The short, .piece of road near tho racecourse, however, was a source of danger, as here the traffic both ways had to use the same road, and it was here that there were some almost hairbreadth escapes.On the first day a pedestrian, fortunately a big man, was struck by a car slowing down, and after being lifted on to tin' bonnet, was deposited on the roadside escaping injury except for a cut on the back of the hand. Two ears were also' slightly damaged as the result of a col-, lision "through the leading one turning into a side street without, warning. .j

One of the most sensational and intor-' psting moving pictures yet produced is. the trip through Death Valley, by motorcar, to be screened at the Empire tonight and to-morrow. It has been aptly termed, " A Flirtation with Death," ns. the character of the material upon which the film is based certainly does, not belie the title. The picture depicts the,incidents attending the successful negotiation of 057 miles of treacherous country between the Sierra Nevada mountains and the sea. The route taken is called the Valley of Death, because of the, many unsuccessful attempts made to traverse it. Apart altogether from its genuine sensationalism the picture, achieves color by virtue of its magnificent portrayal of scenery, which is at once ,ari unrivalled example of Nature's grandeur and a study in clearly defined contrasts. The picture is full of interest and the attention is riveted from start to finish.

The Commissioner of Taxes draws attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in to-day's issue that returns of income must bo furnished not later than Ist June. Forms of return may be obtained at any postal money-order office; they will not be sent to taxpayers from the office of the Commissioner of Taxes unless written application is made for them. Vor Chronic Chest Complaints, Wood's Grant. P anuai'miut Cure. 1/6, 2/0.