LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The iFukekura Park Board thankful! v acknowledges the receipt of the follow'ing subscriptions:—Mrs Freeth 10s; Rev Osborne 10s, Miss Pelham 10s fld, Dr. Whitton 10s 6d. Charming Louise Lovely, the Australian actress, who is now a foremost motion picture star in America, will make her second local appearance at Everybody's to-morrow night in "Bobbie of the Ballet," a fascinating photo-play of), theatrical life with Hiss Lovely as "Bopbic." Replying to a question Sir James Allen said;--"I think it is intended that men in the First Division classed C2 (Home Service), shall'be re-examined. My own opinion is that every mail in tho First Division should be re-examined before tho Second Division is called iip."

On Saturday afternoon Mr. John McCoy, a very old and well-known resident of New Plymouth, had the misfortune to slip on the pavement and break one of his legs. Mr. McCoy was going to his home in Cameron street from his employment at the freezing works when the painful mishap occurred.*He is now progressing satisfactorily. At the euchre party and dance in the East End pavilion last week the prizes in the card tournament were won as follows:—Ladies, first Mrs. Hardgraves, second Mrs. J. |Pattison; men, first Mr. Millman, second Mr. W. Davies. Messrs A, B. Mackie and J. Roch supervised the tournament A dance followed, Miss George providing the music and Mr. W. Hardgraves acting as M.C.

"Going over the top" is not all joy, apparently. Ono-' who has been in the thick of it says that the first feeling when standing on the topi 0 f the trench is one of wonderment that any of them escape, as the •whistling of hu'Uets is heard on overy, side. And yet the British troops march slowly and calmly forward as if there were no such thing as danger in the work. To abduct a parson from his bath-rub and carry him off to assist in a marriage ceremony seems a daring proceeding, but this iB nothing to the other whirlwind efforts of Douglas Fairbanks' in "The Matrimaniac," a new Triangle play commencing at the Emnire to,-night. It is little wonder that the two of them are taken for escaped, lunatics, and the train officials wire ahead for officers. The picture is described as a rollicking romance full of lightning surprises, and .clever athletic feats performed in the Fairbanks way. Notwithstanding the bleak weather, there was a fair attendance a!t the band recital whicfy after several postponements, eventuated at the East End beach. The band, under Bandmaster P. W. G. McLeod, played on the lee side of the pavilion, the audience enjoying th« music from the balcony. The majority of the items were new to a New Plymouth audience, which showed its appreciation of the excellent rendition. Thecollection realised £4 3s 6d. ''

Capital business was done by the ladies of the Tennis and Croquet Clubs, in charge of the Mart on Saturday, the sum of £BB being realised from all sources. The "surprise bug" novelty proved a decided attraction.lall the bags provided, about 500, being febld out before noon, and it is believed that had the number been five times as great they would have found eager purchasers. Next Saturday the ladies and members of the Red Cross Society will be ih charge.

In the Wellington 'Supreme .Court last week Leonard Cloake sued the Hutt County Council for - £350, 12s special damages, and £IOO general damages, in respect of an accident occurring to plaintiff on Mav 13. 1910, on the Paekakariki Hill. Plaintiff alleged that' through faulty construction by the. defendant council, a portion of the road on the iPnekakariki Hill gave way as he drove a motor lorry loaded with furniture, over it, The lorry had fallen about 30ft down a hillside, and, along with the furniture, was considerably damaged. The defence denied faulty construction of the road, but alleged negligence on the part of plaintiff. The jury came back with a verdict for plaintiff, assessing damages at £250.

As showing that sharemilkers are available, and incidentally illustrating the value of judicious advertising, the experience of Mr. S. Topliss, of Urenui, is well worth recording. Some weeks back, he states, he inserted an advertisement in the Daily News for sharemilkers, to milk GO cows by machine. By 9 o'clock on the day of its first appearance ho had been rung up by two applicants, and later in the day was interviewed by others. The next day he was interviewed by ten. In all he obtained 42 answers to his inquiry, three hailing from Christchurch, two from Auckland, two from Wanganui, one from Feilding, and the remainder from parts of Taranakt He was not only able to suit himself, but two 6f his neighbors, to whom he referred isome of the applicants, -were also f»nm iijt same lisjg

Sir James Allen says the number of Hansards printed next session will have to be reduced, owing to the shortage of paper. It would be no loss, and save a lot «f money, if Hansard was discontinued entirely.

There are forty-one freezing works is tho Dominion, twenty-live being in the North Island, and sixteen in th« South Island. These works have a total daily "killing capacity" of 130.300 sheep afld 3590 cattle. The storage space is equal to 4,647,000 freight carcasses of 601b each.

Writing to the Wellington Post a correspondent makes these comments: "In view of the fact {flat three moto-car parties have met with serious accidents on the Paekakariki Hill within the past week it, appears to be high time that the authorities took in hand the'convpletion of the Upper Hutt-Waikanae road. There remains but about three miles of road formation *nd two small bridges to erect to .complete; the work. The road, which for many miles is bounded on both sides by beautiful and rare native bush, is a nice easy grade, and would be a boon to motorists. The distance from Wellington via the TJpper Hutt-Waikanae road is tho same as the route taking in Paekakariki Hill, so the pain to motorists would be very great." The Paekakariki is the bugbear of all motorists fiom Taranajd, who with a different route provided could more often go through to the Empire city.

The question of providing homes at reasonable rent for soldiers and their families is going to be a big problem in New Zealand, and the Wanganui Patriotic Association intends to tako practical steps towards its solution. At n meeting of the association a committee was set up to have a trial home built on one of the gift sections at a cost, on a 5 per .:cnt. basis, not to exceed 12s fld per week rental. It is agreed that if the experiment is successful mariy .more homes will be built on similar lines. If was pointed out that this would be a financially safe investment for the association's funds, and as a matter of principle the association would carry out its objects on the most humane and liberal Hues. Mr. Gibbons mentioned that theassociation was at present paying rents for fourteen families, from 16s per week downwards, though some of the soldiers' j wives were paying £ 1 per week and the houses were poor even at that rental.

One of the institutions of our town which never fails to secure the sympathy, .of the public is the' Pukckura Park, In full reliance upon this the Bbard has resolved to make its annual appeal for funds. A committee of ladies have met and have cheerfully undertaken the organisation of those who in the past as collectors, have done good service to the Board, and who now, although they have for nearly three years worked hard for patriotic purposes, will gladly find time to do their little hit for their park. They doubtless realise that to maintain the Park money is indispcnsible, and to effect improvements still more money is required. The long list of contemplated improvements mentioned by Mr. Percy Smith", the retiring chairman, in his report, is a sufficient reason why the citizens and.our country friendu should respond liberally to the appeal, We have been requested to mention that the committee hope that all collectors will be good enough to meet at Mr. Hughes' office this evening at 7.30 to make final arrangements for next Saturday. During the year 1915 produce to the value of £25',389,<}30 was shipped to the United Kingdom in 95 steamers, and during 1910 the higher prices ruling brought the value of a smaller quantity, taken away by 84 steamers, up to £20,809,988. The comparison brought up to date shows that 90 steamers left for the United Kingdom iu the twelve months ending March sl, 1910, with produce worth £25,837,037, j whereas only 82 steamers left during the . vcar ending March 31, 1917, carrying cargoes to the value of £25,292,501. Prices were ruling higher during the j latter period, but the greatly reduced I quantity exported brought the total' valuation down by over half a million J pounds sterling! It cannot yet be estimated to what extent our available shipping.will be curtailed in the future, but it is probably an optihiistic view to contemplate further reduction at the same rate as in the past. Accepting *his as a possibility it wo\ild mean that during 1917 our produce will have to be carried by 20 per cent, less steamers: than we had available in 1915.—Auckland Herald. I A Christchurch resident has received a letter from the wife of a highly-placed; r.aval officer in England; in the course of which she says:*-"New Zealanderfl have indeed* done nobly. $ If you could see the difference between the English Tommy, good little man, and the Australasians, you would rub your eyes.' Your people are like deer, with their graceful limbs, large eyes, and a look of race. It is just the difference between people who have to struggle for existence in an over-populated old country with grey skies, and those who have room to grow and improve as well as work." The same lady, who is in a position to speak with some weight, expresses very well what mosi cf us feel >in regard to the British Wavy. She writes:—"l like what you say about trie Navy. Silent .people are sometimes voted dullj but our silent Navy is full ot the very best sort .of spirit, and it is good to <eel that it is not less fine than In Nelson's day, but finer;, for it is more sober, clean-minded, more intellectual than the Navy of 100 odd years ago, and the health 'of tho men, and the dead monotony of the life, is a real tribute to the officers, medical and others."

In this issue Messrs T. P. Hughson and' Sons, of Rahotu, invite tenders for cutting and carting 200 cord of firewood. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., Will submit to auction on Wednesday, May 30, dairy and other stock and farm implements on account of Mr. Jas Spriggins, Beaconsfield Road, Stratford. The price of all wool Colonial blankets being almost prohibitive, many peoplo will be glad to know that the, Melbourne, Ltd., have opened out another lot of full size wadded quilts to sell again at 12s 9d. These bed covers are much warmer than hjankets and only a third of the price. ■ HEAVY DRINKER EOR YEARS. "Although a heavy drinker for years, my husband is now off the drink, thanks to 'Drinko.' It is wonderful stuff." So writes a grateful wife. Drinko can be given secretly in.liquid or food. Vvmo for free booklet, in sealed envelope, giving full details. State if Mr., Mrs., or Miss.. Lady Manager, Drinko Proprietory, 212 J,, Lambtbn Chambers, Wellington. For Cteonic Chest Complaints, I Wood's Great Peppermint Cure. 1/6, 2/0,

The local men for the 30th Reinforcements frill leave for camp on Wednesday next, 30th instant. The public and band are request*! to be present at the official farewelli

An Auckland writer i« responsible for the statement f&at a census is being talcw of the number of peaple deriving their living front racing and the number dependent upon them, which will be presented to the Government in due course.

A visit to "The Pawnshop" is not always a cheering sensation, nevertheless over 1000 people laughed until their sides ached watching the inimitable Charlie Chaplin as the pftwnbrokon at Everybody's on Saturday This humorous picture will be finally screened to-night. Now that the wool clip of the Auckland provincial district has been gathered into store in the city, for the purpose of valuation under the requisition made by the Government on behalf of the Imperial authorities, it is possible (says the Herald) to give an approximate estimate of the yield of the provincial flocks for tho season just about completed. 'Up to date 38,000 bales of wool are to hand, and, escepb for the crutchings yet to come, only oddments remain to be received. The value may be stated roughly at £2l a bale, so that the total product of the wool industry for the season works'out;at about £7©8.000. According to the Government Statistician's returns the export of wool from the province for the 12 months ended March 31, 1010, was valued at £694,015.