LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Next Sunday will he the anniversary of the King's Birthday, but the Shops and Offices Act provides that where such 6pecial holidays fall on a Sunday they shall be observed on the following day. It will probably interest many to know that a steamer from America landed enough motor cars in Lyttelton to make up a goods train to Christchurch, says the New Zealand Locomotive Engineers' Journal. Tho cars were unloaded in the Waltham yard, two cases high, and about two or three hundred yards long. During a visit to Waihi recently Mr. H. H. Adams, the well-known mining engineer, a member of the clever NewZealand family of that name, stated to a. number of friends that he had thought out and developed a device for successfully combatting torpedo attacks. He has placed the matter before Mr. Poland, member for the Uistriet, who advised him to furnish' particulars to Sir James Allen. This was done, and it is understood that Sir James coded the details to London.

In a speech at Christchurch Mr. Isitt let the cat put of the bag. He said lahad been talking to a Cabinet Minister, whose genuine character he immensely admired, and he said: "Isitt, I am thoroughly heart-sick. There are some magnificent exceptions, but the bulk of the people are all the same. Labor or capital, capital or labor, they come here and whine and threaten, and they struggle for their own interests, and they don't seem to care a damn for the safety of the Empire." (Loud applause.) The annual meeting of the Provident Investment and Building Society of Taranaki was held on Tuesday night, Mr. G. W. Browne presiding. The report and balance-sheet, showing that the advances last year totalled approximately £IOOO more than the previous year, and that close upon £7OO worth of shares had matured, were adopted. Mr G, W. Browne was re-elected president for the ensuing year, and Messrs W. Mclsaacs and F. Jackson, the retiring directors, were re-elected. Messrs J. S. S. Medley and D. McAlluin were reappointed auditors. It may be of interest to ttye general public to know that William' Fox, the producer of Fox feature films, owns and controlls half a hundred of the most successful picture theatres .in the world. Each feature is screened and given opportunity to prove its worth in the Fox theatres in New York before being offered to showmen throughout the world for Screening to thoir 1 public and patrons. Should any feature fall below the standard of drawing' power set by Wm. Fox in his own theatres that feature is not released as a Fox featur,« but is sold to some other concern and released on an inferior programme. This is the inner secret of the excellence of ;the Fox features screened at Everybody's each Thursday and Friday. Among the passengers on a Wellington tram were a major and a subaltern. The major was accompanied by two ladies, and the junior lieutenant was sitting opposite his Superior" officer. 'Presently the subaltern asked the major if lie might speak to him a moment. The major, in an cighteen-pounder voice, peculiar to his rank, said, "Come over and let me hear what you have to say!" The lieutenant replied,- "I would rather speak to you at the door, sir!" "Well," said the military genius, as he stood up, "Be brief then.' ' All the starch left him when he was quietly informed that some of his buttons of his uniform were undone, which is contrary to military regulations.—Wellington Times. ■Returned soldiers who are patients of the New Plymouth hospital, are indebted to the members of the local Kert Cross Society for many little acts of kindness and consideration, and for all of them express sincere gratitude. The latest benefit conferred upon them is the furnishing of a room at the hospital as a sitting and writing room, where they may enjoy all the comforts of cosy and well-appointed surroundings. Yesterday afternoon the men now in the hospital were entertained to afternoon tea in their room toy Mesdames Crooke and Walker, vice-presidents of the society. The Mayoress (Mrs. C. H. Burgess) was also present. The society desires to extend its thanks to the following for donations: —Mr. Hayden, for carpet; Mrs. D'Arcy Robertson, five cushions; Mrs. Battley, table lamp; Miss Gold water, cushion; Mrs. Morrison, cushion; Mre. Brookman, books; Mrs. Walker, spoons. The committee would be very glad to receive donations of tame games and books for the use' of the soldiers.

The Minister of Defence has received advice of the safe arrival at a port of call of the second portion of the 23rd Reinforcements and tho first portion of the 24th. The health of the troops, is good in "both cases. At bye-election at Westport yesterday for the' Borough Council, to rill the vacancy caused by the death of H. Larien, there were 5 candidates. H. T. Parry lei the poll with 44? votes, the next highest candidate being R. Weeks (Labor) 201 votes. Parry was tho Protestant Association's candidate. Cabinet bass decided to refer the case of Charles Butler, who was found guilty at Christchuhch on May IS of the murder of Henrietta Louisa Foßter, to a board of medical men for their report, medico's appointed are: Dr. Hay (Inspector General of Mental Hospitals), Drs. Trilby King and Beattie, all of whom'are experts in lunacy. The chief postmaster advises that the prohibition against postinu: book packets and newspapers to the United States, except through newspaper publishers and agents, who must have a permit, is again imposed. Any penhit to a publisher or a news-agent already issued is to be regarded as revived and in force. Those who have not already a permit must apply to tho Chief of the General Staff, Defence Department, Wellington, for one. A farmer lamented at the Palmerston Jforth Appeal Board on Saturday that if he was sent to camp he would have to take what he could get for his farm at a forced sale, or forced lease, and suggested that people, knowing lie had to go into camp would take advantage of the fact in a deal. "The fanners are simply cutting their own throats," quoth Mr. D. S. A. Cooper; "they will not try to get managers, or lease the property, or do anything in preparation for going into camp. And then they say it is a case of being forced to sell or lease. It is their own fault."

The Post and Telegraph Department has just issued a complete official telephone directory for Taranaki. It is in a- handy pamphlet form and contains, in addition to the names and numbers of all subscribers in the district, a large amount, of information, which will be found of considerable value to those who have frequent occasion to use the telephone wires. The Department is to be congratulated* on having at length recognised the claims of Taranaki t» be placed on an equal footing with large centres of population, and no doubt this I compliance) with the urgent needs of business men will be greatly appreciated. The children were so delighted with Tuesday's chapters of Pilgrim's Progress that they again crowded in Whiteley Hall to listen to another instalment of the story last night. The children listened with rapt attention as the missioner traced Christian's journey to the Celestial City, his lights i with the giants - ] and the lions, and tile trials and difficulties he encountered, and how he triumphed over all who tried to hinder him, reaching the Celestial City. The story' will be continued this evening at ■' 7 o'clock. ■' N

The iPatea Harbor Board's new dredge "Wallace" recently dredged a huge rimu log, 44 feet in length and 9ft Gin in circumference. The log is covered with sand and shingle, which has the appearance of cement. It was in this mixture that the log was embedded when the dredge's grab caught hold of it.' Fortunately the grab caught hold of it by the extreme end, and was thus able to lift it to the surface as if it were a feather. The haul is a good one for the Harbor Board, as the log has interfered with navigation of the river for somo time- past, boats bumping on it again and asrain. ,

At a time when the Sikhs and the Gurkhas are .fighting so valiantly for our Empire, the lecture on Friday, by the Rev. E. Palgrave Davy, should be of unusual interest. Mr. Davy, wo understand, lived for seven years quite near to the late Lord Kitchener, in Simla, when commander-in-chief of the Indian Army. He will give personal reminiscences of the great hero, also some account of the fighting races, together with life and travels in the Himalaya mountains. ■ The lecture, which will be instructive and humorous, is to be given in the Whiteley Hall on Friday, at 7 o'clock. Adnussion free, with silver collection. )

When it was recently announced that the 1.45 p.m. train from Hawera northwards was to be a goods train only, the president of the local Chamber of Commerce'urged upon the railway authorities that it would be a great convenience to the travelling public if a passenger r'ir could be attached to the train at Hawera, instead of at Stratford. In reply the District Traffic Manager said that the passenger car was attached at Stratford solely for the convenience of school cliildren, and it was not considered that there was any justification for running it from Hawera, seeing that a train was provided at 12 o'clock.

Major Robertson, principal medical officer at Feutlierston camp, informed « Times reporter that the splendid work that had been accomplished by Professor Kirk in practically exterminating adult flies and their larvae at the camp was one of the main causes of the,health of the troops being in' so satisfactory, a condition. Another cause was the system of isolation that had 'boon adopted, and the practice of having the men continually under medical observation. The help that Professor Kirk had given the doctors in camp, said Major Robertson, was invaluable.

An unusual thing happened at Petone on 'Sunday morning, as some men were laying a sewer drain to the railway workshops/ .As the drain had to cross the line it was necessary to work on Sunday. When halfway between the lines the men were surprised at the hard material which their picks had suddenly coir" in enntact with. The result of an investigation proved that they had come unon a mass of pure copper valued, approximately, at £35. How the copper got there is a mystery, and the only possible theory advanced is that the position nf the find is the old site of the coppersmith's shop which, with other buildings, was removed to make way for the double line of rails, and in the removal the copper was overlooked. By means of a derrick the copper was removed to a place of safety, and no doubt will be used in the 'building of railway stock.

Everyone knows and acknowledges that the Melbourne, Ltd., quote the lowest prices in Taranaki and they constantly prove it. Increased returns mean "smaller profits so that in these times of terribly high prices greater patronage is to our mutual advantage. Help us to keep the prices down.

Cold nights bring no dread to the lucky users of a NORTH BRITISH HOT WATER BOTTLE—the bottle for long wear. Look for the "Unique" stopper. All reliable trad**«. ■ ■ .

Some amusement was caused at the Wanganui Races on .Saturday by a man, slightly "under the influence," trying to take a short cut from the kiosk to the grandstand by way of the lakelet. He waß helped from bin watery path by a good-natured soldier, none the worse for his immersion.

Princess Patricia, has an autograph album, and in the days of her childhood she used to rule this book out into neat little divisions, one each fo/a signature. When she asked the Kaiser to write his name he scrawled it rig.ii across the page. and surrounded it with three bold circles—quite irrespective of the neatlydrawn little departments. At the time Princess Patricia was very grieved, but from subsequent events she considers tin? page of her album a symbol of what the All-'Highcst was going to do to Europe

A typical case of the sacrifices kome women are called upon to bear in connection with the war is illustrated in a VVestport family, says a local paper. Mip W. O'Ncil, who lost her' husband within the last two years, has seen a married son and two single sons, voluntary enlistcrs, off to the war. A fourth son was drawn in the ballot two or throe months ago, and the last male' member of the family, who has just come of age and registered himself, was immediately drawn in the ballot.

Is there any Englishwoman who wouldn't lovo to godmother thousands ot Tommies? says a writer in the Gentlewoman. Myself I felt fdled with envy when I heard of a rich Frenchwoman and her daughter who have godsons among the Poilus. These two wonderful women spend their whole time, with the aid of a secretary (and I must add that their husband and father is allowed to take part in the work), in forwarding all the romforts and nice things that heir rrodsons need. The mother and daughter must write from morning until night for I am told they personally answer almost every letter from a Poilus themselves, and that already 33,000 lettors have reached them! Every day the mere man of the house, helped by the secretary, despatches hundreds of parcels to meet the demands of godsons. Two or throe good fellows on leave are always staying in relays at the house. (July one restriction is placed upon a indsfin—ho must hail from nn invaded province of Prance. So far, the name of the generous godparent has been kept a secret. That the Nelson district contains a number of long-lived residents is evident from a report which appears in The Mail of an "Old Folks at Home" gathering at Richmond last Friday afternoon. The Mail says: —"On an analysis of the audience of some 150 persons, most of v.liom claimed to have seen at least 60 summers, it was discovered that there were present no less than 18 over 70 years of age, 10 over 75, 0 over 80, 3 (iver 81, £ oyer 82. The "queen" of the -pseuibTagfe proved to be a great-gre&t-Mrs Haycock. Of those .longfesi, \i the district, there were 21 wv^t'6l)-ffears' resident, 10 over 55, 14 cfrpf. p/s over 05, (! over 70, 3 over 75. ifeYSj'inpi was acknowledged as prizea score of 70 Mr. Tunnialso awarded a beautiful !jjju«t because he bad been in the DfthMim for 70 years. The double evitiMfor the couple longest married an4)'ftill going strong" was won by Mr andlfe Fittall. Mr Mackay, aged 82, havjaj been converted in Nelson Hospital at lift age' of 17, was hailed as the holdcHof the longest Christian record. Mr Mickay gave a number of interesting facts'Teonnected with his arrival and f.irly life in New Zealand, and produced a framed picture depicting his family with nil its farm belongings about to embark from a Scottish port.