LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tim Government lias accepted Messrs. Parkes Bros, block of' land at Kuponga for a soldiers' settlement.

A few days ago the Governor and a party caught 25 fine fish in the Ohau Channel, Kotorua. The largest (OJlb) was caught by his Excellency. All the fish were taken on the fly. The chairman of the Military Appeal Board at Napier stated that all requests by appellants for time to wind up their businesses would be viewed with suspicion, as sufficient warning had been given.—Press Association.

The Napier Harbor Board's dredge J.D.O. was "holed'' by her own anchor yesterday, and as she was taking in n good deal of wator, she was run aground in' the Iron Pot nt the inner harbor.— Press Association,

Every section of the picture-going publie will be delighted with the feature drama, ''Xaked Hearts," screening tonight and to-morrow at Everybody's. It is a charming story adapted from ]jord Tennyson's beautiful poem, "Come into the Garden, Maud." A largely-attended meeting of farmers was held in Whangamomona on Wednesday evening for the purpose of discussing a proposal to (have* cattle and sheep sales at Whangamomona. Mr Geever presided, and a representative committee was set up to interview the auctioneers and select a suitable site for yards and report to next meeting.— Post.

A feature of military service in Taranaki is the keenness of returned men, who have recovered from their illness or wounds, to get back to the front again. Three were passed as fit for service at Stratford on Wednesday, and three lately at Hawera. Several others in the different towns have recently volunteered, some being passed and others rejected. Frank Keenan gives a remarkable performance in the Triangle play "The Sin Ye Do," a very fine .picture' based upon Kipling's line, "The sin ye do by two and two ye must pay for ono by one." He has the role of a lawyer whose ideas of the unwritten law undergo a complete change when he finds his own daughter on trial for killing her father's best friend in defence of her honor. Margery Wilson is an appealing figure as the heroine, and the other members .of the cast, as indeed the whole picture. can only be classed as excellent. This fine film drew a crowded house at the Empire last night, and will be repeated to-night and to-morrow. "We are all aggregating," stated a delegate at the Farmers' Union conference at Marton, when laud laws were under consideration. "There is not one of us who will not buy a property if it suits our purposes and our pockets." Another delegate stated that it was impossible to prevent aggregation by any means. A man could take up as much land as he liked, and put it in somebody else's name. It was the almost unanimous opinion of all the speakers that big estates were detrimental to the Dominion. A collision between two motor-cars occurred at the corner of Devon and Liardet street's at noon, yesterday. A Studebaker car, driven by a young taxWdriver, was proceeding down Devon street with a'number of returned soldiers who were proceeding to the hospital after having been Medical Boarded. A Ford car, driven by Mr Breech, wus seen approaching along Liardct street, and on reaching the intersection the cars came into violent contact. The Studebaker was struck on the rear mudguard. Tt spun round, and was in danser of capsizing. The occupants of botli cars escaped unhurt. The Ford was badly damaged, osneeially the front wheels and axle, whilst the mudguard and one wheel of the Studebaker were damaged.

The fine weather for the holiday and the shipping attracted a big crowd to the breakwater yesterday, and as a eonsequeneo the trams had a very busy time, especially in the early afternoon, when intending passengers at the stopping places along, the South Road were left standing for nearly an hour, owing to the trams being too crowded, and consequently not stopping. Many of those so stranded walked, whilst others adopted the expedient of travelling to town by a returning tram, and recommencing their journey from the centre of the town. There was a similar congestion on the return trip, but by bringing all cars into requisition, and a fast service, the tramway authorities were able to bring • everyone into town before six o'clock.

During their visit to Taranaki last week, the Wellington District Medical Board examined 234 men. Of the ronervists examined, 81 wore classed Fit A, and ISS were relegated to home service as C2. Thirty-eight of those examined were volunteers, including thret returned soldiers. Eighty-two men were dealt with at New Plymouth, 83 at Hawera, and (19 at Stratford. The board will be visiting New Plymouth on .Tune t), and nawera on June 11. AH thosfi reservists drawn in the Seventh ballot, and not already examined, will be dealt with on those 'datos, and volunteers desirous of enlisting are requested to report for examination on the dates mentioned.

The balance-sheet of the Egmont A. and V. Association shows that the credit balance of the year's working is £l7l 15s 4d. The principal items of revenue and expenditure are:—Revenue: Special prizes £435, members' subscriptions £709 entry fees £297, weight-guessine, £4o,'rents £252, gates €334, stand £l9, privileges £lO4, catalogues £l3. Expenditure: Prizes £BB4, wages £253, secretary £l2O, canvassers' commissions £27, interest £139, advertising and printin" £202, miscellaneous charges £lB7, stewards' lunches £OB, judges' expenses £52, vateß £l2O, insurance £lO, carting, etc., £lO, written off subscriptions, etc., £l2. The statement of assets and liabilities shows that the society's property (land and improvements) is valued at £8283; on which there is a mortgage of £2500 (accrued interest £4O). Outstandings are as follows: Members' subs £l7l, special prizes £134, rents £l4B, entry fees £O. The bank overdraft is £O3l.