LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Whangomomona has lately been almost free from rain, in contradistinction to most other places, which have had abundant. A -Stratford man writes from Home that there arc over two million men encamped on Salisbury Plain. Many men hnd been wounded two or three times, and were still being sent back to the firing line. It is notified for general information in the Gazette that the following classes of cheese may be exported to consignees Other than the British Government in (lie United Kingdom and British possesMunS and protectorates:—Stilton cheese, [(heddar cheese (third grade), Cheddar (Ijcese (first or second grade) or less size than that known as "export size," d'ttiry cheese. Applications must lie >l>ade to the local Collector of Customs, specifying the marks and numbers, number of packages, names of shippers and oonrignees, names of exporting vessels, and port 6 of final departure from New Zealand.

A resident of Patea, 'Mr. R. Hunt, had a urost unenviable experience at an earlT hour on Wednesday morning, says the'Patea Press. Shortly before one * 'clock he was awakened by a crackling toimc &nd rovnd the room in which he was slopping full of smoke and a small Same tominc through the ceiling. After wakening Mrs. Hunt and his children h,e rushed outside clad only in pyjamas ,\Uid climbing iupon the verandah ascerT.ainei tliM through the pale vires had fused and ignited the wood - work at the Sicad of the verandah. After a .keen struggle., Mr. Hunt was fortunate enough to check the flames in spite o: ihe sole tfrhat woe Mowing

The Wellington City Council lias decided to obtain power from the Government to prohibit the playifig of golt on Sundays. According to a contemporary N.Z. is vastly ahead of the other Dominions in iter contribution of man power to the Empire. She had sent away (IS per cent, of her men, leaving 32 per cent, at home. Australia has sent 24 per cent and Canada 23.

A Lepperton resident lias received a letter from a New Zealand soldier, now in England, who was noted for his wide vocabulary of slang, stating that he could not understand the English ladies and they could not understand him at first He was now g-'-ting over that and was giving up the use of slang. Just previous to writing the lettfcr, he was handed a cake by a lady, and remarked, "These are lionkns gadgets," when, the lady asked if that was Maori. The war, says a contemporary, is making parsons do unusual and unconventional things. On Sunday night Dr. Gibb asked liis congregation to pass a resolution in favour of 0 o'clock closing for hotels. Now news comes that the Rev. B. T. Rooke, rector of Little Braxted, Essex, decided in March last to discontinue the Sunday afternoon and evening services, so that his parishioners can work in their garden. He will work in the rectory garden on Sundays himself.

The Government of Victoria took the reading problem in hand. A Commission consisting of three engineers were appointed, and they defined .the arterial roßds of the State and assessed the cost of modern construction as between the responsible local bodies. They then proceeded with a three-years' portion of the general scheme arranging for the expenditure of four million pounds over the three years. Of this cost the Government itself pays 50 per cent.; and the other 50 per cent is allocated pro* portionately over the different interested areas for repayment over a period of thirty years, the Government, 'however reserving the right to strike a rate, as a protective measure, should it be found necessary so to do. Returned soldiers are not taking very kindly to lighthouse-keeping, which, however, is very seldom looked upon as an attractive occupation. Owing to various causes the service has been seriously depleted of men, and, despite the fact that the qualifying age was raised the vacancies have not been filled. Mr. G. Allport, Secretary of Marine, stated at the Military Service Board at Wellington on Monday that returned soldierß were looked to, and in order to encourage them all stipulations and qualifications were suspended except the medical. However, only five returned men had accepted appointments, and two of these resigned within twelve months. Long experience has demonstrated that land purchase schemes tend to force up the price of land by tempting lnnd-withholders to hold out till the State, witli its long purse, is compelled to buy them out. . Thus, in the long rim. the system really retards instead of facilitates closer settlement; to sav nothing of the fact that re-aggregation marches step for step alongside. To such a pass has come the much-vaunteu policy of "settlement, more settlement, and still more settlement"!—" New Zealand Times."

A case revealing an exceptional family record came under the notice of the First Auckland Military Service Board. A reservist named C.'W. Wyllie was drawn in the ballot, but was unable to pass the medical test for active service, and was posted for home duty only. In the course of a letter to the board he stated that seven years ago in England he endeavoured to enlist in the Imperial Army, but was rejected on physical grounds. After he came to New Zealand, and since the war broke out, he had twice enlisted, but had failed to pass the doctor. He was now married, and had a delicate wife and child to support. Four of his brothers had enlisted for active service. Two- had been killed in action and two were reported wounded. His home in Essex, England, had been wrecked by a bomb during a Zeppelin raid, and both his parents were killed

Mr W C. Chatfield, of Island Bay, tells a good story of a gallant son of tha Empire, who will be remembered by many of tho more elderly residents of Wellington. "Jack" M'Conkey, as he was known by most people, used to drive the bus between Wellington and Island Bay in the days before electric cars and taxi-cabs, and was well known to those who used the road regularly. After the trams came along, M'Conkey entered the employ of Sir George Clifford, in Canterbury, and having saved a little nest-egg invested in the lease, of a hotel in Lyttleton. He was so situated when tho war broke out, but for all his fll years he was determined to "have a go at the Huns," and such was his spirit that he not only enlisted and got through himself but induced 200 others in Lyttleton to enlist. On Thursday, Mr Chatfield received a letter from M'Conkey, together with a bit of shrapnel, which he said had been "dug out of him" as the result of being in, the fray in France. At length the authorities had counted him out, on account of liis age, but, still game, he declares his intention of coming out to New Zealand and trying to enlist here again. And he is 03 years of age! At Thursday's meeting of the Tarnnaki Executive of the Farmers' Union, a copy of an interesting letter was received from Mr. H. D. Vavasour, of Blenheim', urging that in his opinion "unless drastic steps were taken the of the Dominion, through dearth of farm labor, would fall away in the ensuing year in a far greater measure than last year, and that the remedy was for the Government not to enlist any more men from the agricultural and pastoral community, and to return to the land all sueh men now in camp." On tho motion of tlic chairman, it was resolved that the letter be received and that Mr. Vavasour be thanked for setting forth the position so plainly. Mr. Dunn said t.h'it lie questioned whether the letter was wise, because it had been emphatically stated by the Acting-Premier that men were wanted first, produce afterwards. Mr. Maxwell, in seconding the motion, said Mr. Vavasour was formerly a Taranaki settler, and had always been a whole-hearted supporter of the Union. All would appreciate his energy and the thought given to subjects of interest to farmers.—Star. A HOUSEHOLD LINIMENT. A touch of rheumatism, or a twinge of neuralgia, whatever the trouble is, Chamberlain's Pain Balm drives away the pain at once and cures the complaint quickly. First application gives ptiifcf. When a bottle of it is kept in the house the pains of burns and scalds maay be promptly relieved, cuts and bruiseß quickly healed and swellings promptly reduced. In fact, for the household ills, it is just such a liniment as every family | should be provided with. Sold Everywhere

In a motor car case in the Wellington Supreme Court, Judge Hoskiug remarkid that the arrival of a new motor car in a district created more excitement than the arrival of a noted general.

Two boarders at the Northern Hotel, Oamaru, were found in their room one morning in a state of asphyxiation, caused by the inhalation of coal gas. The room was fitted with a telescopic chandelier, and after it had been pulled down to extinguish the lights the occupants had apparently omitted to push it up again, with the result that the gas escap' cd. The proprietress discovered them in an unconscious state, and immediately summoned a doctor. Both patients recovered.

Tt is stated now tlmt butter has heen withdrawn from store and sold in Xew Zealand at Is 3d, remarks the Mercantile fiazette, which ndds: "If this he so, then the butter should be retailed at Is fid instead of Is Rd. Even the lower price is unwarranted hv the conditions. In Victoria, where there is a scarcity of butter, the price lias been fixed at Is 5d per lb, and that ought to bo the retail price in New Zealand. The more prudent holders of butter will presently recognise that it is better to cut losses and get the best price obtainable locally. The London market is dead for the present, and although we are promised an improvement in tonnage by the end of next month, there is no guarantee of fulfilment. If butter is placed on the markets here at a reduced price'the consumption would readily increase, and that, would help to relieve the congestion."

At a meeting of the Christchurch Licensing Committee on Wednesday, a renewal of Bernhard Ballin's wholesale license was granted. The application wiis held over from the annual meeting because it was considered that Ballin's trade-mark, 'T'Jie German Eagle," was undesirable and an affront to public opinion. Counsel for applicant said the trade-mark had : been in use for fifty years, but had been recently changed, though owing to the war the stick of hottles bearing the new brand could not be obtained. Applicant was born in Germany, .but was naturalised 1 mainy years ago. In granting the renewal, the chairman, Mr. 'H. W. Bishop, S.M.. said he was satisfied with the explanation, and felt sure that every effort would be made to meet the committee in its wish to have the! objectionable trademark dealt with in such a way' that ,it would riot be an affront to the public of the Dominion.

Perhaps one of the most daring of the hundreds of courageous acta that came under niy observation was performed by Sergt Tunnelly, of Hawke's Bay, stated a returned officer to the Wnnganui Chronicle. On Sept. 10, when in Sunken Road, nil iiHuiv'g machine gun was getting u»s, and adding to our casualties at an alarming rate. The difficulty was for the officer to locate that gun, and Sergt. Tunnelly essayed to provide the information. Taking death in his hands, he quietly and apparently unconcernedly walked up the road smoking a cigarette, fn an instant the gun was trained on him and it seemed as if the Angelic Hosts threw their protecting arms around him and saved him from death that day, inasmuch as that though the ground all around him was devastated, and the bullets fell thick round his feet, lie miraculously escaped. Xot so the German gunner who -was so successfully enfilading Sunken Road. Our gun scon got him anil there was no further trouble from that source. Sergt. Tunnelly well deserved thfe military decoration he received.

Mr 0. 'H. Knibbs, Commonwealth Statistician, made an interesting statement at Sydney a few days ago about the German method of dealing with in his paper on the statistics of birth and maternity, read at in.- ii.iernooii session of the Infant and Child Welfare Conference, Mr Knibbs referred to the enormous power of human reproduction, which, if unchecked, would be fertile enough to produce the present population of the globe from a single pair in less than 2000 years. If Germany went 011 increasing her popuMion at its present rate (in peace conditions), the whole world would be peopled wult uermans in ÜBU years. When he visited Berlin about six'years ago, Mr Knibbs had access to the Berlin Government Statistics Bureau, and the Chief Statistician gave him many facilities for observing the work. Mr Knibbs was amazod to sec an enormous army of clerks at work 011 every conceivable kind of figures. When he mentioned to the German Statistician that the statistics actually published by the Berlin authorities did not show any but a very, small part of all the. statistics collected, the German official answered (hat the method adopted by his department was to collect every statistic, no matter how small or remote, that had any bearing upon the development of the German Empire, The published statistics only showed what the authorities wished to be' officially known.

The following appreciation of the late Captain-Chaplain M'Mcnamin has been written by Chaplain-Major Taylor, who as a Main Body chaplain was in intimate touch 'With the late chaplain:—"The world is the poorer for the death of this Christian gentleman. For twelve months in the early stages of the present war the writer worked side by side with h n. in el) nip and on board ship he stood out for hi.-; great heart of sympathy; for the troubles, of all and sundry he had a patient ear, so quiet, so unobtrusive, so 'humble, he was a representative of the .Master Whom he so faithfully served. But the Dardanelles brought out the revelation of his supreme courage. No place was too hot for him if there was ■work to do, 110 task too simple if it could cheer or help someone; he carried water, lie helped wounded to the beach, he even went with wounded to tlx; transport; he was up night after niglu just doing good. For Ave solid months he hung on. Long hours, hard work, poor food had brought him down to less Limn seven stone 111 weight, and, protesting, ho 'was at length driven away by muse who loved him, to seek rest and health. A few short months of rest and lie was back in the thick of it again, and death has claimed him. The writer pictures him engaged in some act of love and mercy when the call came. He will still live in the hearts and lives of those who knew him. He was a brave soldier, a true man, a Christian gentleman. Requiescat in pace," A NIGHT OF TERRuR. Few nights are more terrible than that of 11 mother looking on her child choking and gasping for breath during an attack of croup, and nothing in the house to relieve it. Many mothers have passed nights of terror in thiß situation. A little forethought will enable you to avoid all this. Chamberlain's Cough Remedy is a certain cure for croup, and has never been known to fail. Keep it at hand, Sold

The secretary of the Red Cross Society desires to acknowledge receipt "of £1 13s from Mcsdamos Matthews and Wilson, which amount finally closes the accounts of the old Red Cross Mart.

Mr. Vernon Stratton, secretary of the Egmont Racing Club, who has been an inmate of the Bowen Street Hospital for some time past, is now convalescent, mil hopes to be able to leave for home soino time this week.

Tiie Labor Department has completed the purchase of some sections on Paynter's Lane; Fitzrov, from Mr. D. Barry, on which to erect four workmen's cottages. Mr. W. Temple, the Department's architect, arrives by to-night's mail in connection with the matter.

The committee responsible for the successful arrangements in connection with tlie unveiling of the Roll of Honor and farewell social at Kaimata on Friday evening comprised: Mesdames A. E. Burwell and ,T. R. Jones, Messrs Geo. Capper (president), J. R. Jones (secretary) and R. C. Powell, Kaimata; C. Maelrinder and S. Fagan, Waxtui. "During the meeting of New Plymouth Borough Council the Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess) said he had before him the plans of the proposed municipal theatre next to Jones' old stables, 'As the proposal had been turned down he supposed ho could return the plans. Councillors agreed, and one of them asked if the site would have been obtained as a gift. The Mayor replied in the negative, adding that the project would have cost between £13,000 and £IS,OQO. It was stated by the borough engineer at last night's meeting of the jjew Plymouth Borough Council that it was becoming a practice to remove old buildings into the borough or commence the erection of new ones, and afterwards apply for the necessary permits. He thought a warning against this practice should be given by the Council, and it was agreed to notify builders and others that the permits required by the bylaws must be obtained before any building operations are begun.

•The cyclonic visitation which passed over Moturoa on Saturday morning was seen to travel inland, but it wag thought it had spent its force. Apparently, however, it regained fresh strength, and swept across Egmont Village, where it blew down numerous trees and also effected considerable damage to two residences, but fortunately 110 one was injured. Mrs. Olson's residence suffered severely, the verandahs being destroyed and the roof being so badly damaged as to render the house uninhabitable. The verandah of Mr. Daisley's house was also demolished, and a (brick chimney collapsed pn to the roof of the house. The fowlhousfi was also blown away. The desirability of securing that portion of waste land opposite the railway station, at present vested in the Hartior Board, wds briefly referred to at last meeting of the New Plymouth Bcroi's-h Council, the Mayor (Mr. C. H. linrgess) strongly favoring the project with a view of doing something to pre-' vent the land becoming an eyesore in the town. Other councillors agreed with his Worship, and it was the unanimous feelincr that the land would make an admirable site for a municipal theatre when the time came for one to lie built. That, it was pointed out. might not be for some vt-nrs yet., bub if the land were secured now and improved it would be bettor than to allow it to be cut un and disfigured by a number of small buildings, On the motion of Cr. E. Griffiths it was resolved, "That the Mayor, Cr. ,T. Clarke, and the mover be appointed a committee to report on the feasibility of arranging an exchange with the Harbor Board for the land owned bv them at) the corner of Egmont and St. Aubyn Street; also to consider and report on the utilisation of the balance of the £BOOO municipal offices and museum loan, about £3OOO.

It is pleasing to note tliat the old boys of the Hieh School carry with thorn into the world "feelings of the deepest regard for ihe institution. Recently, the late Geo. Kendall, ail old hoy who wis killed in action in France, bequeathed £SO to the school. In forwarding a cheque for £SO to the Board for investment, Mr. W. H. Moves, the principal, stated that hb had been asked to make use of t\ie amount. but after talking over the matter with the staff, liad decided to ask tho Board to invest it, and with the interest an annual prize, to be known as the "Bendall Memorial Prize," would be awarded for literature.. Tho Board decided lo invest the money in the savings bank temporarily in a trust account, and later invest it in a war bond. Jt was unanimously decided to forward a letter to Mr. W. E. Bendall expressing the appreciation of the Board at the bequest made by his late son, and informing him how it was to be applied. Mr. Webster referred to the fact that other old hoys had made bequests for improving the grounds, etc. This, he considered showed an admirable spirit. Members considered that when, bequests weie made the amounts should not be lumped together, but something phonic! bo done with each amount that would be a memorial of the particular donor.

A sale noticfl of interest to farmers in the vicinity appears',in this issue. On Thursday afternoon, at "Blagdon," the scene of tho recent Are, Webster Bros, will hold a clearing sale of timber, iron; etc. •

At the sale o'f wftrk to tie hold in St.'Mary's Hall on Thursday, June 21, In aid of tlie Backbloek Mission, thero will bo a well-stocked produce stall, liamj tongues, brawn, and cakes "in any quantities. In the evening there will be an excellent concert, programme in Wednesday's and Thursday's paper.