LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The concert at St. Mary's Hall last night, m aid of the Back Blocks Mission, attracted a large audience, the adyer-. tised programme proving of exceptional merit and the various items being greatly appreciated.

Mr. J. B. Clemow, of Opunako Road, Stratford, was logging in some bush at the back of his property when a log swung sharply against him, breaking his leg. —Post. ' , ■

At the Magistrate's Court vestcrdav, before .Mr. A. Crooke, S.M./N. G. G. Winkelman was fined ss, with costs 17s fid, 'for driving an unlimited motor car on a Taranaki country road after dans oi. Mav l-i.

"Raffles," as a gentleman burglar, in only beaten as a world-wide celebrity In his "profession" by the hero of the clever French detective stories, "Arsen Lupin." The photo-drama of the same name is an original and compelling production by the London Film Company, and will be screened at the Empire tonight. " In stating his intention of not seeking .re-election as president of the Fitzroy Bo*ling Club last night, Mr. Fred. Bellringfcr expressed the opinion that in electing I a president they should select a member who could fill the position of captain, as it was rather humiliating for the president to play No. 3. Subsequently Mr. Bellringer severed his conincction with the club.

In Wellington yesterday, replying to a deputation of citizens who urged the vital necessity of closing the hotels from 0 p.m. till 8 a.m., Sir James Allen said he was fully conscious of the growth of popular feeling in favor of the proposal, lie also agreed that early closing would be useless' without stringent regulations dealing with tho wholesale supply of liquor to private persons. He would submit the representations to Mr. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, and the Cabinet as a whole as soon as possible.

Ethel Clayton-, in "The Hidden Scar," has made the greatest hit secured hy thc World Films since "The Common Law." The story, wlueh is that of a former cabaret 'dancer married to a clergyman, describes the woman's brave etrugg'us to amend the past and the tragic circumstances under which the [ruth becomes known to her husband An air of true Christianity pervades the final scenes when the minister is reminded of the Biblical story of the Ma<rilalen. "The Hidden Sear" will be screened at both sessions at Everybody's to-morrow.

There was a lar;«,e attendance at the general meeting of tire New Plymouth Second Division League in the Soldiers Club last night. Mr. J. S. S. Medley presided, and the proceedings were enthusiastic, throughout. Most of the speakers strongly urged the necessity of all Second Division reservists becoming members, of the League in order t< Rtreii"-thcn its influence, and so aid in tho attainment of its objects—adequate pav for all soldiers and adequate provision for dependents. The question of land belonging to called-up men being purchased bv aliens was discussed, and a resolution 'of protest unanimously carried. Our report will appear to-morrow. HALF YOUR HOUSEWORK Is done for yon when you have installed a Daisy Vacuum Cleaner. It is the most wonderful little worker that you can have in the home. At the Hawera Show British Trade Section, in Stand 17, there is a display of this great aid to housewives. The "Daisy" banishes drud.gerr. Come and see it at Stand 17. The 1 New Zealand agents, Messrs Oscar Hewitt and Co., 56 Cuba. Street, Wel- ! linirton. invite trade and retail inquiries.

The National Dairy Conference passed a resolution hi favor of fl o'clock closing. The license of the Commercial Hotel at Kanieri, which has been in existence for the last 50 years was not reapplied for ut the annual meeting of the Westland Licensing Committee last week and consequently at the end of this month an old landmark in what was once the busy mining town of Kanieri will disappear. In the farm products section at the Palmerston Show, YV. James, of Bell Block, scored first prize for the best sample of ensTTage. Th"onions"ffnTcsc]iallotß, <l. V. Tate, of Waitaru, scored heavily, gaining six firsts, two seconds, and one third in the seven classes in which he competed. The Palmerston Show adopts a system of judging by points, which are carded with each exhibit. These cards show the points awarded for quality, uniformity, color, form, size for table use, get up of exhibit, and correct name. ■ There is no doubt that this system adds to the individual value of the show, and, moreover, tends to do away with a good deal of the dissatisfaction sometimes caused on the declaration of awards, simply through those dissatisfied not knowing the reason or otherwise for giving the award. It has been estimated that the mouse plague in Victoria means a loss of £500,000 to the wheat "pool." The Victorian Wheat Commission states that, while it is impossible as yet to estimate the loss, an estimate of £500,000 is certainly a wild guess. Towards the end of Ajjril the wheat pool t inspectors reported that 4,000,000 bags were in mice-infested stacks. Four weeks later at least 2,000,000 bags of this wheat had been transported to tin. seaboard, and Mr. Hagelthorn pointed out that, if 2,000,000 bushels of the balance were lost it would not mean a loss of more than £500,000. In actunl fact, nothing like this quantity will be lost. The estimate of £IOO,OOO loss made some weeks ago by Mr. Brewer, President of the Chamber of Agriculture, may be exceeded, but it is much nearer the mark than £500,000. A loss of £IOO,OIIO the Minister adds, means a loss of >/ s d per bushel, and the loss, while deplorable, is thus comparatively small per bushel. Holders of wheat scrip in the new'pool need have no anxiety that the value of their scrip will be materially affected by the mouse lague. Speaking at Feilding on Monday night Mr. W. G. Pearce said the people in various communities were growing potatoes and other vegetables at the request of the Efficiency Board, yet they' were spending more money in liquor than the value of the products they hoped to grow. Farmers in the Sandon and Bulls district, he said, had agreed to increase their wheat area by 1500 acres and their voats area by 900 acres, yet in the next twelve months the people in thai district would consume liquor costing more than the value of the wheat and oats they hoped to produce. The Government were considering the establishment of a hydro-electric scheme to ;erve Wellington and the West Coast. It was to cost a million sterling, and the Government had decided not to go on with it during the war, as the money could not be found. Yet, in twelve months, the people living in the area to be served by .that scheme would spend a million sterling in liquor. Was that efficiency? One very noticeable result of the good roads in the Taranaki counties is the large amount >f motor traffic which has been developed (writes the Wangamii Chronicle). According to Mr. MePhilips (chairman of the Waimate West County), this is the kind of traffic tl(e local authorities :pa desirous of encouraging. "We do not mind how much motor traffic we get on these roads," said Mr. Mcl'liilips, speaking to the Wanga-nui-Rangitikei deputation which visited his district the other day. "That kind of traffic," he added, "while admittedly hard on ordi. .ry metalled roads, especially 'n dry weather, i good for tar-sealed roads." The argument in support of this contcntiqu is that whereas when a metalled rond is dry and dusty the suction of a swiftly moving cHr tears up the surface and literally "throws the road over the fence," with a tar-sealed road there is nothing to tear up, and the effect of the rubbertyred traffic (inflated or solid) is to. improve rather than injure the condition of the r'rfaee. Quite a number of heavy motor lorries were in evidence on Thursday, and Mr MePhilips stated that on ,an average the combined weight of these' (vehicle and load) would work out at about ten tons. Yet these big and convenient carriers appeared to make no impression whatever on the roads over which fhey passed. Another advantage of tar-sealed roads, mentioned by an Klthain councillors is that the haulage capacity of horses is greatly increased by je smoothness and solidity of tho loads, "It lias been a pleasure, gentlemen," said Mr MePhilips, in reply to tin expressions of thanks for his services, "and we shall be pleased to give you any further information you may desire. But if you are satisfied as we are that our roads are good, please remember that we make these roads and keep them in repair, do all the other work of the county, meet our hospital liability, and pay all interest charges etc., on a total rate of l'/sil., and with*: out the aid of a single toll-gate." Mens clothing specials at the Melbourne's great reduction sale. Genuine indigo line serge suits 0!)/fl, darn: tweed • and saddle tweed trousers 10/0, double fronter grey and striped denims 4/11, striped'cotton tweed trousers 0/11, allwool I'oslvn saddle tweed trousers M/i famous Oaiuaru saddlo tweed trousers ]B/0, Koslyn all-wool boxed suits 455.