LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An unoccupied 5-roomed house at Mangamingi, belonging to Mr. Broddio, was destroyed by fire yesterday morn"'B\ K ws insured for £475 in the State office.

It is the intention of Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., to reintroduce his Abolition of Toll Gates Bill as goon aa the House meets.

In addition to the £59 7s already acknowledged, we have received £2 from Mr. D. J. Hughefl for the Bensley Fund, which is now closed, and is being man-' aged by the Mayoress.

During the month ended June 20 nineteen married and 62 single men were sent to employment by the State Labor Bureau, Wellington. Private work was tound for 54, and Government work for 17. Several lads seeking employment on farms etill await engagement.—Press Association.

The Patriotic Committee, the general public, and the band are invited by advertisement to attend at the lailway station at 7 o'clock to-morrow moraine for the purpose of farewelling the recruits of the 31st Reinforcements on their leaving for camp by the mail train.

At a meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the Second Division League last night, it was reported there was a good deal of misconception and misrepresentation regarding the objects of tile league, and it was decided to invite one of the Second Division League members from Wellington to address a public meeting at New Plymouth next week, and to issue a special invitation to wiveß of Second Division Reservists to attend; also to insert advertisements in the local papers, briefly setting out the objects as well as to issue circulars with fuller information. The membership was reported at over 800, and it was decided to make special efforts to bring it up to 600 by the end of next week.

One of the clearest and most interesting official war films yet seen locally is showing at present at the Empire Theatre. Included in the picture is an aweInspiring sight at a munition factory, where half a million shells are exploded by fire. After the fire a view is shown of the Bite where the factory previously stood, and the power of high explosive is demonstrated by the fact that the ground is almost cleared, Another section of the film shows some remarkable views of the front line trenches (photographed from the trottch) and the hand grenade throwers at work. The manner of throwing the bombs, and the effects, arc shown in a wonderfully dear series of views. A unique trench digging machine is shown at work ripping out trenches, the machine guns in action, and the men repelling an attack made under gas, the gas helmets giving the defenders a strange and grotesque appearance. Another section of the film shows the field artillery at work with quick-firing guns, and yet another fine, yet sad, picture is shown of the wounded receiving attention behind the lines; and being transported to the hospitals. The way is over rougli tracks, and the poor fellows must receive a terrible _ jolting before the hospital is reached. It is often said that the majority out here do not realise or take seriously the fact that we aro in the grip of a death struggle, and one could quite believe it whilst viewing the picture last evening, and listening to the roars of laughter from a section of the audience when seriously wounded men were being tumbled about in a manner that a. physically fit man would not care to undergo. It made one wish that the people saw something to laugh at in the suffering of those poor fellows could have a little of the same treatment meted out to them.

A public meeting will be held at the Good Templar Hal!, New Plymouth, this evening when the question of the early closing of hotel bars during the war will be considered. Judging by the enthusiasm displayed, Pierrots' Day on Saturday is going to be a huge success. Pierrots are requested to call at Morey's to-day to obtain their costumes, and there should be no need to remind them that the usual weekly meeting takes place to-night, ivlien it is important they should all be present. PARENTS. Protect your children against diphtheria. Give them Sykes' Formalin Tab-Nts-ofcU utorep 1/6-

A live seal, 10ft long, found itß way ashore near the breakwater at the Wanganui Beads the other day,, and wa* captured by Mr. Simpson, of Caetlecliff. ( The manuscript contained reference to 'the big crowds on the racecourse," but the lioo. mwjjiiie bad a better idea. It printed, "the big crows." And all the pigwn« saw the joke*

Saya the Feilding Star:—lt is reported that a Halcombe farmer, who recently left that district gold his farm to a German neighbour. Result: More aggregation, another empty house, and another strip of New Zealand territory conquered by the Germans. An inquiry regarding the death of Mrs Fannie Legg, late of New Plymouth, who died suddenly Remuera on Monday morning of last week, was conducted by Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M. Dr. John J. Y. Balier said death was due to a rupture of an aneurism pf the aorta. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence.

A Detroit telegram of April 17 states: It is reported hero that Henry Ford, at the request of the British Government, has waived all patent rights on his farm tractor, and has cabled the specifications to England, so that Great Britain can make tractors for use in tire British Isles and in France. It is believed that tho tractors will assist greatly in increasing the farm crop production in the Entente countries. It also !» announced that Ford hopes to have thousands of tractors ready for use in the United States and Canada by August J. T' : tractor plant and one of tho motor cur factories are placed at the disposal of the United States Government.

Local shipping men did not agree with the suggestion that New Zealand should be building large vessels to talce the place of those vessels diverted to other uses. One authority says that there are not the required yards in New Zealand nor the shipwrights. The kauri timber which is obtainable is far too expensive and difficult to get in suitable lengths. The hardwood for the frames is similarly hard to get, and it steel frames were decided upon they could not be obtained from abroad owing .to the export of steel goods being practically suspended. The same difficulty would be found in obtaining the canvas, wire rigging, ropes, anchors, and chains, and' even if all the materials were at hand it would take twelve months to build \a vessel, ai)d the final cost would not make it worth while.

An extraordinary incident is reported J)y the Sydney Morning Herald. A party was driving in a motor-car at a fairly fast pace when a noise like the report of a firearm was heard. Mr. S. Clift, who was sitting in the front seat next to the driver, heard something whiz past his head, and on looking round a moment later was startled to see Mr G. B. Buckland prostrate. The latter had been sitting directly behind him, with two others, in the back seat. It was found that Mr Buckland was insensible, and bleeding from a blow he had received on the left ear. A wooden splinter about an inch long was protruding from his ear. Fortunately it had not penetrated far enough to do serious damage. He recovered before leaching Murrumburrah. The oauae of the trouble was a stick which was .knocked up from the road by the wheel This caused the report by striking the mud-guard, and finally struck Mr. Buckland.

Not a great deal of fresh light is being thrown on the situation in Spain, but the news that is telegraphed suggests that graver developments may occur. How far German intrigues arc responsible for the troubles does not appear, though one may perhaps surmise that the movement is being vigorously supported by the and b» German secret agents, who are using it in the effort to curtail the power and influence of the King and the pro-Ally Liberals. The fact, that the republicans afe participating, however, disposes of the suggestion that German influence id wholly responsible. The republican organisations in Barcelona m April were endeavouring to engineer a general strike and another storm centra developed at Valladolid, where factory hands, exasperated by the refusal of the railway workers to join them, tried to wreck the railway station. These troubles were suppressed sharply by the Government, which arrested a score of the leaders, and the severity of the measures adopted seems to have incensed the workers' organisations against the Government. There was no .open German influence in the April strikes, but it is obvious enough that the enemy agents would be working secretly along the Socialist and Labour organisations, and that in the event of the industrial strife spreading they would use all their efforts to promote a general upheaval. German diplomacy has been endeavouring persistently to involve the Allies in a quarrel with Spain, hut so far the influence of the King has been steadily against the Teutons.

In this issue Mr, Newton Kin? advertises for Thursday next a clearing sale of pedigree Jersey cattle on behalf of E. J. Kirkwood. A unique feature of this sale is the world-famed Gamboge Knight blood which is being offered, to the public for the first time in this Do-, minion. Dairymen purchasing at this sale will have an opportunity of proving to their own satisfaction the established, truism that the maximum production pepacre is obtainable only from the cow 'th»t put Jersey Island on the map of the world.

On Wednesday at Oakura Mr. Newton King is holding a clearing sale on account of Mr. H. Gordon. The cows to be offered are a particularly nice' line, and should attract buyers, kr. Gordon will 'give buyers all particulars at the sale.

The last week of the Melbourne's great reduction sale is announged. Last opportunity of securing men's Boslyn saddle tweed trousers, 14s <M; men's double fronter denims, 4s lidj men's large warm flannels, 3s lid; men's indigo fine serge suits, flfla 6dj wide end tics 9(1; khaki handkerchiefs, printed with Allied flags, 8 for is; ladies' all-wool cashmere hose, Is lid pair; large white towels, Is lid pair.