LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An Auckland telegram states that the gold output for June totalled £64,791 (all from the Ohinemuri mines), compared with £59,834: for the corresponding month last year.

Two appropriations in the Equitable Building Society were balloted for on Friday night, the successful member being Mr. B. J. Clark, of Wanganui, who takes the £3OO.

The mobilisation of the 31st Reinforcements was completed on Friday. Tho reinforcements have gone into camp at about full strength, but there are shortages in earlier drafts, which will necessitate the transfer of men from the 31st to make up. A hearty ''Hear, hear!" greeted the question asked in the House on Friday by Mr. H. J. Okey (Taranaki) as to "whether the Government's attention had been drawn to tho fact that a considerable number of enemy subjects are purchasing farms and houses in New Zealand while we are at war, and whether they will take into consideration the necessity or otherwise of holding up all transfers until the end of the war?"

The big effort of the Pierrots last week will not be forgotten for some time to come locally, and through the enterprise of the Taranaki Amusements, Ltd., the rest of New Zealand will soon be conversant with the event. The company's experts took a number of interesting cinematograph views on Saturday afternoon, and they have been developed in a first-class manner. These pictures will be added to a budget already in hand, and screened during the next few doys, after which the film goes to Wanganui, and then right through the Dominion.

Lightning climbs up towering cliffs, mighty springs from lofty Monies to near-by palm tree tops, ingenious handling o(f weapons, cheerful presence of mind in positions of immense danger, and a permanent wide cheerful grin, are only some of the possessions of Douglas Fairbanks, who as a young American engineer in "The Amerioano," puts down single-handed, a successful revolution in Patagonia. "The Americano" commences a three-night season at the Empire tonight.

At a picture thaw. Place, New 'Plymouth; date, Friday. ißaby in mother's arms trooping 'badly. Maori wahine, just behind, in l'tmd voice: "Some people lie have no manner. Why he bring the pickanini here, hey?" "The most popular man and womah in the United Kingdom to-day,'' declared the Right Hon. Mr. Massey at the Auckland Town Hall, "are King George and Queen Mary. I believe they are the most popular man and woman in the Empire, and they aie entitled to he so, for the good work they have done and the splendid example they have shown to their subjects." The Kev. R. Haddon, is at present confined to iliis bed (with a dislocated hip. Quite recently when on one of his rounds visiting the aick Mr. Haddon noticed an elderly woman struggling with a load of hay for her cows. With his customary good nature Mr. Haddon at once went to her assistance jhicl while standing on the load at hay the horse suddenly bolted, throwing Mr. Haddon to the ground and dislocating his hip.— Patea Press.

There is something quite unusual about the plot in the World film, "Tin Madness of Helen," which is shdwing for the last time at Everybody's tonight. flthel Clayton and Carlyle 'Blackwell take the leads, and tne former interprets her exfaaordinary rtele with great success The character is novel and perplexing, but jib suits Miss Clayton admirably. The picture is splendidly produced. Included on the programme is the Government education film, "The Fly Pest," portraying in a realistic manner the dangerous disease carrier, the ordinary fly Ibecomes in our mid3t.

A gentleman who recently paid a visit to a military camp vrhere a new draft of recruits were being shown "how to walk and where to place their feet," came away convinced that there is nothing like soldiering as a means of levelling up the social classes of the community. In one of the cookhouses he was surprised to find a well-known university professor and a graduate busily removing the overcoats from a pile of potatoes and onions, while the officer who presently came along was, in civilian life, a person who concerned himself with the cut of one's clothes. It is rumoured that there is likely to be trouble over a recent (land deal in the Inglewood district (says the Eltham Argus). A farmer who disposed of his property for the purpose of proceeding to the front to do his bit for the Empire, has discovered that the purchaser is; an unnaturalised alien, consequently he is wrathful at the idea of facing hardships and risking his life while an alien is allowed to enjoy his freedom and other benefits. While every Britisher is willing to make any sacrifice for his, King and country, he does not like to see all the benefits of his labour reaped by foreigners. During the debate on the Imprest Supply Bill, Mr. Jennings (Taumarunui) mentioned that the Public Works Department had issued instructions that no payment more than lis per day be made to any of its laborers. This was ridiculous. Men engaged on similar work elsewhere were paid twelve, thirteen and fourteen shillings a day. Eleven shillings a day was not a living wage for men when the cost of living had increased so Many of these men were employed in outlying districts, where the cost of living had increased one hundred per cent, over what it cost to live in town. He asked the Prime Minister to go into this matter.

An incident in connection with the war against submarines was related by Mr. Massey at the Auckland civic luncheon. In one of the English ports he saw an 01-fuel vessel which had been torpedoed by a German submarine. The vessel had aboard an old-style gun, but one that served its purpose. After she was struck, the gun was got ready for action, and just then the submarine rose, so close to the steamer that it was with difficulty the gun was depressed to bear upon it. But the gun was handled so promptly that the moment the submarine came to the surface she was sent to the bottom "and there," added Mr. Massey, "she now lies." The town and country people were in a happy and generous mood in New Plymouth on Saturday, which accounts for the particularly fine response to the efforts of the Pierrots. Practically everybody gave, even the Maoris, who rose to the occasion surprisingly well. The Pierrots had but two rebuffs, and these were discussed when, their hard day's work over, they were regaled to light refreshments. ' A charge was levelled against a semi-public man who refused to subscribe or to acknowledge he, although owning) considerable property, owed anything to the boys in the trenches. > Pending confirmatory evidence, judgment was suspended. In the other case a business man was involved. The charge was that he refused to give, and made uncomplimentary references to our fighters in France. The case was held to be proved, and the sentence was that he was to be "hanged, drawn and quartered" by the Pierrots' Lord High Executioner, who will duly announce the date when the sanguinary event will take place.

The annual meeting of the Citizens' Committee of the New Plymouth Citizens' Band is to take place in the Soldiers' Club to-morrow (Tuesday) night, at S o'clock. The band has "become one of the most prominent of our town institutions, and it behoves residents to be present on this occasion, so as to. encourage these gentlemen, who take an active interest in the general management of this musical body, apart from showing their appreciation of the work of the bandmaster since his arrival.

A meeting of ratepayers to tho Farilift'fca Road ißoard will ibe hold ait the Rahotu Hall on Friday next. Further particulars are advertised. The Melbourne, lltd., has a full range of cream and white table damask at the following lo|\v prices: Is 6d, Is lid, 2s 3d to 3s 64 iper yard. Also startling values in all pure linen taible napkins at 9d and Is 3d each. (Full size mercerised taible napkins, *Jd each.