LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The final screening of the new Frphtnan film feature, '"Oie Witching HoSr," takes place at the Empire to-night,

In the Pohangina County labor is very scarce, and so difficult is it to procure, that a considerable amount of contract work is held uip. A side school in connection with the Frankley Road school is to be opened in .the Westown Hall on Monday. Miss Denvers, formerly of the Auckland Education District, has been appointed to the staff of the Franklev Road school, and will be in charge of the Westown side school.

Our Parliamentary correspondent states that Messrs Pearce, Wilkinson and Okey supported a deputation representing the Hawera District High School Committee, which interviewed the Minister of Education on Tuesday. The deputation asked that the Hawera District High School should be disestablished, and a technical high school established. The Minister did not give a favorable reply. In the Southern story told in picture form in William Fox's "A Tortured Heart," Miss Virginia Pearson, that southern beauty of filmland, has just the role that 'befits her beauty and dramatic acting. The story Is filled with the wholesomeness and beauty of "Dixie," all of iwhich is impersonated in Miss Pearson, whom a noted artist has termed "the most perfect American type of womanhood." "A Tortured Heart" ehows to-night at Everybody's.

Mr. Okey has given notice to ask the Government whether their attention has been drawn to the large number of alien subjects that are at present flooding the labor market, demanding the highest rate of wages, whilst our kin, in order to uphold the Empire's cause, are compelled to fight against their people for os a day; and whether they will take immediate steps to commandeer all alien labor and compel them to work at wages in comparison with that paid to the men at the front during tho term of ths war, and until the men forming the reinforcements are returned to the Dominion?

The Catholic social in the Rolland Hall to-night promises to surpass any that has been held there for a very considerable time. These socials are always well attended, and the sale of tickets for to-night's is meeting with ready response. The music will be supplied by Miss Rita Sole, and tho floor is in first-class order. The supper will leave nothing to be desired. We understand that a number of visitors are coming from Stratford for the occasion. So turn up, one and all, for a good night's enjoyment. Dinna forget on Saturday morning at the mart you can ibuv all sorts of Scotch delicacies such as haggis, Scotch bun, white puddings., brawn meat pies, ham, shortbread, oatcake, pitcaithly bannocks, Scotch cakes. Besides those there will bo over 00 lbs of rich iplum cake and other cakes of great variety. A good supply of vegetables is also promised. There will be a sweets tree hung with hags filled with nuts and sweets for the little ones. A beautiful lot of fancy articles will also be for sale and these will be displayed on the table on the street, for all to see. Would our Scotch country friends remember us and help make a big success of our day. j.ue mart opens at 9.30 a.m. July 31 is the closing date of Desert Gold Tea Competition. Camels must 'he posted to G.P.O. Box 1520, Wellington. Enclose name and address and number aS camels sent. (I)

The Mayoress wishes to thank all kind friends who robbed their gardens last week and sent such a liberal supply for the flower stall at The Mart, and would ask for further gifts this week to be sent _in on 'Friday, if possible, to the Patriotic Depot, or early on Saturday morning to The Mart, e

During June there were slaughtered at the New Plymouth abattoirs, for local consumption, 140 cows, 14 bullocks, one bull, nine calves, 582 sheep, three lambs, 11,1 pigs, and six suckers. Tiwo cows and seven ipigs were condemned. The revenue totalled ,6100 IDs.

The fact that Qpunake is at present without the services of a resident medical man was referred to at yesterday's meeting of the New Plymouth Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and it was decided to make representations to the Inspector-General of Hospitals on the subjects.

A iprhate company has Ibeeii: formed in Nelson, to acquire and plant a )nrge area of land with pinus insignis, Oregon pine, and Californian redwood. The idea is to sell the timJber for fruit cases, joinery, and other purposes. The company has started iwork, and hopes to have 100 acres planted this season. Afany naturalised Americans of German birth are affected by a recent decision of tbe French courts which turn the famous DelLbpuck law directly against the Fatherland by repeating that Germany never permits any person born in that country to renounce his citizenship entirely.

During the month of June the film tensor (Mr. W. Joliffe) dealt with 328,2W>ft of moving pictures. Seven of the pictures were "turned down" altogether, and "cuts" were made in twenty-one others in the interests of public morality. Since lie was appointed l about the middle of September, 19U5, Mr. Joliffe has dealt with 3,&15j000ft of film.

A curious question asking for the figures of the imports of ginger set everybody tittering in the House of Commons. With solemn countenance, Mr. George Roberts read out figures showing how much had come into the country. ''How is it that the new Government has got none of it?" a&ked Mr. Jeremiah McVeagh, one of the wits of the Irish Party, divining the gibe underlying the question, and there was merriment all round.

According to the Australian papers the Union Company's steamer Waitotara, which caught fire and was abandoned recently in the South Seas, luul a largo amount of cargo, including 50,000 cases of petrol, consigned to the Vacuum 'Oil Connpany, a quantity of lubricating oil for the same consignees, extensive consignments of printing paper, valued 'at nearly £IOO,OOO, a shipment of copra, 'together with a number of smaller lines of general merchandise. According to representatives of the Vacuum Oil Company, the destruction of the petrol represents a monetary loss of nearly £48,000, including freight and other charges in connection with the consignment; while owing to the shortage of the spirit at the present time the seriousness of the loss will be accentuated.

Many laughing eyes were directed by racegoers hoineiward-bound from Trentham on Saturday on a party of motorists held uip in the Taita Gorge road by a mishap to their car. There was nothing unusual about the breakdown, Ibut sharp eyes from the passing trains or motors picked out one prominent 'figure from the group. It was this figure, taller and more prominent ithan the. rest, that made them laugh. There was no mistaking that it was a well-known Minister of the Crown. The remark "he laughs loudest who laughs last" iwaa heard from more, than one person who had suffered from the curtailed train service, and who observed the worthy Minister's plight.

An old com caused commotion In a certain hotel in Wanganui one day last week. She and several of her kind were being driven qn'ctly along the street when suddenly ".Doily" took it into her head that she would like to pay a visit to the proprietor. Her mind was no sooner made Tip than she walked "boldly to the main entrance, crossed the threshold, and quietly walked into the vestibule. No one had noticed her and "Dolly" had been very careful n<)t to let her presence be knawn. She poked her head inside the door of the private bar and gave a low "Moo-oo!" There was a startled cry and the barmaid nearly fainted. Some customers who were quenching their thirst at trie time put the contents of their glasses down the insides of their collars, and the porter had a fit. Meantime thfc alarm had been fully raised, and frantic endeavors were being made by the proprietor's wife to "shoo" ''Dolly" out of the hotel. The old cow took all the noise and uproar quite quietly, and walked along the ipassage with an air of full possession. After some minutes she appeared to be thoroughly frightened and she made a dart for the main entrance again. Gaining the street, she set off at a gallop after her friends, and judging by the position of her tail she nad quiet enjoyed her little esca-pade. It took the 1 hotel stud' an hour and a half to put things* to rights.

Quite a good line of men's odd tweed coats in two qualities has opened at the Melbourne, Ltd., ex "Athenie," and Jiave been marked to sell at 13s Od and 11 s <>d respectively. Anyone requiring ft good serviceable knockabout coat should pay an early visit to any of the firm's branch stores.

The hosts for the patriotic tea in Kabotu Hall last fortnight were Messrs A. Gray, J. Manning, and Private Copestake, while the hostess and hosts for to-morrow (sale day) will be Miss Dew, Messrs Cooper and W. R. Wright.