LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In the House lajt night the Premier stated that the Government intended to assist the freezing companies to increase their cool storage, so as to cope with the new "season's produce. Speaking in the House last night, Mr. Wilford said he wished to tell Ministers that this session the House was not prepared to "shut its eyes, open its mouth, and take what our Government (iked to give it." A meeting of shareholders in the Kaupokonui and T. L. Joll Dairy Companies is to be held at Manaia next month to discuss the suggestion for the amalga.mation of these two big companies.

It will interest reservists who have lost their certificates of registration to know that the Government requires them to make a statutory declaration of loss and affix thereto a three shilling stamp.

Picture patrons are being well catered for to-night at the local theatres. The programme at the Empire includes It special Charlie Chaplin comedy. ''The Woman," and the striking Blue Ribbon Vitagraph drama, "Aladdin from Broadway." At (Everybody's a 'big Rouble programme is being screened, "Home," featuring Bessie t ßarriscale, Louise Glaum and Charles 'Ray, from the Triangle studios .and "Little Eva Edgarton," with Ella Hall in the lead, from the Blue Bird studio."A topical budget is also included on each programme.

It has been approved by the military authorities that the restriction of five children on whose account children's allowance may be paid shall be removed in the case of soldiers compulsorily enlisted. Only in special cases is the voluntary enlistment of a man with more than three children accepted, but it has been agreed that the restriction mentioned above shall bo removed in the case of voluntary soldiers with more than five children who have been accepted or who may hereafter be accepted for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. In both instances approval dates from March Ist, 1917.

In a very emphatic manner Mr. Jennings, member for Taumarumii, says the Times, asked the Defence Minister in the House of Representatives last night to look to his officials. He quoted the case of a soldie;. Private Reid, who had been chronicled as a deserter. This soldier had been wounded at the front, I and was in the hospital all the time. (Cries of ''Shame!") Anyone who is guilty of accusing a soldier of desertion when he was not guilty should bo brought to account," said Mr Jennings. "That unfortunate man came back here stigmatised as a deserter, and it was only reeentlv the matter was set risht. It is such blunders that make* feeling against militarism." ' The information supplied to us yesterday regarding the accident -to Master Espin was wrong in one particular (says the Eltham Argus). We then understood that the motorist was unaware of the injury that the lad had sustained, but we have since been told that the boy, having started the car, showed the driver the broken wrist that he had sustained in starting it, and pointed out that it was due to"the Bpark control lever being too far advanced, which is the cause of many such accidents. The motorist calmly accepted the information, and having advised the boy to seek surgical assistance "before the injured limb became swollen." drove away. The fracture of the wrist sustained by the plucky boy was a bad one, and he yesterday proceeded to the New Plymouth Hospital in order to submit the injured limb to an X-ray examinaI tion.

At the last meeting of the Taranaki Workers' Council several communications were received from tho Government which were considered to encourage the hope that State meat shops may be established in New Plymouth and Waitara, as there are freezing works in both places. It was stated that the council were collecting data on the subject of workers' concession tickets on trams and proposed sending a deputation to the council on the subject. In connection with the deportation of conscientious objectors the following resolution was passed:—"That this meeting of workers protest against the high-handed procedure adopted by the Fusion Government in placing conscientious objectors foreiblv aboard transports without the knowledge of their relatives, and demand their return to New Zealand, seeing the Imperial Government does not require them as combatants." Lieutenant Alfred Jennings, son of Mr W. T. Jennings, M.l\, who. went away with the Main Expeditionary Force, and subsequently was app6mted a second lieutenant in tho Northumberland ( Fusiliers, writes to his father, under, date Mav 16, that he has received the Military Cross, and wears the white and purple ribbon on his breast. He makes the interesting addition: "It came out in General Orders, and the battalion was miraded and the names of all honors read out by the General. I feel glad to think that I have received some recognition for two years' fighting, though, as a matter of fact, the decoration is for the capture of machine-guns that were holding up our advance." In a former letter Lieutenant Jennings said that the Northumberland Fusiliers arc mostly Tyneside Irishmen, and are under Major Guinness, who is a nephew of the late Sir Arthur Guinness, formerly Speaker of the House of Representatives. Lieutenant Jennings states also that he has been promoted temporary captain. His brother, Lance-Corporal Edgar Jennings, 'of the Main Body, was killed at Quinns Post, and his elder brother, Lieutenant Jennings, R.F.A., died of wounds received at Loos in September IMS, and is now buried at Athlone, Ireland. The auction mart at Eltham is to be re-opened for weekly sales to-day, when Mr. A. E. Smalley will hold a sale of produce, furniture, roofing iron, fowls, j

At the annual meeting of the Tarurutangi Dairy Co. on Thursday, the majority of the shareholders who 'became members of the Taranaki Agricultural last year agreed to continue their membership, and authorised the secretary to pay their subscriptions from their December cheques.

Sir James Allen, speaking in reply to criticisms of the Defence Department in the House la*t night, said that there were practically no infectious diseases in the camps. Out of 12,000 men in training there were on July 26 only 211 cases of Bickness, a record of which the Dominion had the preatcst reason to be proud.—Press Association.

A correspondent of the Manawabu Times says that the final leave men gave some trouble at Woodville on Monday. After passing Palmerston, where the hotels werecompulsorily closed, they arrived in Woodville where that precaution had not been taken. A number of the more irresponsible left the train and hit out for the "pubs." These the police, subsequently closed by instruction by the O.C. It took a long while to round "up the stragglers. Through this 'delay and others the troop train took eleven hours to do the journey Palmerston to Featherston and'back. "I've blown in all dad's money except 50,000 dollars and I'lf bet every cent of it that I can get inside Mecca." This is the wild wager .which sends the hero of "Aladdin from Broadway" on tho pilgrimage that leads him into so many Btrange adventures. The sandstorm in the desert is one of the most extraordinary scenes and it is wonderfully realistic. Tho camels crouching, the whirling maßses.of sand, and the brown tinge coloring tlta air itself., all contrive to make a grim and awful spectacle. This fine picture will be finally screened at the Empire to-night with the Charlie Chaplin comedy, "The Woman." Remarking on the suggestion made at the Education Board meeting that Hawera should hold a public meeting in connection with the refusal of the Minister of Education to disestablish tho Ha•wera District High School and set up a Technical High School, the Hawera Star savs: Wc may add that the people of I Hawera have held meeting after meeting without result. Their wishes, and, the wishes of their children are being simply lloulcd by tho Minister, in spite of the advice of two Boards of Educaiton. Hispcrverseness is the more difficult to understand when we Hud that for Palmerston North be is actually advocating tho very thing we in Hawera are asking for.

The musical and elocutionary competitions that were inaugurated by the Fitzroy School Committee and eventuated this week, attracted considerable interest among school children and ; parents alike, and it is safe to say that the competitions will not only be made an annual affair, but will be considerably widened. The work done by the youthful performers proved an agreeable surprise to those who were present on both nights, showing that New Plymouth will have no dearth of musical and elocutional talent in the future, providing that the material available in cultivated ami, encouraged in the rijht direction. It is understood that the public of New Plymouth will bo given an opportunity of hearing the prizewinning performers at a concert which v is being arranged in one of the local halls, at an early date.

The High School boys, who are in charge of the Mart to-day, have made a special features of the butcher's shop, which is well supplied with mutton, lamb, beef, sucking pig, fowls, duck, turkey, etc., front which the New Plymouth public may select their Sunday dinner. There is also a liberal benching of delicacies for supper or breakfast. Harce shot by the lads add to the imposing appearance of the shop, with its general air of cleanliness and tidiness and its background of greenery, reflecting credit on the boys, who have been actively responsible for everything, including the dressing of the poultry) There is also a .wide range of produce at the Mart, and with parcels, shooting gallery, guessing competitions, etc., a goodly sum should 'be raised.

The Urenui ladies' Red Cross social, which was held on Wednesday last, realised £SO for the Y.M.C.A. for comforts for the men in the trenches. At Whiteley Church on Sunday evening the Rev. W. A. Sinclair will deliver the third' of a series of addresses on "Some Questions Men Art Asking." The subject will be "Is Christianity a Killjoy?" Young people are specially invited. A solo will be sung by Mr. Dunstan.

Catalogues for Mr. Stonox's pedigree Jersey sale are now being distributed by Mr Newton King and any fanciers who have not yet received one by post are asked to communicate with Mr. King. The. sale will be held on Wednesday, August 8, at the Rahotu sale yards.

In order to close «fee estate of the late J. J. Looney, the executors have decided to offer by public auction at New Plymouth on August 11 a handy farm situated on the main south road, Oakura, and recently occupied by Mr. H. Gordon.

A small herd of dairy cows will bo sold by Mr. Newton King at Okato on Thursday next, on account of Mr. A. Ellis. At the same place there will also' be offered some useful farm buildings, which should attract attention. Horrockse's Ideal fabric is the best known pyjania cloth m the world. The Melbourne, Ltd., have just opened out a shipment of this famous yard-wide flannelette which is being offered at Is 4d per yard. Anyone requiring really good quality at a moderate price shouli not overlook this offering. On Friday next at Frankley Road Mr. Newton King is holding a clearing sale on account of Mrs. E. N. L. Okey. It will be noticed on reference to the above advertisement that there are two small farms to be sold the same day. Full particulars as to terms and inspection can be obtained from Mr. Newton King at his New Plymouth office.