GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1917, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

What Is said to be a New Zealand record lor expenses paid to a reservist for attending for medical examination was put up at Hokitika on Monday (says the Grey River Argus). The man, who attended'from Copper Creek, below Okuru, claimed and was paid eighteen days' pay aud expenses for attending at" Hokitika, and after all hU long journey and trouble he was passed as fit for home service only. Mr. TJalfour. on the occasion of his visit to Mount Vernon, placed a wreath on the tomb of Washington which had this inscriptin:—"Dedicated by the British mission to the immortal memory of •Jeorge Washington, soldier, statesman, and patriot, who would have rejoiced to see the country of which he | was by birth a citizen, and the country 'which'his genius called into existence, fbhting side by side to save mankind from subjugation/ to a military despotism." At the monthly meeting of the Clutha branch of the Farmers' Union, a di£cu?sion took place on the necessity for assisting' the parents who 'were rearing large families. Speakers vigorously condemned the manner in which the question had been treated by the Government, and it was eventually resolved that the attention of the Government be directed to the depletion in the population and that it <be asked to oring in a measure to assist in every way people with families.

The Mayor of Hawera. when in Wellington last weeU, paid a visit to the Featherston camp, and while there was privileged to go through the Anzac Club, provided for the soldier; by the Wairarapa, people. While speaking at the .end-off to the recruits on Wednesday morning, Mr. Dixon spoke of his visit to the club, which cost something like £4OOO. He had always held the opinion that the Wairarapa people were too parochial, but after seeing the magnificent work they had been doing for the soldiers, not only of the Wairarapa, but of the whole of the Dominion, he had come to a different conclusion. He told a Wairarapa gentleman that on the first public occasion possible he would speak of the good work of the people of that distrku—Hawera Star.

A correspondent of the Waimato-Wit-ness writes:—"l have within the last week been through the back country from Hawera. Stratford, Awakino and other districts in that direction and travelled many miles without seeing a smoking chimney. Everywhere farms are derelict and going hack to a state of nature. The owners have been conscripted, the farms have been left to look after themselves, the stock is pone, not a hoof is to be seen, the absence of the owner's care is showing itself everywhere on the neglected lands, and on their return, and, I fervently hope they do return, the toil and self-sacrifice of years will have to be commenced over aaiiu. In fact the farms will he worth - I less. All this waste and loss comes because there is none of the industrial organisation that should accompany conscription being carried out by our Government. I strongly hold that every elidible man should jro forward and give his" services, in whatever capacity to Jielp to win the war, but I as Btrongiy hold that the Government should do its part in protecting him from unnecessary loss and sacrifice. What is the good of having such a Government in the country in such times as these?

Tt is rattier curious and certainly lnt'resting to note, says the Dominion, that both the Roman' Catholic and An■<lv:m Church authority liave decided <",r: the same loculitv in Wellington as the site for a cathedral. Nearly ten years aso the Roman Catholic Church decided'that it wouid Ik- desirable to have a cathedral in Wellington worthy of the. name and of the Empire City, and it was thought at one time that a favorable site would he that bloc* of land in Buckle street between St. Joseph's Church and Tory street, and, with that site in view, Mr. John .V Swan prepared very fine plans some Mien or eight vears ago. Later the proLcrtv in Dufferin street that was formerlv'owncd bv Mr. Robert Bannister was lemiired for the purposes of a convent to replace the girla' school in Dixon street and it was almost immediately recognised Uiat the property, with its clear outlook over tho Basin Reserve, and the gentle rise in the configuration of the land from the front to the baek of the block, made it pretty wel idea for a religious edifice, and it was decided that when the tune came Jo build, that should be the site. There is a Roman Catholic Cathedral Fund, amounting to well on in ftve figures, and some day in the not distant future, it is hoped that the structure will be erected. The site for tie new Anglican Cathedral is within a hundred yard* of the Roman Catholic cathedral site, in the same street, so vhat there is a prospect of outmost central city reserve being overlooked by two of the finest drarcb. buildings m the Dominion.