LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The reading of the Budget Statement last night in the House occupied 115 minutes, the Minister concluding araidstapplause.

A First Division farmer in this district, who was drawn in the ballot, sold his stock and farm and made every preparation to go to camp, when he was given to understand that he had been placed in a different class, and would be required for home service only, later on. —Feilding Star. These rainy, windless days are bringing sadness to the hearts of the Manawatu local fiaxmillers. They cannot get their fibre dry and it is piling up in •the paddocks in most embarrassing fashion. "The worst experience of the kind we have had in nine years," said one of them.

For tho first time since tho inception of the Moa Dairy Company there is to be no election for the directorate, the seven retiring directors having been nominated unopposed. Those who remember the Moa Dairy Company's annual meetings of eight or ten years back will marvel at tho change.

A brilliant double programme will be presented to screen enthusiasts at the 'Empire to-night. ■William Farnum appears in the Fox feature, ''The Alan From (Bitter Roots," and Marie Empress in the niuch-disnussed_ picture problem, "The Girl Who Doesn't Know." "Picture patrons will have no need to puzzle out nvhere to go this evening. According to the Financial Statement, brought down in the House last night, last year the people of New Zealand contributed £448,000 to tho various relief funds, and for the two years £907,149, exclusive of gift goods valued at £158,465 last year and £298.335 for the two years. In addition it' is estimated that the total funds raised by the patriotic societies to 31st March last amount to £"2,095,931. Speaking at the meeting at Hawera on Monday relative to Technical College mutters, Mr A. Cray, technical director, said that as a whole the College had done well during the year, and he was I particularly delighted with the type- of boys and girls who attended; they were indeed a fine type, and it was a'pleasure to come and see the students at their | work. The students and stall were I keen and energetic in their work, and, despite the inanv disappointments which the school had experienced, it was in a very healthy, sound position. The magnificent five-reel drama,' "Love's Toll," will he screened for the first time at Everybody's to-night with tho Fox comedy, "The Cloud Puncher," and a fine selection of supporting pictures. On Saturday Miss Clara Kimball Young, the most popular picture actress in the world at present, will appear in her third great feature under the "Wizard" director, Albert Capenalli, entitled "Tho Rise of Susan." On the same programme there will be a big war film, "The Defence of Verdun."

A motorist who was returning from Kaimata to Ingiewood in a two-seater car on Tuesday night had a remarkable escape. The night was a bad one for driving, a mist hanging low and obscuring the view, and the car, by some mischance in turning on to the Maketnnva bridge, where there is a rather sharp turn, struck the railing of the bridge with such force that the rails were carried away, and the car itself was capsized on to tho middle of the bridge. A couplo of motor cyclists who-came to the rescue almost immediately, seeing the ear upside down, fully expected that the occupants would have met with serious injury, but Mere agreeably surprised to find that the driver, who was the onlv occupant, had been thrown clear without any injury. Tho car was extensively damaged. The question of the refusal of tha Department to recognise classes other than commercial at the Hawera Technical College was brought before a meeting of householders there on Monday when the chairman (Mr J. B. Murdock) stated there were 18 pupils prepared to attend the unrecognised classes. On the motion of Mr L. 0. Hooker, it was resolved: That this meeting of householders deprecates the action of the Minister of Education in refusing to recognise some of the classes at the Hawera Technical College; such action we believe to be detrimental to the forward movement in education facilities in Hawera; and, further, wo' consider the matter of such crucial importance that we are prepared to render tho financial assistance necessary to maintain the existing ciasses, which are of paramount, importance to the town and district. In speaking to the motion, Mr. 10. Dix'on, a member of the Education Board, said it seemed to him that if Hawera wanted a technical high school it should ask for a secondary school, and then perhaps it would get a technical high school. The people of Hawera should put their "backs to the wall" ami insist upon securing what they asked for, ami let it be understood that they would not stand any interference whatever in their wishes. CHILBLAINS?

They wear out slowly —The North British Hot Water Bottles, with the patent "Unique" Stopper—the sign of satisfaction. Their merit gives pleasure ty/Jbotfe, dMjtar «®i

During last mouth two declarations of insolvency were filed in New Plymouth as compared with one in July, 191 G.

The vital statistics for the New Plymouth district for the month of July have „bccn compiled by the registrar (Mr J. S. S. Medley) as follows, the figures for the corresponding month last year being given in parentheses:—Births !S7 (40), deaths 14 (10), marriages IB (10).

There are some honest people in New ■Plymouth. On Tuesday a lady lost a bag containing the sum of £2G. Shs advertised in yesterday's News, and last evening the money was returned. The ladies of the New Plymouth Patriotic League will begin next week to pack tho Christmas hampers for soldiers at the front, and will be pleased to receive, as early as possible, cakes, sweets, etc., for inclusion in the packages.

The New Plymouth branch of the Plunket Society is now sufficiently advanced in its operations to be in a position to receive donations and annual subscriptions from intending members. Already £2O has been received, chiefly at last meeting of the branch, but a considerable addition to that sum is required in order that the services of a trained Plunket nurse may be obtained for the district.

A touching incident occurred in Iligli •street, Haw,era, on Monday last, in connection with the funeral of the late Mrs. fi. Barry, which was unusually large. It was proceeding to the local cemetery, .when an assemblage of Hawera natives expressed their feelings most pathetically in thair old-time Maori custom.

Men's boxed suits., ready-to-wear, are a speciality at the Melbourne, Ltd. New goods are constantly being opened up and styles are t'ierefore kept up-t,oblate. t Xew suits recently to hand comprise RosTyn nil-wool suits at 455; Petono allwool suits, 555; west of England tweeds, 49s Od; indigo surges nt ffils Cd and 755; also Bamioekbums and worsteds at 7 1 5s and 70s fid.

Tho championship wrestling match, previously advertised to take place in the Opera House, Hawera, has been postponed indefinitely.