LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Yesterday was the anniversary of the burning of the fir.it British troops in France in 1!) H.

The next ballot is due to be drawn in two weeks' time. It will then he two months since there was a, drawing, and the ballot will bo a double one.

At Tronlham Camp a private, found guilty by district court-martial of disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer, was .sentenced to imprisonment, with hard labour for eleven months.

Charlie Chaplin is paying a special >visit to the Empire Theatre to-morrow 'afternoon and night in what many people vote his funniest picture, "Dough and Dynamite." The programme also includes the sterling Fox picture, 'The lieast/' one of the finest photoplays of tho v'ear,

On Juno 27 last a horse-trotting match took place between Rahotu and Opunake, and as a result the two persons who conducted the race will appear before the magistrate at New Plymouth on the Kith inst. on a charge of illegally conducting a horse race contrary to the provisions of tho Race Meetings Act, J 900.

A man who was charged with keeping liquor for sale at Awakino stated in the Magistrate's Court on Wednesday that he ordered six bottles of whisky because he had a wet contract. His Worship remarked.that all tho contracts in Awakino seemed to be '•wet" ones.

Mr Charles Marvin Everest, president of the Vacuum Oil Company, died in America a day or two ago, at the age of 64. Mr. Everest, who was intimately associated with the oil industry during the whole of his business career, was a son of Mr. Hiram B. Everest, inventor of the "vacuum'' process of distillation, and founder of the company in 1880. The Christchurch correspondent of the Dunedin Star telegraphs:—For some time past rumor has been current that Messrs Fricdlander Bros, the large Ashburton agricultural firm, were retiring from business, and now they announce that are winding up their concern. This action of the firm marks the passing of an institution that has been in Ashburton county for over 40 years. This vexed, question of the rights of a modern wife receives intelligent handling in "The Chattel," the Greater Vitagraph drama which stars Peggy Hylaml Hind the great American actor E. 11. Sothern. Peggy llylnnd is daintily determined, and in spito of her supremely feminine charm, is none the less firm in her assertion that "woman is simply a piece of furniture in the house" 'will ■not apply in her case. This line picture will be finally screened at Everybody's tonight with Upton Sinclair's line story, "The Adventurer,'' as an added attraction.

Complaints about the delay in the payment to the next of kin of the back pay of soldiers killed in the war were made in 'Parliament by Mr W. T. Jennings (Taumarunui), who mentioned the ease of a mother who had lost her son two years ago, but had not yet received his back pay. Sir James Allen said the problem was a very difficult one, which the Department war; doing its best to solve'. Within the last few days some accounts had been received from Egypt which were two years old.

Referring .0 the effect of Monday's earthquake on Mr. Hugh Morrison's homestead, "Awatoitoi," the Wairarapa "Age" says:—"The furniture was badly smashed about, while a piano was overturned, and pictures,, ornaments, etc., sent flying in all directions. Practically the whole of the chimneys collapsed and there was a narrow escape of a tragic occurrence. The debris of one chimney crashed into a room occupied by Mr. Morrison's children and only missed striking one child by several inches." Captain Glossop, who commanded the Sydney when she destroyed the Emden, was given a reception in Sydney recently. In his reply he said things might have been very different with the people oE Australia if they had not had their own navy at the outbreak of the war. What would have happened here had the German fleet been able to make n descent on the coast of Australia? But

the fact of the Australian Navy in the Australian waters made the German navy afraid to come within coo-ee of their shores. Captain Glossop then outlined the operations of the fleet after Che beginning of hostilities, and said that if the Australian ships had been allowed to follow the phantom fleet, there would have been no Mpnmouth disaster. Politicians in Canada had made a strong point of fact that Australian ships were protecting their ctasts when that duty could be done by their own ships if they had a navy.

Lieutenant J. C. Whitney, Private W. 0 Whitney, and Lieutenant A. J. Marshall are bein}r brought back to New Zealand from the front by the New Zea land (Government. Their services are re quired on the manufacture of .303 Mark VII. ammunition, which is a sliuvjipointed instead of the round-pointed bullet, now in use here. The British Government would not allow ammunition experts or mechanics to leave England, and to meet the urgency of the case, the three trained mechanics above mentioned were recalled from France to England, end sent to Woolwich for a course of instruction in the manufacture of Mark VII. ■'■'/)?> ammunition, with pointed bullet. The manufacture of this ammunition cannot be commenced in New Zealand until these experts arrive in Auckland. Lieutenant J. C. and Private W. C. Whitney, for the first six weeks of the war, worked as iloor-mana,2»Ts in an ammunition manufactory at Leeds. They enlisted in the British section of the New Zealand Force, and have since been on active service, Lieutenant Whitney in the Royal Field Artillery, and Private Whitney in the Army Service Corps.

SOBE THROATS. SPLENDID HOME-MADE GAKG'LE. Sore throats, quinsy, tickling ■coughs, whooping cough, hoarseness and other throat troubles are- relieved at once by the following easily-prepared remedy:— Mix water and sweetening with a hottle of Ilean's Essence. Keep in a large hottle and use freely whenever required. As a gargle for inflamed, relaxed and other sore throats it stands a champion. Relief is immediate. It will also be found invaluable for bronchitis, asthma, and influenza. Even whooping cough is promptly relie\ed by this famous mixture. It contains no poison of any kind, and may bo given freely to both children and grown-ups. There is also a clear money saving of at least Ifls for your pocket. •Hcan's. Essence is sold regularly by most, chemists and stores, or post free on receipt of price—2s—from 'Hean's Pharmacy, Wanganui, but be sure you set

The Minister of Defence received advice to-day that the 25tli, 20th, 27th and 2Stli Mounted 'Rifles reached their destination aii well.—Press Association. A poll to borrow £20,000 for Hood protection works at Gore was carried by a majority of 100.

At a meeting of the general committee of the Egmout A. and P. Association-, held at Hawera yesterday, to consider the question of rescinding the resolution to abandon the show this ytar, it was decided that a special general meeting of members be 'held on August 18 to discuss the matter.

A week or so before Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Be»dal], of Ernnkleigh Park, received the sad news that their Bon George had been killed in action, they had posted to him a plum pudding, in (which small silver coins (in all amounting to 4s 9d) had been placed. Mr. Bendall received yesterday morning, through the post office, a voucher for this amount, the covering letter stating that on account of Private- Bcndall's death the parcel had been opened and the contents used, the voucher being for the value of the coins which had been placed in the pudding.

A magnificent view of the Aurora Australis was obtainable from New Plymouth last evening. It was first noticed just as the sun was setting, and became more brilliant as darkness crept on. The whole of the southern and south-western sky was illuminated at times to a lurid crimson, with streaks of lighter hue piercing it in great star-like rays, then fading away till almost invisible, only to again flash out into vivid blood-red color. While it lasted, -which was for several hours, the spectacle was watched with keen interest by many of our townspeople, fascinated with the aweinspiring display of one of Nature's greatest wonders, A former Dudedin resident stated that the display was equal to any he had witnessed in the southern centre.

An interesting point in connection with one of tlie Tongaporutu liquor cases heard in the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, was the manner in which the-defendant's statement an to where he had obtained some whisky found in his possession was disposed of. He stated to the con-table who found the whisky that lie had got it from the Red House Hotel. New Plymouth., a statement which the licensee of that hostelry, Mr. E. Whittle, wa 3 called to l-ebut. Mr. Whittle pave evidence to the effect that the whisky he had given the defendant was 2*0.0 under proof, while that fojmd on defendant was much stronger, namely 10.1S under proof, both having been carefully subjected to the hydrometer. As Mr. Whittle explained to the MugifT'rate, it was an easy matter to reduce tho strength of whisky,- but to increase it would be a mailer of very considerable difficulty.

Commenting on Mr P. C. Webb's references to the prison regulations, iho Christ church Press says:—One regulation, it appears, is still in force, ..which we can only characterise as a senseless piece of barbarity. We refer to the prohibition of any newspapers inside the gaol. Years ago the -Press pointed out the stupidity and, indeed, cruelty of this rule. It is difficult to sec what harm can result from allowing prisoners to know what is going on in the outside world, but the objection:) to such a rule arc plain enough. It is supposed that when prisoners have served their term a proportion of them at any rate, will desire to turn to an honest means of livelihood. If for a year or two years or even five years, as the case may be, they have been kept from knowing what i; going on in the outside world, it is ohvioiiK that it will be a considerable handicap to them. They will certainly find it very embarrassing if they arc

asked how it is that there is such a remarkable gulf in their knowledge of current events. /Such n deprivation is particularly sensdloss and cruel at the present lime, when the great war might very well be expected to exercise a good effect on even some of the more hardened crininals.

The opinion that (he Maoris have done exceedingly well in the matter of voluntary recruiting was expressed by Chap-lain-Major Hawkins, late senior Anglican chaplain in France to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, at Auckland on Sunday. Ho said that 3000 Maoris had passed through the camps at Avondale and Narrow Neck, and others had enlisted in European units. In proportion to a population of about 40,000, this was a very good percentage'and was even better than it actually appeared, because practically no voluntary recruiting had taken place among the Maoris in Turanaki and Waikato because of an old grievance dating back to (he time of the Maori War. The recruiting was therefore really in proportion to a population of from 30,000 to 40.000. At the front the Maoris had earned an excellent name for their pioneering work.

An exceptional opportunity of seevr■jng bargains in boots and shoes is presented iiv the Melbourne Clothing Company, whn are giving up stocking these good ■>. In order to finally quit the stock the firm i:> holding a clearing sale commencing to-day at their Inglewood, Stratford and New Plymouth branches. All bocti shoes and slippers are being marked at less than pre-war cost.

Walking along Bourko street, Melbourne, from Spencer street station to the Post Office, one comes to tho conclusion that this is tho home of the agricultural machinery merchants, and it I was .particularly gratifying to notice j that the most prominent set of offices 'bore the name of "The Ridd Milking Machine Company, Ltd." An interview r yilli the company's Australian manager, together with an inspection of the record:.;, proves absolutely the wonderful j.io.ricfs that the Kidd machine has made in the State of Victoria. Victoria is really the home of the milking machine in Australasia, and yet the Kidd Cdmpnnv, commem-ing operations here in 1912, have practically taken control of the whole business. The records of sales are startling, and it is undoubtedly a very great compliment to the Taranaki "Kidd." Any New Zealand .would feel quite at home in Bourke street by reason of the fact that the '"Ridd" is'given such prominence in this city.

The New Zealand Loan ami Mercantile Agency Co. Ltd., Stratford, hold their Stratford .spring horse fair on .Saturday, August 18. and not Saturday, August 23, as advised on sale cards, i Preliminary advertisement appears on page 8.

CHILBLAINS 2 They wear out slowly—The North British Hot Water Bottles, with the patent Stopper—the sign of satisfaction. Their merit gives pleasure to both dealer and buyer.

The phenomenal sale of North British Hot Water Bottles is the best evidence of the satisfaction- they give. Look for the ""Unique" stopper—a guarantee ;of satisfaction "■'