LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is proposed to lay a concrete strip oil the Wellington-Hutt road for motor traffic, at a cost of £25,000. A southern paper reports that the cable staff will be transferred from Hnalcapnaka to Wellington on or about August 16. Among the items in the Unauthorised Expenditure Account are the following:—Expenses of the Prime Minister and the Minister for iinanco oil Wsit to England, £3000; expenses of their secretaries during the same, £IOOO. Speaking on the report of the Railway Rolling-stock Commission, Mr. T. M. Wilford M.l\, said that Colonel Hiley liad introduced three great reforms; (1) Vou may smoke oil the platforms; (2) the gutcs of earriagt) platforms must be kept closed; and (3) the five-minutes bell must not ring. The foresight of Napoleon is in pleasant evidence in France to-day by tha presence of numerous large State forests, bo Mr C. J. Parr informed an audience recently at Palmerston North. Napoleon put a law into force making it compulsory that empty ground should be planted with trees, and to-day France has numerous magnificent forests. Mr. larr added that he passed through one, snd the journey occupied three hours.

It is not often that a member jokes against his own profession, but Mr Wilford made a good joke in the House. Hie Minister of Defence v.-as stating former occupations of members of the .New Zealand Stall' who ore being retained ill the Dominion. "We have a lia.vonot instructor who was a lawyer," lie said. "He ought to be able to charge," remarked Mr Wilford. The (louse lauehed lieartilv -

The following donation* to the Pungarelin Cliristmas Hamper Fund arc acknowledged Previously acknowledged .£54 Us 10J; Mr. Rutherford, Xf>; Mr. lu-asberry, /CI; total, Xl>o (is lod.

Thr Gazette announces thai, the (Jovcnunenl oflices thioi.gliout New Zealand "ill be closed 011 Monday, September 24, in celebration of the, tenth anniversary of the day on which :Xeiv Zealand was created a Dominion.

the iollowing donations to Mosdames llusli liaily and IX K. Morrison's fund for Christmas parcels for Tarnnaki soldiers are acknowledged with thanks: Mr, 1). K. Morrison, 10s; Mr. .1. T. Phillips, as; Mr. Glentworth, ss; Mr. J. Biekliell, pair of field glasses; Mrs. rt'ylie (Urenui), flowers.

Among the soloists at the Sew 'Plymouth Male Choir's first on Wednesday next, will be Mr. A. B. McDonald, the society's secretary, and a vocalist who is always warmly welcomed by the public. This will probably be the last opportunity of hearing Mr. McDonald for some time time come, as he goes into camp almost immediately after the concert.

In the course of an inquest at Auckland on the body of a child that had died from croup, Dr. Reekie stated that there was a simple remedy for croup in every household that should be widely known as n good palliative while the patient was awaiting the arrival of a doctor. Ordinary baking soda applied on the top end of a spoon and tipped dry behind the back of the tongue would give relief in acute cases of croup. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., stated at Lower Hutt that he had every reason to "believe thai America had been with the Allies for the last two years, and had only waited till the Allies were fully munitioned before declaring war. The proof of the justice of the Allies' cause was shown in the entry of sixteen countries. into the war on our side. America did not seek territory, but was fighting purely for a just cause. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland would join the Allies tomorrow were they not in terror of Germany. The Citizens' Bund's recital at the Breakwater yesterday was largely attended, and the capital programme presented was enjoyed. Among the items was Chopin's Polonnaise, played by special request, and although the band has not been accustomed to music of this class, they played it very creditably. Tlie arrangement by Bandmaster F. W. G. McLeod of old church choir hymns was one of the best items on the programme, but Lemare's Andantini), a difficult piece of music, and a raarcii by Anderson, entitled "Victory." were also admirably rendered. The collection in aid of the band fund amounted to £7.

How Britain's Prime Minister (Mr. Lloyd George) nearly met the fate that befell the late Lord Kitchener is diinted at in the following, which appeared in a recent issue of tlie 'Weekly Dispatch.' "The Germans,"it is stated, "are smart people, but they should get their tides right. They were cocksure about catching Mr. Lloyd George on his return from t he Continent, only they were a tide too soon. They calculated accurately the time the Prime Minister left Paris, but they did not reckon on his motoring any part of the distance. It would be a pity to tell them any more. Their shells on the French and English Channel coasts were wasted; they lost two destroyers in addition, and their quarry all the time was miles away." '

On the 18th ult. Mr. Okey asked the Minister of Lands whether provision will be made this session to financially assist returned soldiers who go on the land other than that purchased by the Government for the purpose of settling returned soldiers. In 'Hansard' their appears this footnote to the question: "If a returned soldier takes up a section provided by the Government lie is entitled to assistance to the extent cf £SOO for the purpose of building a house, purchasing stock, and atlier improvements. On the other hand, if a returned soldier has small means and takes up a piece of private land and wants assistance for the above pnrposc-s the Government have no power to give him the assistance lie needs and should be entitled to." The Dunedin Star points out that there is another way of helping in th«f last-mentioned circumstances, and it has been adopted in Otago. A returned soldier saw in a private agent's list an area that he thought suitable. He made known his wants and his position, and thereupon the Land Purchase Board stepped in and did for. him what he could not do himself. The board purchased the property for the CVown and subsequently redisposed of it to the returned soldier, thereby enabling liim to secure the advances to which Mr. Okey refers. The world is not, thank goodness, entirely bound with red tape.

At the New 'Plymouth Magistrate's Court on Saturday, before Mr. A. Crooke, 53!.. Frederick Hendry, of Raetihi, was charged with having on March 20 last stolen a chestnut mare, the property of Mr. Kdwin M.tv, .and a gig, the property of Mr. N. P. Hansen. The accused, for whom Mr. J. 11. Quilliam appeared, pleaded guilty. Sub-inspector Mcllveney stated tiiat some time ago Hendry, now in business for himself, was in the employment of Mr. May, who was a baker andi kept horses in a paddock in Robe .street. After leaving Mr. May's employment he was employed at Mr. Findlay's Hygienic Bakery. In March last he got a week's holiday, and the day after he went away the horse and gig were missed, it subsequently transpiring that he had driven them to Wanganui, sold the horse, and then returned to. New Plymouth. The horse and gig could not be traced until the offender, while drinking with a friend, mentioned that he had been for a drive, and had sold hia horse. Unfortunately, said the sub-inspector, Hendry had a very delicate • wife and [ seven or eight children! Mr. Quilliam asked that Hendry be admitted to p.xbation, on condition that lie made complete restoration to all parties. His Worship, in consideration of the wife and children, admitted Hendry to probation for two years, on condition that, he paid £lO 10s to the purchasers of the horse at Wanganui, £3 as the value of the gig. £4 as the cost ot returning the horse to New Plymouth, £1 10s as expenses connected with the arrest, and £lO to Mr. May as compensation and expenses, or £35 in all. It was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria, at Melbourne, that (1) SANDER'S EXTRACT is much more powerfully healing and antiseptic than ordinary eucalyptus preparations; (2) SANDER'S EXTRACT does not depress the heart like the so-called "extracts" and crude oils; (3) SANDEU'S EXTRACT is highly commended by many authorities as a safe, reliable and effective household remedy. Get the genuine—insist if you have to—and be safe. The use of "OZO" TOOTH POWDER every morning and- every night '*i ol great value in keeping tho teeth sound, ~nd the mouth clean tuid pyrmtr jtius

The chairman of the Midhirst Dairy Company states that satisfactory financial arrangements have been completed to enable the Company to proceed with the necessary expenditure which the recent decision to carry on the manufacture of cheese will entail. —Post.

The Wauganui Chronicle reports that >V lady met with an exciting experience recently, while carrying home a handbag containing £SO, the takings for the day in her shop. At a street corner a man tried to grab her, and another man tried to head her off. Fortunately the lady was close to her home, and managed to escape.

The Trade of Taranaki was strongly represented at a meeting held at 'Stratford on Wednesday (says the l'ost). The question of increasing the cost of liquors was discussed in all its bearings, and it was decided to raise prices. The price of "spots" is still to be Gd, but it was recognised by the meeting that it is only a matter of a month or two before the charge will be i)d. As a result of the representations of the chairman of the Taranaki Education Board (Mr K. Masters), when he was last in Wellington, the Minister for Education has intimated to Mr. Masters that his Department will be pleased to grant the sum of £390 for, the purpose of erecting a new school at Taliora. The new school is to be built in the Government township and will be about one mile from the site of the old building. Sir Joseph Ward made a statement in the House the other night to tho 1 etl'ect. that he was willing to meet the wishes of members by making some provision for small investors in the war loan. He would arrange for the investment of larger sums through the Post Office under the war certificate system with simple interest at 0 per cent. He did not disclose tlie details, of his plan. "It is gratifying to know that tlie Budget proposals generally have been favourably accepted," remarked the Hon. A. M. Myers at Auckland. "Various persons with whom I have conversed on the subject expressed views which show that the patrioti/m of the people when put to the test will not he found wanting." The setting aside of a surplus of over £0,000,000 as a reserve to meet post-war conditions was also approved, Mr Myers said. It would be observed from the figures published in the Budget that the interest and sinking fund on war loans were being paid out of consolidated revenue. Flood conditions still menaced the country round about Hastings and Napier at the beginning of the week. In a motor drive round the country between Napier and Hastings (says the ;Napier Telegraph) ample evidence was found that the heavy rain on Saturday night and Sunday slopped just as another serious Hood was beginning to threaten. Between Napier and the Waitangi washout a great deal of water was on all the low-lying land yesterday. Beyond the washout water had come over the road between there and Clive. On the road from Hastings to Havelock there was any amount of water. In one place it was nearly right across the road and there was a good deal in tho paddocks'. At Mcanec the roads on both sides of the bridge were in a very bad state. The Awatoto-Meanec road was in about as bad a state as it was possible- for a car to negotiate, Small channels scored out by streams during the last flood had become lilled with silt, which the latest downpour had liquefied, making a trap fur unwary drivers and a menace to springs and axles.

c The Kingdom of Siam, "the kingdom of the free," has a population of about 8,5110.000, including 500,000 Chinese. Ot recent years Western ideas have been largely introduced under a General Ad\iser of American nationality, British •Judicial and Financial Advisers, and a French Legislative Adviser. The Metropolitan police are controlled by British ofiicers and the provincial gendarmerie are under Danish officers. Other high posts are held by British officials. Universal service pn the European model is in force, but the local exemptions are numerous. The peace strength of the army is roughly 12,000 men, and the war strength 80,000 of first line and reserve troops. The total unorganised force is estimated at 1,500,1)55. The infantry is armed with a special type Mauser and the artillery with "75" Krupp guns. The navy includes some, old light cruisers and six modern torpedo boats. The military and naval budget. in 1914-15 . amounted to £1,378,000 in a total of .C 0,503,481. Though more than half of the trade in the year before the war was carried on with the British Empire, 44% per cent, of the carrying was done by Norwegian steamers, 24% per cent, by British, and 12Vi per cent, by German. There are two wireless stations in Siam controlled by the naval authorities. Some of the good folk of Wanganui are exercised in mind over the proposal to form a new diocese in Taranaki, with the possibility of New Plymouth being made the headquarters of the Bishop. It believes Wanganui should be tha seat, because, according to one Geo. M. Gardener, writing to the Chronicle, "Wanganui would be more accessible. Furthermore, it is generally understood that u town corporate which is the See of a Bishop and contains a Cathedral Church, is a city. It is intended to build a new Anglican Church in Wanganui i=o I contend that now is the time, and also the opportunity, to not only make Wanganui a city, but prove that the residents arc willing to subscribe towards a Cathedral, thereby making Wanganui a city. There is Napier City and also -Nelson City. Let us have Wanganui City, which has a threefold population." The Wanganui population is not thrc-ofoTd but twofold ihat of New (Plymouth, but if it is to be a Taranaki diocese, Wanganui must necessarily bo at the tail end and | with nothing in common with Taranaki. Wanganui, comparatively speaking, has but a small district feeding it; Taranaki is a closely settled, compact province, with a .great future before it. In a few years Taranaki will be linked up with its vast hinterland of practically undeveloped i>ew land, and must in a few years carry a population not of 00,000, but some 100,000, and New Plymouth will be its main gateway. Besides, St. Mary's Church, with its historical associations and capacity, could serve as a pro-cathedral without alteration, and as a point from which to operate, no niore convenient point could be chosen than New Plymouth, for all roads and the railways lead to it. Wanganui as the seat of the proposed new See is q.uite out of the. question; the authorities! might just as well choose Taihape. The Loan and Mercantile Agency Co;, Ltd., draw clients' attention to its springing heifer sale, at the Stratford dairy yards ou Tuesday next, 14th August, at 12.30 p.m., just prior to Mr. Newtoii King's sale, Full particulars on page 8.

Wood's Great Peppermint Cure. 1/6, 2/0 ! l;or Chronic Chest Complaints,