LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The; foHowinij rocruit? entrained from Inglewood yesterday, for camp: N. P. Curd.. I<\ Yv'. 1 Lino. A. I>. .VEwon. J. Hanover, F. West, J. H. Luke. Another big batch of liquor eases, charges under the War Regulations and the Licensing Act, will come before the New Plymouth Magistrate's (V.urt today. Several other cases are alio on the list, so that a lengthy day's sitting may be expected. Right down the line to Stratford the public attended in large numbers to farewell the 34th . Reinforcements. At New Plymouth about twenty men entrained, two at Bell ?Aock, three at Lepperton. six at Inglewiod, one at Tariki, and four at Stratford. The (iovernment inspector of fire brigades (Mr. T. T. Hugo) arrived yesterday forenoon, from Hawera, and in the evening inspected the men of (he New Plymouth Pirc Brigade at motor engine and fire escape drill, afterwards addressing them on the treatment of burns received at fires, and other matters affecting the service. At Wednesday's meeting of Iho Stratford County Council Cr. Smith said he had paid a recent visit to New Plymouth, and had paid some attention t' the asphalt streets there. He consicercd tlio roadr; were a credit to the town .and the maker. There was no breaking away at the sides, whilst the surface was very even and smooth.

Writing to his parents from a port of call, a Dunedin marine engineer thus refers to a standardised-built steamer: "I had a look over one of the standardised ships, of which you have probably heard. She was built entirely in Japan, with the exception of her feed water heater and pumps, in SO days, and considering that fact, she looked all right, though the chief engineer did not seem to like her too well."

The new Federal tax of 10 per cent on the incomes of single men and widowers without children between the ages of 21 and 45 years who have not enlisted is likely to work in two ways (says the Age). It may induce those concerned to Inlist and take their places in the ranks of the Australian Army, or it may lead them to enter the matrimonial sphere with greater celerity than otherwise would have been the case, so as to escape the tax. ' Detectives on Tuesday afternoon raided the Wellington office of tho Federated Seamen's Union and searched the books and papers, some of which were seized. So far as is known, nothing was discovered of a compromising character. The police action is said to be connected with the present dispute between the seamen and owners of the small coastal vessels which are now idle owing to the trouble over the demand for two men in a watch.

Because a truth is unpleasant is no reason why we should close our «yes to it; indeed, when that truth is a positive menace we are all criminals when we neglect or refuse to see evils as they are. for by so doing we aid them instead of joining in the fight against them. This is the themo of the powerful propagandist picture, "Ignorance," which showed to a full house at the Empire last evening. To-night will be the final screening of this picture which has been epdorsed by the Young Women's Protection League." - In the early nineties a buy from New Plymouth, called Charles (uirl) Ryley, attended St. Patrick's College, Wellington. Subsequently Ryl'ey left for Eng> land, where he had risen before the war to the rank of oriapr in the H.A.M.C. Last May Msjoc Byley was killed in France, whilst' on active service. The editor of St. Patrick's school magazine is anxious to obtain some details about the old boy of the college, and, if possible, a photograph for reproduction. He has written, to us to this effect, and we would therefore, be grateful id »ny of our readers who could assist us in this matter.

An interesting return has been laid on the tafble of the House by the Minister of Defence giving particulars as to tlu-i families of members of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force embarked on active service up to and including the Twentyeightth Reinforcements. A great number of these had no children at all. Of the total number of 75.990 cmbar.ied, 1707 returned to duty. Of the remainder 69.091 were single, 215 were widowers, and 7977 married. Of the married men 2900 had no children, 2510 one child, 1298 two children, 677 three, 303 four, 160 five, 70 six, and 59 more than six children. '■'>- H Vi

The General Manager of Railways, in his annual report, mako 3 the following reference to the new locomotive that has recently appeared on the railways:— "Credit is due to the Chief Mechanical Engineer and his staff for the success of tho new looomotive, Class Ah, Ibuilt and brought into traffic operation since the last report.. The engines are simple superheated tender engines of the Pacific type. It is anticipated now they have been adopted as a standard type that the Ab engines will cost at least £IOOO less to build per engine that the Class A four-cylinder compound passenger engine which the Ab is designed to take the place of. The Ab engine has in addition proved itself at least 20 per cent, more economical than the Class A type in tho consumption of coal and water, whilst hauling considerably increased loads on express trains in the South Island. The new engine is more convenient for repair on the road, and it is anticipated that it will be _ considerably more economical to maintain."

Following is a further list of subscribers to the New Plymouth Citizens' Band to date: Messrs T. C. list, S» B. White and Sons, S. W. Shaw, W. P. Okey, O. Cook, J. S. Connett, W. G. Reid, Dr. Fookes, R. Deare, Jas. Loveridge, L. A. Nolan, Geo. Scott, Bruce and Feakins, D. Hughes, John Roberts.

The Public Service entrance examinations for shorthand writers and typists will be held on November 24. Applications for examination close on November 14. *

A patriotic concert, to be followed by a dance, will be held in the Wares Hall on the evening of Monday next, 24th instant.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., wish to draw attention to their Tarata sale to-morrow, 21st inst., at 1 p.m. Full particulars will be found on page 8 of this issue.

WISHES WOX'T FILL A SACK. To wish that you had done something tos save your child suffering from INFANTILE PARALYSIS is of no avail, but you may prevent it in others by the simple use of DIXGO EUCALYPTUS. Recommended as the strongest antiseptic, four times stronger than carbolic. Obtainable from all chemists *nd storekeepers. s 4

Over 400 boys belonging to the Auckland (frammar School have volunteered (o assist farmers during the school holidays.

Sir James Wilson, chairman of the Manawatu Hospital Board, stated at the board meeting on Thursday that 30 cases of tuberculosis (were expected to return to Xcw Zealand in a few days. A lad in the Canterbury district who is thirteen years of age, and who passed the sixtli standard last year, has this winter drilled in eighty acres of wheat and oats on his father's farm.

In New Zealand to-day there are not many lads of twenty who,,are unable to tead or write, but, one , such ~appoared -More the Military Service Board at Wellington on Wednesday. The appellant was a slaughterman, ,and the only writing he was capable of'was the signing of his name, This ho did in a very legible hand.

A gunner serving in the artillery in France, in the course of a letter to his father, relates that on the ground immediately in front of * c position occupied bv his battery, and within a few feet of the guns, a pheasant lies calmly sitting on her nest, hatching her eggs amid the din of battle, with the shells from the guns whizzing almost incessantly over the nest.

The story of the Mons angels is repalled by a present obsession of the in!i'!.l>iiy:ms of Crays Tlmrrock, Essex. The majority of these people believe that on several nights they have seen three angels, with wings outspread, hoverina over the Thames, with the word "Peace" iu a halo round their heads. The most responsible witness is unable to believe or deny the evidence of his senses.

The planting of the new potato crop in thp Auckland Province has been considerably retarded by wet weather, and in consequence the first of the "early potatoes we-not expected to be on the Auckland market before November, and the main crop not before January. The last New Zealand crop was a fairly heavy one, and large quantities of old potatoes are still held in the South. Recently the price advanced by £1 per ton, and dealers are of the opinion that if any of the South Island stocks are exported to Australia, as is quite possible, a further rise in price will probably take place. There is reason to believe that fewer potatoes will be planted in the Auckland 'Province this year. Some growers have already planted areas twice over, but on account of the' excessive rain the results lias been very poor. Most of nur readers will at some time have read or heard of the romantic life of the famous writer and so-called "Bowery" Kipling, Owen Kildare. Born on the Bowery he passed through the varied stages of a "Bowery tough" and "bouncer" until an inborn chivalry awak6 and caused him to'rescue Marie Rose Dcering from the undesirable attentions of some of his companions. Here his education commenced and later love entered. his life. In 1011 the life of Owen Kildare, the rise of which had been like unto a meteor, passed out of this world, but the. children of his brain and the sweet' situations that he created through the romance with "Mamie Rose" will live on for ever. To-night tiie wonderfuly sweet story of "The Regeneration," the memory of Owen Kildare. and of Mamie Rose, who redeemed him from a drunkard and outcast will be shown on ihe screen at Everybody's. What happened to Thomas? In a communication from Mr. Malcolm Ross regarding the strength of Messines, published last iveek, the following paragraph appeared:—"The importance of Messines as the southern corner post of the Wytschaete salient was fully recognised by the enemy, and in consequence fully a month before the attack a permanent responsible commander—one Thomas—was appointed for the outer and inner defences. Looking back at some of our bombardments one wonders what happened to Captain Thomas." The answer is supplied in a letter received by Mr. E. 0. Lewer,i of Karori, from his son, Lieutenant A. Lewer. Lieutenant Lewer refers to the capture of German prisoners in the Messines battle, and in no boasting spirit, and just as if stating a commonplace fact, adds the following interesting note:—"l, personally, captured the defender of Messines, a Hun by the name of Captain Thomas." In spite of the fact that Auckland City's quota of the Liberty war loan totalled over £2,000,000, the New Zealand Herald states that there has been no adverse effect upon trade, which is reported to be still buoyant, and quite unlikely to suffer by reason of the loan. This is the opinion of leading representatives of commercial and financial institutions and retail business men. Judging by the experience of one of the largest retail drapery and millinery firms in Auckland, the money put into the loan has made no difference to the amount available for purchases. It would appear that, being prepared for the call, the bulk of the people had the money for loan investments ready, or withdrew it from their savings, thus not inter, fering with actual incomes. Many citizens borrowed from-the banks for the loan, but even that fact does not seem to have materially reduced their spending capacity. The people's savings were recently computed at £25,000,000, and were, no doubt, largely drawn upon for the loan.

Figures compiled in Auckland show that there is an increasing tendency on the part of women to engage in office work, but, generally speaking, their employment is limited to work peculiarly suited to them, such as shorthand and typewriting. A legal firm which in pre-war days employed two women clerks now has sis on its staff. A large firm of warehousemen at one time employed 22 on its office staff, but now 40 are engaged. A firm of hardware merchants at present has an office staff which includes 21 girl clerks as against nine before the war, while another firm of warehousemen now employ, 21, as compared with six before the war. There are a few instances where women have undertaken work which was formerly done by men only. One ia the case, of the Auckland chemists, some of whom employ saleswomen in Auckland, as in other parts of the Dominion. There are women taxicab drivers. Girl clerks have proved the greatest success in banking institutions. It is recognised that though they have certain limitations, these are due more to inexperience in banking work than to ineptitude.