LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A man named fieorgc Luff, a member of the crew of the Regulus, was arrestee yesterday, and will appear before the ,court this morning, on a charge of stealing a pair of lady's boots.

An important meeting of Taranaki hotelkecpers was held in Hawera yesterday. Delegates were, it is understood - , appointed to proceed to Wellington to j,he recent licensing legislation passed by the Government.'

The works committee of the New Plymouth Borough Council last night ap. proved of a by-law providing that no motor car, or motor bicycle with sidecar attached, may be left for more than ten minutes in any street or public place if unattended, or'for more than twenty minutes whether attended or not. Following is the return of the number of births, deaths and marriages for the district of New Plymouth (Mr. J. S. S. Medley, Registrar), for the month of September, and for the nine months erring September 30:—Month of September: Births 38 (lfllfi, 33), deaths 13 (15), marriages 7 (fi). For the nine months ending; September 30 the figures are:— Births 323. (1010, 300), deaths, 114 (127), marriages 6S (85). At an enthusiastic meeting of those interested in the establishment of saleyards at Patea, which was held on Saturday, it was decided to ask Mr. Lynskey, manager of the Farmers' Co-operative Organisation Society, to address a meeting of farmers on the sale-yards question. Tt was stated that, though the district had not been thoroughly canvassed, already about £3OOO worth of shares in the society had been taken un.

. Yesterday afternoon,' whilst an inspection was being made of the hold of a vessel at the breakwater, a mild explosion occurred. Benzine had formed part of the cargo, and some of the tins had evidently leaked, emittihg a vapor that was ignited by the light from a hurricane lamp carried by one of the sailors. At first it was thought the vessel was afire, but a few buckets of water were sufficient to make things safe. The wharf hose was immediately available, but, except for a few minutes, was not required. In connection ' with the motor cycle accident at Warca recently we are asked to state that a boy had ridden a horse to the-local school to attend a party. The horse was tied in the school ground, and through the cycle being set in action it took fright, broke the bridle, galloped nut of the gate, and proceeded along the road for home. The cycle started almost immediately after. " The boy set out in search of his horse, which he found about a quarter of a mile from the school, and about two chains further on discovered the two lads with the cycle lying on the side of the road. There was nothing to indicate that the horse was touched by the cycle at all.

A very fine Metro .photo-play, ''Satay Sanderson." from the novel of the same name, will he screened at Everybody's to-night and to-morrow. This grippingly interesting story makes an equally 1 gripping motion picture which is certain to prive popular during its local season On Thursday the famous William Fox star, Theda Bara. will be featured in her great dramatic success, "Under Two Flags," from the internationally famous novel by "Ouida." Miss Bara appears in the character of "Cigarette," the pet of tlm who bravely gave her life for the man she loved.

A pointed argument arose in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington, between Mr. Myers, counsel for a defendant, and Mellveney. Counsel accused the Sub-Inspector ol adopting unfair methods of prosecuting the case for the police. Sub-Inspector Mellveney refuted the accusation and said he would, as he had always endeavoured to do wherever he had been stationed in New Zealand, see that justice was done, and 'would not be browbeaten by counsel. Mr. Myers replied that he had no intention of browbeating the Sub-Inspector, but a loua noise would not deter him from protesting if he thought a client of his was being unfairly treated,

• The Boys' High School annual steeplechase will take place next Thursday, October 4. This year there are about 220 entries, the majority of whom will be starting. The course is the same as that of previous years, viz.. from the school along Avenue road to the Henui bridge, across to the ground which runs almost parallel with Old Hospital road, joining this road near Mr. S. Smith's property; thence to the Fitzroy Bowling Green corner, and'back to the school—a distance of five miles. A good deal of the actual course can be seen from the school grounds. Several fast times have recently been recorded by some of the boys and. given a line day, last year's fastest time of 20min Sflsec will in all probability be beaten. The race will commence at 3.15 p.m. Friends of the school are invited to be present.

For the month of September the nett customs duty collected at New Plymouth amovnted to £3055 12s. as compared with £5303 12s Id for the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of £2248 0s Id. Beer duty amounted to £2OB Is 7d, as compared with £lO7 14s Sd, an increase of £lO 0s lid. For the quarter ending September 30 the net; customs duty totalled £10,060 14s lOd. as compared'with £12.884 17s 7<l for the eorresponding.quarter of last year, a decrease of £2BIB 2s 9d. Beer duty totalled £520 0s lOd, as compared with £4SO 14s 2d, an increase of £4B 15s Sd. The total revenue from all sources for the quarter was £10,792 16s 7d. as compared with £13,013 12s Sd for the corresponding quarter of last year, a decrease of £2820 16s Id. The apparent decrease in customs duty in September was due to the non-arrival of goods from Home or from Australia during that month.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, draw attention to their annual bull fair, in their Stratford yards on Monday, October 15, at 1 p.m. Men's boxed suits, ready-to-wear, aro a speciality at the Melbourne, Ltd. New goqds are being constantly opened up and styles are therefore kept up-to-date. New suits recently to hand comprise Koslyn all-wool suits at 45a, Pctone all-wool suits at 535, indigo serges at 09s Gd and Pas, also Biinnockburns and worsteds at Pas and 79s 6d.

It is now quite easy to quit the drink habit. With Drinko, a harmless powder which is given secretly if desired, hundreds of patients have been cured. Treatment is inexpensive and can be given at home. Write for free particulars. Sent in plain sealed letter. Address in confidence, Lady Manager, Drinko Proprietary, 212J Lambton Chambers, Wellington. ,

A fine fillip for flagging appetites'is Hayward'a MILITARY PICKLE. So sure, tastv. economical, /'All grocers.

The Auckland branch of the Educational Institute has decided to apply to the Director of Education to permit the Auckland inspectors to rcgrade the Auckland teachers upon the basis of the former grading scheme until the Dominion deheme is placed on a more satisfactory looting (reports the Press Association).

<jood progress is being wade at the ITawera Winter Show buildings with the excavation for the concrete floor and the frame work for the insulated wall. The West Coast Refrigerating Company are pushing the work along as rapidly as possible in order to have the building completed and insulated for the accom modation of cheese at the earliest moment. The directors of the Winter Show Company recently purchased five tons of roofing iron and five tons of reinforcing steel in readiness for the erection of their new hall. It was considered prr.deiit to secure tlicsp line* whilst they were available, as there is every prospect of roofing iron and steel being unprocurable in the very near future.

Auckland reports that the' prospects for the approaching strawberry season are not considered to be as favorable as those of previous years. This condition is due to tli-> abnormally wet season and the difficulty of obtaining sufficient h'bor for weeding and cultivating the beds. The scarcity of labor has also t.iiiscd :; reduction in the area devoted ti strawberry ,culture. The plants are flowering well, but at this time of the year growth is preferred to blossom. The .present light rain, however, should promote fresh growth and materially assist in improving the quality of tho crop.

SomeUing very peculiar liappened at Wellington South last Friday. Five very diminutive citizen 1 ; disappeared from five happy homes, and threw five households into confusion and despair at their wholly inexplicable absence. Five anxious relatives made five different calls upon the Newtown police, and one by one as the afternoon wore on the little wanderers were restored from various places. It can scarcely be suggested that (here was any collusion between the youngsters, as their ages ranged from two and a half to five years, and they did not travel together. One mere babe went all the way from Girton Terrace to Mein Street before being recaptured. Perhaps the fine spring weather woke the "Wanderlust" in the youthful souls, and lured them on to seek "fresh woods and pastures new."

The express which left Auckland for Wellington last Monday night was-de-layed en route owing to the slippery state of the rails on the spiral at Raurimu. A new class of engine at present being tested by the Railway Department, was, says an Auckland paper, attached to • the train at Taumarunui, and it proved unequal to the task of hauling it up the steep Kaurimu grade. Light rain had been falling for some ..time, this accounting for the state of the rails. The first stop—of about half an hour's duration—occurred in the tunnel just pa»t Raurimu. The train again came to a standstill shortly after negotiating the, large curve on the spiral. Eventually it was divided into portions which were hauled up to Waimarino separately. The time taken ordinarily on the run from Raurimu to Waimarino is 35 minutes, but on this occasion the express took nearly three hours.

At the meeting of the Taranaki [County Council, held yesterday,, a iletter was received from the secretary of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board .reporting that Messrs J. R. Hill, D. McAll.r.m, and G. V. Tate had resigned their seats on the Board. The chairman suggested that as there was only one meeting before an eleqtion takes place, it was unnecessary to appoint new members. Cr. Morton pointed out that as matters stood a deadlock might be created on the Hospital Board, and, After a brief discussion, the following,members were appointed: Crs. .Binnie, C. Andrews and Morton.

The Waitar.'i Freezing Works baby committee is holding another ball this month.