LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At Monday night's Meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, the registration fee for each dog within the borough for the year ending 31st. December, 1018, was fixed at .10/-, or 5/- if paid before 31st March. The fee for cattle dogs was lived at 2/8. Satisfactory progress is being made with the erection of the additional storage accommodation »t th,e "Jai'unakl Farmers' Freeing Works at Smart Road. All the foundations have been put in and it is expected that the building will be completed in time to cope with the rush of the season.

At Monday night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, on the mo. tion of the Mayor, seconded hy Cr. Collis, a very cordial vote of thanks was passed to the ladies of the W.C.T.U. for their supervision of the ladies' rest room, and the clerk was instructed to convey the resolution to the union. The following cases, illustrate the severe treatment meted out to trangressors of war legislation: A farmer was fined £IOO on each of 55 charges for selling potatoes above the permitted maximum. He made a profit ot £5,120, but his fines amounted to £0,500, besides icosts totalling £250. At another court a man was fined. £IOO for attempting to buy a pistol without a permit. The question of holiday traffic on the trams cropped up at Monday's meeting of the New 'Plymouth Borough Council, and Cr. Browne asked if the electrical engineer would have time to secure trailers in order to cope with the heavy demand on the rolling stock by holiday visitors. The engineer pointed out that the cars were not designed for drawing trailers and were not sufficiently heavily motored for the extra load that would be entailed . "

The cutting down of the hotel hours met with the hearty disapproval of a large crowd of people assembled in the vicinity of the Caledonian Hotel, Wellington, on Saturday evening. When 6 o'clock struck and the doors of thai hostelry slammed to, a howl of protests rent the air. Hoots and cries of derision added to the noise which grew in volume during the next few minutes. The protest took' Jit) more active form than this, but nevertheless was very audible to those in the vicinity of th» hotel at the moment.

"He is the champion drunk of New Zealand," said Sergeant Henry in the Palmerston 'Police Court, when John Kinley was charged with drunkenness, and with breaking his prohibition order. The sergeant said that in 19 years 5> convictions had been recorded against defendant, and in five months in the year 1915 he had paid £35 15s in fines, and during the whole of that year had paid £4O 15s. Apart from his weakness for drink, the defendant was a hardworking, honest man. Mr. Kenricfc, S.M., who was on the Bench, said ho would give defendant another chance. He would convict and fine him £2 on each charge, with 7s costs.

The liberal response which was made by the members of the Methodist Church out by an alien parent in New Zealand to the challenge given by the last conference to raise the sum of £IO,OOO within the year for foreign mission work has inspired further generosity on the part of a contributor who desires to remain anonymous. The President of the Conference (the Rev. W. A. Sinclair) has received advice of the, offer of £IOOO each to the homo atid foreign mission funds of the church, conditionally upon the church raising a certain sum for each of the funds. As the amount named is not considered an excessive one it is confidently anticipated that this fresh challenge will be accepted by the church in order that this further generous offer by one of its members may be made available to the church's funds.

The local papers have been advised with reference to the registration of aliens that naturalisation papers taken out by an alien parent in New Zealand will cove* his wife if living with him and any children who may be under age and who are also residing with him. Therefore a man who came to New Zealand while he (the son) was living with him before he came of age is a British subject and is not required to register. A Wife takes the nationality of her husband and .alien women married to British subjects are not required to register. On the other hanrt a woman born a British subject who is married to an alien becomes an alien and is required to register. Every person New Zealand-born is a naturalborn British subject and does not come within the scope of the Act, notwithstanding the fact that his parents may have been alien.

Rharland's Magnesia is particularly sothing when the digestion is disturbed "•nd there is a nasty taate in the mouth.

When the- Supreme Court opened yesterday morning, and common jurors were being sworn in, several applications for exemption from service were made. Two dairy farmers who handled large herds, and, had no assistance, were granted leave, as whs also a grave-digger, who said he did not know at what moment lie might be wanted to carry out his work, as burials were made almost daily. An undertaker was also granted leave.

"Can anyone 1 give us an idea when the price of material will come down after the war?" asked Mr. Staples at a meeting of the 'fSelwyn Plantation Board at Christchurch. ''l can," said Air. Oeorge Scott, the well-known ironfounder. of the firm of Scott Bros., who proceeded to relate an incident which he considered typical of what would happen after the war. On tlio day (hat the recent advance was made on the western front he received a number of American quotations by cablegram for material for,his firm. The first, was £7O a ton, yet by five o'clock the price had fallen to £3O a ton, "I said at (he time," said Mr Scott, "that I was sure that, something was happening at the front, and the Americans had heard of it before we did."

More coal (says the Auckland Star) is being produced in New Zealand at the present time than the mines can find sale for, and if large consumers would take advantage of the summer months i).v laying in a stock instead of, in many cases, waiting until the winter, when the normal demand exceeds the output capacity, there would .really be no fear of a coal shortage in New Zealand, at all. Some of the freezing, companies, and other industrial concerns have, iii fact, had large concrete coal storago tanks erected. These are filled with coal and then flooded wjth water, which keeps the coal in perfect condition against when it is required. One of the reasons of the coal panic which occurred early this year was that many big consumers were caught napping with short reserve stocks.

To-night will be the final screening of the Blue-bird film, "What Love Can Do" at Everybody's. To-morrow the famous Fox artist. George Walsh will be featured in a thrilling picturisation of Roy Norton's world-famous bopk, "The Mediator." Picture goers who saw this actor in "The Beast" will be prepared for one of tho best pictures of the vear, and will he more than satisfied with the "Mediator" As an added attraction Bessie B.irrescale will star in a Triangle drama "Bawbs o' Blue Bidge" a brilliant story of a mountain girl who lived close to nature.

A very peculiar case came before the Auckland Magistrate's Court on Wednesday last, when a well-to-do man named Charles A. Watkins was charged with failing to register in the first Division Senior-Sergt. M'Namara said that when tho man surrendered himself to the police he was in a weak state. He had been living a vagrant life in the parks, around One-tree Hill and in the vicinity of Penrose, only coming out into the open for food when opportunity offered. When questioned by the police, Watkins stated that he had been told he would either be shot or sent to gaol for life if caught. Rather than BpSnd his days in gaol, he said, he would prefer to be shot. The senior-sergeant mentioned that accused owned property at Clevedon South valued at £3200, and had a banking account. Accused pleaded guilty, saying that he did not know where to register. Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., said the behaviour of Watkins showed that he was trying to dodge military training. He would like to know accused's medical condition, for if lie could get through the examination it would be necessary—as a warning to ethers rather than with any hope of doing him any good—to inflict some punishment. Accused was convicted and remanded for sentence to enable a medical examination to be made.

In pursuance of the intention of th« Taranaki Head Centre of tho Royal Life Saving Society to have a knowledge of swimming and life-saving methods introduced into all the Taranaki schools, Mr. J. Walker, on Friday, visited the schools in the Inglewood district. At each school the instructo* first gave an address and then demonstrated the drill with the aid of some of the pupils. The list of schools and the number of pupils who could swim out.of those addressed is as follows: Waiongona, 5 out of 23; Inglewood, 56 out of 113; Kaimata. 15 out of 78; Tariki, 7 out of 23; Midhirst, none out of 43; Durham Road, one out of 25; Norfolk Road, 10 out of- 38. The scarcity of suitable swimming places was the cause of there being so few swimmers at some of the schools. At Midhirst, where none of the children could swim, a suitable hole was found not far from the school, and the mastet will, before the holidays, commence giving the children lessons in swimming. At Norfolk Road there was a swimming pool near the' school, and it had been the practice for all boys to be taught to swim before they left school.

The Taranaki Farmers' Meat Comjiany, Ltd., notify clients that slaughtering operations will commence at the Smart road works on December 10. Particulars regarding space, prices, etc., may be obtained on application to the company's buyers as mentioned in the advertisement.

To-night, the Technical College girls will render the programme of music advertised in another column. The practices have given evidence of a fine performance. A good orchestra will assist, and the whole work should go with a swing. As practically all the tickets have been sold, patrons should be in tiieir places by eight o'clock sharp. Following on the successful lircakingup function on Thursday night, it is sat T isfactory to learn that the prospects for the high schools for next year t.re exceedingly bright. In view of war conditions making it very difficult to maintain a complete staff, the board of governors is fortunate in being able to announce that the entiro staff, which produced such excellent results under last year's trying conditions, will again be available to "carry on" for the coming year. In this respect possibly our high schools are more fortunate than others, and doubtless this is due in a great measure to the grit which the staff, has always shown, often under very difficult conditions.

The bandsmen's Christmas benefit, which will be held in Pukokura Park tomorrow (Thursday) evening, offers an entertainment of an unusual nature, Appropriate carols will be played, and there will be solos find band selections. There will also be a somewhat novel tuneguessing competition, for which a prize will be awarded to the person'submitting the greatest number of correct titles of tunes contained in a selection to be played by the band. This competition will not be open to bandsmen, or to anyone intimately connected with the band. A collection will be taken up, and the proceeds will be divided amongst the bandiimen, in lieu of what has usually been the custom in connection with the carolling service on Christmas morning.

Remaining jurors >vho were not called upon at the Supreme Court, yesterday, were granted leave until 2 o'clock to-day.

Not only New Zealand, but the Canadian Dominion as well, has after a year's trial abolished its war profits taxes. It is reported that tile yield was small, the imposition vexatious and inequitable, and it fell Mostly upon young businesses, which were penalised. Income taxation yielded far better, and treated similar incomes alike.

Regarding the offer of coal supplies made some woekb ago to Hollan Hie Telegraph says that "England has gone to the utmost limit of good will towards Holland" in her oft'eer of ISOOOO tons of coal a month, on the sole condition that Holland supplies 180,000 tons of s'lip ping for Belgian relief purposes, fitrmany, it says, has always practised chicanery in regard to h'ev coal deliveries, and if tlie Dutch Gowinment accepts the British proposals Holland will be independent of Germany and largely delivered from German pressure on Dutch economic pj'.icy. "The practice of stealing from the wharves throughout the Dominion is becoming a scandal.' Not only do we find tlial waterside workers steal goods from the waterfront, but also Harbour Board officials. If this court can do anything to help stop this practice it will do so." So said Mr. S. K. McCarthy, S.Mj, when a waterside worker named William Sellar Johnston was before the Wellington Magistrate's Court and convicted of stealing a bottle Of brandy from a ship's side.

Conversation in the body of the Supreme Court yesterday, during the course of an address by counsel, caused Mr. Justice Edwards to interrupt the proceedings, and ask the sholicitor to repeat what had been said, as the sound of voices at the moment had prevented his Honor from hearing the exact words used. A sharp cry of "Silence!" by one of the ushers had the desired effect, and no further disturbance of the proceedings took place. The sleepy little town of Monterfil, in France, was thrown into unusual excitement some time back by the news that one of its inhabitants, Madame Delalande, had after sixteen years of married life, applied to the local Court far permission to resume her rightful sex. At first treated as an indelicate joke, it later transpired that the "lady" in question was really a man, and, as such, wished to regain his civil rights. After juggling with this intricate case for weeks, the Justices at last decided to rectify this strange sex blunder by declaring Eliza Dubreul's marriage null, and changing the Christian name to Flic. Thus while losing a much-re-spected citizen, Monterfil and France are richer by an able-bodied forty-three veor-old man, who, endowed with a fine physique and robußt constitution, has just been drafted, into the army. A rqcital of sacred music was given in St. Mary's Church last evening, by the organist (Mr. R, N. Renaud) , and the members of the choir. There was a good congregation, and the service, which was of a most devotional character, was thoroughly enjoyed by those present. The programme submitted included several iiymns, in which the congregation joined. Lloyd's service in E flat, and the anthems "Rejoice in the Lord Alway" (Purcell) and "Stainer's "Hallelujah! What Are These V' The organ numbers consisted of a Fantasia and Fugue in A minor (Bach) and Widor's Allegro Cantabile, Symphony No. 5. The service concluded with the singing of Stainer's beautiful Sevenfold Amen and the National Anthem. The collection which was taken up will be devoted to the fund for the extinction of the debt on the Church building.

Writes a soldier on active service to a Wellington friend:—"l wonder if you people realise that when this business is settled, and yolir men return to you, you are going to see a very pronounced difference in them. However robust a man might have been, however physically fit, however strong his constitution was, you who only knew them as they were, will see a difference—a change, that will make you realise in some measure what they have been through What with the practicable impossibility of changing wet clothing, the poor, irregular food, and the terrific and unending strain of being continually just where life is the cheapest thing that counts, and always the ever-present uncertainty as to whether you will in the next few minutes have added your name to the never-ending list of those who in the soldiers' parlance, have 'gone west.' These conditions will undermine the strongest constitution ana £ow the seeds of disease and complaints that will last as long as this generation .lasts. It is said that civilisation has been retarded by many hundreds of years in its advance, owing to this war. I can tell you that the men who have been through it have rushed through ten and twenty years of their lives in as many months at a pace that has worn all the 'silk of youth' out of them."

William S. Hart will finally appear in "Wolf Lowry" at the Umpire to-night. This fine Triangle picture is the- best characterisation in which Hart has yet appeared. It is in strong contrast to his previous work, 'his part being one of highearted rugged honesty and devotion. To-morrow the dainty Metro favorite, Mabel Taliaferro will be featured in "Magdalen of the Hills," and the new programme will also include the ninth episode of the "Secret of the Submarine" and further step in the tour per "Rex Beach Travel Series."

Buyers of ladies' stockings arc strongly advised to make their purchases for present or future requirements at once as it will not bo lotv; before heavy advances on all lines will take effect. The Mle'bourne, Ltd., fortunately hold fair stocks and notify that they are willing to fill all retail orders at old prices but no shopkeepers will be supplied. Fat,.chubby boy, did you say? But just wait until you see the chubby girls taking part in the Poi dance—and wearing mats, many of them of historic interest, too. Then again, wait until you see the healthy, rosy-cheeked children At the exercises that have contributed in no small degree to this healthy appearance. And, I say! Afternoon tea—such tea as the Fitzroy ladies know how to provide. lee creams! made in a magic machine (at least the kiddies "think so) in fact, lots of good things at the Fitzroy Fete in the ftehoolground on Thursday afternoon. By the bye! .Did you know that the chubby boy is something of an oracle? Watch to-morrow morning's paper for one of the questions to lie set in the forthcoming matriculation examination.

"Clean up week" will be in full swing this week. It is intended to do the business area of Devon street on Thursday at noon, and the remainder of Devon street, from Belt road to the Henui river, on Friday morning, at 8. Heartburn and nick headache is n'.'oved by Sharland'a Magnesia.