LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The New Plymouth Borough Council's clean-up scheme was completed yesterday. The total number of loads of rubbish lifted was 235, weighing approximately 120 tons.

At the Fitzroy school prize distribution, last night, the headmaster (Mr. 0. Johnson) stated that the five members of the Dickey family who belonged to the school had all made full attendances, a record of which the school, as well as the family, might well be proud. The collector of customs (Mr. Eyre) received a telegram from the Marine Department, last night, to the cfi'ect that it was stated that the Karori Rock light in Cook Strait was out, and that it would be examined and, if out, would bo relighted as soon as thc-weathcr moderated sufficiently. A mishap to the mail car running from Awakino to Waitara occurred on Tuesday. It is reported that while descending Mount Messenger the car came suddenly upon a five-horse waggon, and the road being narrow with a steep drop on the outside, a collision could not be averted. One of the front wheels of the car was torn off, but the occupants escaped injury. The Greymouth Star learns that Mr. Hall, one of those who suffered in the Runanga robbery, remains in about the same condition. He maintains a most cheerful and hopeful attitude, and his disposition is everything that is helpful to his still critical condition. All that medical skill can do is being done for the patient, whose case in any event will be a protracted one A gentleman who has spent his life among the flax country and the workers of that industry remarked that it would be utterly useless to close the mills to enable the men to go south to the harvest, as suggested by the Efficiency Board, unless hotels and race meetings were also shut down. Numbers of the men earn 30s a day for a day of six hours, and desire a vacation only to spend it, not to work at something else.

It is a great attraction to possess pearly white teeth and pink healthy gums. No girl should neglect this added charm, which may be obtained by using "OZO" TOOTH POWDER. (id tins everywhere.

'Die directors of the Normanby Dairy Factory Co. have made a further payment of 3d per lb butterfat for the whole of flic past season, making a total payout of 2a per lb fat. Mr. Foster, a returned Australian soldier, intends to swim across Wellington Harbor, a distance of about seven and a half miles, one day in Christmas week. No doubt considerable interest will be attached to this feat, as it will be the first time that any man has attempted it. Mr. Foster has already swum across Lake Windermere, the largest English lake, being gome ten and a half miles in length, and while he was away with the Australian forces he swam across Lemnos Harbor.

Hilarious amusement interrupted the usual sedateness of the proceedings of the Portobello Road Board (says the Dunedin Star, writing of the board's last meeting). In response to a timid knocking at the hall door, the clerk left the board room to ascertain who sought admission. He returned to the board room as quietly as he had left it, but the quietness gave place to laughter when the clerk announced that a small boy, knocking at the door, had enquired in seeming earnestness: "Please, is the monkey show on?" Says "Mercutio" in the "New Zealand Herald": If New Zealanders celebrate Christmas in Jerusalem as part of the conquering army of Britain, it will form one of the most striking and romantic episodes of this wonderful war. That horsemen from the newest of lands should ride where the old Crusaders failed to reach, and win where the heroes of ancient Christendom failed, is wonderful to think of. That on Christmas Day they should be able to worship freely at the very shrine of Christ has more than historical significance. The annual inter-college boat race was rowed on the Wanganui river on Tuesday (reports the Chronicle). Wellington College was not represented, the crews facing the starter being Christ's College, Christchurch Boys' High School, Waitaki High School, and Wanganui Collegiate School. The weaker was gloriously, line, and the water .was fairly smooth. Christ's College won comfortably by three lengths from Wanganui, who narrowly defeated Christchurch Boys' High School for second place, Waitaki being well astern. The winners, though not a heavy crew, rowed in fine style throughout, their work showing evidence of efficient coaching. The Wanganui crew rowed fairly well, but not so evenly as the winners. Small town fire engines houses, rival companies of which give amateur performances pf "The Fireman's Bride," and other.gems add to the fun in the Metro feature, "The End of the Tour,'' in which Lionel Barrymorc stars at the Empire theatre to-night. The actors, stranded, teach the firemen to act in return for a few square meals. The picture is original and full of quaint humor, i Dr. G. E. Morrison, political adviser to the President of China, and formerly Pekin correspondent of the Times, who will be visiting New Zealand at an' early date, is of such a roving disposition that the wonder is that he has remained ao long in the Chinese capital. Dr. Morrison, who was born in the Scotch College, Geelong, of which his father was the principal, led the Melbourne Age exploring expedition into New Guinea while still in his early twenties. He was speared by a Papuan, and a portion of the spear remained embedded in his body until he came to Edinburgh for his medical degree. There it proved the opportunity for a remarkable operation. He also tramped 2000 miles from one end of Australia to the other. Another adventurous enterprise was his embarking as a common sailor on a South Sea recruiting vessel in order to study at first hand the conditions of the trallie in kaiiakas for the sugar plantations. The records of these and other journeys, if exhumed from the back files ,of the Melbourne Age, would make a very remarkable volume.

Brief but interesting remarks bearing on an important phase of the New Zealand meat export trade were made by the chairman of directors (Mr. W. H. Millwar/t) at the annual meeting of the Gear Company in Wellington last week (says the .Post). "During last session," he said, "a Parliamentary Committee was set up to investigate the meat export trade. The evidence taken and the suggestions made by the committee arh both interesting and instructive. A meat trust of any description can only be successfully dealt with by co-opera-tion between the Dominion and Imperial Governments—the former effecting tho purchase at this end and the latter eon. trolling the sale in <-reat Britain. By such concerted action the interests of the producers would be conserved, and a steady supply of wholesome food Would be available for the British consumers. Under this or similar method stability would be given to fat and store stock values to a great extent eliminate speculation and make for soundness in Dominion finance."

Another record is claimed by cricket* The man who has killed more Germans with his rifle than any other is said (o be a well-known amateur member of an English county eleven. Ho is the most deadly sniper in the British Army, one of those men who sneak out into the open, and from a shell crater or other place of concealment pick off an enemy who exposes any part of himself above the trench parapet. For obvious reasons his name cannot be given, but it is safe to mention that he lias been awarded the Military Cros* for his daring and deadly shooting. Another cricketer who excels as a marksman is H. Hesketh Prichard, the author, hunter, and explorer. He too, has filled •the part of sniper in France but for some time ho has been stationed at a base instructing apt pupils in the tricks •of concealment and the science of rapid shooting. A general invitation is given to all friends of the Central School to attend the break-up ceremony at the Good Templar Hall this afternoon, at 2 o'clock. The infant school ceremony takes place at 11.30 a.m. It has been arranged that a Government wool valuation will take place at. Waitara on Wednesday, January 2. HEAVY DRINKER FOR 30 YEARS. DRINKO CURED HIM. A grateful wife writes on November 14.—'You will be pleased to know my husband is splendid. He tells me he has not now the slightest desire for drink. He was a heavy drinker for over 30 years. We are all so grateful." Satisfy yourself that DRTNKO is a genuine cure. White for freo booklet describing the treatment and containing dozens of similar testimonials. I will post it in plain sealed envelope. Treatment i s inexpensive and easily given—secretly if desired. Address me in confidence, Lady Manager, Drinko Proprietary, 212 A. C, Lambton Quay, Wellington. 1 Try Hayward's FLAG BRAND PICKT/ES for flagging appetites—the condiment of the period. Pure, fresh, economical. Auk your saoetis.

At yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board :i donation of £l3 Is M was received from the Mayor of New Plymouth, being the amount remaining for the credit of the Ambulance Fund.

"The result of the recent lcgislntioii spells ruination for sorue- hotelkeopers," said Mr. W. Pryori speaking on behalf of the hotel employers in tho Arbitration Court proceedings in the application made by the Canterbury Hotel anri Restaurant Workom' Union for a new award (states the Lyttelton Times). Some striking facts have come to light as tho result of the Mayor's reference to the output of dairy produce in the Thames Valley (states the Thames Star). Enquiry has elicited that for the past year the Thames Valley Dairy Company has produced 1234% tons of butter and 1024>/ 4 ton of cheese, of an approximate value of £335,000. This is a striking illustration of tho district's wealth.

Shearers are scarce in the North Otago district (according to the Oainaru Mail). On one station the owner has started shearing with one expert and three novices, and on another —a large property—with two experts and several beginners. As the British Government lias purchased the wool, speed is not an essential, as last year's wool has not. all been shipped yet. The Wanganui Herald says: A record in broccoli-planting at Kowiiai Park has been put up by Mrs Hall and her nephew. Last Saturday they planted about 1500 broccoli; this is about double what any man has been able to do. The Saturday previous they planted 1300, which was considered a great performance.

"The position is so serious that some hotelkeepers felt that, ih common hones-, ty, they ought to call their creditors to. g'ether. Hotelkeepers have borne the full brunt of the increase in cost of living so far as food commodities are concerned, The coat of liquor stocks to hotelkeepers have gone up enormously, and it is a fact that hotelkeepers have not been able to increase their retail prices sufficiently to recoup them for their outlay in the hotel business." A young officer, whose parents arc well-known in the district, has had a, unique experience (says the Mataurtt Ensign). He was wounded by shrapnel some time ago, and in a letter to his parents he states that the surgeon who attended to his wound located the shrapnel fragment and found almost alongside of it a pea-rifle bullet, which had been embedded in his body since the occasion when, a boy, he had been the vietim of a minor shooting accident. Information has been received by the .Prime Minister that the sum of £!.> 500,000 had been placed by the Imperial authorities to the credit of the Government in Wellington for the purpose of paying for the first instalments of this season's butter and cheese, Mr. Massey said that, after providing for £GOO,000 in connection with last month's payments, £900,000 would be left to meet this month's advances, which would be due on 20th December. It was probable, he said, that £1,000,000 would be required this month for advances owing to the great output of butter and cheese.

Letters received bv the last mail from Major R. A. Wilson, son of Sir .Tamos Wilson, Bulls, mention that on the 20t>. September he was out when shells were falling about, and suddenly found himself on his back; two fragments of shell had struck his steel helmet and driven it in on his head, making a scalp wound. He says that Lliese helmets undoubtedly save thousands of lives. He was sent to the base hospital and after nine days' rest rejoined his battery, which has now been increased by the addition of two more heavy guns. He now commands six guns, 200 men, and seven officers—a good record for a year's service in the Imperial Army. The recent internment of Edmund Resell, the Sydney brewer, recalls the fact (says a Broken Hill message to the Melbourne Age) that some years ago lie quarrelled with his nephew, who is well known in Broken Hill as Lieutenant Reach, because of the lattcr's loyalty to the British flag. The breach occurred during the time of the Boer war. "When I volunteered for the Boer war," Lieutenant Resell said recently, "my uncle Edmund said to me, 'So you are going to Africa to fight for the British; arc you? Well, you can understand that from now I have done with you, and you need not expect to get any assistance in life from me.' I told him," said the lieutenant, "that I was quite capable of looking after my own future and required no assistance from him." Lieutenant Rcsch some months before leaving for the front changed hU name to Fletcher, that being th-j maiden name of his wife, who is British, as also was his mother.

"It has been suggested in connection with our visit to England (hat we, the Finance Minister and myself, mode promises to the Home Government that are •somewhat difficult to fulfil." paid t;ie Prime Miniaer last week, ''but I do not think that is the case. What we promised was that, New Zealand would do ite full share in regard to the war, and that promise has been, and is being, honored to the very letter. So far as Reinforcements and supplies arc caneerned, no one can even hint that we have failed in the slightest; to-day we are not a single man behind in the Reinforcements promised- to the Imperial Governmeut. (Applause.) The Imperial Government, recognising what New Zealand has done, has notified us, without any pressure our part, that for the future our Reinforcements will be very considerably reduced. That has been done as a recognition of the splendid position that New Zealand has taken up right through."

'Tarautuele," the famous silk finished soft pure longeloth, 40 inches wide, for dainty home-sewn ladies' lingerie and baby wear will rise to Is lOd per yard on January next. You can buy it now at The Big Stare, Waiter*, for Is 3d. Save 7d a yard!*

A brilliant new programme is screening at Everybody's to-night and to-mor-row night when Virginia Pearson stars in theJWilliam Fox photoplay, "The Bitter Truth,'' and William Desmond and Enid Markey in "Blood Will Tell," a brilliant Triangle feature. WOOD-MILNE TYRES ARF, MILES AHEAD IX THE LONG TON.

When you consider that Wood-Milne Tyres carry a definite guarantee cf 3500 miles their economy and goodness will be at once apparent." Moreover, you owe it as a duty towards our Empire to use Wood-Milne Tyres in preference to foreign makes, because Wood-Milnes are British, and are made with that thoroughness which characterises British methods. So help British workerskeep British oaeh within the Empire by specifying Wood-Milne Tyres. 'Write for details to your garage- or TS-Z. Depot, Caselbeng and 00., Ltd., Molesworth street, Wellington, 14

The First Wellington Military Ser« vice Board will sit in Hawera ott*J«Hliary 14 and 15, and at New Plymouth oa January IB and 17. "Admiral Jelliwic receives in salary £ISOO a year only from the BritisttGov* eminent," said Mr. Darroch in a lecture the other evening, "and yet the fat* of the whole world may lie said to 11* In the hollow of his hand." At tills rate the General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, who receives doable thin amount, is somewhat overpaid. Whilst the fire engine was being towed back to Patea by Messrs Cronin's motor car after doing service at the Kakaromea fire, and when travelling at gome speed for such an antiquated vehicle, a wheel came off the engine and it capsized, pitching the half-dozen firemen who were riding on it on to the .roadway, Luckily, however, no one was killed, although Firemen E. Thompson and G. Willis received a nasty eat or two, and Fireman E. Willis and the others gome bruises which they will feel 'for some days to come.—-Patea Press.

The new valuation roll for the borough of Hawera is ;aow praottoa)iyi settled, though a few adjustments have yet to be made, and the figures are not final. Approximately the grow capital value...'is £844,000, as compared with '£587,000 at the last valuation, The net rateable value of unimproved is approximately £380,000 as against £291,870. 'Probably the increased taxable value will be "£BO,OOO or £9f>,ooo, and at present levies this would give the borough approximately another £IOOO a year revenue, gays the ' Star; A small boy seated on the kerb by a telegraph pole, with a tin can by his aide, attracted the attention of an old gentleman who happened to be passing. "Going fishing?" he eifquircd, good-natured-ly. "Nope," the youngster replied. "Take a peep in there." Investigation showed the can to be partly filled with caterpillars. "What in the vorld are you doing with them?" "They crawl up trees and cat off the leaves." "So I understand." "Well, I'm fooling a few of them." "How?" "Sending '«m up this telegraph pole."

The Palmerston National Efficiency Board has communicated with the FUxmillers' Association, asking if the Flaxmillers would be prepared to close the mills should it be necessary to provide* labor to harvest the Mr. Al-. i'red Seifert, president of the association, replied that a meeting bad not been held, but he had spoken to several millers, who were prepared to close down if necessary, realising the stn-, portance of harvesting the crops in good condition.

A Christchurch soldier bad the misfortune to lose a leg whilst on active service (says the Press), ■ He Was supplied with an artificial HrnS, and ft duplicate, but neither proved .satisfactory. He then set to work and made a leg himself. The result was Mi perfect thfct the doctors wero amazed. These facts were stated to the executive of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund' by Mr. F. W. Hobbs', who announced that the Fund's Trades and Professions Committee proposed to make the mm a grant of £SO, and give him a loon of £3O, to enable him to start an artificial limb manufacturing business. Without any hesitation the executive unani-i mously adopted the committee's recommendation.

Speaking at a meeting of the Women's National Reserve in Wellington, Hon. T, Wilford said that there were women in Taranaki doing farm work. milking, work in tho fields, etc. ' The war had, indeed, wiped out the description of women as the "weaker sex.' Women had proved themselves indeed as strong as men and they bore defeat and the loss of their dear ones well and ttobly, as was expected of British Women." The Reserve could not surpass what it had already done, but every bit of work. Red Cross or other WM a connecting link between'those who Were laying down their lives and > those who were safe at home through their sacrifices. Before the next annual meeting o£ tho Reserve ho hoped they would, bo able to celebrate that victory which the members by their work were helping to bring about. Campbell Island lies 350 miles due south from the Bluff, and is leased from the New Zealand Government by two Otago citizens, who run several thousand sheep on the island, and whose employees also follow the whaling industry. Reports received by the lessees from their manager state that the health ot all the men stationed on the island has been good. Tho winter was very wet and cold, with heavy prevailing winds, and no work had been done at the whaling on account of losing the 'one-time Dunedin-owned launch Komuri, which had to be abandoned at sea off the f outhcast corner of the island, u a conwquencc of a fault developing in he* engines.

With the present upward trend of prices it would bo undesirable to postpone the purchase of inou's and boy*' suits because solid advances may toe expected on all lines after the holidays. The Melbourne, Ltd., as usual are splendidly prepared for Christmas trading with good and varied stocks of all-wool colonial manufactured suits at their well-known low pflces. i