LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Among those who spent a merry Christmas in Wellington on Tuesday is an inmate of the Home for the Aged Needy, who is 102 years of age. He is very lively and bright. In 1903 the income tax in New Zealand represented 0 per cent, of the total taxation collected. This yfear it represents 4Q] per cent.

The Governor-General has appointed Mr. H. W. Bishop, SJvI., a commissioner to enquire into the administration by the agent of the Public Trust Office at Carterton of the estate of a Maori named Rangi Kerehoma. Since July there has been a noticeable slackening in the exports of merchandise from the United States. During the September quarter those exports were £268,418,000, showing a reduction as compared with the third quarter of 1916 of £30,440,000; whereas, during the June quarter those exports were £337,090,000, showing an increase of £05,027,000.

"The seeret of woman's power" is exceptionally well handled in the Metro wonderplay "The Secret of Eve" in which Madame Oiga Petrovn stars at tho Empire to-night. First it shotfs a mother's self-sacrifice, then the self-sac-rifice of a daughter, and in that spirit of self-sacrifice is the spirit that was created with Eve.

Apparently through over-enjoyment of the holiday festivities, and forgetful of the_ punctuality with which railway trains are despatched, or for some other reasons, quite a large number of visitors to New Plymouth yesterday missed the afternoon train. The unfortunate ones were then faced with the problem of securing accommodation for the night, and this proved some difficulty. In the present crowded state of the town, the hotels are heavily taxed to provide for those seeking rooms, and although in some cases the only thing offered—a "shake-down"—was accepted, in many others even this much was not to be had, and several hotel-keepers stated lastnight that they had ,had to refuse admittance to quite a number of people, for lack of space. The trouble was not confined to travellers by rail. Some of the people who had engaged to return down, the line by motor were left behind.

In response' to an inquiry as to liis opinion of the general behaviour of the -holiday crowds in New Plymouth during the Christmas season, Sub-Inspector Hutton, of the local police district stated to a "Daily News" representative last night that , not in the whole of his 30 years' experience in the police force had he seen such excellent order and good nature amongst holiday crowds. He said there was no semblance of larrikinism in the streets, and for general sobriety at sue)} a season he had no hesitation in giving New 'Plymouth first preference amongst all the places he had been in. Sub-Inspector Hutton said he spoke of the whole period from Saturday up till last night, and the only arrest for drunkenness was that of a man who arrived by train on Saturday evening and who was arrested immediately. In many places the sub-inspector said lie had been obliged to remain out until a very lato hour after the Christmas Eve festivities in order to satisfy himself that every* thteg was as it should be, hut in New Plyimoilth there had been no necessity for any lengthy vigil on his part on Monday night. There was no organised holiday attraction in New Plymouth yesterday outside the Jockey Club's Christmas meeting, but the holiday atmosphere was everywhere apparent. There was heavy inward traffic by rail and road and the town presented a very busy appearance, up till the time the patrons of the race meeting had left for the course. The trams carried a large number of passengers, those running to the breakwate» in the afternoon being crowded. The Ngamotu beach attracted a large number of visitors, as did also the East End reserve, the ideal weather conditions making the beaches very pnjoyable places yesterday. Pukekura Park and the other pleasure resorts of the town were

liberally patronised, and to all appearances full enjoyment was got out of the holiday hours.

Bough roads don't worry the users of CMNGHER TYRES because they are icomposed of the best quality rubber made by honest British labor. Trade imperiaHy and buy the British article. To-uigbt is hoseing time—if yon want to beep your garden looking freah,g>teen, attractive, Ask fsr the Lor G qualities, of NORTH BRSfISH HGSE—the quali--Has jß&r long. weaffj and^fcrads

As the result of a largo quantity of cement being rushed ou to the market through the cttcct of 11 big compauy having gone into liquidation there is considerable price-cutting at the present time. It is slated that cement may be purchased to-day cheaper than it could before the war started.

A rather interesting experiment beiug conducted by Mr. R. Burgees, of Appleby, in connection with the growing of marrows (states the Nelson Colonist). By a sugar and water process and a capillary method of feed, a marrow put on six'-inches of growth in twenty-four ,hours. The facts are almost startling jr. operation.

Among the Christmas telegrams received by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massny) is a message from the Maharajah of Bikaneer, as followm "At this Christmas season I desire to convey warmest good wishes to New Zealand and yourself." The Maharajah was the principal Indian representative at thei Imperial War Council this year. Among the escaped Germans are Ave ,of a band of naval cadets who were among the prisoners brought to Auckland from Samoa on October 13, 1914 (says the Auckland Star). The cadets were on board the German vessel Elaass, -which at the outbreak of! hostilities took refuge in the neutral port of Pago Pago. When the German cruisers Gneiaenau and Scharnhorst visited Apia .on September 15, 1914, the news was circulated at Tutuila, the American portion of Samoa, that Apia had been retaken by the Germans. This news so delighted the naval cadets on board the Elsass that eleven of them promptly deserted from their ship, commandeered a small sailing vessel, and set sail for Apia. They arrived at six o'clock one evening, and, much to the* surprise, were promptly made prisoners.

A Stratford soldier, writing from Sling Camp two days after arrival in ■September, says bis crowd bad a lovely trip, lasting eight weeks and four days, with only four days of weather on the voyage. Referring to the naval escort when nearing Home, the writer says that the cruisers which came out to meet them were small craft .whose special purpose is escorting and i they are capable of. developing a speed of forty-six knots. "Jnst aiter passing lighthouse, a thick fog came oil and the ships had to keep sounding their fog-horns. When we got in, we heard that one of our escorts had been smacked up just outside the harbor while the fog was on. We were lucky. Two submarines were sunk near at hand."— .Post.

!• It is reported from the Amberley and surrounding districts that the caterpillar is making such inroads on> the standing crops that farmers generally are cutting oats quite green. The pest has •travelled over large areas already, and is *till journeying and ravaging the district. The opinion is freely expressed that the mild winter failed to restrict or •keep down the pest, as a severe winter of frost and will invariably do, end the consequences are that the pest of some six or seven years ago is to be repeated. All oats have to be stooked, •as the pest is even worse on sheaves on {he ground than when actually growing. Wheat hitherto has been able to withstand the attack of the caterpillars, but •this season the grubs are "in" early—before the turning of the straw—and are causing some concern. In many places the binder cannot be brought into action owing to the ground being wet and soft; Already s%in. of rain has been Accorded this month, and there is every indication of more wet weather. The districts which are suffering most are Amberley, Broomfield, Omihi, Loithfield, Balcairn, and Sefton. i An illustration of how a man may ,be named wrongfully in the defaulters' list is provided by the ca9e of a certain seaman (says the Wellington Dominion). This man happened to be on a ship in a 'New Zealand port when the National Register was being compiled, and he wa6 registered. Then his ship sailed, and he did not return to New Zealand until .quite recently. But in the meantime he ■had been drawn in a ballot. He failed to make bis appearance, quite naturally, and a warrant had been issued for hia arrest. The man, when he reached the Dominion the second time, did not know that he was wanted by the Defence authorities. He planned to enter •the coastal service here, was told that ,he would have to register, and called (it the office of the Government Statistician to fill up the necessary form. He did not mention that he had registered before. A few hours later he was arrested in Wellington on the old warrant, and held for four days before he succeeded in establishing the facts. He had acted in good faith throughout, and so had the Defence authorities.

A rather amusing incident has occurred at Walcha, New South Wales. Some mcffths ago a Girls' Chib was forme 1 It flourished and helped the Win-lhe-War party, in the vigorous crusade of .appeals. It was reported, however, that the members hid stated their intention of refusing to dance with any young men eligible for the war who had not donhed the King's uniform. Tbia report was resented by members of the football olub. who promptly decff.red the' Girls' Club 'Tilaek.'' Here was .a dilemma. The members of the football clubhad seut all their and were inclined to demand ah apology. When the young ladies looked into matteri catefully. an i;.nd several friemlly "conv;! sations" ".vith the opposite sex. the outlook became brighter, and the clouds of distrust and ghoip vanishod The footballers decided to get up a dance aud raise fluids to erect a roll of honor. The girls showed sympathy and .attended. 80-th d,ubs have now been declared "white," and the footballers .with that spirit of chivalry whieh only requires the magic feminine touch to spring into life, are now arranging a ■social for the benefit of the Girls' Club. Perfect harmony now prevails.

The star attractions at Everybody's to-night and to-morrow wi|l be the special Pox feature, "The Price of Silence" starring William Foxour. On the same programme the "Co-operative Weekly" shows a series of views of the Am»rjan tanks being tested under war conditions. HEAVY DKINKER FOR 30 YEARS. DRINKO CURED HIM.

A grateful wife writes on November 14.— ,; Y0u will be "pleased to know my husband is splendid, lie tells me lie lias not now the slightest desire for drink. He was a lieavy drinker for over 30 years. We are all. so grateful." Satisfy yourself that BRIN3CO is a genuine cure. White for free booklet describing the treatment and containing dozens of similar tcstimoniajs. I will post it in plain sealed envelope. Treatment is inexpensive and easily-given—secretly if desired. Address me in confidence, iAdv Manager. Drinko Proprietary, 212 A. C., Lambton Quay, Wellington. 1

One of the simplest and most effectual kof teusAold temedies for stomacaj jiroubles in young children is EMamasift,