LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Canadian Department of Agriculture is endeavoring to extend the corn belt 'by developing frost-proof cereals. It is estimated that there were £500,000 worth of cars at the, Palmerston races yesterday. Seven hundred of these vehicles paid for admission to the paddock. "We have advice from shcepowners in all parts of New Zealand that shearers are not essential," said Mr. H. W. Bishop at the sitting of the Second Canterbury Military iService Board. "Ev<:ry Board in New Zealand knows that." Mr. Bishop went on to state that at the recent conference in Wellington of chairmen" of Military Service Boards there was a general consensus of opinion that shearers were not essential. On December 8 a load of cheese was consigned from Moumahaki railway station to the grading works at Wanganui. On arrival at the works nine caseß of the consignment were thrown out, all the cheeses having been mutilated, apparently by knives being run through the battens on the ca3e. The sequel was heard in the Waverley courthouse on Thursday (says the Press), when A. E. Frost, aged 20, and K. Nicholson, aged 15, were charged with the offence. Botli pleaded guilty, and Frost, being the elder of the two, was fined £4, and Nicholson was fined £2, the two also having to pay £lO, the loss sustained on the cheese.

The Auckland Star states that the following telegram was forwarded to Sir James Allen at Wellington last week: "Auckland parents of Gallipoli men, as result of recent letters, feel strongly that these men, now few in number, war worn and mentally tired, should, if .possible, be given two months' leave in England this winter. I hope you may see your way to make representations accordingly." Mr. Parr, M.P., received a reply as follows: 'Your telegram received. General Godley has intimated to me that he is going do his best to give the Main Body men furlough to England, but he does not state the length of the furlough."

Right throughout the year the Empire Theatre Saturday matinee has proved the most popular attraction in town for the kiddies, and big crowds have been in attendance each Saturday afternoon. To celebrate the last Saturday matinee for 19U the management has arranged a specially attractive programme for tomorrow afternoon, when the special star attraction will be the roaring two-reel Keystone comedy, "Ca/etu* Nell" that has caused so much comment during the week at Everybody's. Other items of matinee programme will be a Charlie Chaplin comedy, "The Face on the Barroom Floor," a Christy comedy, "Skirts," the twelfth episode of "The" Secret of the submarine," the Co-operative Weekly (showing the American tanks), and the Rex Beach travel series. It U a great selection for the kiddies and a fine finish for tile year

"The Price of Silence," staring that vigorous personality William Farnum, scored an immediate success on its presentation at Everybody's last evening. The picturesque story deals with the horrors of child slavery in the States, whilst at. the same time a pretty love episode is interwoven. The picture has earned for its title that of "the modern 'Uncle Tom's Cabip.'" A good comedy and an interesting Topical Gazette which sows thi working of the American "war tank" under war conditions, are also included on the programme.

CLINCHER CROSS TYRES - the motorist's delight. Users on Dominion roads have PROVED them the best longdistnnee tyre obtainable. Buy service by insisting on Clincher Cross. Leadiw

"The Barntongaii Contingent luis done Bitch'good work with the >"e\v Zealand Forces in Palestine," state* the Hon. Dr. I'omare, Minister in Charge of the Cook Wands, "that, the ofi'icc commanding on that front has asked for more reinforcements, and wo are arranging for another contingent to be sent from the Islands."

According to the Dutch newspaper, Nieuwo Rotterdamsehe Couraut, there are now drinkless, as well as foodless days in Germany. An innkeeper at Cologne, who had, on a prohibited day, served a thirsty wayfarer with a gloss of schnapps, was fined 300 marks ( £ls). The thirsty person got off with a fine of six marks.

A Milan report says a sensation has been caused by the arrest of John Stucke, the most active member of the committees of the British and American Chambers of Commerce. . He is accused of spying. .Siucke is a large machinery importer. He ha* been under surveillance for a long time. He made a violent struggle to avoid capture. Big piles of papers were seized.

He was one of those clever people who are always trying to take a rise out of someone, and Ins latest selected victim was a lady bus conductor. "Berlin, please," he said, with a grin, tendering a penny as she came for the fares. Nothing happened until the vehicle passed a recruiting office. Then the fair conductor tugged at the hell rope, and announced loudly: i "Change here for Berlin."

' Tn going to see "The Cecrct of Eve" the men will get a big jolt that will set them to thinking a whole lot and talking, f.bout the play. The reason for this is that "The Secret of Eve" is a splendid portrayal of the spirit of self-sacrifice that exists in every woman—the spirit, that makes a true sweetheart, a wife, a mother. This fine Metro photoplay, in which' Olga Petrova is the star, is showing each evening at the Empire untli the end of this week. «

The London correspondent of the Otago Daily Times states that Lord Phmket, in addition to the immense amount of work which he did for the New Zealand wounded, as chairman of the executive of the War Contingent Association, since the beginning of Uiq war, has held office aa an inspector of special constables. Recently Lord Phmket wrote to Mr. Justice Darling, stating that in his division there were several member.* of the Bar. solicitors and officer/! of the law courts, who wore uniform as special constables during a considerable part of the day, and were anxious to be allowed to appear in court in their uniforms instead of in robes. Mr. Justice Darling said he had consulted the other members of the court, and, so far as the King's Bench Division was concerned, special constables might appear in court in. uniform and dispense with wig and gown. Lord Plunket also mentioned the ease of solicitors, but as they have no right of audience in the High Courts they are not accepted.

An insufficiency of freight space is experienced by traders practically all over the world. It is, of course, th» direct consequence of a shortage of ship, ping. Nowhere is it more marked than in Japan. To date, war transport; are not required by the Japanese, but the war has afforded manufacturers and traders a rare opportunity of obtaining high prices in new consuming centres, with the result that freight spaces have assumed colossal proportions as'a gambling medium. A Yokohama correspondent recently asserted that the most current word in present-day Japanese slang is "narikin." meaning "nouveau riche> applied to the numerous mushroom millionaires which have heen produced by the trade boom caused by the war. The most numerous variety is the "funanarikin," or shipping millionaires. Kobe is now the centre of the shipping trade, not only of Japan, but of the Orient. There is n. Kobe Shipping Guild, which proposes to establish a shipping exchange, where tftders may assemble to transact freight and charter business, and the buying and selling of vessels. The Ocean Transport Company, of Kobe, is only a new creation, but bids fair to make its influence felt in the Pacific transport business. Mr. Hudson Maxim, the inventor, tells a good story of a conversation he had on hoard a steamer with a militant lady peace, fanatic—the Carrie Nation of England. "She opened the conversation with the reinnrk-: 'Do you know that, men like you ought to be hanged: that banging is too good for you; that men like you, who invent and make explosives nnd films to kill people, ought to be killed with them yourselves? That would yive you a dose of your own medicine..' I replied by asking her what she thought of the Armenian atrocities, which l were at that time being perpetrated. 'What do I think of them?' she answered. 'I think just this: that if T were the Queen of England T would put an end to that business pretty quick.', 'How would you do it?' I asked. 'Why,' she replied, 'I would go there with an army and exterminate those beastly Turks.' 'lf you were to do that.' said I, 'surely you would need some of the fools for killing people, like (hose yon blame me for inventing, would you not?' She. would not speak to me after that." This example of the impracticability of the fanatic can be capped with another. A year or two before the outbreak ot war proposals for strengthening the Navy were opposed by the militant wing of the Labor party at Home. Then came revolutionary troubles in Russia and the shooting down of some hundreds of people in the streets of Pctrograd. Immediately the Labor party rallied in Trafalgar Square to protest, and tubthumpers, who were fresh from denouncing an increase of the Navy, on the ground that we had no need to quarrel with anyone, loudly demanded that the fleet should be sent to .Petrograd to bring the Tsar to his senses with a few shells about his ears.

Visitors to Waitara are invited to inspect The Big Store, as it is one of the show places and should not be missed. -You are requested to handle and examine the goods as you may, but you will not be asked or expected to buy.* WHISKY DRINKING STOPPED. An Oamaru woman gladly tolls her experience of DRINKO:— "My husband has not touched drink since taking the powders. He is a good man and kind but that failing has been a great trouble. Yon can understand how pleased I am at such marked improvement." In scores of other eases DRINKO has prdsfid what is claimed for it. It is an inexpensive treatment and can he given secretly if desired. Full particulars and copies of testimonials posted free in plain sealed envelope. Adress me in confidence today, statins if Mr.. Mrs. or Miss, Lady Manager, Drinko Proprietary, 212 A.C., Lambton Quay, Wellington. 2 PAINFUL CORNS CURKT> Why endure the agony of Corns? Rarrßelough's Progandra will cure thron. Nothto» to sure. ]/• dn»mi«t« ta*