LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association cable from London reports that the Military Medal has been awarded to 158 New Zealanders. A London cablegram states that the issue of sixty million 5s notes is imminent. The Nev Plymouth Girls' High School did very well in t'he recent scholarship examinations. It gained four out of nine Junior National scholarships won in Taranaki, one of the pupils (Winifred Downes) being first on the list for the North Island and second for the whole Dominion. "Disgusted," Tariki, writes that he made a small error in his letter yesterday headed "Tariki Troubles." Writing of a family of four lie said that "none had volunteered, although all appeared eligible." What he intended writino- was that "one had volunteered," etc.° and this one was "turned down" by the Medical Board, A Press Association message from Auckland states that the court-martial on the charges against Colonel Turner concerning the escape of German prisoners from Motuihi Island opened yesterday morning in Auckland, and immediately adjourned to enable the court to visit the Island and become conversant with the locality. An experiment in what is practically the American "boulevard'* system of street formation is to be made by the Auckland City Council in Picton Street, Ponsonhy. The council has decided to put down the outer twelve feet of each footpath in .grass, and plant trees on either side, the reserves committee to bo responsible for keeping both grass and trees in order. Another railway crossing motor car accident happened 011 Monday, 011 this occasion at Ball Road. Mr. A. 10. Washer, of Alton, with his wife and two children, was 011 his way to towii about 1.30 p.m. He failed to see the midday train from Hawera until a short distance from the line, and though he shut off his engine and put on both brakes, he was unable to avoid colliding with the train. The front portion of the car and bonnet were somewhat badly knocked about, and the engine considerably damaged. Luckily none of the passengers was hurt, though all were considerably shaken.—Star. Mr. 11. Okey, AI.P., has beer, advised that, while the Government lias not arranged for shipments of salt 011 it ' own behalf, jt has made representations to the Imperial Government through the High Commissioner, with a view to expediting shipments on order. It is understood that a consignment is due to reach New Zealand shortly, and those desirous of obtaining supplies should gat into direct communication with the importers,. Mr. Okey has also been in communication with the Minister, in charge of munitions and supplies with inference to case oils, and lias received a reply stating that the Government has been able to arrange for several cargoes to be brought to the Dominion at a rate 01 freight which would not justify further increases in ruling prices, but is at present taking no action to control distribution. Therefore it is suggested, that those interested showd approach the chief suppliers with a view to requesting them to make available a fair proportion Ts*u»ki.

At tlie Magistrate's Court yesterday Mr. .A. Crookc, S.M., granted land agents' litfiin-s to S. J. ,In'cl-son, W. •V. Young, J. S. 8. Med by and YV. J3. Uavies. Mr. A. C. I\ms« and Mr. Grainger, respectively chairman and manager of thq South Taranaki Refrigerating Company, were in Wellington last week on business connected witli the extension of storage accommodation, and it is understood that they made satisfactory arrangements with the Government in connection with financing part of the expenditure.—Star. In Washington a lmge stool: of gold is housed in the vaults of the Unit'.;! States Treasury. A corridor in the haseirciit lia.s been shut oil' by steel gates; and (he "old is stacked up like bricks awaiting the mason's hand. In that pile is iiilMl tons of pure gold, much of it representing British coins sent, to Washington in pavi'v-iit of war supplies, and nirdted down in tiie assay ollice next door. Each brick is worth about £IOOO, and the total value is more than £150.000,000 A cablegram from London referred to tlie rescue of some deserters at Burton Port, Donegal, 'by an armed party which overpowered the military cs"ort. This adds force to a paragraph that appeared in a letter from an Auckland boy to his mother (says the New Zealand Herald). He was on furlough in Kng'lain!, and did not go across to Ireland. He added that several Australian! who had gone to Ireland, had not come ba<*k again, and they were not. sent after for fear of trouble. The enormous s'/.e to which frosliwater eels grow in certain water;! in indicated by a specimen caught rcocntly on a ho; c in Lake Oraapere, near Kaikolie. It measured oft. 2in. in length, the weighed 2S.JIb, and is said to have been the largest specimen known to have been eaugllt in the lake during recent years. Unavailing' efforts have been mad: to slock the. Like with trout, and it is Relieved file fruicler.;; results are due to monster eels preying on the young trout. '"Another industry which has been particularly 'hard hit' the world over is the newspaper :vnd piinting trad", with the consequence that we have sera most of our papers reduced in size, whil 2 in many cases newspapers have ceased publication/' said Mi. A. F. Drayton, in an address to the Industrial Association at ChristchucA on Tuesday. "It has been conclunivaly jproved that there are thousands of acres of limber of the West Coast of this Island and elsewhere, particularly suitable for the. pulp industry, and you will be glad to learn that local enterprise is dealing v.ith this matter in a business-like way, with the result tha J . e.s sooi' a.' l *he war is concluded, and the necessary machinery can be obtained, wo may look forward to seeing another valuable addition to our New Zealand industries." Considerable dissatisfaction is said to exist on tiie part of butter-factory companies in the Auckland Pro vmco in connection with prices fixed bv the government. It is complained that the maximum reccved by the imtter factores only enables them to pay a limited price, for butter-fat. The price paid for cheese enables the cheese factories to pay a higher price for butter-fat. Now, it is stated, the position has become even more acute by the fact that the price paid for milk is such that the manufacturers thereof aro able to pay more for butter fat flian either tiie butter or elieese factories. This is seriously interfering with the supplies o'f butter-fat offering to several of the 'butter factories who cannot afford to pay the figure whirii ihe makers of dried milt can pay. A Patea-to-Pipiriki railway is the latest idea of 'Patea's foremost citizens, and the suggestion was discussed at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on Friday last. Tiie suggestion had been made that the Government be urged at the completion of the war to take in hand the work of forming a railway line to serve the double purpose of opening up the back country lying to the eastward of ll'atea and connecting the port with tlio main trunk line. Mr. C. A. Larcombe, the originator of the idea, explained that a splendid grade could bo obtained along the valley of the 'Wlienuakura to connect with Pipiriki, to which a line was already being* constructed from Ohakune and had already reached Raetihi. It would be about 3d miles in length. Personally he believed that they had the best case in New r for a j'ailwav to be built after the war" After a brief discussion it was unanimously resolved that the member for the district, Jir. G. V. Pearce, be asked to meet the executive of the Chamber and discuss the matter with them, witji a view to tbe Government being approached and a survey of a route made. The Opunake annual seaside fete is to be held to-day, and, given fine weather, there should be a large gathering. Amusements for old and young have been provided, and as a fitting wind-up a special picture programme will be shown in the Town Hall in the evening. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile draw attention to ,tbeir Stratford sheep fair, which they are holding on Monday, 4th February. Full particulars will be found on page S of this issue. Tiie Melbourne, Ltd., have full stocks of men's and .boys' shirts at prices unequalled for value. Men'-; Harvard working shirts .la lid, blue grandriil shirts 3s I'ld, 4s lid and 3s lid, "Advance" and "S.S.S." indigo (J'ill shirts, ">s Ctl and 5s lid. nun's tennis shirts 03 (id, 4s (id and 5s 6d, boys' llax shirts Is lid to 2s lid, boys' white tennis shirts 2s od, 2s lld and 3s 1 Id.