LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The net customs duty for the month of January at New Plymouth office totalled £5090 7s 9d, and the beer duty amounted to £l3l 7s 6d. Last year's figures were £4540 Cs 5d and £123 17s 4d. A hospital ship arrived in Auckland yesterday, carrying 388 invalided men, including 18 officers and one nurse. There was a fair proportion of cot cases. Mr. William Lints has been engaged by the Palmerston Patriotic Society to organise a carnival for the raising of £20,000 in eight weeks for the Sick and Wounded Fund. The conference of the Protestant Political Association in Wellington resolved to inaugurate a special campaign fund of £IOO,OOO. A resolution was carried expressing full confidence in the national organiser, the Rev. Mr. Elliott, and eulogising his work.—Press Association. A record price for January was realised in Auckland for a consignment of about 300 cases of bananas that came to hand last week from the Islands. Usually this month, when the market is glutted ,with locally-grown peaches, plums, and nectarines, the bananas sell at from 8s to fls per case. On this occasion, however, 208 was the price realised. A good opportunity of securing fresh fruits is offering to-day. Messrs. Webster Bros, will submit to auction 1200 boxes of choice Otago Central, Nelson, Auckland and Hastings fruit..

11l tlic Waiigamii Police Court yesterday, Mr. Cohen, on behalf of the legal profession, protested against the delay in hearing cases, owing to no magistrate being available. It was about six weeks since u. magistrate sat in police court jurisdiction. There was a great accumulation of cases, some seventy awaiting hearing. The need for a resident magistrate was strongly urged. China is apparently giving material aid to the Allied cause. Captain J. S. Watson, salvage expert of the Hongkong Dock Company in Victoria, stated recently that ships are being built at Hongkong and fill principal yards in China for British interests as fast as they can be turned out. He says the Hongkong Dock Company has six steel ships, eaeji of approximately 350 ft in length, on the stocks at Hongkong. While labor is cheap in the Orient, the stool shipbuilders there have many obstacles to combat, the greatest of which is the shortage of steel. New Zealanders who remember the visit of Eugene Sandow, the famous strong man, to the Dominion, about twelve years ago, will be interested to learn that he is reported to have been shot in the Tower of London for espionage in the early stages of the war. It is said that his tour of the world, when he visited New Zealand, was in the interests of the German Government, copious information being furnished with regard to every town visited. The New Zealand Times says that after the agitation in Parliament last session with regard to waste in the camps, the Defence Department cut down the rations of the men. It is stated that the me nare now getting only about one-sixth of what they did at first, and that they had not enough to eat. At the same time, the swill buckets, still contained whole joints cooked for men away on leave. When the men complained, they were told: "See what the politicians have done for you!" An amusing story of the experiences of three British officers who escaped from the Turks is told by a relative of one of them. Eluding theii guards, the three officers made their way across the desert. Tiieir first adventure came the day following <heir escape, vuen they cdccunteied thirteen Turkish soldiers. The officers resigned themselves :o recapture, but were astonished and delighted to discover, after some parley, that the soldiers were deserters fleeing from the hardships of the Turkish army ko some destination unknown. The two purines thereupon joined forces, and' were proceeding amicably on their way when a Turkish patrol appeared. There was no doubt of the hostile intention* of this body. A sharp fight ensued, resulting in the capture of eleven of the patrol. With these prisoners in their hands the British officers and the Turkish deserters marched forward, and ultimately reached a Russian camp, where the British officers received an enthusiastic welcome.

Further particulars about the bullet which has been used with such success against Zeppelins are given in the Melbourne Table Talk, aB follows: So the secret of the famous bullet that brought the Zeppelin terror to an end is out. Do you remember I told you months ago that when the secret came to be revealed it would be discovered that it was an Anzac who would reap the honor won by the invention ? Then, I could not reveal the name, aB the British authorities would not allow it to be whispered, in case some ' German sympathiser or spy should make an attempt to send the clever inventor soaring upwards and out of the world. I employed the term Anzac advisedly, although Mr. John Pomeroy is not a soldier, because it included New Zealanders as well as Australians. He hails from that canny little city Inverc'argill, New Zealand, but his father, Mr. J. H. Ponieroy, now lives at Healesville. Had the War Office only received him and accepted his bullet when he first went to England to offer it, this happy state of affairs would have come about much sooner. But red tape kept him waiting and tangled up for about six months before lie could get a hearing for his idea. Then as long again slipped past while Zeupelinettes were being built upon which to test the bullets, instead of testing them upon the invading horrors themselves.

The world favorite comedian, Charlie Chaplin, will be featured at the Empire to-night and at both sessions to-morrow in the two-reel comedy scream "Shanghaied." On the same programme there is a "Fine Art" drama, "The Lash of Destiny," a picture of intense interest that lives up to its title.

"The only buyers of land just now are Germans, because they can supply more labor," was the statement of an appellant who appeared before the First Wellington Military Service Board at Palmerston North on Thursday.- The appellant said that recently four Germans had bought 17 farms in the Ronjgotea district and converted them into sheep farms, presumably, in his opinion, to lessen the supply of food to the army. Appellant's statements were corroborated by another farmer, who had no personal interest in the appeal, and he added that the land in the district was essentially dan ying land, and on account nf the aggregations of small dairy farms into sheep-runs the Rongotea Dairy Company had now to go very far afield for its cream. Mr. McLaren (a member of the board) said the board could do nothing in the matter, but he ndvised the settlers to take the matter in hand and vnake representations to the Government.

It happened in a Christchurch auction room (says the Sun). She was determined to purchase a certain suite of furniture, and gave her hids determinedly. In the doorway stood a man of a type of bidder often seen at an auction —a »>an who, with back turned to the proceedings, intimated his bid to the auctioneer by the simpla and blase process ov flicking the ash from his cigarette. The price rose as the result of competition between the two from £lO to £&7, at which stage the flicking of the cigarette ceased, and the lady, in full triumph of her right to call the furniture her own, turned exultingly to her defeated rival. Tie also turned. There v.'as a simultaneous gasp of aipawimient, as well there might—for they wef? Imslmiid and wife! Through a misunderstanding both had attended the sale with the .specific intention of pin'cliasiiig the same thing, and hence the tragedy. Their little misunderstanding had resulted in a loss to them of £ll.

Seekers of farms and properties will find iMi-tienlM's of two good proposals in the advertisement of Mr. 2. Jackson on page 8. It was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria, at Melbourne, that (I) SANDER'S EXTRACT is much more powerfully healing and antiseptic than ordinary eucalyptus preparations; (2) SANDER'S EXTRACT does not depress the heart like the so-ealled "extracts" and crude oils; (3) SANDETt'S EXTRACT is highly commended by many authorities as a safe, reliable and effective household remedy. Get the I genuine—insist if you bar* to—and be

There was no sitlinp; of I,lm Magistrate's Court at New Plymouth yester- i day, Mr A. Crookc, >S:M., being at Opunake.

At the last meeting of the Waverley I Patriotic League a very sad ease was referred to —that of a man who had enlisted from Waverley, hud returned to the Dominion, and was in one of the hospitals, where he had been for about twelve months. He had lost the use of both arms and lega. At the Farmers' Co-op. stock sale in Eltham on Wednesday one fine fat bullock sen/ in by Mr. T. Linn, Mangatoki, was kdenly competed for, and finally fell to the bid of the Patea Company at £lO. a price not often reached in this district.—Argus.

A fine line of 15 to 18-months-old heifers, purchased by Mr. Newton King, on behalf of a client, consisting of 515 head, whs railed yesterday morning from Stratford, their ultimate destination being Mangatainoka, Forty-Miie Bush.— Post.

The annual picnic of the Bell Block and Te Henui (Anglican) Sunday schools took place yesterday at Kawaroa Reserve. The Rev. H. A. Favell and an energetic band of helpers gave, the children a most enjoyable time, and a plentiful supply of refreshments helped to add to their pleasure. -i'

The experience of a lady who happened to be at home by herself in Oriental Bay the other day should act as a warning to others similarly circumstanced (says the Dominion). During the* course of the day a Hindu bottlegatherer knocked at the door, and being by herself the lady went upstairs to see if she could discover Who the caller was by looking through an upstairs window. Failing in her quest she came downstairs and discovered the man seated on a table. When told that, the "misband would bo called, he said he knew the husband was away, and it was only when a neighbor was called in that the intruder wag ejected.

"Tnere is no doubt that the'status of women in China has improved greatly of late years," said Dr. G. E. Morrison, of China, in an address to a gathering of journalists recently. There had been a movement in China, organised 'by an Englishwoman named Mrs. Little, against foot-binding, one of the most pernicious, customs ever forced upon a people. They would be told that foot-binding had been abolished, but that was not the case. A very considerable improvement had been effected, but in some of the provinces the evil continued. Foot-binding was a form of servitude which had proved a great evil; its abolition would mean that the women would bo allowed to pursue their occupations and enjoy the freedom to which they were entitled.

Napier is now trying a footpath, experiment which promisor, to be an entire success. Instead of tar and sand, concrete slabs arc being made in situ, and rapid progress can be made with the work, the paths being ready in from two to three days after t>ein£ laid. Concrete mixers are used, which facilitates the. operation, and the slabs can be colored whichever chade is desired.

Ninety-one per cent, of the tonnage of Brit)3h ships is row reserved for war munitions, grain, and other Govern-ment-controlled cargoes. Seven per cent. is reserved for cotton, canned foods, and other essential shipments, while the remaining 2 per cent. Va unrestricted either as to commodities or rates. Owners get Wuc book rates of hire (7s 6d a ton), and a commission varying from 5 to 10 per cent, on freight service. Neutrals for the same class of vessel get about £2 in the open market. The musical programme to be submitted by the Citizens' Band at the Taranaki Races next, Wednesday and Thursday will again be a feature of me meeting. Practices of the special selections wiil be resumed to-night.

Neckwear for present wear is featured at Morey's this week, and their advertisement in this paper lists details and prices. Included are attractive feather boas, at from 25s to 37a <Sd. Read the advertisement.

Farmers should note that the Westfield Freezing Company's days for receiving pigs at Stratford has been altered from, Wednesday to Tuesday. Mr. Newton King advertises for private immediate sale 3000 4 and 6-tooth fat and forward wethers.