LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We understand that within the next few weeks there will be despatched from the cool stores in New Brvmouth 0!),C(i0 boxes of butter and 1'7,290 crates of cheese.

The borough engineer (Mr. W. 11. Cook), in his report for the month ended March 11, states that the number of attendances at the New Plymouth municipal baths swimming pool was 4004, compared with 2191 for the same month of last year. The receipts were £23 7s 4d, compared with £l7 lis Id.

One of the statements cabled to New Zealand in connection with the career of the German raider Wolf in the Pacific is that the enemy ship twice nearly captured the Union Company's Vancouver steamer. It is understood that on one of the occasions the steamer had. on board Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward. If they had been taken they doubtless would have been by this time prisoners of war in Germany.—Wellington correspondent.

Just at the conclusion of the Boys' Higli School swimming sports at the breakwater yesterday afternoon an octopus was seen in the water just where the boys had been diving a little earlier in the afternoon. Some members of the Harbor Board staff, who were close at hand, produced a spear, and the octopus was "safely" landed. It measured about -Ift. over all. ''

To-day is the last day on which goods mav be obtained at the Melbourne, Ltd., at sale prices. On Monday normal prices will be resumed excepting on lines where heavy advances have taken place such as stockings, machine cotton, sheetings, towels, flannelettes, et<"

A liiily writes from Knghuul: '-Pcojilf in Xew Zealand who arc .so an\ious In gel, to England don't know when they are well oil'. It' ( had known what r do now before ! en mo, 1 certainly would have stayed in New Zealand.'' The manager of tin- New Plymouth borough abattoir (Mi-. T. J. Reakes) reports for the month of February as follows: Cattle slaughtered for local consumption: Cows 11)7, bullocks 2, salves IS; sheep 492, lambs 104, pigs 91,,Huekers 7; tripes cleaned 122. One eow was condemned. The fees received during the month amounted to £1,32 Ills 2d, an increase of .CI!) IDs lid, compared with i'ehnuiry of last year. The driver of a motor lorry bringing a big load of chaff into town from the country yesterday morning had the misfortune to lose nearly half his load when within n iew yards of his destination. He was travelling fairly fast, and on turning into i:i-ou»ham Street, from St. Aubyn Street he took the corner somewhat sharply, and about half the bags on the lorry slid oil' and were deposited on the middle, of the road. No doubt it is quite in keeping with tin: trend of events all ever the world, but an attractive young woman seemed to surprise the Auckland Arbitration Court the other day when she stated that she- wa s porter in a big private hotel in the city. The witnesr said that .she received .'j.js per week. liefore bj?coming a porter, she was second cook al s"fi (Id p< v week, and she much preferred the duties of a porter, at a lower wage, to those attaching to the other position,

Both parents and children know the Empire Theatre as the popular matinee house owing to the management's endc.vors to present a programme suitable for the t kiddies and interesting mid amusing for the parents. The programme for this afternoon is no exception to the rule and includes the second episode of the circus drama, "Adventures of Peg 0' the Ring," a highly amusing f .wo-reel Fox comedy, "A Domestic Hound," a two-reel Sennett-Key-stor.e comedy, "The Love Riot,'' and the "Co-op,. Weekly" (topical), "The Fairy rf the Torrent" (colored fairy tale), and a scenic picture of "Winter Seenes."

At Paiea ,S.M. Court, on Thursday, 14th instant, before Mr. W. R. HascMen, S.M., the Patea Bakery Company, Ltd., was charged with selling A. Oray, heaUh inspector, a reputed 21b loaf, which proved to be one ounce sjiortweiglit, and that seven 21b loaves weighed were six ounces short pf the required weight. >'lr. Fleming, who appeared for the company, pleaded guilty, and the magistrate inflicted a fine of £5, with 7s court costs. The magistrate stated that being one ounce short in two pounds might seem triflhm, but the habitual watching of the inspectors would be of great benefit to the consumers. Tin's meant that the general deficiency had been cut down considerably, and that the public were not suffering very materially. At Hie meeting of the iParihaka Road Board on Thursday the chairman (Mr. J. Young), during a discussion on the difficulty of obtaining men, stated that they were only now beginning to feel the pinch. In seven or eight months they would probably have to close down, and the settlers would have to keep their own roads. He had ;>\ophesicd some time ago that the women would have lo work on the roads, and he had been laughed at. They could see now that it was almost impossible fo getmen if they offered £1 per day. Mr. O'Brien remarked that he knew of military rejects who made more than that cutting wood.

Whilst proceeding to Opuimke. on Tuesday evening in a gig, Mr. Harris, overseer to the Parihaka Road Board, had an unenviable experience. When near Opmvike a motor cor overtook him and run into ilie horse, capsizing it and the trap, with the result, that the horse was crippled, and the driver's arm and shoulder injured. The motorists Hopped and were about to assist him, but when a passer by was about to take the number of the car the motorists pushed him back and cleared with the ear before liie number could be taken. Ho was 'rims unable to identify the the occupants of which had been shouting and singing before reaching him. Members considered that the aft ion of the motorists was scandalous, and every effort should be made to bring them to book, as accidents were becoming too frequent. ''During the last few months there have been a greater number of resignations from the locomotive running department than during any similar period of the railways' existence," states the New Zealand Loco, Engineers' Journal The cause of this'is the lack of promotion and greater inducements'outside of the railway service. Another factor which is causing the acting men to resign is the latest decree, which is preventing men eligible for superannuation from retiring. For every man who could retire on superannuation, and who is held back by the Department, there are at least two men who resign, and who are discontented with wuch action |by the Minister of Railways. This means Ihat there is a poJSy adopted of penny wise and pound foolish. The older men who are retained cannot continue working much longer than a year or so, and when they retire, and affairs become normal again, tlie service will be full of untrained men, and the consequence of this is quite apparent to anyone who understands the responsibility of running trains. It would bo far better for the service if the acting men could be promoted to a permanent position, and the men entitled to retire be given the position'in the service which would be looked upon as of a temporary nature, and not held on the D 3 lists."

The Rev. W. A. Sinclair lias returned to New Plymouth, and will resume his ministry at Whiteloy Olmreli to-morrow. His evening subject will be: ''lmpressions of Social and Religious Life,in Australia and New Zealand." COMFORT IN ALL WEATHERS AVITH THE NEW HUPP. Ten-inch-deep cushions, robe rail and foot rest, plenty of leg room rain-vision ventilating wind shield one-man Never - leek top and side curtains for "rough" days—Hupmobile is comfortable in any weather. This yew there are 25 style improvements and they place the Hupmobile a year ahead for beauty and completeness. There are also improvements to the motor—and all these result in an .even better Hupp, The wheel base is 11!) inches, and the following arc included:—Electric starting and lighting system, fi-volt storage battery, headlight variable dimmers, license brackets, unpickahle lock on combination switch, new type Aoor curtain carriers, speedometer, ammeter, non-skid tyres on rear, five demountable rims, tyre carrier, pump, jack, and full set of 'tools. The price is reasonable. Call or write for free catalogue. A. Hatrick and Co., Ltd., Wanganui and Wellington. Lnagents:—Farmers' Organisation Stock ftid.. Hawera.

Tlic Waitarn Mail siincs thai a court of ini(uiry is to sit regarding the alleged disloyal utterances of one Oscar jMciizcl. a naturalised JJriUsh subject, horn m Gornany, who is now resident, in Awakino district.

Mr. Mussey. lias received a telegram from the Commonwealth Prime Minister stilting that in future moderate shipments of bunedust to Ne-,v Zealand will bo permitted. To-night will be the last screening of the Metro picture, "Their Compact," at Hie Umpire theatre. Tho stars of this production are the popular Francis \. Hushman and bn\ erloy Buyrio and they have never been featured 10 better an", vantage than in the present story. An

added attraction to this programme is tho second episode of tho circus drama, "Adventures of Peg 0' the Ring.''

There is a von large demand for farming land in the Kltham district, (he dilficully being not to iind purchasers, hut to discover sellers. It is high-priced, good quality land that is being sought for, and buyers are willing to pay good prices if the irualiiy of the land is first class (says the. Argus). A good many transactions have been effected of late. On the Hastings road, between Manga-' toki anil Matapu, MO acres changed hands at JLO-'i per acre. On the Khmorty road, near f.owgartli, !)S acres were disposed of at £.">.> per acre. Three miles from Midhirst a small farm of 04 acres found a purchaser at ,-C-Ji t >er acre, On the Mountain Roiid, north of Eltlmm, CO acres found a purchaser at £55 per acre. Three hundred acres of grazing country in the Pukengahu district, no buildings, sold at £2l ].os per acre. Mr. L. °(J. Hitchcock's farm of 00 acres on the Mountain Road, about a mile from Eltliam, was sold to Mr. George Turner at £O2 per acre. A feature of this transaction is that the sale was for cash. Mr. T. W. Owen purchased from Mr,' Ales Maeky 119 acres at tho corner of Rotokare and Mountain Roads for £SO per acre. No buildings oh the land. On the Stuurt Road within the past three weeks 100 acres found a purchaser at £SO per acre. > At Mangatoki a neat 100 acres brought £fil per acre. Along the Jittham Road, not far from the toll gate, a 1 20-acre farm changed hands at £57 per acre.

Tlic New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., draw attention to their Stratford sale on Tuesday, March 19, at 12 o'clock sharp. Full particulars will he found on page 8 of this issue.

A migration on a huge scab is being prepared by country residents. On the coast from Uremii in the north to Opunaku in the south, and inbwd from all directions, the move will simultaneously take place. Motor cars, buses, converted freight'lorries, trains and horse vehicles will be requisitioned. The day is fixed ".r faster Monday, and the journey will > u> Kawaroa Park, New Plymouth. The anticipation of enjoyment to be gained alt day at the seaside fete and picnic to be" held in the park will be more than realised. A full day's entertainment of spectacular events will be given in the grounds. Watch for the programme, which will appear early next week. The accommodation will be provided for all vehicles.

Tlic Salvation Army Feilding Silver Band and songsters will visit New Plymouth for Master Saturday and Sunday.

Madge J'.'vans, the clever child .notrcs*. who appeared in ''The Web of Desire," will be seen at Everybody s to-day a no. 10-n. ; "ht as principle star in the strong World film drama, "The Little Duchess."