LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A London cable states that a British and Australian insurance company, with a capital of £IOO,OOO, privately subscribed, commences marine insurance immediately. A pedestrian event, in which a pood deal of money was taken, eventuated on the trotting track at Westport, on Saturday, between Tom Brown (Granity) and Gus Parkinson (Denniston), over three distances—l2o yards, 110 yards and 50 yards. Brown won two events and the matoli, in ISsec and Usee respectively.— Press Association.

The rain which set in last night is very much needed along the coast. The dry weather, accentuated by the wind of a few days ago, had caused, the milk supply, which had kept up very well, to drop considerably. The Putua factory, which was turning out 37 cheeses daily at the flush, is now turning out only 20, while Okato, whose output was 05 cheeses daily at three branches in the height of the season, has now dropped to total of 37. The swede crops, which were given a great start early in the season by the copious rains, are now showing the effects of the dry weather and the winds. The Arawhata branch factory of the Oaonui Dairy Company is also feeling the shortage of water, and in order to keep the branch running, a supply has to be carted from the Oaonui River a considerable distance.

The Order of the British Empire is intended to recognise good work done for the Empire. It consists of the following five classes: Knight Grand Cross (G.BJE.), Dames Grand Cross (G.8.E.); Knights Commanders (K.8.E.), Dames Commanders (D.8.E.); Commanders (C.8.E.); Officers (0.8. E.); Members (M.8.E.). A Dame or Knight takes the title Dame or Knight, and the other recipients use the letters representing thendegree and wear the the appropriate ribbon.

An untiring newspaper reporter figures prominently in "A AVoman's Way," wr ere lie is seeking copy about the motor accident in which the husband was entangled with a well-known adventuress. Nothing puts him off tho scent, and although the wife cleverly pretends friendship for the woman, tho repcrter guesses that all is noi as it seems, and a moment, learns some of the truth? "A Woman's Way" commences a three-night season at the Empire to-night, and on the same programme there is the second N.Z. Government film "Alpine Regions of N.Z. No. 2." The preparation of the electoral rolls for the next general election, which is to be taken in hand" almost immediately, will involve more work, than usual. On account of the period since the last general election being of exceptional length, there will be more changes to rectify, and the alterations in the boundaries made by tho commissioners will necessitate further adjustments, which, in some cases, are considerable. In the Taranaki electorate, a section in tho Inglewood district is transferred to the Stratford electorate,.while the electorate receives areas from Taumarunui in the north and Egmont in the south. The Taumarunui electorate has been considerably altered, and the namo changed to Waitomo. Between it and the Bay oi Plenty on the cast, Waimarino on the south and Tauranga on the north, a new electorate named Rotorua has been formed. The boundaries of the Patea electorate are not much altered. A now electorate called. Manawatu has been formed in the northern part of the Manawatu district, and a new electorate called Roskill has been formed in the Auckland City area, thus providing for three additional members of rSe House of Representatives from the North Island.

On Saturday next the mart will be under tho control of the ladies of Ok; to and - Tataraimaka, and all are energetically working to make the effort worthy of the districts mentioned, all of which are noted for their generosity in patriotic matters. A rather novel scheme has been inaugurated by Mr. Bert Vinson, with the object of gathering in the pennies, and it is already adding considerably to the funds. Briefly stated, it is an endless chain competition. Rome lu.lf dozen are in circulation, and with each are a number of paper discs the size of a penny. These are sold in any number at one penny each, and as they are sold they are gummed on the chain. Each day the length of Lhe chain representing the pennies is measured, and the exact distance is noted and published, giving an interest in the competition—f, r which no prize is awarded—the honor of collecting the largest amount being sufficient for the collectors, all of whom are very enthusiastic.

'Plenty of child-stars are able to oxpress cheerful and gay moods, but it is seldom that a small girl is able to be convincing in the delineation of the st'-onjer emotions. This latter is the remarkable gift of little Madge Evans, the World film star who was seen at Everybody's on Saturday in "The Little Duchess." The management wish to notify the hundreds turned away on Saturday that to-night will be the final screening of this programme. Coastal residents will note that the ear usually leaving Opunake for New Plymouth at 3.30 p.m. will to-day be delayed to leave Opunake at 0 p.m., running correspondingly later at various points along the road. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., draw attention fo their Huiroa supplementary sheep fair and cattle sale, on Wednesday next, 20th instant, at 1 p.m., in Mr. Samuel Bellamy's yards, Huiroa (by his kind permission). Full particulars on page #. At the Rolland Hall to-night the attraction is an Irish national concert, and a varied programme of considerable merit has been arranged, as will be seen on reference to the advertisement in another column.

Tho Melbourne, Ltd., have full new stocks of children's all-wool three-quar-ter socks, famous "Jason" make at the following prices: Size 4, 2s Id; 5, 2s 3d; 0, 2s sd; 7, 2s 7d; 8, 2s 9d; 9, 2s lOd; Macks,or tani?

Speaking to a Wellington reporter recently, a iurnitnro manufacturer remarked tiiat great numbers of furniture workers had left for the iront, and some had resumed, practically limit; had resumed ilicir former occupal.iuii. This mus consid red a rather (lisijuieting condition il' it became general throughout the skilled trades.

The other morning a gentleman was walking along Mount Kdcn road (Auckland) enjoying his smoke. He was carrying an umbrella, and evidently a .'.park from the pipe must have dropped and ignited tile eover, for it suddenly burst info flames, and was not only completely destroyed, but the light coat of the wearer was also damaged on one aide. To throw llio umbrella away and get out of the coat promptly was a bit of work very speedily ell'ected. To show that in some instance,-; the Government valuation.-; of properties are too high, the seniors, correspondent Oi (he liawera Slur is told on good authority that a section in the Opv.ii:' '.;■:■ district was offered to the, tiovorio: . at its own valuation for wounded soldiers. Tiie valuation was at tin; ran: of i'oO per acre. The Land. l'uveliaso ]!oard for Relumed Soldiers, however, assessed the value at £4O per acre, and refused to recommend purchase at any higher iigure.

"A German officer who was on one of the enemy dreadnoughts in the Jutland battle, and who is now n prisoner of war, expressed the opinion that had the fog kept away for fifteen minutes longer Jellicoe and lieaitie would have sunk tiie greater portion of the (termau Fleet/' said Joseph Ward, in an address at Palmerston North. The British 'Fleet, said Sir Joseph, and the calm .confidence of their officers and men, was I something to be remenrbered. The fleet fully realised what was dependent upon tliPm.

Information lias been received that Mount Ngauruhoe is again becoming active. On Friday several explosions took place. In the afternoon there was a veiry large explosion. 'Die whole oi the north-eastern face of the mountain was covered with stones, thrown from the crater. On Saturday morning there were several loud explosions, dense clouds of heavy black smoke lie-i-ig thrown many hundreds of feet into the air. A peculiar feature is that the vein, o.' blow-hole, of the- mountain appears to be pointed ut an angle of about 45 degrees towards the northeast.

Some two years ago, says the Otago Dailv Times, a wellknown young man in a country district was supposed to have met his death by drowning in a dec]), fasi-flowing stream. All the 'circumstances surrounding the accident as it was deemed, pointed to the fact, that a fatality occurred. It. is further alleged that a life insurance policy of several hundreds of psunds was paid over to the relatives of the man. The fact remains, however, that the body was never recovered. Xoiv a rumor is being circulated and is growing apace that the man was not drowned—that he carefully arranged the circumstantial evidence, and then, for reasons best known to himself, left for other parts. lien who know him well, and who have since travelled abroad as soldiers of the King, have stated that they met him in London.

At the meeting of the Auckland motor traders the other day, at which a resolution protesting against alleged misleading statements made by the President of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce (Sir. I\. Hums) in regard to the importation of motor-cars, was passed, it was decided also to forward a copy of the resolution to the ; lU. Hon. \V. V. Massey, Prime Minister. It was pointed out that of the cars imported at least flo per cent, were used for commercial or utility purposes, and that the boat did not contain anything approaching 1000 cars, as stated, 'but even so the majority of them were intended for Australia, where statistics showed that of the cars used in the live States, five per cent were used for pleasure, ten per cent, for pleasure and business, and 85 per cent, for business exclusively. It was pointed out also that of tlio cars sold in Xew Zealand over a number of years live per cent were used for pleasure only, fifteen per cent for business and pleasure, and 80 per cent for business and utility purposes only.