LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Press reports that at a meeting at Patea oil Wednesday, a committee was set- up to take preliminary steps In connection with the formation of a branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association and obtaining suitable rooms tor a Returned Soldiers' Club. The Egmont A. and P. Association made £}lo out of its Autumn Show. 0 receipts included gates £328, donations (estimated) £SOO, entrance fees £-220, the total with other items being £llß3, Tho prize money ran into £6OO- Several of tho winners returned the pme money to the Association.

An experimental area of maize at Kunmra has grown to a height of 10ft (says the Greymouth Evening Star). Hie growth has been most prolific, and •t<ie corn has ripened very satisfactorily another evidence of the fertility of the West Coast soils and a good season for cereals-

It was mentioned at the sitting of the Military Service Board in PalmerSt -°n 'last week by the eha,irman (Mr. O. G. A. Cooper, S.M.) that the 80-rd had had before it a case in which a lady and her husband had milked 07 cows (says the Standard). Unfortunately, the husband had had an "argument" with a bull, and at present the lady was carrying on the work with only the help of a youth. > The annual meeting of the "Hawera 'branch of the Taranaki District Law Society was held in the Courthouse on Friday afternoon, Mr. R. D. Welsh presiding, The President, after referring to the members of the profession who had left for the front, welcomed the new members who had come to Hawera during the year. The following officers were elected:—President, Mr P. O'Dea; vice-president, Mr. B. McCarthy; secretary and treasurer, Mr. Etlier'ington; executive, officers ex officio together with Mr. I-lalliwell and Mr. Ryan; holidays' committee, Messrs- Weish, Halliwell and o'Dea; library committee, Messrs. Taylor, Marshallj Etherington and Powell. A motion was carried that a letter be sent to the Magistrate and to the Justice Department asking for increased seating accommodation for the public in the local Court. It was also resolved that delegates attend the a-nnual meeting of the Taranaki Law Society at New Plymouth. Carlyle Blackvvell, Ethel Clayton and Montague Love, all stars in the powerful World film "A Woman's Way" screening again to-night and to-morrow at the Empire. The cast is strong enough to put life into even a medium story, but in the present instance tho story equals the east and the production is up to tiie level of both- The supports include tho second of the New Zealand Government scenic pictures "Alpine Regions of N.Z." No. 2. Referring at Auckland the other day to the conscription of Maoris for military service, Sir James Allen, Minister for Defence, stated that tlie registration of the eligible members of all tribes was proceeding, and he expected that it would be completed about March 20. "There is no intention," added Sir James, "to conscript Maoris from tribes tiie members of which have volutcerod in large numbers for service. I want to say how splendidly tho Maoris have come forward, and it is a great satisfaction to be able to state that, in the large majority of cases, .it will be unnecessary to "apply conscription. But there is one tribe—the Waikatos—who have not volunteered satisfactorily. The register now being made will, of bourse, be a complete one, but it does not necessarily follow that any will H>e conscripted, Any subsequent action will depend upon the Maoris themselves. Tho Waikatos have still an opportunity to enlist, and I hope they will do so- No one will be prouder than 1 shall be if we never have to apply conscription, even to the Waikatos. ' But it is not fair that perhaps 90 per cent of the Maoris should recognise their plain duty and offer themselves willingly for service, while one small section should seek' to evade service "

Tho lien's working shirts at tlie Melbourne Limited, stand unrivalled. All shirts are made of best British fabrics in Colonial factories. All shirts have double yokes and ftre double sewn throughout- Prices Z'o for Ilarvards and grandrills up to 5/11 for Ibest quality "S.S.S."- indigo drills. All dyes guaranteed.

The fame of an extra good picture travels ahead, whicl; -s sufficient guarantee that evcrymv : • New Plymouth has heard of Ron • * ■>.> famous photodrama "The Barm? and will welcome tho announcement that the owners, E. T . Carroll, has completed arrangements to screen this masterpiece at Every? body's next Tuesday and Wednc.-t'.jj March,2fith and 27th.

Dr. ,T. T. M. Tlonrsby, '.vlio form. (<1 one of the Parliamentary parly on the U'liikaremmuia trip, had a narrow escape wlule tramping from the camp foi extra accommodation to Lake House. Hi- fell ten foot down n blulf, but was p died up unhurt. Mi', liuick and others tell inli.' ttie lake whcji (lie launch went aground. No one was hurt and all are in high spirits.

Th,e Xapier Telegraph say-, that it is stated that further i* to be heard of the trouble* oi the Xapier tramway stall' in die near future. .Malicious slanders and defamation of character are only two of the offences alleged, and according to town talk, somebody is to be asked to explain his conduct before a jury.

It is expected that two large areas of laud in the north, recently acquired l)y the Government, will he ready lor settlement by returned soldiers in about three months' time, when the ballot will tjike place. One of the 'blocks consists of three farms, totalling 1010 acres, situated near Pakaraka; the other, aggregating 100!) acres, is about four miles from Wellsford. The area of the sections will range from 80 to 100 acres.

When a,ease for a judicial separation was called on in the Wanganui Supreme Court the other morning, his Honor .Mr. Justice Edwards said: ''ls the woman applying for a divorce? T shall not grant a judicial separation if 1 can help it. It should be a divorce or nothing. These separations only foster immorality. The recommendations of the highest authorities at Home is that actions for judicial separations should he abolished." The Ngaere school held its' annual ■picnic in the popular resort, the Gardens, on Friday, and at the same time and place, other picnics from Te Kiri and Pukengalm were. held. The latter were conveyed in motor lorries, which appear fo be a very popular form of conveyance for picnic' parties. The gardens were very bright with flowers, and the combined gathering created a very animated scene. The many attractions provided for the entertainment of the visitors were well patronised.

At one of the depots in Sydney where food and clothing are distributed to those in need, it is customary to ask the condition or state of the women who apply for relief. Recently a wellbuilt woman of about 45, neatly dressed, and rather above the average applicant in appearance, wan asked the usual question: "'Are you a widow, or a deserted wife, or is your husband out of work, or what?" She looked up with a shy, humorous twinkle in her eye. "Xo, sir," she replied, "I'm an unappropriated blessing!"

"I am pretty well hardened now, arid it takes a good dosl to cxicte me," said a man who has been at the front since almost.tiie -beginning of the war. "I was, impressed while watching a regiment, which had been in the thick of the Flanders' lighting for days, coining back to their rest 'billets. They were up to their ears in mud, many of them were wounded, and their feverish eyes showed the terrible strain they had undergone. Vet these incorrigible heroes and humorist* were actually singing "The End of a Perfect Day!" Xo wonder our soldiers are an insoluble pu7zlc to other nations.''

A Fox feature '"The primitive Call" •vhicli shows liow a society beauty is treated to a little of "the primitive'' when she tries her wiles on a ma n "out west." iK the star picture at Everybody's for to-night and to-morrow. . On the same programme there is another of those famous Fox comedies "A I>omestio Hound" in which Ilanl; Mann is the hound.

New York newspapers are displaying reports of a war romance in which the parties are Miss Jean Knox, of Woonda, Grange road, Toorak (Melbourne), and Lieutenant Eric Murray, of Mount Crawford (South Australia), Miss Knox is a daughter of the late Mr. William Knox (who was a member of the Commonwealth llojiso of representatives) and she recently arrived in America from Australia with the intention of being married. Her fiance at the beginning of the war joined King Edward's Horse in England, and has served in France and Ireland- He sailed from England in the Cunard liner Andrania, which was torpedoed and sank oil' the Irish coast a few we°ks ago, and with other survivors returned to England. After countless difficulties and travelling almost round tho world the couple were united in marriage. At the' refrigerating stores at Patea, closo on 80,500 crates of cheese have been received, whilst at Mangatolci and Kanpokonui stores something like 18,3(io cases have been placed in cool storage. In addition to this, 21,000 cases have gone into the stores at Hawera, thus making a total of about 1-25,500 crates of cheese, the approximate value of which would be well over £BOO,OOO, Since the season commenced, 32,11!) cases have left the Dominion, whilst over 7,000 crates are at Wellington awaiting shipment, and it is confidcntlj' anticipated that before long that quantity for overseas will be augmented by a further 23,000 crates. Tlie dairy season lias been a long one, and an exceptionally good one, and for many years past there has not been such a wealth of iced for stoek as exists at the present time—and here we are getting well into March--'Wanganui Chronicle.

With Aultimn approaching it is wise to be prepared for flie doubtful daysOwing to shipping' troubles tile liighclass ready-to-wear raincoats are not coming to hand, hut the Modern Tailors have three pieces of smart waterproof worsted. They will make up raincoats to any ordinary design for £5 ss. If you have a special design they will arrange the price according to the material used and time taken. It seems strange, bnt this means that you carl get a high-class tailor-made raincoat for less than you would pay for ready made of equal quality cloth. "Billy"' Sunday, the reservist of the United States, has become an ardent recrniting agent. He has no time for the Kaiser, as is evidenced by tho following extracts from a epeccli recently delivered at Chicago"lt's the Kaiser against the President; Hohenzollern against Uncle Sam; Germany against the United States; Kaiset Dill against Woodrow; Hell against Heaven- —show I your colors! The hell the Kaiser raised on earth makes the hell below look like a sideshow. As for lying, the Kaiser has Ananias out-distanoed so far as you can't see his dust. As I've said before, turn hell upside down, and you' ! l find 'Made in Germany' stamped ■it 1 ':n bottom. 'Xo man can be true i ' ■> God who is not true to his coun■uy. Patriotism and religion are twin hi ot'hert."

A London cable reports the death of Dr. Hcaly, Archbishop of Tuain. A Press Association message from Punedin states that the drought lias l.i oK-eu up in Central Omgo and wel"onie rains are falling. At lust night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council it was decided to follow the course adopted last year and to call no tenders for supplies this year.

The presentation of Military MedtUs 'o-morroiv night by the Minister of l)e- ---• encr will take place at a full military parade at the Coronation Hall at 7.30 pm. The public arc invited to attend.

Mr. \Y. A. Collis haß just received fiom las son, who is a member of the stuff, an excellent and interesting photoSi aph of the staff raid patients of the X i 2 Convalescent Hospital, "Grey Towers," Horncl'n'irch, as at .Tiine, 1!)17.

Mr. Ceo. 11. Short, of' higlcwood, do■'*rs us to stale that he was the sue-c,-sful competitor in the class for har-n-«s horse 15.1 hands or under at the Taranaki Agricultural Society's recent a"*umn show. Owing to a wron"' en'ry in the. steward's book another c&tpipet it or was credited with winning tliis event. The error has now been set r>ht.

The Mayoress acknowledges the following further donations to the lied Triangle Fund: Dr. Leatham £lO, Mrr. M, L. Evans .Co, Frankley Road and Westown schools 15s, Newall Road school (per Miss Cassii) .02 2s fid,.A. I'owe £l, If. Senter 10s. The way is stfll open for receiving further donations, as the fund Ls not to be definitely clrsed for days yet. At last night's meeting of the New Pivmouth Borough Council a letter was received from .Russell Matthews, a member of the staff of the borough engineer, intimating that though previously twice rejected for active service he had now passed as fit, and was required to go into camp on April 13, and he applied for "leave of absence. The engineer I'K'ommended that he be givn a mouth's salary in addition to that due at the date of his departure. It was pointed out that there was a resolution on the Council's minutes to the effect that the post, lions of all members of the staff going In the war should be kept open for them in the event of their return. It'

■■".is resolved, to adopt the suggestion of tl'.p engineer in the matter.

The electric light and tramway committee ,of the New Plymouth Borough Council reported last night that owing • o many applications having been received for refunds of discount lost tli ough late payment of electric light amounts, the Council be recommended not to consider any future applications iv:i'?cr any circumstances whatever. The committee also recommended that the '*>!itioners for the extent.ion of electric licht mains to the Paritutu township (Main South Road) be informed that the Council cannot see its way to accede to their request. The reeommend'ations were adopted. To-morrow Mr. Newton King will hold an important sa:u of properties at hW auction mart, New Plymouth, when the well-known grazing runs of the late Mr. R. T. Batley, situated at Awakino and Tongaporutu, will be submitted to the hammer. A property at Okau formerly the property of the late Mr. Jas. Smith, will be offered at the same time. The sale will take place at 2 p.m. v Happy were the suppliers at the. respective creameries and factories throughout Taranaki yesterday. They greeted one another with a cheery ''good morning." The cause was the continuous rain, which will have a most beneficial effect on the whole countryside, and vegetation will respond, and the gardens and farms will revive. What more proper setting for spectacular and open-air displays than a lawn rich with verdant growth? The large .lawns at Kav/aroa Park on Easter Monday will be carpeted afresh with new grass, as the result of the weather we are now experiencing. The effect will be pleasing. See the programme 111 this issue for Easter Monday.