LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The House of Commons unanimously, negatived the British Empire League's proposed empire trade mark. The swamp fire on the Ngaere swamp which attracted considerable attention earlier in the week, is still burning. The stiff breeze that prevailed on Friday evening fanned the flames until they were visible from many parts of Eltham (says the Argus). A number of Taranaki men from the various reinforcements in camp arrived by the mail train on Saturday night, onj Easter leave. The train, probably owing to the number of melr travelling lower down the line, was half an hour late in reaching New Plymouth. The 77th anniversary of Whiteley Memorial Church was celebrated by special | services yesterday. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair was the preacher at both services. The music, included the anthem "Oh Clap Your Hands" (Turner), and solos by Mr. R. L. Cooper. At night the service was largely choral. The anthem was "The Gloria". (Mozart) 'and solos were sung by Mrs. R. L. Cooper, Miss Cocker and Mr. P, Fredric. Special- offertories were taken 011 behalf of the church debt, and the sum of £2UL was given.

Entries for the annual trials of the Awakino Collie Club, which are being held to-morrow and Wednesday, compare favorably with those of previous years, and the club's secretary advises that the competing dogs will be oft an exceptionally high class. CompetitOTS are coming from Ilawera, Omoana, Waitomo, Pio Pio, Mahoenui and Te Anga, in addition to local entrants. Included in the visiting competitors will be Messrs. f Tocker, J. E. Corrigan and M. Scott, whose achievements are well known to dog trial enthusiasts. The general class of the work at Awakino should be of a high order, and the trials should be an unqualified success. Mr. John Hunt, of Tataraimaka, writes

complaining of the hardship done him] by the Defence Department requiring his to go into the Territorial camp at a time when he is at his wit's end to carry on. He is milking a dairy herd, and it takes him and his son, assisted by the mother, all their time to manage. They are working, he says, sixteen hours a day. The action of the Defence Department is out of line with the advice given by the Prime Minister, who exhorts the farmers to produce more and more. If the time of holding the camp were altered to winter, when things were slack, he would not complain. We believe if Mr.

Hunt made representations to the group | officer for special leave for his son it would be granted, providing the facts are as stated, as a regulation was issued a few months ago giving the group officers power to allow exemption in cases ivljjre essential industries were affected by "the sending into camp of the requisite workers, and our experience of thi Taranaki officers shows that while they zealous in their work they are always ready to help employers to carry on in those difficult times.

Never in the history of Ngacre has there baen so many motor cars parked on the main roads as were seen yesterday afternoon, wjien the Wanganui Garrison Band gave a secred concert in tho Ngaere Gardens. There must have been between three and four hundred ears

from all parts of the province, as well as motor bicycles and vehicles of various kinds. The day was beautifully fine and the interesting gromids were crowded. The concert itself was a marked success, the whole of tlie advertised programme being given in a manner worthy of the high reputation of the band. The performance afforded real pleasure to the visitors, who heartily applauded ->acli number. Tlie grounds were in good order, and the birds, monkeys, marsupials, emu, etc., were a source of delight to young and old. The proprietor of the grounds (Mr. Truelove) had thoughtfully arranged for hot water, and a great many prepared their own afternoon tea. The afternnon provver.y enjoyable, and it is to be hoped the band will be prevailed upon to pay the grounds another visit at an early date, when they can be assured of similar patronage and appreciation.

For those who wish to visit Mt. Egmont for a day at Easter, Mr. E. Wooldridge has arranged a very suitable timetable, as his comfortable seven-seater cars will run to the Mountain oil Thursday night, Good Friday, Easter Sunday . and Easter Monday mornings, returning I each <3% at 4.30 pan.