LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The draft of men which was despatched for the CI camp yesterday was the largest that has yet been sent away from Taranaki. The number from the whole gpup was about 80, A medical board, consisting of Drs. W. K. Wude and E. F. Fookes, sat at tho Coronation Hall yesterday and examined three returned soldiers, all of whom were recommended for discharge. A Press Association message states ,that a deputation is being organised in certain Labor circles to wait on Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, urging the release of Mr. Webb, M.P.

This is the mushroom season, and stories as to size equal the fishermen's lilies. The Hawera Star records that one mushroom found on a local farm measured ten inches across, and weighed three-quarters of a pound. Probably the machinery for rounding up reservist shirkers and defaulters will be speeded up soon l(says the Wellington Post). The poli* may ask men of the. First Division and Class A of the Second Division to show leave passes instead of certificates of enrolment. The crisis in the meat industry at Darwin caused by the threatened closing down of the meat works as a result of industrial trouble, has been practically averted. At meetings of the unions on Sunday the company's offer was accepted. Probably about 25,000 cattle will be killed, instead of 50,000 originally planned. . That Inglewood can hold its own in respect of rainfall requires no emphasis, and so when the local paper records that on Monday night it registered f1.82 inches, the statement will be accepted without dispute. The Record somewhat .regretfully remarks: "Many people in the town were under the impression that at times during that period rain fell at about an inch a minute, but evidently it was not quite so bad as that." Only a few days ago Waverley was very short of water. The supply was cut, off from the town and the light was also reduced by an hour or so at night, but yesterday afternoon the supply was so plentiful that the engineer had rather an anxious time. The. dam rose in a most alarming manner. In three hours it had risen over five feet and at one o'clock the machinery 1 was started and all the outlet were opened to their fullest capacity. Before night, however, it was seen that the water was receding, having gone down about two inches. — Press.

The position regarding the shortage of shipping is already causing dairy factory directors considerable concern as to the provision of storage room for nej,'t season, ft is understood that the directors of the Farmers' Freezing Works at Moturoa yesterday considered the question and decided to call a general meeting of dairy factories, who are shareholders, to discuss the erection of further additions to the works, which have only this year been substantially enlarged. The, meeting will be held on Saturday, April 20.

The interruption to telephonic and telegraphic communication caused (by trees damaging the wires during tlio recent storm was referred to by the chairman at the meeting of the Egmont County Council on Tuesday. Rahotu, he said, was isolated for two days recently from this cause and hp thought that the Government should be asked to take steps to have any trees removed that were likely to be a danger in this respect. Councillors concurred and a resolution to that effect was accordingly passed. A meeting of the local branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held yesterday afternoon. Mr. J. Paton presided, and there were also present: Mrs, Wilson, Mil*. Curtis, Messrs H. Lash and E. C. Hughes. Apologies for absence were received from the Yen. Archdeacon Evans and Rev. F. G. Harvie, Consideration of the report of the sub-committee set up to determine the conditions of the Colvile memorial competition was deferred till next meeting. A letter was received from Mrs. Colvile in which she stated she was much tuoched at the suggested memorial to her husband. The inspector reported a case of cruelty to horses jn a country district. Patea merchants have voiced a complaint to the Harbor Board there as to alleged extortion on the part of the Railway Department 111 charging 5s 4d a ton on goods delivered at Patea. They advocate that shipping companies he allowed to unload all goods into the Board's sheds at about an eighth of the cost rioiv paid to the Department. They decided, at a recent meeting to communicate with other boards, Chambers of Commerce and members of Parliament in respect to the "iniquitous charges imposled by the department" and to wait on the Minister to protest against the charges.

A' flying mishap, fortunately unaccompanied by serious consequences, occurred at an aviation ground at "Jhristchurch on Tiftsday. One of the pupils, while undergoing schooling tests in short flights, misjudged his speed and "crashed" the machine. He escaped with several cuts on the face, although the machine was rather badly damaged. The pupil, who received immediate medical attention, had actually made twenty - four flights during the day, each of about three-quarters of a mile. He was able to return to the aerodrome in an hour or two.

At the last meeting of the Egmont County Council the chairman (Cr. Wright) referred to his criticism at the previous council meeting, of hospital board administration, especially as to outstanding hospital fees, and demanding an apology from Cr. McXeil! for disputing his (Cr Wright's) figures, and intimating that if the Councillor elid not apologise he would not he allowed to take any part in the meeting. After considerable discussion concerning the accuracy or otherwise of the figures, Cr. McNeill, after explaining how he got the figures, stated that if the chairman and Council thought he had intentionally insulted the chairman, he humbly apologised. The apology was accepted and the incident closed. The Loan and Mercantile draw attention to their Tarata sale to-morrow. Full particulars on page 8 of this issue. To-morrow, at the sale of house-fur-niture on account of Mr E. Hops, Webster Bros, will offer on account of the owner the very fine ten-roomed twostoried residence and grounds. The house was all built of ka.urf by the late Arthur Standish. The Loan and Mercantile notify that owing to Thursday, 25 April, being kept as Anzne Day. their monthly Kohuratahi sale will be held on Wednesday, 24th, ifijrtead of Thursday, 26, as advertised