LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thomas Robotham, while engaged under the Public Works Department on road work on the Ohura Gorge Road, was killed by a fall of earth yesterday morning.

To-morrow will be an ordinary committee day at the Red Cross Mart, and the following Saturday will be Bell Block and Tarurutangi day for 1918. Arrangements for this have been in hand for some time, and it is expected that this year's effort will be one of the best yet made by the people of those districts, who have done so much for patriotic purposes since the outbreak of war.

A New Zealand hospital ship is to be recommissioned about tho middle of May, and the New Plymouth branch of the British Red Cross has been asked to supply if possible 50 pairs of handknitted socks for the returning invalided men. The committee will be grateful for help to fulfil this order, and will supply the wool from the rooms in Queen Street any afternoon except Thursday, between the hours of 2 and 5.

The Prime Minister stated on Wednesday that the Dominion's offer of help to the Motherland was made with all possible speed as soon as the present crisis presented itself. The Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) was absent from Wellington when the first cable message came from London. In less than half an hour of its receipt Mr. Massey had got into touch with Major-Gcneral Sir Alfred Robin (Commandant of the New Zealand Defence Forces), and thenceforward the Government had done all in its power to answer to the full measure of the country's ability the call of tto-01d.IiMi<L

The "Petit Pariaien" reports that tins American airmen .arc- beginning to p'rove their linn qualities. They include many noted sportsmen. Before long 'M)(l perfect Iy trained men will have joined the Allies.

An Auckland message states that when carriers were removing furniture from a cottage at Arch Hill, formerly occupied by .lohn Morgan, who died in November last, there were found pickle bottles containing JSli sovereigns, also JJI3O in gold and notes, etc., in a hand bag, and £2O in silver, wrapped in paper under an harmonium. The dead man to whom the money belonged was believed In be in necessitous circumstances. His wif:> has been an inmate of the Costhy Home for the last two years.

The famous old Australian convict vessel the Success went to the bottom for the second time recently—strangely enough not at sea this timo, but in the Kentucky River. She was making a tour of the inland waltvs of the United States, and got into an ice gorge at Carrolton, where a hole was torn in her stout teak timbers. During !.or eventual career she lay at the bottom of the sea in Sydney Harbor for some time; that was long after her career as a convict ship had ended. She was later raised, and then went forth in her new guise as a museum of the horrors of the time when she was a prison hulk in Hobson's Bav, Melbourne. She was built in 1790. "

To-night will be the, last opportunity of viewing "The Mother of Dartmoor" at Everybody's. Elizabeth Risdon excels herself in this profound story of mother love and she ik ably supported by a strong well-balanced cast- The remarkable World film super-feature, "Rasputin, the Black Monk," will commence a local season at this theatre tomorrow afternoon.

Says the Australian official corres> purulent:—There was killed in this battle one of whom it was said to ine at Pozieres: "I tell you, if ever an angel walked amongst men, it is in'the shape of that man." This was Father Bergen, chaplain of the forces, who was attached to one of the all-Australian infantry brigades which attacked on 2flth September. Father Bergen had been at the outset ot the Avar a missionary in Syria. He was not an Australian, but when the eviction of the Syrian population of the Turks drove him, at an early period of, the war, into Egypt with the refugees, he found the Australians there, and put in an earnest appeal to be attched to them as chaplain. The Church authorities in Melbourne, knowing nothing of him, naturally queried his appointment. He was greatly distressed, until he was told that he could go to Gallipoli as a stret-cher-bearer with the Light Horse, with the rank of private, until the question was settled. When Melbourne was satis. fictl that lie was of the right type to be made a chaplain, his appointment was approved, and from that day to the day of his death, when a shell killed him on the battlefield of Ypres amongst his men, as lie would have wished to die, he remained one of the best-loved nven in the force, and a living example of what a pure-minded unselfish Christian can do amidst the cruelties of war.

A picture showng the visit made b? Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to the Western front was screened at a Wellington picture show on Saturday, says the Times, and aroused as much laughter as would a keystone comedy. This seems strange, but anyone gifted with a. sense of humor who sees the picture must help to swell the volume of iaugh-' I,er that accompanies its showing. The two leaders are seen arriving by motorcar; it is pouring ran and in his hurry to don his overcoat Mr. Massey has his hat knocked oil'. Naturally this set the audience laughing from the start. Then there are various undignified stumbles in the mud of the trenches, the spectacle of the Prime Minister emerging hatless and dishevelled from the dugout and through it all the party hurries on as though pursued. Mr. Massey is seen donning the overalls preparatory to going aloft in an aeroplane. "lie spectacle of Mr. Massey in this exceedingly ill-fittins garb arouses shrieks of laughter. Then when the aeroplane returns Mr. Massey becomes entangled in the wirework of the machine, but not a wl.it disturbed, lie is seen running along to Sir Joseph to tell him "how he felt," Then finally, for the edification of the camera man, Sir Joseph assumes the airman's helmet, and cuts such a ludicrous figure, that the shout of_ laughter which follows would do credit to a Charlie Chaplin picture. Commenting on the after-war trade between New Zealand and Great Britain, the Grocers' Review (says the Wellington Post's London correspondent, writing on February sth) thinks there can be little doubt that when business resumes its normal course the reciprocal trade between New Zealand and the Mother Country will assume even larger proportions than it had reached before the war. "New Zealand is a country of almost limitless possibilities;, its agricultural resources are utilised very thor oughly and scientifically, and it possesses a wealth of mineral deposits which only await exploitation. Meanwhile, however, its record is one of which any 'young' country might well be proud, and apart from the untapped resources of the country it was able to export during the year IMG goods to thr total value of more than £33,000,0(10. This must be taken ns a speaking testimony to the enterprise and industry of a people numbering only a little over one million. There is every possible reason to anticipate a great increase in trade between New Zealand and Great Britain. New Zealand is bound, while .developing her agricultural resources, to ri'ly largely upon imported manufactured goods, while at tho same time offering to the. Home market tremendous quantities of agricultural and pastoral produce. In a'few words, the two countries are in the best possible circumstances for the interchange of trade, each being able to supply goods which the other needs. This state of affairs was suftieiently marked before the war to conduce to the remarkable bulk of reciprocal trade which has been achieved, and with' the increasing land settlement which is bound to follow the cessation of hostilities. Now Zealand cannot fail to offer golden opportunities for enterprise on the part of British exporters and importers." AND SHE DTD. A grocer not wanting in tact (Now, this is a positive fact) Said: Madam, excuse me, take Arcadia Tea, And far more—you'll always come back. Ask distinctly for SANDER'S EUCALYPTI EXTRACT, or else you may receive one of the many substitutes. The GENUINE SANDER EXTRACT cures colds, fevers, indigestion; prevents infectious diseases and heals ulcers, poisoned wounds, skin diseases, burns, sprains, etc. It is much more powerfully antiseptic than the common eucalyptus and does not depress ar irritate like the latter.

A record sale of peas was made in Rangiora. the oilier day, a line of 15U0 bushels of Imperial Blues being sold at 20s per bushel (states (he Chrislchurch Press). A military deserter, who has been wanted since December last, was picked up last week by Constable Brown, of Teuui, while working on an East Coast property. As instancing the shortage of male teachers, it . may he mentioned (says the Southland Times) that the Invercargill South (School, with a roll of 811 has only one male assistant. The monthly consignment of parcels dispatched iby the Xuw Plymouth Women's Patriotic Committee for men at the front has 'been sent away this week. Thera were 25 cases, containing 710 parcals. The Mayoress' appeal for condensed milk resulted in 350 canj being sent in and £6 7s in cash.

A very enjoyable concert was given in St. Andrew's Hall last night, in aid of funds for the annual rally of the Presbyterian Bible classes, which is to be held this year in New Plymouth, on June 3. There was a good attendance, and the Rev. O. Blundeil presided. The proceedings opened with the singing of the National Anthem. Songs were given by Misses Edwards and Cocker, duets by Mr. and Mrs. McGregor, pianoforte solos by Mr. Roekel, recitations by Miss Ewing and Mr. Goldsworthy, the latter also giving a couple of monologues, and Mr. Sturrock contributed two humorous items. A quartette was also sung by Messrs. Hooker, Godfrey, Smith and Brooker. Mr. Sturrock played the accompaniments.

Describing an exhibition of flying which lie saw at Curtis's Aviation School at New Port News, a Masterton soldier says:—"One man looped the loop fourteen times without stopping. He then turned the nose of his mahine straight down to the sea, and did a spiral dive. We all \ held our breath, expecting that he would dash into the sea. On the game day he and his sister went up, mid did all these exhibitions together. They Hew along upside down, banked, sideslipped, and the man actually! turned right over sideways. I would most cer. tainly never have believed it possible to do what that man did with his machine. He absolutely did what he pleased with it."

England is still purchasing large quantities of American motor waggons for military purposes. For the nine months ending last September no less than oS-20 motor waggons, valued, at ;E3.(JBl,fM<> were shipped to England. For the corresponding period of 191-G—4723 similai vehicles were imported from the States. On the other hand passenger cars declined from 11,815 in 1910 to 903 in 1317. a drop representing over £1,500,000, Fuel gas from straw has no small commercial possibilities, according to. Professor R. D. McXaurin, of the Department of Chemistry of the Saskatchewan University. In a communication to The Commercial Motor the professor says that the matter is of considerable importance to Canada, because on the prairies there is no wood and the price of coal is very high. Again there is a large amount of straw which simply goes to waste, and every autumn this straw is burnt. In order to deal with this straw, Mr. George Harrison, manager of the Saskatchewan Bridge an/I I ron Company, 'has invented a retort for carbonising straw and any other cellulose material, thereby decomposing it into "Were these funds raised with the intention of assisting men who are already in good circumstances?" asked Mr. J. Stevenson, representative for the Mauaia Patriotic Committee on the Taranaki War Relief Association on Wednesday. "I don't think so," replied the chairman (Mr. W. P. Kirkwood). Mr. Stevenson said he asked the question following on a request for a loan for stock made to him by a returned man who had drawn a section in the Parkes settlement and who had received substantial assistance from the Government. The chairman said the Government, on making an advance, immediately took as security the land with stock and chattels thereon, and the association could get no security for an advance on the stock. Mr. Stewnson, referring later to his point, said those who had obtained sections in the Parkes settlement were very fortunate. They had the land at equal to £1 12s per acre under rental value. The term was for twenty years, with a bit of a catch that they could not sell before ten years had run, otherwise they would be turning the sections over at a very handsome profit. Again, he asked, was the association going to assist these men, who had got a very good gift, owing to being returned men, or to assist less fortunate men. Hundreds were looking for small farms to-day, but they were not offering; yet as the men got land, applications would eome in to the association for assistance for stock. In the Parkes settlement the men had got the security in their good land, and could raise the money anywhere. He considered the unearned increment on the sections would be about £looo—Post.

The popular double, Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne delighted a big attendance at the Empire last niglit in the Metro super-feature, "The Adopted Son," a fine vigorous story with plenty of red-blooded sensation throughout. The same programme will be repeated again to-night and to-morrow.

The attention of ladies is drawn to the very smart little lot of ladies' fur trimmed tweed coats on show at the Melbourne, Ltd. The coats are absolutely the very latest from London where this particula ratye, of coat is very fashionable. Special price 79s Cd.