LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The following is the roll of the eighth CI draft proceeding to camp on May 8, entraining at Hawera: L. G. Alsweiler, H. R. Hatcher, A. J. Martin, T. Benton! F. K. Wilson. The returns of the number of births, deaths, and marriages for tho district of New Plymouth (Mr. J. S, S. Medley, registrar) for the month of April, IMs] were as follows, the figures for 1917 being in parentheses: Births 46 (43), deaths 6 (7), marriages 4 (12). There will be 110 sitting of the Magistrate's Court at New Plymouth to-day, Mr. A. Ci-ookc, S.M., being at Opunake, tiie monthly sitting of the court there having been postponed from last Thursday on account of the Anzac Day holiday. A fin-backed whale, about 30ft in length, was found stranded at the hakatane Heads on Saturday morning. The monster made gigantic efforts to escape, but was secured by Messrs Jones and Goodman's workmen in the locality.

Frederick Win. Roebuck and Frederick ■ Thomas McGregor, who were rearrested on Tuesday in connection with further charges of theft from the premises of Greemvay Bros, and .1. S. Fox, of Okato, appeared before' Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court New Plymouth, yesterday morning. Sub-Inspector Hutton, for the police, asked for a remand till Monday, the oth inst., the application being granted. Bail was allowed, accused each hi £SO, ami one surety of £SO or two of £25. Mr. A. 11. Johnstone represented both prisoners. All roads will lead to Everybody's to-night where an exceptionally brilliant double star programme is being screened. June Caprice and little Jane Lee are the Stars in a Fox feature "A Small Town Girl," and Mildred Manning and Marc MeDermott take the lead in the Greater Vitagraph feature, "Mary Jane's Pa" or "The Secret Husband," a play that had a wonderfully successful run last year in America. To add even more to this brilliant selection there is the third series of the "Bairnsfather's Cartoons," and a "Gaumont Graphic." Patrons are requested to note that the first picture will be screened at 7.45 to-night and to-mor-row niglit. Captain Murray Urquhart, M.C., giving evidence before the Military Service Board, at the sitting held at Hawera on Monday last, said that from personal experience. as a company commander with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force he could say that large numbers of men sent from New Zealand as fit for active service were returned to tho Dominion monthly as being unsuitable for the firing line. These men were found, on arrival in to be unfit for service in France,-and <cost the country £3OO per man. In reply to Mr McLaren, a member of the Board, Captain Urquhart said some of these unfit, men were found positions outside of the firing line, but there was certainly not room for every man found to be unfit for service in the field. He added that it did not necessarily follow because a man was capable of doing general hard work on a farm that he would bo fit to go into the firing line with a heavy pack of equipment oil his back. Hundreds of men had been returned without ever having seen the firing line because of unfitness. —Star.

During the course of discussion at the annual meeting of the Waverley branch of the Farmers' Union, the chairman (Mr 11. Middleton) made an appeal for economy, in the course of which he said he had learned that ij; was estimated 900 (?) cases of benzine had been used in carrying people to a recent race meeting in Taranaki. He was not against people having motor cars to get about in for business, but they should be used in reason at a time like the present. The Germans were not using the oil from their oilfields to go to races. It was used for the submarines, etc. To win the war was their first object, and it should be ours. "Then again," said the chairman, "look at the big shipment of whisky that had recently been imported. This was new whiskey, and would have to be stored for years before it would be fit to use." The Government should have stepped in and stopped this importation and utilised the shipping space for necessities. Hear the ringing of the bell, the dinner bell! Very pleasant little tinkle if you're well; But when in your ear is ringing, biting, whizzing, buzzing, stringing, Influenza microbes singing—then, oh well! You cannot that bell endure—yon take Wood®' Great Peppermint Cure

A great deal of uncertainty prevailed at the beginning of last season regarding the Imperial Government's intentions, and nuicli inconvenience was Caused in the dairying industry (says the Wellington correspondent of (he Hawera Star). In tiie hope of avoiding this in future, a large deputation of the dairying interests interviewed the Prime Minister, urging him to at once endeavor to ascertain from the Imperial authorities their intentions for next season, Mr. Massey luis promised to cable to England, but it is expected that this will be one of the matters requiring the attention of the .National Government leaders when in England.

The Eltham Argus remarks that, "The Second Division League is a body much more political than patriotic." Why was the league formed? Because the Government failed to do its duty in the matter of pensions and separation allowances. It is unpatriotic for Division Reservists to battle for justice and the rights of those they are leaving behind, but it is v9 V y patriotic for the Primo Minister and Sir Joseph Ward to battle hard with the Imperial authorities for the utmost penny for New Zealand's produce. Had the Government been alive to its duty, the increases in the pensions and allowances could have been granted spontaneously, and then there would have been no league, Cheap sneers at the loyalty of the great body of Second Division Reservists who are breaking up their homes and making great personal sacrifices in order to take Up arms against the common foe come ill at the present time from anyone staying at home in comfort and safety but particularly from a paper whose head occupies the honored position of ActingSpeaker of the Legislative Council. ° Speaking at the farewell to the men of the 45th Reinforcements at Hawera yesterday (the Star reports), Mr W R. Haselden, S.M., addressing the recruits as "brothers," said it was only lately that we had recognised that we were brothers bound together in the bond of ; brotherhood sealed in the covenant of blood and tears. It was only since this bloody, protracted war that we had recognised that in this peaceful industrial country we had men with the hearts of heroes,' devoted to the cause of their country, and .who had performed deeds of daring and courage that would rival perhaps even the veteran campaigners of history. We all realised that the men were leaving on a perilous venture —probably the moat momentous of their lives. These men were going to fight for ns as well as for themselves, their homes and loved ones. Proceeding to refer to the situation in Europe," Mr. Haselden said it would seem as' if the enemy were in depair, arid, "even if he does not, win, bankruptcy and ruin will be his lot." Great Britain and her allies were going to win, but we would have to do our part, and in this we ;would' be encouraged by tl|e magnificent deeds of the troops that were being performed and have been performed in the past. This was not a war of professional arms, but of peoples, and "if a man who can fight does not go, then he is a coward," declared the speaker. "I would to God that 1 could go," added Mr. Haselden. According to the latest news we were winning already, and he would not he surprised if the enemy collapsed unexpectedly, and probably much sooner than we could realise. He wished the men good-bye, and hoped they would all return to their homes. (Applause.) A successful concert was given in the Hillsborough hall 011 Tuesday night in 1 connection with the effort of the local settlers on behalf of the Red Cross Mart. The hall was crowded and the programme was such that encores were the order of the occasion. Mr. H. C. Sampson, who presided, briefly referred to the object for which the concert was held, and appealed for. generous support for the Hillsborough day at the Mart. The programme opened with the singing of the National Anthem. Miss It Asher contributed some pianoforte solos; glees were given by a party fram New Plymouth composed of Mesdames Lawrey, Berg, and P. Hooker, Misses G'annell and Edwards, Messrs W. P. Ok'ey, A. Veale, A, Ambury, and F. Asher, solo parts being taken by Miss Edwards and Messrs Okey and Ambury. Recitations were given by Miss H. Bishop and Mr. Goldsworthy, duets by Misses Langman (Waitara), and Messrs A. Veale and P. Asher, and songs by Miss Kyle (Waituna), Messrs F. Asher and W. Pox. At the conclusion of the concert supper was provided, and the liall was afterwards cleared for dancing. Some guessing competitions and a Dutch auction assisted in the financial result of the entertainment. The chairman thanked those present for their attendance, and a vote of thanks to the performers was carried with acclamation.

Popular Ethel Barrymore will star at the Empire tonight in the Metro wonderplay, "Life's Whirlpool," a powerful dramatic story especially written to suit this talented young actress. The supporting items will be an American Topical Gazette and the ninth episode of "Peg o' the Ring." On Monday next the world favorite "Empress of Emotion," Clara Kimball Young, will commence a three night season at thies theatre, in a filnj de luxe edition, entitled "My Official Wife." A concert of a high-class order, in aid of the funds of the New Plymouth branch of the Red Cross Society, will be given in the Good Templar Hall at 8 o'clock to-night. Pianoforte solos will be given by Miss Leatham, her numbers including Raff's "Cachoucha Caprice," Chopin's "D Flat Minor Schenzo," and Schubert's "Impromptu." Mrs. BirchJolinston will contribute some new humorous items, and elocutionary items will also be given by Misses D. Bedford and K. Leatham. Vocal solos will be given by Sergeant-Major Gill, who will sing "Bandolero" and "Sands of the Desert.' Mr. R. L. Cooper will sing Handel's "Honor and Arms," and "Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind" (Sergeant).

Given fine weather there should be a large attendance at Okato this afternoon to witness the grand patriotic sports which have been organised to swell the already considerable total raised by the district for patriotic purposes. No pains have been spared to ensure the success of .to-day's function. Several. novelty items alone will be worth travelling a long way to witness. The presence of a band from New Plymouth should add to the pleasure of the gathering. A meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the Second Division League is called for to-morrow evening. It is predicted that men's denim trousers will shortly reach 7s to Ss per pair, wholesale. The Melbourne, Ltd., notify the public that they hold a fairly large stock of these goods, in plain and striped greys, and that the price ■ll remain as at viz., 5/11 til sold'out. For Chronic Chest Complanits, Peggammt-Cure,. 1/6, 2/0