LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The tramways took £SO3 in fares Last month, an increase of £6B over last year's takings. The Minister of Defence lias received advice that the transport carrying the main part of the 37th Reinforcements has reached another port of call—all well. The inspector, in his monthly report to the New Plymouth Borough Council, states that anyone having more than two tins of benzine must store it under special precautions and pay an annua] fee. Mr. R. Hampton, president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, arrived in New Plymouth last night, and met the members of the local branch in the Social Hall. Mr. W. Bird presided over a good attendance of members. Mr. Hampton 'delivered a very able and interesting address on important matters affecting the railway service, and afterwards answered a number of questions. At the conclusion he was accorded a vote of thanks. A vote, of confidence in the executive was also carried. Extraordinary use is made of the effect of passing trains at a little lonely wayside station in "A Woman Alone," showing to-day at Everybody's with the 2nd series of "The Neglected Wife." The hashing uncanny lights, and the shadowy photography of the rushing steel monsters being almost miraculously shown. The New Plymouth sanit&ry inspector is starting this month with a house-to-houso inspection of the borough. It will be on a more comprehensive scheme than tjiat of last year. During his last inspection many residents were given an opportunity to clean .up their premises, but, he says in his monthly report, no such oliances will he given, this time. By the returns, the infectious diseases are most satisfactory. No new eases have been reported for several days, and very few for the month. The matter, however, calls for the utmost vigilances sore throats should be at once medically examined, and every precaution taken to ensure the utmost cleanliness.

At the Inglewood S.M. Court yesterday, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., Minnii Mautey, a married woman, residing at Norfolk Road, wa. s fined £1 and costs (7s) for having failed to register under, the Aliens Act, 1917. For being o n licensed premises (Tariki Hotel) after hours, Yaughan Harkness, Leonard Porter, and Alex. M'Meekan were fined 10s, with costs. The licensee (James O'Malley) was also charged (1) with exposing liquor for sale, and ("2) keeping licensed premises open after hours for the sale of liquor. After hearing evidence, the S.M. dismissed the first information, and convicted, with a fine of £5 and costs 16s, on the second charge- Sub-Inspector Hutton appeared for the police. The question of standardising butter boxes and cheese crates was raised at a conference of the North Auckland dairy companies by a letter from the Northern Wairoa Dairy Factory Company. Mr. D. Cuddie, Dairy Commissioner, informed the meeting that the Government had already decided to standardise butter boxes, and that before he left Wellington ho was instructed to pre. pare the necessary particulars for putting the idea into operation. It appeared to him that the Department might well accept cither the standard butter crate in use in Auckland, or that of Taranaki, without inconvenience to the sawmilling companies. There was no present intention, he added, of standardising cheese crates, for reasons obvious to those in the trade. The conference resolved that the executive of the National Dairy Association be asked to introduce the subject of compulsory standardisation at its Hamilton and Palmerston North conferences.

Quite a sensation was caused in Patea on Thursday (says the Press) when it was reported that Mr. Alex. M'Farlane, engineer to the West Coast Refrigerating Company, had been missing since early morning. It appears that Mr. M'Farlane left home for the company's works at 6 a.m., stating that he would return for breakfast at eight o'clock. His subordinates in the engine room were waiting for him to make his appearance as usual at six o'clock, and, on his not turning up, concluded that he was ill- It was only some two hours later that, upon no message being received from him, that it was ascertained that he was not at home. From tfhat can bo gathered, his disappearance i 9 completely shrouded in mystery. At the time of leaving home he was in his customary health and spirits, and spoke cheerfully of returning in two hours' time for breakfast. Search parties treat once instituted, but no trace of the missing man could be found. A further search was made yesterdav.

A meeting of the New Plymouth Trustees of the Efficiency Board was held yesterday, there being present:— (Messrs Furlong ,chairman), E. Whittle, and F. J. Hill (secretary). The clerk of the Xo. 1 Wellington Appeal Board wrote respecting three cases recently hefore the board, and asked the trustees for a report on the cases. Correspondence was received from the Commissioner acknowledging receipt of several applications for financial assistance, all o£ which would be sent on to the Financial Assistance Board for consideration. ;The trustees also considered eight cases, all of which were incidental to military service. One manager of a station of 10,000 acres waited on the board regarding some of his employees called up for service. The secretary communicated with the area officer and supplied the information asked for. Another farmer also waited on the trustees regarding his position, as he was now going to the front. The applicant was advised as to ■the course to pursue. Three women ap* plicants—two wives of soldiers and one the mother of a reservist—appeared for information respecting their flanancia', position. It was decided to place the matters before the proper authorities* 'Other applicants sought, advice on their .military and domestic affairs, and were advised as to the iproper course to pursue \in order to comply with the instructions laid down for guidance in such icases. At Tataraimaka ,on Thursday next, •. Mr..Newton ICing will conduct a clearing sale on account of the HeatheringtonEstate. These cows, iwe are informed, are a good.lot, allowing and in fine condition. Baby won't cry with pain or cold US you put him down with a North British Hot Water Bottle. But look for the "Unique" stopper. It easoiea- J«ou;