LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Medical Board for the re-exami-nation of Class 02 men will sit in New Plymouth from August 28 to September 2.

New regulations have been gazetted regarding the approach to wharves and ships that are under guard. By a notion gazetted on June ~2A t it is now an offence for pleasure 'boats, or boats plying for hire, to approach within 50 yards of a ship or wharf so guarded, and any infringement of the regulation renders theoffenders liable to immediate arrest and examination iby the guard. At the Magistrate's Court at Waitara on Wednesday, Cyril Stockman, Stanley Stevens, and Percy Cole were charged with being on licensed premises after hours on June 29. There was no appearance of defendants, who were each fined 10s and costs 7b. Two other men, named Berntsen and Elliott, who pleaded guilty to similar charges, were aiso fined 10s each (costs 7s).

On Monday the earth was in aphelion —that is, at its fullest distance from the sun—'being distant, approximately, 04,500,000 miles- Owing to the fact that the earth's orbit round the sun is an ellipse, and not a circle, its distance from that body varies by about three million miles. This slight variation does not appreciably affect our seasons, which are due entirely to the inclination of the earth's axis to the plane of its orbit.

The adjourned inquest touching the death of Mr. Alexander M'Farlane was held at Patea on Tuesday, 'before Mr. HE. Deane, J.P., acting--coroner, and a jury of six (reports the Press). The jury, after hearing the evidence, found that the deceased met bis death by drowning, but there was no evidence to show how such death was brought about, adding that at the same time what evidence there was, pointed to the fact that the deceased did not meet his death by self-destruction.

A Bpecial matinee programme is 'being screened at the Empire this afternoon, where amongst the assorted pictures there will be three funny comedy pictures, a topical gazette, drama and scenic pictures. Children will be admitted for threepence. To-night Emily Stevens will appear for the last time in the Metro wonderplay, "Alias Mrs Jesaop." Monday night will see the first screening of the second Goldwyn picture, "Baby Mine," starring Madge Kennedy. This film will be shown for three nights. At a meeting of the Ngamotu Seaside Committee last night, the repairing of two cottages was left to the Building Committee. The secretary reported that there was a large number of applications for the cottages for the summer. A vote of thanks was*passed to Mr Stainton for donating Oregon timber. A subcommittee was set up to meet the Harbor Board relative to the rent of the cottages. Mr. Brennan was thanked for donating a large number of pohutakawaa and for arranging for their removal and planting. The purchase by the Imperial Government of the Australian wool clips for a period covering the currency of the war, and for one full year afterwards, was 'announced in the Federal House of Representatives on the 12th ult. by the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr. Watt). The transaction is described as by far the largest wool transaction ever recorded in the world. It is estimated that the returns for only two wool clips will exceed £100,000,000. A ferry service has been recently established on the main road between Te Kuiti an,d Pio Pio, owing to the excessive rainfall during the past month. This has been caused by the Mokau River overflowing and inundating the level country, "including the metalled road. Passengers by coach'.and motor services have to transfer into a boat, and are rowed across (► hundred yards of a newlv-formed lagoon. The Hon. Mr. Mac Donald and Mr. W. Jennings, M.P., had this experience recently on going to Aria to officially open the post office. The whole cause of the trouble is the choking up of the Mokau River, which is very narrow about Pio Pio, by the willow trees.

Oiviug to the very boisterous weather last Thursday, the sale of Mr. A- F. Cuff's dairy herd was postponed, and tliey will be s'old in Newton-King's yard next Tuesday, as per advertisement. These cows "are a nice lot, in splendid and early calvers. They are worth any dairyman's attentionAttention is again directed to the special line of men's boxed suits at 52s 6d at the Melbourne, Ltd. The tweed in the suits is guaranteed absolutely pure and each suit bears the maker's name—"Roslyn," which is a guarantee of quality, fit and style. This is a suit offering really worth investigation. BENEFIT BY OUR EXPERIENCE. Long experience in the removing business has necessarily made ua very expert. That's why it pays to engage us. We know the best way to take down, pack, and remove furniture. Your furniture is saved damage. You are spared worry. There as a world of difference between a good "shift" and a bad "shift." We pride ourselves on effecting the first-named. The scores of letters we get show that. The New Zealand Express Co., Ltd.'

During the month of June tiiere was an excess of departures over arrivals at the New Zealand ports of 109 persons. The returns do not' take count of members of the Expeditionary Force.

The Military Affairs Committee have received from the Eltham County Patriotic Society a donation of £SOO for the erection of a Church Army Hut. The hut will be known as the Eltham County Hut.

Threshing returns published in the Abstract of Statistics show that up to June 32, 13)589 bushels of wheat had been threshed in Taranaki, showing an average of 25,34 bushels per acre, the third highest average in the Dominion Oats threshed in Taranaki totalled 7078 bushels, or 30,38 bushels per acre, being the fourth highest average. °

In the course bf a sermon at the Christchurch Cathedral Bishop Julius told of a visit lie paid recently to Quail Island leper station, for the purpose of confirming one of tlie patients there. The bishop described the man's pitiable condition. Nevertheless he joined in the musical part of the service, and waa quite cheery and bright. The bishop said he could conceive of nothing mole lonely or more pitiable than this poor leper." In reply to an Ohakune deputation on Thursday, Sir William Fraser Baid that he was in complete agreement that a certain amount of expenditure on public works would help New Zealand to carry on the war, but there H was no money available for these work#. It was no use to blink at the matter—the money was simply not here. He believed that before the end of March the next twentymillion • loan would have to be raised, and with another twenty millions taken from the people there would be little left for public works. He did; not see how any money could be used until after the war for the making of roads suitable for public nlotor traffic. At present the Government could not even make new roads to any extent, and the Government would not metal new roads unlesß the local body paid half the cost. Details of the native troops serving with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force were given by Sir James Allen, at Dargaville the other night. He stated that since the first draft of Maoris left the Dominion in February, 1915, a total of twenty-seven additional drafts had gone to the front, the total number of Maoris who had left the Dominion on service to date being 2134, Other native soldiers in the New Zealand Forces included I'4B Nieu Islanders and 308 Rarotongans. About 25 Gilbert Islanders were now on their way to New Zealand to undergo training for active service, and a platoon of half-caste Fijians would arrive in New Zealand shortly for the same purpose. In addition there were at present in camp 134 Maoris and 90 Rarotongans. He considered this wag a splendid record of loyalty on the part of the Maoris and other native races.

The good physique and the big percentage of fit men in the Second Division suggests that the. unfettered and irresponsible bachelor is not having the 'best of things (writes "Mercutio" in the New Zealand Herald). Probably the comforts of home and the advantage of home cooking are a factor that has to be recognised. The bachelor, with his hurried snacks at boafdinghouse and restaurant, has not a chance against the man who can take his meals at his own table, and the wife's cooking is, of course, a thing that counts importantly. No doubt, too, there is something in natural selection. The man who marries is evidently more normal and healthy than the man who does not marry, and it may be, taken for granted that the man whom a woman will marry is evidently a better man than the one who is not selected for marriage. --

A rather pathetic figure at the Auckland Police Court (says the Star) was an Italian over 80 years of age, who had (been cited to appear as an alien who had failed to register. The old man stoutly maintained that though he had beeh borne in Florence, Italy, he was no alieri, as he had held a commission in the British Army, and he contended that a man who had held such commission could not toe an alien He stated that he had held the rank of lieutenant in the British Army, and had served in the Crimea campaign and in India during the Mutiny, He had two sons, he said, who bad served in the Boer war, and had now been for four years on active service in the present war, both having been wounded. His Worship informed the old man that he was fully satisfied about his loyalty hut not about his law respecting the point at issue, and defendant was convicted and discharged.

In this issue we insert a notice of a sale to t»e conducted by Mr. Newton King at Stony River on Thursday, July 25. The cattle are being fully described on a leaflet, which is now in circulation, and copies can be obtained at any, of the auctioneer's offices. ''

There are so many appeals made nowadays for public assistance for other than local objects, that real deserving organisations, unless urgently in need of assistance, refrain from soliciting public aid. ♦ The Ofcato Methodist Guild, however, finds', itself urgently in need of funds to'carry "on its useful and voluntary work, and in our advertising ■ columns to-day announces a grand con-1 cert for Thursday evening next, in the Hempton Hall. An array of visiting talent has been secured, including the Rev. Papakura, who stands in the front rank of the Dominion's vocalists. !, 3Jhe. wonderful and fantastic forms of amusement at Coney. Island have never-, been seen to better advantage than ins "The' Princess of Park Row." wh#se th»;j young reporter and the princess .steal away for an afternoon's This fine picture stars Mildred Jtagptng and a new Vitagraph leading marl, Wallace Mac Donald, and shows at Evefy-to-day (both sessions) and' Monday night. ■ vi DO YOU SUFFER WITH \ • RHEUMATISM? RELIEF IS WITHIN YOUR GRASP. Rheumatism gets nearly everybody. It doesn't always get you down, but the fight takes all the enjoyment out of life. There's one way to get the'better of Rheumatism, and that's the Dr. Sheldon's Magnetic Liniment, and all the pains will vanish. Magnetic Liniment draws out the pain and strengthens the muscles; gets the Rheumatism down, and out. Rheumatism makes everyone feel old. Get rid of it, feel young. Dr. Sheldon's Magnetic Liniment is tlie sure relief within grasp of everyone- Price) 1/6 and 3/-- Obtainable everywhere. In the trenches a North British Hot Water Bottle full of hot water would be worth its weight in gold, but you can buy one for a trifling cost at your fldand Bs. Obtainable eversgheas.