LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Christohurch reports that advices from Otira state that the Otira tunnel was pierced on Saturday morning with an iron rod lift in length.—Press Assoc. A London cable, received last night, states that maita posted between June 0 and July 2, for Australia and the South Sea Islands, have been lost at sea through enemy action.

A London cable states that the Australasian editors will be well entertained by the Council of Foreign Relations, the National Patriotic Society and other bodies.

Tlie cold weather that has been experienced was reflected by the appearance of Mt. ICgmont, which was covered with a heavy mantle of snow, right down to the bush, whilst the ranges wore also heavily coated.

The Mayor of Palmerston North is moving at the next meeting of the council:—"That owing to the increased cost of coal, and facilities in obtaining same. a conference of local 'bodies be held to consider the question of purchasing a tat for the purpose of conveying coal cheaper, and for the benefit of citizens and settlers."

It is officially announced that, as a matter of precaution, it has been deemed advisable that ships navigating Cook Strait, should do so, as far as possible, dUring the daylight. Shipping companies have been invited to conform to this arrangement. 'The Mararoa, the usual Saturday ferry steamer for Lyttelton, left at 3 o'clock instead of 8 o'clock.

The Daily News says that the New Plymouth Harbor Board is entitled to the thanks of the community for its enterprise in submitting such a comprehensive plan of harbor improvements and facilities. We agree with our contemporary. The board has had a hard light in the past to secure public confidence, but, nothing daunted, has kept up a steady rate of progress. —Argus. Madge Evans was a winsome figure in "The Volunteer," the patriotic World film screened at Everybody's on Saturday night. This clever little artist is. supported by a remarkably strong cast of famous World film artists, and even introduces the great William A. Brady himself. "The Volunteer" will ibe finally screened to-night. Overflow tickets from Saturday night will be availaible to-night.

"One of the most difficult tasks I had during my stay in Peru was teaching an old man 'to wheel a wheelbarrow," remarked the. Rev. H. A. Job at a Christchurch. Workers' Educational Association meeting. Wheels, he went on to say, were unknown, and ho therefore contrived a wheelbarrow ldmself, but, try as he would, the old men, true to their traditional custom, would not use it properly. "You could fill it with stones or earth," said Mr. Job, "and they would carry barrow and load on their backs or any other way, but you could not get them to wheel it."

Prior to commencing business at the Stratford County Council meeting on Saturday, the chairman remarked that delegates had been invited to attend a meeting at New Plymouth last Thursday in connection with suggested harbor improvements. The Harbor Board were very fair, and invited criticism, but the scheme appeared such a good one that those whose attitude might have heen hostile before attending had no objections to offer. He expressed his approval of the scheme, and said he would do all he could to push forward the work. One of the deputations introduced at Wellington recently by Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., did not leave without something to cheer them up. It was a proposal submitted to Mr- Russell by the Mayor of Taumarunui (Mr, laird), Cr. Manson, and Mr. Ford (chairman Kaitieke County Council), for a loan of £25,000 for a new hospital at Taumarunui, to replace the present one. Before leaving Wellington the proposals were accepted by the Public Trustee and agreed to by the Minister of Finance. Sir William Fraser, when receiving the deputation "from North Taranaki at Wellington on Thursday last, said he wished to correct an erroneous impression that arose owuig to a remark he made to a deputation from Waimarino and Taumarunui last week. He did say that he had not one shilling to spend on public works, but qualified it with the additional words "until all necessary war money was provided for." There was money for allocations voted some months ago, but his engineers stated they could not obtain labor.

A motion picture played a prominent part in awakening the public of the United States to the menace of the German bid for world domination. That picture was the Greater Vitagraph special, "Womanhood," or "The Glory of a Xation," which shows at Ever/body's to-morrow and Wednesday. A big advertisement was given the picture in America by the determined efforts of tho powerful pro-German party to suppress the picture. That these efforts ended in failure is now history, likewise the furore of enthusiasm aroused throughout Hie American continent by the screening of the picture. Messrs Eherlet and Morgan, land and commission agents, White Hart Buildings, Devon Street, have been appointed district agents for Ta-ranaki for the Eagle. Star, and British Dominions Insurance Company, Limited, in success»■• to Mr. P. P. Corkill, resigned, company is a very powerful _ con; formed by the amalgamation of the -three companies comprising its name, and having assets valued at £12,000,000. The newly-appointed representatives notifj that"they will accept any risk, howevw large or small, and are making the in snranco of dairy produce a strong feature of their business. „. Winter ills and winter chills fade be fore the magic warmth of a North Bri I tish Hot Water Bottle. Look for tin