LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tho electrical storm t'liafc hurst over Taranaki just at 5 o'clock last evening wis particularly severe around Inglewood, where the lightning flashes caused several wires to fuse, and in many instances houses and public buildings were without lights. The railway station found their illumination giving trouble, but were fortunate in getting tlie lights going again. Right from Hawera rf.lie southern trains had to steam through torrential rain that, however, did not last any considerable time. Regarding Use reports that lights have been seen on the ranges, Sub-Inspector Hutton states that full inquiries were made by the police. The evidence demonstrates that lights were certainly seen at or near the ranges, but what form the lights took is not clear. Copies of the police reports fliave been forwarded to the Naval Adviser and to the Commissioner of Police, Investigation showed that thero was 110 place where an aeroplane could land. The Vogcltown residents who saw the light oa Sunday night state that there was a strong ray, as if from a searchlight. Other local people say that, in addition to the light at the ranges, they saw a near Waiiara. Another report is that an aeroplane was distinctly seen.

The matter of tobacco-growing ft* a suitable occupation to be taken up by returned soldiers was brought under the notice of the New Plymouth Patriotic Committee hist night by a letter from Napier. It was stated t'aafc the plants could be grown in almost any soil, and that Taranaki—except in the districts subject to frosts between September and December—would be a very suitable district for tho industry/ One man, with a little assistance, could look alter from three to iive acres, and the yield was usually about 8001b per acre, and had been in some cases as high as , 14001b. The letter stated that the company would bo prepared to give inforimation and seed, free of charge, for returned soldiers, and that there was a | certain market for the leaf.

Hospital matters formed the subject of a brief discussion at the meeting of tie Egmont County Council yesterday. The chairman stated that an influential ratepayer had suggested that Egmont County should endeavor to join the Hawera District, instead of being in. the Taranaki District, the levy in Haw era being 103 d, as against Is Cd in New Plymouth. The idea did not find favor with 1 members of the council. Councillor Green opened by remarking that Hawera could not cope -with its patients now, and to talk of making the change would be '"'absolute rot."' Hawera was only a side issue compared with New Plymouth, a'nd he added: "You all know it." Councillor M'Neill could not say what the Ilawera levy was, but to compare Hawera Hospital with New Plymouth was like comparing day with night. Now Plymouth now had tc [ cope with from SIS to 105 patients, and had a staff of <ls to 5(1. "Jt had lately been decided to build a new nurses 1 liDiue. In addition, the Defence Department was going to take over the old hospital and furnish and staff it foi wounded soldiers. No member of the council would consider joining Hawera. for the New Plymouth Hospital was one of the finest institutions south of the Line. Councillor O'Brien agreed with this, remarking that Hawera was more in the nature of a village hospital. The chairman stated that he was only giving the views of a ratepayer. There had been a precedent, Horowhenua having gone back to Manawatu. A reminder is given of the social to the Cafe Cliantant workers to be held this evening at the Whitcley Hall, w'hen i all are invited to be present. !£IOO FOP, AN ESSAY. Prizes-of £IOO, '£so and '£2s are nol to be won every day—yet those are the magnificent sums offered by the N.Z. A 1 lianee for the three best essays on "Whj New Zealand should adopt the proposals of the National Efficiency Board for tin immediate permanent abolition of tin Liquor Traffic." With such prizes ii view every one with any literary abilitj .should undoubtedly enter—there is n'< "age limit—lh e competition is open t( all. Essays j-ro limited to 5000 words Essays inn;.} reach Wellington by Sep tember !iu u<'xt. Pull particulars anx panted can be obtained bj writing iu* iva-tstagy. N.Z. Alliance "Tenmeraace; 5 , Sießfegtou.

At the annual meeting of the Tikorangi Dairy Company, held yesteraay afternoon, Mr. J. S. Connctt addressed, those present in the interests of the Taranaki A. and I'. Society, urging support ill order to place the society in. a better financial position. Ho was accorded a patient hearing, and a number of promises of subscriptions were made. A Wanganui press message states that investigation regarding the alleged aeroplane along the sea coast on Saturday night discounts the assumption that the object was an aeroplane. The more reasonable and generally-accepted theory is that a flock of black swanß was mistaken for an aeroplane, as a flock of birds was seen on the previous night, at the same time flying in the same direction.

At a meeting of the directors of the Taranaki .Land, Blading, and Investerit Society (permanent), it was decided to pay oil" 0 Series after the August payment. This makes the life of the series six years and eleven months*, the usual period lately taken in repaying advances to the society. A member borrowing £2OO in this series will have paid £62 lfis Sd in interest, thus fCbout 4J per cent. The society also pays the cost of preparing and registering all mortgages for all sums; -of £IOO and over.

The hearing of the charges of theft from the cargo of the Rarawa against Ernest E. Croot, a wharf laborer, of New Plymouth, was concluded at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M. SubInspector Hutton represented the police, and Mr, Fitzherbert appeared for the accused. After hearing the evidence of William Mead, second officer of the Rarawa, and George W. M'Kee, storeman for Messrs Burgess, Eraser, and Co., from whom some of the goods were stolen, the Magistrate convicted accused, and inflicted fines of £5 on each of the two charges, in default one month's imprisonment. Says the Manawatu Times:—An enterprising local firm whose many workmen are employed in the vicinity of a country hotel, finding the evil effect upon the efficiency and constancy of their hands, actually offered £2OOO for the license in order to wipe it out. The proprietors -became aware of the purpose of the proposed purchase and withdrew it from the market, whereupon the ■firm set to work and built a splendid accommodation house, including billiard tables and concert hall, as a counterattraction, and hope to starve oxit all ppsitin in that line, opposition in that line. At yesterday's meeting of the Tikorangi Dairy Company, the secretary (Mr. J. Hine) read two letters from men at the front expressing thanks for ana appreciation of gifts of butter sent by the company for men on active service. One was from France and written 'by B. W. Banks, and the other from J. W. Melville, 0.C., N.Z. Wireless Troop, Bagdad. Bot'to writers expressed appreciation of the quality of the butter and the excellent state in which it had arrived at its destination. The letter from Bagdad sta.ted that during the sumer months it had been impossible to obtain any butter, so the gifd was a great boon to the boys, and appealed to them more than, socks. A large number of the men were in isolated places, where it was impossible to buy anything,

There was general satisfaction in Ohura township last week when news was received from Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., that tlie Minister for Public Works had authorised a further link In the construction of the StratfordOkakukura railway line, and the gazette notice authorises the work past the Ohura township. As a great deal of formation work has been finished fight into Matiere, the connection with Ohura, about eight miles, will soon he accomplished, as there are no engineering difficulties in the way of tunnelling. Ylio tunnel works at Okatiukura and Matiere are now well under way, and If no unforeseen difficulties crop -up, the isolation of the settlers is close at nn end. The weather during the past four weeks has been very dry, which is somewhat unusual for this time- of the year.

A well-attended meeting of workers and teaeiiers connected with the various Sunday schools in New Plymouth was held in St. Andrew's Hall on Monday evening, for conference upon matters concerning their work. Tho gathering was presided over by the Kev. Oscar Blunikll, and a most cordial and encouraging feeling of unity and fellowship pervaded the entire proceedings. After tea had been partaken of, a short meeting for prayer was followed by a united conference. Able and helpful addresses were delivered by the president, of the Auckland Sunday School Union (Mi'. H. Dearsley) and the Sev. S. H. Iladford, secretary of that institution. As a result of the conference, it was decided to recommend all the New Plymouth Protestant Sunday schools to form a district group of the union, each school to appoint a. member of a direction committee, o^ 1 ' Which the Rev. 0. Blundell was appointed provisional convener, An outstanding object of lie union is to establish courses of special training for Sunday school teachers.

Tlie death of Mr. William Fox, Oa- . liura, the well-known Native interpreter, which took place recently at Waitara, recalls the fact tlia-t lio was, as a child, captured, by a Native contingent during tho attack on To Ngutu--o-te-Manu, ia 1 September, 1808, alost 5Q years aga He was adopted by ; Sir William Fox, i who educated him, and for some years he was a law clerk in the' ofliee of Sir William Buller, Wellington. In reference to his capture by the friendly Natives, it was claimed at the time ox ; tho death of an old Taranaki settler that ho had rescued him from being killed by tlie Natives on that day. Mr. ' Fox wrote to tho Daily News a letter, which appeared on December 20, 1910, in which lie said he felt it incunrocini upon him to correct gome inaccuracies in connection with the incident as recorded in an obituary notice, where it was stated that the Natives had killed two babies, and the third (which was young Fox) was rescued by the settler. Mr. Fox, in his letter, said: —"'The 'babies' referred to were children of from eight to ten y«at» of age. During t'he fight at Te-Ngutu-o-tc-Manu, J, with another child, wandered some distance from the camp, when a Native named Pirimona came upon ns. The elder child ran away, [ but I was taken to a camp where a ( number of friendly Natives and European soldiers had gathered. 'A.ere I saw two other children who were known ,to me. One was a cripple and was [ killed, but there was ho suggestion that - I and the otter child should be killed , also. ... It is obviously incorrect 1 for • . < v European to claim to kailp