LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The mails for the United Kingdom, which left New Zealand on July 4, arrived at their destination safely.

A woman who is well known in New Plymouth was escorted to Porirua yesterday by Constable Nolan.

A man who was under the inSuence of liquor and was flourishing a, gun about in Devon Street on Tuesday night, was arrested by Constable Blaikie, and was brought before the magistrate yesterday morning. As lie hart been drinking heavily for some time, a remand was granted, in order that the accused might be subjected to medical examination. Replying to a resolution by the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce, regarding the National Efficiency Board sitting with the military tribunal on the Defence Commission's report, Sir James Allen said: "I am very much obliged for your chamber's suggestion, but enquiry is being made by the defence staff into each suggestion made by the Royal commission, and it is not, in my opinion, necessary to invite the Efficiency Board to join in the deliberations."—Press Association.

During the progress of the business of the Supreme Court yesterday a man sitting on one of the seats near the door fell over on to the floor. He gathered himself up and put on his hat, which was promptly taken off again by one of the court ushers, and he was put outside on to the street, where he was arrested. He will appear this morning on a charge of drunkenness.

As vice-chairman of the Winnipeg Labor Party, W. D. Bayly lecturing in the Good Templar Hall to-night speaks with authority from the workers' stand point. Mr. Bayly's lecture in other centres hus drawn crowded audiences. This Canadian is fresh from the big fight which sent his own country "on the water waggon," as the Americans expressively put it and comes to help [in the struggle which is confidently expected to put this Dominion dry. Mr Bayly will be assisted by that brilliant lady platform speaker, Mrs Don. Admission is free and early attendance will probably be necessary for a good seat.

It has been the custom for some time past in various parts of the Dominion to belittle the efforts of the Commonwealth (writes our Mokau correspondent). The turning down of conscription was, of course, at the bottom of it. But ''good wine needs no bush," and the soldiers of the island continent are beyond praise. Sergeant (Jeorge Johnson, in writing to his sister (Mrs. Macdonald, of this township), says, in regard to a raid he and his men made on a maohinegim section, with the aid of a body of Australian troops: "You will see what sort of men I had to back me up in a dust-up." After relating the capture of the guns, along with many prisoners, he adds: "This will show you what Ihe Australians are like. They're the finest men in the British Army, and the best fighters it has. It's a mighty lucky thing for us that they are not on the side of the Hun."

Great perturbation has been caused in Germany by news, reported to emanate from official quarters, that demobilisation plans include the compulsory billeting of soldiers on private families. This measure, it is said, has been decided upon because of an inevitable shortage of housing for demobilised men and their families. The press is bombarded with letters of protest. No one knows the guuic tiui' better than the Huns themselves. Thus it is that a letter to the Lokal Snzeiger conjures up a disquieting picture of the domestic conditions bound to ensure if numbers of the Kaiser's "incomparaWcs"' are foisted upon households "in which there may be a young wife or grown-up daughters." The letter adds that the proposed measure threatens "a perfectly intolerable intrusion upon family life." The Government is asked for immediate assurances that it does not seriously contemplate such an "unclean" dilution of the housing problem. In the Supreme Court yesterday a man named Harry Ernest Williams, said to be an Australian native, was charged on several counts with carnally knowing a girl under sixteen years of age. The offences were alleged to have been committed at Te Kuiti. He was also further charged with taking the girl away from her parents, to Hawera, where it was alleged he committed similar offences. Mr. H. 11. Billing prosecuted, and accused, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr. P. Fitzherbert. The jury, after a retirement of forty minutes, returned a verdict of guilty on all counts. Sentence was deferred until Friday morning. His Honor mentioned that the accused was evidently a confirmed criminal of many years standing. He had been convicted five times for theft, once for bigamy, and twice for lighter offences. Incidentally, he said, the jury would understand how much the evidence as to character had been worth. The jury, recommended that the girl should be placed in some home where she would be under proper control, but his Honor said he had no power to make an order in that direction. The father of the girl intimated that she was being sent away to a married sister, who had promised to look after her. All arrangements are well in hand tor the local Returned Soldiera' plain and fancy dress and poster hall on Friday next. Mrs George's orchestra of eight players will supply the music, and the supper arrangements are in the capable hands of Mrs Burgess, supported by a strong committee of assistants. The upstairs portion of the hall will be upstair portion of the hall will be reserved for onlookers, for which privilege a charge of Is will be made. Mr H. R. Garnham has donated a very neat gold bangle for the lady's prize for most original costume. Other prizes donated are McEwen Bros., value one guinea; H.B. Clothing Co., value one guinea: jolm Avery's, Ltd., jewel case; Red Post Furnishing Co., gent's umbrella; Jackson and Paul, vase. There is a special matinee at tr.e Empire this afternoon, commencing at 3.30, of the beautiful Gokhvyu picture, "Sunshine Alley," which stars winsome little Mae Marsh and "Bobby" Harron. The three outstanding features of the pic-ture-story are kindness, gentleness and beauty, notwithstanding which there are plenty of tense situations and moments of dec;? pathos. "Sunshine Alley" will again be screened for the last time to-night, and on the same programme there will be the fourth episode of "The Mystery of the Double Cross." Cooked meats are always saleable; we would like a few more promises of these for the mart on Saturday. Will all who are sending in gifts put the selling price on, as it will be a great help to those who are at the stalls?

! Remember, when you are ill, it's quality, cot quantity, that counts. Take n bottle of Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery home with you to-night. Obtainable asijrvwiexe.

Twenty Ave soldiers were treated as in-patients at the New 'Plymouth Hospital during July and twenty seven as out-patients.

A popular item of the programme at the annual meeting of the Bell Block Dairy Company last night was the supper, which was handed round at the conclusion of the meeting. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the .ladies responsible, viz., Mesdames J. S. 1 Connett, C. Colson and J. H. Street, and Miss Connett.

A telegram from Dunedin states that in the Police Court there yesterday, Joseph McNeill, who has been employed as second cook at the hospital, was fined £5 on a charge of failing to enrol as a reservist under the Military Service Act. The Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was fined £2O for employing McNeill.

Mr. ,T. S. Connett, president of the Taranaki Agricultural Society, briefly addressed the suppliers of the Bell Block Dairy Company (of which he is chairman) at their annual meeting last night, in furtherance of his campaign in the interests of the society. He paid a tribute to the keen interest taken in the society by the ladies, whose work, particularly in catering at the shows, had been of great value. At the conclusion he asked shareholders to make a special donation to the prize fund, as was done last year, and had been followed by other companies. It was resolved to vote one shilling per ton on the output, thus doubling last year's contribution. This will represent a donation of over £27.

Up to the present £65 per acre is the highest price paid by the Government for land to be occupied by returned soldiers. That was the figure paid for the Kopane settlement, °470 acres (dairying), bought from Mrs W. Johnston, at £30,550. This works out ftt £2182 per settler (14 holdings), which seems to be about the average. In a number of cases the cost or land per head is above £3OOO. The record is apparently £4075, paid to Mr D. Histen, of Canterbury, for one holding of 826 acres. The price, £81,624, paid to Messrs ! Holmes, for the Tiraumea Settlement, 21 holdings, is equal to £3887 per settler. *

A story is told by a returned otficer that one of the padres at the front was inclined to give rather long addresses to the men at the church parades. When the officer commanding remonstrated with the padre for keeping the men so long, the latter replied that lie was in the same line of priesthood as John Knox, and he was not going to be dictated to by any officer what he should say to the men or how long he should keep them. "I know men," he said, "and I know what lam doing," "Very well," replied the officer, 'Til see you again about the matter." A month afterwards the padre had quite altered his treatment of the soldiers, and was getting quite popular with them. The officer again approached Mm, and said: "You said you knew men. Why have you altered your methods of dealing with them so very completely?" "Well, honestly," replied the padre, "I thought I did, but one month here has taught me more about men and the real business of life than thirty years spent in three Urge parishes in New Zealand."-

The change, of programme to be screened at the Empire to-morrow and Saturday will include three star attractions Charlie Chaplin features in one of his fast and furious comedies "Easy Street,'-' Emily Stevens in Metro's big Broadway success "Daybreak," and Helen Holmes in the third episode of the serial drama "A Lass of the Lumberlands." There will be the usual matinee on Saturday.

The following bargains are in great demand at the Melbourne's great end-of-season sale: Horrockses ideal flannelette la 9d, Horrockses Al calico Is 3d yard, indigo serge, 5S inches wide, heavy make, las 6d yard; ladies' serge skirts, 7s 11, ladies' fine serge skirts 24s 6d, navy and black striped radianta blouses 5s lid. men's tweed vests 5s 9d, boys' tweed knickers 3s Gd, boys' serge knickers 5s Od, men's winterweight neglige shirts 6s Cd, and blue grey bush blankets 12s fid per pair.