LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Land Board yesterday, in "committee, dealt with several applications for postponement of collection of rent for various reasonsfalso various applications for consent to mortgage Crown holdings at current rates of interest, all of which were recommended for approval. I Nine applications from soldier settlors ior advances for on. their 1-oldings were dealt with by the Land I Heard at yesterday's meeting, the total | smount authorised on account being £3510, 'the major part of which is f<w fctoek, improvements, and houses. The meeting of the Grand Board of Directors of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows in Wellington last week requested the Grand Master and secretary of the society to pay an official visit to the Taranaki and "Wanganui districts next month (September). The 02 Special Ke-cxamining 'Board, consisting of Lieutenant-Colonel Bernau, Captains Mercer and Harvey, commenced its Taranaki sitting of its third itinerary at Hawera yesterday- Fifty-nine First Division reservists were re-exam-ined, and of this number 17 were classed fit A, W were classed 01, and 26 were rejected as 02. In a special report by the senior inspector to the Education Board yesterday, dealing with the visit of Dr. E. Ounn, medical inspector to the schools, and also the work of Miss H. W. Blackie, physical instructor, reference was made to the general appearance of ihe school grounds and the extent of plantations and gardens, which specially,appealed to Dr. Gunn as a feature of the Taranaki schools. At last night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, the engineer uiew attention to a practice followed by certain horsemen in using the pathway along the foreshore between Kawaroa Park and Belt Road. Some of them had been warned, but seemed disinclined to cease. He said the upkeep of the path was not easy, as material had to be brought for a considerable distance. He suggested that action should be taken against offenders. The suggestion was adopted. : There was a full agenda-paper under consideration by the Taranaki Land Board at its monthly meeting, held at the Lands Office yesterday. Twelve applications from discharged soldiers, who are desirous of availing themselves of financial assistance to be put into possession of holdings ,were considered, most of which received favorable recommendations. The number declined was on the grounds of excessive prices, which the board thought beyond the real value of the land, or beyond the capacity of the applicants. The principal attraction at the Empire to-night will be the Metro drama 'The Winding Trail," with Viola Dana as Audrey Graham,a Broadway star who bravely leaves Broadway and becomes a dance-hall girl in the mining camps of the West before ever railroads were known in order to avenge her sister's dishonor. Miss Dana is great, and proved herself not only a wonderful little actress but again demonstrates her powers as a premier danseuse. i She passes through many harrowing experiences and when she finds happiness within her grasp, Bhe keeps her word and turns aside for the sake of the other woman.

Speaking on Saturday evening at a gathering of the Orphans' Club, a social body that enjoys the patronage and confidence of the Governor-General and Ministers, Sir James Allen spoke a piece concerning conscientious objectors. The most interesting statement he made was that the M C.C.'s deported and sent to France some time ago were now "fighi» ing with their units." He did not know how their conversion had been brought about, but it was a matter on which both they and the country were to be v ngratulatcd. The most puzzling conscience he had discovered was that' of the objector who had never read the Bible nor entertained any religious con-' vjctiona. He simply based his refusal A o do his duty to the country on his own "opinions," and. of course, his case was hopeless. And" vet 'he was typical of most of the men who claimed exemption on the score of conscientious scruples! Don't sign the wowser petition—they are never satisfied, as they would sooner have prohibition than win the war—but sign our petition. We are fighting for your liberty and freedom, while the wowsers are tryingrto take away your freedom and that of the boys while they are away fighting for them. —Advt. An interesting quarter-page display advertisement dealing with the question of National Efficiency will be found on page 3 of this issue, and should be carefully considered by every reader. There is a monster triple star programme screening at Everybody's tonight aiid to-morrow. William Farnura is starred in a big Fox special feature "Playing Pair," Margery Wilson in an exciting tale of the Kentucky "moonshiners" entitled "Mountain Dew" and Mollie King stars in the fifth episode of "The Mystery of the Double Cross." There is also the current number of the Gaumont Graphic showing on ttos programme. Patrons are notified that the first picture will commence at 7.45 sharp tonight and to-morrow night. •

It has often been suggested that the tweed you could not get—were those that's spun in Scotland—<by the Crofter in the wet. Up there its raw and hazy —makes you shiver round at night unless you've got a Hams tweed to keep you warm and bright- We've got eighteen patterns only—they're the real mackay, you know, and you'll feel sad and lonely unless you call foefore they go. There's deep red brown, lawn, and grey, all shades that make up neat,. and when you've got a Harris on you're "a' richt for tha nicht." Now, unless you call tomorrow —the odds are you'll be late—then yours will bo the sorrow and you cannot blame the State. But what the State's to do with it—there's no one dare can tell —except that they control the ships that's saving us from .... Now, if you want a real smart skirt for short runs in the car, the only thing is Harris—the colors do not jar. Now, come right in this morning to the "Modern Tailors'" shop and see the eighteen patterns, and perhaps you'll take the lot. All should make a point of attending St. Mary's bulb show, which is to be held on Thursdav and Friday of next week, September t> and 6. This show, which has been held for many years, has obtained a high name for the excellence of its displays, sid this vear's exhibit nrnmise? to be ekraa! to that of former seasons. The need for a new Sundav school grows more and more imperative as time goes _on, and it is hoped that many, very~Tnany, will show practical sympathy for the teachera and children ]jv attending their show.

We have received an amount of 10a from W.H.B. and 10s from VV.N. towards the Ambury Memorial' Fund, which we have handed over to the secretary. The question of the proposed exchange of land between the New Plymouth Borough Council and the Taranaki Education Board, purpose of securing a more suitable site for an up-to-date school in place of the present West End School, was discussed fey the Borough Council at its meeting last night. It was ultimately decided to inform the Education Board that the council would transfer a portion (4J acres) of the Westown Park reserve, situated to the west of.CutfiaJd Hoad, to the hoard if the Government would transfer to the council the freehold of the Batapihipihi and Rotokare reserves, the control of tt* latter being at present vested in the council.

At the annual meeting of the Joll Dairy Company yesterday a supplier asked whether the Joll Company would benefit out of the proposed harbor scheme at New Plymouth. The chairman (Mr. J! B. Murdoch), who is a member pf the Vigilance Committee, remarked that it was not within his province to speak tither one way or the other at that meeting. Meetings were being held by the Harbor Board at different centres, at which both sides of the question were being discussed, and that was the proper place to put the question. Mr. D. J Hughes, a shareholder of the company and a member of the Harbor Board, thanked the chairman for the way in which he had answered'the question, and expressed the hope that all would attend the meeting. i At last night's meeting of the New Plymouth (Borough Council, it was stated by Cr. Hayden that complaints had been made to him by some ratepayers of the scanty reports in the press of the proceedings of the council meetings, arid he said some people appeared to be under the impression that the council was doing its work with undue secrecy. The amount of space given to the reports of the council meetings was compared with that given to some other local bodies, with an appearance of unfairness to the Borough Council. The Mayor said that if there was any matter purposely withheld from publication he was probably :eaponsible for that. When the council met as a Works Committee, he held it as his and the council's right to take any matters thought fit "in committee." Excepting in such matters as were not sufficiently advanced to permit of publicity, or matters 'relating to prices for work or supplies, there was no censorship exercised over the press representativea. He admitted there was much said at the council table which could not appear in the report of the council meetings, and he was of opinion that the council had no reason to mistrust the judgment of the reporters. If they had erred, it had certainly been on the safe side so far as the council was concerned. He wished to assure the ratepayers, however, that it Was not the policy of the council to withhold information to which they had a right. Several other councillors spoke, and all agreed that there was no ground for the complaints referred to. The town cleric pointed out that, whereas most of the other public bodies had only riionthly reports in the papers, the borough had a report every week.

"If the Prussian people," Mr Gerard, the American Ambassador says, "cling to their Gods of War, if Kaiser and Crown Prince fulfil their ideals, if the Prussians leave the reins in the hands of these warlike taskmasters and refuse to join the other peoples in stamping out the devil of war, then the conflict' must go on, go on until tie Germans get their stomachs full of war, until they forget their easy victories of last century, until their leaders learn that war as a national industry does not pay, until their wealth and trade have disappeared, until their sons are maimTid and killed and their land laid waste, until the blinkers fall from their eyes and they sicken of Emperor and Crown Prince, of the almost countless kings and grand dukes and princes, generals and admirals, court marshals and chamberlains, and majors and adjutants, captains and lieutenants, who now, like fat, green, distended flies, feed on the blood of Germany." And that, it must be remembered, is the verdict of an observer who writes with apprifciation of individual Germans and whose words aTe nowhere tinged with prejudice or hostility towards the German people. At a meeting of the Citizens' Band Committee, held on Tuesday night, a sub-eomimttee was appointed to arrange details in connection with the opening of the new bandroom in Leach Street. The date recommended was Thursday, Seplotmber 19, in the afternoon. It was decided to ask the Mayor (Mr. C. H'. Burgess) to perform the opening ceremony and to invite all citizens. It is expected that the menjbers of Parliament for the district will be present to take part in the ceremony. Arrangements will also be made to hold a social in the building in the evening for bandsmen and their relatives-

Mothers! Bead these genuine bargains at the Melbourne end-of-season tweed knickers, sizes 2 to 11, 3s 6d pair; serge ditto, 5s 9d pair; hoys' tubular Washing ties, 3 for Is 3d; iboys' dark uKjon shirts, 2s lid to 3s lid; Iboys' pyjamas, E-piece, 4s 6d; boys' tennis shirt 3, 3s l'ld; boys' golf stockings, with turnover tops, in blue, white, or red bars, 2s 9d to 3s lid; boys' allwool Roslyn sport suits, 25s l 6d to 33s M, sizes 7 to 12-