LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Wangamii Chronicle complains that overseas' liners visit' New Plymouth and lake away" ifieat whilst they pass Wanganui, as a result of the embargo on the port of Wanganui. The revenue of the 2vew Plymouth Borough electric light department ioi the month of September reached the highest figure yet known, being in the vicinity of £2OOO.

The annual prize-giving ceremony at the Girls' High Schooi lus been fixed for December 12. Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, is to be asked to present the prizes. Ironsand smelting experiments are being conducted by Messrs Heskett and Smyth, at Patea- They have had several successful runs, and the local Press uu derstands that the company with which they are associated intend to enlarge the present plant. At last night's meeting of the Borough Council, a sub-committee was set up to make the necessary arrangements for a suitable demonstration in the event of any more of the enenay countries cap;tuiating, or m the event of the general cessation of hostilities The arrangement wa3 made with a view to notifying the public beforehand, so thai they might be aware of the meaning of any signals given.

At a general meeting of the Xew Plymouth Returned Soldiers' Association, held last week, a resolution was passed expressing appreciation of the work done for the association by the late Mr. IT. .T. H. Okey, XI.P A resolution of sympathy was also passed to Mr and Mrs. F. Okey, on account of the death of their son, Lieutenant Boy Okey A motion of thanks was passed to jVJts. Burgess and the Women's Committee for undertaking the- supper arrangements at the roeent hall, and it was decided to make the hall an annual event-

In regard to complaints of settler* about delays in necessary worlrs, said dealing particularly with the Rerekino ami Matau Junction Road-, M>. TV. T. Jennings, M.P., submitted matters to Mr. siiarp, district road engineer at Stratford, who replied: "Arrangements are being made to repair Rerekino Stream bridge and the track. • The great diflicultv in connection wi'h these vnai.ters is a scarcity of labor: unless settlers themselves are prepared to take work on the roads, there is in manv eases not much ehance of getting anything done. - ' Tn regard to the expenditure of £5(10(1 "ranted b.- flovernnient in 1815-lfl, MrSham states: 'Tim moneys were for rpeciiie instances of flood damage, and can only be expended for repairing extraordinary damage, and not for tenance." The matter complained of by the Matnu settlers was one tV>t came under the jurisdiction of the Wbancamomona Council.

In reply to a deputation of business nion Inst week, Sir Joseph Ward, Minister of Finance, stated that lie was favorable to taking a referendum 111 accordance with the recommendation of the. National Efficiency Board. The referendum should he taken 011 the question of immediate prohibition, witn compensation to tlio liquor trade. Sir Joseph Ward added that if the decision of the people was not favorable to the Efficiency Board's recommendation, then separate 'issues should he provided for by Parliament during the coming session and submitted to the people at the general election. The soldiers away from the Dominion should liave the right and opportunity to vote in both cases. The Minister of Finance that he was expressing his personal opinion. Cabinet would have to consider afld decide the matter in due course.

A very pleasant evening was spent at the railway meeting room last night, when a presentation was made to Hi'. S. G Smith, M.P., m recognition of winning the Taranaki seat, and also to farewell linn after 2:2 years' service. During the evening Mr, l'eacii, stationmaster, presented Mr. Smith with & purse of sovereigns, expressing the plea sure of Mr. Smith's comrades at his success at the poll arid their regre*. at losing linn as a fellow-employee The evening passed ali too quickly in song and storv, the talent being exceptionally good. Mr. Smith thanked those present for their generous gift and for the support they had given him at tile* seat.

Movie fans wlio specialise in detective stories "will lie delighted, by tlie Pathe feature, "The Mark of Cam," at present screening at the Empire. Those who do not "specialise in mystery will be equally delighted by the love theme which" runs through it. Irene Vernon Castle is tine heroine with Antonia Moreno as the hen.

An analysis of the votes cast in the town and country at the-late election as compared with the previous election makes interesting reading. Of the votes cast ill the town, including Inglewoofl and ilie suburban booths, in the .by-elec-tion. fid 5 per cent, were cast- for MrPni'th nntl 43.5 per cent, for Mr Con-' n Hi. whilst in lft 1-4 5-1.0 per cent, were cast for Mr- Okev and 45.4 per cent, for Mr. Hughes. Of the country votes. 64.3 per cent, were cast for Mr. Connett and 35.7 per cent, for Mr. Smith, the ratio at tli® . previous election being:—Mr Okey 72.2 and Mr. Hughes 27 S. Mr. Smith's votes were cast in the propor tion of, town 82 per cent, and wrantry IS per cent,.. Mr- Connett's being 07.1 town and 32.0 country. Tn 1914. Mi Okev's votes were recorded in the proportion of 70 per cent, town and 30 pei cent, country, Mr. Hughes' ratio being 53.0 per cent, town and 10.4 per cent, country.

1 A fine line of men's colonial all-wool tweed suits is being sold by the Melbourne, Ltd., at 09s Gd. These suits are splendidly tailored, fitted with Hvmo fronts, and finished with good-quality Italian cloth- Every suit boxed. Very special value.

NORTH BRITISH "TVREADXOUGHT" MOTOR CYCT.E TYRE outwears all others. Used on Western Front. Euas to sizes. ®

On tflie motion of Mr Quilliam, probate of the will of the late Mr Henry Okey has been granted by the Supreme Court to Mr Alfred Morey Okey, the executor therein named.

An inquiry into the circumstances connected with the death of the last Mrs T. Smith, which took place at her residence 011 Sunday morning, was commenced before the district coroner (Mr. A- Crooke, SM.) yesterday morningAfter taking formal evidence of identification, the inquiry was adjourned sine die.

A medical board for the examination of reservists drawn in the last ballot sat at the Coronation Hall yesterday. The board consisted of Captains L. Widdowson and W K. Wade, with Lieutenant Ansell as attesting officer Forty muii were examined, the classification being: Fit A, 11: CI. 2; 82, 1; and C2, 27. The board will continue ita sittings to-day, when Captain Cameron will take his place as one of the examining doctors. "This war lias carried ■ the world on 250 years," stated Sir Joseph Ward. If a person, before the war, had predicted some of the things which had happened lie would lliave been deemed a fit subject for a straight-jacket, in a certain kind of institution. He was convinced that out of evil good would come. A better world would evolve out of the suffering of humanity. A United Press message from London says that passenger flights across the Channel are now the daily routine-Handler-Pages are running to a timetable like the ferries.

The takings at the Mayoress' Patriotic Shop on Saturday last, which are to bo devoted to the Red Cross "Our Day" appeal, amounted to about £2O. In addition to the £2OOO raised in connection with Saturday's effort, about £2200 had been subscribed separately for the Copper Trail, so that at present Jvew Plymouth district's contribution to the Red Cross reaches over £4OOO.

The children of New Plymouth and district had their "Egg Day" on "Our Day." Each child -fas asked to do his or her best to find an egg, or some eggs, for tho school collection, and the result were sold at Is 4d a dozen at the Ked Cross .Shop on Saturday. The Central School made the largest donation, sending in 58 dozen. The other schools which contributed wore:—West End, Fitzroj", Bell Block, Hillsborough, Tarurutangi. Egmo'nt Village. Albert Road. Kent Road, Korito, Vogeltown, Carrington Road, Westown. Frankley Road, Hurford Rond Koru, Oakura.Okato, Tataraimaka, Omata. Four of the children were engaged during the day selling the eggs.

Some remarks on New Zealand's war debts and the country's capacity to meet them were made by the Hon. ('!. W. Russell at tho civic reception accorded him at Nelson. We have already spent .£50.000,000 oil the war, said Mr Russell, and we are now spending at the rate of £2,800,00 a month—and, what is more, Ave are raising the money in lh? Dominion. "New Zealand is paying us way. Our interest and sinking fund charges are aoing up by leaps and bounds." The law on the Statute Book was that aii debts must be wiped nut in 01 years by sinking funds. The charges for war pensions were rapidly rising, and. Willi th?, old-age pension, etc., would amount shortly to about C 2.000.000 a year. The people had responded magnificently to the charges made upon them. Writes an Opunake soldier, after a trip to Scotland:—Speaking generally, Scotland is in a great wave of prosperity, Glasgow being a port into which the American shipping can run with lr.ucli less danger than around the east coast and Channel. Then the great pressure of ■ shipbuilding and everything else connected with it brings in a stream of income. Some ordinary artisans, such

".3 riveters are now earning up to £l-1 a week—and spend all of it. This was told us by several people of the city, Manv of those now receiving the high wage will be no better off at the end -.if hostilities, but will instead have developed a different standard of living 1 . Scotland, like New Zealand, suffers from decayed teeth in her young neoplc. I saw more artificial teeth, m Olasgow and Aberdeen than I had since leaving ft New Zealand camp. The people of England generally have beautiful natural teeth, and those of London are very good indeed- Probably the groat chalk formation of England has much to do to conserve the natural gifts of her people and the increase in luxuries to Scotland on. top of generations of thrift and homely fare may have an effect on the rising

generations. The stupendous Fox special, ''The Honor Sysftem," commences its local season of two nights and one matinee at Everybody's to-night. The matineo to-morrow afternoon starts at .j.13 and there is a special reduction in prices for botlh adults' and children.

The Mayoress will irake arrangements to call on Thm-rlov for suppei donations for Pierrot B»H Kindly ring telephone No. 90.