LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The telegraphic service appears to be thoroughly disorganised. A large quantity of cabled and telegraphic matter was shut out of yesterday's issue owing to non-arrival until after we went to press. Last night's Parliamentary report, handed in at Wellington at 5.5 p.m., did not reach us until some time after midnight, and racing telegrams were far more delayed; hence our inability to publish information that is keenly awaited. The limited telegraph staff is doing the best it can, and the public must take this into account.

AVomen, not necessarily registered nurses, but who have had some nursing experience, are urgently requested to volunteer for service in the Auckland district in any capacity. The Government will pay all ocst of travel and remuneration at the rate of 10s per day during service. Application is to be made either personally or by letter oi telegram to the district health officer at either of the four centres.

There wore two severe shooks of earthquake at New Plymouth yestehday morning, one at 4G a.m. and the -.tier at 4.45. No damage was done. A"Hawera message reports a prolonged earthquake at 4.10 yesterday morning, but that there was nol damage. A Palrnerston message states that severe'shocks of earthquakes were felt between 4 and 5 o'clock yesterday morning, and then a distinct shock. No damage is reported. Wanganui also reports that a series of sharp earthquakes, accompanied by loud explosions, indicating a considerable disturbance, were experienced between 4 and 7 o'clock yesterday morning. The sum' of £4245 lias to date been forwarded from New Plymouth to Wellington as the result of the Copper and "Our Day" appeal on behalf of the Bed Cross. Acknowledging this, the secretary (Mr. 0. G. Keniber) writes as fallows to the local secretary (Mr. A. B. Gibson):—'"l am instructed by tho directors to congratulate you and' your society 'upon the wonderful result of your Bed Cross campaign during the currency of the Copper Trail appeal and to thank you for your really remarkable efforts on behalf of tie causa. WelJ done, indeed. Will yon kindly let vour energetic workers know that the hearty co-operation of the sub-centres, yours among the number, has been instrumental in carrying the trail 1 through "to Auckland."

When the proposal to raise a fund, to be known as New Zealand's Tribute to Franco, was mooted in Wellington, the Mau>r (Mr- J. P. Luke) sought the cooperation of the other centres. At the time Auckland was'engaged in other patriotic efforts, so the appeal in the northern city wag delayed. Mr- Luke has received from Mr. J. H. Gunson (Mayor of Auckland) a cheque for" ■proofs— a further evidence of Auckland's ■j'encrosiiy in the matter of patriotic npP"nl-\ The total amount collected by Auckland for the fund was £006" 13s.' Tht Technical College annual spwts will lie held in the Pnkekura, Park on November 21, weather permitting. Weather permitting, tho New Ply:t:euth Citizens' Band will give a hand rei- ; |,il at the breakwater on Sunday afHiving to the unfavorable weather, the New Plymouth Tennis Cluib will be unable to open its courts on Saturday as ■Hgvibusly announced.

Mr. C. H. Moore, overseer to the. Board of Education, visited Normariby yesterday, when a start was mat),*) with the erection of the new school there. * The Wellington tramway men announce their intention to run the cars to the sheds at 3 p.m. the day peace is declared, and not to resume running for 24 hours. —Press Assoc. Though they have never advertised tao fact, the management state that Eveiybody's and the Empire Picture Palaces have been disinfected daily ever sinecthey were opened. Reports from Waipatiki (Dannevirkc) oil wells state that "the stuff" (dirt) was coming up tiio bore to meet the drill. The manager (B. O'Dowda) stated that he was getting exactly the same stuff now as he got in Taranaki wiien he got oil there, fckis will be good news to local shareholders.—iHawera Star. The Post Office states that owing- to interruption in the lines, only traffic at urgent rates is to be accepted for stations in, the South Island. Press messages may lie accepted, hut must ue limited as far- as possible. In addition, traffic at urgent rate only is to be accepted for all stations north of Taumarunui. ,

A man who was arrested for drunkenness in Powderham street, New Plymouth on Wednesday night, and appeared before Mr A. Crooke. SAL, yesterday morning, was, on the application of Sub-Inspector Button, remanded for seven days for medical treatment. In view of the seriousness of the influenza epidemic the Xew Plymouth Ministers' Association had decided to postpone for the time being the United Service of thanksgiving which it had been arranged to hold on Sunday afternoon.

A telegram wa£ received from Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., yesterday stating that the Minister for Education had agreed to pay the rent of the Westown Hall, which is being used as a side school of the Frankley Eoad School. For the past 12 months the residents of the district have been liable for the rent, as the Department, in agreeing to establish the school, made ,it a condition that the building should be provided. Sooner or later the project for tunnelling the Straits of Gibraltar will be carried through, and for the first time Africa will be linked with Europe. The history of both continents would have been very different if their territories had met at any point. There would still be left the problem of tunnelling Behring Straits (39 miles wide at the narrowest point), and so joining the New World with the Old. A company, with £1,200.000 capital, was formed for that purpose in New; Jersey in 1908, but, so far as is known, no practical steps bave been taken to carry out the scheme.

The following* is an additional list of subscribers to the Citizens' Band:: : Mrs. E. A. Walker, Miss Humphries, Archdeacon Evans, Dr. Leatham, J. Roberts, G. Scott, J. Crockett, A. E. Sykcs, T. Furlonu, A. Hooker, W. C. W. G, Eeid, C. Honeyfield, F. J. Hill, N. ■K. MacDiarmid, J. H. Walker, D. Hughes, Jas. Loveridge, J. Hallam, Mrs. Jas. Paul. J. B. Roy, J. Garner, *E. P. Jackson, Thos. Blanchett, Boy Jury, F. S. Butler, R. W. D. Robertson. Help: Arlington, Chas. Potts, J. H Hammond, Mrs. Allen Douglas, A. H. Johnstone, Miss Flight, and E. Butler. A public meeting at Hawera on Wednesday night to discuss peace celebra-' tions passed the following motion:— '•That a message be sent from the citi-: zens of Hawera to the Premier asking that the necessary legislation be passed;: or steps taken by GTder-m-Council, to enable the banks to close on the day for celebrating peace, and that the bead offices of the banks be 'requested to support the resolution."—Press Assoc. St. Mary's rose show is to be held in St. Mary's Hall on Thursday and Friday of next week, November 14 and 15. Though the season is late this year, the roses promise to be exceedingly fine, and it is hoped the display may be quite as good as at former shows. Persistent rumors were current in town yesterday that news of Germany's surrender had been received by the Government but was being held back for some reason or other. Expectation ran high for the news to be made public, ,and people appeared on the qui vive for the slightest indication of any confirmation of the stories that were in circulation Some color was lent to the minor by a story that the railway officials had been warned to be in readiness for the announcement of peace. Thwe matters were referred to the Mayor \ny a News representative, and Mr. Burgess stated that he had received no communication whatever on the subject. He suggested that citizens should rest themselves assured tliat as soon as any such news came to hand it would be made public by means, of. the. signals already agreed upon. Until, that was done they could be satisfied, that nothing official was known locally. Moreover, the Premier stated that, tbe news will be circulated immediately it is received.

Ladies desiring really cool nightdresses for 'the' hot weather ahead should inspect the fine selection of machine and hand-made garments at Morey's. Eead their advertisement in this paper. Dustin Farnum appears to-night at Everybody's for the last time in the powerful Fox feature "Durand of the Bad Lands." Patrons -will like this popular actor even better in this picture than in his previous gTeat successes. Tomorrow June Elvidge and Carlyle Blackwell star in the World film "The Marriage Market." The Taranaki Hospital and OharitabU Aid Board notify that owners of all offices, shops, and premises used by the pirhlic are particularly requested to disinfect same as a precaution against tho influenza, epidemic-

;A general meeting of the sJew Plymouth Pierrots is caHed for to-night in the Soldiers' Club, at 8 o'clock, when all members are particularly requested t» attend, as the business is important. The concert arranged to bo held in the Good Templar Hall on Wednesday next, November 13, in connection with the New Plymouth Methodists' patriotic ef fort, promises to bo one of the best ever presented to a local audience. A varied programme has been arranged, including vocal solos, quartettes, instrument" 1 selections, etc. Amongst those assisting will be Miss Ethel Duff, a gifted young soprano, of Chratchureh, who received high commendation from the adjudicator in the recent Christchurch musical and elocutionary competitions, for her work in the various elapses in which she competed. The Kev. H. N. will take part in the concert. Other soloists will include Miss Young and SergeantMajor Gill. The plan opens at the BJL Bookshop to-morrow morning. Th* proceeds are to be divided between the Women's Patriotic Committee, Ke« Cross Sfcafetß and the YJNT.fIA.