LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The American barquentine Thrasher, which is at present at the New Plymouth breakwater, has lost four of the members of its crew, who deserted the ship some time during Monday night None of them has yet been located-

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, before Mr A. Crooke, S.M., imminent was given for plaintiff by default in the following cases:—Hallenstein Bros., Ltd. (Mr D Hutchen) v. ,T. A Hamilton, £o 13a lid (cost? £1 8a 6d) and X A. Christiansen v. H. Gray, £5 lis 6d (costs 9s). Arthur Ireland, who was arrested in I New Plymouth on Saturday and remandled to appear at Wangaiiui yesterday, was further reminded to appear ou T.hursdav. A further charge has been preferred against him of passing a valueless cheque for £4 to H. Cocker, of New Plymouth, It is understood the laitor charge wijl be dealt with at Wanganui. At. la*i nieht's meeting of the New Plymouth Expansion "and Tourist I.eatrue, a speaker snid that but for the inadequate accommodation a convention, consisting of from 200 to 300 people, Would have arranged to hold its meetings at New Plymouth next year. Another member stated that a good seaside hostel would attract visitors from all parts of Xew Zealand, especially in winter, and lie had no doubt whatever but that it would pay handsomely from its inception. A communication vva| received by the stewards of the New Plymouth Methodist Circuit yesterday to the effect that the conference, now sitting in Chrlstchnrch, had decided to postpone the removal of all ministers who are changing circuits this year until after the date of thn coming licensing poll. At a special meofinc; of the officials of the local circuit held on Sunday morning it was decided to urge this procedure on the conference, as all the ministers were taking nn active part in the campaign on behalf of prohibition, and it was deemed inadvisable that they should be engaged in changing from one circuit to another |ust at the'date the poll would be taken. Instead of the removal takincr place after the first Sunday in April they will therefore not take place until between the third and fourth Sundays. Pig iron from the New Plymouth iron ore works has been used regularly and continuously for a considerable time at Mr .T Hopkirk's foundry in Flawera. Tho foreman stated to a Star representative that the iron has been eminently satisfactory, that it ha 9 given excellont results, and that it is al«c very economical. It is understood that the -companv have been able to secure ample stocks of coke and expects to he able to keep the furnace going continuously.

A choice Ngaere dairy farm for sale as a going concern, is advertised on page one, by W. H. and A. McGarry,

The annual conference of the New Zealand Swimming Association opened yesterday in Chrietehurch Mr W. E. 1). Bishop was elected chairman. Delegates were present from all parts of tu* Dominion —Press Association. It is many moons since a whale has disported itself in the harbour, says_ the Bluff Press, but on Sunday morning one of these leviathans came up the harbor and sported for a couple of hours in full view of scores of residents, while the tug coming up the harbour passed within 100 yards of the monster without disturbing him. Several old whalers wore anxious to go after him, but there was no gear available.

The Wellington Repatriation Board ha? appointed a committee to consider the housing problem. The board has found that work is available in Wellington for some married men whose families are resident in other localities. But the men cannot find homes for their families in this city at the present time. A returned soldier who made inquiries for a house in Wellington lately received one offer, a thre?-roomed house for which he was to pay 26s per week. A New Plymouth resident who was in Wellington recently ran across a friend who was working on the wharves. He asked him what he was earning at his new work. The watersider replied that he had "knocked out" over £ti the previous week, and his average earnings for hours that certainly were not long averaged well over £5 per week. Who would learn a trade or enter business or a profession when there are such opportunities of making good money without much effort and no mental strain at all?

The existence of a two-up school at Castlecliff was mentioned at the Wanganui Magistrates Court recently by Detective Hollis. "It's quite an institution, isn't it?" asked the Magistrate. The detective admitted it was something of the kind. "They are away in the sanddunes, have their touts out, and the police can't get near them," he added. "It,': quite notorious," said His Worship, "and is discussed in the tram. I understand there is a regular stopping-place where men get out f<,v ilm s-clin-.l" Daecr.ive Hollis answered that they had a dug out in the sand-hills, and ugai'i n marked that on account ?i their system uf scouts, it was impossible for the police to get near then;.

The Star Motor Cycle Club, which is making satisfactory progress in the matter of membership, held another run on Sunday. A fair proportion of the members gathered in the town at 1 .o'clock and proceeded to Bell Block and then up (he Henwoo'd Road as far as the Tarurutangi 'hill, a distance of about nine milesThe machines ridden by the members of the party were tested on the lull and proved to be in good running condition. The party then turned back for a short distance and, by invitation visited the picturesque property of Mr Ocorge Pitt, where luncheon was partaken of in picnic style. Later, afternoon tea was provided by Mrs Pitt. Before tho visitors left on their homeward way the president of the cbib (Mr P. Barry) expressed thanks to Mr and Mrs Pitt for their hospitality.

An old station hand in the Molong district claims to bo Dan. Kelly, brother of the notorious bushranger, Ned Kelly. He has been closely questioned by the police, but they cannot confound his story. He declares that he and Steve Hart escaped from the burning hotel at Glenrowan while the police were closing in on Ned Kelly, just before his famous last stand. They succeeded in reaching Melbourne by coacli, and thence went to India on a sailing ship as stowaways. Later they enlisted in the Imperial ndian Army for service in South Africa, After the war they returned to Tndia About, two years ago Hart drowned himself in Calcutta Harbour, and Kelly sailed again for Australia. He states that the bodies found in the hotel by the police were those of two tramps who were too scared to reveal themselves to the police for fear of being shot. The man is enjoying a large amount of distinction-' on account of his alleged identity.

A sensational struggle with a shark occurred off the Newcastle beach on January 17, when one of the monsters, measuring between 12ft and 14ft, swam to within twenty yards of the dry sand on Newcastle beach, and in three feet of water, among a crowd of about four hundred surfers, attacked and seriously injured a bather, Douglas Arkell, aged 1!) years. As Arkell was entering the surf one of his .companions pointed to an object lying on the sand in the water just in front of them, and said, "Look out, there's a shark." Arkell and tho others laughed, ond then dived, A second later Arkell rose to the surface struggling violently and calling out for help. Thinking he was joking, his mates paid no heed, but later, seeing that lie was plunging in bloodstained water, they rushed to his assistance- The first to reach him was Harold Bay. a returned soldier and the holder oi a Militarv 'Medal. With three others Bay fought the shark, and after a struggle succeeded in tearing the unfortunate swimmer from the monster's jaws. It. made another snap and then swam away. Arkell was at once removed to the Newcastle Hospital, where on admission it was found that his left leg was practically torn away from the knee, and had to be amputated above the knee. T-Tis left arm wns deeply lacerated, the flesh being laid bare to the bone, and upon his body were inflicted deep lacerations. Arkell is the captain of the Newcastle Surf Club and holder of its championship. He was a strong and fearless swimmer, and has the record of having performed the greatest number of rescues- on the beach during the season.

There are only a few more days loft in which to take advantage of the Melbourne's great stock-taking sale. The sale positively end 9 on Saturday next, and, as regular prices will be resumed on Monday next it is obvious to ones Interested to purchase whilst prices are reduced.

:p not, why not? "I wouldn't be a pub-keeper if you gave me ten thousand pounds!" Have you ever heard that, or haven't you hoard it? It's not a pleasant business keeping a pub. It soaks into a man's Bystem sooner or later, and if ho has to let his vvomenkind into the bar, it soaks Into their systems; then the boys grow up and they take to it. It seems an easy way of making money, but it's a devil of a life, what with "the brewers, and the wowsers, and the licensing committees, and the police. And then there is always the underlying feeling that the chaps who are lapping up the liquor are wasting their money, and giving you something they cannot afford and that you are helping to deprive the little ones of their chances in life. If you are not thinking of these things you are too hardened and selfish to care, nnd when ft man reaches that stage, hn citizenship is in question. "I wouid'nt be a pub-keeper " ,

In an article in the King Country Chronicle descriptive of a motor trip from Waikato to Wellington, D.ILB-, and CM. say: "We had often heard of the tar and macadam roads of Taranakl. They aro beyond praise or description. At the two toll-gates we passed our offerings were made thankfully, eb tuousrh at a religious ceremony. The connect^'» roads receive attention as well as ▼■« main roads, and these highways and bvways are fast becoming the playground of the people. One wonders not at all that TaranaJd land reaches £IOO per acre when it may he approached I>y a rondwav better than Victoria Street. It is suggested that commissioners from (lie various local bodies in Waikato ohonld join and undertake a tour of Inspection of the Taranaki roads- Waikato has not the metal and shingle readily availeble, hut there must be a magic in the administration yonder that calls for investigation. The question is. how long are we to remain a harassed and mud-hespattered people, while our neighbours so easily and with joy about their business"

Writing from Lille at the end of November, Captain A. B. Sievwright s*y» he had the pleasure of meeting some business men of that city. A manufacturer living in Lille, who had factories in Arentieres. visited his places as soon aa he could after the Hun had been driven out. Every one of his weaving looms had been destroyed systematically by' ' smashing them in a vulnerable part; bia/ rr.wer engine had been dynamited, ana his ehimnev stacks blown down He was most bitter, and summed up what lie bad to say bv exclaiming: "I consider the Orman nation is a reptile which has not yet been killed." Tt reminded me, said Captain Sienvright, of Shakespeare's phrase. "We have scotched the snrtko. not. killed it." Then he concludes: "The peace terms will have to bo made such lis to s-ive ample reparation to Belgium and Northern France, otherwise the crirrrnal will escape and will nltimatelv be in a better economic condition than England or France. There are some thingß for which reparation cannot be exacted, but notbinsr short of the last fnrthinsr possible will he sufficient." Captain Sievwright's views are certauW a Teflex of even' intelligent soldier's opinion on the question of reparation nnd indemnities.

The middle-aged New Zealander returned to his native town after an absence of a good many years, and walked down the main street with an old friend. "Hullo!" he said, "there's old Smith," "Colonel Smith," corrected his friend. 'Why Colonel? Old Bill was a dentist" "Never mind, he's Colonel Smith now," "Oil . . . And there's Jones. Good

old .Tones. Must go and shake hands with his." "Excuse rrie," interrupted his friend; "Major Jones." "Major? Surely Jones—why, he's not a military man. He was a grain merchant when' T knew him, and about as imrailitary as a cow" "Never mind! hV» Major Jones now. They made him Controller of Fowl Wheat during the war. and, of course, he had to have a military title " "H'h. . . . And, bv Jove, tier*'? old X's bov. Last time I saw him he was shout ten. anil T spanked him for stealing my apples" "Well, you'll hare to onll him Colonel now." "Ah, yes, of course, war service, I must congratulate ..." "Oh, no, not war wirvlee. Tie was rejected. But they made Mm.. Acsistnnt Commissioner for the Supply • of Hot Water Bottles to Hospitals, anil of course . . .' "Ah, there's Mrs, 7.*-. I won't have to take care about a title there, will I?" "Oh, yes, you will. Slu'a Dame 7, . She was the best promoter of war fund theatricals in New Z»aland." "This mnkes me a little dizry. Ts there no one left whom I can talk to who remains just as he was fcefore the war?" "Well, they might he. I fancV my housekeeper isn't even an 0.8J!., and there are rumours that there l»w on" nlain Mister to be found at tna/ club." t

The attention of those interested I* motor cycle racing is directed to the programme of ihe Egmont Motor Orele Club's programme which appears elsewhere. ,

Mr Hunt, wiio speaks at the National Efficiency League's meeting on Thursday night, was one of the members of the National Efficiency Board appointed by the Government, and is therefore able to enlighten the people aa to the reasons which actuated the Board in recommending Parliament to leglslatt tfce dnnk traffic out of existence and pay compensation. Both speakers will b*. pleased to answer questions.