LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is stated on good authority that Mr Dan Barry has sold his Empire Hotel property to a Hawera syndicate. Flags were flown at half-mast on the vessels m port yesterday out of respect to the momory of a former chairman of the Harbor Board, the late Mr J. B. Connett Quits a number of enthusiasts from fcew Plymouth were present at the motor cycle sports at Hawera vesterday and it is understood that it is their intention to enaeavor to organise a similar gathering on the local racecourse in aid of the proposed cricket ground. We are in receipt of a copy of a song, entitled, "Dreams that are Sweet and True," by <<Mona," Mrs F. Holden of Auckland. The song, which is tuneful and pretty, is dedicated to her son, Private ». G. H. Holden, whilst in the trenches in Prance. A distressing fatality occurred at Kakaramea on Saturday, resulting in the death of the three-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Booth. It appears that the little fellow was playing with two other children near a sheep dip, when he accidentally fell in. Tihe youngstera raised the alarm, and the child was quickly rescued, and every effort made to restore animation, but without availPress. In reply to a letter from the town clerk of Opunake respecting the Opunake railway, the Minister of Public Works has written stating that the district engineer was instructed some time ago to re-start operations on that line. He had, however, failed to obtain the services of as many men as he would like, but was making every endeavor to increase the number secured. As the main body of soldiers was now returning, the Minister hoped that the engineer would soon be able to get a good gang together; at any rate, he had been, informed that that was the Minister's desire.

The Xew Plymouth Defence Rifle Club .planned a field day to take place at the Eewa Rewa rifle range yesterday, but the arrangements were interfered with somewhat on aceoiftit of the holiday not being universally observed. Most of the day was taken up in classfiring, those competing having no difficulty in passing the standard- A number of junior members took part in the competition arranged for them, but as there were a number of others who had entered but were unable to fire on account of not having a holiday, it is impossible to give the scores in the competition.

It was only on Saturday (writes the Akaroa correspondent of the Christchurch Press) that many people heard of r unique experience that had befallen some Wainui folk some ten days before. Tt happened or. the afternoon when the heavy thunderstorm struck tho end of Banks Peninsula. Some men were on the mountain side, towards Bossu. when there came hurtling through the air above them what one described a" "a lurid shell, about the size of an oil-drum, with a kind of triangular fiery tail be hind it." This aerial visitant shot above Mr Hooker's woolshed. missed Mr Pave Wright's house bv, apnarentlv, a few feet, and then disappeared from view into the bush below, whence came the sound of a trpmendous concussion Subsequently investigation showed that it hn'l struck a sturdy manuka tree a mightv "lancin? blow, ploughed a furrow over a foot deep nlonsr a olav path, hit another tree, cannonpd oft on to a third, loft another furrow lower down, nyd then hail srone over the ledge of i\ low cliff into the sea. All the windows in Mr Wricht's house were cracked or broken by the passing of the meteorite, which, by the way. left two fragments npar the tree it first struck. These pieeps, now in the possession of the Rpv A- TT .Tnlivis Aksrna. will be forwarded to Mr Robert Speight for examination.

Residents down the coast will be glad to learn that arrangements are being made for the New Plymouth Citizens' band to visit Rabotu on Sunday next, April Oth, and give a music recital. For the convenience of those engaged in dairying, the programme "will commence nrompt at 2 p.m. A speciallv good selection of music will be submitted, and siven a fine day, there is sure to be a larpe gathering. The expense of convevinc tho full band is heavy, and a collection is to be taken to cover this-

Land buyers who wish to secure a farm on easy terms should read W. H. and A. McGarry's advertisement on page one. j Tt was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria, at Melbourne, that (1) .SANDER'S EXTRACT is much more powerfully healing and antiseptic than ordinary eucalyptus preparations; (2), SANDER'S EXTRACT does not depress the heart like the so-called "extracts" and crude oils; (3) SANDERS EXTRACT is highly commended by many authorities as a safe, reliable and effective household remedy. fiet th» genuine—insist if you have to— and be safe. For Children's Hacking Cough Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.,

The takings at the N.P. H.S.O.G.A. concert amounted to about £OO, and the profit will be nearly £45. It is reported that land aggregation in the Wangahui district is taking place extensively. This is said to be particularly so in the Main Trunk district about Mangaweka and Hunterville, and the former township is suffering in consequence. It is noticeable that along the main roads between Wanganui and Feilding there are quite a number of farmhouses standing empty and desolate.

When an army service wagon, laden with two tons of stores, was negotiating the Silverstream Gorge, near Wellington on Wednesday, it went ovetthe side and crashed into the river, ywo men on board the waggon escaped without injury. Thieve 9 are evidently at work in the Rangitikei district. About a fortnight ago the totalisator house at the Marton Racecourse was broken into by means of a window being smashed. All the drawers in the building were ransacked, but as the goods in the building are valueless the thieves got very little for their trouble. On a recent evening the Marton District High School was entered and £5 was taken from the headmaster's desk. In thanking delegates for re-electing him to the position of vice-president of the Wellington Rugby Union, Colonel G. F. C. Campbell mentioned at the annual meeting of the union that it appeared to him that football to-day was played with just the same vim and enthusiasm as when he was a player years ago. People said that the game had deteriorated, but he did not think so. In watching a game nowadays he felt sure that it was played with the same spirit of determination and eagerness as in the days of the past.'