LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Feilding is following the exajnple of New Plymouth in having a "clean-up week."

Mr F. G. Northern, having received another appointment, has resigned his position as junior clerk in the borough offices, and applications are being invited to fill the vacancy.

The Chief Postmaster states that cable messages for the United Kingdom, paid for at the full rate, may now be accepted via Eastern, but messages will be subject to heavy delay. Wen some cases were being heard in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, in which a number of persons were charged with harboring deserters from the barque Thrasher, Mr. Byre (collector of Customs at New Plymouth) rose to address the Court, but Mr. A. H. Johnstone (counsel for the accused) got lip immediately with the question: "Who is this gentleman, your Worship?" and protested against him addressing the Bench. Mr. Eyre said that as his department was expected to see that the law was observed and that they had a lot of trouble with sailors from foreign ships, he thought he ought to be allowed to say something. The Magistrate (Mr. A. Crooke) said that Mr. Eyre could not be heard unless through the police. If he was permitted to address the Court then anyone else could also do so. In connection with the enlargement and alteration of the Kawaroa Park bungalow, a "gift" afternoon was held on Thursday and was largely attended. The room was tastefully decorated, and the additions to the premises, which were inspected by the visitors, provoked very favorable comments. The Mayoress' (Mrs. C. H. Burgess) was shown over the additions to the bungalow, and after being presented with a bouquet spoke of the very useful work done by the Park Committee, especially the ladies' committee, and of the success of the many patriotic functions held in the Park. She urged that now the war was over the women should continue their efforts in the direction of taking an active part in such public affairs as they were suited for. Mr. Oliver, on behalf of the ladies' committee, thanked Mrs. Burgess for her presence and address. A musical programme and the dispensing of afternoon tea assisted to make a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. A number of gifts were received (which will be disposed of on Easter Monday) and cash donations amounting to over £l4.

A rather smart capture of an alleged forger was made at Marton on Monday night by Constable Manley, who is stationed at Marton. The coastable received information on Monday evening at 6 o'clock from the Taibape police that a man named John Spain, alias G. A. Kendriek, had uttered a cheque for £2O on the Bank of New Zealand, Newton, Auckland, purporting to be signed by G. A. McKendrick. The cheque was issued to H. Fulton, a bank official, at Taihape. The Taihape police were of the opinion that the man had left in a taxi and would probably go through Marton. Constable Manley kept a watch on all suspicious cars, and was rewarded for his watchfulness at 8 o'clock by seeing a taxi car pull up near the Club Hotel at Marton. He approached the car, but the occupants denied any knowledge o£ the* offence, and the accused stated that his name was McKendrick. Constable Manley, however, was not satisfied with his explanation, and arrested the accused with a companion in the car who was under the influence of drink. Accused afterwards admitted that his name was John Spain. At the Marton Court on Tuesday morning, hefore Mr. W. C. Kensigton, J,P., John Spain, alias G. A. McKendrick, was charged with forging a cheque for £2O on the Bank of New Zealand, Newton, Auckland, purporting to be signed by G. A. McKendrick, and uttering the same to H. Fulton, a bank official at Taihape. We contend that immediate action must be taken with a view to ascertaining if power can be obtained from New Plymouth at a reasonable cost (writes the Eltham Argus). To us this now appears to be the only possible way by which this district can hope to keep abreast with the times. The directorates of dairy factories will, we believe, share this view. And it is they who are best able to recognise the necessity for electric power. Taranaki must acquire electricity or "take a back seat." This Ip so obvious that we trust the business and public men will "get a move on" forthwith, and no longer count on the Government carrying out the work at Aarapuni simultaneously with that at Shannon. To us the Minister's reply to the Stratford deputation has more clearly than ever emphasised the necessity for acquiring power from New Plymouth, subject, of course, to the cost being at all reasonable. If ladies knew how attractive they

are or how warm and cosy they feel in a dressing gown or jacket made from the ripple cloth offered by the Big Store, Waitara, an advertised on page four, they would write right away for patterns, which would come first post.

Weather permitting, the New Plymouth Citizens' Band will play in the hospital grounds on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Workers will find it to their advantage to buy the following lines at the Melbourne, Ltd.: Petone and Boslyn flannels, in grey and Shetland, 6/0; Petone heavy plaiding flannels, 9/0 i Bruce knitted overshirts, I*2/8; pvjamns, 9/6; soft cotton tweed trousers. 10/5; S.SS. drill shirts, S/6; dark pennine shirts, 8/6; tweed trousers, 13/G and 14/6.

£3OO competition given with GERSTENA for BREAKFAST free to all. Full particulars in every bag. Try it! Daily News motor vi.i* services froa New Plymouth to Hawera: Leaves 4.30 a.m., returning from Hawera (L. O. Hooker's) 6.30 a.m., Eltham 6.50, Stratford 7.20, Inglewooc 7.50, Egmont Village 8. Coach fares. G. Beere, propriet#r, 525 Devon Street East, New Plymouth.

For rough roads have CLINCHER TYRE 3 fitted to your cycle! They wfvfl'more milts than most tvrcs an.l ensure a rresdom from tyre trouble srv' are guaranteed six, nine, twelve and fifteen months. $8

The Parliamentary Industries Commission arrivij in New Plymouth to-night and to-morrow (Sunday) will be taken to the mountain house for luncheon and in the afternoon will visit 'ilirooklands" and "iMaranui" private gardens-

One of the most striking developments in industrial Britain during the war lias been the enormous development in electrical maul'actures as relating to the industrial applications for electricity, whether for lighting, heating, or power. Between 50 and 100 electricity stations might be cited in which the plant capacity lias been more than doubled during the past four years. The output of electrical energy has been increased to nearly the same extent. Unparalleled demands have been made upon manufacturers of lamps and lighting fittings, of motors and power auxiliaries, of electric furnaces and welding equipment for munition purposes.

In urging before the Ministers of Public Works and Lands at Stratford on Monday night the necessity for the speedy completion of the Opunake railway, Mr McPhillips, chairman of the Waimate County Council, stated that the settlers in his county had to pay £1 and over for the cartage of their produce to the nearest railway through counties that had erected toll-gates, which ho characterised its an annoying an/1 aggravating way of collecting avenue, His neighboring county, Egni' was in a worse plight, having io pa)

much as £2 cartage, whilst the n,im ties which possessed these relics of barbarism, being close to the railway, only had to pay <ss and 7s cartage. His county had some of the finest roads in the Dominion. These had been constructed without toll-gates, and he said they were prepared to carry the traffic of the neighboring counties without tolls, which lie strongly condemned. The way to abolish them would be for every county to erect toll-gates, and the travelling public would rise and kick them off the face of the earth.

A meeting of the West End School Committee was held last night, Mr A. K. Smart presiding over a full attendance. Mrs Dowling, headmistress, reported that the average attendance for the quarter was 461, and the average weekly roll 493 She was at present examining the school so as to leave her estimate of the teachers' work ready for her successor. Mrs Dowling also thanked the members for the courtesy shown and for the help always given when needed, and remarked that though leaving the school shortly, she would always have its interests at heart. The committee resolved to place on record its high appreciation of the work rendered bv Mrs Dowling during her long association with the school, and expressed the hope that she might long enjoy her well-earned rest. The inspector's rcsport was received, and considered very satisfactory. It was resolved to forward a letter of appreciate to the staff in connection with the success of Nigel Wilson at the recent scholarship examination.

"Possibly there will be no more war on the earth, probably there will be no war in the next- hundred years," said the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke), while addressing a gathering of children nnd adults on Wednesday evening, "but there is a conflict ahead in which all you children must take part—the fight "for better social conditions." Continuing, Mr. Luke said that in the Old Country 300.000 houses were to be erected for the benefit of the poorer classes. These dwellings would not be erected in unattractive rows, as were so many of the older English smaller dwell-ing-houses, nor would flats be built, but the dwellings would take the form of semi-detached cottages, in order that all would have the comfort of a real home. Should there be any loss in the management of the cottages, which were to be under the control of local bodies, the Government had agreed to meet 75 per cent, of that loss out of the Consolidated Fund.

"Money is undoubtedly plentiful at present," says the New Zealand Trade Review, "and must remain so for sonic, time—at any rate until there comes any substantial call for funds. As we remarked in our last issue, the bank returns for the December quarter showeu in excess of deposits of nearly two millions, and frqjn January 1 up to March 22 payments by the Imperial Supplies Department for our produce amount to over fifteen millions, while our imports for January and February total five millions. There has been, therefore, ia substantial accretion of funds during the quarter, and the bank returns should show a substantial excess of deposits over advances. The indefinite postponement of the placing on the market of the promised war loan is making the money position somewhat unsettled. Building companies and other lenders have a heavy supply of funds in hand awaiting investment, and there is only a' moderate demand for ■ mortgage purposes. There should, therefore, be plenty of money available-when I the loan comes on the market."

Lady Smith Dorrien, speaking in. the Egyptian Hall, London, under the auspices of the Blue Cross Society, stated that the number of trained dogs in the French Army totalled IS,OOO. There were four kennels within a radius, of fifty miles of Paris, where 700 dogs could be treated. During the war dogs were employed as sentinels, dispatch carriers, ammunition guards, rat hunters, and convoys of small vehicles, guns, sleighs,. B.nd last, but. by no means least, in the work of seeking the wounded. It had been found that sheep dogs. were the most amenable to training. In this connection a young Harvard man in the American ambulance in France relates the following:—"Last evening two fellows came round with a couple of famous Red Cross dogs. We were anxious to see them at work, so I ran oil' and hid in some bushes. Lying down, I placed my hat under me so that the dog could not find it. He finally discovered me; and as he was unable to find my cap, put his nose in my pocket.and pulled out my handkerchief, which.'he took back, A few minutes later he led his owner to the place where I lav. They told us that the, dog had saved 150 lives in one day."

The members of the Whiteley Church choir, with the assistance of a few friends will sing Stainer's "Crucifixion" in the church on the evening of Good Friday. The-solo parts will be taken hy Mr W. I}utchens (Hawera) and Mr R. L. Cooper. Full particulars later.— Advt.

SANDER'S EUCALYPTI EXTRACT, tlie unequalled remedy for colds, influenza, chest troubles. headache, indigestion. SANDER'S EXTRACT, the surest protection from infections, fever, diphtheria, meningitis. SANDER'S EXTRACT proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria to have healing powers not possessed by other eucalyptus nrflnnvA^ons.. Insist on the Genuine SUPER'S EXTRACT There is do "j :st as good."

Under the will of the late Mrs. Isabella Siteman (widow of the late William Jacob Siteman, of Wimbledon, Hawke's Bay), who died at Dannevirke on March 18, the residue of her estate, approximately £2500, ia left in trust for the purpose of providing assistance to yomi;.; men and young women, or boys and girls desirous of attending and prosecuting their studies in any of th» universities of New Zealand in the form of bursaries, scholarships, or otherwise, as the trustees shall decide, to be known as the "Isabella Siteman Scholarships." Several legacies have been left to Dannevirke residents.

The settlement of soldiers on the land is not proceeding very satisfactorily, and there is not a little discontent. The procedure that has to be adopted is tedious, and would-be soldier fanners become impatient over the delay and seek other pursuits. If an ev-soldier wants' to purchase a farm, he has to secure an option over it for three months in order to allow the circumlocutory Government machine to execute its work. As the average farmer objects to tying up his place for this period without any guarantee of business resulting, very little land is available for the ex-soldiers. Where an option is secured, the- are ten to one that the Land lio«<d' will turn down the proposition, ..ecause the Government officials all regard land ib Taranaki as too high in price to make its working profitable to the ex-soldicr. One place that took the eye of ft returned soldier in a district he was brought up in was offered to him at £l2 an acre. He put in hia application. The Government Valuer came out and assessed the value at £6, a sum which would not have paid for the falling of the bush, grassing and fencing. The returned soldier is quite satisfied he would do well on the place at the price asked. Another man had been offered a farm by a relative at £2O per acre. Though neighboring places had recently changed hands at £35 to £4O an acre, the Government officials would not countenance its purchase. The whole system and the ideas of the authorities as to values will require to be considerably altered before the land is made available to the returned men.