LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Taranaki Daily News will be published as usual on the 3rd pi ox. (King's Birthday).

Divorce cases set down for hearing at the present sessions of the Wellington Supreme Court are very numerous. Twelve cases were disposed of on Tuesday, and twenty-one on Wednesday.

Messrs. H. Brown and W E. Percival, Js.P., were on the bench at a sitting of the Inglewood Court yesterday Two youths charged with removing cattle from the pound were convicted and discharged, with costs 12s each

Owing to congestion in the freezing chambers Borthwick & Sons have arranged with the Taranki Producers' Freezing Works to store some 4000 odd carcases of meat in the works at illoturoa.

The Patriotic Committee has been advised that the Taranaki men who have returned to New Zealand by the troopships Tofua and Pakeha will reach their homes by to-night's mail train. Press Association message from Wellington states that a summary is to be cabled shortly of the peace terms offered to Austria. This will be franked over the cabla and in New Zealand, but it cannot be published till released.

The Auckland Farmers' Union has adopted remits urging the Government to provide a more adequate staff to deal with the inspection and purchase of land far soldier settlements. Several speakers protested against the continuance of I lie regulation of produce prices, and remits were carried entering a strong protest against Government interference since hostilities had ceased. The mail train was 40 minutes late in arriving at New Plymouth last nightTwenty minutes,' of the lost time wa* occasioned through the express being held up at Jiltham awaiting the southern train from New Plymouth. Passengers did not take kindly to the enforced stoppage, as a stationery train is anything but comfortable in the winter month*.

An extraordinary meeting of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (second group) was held last night to dispose of 2 appropriations of £l5O each by ballot and 2 similar appropriations by tender. The successful shareholder in the ballot was Mr. W. P. Nicoll, and the tender accepted for the other two lots was £2l 10s per lot. Owing to the boisterous weather prevailing last night, it was; resolved to postpone the annual meeting of the Westown Progressive Association till next Wednesday evening. The president, Mr. J. D. Sole, and others will comprise a deputation to wait on the Borough Council on Monday next in connection ivith several matters of moment to Westown.

A special enquiry into war wages was made towards the end of last yeai by the Government Statistician's department, and the results appear in the recent issue of the New Zealand Year Book. They show that in the occupations subject to awards and agreements the increases granted during the war period averaged 17.55 per cent. Thirty-three trades are covered by the enquiry, and the majority show considerably more than the average increase.

Despite the unfavorable weather conditions all the exercises at the mission in St- Joseph's Church continue to draw splendid attendances. The infectious fervor and burning but chaste eloquence of the preachers, "more penetrating than a two-edged sword," have evidently captivated the minds and hearts of the congregation. At the special celebration on Thursday night in honor of the Blessed irgin Mary, the holy and august Mother of Ood. the church was densely crowded and extra, seating accommodation had to be provided, The mission will be brought to a close at 7 o'clock on Sunday night I>v the imparting of the Papal blessing, followed f>y the solemn (Benediction of the Most Bleared Eucharist,

The Rimutaka, on the voyage to New Zealand, put into Newport New 9 on tho voyage out, in order to take in some 4000 tons of coal for the New Zealand Government. This long stay in port enabled the men to obtain shore leave to visit places of interest in the vicinity. Newport News itself is a straggling port, mostly born of the war but across Chesapeake Bay lies Norfolk, the old capital of Virginia, wTien that State was an English colony. Several of the mon made the trip across the bay to the old town, and enjoyed their experience immensely. The long stop enabled a few to pay a visit to Wasliington, but for the groat majority the railway fare ( £8 odd) was too much for them to atford, especially after the fortnight's leave they had just enjoyed in London. All on board keenly appreciated the trip through Panama Canal. As tl.e transport had bunkered at Newport News there was no excuse for delay there, and there was no shore leave granted in the Canal zone, but all along the banks, from Colon to Balboa, wherever there was any settlement, the people gave tho soldiers a rousing welcome "over the side." Writes a correspondent to the Hawera Star, anent the disabilities of the railway firemen and drivers: The irregular hours of meals, the exposure to weather, the heat and vibration cf the engine, the change experienced when going from the hot cab into the cold outside, and the dust and dirt swallowed along the t:\iek all held to undermine the strongest constitution. The strain of the day's work, getting heavy trains along the road with faulty engines, bad coal, and very oft-n an inexperienced fireman, the dangers always in front of one, the anxiety of taking trains along bad roads in bad weather on pitch dark nights, the accidents that fall to the lot of nearly all "loco" men, the "narrow squeaks" at crossings (especially with motor cars) all help to break the nerves of the sturdiest man. Cart your memory back over the chapter of accidents which occurred on the Main Trunk during the past few years. Take even the experiences of several Hawera men, Une went over a bridge into a river with his engine; one had his face scalded with boiling oil escaping from a lubricator; one had an artery in the neck severed by a bursting gauge glass; one had a leg crushed between two bufl'ers; another was in hospital for months owing to atalds received through a boiler plug blowing out. Every depot lias men with simi.'ar experiences. It has always been conceded that the man who faces danger or has a responsible position should receive more than the average wage.

Men's tweed hats are cheaper at the Melbourne than at any other store. For instance: Neat shape colonial tweed stitched hats, in greys and browns, Ss (id; cheeks and fine grey tweeds, 9a 6d. All sizes, including 7-J and 7s, suitable for ladies' wear.

In this issue we insert particulars of a clearing sale on account of Mr W. A. Officer, of Norfolk Road. The cattle to be sold are a high grade line of Jerseys that possibly many Taranaki breeders will be glad to pick from. The herd is possibly better known as being the herd that Mr. W. IH. Tippins lias milked, the present owner having purchased the line from Mr. Tippins as a going concern with the farm. Catalogues are available from the auctioneer, Mr. Newton King.