LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. H. Burgess) received a communication last night from the Minister of Internal Affairs, stating that peace celebrations had been fixed to commence on Sunday, August 3, and continue on the two following days. The New Plymouth celebrations will be carried out as already arranged—namely, religious services on the Sunday, a procession and entertainment on Monday, while Tuesday will be a children's lay.

The weekly meeting of the Whiteley Club took place last night, when the question of State ownership and control of the.liquor trade was debated. Mr. W. Okey opened in support of State ownership, and Mr. A. Mudgway took the negative side. After an interesting discussion, the vote of the meeting was overwhelmingly against State ownership. In emphasising the very large amount of work involved in the administration of the Public Works Department, the Minister, Sir William Fraser, stated at Dargaville the other evening that on the present estimates there were 4000 roads and bridges. The Minister was expected by the public, he said, to have an intimate knowledge of each one, and he certainly had to answer correspondence regarding each one.

Writes a former member of the Taranaki News staff from London, under date,'May,'o:".'Things are not moving very rapidly here in getting back to peace conditions. Everything remains exorbitantly expensive, though the larder has a morei generous appearance. There is a great deal of unemployment—especially amongst women—and there are no indications of. a solution of a problem which will become more acute as time goes on.',' The brightest feature, of the outlook is that the signs of a general and serious labor upheaval which threatened the ; country a few weeks ago have gone. -Bat though Labor is peaceful now, it is from now that Britain must expect her greatest danger, for there are unmistakable signs that the worker has not yet reached his ideal.

Nothing succeeds like success, yet lasting success cannot be achieved unless backed by solid merit. That is where "FAIRY WONDER", the great new dry soap scores over all other competitors. The results of washing clothes with this soap cannot be over-estimated. It does all that is claimed for it and more. It is sweeter, cleaner and cheaper in the long run than any other washing compouud. To be had at all grocers. Ask for it.

The Melbourne, Ltd., have a fine selection of English made marcella quilts, at the following prices: Ten quarter, 19s 8d and 24s 6d; eleven quarter, 3ls 6d; twelve quarter, 35s and 38s 6d. All have been bought extremely well, direct from Manchester manufacturers, and customer* roly_ on saying at bast ia fit w»ut vu cun-jint valuts.

The Merchant Service Guild has received a letter from Admiral Jellieoe stating that he would be pleased to meet the officers of merchant vessels during his stay in Wellington—Press Assn.

The executive of the Second Division league have decided to recommend that the league he dissolved, and that the funds in hand, £2OO, be divided between the Returned Soldiers' Association and the Trenthain Scholarships Fund.—Press Assn.

In the circular issued in connection with the reduction of the railway services, intimating the classes of goods that would be accepted for transit, it was expressly Btated that wine, beer and spirits would not be taken. It is understood that the instruction has been cancelled by wire to stationmasters, Who have advised that such goods will be accepted. Gangs of returned Maori soldiers (says a Gisborne paper) are to be employed on the railway works a,t Gisborne, and it is understood that their engagement will bo under partially military conditions. Tlioy will bo under the control of their military officers, but the work will be supervised by the Railway Department. The organisation of these gangs is at present under consideration.

At Hawera yesterday Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., placed before the Honl J. A. Hanan the need for establishing a school in the Spotswood-Moturoa district, and asked that favorable consideration be given by the Department to an application which would be submitted from residents of that locality. He also referred to a request from secondary school teachers for an increase in salary. The matter had been placed" before Messrs. W. T. Jennings and himself by a deputation of teachers, and it had his support, The Minister of Education stated that the matter had already been brought before his notice.

A complaint about his employees' fondness for the turf was made by an employer in a saddlery trade dispute at the Arbitration Court at Auckland (states the Star). Recently, he said, his factory had virtually to close down because, most of the employees had gone to the i- -os, though it was not a holiday. This seemed to show that his men were not worried over the high cost of living"The Government is not a milch cow, to be milked for every purpose," the Hon. G. W. Russell said to a deputation at Christchurch that asked for an increased grant to the Royal Life Saving Society. "People must help themselves first and then appeal to the Government. They have dropped into the habit of looking to the Government for everything. They should drop into the habit of doing .things for themselves first.".

Before Mr. W. Wilson, S.M., at HaWera, on Friday, Eugene Joyce, licensee of the Okaiawa Hotel, was charged that on April 6 (1) he did sell liquor to one John Adams at a time when such premises were required to be closed; (2) did keep open such premises when they were required to be closed. Richard Joyce, one. of the licensee's sons, was also charged with selling liquor to the said John Adams at a time when the hotel premises should be closed, After hearing evidence, the magistrate said that so far as the information for keeping the premises open for Bale was concerned, the evidence did not justify a conviction, Referring to the other informations of supplying Adams, his Worship added that it was a "cock-and-bull" story about the father sending a message down that Adams was not to be supplied. The only conclusion he could draw from the whole of the circumstances was that the house on this particular Sunday had been loosely conducted, and it was a case for leniency. He would dismiss the charge for keeping the premises open for sale of liquor, but on the informations of supplying liquor each of the defendants would be fined £5, with costs. He would say nothing about the license, as defendants were leaving the premises,

Mr. A. Paterson, solicitor, Inglewood, wrote on the 30th ult. stating thai our i Stratford reporter had made a mistake in connection with the reporting of the ! case against Percy Lewis Ward, aceused of theft of a number of articles from settlers in the district. Mr. Paterson, who appeared for accused, stated that the charges were all dismissed summarily and not sent on to the Supreme Court. We naturally accepted counsel's statement as correct, and promptly expressed regret at making ' the . mistake. It appears now that accused was, after all, committed for trial, the only error made by our reporter being in setting out the I actual nature of some of the charges—an error quite excusable seeing there .were so many charges. Counsel's letter conveyed the idea that the charges were all dismissed, when, as a matter of fact, only one or two were , accused being committed for trial on the following charges: "That he did on June 5, 19t9, at Toko, steal one half-draught black mare valued at £3O, the property of Clarence Bevins, and, further, on June 5, 1919, at Toko, did commit theft of one pair of winkers, one saddle, one lwrse cover, and one pair o/ reins, of the total value of £3, the property of one Clarence Bevins; and,, further, that .on June 7, 1919, at Cardiff, be.didsteal one cleejnut gelding,of the value of £7,.the,property of Thomas Brown." . bably did not mean to mislead us r but hiß letter did notgo* far enough, aiid. certainly placed our reporter, in a false position, and in justice to him, we feel it our duty to make the above* explanation.

In connection with the inception of the Dominion Show at Hawera; ;t is Interesting to recall that' Mr. A, M. Cdnroy wrote to the press in July, 1909, as follows: 'Hawera is the acknowledged centre of the dairy industry in Tara>naki, and I would request thS business people to consider if the time,, is opportune to discuss the matter of holding 8. Winter show at Hawera. Suitable building will have to be provided in a cetitral position, and exhibitors from all-parts of the Colony will be only too anxious'to exhibit their wares right here in "the heart of the dairy industry. The townspeople have the opportunity before theni of holding a Taranaki show equal to Palmerston. The advantage to the town is only too apparent. The opportunity is nov open if only the people of Hawera care to grasp it first." To-day Hawera has a show equal in every respect to Palmevston's. .

The attention of residents of the Opunake district is drawn to the sales to be held on Saturday next on account of Mrs. (Dr.) Barron and Mr. S. Parkes, both of whom are leaving the district. The whole of their superior household furniture and effects will be disposed of. Messrs. Morrißßey and Co. will conduct the sales, particulars of which will be found in our advertising columns.

A meeting of all persons interested in the formation of an astronomical society is to be held at thti Soldiers' Club tonarrow at 8 g.m. i. ,*,-..

Private jivor Weir, of Christcnurch, who was conductor of the New Zealand Divisional Diggers' Pierrots for the greater period of their existence, has remained behind in England, and is said to be doing well as a song-writer, a gift he developed whilst attached to the Pierrots. His songs are eagerly sought for, and already he is accredited with several "hits."

During the hearing of a "habeas corpus" case in chamber? at Wellington on Saturday, Sir Robert Stout, the Chief Justice, told a Scottish story. "It seems to me," said his Honor, "that the parties are fighting about nothing. It is like the old tale of the possession of a white thorn bush, which was not worth sixpence, at the corner of two farms. As the result of litigation both farmers concerned lost their farms, and the white thorn bush went on growing."

The Chinese crews on the Pacific coasts now demand that liberal supply of coffins be placed on a Bhip before they Will consent to book. A British vessel manned by Chinese was delayed in departure for two days in order to Becure a supply of caskets. t The Orientals insist that their contracts' provide for the shipment of their remains to China in the event of death. On account of the numerous victims of influenza during .the past few months on ships, the Chinese now insist that one coffin be put aboard for each member of the crew.,

Speaking lately of his relations with Mr Winston Churchill, the Right Hon. H. H. Asquith "said that he had always done all he could ,to advance the career of his former young colleague whose brilliant abilities and sleepless energies had been fruitfully employed in the service of. the State. It was to Mr MeKenna and Mr Churchill, aided and supported r oy the genius and resource of Lord Fischer and Lord Jellicoe, that we owned more than to anyone else .the preparedness and invincible superiority of our Navy, which had' done more than any other single factor to win the war. He also paid a great tribute to the genius and organising power of Lord Kitchener, whose inspiring example had supplemented and developed the Territorial Army, which proved it, from the very Btart, the mainspring of our military effort. « In view of the approaching visit of Lord Jellicoe to New Zealand the following extract from "Some Recollections," by Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, G.C.8., should prove of, interest:—Lord Jellicoe was the gunnery lieutenant of the Colossus, and took a most energetic part in the work of rearmament. We were delayed a long time until this could be completed,, aid spent several Weary weeks at Spithead. , Whilst we were lying there, an incident occurred which is still fresh in my memory. An unusually heavy gale was blowing, and a very strong tide was running, the weather at the same time being rather cold, One of our bluejackets fell overboard from a boat, and was being' quickly swept away by the tide, whilst the waves seemed big enough to overwhelm him. Lieutenant Jellicoe promptly jumped overboard and swam to his assistance. I did not see the man fall overboard, as I was on ,the other side of the deck; but» I ran across just in time to see Lieutenant Jellicoe jumping into the water. He' swam with extraordinary vigor, breasted the waves continuously and succeeded in reaching the man before the latter sank, and in keeping him afloat until a boat which I at once dispatched picked them both up. The bluejacket was brought on board insensible, but soon recovered. Lieutenant Jellicoe smilingly received my congratulations and commendation, and walked quickly ,to his cabin to put on dry clothes."