LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Wellington Press message states that the Farmers' Union Dominion Conference lias been postponed until Septeinber 17. "I have one suggestion to make," said the engineer when the purchase of machinery was under discussion at the Ekelahuna County Council meeting on Saturday, "whatever you get, get English manufactures—they will last." Apropros railway restrictions, it was suggested by a speaker at a meeting of the Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers' Union, that railway wheels should be placed upon motor lorries, and that they be run on the railways. The president remarked at Thursday's meeting of the Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers' Union that the swede crops in North Taranaki, judging from those seqn at the New Plymouth Winter Show, were better than anything he had seen before.—Star. "In Palestine," said Major lline at Stratford, the other night, "the women arc,looked upon merely as chattels, and it is a common thing to see a man riding on a donkey, followed by his wifo en foot, bearing, perhaps, many parcels and a number of children." It was a great joke to the soldiers, said Major Hine, to pull the man off the donkey and set his wife thereon, though, no doubt, when the soldiers were out of sight the man.would get Wk on the donkey.—Post. \ The monthly meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held on Wednesday afternoon. Several eases were reported during the month, but on the inspector making inquiries evidence was not strong enough to prosecute. The chairman, Mr. R. C. Hughes, informed the meeting that there would be one more committee meeting (September) previous to the annual meeting early in October, He trusted that members would bear this in mind, and make a point of being present at the annual meeting and bringing as many new members as they could possibly get to come. The point in dispute between the Auckland branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association and the National Executive of the Association, is the right of the branch to engage in political activities. The annual conference of the Association, held recently in Christchnreh, decided that the organisation should remain non-political. The Auckland branch considers that political action is necessary. The National Executive, it is understood, has supported the decision of the conference by withholding money that in the ordinary course of events would have been paid to the Auckland branch. At Thursday's meeting of the provincial council of the Taranaki Farmers' Union, a letter was received from the Minister for Lands acknowledging the executive's resolution urging upon, the Government to expedite the opening of the land in the Parihaka Block for the settlement of returned soldiers, and advising that previous to the receipt of the resolution instruction had been given for the survey of the block. Some difficulty had been experienced in procuring supplies for the survey party, but the sub-division of the block was now in hand, and it was hoped to place it upon the market at an early date. It was resolved to thank the Minister for his letter. Unless capital and labor marched together, Mr. Skeat, of Canterbury, who is on a visit to Taranaki, predicted the Dominion would be wrecked. Everywhere one went there was unrest. Talking to labourers on the roads getting 13s and 14s a day one found that these men were dissatisfied. It had been asserted that some of the Canterbury wheat men had made huge profits during the war, but lie put a man in thß box at the Arbitration Court recently who showed that he had actually made a loss of £IOOO in one year, and £BOO in another. He was referring to the 1917-18 Beason. Their leaders had done splendid work in securing Nauru Island, and ensuring an ample supply of phosphate for the Dominion, and in obtaining the Island their trip overseas alone had been justified. He would advise farmers not to leave Taranaki to grow wheat, but stick to their cows, and they in Canterbury would be glad to occasionally "blow" into the and share in their warm hospitality.—Star. A service of a special character will bo held at Whiteley Church on Sunday right, when the Kev. J. Napier Milne will inaugurate a series of monthly lectures of particular interest' to the young men and women of New Plymouth, in which he will deal with topics, of compelling present-day interest. To-morrow night the subject will be: "Andrew Carnegie, Money, Greatness and Character," In addition to the special nature of the lecture, there Will also be musical features in the service of an unusual kind. The choir will be supplemented by some additional voices and a smali orchestra will accompany the singing. "A short musical service will be held at f>.4">, and there will be some extra music in the service proper. The choir will sing anthems, well-known hymns have been selected, and the soloists Will be Messrs F. Asher and B. Bcllririger. The biggest bargains of any sale this season are being offered at the Melbourne's great end-of-season sale, now in full swing. Great enthusiasm marked the opening day of the sale, and to stimulate interest fresh bargains will be brought forward each day of the sale. Your future depends upon the extent to which you fortify yourself with useful and thorough knowledge. Become efficient—train your brain—specialise. Lot us show you how to earn big money. Write now for our prospectus, mentioning any subject in which you are particularly interested. METROPOLITAN CORRESPONDENCE COLLEGE, BOX 671. AUCIiLAMD.

The Qeuvre (Paris) publishes a report, which hitherto remains without any confirmation, to tlio effect that Marshal Joffre will be summoned to appear before,, a Parliamentary Comnutteo to reply to questions of so serious a nature that it is not certain that they are not the preliminaries to n formal charge. The Oeuvre in particular alleges that Marshal Joffre signed the telegram which led to Eoumania's entry into the war at an inopportune moment. A painful scene, or rather series of scenes, marked the proceedings in the Marlborough Council Chamber last week, when the Borough Council, with a number of members of the Blenheim Progressive League in attendance, discussed the water and sewerage proposal. The antagonism of Councillor Cair to the project resolved itself into an attitude and forms of expression that evoked from the Mayor a direction to the Town Clerk to ring up the Police Station. This \\u done, and in a few minutes Sergeant O'Hara, in uniform, entered the room and, at the request of the Mayor took a seat, which he occupied for the remainder of the meeting, nearly an hour. Councillor Carr continued to make the proceedings vitriolic at intervals. The Chronicle reports the death of another of Wauganui's pioneer settlers, in the person of Mr John Alexander, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 77 years. The deceased gentleman, who was a native of Scotland, came to New Zealand from Australia in the 70's. After his arrival in Wanganui he took .up farm work at Westmere. He subsequently joined Mr Andrew McParlane, senr., in partnership in the building trade, which they carried on successfully for many years. Together they took a contract to construct the last Bection of the Wellington-Manawalu railway line, between Waikanae and Paikakariki, and after its completion they dissolved partnership, Mr Alexander again went en the land, purchasing property at Maxwell, where he carried on farming pursuits up to the time of his death. One of his daughters is Mrs Alex B. Robertson, of Hawera Mr. Skeat, a prominent members of the Canterbury branch of the Farmers' Union, is on'i. visit to Taranaki. He attended Thursday's meeting of the Farmers' Union executive at Hawera. Speaking thereat, he said his visit had been a revelation to him, and he had been struck with the high standard reached in their milking herds. Taranaki was perhaps the "Garden of New Zealand," but Canterbury was undoubtedly "The Granary of New Zealand," and both wheat and cows were essential to the country. He went on to say that the Farmers' Union had done a great work, but the Union still had a great deal to do, and this included the importance of seeing that their meat and cheese at present in store got away as quickly as possible, otherwise there was going to bo a serious loss to the Dominion. It had been said that the Government hnd done all that could be done, and in a measure they had done a good deal, but there was nothing like "pricking them with a pin" occasionally so as to keep them up to the mark.

Two appropriations of £l3O each in No. 2 group were disposed of by ballot at the office of the Equitable Building Society, of New Plymouth, last night, and tbje Winning shares were Nos. 285 and 288, the holde- being Mrs. M. Wilson, Vogeltown, New Plymouth. Shares in the No, 3 group now being floated are being readily taken up. The saying, "Woman's work is never done," is probably borne out by fact, nevertheless the introduction!of scientific household aids such as "FAIRY WONDER" Dry Soap goes a long way towards saving time and labor. This wonderful washing powder practically does the washing without rubbing. Simply soak the clothes overnight, rinse two or three times In the morning, and your washing's done. Try it. All grocers. What is a bargain? Something you want purchased at a price much less thin its worth! A list of bargain underskirts is offered at Rennie'sr sale, next week. See page four. Hurry!