LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Da:ly News will be published as usual on Monday (Labor Day).

The advisory committee of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association resolved that the Government be asked to reorganise the Defence Department so as to ensure that onlv officers, noncommissioned officers, and other ranks who have seen service in some campaign, irrespective of whether they belong to the Staff Corps or not, be employed in the Defence forces of the country.

A somewhat exciting runaway occurred at Northcote (Auckland) on Wednesday afternoon, ending in. a horse and spring cart going over the wharf, with the result that the animal was drowned. The horse and cart were the property of Mr. W. Stephenson, a returned soldier, who had recently purchased a business. The runaway tore along the main thoroughfare to the wharf, a distance of a mile and a-half.

The humorist is frequently tie real philosopher and wise one. The latest issue of Life, the brightest of all New York's journals, carries a cartoon depicting two Irishmen having a korero on political development Says one: "Say, Duffy, wouldn't it be turrible if England gave us iverytliing we ast fur and wouldn't let us fight fur it!" To which Duffy replied: "That would be just like 'er to play such a dirty trick!" Curious things do happen in life occasionally. One Palmerston North lady found this to be true recently. Wearing the latest thing in spring hats —A decorative piece of headgear set off by a couple of feathers—she was sedately going about her business in the Square when suddenly a sparrow made a swift dart at the feathered headpiece, a moment later flying triumphantly away with half a feather in its bill, and leaving an astonished and embarrased damsel to ruefully survey the damaged hat.

Two South Islanders, who have had considerable experience in rabbit-trap-,piiig, called at a newspaper office recently and challenged the statement of the Dunedin resident (mentioned in our columns the other day) that he had single-handed earned £240 for a fortnight's work. Our informants state that such a feat was impossible for a pair of hands, either by trapping, poisoning, netting, or shooting, or even all combined. Their best work was 3GB fof a single night's trapping, and 1000 for a fortnight, though they did not regard the latter total as anything out of the ordinary.

The Mayor of Hawera announced at Mr. W. Morrison's meeting on Thursday night that Lieut. Grant, V.C., would arrive at Hawera on Wednesday next at 11.30. He commented on the fact that two Hawera men had won the V.C., and said that a reception would be given Lieut. Grant at the railway station. A procession of school children would be held, and he asked the townspeople to display flags and bunting on the occasion. He intended to ask the business people to close their premises for the day at 11 a.m., and he would also request that the school children be given a holiday from the same hour.

As showing the improvement this year in the situation as affecting the clearance of local dairy produce, it is interesting to learn that during the month of September there was shipped by the Taranaki Producers' Freezing Co., a total of 40,325 crates of cheese, leaving in store at tfte Ist Inst, only 3.1 (X) crates, as against 57,500 crates at this time last year. By the above shipments the balance of last season's make was cleared, and in addition 3,800 crates of new cheese. , A further shipment of 10,000 crates for the Westmoreland is to be lifted by the Corinna about the 4th of next month.

Motorists who run heavy cars iand carry'big loads find CLINCHER OROSS TYRES 'unequalled for' wear. "CLINCHERS" have risen to /'front rankers" ob merit alone*

The New Plymouth Citizens' Band will play at the public hospital to-mor-row afternoon, the programme commencing at two o'clock.

The total amount of cheese exported from Patea for the year ending March 31st last was 142,008 cases, ail increase of 29,101 on the previous year's output.

The Auckland branch of the Amalgamated Society of Hallway Servants passed a resolution last.night protesting against the Railways Bill and urging the executive to 'take immediate steps to prevent it from being passed into law.—Prvss Association.

Speaking at Manaia Mr. Astbury said there was something wrong with a system that allowed a man to make more money by selling a farm than by working it. It was not farming—it-was land speculation, and legislation should be introduced to prevent it. Plans have been approved by the directors of the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company for the proposed woollen mills, which are to be erected in ferro-conorete at a cost of about £lO,000 (states an exchange). An order is to be placed almost immediately for the machinery required. Twenty looms will be installed, and about seventy hands will bo employed. It is proposed to confine operations in the' first place to the manufacture of blankets, rugs, and rough tweeds.

When asked by a Daily Times reporter this week regarding the rumor that he would be gojng Home as High Commissioner, Sir" Jame3 Allen said he knew nothing about such a rumor. Sir Thomas Mackenzie's term as High Commissioner had been extended till the end of February. Regarding the War Loan, Fir Janws Allen said that in the event of it being over-subscribed as the result of the operation of the compulrory clauses of the Finance Act, the money cotild be utilised. He, as Minister of Finance, had authority to raise another £6,000,000. ,

It is hoped shortly to place two stained class windows in the north transept of S.t. Mn-y's Church, in memory of the Rev. A. JT. Colvile, who was vicar from 191? <.-> 1917, and of the Ven. Archdeacon Walsh, who painted the regimental hatchments which adorn the walls of the church, and designed and superintended the erection of the South African War Memorial Cross in the churchyard. A very handsome design has been submitted by Messrs Clayton and Bell, the well known window painters, and the windows will undoubtedly form one of the most conspicuous and beautiful memorials in the old cliuroh. To assist the fund, which still needs about £OO to defray the cost, retiring collections will he taken at St. Mary's at 11 a.m. and 7 i>.m. to-morrow. Mr. W. H. P.kinner, Pendarves Street, will also welcome any donations to the fund.

With the passing, at the great age of 92 years, of Teone Makariki (McGregor), a half-caste Maori of Foxton, another link with the notable past of the coast disappears. He was the grandson of Tuepmirangi, the great fighting chief of the Ngatiapa tribe of the South Island, who was in command of the Southern Maoris in the last battle between the North and South at Waiorua (Kapiti Island) about. 1820. Over 4000 Native wprriors took part, and it was this battle which settled the question of the future of Wellington and a portion of the South Island, including Nelson and Marlborough. The Southerners were defeated by Te Rauparalia and his allies. Tutepourailgi was taken prisoner, and in return for sparing his life he made a gift to the victors of the territory from d'Urville Island and Pelorus Sound to Cape Farewell, about 3,000,000 acres, the largest single gift of land in New Zealand history recognised by the Native Land Courts.

There are, roughly, about Ave million acres of unoccupied and unusued lands in the pumice country, and the settlement of this great territory would have most beneficial effects on the financial condition of New Zealand (says the Auckland Herald). It is worth while considering the advantages that toould accrue if this land were peopled and improved. In the first place, even if only two-thirds of it were turned into farms and moderately cultivated, it would increase the national income by some millions of pounds yearly. Every your of cultivation would increase its productiveness, and its capacity ior carrying population, so that in much less time than it has taken to bring such provinces as Canterbury or Tara. naki to their present wealth-producing stage, we should have practically a new province added to our list, which, under modern systems of farming, would yield to only the best in its output of meat, dairy produce, wool, timber, End other products.

During the week ending October 21st, butter to the value of £722 (the only exportation from the Dominion) was exporter! from Auckland, cheese £122,OS7, lamb £9817, mutton £50,2,50, other frozen meats £3991. The. figures for the. other chief exporting centres were:-—New Plymouth, cheese £304,712: Gisbome, lamb £558, mutton £21,700; Waitara, lamb £llO, mutton £33.308; Wanganui, cheese £ll.575. lamb £22,095, mutton £68,681, other frozen meats £18,397: Wellington, lamb £0314, mutton £10,025; Lyttelton, I <imli £28,844, mutton £4,' 075, other frozen meats £10,288; Timaru. cheese £-20,438, lamb £93,840. mutton £24,183, other frozen meats £2995. The tallow exported was: Auckland, £8324; Rishorne, £7920; New Plymouth, £2106; Waitara, £31(11; Wellington, £22,659; Napier, £-3(198!; Lyttelton, £50.207: Timaru, £55,133; and Oamaru, £1055; while the value of wool shipped during the week amounted to £735,430, Lyttelton ( £207,051) and Timaru ( £184,050) were the principal exportation centres. The monthly service for the people will be held in the Whiteley Memorial Church on Sunday evening. The Rev. J. Napier Milne is announced to speak on the question "And Shall John Barleycorn Die?" As a recent arrival from England Mr. Milne will have something to say concerning the attitude <Jf Borne temperance reformers in the Old Country on the question of State purchase and control. The service proper will be preceded by a short musical service at C.45. An augmented choir and orchestra under the leadership of Mr. RLaurie Cooper will lead the singing. The soloists are Mr. G. Lambert and Mr. W. J. Smith, and the anthems "The Heavens are Telling" and "The Long Day Closes" will be rendered. A new feature will be the conference for questions at the close. All seats are free, and a cordial welcome is extended to people who hold the most diverse opinions on the subject of the lecture. SNOW-WHITE CLOTHES WITHOUT BOILING. Fairy Wonder Dry Soap makes the clothes as white as snow, and, they don't need to be boiled or rubbed. Fairy Wonder is guaranteed not to injure clothes cr hands —it contains no harmful jWaffln waxj Is lOd.largejjacketj

The following is an extract froa> a letter received by a Rakaia resident (From a friend in Sydney (aays the Christchurch Press).—"Sydney's latest meaning for S.O.S. is 'Short of Sugar', The strike is now over, but it will be at least a fortnight before any sugar is on the market. Sargents are using brown sugar in all their cafes. I was at a restaurant yesterday, and had to use honey to sweeten my tea. Some eating houseis are even advertising on their windows: 'We have sugar,' as if it were something new in the world."

Writing from San Francisco, a Wanganui resident states:—"l have had only one meal at our hotel. A dinner costs anything from 6s 3d to 20s, In one of the three dining-rooms at the hotel people get up and dance between each course. You will see some pull out a cigar, and have a smoke before going on with the next course. After dinner, they go on with supper till 1 o'clock in the morning. As soon as the music starts people begin to dance—the fox trot, jazz and another dance. They are dancing mad here. They dance in all the saloons and cafes, and one night I saw them dancing in the street, which they had prepared and which was as slippery as a ballroom floor." The writer gives some figures which show that New Zealand people have little, comparatively speaking, to complain of in regard to cost of living: '•uuttur is 2s 8d per 1-b., bananas cost 2d each. A suit to measure costs from £l2 10s to £ls, and a pair of boots cost £2. They charge to wash a pocket handkerchief, Is 5Jd for a soft shirt, 5d each for collars, 3i for socks, pyjamas 2s Id, and undershirts Is.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile and Newton King notify their Whangamomona sale on Wednesday next, 29th inat.j at 1 p.m., in the Whangamomona saleyards. Full particulars of stock to be offered will be found on page 8 of this issue. Cars will leave the Stratford offices at 9 a.m. on the morning of the sale, and clients are requested to book their seats early. The N.Z. (Loan and Mercantile wish to draw clients' attention to their Stratford sale which they are holding on Tuesday next, 28th Inst., in their Stratford yards. Full particulars of stock to be offered on page 8 of this issue.

The Melbourne's Limited, have opened out a beautiful new lot of ladies' white voile blouses in a splendid assortment of designs including some choice models Irish hand embroidered dircsj from a leading Belfast- manufacturer. Prices range from 12s iJd to 37s 6d.