LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

William Woolley, a habitual criminal, was sentenced at' Whangarei yesterday to three years' reformatory treatment, for theft of a portmanteau valued at £5, and was also convicted and discharged for theft of a coat. Accused was caught trying to sell the portmanteau.—Press Association.

Some time ago the Hon. Dr. Pomaro cabled General Botha congratulations, on behalf of the Maori race, upon the success of his campaign in German West Africa. General Botha has now replied: "Many thanks for your congratulations, which I appreciate highly."—Press Association.

At the weekly parade of the New Plymouth Territorials on Wednesday evening the following appointment of N.C.O'a was made, to take effect from September 1:—To be Lance-Sergeants: Lance-Cor-porals Guild and Higgs. To bo Corporals: Lance-Corporal Sole, Riflemen Sinclair, Baillie, Brokenshire, Richards, Partridge, and G. Gaylard. To be LanceCorporals: Riflemen Goodacre and Jarvis.

Dalgety's Review says the Japanese demand for wool in Sydney and Brisbane has had an important influence on the market, keeping up prices. The Review adds that "The value of the Japanese demand is Australia is confined to their direct wool purchases, for they are practically our one customer for the Aus-tralian-made tops. Thus when topmakers are buying freely, as they have been lately, this must be credited to the Japanese demand, for that is where the tops are eventually going." At,the quarterly meeting of the Egmont Licensing Committee held at Eltham on.Wednesday, an application for a renewal of the Central Hotel license by Mr. W. G. Taylor was adjourned till next meeting, pending the completion of, the new buildings. It was reported tliat the buildings were well nigh completed. A similar application liv Mr. E. B. Stohr. Opunakc Hotel (Mr. Morrison! was adjourned till the same date, 'the circumstance being the same. A permanent transfer of license of the Okaiawa Hotel was granted to Thos. Griffiths from H. Mulholland. A permanent transfer of the Kaponga Hotel, from J. W. Carter to V. Leatham (Mr. Weir) was granted. The reports on all the hotels were satisfactory.

An excellent opportunity is afforded to the "Man Who has to Stay at Home" to enlarge the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, by taking tickets in the civil service raffle for the Overland car, to be drawn on September 30. This is the last chance the public will have of securing a motor car for a small outlay. For the benefit of some of our country readers, the eom~ mittee wish it to he known that the canvassing party Will be visiting the various coastal centres on Saturday next, when ample opportunity will be afforded those who have not already done so to secure tickets. Look out on Saturday for the car flying the New Zealand Ensign

The New Plymouth Amateur Operatic Society will produce "The Mikado" on October 20th, 27th, and 28th. A specially strong cast has been selected, and rehearsals of the favorite opera are uow proceeding with enthusiasm. It is stated on good authority that tho Napier Arcade is about to ho converted into a continuous picture theatre, and the necessary alterations are estimated to cost between £15,000 and £20,000. The membership of the Taranaki A. and P. Society was increased by sixteen, as the outcome of an address given by Mr. J. Connett, president of the society, at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Uruti Dairy Company on Tuesday.

At the W.C.T.U. Convention at Wellington yesterday, a resolution was adopted drawing the attention of the Minister for Justice to the increasing frequency of criminal assault* on little girls of tender age, also to the comparative mildness of sentences passed upon men offenders convicted for the second time of sexual outrages on little girls, and urging that such criminals (should be detained.—Press Association.

A question put to. the Minister of Public Works last week by Mr. Veitch (Wanganui) was as under:—"Whether it is true that he intends to stop public works in order to make labor available for country* works; and, if so, what provision (if any) does he propose to make to ensure such workers receiving a fair remuneration for their lajbor? In his reply on Wednesday Hon. W. Fraser said that the answer to the question will be found in the Public Works Statement when delivered. The Minister of Internal Affairs last night gave some information with regard to the schedule which has been forwarded to mayors, chairmen ol county councils, and heads of other bodies connected with patriotic funds. The particulars asked fot'tfe'i'e 1 Name of fund; object; date of establishment; names of trustees, president, and treasurer; amounts collected and distributed; and balance iii hand. A question was also put as to whether any money had been handed over by other organisations. Mr. Russell stated that most gratifying responses had been received from all over the country, and in no case had any objection been made to supplying information. When the final returns were obtainable it would be seen that enormous sums had been distributed. —Press Association.

A life-saving mattress, designed by Mr. Alex. Binnie, of New Plymouth, was tested at the New Plymouth Muncipal Baths yesterday afternoon. The patent is an ordinary kapoc mattress, in a. wooden frame to keep it rigid, and it kept afloat while a man sat on it for some time. It was also very simple for a person to get on to the mattress. A test to ascertain how long the mattress will keep afloat is being made by leaving it in the baths, carrying a quantity of bricks. Mr. Bin/iie's mattresses are provided with hooks and cords, so that two or more can be bound together to form a raft of any size, and they may also be furnished' with small paddleß. An ordinary kapoe pillow will sustain about 451b weight in water, and these may be used for the carrying of a supply of water and food in case of a wreck.

Writing from the firing line, at the end of June to a New Plymouth friend Private "Willie" Bishop, of Koru, who went with the 4th reinforcements, said: "Our lads did some wonderful work over here when they made a landing. Kitchener gave them from fifteeen to eighteen days to do it in, and they did it in three hours. I have been in the trendies, on and off, for twelve days, and have not yet been hit, though one or two bullets came pretty close. We were only three days in Egypt, so dkl not have a chance to seee anything much except sand. Dan Ryan was shot dead, I hear; he was a fine soldier, and was on dangerous work, carrying orders .from the O.C. to the firing line. We have seen very little rain since leaving New Zealand, and the pun is rather warm here. I am quite well, and hope to return sc me day to s. 1 you all again."

A lecture baaed on his experiences in France anil Italy after war broke out, and the long road by which he got back to New Zealand, was given bv Mr. John Clegg, of Dunedin, at the Good Templar Hall last night. 'There was a good attendance. From Italy Mr. Clegg was unable to return to New Zealand, but he took steamer for Rio de Janiero, from here set out from New York, but the steamer on which he travelled was sunk, and he was token prisoner on a German auxiliary cruiser, being eventually landed 'hack at liio de Janiero. Another attempt to reach New York was successful, and then Mr. Clegg cro.s* sed Canada and returned to New Zealand. Mr. Clegg told his experiences in an entertaining way and his story made an interesting narrative. Interest was added to the lecture by: a number of lantern slides, which wore worked by Mr. G. Maunder. Mr. Clegg is touring the North Island, and the proceeds of the tour go to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. At-the conclusion of last niiht's lecture , a vote of thanks was aecorde I to. Mr. Clegg for undertaking a tour for such a good object. The lecture will, by, request, fee repeated on August 17.

A scene, rare to Dunedin, created a sensation in the heart of the city (says the Otago Daily Times. It was a dramatic and furious encounter for the few moments it lasted. A young man stood at one of the desks at. the telegraphic office counter. Presently two men walkid in-.quietly, and one said, pointing to the man engaged apparently .in-i preparing a telegram. "This is .". .One of the two advanced and said: "Oh, are you Mr. 1 Well, I've been looking for you, and now you'll get it." The man addressed reeled backward under the sting of a well-aimed blow, which was followed by another. The assailant then took him by the neck and pushed and punched him out of the door, to the astonishment of the onlookers. The assaulted one was chased into the street, where he managed to escape in a crowd gathered round the board upon which the war news is posted. The man who was assaulted was one of three recent arrivals from Christchurch, who, it is alleged, have been behaving in a reprehensible manner with young arid giddy girls. They are stylishly dressed, and stand in w-ait for their victims at the Post Office and at corners where the public congregate. They bear by no means the best of reputations, and one of their escapades came to the knowledge of a man whose chivalrous insliucis led him to adopt the means described, to give the offenders a lesson. It was a fulfilment of a promise made to give the fellow a thrashing if he met him. It is not likely that Court proceedings will be taken, ai it is understood that the young fellows are by no means anxious to bring about a close acquaintance with the police, either as complainants or in another capacity.

A reminder is given of the springing lieifcr sale, wliicli the Farmers' Co-opera-tive Society, of New Zealand is holding in its Opunake yards on MoiUay next.

The Defence Milster has rcoeived a cablegram from i.the New Zealand base at Alexandria statijig,that it ia intended to establish an Information bureau, in order'thai replies'to inquiries regarding New Zealand wounded may be provided in u moro satisfactory way. — Press Association,

A cablegram from the High Commissioner to the Minister for Defence mentions that the New Zealand War Contingent Association in Tendon has decided to provider accommodation for 200 additional wounded New Zcalanders at the Felixstowe Hospital, on the Thames, The message mentions that the men at present in the hospital are happy and comfortable. Many wounded are arriving from Gallipoli and are being given every possible attention.—Press Association.

The Eltham Argus states: —"The reorganisation of a considerable number of the Taranaki picture theatres is now taking place. A company, to bo known as the South Taranaki Amusement Company, Ltd., is now ia Uie advanced stages' of flotation. The object of the company is, among other details, to work Hawera, Patea, Eltham, Kaponga, Opunake, and Manaia in one complete picturo circuit. The freehold of the Hawera premises known as the Theatre Ktoya! and also the Princess Theatre at Eltham are to be secured, a,nd the present buildings to be converted into the, very latest picture palaces. The company will also consider the question of acquiring a site in Bridge Street, Eltham, an* erecting a theatre thweon, The capital of the company will be in the vicinity of £20,000, and it is understood that a, considerable number of shares';havbv already been taken

A vivid story of the present war, "1M4," will l)c screened in the Empire Theatre next Tuesday and Wednesday, Persons desirous of sending useful articles to our .boys at tyhe front, cannot do better than by forwarding any of the following goods, obtainable at the Melbourne, Ltd., at semi-annual sale prices: Khaki handkerchiefs, three for 2s; knitted socks, three pairs for 2s fld; Vinolia shaving sticks, 8d; Royal Vinolia shaving sticks, in metal case, Is each.

Band of Hope to-night, Good Templar Hall. Good programme.—Advt.