LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Australian and English mails, ex Moeraki at Wellington, will arrive'here to-night. At the Police Court yesterday, Kie.liard Ktzgerald was fined 10s for drunkenness, and a. first oft'eader, who did not appear, was lined ss.

The attendance at the Municipal Baths during the past monifh was very good. The returns were: Ladies ISGI men 1013, total 3774; hot baths, ISOreceipts, £33 lg Sd. This is £2 2s less than for the corresponding month in 1915. The caretaker states thaitj the family bathing in the evenings is proving very popular.

In his monthly report to the Borough Council last night, the engineer (Mr. E. 0. Clayton) stated:—Favored with suitable weather for tarring and sanding, excellent progress ha> Deen made with the work on the tramway route since my last report. Construction work has #lso been carried on, and it will not be long before such will be completed. '■ The biggest British ship afloat is the Britannic, of -18,000 tons, and she was built for the White Star Line. She has been taken over by .fhe Admiralty, howevor, and is a hospital ship, and wil], with the Aquitania and Mauretania, keep up a continuous hospital ship service of boats. Pride of place was hitherto held by the White Star liner Olympic (40,359 tons), followed by the Aquit,ania (45,667 tons)

A characteristic story is told of an old Maori warrior in the Hawera district

(says the Star). While giving a few words of farewell to recruits going into camp, he waxed eloquent for some time as to the loyalty of the natives to the Crown, and said lie noticed (that they were not wearing the "patlki" (tomahawk). He suggested that the Government should be asked to supply the patiki to tlie Maori troops, as it; was a most useful weapon when at close quarters with the enemy, and had done splendid service in the days gone by! A business man intimately associated with the dairying industry informed the Wauganui Herald that, owing to local values being now higher than those ruling at Home, a big storing of butter was setting in, and in consequence he regarded it as practically certain that there would be no furtTier rise in price till at least the winter was over. Owii)g to recent rain and good feed, tlie factories had recently been getting increased supplies of cream, and the ovitlook for the rest of the season was 'a good one.

Some strong remarks were made at a recent meeting of the Canterbury .Automobile Association in connectioit IjMth the alleged unwarranted action of

fite petrol-selling companies in inereasig the price of motor-spirit. It was Stated that though the stocks of petrol were large, the price had been advanced over 2s a ease, far in excess of tlie proportion of the alleged rise in freights which rise liad not been paid on the stocks in hand. The association decided to set up a committee to go .thoroughly into the matter, with a view to seeing if something could not be done to alter

he position. They with all others interested should get the Government to •etively take up the petroleum industry n New Zealand. New Plymouth has

shown that there exist highly payable oil measures that are crying out for development. The State should be urged to interest itself in this highly important ai:d promising industry. * Three residents of Ngaio found on the Makara beach on Sunday week a bottle containing the following message;— '•H.M.N.Z.f. No. 37, January 9, 19HS—--150 miles out. Just losing sight of good old Maoriland, 0 p.m. To the finder of this message: Please insert in N.Z. papers, Lady helps wanted badly for five forlorn soldiers in stateroom 07. If not obtained within two days, we will get out and walk.' Good luck to you all.—(Signed) Lance-Corporal W. Inder, Marton; Lance-Corporal L. G. Emena, Marton; Lance-Corporal A. E. Dean, Wnipukurau; Lnnce-Corporal A. N. Tod'd, Stratford; Private R. H, Richardson, New Plymouth, 10th Platoon, B. Company, Bth Reinforcements," There were also enclosed three notes from men. on the Maunganui to their friends and relatives. Five threepenny pieces and four stamps were sent to pay postage.

A declaration that the shortage of ! food in Germany has reached a critical stage was made in New York on January fi by Dr. Edmund von Mach, chairman of the citizens' committee on food shipments. "Tt is impossible to describe tlie necessity for milk for babies," said Dr. von Mach. "Rich and poor, nobleman and plain citizen are begging it from America. I have appealed to Washington for permission to ship tremendous quantities of milk to t,he Fatherland, The babies must have it if their lives are to be saved. All kinds of fats, such as butter and lard, and wheat, too. must be shipped abroad jf the lack of milk is to be atftned for," An appeal for funds to provide 2,000,00i0 babies in Germany and Austria with milk wont out over the United States through the churches on the following Sundav.

The purchaser of the humble, necessary match will have marked lately a distinct increase in price. The sulphur variety, in plaid boxes, which until 'a few weeks ago were retailed at 4d per packet of a dozen boxes, or three boxes for a penny, have now risen to 3d per dozen, or two for a penny. Correspondingly, the metal box of' 250. formerly sold, at Is 9d per dozen, or 2d per box, now sells at Is lid per dozen, but still 2d per box. Xo information is available as to the reason for the alteration of price, firthcr than the fact that importers find across-ocean terms raised against them, and from them the increased price is passed on to tjhe wholesalers and the public in turn. Safety matches have increased in coat in even move ma'ked degree—from 4rt per packet to fid. It is stated that in this ease the increase is due to an unexplained reduction of supplies from Japan, which until lately was pouring matches of tlie "tandsticker" description into the' Dominion.

Speaking at the opening of the Marton show last week, Mr. Edward New'man, J!.P., referred to the country's .prospects now and after the war. Mr. Newman said that if the Xavy failed, then lie could only say fhftt it would not be the priee* of produce that would trouble us. However, he could not contemplate such a disaster. Speaking as a producer, he was quite satisfied that for several years after the war prices would fluctuate, but they would remain at high levels. He 'did not think that producing countries like New Zealand would suffer, even after the. war, and he expressed the opinion that it was the duty of all fanners in the RangitiUei to grow, in that much-favored cropping district, as much foodstuffs as the land would produce, thus employing labor ami circulating plenty of money. In this way they who were unable to take part in the actual war, would do their hit to cheapen the food of their fellow'citizens throughout the Etppira,

ten additional oases of infantile paralysis were notified in Auckland yesterday, making aHotal of ItiO. The Eltham Patriotic Committee has' decided to hold a "Tricolor Day" on Saturday, February 2(i, in aid of the French Red Cross Fund.

The Lltham Dairy Co. will, says the Argus, this month pay out over £24,000.

Among the sick and wounded returningby the Arawa, due at Wellington about March, is Major Cox, of Hawera.

A London message states that Miss Proctor, who recently lectured on astronomy in Kew Zealand, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. A London cable says that the annual report of the Society for the Prevention of Cancer states that radium has been hopelessly discredited as a cure and that scientific research has not progressed towards a solution.

' Tho name of Sergeant Watkin Lewis, [formerly a carpenter in Hawera, and a [member of St. Mary's choir, appears in tho list of men previously reported wouaded, and now reported as believed to b« dead.

At a meeting of tho committee last night it was decided to drop the Battle of the Bullion, buf the Fete of Nations will bo held as originally arranged. It was further decided to' recommend the Patriotic-Committee to adopt a direct giving scheme.

As allowing the increase in land values :n Taranaki during the past forty years, a block of land of 300 acres at tho Muni, owned by Colonel Messenger, was sold for £SOO. Last year, a section of the same land changed hands at £54 per acre, the balance of the land realising £26.

In response to requests, the progressive euchre evenings, which were so popular last year at Kawaroa Park bungalow, are being resumed. Amidst cool and comfortable surroundings and adjacent to the sea, a pleasant evening is assured to all. The proceeds are for further park improvements. The sheep-guessing competition held at the JManaia Horticultural Show last Wednesday, resulted as follows: Correct weight of two sheep, 1421b5; Ist, Mr. A. Cundy, 152.}1b5; three tied for second place with 1401b, Miss M. Landers, Mr. If. R. Riddick (Auroa), and Mr. Pepperill (Awatuna).

Kilts instead of skirts for lady tram conductors, it seems, is to be the new style. It is reported from Oldham that skirts, being found inconvenient, and, in wet weather, a source of discomfort —especially when the car steps had to be climbed—have been discarded in the lady conductor's/ uniform, and replaced by kilts and leggings, buttoning up the sides.

A Gisborne telegram states that Messrs K. S., A.8., and T. S. Williams, well-known East Coast sheep farmers, have purchased a property of 5700 acres at Te Araroa and intend utilising it for the settlement of returned wounded soldiers -from Waiapu County. The value of the property and the stock is approximately £45,000. It is thought it will take twelve to fifteen men, who will pay rent which will go back to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund.

The Egmont Lodge, No. 112, held their usual weekly meeting last evening, it being opened by the Chief Templar. One candidate was initiated and one proposed. Ero. Chappell, of the Havelock Lodge, No. 54, paid' a visit, and gave a brief account of the working of that lodge. The programme for the evening was tha,t.. new officers should entertain, and the following contributed items: Pianoforte solo, Sid Blanchard; song, Sister Thomson; song, Miss Murphy; recitation, Sister White; song, Miss E. Martin; song, Sister Blanchard; violin solo. Bro. Bransgrove; song, Misji Emily Martin; reading, Bro, Hooker. The lodge was closed in due form at 9.30 p.m.

Good progress is being made with the erection df the freezing works at Smart Road. In the freezer block the concrete foundations have been completed, and the bulk of the framework has been erected. The concrete foundations for the slaughter house block have been completed, and the brickwork is now under way. i In the preserver, tallow and manure blocks, the concrete foundations ■have also been completed. The red pine in use for the framework is a splendid sample of heart wood, procured from Mr. T. Y. Simons' sawmill on the slopes of tlie Mountain. It fully justifies the claim made that the rimu grown round Mt. Egmont cannot be surpassed in New Zealand. Mr. F. M. Grayling, who has charge of the work, haj'forty hands employed on the job, and has room for others.

According to the '(Auckland Weekly News, the Normanby Dairy Company holds the record for last season's dairy factory returns, their payment to supplies totalling lfly s d. This is hardly correct lor the Manutahi Company paid out altogether lfljd last year, and this record may possibly have been beaten by some other company. The Manutahi Company has probably another record to. its credit in the average amount per head paid out to its suppliers last month, this reaching the fine total of ,£124 and this in spite of the fact that two suppliers only milked 10 and 18 cows respectively, thus bringing down the average considerably.—Press.

High grade white shoes of exceptional value are now offering at McEwen Bros, im overdue shipment just to hand is the cause of the fall in prices.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., draw the attention of olients to their Kolmratahi sale, which they are holding in their Kohuratahi Yard's on Thursday, 17th inst. Full particulars will bo found in our advertising columns on page S of this issue. "Our Navy," the film now showing at the. Theatre Koyal is one that should not ho hissed on any account by those whose knowledge of the ways of Britain's fleet is merely obtained from books. Even those 'who have had actual experience of his Majesty's Navy will find pleasure in witnessing the scenes over again. The picture will be shown to-night for the last time.

" ' TlTKrir: IS riXI.V ONE SAXDKU KXTUAi'T, an.'i thai"is why thle reeiih' insist on getting it, and why they' lr.i'vt the n'uny inferior substitides and the che:tp end frequently harmful -tlin-t os good." the OKNUINE SANI)!' I ' "KVIRACT i" free from the ob.jceiio>"'''"' """''Mies nf the common Kueaiv»ti'« i'"- !ii\,l m-called "extracts." .' XTKACT is the most power'.n : •■ ".die and healingremedy that '.'ii i"' nse.l with safety; it prevents a»" CUR ' S ajl infectious diseases, inlim-":<eiJ'o'ds, fevers, smallpox, diphtheria, ilaiiuence, dyspepsia, diarrhoea. dvsenterv and kidney troubles. SANDER'S tf.vtnACT, applied to ulcers, burns, sprains, cut?, 'inflamed skin, etc., gives immediate relief and cures permanently, ■i'elie.'iiiily. Effectiveness and Safety 'arc the ;:ieit attributes of SANBP'S IiXTKACX

A sitting of the Prisons Board wai held at New Plyrttiuth yesterday, when there were present: Sir Robert Stout (chairman), Dr. (Inspector of Prisons), Mr. C. I!. Jordon (Under-Secre-tary for Justice) ami Messrs 0. Fenwick and K. Hall. The sitting occupied the greater part of the day. The mem> hers will return to Wellington morning.

Climbing the summit of Mt. Egmont Is now in full swing, February being the favorite'month for climbers. Each day , this week a. party has gone from tho North House to the top. On Thursday Mr. Johnson, of New Plymouth, with Mr. Butler, of Wellington, made tho ascent, and on Friday Mis 3 I. Nowell, of Hawera, Mr. J. Redmond, of Wellington, and Messrs T. Sutton and W, H, Lua. combe, of New Plyraouttß also readied. the summit. Mri'Wirliants accompanied, the party. Magnificent view*, were oh. tained by each party, the air being veri clear, and with those who »t»rt tarlt the going is very easy.