LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the meeting of the Hawera Comity Council on Saturday it was decided that a committee of the whole council be authorised, if necessary, to appoint a returned soldier as paid canvasser for recruits.

Speaking, to his constituents at Gore, Hon. Jfts, Allen said we did not know what might happen in regard to Samoa, but we New Zealanders were firmly convinced that it should not remain under GermaH rule. We had been milking provision for it to come under British rule—we hoped under New Zealand —and had been pla«ting our feet firmly there.. A remarkable swimming performance on the part of a, thirteen-year-old • boy, P. O'Keefe, of Napier, has come under the notice bf the New Zealand Swimming Council. In a. schoolboy test for a proficiency certificate, the boy swam continuously for a distance for four miles 1,013 yards in cold water, and could have continued for another half-hour if necessary.

The Eltham Belgian Sewing Guild despatched on Friday to the Belgian ViceConsul at Wellington another large case of new, clothing, and also one case of good second-hand clothing, for the afflicted Belgians. The consignment included 4(17 new garments, made by members and friends of the Guild. Many of the articles, which were all exceptionally well made, were arranged together as outfits for children of various ages. "Out of twenty-six taji-drivers at Palmerston North," writes a reporter, "sixteen are single men, and yet the Council has refused to consider the question of refusing a renewal of their licenses. It ie contended that to do so would be introducing compulsion. The people of Palmerston, however, have the matter in their own hands. They have choice of cars driven by married men or by single men who are eligible but won't enlist." It was stated by Mr. Massey in a recent address that New Zealand had already sent away 42,820 troops, while there were at present 12,000 men in camp. Some 500 New Zealanders had enlisted in England, while 350 nurses had left for the front. "The enlistments, therefore, amounted to 55,000," said Mr. Massey, "which i 3 a fine record for a country with a population of a million people." Amongst the men who presented themselves at the recruiting office at Auckland on Monday (states an Auckland paper) was a young man who proved unable to endure the ordeal of medical examination, and promptly fainted away. The doctor made a thorough examination of his subject, but was unable to pronounce that there was sufficient cause for his rejection. The young man declared that this is the first occasion in hi 3 life on which he has fainted. It would thus appear that even the strongest are liable to give way under unusual and trying condjtjjgns.

The cost of the construction of Trentham Camp from' the date of inception, together with incidental expenditure, amounts to £210,000, and the Featherston Camp to £145,000. The average cost of running these camps, salaries of training staffs, pay of headquarters, clerks, staffs of permanent supply depot, pay of medical orderlies, the rationing of permanent camp staff, civilian cooks, fuel, etc. (but not the rationing of troops undergoing training), amounts to £1442 a week at Featheraton, and £1469 at Trenthr.m.:s£i>;s. -T«a»*>"enj jt Milton.

No fewer than six Maoris lave been declared bankrupt in the Hawke'a Bay district during the past three months. The Taranaki Presbytery has agreed that Awapuna and Te Kiri be added to Opunake, and Riverlea, Kapongg,, and Mahoe to Eltham.

An architect, giving evidence in the Assessment Court, Wellington, stated that in recent years the cost of building had gone up 15 per cent. In view of the special circumstances arising from the war, the New Plymouth Borough Council has decided to increase the wages of casual employees by a shilling a day. Announcement is made by the military authorities that returned soldiers who are sent to camp in New Zealand as "At, and subsequently sent on sick leave • from camp, are not entitled to lodging allowance, but are to be treated the same as recruits.

Mr. Massey, discussing the question of shipping space yesterday, says that it is reasonable to hope that the Bangatira, now ashore near Capetown, will be refloated, and also that the Matatua, which was damaged by an explosion at St. John, will be in commission again. He understood that the latter vessel had already been refloated. The delay .was unavoidable, but he believed they would be able to meet all demands for space.—Press Association.

Mistaking a roll containing a £5 note and three £1 notes for a piece of waste paper, a young man walking along the Queen's Wharf, at Wellington, in the vicinity of berth 4fo. 9, at a few minutes before 11 o'clock on Saturday night, threw it away. The strong wind caught the notes and carried them into the harbour. A friend of the thoughtless one informed Harbour Board nightwatchnian R. Lewis, who promptly recovered the notes by using a long pole with a hook on "the end. The absent-minded young man expressed much gratitude on receiving the lost money. It is a' coincidence that the capture of Rua took place on the anniversary of the conclusion of the famous battle of Orakau, where Rewi Maniapoto and his followers made their last stand in the Waikato war, before retreating into the fastnesses of the King Country (remarks the New Zealand Herald). The men who, 52 years ago, were iaspired by the spirit of the famous challenge .of defiance "Ka whawhai tonu matou ake; ake! ake!" ("We will fight on for ever and ever!"), were the men who took part ih the last important struggle against pakeha supremacy in New Zealand.

A deputation, representing the New Plymouth Carriers' Association waited on the Borough Council last night, and asked that the stand for expresses, now fixed at the foot of Currie Street, near the railway goods-shed, should be altered to Currie Lane, with two "pilots" in Currie Street. Mr. J. Kibby, spokesman for the deputation, pointed out that the present stand was inconvenient for inany reasons, and it was felt by the expressmen that Currie Lane would be the most suitable place. The Mayor promised the deputation that the matter would be considered at a later meeting of the Council.

An interested visitor to the New Zealand Court at the 'San Francisco Exposition was Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, ex-President of the United States. What interested him above all else was the exhibit of fifty red deer heads. On being presented with one, Mr. Roosevelt said that if he could find" time he would like to • come to New Zealand on a deer-stalking expedition, and at the same time see the sights of the country. He was impressed with what he saw, and displayed a genuine interest in the affairs of the Dominion. Mr. O'Brien, who was associated with Mr. Clifton in conducting the New .Zealand Court, says he was surprised at the amount of information which Mr. Roosevelt possessed about New Zealand.

The East End Reserve promises, on Easter Monday, to be a scene of gaiety and joyous abandon, where hundreds of people will cast aside the worries of this work-a-day world, and all thoughts of the war, and flock to this beautiful and popular pleasure resort for a day's outing. Lively recollections are entertained by large numbers of the happy day spent at the reserve last Easter Monday, and the energetic committee guarantee that the fete this year will put the previous one .-omplctcly in the shade. The children, as usual, will be specially catered for, as a glance at the "menu," which appears in our advertising ;olumns this morning will show. Nor is provision for the amusement of grown-ups neglected, and many interesting water events appear on a real gala day programme. ■ The Committee promise to have something more to announce later j meantime, the attractions already outlined by them should induce holiday-makers io look ahead. A largely-attended meeting of the New Plymouth Surf and Life-Saving Club, presided over by Mr. D. J. Hughes, was held last night. A committee consisting of Messrs Schwartz, Christensen, Whitaker and Elliot was set up to visit the Lepperton school on Thursday afternoon to give the pupils practical lessons in life-saving and resuscitation methods. In compliance with a request from Warea a team of bronze medallion holders will be sent down to give exhibitions of life-saving, both in the water and on land. These exhibitions are in connection with the scheme that the Club has in view of working in conjunction with the Education Board for the furtherance of life-saving instruction throughout the Taranaki schools. The medals and Tabor shield, won by the East End Club, will be presented at the railway social, to be held on May 4. The Mayor will be asked to make the presentation. Two local schools were affiliated to the Club.

These at the Melbourne. Blue grey blankets 16s Cd a pair. Petone white blankets, double bed size, 33a 8d pair. Natural knitted shirts and pants 4s lid. "Woolette" flannel undershirts 3s Od. Ladies new winter coats and serge costumes, best value in the trade.

Messrs Grant and Campbell, land agents, Hawera, advertise in this issue particulars of 168% acres at Te Eoti, the owner of which is retiring and will accept town property, mortgages or a small farm in lieu of a cash deposit. Notwithstanding the war the famous French firm of iPathe Freres have just introduced a hew and marvellous process in picture production called "Slow Cinematography." By this process it is possible to present in full detail what the eye cannot "take in when looking at a swiftly moving object. By this method we see the actions from six to ten times slower than they have been performed, and can study every tiny movement of limb and body. The effect is rather uncanny, and at times amusing, The first experiments were with animals—goats and kids, jumping dogs, horses walking and galloping, and the peculiar action of the kangaroo, and in each "instance the movements of volition arc plainly seen and understood. This remarkable film ie now showing at the Theatre Royal in conjunction with the "Children of Eye" jrojgrs.gjm*

The Governor lias received the Kiag'a command that no dinners, reviewa, salutes or other celebration* should take place this year on the King's birthday.

The New Plymouth Surf and li'«Saving Club, which is at .pretest a branch of the .Wanganui Centre, hai decided to take steps for the formation ' of a North Taranaki Centre. fProniiea of support have been received throughout the district.

Mr. Matt Farley, who resides at Manaia, whilst carting woad at Kapuni yesterday, met with a rather nasty accident. His horse bolted and ran over him. He was taken to Hawern hospital suffering from a badly crushed hand and severe shock.

The usual weekly meeting of the Eg. mont.L»dge was held last evening in the 16d,ge room., Bro, Griffiths, Grand Chaplain, who is herefrom Inveroargjll, gave a most interesting address on. temperance work in that town. He was asked by the lodge to convey fraternal greetings to any other lodge he may be visiting. The usual routine of business was gone through, and the lodge was closed at 9.15 p.m. by the Chief Templar. • A Masterton teelgram states that la large public meeting was addressed oa Saturday night, when the Petone wool, len mill girls received a, good hearing, A resolution was carried unanimously that the meeting expresses its fervent hope that the mill girls will wia their most fair demands, realising that 'the question is of national significance, and promising to do all that is possible- to help the workers to win. A Wellington telegram says that the meeting of the Senate of the University of New Zealand, that was -ailed for this week to consider chiefly the results of the degree examinations held "in November last, has been postponed, as the report of examiners in England has not been received. The University agent in London notified by cable on 28th February that the report was being posted by the last Vancouver mail, but it has aot yet come to hand. , The Director of Education in South Australia (Mr. M. M. Maughan) is of opinion that country boys learn to be more self-reliant than town lads. Speaking to a pressman, he told a. little story illustrating the point. A little boy was with his father, a farmer, wjien eight draught horses got away, and galloped down the road. The small chap, who is only four years old, instantly ran in front of them, threw up Iris nands, and shouted. And the great animals actually stopped in obedience to his orders! Mr. Maughan said, "That boy had confidence in himself, and he will doubtless grow into a fine, level-headed man.'" .flie vice-presidents of the New Ply. mouth branch of tly British Red Cross Society have been discussing a plan of having an exhibition of the work 'dona at the local depot for our wounded soldiers. They feel that such an exhlhltion should stimulate the interest of the public and lead to increased membership of the society. An application has therefore been made to the Taranaki A. and P. Society for space for the purpose of an exhibition, not only of the garments that are being made in the depot, but also of gifts of farm produce nnd other things which might he displayed for sale. The matter KaS' been referred to the Space Committee, with a recommendation that the application be granted. ' > The repairing of the Aurora at Port Chalmers is not likely to be hurried, a3 she will not be able, on account of the ice, to get to her Antarctic destination until December, or perhaps .Tanuary (says the Dunedin Star) Rene* sufficient'time is available in which to put the vessel.in the bet of order before she leaves. Apart from the droks, which, require reeaulking, the main leakage seems to be tnkintr place well forward. Consequently the thick sheathing attached to the stem for ice-cutting purposes is likely to be temporarily removed when the Aurora goes into dock. The repairing of a wooden shin is nowadavs uu.. usual, and in regarded by shimvrights at an undertaking entailing no little rennonsibility. No small degree of interest attaches to the repairing of Die Aurora, and the making of n new rudder is looked forward to with pleasure by members of the craft. ( There is M«ociated with wooden ships a certain halo of romance undreamed of in connection with the steel hull and iron decks of the steamship.