LOCAL AND GENERA!

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1927, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERA!

Though 26,000 yards of spoil, by cubic measurement, have been taken away from the slip on the Hutt Road, the work is still stated to be little more than two-thirds finished. A seal, about 9ft. or 10th in length, came ashore at Titahi Bay on Tuesday afternoon. According to a resident of the bay, efforts were made to induce the seal to return io the water, but it showed no inclination to go, and was still on the beach next morning. "Hundreds of bicycles are stolen every year in Christchurch, and I am going to ilo my little bit towards putting it down when men come before me on tins charge. There is only one thing for it, and that is gaol,” said Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., at Christchurch on Wednesday, when sentencing Ivan Murdoch to one month’s imprisonment witli hard labour on a charge of stealing a bicycle valued at t's.

The first of a series of municipal recitals was given by the Ist Battalion Taranaki Regimental Band at the Breakwater yesterday afternoon and, hough a stiff breeze was blowing, a large number of people attended. With a very strong muster of the band a particularly good programme was rendered, the items being greatly appreciated. Popular numbers were a cornet solo “Calvary,” by Bandsman Nunns, a ’rombonc and euphonium duet ‘'Excelsior” by Sergeant McEwen and Corporal Kay, and a selection, “Adagio,” from Pathetique Symphony (Beethoven) by the band, A collection taken amounted to about £5.

It lias been the policy of the Government for some time past to send its officials abroad periodically for what might be termed “refresher” courses in railway methods. Already many railway officers have visited the most important railway systems of the world. Whilst he was in England and Canada recently, the Minister of Railways (the Hon. J. (1. Coates) .considered the possibility of going a step further with the matter and discussed with general managers and

presidents of railways in those countries the possibility of arranging an exchange system as opportunity might offer whereby New Zealand men would be placed on the active staff of railway systems abroad in exchange for similar officers in New Zealand. The Minister states that the suggestion .met with ready acquiescence in several directions, and that proposals are going forward now r for exchanges of a number of officers. The advantages of such a system, he points out, are obvious.

"I have travelled fairly extensively, but I have never been to a country that has impressed me as much as New Zealand has,” said Mr. William Stone, of Toronto, who is now in after having completed a six weeks’ tour of the North Island. “This is my first visit to this country, and 1 am astonished at what has been accomplished in so short a time,” stated Mr. Stone. “I have been greatly impressed with I he the spirit of pride the people take in their country, their cities, and their towns. One feels that they are intensely patriotic and public-spirited. The country seems to be particularly prosperous, and a good feature of this is that the wealth is apparently well distributed. I have also been surprised at the large number of beautiful buildings in the cities. . . . Another matter that has interested and impressed me is the enterprise of New Zealand newspapers in giving so much attention to world news. I get more Canadian news in the newspapers here that I would get) in New York papers. While the Canadian newspapers do not give as much attention to New Zealand, a much greater interest has been manifested in the Dominion by Canadians during the past year.” "All sane Indians say that if Britain left India to-morrow there would be chaos at once,” said Captain, J. O. C. Wales, M.C., to the Wanganui Rotary Club on Tuesday, says the Wanganui Chronicle. “One Maharajah, when asked for his opinion,” continued the speaker, said; ‘There would be neither a silver rupee nor a virgin left in Bengal.’ Russia is jealous of the Empire, and is doing al) she can to injure Britain, especially through Afghanistan. Britain has built one railroad to a place opposite Khandaliar and another to one opposite Kahn), and Russia is working from two small Bolshevik States she has established on the north border, and is building railways to counter ours. Motor roads are also being built, and if war was declared there would be a race from both frontiers. /The Emir of Afghanistan knows lie is between two fires, and dares not favour either side. In the event of war his country would bo devastated.” Speaking of the Swaraj, or home rule question, Captain Wales said that at the backs of their minds the Swarajists knew it could not come for years. The Hindus and the Mahommedans were intensely jealous of each other and would never pull together. “The Army in India is there to keep order ..among those peoples and to be on the spot in the event of war,” said the speaker. “If a war broke out India would be a danger zone. But the army is very hard up and has to struggle along with implements which are not as up-to-date as they should be. There are no tanks in India and there is no gas training—there never will be so long as the army gets the miserable pittance it does.”

Warm weather means trips to the beaches, and beaches usually mean bathing, therefore be prepared by. purchasing your bathing outfits early. Messrs. C. G. Ward, Ltd., the busy cash drapers, Devon Street, New Plymouth, have just opened up their new season’s goods, including fashion’s latest in bathing coetumes, taps, capes, eto. Call and inspect.