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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144486, 22 September 1914, Page 2

Tho only civil business at the Magistrate’s Court this morning was an undeleudcd case in which W. Preece (Mr. lluuhon) obiained judgment against Richard Walsh lor tho sum of £2 Is (costs 10s). Another of the East End Reserve Committee's long night socials will be hold in tho pavilion on Thursday evening. Tho committee promises that Thursday night's social will ho an even greater success than its predecessors, and this is saying a good deal. The New Plymouth Operatic Society resumed its practices on Monday night, when there was a large attendance at the Whitoiey Hall. Tne practice went with a swing, and everything was most suooossful. the cast is now complete, but Mr. R Miami reports that there is room for a low more voices. Those people wishing to join aio asked to do so at once, so us to acquire the necessary perfection in tho concerted work. A number joined on Monday, and it is anticipated that the vacancies now existing will soon be filled. Practices will bo held regularly until the time of tho production some time before Christmas, and everything points to a record success in "Ban Toy.” The hardships of bachelor life arc influencing at least one member of the expeditionary force stationed in Samoa to think seriously of getting married when ho returns to Now Zealand. ‘‘When 1 got back to the metropolis.’’ he writes in a letter received in Wellington, "tho first thing I intend to do is to got married. This resolution is the result of having to do my own washing and tho sewing on of buttons. Perhaps even before I return I shall have taken to myself a wife from among the natives. They wash well, although they do knock holes in the clothes. The method adopted by tho natives is to take the clothes to tho river, soap them well and place them ou a stone. Then they prod with a stick, occasionally rinsing, until the clothes are clean.” Interesting additions to the collections at the Canterbury Museum are specimens of Dutch wooden* shoos, which have been presented by Mr. G. van dcr Velden. One pair is a sample of tho kind used for walking on snow or ice; and there is a sample of the ordinary evorydav shoo. The last mentioned 'shows sighs of much cobbling, and as they cost originally about 5d per pair the economical character of the Dutch is exemplified by tho extensive repairs made to this, sample. Another pair is a much-ornamented pair of bride's shoos. The young Dutch sailor spends much time when at sea fashioning the shoos for his bride, and the pair presented to the Museum give evidence of much loving work having been expended on them. The shoes, though they appear clumsy and heavy, aro really ’ light, being made chiefly out, of willow wood.

It takes a wonderfully short time to scatter two or throe hundred millions sterling in war time. "Though past wars, oven the most recent, can lurnish very little guidance'as to the future, writes Mr. SV. 11. Lawson, in the Empire Magazine, "it is interesting to recall their financial results. Tho FrancoGerman war cost Franco over 9000 million francs (9,287,882,000), one-half ol which represented the war indemnity paid to Germany. In sterling that would make £371,515,0150, and, as the war expenditure went on for about nine months, its daily average would bo f/Jly a million and a quarter sterling. The other big European war of the past half century—the Husso-Tnrkish —cost Russia £153,628,000, hut she had two years’ hard lighting for her money.” Ho adds that in the present war Great Britain may prepare herself for an addition of three hundred millions to tho national debt. The cost of the war is sure to bo heavy, whatever the indemnity. ;

Ou Thursday last Mr. James Young, curator of tho Christchurch Domains, returned to Christchurch after a six months’ trip io Groat Britain and Ireland, where ho visited many ol the most famous gardens. Speaking to a Lyttelton Times reporter, Mr. Young stated that he had been surprised to find in the Botanical Gardens in Dublin one of tho finest collections of New Zealand plants ho had seen anywhere. It was a collection of hardy plants, and everything was growing well, and as they had boon thriving tor a number ol years it was clear that they were acclimatised. The finest park, he said, was also in Dublin. Phtcnix Park was just what a park should be, and it was impossible to be anything hut enthusiastic over it. At the Kow Gardens the botanical museum had impressed him, but the forest ornamental trees did not seem to grow to as much advantage as they did in the Dominion. In Glasgow the municipal bowling greens bad attracted his attention. There lor the payment of twopence the enthusiastic bowlor bad a magnificent green provided and was. able to indulge m a game. Tho greens were freely used and were a financial success. It was in Glasgow, too, that Mr. Young saw a typo of fence which he considered would bo suitable for adoption in Christchurch. It-was a six-barred iron fence, ornamental as well as inexpensive, and its use at the Corporation waterworks in Glasgow was very effective.

On tie 15th inst., on tho motion of Mr. Nicholson (Roy and Nicholson), probate of the will of the late Stephen Boothby White was granted by his Honour tho Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G., to the executors therein named. Few of rhe people who talk glibly about Russia putting eight millions of men in tbo fioid have the least idea of what tho figures mean. _ A million of men, if each man was given a.yard of ground, would cover a front of 50 miles 10 deep, and leave 120,000 men over for emergencies.

“Fred,' do you remember whore you were in 1910 ?” asked the bride of a few mouths. “Why, no, dear, X don’t remember exactly,” replied the young husband. “Why do you ask?” “Why, I was reading to-day in the paper that it is said that In 1910 one person in every eight hundred in this country was in prison.” The First Countryman (seeing a pil-lar-box for the first time): "What’s that for, Tom?” The Second Countryman: “1 dunno; looks like a religious, sort of thing. P’r’aps, as it’s painted red, it belongs to th’ Salvation Army.” The First Countryman: “No; it can’t belong to no religious folk; it says, ‘No collection on Sundays.’ ” Tho manager of Messrs. Barlow and Briggs’ establishment had been buried tho day before. His old friend Bright entered the establishment to offer his sympathies to the sta.lt. “I’m pleased to note,” he remarked, glancing around, “how you honour my late friend by hanging crape _ up there. “Crape!” replied an astonished clerk. “That’s the office boy’s towel!” . It is believed that the island of Alindarao produces tho largest llower in the world. Its habitat is high up the Paroq Mountain, which is 2500 ft. above tho level of tho sea. The natives give it the name of bolo. Its full-blown blossom, livo-petaUcd, is more than 3ft. in diameter, and weighs 221 b. The flower was first found in Sumatra, ana was called Rafflesia Sehandenhurgia, in honour of its discoverer.

“The Auckland Harbour Board’s revenue,” remarked the chairman. Air. J. H. Gunson, on Thursday, “is obviously affected in more ways than one as a result of the war conditions, but in view of the existing circumstances it is keeping up satisfactorily. Should tho present position bo relatively maintained the board anticipates no difficulty iu continuing along present lines, and every endeavour is being made to inako provision for tho employment of the present staff of employees.” Air. J. AV: 11. Scotland, the New Zealand aviator who recently accomplished a Bight from Timani to Canstchurch. arrived on Wednesday bust at the Cathedral city from Wellington with his new two-seater 60 h.p. Le Rhone Caudron bi-piane. In conversation with a- Press representative the aeronaut said he intended to establish an aerial mail between Christchurch and Timai-n. He has made arrangements with postal authorities to convey letters to and from Timaru, going there and coming back the same day. Part of the proceeds of the mail service will bo devoted to the Patriotic Fund. When tested at Home before being shipped, the biplane developed 66 to 70 h.p. Considerable discussion on finance took place at the meeting of tho High School Board on Alonday, It was agreed that ihe board would have to manage on as bttlo as possible, and that there was not hope at present of getting other than a nominal grant from the Government for the proposed <'ir!s’ boarding school. AVitb regard To the boys’ school, ,€7OO or £BOO would have to be spent in erecting an isolation ward and servants’ quarters, thus allowing tho number of boarders at Niger House to be increased. It was decided to. draw the attention of Mr. Allen to bis promises made regarding assistance towards tho cost of building tho now gymnasium and paying the rent of the present girls’ boarding house. ■‘War Specials” at The Hash; Aten’s tweed overcoats from 15s, youths’ tweed overcoats from 12s 6d, men's hydrotitos 30s. alUwool llannels (largo size) 2s 9d, strong union shirts 2s lid, all-wool Crimean shirts 6s lid, men’s strong tweed suite 255. Kaiapoi tweed suits 30s, best tailor-finished suits 70s. Remember the address: Tho Hash, Devon Street.* Get your new suit at the Melbourne, whore you’ll find all tho latest weaves and styles at prices well within your moans." Remember this: No matter what prices may bo marked pt in other shops, th© Alelbourue’s prices will always be found lower. It’s always worth while to stop along and so© what the Alclbourne is doing. It’s money iu your pocket every time.*