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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 145094, 20 September 1916, Page 2

Tlio Cool; County Council Ims refused to grunt new billiard licenses during the war, and the subject came up before the iSuprcmo Court at its recent .sitting at Gisborne, The Chief Justice, however, supported the action af the council as not an improper exorcise of discretion.

Sergeant Roy Okey has been promoted to quartermaster. Whilst at *n military college in .France ho won the college championships for long and high jumps, and in a letter to his parents chronicling this fact, ho adds: “So you will see I am still keeping very lit.” The professorial board of Canterbury College have decided to take steps to procure last year’s Rhodes scholarship —now vacant through the death at the front, in Franco ot the holder, Lieutenant Athol Hudson, of Nelson—fur Rifleman A. C. Ponder, a distinguished student of Canterbury College, who was second on the list in last year’s election. Rifleman Ponder is now at the front.

Scotch women enjoy the reputation of being canny, clean and thrifty, consequently you can’t shift them from “No Rubbing Laundry Help’i for washing clothes clean. Seven weeks’ supply Is.* For Children’s’Hacking Cough, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.

The cargo on hoard the Tongariro at the time of the wreck was valued at about £220,000, while the value of tne portion salvaged is estimated at £12,800. Mmc. Olga Petrova,, the beautiful Metro artist, is featured lu “What Will People Say?” a. Metro wonderplay, which opens its season of four nights at tjie People’s on Friday next. Plan of reserved seats now open at Hoffmann’s. What is considered a record price in New Zealand for a big line of sheep was put up last week, when Messrs. Dalgety aind Go. sold 15J0 wethers to two lending Dunedin butchers at £2 per head. Those sheep were sold on behalf of Mr. R. Acton Adams, and were grown on his Wildcn Estate at Heriot. The crisis in the news print paper situation, which already has cut clown newspaper profits enormously, will not be reached till late October, when contracts oomo up for renewal, according to reports received from many sources by the Federal Trade Commission (says a message from Washington to the Australian papers).' The Presidential elec. Cion and tbo war arc expected to increase an already uivparailelled demand for news print, which manufacturers tell the Trade Commission they will hardly be able to meet. This year, for the first time, they have not been able to lay up a large reserve during the summer.

An illustration of tho groat shipping profits' that are being made out of the war is afforded in recent balance-sheets. Furness, Withy, and More's profits for tho year ended in April last were £1,386,960, on an issued capital of £3.500,000, of which half is in 5 per cent, preferences. Tho excess profits payable hy the company to the Chancellor of the Exchequer exceed £200,000. Tho ordinary shareholders receive 20 pet cent., and the equivalent of lo pot cent, is transferred to a contingencies’ fund. Messrs. W. and C. Jones, of Cardiff, with only 13 steamers, made a profit on the year of £524.855, representing 187 per cent, on a capital of £280.000. Tho previous year's profit was £87.000

Whether our National Antlicnt is n, satisfactory piece of tvork or not, is exercising the minds of poets and musicians, says a London paper. As a poetic effort it certainly cannot be said to bo so: the rhyme in places is decidedly faulty, and the metaphor not of tlie best. The music, moreover, is said to be not by any means English, but is borrowed (let as blush to own it 1) from a Gorman melody. Mr. Cyril Cobb, who is an authority on such matters, proposes to restore the opening line to its original form—“ God Save our Lord tho King," and ho suggests thatthis would mako little difference. Neither “Lord the King/’ nor “Gracious King, 7 ’ nor “Noblo King" makes an ideal dactyl, any more than “over us” is an acceptable rhyme to “glorious.” It may bo doubted whether any other country has a National Anthem which fnVs so far in point of workmanship below our own National Anthem, which, if tuneful, is certainly, from tho bardic, viewpoint, anything but poetry. And wo will say nothing of the air being more or less of Teutonic, origin.

The most spectacular motor-ear action picture yet obtained by a camera -was (limed recently near Santa Barbara, California, when a touring car leaped a chasm of 33ft. wide and 21ft. deep. It landed safely on the other side with Mft. to spare, tho total distance of the flight being 17ft. Three passengers wore carried on the perilous journey, and none of tho passengers were injured, and tho car was unharmed. The car was driven 1000 ft. on a temporary hoard inclined to give it the momentum necessary for its long leap through the air. It had attained a speed of .50 miles an hour when it loft the incline built on the approach side of tho gulf. When tho flvmg car shot off the incline into tho air it described a graceful arc, and landed squarely on tho road bed, lift, beyond the brink of the gorge. When the car landed on tho other side- of the gorge it continued on its way up the road until it was brought to a stop by its daring driver. As proof of the ease with which the ear and passengers withstood the hazardous experiment, they immediately drive to tho city in the same ear in which they made their motor-car flight. A Victorian man, now with Australian artillery somewhere in France, writing to a .sister in Melbourne, tolls of rather curious experiences. “Things are eventful enough hero in the ordinary course of events, goodness knows, but they aro made livelier for mo by reason of my extraordinary resemblance to the Crown I’rince. I never noticed it till the fact, was forced on mo, hut. it’s true. I'm pitifully like the bounder. Get a good photograph of Little "Willie and judge for yourself. How do you think the lamentable fact has been forced upon me? 1 have been twice captured by Allied troops and taken before tho commanding officer under suspicion of being the Crown Prince in disguise! On the first occasion ihc C.O. was a bit impressed, and it had to he demonstrated that I was not the Kaiser's hopeful heir. The second event, of course, was treated as rather a pood joke, and upon my soul the little Frenchmen -who captured me looked so bitterly disappointed on finding out their mistake that I was half sorry I wasn’t W. llolienzollern, junior. 1 even apologised. No mau could do more.”

In a. dispatch from tho Grand General Headquarter* of the German army of the Somme, dated July 23, Karl Wiogand, sniff correspond out of tho New York World, describes tho Kaiser’s visit to a. church which tho correspondent was permitted to attend. "Kaiser Wilhelm has aged considerably,” says Wiegaud. “His hair has turned very grey, his expression has become more serious, his manner more grave.” After the service 'Wiegaud says he stood fifty foot from tho Kaiser while ho described to tho military roprosontatives of the Kings of Saxony and Wurtombcrg what lie saw on the Somme front. The Kaiser talked lor tweuty-fivo minutes, and at times has face was almost fiercely earnest. Lie New York Journal of Commerce. America’s lending business paper, editorially declares that some ol the recent utterances of tbo Kaiser raise the question whether his mind is not seriously unbalanced. Tho journal declares that there may be nothing strange at tho Kaiser’s oft-expressed claim of divine authority, but when he tolls his soldiers that Britain brought on tlte war to destroy Germany and “the most peaceful and peace-loving peop.e m the world.” no conclusion is possible hardly except that his utterances are the ovoduct of a hopelessly unbalanced mind.

Horn's tennis shirts are at last year a prices ot- The Jjtd. This entirely due to our having landed a big shipment of material salved from the wrecked steamer Rangatira. See these in the show windows. Horrockses white matte tennis shirts, 3s lid; Horrockses white mercerised stripes, 4s lid; Horrocksos’ white mercerised repps., 4s lid; mercerised cotton tussores, 4s lid.

Clara Kimball Young delighted a largo audience at the People’s last night in the five-reel photo-play “Marrying Money.” Seats for this evening may be reserved at Hoffmann's; after 5.30 ring theatre 548. In July last, the exports of butter were 7158 ewt, valued at £53,985, as against 5037 ewt, valued at £42,v86, for July, 1915. For the first seven months of this year the exports of butter totalled 203,131 ewt, valued at £1,403,146, as compared with 217,756 ewt, valued at £1,287,420 for the first seven months of last year. It will ho noted that while some 14,000 ewt less were exported during the seven mouths the value was £115,000 grcatei.

The Gazette announces that the exportation of sheepskins without wool, pig skins and pelts to any part of the British Dominions is now permitted; that the export of rennet i-s prohibited, and the importation of soap of foreign manufacture is also prohibited. _ The Gazette contains a further list of additional companies, firms and persons declared to bo enemies.

Another of the popular series of euchre parties arranged by the Kawaroa Park Society was held in the Good Templar Hall on Tuesday and was largely attended. There were thirty tables engaged In the euchred tournament, whilst a large number attended for tho dance. The winners at euchre were;— Ladies; Mrs. A. Bullot 1, Miss I. Turman 2. Gentlemen: Air. T. Boulton 1, Mr. B, Bullot 2. Messrs. 0. George and W. APLcan wore capable M.C.’s. At a parade of tile Boy Scouts at the Whiteloy Hal! on Tuesday night—tho first since the amalgamation of the Whitolcy and Vogcltown corps—Major F. W. Sandford was in command. Thirty-three scouts paraded, and five others were accounted for. Good work was done, and a syllabus of parados was drawn up. A vote of thanks to the Whiteloy Hall authorities, who have generously allowed the Scouts tho free use of the hall for parades purposes, was passed. Mr. .1. Brown, chairman tho Taranaki County Council and a_ member of the Hospital Board, mol with an accident near Okato on Tuesday afternoon. It is presumed that something occurred to the steering gear of the car ho was driving, with the result that it left the road. Air. Brown was discovered lying on the road and was brought into the New Plymouth 'Hospital, where ho was found to be suffering from a dislocated shoulder and wounds in tho head and wrist. Upon inquiries to-day we were informed that .Mr. Brown was progressing satisfactorily.

Tho armv has. says a London paper, started to grown its own potatoes, instructions have been sent, or are being sent, from tho War Office to every command. indicating the lines which should he followed. .Military requirements are very large, and little more than half the* usual supplies of potatoes arc coming into tile markets, with the result that pre-war prices to the, public aro nearly doubled. If the nrmy_ can supply most of its own needs the situation will be cased. The potatoes are to lie planted in rows between tho .huts. A number of men aro being fold off each day for digging, and others are being asked to help in spare time. It is understood that instructions will soon be. issued for tho growing of vegetables. Mesdamcs Hugh Daily and Morrison acknowledge with thanks the following donations to their fund for Christmas parcels for tho boys at the front;— Mrs. Martin 10s, -Mrs. and Miss Devonisb ss, a friend 2s 6d, Miss M. Hoy 2» Cd, F. Thompson 2s Gd, Mrs. Martin (Smart Road) 10s, Mrs. Smith (Egmont Road) ducks, Mrs. Sorensen (Smart Road) produce, Mrs. R. Skelton (Smart Road) produce. Mrs. H. Skelton produce, Mrs. Gregg eggs, Mrs. Roch profiller, Mrs. Lock poultry, Mrs. Bounsall produce, Mrs. Parker produce, Mrs. Reid poultry, Mrs. Smith (Carrington Road) eggs. Donations for stall can be left at Mr. Hugh Daily’s office on Wednesday all day and Thursday morning. It is computed that since the beginning of tho war the boots branch of tho "Royal Army Clothing Department has given orders for about 2G,(100,000 pairs of boots, including British, Serbian. French, Russian, Italian, and Bclpiau boots, and that of the total dcinand Northampton alone has supplied one-fourth, or over 100,000 pairs a week. The following are interesting figures Serbia 000,000 pairs, Italy ■150,000 pairs, France 2,000,000 pairs, Russia, ankle boots 3,000.000 pairs, Russia, “Cossack” boots (now being made) 3,000,000 pairs. Owing partly co tiieir pre-occupation with army contracts, partly to depletion of their staffs of male operatives, and partly to restrictions imposed by the Government on the disposal by tanners ami merchants of learner suitable for army purposes, boots and shoe manufacturers have found great difficulty in supplying tho demands of flic civilian market. “A great story is going the round of the trendies about one of the Parliamentary visitors,” writes a Gisborne soldier in France. “Tho visitor was fitted out in one of Lieutenant Soddon's tunics, and of course, the star on the uniform got the salute it was entitled to from all tho men who went passed. The M.B. was hugely delighted and insisted on shaking hands with all who saluted him, thinking he was being recognised by old supporters. Ho said io nearly all,' • 1 know your face, where have 1 seen you before ?’ and did quite a lot of electioneering in tho trenches. Nevertheless lie was a sport. Ac ono place ho was in the Huus opened a bombardment, and between the shots ho was out from under cover looking for curios. Another member grew rather excited when shown throe aeroplane photographs of the sector ho had been over. Ho seized tile hand of one of the officers and shaking i* vigorously said, ' Man, to-day I Have lived; yes lived, lived, lived.’”Messrs. K. D. and F. Man, brokers to the Admiralty, had the distinction of soiling, in the interests of the seamen of tho Grand. Fleet, four barrels of rum, tho gift of the Agricultural Society of Jamaica, The barrels were consigned to the care of the "West India Committee, with a request to see that they were presented to the navy. Faced with the impossible task of distributing the nun among so many men, H was decided, after consultation with tho brokers, to offer tho whole consignment for sale, and the event was widely advertised. Tho total amount realised by the sale and re-sale of the four barrels, tho real value of which was about £2B, was £lll3. and this sum, together with £IB obtained by the sale at the same time of four old prints of Vr’csi Indian interest, the gift of an anonymous donor, was banded over to the West India Committee to use for the benefit of tho men of tho Grand Fleet.

Saturday bargains at the Regal Shoo Store :—Children’s kip hoots, 7’s to 10’s, (is; girls’ ‘2-bar chronic shoes. 7’s to lo’s, 6s; women’s glace kid button boots, 12s fid; women’s black velvet bar shoes, Os (id; farmers’ IJyb-’.eg leather stockyard boots,, 20s; mi... s strong nailed boots, 13s lid; large assortment women’s evening shoes from 4s lid,*-

The Napier tramway figures for August were as follows:—Revenue, £665 12s lid (increase of £l2 10s 8d over the same period of last year); passengers carried, 106,251 (increase 4044); car miles, 11,686 (increase 130); car hours, 1474 (decrease 45); units, 18,444 (decrease 692); expenditure, £535 12s 2d (decrease £32 11s 2d). < Describing the ships of war that he had seen, Colonel R. Heaton Rhodes, at his reception at Southbridge last week, stated that the dummy battleships were the weirdest things he had ever seen. The enemy managed to torpedo ono of these ono day, and they were amazed to see the sailors sitting on tho guns. The guns, of course, were wooden, and were consequently the. safest things to float on. Further inquiry at hotels in and about Dunedin, says the correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, leads to the opinion that the fright about the effects of tlie anti-shouting legislation is now quietly lessening. There was a noticeable falling off in he first, week’s tailings. In tho second week tho regular customers seemed to be returning and getting used to the new style of things, and returns aro apparently comiug'back to normal. That is tho experience, at any rate, in several of the busiest bars.

“To my mind a most improper system, a discreditable system, and ono that should not bo allowed to exist.” This (says a Christchurch paper) was Air. Justice Dennistou’s comment at the Supreme Court when, mention was made of the practice of some 'laud agents after seeing an advertisement of a property for sale by another land agent to apply to the latter offering to introduce a buyer if given a commission. His Honour added that the agent was supposed to watch the interests of tho buyer (his client), and not to obtain payment from the other party.

Tho migration of myriads of sea-lice from the beach at Happy Valley (Wellington) on to tho hills at tho back of tho road was witnessed on Friday last, and is described by spectators as “most uncanny,” The little insects are somewhat similar to tho common woodlice, hut are slightly bigger. The Post says they have apparently been driven out of their usual haunts on the beach by the exceptionally high tides, and have taken to tho hills for refuge. Alillions upon millions of tho insects crossed the road, and the general _effect on first sight was that the entire road was on the move. The sensation experienced by pedestrians crunching over the sealice was decidedly unpleasant.

According to a statement made In the Wellington Police Court by Inspector Hendrey, there are 100 Chinese living on the lottery business in Wellington, and the “privilege of allowing these aliens to remain in our midst costs us £30,000 a year.” As many ns twonty-four banks are drawn a day, and the operations are secret, so that the probability is that the pakapoo investors are swindled. The inspector represented the necessity of something drastic being done to bring the business to an cud. So far as the Chinese going to prison were concerned, ho explained that it rested with their wealthy bankers in the background to decide whether their fines should bo paid or they should be allowed to undergo incarceration, for which they would receive a consideration of £3 a week.

The Auckland Acclimatisation Society recently sought permission from the Department of Internal Affairs to import thcr little dove from Australia. A reply was read to a meeting of the society last week, in which the Undersecretary for the Department wrote stating that he had been advised that it the bird wove acclimatised it would have to change its habits and live, on seeds different from those it had been used to in Australia. Mr. C. A. IMiitney said Major Whitney had imported the little dove seven years ago, and they had thriven well at Waiwera. It was decided to write to the department, informing it that the society was assured that success would follow the, general introduction of the little dove to Now Zealand, and renewing its application tor the required permit. In his speech at Southbridge last week, Colonel R. Heaton Rhodes related some amusing incidents that had come under his personal .observation at Gallipoli. One of them was as follows ; A certain. British officer who bad to inspect Australian troops wore an eye-glass. One day the men determined to imitate him by placing tleir identity discs in the position occupied by an' eye-glass. “You would make blooming fine monkeys; do this, ecu blighters,” .remarked the officer as soon as he had recovered from his as ■..t'.shmont, and he threw his cyo-glass in the air aud caught it again within luscjobrow. The meu were overjoyed to hear , the officer speak their slang language, and recognizing that by catching Ins eve-glass in the manner described le could perform a, feat they could net, they became, his devoted followers from that moment, and he could pet thorn to do anything for him. Private J. Floyd, of Masterton, who is in an ambulance corps, writing from Franco, says;—“l have a-great admiration for the Scotty. They are all so cheerful. Those X have met and varned with are as good as Harry Lauder. You would require an interpreter to understand some of them. One strolled into the dispensary the other day. Ho had two ol his lingers jammed in a gate, ' It’s a peety they'll nao cam’ off.’ ho said, ‘for I’d ho awav liiune.’ Then he gave ns somu of his experiences since joining in September. 1914. ‘Jock,’ thcy | says, vo’ll haf to lavo saxpenee a day to the wife, ye ken. Hae, an’ a penny a day for each child. Hae, an’ I have seven, ve ken. And gettin’ a Jiob a day. It eouldna be done.’ Well, 1 enjoyed about two hours in his company, and never had such an entertainment in my life.” The extraordinary prosperity of the steel and iron industry, cliielly as a result of the European war, was disclosed bv the publication of the second quarterly statement of the . United States Steel Corporation for, 1916. It showed total earnings of 81,130,043 dollars, net income of 71.380,222 dollars, aud surplus balance of 47,964,535 dollars, after payment of regular dividends of 15 and 1-t" per cent respectively on the preferred and common shares, and an extra dividend of 1 per cent on the common. These figures, which constitute new records, show increases over the previous quarter of 20,412,424 dollars in total earnings, 20,161,103 dollars in net income.' and" 13,110,363 dollars iu surplus. They were far beyond the estimates of the financial community. For tlic first half of the year earnings increased 101.431.808 dollars over the corresponding period of 1915, and the total balance of. 111,219,132 dollars represents an increase of 105,731,510 dollars. The balance for the second quarter is equal to almost 47 per cent on the outstanding common stock, and for the first half-year the balance, applicable to common dividends is almost 39 per cent DON’T. FORGET, ■ neglected colds lead to consumption, i SYKES’S CURA COUGH leads to a cure. Is 6d, all stores.

A total of 21,014,772 gallons of water was used by the people of Napier during August, being an increase of 777,720 gallons over the quantity used during the same month last year.

The East End Committee desires to thank the band for their attendance at the farewell function to their, late secretary, also for Sunday’s concert; also Mrs. Stroud, Mrs. Haines, Miss M. Gunson, and Mr. W. Hardgreaves, for providing the'tea, etc.

The Chatham Islands,, schools are now under tho jurisdiction of the Canterbury Board of Education, and in that remote spot it is difficult to, secure qualified teachers. Recently a school inspector asked of the teacher-he found in charge of a small school,: “What certificate do yon hold?” Back camo the astonishing hut truthful answer, “ A second mate’s, air.”

In the course of a private letter to Hawera, dated July-27, Air. R. H. Nolan says; ‘TV©' have over 3000 wounded and sick Now Zealanders in England. Everyone is visited by the War Contingent Association’s official visitors within about twenty-four hours of his arrival. No men are now get-. ting leave from France—this is owing to the groat' ‘drive’ now. on.” ; It is not generally known that oranges cau.be grown in the Wairarapa, but Mr. Aleenken,of Clareville, has demonstrated that. it., can *be .done. On Saturday he showed a Daily Nows reporter a ripo orange on. a branch, just cut from , the tree. The fruit was a good size, and Air. Aleenken says the flavour ,is excellent. He is convinced that oranges can be grown in the district.. ....

A.Christchurch resident'has just received two postcards from a. relative who has been a prisoner .of war m; Turkey since the early part of August, 1915. The postcards state that- the prisoners are well fed.and, are in.good health, but a complaint is made that though every other unit among. the prisoners has had money sent •to Tt at times, the New Zealanders have nob received a penny since the time-they were captured. Iron workers in New Zealand are more or less anxious about the supply of raw material. Christchurch foundries are said to be very short. In Dunedin the position, is not so bad. Inquiries made show that manufacturers are able to rub along, and-thanks to shipments from India they can see their way clear for. two or _ three months. The consumption of pig and sheet iron in Dunedin . and Port Chalmers is about 200 tons a month. A manufacturer who is in a position to know says he thinks that if the war lasts long half the foundries in the Dominion will have to shut, down in six months from now.' In "the. meantime the supply from India has saved the situation, and in the opinion of those in tho trade the. Union Company has done its very best to land supplies from that market.

We are informed, says the Star, that the Taranaki outputs of ■ . heese for the coming season are being sent through the following firms: J. J. Lonsdale and Co.; Mangimki, Av-a-tuna, Kaponga, Kaupo.'wnui, Ru crdale, one half of Eltha-m, Kohi, Sarnia (Whenuakura), and Oaoanui. Lovell and Christmas: Ngaore, Normanby, Ararata, Jolls, Manutahi, riiakyviiie, Whenuakura, and Maturoa. Henry A. Lane and Co.: Hawera, Lowgarth, Kakaramea and Tirimoua. Andrew Clements and Sons; Block, Hells' and half Eltham; Joseph Nathan end Co.: Cardiff, Oxford Road, Pihama, and Kahui. ' Collett and Co.: Patna, Tariki, Franldey Road, and Opua Road. Roivson and Hodgson: Alton and To Huia. W, Weddell and Co.; Raliotu, J. B. M’Ewan and Co.: Warea. Dalgety and Co.: Waverley. S.",T. Navanas and Co.: Heremere. In common with civilian communities in the Wellington and Wairarapa districts, the military training camps felt the violence of the westerly gales which raged last week. Tents were blown down in the canvas camps, and general discomfort caused in the permanent camps. At Fcatherston an empty 600galion tank was set in rapid motion by the wind, and travelled from the waterpumping station to the main road in a series of bounds. On the main road was a battery of artillery going out to prac-‘ tioe. The tank struck the wire fence, rebounded, and then leaped the obstruction, passing immediately in . front of the battery leader’s horse. The tank leaped the other fence, and dashed on, till it reached the Tauherenikan riverbed. At Tauherenikan an even more astonishing occurrence took place. A similar tank broke any and careered down the avenue between two rows of tents. A soldier,, who-saw' it coming, ran before it. but the tank was overtaking him. In desperation ho dived into a tent. By a whim of the wind the tank wheeled, too, and... striking the tent-pegs and ropes, leaped clean over the tent.

Private Ray Obey, writing from France, where ho is acting as a dispatch rider, refers to a visit to the front by Hr. C. Carncross, M.L.C., Sir James Carroll and Messrs.- Parr and Lee M.P’s. Having been supplied with Private Okoy’s, number, and also that of his brother "Lionel by their father, Mr. H. Okcy, M.P., the Parliamentarians asked for permission to see the boys- Accordingly they were granted a few hours’ leave and spent a very interesting afternoon with their visitors. Before returning to the trenches the boys did a little shopping, and on the way back Private Okcy sa.ys a few shells were dropping about and a small piece of one that was .spent struck one of the pockets of his coat in which he had a tin of condensed milk. He was lucky, however, “not even feeling it,” but adds; “You should have seen the mess I, was in with-a-tin of milk bashed in in my pocket.” In another letter Private 'Obey says that close to wFero he is stationed there is a good crop of ripened oats, but ho would like to'see the man who would take on the job of harvesting it. “

Sir Henry Lucy, writing to the Sydney Morning Herald from Westminster on July 22. said:—“The advance of the lilies 'on the German entrendiments, slow but steadily sure, lias revived the long-insistent of late intermitted, inquiry, 1 How long do you think the war will ‘last f ’ Before the ‘ push started 1 put the question to onr most eminent naval authority. Ho said, The Queen asked me tho same question yesterday. 1 fdvo you the answer 1 gave her Majesty. Tho war will be brought to iiu cud in February, ,1918.’ This is a startlingly disappointing estimate by a man who has exceptionally wide and well-founded information. It carries on the probable duration of the war fully twelve months beyond the date at wliicli the generality of cautions people put it. As’l have mentioned, this conversation took place sonic weeks ago, before the Allies on tho western front boean to move. Talking about the same time with another authority, he gave confident assurance that before tho coming winter is over Germany will bo starved out, and- compelled to sue for peace. Of course the simple fact is that the wisest man amongst us has no certain knowledge on. the subject.”...

Private Lionel 01.ey. in a recent letter to Ms ■parents, says that he is keeping well and has jn st been spending a week at a grenade school. It is notified for general information 'that the G.P.0., London, has agreed to accept parcels from New Zealand for delivery to tin© New Zealand Expeditionary Forces up to 111 b. in weight. ‘•The Commonwealth of Nations,” referred to in out leading columns today, is published by Messrs. Macmillan and Co., Ltd., of London, at six shillings. ' In the Magistrate’s Court this morning , before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., Daniel Fitzpatrick, an old offender, ■who was found drunk on the Esplanade on Tuesday night, was remanded for on© week for medical treatment. W© are informed by the lion, secretary of the Ngamotu Seaside Resort Co., Ltd., a company promoted for the development of the Moturoa seaside that applications for shares are coming in rapidly, and it is - anticipated that the directors will have -received the minimum authorised to go to allotment (2000) by Saturday ncxL The ladies arc interesting themselves in the matter, applications for shares having already been received from ladies who are axious to help in this important work inaugurated in the interest of tho town. The recent stormy weather and attendant high tides have made many changes along the coast. The Wailii heach is almost unrecognisable. In some places inroads have been made into' the. cliff by the sea, the mouth of tho stream has quite altered, while sandy stretches have disappeared, and huge boulders, with a_ papa bottom, tak© their place. Within the last few years the cliff has been falling away rapidly in this locality, and it is safe to say that acres of good grazing Country have been washed out to sea. The outlook is none too pleasant for the owners of land, whose boundary lines along tho coast are being so ■ materially altered, with no possibility of compensation.—Hawcra Star.

At tha Holland, Hall to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon there will be displayed the Christmas gifts collected by Sirs. Hugh Baily and Mrs. X). K. Morrison for dispatch to the Taranaki men at the front. In addition there will be a produce stall, flower stall, perfume and soap stall, and ice cream and fruit salad stall. Hero will bo obtainable all sorts of produce, such as sucking pigs, poultry, eggs, butter, cheese, vegetables,'and also cakes made from a, special recipe forwarded by, a . New Plymouth lady in whose family it has been for a hundred yoara. There will also be an afternoon tea stall, and to enliven the proceedings Mrs. Woods’ orchestra will play a specially prepared 'musical programme. The charge for admission will be only sixpence, and the. whole of the proceeds, from sales and everything, will be devoted to the purpose of providing Christmas gifts for the boys at the front. Under these circumstances we need hardly ask the public to be generous in their patronage.