LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 April 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Mayor of Wanganui has received word that the Prince of Wales and Admiral '• Sir John Jellic'oc) X, will, in all probability, include Wanganui in their tour.

A Gazette issued March 27, 1919, notifies that whereas plates, cups, • butter dishes, and other table utensil of cardboard or paper are not speciolly enumerated in the tariff, they shall be charged duty at the rate of 20 per cent ad valorem, if made in British'Dominions, and 30 per cent if manufactured outside of the British Dominions.

The Wellington Mayoralty elect-on seems to be an easy thing for Labour. J. P. Luke publicly notified that bo would not be a candidate, and Mr 'T Sbailer Weston, was urged to offer his services. Now Mr. Luke, has altered his mind leaving one side of the triangle to Labour.

Mr A. C. Nicholls, proprietor of the King’s Picture Theatre, has kindly placed his theatre at the disposal of the Fire 'Brigade ,-on Fiidkiyl bight next, when a benefit programme will be screened in aid of the motor reel fund. Tickets arc now on sale, and those who have not contributed directly to the fund can buy a ticket, witness a first class programme, and at the same time help on the efforts of the local brigade to augment their plant in order to increase their fire fighting efficiency.

A schedule of increased wages and revised working conditions has been presented to the locomotive men, and the Auckland branch of the Enginedrivers’, Firemen’s and Cleaners’ Association met to consider and discuss the offer in committee on Sunday. Although the details of the offer are still a secret, they are apparently quite satisfactory to the men < Tire Minister has asked them not to make the schedule public.

A novel suggestion for raising money ;for paving roads was made at <a meeting of the OnWvunga Borough Council. It Avas that motor ears be taxed at the rate .of id per lb weight.

The electric lighting plant at Eketalnma has reached such a condition of inefficiency that the Borough Councir held a special meeting to deal Avith the matter. Several necessary .appliances wore authorised, an'd it was decided to employ an outside engineer to report upon the position generally.

A horse jumped over the fence surrounding on old well in McGee’s yard, Parkes (N.S.W.), and crashed through the rotten covering into the water. The fire brigade hose was requisitoned and the well filled to the surface from the main. The horse rose with the Avatcr and was extricated.

The Manukau electoral roll contains 12,500 names and is reported to be the largest in the Dominion. This number slioavs an increase of 1,345 names on the 1914 roll for the sanm district, after deleting aboupt i2,000f names of persons who no longer reside there.

There Avas only a moderate attendance at the Toavii Hall last night to hear Mr AV. D. Bayley, 8.A., deliver a lecture on “Prohibition,” with the characteristic. Yankee title of “Billy the Hawk.” Mr Bayley made his “Hawk Talk” very (interesting, iln which he put his side of the liquor problem forcibly.

Mr C. E. Statham, one of Dunedin’s M.Ps. and a strong Masseyite, has been giving his opinion of the National Government ot the “Dunedin Star.” “In view of flic enormous debt piled up in connection with the war,” he said, “aulcl lour liabi'Gics TJor Avar pensions and other charges, the duty of the Government was obviously to do anything to put the Dominion in the highest state of efficiency and pre-dict.'veucss-so as to meet tb; burdens imposed upon us. In these matters,” he 1 concluded, “the Government has been weighed in the balance and found

wanting. ”

Asked on Saturday whether any appointment had been made to the position of Director-General of Medical Services, Avhich s being vacated by Surgeon-Gieneraii Henderson, Sir James Allen, Minister for Defence, stated that the matter was dealt witu some time ago. Immediately following the death of Colonel Begg, who had been appointed to the post, Colonel McGavin, lihd been cabled for to come out and take control in the meantime This Avas not a permanent appointment and he could not say Avhat Avould be done Avith regard to filling the post permanently.

The Trontham Dominion Scholarships Art Union is now being vigorously pushed throughout New Zealand The fact that one shilling ticker gives the purchaser an equal chance of winning all or any of the £6,285 worth of prizes, including the first prize valued at £I,OOO, is inducing many people to invest regularly in small batches of tickets. When one considers the splendid purpose of this Art Union —to provide Scholarships for, the children of New Zealand’s soldiers and sailors —it is no wonder that the Scheme is receiving such willing support. Tickets arc on sale throughout New Zealand, at 1/ each

Mr. If. IT. Jackson, Chief Mechanical Engineer of New Zealand Railways, will retire from his position on superannuation at the end of this month. He has had 37 years’ service in tne Department, and during his term as head of the mechanical branch has been responsible for the production of an improved super-heated locomotive which shows excellent results compared with the types formerly built for the Department. It has not only been economical in running costs, but has a better haulage power, and ts able to run longer distances than the older types without having to take fresh supplies of coal and water. Its j ability to take larger loads at incroa?jed speed was largely responsible for J the reduction in the time of the Ancle- | land-Wellington express, Mr, Jackj'son’s successor will no doubt (be Mr. FG. A. Pearson, who has been Assistau | Mechaniacl Engineer for some years, [and who has had a long experience es j a railway workshops manager.