LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 April 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The pulling in connection with the Municipal elections is proceeding steadily to-day, ami the interest taken indicates that the polling will Be unusually large, if not a record. The Faloona, which has arrived at, "Wellington from San Francisco, brought news that the influenza epidemic has almost disappeared at the Californian city.

The restrictions upon the posting of newspapers to the United States of America has now been withdrawn, and papers may be posted in the usual way af any post office.

A traction engine, owned by Mr Hew* itfmn, went through the bridge over (he Mangaone stream on. Huberts' Line, on. Friday last. The engine fell right through the bridge into the stream, and the driver and his assistant luckily escaped with onlv minor injuries.

The transport Arawa is expected to arrive at Lyttelton on May 24th. She lias 60 officers. 6 nurse® and 529 of other ranks, the majority of whom belong to the South Island. No names ot any soldiers from this district appear on the list.

“The latest idea is to allow grass to grow on the sides of the streets. ’' said the. Mayor of Wanganui at a meeting of ratepayers. “You m. , mugh,” he added, “but it is claimed that grass strips on the side of a road reduced the cost of maintenance, kept down the dust, and improved (he general appearance. ,J

A suggestion was'brought up at the last meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council to construct a. traffic bridge across the Waitomata harbour. It was also suggested that the structure should be a peace memorial, the various pillars 3d the bridgp being* named alter the great battles fought in the har There is a great deal to commend this excellent suggestion.

From midnight to-day, 30 inst, the censorship on all press messages cable or inlands) is to cease.

A modern six-roomed house, beautifully and conveniently situated, on half-an-acre of land in good locality is offered for sale.

The troopship Raranga arrived at Wellington yesterday morning, and berthed at the wharf at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

As soon as the results of the Municipal elections arc known to-night, they will be projected on the screen at the Town Hall Picture Theatre, where the programme of pictures is being shown, instead of at tha King’s.

Mr. Mephan, tuner to the Bristol Piano Company, Ltd., will be in Taihape on Monday, 12th May, when all those requiring pianos tuned may secure his services. Mr. Mephan’s visit will shortly be advertised.

Therc will he no practice of the combined choirs in connection with Peace Celebrations to-night owing to counter-attractions. The next pratelice will be duly notified in these columns.

The results of the polling in the Municipal election to-day for Mayor and Councillors for Taihape will be announced to-night—the Mayoral election at 7.45 and the councillors ’ election at 9.30. The results will not be announced before these times.

Mr J. Reid, one of the candidates for the Mayoralty at Wellington, was asked the other evening at one of Ms meetings what attitude he proposed to adopt, if elected, in regard to the reception of the Prince of Wales. Mr Reid indicated that he believed the Prince was a decent sort of chap, and, that being so, he would, as Mayor, g him the sort of reception that any decent chap would get.

The mortality of tomtits and fantails in Canterbury during the snow of last year was very heavy, according to Mr. E. P. Stead, He stated that, fo} lowing on four mild seasons, the birds were becoming quite common in city gardens, but the snow had killed so many that few were loft. He hoped that all members of the Acclamatlsation Society would discourage small boys who shot at these birds or at kingfishers.

■Lovers of sport, devotees of the gun, will be wise to scan the advertisement from H. D. Bennett, Ltd., on the front page of this issue. B'ennctt, Ltd., has laid in a heavy stock of the latest and best of every shooting season requisite, which is now marked up at prices that cannot fail to attract all sporting men. The firm announces that they have full stocks of ammunition of a most varied character. In fact, whatever is required in the shooting season can now bo got at Bennett ’s, and at a price that is on the side of the purchaser.

It is not generally known that there are a great many wild cattle on the Tararua Karrgets. says Manawatn paper. Some little time ago, when! journeying from the Upper Hutt valley through the bush to the O'taki gorge, Mr. A. Seed and a companion came across a great herd of wild cattle, estimated at fully 500 head. This great herd was grazing in the bush in large basin of country at least six or seven miles beyond the Otaki Forks, lying between Mount Kopokoponui and Mt. Hector In this basin the country is comparatively open, and in the distant future will probably be broken into good farm land.

Supplies of petrol on tho local market .although not over plentiful, are sufficient to meet the demand. From time to time during the last throe years the lowness of stocks' has occa

sioned some concern to users of tho

spirit, but in recent months fair ouantitics have been available. Valuer, however, still remain, high, luotatu i s ranging from 23/ to 26/6 a case, according to grade. Those prices are about the same as those which obtained 12 months ago, but they show a very considerable increase on these existing in 1914 As dealers have no information of a decrease in values aboard, there is no immediate prospect of a fall in the existing rates in Now Zealand.