LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 126, 15 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The ladies' committee which Is engaged in raising .funds to cover the cost of tht electric light installation at the new Mountain House intends holding a garden party and floral fete in the Recreation Grounds early in February,

A resident of Barquitland, British Columbia, writing to a friend in Hastings, ■tells of an eruption which occurred at Alaska and destroyed a crop of strawberries situated 2000 miles away, ruined fabrics on clothes lines and rusted hardware in many residences and places of business. The writer goes on to say that as a result of speculation, the price of land had increased 800 per cent, in four years.

The usual weekly session of the Juvenile Temple, No. 25, was opened last night by the Chief Templar Bro. Thompson, with the Superintendant in charge. Between thirty and forty juveniles were in attendance, and they were rather disappointed a.t the non-arrival of the expected lecturer. Bro. N. T. Maunder happily came to the rescue and gave the children an interesting cHat on the dangers of alcoholism

Lieutenant Pennell, of the British Antarctic expedition's ship Terra Nova has returned to Chrktchurch from Admiralty Bay, where with other members of the ship's company he has been engaged surveying. The area surveyed was *eight miles long and three wide. Over ten thousand soundings were taken, which showed the depth of the wlwla Bay from 20 to 25 fathoms. The bottom was of mud with a few sandy patches, but there were no outlying' dangers. He also located the Hope Rock two miles off Okuri Bay, and the same distance from Tangi Point, Durvillc Island. He will depart for the Antarctic probably about the end of December. Commander Evans and Mr. Francis Drake, will leave Sydney on October 2Rth for Lyttelton.—Per Press Association.

Our Makctawa correspondent forwards additional particulars of the County Council's road roller falling through the Maketawa bridge on Saturday last. He says: —''The driver and mate must be said to have had a very narrow escape of serious injury if not being killed. From what I liavo learned, the machine did not fall right through, only being hung by the slightest bit. but sufficient to allow those aboard to get safely clear, and .also to permit lashing, etc., so as to prevent falling on to the concrete bridge underneath. This bridge in concrete has only recently been completed, and the old wooden structure is still in use to allow the new one to '"set" previous to tilling or earthwork. A ford through Mr. R. Steven's property had to be utilised for traffic, and various drivers •had a rough time in negotiating the same, hut happily without any serious accident. The engine was got clear and the bridge repaired and opened for traffic some time late on Saturday night, the County Road Inspector (Mr. Broad) being on the job in the quickest time possible. With the extended use of heavy traction engines, etc., there is no doubt the policy of the Council in erecting con-1 crete bridges was a very wise one."

The Borough Council last night adopted a special order declaring gorse, blackberry, ox-eye daisy, fennel and ragwort Boxious (weeds. ! Another photograph, that of the late Captain Davidson, has been added to the ex-Mayor's portrait gallery in the Municipal Library. The late Mr. Davidson was Mayor of New Plymouth from 1879 to 1881. Mr. W. Nosworbhy, M.P., for Ashburton, wants to know from the Prime Minister whether he will consider the propriety of arranging for t!ie w.ikly payment of the salaries of ad Civil Service and railway employees, permanent and temporary, who are in receipt of less than £315 per annum, except those stationed at plaoee not directly served by a railway?

The Chinaman who was arrested on Saturday afternoon for being intoxicated while in charge of a cart was before the Court yesterday morning. He pleaded guilty and was fined 10s. This is his first offence. When he was arrested he had nearly £3O in his possession. A first offending Maori inebriate was convicted and discharged, and ordered to pay 5s cab hire. With regard to the proposed erection of public conveniences in Brougham street, Cr. Morey last night withdrew his notice of motion rescinding all resolutions on the subject. His reason for doing this was that an alternative site, which some of the Councillors favour, has been suggested. Mr. Morey will bring on his motion again at the next Council meeting. A knotty point arose at the meeting of the Egmont County Council on Friday ( says the Star), as to the Council's position in regard 1 to forcing a contractor to make good damage done to a road in the Parihaka Road Board district. It was decided to ask Mr. Martin, the Counties' Association solicitor, to decide whether a local body may deduct money from a contractor to make good damage which may be done to a road under a road board's or town board's jurisdiction within the County boundary.

Mr. J. Clarke has received private advice from Sydney that Mr. Monk, General Manager of ishe Storage Battery-Oar Company in Australia, had made arrangements with the Australian Customs for landing the storage battery car that has been held in bond in Sydney for some three months. It is now understood that the previous arrangemente to New Zealand representatives (including two from the New Plymouth Council) to visit Australia and see the ear in operation is to be carried out within the next two weeks. Cr. Clarke has already made arrangements on his own account for visiting Australia. He will leave on Thursdav.

Half an hour of the four and a half hours' sitting of the Borough Council last night was devoted to the Huatoki stream. Cr. Buxton drew attention to the fact that the stream was still being used as a rubbish depository. Only the other day he had observed a man in Courteney street wending his way in the direction of Huatoki with a box of rubbish. Another Councillor suggested that the stream should be cleaned out; it was an awful disgrace." A third thought that it should be concreted at the bottom. The Mayor explained that the Borough Inspector had instructions to prosecute persons found dumping rubbish into its waters.

The usually weekly session of the Egrnont Lodge, No. 112, was opened by the Chief Templar Bro. F. R. Pepperell last night. A letter was received by the Electoral Deputy from Sister Grimley, who has just closed a. progressive mission in South-East Lancashire, extending over two months. In the Good Templar "Watchword" are some interesting figures setting out the numerical strength of the Order in England. At the end of February, 1911, there were 1305 Lodges with a membership of 48,781. The programme for the evening—"lmpromptu Speeches"—proved interesting and instructive. The Chief Templar's night next 'week should prove successful. With the extensioa of the Borough boundaries, the Borough Engineer (Mr. C. Skitrop) finds that he has too much ground to cover by means of a push-bike. The engineer offered to provide a motorcar, provided the Council granted him a sum per annum for its upkeep. The committee apointed to reorganise the engineer's department recommended as an alternative that the Council should purchase and maintain a motor cycle for the use of Mr. Skitrop. The Council last night deleted this recommendation from the- committee's report, and Cr. Clarke suggested that the engineer's offer be accepted. A motor-bike was, he considered, not suitable for the work. A motor-car would effect an immense saving of the engineer's time, which was valuable. He was backed up by Cr. Buxton who said that with a motor-car the Council would save indirectly more than the cost of itfi upkeep inside of sixmonths. The majority of the Council, however, wore against a> motor-ear, it being pointed out the Borough could not afford just now the cost of the maintenance of an automobile. A motor-cycle was more suitable to rough roads. Finally the Council appointed a committee to procure a motor-cycle for the ensineer. the machine, all things being equal, to be purchased locally. Crs. Mannix and Kibby asked that their votes be re corded against the motion.

In view of the contemplated visit •! about 03 Canadian Cadets to the Dominion, the Canadian Trade Commissioner (Mr. W. A. Beddoe) .wrote to the Borough Council last night asking whether it «?ould do something officially to give the lads a welcome to New Plymonth. The boys are now touring Australia, and expect to reach the Bluff on or about October 21, proceeding North, ultimately sailing from Auckland on November 22. Councillors were unanimously of the opinion that the boys should be given a warm welcome to New Plymouth. Cr. Gilbert said that he had not the slightest doubt that the citizens would be only too willing to put the boys up in their homes. He for one undertook to accommodate a couple. Seeing how hospitably the New Zealand cadets were being entertained in Canada the Mayor thought that it was onlv doing the fair thing to reciprocate that hospitality. New Zealand was lookins to Canada for a market for her dairy produce, and it would be well to take the boys in hand. Cr. Ambnry suggested that the visitors should be prevailed upon to make their stay loner enough to climb Mount Egmont. it was decided to accord the cadets a civic reception, and the Mayor and Councillors Buxton, Ambnry and Stocker were appointed a committee to act in conjunction with a citizens' committee in arranging a suitable entertainment for them.

"DAD AND THE BOYS'" STORE Is the Melbourne, of course. This week we feature many new and inviting bargains for both boys and young' men. New suits, new patterns, new fabrics, but the same old Melbourne prices, always the lowest in the land. These prices tell their own tale. Indigostriped drill 'varsity suits, 7s lid; plain indigo 'varities, 8s 9d; linen 'varsity suits, 9s Gd; tussore 'varsity suits, ids 9d ; others, lis Gd to ISs 6d; boys. Kaiapoi Norfolk suits 13s 9d to'l9s Gd; Roslvn Norfolk's, lus Gd to 21s; Petone Norfolks, las Gd to 21a; Petone Norfolks, smart grey patterns, 15s Od to 21s; bovs' Norfolk extension knicker suits, IGs Gd, 22s Gd to 29s Gd; stylish threegarment worsted suits, for big boys and young men, sizes 13 to 18, beautifully tailored and finished, each suit boxed, fabrics and fine colonial tweeds and smart worsteds in browns, greens and bronzes, prices 355, 37s fld and 39s fld—fi'nes,t young men's suits in the province.

A petition is being circulated in, Wellington for signature asking the City Council to take a poll of ratepayers on the question of making the unimproved value Mie basis of rating for all rates, instead of for one or two only.

\isterday morning the Hawera branch 01 tlie Veterans' Association, despatched the following telegram to Mr. G. V Pearce, member for Patea:— "Hawera veterans are dissatisfied with the Milifcuy Pemsons Bill. Can you co-operate with Mr. Okey to have it made more acceptable '!" Messrs. Gillies and Nalder concluded their supplementary spring horse fair in Hawera on Saturday with satisfactory results. The sale exceeded anticipations. The -highest price was £47, for a eplendid stamp of a draught animal. Other good sorts eomraaned from £36 to £42, and milk cart horses realised' from £lB to £22 10s, while light horses fetched from £l2 to £l7. Hacks and harness- horses sold well.

Captain Black, secretary of the local branch of the Veterans' Association, has received communications from the Hons. 0, Samuel, and T. Kelly, and Mr. Okey, M.P., condemning the Military Pensions Bill now before the House. It.was against Mr. Kelly's advice, however, that last Saturday's meeting in protest against the Bill was held, when Mr. A. Standih-h roundly condemned the Government of last year for the Aet it had passed on the subject.