LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 273, 28 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

''Mother" writes to the editor expressing appreciation of the Borough Council's action in the formation of crossings on the footpaths in Devon Street West. The perambulator is now much more easily manoeuvred than it was under the old order of things. The cash system is gradually replacing the credit system with business people throughout the Dominion, and in many provincial towns, businesses are being conducted strictly on cash lines without distinction. Business people are beginning to break down the old conservative notion that credit is essentia! to success. There is a certain nocturnal vehicle that is to bo seen in different parts of the borough which' is left standing on the side of the road with no light while the driver makes peregrinations. A contributor says that he nearly came to grief the other evening while motor cycling. The color of the venicle does not show up well on a dark night, and it was only the suspicious atmosphere that saved him from an "awful" fate.

The shooting season opens on Saturday. A news reporter was informed yesterday that reports have been received from all parts of Taranaki indicating that there will be more birds about th's itason than in previous years. There are plenty of pheasants, and Califoriiian quail are so plentiful that they are becoming a nuisance in some parts, while ducks are in small numbers. An excellent breding season is the piincipal cause of the large supply of birds. A close season has been declared for nati.'e nigions. The shooting st.ason will extend to July 81. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the Church of England Men's Society was held last evening, a good attendance of members being present. The annual report and balancesheet showed that there was a membership of forty-two. The officers elected were:—President, the Vicar (the Rev. 0. 11. Colvile); vice-presidents, '.Messrs. E. B. Kingdon and H. Fookes; committee, Messrs. 11. Baker, C. S. List and (1. Moverley; secretary, Mr. J. G. List; treasurer, Mr. E. B. Kingdon; auditor, Mr. J. Paton.

The sitting of the Magistrates' Court yesterday was presided over by Mr. A. Crooke, S.M. Judgment Was given for plaintiff in default of defendants appearing in the following cases :—Taranaki County Council (Mr Ron. Quilliam) v. Thomas Willing, £2 ISs 5d (£1 costs), J. S. Fox (Mr. A. 11. Johnstone) v. W. ,). Lillas, £ti lis lid (£1 lis (id). In the judgment summons case, Hugh Hielly (Mr A. R. Standish) v. Robert Spenee, defendant was ordered to pay the amount owing and costs, £3 13s 4i\, before April 30th, in default four days' imprisonment.

In view of the formation of the new military unit which the Imperial Government lias accepted, a number of ollicers. who were attached to the Fourth Reinforcements have been transferred to the new force. They include Colonel Fulton (late of the Ghurka Rifles, who was in New Zealand when the war broke out, and has since been in Samoa), Major Cl-.ilds (Timaru), Captain Harvey Bell (Wanganui), Lieuts. Harding and Elder (Wanganui College Old 'Boys), Lieut. Power (Timaru) and Sergts. Ilolderness (Wellington), Castle (Gisborne) and McAlister (Wellington).

What good roads mean to the settler was exemplified at a meeting of the Stratford County Council on Saturday (icports the Post). Or. Anderson stated that on the tarred road in the Eltham county near his farm, two horses could poll out 'with close on two tons of stuff, but previous to the era of improvement it took two horses all they knew to pull a ton. There was not only the upkeep of horses to be considered, but an extra man for a whole, day. The same thing applied to the dairy companies. On the old road they could not use motor lorries, and the cost of cartage was 18s a ttiij whereas now with good roads and lorries it was only from 6s to 7s per ton.

The residents of New Plymouth who have money, but who never donate anything to the town, were strongly condemned by .the Mayor (Mr. J. E. Wilson) at, the meeting of ratepayers in the Town Hall on Monday night. There were, he said, some few gentlemen who'left seme little things to the town after they died, but what was • wanted were gifts to the town by those who could afford it while they lived, and he instanced the magnificent gifts which Auckland and other cities had received from citizens. It was not t!ie gentlemen with money who did anything for New Plymouth, but the men who helped the town could bo found spending their afternoon at work improving the beaches and other pleasure resorts. The Mayor suid he felt strongly on the matter, for it was the working man of New Plymouth who was working to advance the town, while the citizens with money would not come forward to do anything for the town. Mr. J. Clarke supported these remarks and said that the citizens of New Plymouth could not be induced to take any pride in the town. If the wealthy citizens would only come forward, New Plymouth could be made one of the most attractive towns in the Dominion.

Residents of the Omata district met in the hall last night to consider wit. s and means of raising funds for the relief of the Belgians. Mr. D. Hooker presided over a very fair attendance. Mr. Meycnberg brought forward several alternative schemes, and after a short discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs Vickei's and Bayly, to form a committee to canvass the district for goods and money, and that such committee shall determine what form the raising of the funds shall take. The following committee was elected: Mesdames Clemow, Hooker, Penwarden, and Moore (with poivcr io add) and Messrs E. R. Bayly, E. Clemow, I). Hughes, D. Penwarden, C. Moore, S. Vick'ers, J. Crockett, 1). J Hooker, and C. J. Shrimpton. The committee at once got to work,, Mr. D. Hooker being appointed chairman and Mr, Meyenberg secretary. Various portions of the district were assigned io diil'erent members, so that no one in the district may be" able to say that they were not asked to assist in the good cause.

The Greytown Standard Bays that what must be considered a record price for fat lanihs is 25s per head, this being thi» price obtained by a resident of Papawai road for a line of Romneys,

It is feared that cattle in the back country of the Wairarapa will have a bad time during the coining winter, owing to the rough feed 'having been eaten dowr> in the recent drought. A Napier young man who did not attend drill put 'in the novel plea that his wife was nervous, and could not be left alone. 'Die Magistrate said the plea was too ridiculous for words, and lie refused to accept it. The old boys o/ the New Plymouth High .School propose to 'have a football club' this year. At a meeting of old boys held at the High School last night Mr. 13. Ham'blyn was appointed secretary, and a committee was appointed to circularise old boys seeking membership for the club.

The question of whether the New Plymouth rate would be increased when the new hospital was in use was put to Mr. (1. W. Browne (wlio is a member of the Hospital Board) at his meeting last night. The question was answered by Mr. F. C. J. Bellringer (chairman of the Board) who said that the rate fixed for last year (Is in the £100) had been fixed as the rate for this year. Some time ago officials from several of the New Plymouth oil weels made an inspection of the country in the neighborhood of Cheal Road, Ngaere, and asked permission of the farmers to bore at some future date. On several occasions signs of oil have been found, and yesterday in boring for water at the factory Mr. Prideaux Leonid only find oil and gas. : These signs are indeed promising.—l Argus. Farmers along the coast are notified that Mr. H. G. Sergei, the Instructor in Agriculture recently appointed by the Taranaki Education Board, will visit their district this week and give an interesting address on "Some of the problems before us." As the farmer is anxious to glean any knowledge that will enable him to obtain the be9t results from his land, there should be good attendances at each meeting. To-night, Mr. Sergei will be at Omato, to-morrow at Oakura, and Friday at Okato. Miss Alyee Austin is a petite dark young lady with a winning smile and a captivating, fascinating manner, which give to her work as an entertainer an irresistible charm. She is supporting Mr. Joseph Blaschcck, the great English humorist, in his popular "Society Snap-shots " entertainment at the Theatre Royal to-night. During their recent tour in Australia and Tasmania, she has created a furore by a series of .novel selections of musical sketches at the piano. Dolores called her, " The sweetest little singer in Australia." The New Plymouth Horticultural Sock ty's annual siiow will be held in the Good Templar Hall to-morrow. An interesting exhibition is promised, and : n adidtion to amateur cxliibiVluis there will be exhibitions by.the loid nurserymen. Chldren with parents will, he admitted free. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., draw the attention of clients to their To Wera sale, which they are holding in their To Wera yard's on Friday, 30th inst. Full particulars will be found in our advertising columns on page 8. Mr. A. K. Watkins gives a reminder in this issue tiiat he is seeking election today to the Hospital Board.