DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

(l-'i'diu (Mir U\v11 XOTaiAXUV.

(.nut interest is ljchi.tr tal; ■;) in 'he National .Reserve, and already ~'ii pi.'label's have live# sworn in hv i ■ iiti Kimlieli. ill 1 , .John [foliii-s, wil > )i.i- bad I't.r.siil'-ral.le c.vj:.• ] ience wiili lin 1 military force ill South Africa, will net ■'» the capacity of captain of (lie local :, 11it. The suppliers of the local fac'.ory have been notified that it is the inlenlion of the directors to pay out another penny for the season's supply, twiVsiig Is 3d up to the present, and it expected that this will be raised to Is ,"d at an early date. This factorv ia Midar flu: capable management of ill- Hoperoft.

The Town Board has received four carved Maori posts that were in use at the Auckland Exhibition, these being a present to the district from the i.!overnnient. The original intention was to have them placed on the Maori redoubt in the Waihi cemetery, but the general fcelin;,' is that the Hoard should place two of them near the monument in Victoria Park. The cemetery is some distance from the township, and is not so frequently visited as the nark. These Maori carvings would be an additional attraction for visitors who only spend a. few hours in the township.

The chairman of the Town Hoard has resolved to convene a public meeting next Tuesday to consider what steps shall be taken to raise a local fund for our woundid soldiers. Some private lists have been issued, but the best way to obtain a successful response is to place the matter in the hands of a responsible committee of citizens. A very pretty wedding took 'place in the Okaiawa church on Wednesday, when Mr Alfred Walter Curry, of Manaia, was married to Miss Elizabeth Ferguson, fifth daughter of Mr Robert Ferguson, Okaiawa. The Key. J. W. Butler was the officiating clergyman. Mr. Frank Andrews, the popular local butcher, has purchased the premises lately occupied by Mr. McKoy, and has had the building renovated and painted preparatory to transferring his business to these premises. A large windowhas been placed in the front of the Bhop, and the whole presents a clean and smart appearance.

Complaints are still made about the delay In the delivery of telegrams received at the post office, in connection with the railway station, If an urgent telegram reaches Normanby at twelve o'clock it cannot be delivered until after two o'clock, because during those hours there is only one man on duty at the station, and he cannot leave his railway duties to deliver telegrams or letters, however urgent they may be. The only way to get this state of affairs remedied '" tor the Town Board to bring pressure *. ~ '''-Mj/irm. ""*■ t° erect a post office on the ern "»t... , '. . ... ... . ~• . **„_.. with in the township. Many *. . ', , (far less postal business have lltiu ,? s offices erected; then why not Normanby? . ___^ PATEA. During the past week the Patea County Council, Hospital Board and Chamber of Commerce have held their usual monthly meetings. At the meeting of the county council, in addition to the usual routine business, the chairman, Mr. G. V. Pearce, M.P., remarked on the increased cost of living at the present tinj?, and moved that the county engineer be granted an increase in salary of £25, with an allowance of £M per annum for upkeep of his motor cycle. To get the best advice local bodies should be prepared to give full remuneration for the services of a capable engineer. In Mr Wright the ratepayers have an expert who excerises his abi'ities to the best advantage and progress of the county, and his £4OO salary is conscientiously earned. Mr. ¥.. C. Honnor, who holds the dual position of county clerk and secretary of the Hospital Board, was also granted an increase. Mr. Honnor has occupied these positions for a number of years, and lias also merited this consideration.

So far, so good, and now one will expect Mr. Pearce at the next council meeting to consider those who hold less lucrative positions, especially those who have families dependent upon them, where a nimble- (id per day extra, al though not costing the council a huge sum, would be greatly appreciated by the employees. Local bodies right throughout the Dominion are now moving in this direction, and the county council will no doubt act in a similarmanner.

At the Chamber of Commerce meeting the "bone of contention" was the Inadequate supply of vacant building seot.inna —J "

...., ...,a jb was resolved to urge tin: Borough Council to open up some of its reserves for residential sites. Eighteen months ago the Council disposed of several sites to the Government for workers' dwellings, and has since sold a number in UiS open market. According to the Act, moiiey so il CT ' v «l ™ n on h' ,J f expended in procuring other lawk a policy .t, strange to sav, was urged by t!: .*•...! Mayor (Mr. lireoilll.el and readny taken up by the local bodies throughout the Dominion, ultimately liecoming lav/. Whilst it allows .municipalities to dispone of surplus lands, a limit should be set. If a town is overendowed with land, why should it he compelled to buy more with the money so secured'; There is no doubt that the Act should have allowed the money to be expended in providing decent streets. The same rule should apply to urban as well as rural lands. Sell the lands and expend the money on reading it. ]f this were done t the Harbor Board would open up land sufficient to satisfy Pa tea's wants for many years. Another aspect not to be overlooked is that a limit must be placed on such transactions. We should look forward to the fntur-?, and a certain number of sections should only be leased, giving the lease a good tenure. To one who studies the uuestion deeply another remedy could bo applied. There is enough private property in this town, unoccupied, to build four times the number of houses lint now exist. There many empty sections facing central well-formed streets th.it are evidently being held for increased values. If the system of rating on unimproved was inaugurated no doubt the Bupply would then exceed the demand. By this method public property wou'd not be sacrificed to benefit individuals who hold more than their immediate needs, the system of rating would be more equitable, and property would then be sold at a fair value. * An all too-conclusive fact is demonstrated by the number of local bodies who have tried this system and not one have repealed it.

An unusual spectacle was witnessed in the south last evening. From about 7.30 till 11 p.m., the sky was lighted up at different periods with a beautiful crimson glow. It appeared as though it was a ship on fire, but the distinct rays soon dispelled this idea. At 10.45 the sight was at its best. A well-known resident who has astronomical knowledge opines that it was the aurora Auatralis, he having seen a somewhat similar sight in 81' and it is the season for the aurora. If so it is unusual for its rays to be seen so far north. To those who were fortunate enough to see it, the sight will linger in the memory always. Miss Ada (Tot) Carey, who is shortly to be married, was last night presented with a silver tea service, by the members of St. George's choir. Later in the evening she was surprised by a large number of her friends and entertained at a kitchen party.

i:|'l X.VKK. At ill.' Sti;.t']nil;iry i unn. 'i jiiir:, la y. was very Hi lie iuisi- ];<•-- h'ii'i-ii f oil, c) I<l \' (jiic (irlriiilt'ij Ilii't. iif the (uinity ('mniiil v. I'-iun. sen.. Native of Punvart'llti claim for rates amounting |o .c:'2. Al'tur an Ji'linuriiiiicnt frmn coin i-ijav. .-o a*

In allow particulars t„ be obtained i'roin iii'- I'i I (.lit- Viu-t lUli-o ami Valuation Department, 'MY. lluichcii, v,ho a-„pear-fil for Knia, objected t„ dncuim-iiinrv c. idem-.' from the Valuer iVueral's Hide,■ brin;; put in, wlii;--;i coiiionlion v.es uphold. The defence iv:|., that the lanVs wore not properly de.--.ei ihod in (lie rale demands, as for one. period tliey well: described'as '• sub-section 2of block !l," and another time as "'section ill." The plrnlill' contended they were one ami the same lands, and the demands for rates, were true copies of the Valuor-C.-ik r:«lV .-oil. The Magistrate upheld Mr. Ilntiheifs defence, and non-suited the council on tlie claim for other than rates on section '2l>, recovering C!) on tl-.e c:il ! sued for. Court costs only were allowed. .Judgment; orders were made in two instances, both being against Natives. Patriotic meetings and entertainments have been held during the week for our wounded soldiers, and in every instance was successful. The Fgmont Patriotic League has closed the Hospital Ship Fund, which amounted to ,€lOl (not counting Mr. C. A. Wilkinson's ill for CI subsidy up to .-C-lOfl-). The league is in/" devoting attention to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Some Cii) is in '-and for that fund, wliiist Die Indies have formed a working committer - to make clothing and comforts for the soldiers.

On Friday night the Princess Picture Show opened in Opunako lor the first time, the proceeds being devoted to the Wounded .Soldiers' Fund. There tire ru--mors l that a local resident is going to start in the picture -show business here. An exceptionally good view of the Antarctic lights was obtained nut to sea on Thursday night. Coastal and New Plymouth residents, who saw - it, contented themselves with the remark:— •'Opunake afire again." Heavenly lights around Opunako, was tlicir last thought! A shooting gallery is one of the pastimes indulged in here of an evening. The proceeds go towards the Wounded. Soldiers' Fund. KAPOXGA.

Friends 0 f Mr. Black-stock, of Card iff, ■ bit late of Roiwan, will regret to hear j of the death of his son, Irvine, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles. lie ' was well known here, and highly re- I spected. He was n meinlwr of the Loyal ' Kaponira (Lodge of Oddfellows. Sympn- j thy with his parents and relatives will , bo general. The Kaponga Brass Band held a very successful concert and dance in aid of our wounded soldiers and their dependents on Thursday night. The receipts \v(W 8s ' inelll(lill # a donation of £?, :!s from ."Mp, *, > ron - Mr - ™»: son. M;P., lira* aft c'lofjiient *],,.. '\ present to give tlieir best aid to Stlcn a worthy cause. Mr. D. L. A. Ast'bury also gave an address, calling on those who were aide to enlist to do so. The remarks of both gentlemen and also of Mr. Botts, chairman, were keenly appreciated and were hearth' applauded. Pongs were given by Miss' Fields, Miss • Slielan and Messrs, Loncrgan and Cane, j all of Stratford; also the two little Evans' girls, Rita and Myrtle, who sang very prettily •' Please Give Me a Pennv, Sir," being .suitably dressed and receiving a good response, and Mr. C. Hartley in clown costume. The hand contribute! the following items:—March, Entente Cordialo; fantasia, Memories of England; euphonium solo, Mary of Argyle (Mr. .T. Bennie); selection bv band, Grand Xational Songs of Great' Britain and Ireland; march, Ireland. Various original and fancy costumes were worn throughout the performance. Special mention should be made of the fol-lowing:-The Ghost. 11. J. Cf. Allen; The 'Poor Parson. F. Bertie; Mesphistopheles, <'i. Xorris; 'lris'h fiiri, T. Preece; The Monk, A. H. Guy; Coon, L. Thoumine; Pierrot, J. Bell; Railuv, If. .1. Clarke; Highlander, A. Melville; Chinaman. 0. Woods; Swagger Bill, B. Eearon, and Clown, C. Hartley, A pleasing feature was the young ladies in the uniform <,f Bed Cross nurses: Misses Bonnie. Briggs, Carter, Foster. A. Faull, G. Faull, Kinio, Litelra-ark. B. Sar<reson, 'M. Sargoson. Signal, McPheo and the matron,"Miss Kose Hart. In. fancy dress: Miss M. Williams, Belgium; Mrs Baigent, Bridge; Miss Perry, Dorothy Vernon; Miss Brick, Sailor Girl. The 'committ*" regrets Hint the weather wa= - - "* aide for the procession, hj,,, ' " nfavcr -.

■ ■ ■ " ..,(, announces mat it will take place in three weeks' time, when there \rill be added attractions. The music for the dame was supplied by the professional orchestra and others free. r .\fr. F. Bertie carried out the duties of II.C. in his usual excellent style; in fact, all the committee worked well, but special mention is due to Mr. A. Waugli (secretary), who was ii . r " q of the whole affair.