LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

... total of 4;",7-f2 acres of Crown land will be thrown open for selection during the month of January. To-day the Vogeitown Scouts will meet at Tainui at 2 p.m.. and the town Socuts at Mr. Deare's shop at 2.80 ~m.. to start on the trek to Opunako.

The oridge over the YVaipa Rive:-, on the main Ngaruawahia-Waingaro Road, collapsed last week during the passage of a large mob of cattle. The whole of the middle span gave way, many beasts being thrown into the 'river. It will be some time before the bridge is open for traffic. ''Home at last," remarked Serjeant W. F. Southam, with a sight of" contentment and relief, as he was placed in his cot at the hospital on .Saturday afternoon suffering from injuries to his back. Southam left New 'Plymouth with the Main Expeditionary Force, and after being on active service for many months was wounded in France. Blackberry, the curse of North Taranaki, is giving trouble in some of our most valuable flax stamps (records the Manawatu Times)., The birds drop seed in the middle of a flax bu'ii. which eventually must be grubbed oi* to get rid of it. One owner has flagged several hundred bushes for grubbing when cutting is in progress. As a result of the construction of .1 loop line, the gap in the Main Trunk line has been closed, and there is now no necessity for passengers to transfer from one train to another. The work of clearing the Karaka cutting, where the slip occurred, will probably occupy some weeks, but the time-table will be adhered to by means of the loop line

On Saturday a cheque for '£l3oo was received bv the Xation.il Committee of the Y.M.C.A. from Mr. P. A. Moßardy, of JPalmcrston X'orth. Tins money is to be used In supplying comforts for the Ken' Zealand soldiers in the trenches in the-West. These comforts are distributed free to the soldiers, and a special message from Air Mellardy will accompany the gifts. The following cable message has l).»en received from the Xew Zealand official war correspondent (Captain Malcolm Ross), under date December I(l:—''General Russell has handed me the following message from the New Zealand forces lighting in France: 'Please convey to our relatives and friends and the people of Xew Zealand our best wishes for Christmas and the Xew Year, and assure them that we look forward with confidence to the future.'"

A party from the Coast had an reciting experience whilst motoring to Xew Plymouth yesterday. A foal, which was following its mother along the road, suddenly shot across the road in front of the car, which, travelling at the rate of about twenty miles per hour, could not be pulled up in time, and it struck the foal, which was carried about a chain along the road, passing under the ear. The foal gathered itself together, trotted off apparently little the worse, but the car was out out' of action with a badly damaged radiator, and the party had a couple of hours' wait before a fresh car could li<> DrocureiJ,

Yesterday a coastal settler who left liif* horse and trap in a paddock near the racecourse, on his return discovered his harness—a new set —liad disappeared. After searching the town, he was able to secure a set with which to go home.

.Message, from tile King were lead to ail troops on Christmas Day in the nunps, barracks, and hospitals, and published in orders. One was to the troops generally, ami the other to the sick and wounded.—i'ress Association.

It is not generally known that hares are fairly plentiful on the mountain reserve. On Christmas Day a climber saw several at Humphrey's Castle. They must subsist on the moss, as there is no grass in the neighborhood. The body of Mi'. Thomas Salter, who was drowned at the Fitzroy beach on Christmas Day. was found shortly after four o'clock yesterday morning, when it had been 12 hours in the water. An inquest touching the death of deceased was opened before the Coroner, Ml A. C'i'ooke, S.M., yesterday mornign. After evidence of identification had been heard, the inquest was adjourned until Friday.

Farmers in need of assistance with* harvesting or other work should communicate with Mr. IV. Ainbnry, chairman 01 the Tahiotie Harvest Lal.oi Committee. Mr. Ambury can put them into communication with a gentleman who lias oi'.'ered to give two or three days' labor this week. He can also arrange to provide a squad of strong UigTi .School boys, who assisted in this work last year, and gave general satisfaction. Mr. Ambury would also be glad to hear from anyone willing to give assistance.

Yesterday the public appreciated tbe excellent condition of Gover Street, leading to the racecourse. Generally the road is hardly a credit to the town, but the borough engineer had had his stall' at work recently to some purpose. To make a job of the road, as well as of the High School hill, however, the surface needs tar-sealing, as the rain washes jiway the blinding on the hills and leaves the surface as bad as ever. The investment in a tar compound for this work should prove profitable to the borough.

A collision between two motor-ears occurred shortly after (I o'clock la«t eve.iia;,'. A ear containing a party of Kawera residents, who had been mo'-ir-ing round the mountain during the day, was passing along Gilbert Street, travelling slowly, the driver having due regard to the race traflic. .fust as tiie car was crossing the intersection of Gover ami Gilbert Streets a heavy car,

laden with passengers, and coming fr;;;n the racer-, travelled down Hover Street at an alleged high speed', and coll'dul with the lighter car, striking it on the off side near the engine. The impact wan severe, the ofi'-side whee. being smashed, the axle bent, and the mudguards broken. Two ladies, occupants 0!' the touring car. were slightly injured, the heavy car being practically r.ndamaged.

Residents of Ohura and Taumanmui expressed their strong objection at the slow progres, of the Okaiiukura tunnel works on December 12. The meeting held at Okaiiukura, was a thoroughly representative one and Mr. YV. T. Jennings, M.P., presided. ft was stat'-ii that only H chains out of ".") had been completed, and at the rate fie work was going, it would be four years before tradic could get through. A strong resolution of protest was sent to the .Minister of Public Works, who liar; replied to the member that the second contractor had asked the Department to relieve him of the work. A'.! the ~rivate tunnelling contracts have, .leen abandoned on (his section of the line, and matter; have been unsatisfactory for some time.

That some sort of control of the sp"od of motors on county roads is becoming very evident. Yesterday many ''records" were put up bctVecn South Taranaki towns and New Plymouth, but perhaps tlie best performance of tho day would lip that, of a car with a dusky crow aboard, which was careering along tho highway at a speed estimated by other motorists

at easily a mile a minute. The bonnet of the engine had been removed, and othei parts were stripped to allow of as least wind resistance as possible. The other motorists on the road expected to find pieces of the car at different pktes, but apparently it came through safely. The nortlurn and eastern parts of Taranaki are looking splendidly this year, the growth of grass beiitg a record. Especially is this the ease in the new districts, Tangitu, Mapara, and Kopaki. Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., has just returned after a month's visit to the backblocks. He had a strenuous time. A dairy factory was opened by the member at Otor'ohanga, he took part hi ;•- cheese factory opening at Kakcpuku. A settlers' hall at Tangitu, where residents foregathem' from Mokau-iti, Mapin,aml Kaitangaweka, was a very successful opening ceremony, and the hall indicated the progress of the district in a few short years. It was in this district that Mr. Jennings' suggestion of the Government purchasing' cows for settlers was iirst. adopted. At Kopaki, the opening' of Green and Colebrook's large store was another successful function, settlors being present in large numbers. A presentation of a medal on behal. of the Dominion Headquarters of the Boy Scouts Association, of Christchureh, to Master Ceorge Bremncr, was made by the member at this gathering. Bi'emner and a Maori boy named f'uhi saved three other boys from drowning in the AVanganni river in February last. Both boys received medals for their plucky ..ction.