LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL .

At the meeting of the Taranaki County Council yesterday it was stated that more rates than usual were outstanding this year, and it wan resolved to sue for them, The number of births, deaths, and marriages for tlie district of Now Plymouth (Mr. J. S. S. Medley registrar) for the month of January, 1919, is m follows, the numbers for 1918 bem* in parentheses:—Births 36 (29), death's 12 (8), marriages 5 (2). Yesterday the crews ol the minesweepers, together with the naval ratmgu present in Wellington, vrere tendered a luncheon o» the Philomel and subsequently entertained at a specially organised sports gathering on Kelburn lark Both functions were held under the auspices of the Navy League, in association with the shipping companies. —Press Association. A aiight iramcar accident occurred near the intersection of Devo:i and Currie Streat3 shortly after noon yesterday. A young man, while crossing Devon Street on foot, was struck and knocked down by a tramear descending the hill. Tho car waa promptly stopped by the .driver ano: the xnan was picked up and was.ebJe shortly afterwards to proceed o:i iiis way unaided. i'he New Plymoiith Tourist ana 13xpBusioa League lias bad a most satisfactory response to :if,3 appeal to residents to offer accommodation for visitors durfch.'s week, when it is expected there will be .•<, largi) mimbej of people in towsj. Accommodation hns heci offered which w.H provide) beds for over a hundred people. . The league now hopes those wh come into contact wiih people requiring rooms—the railway authorities, laai-d?jyer», boarding-house keepers whose places are full, and the police officers— will direct them to the Tourist Bureau, Devon Street, when.- there Trill be soiaaostt jto attendaase up till nine o'clock *j,c)j evening. louring the hearir.g oi the cr.;i of manslaughter in tho .'rl.ip. eaie Court yesterday r. good deci was heard about the motor-car which was supposed to hare caused Ihft accident, sig-zagging. At ona stage, during the examination of 'acco.3«d his counsel,, v»be,s tlie matter v. - £ii again iflferred to, awised said he may have hwerved a few inches in avoiding liolej >n the road sarf.«.(*. "Ycj dud not anything in the nature of an 'alcoholic swerve' on?" asked counsel —and a smilf <vf s peveeptible vo'jr.n i.ln, '/)'t: »•„•» re;ninrie6 tc.o.t tickets mtis? De j/jrehfised foj the fure? 1,0 the raws Plenty of t>ukc!--&nl't«>r& vtiil be sif.T./o:'P(i i:• Upvon Sl.refS., ftT)d there is ).o doubt thnl. this step wu/ de away irit.li m;V.h o* thd delay iio theTc bandit i.jv- iecoid cvowd r.\ decent t'lEf t'vei'y #ai;ii.'te counts, anu patrons are asked to pwthase retur.-, tickets, whic> are available by any ino!,oi. "NAZOL" foi' Iftflutma and Catarrh.

With the exception of Fitzroy, all the primary schools in the Taranaki Education district are to re-open to-day, The Technical College also opens to-'day. The G'rls High School will re open to-morrow and the (Boys' High School 011 Monday next:

It is estimated that the damage bv the fire at tho Post and Telegraph Department store, nt Adrliuglon on Friday night is £ 10.300. About <!2,000 yards (if cable was destroyed. This material was to have been used in the local underground telephone system. A lndy visitor to Palmerston, who came through from Lvtteltoii on the Mararoa with General Pan mid the members of the French Mission, was informed by Dr. Seigfried, the secretary, that at 'least three members of the party, including himself, lmd been so favorably impressed with New Zealand that tliey intended to come hack and settle here.

In referring to the question of compensation to the liquor trade in the event of prohibition being carried in April, Mr. \Y, D. Bayiey, at the Empire Theatre last night, said that a precedent would be established in New Zealand if this was done, because provision was made for compensation to the employees ifl the trade a3 well aa to tha proprietors.

Among the men expected hsc night were the following:—New Plymouth: Gill Fulton, Goodacre, Greenway ; Heisenbettel, Mitchel, O'Brien, Poddy, West, and Hogg, Hawera: Privates 01 egg, Joblin, Griffiths, Green, Hooper, McCarty, Lepper, Parr, Parry, Pollock, VVishard, Topter, TJarrant, Hardley. lilt ham! Privates Brown, Best, Powell, Courtney, Olljver, Alexander, McKendrick, Jury, Kemp, King, JRodgers, Shrimpton. Patea: Privates Anderson, Honeyfield, Shield, Hodge, Minchin. Ngaere. Private Wiggins. The Mangonui County Council has invited Mr J. A. Hansen, engineer to the Waimate West County Council, to report on the suitability of its roads for tarred surface. Mangonui is practically the only county in North Auckland that bothers about its roadti. All the other counties are awaiting the help of the Government or Providence. Some of the- northern roads—like that over the Herekino Gorge, of glorious memory to the Parliamentary trippers—run through mountains of metal, yet the local bodies are so tired that cavernous holes are permitted to block traffic, the settlers devoting all their energy to exhorting the Government to come to their aid!

Almost daily, saya the Auckland Star, trolleys may be seen carting j roTC ' t-rrnks of pinns insignis tree:! to' timber mills. Many ago these trees were planted largely for shelter p -poses, but it was understood that the timber was valueleaj. The great development of the fruit industry and the consequent demand for i;ases has caused pinus insignia to have a market value, riLl hupr. trees which were looked upon as ii.=pie3g r.re now going to the- mills. In the north, for some jeaivj par.t, far-sighted orcharjists have planted maiiy acres of pintis insignia in order tu provide timber for fruit cases in the future. The ravages caused by the small bird nuisance was touched on at the meeting of the Pa rail aid Countv Cour.cil yesterday. Some of the members were of opinion thiit the council should purchase birds' eggs or should supply poisoned wheat to ratepayers as a' protection when sowing their seeds. " Various opinions were expressed as to the efficacy of poisoned wheat, one councillor stating that he had used any amount without result. Another councillor stated that by giving wheat freshly poisoned he had obtained excellent results, but after the poison had been or. tho wheat some time the birds would not take it. After discussion it wa3 decided to purchase poisoned wheat arid supply it to ratepayers at cost price, an amendment that it be supplied free being lost by 5 votes t,o 4.

That ever-hardy perennial, the straying cattle nuisance, cropped tip again at the meeting of the Taranaki County Council yesterday, when an Ok.ito business man asked whether something could not be done to prevent horses ans cattle being turned out on the road to graze. This was being done day by day by several settlers, and for three or four dayß a, travelling showman had six horses grazing on the roads. This was done with the full knowledge of the foremen, who appeared to be helpless to prevent this sort of thing going on. In the course of discussion members said thera was no pound in Olrato, and the foremen could not loso time to drive the cattle to New Plymouth. Occasionally a settier might be fined, but the fine (possibly ss) was looked or, as cheap grazing It was resolved to instruct the foremen ' that the owne:s of straying stock must be reported to the clerk, who will take 'proceedings, , A large draft of invalided soldiers, comprising about 120 men from. France and Egypt, who returned by the Oxfordshire and Wiltshire at Auckland and Wellington.respectively, arrived in Taranaki last night. An extra engine was employed to draw the unusually long train, and New Plymouth was reached an hour behind time. At every station along the route the men were given n rousing reception The people, crowded the stations along the line in Taranaki ana were exceedingly enthusiastic in expressing their joy at seeing the soldiers hack again. .New Plymouth maintained its reputation for the cordiality of its welcome to those who have done their duty in the firing line, and the townspeople assembled in a large crowd, while the Municipal Band was in attendance and played "Home, Sweet Homo,'' as the train drew in. Mr. W. J. Chaney and Archdeacon Evans extended the soldiers a welcome on behalf of the Mayor and Patriotic Society;. All the men looked well and much benefited by the voyage There ware no hospital inpatients. Sergeant T. K Reynolds, of Hawera, accompanied the Oxfordshire men from Auckland, and was in charge of the Taranaki quota.

Webster Bros, will submit to auction this afternoon 600 boxes of assorted fruit. To assist the tax on accommodation during race week the Coronation Hall has been fitted np with 100 beds, available for mra only. Every provision is being matte Hot the comfort of patrons. Clean beds, towelling and soap are provided. Two cight-watchmen will bo in attendant, and complete an-angaments for storing valuables have been made. The jiT.E. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.. l.td., draw attention to the Puniwhaksui sheep fair at Mr. Thomas Fayes' yarda at Puniwliakau, bj his kind permission, on Saturday next, Bth February, at J p.m Full particulars on page 8

For the races. Silk sports coats, crepe de client and other oil 1" 'blouses, anil great variety of nee Dorothy bags ac tho Melbourne, Ltd Sports coats 27s (id to 655, Pilk blousee. 17? tttt to 19s Cd, l'\iji blouses, cream, 18s (Id ar.a 19s Cd; white j/lij] blouses 23s tSd; crepe de chine blousej 290 3d to 35a; Dorothy 'bags 3s Cd to 2

An Australian soldier, who managed to reach a very popular general, uml pleaded liis case, in rough, earnest fashion, secured a. remission of crime-penal-ties which anifizcl the general's staff oflicei- "I couldn't help it," said tho general delightedly. "When I usked him how he got into trouble, he said, 'Well, it's this way, digger 1' I had to let him off—be called me digger!* The long established coaaliin* service between Waioura u.ad Tokaanu is being closed The ne-.v route from the Main Trunk railway to Tokaanu is from Waimanno, ant! a motor service over this recently-constructed road lias just been inaugurated. The disHiicc, 44 miles, is tli.- simo from Waioum, but when a deviation at the back of Late Roto Aiii has been formed the journey will be reduced to 30 miles

T'le correspondent 01 the London Daily Express at Amsterdam says that the former Kaiser arranged for a-Cbrfct--1 mj", celebration in traditional German style. Fearing hostile demonstration! the village chapel was not used, but the drawing-room at Amerongen Castle was converted into a chapel The former Kaiser himseif delivered a sermon, and many friends 0' Count Bentinck were requested to attend but refused. Tho former Kaiser, assisted by two helpers, cut the Christmas trees. The residents in the Rangiiikei district wen* startled the other day by 11 loud explosion in the direction of tho sea coast. Mr W. J. Carter, who re-' sides on the Kaumai road about a mile from the r,ca coast, saw a huge volume of smoke, and rode over to the coast, but was unable to see' any signs of the explosion. He is of opinion that a Heating mine had exploded uhen coming into contact with some hard substance. He states that his house was severely; shaken by the explosion. The reliable old firm of Morey and Son is offering specials day by day during the continuance of their summer saleThere are some real bargains going—today's for instance—beautiful tatfeta silk Read the advertisement to learn mors about it.

The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., draw attention to the Matau sheep fair on Friday, 7th February, at 1 p.m. Full particulars on page 8.