LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On the motion of Mr Quilliam probate of the vvill of the late Mr Frank Hammond Ims been granted by the Supreme Court to Mrs Annie Hammond, the exciitrix therein named.

The Duncdin Star says that the late Mr Donald Reid has left a considerable sum for founding a Chair of Economics at Otago University, and £IOOO as a direct legacy to the Early Settlers' Association. —Press Assoc.

Those who desire to exercise the franchise in connection with the forthcoming elections should remember that the district electors list for the Borough of New Plymouth closes to-morrow (Saturday). All persons over the age of 21, who are British subjects by birth (or by naturalisation in New Zealand) and who have resided in New Zealand for 12 months and in the Borough of New Plymouth for three months, are entitled to enrolment. Application forms may be obtained from the borough offices, in f.iardet street. A sensation was created at Marton Junction dining rooms the other night owing to a light which, took place between a man named Joseph Patrick O'Connor and a waitress named Hilda Zanda. According to accounts it appeared' that O'Connor, who was allegedly under the influence of drink, called the girl a German, and used other offensive language. ! The girl smartly retaliated by slapping him across the face. O'Connor objecting, he said, to be struck by a German, returned the blows. Constable Anderson was rujg up on. the 'phone* and he immediately put in an appearance, with the result that O'Connor was arrested. He was brought before the Court on three charges, and after hearing the evidence the Justices fined the accused £2 for using obscene language, £1 for the assault, and convicted and discharged him of being drunk. O'Connor is said to bo a returned soldier, and it is also said that the girl's brother l'o.. ? hfc on the side of the Allies—Wangamii Chronicle. The position of Mt. Messenger and the approach to the ferry at Mokau was represented to the Minister of Public Works, by Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P-, as one that demanded his greatest consideration, and settlers intended holding indignation meetings over the matters The Minister asked the member to confer with Mr Holmes, Chief Engineer of Public Works, who visited New Plymonth on Tuesday last. Mr Jennings suggested, in view of the fact that tlie metalling over the Mountain could not be proceeded with this summer, that a number of dangerous places be immediately attended to; that the approaches to the ferry at Mokau required urgent attention, and tbe early completion of the formation of the Awakino Valley road, be proceeded with. Mr Holmes left on Tuesday to iiippeet the. matters mentioned. Since the interview Sir Wm. Fraser has wired Mr Jennings iji\t he will be at Waitara on Tuesday niffht, :i'id will proceed via Waitara and Mokau on to Te Kniti, and will meet local bodies and settlers on the way through.

Residents of Opunake and the surrounding district will be interested to learn that Messrs T. P. Hughson and Sons, the well known Coastal storekeepers, have secured the commodious premises known as Jeffries' buildings, Opunake, where they will open on Monday, Feh. 17. with a large and well selected stack of groceries, drapery, ironmongery. huoK etc The firm's motto is "satisfaction or money refunded," and an invitation is extended to all to inspect the stock on the opening day, when every purchaser will receive a free gift.

Webster Tiros.' will submit to auction at 1 30 o'clock to-day 600 boxes of fruit. The Taranaki Education Board advertise for a good joiner. Searchers for good farm properties are directed to W- H. and A. McGarry's advert jaeraeni-pn J&P* >-

! A Press Association message from Auckland states that the steamer Ayrshire is loading a large shipment of butter and cheese for England, of the total value of £63(5,438. The shipment comprises 125,5f>0 boxes of butter and 7500 crates of cheese.

An instance of what might perhaps lie termed a reasonable go-slow policy caused considerable amusement amongst (lie racegoers at Hawern on Wednesday. The railway line passes in close proximity to the racecourse, and more than one train was observed to slow down when approaching the vicinity, the engine drh'er being apparently desirous to relieve the monotony of travel by providing passengers with a glimpse of the races. —Argus.

"Your cup of joy must be full." remarks Captain Iline, M.P., in a letter to Sir .lames Allen, after the signing of the armistice. "Your kind and welcome message to the troops in Kgypt and Palestine was communicated to all units. They were all proud to have taken pan in the great light for liberty and justice, not only for the smaller nations, but more especially the British Empire. The lesson of the past four years, with all the trials and anxiety, has brought out the best in our manhood." The writer remarks that New Zealanders hud become a pleasure-loving people, but a great brotherhood for better things had been created by the war, and it would be a disaster if the selfishness of any class was allowed to check this spirit of the new brotherhood.

In speaking at Whileley Hall last night, Mr C. Dixon (Mayor of iiawera) took occasion to compliment New Plymouth in the general improvements in the condition of its main streets. He referred to the forthcoming poll and ho( oil trie loan would be carried so that further improvement could be made. He referred to his own town as a place where every path was asphalt, every kerbiug concrete, and almost every street asphalt or tarred macadam. Tho advantage of this was demonstrated by

the fact that last year they had not had to have the borough water-cart out once, and tho shopkeepers greatly appreciated

the abatement of the dust nuisance. Mr Dixon said their engineer had recently i'ctnrned from Napier, with glowing accounts of concrete footpaXhs, specially

tinted to meet atmospheric conditions and it made them almost sorry tliat they had noon apparently so up-to-date at Hawera. He passed the reference along to Now Plymouth, to whom it might he in time to he useful. On Saturday morning at 11.30 Webster Tiros.' will sell a good shed for removal at tho hack of the Soldiers' Club.

The great event of the season the Melbourne's great Annual Stocktaking sale —takes place thia morning. Ample preparations have been made for this sale and the public are promised something out of the ordinary in view of the extreme lateness of the summer season Many items will' be cleared, at undel landed cost.