LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is understood that the Parliamentary Committee on New Zealand industries will sit in, New Plymouth on April 15 and 16.

Base Records advises that the Zealandic, with returning Draft 217, will arrive in Wellington on Wednesday morning.—Press Association-

The stewards' stand at Oaniaru race' oomse, with the offices and contents. w*re destroyed by fire this morning, The insurances on the stand are £3OO, and on the contents £2oo.—Press Association.

The half-yearly meeting of delegates representing Courts of Foresters throughout Taranaki will be held at the Foresters' Hall, New Plymouth, to-day, proceedings commencing at 11 a.m.

A London cable states that members of (lie (louse of Commons interested I'M Dominion matters have formed an Overseas Parliamentary Committee, with Colonel the Hon. Sir Newton J. Moore (Agent-general for Western Australia) as chairman.

A progress report of the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board states that the operations are steadily declining as the roiulfc of the cessation of hostilities, only 100 new applications having been received during January.—Press Association-

At last night's meeting, of the Borough Council it was resolved to agree to the proposed exchange between the borough and the Education Board, of the Ratapihipihi Reserve and the Rotocarp Domain and 4% acres of reserve T, Ti.ika.pa road, for the purposes of a site for a new school to replace the present. West End School.

Sharks are very close in to the New Plvmouth heath at present. A resident whose dog was swimming on the beach holmv (lie drinking fountain near the baths on Sunday morning saw a shark and failed the dog in. The shark came after it right on to the reef, and shortly afterwards at least three were seen in the vicinity. According to the annual report of the secretary of the Patea Harbor Board, the liett results of the working account for 1918 shows an excess of revenue over expenditure of £BB9 5s 3d, being approximately the same as last year. Exports total 10,127 tons, imports 5),65S tons. The 1018-10 rates amounted to £3343 4s 3d. The sum of £55,799 had been expended out of the £86,000 loan, leaving £30,21' unexpended. This would leave a considerable deficiency, if the contract is carried out in its entirety. In a report to the Borough Council last night, Mr Walter Ambury, who bad a great deal to do in connection witli the work of the ambulances used for conveying patients to the hospitals during the influenza epidemic, made pointed reference to the dilapidated condition of many of the houses, in both town and country, from which the most virniiWt caseß came. The report suggested that the matter should be brought usder the notice of the owners, with a view to having the places renovated, or demolished, if necessary in the interests of public health. Representatives of the New Plymouth Hospital Board waited upon the Minister for Public Health on Saturday to press the claim of the Board to assistance in connection with work done during the influenza epidemic. The point under discussion was the refusal of the Department to pay for work done at the general hospital, which was converted during the epidemic into a special hospital fcr the treatment of influent sufferer*. The proceedings were not open to the press. A lengthy report was received bv'tlit Borough Council last night from Mr YV. Amburv anent the ambulance work in connection with the recent, epidemic. Mr Ambury said that in addition to the ambulances arranged, a large number of private cars served in. the matter of conveying patients to hospitals, and assisted thereby in saving many lives. A warm compliment was paid to the skill and consideration of Mr H. Derby in the handling of the Hospital Board's motor ambulance, and for the help he gave in the handling of patients in and out of the car. The work was concluded on January 9. 1910, and the report expressed profound thanks to all who gave assistance.

At last night's meeting of the Borough Council, on the motion of Cr. Hayden, the town clerk was asked to prepare (i return showing the. cost of administration in some of the New Zealand municipalities, in relation to the '•"'•t "( i'dministration ;u boroughs ill America in which the. principle of having a sole administrator had been iii'opte,'!. 11" suggested that there was room for improvement in the New Zealand system, which did not give that continuity of control and supervision that was desirable. Other councillors spoke in support of the idea, the opinicii bfinjr expressed that, the Council's work was really that of a trading con<•'■l7l and should be managed as such.

.'\ choice Xganrc dairy farm for sale as a going concern, is advertised on p-.i'.ic iinc, by W. li. and A. McClarry. Kltl'.a in.

On Thursday next, at Waitara, Messrs f ■ ; mi -1 ad. Marlow and Co will submit to auction the household furniture and also p.'di'jTee cosvs and heifers, of Mr W, Jury, of Waitara.

The re-opening of the evening classes of the Technical College takes place as advertised o:i ,Inl March. The. various classes have been arranged with a view to providing instruction suitable for the occupations of the various students who should lose no time in enrolling, as in somo oases only a limited lirmbcr can be admitted to the ciass.

Bargains of great magnitude will be offered for the second week of t.he Melbourne's great sale. For instance, TTorroekses' ideal yard-wide flannelettes 1/11 yard; two-in-one lace curtains ss; men's Mosgiel socks. 1/M pair; men's summer weight singlets, 2/3; men's famous pennine working shirts, 5/11; and scores of other fresh b&cgftiiv

To ensure suitable land being selected for settlement by returned soldiers, the Towai branch of the Farmers' Union suggests that in every county a board of three farmers be set up, and before any land is bought for returned soldiers the board would advise the Government as to suitability and value.

At la»t night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council the Mayor referred with satisfaction to the carrying of the borough loan proposals. He spoke of the votes casts against the electric lighting loan,_ and s*i(l that anyone who voed against that loan would vote against anything. Taking away those 189 votes, he calculated there were actually only 100 votes against the roads loan, which after all was not a serious opposition. The organisation of a municipal choir, at Auckland, consisting of 120 picked voices, was recommended tc tho City Council last week by the city organist, Mr J. Maughan Barnett. He suggested that members bo charged an annual subscription, of 5s each, and estimated the co3t at not more than £IOO for music, practice-room, piano, etc. The proposal was referred to the Finance and Legal Committee, the Mayor reminding Councillors that it bad been brought up previously, but set aside until after the war. An Auckland fruitgrower, who was in Christehurch recently, made Bome remarks about the high price of fruit there. He had sent down a ton of plums for sale, and received 3%d per lb for them. He was quite satisfied with the price, but he saw the same plums shortly afterwards offered retail at 8d per lb. "A consignment of lemons sold at the equivalent of 14s per case," lie said, "but on the retail prices asked they will cost the consumer about 35s per case. This to him, seems an unfair profit to ask the consumer to provide."

An attractive feature in connection with the homecoming of the three drafts of returned soldiers at Wellington on today was the gaily decorated cars of the Volunteer Motor Corps, which turned out in good strength to convey the men to their several destinations or homes in the city and suburbs. Nearly all the cars were prettily garlanded with flowers, which lent a spirit of festival to the occasion. One car was handsomely and elaborately decorated with the flags of the Allies, and with its load of smiling heroes, attracted a good deal of attention as it sped through the city.

A mild surprise was sprung upon the Auckland Hospital Board last week, when a letter was read from a grateful man enclosing a cheque for £5 5s in payment of an account of £2 2s. The writer, whose wife had received medical attention during the epidemic, said:— "So I am enclosing £5 ss, which is still less than the care and skill extended." The chairman said that the board had received so many letters from people dissatisfied, alleging that they did not see the doctor, or that he only looked at them occasionally, that it was quite refreshing to receive such a letter. "Frame it," ejaculated Dr. F. Keller, and the matter dropped as the particular letter, with others, was "received." At the meeting with local bodies at Taumarunui on Friday night last, Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., put in a Btrong appeal to the Minister (Sir Wm. Fraser) to run trucks through the Okahukura tunnel before the winter sets in. The speaker said this was done in the Whangamomona tunnel, and it helped the settlers and business people considerably, besides givftig a revenue to the Department, instead of losing it for a couple of years, as would be the case if no transit was permitted until the tunnel was completed and arched. Mr Jennings said he had accounts in his possession showing settlers paid as high as 16s for coach freightage on a bag of flour from Okahukura to Okura. The Minister promised to see the Chief Engineer, and get the request carried out, his announcement being received with cheers.