LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Flowers are wanted fbr the soldiers' graves at Te Henui cemetery on Saturday morning. They can be left at the Soldiers' Club thia afternoon.

"The amount of damages claimed," said the judge in the Supreme Court yesterday, when addressing the jury in a divorce action, "is not always the measure of what people expect to get. They usually cl&iai as much as is allowed and then trust to luck."

There was a good attendance of dancers at the Rolland Hall last night, when Hie members of the Waireka Sports Club held a long-night dance, 40 couples occupying the floor. Miss G. George presided at the piano, whilst an extra was played by Mr. R. Singh. The duties of M.C. were in the capable hands of Mr. A; Yardley.

Many recently returned soldiers were to be seen on the Hawera racecourse. Red Cross friends in New Plymouth very thoughtfully placed their ears at the disposal of wounded men at the New Plymouth Hospital, and two car loads came through. All the men showed signs of their injurjes, and some were minus limbs. They were entertained - as the guests of the Egmont Racing Club, the officials making every effort to see that the men enjoyed the outing.—Star.

In the course of their report to the Taranaki Education Board on their recent visits to schools in Central and South Taranaki a committeeman remarked that the grounds surrounding the Mahoe School were a credit to the head teacher, staff, children and committee. They were an evidence of the keen interest shown by all connected with the school to make the environment as pleasing as possible, and much success had been attained. The native plantations, the summer houses, the lawns and the gardens generally, reflected very great credit on all concerned.

Judge Brown, of the Native Land Court, is at present holding a sitting of the court in New Plymouth. The business is somewhat considerable on this occasion, there being about 800 cases to be dealt with. The sitting commenced on Tuesday, and will extend into the first week in June. The Native Appeal Court, consisting of Chief Judge Palmer end Judge Bawson, commences a Bitting here to-day, and will be occupied with business for a day or two, after which it proceeds to Wanganui.

The failure of various teachers to submit returns of attendance, etc., to the Education Board, despite circulars drawing attention to the importance of the matter, was discussed by members of the Education Board at its last meeting. Some members suggested that salaries should be withheld until the returns were received. Members stressed the seriousness of the matter, and it was decided to submit th names of the teachers to the board next meeting with a view to further action.

It was decided at a recent meeting of the local branch of the Women's National Reserve to start a course of simple home nursing classes. Arrangements have been made for the first meeting to be held on Wednesday evening next, at 7.30, in the old hosgital building, which has been kindly lent by the matron, with all equipment necessary. Mrs. (Dr.) Walker has consented to act as instructress for the course. The Mayoress hopes that all women interested will attend and avail themselves of this opportunity, especially girls engaged in business and office work during the day, bo that in the event of another epidemic the district will be better prepared. For the first evening the subject will be thermometer or temperature reading, and anyone having a thermometer is asked to bring it The Mining Conference at Westport was continued yesterday. Several papers prepared on various aspects of mining were discussed, and a number of resolutions passed suggesting various reforms to assist in the promotion of gold mining. The resolutions were to be presented to the Minister of Mines last night by a public deputation.—Press Association. ■ 'Representatives from Canterbury and Westland conferred at Otira yesterday regarding mean's and measures to accelerate the Arthur's Pass tunnel work. An inspection of the through route is also being made. Canterbury visitors stop over till Saturday, when they return with the Minister of Mines, who will be interviewed on the works.—Press Association.

The subtle distinctions made by the Education Department in the matter of the payment of allowances for the conveyance of. children attending secondary schools was referred to at the last meeting of the Education Board, when the chairman said that children living away from the railway line and travelling to school by gig, horse, bicycle or public conveyance, should be placed in the same position as children traveling by rail, who were carried free. He had cited two cases to the Department, one where three children travelled to 1 school in a gig and the other where a girl travelled over the same road on horse back. He had received a reply that in the first case they would be eligible to receive the regular conveyance allowance, but in the second case they would not. The position seemed absurd because apparently if the girl put a gig behind the horse she would be eligible. Mr Buchanan characterised the position as farcical. Mr Smith pointed out that the settler who lived off the railway line had to contribute to the cost of the railways, and was penalised by not receiving an allowance for his children's travelling, whereas the man living on the railway was favored. All should be put on the same basis. It was resolved that the question of allowances for the conveyance of* children attending secondary and technical schools be referred to the members visiting Wellington for representation to the Department.

I have a dollar; you have a dollar. We swap. Now you have my dollar, and "I have youra. But, you have an idea; I have an idea. We swap. Now you have two ideas, and I have two ideas. That's the difference. Our idea with regard to suit service is to give you a real good selection of cloths to pick from, make it to your own style, and guarantee that you cannot get better service no matter where you go than we can give. That is the main theme of "The Modern Tailors'" advertisement in this issue. Selection—QualityStyle.

Miss Fisher, of Wellington, wishes to intimate to the ladies of New Plymouth that she will be in town for a week, and is showing beautiful costumes of the highest quality navy serge and workmanship with the new Shepherd check collars. Purchasers will save 25 per cent. All wool tweed coats with handsome large collars, prices from £5 19s Od. Special line of ivory Jap silk and crepe de chine Mouses, also lingerie. Business hours, from 10 morning till 6 o'clock. Address, Grand Central Coffee Palace.— Advt

In connection with the statistics of industry, which are now to be taken anually, it lias been decided to obtain some particulars of rates and wages, and unemployment. The forms will be modelled generally on the lines of those in use in Australia.

A, petition is in circulation in the Featherston district, asking what steps be taken to prosecute the deviation of the Rimutaka railway via Wlainui-o-lnata to Maryborough, Pongaroa and Dannevirke, also to drain land submerged near the Walrarapa Lake and open up country suitable for soldier settlement purposes All the madness and frivolity in connection with the armistice had occurred in New Zealand, stated the Bishop of Nelson at the Anglican General Synod at Napier. At the front, however, the news was received by the troops in silence; their hearts were too full to speak. In Auckland the shortage of coal supply has caused attention to be drawn to large untapped deposits about eight miles from Otorohanga. The coal.outcrops at a number of points, and is described as of good quality. Men had gone up with teams and taken away loads apparently . without let or hindrance. * The country is level, and one can motor to the site. It is understood that a syndicate is interesting itself in the deposits and fa having samples examined.

The Sydney Morning Herald states: "Petev Halfpenny, of Horton Park, Tibooburra, had been dingo hunting in the open country, and one of his horses perished. He utilised the carcass for bait, and secured 140 dingoes in four weeks, the best haul being 45 in one night. As the Milparinka Pastures Protection Board pay £1 per scalp, it will be seen that the dead horse realised £l4o—no doubt a record price for a carcass. Dingoes and foxes are numerous around this district now, and are doing a lot of damage amongst sheep, which are very weak."

Development too late for use in the war of a motor fuel which adds ten miles an hour to the speed of airplanes, and has possibilities for use in automobile racing was announced recently by the TJnited States Bureau of Mines. The liquid, a combination of benzol and cyclohexaue called bectar, costs about a dollar a gallon, so while of military value it is not regarded as practical for commercial purposes at present.

As some school committees in the erection of new structures on the school grounds do not always consider the most suitable place for their erection with a view to conserving space on school grounds, the Education Board passed a resolution that before any new buildings are erected on school grounds, a plan of the grounds with the proposed position of the buildings, whether the same are erected by the board or the committee, be submitted to the board for approval with a view to conserving space.

The sanddrift menace along the coast [between Paekakariki and Wanganui is causing the Foxton Chamber of Commerce much concern. The chamber is asking other bodies interested to join it in urging the Minister of Lands to take steps to deal with the matter. Speaking at last week's meeting of the Manawatu County Council, the chairman (Sir James Wilson) remarked that the Foxton proposal was a very sensible one, and he dwelt on the benefits that would be derived if extensive tree-planting were undertaken on these areas. ' The whole of the strip of coastlin affected by the drift should be planted.

The unprecedented length of the dry spell being experienced in Auckland is causing the municipal authorities anxiety as to the city water supply. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, has stated that the matter would have to be again considered, in consultation with the water-works engineer, in the next few days. Unless copious rain fell in the meantime it might be found that the restrictions now placed upon consumers were quite inadequate as a protective measure.

Not many New Zealand lads under 20 years of age have been on activo service for three years and nine months, and have passed through the campaigns at the Somme, Paschendaele, Messines, La Basse, Cambrai, and Rheims. That is the experience of a Wanganui boy, recently returned looking the picture of health, who enlisted at the age of 15 years 7 months, and was a member of the N.Z. Cycling Corps.

The Wellington municipal election has been relieved by one amusing incident (says the Christchurch Sun). Mr. John Hutcheson is a well-known citizen of Wellington, of pronounced anti-Labor sympathies. He was largely instrumental in bringing Mr. Luke into the Mayoral contest, and he took the chair at Mr. Luke's Town Hall meeting. The Labor ticket included a Mr. J. Hutchison, of whom nobody outside the Labor ranks know anything. But the electors, confronted with a ballot papfer containing over forty names, seized eagerly on familiar ones, and Mr. J. Hutchison (Labor) is fifth in the list of successful candidates. His three Labor colleagues, comparatively well;known men, are lower down in the list of winning candidates. Thev include Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., and Mi-. J. Glover.

At Onehunga recently Mr J. H. Gunson, Mayor of Auckland, delivered an address on concrete roads. He stated that in California and other States loans of £6,000,000 had been spent and a further sum of £7,000,000 authorised. At present there were 4500 miles of concrete roads in the United States. From San Francisco to Los Angelos there was a concrete road of four and a half inches standing excellently and the length was 441 miles. Tar-topping was previously used, but this was now discontinued, the concrete standing so we'll, Interest and cost of maintenance was stated to be less than water-bound roads, and the cost of 2900 miles of concrete averaged £1240 a mile. In one day 650 feet of concrete, 15 feet wide, was laid by 20 men, the wages being £lls per day. Seattle was also quoted as another city where conorete roads had proved very successful, while New York had just appropriated a loan of £20,000,000 for concrete roads. Instances were given of other parts of the States carrying out concrete work 4in. thick at 3s to 4s a square yard, and in many places no metal at all was used as a foundation.

It was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria, at Melbourne, that (1) SANDER'S EXTRACT is much more powerfully healing and antiseptic than ordinary eucalyptus preparations; (2) SANDER'S EXTRACT does not depress the heart like the so-called "extracts" and crude oils; (3) SANDER'S EXTRACT is highly commended by many authorities as a safe, reliable and effective household remedy. Get tli« genuine—insist if you have to— and be (■ifr

The Finance Committee of tha Edtuf tion Board in its report on Wednesday recommended that the overseer be instructcd to prepare plans and estimate* for suitable additions to the board'! office. This evoked some discussion, for whilst all members were unanimous that in view of the increased work due to the enlarged district the additions were necessary, some members considered the offices should be removed so as to allow more playing area at the Technical College. Mr Trimble asked whether the committee had considered the question of shifting the site. Mr P. J. IT. White remarked that they had not, but it was proposed at an early a date as possible to remove the workshops, etc. The chairman said it was easy to have ideas but it was difficult to bring them into practice. It would be impossible to finance the securing of a sew site, and the removal of the offices for the general account showed a balance of only £9OO. This was a good position, as they had recently purchased a motor lorry and concrete mixer, which reduced their costs in other directions. He did 'not think the removal would make much difference to the site of the playing area. Mr Trimble thought the office could be erected on the West End site. Mr Smith thought the committee should certainly consider iir Trimble's suggestions. A good playing area was most important to the New Plymouth Technical School. No school was handicapped as this was by lack of playing area, and the school would never reach a high standard or have proper success until provision was made for a suitable play: ing area. At present there waß no place for the pupils to have their lunch, save under a few trees that were scat, tered about the scant playing area. Finally it was resolved that the board consider the question of new sites foP the office and workshops.

When an offer to sell two acres of land at £l2O per acre for school purposes, was under discussion at the meeting' of i the Taranaki Education Board on Wed-. nesday; Mr Trimble strongly protested! against the board paying such highj prices for,land, which he did not con- < sider worth the money, The board should, he held, take the land under the Public Works Act. It might then perhaps cost the board as much, but the owner would not get the price. That was what he wanted to see stopped. Mr Grayling said that we were not wed to these high prices, but possibly the land was worth' the money for fanning purposes. , The chairman said that he was not conversant with the value of the land in that locality, but he pointed out that the committee were practical farmers and were prepared to find £IOO towards the cost. In taking this two acres they were taking the frontage and that possibly depreciated the value of the rest of the section. Mr Trimble did not think it made a material difference to the value of the rest of the land in all cases. Mr White thought it would be a mistake to let statements such as Mr Trimble had made ai to the price go out from the boardi He k»ew land was selling at high pricei and farmers were making their farms pay. Mr Buchanan said that he had been rather opposed to taking the land because the price appeared to be excessive, but whea they considered that they were taking the frontage and residents of the district were finding £IOO he felt the latter were in the better position to judge the value.

The adjourned meeting of the Hatepayers' Association will be held this evening to adopt rules, elect officer* and committee and for other business.

Regarding the shipping spice, the general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Christchurch, stated on iuesday that the shipping situation was easier. The freezing companies' stores were still congested, but were expected to be soon relieved in Canterbury at least.