LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The East End Committee desire to acknowledge a donation of £1 from Mrs. E. A. Walker and £1 from Mrs. John McKean in aid of the funds of the benefit social which is being tendered to Mrs. Elliott and family on Friday next. A son of Mr. J.' C. Cawsey, who is engaged in fanning at Eahotu, had the misfortune to be thrown from his hbrse on Tuesday. Unfortunately the animal rolled over him, and he was so badly hurt that it was necessary to take him to the New Plymouth hospital. It is estimated that, to meet the tremendous demand for houses, something like a thousand more residences are needed in Christchurch (says the Sun). The present position is causing consternation to a large proportion of the populace. It Is being accentuated by people, dazzled by the high prices offered for nouses, selling their homes and then finding themselves unable to get others.

The annual meeting of the North Taranaki Beekeepers' Association was held in the Coronation Hall on Saturday at 1 p.m., when there was a very fair attendance of members. The report and balance-sheet were read and adopted, and the following officebearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Dr. Blackley (re-elected); vice-president, Mr. P. S. Johns (re-elected); secretary, Mr- F. W. Sandford (re-elected); committee, Miss Sandford, Mrs. Pres9, Messrs Mason, Voght, Beale, and Eric St. G. Shaw; auditor, Mr. C, D. Arnold.

A man named Frederick Thomas Ellis was arrested by Detective Fitzgibbon yesterday morning at Fitzroy on three charges of obtaining by false pretences goods to the value of £l6 !)s 5d from J. C- Gillett, draper, Hawera, on June 2. At the time of the offences accused was known as Frank Johnston, and it ib alleged that he secured the goods by stating they were for a well known resident of the district, for whom he was said to be working. It is understood accused is also wanted at Hawera on two other similar charges of obtaining l goods from Hannah and Co. and Abraham and Robb. He will be brought before the magistrate this morning, and a remand to Hawera will be asked for.

When the s.s. Waitangi was being unloaded at Patea on Tuesday evening, a fire broke out. A portion of the cargo was benzine, some tins of which had been leaking badly. The natural result was that the fumes ignited when a naked light was used near the hold. The flames roso to a great height, and at one time it appeared as if the vessel would be badly damaged, but prompt action with the ship's hose soon overcame the flames, and the services of the members of the local fire brigade, who were quickly on the scene, were not required. Eye witnesses of the fire state that the four men in the hold had a very narrow escape. Immediately the lantern was held near the bottom of the hold the fumes ignited, blowing up the floor boards, and knocking over one of the crew who was on deck. The hold was in a mass of flames. The four men fortunately kept their presence of mind, and rushed for the ladder, the last man up just being able to reach the top.—Press.

The need of a new pair of braces and two pockets in a pair of trousers was (he burden of a complaint made by an inmate of the Rangiatea Home to the Hospital Board yesterday. The applicant had asked the secretary of the board for these things, and had been referred to the matron, who had declined his request for braces and urged he should be satisfied with one pocket in his trousers instead of two, on the grounds of economy. The man also btated lie had not a decent suit in which to go out. One of the members of the board stated that on a visit to the home he had been shown the braces which were oomplained about and was satisfled that they would have been good enough for him (the Bpeaker). The trouble was the man was in the habit of pulling up his braces as tightly as possible and then putting himself through sundry physical exercises, which over-taxed the strength of lis nether garment supports, and he had broken as many as three pairs in a month. The secretary declined to entertain such applications and it was decided to refer the letter to the matron of the home.

The method of appointing probationers to the New Plymouth Hospital nursing staff was referred to at yesterday's meeting of the board by Mr Gilmour, who protested against applicants being appointed over those whose names had been on 'the list for a much longer term. The chairman replied that the appointments were made by the board, on the recommendation of the medical superintendent and the matron, who went through the list and selected the most suitable applicants. Mr Halcombe agreed that it would be unwise of the Board to interfere with the selection of the staff by insisting that appointments should be made in order of priority of application. Mr Gilmour admitted that the superintendent and matron were the proper people to select probationers, but contended that if there were names on the list of applicants whom they could not recommend, those names should be removed from the list, instead of applicants being kept in the state of hoping for an appointment, when there was really no chance of them getting on the staff.

A lovely lot of new white silk blouses in new designs has opened out at the Melbourne Ltd. The silk used is well up to the usual standard, being fullweight 10 momme Japanese make, the wear of which is fully guaranteed. Prices are 19s 8d to 22s Bd according to design. All blouses full fitting.

Comfort, durability, and distinctive style are still the leading features of Dockrill's footwear. Their boots and shoes are deservedly noted for their high quality and reasonable prices. The sole agency for New Plymouth district for Crockett and Jones renowned "Health' Brand" footwear is still held by DockriU'g.

A man named Frederick Ardern was arrested in Wellington yesterday on charges relating to two affiliation eases in New Plymouth. He was remanded to appear here on Friday morning. Evidently being a committeeman on the Male Choir is no sinecure. Five gentlemen were required for these positions, and almost every member present at last night's meeting was proposed before five could be secured. At the conference of local bodies at Eltham on Tuesday relative to framing by-laws. Messrs Wilkinson, Smith, and Major EGine, M's.P., were present and were duly welcomed by the Mayor, all the members speaking in reply. The discussion on the subject matter of the conference was not open to the press. Taranaki is not very strongly represented in the competitions at the Palmerston North Show, except in poultry, which was judged yesterday. In ve*getables, Mr. G. V. Tate, of Waitara, exhibits freely in the onion and shallot classes./and scores 4 first prizes, 1 second, I third, and 2 v.h.c.'s. In honey Mr. C. P. ißainie, of Hawera, scores 3 firsts, 3 seconds, and a commended, and in fancy work Miss MacPherson (Hawera) Bcores one second and two thirds.

An interesting "find", in the shape of a skeleton of a human being, was made by some of the Patea borough staff when digging a drain on Mr. Devereaux's property in York Street. The bones for the most part were in a state of decay, but the skull and teeth were in an excellent state of preservation, the teeth being practically perfect. It is considered that the remains are those of a native who was probably killed in the early days of native settlement in Patea, possibly a century or more ago.—Press.

A sensational experience befel a party consisting of Messrs. P. Ralfe, A. Chapman, D. McCord, Miss Ralfe, and Miss McCallum (Hawera) at Matau, on the Upper Waitara, on Sunday week (the Stratford Post says). They intended crossing the river, 50 feet in width, by cage, and, four being seated, the fifth member of the party jumped in behind, but the extra weight was too much for the rope, which parted before the journey was completed, precipitating the whole of tho passengers into the river fortyseven feet below. Fortunately there was deep water at the spot, and not one was seriously hurt. Ralfe succeeded in saving the two women, and the other men, although unable to swim, managed to scramble out, all eventually reaching dry land again. One of the women had her clothes practically all torn off her, owing to being caught on a snag in the river when she fell.

Experienced washerwomen will admit that the supreme test of washing powder is to successfully wash a garment that has become a bad color through indifferent washing or other causes. "FAIRY WONDER" dry soap is the only compound on the market that will do this without injury to the fabric. Try it next washing day. Once tried always used. Small packets 2Jd. Large Is lOd. All grocers.

Amongst the members declining reelection last night at the Male Choir meeting was Mr. W. Ambury (vicePresident), who presided. The chairman stated that he had too much work in connection with business to permit him giving the time necessary to carry out official duties, but would render what assistance he could in the ordinary way. Mr. Ambury, who has been associated with musical societies during the past R4 years, includes amongst other associations some previous New Plymouth organisations, and would like to have continued taking an active part in the control of the choir, but finds it necessary to stand aside, hence his name not reappearing in the list of officials for the present year.