LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

! Hawera tea rooms have increased the price of morning and afternoon teas. An Order-in-Council prohibits the importation of the international organ The International Socialist League of South Africa.—Press Assn. Mr. 0. H. Buckeridge, secretary of the Taranaki provincial executive, yesterday received a letter from the * Minister of Public Works confirming the information published yesterday that the New Plvmouth-Opunake railway is to be proceeded with a,t once. A sitting of the New Zealand Teachers' Court of Appeal was held at the office nf the Taranaki Education Board, New Plymouth, yesterday, to deal with appeals from five or six iteachera in this district concerning their positions on the grading list. Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., presided. Mr. 0. Benge represented the Education Department, and Mr. T. Thomas, Eltham, represented the teachers. Mr. W. A. Ballantyne was present on behalf of the inspectors of schools. Another increase in the Wellington price of gas is announced (states our correspondent). After August 17 the price charged by the Wellington Gas Company will be 7s 8d net per 1000 feet. The company mentions the high cost of coal and increased freight rates in tx-. planation of the rise. An advance in the price of electric current has been announced by the City Council, which is considering an increase in tramway fares. Apparently the harassed consumer is to be given no rest in Wellington. A shortage of butter is reported in some parts of the North Island, and generally in the South Island, The shortage is attributed to the drought and to bad winter conditions, which have caused the winter production of butter to bo much below .the estimate. The export of butter from New Zealand stopped at the end of May. Five months of the year had then elapsed, and the quantity of butter exported during the period was 313,120 ewt., as against 337,903 cwt. for the corresponding period of 1918. The butter remaining in' store is being used to meet the local demand. The new season in the North Island will commence within the next two or three weeks,' and in the South Island a little la,ter., A Dominion reporter was informed that if the season was not delayed there probably would be no need to curtail consumption of but.ter in any part of the country. The majdmum retail price is fixed, and the Government is not expected to consent to an increase. The Public Works motor lorry tha,t was engaged in repairing the road over Mt Messenger has been transferred to the Opunake line. The road over Mt. Messenger and right on to Awakino has been very bad of late, and the coaches have had great difficulty in getting through. A motor goes to "the end of the metal (a mile this side of the mountain), and then there are three relay coaches to do the journey to Awakino. Were the road put in order, as it should have been years ago, it would be possible to make the trip from Waitara to Awakino in a little over two hours. At present it takes from daylight till dark, with no guarantee that tho coaches will get through at all. The Public Works are doing nothing towards making preparations for. metalling the roads in the fine weather. It will be remembered that Sir William Eraser promised that (luring the summer Mt. Messenger would be metalled and the road beyond put in order, Unless the Department gets n "move on'| this promise will be unredeemed, like the hundreds that have preceded it. "Tell the people of Taranaki that 'The Better 'Ole' is the ,bes,t picture I've ever put on, and the one that has pleased the public the most," wired Mr. Conroy, proprietor of the Haw era Opera House, last night. This record-breaking picture commences its New Plymouth session tonight. I'VE BOUGHT A HOUSE.

And in a few days I intend to move into it. Who is going to handle my furniture? The New Zealand Express Comply, yon may be sure. I have herd so much of the care and skill they show that the wife and I have resolved to engage tliem for our job. Our furniture is almost new, and w« want it to be nicely handled.

It is sta,tcd tluA several British brides, who arrived by at recent transport, have been unable to twee their husbands in* New Zealand.

It will be remembered that just after the epidemic the Government decided to grant pensions to widowß,with children. As an example of the "go-slow," unbusinesslike methods of the Government departments it may be mentioned that only last week—seven months after the decision waa reached by Cabinet—has the money been made available to the hospital boards, which are dispensing relief. The unfortunate widows in the meantime have had to scratch along the best way they could. The Taranaki Hospital Board-will make their payments on Ist August. The Government, with the customary meanness it slidws in such matters, has not made the pensions retrospective, da/ting them from April 1; in other words, withholding four months' pensions that the country expected and desired to be paid to the widows as from December 1, 1918. With so many pretty garments and fabrics now on the market imported from various oversea countries, it's uncertain whether i'avis will ever regain the prestige she held before the war. The charming silks now on view at Moray's are delightfully smart and will make beautiful early spring blouses. The range contains two extra fine qualities of black silk. Read Morey'a advertisement in this paper. Owing to the Annual Synod being held in Auckland tlii# week, the Church of England services which should take place at Pukearuhe anil TJruti on Sunday next have been postptued to the first Sunday in August.