LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It is estimated that 100,000 people visited H.M.S. New Zealand while she lay at Wellington. During August 18 building permits were issued by the New Plymouth Borough Council, the value of the buildings being £0835. Nine were for new houses.

Mr. Massey, replying to the suggestion to hold a State art union for house building, stated ho was interested m the suggestion, and had referred it to the Workers' Dwellings Board.—Press Assn Says the Weslport News of Tuesday last: It is understood that the "go-slow" policy will be adopted throughout the mines in the Buller district. The vote has not been taken by secret ballot, but by show of hands. It is stated that the Mangatoki Dairy Company is considering the erection of a branch factory at Kaponga. Large quantities of milk are being received from the Kaponga district at present—more than sufficient ,to warrant the proposed venture. —Argus. Mr. Henry Ford, the Detroit motor car millionaire, has fared badly in his libel action against the Chicago Tribune, from whom he claimed £IOO,OOO damages. The jury awarded him 10 cents, about 3d. Reports the borough chief inspector: "On two recent Saturdays we made a determined effort clear the street of stray dogs. Five dogs were removed, and owners appear to have taken the tint. Conditions in Devon Street are very much better." The wages bill for the Egmont County for August, including salaries, when no new work was being undertaken and when the number of hands employed w)? down to the minimum, amounted to £;if)o. This gives ratepayers an idea of how expensive road work is. The Eltham Argus states that there is every probability that a technical day school will be established in Eltham in order to get relief from the difficulty caused by the deficient train services, but it is hoped that once it is started it will become a permanent institution.

An official letter was read at tlia Egmont County Council's meeting approving of the following persons being members of the Egmont County Repatriation Board: Messrs T. P. Hughson, sen. C. R. Pease, G. W. Rogers, T. C. Tosland, VV. R. Wright, and J. Young. The first meeting is called for Monday, when a secretary will be appointed. For the month of August there were slaughtered for local consumption in New Plymouth: 200 cattle, 15 calves, 75fi sheep, 49 pigs; 103 tripes were cleannl and three sets of cow's heels and one set calf's feet. Compared with last Augu-tt they bliow an increase of 25 cattle, 11 calves, 152 sheep, and 20 tripes cleaned, and a decrease of 9 lambs and 17 pigs. There were condemned two cattle one calf, and three pigs. Fees due for the month were £137 2s.

Mr. Young (Waikato) has given notice to ask, the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take immediate steps to have machinery which may be imported into New Zealand by co-operative dairy companies for the manufacture of milk powder or dried milk, and otherwise not procurable in the Dominion, classified as other dairy machinery such as is used in the manufacture of butter and cheese, and admitted into the country free of customs duty.

Mr. Jennings has given notice to move for a return showing: (1) The amount expended during the last fifteen years in making good approaches to the Moknti punt ferry service at botli ends; (2) the amount expended in alterations, rebuilding, and furnishings for the punts used as a ferry during the same period; and (3 what claims have been sent in to the Government for damages to coacht-s, traps, and motors in attempting to get aboard this beautiful ferry. Tne New Plymouth borough engineer proposes to kerb and channel the following streets almost immediately: Powderham Street West, Robe Street East, Brougham Street East and West, CarringRoad East, Cameron and Eliot Streets. Plans and specifications have been completed for inviting tenders for the public conveniences. The proposed tram route from Devon Street to Tukapo Road has been pegged and surveyed, and the plans will be in hand in a day or two. The increase in business done by the New Plymouth electric tramways is being well maintained. For the month of August the receipts were £971, an increase of £2OB over the same month of last year. August is about the worst mouth of the year, and if the increase of the pust few months keeps up—as there is every reason to expect—the tramways should show no loss at all this year, a result that will bo very gratifying to ratepayers. Last 1 month the electric motor bus earned £G9.

'Fairy Wonder," the new scientific washing powder, will wash clothes without rubbing. This is no idle boast. Here's a simple test: Buy a small 2 l / 2 d packet from any grocer, put contents in tub and soak clothes over night'. Note the result—all dirt loosened and dissolved without injury to fabric, and the clothes are, after one or two rinsings, beautifully clean and sweet and ready ■for Jine, Stocked bg. «U jrosera.

The committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wishes to acknowledge with thanks a donation of £lO from Mr Earp, Hillsborough. The local office of the Northern Steamship Co. has been advised that the troops for Taranaki exi the troopship Ellenga will arrive by steamer from Onehunga on Saturday morning. Sixty-eight men will come by the Aupouri, and 40 by the Karawa. Both vessels will arrive about the same time.

The travelling military medical board commenced a two days' sitting at the New Plymouth Hospital yesterday morning. Soldier in-patientß and outpatients have to be examined. The members of the board present were LieutColonel Christie and Major Bowerbank. Licitt.-Colonel Porritt was unable to attend owing to illness. Sergt.-Major Lineham accompanies the board in the Taranaki group. The usual monthly meeting of the Taranaki Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held on Wednesday, when it was decided to hold the annual meeting on ihe first Wednesday in October. It was decided to ask the clergymen of New Plymouth to make a special reference for the society in their sermcis of Sunday, October 5. The inspector, Mr R. Collins, stated that he had practically nothing to report, which was considered very satisfactory and proved that the society was respected, and its efforts bearing fruit.

The Taranaki representative football team had an exciting experience on the Paekakariki hill on the return journey from Wellington. When within a few yards of the summit the big char-a-bane commenced to reverse, and so immediate were the prospects of the whole vehicle going over the hillside that many of the occupants, amid shouts of warning, dived headlong overboard, while others sat still awestricken. Fortunately the driver was able to remedy the mistake before the worst happened, but it was some time before the passenger* were able to breathe calmly again, and (the Stratford Post relates) the scare received by some Jn the scramble for safety will not disappear for a day or two. The question of a motor car for the engineer has at different times been discussed by the Egmont County Council, but it was finally disposed of at Tuesday's meeting, when the chairman's action in purchasing a new two-seater Dodge was confirmed. The proposal to go into committee having been negatived, the chairman explained that, as the car originally ordered had not been delivered and the Selection Committee, for the second time, could not agree on the make, he considered he was only protecting the ratepayers by turning down a £ 550 and a £COO proposition, especially in view of the large overdraft. Crs. Campbell and Sinclair, the other members of the committee, expressed great dissatisfaction, holding that the matter shduld have come before the council. Cr. Green asked the chairman's ruling as to whether the.resolution passed last council day did not prevent the purchase of a Buick, and the chairman said that was correct. The matter then terminated, with the above result. A five-seater motor car, and billiard saloon business are advertised on page one by W. H. and A. McGarry, Eltham.