LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thirty-six soldiers ex the Ayrshire, ITororata and Tainui are expected to roach New Plymouth this afternoon. Ihe Secretary for Marine has received the following message from Australia: "Ships are to pass Cape Everard at a distance of 20 miles. Warn them to keep a sharp look-out for mines."

The curtailment of the railway service was responsible for a rather novel night recently. A certain Minister of the Crown was seen travelling m the guard's van, sitting on a crate, of cheese, instead of in a Ministerial carriage all by himself. The Minister was one of the newly-appointed Ministers.

Mr F. C. Brown, Government poultry expert, has just concluded judging the birds in the Auckland egg-laying competition for special prizes allocated for quality and utility points. In the Brown Leghorn section Mr J, Eva, of New Plymouth was placed Ist, 2nd, and 3rd: a very meritorious performance.

The Loan and Mercantile draw attention to the clearing sale they are holding on account of Alfred Respinger, Esq., on his farm, East Koad, Sfcrathmore, on Thursday, September 25, at 1 o'clock. Mr. Respinger has sold his farm, and is leaving the district. Full particulars will be found on page 8 of this issue. The question of public conveniences was mentioned at last night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council, and it was agreed that until the question of the injunction, which was to be. applied for against their erection at the site selected (upper Brougham Street) was settled no action should be taken in the direction of calling tenders for the work.

The killing of a pet parrot while on a shooting expedition in the Toko district cost a young man named Beare no less than £l7 8a 6d (reports the Stratford Post). The owner of the parrot made a nominal claim of £l2 10s for her loss, though money would not have bought it when alive. In connection with the case, which was decided at the Stratford Magistrate's Court on Friday, the costs amounted to over £4.

The New Zealand Insurance Company has purchased a piece of land in Devon Street, near the old Theatre Royal site, belonging to the Cunningham Estate, upon which new offices are to be built, the present building in Brougham Street proving inadequate for the increasing business of the company. Plans are now being prepared for an imposing threestorey building, and tenders are to be called for the work as soon as the plans are ready.

The town clerk (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) made a report to the Council last night on the proceedings of the Municipal Conference held recently in Wellington, m the course of which he expressed keen appreciation of the services of Mr. S. G. Smith, M-P., in connection with certain matters on which the Council's delegates had had to interview the Minister of Public Works, and the Council decided to send a letter of thanks to Mr. Smith for his assistance in the matter referred to.

In regard to the proposal that a portion of Saxton's bush should be set aside as a public domain, Mr. Belliynger (town clerk), stated in hia report to the Council last night that while in Wellington he had interviewed Messrs. S. (J. Smith and H. G. Ell, M.P.'s and Mr. Eli was anxious to get a report on the variety and sizes of the trees in the bush, which he thought would be of assistance in the negotiations. The Council decided that the suggested report should be obtained and forwarded to the members mentioned.

There is some misunderstanding among members of Parliament, as well as among the soldiers themselves, about the scheme of paying the gratuity money into the Post Office Savings Bank on account of the soldiers (says the Dominion). It will be open to any soldier to draw at once the full amount of his credit, and to do what he likes with it. It will not be held and given to him in doles or anything of that ,sort. What is hoped is that most' of the men will leave the money on deposit, using only such of it as they require for immediate needs. One advantage of the scheme is that it will greatly facilitate payment of the gratuities. As a matter of fact, there will be no delay at all. As soon As the payment gazetted the Government > will scale is approved and the regulations for be ready to make the payments through the Post Office, and men who. want the money will be able to get it.

Captain John Falconer, whose death at Feilding was reported recently, was born in Stirling, in 1844, and joined the Royal Engineers in 1860. He waß stationed at Malta, Gibraltar, and Bermudas, and Chatham, and rose to the rank at quartermaster-sergeant, receiving the long-service and good-conduct, medals. The Tasmanian Government requiring an officer to take charge of its harbor defences, he was offered the post and the commission of lieutenant. He was at Hobart for two years, and he then accepted a similar appointment under the New Zealand Government, together with the rank of captain. He was stationed at Auckland for two years, and then placed in charge at Wellington, afterwards being appointed Inspector of Submarine Mining for the Colony. After his retirement from the Government service sixteen years ago he settled down in Blenheim, and was lessee first of the Criterion and then the Club Hotel. In his early years he was prominent in football, swimming, running and sculling circles, and he possessed a notable array of trophies of all descriptions. He won the Army championships for both single and double sculls. He also took a keen interest in boxing and shooting, and was one of the chief marksjincn at the championships in Tasmania. [He trained Tom Sullivan for the New Zealand sculling championship, and had the satisfaction of seeing him become a world's champion. The deceased had the distinction of wearing both the bronze and silver medals of the Royal Humane Society, having at various times saved nine lives from drowning. Captain Falconer was a leading member of the Masonic fraternity both in England and the colonies, and was a past master of Wairau Lodge, No. 42. For. the last few. years he has been the lessee of the Denbigh Hotel at Feilding. The deceased was married twice, and leaves a widow, and two daughters by his first wife. The daughters arc Mrs, W. R. Allen, of Blenheim, and Miss E. Falconer, of Sydney.

A 300-acres mixed farm is advertised fur exchange by VV. H, and A. McGarrv,